Universe - Anime AU
P.O.V. - Third Person
Mature Themes - Child Abandonment/Abuse
Artwork By Luppia (DeviantART)

"You told me... you were the number one in the world!"

"...Are you gonna quit? What are you going to do now?" His father turned to his seven-year-old son, his eyes wide with confusion and fear, his dark red hair covering his face ever so slightly as he looked up at his father intensely as he could. His father only replied solemnly;

"...One must acknowledge one's defeat before he can move on... I will go solo...for now... So that one day I will form a stronger organization!" He was taken aback by this remark, baffled by what his father had spoken of. If his father was 'number one' as he so claimed, then why was he leaving his organisation? Why was he leaving him?

"...What aspect of you was number one?" He asked, his anger and frustration slowly rising. "Gathering so many only to be defeated by a mere child!" His father, not faltered by his son's rising anger, replied one more;

"Putting together the potential of many is how you produce a huge power... That's what an organization is... That's the strength of an organization!" He paused. "I failed... I failed to make the best use of my subordinates' potential...! But you shall witness one day the revival of me and my Team Rocket!" He was once again dumbfounded by his father's claims

"I... I-I don't understand you!" He exclaimed. "You don't make any sense dad!" His father only looked at him one more time, a glint of disappointment and uncertainty shown as he looked at his young son, before he turned around and began walking off

"...One day, you will understand." Was the last thing he ever said to his son. He stood there for a moment, watching his father walk off with no regards or concern for himself. He teared up, watching his father slowly walk away into the night, before anger suddenly took over his mind and body

"I don't want to understand you!" He yelled to his father. "I will never become someone like you! A coward when you're alone and acting like a tyrant when you're in front of other cowards!" He felt tears slowly fall as his rage engulfed him. "I will become strong! I will become a stronger man all by myself! ALL BY MYSELF!"

With his last vow, he turned around and began sprinting home as he sobbed loudly, emotion overwhelming every part of him. He couldn't believe his father had just 'gave up' like that, abandoning everything he ever cared about, all because of one loss. To his son, it was pathetic. He didn't want to become a coward like his father; he wanted to be strong. He wanted to show others just how tough he could be, all by himself, no matter what he had to do so...
As he ran down the route, he suddenly collided into someone. He shook his head, dazed from the collision and blinked, trying to see through the tears before he noticed he had run into a young girl, slightly older than himself accompanied by a young male the same age as her, along with a small, green fairy-like Pokémon. Both the girl and boy looked very concerned about his own dilemma, however he only scoffed

Wh-What are you looking at?!" He yelled at the girl. "G-Get out of my way! N-NOW!" In rage, he grabbed the girl and threw her to the side, before he bolted away. The boy helped the girl stand up after his rough push, however she domed a concerned look

"Soul, wait-!" He continued to run, tears blinding his vision as he ran through the route. He paid no attention to the two bystanders he had bumped into, nor that they somehow knew who he was, all that was running through his mind, was what he declared to his father;

"I will become strong!" He repeated to himself in sheer anger and determination. "I will become a stronger man all by myself!"

"ALL BY MYSELF!"

Soul gritted his teeth at the haunting memory; the night his father had abandoned his organisation, the night his father had abandoned him, leaving him with his mother only to be left alone for the rest of his days. After that fateful night, Soul had nowhere to go. His mother continued to run what was left of his father's organisation that everyone had feared back then, and their latest plan was already put into action; taking over Goldenrod's radio tower to contact his father once more to bring him back to the organisation. Soul knew this was his mother's plan, she longed for her husband's return to reign the organisation and the region together. That was all she cared about after all; him. Not Soul, but his father instead

Soul growled in bitter anger as he reached another route, a small coastal area, one where the wind blew strong and the smell of the salty sea lingered. In sight, were a flock of young and weak Wingull, easy training experience. Soul gripped one of his Poke-Ball's

"Meganium, grind those Wingull to a pulp..." He scoured as he released his Pokémon. Meganium let out a piercing battle cry, ready for any opponent she was facing. She immediately spotted the flock of Wingull flying in and knew exactly what to do, however she turned to her trainer on impulse, waiting for commands. He frowned

"Don't look at me like that you filthy animal!" He spat at his Pokémon. "Now, Petal Dance!" On command, Meganium started to spin with grace and beauty as beautiful petals surrounded her, before she launched them at the Wingull. The poor seabirds were hit with sharp petals and fell from flight right into the sea with a loud splash. Meganium halted her dance and looked over the horizon to where the Wingull had fallen, satisfied with her work. Soul on the other hand, scowled in anger

"That was pathetic!" He yelled, walking up to Meganium. "I told you to stop with the all the sappy 'gracefulness'! It's lengthy and slows down your attack you stupid dinosaur!" Meganium winced as Soul slapped his Pokémon hard across the face, her now permanent scar slowly swelling once more. She blinked, tears slowly pricking her eyes as she looked up at her trainer, who towered above her.

