Tree Sap. (A Short Story)

"Worthless piece of crap."

Although she'd gotten it bad from her owner before, this was the worst. Her fur was already matted with drying blood from her last fight. She squinted, as grass was kicked at her face by her bitter trainer.

"Why do I even keep you around? You lost to a PINCER?! How friggin' lame are you?"

If she could speak english, she would be apologizing. Her chin to the dirt, she'd be groveling for forgiveness. Unfortunately, Eevee could only trill and squeak, in an ignored attempt at commiseration.

"I should have Charmeleon melt you down! Maybe your skeleton could be useful." He lifted one of his pokeballs, containing his 'quarterback' starter pokemon, Charmeleon. "You've lost EVERY fight, so I bet he'd kick your sorry fluffy butt too."

Eevee shuddered for a moment, but the Trainer put away the red and white ball. "Nah. You know what? Stay here. I don't care what you do, just don't follow me. Got it?"

Eevee looked up, terrified.

She'd never make it without him. This trainer, however cruel, was all she knew. He'd hatched her. Had high hopes for her. But the pup was useless in combat, given only a few short months to learn what took most pokemon their whole adolescence.

She begged with her eyes for another chance.

A sudden, harsh hiss came from the bushes. The trainer nearly jumped out of his skin, as a blur of green and silver started for him.

A wild Scyther. Its wingbeats bowed the grass, as it landed on both feet. Before the trainer could reflexively draw a pokeball, the Scyther slashed at him, cutting his sleeve and tossing him onto the grass.

"AGH! WHAT THE-" The trainer was immediately silent, clapping a hand over his mouth as the Scyther loomed over him, hissing and cocking its head to the side.

Suddenly, the slender-buglike humanoid jerked backwards, barking in pain. "SAHAH!!!" It looked down, and Eevee bit hard into its heel.

Silently, the pitiful little brown furry creature bit harder, standing her ground. Willing her trainer to flee. Loyal to the bitter end.

The trainer obliged, heedless of his savior's safety. He stood, and beat feet as fast as he could, sprinting away from the fray.

Eevee took the blunt side of the Scyther's arm, smacked hard in the side. She flopped like a ragdoll, rolling across the grass. Doggedly she stood, growling.

The Scyther beat its wings. She felt the gust of those powerful wings from a meter away. Scyther, unforgiving, began to fly circles around her. She followed his gaze.

This wasn't a fair fight, nor was it a sporting one. It was to the end, and Eevee was at a terrible disadvantage.

Still, she charged. With two hops, and a leap, she pounced towards the Scyther.

With one swing, the Eevee was smacked away by the broad side of the Scyther's arm. He wasn't cutting yet, but his strength alone battered Eevee aside.

She was done for. Unable to stand and fight on, she laid alone in the grass. Scyther's wings stopped, and the angry bug walked forward, grinding its blades together.

Eevee didn't notice, but the sound of wingbeats returned. Incredibly fast, she felt a gust of wind pass over her, as another challenger hurtled past her, stirring foot to seek her cruel foe.

BAAAAAAAAM.

The footsteps halted completely, punctuated by an impact that shook the Eevee's teeth. She opened her eyes, and perked up her ears.

She saw nothing, but heard more footsteps. The Scyther was trilling, weak, fleeing, clearly in pain. Someone had saved her life, and she hadn't the strength to acknowledge them.

The last thing she saw were a pair of huge, bulging eyes. She could make out a dark, steely blue. A strangely friendly smile.

She felt hard, cool claws wrapping gently around the scruff of her neck. She felt her sore body bob as she was carried off, but she couldn't open her eyes to see who had hold of her.

Everything went black.

Eevee awoke to harsh, crunching noises. She whimpered, her head fiercely hurting. Her eyes seemed glued shut.

She could feel cool patches on her fur. She worried for a moment that she'd been shaved. Her eyes peeled open.

She was covered in wet leaves. They felt strangely soothing. Almost angelic.

But they were sticky. So sticky that she couldn't remove herself from the 'bed' she was in, a hollowed out tree stump.

There was a strange, sweet aroma everywhere. She couldn't locate anything by scent. Her first priority was to find her master.

Then she saw it. Her eyes widening, she spotted something that moved leisurely behind a tree, just out of view as she tried to focus her blurry vision.

