Winter had ended and spring was beginning. The sun was bright but the air was still chilly. The snow had vanished, but leaves had only just begun to return. Bits of new growth pokéd out of the forest floor as Ash and his team trained.
Take that, you rock! Pikachu shouted as he slammed a glowing tail down on a large stone. It shattered, bits of rock flying everywhere. Ash ducked behind a tree as the shards pelted the ground.
I think you overdid it, he said to his pokémon once it was safe to come out.
Eh, it means I finally mastered Iron Tail, Pikachu said with a shrug. Now I don't have to worry about any pesky onixes…
I mean, they still have ground-type attacks that will knock you out pretty quickly, Ash said. And you're not a steel-type, so your Iron Tail really isn't that strong.
Doesn't matter, Pikachu said, standing up tall, nose high in the air. Onixes shall tremble before my might! Ground-types shall learn to fear Pikachu!
Okay then… Ash sighed and turned to Bulbasaur. The grass-type was focusing hard on a spot just in front of his eyes. Around him the tips of the tree branches and the buds poking out of the floor were turning to him, as if he had piqued their interest.
Light blossomed where Bulbasaur was staring so intensely, wispy green light that played over Bulbasaur's face. The grass-type gritted his teeth as it grew in intensity, a translucent shell of green energy forming around the spark of light with tendrils connecting the spark to the shell. But before Bulbasaur could do anything more, the entire thing trembled and broke to pieces. Sparks of green light fell to the forest floor as Bulbasaur sighed.
You almost had it! Ash encouraged, giving his pokémon two thumbs up. Energy Ball is almost ready!
Almost doesn't cut it, Bulbasaur said and started to focus again.
Ash shrugged and walked over to where Charmander was practicing. The diminutive fire-type was standing in front of a log carefully controlling his breathing. He took in a deep breath and let crimson-orange flame fill his mouth. He snapped forward, sinking his teeth into the log. Fire spurted from the ends of the log and the wood shattered where the pokémon's fangs sunk in.
Ash! Charmander jumped up, turning around. Did you see it! I did it! I used Fire Fang!
I saw! Ash said, putting a hand on Charmander's shoulder and kneeling down to look him in the eye. Good job! I knew you could do it!
I'm going to find another log and do it again! Charmander squealed and then rushed off. Ash smiled and then moved on.
Ash heard the sounds of water rushing, something bonking off of the trees, and a pokémon's panting, all coming from a nearby clearing. He stopped a little outside of the clearing and watched as Squirtle ran and rocketed around the clearing, stopping on Xs dug into the ground and drawn on surfaces. Each time he stopped he then turned and blasted a jet of water at a target that Ash had hung in the trees.
How's it going? Ash asked once Squirtle had completed a lap and took a moment to catch his breath.
It's- it's hard- work, Squirtle said between breaths. But- I'm pretty sure- I'm getting better.
That's good! Ash said, flashing the water-type a smile. Keep at it, but make sure not to overdo it.
Sure thing boss.
Ash nodded and then continued on.
In another clearing Butterfree was surrounded by floating rocks, glowing a faint pink-purple as they were held in the bug-types telekinetic power. One bobbed down, the others following suit in a ripple around the ring and the process reversed itself. Beads of sweat covered Butterfree's head as he focused.
You doing okay? Ash asked.
Yeah, Butterfree replied. I'm just getting tired. A few more minutes and then I'm done.
Alright, Ash said, nodding and moved on. Next up was Primeape.
Ash walked deeper into the forest until he began to hear the sounds of grunting and something slamming into a recently fallen oak. Ash peaked between a couple of trees and saw Primeape hard at work. The fighting-type was throwing himself against the deadwood with reckless abandon. His limbs blurred as they launched a flurry of blows as the pokémon drove himself forward, slamming his head and body into the wood even as he landed punches and kicks, sending up wood dust and chips of bark.
Try not to hurt yourself! Ash shouted. Close Combat isn't supposed to hurt you!
Primeape froze for a moment before turning around to face Ash. His eyes were letting out a faint red glow, which vanished as he focused on Ash.
Ya know, you're right, Primeape said, scratching his head. I don't know what I was tryin' to do just now. It did feel right though.
