Last time, our heroes finally arrived to Cerulean City, in search of Ash's second badge at the Cerulean Gym. Upon meeting the Cerulean Gym sisters, Ash is informed that they have no available Pokemon left! However, Misty stepped in and challenged Ash to a battle since HER sisters were not able to do it themselves. Froakie defeated Staryu, and once again, Ash and Froakie are witnessing strange things during battle.. Also, following Mr. Ketchum to the Kanto region has put Lillie and Hau on a plane that crashed on a remote island near Kanto with... gigantic Pokemon?! And finally, Serena visited Professor Oak's aide in Vermilion City for her first Pokemon! But with Mr. Ketchum discussing his business there, did Serena hear too much?!

"Pidgeotto: use Agility!" Ash commanded. Pidgeotto multiplied false images of itself using its exceptional speed. Starmie's Water Gun attack hit one of the duplicates. "Now, give it a Gust to blow it away!" he said as a follow up command. Pidgeotto flapped its wings rapidly and whipped up a gust storm, twirling Starmie around the large swimming pool battle field.

"Starmie: keep using Water Pulse!" Misty responded. Starmie, while being twirled around relentlessly, shot out a succession of attacks that mostly missed Pidgeotto and hit the walls of the stadium. However, one attack did hit Pidgeotto.

"Recover and finish Starmie off with QUICK ATTACK!" Ash hastily commanded. Pidgeotto shook off the Water Pulse and darted towards Starmie, sending it crashing beyond Misty and into the walls. Starmie lay motionless as its emerald blinked on and off, signifying it was unable to battle.

Misty sighed and recalled her Starmie. She smiled graciously at the pokeball. "You battled hard out there, I'm so proud of you!" the water trainer said to her Pokemon.

A smile slowly erupted on Ash's face as Daisy declared him the winner of the match and the Cascade badge. "We did it! We really did it! We beat Misty!" Ash shouted with joy as he jumped onto the platform in the pool and hugged his Pidgeotto and Pikachu tightly. The two Pokemon smiled and licked their trainer's face. Misty noticed this and couldn't help but be happy for the kind, but slightly arrogant kid she met on Route 1. She took a deep breath and walked around the pool to meet him.

"Ash, I have to say. I didn't think you would be able to beat me, especially without Pikachu. But you did, and you've deserved this badge," she said opening up his hand and placing the badge there.

"Misty..." Ash said smiling at his friend.

Everyone gathered outside the gym as Ash and Misty prepared to leave.

"Misty, you just keep on doing your best to be a water master. You might as well, because you'll never be stars like us," Lily said teasingly.

"You keep that up, you'll be seeing stars!" Misty shot back as her sisters giggled.

"Chill out!" Violet said with a laugh.

"Misty, be careful. You know we love you." Daisy said in a more serious tone.

Misty smiled and nodded.

"Ya know, our cousin in the Johto region was telling us about a big tournament for serious water trainers next week," Daisy added.

"Really?" Misty asked with intrigue.

"Misty, here: take this Vermilion Airport ticket and go. We know it's what you want to do," Daisy said, handing Misty a ticket.

"You guys... this is so sweet.." Misty said as he eyes began to water with happiness.

"You better, like, win." Violet said teasingly.

Misty dried her tears and firmly smiled, "Yeah! I will!" she said with confidence.

"Ash, please take care of her and make sure she gets to Vermilion City," Lily said smiling.

"I can get there just fine! You really think I need this kid's help!" Misty huffed and crossed her arms.

"Well... he did beat you in the match." Violet said giggling. Misty opened one of her eyes and glared at her as the rest of the group laughed.

"Yo! Ash! Hey, man!" a voice said from behind them, breaking the moment.

"Hey, Brocko!" Ash responded.

"I see you got your badge!" Brock said.

Ash clutched his badge, "Yeah, we did it, Brock!" he shouted.

"Great! Lets get going! Vermilion City is where your next badge will be!"

"Right!" Ash enthused as they went on their way.

"You're not leaving without me!" Misty shouted as she caught up to them.

"Misty, you're not going to be a sore loser now, are you?"

"You got lucky! I would have won if I would have used my Seel and Shellder!" she shot back as the two bickered. Misty's sisters giggled as they watched the trio disappear into the city.

Meanwhile, at the lab of Professor Oak's aide in Vermilion City...

Serena nervously backed away slowly. "Seriously, I didn't hear anything. I'm just here for my starter!" she pleaded with fear in her voice.

Mr. Ketchum walked over to confront her. Colress stepped in front of Oak's aide, who attempted to follow Mr. Ketchum and protect Serena. "Mr. Ketchum, this is a new trainer highly recommended by the Professor. Please, leave her out of this business!" the aide pleaded.

