"Ash… so much property damage!" Misty shouts
"Did any of them get your name?" Ash asks
"No?" Misty states
"Then you're fine and I'm loaded." Ash states
Money outside of physical bills was tied to trainer Id's and Ash had a lot of money from the games especially Pearl, Emerald, and Leaf Green where it was maxed.
"Ah old money… you don't seem like those usual rich snobs Ash." Misty states
"I was raised that way." Ash responds
"Huh, I guess that makes sense." Misty states
"Yeah say when we get to the poke center can I have Gym Leader Giovanni's contact info?" Ash asks as the two continue to walk through the forest.
"Yeah I ca-" Misty is cut off as she falls to the ground with an oof.
"ODDISH!"
Oddish led them deeper into the forest, the thick canopy above filtering the afternoon sunlight into a soft green glow. The air grew cooler, quieter, almost reverent, as if the deeper woods held their breath in anticipation. Even Misty, who had been joking moments before, fell silent as the sound of flowing water and distant Pokémon cries filled the air.
Eventually, the foliage opened up into a hidden clearing—a sanctuary.
A crystal-clear stream wound lazily through the area, bordered by moss-covered stones and wildflowers. Sunlight pierced the treetops in golden rays, casting shimmering patterns across a lush grove filled with peaceful Pokémon. Bellsprout swayed gently near the water. Butterfree flitted among the flowers. A Kangaskhan rested beneath a tree, its child curled up in its arms. Several Pokémon turned to look as Ash and Misty emerged, but none ran.
It was calm. Serene. Untouched.
"Whoa…" Misty whispered, awestruck. "This place… it's like a secret garden."
Ash stepped forward, almost afraid to break the peace. "I've seen some similar stuff like Oak's reserve… but this place is natural?" his voice full of wonder.
Then a rustle came from a patch of tall grass, and out stepped a small, squat Pokémon with a bulb on its back. Its eyes were watchful, calm, and wise beyond its years. It didn't flinch or back down—just stood its ground, eyeing Ash curiously.
Ash's eyes lit up. "Bulbasaur…"
The Bulbasaur tilted its head slightly, as if sizing him up. The forest around them seemed to hush, holding still for the moment.
Ash knelt, slowly this time, not offering food or calling out—just meeting its gaze. "Hey. You're the guardian here, aren't you?"
Bulbasaur blinked once, then nodded just slightly.
"Bulbasaur! Bulbasaur!" A female voice shouts
A rustling in the underbrush snapped both Ash and Misty to attention. The trees parted slightly as a girl came running through, her steps light but urgent. She had earthy-brown hair tied back in a messy ponytail, with a leaf-patterned scarf fluttering behind her. Her hands were smudged with dirt, and she carried a handmade wooden staff with a carved Oddish figure at the top.
"Bulbasaur! There you are!" she called out, clearly relieved as she rushed over—then skidded to a halt when she saw Ash kneeling beside it. Her eyes narrowed defensively. "Hey! What are you doing with him?!"
Ash raised his hands slightly and stood up, keeping his tone calm and friendly. "Whoa, it's okay! I wasn't trying to catch him or anything. We just followed an Oddish here and… well, this place is amazing."
Bulbasaur gave a short grunt and stepped forward, placing itself between Ash and the girl protectively, as if trying to defuse the tension.
The girl relaxed a little at that. "Huh… Bulbasaur doesn't usually let outsiders get that close. You must've done something right." She looked over at Misty and Pikachu, then back to Ash. "Name's Melanie. I take care of the Pokémon that end up here. Most of them were abandoned or injured. This place is… well, it's their last safe haven."
Ash gave a respectful nod. "I'm Ash, and this is Misty. And Pikachu."
"Pika!" the little mouse greeted cheerfully, tail flicking.
Melanie studied them for a moment longer, then smiled faintly. "Well… if Bulbasaur trusts you, that's good enough for me."
Ash smiled back. "I wasn't going to ask him to leave, not unless he really wanted to."
Melanie looked at Bulbasaur, who met her gaze solemnly.
"…You want to go with him, don't you?" she said quietly.
Bulbasaur nodded, just once.
Melanie sighed softly, but there was pride in her expression. "I knew this day would come eventually. Just… take care of him, alright?"
Ash nodded. "You have my word… Is this place registered as a Pokemon reserve?"
"A what now?" Melanie asks in response.
"A reserve? You know a place where catching isn't allowed and it is to help wild pokemon populations recover from catching and battles… If you did register this place the rangers would have to protect it." Misty states
"Misty… Do you wanna make the call to the league and get the paperwork started? I mean the place's main protector is coming with us." Ash asks aloud.
Melanie blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Wait… you can just do that?"
Misty nodded confidently. "We're not exactly nobodies, Melanie. Ash here's sponsored by professor Oak and that comes with enough recognition to light a bonfire. If he vouches for this place and I second it as a Gym Leader, the League will at least listen. And once the reserve paperwork is filed, the Rangers will assign protection detail and start funneling support your way."
Melanie's eyes widened slightly, and she clutched her staff a little tighter. "You'd really… help do that?"
Ash smiled, looking down at Bulbasaur who now stood proudly by his side. "You've been doing all this on your own—saving abandoned Pokémon, keeping this place going. It's time you had someone backing you up for a change."
Misty pulled out her very rudimentary PokéGear and started tapping away. "I'll put in a ping to the Cerulean Office and request the League registration forms, and have them send a ranger. I'll make sure it's fast-tracked under emergency habitat protection."
Tears welled up in Melanie's eyes, though she tried to blink them away. "Thank you. I… I didn't think anyone would ever care enough."
Bulbasaur gave her a supportive nudge, and she let out a shaky laugh. "Guess you do know how to pick 'em, huh?"
Ash knelt beside Bulbasaur and looked back at her. "We'll make sure this place gets the recognition it deserves. And hey—once it's official, I'll bring Professor Oak out here. Bet he'd love to see this kind of habitat."
Melanie laughed again, this time with more strength. "He's welcome any time. Just… take care of Bulbasaur, okay?"
Ash nodded. "He's family now."
Bulbasaur stepped forward and nudged his Poké Ball, activating it himself with a soft ping. A red beam enveloped him, and the ball clicked shut.
Ash unlocks the ability to summon more Pokemon the more badges he gets… this is mostly so that as I play the games, I can move over new teams