Bulbasaur fell silent.

Getting back up after a snack, the three continued moving into the wooded interior.

"Nyx, disperse your form and keep a lookout for Bulbasaurs mother."

"Human... why are you doing this?"

"Just do it..."

Nyx scoffs, "Fool"

With that, Nyx dispersed his form, and now he could see everything within three hundred meters, despite the sun.

Seeing the orb of solid darkness floating above, with shadowy tendrils spread out like an octopus, Bulbasaur shuddered.

Hours pass and soon Jared hears Nyx's in his mind, "Move left human, the big flower was here."

Watching Jared greatly altering his direction, Bulbasaur followed behind with a puzzled look.

Sniffing the air, Bulbasaur runs past Jared, and there he finds a familiar clearing.

Jared knew full well, but he said it anyway, "Bulbasaur, did you find something?"

...He probably picked up on his mother's scent, Jared mused.

Bulbasaur continued searching the area, and found a flowery scent trail leading northwards.

"Bulbb bulbas bsaur b-bu bul"

Trom Bulbasaur's body language alone, Jared understood.

"You found your mother's scent?"

Bulbasaur was exuberant, "Bulba!"

"Alright, lead the way."

.

The bushes were flattened by the monster that had come through, so it was easy going.

Time passed, and soon they were travelling along an animal trail. Opening up his GPS, Jared noted that they were moving towards Viridian City.

The sun began to wane now, but there was still enough daylight enough to see, at least for some time.

Feeling the scent get stronger, Bulbasaur broke out into a sprint.

In response, Jared shouted, as he tried and failed to follow, "Bulbasaur, slow down!"

"Nyx, don't lose him"

"Human..."

"What?"

"The big flower is ahead... but..."

.

The ground ahead was charred and cratered. Trees were toppled and boulders were smashed.

Nudging his mother, Bulbasaur tries to rouse her, but he fails.

Why is she sleeping, Bulbasaur wondered.

From five meters away, Jared soothes, "I'm sorry for your loss."

...Loss?

Bulbasaur didn't understand what the human was saying, but hearing Jared's words, he inspected his mother's appearance.

Shaking in disbelief, Bulbasaur stumbles back, as if pushed. It was getting a little dark, so he didn't notice at first.

Covered in burns and lacerations a once-powerful Venosaur lay in a shallow pool of congealed blood. Her back once held up Bulbasaurs world, but now that back was broken. Gentle words once filled with wisdom and love were now only a memory for those that were graced to hear them.

.

Jared winced as he listened to Bulbasaur roar with grief and indignation. Looking away, he closed his eyes. It hurt him to see the tears drip from the small creatures eyes.

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Bulbasaur abrupted ceased his mournful wails when he suddenly remembering his brothers and sisters!

Bulbasaur began frantically searching, but they were nowhere to be found.

Lending a hand, Jared spoke, "Nyx, spread yourself out, and see what you can find."

.

"Over here, human"

Nearby, Bulbasaur found a small half-broken cage.

Sniffing it closely, his eyes constricted. He knew that scent... his second strongest brother was once inside it!

... It's broken, but I know these cages, they are the same ones used in the Rocket Gang hideout.

A few feet away Jared remarks sourly, "Some monsters in human skin did this..."

Shaking his head, Jared sits down, to get on Bulbasaurs eye level.

Picking up some charred soil, he lets it slip through his fingers, "This tragedy was committed by a human organization called the Rocket Gang, and I'm one of their members."

With reddened eyes, Bulbasaur turns around with grief and fury. He almost lashed out upon hearing Jared's words, but he held himself back... at least for now.

"You are right to be angry with me. From what I can tell, your mother fought to the death to protect your siblings, but this cage is proof they were likely taken away in the end."

Turning back, Bulbasaur engraves the cage's image into his mind. He would find the ones responsible for his mother's murder, and he will rescue his brothers and sister... but for now, he didn't know where to even begin. The human known as Jared was his only lead.

Spitting through his clenched teeth, Bulbasaur asked, "Sab- bulbarr- bulbbsar b sssar bsar?"

Nyx translated for him, "He wants to know where ...-" Jared cut him off, "-I know nyx"

Looking off into the distance, Jared remarks matter-o-factly, "I think I know where your siblings were taken, but the ones responsible were strong enough to defeat your mother... so I won't tell you, I won't allow you to seek your own death."

