New chapter ready. Sorry it took so long. I've just been busy and had a hard time working on this story. Either way I hope that the chapter is enjoyable. As always reviews and suggestions are appreciated.
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"...okay, it's official, we NEED to get a compass first chance we get," Ash sighed as the group were walking through some tall chest height grass in a forest.
"Doesn't help we lost sight of the main road a while back…" Misty sighed as well.
"Add in the fact none of us seem to have a very good sense of direction and...yeah, I think it's safe to say we're lost," Brock sighed in agreement.
"Let's...just keep walking. We'll have to reach some place eventually," Ash sighed, earning a few nods of agreement and a tired sigh from Pikachu. Eventually the group found a few rocks near a small pool of water. "Great timing," Misty sighed as the group sat down for a break.
"Guess we're not going to make any careers as guides anytime soon," Brock joked slightly.
"Let's just focus on figuring out our way to Vermillion City so we're not stuck spending all year wandering in circles," Misty said dryly.
Before any further conversation could happen, the group heard something and turned to see what it was. "Hey, isn't that an Oddish?" Ash said, as true enough not far away, an Oddish was at the waterside taking a drink, with Ash taking out his Pokedex. "Oddish, the Weed Pokemon. Oddish is a Grass/Poison-type Pokemon native to Kanto. Oddish usually spend the day hidden underground and tend to be more active at night."
"Hey you're right," Brock said, before the group looked at each other. "So...who wants to try catching it?" he asked.
The three thought about it for a moment. "Odd or Even?" Ash suggested, and a short game later, Misty won the first shot. Good thing too, because the Oddish had apparently had enough to drink and was moving away.
"Well, good a time as any for you to get some practice," Misty mused. "Go Clefairy!" she called out, releasing Clefairy who jumped in front of Oddish. "Start with Disarming Voice!" Misty ordered, Clefairy obeying and letting out the attack. Oddish was hit and recoiled from the attack. "Now keep up the momentum! Pound!" Misty ordered, Clefairy following up with the attack, knocking Oddish aside to which Oddish rolled on the ground and came to a stop, eyes swirly.
"That was…a little too easy," Misty blinked, Clefairy looking a bit confused too at how easily she won.
"Well...a win's a win, so…" Ash shrugged, not actually sure what else to say.
"Yeah, that's true," Misty said, taking out an empty Pokeball. "Welcome to the team Oddish," she said, throwing it...but suddenly something got in the way and the Pokeball was knocked aside. "Uh oh," she blinked, worried she might have tried to catch a trained Pokemon and its trainer was about to give them a telling off. However, when they saw what the blur actually was…
"No way!" Ash gasped in excitement, as the blur revealed to be a Bulbasaur that was standing protectively in front of Oddish.
"A wild Bulbasaur?! That's an extremely rare find!" Brock gasped, since Starter Pokemon are VERY rarely seen in the wild nowadays. At the same time Ash quickly scanned Bulbasaur too. "Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokemon. Bulbasaur is a Grass/Poison-type Pokemon native to the Kanto Region and is one of the three Regional Starters. Bulbasaur are born with the seed of a plant on their backs which grow alongside them. Because of this it is often disputed if Bulbasaur and by extension Bulbasaur Morphs, can be classified as a plant or animal, a common issue in many Grass-types with plants as part of their bodies. Bulbasaur in the wild are generally tough and hard to capture."
Right as Dexter finished, Bulbasaur charged forward, hitting Clefairy who went flying back to which Misty caught her. "Are you okay Clefairy?!" she gasped in alarm. Clefairy seemed a little dazed, but quickly shook it off and gave her a reassuring nod, to which she sighed in relief.
"No way I'm letting THIS chance pass," Ash said, stepping forward, and picking one of his Pokemon. "Go for it, Butterfree!" he threw the ball and released Butterfree, Bulbasaur tensing when he saw Buttefree emerge.
"Let's start off with Gust!" Ash ordered, Butterfree flapping his wings quickly and sending the blast of wind towards Bulbasaur who was pushed back but held his ground, before he soon countered with a Razor Leaf, Butterfree evading the sharp projectiles. "Now show them your Sleep Powder!" Ash continued, Butterfree spreading his Sleep Powder, which hit Bulbasaur, causing the Pokemon to feel woozy. "Good job! Now just a bit more before we can catch it!" Ash said excitedly. However, the moment Bulbasaur heard that, his eyes became more focused, before lashing out with Vine Whip...and smacking himself awake, much to everyone's surprise.
