Chapter 02: Evolution
It's cliché to say that my eyelids were heavy, and that I couldn't see anything for a while, but it was true. That was the second thing I noticed. The first thing I noticed was that my body was in pain, and either contorted at some weird angle in so much pain that I couldn't even tell anymore. The third thing I noticed was that I was lying in damp and sticky grass. The sticky stuff smelled of blood.
It did take a while for me to open my eyes. I spent most of the time trying to squeeze the blood out of my swollen eyelids. I looked around. I was surrounded by grass and trees, like I was at home, but these were unfamiliar grass and trees. They looked different, they smelled different.
I decided that my body wasn't actually broken. It would still function as I wanted to, albeit a lot slower, and not quite accurately. It would still move, and that was the important part. It took me around, where I'd sniff the area and hope to find a familiar scent. And a familiar scent there was. It wasn't very well known, but it was one that I had smelt before.
I swayed a bit as I followed the scent. I felt dizzy, but it wasn't too bad. Well, even if it was, I'd still need to move. I was in unfamiliar territory, and that meant danger. At the end of the scent trail was a surprising sight. A large creature covered in glistening black scales laid there, its tail tucked under its weight. I wondered if it was uncomfortable, then if it was dead.
The draconic Pokémon didn't move as I neared. I could barely see it breathing, but it was breathing, and I felt relief wash over me as I let out a breath. I didn't know why; I didn't recognise the Pokémon. But its heat was entrancing in the cool night air, and I walked towards it like it was the only place I could go. Perhaps it was – the cool air was actually too cold for me.
As I sat down next to it, I wondered if I would be safe. I wondered if it really was night. The forest was thick, and sunlight would have trouble passing through. I dropped onto my belly and lay there, wondering what time it was. It could have been night. It could have been day. It didn't really matter. I wondered where I was and let out an amused chuckle. That should have been the first thing I thought. Briefly cutting off my thoughts, I curled up, and promptly fell asleep.
When I woke up for the third time in what I believed to be one sun cycle, I decided that it was becoming night-time. The forest was growing darker by the second, I felt my vision restricted. I felt that I couldn't see anything, but I could. Behind me there was a light source of sorts, and it outlined the underside of the warm Pokémon and a bit of the grass around it. The big warm Pokémon didn't seem to have moved, and I was reluctant to leave it.
I tried surveying the surroundings with my single left eye. During my rest, my right eye had swelled up again, making it impossible to look through without removing the excess blood. And so that's what I did. There wasn't anything better for me to do, anyway.
The dragon beside me stirred. It pulled its tail out from under itself, and I stared in awe. At the tip of its tail was a great big flame, and the underside of its wings were a beautiful velvet red.
"Are you alright?" it grunted. I assumed that it was talking to me.
"I- I'm okay, I guess," I stuttered back.
"You're covered in blood," it stated quite simply. Despite its grandeur and proud voice, the words it spoke were outlined with concern.
I gave no response. My mind was flooded with memories of fire. The fire which had taken my home, my family, and my friends. And yet, I could not bring myself to hate the dragon. It wielded fire, but it posed no threat to me. I still feared it, though.
"I'm sorry," it finally said.
"For what?" I ask.
"Please let me start over. My name is Charcoal, and I hope we can be friends."
Charcoal. It was a familiar name. It brought comfort. I let my mind crawl through the deep crevices of my brain, stirring up memories and useful information. Charcoal the shiny Charmeleon… I looked up at the great Charizard, which had risen to its full height. It had evolved into a Charizard. Charcoal had evolved into a Charizard.
"Did you evolve, then?"
"Heheh, no. I just got bigger and uh, sprouted wings. Not to mention it seems I've changed colours quite drastically," Charcoal replied, her voice dry.
I stared at her, unamused. But then again, I did ask a stupid question. Making small talk was lame.
"We should explore the area. Find out if there are others nearby. Maybe get some food," I suggested.
"We're in Sylvaem, a kind of sacred grove. I'd personally like to get out of here as soon as possible, but uh, hey! You're the boss."