"Busar sarbar bulbaa bulsar buurrsarrr!" Bulbasaur released two vine whips and lashed out, but before he could connect, a shadowy tendril pulled Jared back.

Nyx roared audibly, "THIS HUMANS LIFE BELONGS TO ME!, YOU DARE TO TAKE WHAT IS MINE YOU INSUFFERABLE LITTLE SPROUT? I HAVE TOLERATED YOU LONG ENOUGH!"

Pulling Jared away, Nyx became fully corporeal, "YOU DARE COVET WHAT IS MINE? COME!"

Itching for a chance to vent his grievances, Bulbasaur whipped Nyx accurately, but the hated foe took the blow without flinching. The whips bounded off Nyxs form as if they were striking metal, not an intangible ghost.

"Fool, your vines can't even scratch my itch! Your strength is only this much, and yet you dare to seek revenge?!"

With brute force, Nyx simply charged straight at Bulbasaur and tanked two more vine whips.

Now that his foe was close, Bulbasaur went for a tackle, but Nyx swatted him away with his two claws, then scoffed, "Pathetic!"

After being sent tumbling away, Bulbasaur was quick to his feet and charged back in. This time Nyx released several thick tendrils from his core, and wrapped the hapless creature up, and began choking him by the neck.

Bulbasaur began to feel a familiar sensation from a few days prior, and then it clicked in his mind. He had found his kidnapper!

Struggling with all his might, Bulbasaur uselessly tried to shake Nyx off.

Soon his struggling became weaker as the oxygen remaining in his lungs failed to sustain him.

Weakly, Jared spoke, "Nyx... let him go, he's been through enough."

"Hrmph, count yourself lucky."

Dropping Bulbasaur to the ground, the creature gasped for breath, but he continued to give Nyx and Jared a deathly gaze.

"Take your eyes off me weakling, how dare you continue to provoke me?"

Nyx was about to finish the job, but Jared intervened in a loud tone, "I said enough, Nyx"

Pulling a half-used potion from his bag, Jared began walking towards Bulbasaur.

Bulbasaur once again released his two vines, but Nyx deterred him, "Put them away you ungrateful worm"

Seeing Bulbasaur flinching, Jared sighed, "Just hold still, I'm applying some medicine to your neck."

With that done, Jared sat down next to him, "I think you must have the same look as I did... back then when I watched those two children die before my eyes, I almost couldn't control myself, I cursed this world and wanted to change it... I still do, even now, I think about it every waking moment."

Glaring, Bulbasaur continues to listen in silence.

"I'll be honest with you, the person who kidnapped you was me and Nyx."

Jared saw no reaction,

...So he already realized...

"I won't apologize. I kidnapped you to have you join my team... But, I've come to know you, so I'm unwilling to forcefully capture you."

Looking up at the sky, Jared was lost in memories, " I've told you before, I have something to accomplish, and maybe the ends don't justify the means... I know this well."

Jared's eyes begin to simmer and burn ever so slightly, "But you have to understand... every single day there are countless injustices... yes, crimes committed by my kind, and if I don't dirty my hands... Bulbasaur, you are not the only one to lose their parents due to insatiable greed."

Bulbasaur became a little heated by his words.

"I didn't play a hand in your mother's death, but I am still part of the society that did. I want to right the wrongs of the world. Just like you, I am weak. But... even if the whole world curses me... Well, only a devil or a god can change the world, and I am no god, so I have no choice but to be a devil. I will turn this world on it's head if I have to, so go ahead and hate me... I am strong enough to shoulder it."

"Bsar bulbarr bslbab sarr" (You are already the devil)

Hearing Nyx translate the words, Jared chuckled, "You think me a madman, don't you? I can see you want to take my life... yes... even now, and not only that, you want to destroy the humans that created this hole... this bleeding hold in your heart..."

...

Jared shook his head, "Unfortunately, I can't give you my life... However, if you join hands with me, and help me tear down these injustices, and create a better world... then... I'll allow you to tear me apart and offer my soul to appease your mother's spirit... but only when that day comes."

Contemplating the words, Bulbasaur comes to a decision.

Nyx translates Bulbasaurs words with some amusement.

His shadowy form roils with uncontainable laughter, "Get in line you pathetic weakling, if that day comes, the one who gets his *soul* will be me, "

...and me alone.