_{LEVEL FIVE}

Up. Going up. Why going up? Did not want go up. Wanted eat tasty thing. Tasty thing not so tasty. Now go up. Get caught by bird? That mean no go back to water ever. Want go back to water.

Want to survive.

Out of water. No bird. No fall back in water. Feels funny. Flop flop flop. Where water? What that thing? Thing take me out of water? Something goes away from thing. Now coming closer. Now bright light. Now very dark. But safe.

Still survive.

---

Is bright again. Back in water. Safe now? But do not want to swim away. Not know why. Thing there again, by water. Puts thing on my head. Why? Thing looking at two things. Two things fighting. No like fighting. Not strong. Bigger things win lots. Smaller things lose lots. Some no ever get chance to win. Small thing wins this time. Other thing goes away. Small thing goes to thing next to me. Feel stronger now. Not know why. But like. Like very much.

_{LEVEL TEN}

Me much stronger now. All thanks to big thing. Big thing called “Naoko.” Me like Naoko. Naoko make me stronger. Me like small thing too. Small thing also called “Naoko.” Me not know why.

Big Naoko say me and small Naoko are Pokemon. How? Me look nothing like small Naoko.

Me no understand things big Naoko say sometimes.

_{LEVEL FIFTEEN}

I be stronger than ever. Thing Naoko puts on my head makes me strong. I understand that now. But only works when I watch other Pokemon fight. I still no understand that. Today a pokemon that look like small Naoko fight and was shiny and bright when it won. When shining stopped, it looked different. It looked stronger. I want be stronger. Will I go shiny when I get stronger?

_{LEVEL 20}

I feel even stronger! Naoko sound happy - am I shining like other pokemon before it become stronger? I so happy! I become stronger! Maybe I get bigger! Maybe-

!!!

This….

This hurts.

This hurts a lot.

Why does this hurt???

It feels like I’m on fire!?

WHY won’t it stop???

Am I… Dying???

I don’t want to die!!!

I want to SURVIVE!!!

<sub>I must... Survive..

I... Must...

Destroy.</sub>

I WON’T DIE.

I WILL MAKE THE HURTING STOP.

I WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING WILL-


I feel a touch on my side. I can vaguely tell that I am much much larger now. What is touching me? I look down (my head is so heavy) and glare through the slowly lifting fog of pain clouding my mind.

Something standing on two legs with something on four legs on its shoulders. I feel something - recognition? Whatever they are, they are much smaller than me. I could hurt them if I want to. The small thing seems to know this and looks scared. Yes it should be scared.

The thing on two legs does not look scared. It’s looking at me strangely… Do I know a word for such a look?

I suddenly remember many things all at once - kind words, tasty pokemon treats, concerned looks whenever I was hurt, long nights camping by riversides just looking up at the stars…

Love.

That’s the word I was looking for.

Feeling placated and a bit tired, I slump down into the cool refreshing water. I happen to catch a glimpse of my reflection. I’m a completely different shape and color now, but I don’t really mind. I have fangs and I’m big.

Perhaps now I can truly help out this human that helped a little karp grow up to be a big dragon.