Outside the window, the torrential rain gradually subsided.
Melanie glanced at the time; it was already four o'clock in the afternoon, and it was almost time for the Pokémon to eat dinner.
Since there were so many Pokémon, she needed to prepare the meal as soon as possible.
"Let me help you!" Ash offered, eager to assist. The group had decided to stay for the night and continue their journey the next day.
Upon hearing that Melanie was preparing food for the Pokémon, Brock jumped in enthusiastically.
"Don't let his appearance fool you; Brock's cooking skills are top-notch, and he aspires to be the world's greatest breeder!" Ash added, hoping to boost Brock's reputation.
"Really?!" Melanie seemed surprised that this robust boy could be such an accomplished cook.
"I can vouch for that!" Misty nodded, affirming Brock's skills.
Encouraged by their support, Melanie agreed to let Brock help her. As he started to prepare the food, his skillful movements resembled an art form, captivating Melanie.
"That's amazing... Can you teach me how to do that?" she asked, admiration shining in her eyes.
Exchanging glances, Ash and Misty smiled knowingly and decided to step outside, leaving the two of them alone.
"Bulba—!" However, when Bulbasaur noticed Ash and Misty preparing to leave the house, it jumped up and followed them outside, accompanied by Pikachu.
It wanted to keep a watchful eye to ensure they wouldn't harm the Pokémon.
Once outside, Ash and the others spotted a cluster of Pokémon gathered by the pond. After counting carefully, they confirmed there were indeed seventeen Pokémon, all appearing weak.
"How cute! It's Oddish!" Misty exclaimed. Although Oddish was a common Pokémon, it looked adorable before evolving into Gloom.
Little Oddish had short legs and waddled clumsily, appearing a bit silly.
But when Oddish noticed Misty approaching, it recoiled, retreating to huddle with the other Pokémon, watching her timidly.
"I'm sorry to scare you..." Misty halted, remembering the traumatic experiences these Pokémon must have endured, and she apologized softly.
"Seeds!" Bulbasaur leaped in front of Misty, clearly warning her to stay away from the Pokémon.
"Don't worry, we'll never touch them without your approval," Ash said, squatting down to meet Bulbasaur's gaze seriously.
"Pikapika—!" Pikachu nodded in agreement from Ash's feet.
After a tense moment, Bulbasaur stared at Ash for a while before giving a slight nod, seemingly easing its guard.
Still, it didn't fully trust Ash and the others; it was evident that the Pokémon was wary of humans.
"But... is it really good for them to be this way?" Ash asked, shaking his head slightly. The Pokémon seemed to have lost their courage to face challenges, which was not beneficial for their growth.
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur, however, became angry upon hearing Ash's words, glaring at him with gritted teeth.
"Pika—!" Pikachu jumped protectively in front of Ash, electric sparks flickering around him, ready to retaliate if Bulbasaur attacked.
The atmosphere grew tense, and the Pokémon, already timid, huddled together nervously, watching the scene unfold.
"Relax, Bulbasaur is not malicious," Ash said, rubbing Pikachu's head for reassurance. Then he gestured toward the frightened Pokémon behind Bulbasaur. "Look at how they appear now."
After hesitating, Bulbasaur turned around, only to find the Pokémon it protected looking scared, which startled it.
"You must realize that this situation is detrimental to their future," Ash continued softly.
"Too much protection will make them dependent. When a problem arises, they won't know how to handle it themselves."
Bulbasaur stared blankly at the Pokémon. It hadn't considered this perspective before, or perhaps it had but had chosen to ignore the consequences.
Now that Ash pointed it out, Bulbasaur had to confront the fact that its all-encompassing protection was hindering the growth of the very Pokémon it wanted to safeguard.
"You heard what Melanie said earlier, right? I know you didn't rest just now," Ash added, bringing up a more uncomfortable truth that weighed heavily on Bulbasaur.
"Because of your presence, they are reluctant to leave and face challenges..."
Bulbasaur gritted its teeth, struggling to comprehend why Ash would say such things to it. Why? Why ruin its life? Why let it go? Why... let it be alone again?
Seeing the resentment in Bulbasaur's eyes and the loneliness deeply buried within, Ash smiled gently and reached out to pat Bulbasaur's head.
"Bulba—!" Bulbasaur opened its mouth wide, threatening Ash. Misty gasped, warning Ash to be cautious, but he brushed it off, continuing to rub Bulbasaur's head affectionately.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to protect others and seeking companionship, but you must remember that they... should also find the courage to face their challenges.
Excessive protection is not beneficial for them," Ash said, maintaining his smile.
"Bulba..." Surprisingly, Bulbasaur, instead of attacking, fell silent as it gazed back at the Pokémon.
The Pokémon watched the scene with apprehension, some even calling out to Bulbasaur, urging it to let go. In the past, Bulbasaur would have happily rushed to protect them, but now, it hesitated.
"So... do you want to try stepping back, letting them grow on their own?" Ash suggested, releasing his hand from Bulbasaur's head.
"Bulba..." Bulbasaur hesitated, a fierce internal battle raging within. On one side, it recognized Ash's words held truth; on the other, it feared losing its companions and being alone again.
"Then... would you like to come with me? To see the wider world and meet more friends?" Ash's invitation hung in the air.
"Pika... Pika!" Pikachu's eyes sparkled with excitement. This Bulbasaur's personality would be a great match for him. If they could bond, it would be wonderful, and he fully supported Ash's proposal.
Misty, standing behind them, was taken aback, clearly surprised by Ash's unexpected invitation to Bulbasaur.
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Adios