SZ: Alola, folks! Welcome t-*sees something on my game* Damn it! Freakin' Battle Tree…
GT: Who'd you lose to?
SZ: A Hiker with a high defensive Probopass with Thunder Wave and Double Team
GT: Ouch. That thing is a pain. Sucks how the Tree seems to adapt to your teams, huh?
SZ: Very much so…
GT: Especially when you just want to battle Red so you can get the Mega Stones he has...I mean, you have to beat him to get Charizardite X and Y, Blastoiseite, and Venusaurite.
SZ: Eeyup….oi vey...well. We've delayed this long enough. It is time for a story. GT, disclaimer?
GT: Do we have to? I mean, everyone knows we do not own Pokémon or Blazblue and that they're owned by Nintendo/Game Freak and Arc System Works…*pauses*...I just inadvertently did the Disclaimer, didn't I?
SZ: Yes...yes you did.
GT: …*sends out Groudon with Red Orb equipped* Primal Groudon, ERUPTION!
SZ: Woah! That's major over…
*KRA-KA-KABOOM!*
Entry 008: I am Kajun Faycott. Recently, young Ashton had been on a winning streak with ten victories in a row. Unfortunately, this resulted in him becoming overconfident and rather obnoxious. I dare say he matches his description of this 'Gary' fellow he knows. We then found out there was this Pokémon Trainer by the name of AJ, who trained 'Savage' Pokémon… It is a good thing we met him sooner as he easily beat Ashton's Pidgeotto and Butterfree with just one Sandshrew. As for why Pikachu wasn't called out….well… I believe Pikachu is more intelligent than his Trainer at the moment.
After the battle, we learn that AJ trains his Pokémon with items known as Macho Braces...a rather interesting invention really. From what I've seen, AJ acts akin to a coach and a tamer, the latter because of how he used his whip to give commands to his Pokémon and the former in how he trains his Pokémon. He designed a training regimen for them all and even makes his own recipe for each Pokémon. It was rather interesting… though Ashton-still sore about his loss-didn't think so as he stated AJ treated his Pokémon like dirt.
Fortunately for him, AJ's Sandshrew went missing when it was showing Terra the Macho Braces. Of course...ugh, we soon find out amongst the search, courtesy of Mai's...ahem, special ability and Terra sensing things underground, it was Team Rocket who stole AJ's Sandshrew...by mistake. *sighs* I think I would have preferred Ashton saying that Sandshrew left due to abuse and try to convince AJ's other Pokémon to leave him for Ashton… I am thankful Tsubaki was there before that could happen, though. He was already acting bad enough as is. Ahem! Now then...after his Pokémon were insulted by Team Rocket, AJ challenged them to a battle for his 99th and 100th victories.
At first, Sandshrew appeared to be beaten when Meowth exploited a previously discovered weakness with Sandshrew's tail and Ariados's Spider Web. Yet it was for naught because Sandshrew evolved into the more fearsome Sandslash, using Sandstorm as cover to take out Team Rocket's Pokémon, followed by a Hyper Beam to 'Send them Blasting off' as they quoted every time they're sent flying...It's rather bothersome. After all that, AJ left to begin his Badge quest as we resumed our own journey. The girls and I have taken special note to make sure that Ashton doesn't relapse with small reminders of how he acts like this 'Gary' when he does. Now we are travelling through another forest. Let's just hope there are no Beedrill in here, shall we?
"I love forests!" Makoto cheered as she jumped along tree branch to tree branch.
"Chi-PA!" Berry agreed.
"Well...Makoto's certainly lively today…" Misty noted with a slight sheepish chuckle.
"That's because we're in a forest. And a forest most likely has chestnut trees!" Makoto replied.
"Chipa!" Berry agreed.
"Come, Berry! We must begin the search!" Makoto declared as she shot ahead.
"...Who gave her coffee this morning?" Tsubaki asked.
"Not me," Brock replied.
"Uh...What does coffee look like again?" Ash asked.
"Oh, Ashton…" Kajun sighed.
"...Please don't call me that…" Ash muttered.
"...By the way, Ash. How far are we from the path?" Mai asked.
"...I thought Tsubaki had the map," Ash replied.
"No. I thought it was Misty's turn with the map," Tsubaki shook her head.
"Well I thought it was Brock's turn with the map," Misty argued a bit, "...Please don't tell me we're lost."
"I know where we are," Makoto replied as she poked out of a bush.
"Where are we?" Mai asked.
"A forest," Makoto cheekily replied before going back into the bush.
"..."
"...u-um, wh-why don't we stop and rest for a bit?" Noel suggested as Yuki whined, her stomach growling a bit, "Yuki is a bit hungry."
A String Shot came by and Needles swung over with Zubat popping out of its ball, both of them and Mai giving Noel pleading looks.
"...Looks like Needles and Zubat are hungry as well…" Brock noted, already having a good idea on what they were craving, "...Okay. Let's stop and rest for a bit."
"Great!" Misty beamed.
"Good…" Tsubaki nodded as she sat down, breathing out a sigh of relief, "My legs are starting to kill me a bit."
"Indeed," Kajun added as she sat down, about to pull out her notebook when she noticed something drinking from a small puddle nearby, "Oh? An Oddish?"
Everyone looked over at where she was looking. Drinking from the small puddle was a blue plant bulb with a round body, beady eyes, and oval, root-like feet with five large green leaves growing from the top. Ash pulled out Dexter once more.
=Oddish, the Weed Pokémon. Known by the scientific name Oddium Wanderus, Oddish lives in grasslands. A nocturnal Pokémon, Oddish buries its sensitive body in the ground during the day to avoid the sun and fool predators. If its leaves are pulled in this state, it will respond by shrieking horribly. It starts to move when its leaves begin absorbing moonlight, which it uses to grow. Oddish will wander up to 1000 feet (300 meters) during the night to scatter its seeds and find a nutrient-rich patch of soil in which to plant itself. The more fertile the earth, the glossier its leaves will be. It is thought that its feet become like tree roots while planted=
"Huh...cool," Ash noted, about to pull out a PokeBall before...
"Hold on, Ash," Mai spoke up as she moved forward.
"What's up?"
"If it's okay with you, I'd like to try and catch it," Mai answered.
"Um...Okay?" Ash blinked twice.
"Thanks," Mai smiled before pulling out her PokeBall, "Let's go, Terra!"
"Sandshrew!" Terra cheered as he formed...before ending up as a ball, grunting as he uncurled himself.
"He's committed to that Macho Brace," Misty sweatdropped.
"Okay….what moves does he know again…?" Mai whispered to herself, "...Oh yes! Terra, use Rapid Spin!"
"Sand!" Terra nodded as he curled into a ball and spun like a top, shooting out and striking Oddish.
"Odd~!" Oddish cried out in surprise.
"Okay good. Now…" Mai paused as she thought for a moment, "...Got it. Use Dig, followed by Rapid Spin again!"
"Shrew!" Terra nodded as he dug into the ground.
"Odd? Oddi…" Oddish whispered as it looked around, looking for that Sandshrew before it bursted out of the ground, startling it before it was hit with a Rapid Spin once more, "ODD~~!"