She heard loud crunching, and imagined the worst. Some predator, munching bones?

No.

The creature's munching sounds stopped, as Eevee stirred. She panicked. He could hear her.

Stepping from behind the tree, the creature revealed itself.

A round, hard carapace, a shining dark blue. A horn that stretched up from his forehead. Stubby, powerful legs and long, hard arms that terminated in cream colored claws. His body was covered in light grass stains, and his mouth was lined with tree sap and splinters of bark.

His antennae, round spheres over his head, wagged lightly, its tongue licking the sap off of his face. The carapace around his mouth was structured in a way that made him constantly smile. Its eyes fixed on the Eevee.

A Heracross. She'd never seen one, and had no idea what it was, knowing only that it was a fellow pokemon, and a three feet bigger than her. Her thirteen pounds next to his one-hundred and change, made for bad odds in a fight.

She was trapped. Doomed. She resigned herself to cruel fate as the Heracross tromped forward.

Its hand wrapped around the scruff of her neck. She winced, preparing for her final stand.

Heracross lifted her, unsticking her from the innards of the tree stump.

NOW!!!

Her paws swung in the direction of his face. He pulled her away from his eyes and mouth, startled, but not letting go. His teeth bore not in anger, but confused, frightened shock. Eevee clacked her teeth together, praying by some miracle that she would find his throat with her fangs.

Heracross released a breathy, jolly cackle. He quickly realized it was IMPOSSIBLE for her to hurt him. He reeled his arm in, and she pawed at his face, claws sliding off of his hard, shining carapace.

HIS EYES! HIS EYES! How powerfully she swung with her sore little arms! She aimed for his face.

He shut his eyes. Even his eyelids were armored. He smiled slyly. Almost mockingly.

Alright. Enough of that.

Heracross tucked Eevee under his arm, and walked to the tree.

Eevee, tired out, did nothing, observing his behavior and awaiting a chance to retaliate. Searching for a weakness.

He bit into the tree, crunching it with his jaws. He backed up, chewing, satisfied. He then reached into the tree with his free hand, pulling out a long, sticky trail of sap.

With his claws, he worked it into a ball small enough for Eevee's mouth. Holding Eevee under his arm, he stuffed the ball into her mouth.

She winced, then sucked on the syrupy orb.

Sweet.

She'd never experienced sweet. For a moment, she forgot her prideful anger and happily let the ball of sap slowly melt in her mouth. It gave her much needed energy.

Heracross reached further into the tree, and pulled forth a white grub. He took it with him back to the stump, depositing Eevee there. Once again, she was stuck in the log. Heracross gave her the grub to eat, then sat beside the log.

Eevee once again assumed the worst. He must be fattening her up for later consumption!

Sleep.

No. He was simply guarding the pup, so she could regain her strength.

Thus began the friendship of the Heracross, and his tiny, currently ungrateful guest.

So cute... Man do I feel weird sayin that but I can't think of anything else right now.

That's super weird, coming from you, Manny. Thanks. :D

There'll be more soon. Maybe an hour or two. Trying to get the hang of this new color thing.

Heracross napped. It had been two days. Eevee was free from the log, her strength regained. Heracross was satisfied that she had regained enough strength to move and act on her own.

She stayed close, patrolling the area. Her trainer would come soon, surely.

Heracross thought nothing of the little ball of fur. Occasionally, he would give her more sap and grubs. She wasn't leaving anytime soon, so Heracross decided to friend her.

She was having none of it. Any attempt for him to approach her was met with a hostile growl.

Heracross stood, yawning. Eevee was in plain sight, as per the midday norm. He stood, resting on all fours, his wing casing lifting and revealing his thick wings. He stretched them whenever he awoke.

Eevee watched him cautiously. She seemed to be considering him for some reason or another. Heracross simply walked past her, and leaned forward, chomping into the tree behind her.

Sitting on her haunches, she watched him. Still studying the passive creature.

For all his laziness, he had decent strength. He usually used it to feed his healthy appetite, his claws and jaws tearing through tree bark.

Was this really the creature that rescued her from that Scyther?

Wingbeats filled the air. Heracross looked up, his usual, stamped on smile turning towards a small flock of Butterfree.