I wonder, Ash said, reaching into his pocket and grabbing his pokédex. He pulled it out, thumbed to the entry on primeapes and then started reading through the moves that the species naturally learned.
Huh… you might be working on a more advanced move by accident, Ash said. But, it's a pretty dangerous one, so just focus on Close Combat for now. Be as wild as you can, but don't hurt yourself.
Sure thing! Primeape threw Ash a lazy salute and then turned back to the fallen oak.
With that there was only one pokémon left to check on. Ash headed over for a creek not too far away from where Brock had set up camp. There was the sound of splashing as something threw itself out of the water and then back in repeatedly.
When Ash arrived, he was greeted by the sight of Magikarp jumping out of the water and flopping into a training dummy that Ash had set up earlier in the day. Ash winced as he watched Magikarp smack into the dummy with his side.
Magikarp, I told you to work on your form, Ash said, kneeling down by the edge of the creek. You're supposed to the tough parts of your head!
But I hit harder this way, Magikarp said, laying on his side in the water. The water-type's side was covered in bruises that made Ash wince yet again.
But you're hurting yourself, Ash said, reaching into his backpack and grabbing a potion. And you'll hit harder the other way once you get it down!
It doesn't matter, Magikarp said, lying still so that Ash could apply the potion. I'm more useful attacking this way right now. I probably won't be around long enough to learn to do it the other way, so I should just focus on hitting harder the way I know how. It's better this.
Not necessarily, Ash said, as he worked. You hurting yourself doing this means I'll have to spend more time and money on keeping you healthy.
Don't bother with that, Magikarp said.
Ash thought quickly.
No, you need to be healthy to be reliable, Ash told the water-type. And this team needs you to be reliable. So quit hurting yourself so that we'll know we can count on you when we need to.
It sounds like you're trying to convince me not to die, Magikarp said, raising his head to give Ash a pointed look out of one eye. The human silently cursed the water-type's inconvenient insight.
I mean, kinda, Ash said, putting the potion away and then rubbing the back of his head. But, it's not wrong, is it?
I guess not, Magikarp sighed. Oh, well, we get into plenty of dangerous situations. I'm sure my time will come soon even if I try to stay healthy.
That's the spirit, I guess, Ash sighed, shrugging. Anyway, just focus on getting the form right.
Magikarp resumed practicing. Ash got up and wandered back to the campsite where Brock was cooking.
"Done making the rounds?" Brock asked as he stirred something in a cooking pot over the fire.
"For now," Ash said, stretching and then sitting down on a log next to the fire.
"Getting tired?" Brock asked.
Ash nodded.
"That's why trainers tend to have smaller teams, especially when they're just starting," Brock explained. "It's less time spent training pokémon overall and more time spent training each individual. Although your pokémon don't seem to have any complaints, so you seem to be up to the challenge."
Well, Ash thought to himself, that wasn't technically true; Pikachu had plenty of complaints. But none of his pokémon had complaints about frequency or the quality of their training, but Ash disagreed as to why that was the case.
"They don't really need me," Ash said, rubbing the back of his head. "They were already strong before I met them."
"That may be true, but they have gotten stronger since they started travelling with you," Brock told the younger boy. "You're not just teaching them new moves, but how to work as a team with a diverse set of pokémon, how to handle new situations, and you're also freeing them up from having to hunt or forage, leaving more time and energy for training."
"Well, anyone can do that last one."
"Only if they've earned the trust of the pokémon first," Brock pointed out. "It might be easy for you to earn the trust of wild pokémon, but there are plenty of people who find it difficult."
Ash just rubbed the back of his head and looked away. He had an unfair advantage when it came to getting wild pokémon to trust him.
"I think they would've done good without me," Ash said eventually.
"They're doing better with you," Brock responded.
Ash didn't know what to say to that.
They sat in silence for a few minutes after that, while Brock cooked. Ash closed his eyes, enjoying the faint warmth of the sunlight and flickering heat of the fire. He was starting to drift off when there was a commotion from the forest where his pokémon were training.
Crap, Ash said, jumping up.
"What?" Brock asked, looking between Ash and the direction the noise had come from.
"Crap," Ash said, jumping to his feet and running off towards the sound.
"That didn't sound anything like what you said! Were you swearing? Do I need to wash your mouth out with soap?"
