A/N: This entry deals with death, so some readers may be bothered.

Lilligant

It was one of my neighbors who had this Pokemon first. Young college woman, you see. I met her when she moved in just before classes started; seemed like a real bright and cheery girl, one who wouldn't be much trouble. And she moved in with the Lilligant, who was a sweet and lovely Pokemon that loved to dance and sing. The college folks move in and out all the time, usually with a Pokemon or two, so it wasn't new. They were a nice pair when we first met, but then college got them busy and I didn't see them much.

And it was the Lilligant who showed the first obvious signs of trouble. When they moved in, the Pokemon had this gorgeous red flower growing on the side of her head. Had a fine strong scent too, one that they say is good for reducing stress. But about a month into the school year, I saw the Lilligant again and the scent of her flower was far weaker. Its petals seemed pale, pinkish instead of bright red. The girl told me the Pokemon was homesick, so I told them to take care.

After that, I saw even less of the pair. The girl would come back and go straight to her apartment after class, often without her Lilligant out. I didn't know them very well, so I didn't want to pry much. While most of the college folk would have friends over, I never saw her bring anyone else home. But some folks don't socialize as much.

In the last month of the semester, I saw the Lilligant again. She was on her own and she looked terrible. The flower on her head had completely wilted and turned brown, while her grass dress was dry and brittle. With Grass Pokemon, many of them will be fine with enough sunshine and water, so a decline this bad usually indicated something was emotionally wrong. I had read that her particular species can only be obtained by making the Pokemon happy and friendly, so I wondered if there was some trouble with the girl too.

It was a bit eerie, though. The Lilligant was wilted and dry, but she was out there in the apartment hallway dancing and swaying around. All the while, she repeated a melody of three notes. It was one of those times when I wished I understood Pokemon, although one didn't need to know that to know that she was unstable. Since she was out, I knocked on the girl's door, even though it was open a crack.

The girl had committed suicide, which is always a terrible thing to find out. One would think that someone would intervene before something like that happened. But I didn't know her all that well and her friends and family had been shocked too. I called the police and brought the Lilligant into my apartment, to keep an eye on her.

With her Trainer gone, the Lilligant was devastated. She seemed to be distracting herself with her song and dance, although there was noticeably no spirit to it. I tried to get her to drink some water, but she didn't seem interested. While she moved around, her dry leaves flaked off along the edges. It was hard to see a formerly healthy and happy Pokemon depressed into ruin.

When the police came, they asked me some questions, then had me drive the Lilligant to a Pokecenter for medical care. I talked with her on the way, but she kept continuing her three note song. Later, I met with some of the girl's friends and told them about the Pokemon.

I still checked into the Pokecenter about her. She was brought to the funeral, but that didn't turn out well. On meeting with the girl's parents, the Lilligant shrieked and would have attacked them if she hadn't been in a weakened condition. And while no one was watching her closely, she took the blooms off a flower arrangement made by the family. They decided not to take her to the cemetery due to her disruptions.

Even now, I'm not sure what had incited that behavior. Was it a bad history with them, or did she put the blame on the death on the parents? It may even have been simply an irrational mood brought on by the tragedy. But it made an impact on the family, who decided to not take in the Lilligant after the funeral. Even the girl's friends didn't seem too enthused to take care of her.

Since the Pokecenter knew me and I had been checking up on her regularly, the doctor there offered me the chance to adopt her. I had to think about it for a time. I lived right next to the girl's former apartment, after all. But since no one else connected to her wanted the Pokemon, I agreed to take in the Lilligant and help her recover.

It was many months while she was still suffering, alternatively keeping away from her old home and wandering in there. She started out indifferent towards me, sometimes even angered as if I could have done something to stop the suicide. Perhaps if I had been a better neighbor to the girl, I might have had some impact. But I did my best for the Lilligant when she became my responsibility.

I've really grown fond of her in this time, and she has shown many signs of being out of depression. Her leaf dress is looking healthy and full once again, while she sings happier songs when I'm around. As for her flower, she has a bud that's been there for a couple of weeks now, but it's not showing signs of blooming soon. But she's my friend now, and I believe she sees me as her's too.

…

Lilligant White entry: The fragrance of the garland on its head has a relaxing effect. It withers if a Trainer does not take good care of it.

I was going to do this for Mother's Day, but this idea I got from the entry was just too depressing for the holiday.