"I've never heard of a Pokemon hitting itself to force itself to stay awake!" Brock gasped.
"Guess that's one way to shake off Sleep Powder…" Misty sweat dropped.
However, Bulbasaur wasn't done, and lashed out at Butterfree who was too caught up in his own surprise to evade, getting knocked out of the sky, before Bulbasaur followed up with a Tackle, sending Butterfree flying back and into Ash's arms.
"Butterfree, are you okay?!" Ash gasped, earning a tired but affirmative sound. Sighing in relief, he returned Butterfree. "Okay, next is Pidgeotto," he started...but when he turned to see Bulbasaur, he was already escaping with the Oddish. "Hey wait!" Ash tried to say, but Bulbasaur was already gone. He blinked for a moment, before glaring. "You're not getting away THAT easily," he frowned.
"Well...someone's fired up…" Brock said with a sweat drop.
"Can't say I blame him, that is a wild Starter…" Misty sweat dropped as well, Pikachu also sweat dropping at how...enthusiastic...his trainer is about this.
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The group was soon following after the Bulbasaur, which soon took them to a rope bridge. "Did that Bulbasaur really go this way?" Misty frowned.
Ash crouched a bit, running his hand against the ground. "Yep, there are small tracks here, I'm pretty sure that Bulbasaur went this way...or at least something did," he said having found small saurian food prints on the soil.
Brock went over and checked the ropes near their side of the bridge. "Bridge looks stable enough too from this end," he said. "I think it's safe for us to cross."
"Alright, but we'd better still be careful," Misty said with a nod, the group walking across the bridge, keeping a hand on the railings in case of anything. The group slowly made their way across and were about half way when Ash who was in front noticed something.
"Wait...isn't that…?" he frowned, squinting a bit...before he realized that it was a section of the rope holding the bridge up...that was getting dangerously thin. "Crap! We have to get back! Part of the rope is tearing!"
"What?!" Brock and Misty gasped, the group frantically trying to make an about face but...too late. The rope supporting the bridge broke, turning it on its side, Ash just barely managing to grab onto the section that was still strong enough, Misty grabbing on to his leg while Pikachu clung to his backpack. Brock likewise managed to grab hold of a part of the bridge too, but his grip hadn't found the best spot, and worse, his natural weight wasn't doing the now weakened bridge rope any wonders either.
Gulping a bit he looked down and saw the river...but also saw the rope that was starting to wear down as well and made a choice. "I'll find a way ashore. We'll meet up down the river!" he said.
"Brock, wait!" Ash gasped...but Brock already let go, the Rhydon falling into the river below, soon getting carried by the current. .
"Pika-Chu!" Pikachu shouted in alarm.
"Ash, sorry!" Misty said, before tossing him her bag, which he managed to catch with his free hand before she let go too and soon dove into the water after Brock.
"Come on Pikachu, we gotta help find Brock too!" Ash said, Pikachu nodding and clinging to his back while also helping to hold Misty's bag, Ash quickly pulling himself up and climbed along the ropes a little so that they wouldn't land in the water, before swinging himself and letting go, allowing him to grip against the ledge and climb down. He was soon chasing after the river, hoping to find Misty and Brock, preferably together. However, it seemed the current was stronger than expected, as it wasn't long before he found Misty who had pulled herself out of the water, as the rapid current and rocks made it tricky to navigate even for a Water-type.
"We have to hurry! Hopefully with all the rocks I saw he was able to pull himself out or at least grab on to something!" Misty said. "The last thing we want is for the river to lead out into the ocean!"
"If he gets that far out it'd be really dangerous!" Ash gasped, the two running faster as a result...before he noticed something odd about a section of the ground...which revealed to be a pitfall when Misty stepped on it, Ash just barely avoiding it when he leaped over it at the last minute. "What's a pitfall doing here?!" he gasped in alarm, quickly helping Misty out of the Pitfall. "You okay?"