What's wrong? Ash said, rushing over to where he had heard the noise, the spot where Bulbasaur had been training. Pikachu had his back against a tree, trying to sidle around it, while a snarling, glaring, Bulbasaur advanced on him, vines out.
This asshole, Bulbasaur barked at Ash, didn't bother watching where his mess would go.
Some of my shrapnel hit him, Pikachu explained. I said I was sorry, but he doesn't seem to be listening.
Because I've had enough of you, you tiresome, loud, yellow, asshole! You ain't nearly as impressive as you seem to think you are but you are as annoying as you think you are awesome, Bulbasaur snarled, advancing on Pikachu.
Bulbasaur, Ash said gently. Calm down. He said he was sorry. We'll move his training-
No! Bulbasaur growled and then lunged at Pikachu. Pikachu managed to zip away and Bulbasaur smashed through the tree that Pikachu had been pressed up against. Splinters and bark went flying, pelting Ash and the trunk groaned as it began to fall.
Ash! Get out of the way! Pikachu shouted and barreled into the human, knocking him out of the pathing of the falling trunk. There was a loud crash when it hit the ground.
"Aaron! Are you alright?" He heard Brock calling from over by came.
"Yes!" Ash shouted back, picking himself up. "Training just got out of hand!"
"Be more careful!"
"I'll try!" Ash yelled and then turned to Bulbasaur. The grass-type was looking at the tree, eyes wide with shock.
What the hell! Pikachu growled, standing in front of his trainer. You almost hurt Ash!
Shut up- Bulbasaur started to snarl and then Ash stuck his fingers into the sides of his mouth and whistled.
What!? Bulbasaur turned to the human.
You're acting strange, Ash said. Can you take a few deep breaths?
Why-
Please, can you do it?
Fine, Bulbasaur grumbled and then followed Ash's instructions, breathing slowly, deeply.
Do you feel better? Ash asked hopefully.
No… I… Bulbasaur's face twitched. I feel strange.
Okay, Ash said, stepping around Pikachu. Can you stay calm while we get everyone else? They might be able to help with what's going on?
I'll try, Bulbasaur grumbled.
Ash hurried and rounded up the rest of his pokémon, Pikachu staying behind to keep an eye on Bulbasaur. When Ash and the others got back, Bulbasaur was pacing in angry circles, while Pikachu stared at him intently.
Bulbasaur! Butterfree trilled as soon as he arrived. You're getting angry for no good reason? Do you also feel restless? Are we going to have to deal with you needing to mate now too?
Ash slapped his forehead. He hadn't made that connection.
Oh, yeah, this does sound like that, Pidgeot said while Ash groaned. So, do we look for a bunch of bulbasaurs then?
Do we get to fight poachers again? Squirtle asked, jumping up and down.
I hope not, Magikarp sighed. Poachers are always trying to capture, not kill.
I dunno, they seemed like they were trying to kill me, Primeape said.
Well, at least this time there won't be so much water, Charmander sighed.
But the water was the best part! Squirtle exclaimed.
Not for me it wasn't! Charmander protested, hugging his tail-flame close to his chest.
Let's see if bulbasaurs even have those mating time things, Ash said, flipping open his pokédex. He navigated to the section on bulbasaurs.
Life cycle- egg- juvenile- adult- uh… mating…. Just the standard stuff, Ash said, skimming the information. No special heats- oh, that's the word- or other mating habits.
Maybe Bulbasaur's just special? Butterfree suggested. Is there a way to tell?
Butterfree, Bulbasaur said in a low voice. When you were in heat, did it hurt?
What? No, Butterfree said, shaking his head.
Then I don't think I'm in heat, Bulbasaur said. It's not much, but I can feel something burning inside me-
Burning? Pidgeot cocked her head. Do you feel both stronger and weaker than normal?
Now that you mention it, yeah, Bulbasaur said, looking up at Pidgeot. Do you know what this is?
It sounds like you're evolving, Pidgeot answered. But it should be pretty obvious if that's the case.
Yeah, I've been putting off evolution for a long time, and each time it almost happens… well, it ain't like it's subtle, Bulbasaur looked at the ground. This is definitely subtle…
Wait… Ash continued looking through the pokédex. There was nothing special about how bulbasaurs mate, but I'm seeing information on seasonal evolutions in specific biomes….
