The Path of Destiny

[Suicune's Fire]

I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO READ THIS. I AM APPALLED AT MYSELF. But I finally did, and I LOVED IT. Allow me to quote some things. <:

“Trust me,” Thunder added, not looking at Yenn. “We’re all on the same page.”

“The hell does that mean?” Yenn cried back, his attempt at calm composure slipping.

Thunder rolled her eyes at the yanmega. “It’s a human saying. You get used to it. It just means we’re all in agreement, really.”

I LOVE this. A saying like this is so commonplace and etched into my vocabulary that I forget it's a metaphor. But for someone like Yenn, it would make NO sense. I love when things like this are pointed out. cx

There was silence for a moment, the other pokémon looking either happy for Yenn or unsure. Then Wildflame said, “You know what, Yenn? That’s great. You’re probably the best pokémon for this sort of job. You’ve got nothing to fear in the city, just stick close to some of us if you’re nervous.”

The way Wildflame comments here on Yenn's courage here is great. She's really encouraging and optimistic and I imagine that would be quite comforting to Yenn. He deserves some praise!

“Sorry, I’m really sorry!” Damian said as he awkwardly stepped off, steadying himself against the tropius as his leg buckled. “I should’ve already been here when I heard you were close to the city.”

Hahaha Damian is seriously the most wholesome person. XD I love him.

“Yenn’s helping us this time,” Alex told Damian proudly. “He can probably help cover multiple areas.”

This is adorable. xD I love how she's telling him proudly.

“Hal, Bruce, and Vicky are used to the city,” she explained to the yanmega. “They’ll look around on the ground while you look from above. I can guide you if it’s overwhelming.” She noticed him anxiously rubbing his two foremost legs together. “You for sure alright with this?”

“…Yeah,” Yenn said after a moment. “Look, um…you don’t have to worry about me this time. It may be a city, but we’re still out in the open air. It won’t be like the cave, I promise.”

Vicky gave her trainer an uncertain glance, but the other two of Teresa’s non-flying pokémon smiled back at the yanmega.

“That’s right, you got this,” Bruce said, playfully swiping at the yanmega with one of his claws.

“Okay,” Teresa said. “Just, only do what you’re comfortable with. Sometimes…things can go wrong, even when you think you can deal with it. It’s not any sort of fault or anything.”

Yenn forced his legs to relax. “Are you sure…you’re okay?” the yanmega asked her. “You seem nervous.”

Teresa nodded. “I’m all right. Come on, there’s something I want to show you before we start looking.”

I adore the relationship that Yenn and Teresa have. C: It's so heartwarming to see that they both look out for each other, and care for each other, and are concerned when the other is worried or anxious. O: You can see that it really helps both of them to have one another for support. <: As well as all their other friends as well of course, but their relationship specifically is special and wholesome. cx

“No,” said Teresa, “this shop makes specialty pokémon food and treats. I know it looks small, but they serve things for all different types of species. All my pokémon love this shop. I’ll have to get some extra treats to bring to them once we all meet at the towers.”

Omg. You didn't. XD

Yenn hesitated a moment, reminded himself that he could trust Teresa on what was or wasn’t safe for pokémon, then edged forward and took the treat gently from her hand. As soon as he bit into it, he discovered that it was much tastier than the usual pokémon food Damian and the other trainers would give him. It had a flavor unlike anything he’d ever had from human food or the wild, but it was delicious.

yanmega screaming for treats intensifies

Suddenly the thought of having prey made into ‘specialty treats’ made him feel uncomfortable. Unlike normal pokémon food, these weren’t necessary for survival. “They make these from different pokémon?” he asked. “Just for…whatever preferences someone might have?”

“Different types of meat, yeah,” Teresa replied. “Different species have different needs, obviously. Yours isn’t very picky about the type of meat they like, so any type will do unless you have a favorite. Of course, none of this meat comes from pokémon that were killed, though. They banned the use of once-living pokémon in pokémon food, now that it’s so easy to grow meat from pokémon cells.”

