The Ash Connection
Bulbasaur – Anything but Garden Variety
Ash, Dawn and Brock made their way into the Jubilife City Pokemon Center, tired from their past few days of traveling. They gave all their Pokemon to Nurse Joy for a quick recharge, except for Pikachu who insisted he was fine.
Ash could never really say no to the little guy, so by Ash's side he remained.
They spread out after, each deciding to make phone calls. The lobby was full right now, likely due to the upcoming contest, so it seemed like they would be fighting for space. Ash and Dawn let Brock take the first available phone, knowing he was eager to talk to his brother and potentially bring over his Marshtomp to tutor Dawn's Piplup.
"I'm gonna call my mom if she's not busy. Then Professor Oak, 'cuz I have to talk to him about Turtwig." Ash told Dawn as they waited. Dawn nodded understandingly.
"I'm gonna call my mom too, but I doubt she's busy. I hope she can give me pointers on the contest, especially now that I caught Buneary." She replied, before pausing as if just registering Ash's words. "What do you want to talk about Turtwig for?"
Ash was going to respond but noticed a dark-haired boy hanging up his phone. He quickly nudged Dawn's attention to him, inviting her to take his place. She nodded thankfully, rushing over and just barely beating out another girl twice their age for the seat. Dawn turned back to Ash and winked before calling up Johanna.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked from his lap. Ash stroked him calmly.
"Yeah, it's more for Bulbasaur than Professor Oak." Ash agreed.
They needn't wait much longer for the seat next to Dawn to open. These two didn't need to fight anyone for their phone, so they sat with a quick smile at Dawn and tried Delia Ketchum's home phone. It rang and rang, but nobody picked up. He tried the restaurant phone as well, but that one didn't ring. Closed, then. It was kind of late back in Kanto.
Oak it was.
The dutiful professor he was, he was awake despite the late hour and answered before even a full ring.
"Ah, Ash! I was hoping to hear from you soon. Gary's been sending me the most amazing samples and observations; I've wanted to get your opinion on a few things- "Oak started but cut himself off. "I suppose there's a better time for that than at this ungodly hour, though."
"I'd be happy to do what I can, Professor, but Gary's probably right about it. Whatever it is." Ash replied with a laugh. "I actually had a reason for calling this time though. Is there any way I can talk to Bulbasaur?"
Oak could only laugh.
"Of course, Ash. I'm sure Bulbasaur would love to talk to you too. I'll go get him." Oak agreed and walked off.
Ash supposed Tracey was asleep too, otherwise he would've been tasked with rounding up Bulbasaur. Dawn peered over the divider, gently nudging his shoulder with hers.
"What do you mean talk to Bulbasaur? Like catching up with an old friend? You have a Bulbasaur?" Dawn whispered to him, as if they were in a classroom.
"Yeah, I caught him back when I was traveling through Kanto. I wanted to tell him about Turtwig." Ash nodded. "And maybe get some advice."
Dawn blinked at him.
"You're going to get advice. On Pokemon training. Your Turtwig. From your Bulbasaur?" She said slowly. Ash only nodded, but Dawn was distracted from Ash by her mother, and quickly leaned back in to finish her own conversation as Bulbasaur scampered onto Ash's video screen.
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur greeted them happily, waving both his vines around erratically. Ash and Pikachu laughed, each reaching out to touch the screen.
"Heya Bulbasaur! I miss you too. You keeping everyone in line for me?" Ash asked. Bulbasaur nodded, making a few motions with his vines.
"I knew I could count on you. I'm not calling to backseat peace-keep you, I wanted to tell you about our newest friend." Ash changed the subject. "His name is Turtwig, and he's a grass-type, just like you! A starter too, here in Sinnoh." He said.
He smiled as he watched Bulbasaur tilt his head. Bulbasaur loved other grass-types, and this one would be no different.
"I actually caught him kinda the same way I did you, way back when. He was protecting a bunch of wild Pokemon and a nice lady we met. He showed up at her house injured one day and she fixed him up real good, and he refused to leave." Ash recounted. "We got off on the wrong foot too, just like we did. But Team Rocket helped us smooth it over."
Bulbasaur let out a sound suspiciously similar to a huff.
"BulbaBulbasaur. Bulbas?" Bulbasaur replied, making a whipping motion with his vines. Pikachu chuckled while Ash tried not to.
"No, no, he's in line I promise. I just went through a whole thing with him about trusting me and my judgement in battle; he was refusing to dodge attacks, insisted on taking everything head on." Ash groaned out. Bulbasaur sent him a sly smirk, shared with Pikachu.
"Pika."/ "Bulba."
"Oh, real funny guys. Like you two aren't more stubborn than my entire herd of Tauros either." Ash huffed. "You were literally recruited to join a dojo exclusively for fighting-types." He said to Bulbasaur specifically, who just shrugged. "I just wanted to know if there was anything I could do for him to make the change easier."
Bulbasaur didn't reply, just tilted his head in the other direction but Ash understood.