Mr. Ketchum stood just feet away from Serena who was paralyzed with fear. "Highly recommended, huh?" the man said in an oddly mischievous manner. "Tell me, Serena. What are you planning on doing with your starter Pokemon? A trainer? Racer? Breeder? Ranger? Officer? Researcher?" he asked.

Serena gulped and tried to remain calm, hoping she could talk her way out of this. "I want to be a performer, sir." she replied nervously.

"Ah. A performer." he said putting his hands in his pockets wearing a smile that was quite unusual and unfitting for the moment. "That's wonderful. The entertainment industry is important. A great way for brilliant students like yourself to use their gifts with Pokemon to craft performances everyone can enjoy during these dark times..."

Serena continued watching him intently.

"Tell me something else. Are you familiar with President Lusamine of the Alola region?" he asked.

"Yeah. My mom has talked about her and I've seen some things on the news. She's a powerful business and political figure who is responsible for groundbreaking research in the field of wormholes and alternate universes."

"Correct. But what you probably don't know, is that the woman is evil, spiteful, manipulative and will stop at nothing to expand her influence until she is untouchable." he responded. Serena simply continued staring at him. "You see, right here in the Kanto region, President Lusamine is getting ready to purchase Silph Co., turning it into an expansion of the Aeither Foundation. Little do the people of Kanto know, this is NOT a simple business move for the sake of more research. This is a move designed to control the Kanto region. Lance and the Kanto government are weak and easily manipulated. They will soon bow down to President Lusamine, all because they sat on their hands while she built on to her already powerful empire right here in Kanto."

"That sounds crazy! She's a scientist!" Serena shot back, allowing her skepticism to ignore fear and speak.

Mr. Ketchum chuckled. "Yes, that's what she wants you to think. I'm the only figure on this side of the civilized planet doing anything to stop her."

"Even if I believed you, why are you telling me all of this?!" Serena asked.

"Because more people need to know that I'm not the bad guy. I'm tired of keeping this a secret. You overheard my plans anyway, so I thought you deserved the full context. Besides, no one will believe any of this, anyway."

"I just want to pick my starter and move on.." Serena said, trying to distance herself from Mr. Ketchum's aspirations and theories.

"Please. Join me. I need a resistance of young trainers to rise up and fight her."

"My mom told me you've been linked to some really bad things.."

"Your mom is right. I have done things with my political influence that I'm not proud of. But most of it is because I see a dark future on the horizon."

Serena stared at the ground, filled with conflicting emotions.

Mr. Ketchum closed his eyes and turned away from her. "Very well. Something about you encouraged me to talk to you and try and save you. I don't know what it was, but you have the right to pursue your goals however you see fit. Just know this: a tipping point is coming soon. And if it tips in Lusamine's direction like she wants, the bad things I've done will look like child's play. If my son can't stop her, you might not have a future as a performer to pursue under her rule."

Serena continued to lose herself in thought as Mr. Ketchum and Colress left the lab.

"Serena, I'm really sorry about all of that." the aide said, walking over to her and making sure she is OK.

Serena looked up and smiled. "I'm fine. But, um, do you think there is anything true about what he was saying?"

"I really don't know. Mr. Ketchum is a very respected leader in his region, but he is also highly controversial and it is really difficult to pin down his beliefs sometimes..." the aide responded.

Serena nodded and attempted to shake off the odd encounter.

"Anyway, I have your Pokemon back here! This Eevee is of a very shy nature, but we're very excited to see it raised by someone like you!" the aide said.

Serena struggled to contain her excitement. "Yes! This is it! My first Pokemon!" she exclaimed with erupting enthusiasm.

Later that day, Ash and company continued on through the forest to make their way to Vermilion City, and Ash's third badge. Along the way, they encountered a Bulbasaur! With Ash taking interest in the grass-type, he tried and failed to capture it. After following it for a second attempt, the Pokemon led them to a hidden village in the woods, where a young woman named Melanie, who Brock fell in love with immediately, keeps stray Pokemon who are weak and protects them from outside dangers. Bulbasaur lives at this village and helps protects them. However, as our heroes arrived to the village, a group of poachers discovered this village and attempted to capture the Pokemon for themselves..

"Step back or else, kids! These Pokemon belong to us!" one of the poachers threatened.

"Like we're gonna let that happen! Pikachu: go get 'em!" Ash shot back.

"You too, Staryu!" Misty added, sending out her Staryu.

"Geodude: lets go!" Brock said, sending out his rock-type.

Pikachu, Staryu and Geodude battled against the poachers and their Koffing, Raticate and Arbok. Bulbasaur, standing in front of the Pokemon of the village, watched closely as Ash commanded his Pikachu with a seriousness that could only be motivated by a deep care for the Pokemon of the village and their safety.