"I'm okay, but I'm starting to think that bridge wasn't an accident," Misty frowned, rubbing her leg, thankfully nothing was sprained or injured.
"If that's the case then Brock might be in worse danger, but we have to be careful," Ash said with a frown. "If someone is setting traps for something, then we don't know what might be up ahead."
"Right," Misty nodded in agreement, before the two continued running. The river continued for a while, both keeping an eye on both what was ahead...and on the ground for possibly any traps. So far so good as they'd managed to avoid a few pitfalls, until they reached a certain section, and a vine lashed out from a nearby bush, causing Ash to trip mid dash, and thus causing Misty to run into him, both of them stumbling forward, his foot catching on to something...and suddenly they were up in the trees as a net trap was triggered.
"So you're in league with whoever set these up!" Ash gasped once he could see straight after the net was done shaking. Right now the three of them were trapped in a net which from when he tried moving around, seemed to be quite sturdy...and on top of that, they were bunched together in a way that they couldn't effectively do anything to cut the netting without risking hurting each other in the process, not even Pikachu being able to get in a position to try and cut through the net.
Bulbasaur watched them for a bit before walking away. "Hey get back here!" Ash growled, trying to get free...with limited success.
"H-hey! Watch where you're moving!" Misty said, as all the struggling was doing was making them push against each other rather uncomfortably.
"Pika!" Pikachu said in agreement as he was slightly squashed between them.
Fortunately Ash listened, and stopped struggling, but not before letting out a frustrated growl. They had to get out of here, but as it was, they couldn't safely do so.
XXXX
"...you think Brock is okay?" Misty asked after a while.
"I hope he is…" Ash frowned. They were all still stuck in the net, and when they tried to use their Moves to get out...it didn't go so well. "Wherever the river carried him I hope he's alright…"
"Glad to know you two care," came Brock's voice, surprising them as they looked down and saw the Rhydon looking up at them with an amused smile.
"Brock?!" both of them gasped in surprise.
"I'll get you both down soon," Brock said with an amused chuckle, before going over to the rope that was holding the net, and cutting the bottom part with a pocket knife while holding on to the rope, allowing him to slowly lower them back to the ground.
"We're finally out…" Misty sighed as she, Ash and Pikachu worked out the kinks their bodies had started having from being cramped in that net.
"Not that I'm complaining, but what are you doing here?" Ash asked. "Last we saw you fell into the river."
"Yeah...about that…" Brock sighed, before explaining what happened. Apparently when he was washing down the river someone had helped him. "Melanie has a cabin not far from here, but well...it's a little complicated," Brock sighed.
"How so?" Misty asked.
"Well...for starters she's kind of the one who set these traps," Brock started, and quickly explained the rest before Ash and Misty could jump to any conclusions. "But she's got a pretty good reason for it, since well...let's just say the Pokemon in her care would be easy pickings to any Trainers who came this way, and she's trying to protect them."
"Huh?" both of them blinked.
"It's...probably better if I just showed you," Brock sighed, before leading them down a path, eventually coming to a small clearing that had a log cabin as well as a large natural pool of water not far from the cabin. Another notable thing was the sizable number of various Pokemon gathered in the area...with a Bellossom morph with waist length dark blue hair tied with a bow, two red flowers poking out of the sides of her head and through her hair as was normal for her species, and was dressed in a pink T-shirt with red overalls, and was gently pouring water over one of the Pokemon who seemed to feel much better after that.
"I'm back," Brock said as they entered the clearing, catching her attention to which she got up and turned around, revealing her rather pretty face and blue eyes.
"Welcome back," she said with a smile. "Are these the friends you told me about?"
"Yeah, I found them in one of the net traps," Brock nodded.
"You did? I'm really sorry about that," Melanie said apologetically.
"Brock told us you had a good reason for putting up those traps, but were they REALLY necessary?" Misty asked with a frown.
"To be honest, I'd rather not have to use them, but I don't really have a choice," Melanie sighed, before explaining further. It seemed this place was a place that some people had started to call the Hidden Village...even if it really wasn't much of a village per say. At any rate, this village was a place for Pokemon who were injured or abandoned by their Trainers to rest and be safe until they are well enough to return to the wild. However, because of that this was also what some less scrupulous Trainers would see as 'easy pickings', and thus she does what she can to protect the Pokemon here, including setting those traps as a means to deter Trainers from coming this way.