"Okay. That should've weakened it enough…" Mai whispered as she pulled out a PokeBall, "Okay. PokeBall, go!" she shouted as she threw the PokeBall at Oddish, only for something to rush in front of it and send the PokeBall right back at Mai, hitting her...ooh...square in the face, "...ow."
"Woah! What th-" Ash began in surprise before his eyes widened in excitement, "A….A Bulbasaur."
Before them was what looked like a plant and dinosaur hybrid. It had blue-green skin with darker green patches scattered about. It had red eyes with white pupils and scleras and pointed, ear-like structures on top of its head. Its snout was short and blunt, and it had a wide mouth. A pair of small, pointed teeth were visible in the upper jaw when its mouth is open. Each of its thick legs ended with three sharp claws. On its back was a green plant bulb.
"Wow! I can't believe it! A Bulbasaur!" Ash exclaimed in pure excitement as he pulled out Dexter.
=Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back that grows with it. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed grows progressively larger. Researchers are unsure whether to classify Bulbasaur as a plant or animal. Bulbasaur are extremely calm and very difficult to capture in the wild=
"Bulbasaur…" Kajun looked at her notebook, "Oh! It evolves into an Ivysaur and then into Venusaur."
'Ivysaur...That's the Pokémon we saw in that video…' Tsubaki thought, her mind recalling the video back in Cerulean City, '...We need to start helping Ash train harder.'
"Bulba…" Bulbasaur growled as he glared at Terra, the Sandshrew about to take a step before Bulbasaur charged forward and crashed into him, "Bulbasaur!"
"Terra, hold strong!" Mai called.
"Shrew…" Terra grunted as he tried to hold Bulbasaur back, only for a pair of green vines to sprout from his back and pick him up, "Shrew?!"
"Bulba...saur!" Bulbasaur shouted as he threw Terra right at Mai.
"Ahh!" Mai yelped as she quickly grabbed Terra, the force causing her to fall and land on her butt, "Ooh...Terra, are you okay?"
"Shrew~" Terra groaned before the Macho Brace forced him into a ball, "Shrew!"
"...Guess not," Mai whispered.
"Okay. Now it's my turn to try," Ash spoke as he stepped forward, "Bulbasaur is mine! Butterfree, I choose you!"
"Reeee~!" Butterfree chirped as he flew out.
"Sleep Powder, go!"
"Reeee~eeee~" Butterfree chittered as he blew a wave of blue powder at Bulbasaur...who inhaled before exhaling, sending it right back into Butterfree, causing him to fall down, "Zzzz…"
"Oh my…" Noel whispered a bit, "S...strong Bulbasaur."
"Vul…" Yuki couldn't help but agree.
"Come on, Butterfree! Hang in there!" Ash called out to his Pokémon.
"Reee…." Butterfree grunted, trying to wake up as he began to stand..only for Bulbasaur to tackle into him and send him flying, "REEE~~~!"
"Oh...no…" Ash groaned as Bulbasaur and Oddish ran off into the forest, "No...the Bulbasaur…"
"Aw...So much for having a new friend, huh?" Mai looked at Terra, who was still knocked out in his ball form before the two returned their knocked out Pokémon.
"...Come on," Ash spoke, a serious look on his face as he began to walk forward, "We're going after that Bulbasaur."
"Eh? B-but...we…" Noel began.
"I am not missing this chance on catching a Bulbasaur!" Ash argued as he walked further away.
"...Ash, you may want to calm down o-" Tsubaki began.
"I AM COMPLETELY CALM!"
"...Guess Ash missed out on a Pokémon or something," Makoto shrugged, overhearing Ash's snap as she looked around, "Come on...there has to be at least one chestnut tree around here…already low on them as is..."
"Chi-Pa…" Berry agreed, holding a few of them in her tiny arms.
"Don't you dare eat them until we find a tree," Makoto warned.
"...Pachi," Berry nodded as she placed them back...while secretly pulling one out. She was about to eat it when something blurred past her, "...Pachi?" she blinked, her mouth agape as she slowly looked to see the chestnut she had was gone, "Chipa?!"
"Hmm? What's wrong, Berry?" Makoto asked as she looked over her shoulder, "...You didn't eat one of our last chestnuts, did you?"
"Pa!" Berry shook her head, "Chi-papa! Chiiii!"
"...You tried sneaking one, didn't you?" Makoto frowned a bit.
"..." Berry began to whistle.
"...Well...I suppose I can't be mad at ya. I mean, you are m-" Makoto began before something shot into her tail, "Ahh! What the heck?!"
The blur shot out of her tail and landed on a tree branch, its arms full of chestnuts. It resembled a white flying squirrel. It has black eyes, a tiny nose, and yellow cheek patches. Its ears, positioned at the top of its head, are rounded in shape and black in coloration, with yellow and white sections of coloration in the inside of its ears. It sports a vaguely hood-like patterning of black around its head, with a spiky extension of the pattern above its face. It has yellow winglike flaps connected to its three-fingered arms.
"...a flying squirrel?" Makoto blinked before her eyes widened a bit in realization, "Hey wait a minute! Those are ours, you little thief!"
"Emolga!" the Pokémon munched on one of the chestnuts.
"...Oh you wanna play like that, eh?" Makoto's eye twitched a bit, "Berry...get her girl."
"CHIPA!" Berry cried out as she jumped out of Makoto's tail and sent a Thundershock.
"Emol?" the Pokémon blinked a bit before her own cheeks sparked, sending out a blue wave of electricity that blocked Berry's own electric attack.
"...Okay. So you're an Electric Type…" Makoto noted, "...Berry, it might not be as effective, but Quick Attack into Iron Tail!"
"Chipa!" Berry nodded as she briefly glowed before shooting across the branches at the Pokémon, her tail glowing.
The Pokémon blinked for a moment before she flashed for a bit, splitting into three copies as Berry shot through the middle, the copy disappearing upon impact.
"Chipa?!"
"Emol…" the Pokémon began as an orb of electricity began to form in her hands, the flying squirrel letting it go before smacking it at Berry with her own tail, "Emolga~!"
"Pachi!" Berry yelped before she was hit by the orb, knocking her into the air.
"Ah! Berry!" Makoto gasped.
"Emol…" Makoto slowly looked up to see the flying squirrel resting on her head, cheeks sparking a bit as she had a cheeky grin on her face.
"Oh no," Makoto squeaked.
"...GA!"
*BZZZRT!*
The flying squirrel laughed as she flew off, leaving a twitching and slightly burnt Makoto on the ground.
"I...hate...that...thing…" Makoto groaned before Berry landed on her head, "Guh!" both fell off the tree and onto the ground below, "Ow…"
"Pa~" Berry moaned, swirls in place of her eyes.
"...tricky little thing...yet annoying…" Makoto muttered as she stood up, gently placing Berry in her tail, "Berry...you rest it off for a bit. In the meantime…" she paused as she cracked her knuckles a bit, "I'm off to do some flying squirrel hunting."
"You can't say Ash is a quitter when he becomes determined," Mai noted as they approached a long rope bridge above a deep chasm.
"St….still…" Noel began as she looked at the rope bridge, "I...is worth risking the chance of falling off really worth it?"