They swooped down, cautious of Eevee, but totally trusting of Heracross. He lifted his claw, and jammed it into the tree, scraping away bark.

The Butterfree flock landed in front of him on the tree, feeding on the sap.

Eevee watched, confused. His actions genuinely, and directly benefitted those Butterfree. He was acting on their behalf, knowing they hadn't the strength to tear into the tree for the sap.

Eevee sat on her paws, as Heracross handed her her own daily orb of tree sap.

Heracross looked at the small creature, who didn't hiss or bark, as per usual. She took the tree sap from him quietly. She glanced up at him once, then ate.

Heracross sat in front of her, and Eevee looked up at him.

Why are you helping me too, when I was mean to you?

Heracross seemed to understand the question, even though Eevee had no way to voice it. He opened his eyes wider, his smile widening.

Before he could respond in any real way, a rumbling, stomping, approaching beast broke up the peaceful atmosphere.

Heracross's smile darkened, and he stood.

Stay behind me.

The tree was split in half by a swing of a mighty purple claw. Out of its territory, bristling with spines and muscle, a Nidoking was itching to make dinner of something.

One single Butterfree was pinned under the tree. The Nidoking knelt down to bite.

Heracross's arm was all it tasted. He stepped in the way, wedging his spiked forearm into the Nidoking's jaws, smiling.

The purple beast broke a fang against his armor. It recoiled, roaring in pain.

Heracross cocked his arm, and swung it. His clawed hand pushed a crater in the Nidoking's stomach, the hard blow forcing the larger opponent to stumble back.

Roaring, the Nidoking lurched forward, intending to fall upon Heracross and crush him under a rain of blows from his powerful claws.

Heracross jumped, and wrapped an arm around Nidoking. His wings beat, and he turned in midair, Nidoking's body turning with him. With a single spin, he hurled Nidoking up and over, flipping and smashing him against the ground.

The Butterfree struggled to break free of the tree's weight, still trapped. Satisfied he'd won, Heracross lifted the tree.

Nidoking stood, and kicked the tree, hurling Heracross backwards with an unexpected, powerful blow. Heracross was dazed and knocked on his back, spinning in circles on the soft grass.

Nidoking turned to the Butterfree, still intent on finding a meal.

Chomp.

Eevee bit his tail with all her might, tearing at it.

Leave it alone!

Nidoking turned, but Eevee stayed on its tail. The angry Nidoking chased its own tail for a moment, enraged and pained.

Eevee heard the furious beating of wings. It recognized the sound from before. As she slipped into unconsciousness after facing Scyther, she'd heard the same sound. Heracross was flying forward with all his might.

His horn was borne and shining. He lanced it into the Nidoking's stomach. The blow knocked the beast end over end, sending Eevee rolling away, but more dizzy than hurt.

Heracross seized the Nidoking's tail.

It is time for you to leave.

Heracross spun in a circle, swinging Nidoking round and round. His wings beat, to add to his momentum. He released, and Nidoking was hurled up and away, disappearing from sight. Heracross was more than strong. He was herculanean.

Finished, Heracross turned to his fallen, dizzy comrade, Eevee. She attempted to stand, but her pupils darted this way and that, confused and terrified.

Heracross put one hand on her head. Mistaking Heracross for the Nidoking, she lifted her paw and swiped at hard as she could, barking with wrath. Heracross cried out, and staggered back, clutching his chest where the scratch had landed.

She regained her bearings a moment later, and realized what she'd done. In her desperation to fight back against an enemy that wasn't there, she'd actually managed to wound Heracross. Two thick scratches lay across his chest.

Eevee barked once in frustration and sadness. The only person she'd managed to hurt was the one trying to help her. She lowered her head, feeling truly worthless.

Heracross patted his chest, none the worse for wear, save for the cosmetic damage brought on by the scrape. He prodded Eevee's head.

Sometimes, people are hurt, or scared, or treated bad for so wrong that they forget when things are safe. I try to remind them. If they scratch me in the process, it's ok.

Heracross smiled, and walked back to his broken tree, picking what sap out of it he could. He rolled some in a ball, and offered it to Eevee.

Eevee took it, and barked once with true appreciation.

