Bulbasaur

Another day. Bulbasaur thought, as he opened his eyes. He slept on his belly, the large bulb on his back pointed upwards at the ceiling. He stretched his front and hind legs, as he let out a yawn. Bulbasaur rolled off of his cushion and landed on all-fours. As he stood, he let out another yawn.

He observed the environment his home. The short, smooth grass on the ground comforted his feet. The air was not too warm and not too cold, the way he liked it. The walls that surrounded him made sure to that. He looked over to his left, and on the wall was a map of the world. The map showed two large continents and some of the notable areas were highlighted with a star with the name of that location underneath it. He could not read the names since he was not close enough. On his right was a chest that contained various items that he considered mementos of his journeys. Bulbasaur looked straight ahead and saw the door which led outside. He walked over to it and gently pushed the door open with his head.

Bulbasaur walked outside and took a breath through his nose. It's a lot colder out here Bulbasaur thought. It was quite early in the morning. Bulbasaur was sure that the other residents of Pokemon Square were still asleep.

Bulbasaur walked across his small yard, and over to the mailbox. He opened it and saw that there was no mail, besides the local newspaper. Bulbasaur expected to see over a dozen envelopes of rescue mission papers. He recalled that Pelipper had taken part in a delivery marathon the day before, and was likely resting and fatigued. He took the newspaper out of the mailbox, and then shut it.

Bulbasaur took a quick look at today's headline "Crime in the Capital Reduced By 30%!" He smiled at the title. He was glad to hear that the capital had been doing better, since the downfall of the crime family that stirred anarchy there.

He heard a familiar voice come from behind him. "Good morning." He heard.

Bulbasaur turned around and saw his partner and best friend standing a few feet in front of him, Mudkip. "Yeah, morning." He replied back.

He remembered the first day he met Mudkip…


Bulbasaur saw nothing, but darkness. He couldn't feel a thing. He was unsure if he was dreaming or fully conscious. Suddenly, he felt like he was falling. The wind pummeled at his face. He heard the screams of terror come from above him as he fell, which became less and less audible when he descended further and further to the ground of blackness. The second he hit the ground he jolted awake.

Everything was a blur when Bulbasaur opened his eyes. He was numb and, like in the dream and was scared. Bulbasaur looked around and tried to find out where he was. From what he could see in his blurred vision, it appeared that he was in someone's home. He saw something, or someone enter the room. It stood there for a couple seconds staring at him, Bulbasaur assumed. The blue blurred figure rushed out of the room and shouted something. Bulbasaur was too scrambled to understand what he said. Another couple of seconds pass by, and two larger figures stepped into the room. They were roughly the same size as Bulbasaur, while the other one was smaller.

One of the larger blurred figures ran up to Bulbasaur. It was close enough for him to see. This figure had light blue skin, a black angular fin on its head, and two orange gills pointing outward on its cheeks. A Marshtomp, Bulbasaur thought. It was the first thought he had processed, or at least remembered processing.

The Marshtomp started talking to him, but Bulbasaur could only see its mouth moving. I'm sorry, but I can't hear you, Bulbasaur wanted to tell it, but all he could do was let out a weak yip. The Marshtomp walked two steps back, and that's when Bulbasaur noticed that she was wearing a pink apron.

Bulbasaur's sight slowly came back to him and he saw them. By the door was a small fish-like creature with blue skin, a fin on his head pointing upwards, along with a tailfin. Its lower jaw and tailfin were a lighter blue than it's upper. A Mudkip, Bulbasaur thought, and another Marshtomp right next to him. The Marshtomp wore no apron, unlike the other one. He quickly realized who these three were; a mother, a father, and there child.

As Bulbasaur regained his vision, he felt a massive throbbing in his head, which surged through the rest of his body. He groaned in pain. He tried standing. "Hey, take it easy." The father shouted in concern. The young Bulbasaur jumped by his shout. He suddenly grew frantic and confused, looking around the room. He rolled off the stack of hay that he slept on.