"I can see how that'd be effective," Ash frowned. "If Brock hadn't fallen into the water, we'd definitely have turned around after the rope bridge…"
"Even still, I apologize again for having to use traps like that. They were the best I could come up with that wouldn't cause lasting harm," Melanie said, bowing in apology.
"It's fine, we can understand you wanted to protect the Pokemon," Misty said with an understanding smile.
"It's not much, but feel free to stay here for a while. You all must be tired from your travels, and the traps so at the very least feel free to rest here first," Melanie said with a kind smile.
"If it's no trouble," Ash said with a small nod. "...actually do you happen to know the path to Vermillion City? We...kind of got lost…"
"Do you have a map with you? If so I can mark a path for you," Melanie offered.
"Considering how we've been doing so far, I think that'd be a really good idea," Brock said as the travelling companions sweat dropped.
Melanie chuckled at that one, before taking the map they offered and started marking a path for them. Once that was done, they were soon looking around the Hidden Village, until Misty noticed the same Oddish from before. Now that she knew the full story of the Pokemon that were living in this village for the time being, she felt bad for setting Clefairy on the poor thing, and took the opportunity to give Oddish an apology, something Oddish seemed to accept. Too bad someone else wasn't so understanding, evident by the sudden shout and Misty getting knocked away from Oddish, the culprit having been the same Bulbasaur again.
"Hey, what was that for?!" Ash shouted, Pikachu letting out a similar shout as he got between Bulbasaur and Misty who was reeling a little from the sudden attack, but quickly shook it off. "She was just apologizing to Oddish for the mistake earlier, you don't have to Tackle her!" he said, both he and Pikachu glaring at Bulbasaur, something Bulbasaur returned in kind.
"I'm really sorry about this," Melanie said as she came closer. "Bulbasaur is the guardian here and as such he doesn't trust Pokemon Trainers," she sighed...right as Ash felt Bulbasaur pushing against his leg, letting out several grunts. "...and he's saying he wants you to leave."
"But we're not here to catch the Pokemon that live here, especially now that we know why they're here," Ash frowned.
"He's right. We may be Pokemon Trainers, but we don't just capture Pokemon without care!" Misty defended.
"Its true Bulbasaur," Melanie said, trying to calm him down, but he wasn't budging.
"Guess he really loves this place if he's so determined to protect it…" Ash frowned, but smiled a little at the end. He had to admit, he could admire that kind of courage and dedication. Sighing a little, he looked at his travelling companions. "Maybe we should go once we've got everything together."
"Can't say I think that would solve the problem, but if we're not welcome I guess it's for the best," Misty sighed. "Besides, once we have a proper map we should be able to find our way again."
"It's a shame though, this is a really great place," Brock said with a small sigh.
"I'm terribly sorry for this," Melanie apologized.
"Ah, it's no problem," Brock said quickly. "I mean, we did kind of end up trespassing in the first place so I guess this is just how it has to be."
However, before they could actually start to do that…
"Hm? What's that?" Ash blinked, noticing something in the air...which was coming towards them.
"Is that some kind of...giant balloon?" Brock blinked.
"No...it looks more like some kind of stadium," Misty said even more bewildered.
At this point the object was descending and soon landed on the ground...with some familiar music playing.
"Ugh...them again?" Ash groaned as true enough, it was Team Rocket again.
"Seriously? What are YOU three doing here?" Jessie said in annoyance when they saw them.
"I'd ask you that myself," Brock frowned, getting in front of Melanie.
"Well if you must know, we're here because we heard of a rumored Pokemon Village. Granted we don't know how much quality will be present, but sometimes quantity beats quality," James said with a slight smirk.
"You say that like we're just going to let you," Ash frowned, Pikachu getting on his head, cheeks sparking threateningly.
"How dumb do you think we are?" Jessie chuckled. "Did you really think we didn't consider some interference?"
The moment she said that, a hose of some kind extended...before revealing to be a powerful vacuum.