I shot her a glare. It was obvious who was older. I was. It was obvious who had more experience. She did. And by my judgement, she was mocking me. I did not appreciate it.
We didn't talk much after that. There was a lack of need to say anything, as well as a lack of want. We stuck together though. There was safety in numbers, although really, Charcoal would be able to fend for herself while I hope she protects me.
I was glad she broke the silence when she did. "So, uh, what's your name again?"
But even so, I didn't really answer her. "It doesn't matter," I instantly retorted.
The truth is, I didn't know. I didn't remember. I still don't know. It doesn't matter.
"Well, then I'll just assign you a name. You can just be Eon."
"How lame."
"What, you're just going to wait for a name you like? Heh, what about Sylva?" Charcoal laughed, but there was no humour in her voice.
"Sorry, but I'm no shiny. I'm not silver in colouration."
"You'll make the forest proud."
"Try another."
"Cypress?"
"Sounds cool."
"Like it?"
"Not enough."
"You're, uh, the picky type aren't you. How about Emerald?"
"Sounds… familiar."
"Like it?"
"You've already decided that I'll be evolving into a grass type, huh."
"Sure, why not?"
The Charizard let out a smirk before losing all expression and staring straight forwards again.
"There is a Moss Rock here. If you want…"
"I haven't decided yet."
"I see."
We continued walking in silence, a silence for which I was grateful for. It gave me time to think. While I was brought up in a grass type dominant land, I still hadn't decided whether or not I would be a Leafeon. I couldn't rule out all the other possibilities. My birthright would be my downfall.
I wondered about all the possibilities. Which would I like most? Our genetics allowed us to evolve to adapt to any environment. The tundra at the north. The desert in the west. The sea in the east. The forest in the south, which I was now leaving.
No, I wouldn't be a Leafeon. If I were to adapt to a suitable environment, it would be one that I could take advantage of. But then again, perhaps something I loved. Like the forest. On the other hand, I could choose something few will ever be able to experience. I could be king of the skies.
I was conflicted, and decided to lay out all the elements I could take. Grass, fire, water, electric, ice, dark, psychic, shadow, dragon, flying, ghost, steel, bug, rock, ground, poison, fighting, fairy… I could even evolve into a form which doesn't take on an element. The possibilities were endless. Not to mention, if I did it properly, I could also be a dual type Eon.
"It's too dark," Charcoal commented.
"Light the forest," I replied.
"With that dark humour of yours, you'll make quite the Dark-Eon."
"And you, the dark Charizard."
"Whatever you say, but hey, I can't get any darker than this. I'm already black."
Our random burst of conversation was brought to an end as we walked in silence. The forest around us was alive, whispering, and yet I heard no words. I wondered if I would be able to harness the power of the forest, if it would protect me, tell me its secrets and share its wisdom. I could ask the same of the sea or the sky, but I could only ask that of one. Any one, but only one. I was torn.
"Where are you going?" Charcoal's words cut through my thoughts, bringing me back to my senses.
"Did you have a particular direction in mind?" I retorted. I hadn't noticed that I had veered off path. And yet, I walked on, away from the safety of Charcoal's flame, and further into the dense foliage. I didn't know where I was going, but it felt like the right way.
The Moss Rock drew me towards it, offering me strength. The strength of the forest. But when I understood, I became wary, and refused to near it. Charcoal had appeared behind me, bringing with her enough light so that I could admire the beauty of the Moss Rock. She encouraged me to accept it, to become stronger. I couldn't. I backed away, shaking my head.
"Go on. Evolving isn't scary; it'll just take some time getting used to."
Charcoal didn't understand my dilemma. It wasn't simply whether or not I should evolve. It was if I wanted to evolve into a grass type. She only had a choice of evolving into a Charmeleon, and then into a Charizard if I wished. But not me. I stayed away from the Moss Rock, afraid of the exposure that would eventually mutate me. The single thought of evolution plagued my mind as it did hours ago, and would continue so for days to come.
No. I would not evolve into a Leafeon. I had made up my mind. I would go somewhere, and then evolve into something to adapt to my new environment if I so wished.