Where am I? He wanted to ask, but he could not. Bulbasaur started walking around the room in a panic. The pain in his body—mostly his head—had not bothered him. There was something wrong. He could not pinpoint it. He gave it a few seconds and realized that he did not know who he was. Bulbasaur started breathing fast, and heavily. He collapsed to the ground, and desperately cried. "Who am I? Who am I?" He asked himself, as he felt warm tears pour down his face. Suddenly, he blacked out again.

He awoke in the blackness again. This time, he was not falling. He felt like he was standing on something fleshy. Bulbasaur turned around and saw a checkered door, gold and black. Bulbasaur unsheathed his vine from his bulb and attempted to open the door by pushing on its handles. When that did not work, he tried prying the door open with both his vines, but to no avail. Bulbasaur felt his heart racing again and a burning pain in his stomach. He threw up on the black ground, and saw two eyeballs in the vomit. The youngling laughed hysterically and then he heard a "Hoo, hoo" come from above him. He saw a golden, glistening Noctowl fly above him. At least, that is what Bulbasaur thought it was.

Bulbasaur jolted awake and noticed that he was back in the haystack bed. In front of him was the young Mudkip he saw earlier. "You're awake." He said with glee.

"What? Where am I?" Bulbasaur asked in confusion.

"My house." Mudkip answered. "My mom and dad are in the town north of here to get some food and medicine." The young Mudkip looked at Bulbasaur's head. "Does it hurt?"

Bulbasaur felt the pain in his head. "Yeah, but not as bad."

"At least you're noggins patched up with gauze." Mudkip said. "I was coming back from the Rescue Team Academy, to talk to my teacher and you suddenly showed up in front of me." How could he suddenly pop up in front of this kid? Just out of nowhere? Bulbasaur was confused by this. "I saw this lavender light and you were there when it went away. You had a nasty bump on your head. You looked at me and said 'help me', and then you fell down and passed out."

Bulbasaur was shocked by what Mudkip told him. "I don't remember that happening." He said. "All I remember was waking up and seeing you and your parents, and your mom talking to me."

"Are you okay?" Mudkip asked with concern. "I think you have amnesia."

Bulbasaur paused for a few seconds, before nodding in agreement. "I don't remember who I am: where I came from, my family, not even my friends. I'm scared, really scared."

"You don't have to be." Mudkip blurted. "You're safe now. You don't have to be scared."

Bulbasaur was afraid for a while, and confused. But now, he felt much calmer and welcome. The atmosphere felt more pleasant. Am I a guest? Bulbasaur wanted to ask, yet he said nothing.

Bulbasaur heard a door open from underneath them. "We're home." He heard the Mudkip's mother say.

"I'll be down in a sec!" Mudkip shouted to his parents. He stepped closer to Bulbasaur and said to him, "Mom and dad are home. I'll be back up as quick as I can." Mudkip rushed out the room and ran down a small flight of stairs.

"He's awake again, but I think he's doing better!" Bulbasaur heard him say.

"Just let me put the groceries away and I'll be there in a sec." Said Mudkip's mother.

Bulbasaur heard Mudkip and his father rush up the stairs. They appeared in the doorway. The father enters the room before his son. "So, are you going to drop off the bed again and flail like a Primeape again?" He asked in a joking and friendly manor.

Bulbasaur couldn't help but to smile at his joke. He wanted to laugh, but he was in too much pain to do so. "No." He answered.

The Marshtomp smiled and clapped. "Hooray, buddy! You're doing better!" He chuckled.

"That's my dad." Mudkip said cheerfully. "He's playful."

"So, you hungry champ?" The Marshtomp asked Bulbasaur; the jolly, playful tone still in his voice. "You must be, because you've been out for three days."

Three days? How could I have been out for that long? The feeling of welcome he had was gone. Mudkip knew, but he had not told him. The kid could have told him, but why didn't he? Bulbasaur wanted to call him out on this, but all he could do was remain quiet.