"Of course it's worth it!" Ash replied as he began to walk on the bridge, "Sometimes you have to take risk for stuff you want, Noel! Besides, there's probably a whole herd of Bulbasaur on the other side!"
"Actually, a group of….hmm…" Kajun began to ponder, "That does raise a question...what is a group of Bulbasaur called? A herd, a plantation, a cornucopia? Hmm…"
"A hoard?" Mai suggested.
"Maybe…"
"Vul…" Yuki whimpered, trying her best not to look down.
"D-Do you want to go into your ball?" Noel asked, 'I kinda wish I had one, too, right now…'
"Come on! What's taking you all so long!?" Ash shouted.
"Ash, you need to realize we're on a very r-" Brock began before he heard something began to snap, "...That was the rope, wasn't it?"
"Uh-huh," Mai nodded.
"...Brace yourselves!" was all Brock said as the rope finally snapped, causing the bridge to become lopsided as the group began to hold on for dear life.
"Ah!" Ash yelped as he missed grabbing a rope before Mai's hand grabbed his wrist.
"Hold on!" Mai grunted as the bridge fell into a sideways position.
"I got you, Noel..." Tsubaki assured as she held onto Noel's wrist, the shy blonde holding onto Yuki tightly as the young kit nuzzled into her, shaking like a leaf.
"Hold on, Kajun," Brock grunted, holding onto Kajun's hand before the rope he was holding onto snapped, "Ah!"
"Oh no! Brock! Kajun!" Misty gasped as the two fell into the chasm, a splash heard after a few moments.
"Oh no…" Noel whispered, worry now evident in her voice.
"...Makoto! If you're out there, please hurry and help before we fall off!" Misty shouted loudly.
"Guys, I'm gonna try swinging you over there," Mai spoke, motioning towards the other part of the bridge.
"But Mai, what if..." Misty began.
"Don't worry. Just trust me," Mai assured them.
With that, Mai began to swing her arm. Ash held tight to Mai's arm as she began to pick up momentum in her swing.
"Where is that little thief?" Makoto growled as she jumped along the trees, "I swear when I find that little flying electric rat, I…"
"Emol~!"
"Hmm?"
"Chipa!" Berry pointed, seeing the flying squirrel up ahead.
"There you are you little thief!" Makoto snapped, "You come back here with our chestnuts this instant!"
"Mol~!" the flying squirrel stuck her tongue out and pulled her eyelid down in response.
"...Oh you did not just do that," Makoto's eye twitched at that, "Berry!"
"Pachiri-SU!" Berry shouted, sending another Thundershock at the flying squirrel.
"Emol…" the flying squirrel like pokemon deadpanned a bit before using Double Team, causing the Thundershock to miss as they clones flew away.
"Grr...I swear when we find that little stinker, w-WOAH!"
"CHIPA?!" Berry freaked as they fell out of the tree in a net.
"The heck? Where did...unf! This come from?" Makoto grunted as she tried to break the ropes in the net, "Berry, can you try and chew the ropes or something?"
"Chipa!" Berry saluted as she bit the rope...only to recoil back as she began gagging a bit, "Blech! Pachiri~!"
Makoto sniffed the ropes before cringing, "Ugh...They soaked the ropes in something."
"Emol~" Makoto and Berry looked to see the flying squirrel across from them on a branch, munching on a berry that looked like two cherries...with one of their missing chestnuts shoved into it.
"You are a cheeky little flying squirrel, aren't you?" Makoto growled.
"Molga!" the flying squirrel giggled before a Caterpie and Rattata came up to her, looking at the berry she was holding, as if they were asking her for a bite or two, "...Mol."
"Hmm?" Makoto blinked a bit before the flying squirrel turned away from the other Pokemon coldly, munching down the rest of the berry before flying off, "Selfish, too."
"Pachi…" Berry agreed.
"Ahh!" a few yelps went off behind Makoto, making her look over her shoulder to see Ash and the others trapped in a few similar nets.
"Hey, how'd we get up in a tree?!" Ash gawked a bit, trapped in a net with Misty and Pikachu.
"Ash? Misty?"
"Chi-pa-su?"
"Makoto?" the two kids pondered.
"Ka-pi-pi-chu?"
"What're you two doing here? And where are the others?"
"Um...r-right here," Noel's voice spoke up, making Makoto turn a bit to see the shy blonde, Tsubaki, and Mai stuck in another, Yuki still in her arms.
"...Where's Brock and Kajun?"
"They…" Tsubaki bit her lower lip.
"Bulbasaur."
"Huh?" everyone looked down to see Bulbasaur looking up at them.
"...Is that a plant growing out of its back?" Makoto pondered.
"Saur…" Bulbasaur growled a bit as he backed away from them.
"Wait! Hold it there, Bulbasaur!" Ash shouted as he struggled to get out of the net, "I want a rematch!"
"Ash, stop it! You're wiggling t-Ouch! You kicked me!" Misty yelped.
"Hey! Stop rocking the branch!" Makoto yelped.
"Ash, stop it!"
"B-Bulbasaur!" Ash shouted as he tried to get out, "...Pikachu, try and chew th-"
"Don't bother," Makoto spoke up, "The ropes are coated in something nasty."
"Pa-chi-chi…" Berry stuck her tongue out in disgust.
"Um...Maybe we could get Pidgeotto and Butterfree to get us down?" Noel suggested.
"Good idea," Mai noted before seeing a pair of Pokeballs on the ground, "...Ash?"
"Yeah?"
"Are those yours down there?" Mai asked.
"..." Ash looked down, "...Uh-huh."
"Mmm...so much for that plan…" Noel hung her head.
"Maybe we can have Yuki freeze the net," Tsubaki suggested.
"Oh!G-good idea," Noel nodded before looking down at the small kit in her arms, "Y-Yuki, think you could use Powdered Snow on the ropes?"
"Vul? Vul!" Yuki nodded before inhaling deeply and exhaling a blast of icy snow, freezing the nets...and everyone, "Vul?"
"T….t...t…..too much...Yuki…" Noel shivered.
"V….ver….v...ery much...so…." Mai added with her own shiver.
"...I wonder what happened to Brock and Kajun?" Ash pondered once the ice was thawed out.
"I wonder too…" Misty whispered.
"Maybe the river carried him and Kajun far away, all the way into the ocean," Ash guessed, "Then some pirates spotted them and brought them aboard their ship, and the captain has the ability to stretch his limbs like rubber."
"What the heck?" Makoto blinked twice.
"That...that's uh…" Tsubaki tried to think.
"It kinda sounds better then what I thought in that an old lady found them while cleaning her laundry in the river," Mai noted.
"...Ash, Mai, you two have some crazy imaginations," Misty sweatdropped at that.
"Don't worry about them," Makoto noted, "Kajun's a tough girl and she's got Brock and that big Onix of his."
"Well, we can just note one thing," Mai noted.
"What?"
"This probably wasn't done by Team Rocket," Mai joked.
Jessie, James, and Meowth sneezed under their bush disguise.
"Dat was odd," Meowth noted.
"Right," James nodded.
"Focus, you two," Jessie frowned as she looked at the broken bridge before them, "Ekans, come out."