Bad John wrote:Heracross napped. It had been two days. Eevee was free from the log, her strength regained. Heracross was satisfied that she had regained enough strength to move and act on her own.

She stayed close, patrolling the area. Her trainer would come soon, surely.

Heracross thought nothing of the little ball of fur. Occasionally, he would give her more sap and grubs. She wasn't leaving anytime soon, so Heracross decided to friend her.

She was having none of it. Any attempt for him to approach her was met with a hostile growl.

Heracross stood, yawning. Eevee was in plain sight, as per the midday norm. He stood, resting on all fours, his wing casing lifting and revealing his thick wings. He stretched them whenever he awoke.

Eevee watched him cautiously. She seemed to be considering him for some reason or another. Heracross simply walked past her, and leaned forward, chomping into the tree behind her.

Sitting on her haunches, she watched him. Still studying the passive creature.

For all his laziness, he had decent strength. He usually used it to feed his healthy appetite, his claws and jaws tearing through tree bark.

Was this really the creature that rescued her from that Scyther?

Wingbeats filled the air. Heracross looked up, his usual, stamped on smile turning towards a small flock of Butterfree.

They swooped down, cautious of Eevee, but totally trusting of Heracross. He lifted his claw, and jammed it into the tree, scraping away bark.

The Butterfree flock landed in front of him on the tree, feeding on the sap.

Eevee watched, confused. His actions genuinely, and directly benefitted those Butterfree. He was acting on their behalf, knowing they hadn't the strength to tear into the tree for the sap.

Eevee sat on her paws, as Heracross handed her her own daily orb of tree sap.

Heracross looked at the small creature, who didn't hiss or bark, as per usual. She took the tree sap from him quietly. She glanced up at him once, then ate.

Heracross sat in front of her, and Eevee looked up at him.

Why are you helping me too, when I was mean to you?

Heracross seemed to understand the question, even though Eevee had no way to voice it. He opened his eyes wider, his smile widening.

Before he could respond in any real way, a rumbling, stomping, approaching beast broke up the peaceful atmosphere.

Heracross's smile darkened, and he stood.

Stay behind me.

The tree was split in half by a swing of a mighty purple claw. Out of its territory, bristling with spines and muscle, a Nidoking was itching to make dinner of something.

One single Butterfree was pinned under the tree. The Nidoking knelt down to bite.

Heracross's arm was all it tasted. He stepped in the way, wedging his spiked forearm into the Nidoking's jaws, smiling.

The purple beast broke a fang against his armor. It recoiled, roaring in pain.

Heracross cocked his arm, and swung it. His clawed hand pushed a crater in the Nidoking's stomach, the hard blow forcing the larger opponent to stumble back.

Roaring, the Nidoking lurched forward, intending to fall upon Heracross and crush him under a rain of blows from his powerful claws.

Heracross jumped, and wrapped an arm around Nidoking. His wings beat, and he turned in midair, Nidoking's body turning with him. With a single spin, he hurled Nidoking up and over, flipping and smashing him against the ground.

The Butterfree struggled to break free of the tree's weight, still trapped. Satisfied he'd won, Heracross lifted the tree.

Nidoking stood, and kicked the tree, hurling Heracross backwards with an unexpected, powerful blow. Heracross was dazed and knocked on his back, spinning in circles on the soft grass.

Nidoking turned to the Butterfree, still intent on finding a meal.

Chomp.

Eevee bit his tail with all her might, tearing at it.

Leave it alone!

Nidoking turned, but Eevee stayed on its tail. The angry Nidoking chased its own tail for a moment, enraged and pained.

Eevee heard the furious beating of wings. It recognized the sound from before. As she slipped into unconsciousness after facing Scyther, she'd heard the same sound. Heracross was flying forward with all his might.

His horn was borne and shining. He lanced it into the Nidoking's stomach. The blow knocked the beast end over end, sending Eevee rolling away, but more dizzy than hurt.

Heracross seized the Nidoking's tail.

It is time for you to leave.

Heracross spun in a circle, swinging Nidoking round and round. His wings beat, to add to his momentum. He released, and Nidoking was hurled up and away, disappearing from sight. Heracross was more than strong. He was herculanean.

Finished, Heracross turned to his fallen, dizzy comrade, Eevee. She attempted to stand, but her pupils darted this way and that, confused and terrified.