Marshtomp frowned. "I thought you knew." He said in disappointment. The Marshtomp took a deep breath and exhaled, before turning to his son, on his right. "I thought you told him." An upset tone was in his voice.

Mudkip looked down guilty. "I'm sorry." He said, sounding upset. Tears began forming in his eyes.

His father kneeled down to his son and gently patted him on the head, right of his head fin. "It's okay little guy." Mudkip looked up to his father and wiped away the forming tears with his head fin. "Mom will be up in a second. I'll help her pack the groceries. Just stay here and keep an eye on our guest."

So, I was right. I am a guest. Bulbasaur thought. Mudkip's father walked back downstairs.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Mudkip said in guilt. "I thought you would freak out again if I told you."

"It's okay." Bulbasaur said, forgiving Mudkip. He was growing fond of him and his dad, though he had only known them for a few minutes. His feeling of welcome had returned quickly.

Bulbasaur heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and then the Mudkip's parents were in the room. The Marshtomp in the apron walked over to him and quickly observed the gauze on his head, before looking directly at Bulbasaur. "It must really hurt. Are you okay?" Bulbasaur nodded, noticing her gentle and soothing words.

Her voice is as sweet as a Pecha Berry, He thought. "It hurts a little."

She looked at the gauze again. "I'm surprised. It looks very painful." The Marshtomp turns to her husband. "Can you get the medical kit?" He nods and rushes back downstairs.

"What's going on?" Bulbasaur asked, confused.

"There's nothing to worry about," She said. "I just need to replace the gauze on your head."

The father came back upstairs, carrying a small wooden box, almost three-fourths of his size, with the words "MEDICAL KIT" engraved on its front. He walked up to his wife and gently placed the box to her right.

"Thanks." She quickly said. She opened the chest and quickly picked up a roll of silk. She closed it, before looking towards Bulbasaur. "This silk sticks on. I'm going to take the gauze off your head. It's going to sting."

"Do it." Bulbasaur said, wanting to get it over with. She nodded and quickly tore the gauze off his head. The stinging pain was quick, and he saw Mudkip and his father cringe at his wound. She placed the old gauze on top of the closed chest, and quickly took some silk and plastered it on Bulbasaur's head, over his injury. He noticed a dark, green liquid latched onto his old gauze. Is that my blood? He thought. Was my injury that bad?

She placed the roll of silk back in the medical chest, while picking up the old, bloodied gauze. "I'll dispose of this." She said, completely un-phased by the gore. She rushed to the lower levels.

"My mom's seen worse." Mudkip said. "She's a nurse, well, she used to be."

"She used to work in the capital, the old one, until our marriage a few years back." The father explained.

Old one? I don't get it. Bulbasaur thought. He wanted to ask what this 'Old Capital' was and why it was called that, but something stopped him from speaking the words.

Marshtomp walked over to the medical box and picked it up. "I should get this back." He said, before her wife entered the room again.

"I'll get it." She said. Marshtomp handed the box over to her and she went back down to the lower levels.

Bulbasaur wanted to get off the bed and walk. He looked at Mudkip and his father, before attempting to do so. Bulbasaur slowly lifted himself off the haystack. He felt so heavy, but he pushed himself. "What're you?" Mudkip asked, surprised. "Don't try it. You're weak. Get back in the bed. You need rest." Bulbasaur wouldn't listen. He needed to do this.

"You'll fall down, little guy." The father exclaimed.

"But he's as big as you dad." Mudkip said. His father gave no response, other than a shrug.

Bulbasaur gently placed his front-leg on the smooth wooden floor. Mudkip and his father began walking towards him. "No!" Bulbasaur's head throbbed, as he shouted. The two stopped moving and observed him. Bulbasaur placed his other front-leg on the floor. He dragged himself off the small stack of hay. His hind-legs carried him as they made contact with the floor as well. Bulbasaur stared at the ground, as he forced himself off the bed. He looked up to Mudkip, breathing heavily, and then his father. Bulbasaur felt himself trip and he held on, trying not to collapse.

