Bab 9: 9 Bulba?
Disclaimer:
Pokemon belongs to The Pokémon company, Nintendo, Game freak. Only original characters belong to me.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
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Surrounded by tall trees the gang was resting after a long hike. Under the delectable and desirable shade, Ash and Misty were playing cards on a tree stump.
"Go fish!" The redhead squealed in happiness and looked at the boy before her. "What will you do now, you pipsqueak?" Misty gloated as she pointed her finger at his nose.
Sporting a mischievous smile Ash bit the offending digit. "Queens don't engage in tomfoolery you little water sprout." The girl was massaging her hand in embarrassment. Redness filling her from the neck up.
"Can't you two not flirt as much" Brock smiled at the duo. "It makes the single dog sad." He mock held his heart in sadness.
With a bang the older boy landed on the ground. "Who's flirting with whom!?" Misty exclaimed.
"Surprisingly hefty." Ash remarked after taking away her hammer. "Did you learn that from her Pikachu?"
The yellow mouse was dozing off from its Ketchup high. "Pika piii..." It let out a sigh full of bliss.
Shaking his head Ash dodged the blushing girls attempt at grabbing back her weapon. "Give it back mister or you will be sorry."
"Relax or I'll help you with the main character method." He said with a smirk.
Puzzled she stopped. "And what's that?"
"A lip sealing kiss." He said with puckered lips. "Want a smooch?" He winked.
A puff of steam rushed out of her ears. "You, you...," A bush rustled nearby revealing a small pokemon, "you're so cute." Misty's eyes flashed with hearts at the intruder.
A wild Oddish appeared before the trio. It looked confused at the trainers and with fright began its escape.
"Wait!" Misty ran after the grass pokémon. Leaving her two friends in bewilderment.
"Since when did she like grass types?" Brock asked while quickly packing their stuff.
"Don't ask about the why's Brock." Ash sent his Pidgeotto out. "Follow and help Misty if needed.
With a squawk the bird pokemon set out to find their friend.
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"Odd, Odd - isssh" the small pokémon was running away in panic between the shrubs.
"Wait, I don't want to hurt you!" Misty huffed as she jumped over a log.
With tears in its eyes the grass pokémon changed its direction towards a nearby bridge. The planks creaked under the weight of the duo.
"Wow, this is dangerous." The redhead stilled in fright as the contraption swung back and forth.
The pokémon wasn't faring better as it stumbled. "Oddish!" It screamed as it fell off the bridge.
"No!" Misty's eyes widened as she saw it falling down. With no hesitation she jumped and caught the small pokémon.
"Is this it?" She watched as the edges of the cliffs got further away as they plummeted deeper into the ravine.
As her life started to flash before her eyes she felt a strong pull. Gasping from the sudden stopping force she looked up.
"Pidgeotto!?"
"Otto!" The flying pokémon nodded and started ascending.
-------
Pikachu's ears twitched. "Pika, pika." It pointed to the right.
"She must be over there." Ash ran towards the forest line.
"I can hear Pidgeotto." Brock said.
The duo continued their way in haste. As they reached the ravine they saw Misty landing in safety on the other side.
"There she is." Brock sighed in relief.
"She's not out of danger quite yet." Ash got on the bridge with a scary smile, making the older boy shiver.
Meanwhile, the redhead could finally release her breath. Her limbs gave up and she laid back on the ground, her chest visibly going up and down.
"Are you okay, Oddish?" Misty hugged the small ball of green closer.
"Odd, Oddish." It nodded with tears.
"I'm so sorry." The pokémon looked up and saw Misty tearing up. "I just wanted to be your friend, and yet you almost died because of me."
"Odd?"
"Will you ever forgive me?" She asked with a pleading voice."
The grass pokémon watched her in silence, turmoil in its heart. On one hand this whole situation was because of the girl's crazed eagerness. However, without any hesitation she jumped to save it. Oddish finally came to an answer.
"Odd-ish." Misty felt a gentle pat. Opening her eyes she saw green leaves wiping her tears.
"Thank you."
"As nice as that was." Misty felt chills crawling up her spine. "You're still going to get to get an earful from me, young lady."