Heracross put one hand on her head. Mistaking Heracross for the Nidoking, she lifted her paw and swiped at hard as she could, barking with wrath. Heracross cried out, and staggered back, clutching his chest where the scratch had landed.

She regained her bearings a moment later, and realized what she'd done. In her desperation to fight back against an enemy that wasn't there, she'd actually managed to wound Heracross. Two thick scratches lay across his chest.

Eevee barked once in frustration and sadness. The only person she'd managed to hurt was the one trying to help her. She lowered her head, feeling truly worthless.

Heracross patted his chest, none the worse for wear, save for the cosmetic damage brought on by the scrape. He prodded Eevee's head.

Sometimes, people are hurt, or scared, or treated bad for so wrong that they forget when things are safe. I try to remind them. If they scratch me in the process, it's ok.

Heracross smiled, and walked back to his broken tree, picking what sap out of it he could. He rolled some in a ball, and offered it to Eevee.

Eevee took it, and barked once with true appreciation.

Well, I'm happy to know I'm not the only Pokemon fan in the bunch! Well done John, I've enjoyed it thus far.

Do you plan on continuing it?

Are we all coming out of the Pokemon closet here?

In that case...

I have Blue, Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, HAD Emerald (sister lost it), Diamond, Platinum, and HeartGold.

Never beat HeartGold though, mainly because life.

Interesting to see Pokemon characterized in this manner. I like it.

I thought we were all Pokemon fans here anyways. Lol.

Heracross tromped through the woods, his wings occasionally fluttering, producing a low buzzing noise.

Eevee followed him faithfully, bounding to and fro. She was a bit more hyperactive, coming out of her angry, prideful shell. She was being more like herself than she'd ever been, living out her lost puppy-hood.

Heracross abided her energetic nature in stride. It wasn't in him to begrudge anyone for being happy.

Eevee leaped in front of him, hissing. She wanted to play-fight. Heracross stopped, and his eyes slanted in mock anger, his carefree smile widening.

Eevee pounced, her jaws open in a fierce display of teeth, ready to bite. She landed on Heracross's shoulders, chomping on his horn. Heracross's balance wasn't even slightly upset as she gnawed on his horn. He reached up, and plucked her off, pinning her on the grass with his claws.

Eevee thrashed and clawed, biting his claws. Heracross let up, and she jumped up, poised to move.

Woooooooosh.

Heracross, startled, stared at the ground where Eevee once was. She was gone in a flash. Heracross could vaguely make out her figure darting to and fro, but couldn't keep up. Eevee was a brown and cream colored blur, moving with the wind.

Whiff wif WOOOOSH.

Heracross looked around, confused. In an instant, Eevee was on his back again, biting his horn.

...IMPOSSIBLE. How is she this fast?

Heracross plucked her off, and set her down, tickling her stomach again. Her muscles were thicker now. She'd grown too.

The roots of her fur were pale green.

Hm...she's changing. Is she sick?

Eevee stood, panting. More evident than the other physicical changes were the mental ones. She was truly happy. Her smile mirrored his quite often. She even smiled as she slept. She'd learned to eat grubs and leaves and sap, growing stronger and more healthy.

Heracross waved his paw, choosing not to worry. Her changes were for the better, after all.

Heracross looked up. It was getting late. He stretched, then tromped towards a tree, and took a hard bite into its trunk.

Eevee hopped onto his back, watching him reach into the trunk. He pulled grubs and sap from it, and handed Eevee a fistful. Eevee licked his arm, and bit a grub away from his claws, bouncing away from him to eat it. Heracross drank his dinner, and leaned against the tree.

"VvvvVVVvvvv..." He began to sleep immediately, as Eevee ate. She curled up in front of him. She wasn't sleepy, but she didn't like letting Heracross sleep alone in the open. She watched him.

"VvVVVVvvvvVvvv..." His wings vibrated beneath their shell as he slept. A strange, snoring song.

Eevee stood. Something in her called her to get up.

She turned, and looked deep into the woods.

...What is that?

Sh sniffed, then made an attentive hiffing noise.

Can't see it. Know it's there. Going.

She began to walk, but then noticed Heracross. Not wanting to leave him without some acknowledgement that she'd be back, she began to pull at the grass, impatient.