Mudkip looked at him in awe. "Whoa." He said, almost shouting. "You are…so cool."

Bulbasaur panted. He felt his legs shake and his head throb. He smiled at Mudkip. "I know right. This is nuts, what I'm doing." He felt himself drop to the floor. Rest, Bulbasaur thought. All I need is rest.

He heard Mudkip shout his name and he sped towards him. "Are you alright?" He asked in worry.

"Yeah." Bulbasaur said, as he became dizzy. He felt like he was spinning and his vision was growing blurry again. "Can someone get me back in bed?"

Mudkip's father nodded and he gently pushed him towards the bed. When they were close enough, Marshtomp lifted Bulbasaur and gently dropped him onto the small haystack. "I've got to give you credit champ. That was amazing, but stupid."

Bulbasaur nodded. "Yeah, I agree."

Marshtomp turned to his son. "We should let him rest a little while longer. He needs to get his strength back." Mudkip nodded and he and his father left the room. Marshtomp closed the door gently. As he did that, Bulbasaur closed his eyes and drifted.

Bulbasaur had no dreams. He woke up and it was dark. He was not sure if it was late at night or very early in the morning. Bulbasaur looked at the door at the opposite side of the room. Suddenly, he heard a gentle knock come from the opposite side of the door. The door opened slightly, but slowly. Mudkip peeked in. "Can I come in please?"

Bulbasaur nodded. I wonder what he wants, Bulbasaur thought. Mudkip gently closed the door with his head fin, and walked over to him, not making a sound. "I want to talk to you about something. It's really important."

"Go on." Bulbasaur said.

"The day I found you, when I was coming back from the academy; before that, I was talking to my teacher. I went to this academy to learn how to be a Rescue Team Official. I was there for a year and…" Mudkip paused in nervousness. "…now that I'm finished, I need to find a partner. I have to, because the law say that kids need partners or else, no Rescue Team. Uh…and…"

"…You want me to be your partner?" He knew that Mudkip would ask him that. "Mudkip, I'm still hurt."

"Maybe when you're unhurt…" Mudkip shouted, before stopping himself. "Sorry." He whispered. "Maybe when you feel better, can you?" Mudkip's lower lip began to quiver. "Please. I need this; it's my calling to help those who can't help themselves."

Bulbasaur gave it some thought. Mudkip and his parents took care of him, as if he were part of their family. He had no "true" family he could remember. Mudkip was the first person he had talked and he considered him a friend. "Alright, I guess we'll be partners."

Mudkip sighed in relief and a smile flashed on his face. "Thank you. Thank you. Alright, first step to starting a rescue team: what should our name be? How about 'Team Bulbakippers?' No that sounds ridiculous. What about..." He stood there and pondered.

"Team Cyan?" Bulbasaur heard himself say. It sounds too simple, but it's just an idea.

"Actually," Mudkip said "that's a great name. Clever too. I'm a blue and you're…green-blue. It fits."

"Green-blue?" Bulbasaur chuckled. "Kind of a silly way to say it like that, don't you think?"

Mudkip rolled his eyes. "Yeah."


After the usual morning greeting, Bulbasaur and Mudkip began their walks to the Square Diner, which was in the northern part of town. They walked across the wooden bridge, which led them into town. Underneath the bridge was a river, which flowed straight down into the ocean when it reached the cliff side. The Kecleon Brothers were placing a day's worth of food, supplies, and medicine on the shelves behind them. Asides the workers at their stands, Bulbasaur noticed that there was no one around. The townspeople must be sleeping still, he thought.

Bulbasaur and Mudkip headed to a path up north and saw Whishcash's Pond. The elder Whishcash, like everyone else in town, was asleep. To the right, there was a path carved in the stone hill. They walked up it. The path heading up into the northern part of town was relatively steep. Bulbasaur liked feeling the smooth path on his feet, though it was rather cold in this early morning.

