Dawn

A small Snivy watech as an egg hatched on a beautiful evening to the sight of a lakefront sunset. Their parents, a Servine and a Roselia, stared in awe at their offspring, astonished by their odd colorations. The newly hatched female was a deep violet and the bystanding male a vivid orange. While strikingly different both children were lively and bright eyed as they looked to their parents, scales shimmering in the red light. At first the Servine, Roselia, and their trainer were taken aback by this strange phenomenon before them, unsure how to react to the hatchlings. However, they were soon overcome by amazement and love for the babes as they welcomed them into the world. They named the little Snivy's after plants they saw in the beautiful light of the setting sun. The female was to be Violet Lilly after the water lilies that floated nearby. The male would be Bull Rush after those that swayed in the breeze at the waters edge. The children squealed with joy, loved and happy a they entered a privileged childhood.

The nature loving trainer taught his new Pokemon to love plants as much as he did, and how they offered protection and life to the things around him. Both Snivy's big eyes went wide with awe as they learned about the world, appreciating all the types of life that were in it. While his sister picked flowers Rush explored nature with expansive energy. With his vines for assistance he played in the tree tops and crawled through shrubs, meeting everything in life head on. Munching on bugs and romping in the dirt he was a jolly child and loved to mess with his sister, lovingly of course. Childhood was blissful for the pair, a carefree time that was made all the more special as their parents revealed they had yet another egg. With another sibling on the way the nature-loving family rejoiced, unable to contain their excitement. Soon after their trainer found himself on a trip to Kanto were he could continue his study on plants, specifically those that grew inside Mt. Moon. Never even considering leaving his Pokemon behind the boy brought his entire team along for the journey as a sort of vaction.

Daybreak

The grass Pokemon were delighted by all the sights and plants as they arrived in Kanto and made their way through Cerulean City. The Servine jealousy guarded her egg, tending to it was great care while letting the sunlight warm its surface. All the while her children were overwhelmed by the new region. Lilly clung to her mom, unwanted attention on Ivy's part, but Rush wandered as far as he could from his family, picking fights with the native Pokemon and getting into as much trouble as he could. After a few days of settling into the new region the team headed west to continue their studies. The orange Snivy couldnt wait to get going, restless and ready to stretch his muscles even further.

The group traveled slowly outside of Cerulean City, taking a great deal of time to move across the hilly terrain, noting the different plants growing along the route. The sight of the city was still clearly visible when tragedy struck. A group of large, powerful, and angry Pokemon burst out of a nearby cave. Their eyes blazing a sickly red color, pure rage filling their erratic movements. Outnumbered and, by the looking of things, outmatched the group fled in terror. The boy managed to grab some of his Pokeballs and returned the young children as he fled deeper into the route. However, the Primapes and Machokes were much faster. They quickly caught up to the group before they could find a shelter and instantly engaged in a ruthless fight. Thorn the Roselia and Ivy fought bravely but the pair were vastly under leveled compared to the powerful infected Pokemon.

The young trainer knew he had to do something as he watched his team quickly get crushed. A particularly painful blow crushed one of Thorn's flowers before the boy could even react. Placing the two Snivy's Pokeballs on the ground he fumbled through his bag in search of medicines. When he looked back up Ivy was on the ground being bombarded with punches. Yelling at the crazed infected the boy threw whatever he could from his bag at them, even Pokeballs as he ran out of items. One of the Fighting Types vanished for a moment but instantly reappeared with a new rage to its red eyes as the Pokeball was broken. They roared in anger, suddenly forgetting the Grass Types for their trainer. Running as fast as he could the botanist shouted something back to his injured team but couldnt finish before he let out a sickening scream. No other sounds came from the boy and the two remaining grass types were petrified.

The grunts and groans of the dangerous Pokemon forced the couple to move. Thorn grabbed the Pokeballs of his children while Ivy cradled her egg that had thankfully been uninjured due to their trainer. Together they fled deep into the undergrowth with not a moment to grieve.

Sunhigh

It was dark before they stopped moving. Pain, exhaustion, and grief stopping the Grass Types in their tracks. Finally they let their children free from the protection of their Pokeballs, desperately needing the reassurance that they were safe. Lilly and Rush were confused and concerned as they stared at their wounded parents but couldn't piece anything together. What had just happened, if the battle was bad why werent they in a Pokemon Center? Where was this place in the middle of the woods and why wasn't their trainer here? The night was quiet, and the next morning solemn as they started to move once more. Rush was silent, scolded by his parents to stay low to the ground and not in the trees. His sister had a never ending string of questions but the male was quiet. Perhaps it was because they were wounded or forced to be quiet but he just knew something had happened. Something was really wrong. The tension among them was almost palpable to the child. The Servine shushed her daughter and told her children it was not the time for questions. The family kept moving endlessly, the faint sounds of screams behind them.