"You're a pathetic excuse for a Pokémon!" He continued, bitterness and anger dripping in every word he spouted. "Unless you do what I tell you to do and prove you can be strong, I will hurt you like I've done with all the other Pokémon that get in my way!" He smirked. "And you wouldn't want me to do that, now would you?" He taunted with a haunting smile. Meganium slouched down as Soul's stare pierced right through her. She whimpered slightly, which only resulted in him hitting her once more

"Stop that you pathetic animal!" He shouted. "Now stop being such a weakling and work on that Petal Dance! NOW!" Not wanting to be harmed once more, Meganium set to work on her move immediately, stopping her graceful and elegant movements to more rigid, sharp and haunting ones, one's that took less time to summon the attack, just like Soul had hoped. Under her trainer's harsh command, Meganium trained throughout the day, attacking any Pokémon Soul commanded her to harm, including ones that posed no threat whatsoever. Meganium, who had been stolen from Professor Elm's laboratory at a young age, still posed no idea to why her trainer acted the way he did. He was harsh and brutal with everyone that came in his way, people and Pokémon alike. He was ruthless in battle, with his words and even his own movements as he shoved and pushed others out of his way, not caring for the consequences of any of his actions. Despite his own name, he had no soul at all. All he cared about was power, becoming the strongest trainer in the world, becoming 'number one' as he would put it, and he wouldn't let anything stand in his way...
Meganium knew not why Soul acted the way he did, but she continued to stay by his side, she really didn't have a choice; either live under his harsh and ruthless rule for all eternity or live out in the wild where she lacked her survival instincts and would surely perish on her own. It was a double-edged sword with both options having horrible circumstances, both Meganium did not want to experience, but despite her better judgement, she found Soul's reign the lesser of two evils. She had learned to deal with his harsh and brutal training and had learned to survive everything he threw at her. Despite her struggles, she continues to serve under his reign, seeing him as her master, hoping for one day to understand why he acts and portrays himself the way he does...

Clouds began to gather as night slowly fell throughout the region, a low rumble accompanying them. No doubt a rough and heavy storm was approaching. Soul looked up and held his hand out as small specks of rain began to fall with a faint 'pitter patter'. He sighed with frustration and looked over to his Pokémon, who had been training constantly at his command, her Petal Dance improving with time. He scoffed. It wasn't good enough for him, it wasn't strong enough for him. She wasn't good enough for him. She wasn't strong enough for him. It was at times like these did Soul ever wonder why he kept her in the first place... He sighed bitterly once more

"Meganium! Stop it! NOW!" He commanded with a booming voice. Meganium stopped on a dime and looked to her trainer as the rain began to pour down harder in almost an instant. She yelped from the surprise roughness of the rain, however Soul scoffed

"Stop being such a baby!" He yelled. "Now let's find shelter..." Meganium slowly trotted over to her overbearing trainer and began following him down the route, which soon lead into a more forest-like area. However as the two trotted on, Meganium noticed that they were headed away from the closest town, where a Pokémon centre was guaranteed to be.
Wondering why her trainer was not seeking shelter in the nearest town, Meganium nudged gently, grabbing his attention immediately. He looked at her in utter disgust as she nodded her head in the direction of the town. Soul growled

"We're not going there..." He muttered in a harsh tone. Meganium paused for a moment, before roaring a little, asking her trainer as to why they weren't heading to town. In return, she was slapped once more, making her screech in pain

"I said we're not going there!" Soul yelled. "We don't need to go there! We don't belong there! We're fine on our own! I'M fine on my own!" Meganium was taken aback by her trainer's choice of words. She roared once more, cautiously asking Soul what he meant exactly. Only then did he realise what he had revealed to his Pokémon. He growled in anger and frustration

"Why do you care?!" He shot at her. "You're just a tool for battle! You're nothing OK?! You would never understand!" Soul paused, then let out another yell of frustration as he only spilt more of his problems onto his Pokémon. Meganium paused. She had seen Soul lash out at others before and he had certainly lashed out at her many times in the past, but his choice of words was confusing and... Intriguing to her. Wanting to know more, Meganium cautiously nudged him once more. Soul immediately slapped her in retaliation to her gesture and pushed her away, anger flaring in his eyes, yet behind it all, Meganium swore she saw a small tinge of guilt and sadness behind it all...

"Meganium, STOP IT!" Soul screamed, suddenly outraged. "You will NEVER understand, OK?! You don't NEED to understand! You are a Pokémon, a tool used for battle and that's all you will ever be to me! You don't need to know ANYTHING about me! Not my past, not why I desire strength, nothing! So stop. Right. NOW!"

Soul paused for a moment, catching his breath from his outburst. He paused, then snarled under his breath as he stormed off to a nearby oak tree, its large widespread branches giving shelter to him. Soul sat down by the roots of the tree, motionless for a moment, before he began to curl up into a ball like a Donphan, his head now buried in his knees hugged close to his chest. Meganium lifted her head slowly, noticing her trainer's behaviour. Every word he had spouted had struck a chord with her; it was only now was she realising something was off with her trainer. Something had been off the entire time...
Meganium was silent as she constructed every little piece of info in her head she had gathered into a small puzzle, slowly putting each cryptic piece together. As she gazed upon her trainer's sudden vulnerability, she began to wonder; had something occurred in Soul's past? Something harsh? Something that hurt him? Something that made his previous world view a lie? Was Soul, like his name, just another poor soul in this world looking for their place but because of his past he feels lost? Lonely? Worthless...?