"Well I'll give them this. That's one way to steal Pokemon…!" Misty gasped as they were all soon fighting to NOT get pulled by the vacuum.
"Quick, into the cabin! We should be a bit safer in there!" Brock said, helping Melanie in, who in turn was helping several of the Pokemon get into the cabin to try and escape the suction. However, the suction was strong and some of the Pokemon were having a hard time resisting it, among them Oddish who was pulled off his feet...fortunately Bulbasaur managed to grab him before he was sucked in. However in doing so, Bulbasaur nearly lost his footing...only for Ash to catch him and help move him towards the cabin. "I know you're the guardian here, but don't try to do everything by yourself," Ash said a bit wryly. "We all want to help too," he said as he pulled them towards the cabin, Bulbasaur seeming to have a thoughtful look as Ash helped him get the remaining Pokemon in a well, the doors soon shut.
"Well that's annoying," James frowned at seeing everyone run into the cabin.
"Well they're in for a nasty surprise if they think that's ALL we have in store," Meowth chuckled, before the controlled the vacuum to shift position and suddenly strengthen its suction, causing the cabin to buckle, before the roof was ripped off of the house. However…
"Don't think we didn't consider THAT!" Ash said. "Go for it, Bulbasaur!"
Bulbasaur didn't argue, and lashed out with his Vine Whip, knocking the vacuum away, and in its still strong suction activated, Team Rocket soon lost control.
"Uh oh…" Jessie gulped, summing up their thoughts as the vacuum sucked wildly.
"Now! Go for it Pidgeotto!" Ash followed up, releasing Pidgeotto. "Gust attack! Send the winds right back to the vacuum!"
Pidgeotto did just that, the Gust meeting the suction head on...and with a few stronger flaps, the two winds somehow wrapped around each other and became a tornado...which was heading right towards Team Rocket.
"...you CANNOT be serious…" Meowth groaned.
"Well...I guess there are more humiliating ways to lose…" James sweat dropped.
"Nice optimism. Too bad it's not gonna help us," Jessie sighed as the tornado hit them, taking their vacuum with it, and soon sent them screaming away from the village. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
"Glad that's over," Brock sighed. "Sorry about your cabin, Melanie."
"It's alright. I'm just glad everyone is okay," Melanie smiled, Bulbasaur looking happy.
"As long as this guy is here, I don't think you're gonna have to worry about that," Ash chuckled, Pikachu giving a happy 'Chu' while nodding in agreement.
"And I believe he'd also make an excellent addition to your team," Melanie added.
"Huh?" Ash blinked in surprise, an expression mirrored by everyone else.
"I think Bulbasaur should go with you," Melanie said. "You see, Bulbasaur stayed here to protect the village and the weaker Pokemon. But to begin with this isn't a place for them to live their entire lives. One day they need to go back to the wild too, and because of that I feel this village won't be a place where Bulbasaur can truly grow. He needs to go out into the world," she explained. "And I know you'll take good care of him. That's why I'm asking you to please take Bulbasaur with you on your journey."
"Are you sure?" Misty asked in surprise. "Isn't Bulbasaur the guardian of this village?"
"It's true he is, and he's done a great job, but maybe too good of a job," Melanie said a little wryly.
"...we don't really get it," Brock admitted.
"Bulbasaur has been a great protector, but because of that this village is too safe at times. That means some of the Pokemon here end up not wanting to leave. While it's true this village is for them to heal and recover, their place is back in the wild," Melanie said with a sad smile.
"So in the long run it's not really helping…" Misty said in understanding with a frown.
Bulbasaur himself seemed to be thinking about that, and what Melanie was asking.
"Well...if that's what you want sure, but what does Bulbasaur want?" Ash asked. Of course he wanted Bulbasaur on his team, but he wasn't about to force Bulbasaur either. That was answered when Bulbasaur spoke up, causing Melanie to chuckle a bit.
"Bulbasaur says that he's willing to join, but only if you defeat him in a Pokemon Battle," Melanie translated.
Ash blinked...before he gained a determined grin. "Well if that's what you want, then you're on!" he said, Pikachu also gaining a determined expression.
As such, it wasn't long before everyone cleared a space, and Bulbasaur was standing on one side of the impromptu arena, and his opponent was...Pikachu.