All too soon time was lost to the Grass Types. It seemed they had been traveling forever, days or weeks even, it was unclear. The grief was too raw in the parents, and though nature was their friend lack of rest was taking its toll on their wounded bodies. Thorn's petals were wilting, changing color to some sickly purple shade as the flower started to die. Eventually the family came to a forest with a human pathway beaten into the soil. It seemed safe enough to allow rest and they took it instantly. Everyone collapsed with exhaustion, used to long forest treks and days on end in the forest but never without their trainer or with heavy wounds. Why they had to move so feverishly the orange Snivy did not understand, but the rest was more then welcomed. They set up a camp and took the time to tend to their festering injuries, shocked by the pain and the degree that the wounds had turned sour. Again Lilly pestered her parents, begging them for answers for everything that was going on. The Roselia was growing impatient, snapping at his daughter to be quiet before breaking down into a sobbing rage. Shouting very clearly that the boy was dead he near attacked her in a fit of uncharacteristic rage. Rush darted to his sister's side, horrified by his fathers outburst and ready to protect his sibling.

The female youth screamed. She had never seen her father like that before and it was terrifying. Swiftly their mother stepped in, shouting at the Roselia as well for yelling before things turned to physical violence. Amongst the fighting the truth came out- their trainer was dead, they were all now "wild" and lost, and that their wounds were not looking good, something was chasing them... Lilly wailed with sorrow and her brother took the poor female in his arms while his own heart was breaking. They.. their trainer was dead? It shouldn't of been a surprise that the screaming and crying attracted a mass of insect undead. Things turned into instant chaos. The bugs swarmed them with no end, coming from all directions. The parents, already wounded and on edge, fought valiantly but were no match. Things turned sour fast, blood spilling and the bugs literally eating their leafy bodies.

The children were completely horrified, unable to run but hiding nearby in the shrubbery. Rush crouched over his sister, feeling her tears drip onto his arms as he steeled himself against the rising panic. How long had passed before her parents stopped moving, stopped screaming? Both Snivys moaned with loss, alerting the insects to their hiding place. As they swarmed closer the male took action, attacking them with Magical Leaf before darting into the distance. The bugs followed, thinking he was all that was left and attracted by his bright orange scales.

Heart drumming wildly Rush dared to look back and see the swarm was following him, his sister safe but now his life in imminent danger. Tearing off into the trees the tired child pushed his body to the max, losing some but not not all of the bugs. Eventually he was cornered on a shallow ravine, water racing below. Unable to run the turned to fight, attacking with all his remaining strength. He wasn't a very experienced fighter, not even close, but luckily the bugs were weak, tired, and wounded from fighting their parents. Some died, from fled, but most continued the onslaught. Dazed and weak the youth slipped over the edge and fell down into the river, instantly washing him downstream and away from the insects. Too weak to fight the current Rush blacked out as it swept him under.

Sunset

He woke on a pebble coated shore, the waters behind him gentle and babbling. Everything hurt, his was mind unclear and foggy but the starter forced himself to move. He stumbled forward, barely able to walk and bleeding heavily. A blurred shape moved in the treeline ahead. Lilly? He thought before collapsing again. Completely defenseless this time Rush watched helplessly as a foreign Pokemon came toward him and his world darkened once more.

When he came too again he was no longer ice cold and sodden, instead warm, aching but dry as he lay on something soft. "Finally decided to wake up." A gruff voice rasped from nearby. The weakened Snivy tilted his head up, panicked but collapsing as he tried to stand. His red eyes did manage to find the source though, a green Pokemon sitting causally on the other side of the den, watching him with a bored expression. "Who are you?" The frightened child growled, curling up defensively despite the grimacing pain. The Grovyle shrugged, switching which of his legs was crossed on top. "Names Axel, and you should be a bit nicer to the guy who saved your damn life."

"Wha.." he muttered before it all hit him. The fighting, the screaming, the blood.. his parents were dead, he dove into a freaking river his- "My sister!" he wailed, "I have to go back for my sister!" Clambering out of the nest he was on the Snivy fell to the ground and moved toward what he thought was the exit. His small body protested, agony pulsing through him until he was stilled on the ground. "I wouldnt do that if I were you kid. You took some major damage and your sisters probably dead anyway." "No!" He screamed. "I protected her, she needs help!" The Grovyle groaned, one hand pinching his brow. "Fine. Look, Ill go check for your sis if you stay put. Its not safe out there and you are in no condition to search let alone move." A defeated feeling came over the orange Grass Type. He was right.. he could barely move it hurt so bad. But could he really trust some Pokemon he hardly knew? "..Okay." he yielded, slowly crawling back into the nest.

It felt like forever before Axel returned. He said he found two corpses but neither matched Lilly's description. A mix of pain and relief knotted in Rush's stomach. His parents really were dead but his sister might yet be alive. The Grovyle didn't let him dwell, shoving a berry in his face and telling him to eat. Food was the last thing the Snivy wanted but he hadn't the strength to be defiant. Eating, he soon passed out.