An unamused Ash was staring at the heartwarming scene. His fingers tapping his biceps as he had his arms crossed.
"I'm sorry?" That sounded more like a question then an apology.
"You will be." A mischievous glint flashed in the younger boy's eyes. "And what do we have here?"
Ash crouched next to the rescued duo. Pikachu greeted the Oddish with a call of his own.
"I'll admit, it is a cute one." He slowly showed the grass pokémon the palm of his hand. Showing he didn't mean any harm.
Seeing the stretched out arm Oddish's leaf reached towards it, trying to sense danger. After this the pokémon relaxed and let the boy rub its little cheeks.
"You'll be a beautiful Bellossom one day." He cooed.
"What's a Bellossom?" Brock asked while smiling at his friends.
"Just a stone evolution of Gloom." Ash replied. "I don't know if there are wild ones in Kanto, but in Johto where there's an abundance of Sun Stones they're a more frequent sight."
"Odd ish?" The grass pokémon looked cluelessly.
"Here, I'll draw a sketch." He began drawing the hula skirt and than the top, finishing with two blossoming flowers on each side. "Now tell me if that isn't cute?"
"Wow, you'll be so beautiful." Misty squealed, hugging the pokémon even more.
"Oddish, oddish!" Stars were flashing in eyes, enamored by its evolution.
"But there is a problem." Brock burst their bubble. "We don't have a Sun Stone."
That statement rained on the duo's parade. Making the small pokémon teary eyed.
"I can ask Professor Oak whether he could get one." Ash tried to salvage the situation as Misty looked at Brock with daggers in her eyes. "I believe his student has a laboratory of his own in Johto."
"You'd do that, for me?" Misty and Oddish looked at him with puppy eyes.
"I still haven't forgotten about your reckless behavior, Misty." He said with a raised brow, while the girl showed her tongue.
"Anyway," Brock smiled, " We didn't know you wanted an Oddish, Misty. Why the sudden change?"
"I've been doing a lot of thinking." Misty glared at Ash who wanted to interject, probably with a joke.
"Seeing Pikachu train with Pidgeotto and Fearow made me want to do something similar with my Water pokémon. As they're weak to grass types." She explained. "And the fact that Oddish is so adorable made my decision even easier."
"Oddish." Red showed on the embarrassed blue pokémons cheeks.
"Then there's nothing left but to ask the question." Ash played with the pokémon's leaves.
Misty placed the pokémon before her. The girl was kneeling so it could better see her face.
"Would you be my pokémon, Oddish?" She asked with a hopeful smile.
Oddish looked at the offered hand with turmoil brewing in its heart. Something was keeping it from making the decision. Before Misty could ask what's wrong a green whip grabbed Oddish and reeled it into the forest.
"What was that?" Brock's shocked voice woke his friends out of their stupor.
"Let's give chase" Ash ordered his bird pokémon to pursue the target.
-------
The deepest part of the woods held a secret. A sanctuary built for hurt and abandoned pokémon was concealed by huge towering trees. Paradise unknown to men. But as with any rule, there's always an exception.
A lone young woman was tending to the vegetable patch next to the small log cabin. Right next to her two small Rattatas were enjoying the afternoon sun.
A small creek cut through the hidden village. It was home to a couple of Magikarps and a Staryu.
"Another great day we're having." The woman wiped her sweat away with her handkerchief. "Where did they go?" Concern currently held her heart hostage as he worried about the lost pokémon.
The rat pokémon's ears twitched. "Rat tata?" Its puzzeled cry caught the girl's attention.
"Is everything alright, Casey?"
The second Rattata woke up and lowered its head in readiness.
The girl looked towards the direction they're were staring. Sounds of small quickened footsteps could be heard coming from the forest.
"Did the traps fail." She kept her small shovel in hand, preparing for the worst.
Suddenly, from the rustling bushes a bulb-like dinosaur creature jumped out. Within its vines a small dizzy Oddish was groaning.
"Bulbasaur!" She lowered her guard down. "You've had me worried."
"Saur." It nodded its head in apology.
"It seems our lost has been found." She took the confused pokemon into her lap. "We've been worried sick you little trouble maker."