She couldn't wait for him to wake up. She had to go to whatever it was NOW. She could feel it. She tore the grass faster, her claws digging into a hole. She made a line in the grass, pointing in the direction she'd gone, then she turned.

WOOOOOOOOOSH. In an instant, she darted off.

Eevee came to a stop. Surrounded by a puddle of shallow water, it stood.

Just a rock. A mossy, dirty rock. Eevee felt drawn to it. She walked through the puddle, her feet dripping and her fur becoming damp. She pawed the smooth rock. She clawed the moss patiently. It regrew almost instantly. It wasn't ordinary moss.

It glowed. Eevee, unable to look away, felt the light flow into her eyes. It washed over her, a warm, soft feeling. She sat there, mesmerized by it.

Alone in the night, sitting in front of the rock, the remained there, forgetting everything that was before, and anything that could come after. All that mattered was the rock.

...I found it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"TZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. VZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ."

Heracross stomped along, occasionally lifting himself off of the ground with his wings, making a alert, terrified buzz.

Where are you?! Where are you?!

Heracross looked around. It was day. The ground where Eevee was sleeping had been torn up. Something may have dragged her away.

Where where where?! Heracross stopped and slammed his claw against a tree. Butterfree sailed around him, sprinkling calming powders, trying to ease their guardian's temper, but he would not be soothed.

"Vrrrrrrrrrr..." Heracross looked around at them. Find her. Find her now!

The Butterfree obeyed, scattering to retrieve Eevee. They had no idea where to look, but their numbers would help.

If Nidoking took her, I'll tear him down! Heracross clawed the ground, his smile gone. He had a straight, angry, worried expression.

"Holy crap! A Heracross!"

Heracross turned, spotting the person who had blurted the phrase.

IT'S HIM.

The Trainer.

The one who abandoned her! You took her! Heracross took a bold step forward. Rarely did he prepare himself for battle out of anger, but this was a serious situation.

"I can test my NEW pokemon on him!" The Trainer grinned, and tossed a pokeball up in the air. "GO Raticate!"

The pokeball clacked against the ground, and a brown rat came forth from the ball. "Let's see how you do against HIM! He's fully evolved, ya dumb beetle!"

Heracross waved his arms to and fro, ready to fight. Raticate pounced forward, teeth borne.

Heracross caught his jaws, and wrapped an arm around Raticate's round, furry head. He swung the Raticate around, and tossed it. Its teeth lodged in a tree, sticking it there.

Heracross used the opening, hovering, and swinging around towards the Raticate's flank. His horn smashed against the Raticate's ribs, a blunt, painful strike that ended the battle.

Raticate tumbled across the grass, unconscious.

"...You..." Angry, the Trainer ground his teeth. "Alright, playtime is OVER! Charmeleon! GO!!!"

Heracross's expression darkened.

A fire type. In his woods.

He needed to end this fight quickly. The ball popped open, and a Charmeleon prepared himself for battle, his tail wagging. The flaming tail lit the dry grass behind him. Heracross hissed in anger.

Charging forward, Heracross lifted his claw. SIFF. Heracross jabbed the air with tremendous force. Charmeleon was quite fast, avoiding the powerful blow.

"CHAAAAAA." The Charmeleon planted its feet, and swung its claws. The Heracross caught the blow.

His armor steamed. The enemy was even hot to the touch. Painfully so. Charmeleon sensed the weakness, and swung its free hand. Heracross blocked the swing, holding Charmeleon's arm and gritting his teeth. The two were locked in a power struggle.

Heracross proved stronger, pushing Charmeleon back, despite the pain.

"YOU GOT HIM RIGHT WHERE YOU WANT HIM! BURN HIS HEAD OFF!!!"

Fire pooled in Charmeleon's mouth. Flame oozed from his teeth, and he leaned his head back. "CHAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

The flames nearly roasted Heracross's face. He leaned his head to the side, a serious, wrathful look on his plain, honest blue face. He leaned his head back.

"HERAAAAAAAAAAA."

He swung his head forward, the horn bashing Charmeleon on the nose. He was tossed backwards, barely regaining his balance. The red biped stood, and spat fire as Heracross charged. Unable to dodge, Heracross was engulfed in the wide stream of flame.

