After the Noctowl incident, mother increased security over us profusely. It was a rare moment when she left either me or my sister alone.

Determined to make any other Pokémon pay that tried to mess with me or my family of two, I doubled my efforts in training myself to be a good and strong fighter.

My sister and I formed a very close bond, and since she had been the runt of the litter, I kept an eye out for her. It wasn't long before she became close friends with a Sandshrew who was much bigger than her, so I had to part them several times when their romping became too rough.

No other Pokémon threatened us for quite a while, so Raichu started becoming lax in keeping her eye on us. One night she told us to remain in one spot instead of coming with her, and she went off in search of something yummy to eat. She usually could find well-tasting food, and each night it was a surprise as to what she would get her paws on.

Seeing her disappear into the bushes, my sister and I went to the nearby river for a drink of water. I lapped up some quickly, splashing a little at her "on accident."

She squeaked and sprung at me, knocking me under the water. Gurgling, I tried to open my eyes, but the water stung painfully. I felt her weight vanish, and I sprung to the surface, gulping in air. I blinked the water out of my eyes and spied my enemy in the air, my sister in between its sharp talons.

She struggled hard, she really did.

...But she'd never had my talent with electricity. She gave a last squeal, the Noctowl pinched her neck, and she became still.

Enraged, I let out a war-cry and jumped out of the water. I yelled out in hatred: "PIIIIIIIICCCCHHHHUUUUU!"

The electric bolt hit the flying beast dead-on, and it hooted in pain, descending, but it somehow managed to keep itself in the air, and before long it was flying higher, its prey still in its clutches.

I put all my strength into the next electric attack, all my pain, all my anger, all my sadness. I screamed out as loud as I could, and with all my remaining energy I let loose the most powerful Thundershock the forest had seen in years.

My determination to—no matter how puny I seemed compared to it—defeat the Noctowl, as well as its weakness to electric attacks, caused it to halt completely in its flight and careen down to the ground in a dead-slump.

Spent, I somehow managed to crawl the few feet to where the remains of my sister and her murderer lay. I cradled her gently in my arms, crying softly, "Pichuuu. Piii." Mournfully, I sung her death-song, as well as a belated one for my other sisters who had died not too long ago. A lone tear streaked down my face, and I finished my song about the sisterly love and companionship I had lost.

I felt hatred spring to the surface of my mind for all Pokémon, with a few exceptions, but I knew that it was unfair of me to accuse the actions of one upon all. I cleared away the hatred from my animosity-fogged brain, but when that was gone, all I felt was pain.

Searing mental pain, tearing through my heart.

Was this the way it was going to go on throughout my entire life? All loss, little gain?

That's when I vowed to become one of the most powerful Pokémon in the world and to protect the weak from the strong.

I may have been a young and inexperienced Pokémon, but the promise was made with all my heart.

With renewed determination, I lifted my head and sighed, crawling away from the death-place of my final sibling.

That's when it happened.

I barely noticed it at first. It started as a tingling feeling, and I merely put it off to being drained from my big release of power.

But then, my skin felt like it was stretching.

A very strange feeling. It was like my bones were trying to grow inside of me.

The pain hit.

Make it stop! was the main thought coursing through my mind.

I can't stand the pain!

Then came a flash of light...And it was over.

What was over, I wasn't sure.

But I was about to find out.

Shakily, feeling strange, I hobbled over to the river.

To my surprise, a new face stared up at me.

Well, it wasn't entirely new, it was just...modified.

...As if I had metamorphosed into a different creature.

Come to think of it, that wasn't that wild of an explanation...

I studied myself.

I was a bit bigger...and chubbier. My ears were still black at the tips, but it was more solid-looking. My cheeks were a really rosy red, and I felt...stronger.

Wishing to mull over this later and sleep now (my metamorphosis had drained me), I started over towards the nest and curled up on the leaves.

I was almost asleep when I heard a rustling in the bushes, and I awoke with a start.

"Chu-Rai...Chu?" Raichu was shocked and thought what she saw was a stranger in her children's bed. She startled growling protectively, but she stopped when she saw my expression.

I ran over to her, explaining everything quickly. "Pika. Chu-chu! Pi-pika!" Wait a minute...Pika?

I was different! I was now...a Pikachu?

"Pikachu?" Don't you recognize me?

"Rai!" She still seemed distrusting.

"Pika...Pi. Chu..." I was hurt that she didn't recognize her own son.

Her eyes widened, with sudden understanding. "Rai?" She asked where my sister was, a fearful look on her face.

"Pi..." I informed her, softly...sadly.

"Rai! Chu rai raichu? Rai-rai chu?" She cried out, throwing her paws in the air. Why? Why must my children die? What have I done wrong?

"Pika!" I hurried to reassure her. "Chu. Pi. Pika. Chu. Pi-ka, ka pi!" It was not her fault. The evil being who did this is dead.

"Rai?" And your sister?

"...Pi. Chu." ...So is she.

Silence.

She slowly walked to where I stood, a new creature inside and out. We embraced, the need for any more words non-existent.

I grew up completely that day. Became an adult, one might say, mentally and physically. But sadly, most of the memories of my early childhood had faded away, and I only had a vague remembrance of my sisters, although the pain of losing them still lingered. I had a feeling that I could have somehow stopped my evolution, but it was too late for that now.

But I would never evolve again.

No matter what the cost.