Vileplume, Oddish's final evolution, was a Grass-type powerhouse. With the Chlorophyll ability boosting its speed under sunlight, Vileplume could swing between offense and support with ease.
Compared to Butterfree, there was some overlap, both could disrupt opponents, but their specialties were different. Butterfree excelled at spreading status and boosting team momentum, while Vileplume's strength lay in setting up Grassy Terrain. That field effect not only healed grounded Pokémon but also empowered Grass-type moves and synergized with a wide range of strategies.
For Ash, Oddish already showed promise. Her current aptitude was good, stats mostly C-grade, with Speed and Special Attack at B. That made her a solid candidate for growth, especially if trained carefully.
He was already imagining bribing her with food, then inviting her into a battle to earn her trust. Surely she wouldn't refuse, right?
But before Ash could act, a firm voice cut through his thoughts.
"Da-nae dana!"
Ash's head whipped toward the sound. His eyes went wide, his breath caught in his throat.
"Bul… Bulbasaur!"
Standing proudly before them was a Bulbasaur, the Grass-type starter of Kanto.
Every region had its own traditional starter Pokémon. In Kanto, that honor went to Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. They were raised under the League's care, then distributed to new Trainers through official channels. Finding one in the wild was nearly unheard of.
Ash's heart pounded. Back in Pallet Town, most kids starting out received one of the three from Professor Oak. He, however, had been the exception, paired instead with Pikachu. And while he had come to treasure that bond, deep down he had always dreamed of raising one of the Royal Three Families.
Yet here, less than a month into his journey, stood a wild Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, let's battle!" Ash shouted, leaping to his feet with excitement.
His voice startled Oddish, who froze mid-bite. With a guilty look, she glanced at Ash, then at Bulbasaur, before hopping behind him as though seeking protection.
Brock's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "It looks like Oddish and Bulbasaur know each other. Could they belong to the same Trainer?"
Oddish's expression was like a child caught sneaking snacks behind her parent's back. Her behavior suggested a bond with Bulbasaur, maybe a protector and companion.
"A Trainer's Pokémon…?" Ash muttered, his excitement dimming. "That would be too bad."
He knew it was unrealistic to stumble upon a wild starter pokemon so easily. Though they were common in the League's care, encountering one outside was rare.
But the more Ash observed, the less ordinary this Bulbasaur seemed.
[Species: Bulbasaur]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Grass/Poison]
[Level: Normal Advanced]
[Ability: Overgrow]
[Moves: Tackle, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf…]
[Aptitudes: Attack C (B), Special Attack B (A), Defense C (B), Special Defense C (B), HP B (A), Speed A (A)]
Three A's and three B's across its stats, this was the most gifted Pokémon Ash had seen yet, second only to his own Pikachu and Ralts.
And it wasn't just talent. For a "wild" Pokémon, its Normal Advanced level was incredibly high. If it had a Trainer, that Trainer had to be relatively new, not far ahead of Ash himself.
By comparison, Ash's team had reached their current heights through a mix of factors, Pikachu's extraordinary growth, Pidgeotto's already-advanced level when caught, and Butterfree's naturally rapid Bug-type progression.
Thanks to a mix of coincidences and sheer luck, Ash, barely a month into his journey, was already traveling with three Pokémon at the Advanced tier. Normally, a Rookie Trainer would be lucky to have a team of six at the Normal level by now. To even attempt a Gym challenge typically required at least six weeks of training. Ash and Gary were both clear outliers.
And now, Ash could see not only Bulbasaur's stats but also his typing and partial movepool. It was the work of his developing Insight Eye, a special ability that grew sharper with each battle and experience. One day, it might reach the level of the Breeder version of Ash from the group chat.
"Bulba-bulba!" Bulbasaur barked, his tone sharp.
Ash frowned, catching the meaning through his Aura. "What do you mean I gave Oddish random food? She came to us starving, and this was a balanced meal Brock and I cooked! If anything, your Trainer should be ashamed, letting her get this hungry in the first place!"
But then Bulbasaur shook his head firmly.
"Bulbaa!"
Ash blinked, surprised. "You… don't have a Trainer?"
Bulbasaur gestured toward the bowl Oddish had left unfinished. Curious, Ash slid it forward. Bulbasaur scooped up a bit with his Vine Whip, tasting it. His stern face softened, and for the first time, he looked genuinely satisfied.
Ash and Brock exchanged a proud glance. Having their food appreciated, especially by such a wild Pokémon, was a victory all its own.
"So it looks like you guessed wrong, Brock," Ash grinned. "Bulbasaur isn't owned by anyone."
