On March 7th, it was Laoise's birthday, so the gang celebrated by enjoying a new cupcake shop. And that was fine, seeing as they were on the road, Laoise thought it best to keep it a low-key affair.

Soon after getting back on the road again, the gang noticed a missing persons sign and are shocked to see that the child on the sign looked like James of Team Rocket. They later discovered that James came from a rich family and ran away when he was just a boy. His parents are dead and James can only inherit his fortune if he marries his fiancée Jessebelle. Jessie and Meowth overheard this and while James resisted, they restrain him and marched him like a puppet to his family's manor to claim his money.

Unfortunately, it turns out that this is a trap; his negligent parents are not dead and Jessebelle is violently aggressive in controlling everything James does.

"But why didn't you guys just off that crazy battle axe Jessiebelle, and let Jessie take her place?" Laoise had asked Team Rocket innocently.

Jessie is disgusted by Jessebelle's behavior, and James explained that Jessebelle is the reason he left home. Ever since the announcement of their engagement, Jessebelle kept following James everywhere he went. James admitted that if he marries Jessebelle, it will be the worst mistake of his life, and that Growlie is the only true friend he has on the estate.

Jessie and Meowth then criticized themselves for not thinking it sooner, before Jessie snapped that it would've been too awkward if she married James.

With the aid of Growlie, James's pet Growlithe from childhood, Team Rocket escaped with their freedom, but none of James's fortune.

While the four trainers end up being chased by Jessebelle away from the mansion, who's pleading for them to help her find her beloved James. However, Ash yelled back, remarking that James is usually the one who finds them.

Laoise took out a matcha pudding cup and threw it. "Show some dignity, lady!"

The pudding cup hit Jessebelle right in the face, giving the trainers a better chance of escape while the horrid snip wailed about the pudding ruining her makeup and hair.

Laoise wondered if any others trainers had run to get back on the path.

Days later, they were finally able to put some distance between the lunatics that were James' parents and would-be intended.

Even for our heroes, who are constantly in pursuit of developing their skills as Pokémon Trainers, there are times to stop and take a rest. As Ash sat on a rock, staring at his Pokédex, it displayed Farfetch'd, an odd-looking Pokémon holding a leek. Because of excessive hunting by humans, very few Farfetch'd remain in existence, making it a very rare, valuable Pokémon. What they don't realize is that the Pokémon is part of a distraction a rogue trainer named Keith is employing to steal other trainers' Pokémon.

While the boys had gone to get water and Laoise went foraging, Misty was left alone with her Psyduck. A Farfetch'd appeared and began parading in front of Misty before running into the woods. Misty, eager to catch the Pokémon, recalled Psyduck back into its Poké Ball and ran after it. But then, after turning a corner, bumped into a boy, Keith, and falls over. The boy apologized, hands Misty her fallen bag, and runs off. Sad from losing track of the Farfetch'd, Misty returns to the meadow where Laoise, Ash and Brock are looking for her. She reveals that she was trying to catch a Farfetch'd, which annoyed the rest that she was sneaking around behind their backs.

Misty insisted she did see a Farfetch'd, "I'm telling the truth this time."

Ash repeated. "This time?"

"Hey, what do you mean 'this time'?" Laoise gave her a look.

Misty sweat dropped, "Oops."

Brock handed Misty the water that he had gotten for her, but when she goes to put it in her bag she realizes the backpack is filled with rocks. She deduced that she must have picked up the wrong backpack when she bumped into the boy in the woods, and is upset because all of the Pokémon she had ever caught were in that backpack.

So they went to the nearest police station, and told Officer Jenny what happened to Misty's Pokémon, still believing the whole thing was an accident. However Jenny informed them that Misty is the fifth victim of the backpack-switching thief just that week; she informs everyone of how she has been trying to catch the perpetrator, to no avail.

Thanks to an escaped Psyduck the gang was able to locate Keith, confronting him about his stealing. Ash expressed how much time and care Trainers put into raising their Pokémon. An incensed Laoise began to shout that if it'd been another country centuries ago, he'd have lost a limb. This earned her elbowing from both Brock and Misty.

Officer Jenny reminds them that young thieves are better off punished another way that didn't involve exsanguination due to ancient punishments.

