"Bayleef, wake up! You need to come with me this instant!"

A slow yawn escaped my mouth. I saw a young man wearing a light green shirt standing in front of me. It was Tracey. What was he doing here? I already helped him to feed all the Pokemon today. Why couldn't he just let me sleep? Did I have to listen to another weird story about some girl named Daisy and him? Stuff Professor Oak didn't want to listen to?

"Bayleef, let's go to the lab."

I had no idea what he wanted, but I decided to just go with it and follow him. "Bay?" I asked him.

"Ash is on the phone. He needs to speak to you and Professor Oak!"

Ash? Finally! So Ash still remembers me! I quickly ran towards the lab, accidentally tackling Tracey, Kingler, Noctowl and Muk in the process. Even if I could just see my trainer on the phone for a few seconds, it would make me so happy. But what if he wanted more than that? Maybe he misses me and wants to see me again. Or maybe he needs me for an important battle!

Then, I reached the lab and quickly pushed Professor Oak away from the video phone. And there was Ash. I pushed my face towards the screen. "Bay Bay!"

"Hi Bayleef, I missed you!" Ash said. He was wearing different clothes than when I saw him in Johto, but not much else changed since I last saw him.

Then, Ash looked at his friend Professor Oak, who just stood up after I charged into him. "Well, here's Bayleef. What kind of battle did you need her for?" the Professor asked.

A battle? And Ash needs me? Could this really be true? Am I dreaming?

"Well, after winning the Alola League, I met Lance at the hotel. He was impressed by my battles and achievements, so he suggested that I challenged him to become Champion of Kanto and Johto," Ash explained.

"That's amazing!" Professor Oak complimented his friend.

"Lance was impressed by my awesome skills. And since I won the Orange League before and won all the Battle Frontier symbols, he thinks that I'll be his strongest opponent ever. In three weeks, we're battling in Indigo Stadium on Indigo Plateau."

Lance? I had no idea who that was, but Champion? Someone even stronger than League winners? That must be important! And he needed me! I hope I can beat that guy's last Pokemon and be the star, but I suppose Charizard or Pikachu will be the one who gets to do that. Oh well, just beating one or two of Lance's Pokemon would be sweet...

"That's amazing, I'll be there! What other Pokemon are you using, Ash?" the Professor asked. "Do you need me to send any other Pokemon to you?"

"Pikachu, Charizard, Snorlax, Heracross and Bulbasaur."

"Those are great choices, I'll go get Snorlax, Heracross and Bulbasaur for you," Professor Oak said. But first, he put me back into my Poke Ball and sent me over to Ash, who was all alone in a Pokemon Center in Viridian City.

While the Professor walked away to get the other Pokemon, Ash sent me out of the Poke Ball. "Bayleef, I missed you so much! How have you been, buddy?"

"Bay!" I screamed. I charged into Ash to give him a Body Slam-hug. I had to push Pikachu away from his shoulder with the attack, but I didn't care. Pikachu got to cuddle with Ash and never had to share his trainer's attention and love, while I barely saw him for fifteen years. Now, it was MY turn. I didn't even look how the yellow rat felt, I just put my head on my trainer's chest while he petted me on my back. Why couldn't this moment just last forever? I finally saw the love of my life again. My trainer. My best friend. Even if this moment couldn't last long, he was all mine now. Screw that annoying yellow rat, the redhead he's in love with and anyone else trying to get his attention and affection. Finally, we were back together.

Then, Oak and Tracey were back in the lab. Ash got up and Pikachu got back on his shoulder, while I petted his head with mine. Tracey sent Ash four other Pokemon who were stuck at the lab for years, because Professor Oak was too busy getting Muk off his back. After that, the two wished Ash good luck in his battle with Lance. Who could that Lance guy be? One thing for sure: he wouldn't stand a chance against me!

And so, Ash, Pikachu, the other Pokemon and I trained for almost three weeks, while traveling to Indigo Plateau. Sure, I was stuck in that lame Poke Ball for most of the time, but I got to battle random Trainers Ash met on the road almost every day. He wanted me to be in a good shape for the big match. He even tried to teach me how to use Solarbeam, Mud-Slap and Fury Cutter, but he didn't know I already learned those moves at Oak's lab. During the first two years I was stuck at the lab, I thought Ash might need me for a League someday, so I trained with Snorlax, Kingler, Muk and Tauros almost every day to be in a good shape if Ash needed me during the Hoenn League.

Since he didn't need me anymore for all those years until now, I thought my efforts were wasted. However, those moves might actually come in handy very soon. My hard work actually paid off after all, even though it took Ash years to realize he needed me. I'm sure he would've already won a League someday if he asked Professor Oak to use me in battle years ago...

Sure, he finally did it now, and better late than never, but I could've had a life without pain and agony if Ash would've been a little bit more empathetic and a little bit smarter. Lots of humans forget about this, but Pokemon have feelings too. Just as much as humans.

However, the past three weeks have been the happiest of my life. For the first time since 2002, I can feel that I'm worth something to Ash. That I matter to him. Bayleef was here, Lance is a loser!