Cyndaquil and Phanpy led Bulbasaur to the tree where Bayleef lay.
"Cynda?" [" Can you do something to help Bayleef?"]
"Bulba." ["I'll try."]
As Bulbasaur approached the depressed Pokémon, Bayleef slowly raised its head.
"Bay." ["Hi, Bulbasaur."]
"Bulbasaur." ["The other Pokémon say that you're not eating."]
"Bay." ["Leave me alone, Bulbasaur."]
"Bulba. Bulbasaur." ["No. As overseer of the preserve, I have a responsibility to make sure all of the Pokémon here are happy and healthy."]
"Bay." ["Go away."]
"Bulbasaur. Bulba. Bulba-saur." ["Look, I know you're sad because you miss Ash. I miss him too. But your life is here at the lab now, and you have to get on with living again."]
A tear slid out of Bayleef's eye. "Bay. Bay-bay." ["Ash was my life. And I don't want to go on without him."]
"Bulbasaur!" ["That's it!"]
A thick vine shot out of Bulbasaur's back and smacked Bayleef squarely between the eyes. The Pokémon leapt to its feet in surprise.
"Bay?!" ["What did you do that for?!"]
"Bulbasaur! Bulba-bulbasaur!" ["Get up! Every Pokémon here has a job to do, and I'm tired of you lying around here doing nothing but whining all day!"]
Bayleef growled angrily at its attacker. "Bay!" ["Leave me alone, Bulbasaur!"]
This time, Bulbasaur's Vine Whip hit Bayleef on the bottom, making the Pokémon jump straight into the air.
"Bulba! Bulba-saur! Bulba-bulba-saur! Bulbasaur." ["Get up! You're pathetic, the way you're sitting around here moping all day! Why in the world you think you're Ash's favorite Pokémon is beyond me! He likes only strong, confident Pokémon -- not whiny crybabies like you."]
Bayleef's eyes narrowed. "Bayleef…" ["You'd better take that back or…"]
"Bulbasaur?" ["Or you'll what, you big baby?"]
As Bayleef jumped atop Bulbasaur and the two began fighting, Professor Oak, Gary, and Tracey were making their way down to the grass Pokémon preserve when Noctowl fluttered down and landed at their feet.
"What's wrong, Noctowl?" Tracey asked the worried Pokémon.
"Coooo! Coo!" ["Bayleef and Bulbasaur are fighting! Follow me!"]
The three followed Noctowl down to Bayleef's tree and saw the two grass Pokémon struggling.
"Grandpa, what's going on? Shouldn't we pull them apart or something?" asked Gary.
Professor Oak shook his head. "No. We don't get involved with these kinds of squabbles. The Pokémon here resolve their disputes among themselves. Besides, I think this is exactly what Bayleef needs."
"To get the crap beaten out of it?" said Gary, confused.
"No. To get its spirit back," answered Tracey.
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" the smaller Pokémon taunted as it effortlessly threw Bayleef to the ground with a Vine Whip attack. ["Look at you! You're so weak that you can barely stand!"]
"Bay! Bay!" ["Let me go! I'll show you!"] cried Bayleef as it struggled to get free from Bulbasaur's grasp.
"Tracey, go get Bayleef some food," Professor Oak said.
"Come on Gary, I'll show you where we store all the Pokémon food," said Tracey, motioning to the younger boy.
A couple of minutes later, Gary and Tracey returned and discovered Bayleef lying on the ground panting with exhaustion while the triumphant Bulbasaur stood over it.
"Bulba-saur!" ["Now I know why Ash didn't take you to Houen – you're too weak!"]
Spotting the bowl piled high with Poké Chow that Tracey had just laid next to it, Bayleef lifted its head and began gulping down the brown nuggets as fast as it could.
"Bay!" ["I'll show you who's weak!"] Bayleef said angrily between bites. "Bay-bay!" ["Once I finish this, I'm gonna kick your butt, Bulbasaur!"]
"Bulbasaur?" ["You and what army, wimp?"] Bulbasaur replied with a smile.
"Thank you, Bulbasaur," Professor Oak whispered to the Pokémon that was standing next to him.
"Bulba," the Pokémon whispered back. ["No problem."]
"Come on, boys. I think Bayleef is going to be just fine now," said Professor Oak with a satisfied smile.
As the three headed back up the hill to the lab, Tracey gave Gary a nudge. "Why don't you tell your grandpa now?" the older boy whispered.
"Tell me what?" replied Professor Oak. "I might be old, but I'm not deaf."
"Grandpa, I need to talk to you about something," said Gary, his expression serious. "Tracey, can you leave us alone for a while?"
"Sure, Gary. I'll head back to the lab while you two talk." Before he headed back up the hill, Tracey leaned over and whispered to Gary, "Don't worry. He won't fire you for speaking your mind."
To be continued…