"Odd-ish." It snapped from its dizziness and looked around. The woman could see a rare flash of regret in its eyes.
"Is everything alright, Oddish?" Before she could continue she felt something grabbing her legs. She looked down and saw the two Ratatta's watching the sky in fear.
Two huge birds were circling above them. One of them then flew off straight into the forest.
"Are the poachers coming?" She didn't know what to do. Usually the hidden traps were enough to keep any not welcomed visitors away.
She could feel her heart speeding up. Each beat like a drum sounding of the seconds of impending danger.
"Pidgeotto said its this way." She could hear a boy's voice coming from behind the trees.
"I'll pummle the wise guy that set those traps."
"That's why we told you to watch your step, Misty." An older voice said.
"Finally a clearing." A young boy with a cap walked out of the forest. "Nice place."
"There's even a small river here." The redheaded girl said.
"Those are all nice, but," The older teenager towards her. "The best view is over there." The woman was shocked as the man's eyes changed to hearts.
"Don't creep out the lady. The boy sighed. "We've been over this, Brock."
As this was happening the Oddish broke out from the woman's hands.
"No, Oddish its dangerous."
Not listening to her the small grass pokémon with a couple of leaps jumped into Misty's embrace.
"I was so worried." Misty brought the small creature closer.
"So this is our perpetrator." Ash calmly eyed the not so happy Bulbasaur.
"Bulba." It stood its ground before the unnamed woman. But even it wasn't ready for what happened next.
"What's your name? Do you have a boyfriend? My name's Brock? Did I already say you're gorgeous?" An avalanche of words hit the unsuspecting girl. Even Bulbasaur was stunned by the nonsensical tripe that was being shotgunned by this odd man.
"Easy there Romeo." Misty grabbed the teen by his ear. "I may not have my hammer," hurt showed on her face as she looked towards the chuckling in the background Ash, "but Oddish over here can stun your enthusiasm."
"Hello, I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town." He slowly approached with his Pokédex in his hand. "I don't know if you recognize this but this Pokédex was given to me by Professor Oak."
The woman sighed in relief as she did hear about that man. "My name is Melanie. Its nice to meet you." She shook his hand.
"I'm sorry about the intrusion, but my friend over there was very adamant in befriending Oddish. And that guy over here didn't help." He pointed towards the grass bulb pokémon.
"Bulba bulba. Bulbasaur." The pokémon wasn't happy with the accusatory tone.
"Oh please." Ash walked towards it. "If you really wanted to catch us off guard then you should've used Sleeping Powder. At least then we wouldn't have been able to find this place."
Bulbasaur struggled not to blush from embarrassment. It was thinking why didn't it do just that.
A small giggle escaped Melanie's lips. "He's got you there Bulbasaur."
"How does he keep doing it?" Brock was writing something in his small notebook.
"He's a kid, Brock." Misty said with a deadpan face. Oddish mirrored the girl's look of disapproval.
"What is this place exactly?" Ash asked.
"This is a small sanctuary for hurt and abandoned pokémon." The girl replied wistfully. "I'm the caretaker and healer of this small paradise."
"Does that mean you make your own food and medicine?" Brock had a serious expression.
"Of course." She smiled. "We have our very own garden full of herbs and vegetables."
As the two got lost in their world of expertise Ash and Misty settled near the creek. They released their pokémon so they could also enjoy this special piece of land. Butterfree especially found the surroundings enticing as it flew amongst the flowers.
"Look there're Magikarps over there." The fish pokémon watched the newcomers underneath the water.
"Don't tell me you're thinking of catching one?" Ash jokingly asked.
"And why wouldn't I?"
"Magikarp aside, I don't think a fiery girl like yourself should have a Gyarados as her company."
"Pika pika." Pikachu nodded.
"Hmph, what do you know Ketchum?"
"That hurt." He chuckled hearing her address him by his last name. "I'm just warning you to not bite more then you can chew."
Her eyes softened hearing his concern. "But I want one."
"You can try." He shrugged his shoulders and laid down to take a nap.