Biomes like temperate forests? Pikachu asked. Like this one? He gestured to the woods around them.
Ash nodded.
So, Pikachu began, looking around, this forest is acting like one big evolution stone right now?
Huh, Ash rubbed his chin. I would've never thought of it that way, but I think you're right.
Of course, I am! Pikachu huffed, crossing his arms, puffing out his chest and looking down his nose at them.
I think an evolution stone would be harder to resist, Bulbasaur said. I'm not even thinkin' about resisting it right now and I still ain't evolving.
Hmmm… Ash said, reading more in his pokédex. It looks like there are special places within these biomes where bulbasaurs congregate to evolve. These places are called 'Bulbasaur Gardens' and are usually watched over by an elder venusaur. These gardens are reportedly rare.
Oh, great, Bulbasaur grumbled. You really do have the worst luck, Ash. You just happen to wander by some rare place during the time where it makes me evolve. What are the odds?
I mean, considering the radius of the effect that these gardens are supposed to have, the odds aren't actually that bad, Ash said. You just being in this part of Kanto means that we probably would've stumbled over one.
We ain't that far from Melanie's village, Bulbasaur protested.
Uh, we kinda are, Ash said, fishing a map out of his pack. We're heading to the peninsula south of Celadon to take a ferry to Cinnabar. Melanie's village was located in the north part of Saffron, just on the border of their territory and Vermillion's east border. We're pretty far south-west from the village.
Ugh, Bulbasaur groaned. Kanto just wants to force me to evolve, doesn't it? I just got lucky that I decided to settle down away from those gardens.
Well, if we stay away from the gardens then you should be fine, Ash said, patting Bulbasaur on the bulb. Do you want to stay in your pokéball until then?
That ain't the worst idea I've ever heard, the grass-type muttered.
"Ah," Brock leaned back and sighed. "Nothing beats food you cooked yourself."
"Eh, all food's good," Ash said with a shrug.
"It's better than the food they served us in Saffron," Misty said, lowering her plate.
The three of them were sitting around the campfire, finishing off the last of Brock's cooking. Though the days were getting longer they were still short and the sun had already set. All the pokémon, except Pikachu, had been returned to their pokéballs after a full day of training.
"Oh, Groudon, I forgot how much I hated that mass produced overly processed food," Brock groaned. "I hated it at school, I hated it at the gym cafeteria, and I hated it in the army camp. One of the many reasons I learned to cook was so that I would never have to eat it ever again."
"You still eat it when we stop at pokémon centers," Misty pointed out.
"I don't enjoy it," Brock said, crossing his arms. "And it's tolerable when we're only there for a couple of days. Spending weeks in a League camp on the other hand…."
"It was hot and it was there," Ash said. "What more do you need?"
Some electricity on the side, Pikachu said from Ash's feet.
"Aaron, some of us have something called 'taste'," Brock said, looking disgusted. "I don't know if you've heard of it…"
"Yeah, and most food tastes good," Ash replied, narrowing his eyes.
"There's no saving you," Brock said, shaking his head sadly.
"Well at least being a picky eater isn't one of his numerous flaws," Misty said.
"I'm not that bad!" Ash protested, almost getting up. "My flaws aren't nu-num-numerous!"
"Let's see, you're immature, impatient," Misty began, counting off on her fingers.
"You don't think things through," Brock said.
"You're stubborn, you're inconsiderate," Misty went on.
"Glass houses…" Brock muttered, looking off to the side.
"What was that?" Misty glared over at the former gym leader.
"Nothing," Brock said, still looking away.
"It better have been…" Misty growled.
"Yeah, well, you two are bossypants know-it-alls," Ash said and then started attacking his food again. "You're also annoying," he said between bites.
"And you're reckless to the point of suicide," Misty turned back to him and smirked. "So, we'll keep bossing you around until you learn some self-preservation."
"I am not!" Ash exclaimed. "I told you, I had a plan to get out!"
"And how'd it go?" Brock asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, well, I know not to do that again," Ash said, cheeks flushing. "But that's just because I didn't know better!"
"And why didn't you listen to the people who did know better?" Brock asked, eyebrow still raised.
"Well, you didn't tell me not to do that," Ash pointed out.
"So, you were just being reckless then?" Brock asked.