"I'm not evolving. We're going." My words were simple, but powerful. Charcoal said nothing more, and quickly followed behind.
But even if I spoke with such determination, I knew that my mind was still festering with thoughts of evolution. I couldn't think of anything else, I couldn't hear anything else. Nothing else could penetrate through the thick walls which lined my paths. Evolve now, into a Leafeon, or evolve later, perhaps into something else. There were only two options, but that was all that mattered. It would be a life changing choice.
I told myself I didn't want to evolve. I didn't want to be tied to that pathetic village I was brought up in. I remembered the words of the Alakazam. We had all looked up to his wisdom, but he was nothing more than a figurehead. He could not think for himself.
I thought about Charcoal. If I were to stay with her, I would be better off as a fire-type. But that wasn't a good option for adaptation. If I wanted to live in the desert, I would be at an advantage if I were a ground type. But I didn't think that I would like deserts. Maybe the ocean would be a good choice. Or perhaps the tundra.
No, I didn't have to be restricted to types which would thrive in a certain environment. I could be free to explore the skies, as a flying type, or a dual-type. A flying/dragon-type sounded good to me, but I didn't think that I could evolve into something so majestic with my resolve.
Heh, maybe a bug/grass-type would be good. Then I would dwell in the forest. A flying/bug-type. Or maybe a poison/ghost-type. See, I wasn't joking when I said that the possibilities were endless.
"Hey, is this a second Moss Rock, or did we just walk around in a giant circle?"
I turned to face that which had drawn Charcoal's attention. It was indeed, a Moss Rock, but I could tell that the size was different, and that the Moss was thicker. I would need less exposure to evolve by this Moss Rock.
"It's a different Moss Rock…" I answered, my voice trailing off. No one had ever heard of two Moss Rocks being in such close proximity. Could it be that my eyes were deceiving me?
"Well, uh, maybe the forest really wants you to be a Grass-Eon!"
"Maybe," I replied, disinterested.
There was something odd about the way the trees swayed, and the way the grass shivered. Something odd about the way the wind whispered. It wasn't just the fact that this forest was not home. I knew that as soon as I got here. No, what unnerved me was the fact that this particular section was different to the rest of the forest. Something that suggested danger.
I wondered if I should tell Charcoal of this. I never got the chance. String shots were sprayed from various different locations around us, binding us, trapping us. I saw glimpses of Pokémon of various sizes sauntering around, but that was about all. I didn't see anything after that.
My entire body filled with a searing pain, a burning sensation. I saw Charcoal burning the threads, freeing herself. Everything was so bright, especially compared to before. But I soon felt detached, and no longer cared for what happened. I must have passed out, because when I opened my eyes again, I had evolved, and into a Leafeon, no less.
Was it from the prolonged exposure to the Moss Rock? Or maybe accumulated exposure? But I hadn't been near the Moss Rock for long. It must have been the effect of the extra thick moss. I tried breaking out of the sticky string the other Pokémon had bound me with, but to no avail. I was simply not used to my new body.
I've often heard of Pokémon who have suddenly evolved under pressure, in tight situations, so that they are stronger. Maybe that was what happened to me, under the guidance of the Moss Rock. But I could not understand. It was foolish to turn me into a grass-type in the middle of a bushfire. That would just make me more prone to dying. That aside, even though I retained the same basic anatomy, my body was so different. It didn't move the way I wanted it to. It was foreign.
I wondered if all Pokémon felt the same way I did. That it would be like starting all over again. I wondered what it would be for a Dragonair evolving into a Dragonite. It would gain a completely new anatomy, having new limbs and even wings. I was only larger, and capable of wielding new abilities.
Finally pulling myself to stand on all fours, I faced the other Pokémon. They seemed to recognise my presence, backing off slightly and preparing for battle. Charcoal lay in a heap beside me, tensing every now and again. Even with a type advantage, she had been overwhelmed by the forest Pokémon. I saw all the injuries she had sustained during what I assumed was her attempt of trying to protect me in my weakness.