As it got closer to dinner a smell of food spread throughout the clearing. Enamored by the fragrance the pokémon ran towards it source. Ash feeling his nose scratched by something soft woke up.
"Is it chow time, Pikachu?"
"Pika pi." The electric mouse nodded.
Yawning the boy followed the sounds of an ongoing conversation.
"Don't you feel lonely, Melanie?" Misty giving Oddish the special feed that Brock and the girl camed up with.
"Not at all, Misty."The older girl smiled. "I have all the friends I need right here.
"It must be hard." Brock poured the soup into their bowls. "But I understand why you've made this place your home."
"We're not leaving you here, Brock." Ash sat down next to Misty. "A qualified chef is hard to come by."
"Is that how you see me?" The teen tried to raise his brow but failed to do so.
"I see you as a low budget nanny and a great friend." The boy said with a smirk.
"Misty told me you are on your way to the Indigo League." Melanie interjected. "You must be strong."
"Nope, I'm just good at training my pokémon." Ash scratched Pikachu's chin. "They're the heavy lifters."
"Pika chuu." His partner purred.
"I see you treat them well." The young lady smiled. "I find it uplifting that there are trainers like you."
"Seen too many bad eggs?" Melanie nodded.
"That's why I've made my life's role to shelter the weak and unwanted."
"Bulba." The grass pokémon held its head up proudly.
The girl giggled. "Of course with your help, Bulbasaur."
Satisfied it continued eating from its bowl.
"Is it your pokémon?" Ash asked.
"No, it was also abandoned by its trainer." She replied sadly.
"Hmph. That trainer must've been dumb." Bulbasaur's ear twitched when Ash made that comment.
"Is this also the reason why you won't pursue your dream of being a doctor?" Brock asked.
The lady looked wistfully at the horizon. "No, I don't feel qualified enough." She ended at that.
Feeling that the atmosphere soured Ash tried to change the topic.
"There were many traps along the way. Did you plant them yourself?"
"Oh yes." She beamed with pride. "It's kept all the unwanted individuals away."
"Thankfully Ash was able to rescue us from them." Misty glared at the whistling boy. "But I still think you made me go first as punishment for before."
"Nonsense." He chuckled. "I'd never punish a lady such as yourself. It would've been uncouth of me."
"Right." She still looked at him w suspicion.
"Anyway, since the thieves of this world are comically bad at their job you don't have to worry about anything."
Meanwhile in the forest.
"James help me!" Jessie from Team Rocket was hanging with her limbs tied up.
"Why couldn't it gag her mouth instead?" Meowth was walking with a stick as it hurt itself three pitfalls ago.
"I heard that you little runt. Ouch!" The teen fell down on her male teammate.
"I can always renew my enrollment." The blue haired teen had tears coming out of his eyes.
Back at the main plot.
"I'd like to ask for your permission to catch Oddish." Misty looked at the older girl with her best puppy eyes. Seeing what she was doing the grass pokémon copied.
Melanie didn't know what to say. "And if I say no will you listen?" Their look already gave her the answer.
"If it makes it easier to accept. Although she doesn't look like much she's still one of the Gym leaders at Cerulean City."
"What did you mean by that, squirt." She caught him in a head lock.
"You've been growing nicely." Ash said in a sagely tone.
"Yeep." Misty jumped away with her face blushing.
"Quite the pair, aren't they?" Brock smiled as the redhead began chasing the boy around in circles.
"To be young again." She giggled.
Brock's demeanor changed to a more serious one."I know I should not say this, but I'd like you to hear me out."
"About what?" She looked away.
"About what we've talked before." He paused. "I've only been with you for a couple of hours and I can say with certainty that you can became a doctor."
"I said I couldn't." She stopped herself as the man before her gently placed his palm on her hand.
"I know what you're feeling Melanie. I've seen it in my eyes not so long ago." He remarked.
"And what's changed." She asked timidly.
Brock glanced back to his friends. "They've given me the push to follow my dreams. Which are similar to yours. I also want to become a doctor."
"But I can't leave these pokémon on their own. They need me." She said with a wavering voice.
"How about you stop using their weakness as na excuse." Ash suddenly interjected.
"Don't be rude Ash." Misty pinched his side.