As they finished walking through the smooth stone path, they had arrived in the northern part of town. This was where most—nearly all—of the residents of Pokémon Square lived. They continued forward and saw the dozens of huts that stood firm. Some of them were built from wood, others dried mud and stone. They continued straight and arrived at their destination.

The exterior of the Square Diner was crafted with clay, with tree trunks acting as support beams. As they entered, they saw that the inside was a perfect blend of nature and built structures. The floor was the natural grass and all the tables and booths were made of wood. Asides from the employees, there was no one else in the diner.

The two met a friendly face at the reception table: Audino, a waitress who had been working at that diner for almost a decade and had been serving Bulbasaur and Mudkip since their first arrivals. Audino greeted the two and sent them to their usual seat; the third booth in the back of the diner. After taking their seats, they placed their usual order to the waitress.

There had been something on Bulbasaur's mind: the birthday of his girlfriend Chikorita, who was part of another rescue team called Team Go-Getters. Bulbasaur loved her extremely and really wanted to do something great for her this year. Last year, he got her a small present because he was too busy.

All of a sudden, Mudkip brought it up "Chikorita's birthday is in a few weeks. Y'know what you're going to get her?" he asked curiously.

It's like he can read my mind. We've known each other for that long, huh? "I want to do something more, but I can't think of anything. You got any ideas?"

Four years ago, they met. Four years ago, he and Mudkip established Team Cyan. For four years, they had been as close as brothers. Bulbasaur almost believed that Mudkip was actually his brother.

Mudkip gave the question some thought before he answered. "There's this new resteraunt that opened a few days ago. Maybe you could take her there. It's called 'Le Cloyster.'" He pitched. "It's just south of Thunderwave Cave. Remember that lake we saw on the way there?"

Bulbasaur nodded. "This Le Cloyster place sounds like a fancy restaurant."

"Because it is." Mudkip said bluntly, yet jokingly. He smiled and chuckled; Bulbasaur did the same.

Bulbasaur routinely looked over to the entrance of the diner, excepting the familiar two and his lover to appear. That's right, Bulbasaur remembered. The day before, Chikorita had told him that she, Squirtle, and Charmander were taking part in a rescue mission on the other side of the country. She was not sure when they would be back, but knowing the speed of the Pidgeots they flew on, they would likely be back later this evening. After all, the Pidgeots had been flying around since their days as Pidgeys. They were bred and trained to travel at fast speeds, those Pidgeots.

Bulbasaur and Mudkip ate their breakfasts, and the two headed back south. They walked through the smooth stone path again, then past Whiscash's pond as well. They turned left, to the Pelipper Post Office. Bulbasaur could see that Persian, owner of the Pokémon Square bank, was already up and standing firmly at her booth. She's always awake, Bulbasaur thought. How does she do it? He shouts hello at them and Mudkip does the same to her.

The two stopped in their tracks and saw the large hut, shaped in the head of a Pelipper. It's like mine and Squirtle's hut, Bulbasaur thought, but bigger.

Bulbasaur and Mudkip walked to the entrance door. "It's closed." Mudkip said, genuinely disappointed. With no access to the Pelipper Post Office, to collect envelopes of rescue mission assignments, the two walk to the corkboard to their left. They saw only four rescue missions: a delivery mission, two rescue missions, and a refugee hunt.

Bulbasaur could tell what the assignments were by looking at the insignias branded on the envelopes. The traditional badge, a capsule that was pink on top and white on the bottom with wings extended on its left and right signified a rescue mission. The yellow sack with its opening tied with rope signified a delivery mission. And lastly, the refugee hunt, which was signified with a black circle with angry red eyes and no pupils.

As they ate their breakfasts, Bulbasaur and Mudkip agreed to do an easy mission that day. The rescue mission they had done the day before was quite challenging, especially for Bulbasaur.

"How about the…" Mudkip paused for a second before deciding. "The delivery mission."