"You got him!"

Heracross burst through the fire, his blue armor shining.

"CROSSSSS!!!"

Heracross's horn slammed Charmeleon at full force. Charmeleon was unconscious on contact, thrown face down on the grass.

Heracross planted one foot on the unconscious pokemon, growling.

"DAMMIT! My pokemon suck! YOU SUCK! Why can't I find a reliable fighter?!"

Heracross smiled, stepping away from his fallen opponent. He stepped towards the trainer, ready to finish his business.

"...CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...."

Charmeleon rose, his skin glowing as he staggered to his feet. His eyes were blood red, his skin turning a bright, molten orange.

Heracross readied himself. "Ooooooh! GO Charmeleon! He's evolving! You're in for it now, Beetle!"

Heracross stood his ground bravely, as Charmeleon began to grow. Wings sprouted, his features obscured by the molten glow.

"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

The moss stopped glowing. Eevee was alone again. The moss no longer held meaning for her.

How long had she been there? It was daylight!

...Did the rock get smaller? Eevee moved about with unease. She felt strangely bare. Her body felt stronger. Refreshed.

...I'd better find-

Her thoughts were cut off by a strange, hot burst in the distance. She turned, and a wave of heat hit her face. She could smell smoke.

Strangest of all, she could FEEL trees dying far away.

And she could feel the fading life of her dearest companion.

FRIEND! I'm coming!


SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOF.

She was faster than before. Her legs were longer. She could see her paws. They were different. Every part of her felt new. Strange.

But there was no time to ponder. She had to act.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Butterfree gathered, floating overhead, safely away from the fight. Their hero laid in a circle of burnt grass.

Heracross was defeated, laying with his eyes shut on his back. He struggled to rise, but the heat sapped him of his strength.

Charizard, was too great an adversary. His teeth were like wrought iron. His claws were long and sharp.

Heracross had stood up to, matched, and even countered the physical blows, despite Charizard's size. What had finished him was the sheer firepower.

...Forgive me...friend... Heracross scratched the ground, regretting his defeat. He failed to protect his home, or find his friend.

The Butterfree swooped down, harassing the Charizard, trying to give him time to run away. They refused to leave their protector to die, but Charizard shrugged off their tackles and kicks. He didn't seem to even care as they assaulted his head.

WOOOOOOOOOOSH.

A green streak split the grass, and a new challenger bashed Charizard in the jaw with a massive headbutt. Charizard hissed, and snapped his jaws, but the creature avoided the bite and landed on her feet, out of reach.

Her skin was a light, cream color. Her ears were green like leaves. Small tufts of green fur marked her chest and the top of her head. Her tail wagged.

Leafeon stood in front of Charizard, ready to fight and win.

"Another pokemon? What kind is this one?" The Trainer scratched his head.

Leafeon moved, swooping to the left. She swung her tail, and a green blade sliced through the air, swiping across Charizard's face, blinding him for the moment. Leafeon zoomed across the grass, her claws slashing Charizard's knee, forcing the creature down.

She was nimble. Her movements came naturally. Charizard was clumsy and sore, unable to fly yet. Despite the type advantage, the fight was out of his favor.

Leafeon leaped onto Charizard's neck, and bit the back of his head.

"CHOOOOO!!!" Charizard thrashed, throwing her off. She relentlessly attacked again, biting Charizard's lip. The dragon threw her off yet again, but fell to his hands and knees.

I may not have a horn, but I'm strong too, friend!!!

Leafeon strafed, and charged. Charizard looked up and breathed his fire. The green blur weaved to and fro, leaping over the flaming stream.

Her skull bashed against his with great force, throwing the Charizard backwards. The beast fainted, leaving his trainer stunned.

Leafeon looked at her bewildered Trainer.

The boy who had abused and abandoned her.

...I should hate you, but to be honest...that seems beneath me now. You'll never defeat us.

She stepped towards him. He panicked and backed up, but Leafeon bit his shirt, shaking him back and forth with her jaws. 

But I cannot forgive you! You're not my master anymore! You hurt my friend! Don't come back!!!

The Trainer seemed to get the message, and lifted his pokeball, calling back his Charizard.