"Ekans," her snake hissed as it appeared.
"Search," Jessie ordered.
Ekans nodded before slithering around with his eyes closed. He flicked his tongue out a few times in the air before opening his eyes.
"Kans. Ek-ek-ekans."
"He's sayin' dat da twoips went across da bridge but da Rock Twoip and Smart Twoipette fell in da river," Meowth translated.
"Good job, Ekans," Jessie nodded, "Let's get started over it. We're not losing that Pikachu or their other rare Pokemon."
"Plus there is the fabled hidden village located around here," James added, "It'll be like a regular Pokemon potluck."
"And we'll be da lucky ones!" Meowth grinned.
"Exactly," Jessie smirked, "Let's start crossing over."
"Are you sure?" James asked, "It looks like it will fall apart."
"Don't worry. It's just the three of us walking over," Jessie stated, "What's the worst that could happen?"
A few seconds later, the three began screaming as the now-broken bridge slammed into the other side.
"Okay...Ah-hah!" Makoto grinned as she was looking at the PokeDex, "Stop it right there, Ash!"
"Here?" Ash pondered as Dexter showed the flying squirrel.
=Emolga, the Sky Squirrel Pokemon. The energy made in its cheeks' electric pouches is stored inside its membranes and released while it is gliding. It grills berries and bug Pokémon with electric shocks and makes a meal of them= Dexter analyzed.
"So it's called an Emolga," Makoto frowned, "That little thief stole mine and Berry's chestnuts!"
"You're more concerned with food?" Misty sweatdropped.
"Hey!" everyone blinked before looking down to see Brock looking up at them.
"Brock!" Mai exclaimed.
"What are you guys doing up in those trees?" Brock asked.
"Oh you know...just hanging around," Makoto replied.
"...Makoto?"
"Yeah, Tsuba-OW!"
"That joke was bad and you should feel bad," Tsubaki frowned a bit, her paper fan hitting the forest floor.
"Iwa…" Onix rumbled as he came out and let Brock up to them.
"Okay, just hold on and I'll get you out," Brock informed as he pulled out a Swiss Army knife and began to cut open the ropes of the nets.
"Thanks…" Mai sighed in relief, "...But...where's Kajun?"
"Hmm? Oh, she's helping out Melanie at the moment," Brock replied.
"Melanie?" Noel repeated.
"Yeah. We were going down the rapids in the river and she caught us," Brock explained.
"So is she an old lady or a pirate that has a rubber body?" Makoto asked as Onix lowered himself down once they were all on his head to let them off.
"What?" Brock pondered.
"Nothing!" Mai and Ash replied, covering Makoto's mouth with awkward laughter from them both.
"...Okay?" Brock raised a brow at that.
Brock led the group through some foliage and emerged at a moderately large lake. Near the lake was a modest log cabin while Pokemon were almost all over. Nearby, Kajun was sitting beside a young blue-haired girl possibly around Makoto's age with mid-back length blue hair with a red band in her hair, a pale-blue shirt and jeans, and a red apron over it all.
"Interesting," Kajun noted as the girl was removing bandages on a Rattata's leg.
"Try it out," the girl encouraged the rodent.
"Ratta…" Ratata muttered as it slowly put its bandaged leg down, tapping it a few times to see if anything happened, "...Rattata!"
"There we go…" the girl smiled softly, "Just be sure not to do anything stressful, and try to keep off of it as much as possible."
"Kajun!"
"Hm?" Kajun looked over her shoulder to see the others, "Ah. Welcome."
"Oh!" the girl gasped as they got up.
"Melanie, these are our friends we were telling you about," Brock explained.
"Hello/greetings/h-hi/hey/a pleasure/yo," the five greeted.
"So you're Brock and Kajun's friends," the girl noted, "They told me all about you."
"I-I see…" Noel noted before she noticed the various Pokemon around the area, eating out of pet bowls, "Um...a-are those Pokemon yours?"
"Hmm? Oh, no," Melanie shook her head.
"This is a Pokémon Sanctuary of sorts," Kajun explained, "Here, Melanie takes care of them, heal them all up, and give them a nice meal to send them off."
"Oh...so this is like a Pokemon Center then," Misty noted, "Which means Melanie is a Pokemon Doctor."
"Oh no. I'm not qualified to be a Pokemon Doctor," Melanie stated with a slight giggle.
"Think of it kinda like a Pokémon Health Spa," Brock stated.
"Here the Pokémon don't fight one another. They relax and try to enjoy themselves until they've recovered," Melanie explained.
"Indeed," Kajun nodded, "Melanie here collects plants and herbs to use as medicine. She knows which ones that could help Pokemon feel better, or grow stronger if it's too weak."
"She even makes her own Pokémon food for them, too," Brock added, "Making sure to add in a few plants and herbs that would go well for that Pokémon."
"Sounds like you and Melanie have caring for Pokémon in common, Brock," Ash noted.
"We do," Brock nodded, looking over at Melanie as she was carefully holding a Paras.
"It seems to me that there's something else that Brock loves," Misty teased, causing Brock's face to light up red and quickly cover her mouth.
"Be quiet! She might hear you!" Brock quietly hushed frantically.
"...There's one thing I don't get though," Mai spoke up, "Who set up those nets in the trees?"
"Oh! Um...Th-That was me," Melanie informed, "S-since there are so many Pokémon here in the sanctuary, I set up some traps to capture Pokémon Trainers and make sure they don't reach this place."
"You set them up?" Makoto asked.
"I guess since they caught all of you, they actually work," Melanie noted, "I'm really sorry about it."
"It's fine," Tsubaki nodded, "...Oh! I'm guessing the bridge was a trap too?"
"Yes," Melanie nodded, "I also set up some trap holes just in case."
"AHH!" Team Rocket screamed as they fell into a hole.
"Oh come on! How many does that make?!" Jessie growled.
"Seven!" James replied.
"Okay, dat's it! Time ta call in da big guns!" Meowth growled.
"There are so many sick or injured Pokémon here, I have to protect them," Melanie explained.
"Kajun and I promised her that none of us would even try to catch a single Pokémon while we're here," Brock explained as Melanie went off to check on a Magikarp by the shore.
"And did you seal the promise with a kiss?" Misty asked in a teasing manner.
*BONK!*
"Guess that means you really do love her," Mai noted.
*WHAP*
"Why did Mai get the fan and Misty the fist?" Tsubaki whispered.
"Maybe age," Makoto shrugged, "But okay. I'll keep the promise, Brock. Besides, only..."
"Emol…"
"Hmm?" Makoto blinked as she looked over at a nearby tree, "...Ah-ha! Found you!"
"Ga?" Emolga looked up from the hole in the tree, a half-eaten chestnut in her paws.
"Oh I finally found you, ya little thief…" Makoto frowned as she stomped over, "Now I can f-"
"W-wait!" Melanie called out as she stood in front of Makoto, "I don't know what happened, but I'm sure Emolga didn't mean it."
"That thing stole mine and Berry's last few chestnuts, and shocked us afterwards," Makoto frowned, "And to top it off, she's selfish too. I mean, she turned away a pair of Pokemon for wanting a bite of her food."