Bulbasaur nodded in agreement and took the envelope off the corkboard with his vine. He opened up the envelope, revealing a parchment, explaining the mission's details.

"Location: Oaklen Forest," Bulbasaur read from the parchment. "Objective: Deliver a week's worth of food, medicine, and supplies to the market. The goods are located in Drilbur's Storage." Bulbasaur remembered Drilbur's Storage. It was a long time ago; at least two years since he and Mudkip went last. "Location: Eight kilometers northeast of Pokémon Square." Bulbasaur looked up at Mudkip. "Lucky for us, Drilbur's Storage is on the same path to Oaklen."

"Agreed." Mudkip said.

After heading to the Keceleon Shop to buy essentials for themselves, they began their journey to Drilbur's Storage. After walking through the 'Bouqet Plains' for a short while, they noticed that the patches of flowers were gone and that there was a small hut made of dried mud and stone. They saw the entrance; a wooden door with a stone handle. At the top of the hut they saw a sign that read "Drilbur's Storage!"

The two walked up to the hut. Bulbasaur, with his vine, knocked on the door. A few seconds pass and the Drilbur in charge of the storage facility opened the door. I remember him, Bulbasaur thought.

A surprised look appeared on the Drilbur's face. "Bulbasaur and Mudkip, you're back! It's been so long. You must be here to pick up goods for a delivery mission." Mudkip nodded.

The Drilbur gestured the two to come inside. When they did, they saw that the hut was rather small; there was a stack of hay where the Drilbur slept and couple of food items for his consumption, inside an open cabinet. However, this was not the actual storage facility, this was Drilbur's home. There was a staircase in the center of the hut, which led to the underground storage area. They descend into the underground cave.

The walk lasted for almost ten minutes. When they were done walking, they saw a massive cavern that stretched out for, potentially miles. The two looked at this cavern with a feeling of nostalgia. They remembered their first time in the caverns. They spent almost an hour searching for the goods they had to deliver, but that was two years ago.

"Which one?" Drilbur asked with a delighted and pleasent tone.

"Oaklen Village." Mudkip answered.

"Great." The Drilbur replied, his voice still pleasant and delightful. "The goods for Oaklen are right…" He took a long peak into the cavern's depths, and after a few seconds, he spotted them ", there." Drilbur pointed at the goods; they were very close by, to Bulbasaur's surprise; they were resting in a grotto a couple of meters away from them at the left wall of the cave.

"Wait here. Let me get you a wagon." Drilbur walked left. He stopped at a door and opened it, entering a room. Bulbasaur could see that this room led into a far and wide corridor. They waited a few minutes and Drilbur came back with a wagon, dragging it on its handle with his large claws. Bulbasaur thought that Drilbur would cut the wagon's handle apart for a moment.

The three walked to the grotto and placed all the boxed and wrapped up goods in the wagon. Drilbur let go of the wagon, and Bulbasaur wrapped his vine around its handle. He tied the goods with rope to keep them in place.

Bulbasaur went up the stairs first, with Mudkip and Drilbur behind him. After around fifteen minutes, they had finally returned to the surface. They spent a few minutes resting from walking up a long set of stairs.

"It was great seeing you guys again, after two years." Drilbur said, before looking up at the ceiling in nostalgia. "All the progress you've in that time is phenomenal."

Bulbasaur smiled. "Thank you." He said to Drilbur. "We have to head out now. It'll be at least thirty minutes to Oaklen Village, if Mud and I go at a pace."

"Then get to Oaklen my friends." Drilbur said. "I guess I'll see you around."

Bulbasaur and Mudkip said there goodbyes to Drilbur. They left the hut and Bulbasaur felt the cool morning breeze, as he and Mudkip walked to their destination, yet something was off. Bulbasaur thought he heard yelling come from a small woods just east of him and his friend. Are we being followed, Bulbasaur thought. As they continued further to their destination, Bulbasaur remained alert.