Okay, I freaking love this. That is so cool, and makes so much sense! Especially given that they would have the technological means, and that all pokemon are sentient and understand commands and are capable of creating bonds. It would also be FAR more practical, easier to produce, more profitable, and less harmful in every way. <: I also love that Yenn was concerned about the fact that pokemon were being killed and manufactured into food for the sake of pleasure, not survival. That's a really cool detail. O: It makes me wonder if carnivores often have internal conflicts about killing to eat, even if they know it's the only way they can survive. I imagine it still takes some compartmentalisation. But yeah, the things that are pointed out here, as well as the incorporation of this technological advancement, this is brilliant. cccc:

“You know,” Yenn began, feeling a sense of wonder, “in the wild, we - yanma and yanmega, I mean - have to make many kills a day, especially if we don't get something large, just to live. If we don't, it's a quick – and I mean quick – decline in health and then starvation. It's, uh, something every yanma and yanmega has to come to terms with. All predators do, but…us especially. We need to eat more - and more often - than most other pokémon. Which means more hunting. We're good at it, we catch the vast majority of the prey we target. But...a lot of us struggled with it when we were younger. I have to admit, if these humans found a better way, I'm impressed.”

WELL I SPOKE TOO SOON. XDDD I absolutely love the focus on this aspect! O: And it makes so much sense. I bet prey pokemon are absolutely terrified of yanma and yanmega. XD I WOULD BE. But yeah, it's so cool you included this. C: SUCH a stark contrast to what we've both seen in some stories - carnivores as villainbots who taunt their food and act like evil beings. XD But anyway, I liked hearing his perspective!

Yenn’s thoughts drifted to Cyclone, but he pushed them away. “A month ago, I wanted to see humans gone from the world. A week ago, I thought you and the other three humans with Snowcrystal were the exceptions. But…I think now I can see that maybe more humans actually are trying to make things right.”

“So…we’re not so bad?” Teresa asked with a smile. “There are more kind and empathetic humans than you thought?”

“I guess so,” Yenn replied with a small smile of his own.

CHAAAAAAAARACTER DEVELOPMEEEEEEEENT! *0*

These moments are some of the best, seriously. C: We started off seeing Yenn when he was terrified and stuck in a mindset that was not at all his fault, and was, in fact, a product of his circumstances, and now we're seeing him start to be able to move past it. Relationships like this do such a good job at pointing out that we all need help, need compassion, and need someone else to understand us. And not only is this beneficial for Yenn, but this undoubtedly brings such joy and relief and happiness to Teresa. Being able to help someone recover just through sheer kindness, showing them that they don't have to be afraid, and sharing fun, positive experiences is such a good feeling. And having the ability to help someone overcome their fear is very empowering. I bet there's nothing in the world Teresa would trade this for. She has changed someone's life forever. <: And I don't doubt he would do the same for her.

“There was a sentret around Whiteflower street, said he lived in a space above one of the fast food restaurants not far from here, and that we can find him again later.

Spoiler:

“I don’t see any reason not to believe him. Worst case scenario, we find a few more abandoned buildings.”

“Nah, worst case scenario, someone falls through the floor again,” Blazefang replied with a scoff.

XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD He has a point.

“We’d once again like to thank everyone here, trainers of Inari and regions beyond, for being a part of this year’s event,” the woman on the screen began saying. “Because of every one of you, we were able to raise a record-breaking amount of funds that will go toward helping pokémon in need.”

Adrenaline for the Needy??

“Each year, our event raises money for important work to be done in helping the lives of pokémon,” one of the humans sitting at the desk on the screen said. “And Inari Research Institute of Science is honored to be chosen for this year. By raising money for IRIS, you will be helping provide a bright future for hundreds, possibly thousands of pokémon, maybe even your own or those of someone you know.”

O_____O Uh-oh.

He found that that everyone in the group had gathered in the meeting place clearing, and he lay numbly beneath a tree, grateful they weren’t asking him too many questions and seemed okay with giving him space.

Extra "that" and I think that's meant to just be "meeting place" or "clearing"? O:

“You don’t need to eat any now,” Teresa said. “Or at all, really, if it gives you a bad memory.”

“No, it’s just fine,” Yenn said calmly, nudging his head against her leg. “It’s more than enough. Thank you.” He looked up at her, still noting a worried expression. “It’s…not your fault, if you thought that. I mean, I wanted to go into the city, it was my choice. Trust me, you’re the last human to have done anything wrong.”

I'm not crying...you're crying!!! ;0; The head nudge though. Omg. I love that even though he's just relived his hell, he still believes in Teresa, still trusts her, and knows that she means well. ;u; SEE THE RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE IS SO SPECIAL AND WHOLESOME!!!!!!!

“Don’t worry about trying to move on,” Teresa told him. “You don’t have to try to conquer this all at once.”