The group decides that they would have a Pokémon battle to teach him a lesson, so Keith could see how difficult a match is really. He then explains that his Farfetch'd is too weak to battle, and he has no choice but to steal Pokémon.

Brock discounts this and says that Pokémon will become stronger with Trainers who work with them. Just as Keith begins to rebut, Farfetch'd expresses an interest in battling. Ash jumps in and sends out Bulbasaur to battle, after an intense showdown, the bird pokèmon won.

Keith admitted that he wouldn't have used Farfetch'd to steal if he had known it had such power. Ash, ready to send out Pikachu to battle Farfetch'd, is stopped by Misty, who wanted to battle. To her dismay, she soon realizes that her only Pokémon on hand is Psyduck. However, Farfetch'd began to hit it on the head. The blows gave Psyduck a headache and it unleashes a powerful Disable attack, sending the Pokémon flying into its owner.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket was angry that they have been tricked twice by Ketih, they threw the Voltorb over the edge of their balloon. Unfortunately, the Pokémon land directly and self-destruct near Keith, Ash, his friends, and Jenny. Defeated, the boy promised to stop his wrongdoing.

Back at the police station, Keith told Officer Jenny that he'll give back all of the Pokémon he stole. Jenny informed him that he is lucky that none of the Trainers are going to press charges because they all got their Pokémon back; Misty expressed her joy to have her Pokémon back. Keith now admitted it was wrong to steal, and apologizes to Farfetch'd for not believing in its power. With the new revelations, Keith decides to train his Farfetch'd to become even stronger, and the two head off.

Weeks later, our heroes are in for a surprise at a small town Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy had a message from Professor Oak to both Ash and Laoise.

"Greetings, Ash and Laoise! It's Professor Oak! Give me a call when you get the chance." the message had a prerecorded voice.

Ash instantly calls the Professor on the video phone. "Okay, let's see. Professor. I hope he's around."

"Me too." Laoise said.

Immediately, the Professor answered.

Ash greeted. "Hi, Professor Oak! It's Ash!"

"And Laoise!" Laoise waved.

Prof. Oak smiled. "Hello there! I suppose my message found its way to you two. How is everyone?" He spotted Pikachu, who was next to Ash. "Say! Pikachu sure is looking well."

Pikachu nodded brightly, "Pikachu!"

Misty pushed Ash out of the way. "I'm fine, too!"

"I'm glad to hear it! Well, they say no news is good news, but I do wish you'd let me know how things are going now and then." Prof. Oak said.

Ash nodded, "I know. We've been kinda busy."

Laoise's Paldean Tauros is seen in the background smelling a flower arrangement.

"Is that my Tauros?" Laoise leaned over Ash's shoulder.

Prof. Oak turned and smiled, "Aha, yes. He has quite the affinity for flowers."

Then Ash noticed his Muk moving about behind Prof. Oak, Laoise's Tauros detected the Muk's scene and trotted out. Now the Muk was trying to peek into the shot.

Prof. Oak tried to scold it, "Come on! Cut that out!"

Ash chuckled "My Muk seems to be doing okay."

"Taking care of it hasn't been so easy." He scolded the Muk. "Will you behave?!"

Laoise covered her mouth to try and keep from giggling.

"I hope the next Pokémon you send will be easier to manage." groaned Prof. Oak.

"I hope so, too, Professor. But I haven't caught any new ones." Ash admitted.

Misty emphasized. "That's right."

"Neither did I." Laoise added. "the only new Pokémon we have is in the egg we found in Grandpa Canyon."

"Well, make sure the next ones aren't so mucky." Prof. Oak was then covered by Muk but got out of it. "I almost forgot! Have you and Laoise heard about the new Pokédex upgrade?"

Ash questioned, "Pokédex upgrade? No, we haven't."

"Now you can get details on even more Pokémon information and discoveries, both past and recent."

"Wow! How can me and Laoise get it?"

Prof. Oak pointed down. "Just put your Pokédexes into that slot, one at a time, and I'll do it. Once upgraded, your Pokédexes will have updated databases, and even new voices."

Ash got out his Pokédex. "Alright!" he inserted the Pokédex into the slot. "I'm putting mine in right now."

Within seconds, the upgrade is complete.

"You're next, Laoise."