"But he has a point." Brock sighed. "You have a gift Melanie. I thought I've already had a solid base when it came to nutrition and helping pokémon. I was a gym leader and a step in parent for years."
"And yet when I've seen your craft I felt like a young adept following behind a teacher." She blushed hearing the praise.
"And by going to school you can further your skills and help even more pokémon." Misty encouraged.
"And if these pokémon are the only thing holding you back then I can help you." Ash grinned.
"I..." before she could answer a resounding thud could he heard from the distance.
"What's that noise?" Misty hugged the scared Oddish.
"If I'm right then we'll have very unwilling practice targets. Isn't that right, Pikachu?"
"Pika pi." Sparks began to gather in his cheeks.
At the end of the clearing a strange contraption with balloons could be seen.
"Why didn't we do this from the start?" James had bandages around his arms.
"Never mind that." Meowth struggled to talk through the bandages on its face.
"Get ready you buffoons." Jessie with fire in her eyes pushed a big red button.
From the mechanical vehicle a hatch opened, revealing a long tube coming out.
"Let the mission begin." The trio shouted in glee.
The tube started sucking in the nearby air. The pokémon that were unfortunately close to the machine got caught very quickly.
"I love my job." Meowth smirked seeing all the creatures being placed into cages within their vehicle.
Suddenly Team Rocket felt something hitting the shell of the machine. Looking through the periscope they felt fear creeping up to their spines.
"The twerps are here!" James had tears in his eyes.
"Why do we have so rotten luck?" Jessie watched as the Onix coiled around one of their mecha's sides.
"Abort the mission!" Meowth punched the emergency button, releasing their cockpit into the air.
They felt more relief with every second they got away from the clearing.
"Are we in the clear?" Jessie looked through the window. "Why are we changing directions?"
"Free!" Butterfree's eyes were glowing blue.
"Focus the power more, Butterfree." Ash ordered his pokémon to lock on the shuttle with Confusion. "That's right, get those imbeciles right where we want them."
"What are you doing Ash?" Misty watched as the bug pokémon struggled with its task.
"Trying to teach it Psychic." He replied. "It's quite similar to Confusion in its concept. However, the latter needs more power behind it."
"Never missing a moment to train." Brock sighed while helping the pokémon escape.
"Bulba, bulba." Bulbasaur used its Razor Leaves to cut through the bindings.
"And pause." The escape pod hit the ground from 15 feet. Shaking up its inhabitants.
"Leave us alone, please?" James pleading voice reached the crew outside.
"What do you think Ash?" Misty asked.
The boys eyes brightened up mischievously. "Let's play ball."
Butterfree understood its trainers intentions. It mustered all of its energy and shot the shuttle towards Onix. The rock snake pokémon surprised by the incoming object swatted it with its tail. Sending the contraption flying at mach speeds.
"It seems..." Jessie gritted her teeth.
"We're blasting off?" James was holding his desk for dear life.
"Again!" Meowth yelled as they flew away at an unknown direction.
"That's what I call a homerun."
"Will they be alright?" Melanie watched the shuttle turning into a speck of light in the distance.
"Quicker then I'd like them to." Ash let out a sigh. "At least Butterfree got to experience its first low level Psychic."
"I'd appreciate giving me a heads-up next time." Brock knocked the boy's head with his knuckles. "Onix isn't a baseball bat."
"I don't see it complaining." The rock pokémon roared in glee.
"Let's just help with getting this place back to shape." Misty was exhausted.
"Pika pi." Pikachu looked bored as it didn't get to do anything.
After a round of cleaning the group could finally take a breather.
"Returning to the conversation that was abruptly paused by some nuisances." Ash said while sipping on some tea. "I can ask Professor Oak if he'd take care of these little munchkins."
"But I don't want to impose my duties on him." Melanie interjected.
"Hmph, the old man has enough space for them. Not to mention his army of assistants."
"But..."
"But nothing." Ash grinned. "It's not as if you're saying goodbye. You could always just call the laboratory to see them. Or just plainly visit on your holidays."
"He's right, Melanie." Misty smiled. "And who knows, maybe thanks to the Professor you'll be able to find more pokémon that need your help."
