A very emotional chapter that ties up the Story Arc. This episode may make you want to cry.

Episode Twenty-Two: A Tearfull Farewell

After me and Scout had beaten the gang leaders, Ekans and the Rattatas showed up. Apparently he had managed to herd them back to give us assisstance but was a little late. I had my doubts but I let it go. later, once they had been given medical attention, many of the Nidorans apolagised to the Rattatas, saying they were only doing what they did out of fear.

Ekans gave them the choice to either leave with their leader or stay and make up for the damage they caused. Most of them chose to stay, so their leaders where kicked out almost solo. The Nidorina threatened that they would return with even more gang members to get revenge, but she soon shut up when Scout shouted his battle cry. The Nidorino just limped away slilently, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost. Any Human walking by would have been astounded at the sight of the Rattata's and the remaining Nidoran's cheering.

As the defeated vanished beyound the horizon, Ekans asked me and Scout to follow him back to his home. We did the short walk in complete silence, although Scout was doing more hopping than actuall walking. me and Scout were wondering what Ekans wanted, well just Scout. I was busy thinking about food, I was hungry. (Can you blame me? The last time I had eaten was before I left Moron's group)

We made it back to Ekans's treehouse thing and he told us to wait there before vanishing inside. I looked over at Scout who was staring at the stars.

"What do you think this is about?" I asked, he sighed and stretched his wings before replying.

"Not a clue. I hope he doesn't take too long, I've got an itch."

Ekans slithered back into view, dragging behind him something wrapped up in a leaf.

"You two are the reasons we won that fight without taking any casualties. You're practicaly heroes. We know you won't stay with us forever so we decided to give you little reminders of us. Medals, so to speak."

I didn't have a clue what he was on about, Scout didn't seem much better off either. Ekans noticed our confused expressions and laughed. His laugh was a combination of a chuckle and a hiss, which was kind of scary. He unwrapped the leaf bundle and handed (Well, he used his tail. Maybe the expression is tailed) one of the items inside to me.

It was the Nidoran's horn I had broken off, someone had attached a vine through it so it could be worn around my neck.

"The Nidoran wanted you too keep it, it was no use to him anymore anyway,"

"Well that was thoughtfull of him."

To Scout he gave a curved tooth, with a vine loop just like mine. I had to put it over Scout's head seeing as my companions had no hands.

"We had to file it down a bit, but again I no longer have any use for it," General Ekans said, smiling. I could actually see that his left fang was no longer there.

"What do you mean you don't have a use for it anymore?" Scout asked, tilting his head to the side like birds do when they are confused.

"Well its falled out for a starters. And as I told Flame when I first spoke to him, I'm too old to catch food. Way too old. My kids probably have kids of their own by now."

Ekans looked up at the moon before speaking again, "it is getting late and I'm tired. I hope you two don't forget all of the Pokémon here. Goodbye you two." He turned away and began to slither back to his home

Now I knew perfectly well what he meant, Scout seemed to realise too as tears formed in the bird's eyes.

"Goodnight Sir, sleep well," I called after him, fighting back my own tears. I hadn't known him long, but I had grown close to the snake Pokémon.

"I will, nothing is going to wake me up tonight," was the reply as General Ekans vanished into his home.

I turned away from the tree, there was no longer a point in watching anymore, and walked away down a trail. I had no idea where it leaded, and I didn't care. I just had to move on. Scout quickly caught up with me, openly crying. Obviously he was fond of the General too.

"So where too now?" He asked me, his voice a little shaky.

"I dunno, lets just leave. We can deal with our destination when we get there," came my deadpan reply as I fixed my stare on the path ahead.

Scout stopped and had one last look back at Ekans's home. I waited for him, giving him the time he needed.

"Goodbye General," he muttered as he brought his wing up to his head in a salute. I saluted too. for a full minute we both stood there before turning back to go towards whatever lay ahead of us, the Nidoran's horn bumping against my chest with every step I took as I found myself lost in thought.

'We met in the mist of morning and parted deep in the night. Farewell Ekans, at least you did what you set out to do. We'll meet again someday, I'm sure of it.'