Laoise got hers out and inserted it into the slot. "Here goes."

Within seconds, the upgrade is finished.

"There you go."

Laoise smiled, "Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome. By the way, did you say that Ash found a Pokémon egg in Grandpa Canyon?"

"Yeah, he did. Here's a picture I took." Laoise showed the Professor a polaroid photograph.

Professor Oak is amazed. "Astounding! Well, Ash, if you've been taking care of it for a while now, it's bound to hatch soon."

"Do you know what it could be?"

"I'm afraid I don't recognize the patterns, so you won't know until it does. Now you two go capture more Pokémon, and collect some new badges, too."

"Professor, we're on our way right now!" Ash replied making the peace sign.

Later, our heroes are eating at a restaurant and wondering where they should go next.

Ash and Pikachu looked over the map. "Where to, next?

"We could head to Cinnabar Island and the Cinnabar gym." Misty said drinking from her soda.

"Cinnabar gym?"

I remember reading that Gym is full of Fire types. " Laoise said thoughtfully.

Ash then saw Brock was gently polishing the egg. Hey, Brock. When do you think that egg's gonna hatch?

Brock replied, Who knows? I've been keeping it close to me every night so it'll stay nice and warm.

Misty was perplexed. "What? You mean you sleep with that egg?"

"It's the only way it'll hatch. What else could I do?" Brock answered.

"Why not use an incubator?" Laoise shrugged.

They all began to discuss the Pokémon that they wish would hatch out of the mysterious Egg.

Misty became excited. "You mean, it might even turn out to be a Tentacruel? "

Brock surmised. "It could be, Misty."

Misty sighed and fantasized shaking tentacles with a Tentacruel. "I'd just love a Tentacruel!"

Laoise interrupted, "Hate to burst your bubble, Misty, but if you want a Tentacruel from an egg, you'd have to settle with a Tentacool instead because that's the pre-evolved form of a Tentacruel."

"That's be just as grand!" Misty said excitedly.

Ash then looked worried. "But it could even be an Aerodactyl?"

Brock said. "That's a possibility, too."

"Maybe it won't be." Ash hoped.

Brock then admitted, "I'd like it to be a Golem."

"The only way to get one of those is to get a Geodude, and you already have one, Brock." Laoise pointed out.

Misty sighed. "Imagine if it were a lovely Lapras!"

"I dunno. A Lapras egg out in the middle of Grandpa Canyon, where there's no water for a few miles?" Laoise said. "Hey maybe it'll be something else. Maybe a Dragonair, or even one of the legendary birds!"

As our heroes pondered what could hatch from the egg, Team Rocket listened in, intending to steal the egg themselves.

Outside, they find Egg sellers, Team Rocket in disguise. The three have a whole basketful of Eggs that look just like Ash's mysterious Egg. Team Rocket tried to talk them into trading or buying one of their Eggs and when the group politely refused, Jessie and James resort to throwing all of their fake Eggs in the air. The actual Egg, that Brock was holding, gets stolen by Meowth in the confusion caused by the multitude of lookalikes. They recite their motto, though they realize the four are too focused on finding the Egg. Team Rocket ran out of sight, escaping with the Egg, leaving the gang with the fakes. Later, in a small shack, James is set on eating the Egg, though Meowth decided to take care of it. He slept with it, sang to it, ate with it, and guarded it from anything he feels is a threat.

The quartet followed a trail of broken red blue and green eggshells until they reach the shack. They decide to burst in, even though it may be dangerous to do so, and get the Egg back. Ash sends out Pidgeotto, Misty calls on Staryu, Laoise sent out Leafy the Oddfish, and Brock's Geodude lends a hand. They all quickly broke through one of shack's windows, surprising Team Rocket. Pidgeotto retrieved the Egg, placing it in Ash's hands. Ash dives to the floor to avoid Arbok. James sends out Weezing, who uses a Poison Gas attack, making Ash and the others cough and gasp for air. Amongst the haze, Meowth scratched Ash's face, causing him to let go of the Egg in pain and Meowth retrieved it. However, the Egg is tossed around frantically in a series of tackles and catches. Pidgeotto's Gust cleared the air, and Meowth suddenly slips, sending the Egg into the air. Ash lunged for the Egg, though he fails to catch it. Fortunately, Pikachu ends up with the Egg and gave it back to Ash. At that moment, the Egg begins to glow and hatch.