Dusk

Its unclear how much time he spent cooped up in that nest. The Grovyle tended his wounds, brought him food, and watched him sleep a lot like a a nurse in the Pokemon Center would. Rush didn't understand why, he hardly knew this Pokemon, and was desperate to go look for his sister but Axel forced him to stay in the den. He kept begging, asking when he would be allowed to leave. The Grovyle smirked, stating simply, "When you can beat me in a fight." While he had managed to fight off those little bugs Rush doubted he could even scratch this guy especially in his condition. Wailing in distress the Snivy threw his little arms over his snout.

Finally, he had recovered. With his wounds healed the child dared to defy his caretaker and slipped outside, instantly disorientated by the foreign forest. A desire to find Lilly pushed him to explore the woods but he had no idea where he was going and quickly became lost. Scurrying into the treetops he hoped to get a better look of the area when something screeched and lunged at him. Screaming himself the frightened child tore off into the trees, hoping to break away from the monster but it gave chase and was much faster. Within a matter of moments, though it felt like a lifetime, the creature had caught up to and cornered him. Rush cowered against the tree, attacking with Magical Leaf though it did little to stop the other Pokemon. Finally getting a good look at it the Snivy had no idea what species it was but locked his sight on its bright, crazed red eyes. It snarled and came closer, a mix of saliva and blood dripping from its teeth. Rush screamed again, covering his head, when he heard a smack and felt the branch shake beneath him.

"I told ya before its not safe out here." Axel croaked as one of his bladed arms cut straight through the creatures throat, blood splattering up his arm. The strange Pokemon gurgled out something before skidding off the branch and smashing against the ground. Rush stared at the Grovyle, tears forming in his eyes, and quickly gasp onto his leg. "I-I need to find my sister.." he whined as the drops fell from his eyes. Axel's clean hand grabbed the Snivy's head and lifted him until he was eye level. "You wont survive out here on your own." The words were cold but painfully honest. "Then train me!" Rush begged, flapping his arms. "I'll do everything you say and try really hard! Please!" The lizard's eyes narrowed and he took in a deep breathe. "Fine. Training starts now." The evolved starter threw the Snivy. "Grab that branch or hit the ground, your choice."

New Dawn

Training was brutal. Day in and day out Axel taught him not only how to fight but how to survive in these woods. Hiding, foraging, spotting danger, silent travel and stalking.. Axel beat the knowledge deep into the much smaller Grass Type. He picked things up fairly well, the progress was slow but he understood what he was learning and could see a difference. While survival was one thing combat was completely different. The Grovyle was fast, strong, and ruthless. Every training session left the tiny Snivy in pain that lasted until the next one. Rush tried his heart out but for months the training seemed to do little other then tire him out.

The days blurred together. Months passed. Rush hadn't forgotten about Lilly but he was consumed by a new thought: he had to beat Axel. The Grovyle had said a long time ago that that was the deal, and that would mean the training was a success, right? Refocused and ready the Snivy focused less on trying to attack more on evading (as Axel had said many times before). Eventually he noticed the change himself- dodging even Axel's fast strikes, sharpening his reflexes to hear him moving through the trees. The Grovyle noticed the change too, especially once Rush evolved after a victory against an undead, but instead of praise he changed the combat to a much more direct style. Coming in head first at the newly evolve Servine Rush's evasive style was forced to change to rapid reactions, attacking as a defense, fighting back instead of waiting it out.

This time though he flourished. The Servine finally picked up combat, fierce, fast, violent, much like his teacher. Now when the Grass Types sparred they were like a single unit, a matching style that was almost on an even playing field. All that was missing was the raw power behind Rush's attacks that would come with time. Finally on par with his teacher their relationship became less of master and student and more of rivals, most like family. Their time together went from months to years and finally the Servine won, the Grovyle pinned down in defeat. "I won.." he gasped, backing away from the Grovyle in shock. Axel staggered to his feet, blood marring his green skin. "It seem you have." His voice was quiet but Rush could hear pride and see it shining in his red eyes. "I guess its time then," he continued. "Time for what?" The Servine had no idea what that meant. "Go." Go..? "Your sister needs you."

His sister.. he had forgotten he had to find his sister! Emotions slam against the Servine. Lilly had been all alone out there with those things for how long now?! Was she still okay?? Worse yet another fear pounds against his mind. Was Axel kicking him out, did he want nothing to do with him anymore? "Axel.." He moans, unsure how to process this all. "C'mon, you're family after all and I want to meet her." A smile came over the orange Pokemons face. "Right." The next morning the Servine left the only home he had known for years. He was confident, having faith in himself and knowing he could return. But there was something more important out there. Lilly.. He didnt doubt she was alive, or refused to believe otherwise, and knew it would take a long time to locate her. But by gods he would and nothing was going to stop him.