Brittle bits of grass underfoot. The still-strong smell of ash on the breeze. Voices, some tense or distressed, some calmer or even joyful. These were the things Jasmine noticed as she followed behind her parents. A bellsprout raised a leaf in greeting as her father approached. The ground trembled slightly under the steps of his four massive, clawed feet.
"Oh, I'm so glad you could make it, Father Ven! We've been trying our best to clean up, but now that the rescue teams have had to leave for other jobs, we really do need some extra help around here!"
The venusaur dipped his head to the tiny pokemon. "It is no problem at all, Bellsprout. Arceus created us so that we may work together, it is only natural to help our brethren." He gazed around at the blackened bushes, and at the various creatures huddled nearby. "This forest fire has truly done damage." he rumbled. "But remember, my fellow pokemon, fire brings good as well. It will help new plants to grow, stronger than the last. Beneath these ashes, the seeds are already preparing to sprout anew. You must have faith. Arceus sends us these trials to test our willpower. Together, we shall rebuild."
Not all of the pokemon looked very convinced, Jasmine noticed. She supposed, given the sheer amount of increasingly damaging trials the heavens had been raining down upon their world, she could understand their skepticism. But as her wise father said, they had to have faith! Arceus knew what he was doing, he wouldn't abandon them! There was a reason for all of this, and there would be a resolution too! They just had to keep going, and keep helping one another! She gazed up at the massive reptile. "Father, what shall you have me do?" Her mother would be busy comforting the children and elderly, most likely, while he used his strength and wisdom to help the stronger survivors rebuild their shelters and clear away the destroyed brush.
He swiveled his massive head to look down at her, the various beads and trinkets that adorned his neck making soft tinkling sounds as he moved. "Ah yes, my dear, what shall I have you do? Bellsprout," At this he gestured to the pokemon with a vine, beckoning him over. "-there are still many injuries that need to be attended to, is that correct?"
The bell-shaped head nodded, so vigorous in the action that the little plant almost toppled over. "O-oh yes, Father! Blastoise and Feraligatr contributed what supplies they could spare, but they still had to save some to help with other disaster areas! We've run out of berries to treat them, and as you can see…" he waved a leaf at the piles of ash and twigs that stretched all around, "we won't have any growing here for quite some time…"
"Is there a place nearby where we could find more?" The bellsprout fidgeted his leaves together at this, beady eyes avoiding the venasaur's gaze. "U-um, well, there is one place that managed to avoid the fire's hunger…but it happens to be near…w-well, one of those…so I'm sure you can understand, dear Father, why we haven't made any attempts to collect from there." One of those? Jasmine's red eyes widened, tiny ears flattening. Oh dear stars, of course they couldn't have collected some in their weakened state! Even strong pokemon never dared to explore such places, except those as brave as the rescue teams! She noticed her father too, though normally such a calm beacon of sureness and strength, had stiffened up slightly, bowing his head in sorrow. "Yes, of course I understand. Truly a pity, it is…"
Jasmine glanced back at the pitiful creatures huddled in a shady corner. A sunflora's yellow petal-like appendages had been ravaged with burns, one particularly bad one oozing green pus. A spearow chick lay propped up against them. They appeared to have endured far worse, bald and scorched almost beyond recognition of its species, in too much pain to even move. Infection had already set in along the massive, festering wounds. It would be a miracle if feathers ever grew back over the scarred tissue. The bulbasaur felt sick, forcing herself to look away as her throat closed up. It just wasn't fair, for such innocent beings to suffer. All the faith in the world still wouldn't heal physical injuries, no matter how much she willed otherwise. Her tiny claws clenched the dirt as she fought back the urge to sob. Or retch, perhaps both. She'd been on so many mission trips like this, forced to watch all of the suffering this world seemed to be full of these days. But knowing that there was actually help, so close, and yet so far away from these fellow pokemon. These sad, broken creatures. It was just too much. Too much for her heart to bear.
"Jasmine? Jasmine, dear child, are you alright?" As the gentle thunder of her father's voice reached her ears, she straightened up, realizing she'd squeezed her eyes shut as she'd gotten lost in her own thoughts. "Are you sick, my daughter? Perhaps it would be best for your mother to take you home. I can work here alone, if need be." The bellsprout too, had reached out a leaf to touch her forehead. "She doesn't feel feverish, Father Ven. Poor girl, whatever is the matter?"
The bulbasaur shook her head, gently nudging the leaf away with a vine. "No. Thank you for the concern, but I am not ill." Her voice was still shaky from her attempts to keep from crying, and she took a shuddering breath in an attempt to steady it. "The undamaged area. You said it was not in one of those, but near it, Bellsprout?"
"E-er, yes, y-yes that is what I said…" he started, very obviously confused. She turned away from him to face her father, standing as firmly as she could. "Father, with your gracious permission, I would like to go and collect some supplies. Or rather, even without it, I shall still go. I beg your forgiveness, but I simply cannot stand by any longer as our fellow brothers and sister suffer like this." Her voice was starting to crack, but she did not cower, continuing to gaze at the regal reptile in front of her.
Father Ven did not speak for several moments, staring down at his daughter in silence. His expression was hard to decipher. It was calm, but what was behind that? Caution, even fear at her request? Anger at her sudden courage and even indignance? The bellsprout stayed silent as he was forced to become a spectator for this tense situation in front of him, roots and stem trembling. Even Jasmine's mother had paused in her tending to the children, watching as her beloved daughter and dearly-trusted husband squared off, unsure which side she was supposed to take.
Finally, Father Ven made a low, deep humming sound, laying down to reach eye-level with the dark green bulbasuar. "Is this truly what you wish, my daughter? Putting your own life at risk, in order to aid those in need?" Jasmine nodded, not a look of pure defiance on her face, but one of calm sureness in her decision. "I have made my choice, father. I cannot sit by when there is an opportunity to help, even if it is an opportunity no one else is willing to take."
The venasaur smiled, reaching with a gentle vine to stroke his daughter's head. "Very well, I will allow you to go. Your courage is admirable, and truly, this is what Arceus is always teaching us. To help when we can, even if it isn't an easy path. For if no one helped others, this world would not be worth living in." He stood up once more, touching one of his many necklaces with a vine. It was a crude wooden thing, but vaguely looked like the god Arceus itself. "May the divine bless your path, Jasmine. I pray you will be able to avoid that place. I wish I could go instead, but I am needed here." He gestured towards the many fallen trees and other heavy rubble. No one else would be able to lift it, truly.
Jasmine nuzzled his leg. "I understand, father. Thank you for the blessing. I pray all goes well here, until my return." She turned towards Bellsprout once more. "Which way shall I travel to reach the undamaged forest?"