Misty, enthralled with this new event, jumps in, pushing everyone aside to get a closer look. "Oh, let me see!"

The egg finally hatched. What emerged was a small, light-yellow Pokémon with a rounded, egg-shaped body. the rest of its body remained encased in its eggshell. Sticking out of its shell, the baby pokèmon had stubby, rounded cone arms and round feet with two toes each. Its head has five round-tipped, conical spikes that seem to form a crown.

"Prrriii!" The infant Pokémon yawned, and opens its deep brown eyes for the first time to see Misty holding it.

Misty gushed, "It hatched! It hatched! Oh, how cute!"

The infant looked at Misty, confused.

"Oh. Hello to you, too."

The infant Pokémon acted excited at the sight of Misty.

Misty smiled, "Oh, we're so lucky!"

Brock said, "We are!"

Ash agreed. "Right!"

"What is it called?" Laoise questioned.

Team Rocket leaned in for a closer look at the newborn.

Jessie gushed, "If Pikachu hadn't caught it..."

James sighed, "That precious little Pokémon might have..."

Everyone soon noticed that they still have unfinished business. Pikachu launched an Electric attack at Team Rocket, defeating them and their Pokémon. This allows Ash and his friends to escape with the new Pokémon, much to Meowth's displeasure.

At a park bench, Misty plays a game of peekaboo, much to the little Pokémon's enjoyment. Ash points his newly updated Pokédex at the Pokémon, which identifies it as the Egg Pokémon, Togepi. Laoise soon noticed that Togepi was quite attached to Misty, just like baby ducks or other creatures to their mother. She attempted to explain things to the others but, they are then confronted by Team Rocket, and they all quarrel amongst each other over who should have Togepi.

So they all decide to have a Pokémon tournament to determine who should have Togepi. They all make their way to an outdoor amphitheatre. Laoise refused, saying she will sit this out and watch because it'd be meaningless.

Eventually it all came down to Ash vs Meowth, but it is cut short after one Thunderbolt by Pikachu, gave Ash the victory. Jessie and James dragged a crisp, sobbing Meowth away.

After the tournament, Togepi still doesn't want to go with Ash, or Brock, instead still choosing Misty. Ash's Pokédex explained that, when Togepi hatched, it imprinted on her as its parent, which Laoise said she'd been trying to tell everyone. Misty held up her new Pokémon in celebration, much to Ash and Brock's disappointment and Laoise's mild indifference.

While fetching fresh fruit and nuts from a tree with Bulby, something glowed out of the corner of her eye. She glanced back at her Bulbasaur, who'd stumbled over a creek. They were puzzled by flowers blooming right on the spot.

At the same time, Ash battled a mountaineer Pokémon trainer he encountered in a small wooded area. Ash deployed his Bulbasaur against the mountaineer's Rhyhorn, but Bulbasaur is behaving very strangely, causing even Pikachu to be concerned. In the end, Bulbasaur defeats Rhyhorn, but his Bulbasaur cannot get up and its bulb begins pulsating with a blue glow.

Soon after at the Pokèmon Center, Nurse Joy ran tests on Bulbasaur and had Laoise's pokèmon for a checkup. Soon, Togepi noticed something about the flowers on the desk and cheerfully reached out.

Misty looked over to the flower vase and notices the red flowers starting to bloom, however, no one else noticed.

Nurse Joy eventually informed Ash that his Bulbasaur is not sick at all and is instead almost ready to evolve as was Bulby. Bulbasaur appears disgruntled despite Ash's enthusiasm. Nurse Joy tells Ash that it will evolve at a special festival.

Ash was excited, "I can't believe it! Bulbasaur and Bulby are gonna evolve!"

"Huh? Already? But Bulby's still little!" Laoise was taken aback.

Brock said, "You two shouldn't be surprised. That mountain man said Bulbasaur was strong and that's because you've done such a great job training it. And Laoise, your Bulbasaur is also really strong."

"Thank you Brock, I just didn't think Bulby would evolve so soon."

Misty asked, "When Bulbasaur and Bulby evolve, they'll turn into Ivysaur, right?"