"He's not like a lot of my other Pokemon. He chose to come with me, but he had a real place before; a home, just like you." Ash said. "I'm worried that the refusing to dodge thing is a first sign, that's all."
"Bulbasaur, Bulba Bulbasaur. Bul." Bulbasaur replied, going back to using his vines to help express his words.
"Of course I talked to him about it, I think I got that straightened out already. Is there anything I could've done for you that you felt I could've done better, Bulbasaur? To help with the transition?" Ash asked.
"Bulb, Bulb Bulbasaur." Bulbasaur shook his head.
"I appreciate that, I just don't want Turtwig to feel like I'm trying to change him at all. If he wants to take attacks, we can work with that, but I can't let him just ignore me every time, y'know?" Ash said.
"Bulbasaur Bulba!" Bulbasaur agreed. "Bul Bulba!"
"Maybe I will bring you over soon and you can talk to him yourself. I think we're on better terms now, but a chat with you couldn't hurt anybody." He paused. "Unless you wanted it to." Bulbasaur smirked. "What about attacks, buddy? Any advice on training?"
"Bulba, Bulbasaur Bulbasaur. Bulba." Bulbasaur signed with his vines again, making them into numbers.
"Hmm, got it. That makes sense." Ash ticked the attacks down in his brain, but his further reply was cut off as he noticed daybreak in the background of Bulbasaur's screen. Oak's ranch always got sunlight an hour before the rest of Pallet due to its elevation.
"I'll let you go, Bulbasaur. You probably need a plant-nap before you go around waking everyone up for the day." Ash said, and Bulbasaur couldn't help but frown a little. "I know, I should call more often, but you know I'm right."
"Bulba. Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur sighed out and put a smile back on as he waved with both of his vines.
"Goodnight, buddy. Tell everyone I miss them, and I'll try and rotate you guys soon." Ash said. He and Pikachu pressed their hands to the screen again. "And tell the professor he can leave a message for me at any Pokemon Center if he needs my held with any of Gary's… science stuff."
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur agreed happily before signing off himself.
"I've never met a Bulbasaur who knew how to work a phone." Dawn's voice startled both Kantonian's, and they almost slipped off the chair.
"My Bulbasaur is special." Ash said proudly, standing up to avoid hogging the phone. His chair was taken instantly by a boy near his own age. "He can do lots of things you wouldn't expect."
"Like train your Turtwig." Dawn suggested teasingly.
"Yeah, like train my Turtwig." Ash agreed. Dawn couldn't tell whether he didn't notice he was being teased or whether he was just ignoring it. "You'll probably meet him soon enough, he gave me some great attacks to try and teach so I might need his help again. One of them is an attack I've never heard of before."
"And you got this advice…" Dawn trailed off again, before sighing. Why did she even bother?
"From Bulbasaur!" Ash finished happily for her. "He mentioned Leech Seed would be good, which makes total sense. And asked about Withdraw, which I think Turtwig already knows so that's good. But he said Energy Ball could be more effective and versatile than something like Razor Leaf or Vine Whip." He paused. "I don't think Turtwig can learn Vine Whip anyway. But I've never heard of Energy Ball before, so I'll probably need Bulbasaur's help for it."
"How does Bulbasaur know an attack and you've never heard of it?" Dawn asked again. Ash almost felt bad for confusing the poor girl, but he couldn't understand the confusion.
"Bulbasaur's a hard worker, he's training all the time! Just because he lives on a cozy ranch doesn't mean he gave up on getting stronger! All my Pokemon train in their spare time, not because I make 'em, but they love to!" Ash replied. "Bulbasaur probably picked it up from a wild Pokemon, or from a Pokemon someone else keeps at the ranch."
Dawn clearly still had so many questions about Ash's very unusual relationship with his very unusual Bulbasaur, but she thought better than voicing them all right now. Instead, she simply offered up more information.
"I've heard of Energy Ball before. It's a TM move here in Sinnoh, so it's probably a little more localized here than other regions." Dawn said. "We might be able to find it for sale. They probably sell copies in Eterna City, that's pretty much our grass-central city."
Ash hummed in thought.
"Sounds great, we'll have to check it out when we're there. Turtwig'll be growing leaps and bounds in no time!" Ash declared.
"I guess someone's talk went well." Brock guessed, walking back up to them. "Did Professor Oak have any helpful insights?"
"Don't know, didn't get around to asking him. But Bulbasaur was a big help! And so was Dawn." Ash replied, smiling at Dawn.
"Bulbasaur, huh? I'm glad you talked to someone with sense. Mew knows you need someone to set you straight every now and again." Was all that Brock had to say about that.
Dawn decided she was done overthinking. Clearly, Ash's Bulbasaur was a trusted resource.
Ash's connection with his Pokemon is so special, why not highlight each one? Bulbasaur is today's lucky guest! In case you couldn't tell, these are AU-ish, but I'm hoping that most of them could fit into canon with a little bit of squinting.
Anyway, enjoy!