"Oh...w-well…"
"Perhaps she's been abandoned," Makoto looked over at Kajun, "Melanie, didn't you say most of these Pokemon are ones abandoned by their Trainers?"
"I did," Melanie nodded before looking over at Emolga, who huffed as she climbed further up the tree to get away from a Caterpie, "And Emolga has been through a lot of Trainers…"
"Why's that?"
"Whenever they sent Emolga out into battle, all she used was Volt Switch," Melanie explained, "Her trainers found that annoying and released her back into the wild...it's because of that she acts so cold to all the other Pokemon, afraid of opening herself up again to anyone else."
Makoto tensed a bit, yet managed to keep it from being really noticed, "Oh. Really?"
"Yes..." Melanie nodded with a sad sigh, "Whenever she comes to the sanctuary, she keeps to herself to avoid the other Pokemon, mostly resting in the trees while eating a few berries and nuts she found in the forest."
"I...I see…" Makoto nodded slowly, 'Keeping herself distant...acting cold to everyone...that...that sounds like me back when I first joined the academy…'
"Makoto?" Mai pondered, "Everything okay?"
"Huh? Oh...y-yeah...I'm fine, Mai…" Makoto nodded, "Just...need to be alone for a bit."
"Oh...okay," Mai nodded as Makoto began to walk off, "..." she frowned a little at where Makoto had walked off before seeing something out of the corner of her eye, "Huh?"
"What's wrong, Mai?" Noel asked.
"Oh, it's the Oddish from before," Mai noted.
"Hmm?" Noel blinked as she turned a bit, seeing Oddish drinking from the small lake, "Oh. Y-you're right."
Mai inhaled before she walked up to the Oddish and knelt down to it, "I'm sorry about what happened earlier."
"Oddish."
"I really shouldn't have surprised you with Terra like that," Mai went on, "You must have been scared."
"Oddish," Oddish nodded.
"Melanie told us most of the Pokemon here were abandoned by their Trainers. D...Did that happen to you?"
"Odd…" Oddish sadly nodded.
"Oh...well you know not all Pokémon Trainers are insensitive," Mai assured Oddish, giving a gentle pat on its side, "You just need to find the right trainer that understands you."
"BulbaSAUR!"
"Ah!" Mai yelped as Bulbasaur Tackled her.
"Bulbasaur…" Bulbasaur growled as he kept between Mai and Oddish, scratching at the ground like a bull ready to charge.
"Hey, what was that for?!" Mai snapped a bit, "I wasn't trying to hurt Oddish!"
"Huh?" Ash blinked as he noticed the scene, "...oh I see now. Bulbasaur's mad because I was going to beat him."
"I don't think that's it," Tsubaki sweatdropped.
"Well then…" Ash began as he reached for his PokeBalls, "Let's see how tough he really is…"
"No, wait!" Melanie shouted, making Ash flinch a bit as he turned to look at her, "Bulbasaur was only trying to protect Oddish."
"P...protect?" Noel repeated.
"Yes. You see, Bulbasaur volunteered to guard the sanctuary," Melanie explained, "It protects all the injured Pokemon whenever enemies try to attack them. Bulbasaur..." she paused as she closed her eyes, placing a hand over her heart, "He is the bravest and most loyal Pokemon I know."
"Oh, I get it! So that's why Bulbasaur attacked Mai. It looked like she was trying to attack Oddish again to him," Misty realized.
"Well I wasn't trying to…" Mai muttered as she stood up.
"Bulba…" Bulbasaur growled, giving those not originally from the sanctuary a glare as he brought his vines out.
"Wh-why is he glaring at us like that?" Noel gulped, hiding behind Tsubaki.
"Bulbasaur hates Pokemon Trainers," Melanie explained, "I think he wants you all to leave."
"L..leave?" Noel repeated, "b...but..we're not here t-"
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur snapped as he cracked his vines, earning a yelp from the shy blonde as she hid further behind Tsubaki.
"Vul…" Yuki whimpered a bit as she hid behind Noel.
'Makoto, where are you?' Mai pondered as Bulbasaur cracked his vines once more.
"Emo-emol-emol…" Emolga munched on one of the last chestnuts she swiped from Makoto, looking out at the distance at the very top of a tree, "...Emol…"
"Hey there."
"?!" Emolga tensed up as she looked to see Makoto sitting next to her, "Emol?!"
"Hey hey...don't worry. I'm not here to harm ya," Makoto assured the flying squirrel, "I'm just here to talk is all."
"...Emol-emolga?"
"No, no, no. You can keep eating it," Makoto assured.
"Chipa?!" Berry exclaimed, popping out of Makoto's tail.
"Trust me, Berry," Makoto assured.
"...Chipa…" Berry muttered as she lowered herself back into Makoto's tail.
"...Emol?" Emolga blinked twice.
"I heard from Melanie that you keep getting dumped in this forest by Trainers," Makoto noted.
"...Molga…" Emolga's ears drooped at that, quickly shaking it off before turning her head away from the squirrel girl, "Emolga!"
"I know it hurts...being pushed away by someone you wanted to be friends with...being called stuff like annoying or useless...I should know," Makoto paused as a small, sad smile grew on her face, "I've been through that before."
"?" Emolga's ears twitched a bit at that, "...Emolga?"
"Yeah. Really," Makoto nodded, her own ears twitching, "I was bullied a lot before I met my friends...so much so that I shut everyone out...acting cold to everyone and stuff...I was even starting to hate myself. Except for my family, I was so alone...I couldn't trust anyone with fear of being pushed away...but after I met Noel and Tsubaki…" her small smile grew as a slight tear began to form in her eye, "After we got to know each other...that's when I knew...I found people who liked me for me...liked me for who I am...I had found true friends."
"..."
"My point is Emolga...don't give up," Makoto said, wiping the tear from her eye, "Someday you'll find true friends..ones you'll want to be with, ones that you'll want to do protect...share memories with. Laugh...cry...all that stuff."
"...Emol…" Emolga looked down before her ears twitched with Berry and Makoto's, "Ga?"
"Engines?" Makoto pondered before seeing something in the distance, "...HOLY SH…"
"Bulbasaur, p-please calm down," Melanie gulped.
"Bulba…" Bulbasaur growled.
"P-please do...Y-you're scaring Yuki…" Noel added.
"Bul?" Bulbasaur raised a slight brow at that before seeing the small kit shivering behind Noel.
"Vulpix…" Yuki whimpered, keeping her eyes covered by her front paws.
"...Bulba…" Bulbasaur whispered as his vines retracted back into the bulb on is back.
"He...he's calmed down? R...right?" Mai asked.
"I think so…" Melanie answered before looking at Yuki, "...Tell me, how old is your Vulpix?"
"Oh! Um…" Noel knelt down and lightly brushed her tail fur, "S-She's just starting to grow her third tail."
"Oh my. She's only three months old," Melanie noted, "Nothing more than a hatchling still."
"...Is that why Bulbasaur stopped attacking?" Misty asked.
"Yes," Melanie nodded, "Whenever there are any hatchlings within sanctuary, Bulbasaur keeps a close eye on them to make sure they stay safe."
"Hatchlings?" Mai whispered to Kajun.