Bulbasaur watched as the woman struggled to make her choice.
"Bulba, Bulbasaur."
"What do you mean I should go? What about you?" Melanie asked.
"Bulba, bulba." The pokémon looked towards Ash. "Saur!"
"Do you want to come with me?" Ash raised his brow. "Why?"
"Bulba, Bulbasaur saur."
"Now, that's a stretch." Misty huffed.
"Please, Misty. Show me a more good-hearted person." She pointed to Melanie. "Well played Misty. Well played." He smirked.
"What's your condition?" Ash asked the grass pokémon.
"Bulba, Bulbasaur."
"I've already said that I'll help Melanie and these pokémon. Choose something else."
"Bulba."
"I can make you stronger only on one condition."
Bulbasaur scrutinized the boy with its gaze. It knew that there was always a catch.
"Don't look at me like that." Ash remarked. "All I wanted to say is that you'll have to fight with me in a pokémon battle. Do you agree?" The boy put his hand in front of the pokémon.
Bulbasaur looked at the hand for a moment before releasing a vine to shake it.
"It seems Brock, I've got a match today." Ash grinned. "Pikachu get ready."
"Pika!" It released a spark in excitement.
The trainer and the challenging pokémon found a small patch of grass behind the log cabin. With both sides taking their respective corners the battle could begin.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack." The mouse pokémon made its way towards the target.
"Bulba, bulba!" Razor Leaves were launched towards the speeding opponent.
"Dodge and prepare your tail."
"Pika pika." A silver light enveloped the lightning shaped tail.
"Saur!" Two vines were shot, trying to catch the electric pokémon.
"Use your tail as a bat." With precision Pikachu bounced the vines towards Bulbasaur, hitting it in the process.
"Bulba." It groaned as its oun attack backfired.
"Use Spark to end it."
"Pika, pika!" Small arcs of electricity started gathering around its body. Making use of its speed it tackled the grass pokémon before it could react.
With a thud Bulbasaur hit a tree, making it faint.
"Pokéball go!" The ball hit the pokémon dead center on the head releasing a stream of red light. The pokémon was pulled into the ball. After falling to the ground it rolled back and forth 3 times before finally the light stop blinking.
Ash picked his pokéball and triumphantly raised it to the sky. "I've got the grass starter!"
"Pika pi!" It once again took out its giant foam arms and cheered.
Melanie watched as the duo jumped around.
"Don't worry about Bulbasaur. He's in good hands." Brock could see the small bit of hesitation fade away.
"It was the best protector I've ever met." She remembered the day when it found its way in to the village. It took weeks for her to gain its trust.
"Come out, Bulbasaur." Ash released the pokémon.
"Bulba?" It looked around in confusion.
"So you see yourself as a protector?" Ash crouched next to it.
"Bulbasaur?" It looked into the boy's clear eyes.
"Let's protect each other's backs from now on." He said with a toothy grin.
"Bulba." It nodded.
"Pika, pika." It took the grass pokémon's vines and took the poor fellow for a spin.
------
The next morning the trio of friends was packing their belongings. They decided to stay at the village for the night as it's already late. Before they went to sleep Ash convinced Melanie to keep the pokémon in pokeballs so they could be transferred to the Professor easier. After taking with the pokémon they all agreed with a couple of notable surprises. The Ratattas, Staryu and Weepinbell decided to go with her on her journey to become a doctor.
"I'll head to Celadon shortly." Melanie hugged Misty and Ash while giving Brock a handshake.
"Then we'll see you in a couple of weeks. When we go there for my next gym badge." Ash said.
"If you go to Cerulean you can stay at my sister's gym. I'm sure they'll receive you." Misty assured.
"I hope that one day we'll be colleagues." Brock smiled.
"Thank you for giving me the push. She leaned and gave the older teen a peck on the cheek. With a blush she quickly locked herself in the cabin.
"I..I?" Brock stood still as a stone.
"See Brock." Ash pushed his friend onward.
"Treat a woman with respect and she'll eventually like you." Misty huffed.
"Pika pi." Pikachu nodded sagely on Ash's shoulder.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone