He could only hold him tighter, spreading his hands across his chest as if to try and hold more of him. The fear that if he let him go, the Venusaur would just vanish struck suddenly and sat as an uncomfortable, very real weight in his chest. He didn't know what to say. It felt like something needed to be said but he couldn't find the words to try and curb the helplessness of the situation.

It seemed like it should have been fine if Red remembered who his pokemon at least. Bulba knew better though. So much had happened, and Vinnie had gone through so much to come back from it... having his efforts torn right from his hands must have been so much worse.

He shut his eyes, rubbing his cheek against his back.

"I don't know," he finally admitted in a sad, quiet whisper.