Brock rubbed his chin. "Then he and Oddish must be wild Pokémon, living together in a group."
Meanwhile, Bulbasaur finished the last of Oddish's food, then flushed slightly. He'd scolded Ash earlier, only to turn around and eat the leftovers himself. But Pokémon didn't dwell on pride for long. With a respectful nod, he thanked Ash and prepared to leave with Oddish.
"Wait, Bulbasaur!" Ash called out, stepping forward. "Since you don't have a Trainer, why don't you come with me? With me, you'll have meals like that every day! Not to mention, we could get stronger together." His eyes shone with determination. "Of course, I'm not asking you to just let me catch you. Let's battle first, the proper way."
Bulbasaur froze, his expression conflicted. At last, he shook his head.
"Bulba..bulbasaur."
Ash's smile faltered. "You… still have something to protect?"
Those words hit Ash harder than he expected. This Bulbasaur wasn't refusing out of pride or stubbornness, he had responsibilities. From the way he'd shielded Oddish earlier, it was clear Bulbasaur was loyal, dependable, and bound by a promise.
Ash clenched his fists. A Pokémon this steadfast wasn't one he could just walk away from. "If there's something you're protecting, then let me see it. Maybe I can help. If I do, will you consider joining me?"
Bulbasaur hesitated, studying Ash with serious eyes. Finally, he nodded.
Ash grinned in relief, only for Brock to raise a hand. "No rush. Let's eat first. Oddish barely had anything, and Bulbasaur probably hasn't eaten enough either."
Ash warmly invited Oddish and Bulbasaur to join the group for lunch.
Oddish hopped over shyly, while Bulbasaur followed more cautiously. Pikachu immediately greeted him with cheerful chatter, offering a share of his food. Bulbasaur tested it, though the flavor wasn't exactly what he was used to, it was hearty, balanced, and surprisingly good.
These humans were… different. Their Pokémon were friendly, the food nourishing, and, most shockingly, the boy who wanted to catch him had asked permission instead of forcing the issue. Bulbasaur had battled enough Trainers to know how things usually went. If a wild Pokémon fell, the Poké Ball would follow without question.
But this one? He'd fed Oddish first. He'd spoken as if Bulbasaur's consent mattered. And somehow… he had understood Bulbasaur's words. That shouldn't have been possible.
Bulbasaur studied Ash's face, unsettled and intrigued in equal measure. This human was unusual, special in a way he couldn't quite define.
After the meal, Misty packed away the dishes while Brock stowed the cookware. At Bulbasaur's beckoning, the group followed him and Oddish through the forest until they arrived at a small wooden house nestled in the trees.
In front of it knelt a young woman, grinding herbs into poultices and gently tending to a group of injured Pokémon. She looked up as they approached, her expression softening when she saw Bulbasaur return.
"Bulbasaur, you're back! And… who are these three?" she asked.
Ash stepped forward eagerly. "My name's Ash, from Pallet Town. This is Misty, the Gym Leader of Cerulean City. And this is..."
"My name is Brock, Gym Leader of Pewter City!" Brock blurted, practically leaping in front of Ash.
Ash blinked, scratching his head, while Misty only gave him a helpless smile. She'd already noticed Brock's weakness for older women, whether it was her sisters back at the Cerulean Gym or now this gentle caretaker. Honest as he seemed, he definitely had a shameless side.
The young woman bowed her head politely. "Hello, my name is Melanie. I run this little convalescent home for sick and abandoned Pokémon. Did Bulbasaur give you any trouble?"
She assumed the worst, since this was the first time Bulbasaur had ever returned with strangers.
Ash waved his hands. "No, nothing like that! Actually, it's the opposite…" He quickly explained how they had met Bulbasaur and Oddish, and how he had come to understand what Bulbasaur meant when he said he had 'something to protect.'
Hearing the story, Brock's expression sobered. "So that's it… He's been guarding this whole place, hasn't he?"
Ash nodded. The truth was clear now, Bulbasaur wasn't refusing him out of pride. He was staying because someone had to protect these vulnerable Pokémon.
Brock stepped forward, speaking earnestly. "Miss Melanie, if what you need is security for this healing house, I can request help from the Pokémon League. As a Gym Leader, I can vouch for this place. We could have the League designate it as an official protected site and send Trainers here to guard it. That way… Bulbasaur wouldn't have to shoulder the burden alone."
For once, Brock's priorities were straight. Yes, he was smitten, but he also understood his friend's longing. He'd seen the way Ash's eyes lit up for Bulbasaur, and he wasn't about to let that dream slip away if there was another solution.
Brotherhood first, even before his usual flirting.
...
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