I LOVE TERESA. She's so right. Healing always, always takes time, and has stages. He probably has no idea, so Teresa (and everyone else in this scene) assuring him is so heartwarming to see. ;v;

Yenn thought back to Cyclone,

*Mr Vaporeon


THE WHOLE TREATS THING WITH TERESA WAS ADORABLE. I loved that part so much, and like I mentioned in a quote above, the whole concept of using pokemon cells to clone meat is SO AWESOME. And that this is just another thing that persuades Yenn to start believing in the good of humans. It was so kind of Teresa to show him the treats, and buy them for him, and demonstrate yet another harmless, positive thing humans can do for him. <: Those moments really showcase the strong bond they have. Yenn feels like he can truly trust Teresa, which is really special.

I really, really enjoyed this chapter. Seeing the stages of progression that Yenn went through was really fascinating. It already feels like he's come such a long way, yet still he has a long way to go. It's amazing that he still has hope that humans are good, and has faith in the human friends he has been able to make so far. Also that he's willing to open his mind and listen. Even after ALL he's been through, he still has the strength and the resolve to listen, learn, and accept that his solid world view may not be the be-all and end-all. Also the progression of this chapter alone was really cool to witness; he begins in a place of scepticism, becomes hopeful, then has that hope torn away from him and crushed. It would be absolutely horrifying to see your abuser(s) revealed to you without warning, let alone in a light that shows them as a good person who people agree with and like. That must have shaken him beyond belief.

His reaction was so powerful. The way you wrote it was so visceral, and I could feel Yenn's fear. The shock, the horror, the terror, and the disbelief at what he was seeing. Everyone around him turning from harmless background figures to potential threats, suddenly no longer allies, because he thought they sided with his abuser. Even if they didn't actively side with the abuser, he thought that they did. It's understandable, and seeing that must have been so triggering, so horrifying. It's no wonder he barely registered his actions as he escaped the city and tore out his staples. :C And before that, everyone staring, people pointing and commenting, and even the authorities noticing him. He probably felt helpless and all alone, and like nobody would believe him. Poor Yenn. :CCC

When Damian and the others came to see him, I love how we got to have so much insight into Yenn's thought pattern. He needed them to know what it was like, why he was so scared and upset, and that wasn't just some spontaneous response to something insignificant. It came from a place of deep hurt and trauma, and even though he's trying so hard to move on, and reprogram himself for the better, he's still going to have extremely tender spots. And Damian understood. <: I also like the detail that Damian isn't quite sure what to say. I imagine him as a real deep feeler, and I can understand that although he may be feeling deeply and respectfully towards Yenn and his situation, he probably doesn't really know how to put it into words, especially words of comfort, and not without some thought first. But he is there for Yenn, and you can see very easily how much he cares. All he wants is to help Yenn and be someone he can trust and count on, and he doesn't give up. All the while being compassionate and understanding. ^-^

One detail that I thought was really interesting was the fact that Yenn actually imagined that all the humans in the plaza, and probably anyone watching that program anywhere (if he understands that it's broadcast more than just one place), supported the acts of Doctor Leonane, and were fully aware of the types of experiments his organisation conducts on pokemon like Yenn. O: That wasn't even something that crossed my mind, but it's understandable that Yenn would think that. And that makes his situation even MORE terrifying, thinking everyone around him was in support of his abuser. What a terrifying reality to have dawn on you even if it didn't end up being the true reality. But it was his reality. And thankfully, he's surrounding by people and pokemon who are able to correct small details like that, because they make a huge difference. Being able to talk to others about your trauma and experiences is so, so important. And you highlight this very well. <:

Arien and Thunder's responses to Yenn's points at the end of the chapter were also AMAZING. Thunder would have such a good insight into trauma recovery, obviously, and we've seen that progress as well. She's living proof that overcoming terrible things in one's past is possible. I bet that, along with her (almost surprising... XD but also not) wisdom must give him hope. And Arien's comments were just great. XD He's so no-nonsense but his words were so comforting. Also, I wonder what happened in Damian's past... O: Unless my memory is terrible and we've already learned about it. XDD But it does make me wonder what he went through. But yeah, Arien pointing out that Yenn is not alone, as well, can hopefully help Yenn feel even more relieved and like he's in safe hands. He is, for the first time since his trauma, surrounding by caring individuals who have protected him and who are making an effort to make sure he is on the path to recovery. They are all there for him, and are all providing a different kind of support. With them, he can, even if it takes some time, finally heal. <:

OVERALL I loved the chapter. Well written and awesome content. I am also excited to see where this new lead for the mysterious white growlithe leads! O: I hope they can find them soon. C: And that the sentret can find a piece of grass.