Leafeon watched him leave in fear.

She turned back to Heracross.

Heracross looked up. All he could see was a cream colored, green accented blur. A pair of brown eyes. The familiar scent of tree sap.

It all went black.

Eevee?

Heracross opened his eyes. He looked around, standing up to fight his enemy.

There was none. He was set in a hollowed log. He could feel the soft wingbeats of Butterfree around him. His burn wounds didn't hurt. On the contrary, they felt cold and soothing. 

The Butterfree had laid wet, sappy leaves on his armor. The medicine he used to heal Eevee when he first met her. She'd told them to do this, clearly, but where was she now?

Heracross stood. He was near water. The Butterfree landed around him, pointing their stubby arms towards the other side of the lake.

Heracross could make out another pokemon. A cream colored, foxlike creature. He'd never seen one of her type before.

She looked into the water, pondering her appearance.

Then she looked up.

"LEEEEEEE!!!" She squealed with delight to see Heracross was ok. She darted to him, but then stopped in her tracks, not far from him. She saw uncertainty in his eyes. The two stared at each-other, unsure for a moment.

...Do you recognize me?

Leafeon expected the worst. Had their friendship faltered?

Heracross's expression was blank at first. Then he began to walk away. Leafeon lowered her head, crushed that her friend could no longer remember her face.

Heracross stopped at a tree, and placed his mouth on it. It took some effort to bite through, but he chomped into it, and reached his hand in. In a moment, he had rolled a small ball of sugary tree sap, and offered it to Leafeon.

Of course I recognize you. My how you've grown! You must be hungry.

Leafeon pounced on Heracross's head, overjoyed, biting his horn. Heracross pulled her off and rubbed her stomach, the two laughing and fighting.

Leafeon licked Heracross's cheek, and Heracross buzzed, walking back to the hollow tree stump. It would be awhile before he was in fighting condition again. Leafeon faithfully sat beside him as he took a nap, guarding her infirm friend.

You showed me I could be safe and happy, and that I could find a friend who cared. You asked nothing from me. You showed me a world where I could become something more.

She looked at Heracross. He still had the scratch from when Eevee had scraped his armor with her claws.

Even though I scratched you, you told me it was ok. You kept me safe, even if I was useless. I love you, my truest friend.

Leafeon curled up, grooming herself quietly as Heracross snored. The Butterfree swooped to and fro, celebrating the reunion and victory of their comrades.

And thus, the two guardians of the forest rested.

FIN.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkEmDItUAUU To cap it off, a song. :) I think it fits well. To all who read this far, have a nice day, and never take true friends for granted. You gotta be a friend to have a friend.

I enjoyed this project. :) I may do something in the same realm later, but for now, it's over.

I had this feeling that Eevee would turn into Leafon.

I don't know why, but Vaporeon, Espeon, and Leafon just seem like they should be female evolutions...

Leafeon is my personal favorite Eeveelution.  They all seem feminine to me.

My manly Umbreon objects to such a statement!

Anyways...somehow I missed three entire chapters...

That Charizard fight was good stuff.

Really? I thought Jolteon seemed the most tomboyish of the original Eeveelutions. Umbreon was blatantly obvious as the boy evolution.

Although, to be fair, Vaporeon/Flareon are equally my favorite of the original three. Then of course comes Umbreon, and then probably Glaceon.

I've started a Pokemon fic on another site, but I'm debating bringing it over here. Action is more my style, and pokemon action, while a little more in depth, might be hard for me to pull off.

I really do hope that you bring one here John, I know you can pull it off.

You too Morgan?

I was planning on doing some kind of illegal fight club, mainly for fighting types, but then I realized that pokemon fights are pretty much legal in their world.

So it's seems to have fallen through. Unless pokemon fights without trainers for entertainment/gambling would be seen as illegal. Electric cages and what not. 

Pokemon that are too injured to continue fighting are euthanized. Yeah, that might be illegal. 

Seems dark enough for my liking. Do you think they'd oppose that in their world?

Yeah, my story follows another protagonist in the Pokemon Black and White story-line. He's an original character, but meh, I dunno if I should share it or not right now. I'm working on so many here.

Once I've lowered my pallete, I'll definitely consider it. But John, I do hope that you make one here, if you want to.