It was in that moment that Meganium realised what Soul was; a kid. All this time, she had forgotten that Soul was only ten. He was just a child. Whatever had happened to him had affected him so badly that he can't help but lash out at others; he doesn't know any better way to react to his surroundings and or situations. Meganium frowned slightly at her conclusion; Soul was hurt, potentially unloved. An unloved child... It tugged at Meganium's heartstrings. Now fully realising what he trainer was experiencing, she knew what had to be done... Giving Soul what he desperately needed; Love
Slowly, Meganium rose to her feet and approached her trainer, who was still curled up, possibly trying to keep himself warm from the bitter cold of the wind and rain. Meganium paused, knowing if she dare tried to show him any form of love or affection, she would be swiftly punished, but seeing his vulnerability and now knowing what he may have possibly gone through, she knew it was worth the shot. Slowly, she kneeled down by Soul and nuzzled him ever so slightly, immediately catching his attention. Soul looked up and narrowed his eyes sharply

"Meganium, I told you to stop it!" He snapped before burying his head in-between his knees once more. "Leave me alone..." He added coldly. Meganium didn't budge. She snuggled up by her trainer, offering him her warmth and comfort

"Meganium, stop!" Soul muttered loudly, however Meganium only pushed on. She now knew this toughness he showed was just a façade, one she could now pierce through, one she would pierce through. She was persistent on breaking his barrier and reaching out to him, giving him what he so lacked. Meganium nuzzled Soul gently, noticing he had risen his right hand, ready to swiftly slap her at any moment. Meganium winced on impulse however, as she waited for the inevitable searing pain, Soul did something unexpected;

...He pet her

Soul began to pet Meganium softly with one hand as he slowly lifted his head up, his eyes meeting hers. He looked angry, though his confusion was more apparent

"... Why are you doing this?" He asked her, his bitter tone fading into confusion. "I don't get it..." He paused. "I don't need this, OK? I don't need any of this, so... S-So stop trying to give it to me..." Meganium only nuzzled her trainer again. Soul paused for a moment, debating on whether or not he should hit her, however he just couldn't make himself do so. He raised his hand once more, intending to swiftly slap some sense into her, but he just couldn't. It just didn't... Feel right to do so. Not anymore. Slowly, he pet her once more, prompting her to curl her long neck around him, almost like she was giving him a hug. Soul sat there, dumbfounded on his Pokémon's behaviour, wondering what she was trying to accomplish here, giving him such loving gestures, ones he rejected heavily. They were ones his parents had given him before, ones that were all false in the end; they never cared about him at all, giving him false hope and promises of eternal love, of the family staying together forever as he had hoped as a child...

Meganium however felt more... Genuine with her love. Soul felt more comfortable with Meganium for some odd reason. Her gestures didn't feel like a lie; it felt like she was indeed offering him something kind and loving, something he shunned, yet secretly yearned for in desperation ever since the night he was left alone. He wanted comfort, he wanted to be loved for who he was, he just wanted someone to lean on in his darkest moments, when his memories resurfaced and his sadness overwhelmed him. That's all he really wanted, but after his parents left him, he was scared to show any vulnerability to anyone... But Meganium was offering him this love despite his harshness, despite his abusiveness, despite his efforts to hide his feelings. It was obvious Meganium had picked up on Soul's behaviour overtime, piece by piece, and had finally figure it all out; how Soul was really, truly feeling, what he so desperately yearned for, and she was willing to give it to him despite what he had done to her

Slowly, Soul cautiously wrapped his arms around his Pokémon, accepting her comfort. At first, he felt nothing as he hugged his Pokémon, but soon, he closed his eyes as he was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. He began to tear up slightly, sniffles slowly creeping out. Now, knowing one was here to comfort him, he hugged Meganium tightly, embracing her love and warmth, the thing he had wanted for so long. Meganium smiled warmly as she snuggled by her trainer, embracing him as the rain fell around them. This is what she wanted, this is what he wanted; someone who loved him, someone he could lean on, and someone he could eventually learn to love himself. Soon, Soul's small sniffles turned into loud sobs as he began to cry his heart out, all his built up fears, worries, anger and sorrow arising at once. He sobbed loudly as he squeezed Meganium tightly, wanting every last bit of love and comfort she could possibly offer, however she only smiled and gently nuzzled her trainer in return as her supply was infinite. She teared up at the sight of Soul crying in utter despair, his once heart of gold shattered into a million pieces once that fateful day in his past came, yet as he sobbed, she saw him smile. He was happy, but not because he was strong, not because he was given what he wanted;

Because he was now loved...