Chapter 25

Selven had never felt so much power coursing through his body. His entire being felt full of immense energy, so much he couldn't contain it. Just as the Ivysaur felt he was ready to explode, the flower at the top of his stem did.

His body was already expanding at an incredible rate. Selven's lime green legs, stomach and head were rapidly becoming bigger until he stood twice as tall and far larger around than that. While it was somewhat painful, the flower atop his back was filled with an immensely pleasurable sensation.

The stem itself shooting up twice its length felt more soothing than painful. The leaves at the base of the stem didn't just grow with his body but also doubled, the foliage curling up tight before extending forward to drape across his back. When Selven's flower bud finally bloomed it was the most wondrous experience he ever had. The bright red petals on his back turned yellow before reaching about as long as the leaves on his back. When Selven's transformation was over, he was full of gratitude.

"Thank you," he said to Red who stood at his side. "I-I feel like I've become what I always was meant to be."

The trainer then patted his head as they stood outside.

"I'm so proud of you," the young man said. "You look beautiful."

"I don't know how to express it," Selven said. "But–but I feel so fulfilled it's hard to describe. How–how do I tell you how satisfied I feel?"

"You can't express it," Surge said. "My Pokemon have tried to tell me the same when they evolved but it defied their ability to put it into mere words. But I knew you were ready to evolve, you just needed a little push."

They stood on the outskirts of Vermillion City, right at the edge of the large field that surrounded the north and west of the city. It was the middle of the day without a cloud in the sky, perfect for a Grass-type to soak up some rays. In front of Selven stood a large boulder that had a large flower growing from deep in its center where the seed bored through to sprout from. He was already developing the signature technique by using his Leech Seed as a base for his signature move.

Surge suggested that Selven be trained first for the reason that he was close to evolving and his species grew quickly in comparison to other Pokemon. However, they needed to be outside where Selven could absorb the remaining sunlight he needed to evolve. While battling helped Pokemon grow, it was a requirement for Ivysaur to soak in a certain quantity of sunlight before becoming Venusaur.

"Now that you're a Venusaur," Matis said. "Developing this signature move will come more naturally to you."

"Yeah!" Red said. "You'll be stronger than just a Venusaur! It'll be more than I promised to you!"

Selven tried to remember what Red promised to him. It was so long ago

that he didn't exactly recall until he traced his thoughts all the way back to the day they met. It made him want to cry.

Back then, Selven was just a naive Bulbasaur who thought that the world was a wonderful place to explore and venture into. He thought his parents would come back one day as evolved Pokemon. The realization they had been made into food hurt him. It made Selven think worse of the humans around him. It made him worry about his trainer.

Red would have eaten me if Cinder hadn't pleaded with him to catch me. He understood. Not because he particularly liked me but just to feign some morality to ease his guilty conscience. That is the reason I live. That…that and…I was closest to the fence…because I always wondered what was out there.

He couldn't help but tear up a little.

My curiosity saved me. He thought. But if I knew how cruel the humans were that took care of us I would have never wanted to see this world in the first place. I almost wish I were dead…so I could be with my parents.

Selven then felt guilty.

I shouldn't say that. The Venusaur thought. Life is a gift. We should all treasure life. People who believe that they would be better off dead are lost. My parents said that I should always enjoy life because you should always have hope.

But then another thought occurred to him.

But then why I should live when they died? Selven wondered. Hurzer might be callous…but he was right in saying that it was my destiny to be eaten by humans. Just like other, weak prey in the wild are. I was to be eaten as a Rattata or even a plant was. We are at the bottom of the food chain for a reason.

He then shifted his eyes back to the Leech Seed that sprouted from the rock.

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So does that mean my strength, my evolution is an abomination? Selven thought. A thing never meant to be? Did I defile the natural order doing such a thing? I mean…that must be true. If I lived where others died with the only difference being a stroke of sheer luck…it is my place to die with the rest of my kind.

He shook his head.

But now that have become a Vensuar…He thought. There is no turning back. Their purpose was to be eaten. And my purpose was not? But…what is it because I was better than them? Inherently superior? Was there something about me I always knew I had which drove me to always peer out over the gate? Now…now that I have achieved the freedom my parents never have…what will I make with it?

Selven tried his best to justify himself.

My purpose is to travel the world. He thought. I became Red's Pokemon to travel the world. I always wanted to. I knew there was more to this world than just the farm. The fence…it was a hindrance to us. A barrier not meant to keep others out but keep us in. I always knew that…even if I didn't think. I will travel the world…therefore I shall have more purpose than to be eaten.