"So, how long is it gonna be until the big double evolve-o-rama?" asked Ash.

"Let me see." Nurse Joy looked out a window at some flowers as they blossom.

Misty gasped. "Wow! Just like last time!"

Brock looked at her, "What do you mean?"

Misty explained, "When they brought Bulbasaur and Sprout into the Center before, I saw a vase of flowers burst into bloom. Laoise did too out in the forest."

"It's true." Laoise nodded.

Everyone is amazed by the flowers blossoming and sparkling as if by magic or by miracle.

Nurse Joy looked out at the lovely sight. "They say that at a certain time of the year, Bulbasaur gather together from all over the world for the festival where they evolve. No one knows why they choose that time, it's different every year, but it seems to have something to do with the alignment of the planets and the phases of the moon."

Misty commented, "It sure is beautiful."

Laoise agreed, "It sure does."

Nurse Joy adds that the bulbsaur go to evolve at a special garden somewhere. But since no human being has ever seen the garden, most people think it's nothing but a myth.

While our heroes talk, Bulbasaur and Bulby listen in, and Bulbasaur was disgruntled. Bulby looked rather unsure. Evolve? So soon?

As everyone is asleep at the Pokémon Center, a long line of Bulbasaur appears outside. Ash's Bulbasaur gets up and walked outside, watching the view of the sparkling flowers and the full moon, with Pikachu and Bulby accompanying him. Suddenly, a group of Bulbasaur use their vines and grab Bulbasaur and Bulby alike, taking them towards the forest. Pikachu initially gives chase, though its efforts prove fruitless. At Bulbasaur's request, Pikachu hurried back to the Pokémon Center to wake up Ash and the others, Pikachu informed them of what happened.

Everyone goes and sees that the two Bulbasaur aren't in the emergency room.

"Bulbasaur isn't in the room!" Ash noticed.

"Hey! Where's my Bulby?!" Laoise wailed.

Elsewhere, Jessie enjoys the view of sparkling flowers, but James disagrees as he has allergies. Suddenly, they walk right past the group of Bulbasaur holding Ash's. Jessie says they should capture them, but they all hit them with their vines and send the trio blasting off.

The quartet followed Pikachu, Brock noticed a trail of pollen and suggested they follow it, with the hope that it will lead to Ash's Bulbasaur and to Bulby. Suddenly, the roots of a group of trees start thrashing around and then tangle together to form a barrier. Getting through it, the group gazes upon the garden, where they find thousands of Bulbasaur, and the shimmering pollen trail going straight to a giant, dead tree.

Ash gasped, "Wow! This must be the Mysterious Garden!"

Down in the field, the Bulbasaur are starting the ceremony as the branches of the tree grow longer and bigger, nearly going up to the moon. Soon, flowers start blooming in the field and flowers start to blossom on the tips of the branches of the tree, leaving our heroes in wonderment.

Ash smiled. "That's neat!"

Laoise gaped, "It's beautiful!"

Misty's eyes shined. "Wow! It's so pretty!"

Soon, giant bangs are heard and a glow is seen inside the tree. The tree's hollow then glowed intensely and a Venusaur emerges and climbs on a tree stump.

Ash and Laoise took ot their pokèdexes, the voices speaking at the same time.

"Venusaur, the final form of the Bulbasaur evolution. This Seed Pokémon soaks up the sun's rays as a source of energy."

"But that kind of behavior makes it sound like a plant." said Brock.

Ash looked out at the field. "I don't see my Bulbasaur anyplace around here!"

"Or mine!" Laoise glanced about.

Misty reminded, "Hey, Ash, your Bulbasaur still has that bandage on its head."

Laoise then poointed. "Look there he is! Bulby's with him."

A bewildered Bulby was looking at Ash's Bulbasaur, who was very confused what was going on.

Then Brock reminded Ash that humans have never been in this garden before. The Venusaur roared and the Bulbasaur followed suit. This continued several times before all of the Bulbasaur's bulbs begin to glow.

Team Rocket meanwhile was unable to get through the wall of vines. James asked Meowth to scratch his way through, though Meowth says that he just had his claws filed. Jessie and James promptly got out an ax and a saw, whilst Meowth held a pair of scythes. However, the vines begin to attack and chase them away.

