"Pikachu, this is your reward."
Ash opened a bottle of Moomoo Milk and handed it to Pikachu, praising its heroic performance earlier.
That hand-to-hand combat skill was top-tier.
"Pika—Pikachu!"
Pikachu responded happily and immediately focused on drinking the milk.
"Ash, why did you have Pikachu fight Cubone in hand-to-hand combat?" Misty asked curiously.
Cubone was a Ground-type, which countered Pikachu.
But Pikachu didn't only have Electric-type moves—it could still use Quick Attack or Iron Tail.
"You could've used Quick Attack or Iron Tail, right?"
That would've been Extreme Speed or Behemoth Blade…
Ash's brain spun rapidly as he tried to come up with a believable excuse.
"I just felt they weren't worthy of Pikachu using actual moves," Ash said seriously.
"Simple close combat was enough."
Misty nodded, half understanding and half confused.
"Brock, what's with you?" she asked.
Ever since they left the Pokémon Trainer School, Brock had become unusually quiet.
"It's nothing," Brock said quickly, snapping out of his thoughts.
"I was just thinking about something."
"I think you're just daydreaming about that girl," Misty said bluntly.
"No! I was just… appreciating her," Brock protested.
She was too young anyway—about the same age as Ash.
After chatting for a while, Ash and his group walked more than ten kilometers.
By now they were completely exhausted.
"Let's rest for a bit," Ash said, plopping down on the ground.
Even someone with the legendary Pallet Town stamina couldn't handle walking that far nonstop.
"If I still had my bicycle, I wouldn't be this tired," Misty sighed while leaning against a tree.
Here we go again with the bicycle…
Ash silently complained in his mind.
He definitely couldn't say that out loud—or Misty would solve the issue with violence.
"Here."
"Have some cake."
Ash quickly held a piece of cake toward Misty, trying to change the subject.
"Mm… I'll take it myself."
Misty looked slightly embarrassed by how close he was and took the cake from him.
After dinner, night gradually fell.
Ash leaned against the tree and thought about the Lone Wanderer—Bulbasaur.
According to the original storyline, after leaving the Trainer School they would encounter a Gloom that Misty tried to catch.
That incident would lead them to Bulbasaur, who misunderstood their intentions and kept confronting them.
Eventually, thanks to Team Rocket's accidental assistance, Ash would capture Bulbasaur.
But stories didn't always unfold exactly as written.
Reality might not line up perfectly with the plot.
There was no guarantee they would meet Bulbasaur.
It should be somewhere nearby…
Ash eagerly waited for the appearance of Oddish, the "guide" that would lead him to Bulbasaur.
"Bulba… Bulba…"
If Oddish appeared, then the Lone Wanderer would surely be close.
And capturing it would become much easier.
"Ash, what are you thinking about?" Misty asked while standing in front of him.
Her long fair legs looked especially striking in the moonlight.
"I'm wondering if there's a village nearby," Ash said while chewing on the end of his pen.
He and Pikachu discussed while marking the map.
After a while, with Brock's help, they finally pinpointed a location.
"There's a village around here," Brock said.
"It's said to be inhabited mostly by abandoned Pokémon."
Ash's eyes lit up with anticipation.
After resting overnight, the group eagerly set out toward the village.
They crossed a wooden bridge again. It was sturdy enough that even with three people and one Pikachu walking across, it didn't shake at all.
"Ash, are you going to that village to challenge Trainers again?" Misty asked suspiciously.
She wondered if he had heard there were many Pokémon there and planned to train levels again.
"We've been traveling nonstop lately," Ash replied.
"There's no time to challenge Trainers."
"I don't believe that for a second," Misty said with her arms crossed.
During his hundred-win streak, Ash had been full of energy, and his Pokémon had fought like they were pumped with adrenaline.
…
After a short while, Ash and his group finally arrived at the village where many abandoned Pokémon lived.
The Pokémon playing nearby immediately scattered when they saw strangers approaching.
Some of them clearly feared humans.
"Who are you?" a girl asked cautiously.
She was Melanie, the caretaker of the village—someone who quietly took care of injured and abandoned Pokémon.
Ash's group had heard about her on the road.
She devoted all her time to Pokémon and acted almost like the village's nurse.
"Oh!"
"Oddish—you're here too!" Misty suddenly exclaimed.
She spotted an Oddish with bandages on its face.
"Wait—you know this Oddish?" Ash asked, confused.
They had been traveling together the whole time.
When had Misty met it?
"This Oddish passed by our camp last night," Misty explained.
"I saw it was injured, so I treated its wounds and gave it some food."
"Thank you so much," Melanie said gratefully.
She warmly welcomed Ash's group.
It was rare to see Trainers who voluntarily helped wild Pokémon.
Ash and the others released their Pokémon and also took out a large box of Moomoo Milk, which could help the Pokémon recover.
"Our village has some traps set up," Melanie explained apologetically.
"They're only small defensive measures."
"We don't want Pokémon Trainers coming here and hurting these Pokémon a second time."
"Don't worry, Miss Melanie!" Brock said earnestly, his face slightly red.
"As long as I'm here, no one will bully you!"
Please cherish this version of Brock who still blushes around pretty girls.
In the future, Brock would confess to every beautiful girl he met.
"Bulba… Bulba…"
Ash suddenly heard a familiar voice.
His whole body jolted.
[ New Mission Triggered]
Bulbasaur Joins the Team
Requirement:
Bulbasaur must willingly choose to follow the host.
Reward:
TM – Substitute (single-use)
Ability Patch
Substitute… Protect… Toxic…
Ash realized the system was practically handing him the full Substitute + Protect + Toxic stall strategy.
His affection for the Lone Wanderer grew even stronger.
After all, this was the boss of Professor Oak's backyard.
Its potential was absolutely no less than Elite Four Tier.
Did people really think the legendary "Garlic Toad" Bulbasaur was a joke?
Nearby, the Lone Wanderer lay quietly on the ground, coldly observing the new visitors.
From time to time, it glanced toward its companions, keeping watch over them.
"Ash… do you want to capture Bulbasaur?" Melanie asked.
"Yes," Ash replied firmly.
After all—
Who wouldn't want the Garlic Toad?
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