"All Pokémon are born from Eggs," Kajun whispered.
"..." Mai opened her mouth again.
"All. Pokémon," Kajun confirmed, "It's said that even Arceus came from an egg and created the entire universe we're in."
"Wow," Mai blinked.
"...So Bulbasaur was worried about the other Pokémon and decided to become the guardian of this place…" Ash noted, "...Now that's what I call bravery. It would be great to have a Pokémon like that."
"Guys! Guys! Guys!"
"Makoto?" Brock questioned as they others saw Makoto running up to them, Berry and Emolga running alongside her, "What's up?"
"G...gi..giant...floating stadium!" Makoto panted as she ran over, "There's a giant floating stadium coming this way! Also, Kajun….you're not gonna like who's piloting it."
"...Don't tell me…" Kajun groaned before a shadow overcame the area.
=To protect the world from devastation!=
"They've been repeating it the whole time," Makoto noted, Emolga landing on her head as they looked at the giant, floating stadium with balloons tied to it coming towards them.
"Emo-emolga…" Emolga deadpanned.
"Yes, we think it's tacky, too," Makoto noted.
"Pachiri…" Berry nodded a bit.
"...Remind me next time we're in a city to get a restraining order put on those three," Tsubaki sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"Do you really think they'll follow it?" Mai deadpanned.
"...ugh…" Tsubaki groaned further, trying to quell the incoming migraine as Team Rocket finished their motto.
=You village idiots thought you had the Home Team advantage by placing all those traps= James's voice smirked from the intercom.
=But guess what? We're the home team now= Jessie added =And we're gonna bring a real home run by stealing all your Pokemon with this, the Team Rocket Jessie flying stadium!=
=Hey! The flying stadium was my idea!= James argued =Don't go pulling a foul on me=
=Shut it before I strike you out, James= Jessie argued back a bit.
"Oh Arceus they're using baseball puns now…" Kajun and Tsubaki facepalmed.
'Can't laugh. Can't laugh. Can't laugh,' Makoto thought, trying hard not to laugh at all the baseball puns flying about.
=Stop it ya two! Need I remind ya w...=
=Nobody wants to hear from the mascot!= Jessie snapped =...but you're right. Let's bring our 'fans' in to watch the game=
=Agreed. After all, we do have a T-shirt cannon. Only without the shirts, and instead of a cannon…= James paused as a giant vacuum tube curled out of the stadium =...it's a tube=
A powerful suction proceeded to come from the tube.
=All Pokémon are invited to enter the Stadium!= Jessie called.
=Step right up= James added.
=We're not hosin' ya...well maybe we are= Meowth added.
"Ugh!" Ash grunted as he grabbed a Magikarp that was pulled out of the water, "These guys just won't quit!"
"Hurry! Everyone in the cabin!" Brock shouted.
"You heard the Breeder in-training! Let's move!" Makoto shouted, keeping Emolga down on her head to make sure she wouldn't get sucked in.
"Vul!" Yuki yelped as Noel barely missed grabbing her.
"Yuki!" Noel called out before Bulbasaur's vines shot out and caught her, "Oh!"
"Vul?" Yuki pondered.
"Bulbasaur…" Bulbasaur whispered in reassurance.
"Oh thank goodness…" Noel sighed in relief before yelping as Ash gave her Magikarp and her ran over to Bulbasaur.
"Keep going, Bulbasaur!" Ash grunted as he began to help Bulbasaur towards the cabin, Yuki being held down to the Grass-Type's bulb.
Bulbasaur said nothing as he looked at Ash, wondering why this...this Trainer was going out of his way to help save the village and not taking advantage of the moment. The two got into the cabin and Brock closed the door.
"This is all of them," Melanie sighed in relief as she finished counting.
"Yuki!" Noel gasped as Bulbasaur held out the shaking Ice-Type for her to scoop into a hug, "Th-there, there…"
"Vul…" Yuki whimpered as she nuzzled into Noel's arms.
"They're still going at it…" Kajun noted, seeing the strong wind outside not letting up once.
"...Bul…" Bulbasaur growled as he began to walk towards a nearby window.
"Uh oh…" Melanie whispered.
'Uh oh? Why 'uh oh'?" Mai couldn't help but ask.
"Those thieves did something no one should ever do around Bulbasaur…" Melanie answered as Bulbasaur climbed out the window, a determined, yet angry look on his face,, "..try to harm a hatchling."
"Those twerps are always getting in the way of our flawless plans," Jessie noted as she, James, and Meowth stood on top of the stadium dome.
"Not this time," James replied as the tube moved directly over the house, "They've gathered them all in one place."
"Our super vacuum will suck 'em up!" Meowth added before he noticed something climbing on top of the roof of the cabin, "Huh? What's dat?"
"What's what, Meowth?" his two cohorts asked.
"Bulbasaur! BULBASAUR!" Bulbasaur roared as he sent his vines out once more, slapping the vacuum tube away from the cabin.
"...Is that Bulbasaur seriously trying to get rid of our vacuum?" James repeated.
"It is..and I think it's angry," Meowth noted as he heard Bulbsaur ranting, "Ooh...apparently one of the Pokemon we were tryin' t' suck up was a hatchling."
"A hatchling?" Jessie repeated.
"Yeah. And I ain't translatin' what he's callin' us," Meowth noted with a cringe as Bulbasaur kept slapping the tube away, "Trust me, it's so bad, I'm gonna be washin' my tongue with soap later."
"Oh...well nevermind. We just need to increase the suction power a-" Jessie began.
"Emol…"
"Huh?" Jessie blinked as she slowly looked up, seeing Emolga sitting on her head, "...What is that?"
"Ohh. That's an Emolga, a Pokemon from the Unova Region and.." James began before seeing the dark grin on Emolga's face, her cheeks sparking, "..and I think we're gonna get shocked...badly."
"Emol...GAAAAA!"
*BZZZZZZZZZZZZRT!*
"...Ow…" the trio coughed up smoke as Emolga flew back down to a nearby tree.
"Great...what else could go wrong…?" Jessie groaned.
"Pidgeotto, use Hurricane!"
"...Oh no..." Jessie groaned.
"Pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi!" Pidgeotto cried as she began to flap so hard that she created a massive tornado.
"Uh oh. Hideo Nomo would be proud of this tornado's windup," James gulped.
"We're gonna be struck out," Jessie paled.
"Dere goes da whole ball game…" Meowth gulped before the tornado sucked both them and the stadium right up, "Looks like Team Rocket's blastin' off again!"
"Is everyone okay?" Melanie asked as the last of the Water Type Pokemon in the lake were put back into it.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel like I got the wind pulled out of me with that," Makoto quipped.
"Yeah. That nearly blowed us over, huh?" Ash grinned.
"That's my pun protege!" Makoto beamed.
*WHAP! WHAP!*
"No. Bad, Makoto, bad," Tsubaki scolded as Ash and Makoto rubbed the new bumps on their heads.
"W...well...if there's one thing we know for sure…" Noel began as she looked at Bulbasaur, who was looking over Yuki, "It's that the sanctuary is well protected with Bulbasaur here."
"...Hmm…" Melanie pondered for a moment before looking at Ash, "Excuse me, Ash?"