"To the point of suicide, perhaps?" Misty asked, her smirk growing.
"Okay, okay," Ash groaned. "Are you two ever going to let this go?"
"No," Misty said flatly.
"We'll bring this up every chance we get," Brock said, grinning. "If you ever have a wedding, don't invite us or we'll tell whomever you're marrying about this."
"If we outlive you, we'll mention this at your funeral," Misty added.
"Great…." Ash's head slumped down.
"Take it as motivation not to die," Brock commented.
"We're pretty sure you need it," Misty added.
"I hate you both..." Ash groaned.
They do have a point about you being reckless, Pikachu said. And stupid. And inconsiderate, especially when it comes to the feelings of poor put upon pikachus….
Ash glared at his starter and then up at his human companions. "I hope your socks are wet tomorrow."
"Wow," Misty pretended to gasp, hand over her mouth. "That escalated quickly."
"That was really hurtful," Brock chuckled.
"You had it coming," Ash said, sticking out his tongue. "Now, is there any food left?"
The stars were bright in the cold sky when the intruders arrived.
Ash, Brock, and Misty had retired to their tents. The fire was out, the food, plates, and cooking utensils were put away. Gentle snoring was coming from one of the tents.
Silently the intruders moved through the bushes near the west edge of the camp. They crept close to the tent where Ash and Pikachu slept.
The intruders were short and four-legged, with a large squat shape protruding from their backs. And from under each of the protrusions crept slim feelers, slithering vines, slipping under the edge of the tent.
Gently they moved over the sleeping human and pokémon within, taking care not to wake them. The reaching vines tenderly, softly, reached around until they found Ash's discarded belt and the pokéballs hanging off of it. Still silent, still cautious, the vines slowly withdrew the belt and pokéballs from the tent.
Ash and Pikachu continued to sleep for another minute and then there was a burst of blazing white light from outside their tent.
Immediately pokémon began to raise a commotion, groaning, complaining, and yelling.
What's going on? Who are all you? Ash heard Bulbasaur. Hey! Let me go! Get your vines off me!
"What's going on?" Ash shouted, rushing out of his tent.
In the dim light of Charmander's tail Ash could make out a huddle of familiar shapes surrounding his pokémon, a whole pack of bulbasaurs. And in their vines was Bulbasaur, thrashing and cursing as the pack took off to the east.
"Hey! Let Bulbasaur go!" Ash shouted.
"What's all the commotion?" Brock hollered, sticking his head out of his tent.
"Yeah! People are trying to sleep!" Misty said, sticking her own head out. "Wait, what in Kygore's name…."
"They're taking Bulbasaur," Ash shouted. "Pikachu, Thunderwave! Pidgeot, Gust!"
Elder Flower, cover us! One of the intruding bulbasaurs cried out as they ran. The earth rumbled even as Pidgeot and Pikachu moved forward, launching their attacks, and a dense thicket shot from the soil. A wall of thorny brambles, black in the night, scattered Pidgeot's winds and earthed Pikachu's electricity.
"What in the Distorted World?" Brock said and then dove back into his tent. A few moments later he came out, pokéball in hand.
"Onix, stop those bulbasaurs!" Brock commanded as he hurled the pokéball. Once more white light blazed and the stone serpent sprang into existence. It surged forward, ripping apart the bramble wall-
And the bulbasaur pack was already gone, taking Ash's pokémon with them.
AN: I'd like to thank Amationary for beta reading.
It has been a struggle to get started on rebuilding my buffer.
I started on my original 60k buffer in September of 2019, before the pandemic. I had a stroke of good luck and managed to get myself a couple week vacation that October (switched companies without switching jobs and left a gap between the end date for my original company and the start date for my next). I was also fresh in terms of motivation and this was, again, pre-pandemic, so I could go out and about to recharge without worrying about fucking up my lungs.
I don't have any of those factors this time around.
So, as you might expect, this has been a lead up to some bad news. Weekly chapters aren't resuming yet. I need some more time to build up a buffer and edit it to my satisfaction. The next chapter will come out November 3rd, 2021. I'll be skipping all of October.
I repeat, the next chapter will be released 11/3/2021.
(Also, a reminder that this story is also available on Ao3 under the same name, since some people seemed to have missed that)
Anyway, don't forget to review. Concrit is welcome!