"Is Ash sure about this?" Misty frowned, referring to Ash's choice of Pokemon.
"Normally I'd say it's a bad move, and honestly it is, but I think I get what Ash is trying to do," Brock mused. "Bulbasaur wants proof that Ash will be able to fulfill Melanie's request, and what better way to do it than by winning with a Pokemon that should be weak to Bulbasaur," he explained.
The fight soon began, and neither side wasted time entering the fray. Bulbasaur opened with a Tackle, aiming straight for Pikachu...only for Pikachu to evade, getting to his side and smashing into him with Quick Attack, sending him skidding to the side. Grunting, Bulbasaur countered with Razor Leaf.
"Knock them away with Iron Tail!" Ash ordered, Pikachu obeying as he activated Iron Tail and spun around, knocking all the the leaves away, before proceeding to slap Bulbasaur silly with the Iron Tail.
Bulbasaur skidded back, feeling a bit dazed, but seeing Pikachu coming in for another attack, let loose a Poison Powder, forcing Pikachu to back off, but unfortunately not soon enough, leaving Pikachu with a some purple around his face and sluggish movements.
"Hang in there, Pikachu!" Ash said, frowning. Pikachu had been poisoned, meaning they had to finish this quickly. Either way, Pikachu responded with a determined 'Pika!', showing he wasn't about to let some poison stop him so easily.
Bulbasaur wasn't about to give up on an opening and lashed out with a Vine Whip, but Pikachu was faster, evading the attack...though his movements weren't as fast as they normally are. As such, Bulbasaur kept up the attack, forcing Pikachu on the defensive...which wasn't a good thing as the poison was weakening him.
"Slow down Bulbasaur's movements! Thunder Wave!" Ash ordered. If Bulbasaur was gonna try to slow Pikachu down, then Pikachu would return in kind, a sentiment Pikachu himself agreed with, as he let loose the attack, hitting Bulbasaur mid-attack, and causing him to freeze up as the paralysis hit.
Bulbasaur grit his teeth, forcing his body to move. He wasn't about to lose just like that. Realizing movements weren't going to help, he quickly launched another volley of Razor Leaf. However…
"Break right through them! Thundershock!" Ash ordered, Pikachu letting loose a powerful Thundershock, which hit all the leaves headed his way, and the heat and energy from the attack set all the leaves on fire, causing them to fall to the ground, causing Bulbasaur to involuntarily step back. An opening Ash and Pikachu weren't about to pass up. "Agility and Iron Tail!"
Pikachu pushed his speed to the max, jumping upward and activating Iron Tail, before pulling into a frontward roll, gaining speed for both the spin and his descent.
Bulbasaur saw it coming and tried to evade, but the paralysis stopped him from doing so, and all he could do was lash out with Vine Whip in a futile attempt to stop the incoming attack. Unfortunately he couldn't grab hold of the spinning mouse, ending with Pikachu landing a strike on Bulbasaur square in the forehead. The effect was instantaneous as a shockwave went through Bulbasaur and he backed off, looking VERY dizzy, and falling over with swirly eyes.
Seeing Bulbasaur down for the count, Ash quickly grabbed an empty Pokeball and expanded it. "Pokeball, go!" he called out, throwing the Pokeball, which hit Bulbasaur and soon sucked him in. The Pokeball fell to the ground and started shaking. To Bulbasaur's credit the shaking lasted a decent amount of time...before it eventually stopped with a 'ding' signifying a successful capture. "Alright! We got Bulbasaur!" Ash grinned.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed, holding up his paw in a 'v' sign, as Ash went over and picked up the Pokeball holding Bulbasaur. "Welcome to the team!" he smiled...before the Pokeball promptly vanished, leaving him blinking for a moment. "...oh yeah, I've already got 6 Pokemon on hand," Ash remembered, scratching the back of his head, while Pikachu had a small sweat drop.
"That kind of ruined the moment," Brock chuckled in amusement.
"So much for the atmosphere," Misty said with a slight sweat drop.
"Bulbasaur, I'll miss you," Melanie said, a bittersweet smile on her face. She was sad that this meant he would have to go, but this was for the best, and she could take comfort in knowing he'd be with a good trainer.