There were many Pokémon on the ground, some still burning, unconscious or perhaps even dead, but many more hovering around, intimidating us. I couldn't let them kill Charcoal. She was likely my benefactor, the only reason why I was still alive. I was scared, but I wouldn't let that stop me. Instead, I let Instinct take over as I faced the other Pokémon. They were mainly bug-types and grass-types, and there were also some ghost-types.
I wondered if I should be scared of the bugs, but Instinct didn't think that way. Instinct didn't think. Instinct just wanted to kill everything.
Instinct unleashed a series of sharp-edged leaves, an ability I had not even seen before. It made me follow up with quick dashes, which injured the opponent on contact, and then alternated between the two attacks. The leaves thinned the already injured enemies considerably, which I thought was good.
I felt broken. It hurt everywhere. I was sure that I was bleeding, and if my body weren't fuelled by Instinct, it wouldn't be moving. I watched as countless enemies fell, and more and more of the sharp-edged leaves miss. My quick dashes were becoming shorter and less accurate, and Instinct decided to change tactics.
Instead of unleashing the sharp-edged leaves haphazardly and hoping they would hit, Instinct surrounded my body with curious leaves, which were then scattered outwards. They chased the enemies, and unlike the sharp-edged leaves, not a single one missed.
I observed that there were no more standing enemies. They had either retreated, or were lying on the floor unconscious, perhaps even dead. Instinct decided that I was safe and subsided. Without its strength supporting me, I collapsed onto the cold forest floor.
I thought to myself that I felt pretty good. I wondered how many hits I had taken. I felt stronger. I wondered if it was because I had evolved, or because I had defeated an entire mass of enemy Pokémon. I thought that it was strange that not a single Pokémon had tried to talk to us. I would have to consult Charcoal on that matter when she came to.
The forest began lighting up, and I noticed that the area around the Thick-Moss Rock was actually a clearing. No, perhaps I had noticed it earlier, but simply not committed it to mind. I watched as the stars faded from the night sky, replaced by the glorious light of the sun.
It felt good to be bathed in the warm sunlight, to have my fur caressed by the warm rays. The grass was still wet from the sudden downpour that had occurred during the night, but I think that it was good. It put out both fires – the one which had lit the forest, and the one which drove Charcoal's frenzy.
I focused my thoughts on the sunlight. It felt especially good on my tail and ears, which had warmed up considerably. I can't really describe the feeling, but I felt energised when the sun gave me its attention. It felt like it was giving me strength.
I stood up, and found that my injuries had healed. They weren't gone, but they were less obvious, and definitely less obnoxious. I trotted over to Charcoal, who still lay under the shade of the forest. She looked like she was in pain, and in much worse condition than I.
I felt guilty. I couldn't do anything to help her, and she had saved me on more than one occasion in the short time that we had met. I wandered off, hoping to find something to eat. And Arceus must have been smiling down on me, because I had found an Oran Berry tree, in full fruit.
Taking a small branch, I returned to Charcoal, hoping to make her feel better. The small flame at the end of her tail told me she was still alive. I watched her coal-black form rising and falling ever so slightly as she struggled to breathe. Her name really suited her, didn't it?
I nudged her with my muzzle, until she woke up. She groaned and rolled over, lazily opening her eyes to look at me, a defeated expression on her face.
"Who are you?"
"I evolved," I replied, even though I didn't answer the question. It was enough for her to understand, however.
"Ah, I see… How do you feel?"
"That's what I should be asking you. You're the one who's half dead. Here, Oran Berries."
Charcoal gratefully took the Oran Berries and inhaled them. And I mean inhaled them. They were gone before I even noticed. There was no putting the fruits in her mouth. No chewing. No swallowing. None of that. But I guess that she did eat the Oran Berries, because the effects were instantaneous. She recovered her stamina, and was visibly in better condition.
We headed off, determined to leave the forest. I noticed myself walking slower, as I felt weaker. It took much more effort to force my new legs forwards, but I knew that wasn't why I was tired. I had gotten somewhat used to it after Instinct had taken over, and I knew I got better after sunbathing.
But still, I collapsed. I passed out, but not before hearing a threatening roar from Charcoal.