And then Selven felt frightened. Frightened not for his life but what he will do with it. He felt evil. Evil that did not try and capitalize on the opportunities he had while being alive. Selven felt that he just wanted to be happy and enjoy life. Traveling the world was just a part of that. But was that enough of a purpose?

He had not done anything extraordinary, something that would be told about for generations. Selven had not done anything that would make him a legend, something that would justify his life. And he needed that justification so he could live. But now that the idea that he was meant for greater things, for a higher purpose, he felt anxious.

What is my calling? He thought. What did I survive for? Just to travel? Just to see the world? What's the point of seeing the world if I can't even change any of it? Should it be changed? If my kind are eaten like grass then…then this world must be changed. I can't answer that! I don't have the answer to that! What-what AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS FREEDOM?!

He then shook his head before tearing up.

"Red!" Selven said. "I wish I had never become a Venusaur!"

"What-?!" Red said. "But you said-?"

"I don't deserve it!" he shouted. "My parents did more than me! They raised me and died! Why didn't they become Venusaur?! Why didn't those who took care of me all those years not become what I am now?!"

He began to shout and sob.

"It's not fair!" Selven shouted. "You should have left me to die! I don't want to be saved!"

"But if I recall," Red said. "You wanted to explore the outside world. You-you said you wanted freedom!"

"I did!" Selven shouted in the midst of crying. "But what good is that freedom if I don't have anything to do with it?! What good is seeing all this world has to offer if my kind are slaughtered?! Just to see it…and leave it as it was?! To not be a factor in shaping it?! I would have never lived a life any more remarkable than my parents…"

He then bowed his head in shame.

"Until I find out why I was meant to leave the farm," he said. "I won't be happy. Just…just don't be afraid to let me die in battle. Not until I figure out what reason that should give me the exclusive right to exist. And I think…I think I can only justify that desire…if I somehow change this world."

Red sighed in frustration, shaking his head.

"This will disrupt his ability to forge his signature move," Surge said. "I suggest you help handle your Pokemon's emotional issues…or put off his training."

Red gestured toward Selven before the Venusaur moved away.

"Don't touch me," he said as tears ran down his face. "I-I don't want…the kind that harvested my people…to touch me. With the same hands your kind used to care for me…they would have also used to put me on a platter."

The trainer sighed, stepping back.

"And I don't think I want you to touch me," Selven said. "Until you can tell me why I shouldn't have died."

"I can't answer that," Red said. "Other than…I couldn't save all of you. Maybe…maybe if you become a strong enough Pokemon to be used in the military…you can save others."

The Venusaur then glared at him.

"So I'll become strong enough to do what you never could."

{}

The white flame dancing in front of Cinder's face was the most peaceful memory he had. It was Red racing down the rolling hills of Pallet Town before tripping and falling. He sat up before rubbing his knees, only for Cinder as a Charmander to hug his bruised leg. The Charizard remembered he was twelve at the time and didn't have any other friends to play with.

He held the flame in the palm of his claws, gazing at it sentimentally. It was everything that encapsulated their relationship. Cinder was by Red's side when he had no one else, the two of them playing innocently and Cinder acting as a protector to his trainer.

There was no threat of death, no cynicism or evil ambition. Just two people who cared for one another spending their days innocently enough, trying to make the best of a limited situation. The best years of both of their lives.

It was the very thing Cinder thought of when he felt Red was being too harsh. That he was once pure and untainted by the influence around him. Cinder no longer thought of Red as a person who was driven by his own wants and desires but as someone who was pursuing the desire of what everyone else thought he should be.

Blue was the main culprit that Cinder would pin this on. Red was just an ordinary, nice boy with a desire to have fun and want friends before he was driven mad with failure induced guilt. He was less his own person and more a puppet of outsider expectations. If only Cinder could make Red see that.

"This is beyond impressive," Surge said as he stood beside the Charizard. "I don't think I've ever seen a Fire-type with this ability before. What is that…a mental image projected within the fire?"

"Yes," he said. "This is my favorite memory of Red."

"I remember this," Red said as he stood at his Pokemon's left. "It's from when I was twelve…I think. But why would your favorite memory of me be when I hurt myself playing? What's so special about that?"

Cinder began tearing up at his trainer's words. The idea that Red had lost so much of himself since childhood felt like a spear to Cinder's heart. He no longer understood the person he served. He turned to face his trainer, the Charizard's face full of pain.

The fact that you don't understand. He thought. Is all the more reason to cry. And I would give everything…for you to change back to how you were.