"Pikachu: finish them off with Thundershock!" Ash commanded. Pikachu sent a wave of lightning that severely shocked the poachers and their Pokemon. Realizing they simply could not win, the poachers fled.

"We did it!" Misty shouted.

Brock approached Melanie. "Melanie, everyone is safe now. I told you I wouldn't allow anything to happen.

"Thank you all so much, I can't possibly tell you how much this means to me!" she responded.

"Everyone here is safe with Bulbasaur around, for sure!" Ash enthused, giving the grass-type credit for helping before the trainers got there.

Bulbasaur smiled at Ash and the others, "Buuullllbbbbaaa"

"Ash. Don't you agree that Bulbasaur would make a great addition to your team?" Melanie asked.

"Oh yeah! Of course!" Ash responded to the theoretical question without hesitation.

"I think Bulbasaur should go with you," she said, picking Bulbasaur up.

Ash suddenly became surprised after realizing she wasn't being hypothetical.

"Bulbasaur has been staying here to protect the village, but I fear it's just too small here. The bulb on its back needs to bloom. It needs to go out into the world and explore. And I know you will take such good care of it! Please do me this favor: take Bulbasaur with you on your journey! He will be a good companion."

Ash stared intently at Bulbasaur and the other Pokemon staying there.

"You see, the Pokemon here have become too dependent on Bulbasaur. It's just too safe here. I want them to heal, get stronger, and head out on their own once they are able! And hopefully they will find great trainers like you! Of course, taking care of injured Pokemon will always be my mission, but I know that I haven't done my job until I get them back on their feet so they can safely return to where they've come from, whether that's living happily in he wild or happily with a good trainer! I want Bulbasaur to be in a place where it can truly grow and be happy! And I'm sure that place is with you, Ash!"

Bulbasaur turned to Melanie and tried to say something in its own way.

"What did Bulbasaur say?" Misty asked.

Melanie chuckled. "Bulbasaur wants to come with Ash, on one condition: it has a battle with him first!" she replied.

Ash received a spark of enthusiasm. "Of course!" he responded.

Ash and Froakie faced Bulbasaur in an open field near Melanie's cabin.

Bulbasaur extended its vines and whipped Froakie twice. "Froakie: jump up and use Bubblebeam!" Ash commanded. Froakie shot out a stream of bubbles that made impact; Bulbasaur recovered easily and used Razor Leaf attack, doing significant damage to Froakie.

"Froakie!" Ash called out.

Bulbasaur extended his vines once again. "Froakie: use your frubbles on the vines!" he exclaimed. Froakie used the suds around its neck to stick to Bulbasaur's vines, making it difficult to use them. Bulbasaur struggled to recover.

"Now! Use Water Pulse!" Ash commanded. Froakie formed the attack and launched it in Bulbasaur's direction, knocking the grass-type starter on his back. Ash turned his hat backwards and grabbed a pokeball. "Pokeball, go!" Ash said, tossing the pokeball.

The pokeball moved around a few seconds before stopping.

"Yeeesssss! I caught Bulbasaur!" Ash shouted gleefully as he picked the ball up and jumped around.

"Piiiii Pikachu!" Pikachu enthused.

Melanie smiled and sighed. "I'll miss you, Bulbasaur..." she said under her breath.

Ash, Brock and Misty all said goodbye to Melanie and the Pokemon at the village. Melanie bent down to pet Bulbasaur, "Bulbasaur, thank you for watching over us." she said gently.

"Buuullbbaaa."

"I promise I'll take good care of Bulbasaur!" Ash assured.

Brock blushed and approached Melanie. "So Melanie, since Bulbasaur is leaving, what about I stay and help you out?" he asked bashfully.

"That's very kind of you, but we'll be fine. I wouldn't want to keep you from all of your adventures," she replied with a warm smile.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Brock responded, trying not to reveal his rejected sadness.

With that, Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu and Bulbasaur all walked away, waving at Melanie and the Pokemon.

"Sooooo. What did Melanie say when you told her you loved her?" Misty asked Brock teasingly.

Brock nervously put his hand over her mouth, "That's enough questions!" Brock said as his face turned red.

"Uh, did I miss something?" Ash asked as he watched his friends.

"Bulba?" Bulbasaur tilted his head.

With Ash catching Bulbasaur, it looks like he is building his own dream team. Now, our heroes head to Vermilion City as the journey continues...

Meanwhile, a 60 feet tall Charizard chased Hau and Lillie as they scrambled for safety.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?! WHERE ARE WE?!" Hau shouted.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Lillie responded as she tried to hold on to her hat and bag as she ran.

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(A/N) Thanks for reading!