"Hmm?" Ash blinked a bit as he stood up, "Yeah?"
"Wouldn't you agree that Bulbasaur would be an excellent addition to your team?" Melanie asked.
"Yeah! He'd be great!" Ash beamed.
"I think Bulbasaur should go with you," Melanie noted.
"Wait, what?" Ash blinked at that as Melanie carefully picked up Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur has stayed here to protect the weaker Pokémon, but the sanctuary is too small," Melanie explained, "The bulb on his back can't grow. He needs to go out into the world now…" she then looked back over at Ash, "And I know you'll take good care of him. Just please do this favor, and take Bulbasaur with you on your journey."
"But what will happen to the sanctuary without Bulbasaur?" Misty asked.
"Who's going to protect you?" Brock asked in concern.
"...It is true Bulbasaur has done a great job...maybe too great a job," Melanie replied as she closed her eyes, "You see, these Pokémon shouldn't remain in this village forever and ever. After they recover, the Pokémon are supposed to leave. But it's too safe here, so none of them wants to go away. They don't want to return to the outside world. But I think it's important that all of them return to the wild. After all, that's where Pokémon belong. And hopefully someday…" she paused as she looked over at Emolga, who was looking out at them from a nearby tree, "They'll find good Trainers like you all."
"Emol…" Emolga whispered as she listened in.
"Of course, taking care of sick Pokemon will always be my mission," Melanie continued as she looked at the group, "But I know my job isn't finished until they return where they came from, so it's the day a Pokémon leaves that is most rewarding to me."
"Oh, Melanie," Kajun noted, a faint hint of a smile on her face.
"So you see. It's time for Bulbasaur to leave here," Melanie went on, "Please take him with you. He won't be a burden, I assure you. Bulbasaur still has a lot of growing to do. I want him to be in a place where he can grow strong and happy. Im sure that place is with you, Ash."
"...well...if you really want me to..." Ash spoke.
"Bulbasaur…" Bulbasaur said as he looked up at Melanie.
"Oh? Is that so?" Melanie noted with a slight giggle, "Ash, I believe Bulbasaur said he'll join on one condition. He wants you to battle him."
"Bulba. Saur," Bulbasaur nodded.
"...Well if it's a match you want, Bulbasaur, you'll get it," Ash grinned.
"Emol!"
"Huh?" Ash blinked as Emolga flew over him, landing right on top of Bulbasaur's bulb, much to his slight annoyance, and pointed at Makoto.
"Emolga! Emol!"
"Huh?"
"Oh. I think Emolga wants to join in on this battle," Melanie noted as she looked at Makoto, "And she wants to face you specifically. Is that a problem?"
"...Heh. No problem with me!" Makoto grinned as Berry got out, her cheeks sparking, "A rematch sounds pretty good. Right, Berry?"
"Chipa…" Berry nodded, staring at Emolga with a determined look.
The area was silent as Pikachu and Berry stood across from both Bulbasaur and Emolga respectively, the wind blowing slightly as the four stared eachother down. Pikachu started it off by charging in a Quick Attack as Berry jumped up and fired a Thundershock at Emolga once more.
"Saur!" Bulbasaur growled as he sent his vines at Pikachu.
"Emol!" Emolga shouted as she used Double Team, letting the Thundershock miss as the two remaining clones began to form a sphere of electricity.
"That looks like Electro Ball," Kajun noted, "If the user is faster than the target, then it'll deal massive damage."
"EmolGA!" Emolga called as she sent it at Berry.
"Quick Attack!" Makoto called.
"Chipa!" Berry flashed for a moment before shooting off and missing the attack.
Pikachu dodged the vines from Bulbasaur before he was slammed by a Tackle from Bulbasaur.
"Chipa!" Berry gasped out before she was slammed into by Emolga, the flying squirrel striking her multiple times in a nimble manner as she flew away
"That must've been Acrobatics," Kajun noted, "Normally it's weak if the Pokemon is holding an item; but if it isn't, it inflicts massive damage."
"I see," Tsubaki noted as she focused on the battle, "...That is one strong Emolga then."
"Come on…" Ash grit his teeth as the two Electric Types began to get up, "Wait a second...Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on Berry!"
"Huh?!" Makoto gawked.
"PikaCHU!" Pikachu shouted as he zapped Berry...only to reveal her injuries were gone.
"Oh! Ashton remembered what Dexter said about Berry's ability Volt Absorb!" Kajun smiled, "Excellent job, Ashton!"
"Please don't call me that…" Ash muttered in embarrassment.
"Um, Ash? Focus on the battle," Makoto stated, "Bulbasaur's charging again!"
"Huh? Oh, right!" Ash's eyes widened, "And there's that Emolga, too!"
"We're on it!" Makoto replied, "Iron Tail!"
"Chipa!" Berry complied as her tail glowed a metallic shine just as Emolga closed in, preparing for another Acrobatics attack.
"Wait for it...wait for it…" Makoto whispered, "...Now!"
Berry jumped over Emolga just before she could hit, startling the Sky Squirrel Pokémon. Berry spun around before whacking Emolga right on the head as Pikachu dodged Bulbasaur's Tackle but ended up tangled in his vines.
"Saur!" Bulbasaur began to whack Pikachu into the ground with his vines.
"...Ash, have Pikachu use Thunderbolt on Bulbasaur's vines," Makoto whispered quickly to the young Pokemon trainer.
"Huh? Wh...oh! Got it," Ash nodded, seeing where she was going with this, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"PikaCHU!" Pikachu roared as his Thunderbolt went up Bulbasaur's vines and electrocuted the Grass-Type, causing him to roll over with smoke coming off his form.
"Berry, help Pikachu with a swing!" Makoto called out.
"Chipa!" Berry nodded as she ran over to Pikachu as both began to pull on Bulbasaur's vines.
"Emolga?" Emolga pondered before Bulbasaur was used as a backgammon on her, sending both crashing into a tree.
"Now!" Ash called as the two threw a PokeBall each, "PokeBall, go!"
Ash's hit Bulbasaur at the same time Makoto's tapped Emolga. The two were quickly caught inside and the balls started rocking.
"Come on...come on…" Makoto whispered, clenching her fist tightly as she and Ash intently watched the two PokeBalls shake.
After a few tense moments, the balls finally settled, both giving off the 'caught' signal.
"Yay! We did it! We caught a Bulbasaur and a Emolga!" Ash cheered.
"Pi-pikachu!" Pikachu gave a victory sign.
"Chipa-chi!" Berry jumped about in glee.
"Yes!" Makoto pumped her fist as she walked over to the PokeBall Emolga was in and picked it up, "Welcome to the team, Cherry."
"Cherry?" Tsubaki repeated.
"Well, she was eating the chestnuts with a berry that looks like cherries earlier and 'Cherry' rhymes with 'Berry' and…"
"I get it," Tsubaki sighed.
"...Bulbasaur, I'll miss you," Melanie whispered with a small smile, knowing Bulbasaur was in good hands.
"Have a safe trip," Melanie spoke as everyone was gathered before her cabin.
"We'll do our best," Tsubaki assured.
"Thank you again for sharing some of your plants and herbs with us to make some medicines for our Pokemon if we're far away from a Pokemon Center," Kajun thanked.
