As he left the institute, the city buzzed softly around him. Trainers shouted, ships blew horns at the docks, electric lines hummed overhead but beneath it all, William felt a pull of something.
He touched Eevee's Poké Ball gently.
"The Mysterious Garden, huh…?" he murmured.
Eevee jumped to his shoulder again. "Vee!"
"Yeah," he said with a small smile. "Let's find it."
The wind shifted, carrying the scent of the forest beyond the city.
And as the sun began to set behind Vermilion's skyline, William walked toward the path leading north where the road turned wild, and the maps ended. Along the way, he found that this forest was indeed very primitive.
There were large trees with lush branches everywhere. At first, there were a few small paths where people had walked, but as they went deeper, the paths gradually disappeared.
It was silent all around.
Whether it was Caterpie or Weedle, Oddish or Bellsprout, these common Pokémon in the forest were nowhere to be seen. The more this was the case, the more certain William became that he had indeed come to the right place.
After all, only when they reached the habitat of a certain ethnic group, due to territorial awareness, would they expel other Pokémon, thus forming such a situation!
Because somewhere out there, beyond the edge of known land…lay the place where evolution itself waited to be understood.
~~~ North Side of the Vermilion City, Inside the forest ~~~
The forest beyond Vermilion was unlike anything William had seen in Kanto.
No city noise, no human paths , only layers of mist curling through the towering trees, sunlight filtering down in shifting ribbons.
His steps crunched against damp leaves as Eevee perched quietly on his shoulder, her ears flicking at every forest sound.
Shiny Nidoran followed close behind, cautious but curious, while Kirlia and Electabuzz walked on either side, acting like bodyguards.
William sent Jaw back to the Professor Rowan's Laboratory. His father is already introducing with him and Professor is very happy to look after the Alpha pokemon, Sharpedo who becomes too strong because of William's abilities. More than that Professor Rowan wants to study his shiny Nidoran. He didn't want to send him yet. After all, Nidoran didn't become Alpha level yet. So, he needs to train him more. Back to the journey.
It was supposed to be an ordinary search which is like a wild goose chase after a rumor. And yet, the air here felt different. Lively. Breathing. Peaceful. Also Watchful.
Every step made the forest hum softly, like it was aware of his presence.
"Keep your guard up," William murmured. "We're not alone here."
Eevee's ears twitched in response.
"Vee…"
That was when they heard it. A quiet rustle behind the ferns ahead, followed by a small voice.
"Bulba…"
William stopped.
A small green Pokémon stepped out, vines twitching nervously is a Bulbasaur. Its bulb glowed faintly with natural energy, its eyes bright yet cautious.
William knelt slightly, lowering his tone. "Hey there, little one. I'm not here to hurt you. Are you lost? Where is your parents?"
Bulbasaur hesitated, sniffing the air. The others stayed still, letting William take the lead.
But before he could reach out, a sudden breeze rippled through the trees.
Bulbasaur's ears perked up and it bolted into the undergrowth.
"Wait!"
William stood, ready to follow, but something else caught his attention.
From the corner of his eye, leaves stirred in a way that didn't match the wind.
He turned sharply.
A figure stood there, half-hidden by the trees is a sleek, graceful, and shining with an emerald aura.
A Leafeon.
It stared at him with sharp amber eyes, its leafy tail slicing through the air like a blade.
Eevee stiffened. Kirlia's eyes flared with light. Electabuzz rolled his shoulders, sparks crackling.
Leafeon lowered its stance, growling. It wasn't a wild Pokémon. It was guarding something.
"So this is your territory," William murmured. "I get it. But I'm not backing off."
The wind howled, carrying the scent of grass and flowers.
"Alright, Shocker," William said quietly. "You're up."
Electabuzz stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Buzz."
"Let's show them we mean no harm but we won't be pushed back either. After all we have a mission."
The moment he spoke, Leafeon moved faster than wind, blurring in a green flash.
It closed the distance in a heartbeat, leaves slicing from its tail.
"Leaf Blade!?" William reacted instantly. "Protect!"
A shimmering barrier snapped up around Electabuzz just as the blade struck, sending sparks scattering.
"Now! Thunder Wave!"
Electricity crackled through the air as yellow arcs raced forward, catching Leafeon mid-leap.
The Grass Pokémon winced, muscles locking for a moment and paralyzes.
"Don't let up. Shocker uses Fire Punch!"
Electabuzz roared, his fist igniting in orange flame as he lunged.
Leafeon twisted, barely dodging, its tail slicing against Electabuzz's side but the Fire Punch connected against its flank.
Flames flared, leaves scorched.
Leafeon staggered back, trembling, legs locking again from paralysis.
William clenched his fist. "You are though."
Leafeon growls and the large number of green leaves fly towards them with strong force like a tornado.
Electabuzz releases the large amount of lightning towards Leafeon. The lightning attack push though the Leaf Storm and hit the Leafeon in the dead center.
Leafeon let out a strained growl and then slumped to one knee.
William stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You fought well. But my pokemon is more stronger than you. Just rest now."
He threw a Poké Ball. It struck the Leafeon's head and sucks into the PokeBall. After a tense moment of shaking… clicked.
Leafeon was caught.
Electabuzz exhaled heavily and relaxed from fighting stance. He looks at me like 'See I am strong.' expression. William just smiled.
"Good job, Shocker," William said softly. "You handled that perfectly and yes you are strong."
Eevee leapt down from his shoulder, tail wagging proudly.
Kirlia's eyes softened but then suddenly flared again, glowing bright blue.
"Kirlia, what happens?"
'I feel a slight disturbing force. It comes from that little Bulbasaur who escaped towards the left side behind this tall tree.' Kirlia tells him with telepathy.
"Let's go and look into it." William said with interest. William and his pokemon walk towards the tall tree and examine the areas.
Seeing nothing, they walk past the tall tree. For a split second, William's vision blurred.
Then the world changed.
The trees bent inward, forming a natural arch. Mist rolled like living silk, revealing an entrance that hadn't been there before.
Through it… light shimmered like the dawn.
And beyond it is a valley filled with glowing flowers, crystalline ponds, and Pokémon William had never seen gathered together before.
"The Mysterious Garden… It's real." he whispered.
***************
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