In the garden, the glows soon fade to reveal most of the Bulbasaur had evolved into Ivysaur.

"The Seed Pokemon, Ivysaur, Bulbasaur's evolved form. The bulb on its back absorbs nourishment and blooms into a large flower." Dixie and Dexter explained.

Brock commented that people have always disagreed about whether Bulbasaur is a plant or an animal, and says that Bulbasaur might be a symbol that all life on Earth is connected. Just then, Ash noticed that his Bulbasaur is struggling to refuse the evolution. Bulby had been somewhat lax but seeing Bulbsaur refuse to evolve, he starts to resist as well.

This enraged Venusaur and all of the Ivysaur. Venusaur was about to hit Bulbasaur with its Vine Whip, but Ash rushed in front of it and takes the hit to his shoulders.

"Sorry we broke in on your festival, but the Bulbasaur you're angry at is my friend!" Ash said.

Bulbasaur is surprised by what he hears from Ash.

Laoise slid down and hurried to her Bulbasaur, "The little one next to him is my bulbasaur. And he's like family as like all the other pokèmon I've got."

Ash asked if they are mad that Bulbasaur will not evolve, and they all nodded. Ash then said that if Bulbasaur does not want to evolve, they cannot force it to. Venusaur roared, sending pollen to the tree, which bursts out in red flowers, the vibrant display easily impressing the quartet. Misty pointed out that it was manipulating nature and points out to Bulbasaur that if it evolves, it could do that too, but it still refuses to evolve. Ash apologized to Bulbasaur for not considering its feelings on the matter, and it smiled at the acknowledgment.

"What about you Bulby?" Laoise kneeled to her bulbasaur's eye level. "I saw you start to evolve with the others, but then stopped."

"Bulba. Bulbasaur." Bulby looked up at her, then cast it gaze down and uncertainly drew a circle in the ground with one of it's feet.

"I'm gonna take a bash. You're still on the fence? Er, y'know, undecided?" Laoise guessed.

"Bulbasaur." Bulby nodded.

"I understand, buddy. The garden's pretty, I'll admit. But this is all so sudden, even for you." Laoise petted his head gently. "Whatever you decide, it should be up to you."

"Bulba." Bulby leaned into her hands gratefully.

Suddenly, Team Rocket arrives in their balloon and begins sucking up the Ivysaur into a bag. Pikachu begins to fly upwards, but Bulbasaur catches him with its vine and pulls him to safety. Ash tells Bulbasaur to knock Team Rocket out of the sky, and Bulbasaur tries using Razor Leaf, but it fails. James asks if they should get Bulbasaur and Bulby, and Jessie and Meowth just laughed, saying Bulbasaur is a wimp while making a comment about Bulby being a runt.

Bulbasaur shouted and the sun suddenly rises over the horizon, its rays entering through the opening on the top of its bulb and Bulby's. Ash consulted with his Pokédex, which says that it is getting ready to use Solar Beam. Bulbasaur and Bulby alike then released a beam of energy toward Team Rocket, hitting the vacuum bag first before piercing the balloon. It exploded, and all of the Ivysaur were freed with Razor Leaf, while Team Rocket falls to the ground in their basket. All of the Pokémon strike Team Rocket all at once with their vines, sending them blasting off again.

Soon, the Venusaur approaches and after a tense stare down, it extends a vine to Bulbasaur and Bulby. This time the Venusaur was smiling, the gesture was a sign of respect. Bulbasaur and Bulby extend a vine and accepted it.

The vine barrier pulls away, and as the trainers are about to leave, they noticed that the garden has disappeared. They then waved goodbye to Venusaur and Ivysaur.

And so, the travelers leave the incredible Mysterious Garden. No one knows if or when Ash's Bulbasaur will finally decide to evolve. No one, that is, except Bulbasaur.

Bulby himself is still undecided, but the choice is his too.

"Bulbasaur!" Bulby winked.

To be continued…

Author's note: Alright and there you have chapter 30. Opted for Bulby to be completely uncertain about evolving, the choice he'll make on his own is a different story further on.

Show of hands, who wants me to summarize the next three episodes before writing the Ultimate test? And what kind of pokèmon will Laoise get during the battle test? Until next time. :)