"Of course. It's the least I could do," Melanie smiled.
"Melanie…" Ash spoke up, catching the blunette's attention, "I promise I'll take good care of Bulbasaur."
Melanie nodded before bending down and gently patting the Grass type's head, "Bulbasaur, thank you for watching over us."
"Bulba…" Bulbasaur nodded.
"And I really hope that Emo...er...Cherry will be happy with you, Makoto," Melanie noted.
"Oh she will. Besides…" Makoto paused as Berry and Cherry poked their heads out of her tail, a bag of chestnuts from Melanie between them, "Berry's got a roomie now."
"Emol!" Cherry beamed a bit.
"Chipa!" Berry nodded.
"Hey, uh...Melanie?" Brock spoke up, a bit of a blush on his face, "I've been thinking. Since Bulbasaur's leaving, I wouldn't mind staying and help you out."
"It's very kind of you, Brock, but we'll be okay," Melanie assured, "I wouldn't want to keep you from all of your wonderful adventures." she whispered, "Plus, I'd feel safer if you were with them to prepare those herbs and plants for medicine. I mean no offense but I worry if Noel gets them from that 'cookie' Mai was eating that Noel made was any sign."
"Oh...I guess you're right," Brock admitted with a slight slump.
"Goodbye, Melanie!" Ash waved as the group began to leave.
"Hope we can see you again!" Makoto beamed.
"Goodbye! And good luck!" Melanie waved, the Pokemon around her giving farewells with her.
"Bulba…" Bulbasaur whispered as he looked back at Melanie and the sanctuary Pokemon.
"Emol…"
"Oh, don't worry, you two," Makoto assured, "I'm sure we'll see them all some day."
"Yeah. When the Pokemon all start to feel better, they'll start leaving the village, too," Ash noted.
"...Bulba…" Bulbasaur nodded.
"...So Brock…" Misty began as she walked up beside him, a teasing smile on her face, "What did Melanie say when you said you loved her? Did you kiss her goodbye?"
"Okay! That's enough childish questions!" Brock exclaimed, covering Misty's mouth once more, "Would you please stop embarrassing me already? Okay, so I know that she's cute. I understand that, but you know…"
"Did I miss something?" Ash pondered, blinking twice at the scene as Brock continued on, "What's going on with Brock and Misty?"
"Something you probably won't understand until you're older…" Makoto sweatdropped a bit.
"Professor Kajun's Pokemon Study!"
The curtains raised once more, revealing the intact lab backdrop with Hikri on the table as normal with Kajun in her lab cot beside it.
"Greetings, and welcome back once more," Kajun greeted, "As usual, we talk about one or two of the main Pokemon of the chapter, and today we'll be focusing on Ash and Makoto's latest Pokemon. Bulbasaur, and Cherry the Emolga respectively. Hikari?"
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as she pressed a button on her remote, showing Cherry on the screen.
"The first is Cherry, an Emolga. Classified as the Sky Squirrel Pokemon, Emolga are a rather rare Electric/Flying Type which lets them avoid the typical Ground Type Weakness of the Electric Type Pokemon," Kajun explained, "Their abilities are Static, which causes paralysis in the opponent when a physical move lands, and Motor Drive, which increases their speed through being hit by Electric Type moves."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as she pressed a button, causing the image to change to Cherry using various moves.
"Considering an Emolga's typing, they can learn both Electric and Flying Type moves, such as Thunderbolt and Acrobatics respectively," Kajun continued, "A move Emolga are known for using is Volt Switch, an Electric Type move that switches out the user with another Pokemon once the attack connects. It is a constant annoyance to many Emolga Trainers that they typically go to a Move Deleter just to make sure they can't use it. However if used right, it could lead to some pretty interesting strategies."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as the screen then changed to Ash's Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur is the very first Pokemon in the Pokedex," Kajun informed, "Known as the Seed Pokemon, Bulbasaur have a sort of symbiosis with the plant bulb on its back, which is planted there at birth. This bulb stores energy through photosynthesis and nutrients inside of its seeds that it shared with Bulbasaur. It isn't surprising to see Bulbasaur take naps when the daylight is at its strongest."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as the screen changed to a Bulbasaur tending to newly hatched Pokemon.
"Bulbasaur are natural caretakers and Breeders often have a Bulbasaur to make sure they have an extra aide for taking care of any Pokemon that recently hatches," Kajun went on, "It is almost instinctive now for Bulbasaur to known a special technique called the 'Bulba-Bye.' This is done by them rocking a hatchling gently in their vines while singing a song of sorts."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as the screen changed to show a Bulbasaur's plant start glowing.
"When a Bulbasaur's bulb starts glowing, it is a sign that Bulbasaur is ready to evolve," Kajun continued, "There are rumors that Bulbasaur go to a secret garden to evolve into Ivysaur, but it is just speculation and no evidence has been seen about it at this time."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as the screen changed to show Bulbasaur using various Grass and Poison Type moves.
"Bulbasaur are Grass/Poison Types, meaning they can learn various Grass and Poison Type moves, such as Razor Leaf, Energy Ball, Sludge Bomb, and Poison Powder. Two of their most powerful moves-the latter of which can be learned by Bulbasaur's final evolution- are Solar Beam, and Frenzy Plant," Kajun spoke as the screen showed a simulation of a massive barrage of tree roots attacking an enemy Pokemon, "The latter attack is considered the Hyper Beam of Grass Types in that it is truly powerful and can alter the landscape, but also has a drawback of a 'recharge' period without practice."
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded as the screen changed to a shadowed image of a lizard like Pokemon, a question mark over it.
"I'm afraid our time is up, but stay tuned as next time we talk about the second of the Kanto Starters," Kajun stated, "Until next time, I am Kajun Faycott, and…" she paused as she looked around, "...odd. Usually something strange happens around the end of these segments…"
"Ralts…" Hikari nodded.
"Ah well. It seems we're lucky this t…" Kajun began before the curtain dropped right on them, "Gah!"
Above the stage in the rafters, Cherry snickered as she held a screw she had removed.
GT: That is one cheeky Emolga.
SZ: Eeyup. Very cheeky indeed...she, Berry, and Makoto are gonna have a lot of fun together.
GT: And that means a lot of headaches for Tsubaki, Misty, and-possibly-Brock.
SZ: Eeyup...anyways, we hope you enjoyed this chapter, and stay tuned for the next one as it'll feature a certain fire lizard...and his former trainer...why wasn't he arrested for Pokemon Abuse and Abandonment?!
GT: No idea. Ah well. Until next time, everyone! Read and Review!
Ash Ketchum: Pikachu [Starter], Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur
Misty: Goldeen, Staryu, Starmie [Starter]
Brock: Geodude, Onix [Starter], Zubat
Makoto Nanaya: Berry(Pachirisu) [Starter], Needles(Kakuna), Cherry(Emolga)
Noel Vermillion: Yuki(Alolan Vulpix) [Starter]
Tsubaki Yayoi: Luka(Riolu) [Starter]
Mai Natsume: Terra(Sandshrew) [Starter]
Kajun Faycott: Hikari(Ralts) [Starter]