Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the forest path as Ash and his companions walked along the mountain road. Pikachu rested on Ash's shoulder, occasionally letting out a cheerful "Pika Pika" cry.
"The weather is so nice today!" Xiao You stretched, squinting at the clear blue sky.
Brock checked the map, nodding, "At this pace, we should reach the next town by evening."
Just then, a burly hiker emerged from around the bend in the mountain path, blocking their way. "Hey, Trainer over there! How about a Pokémon battle?"
Ash's eyes immediately lit up. "Of course!" He patted the Poké Ball at his waist. "It's the perfect chance for my Ivysaur to get some exercise!"
"Pika (I'll do it)!" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, excitedly cheering for the upcoming battle.
"Go, Marowak!" The hiker threw out a Poké Ball, and a Marowak holding a bone club appeared in the clearing, its eyes sharply fixed on Ash.
Ash threw his Poké Ball without hesitation: "Ivysaur, I choose you!"
"Danee Lissa!" Ivysaur emerged from the light, the bud on its back quivering slightly, emitting a fresh scent.
The battle quickly began. Marowak charged forward, swinging its bone club, while Ivysaur dodged nimbly, simultaneously shooting Vine Whip from its bud.
"Ivysaur, use Razor Leaf!" Ash shouted.
"Danee Lissa!" The leaves on Ivysaur's back spun rapidly, and countless sharp leaves flew towards Marowak. Marowak blocked with its bone club, but was still hit by a few leaves, stumbling backward.
The hiker frowned: "Marowak, use Bone Boomerang!"
Marowak powerfully threw its bone club, which arced through the air directly towards Ivysaur. Ash quickly shouted: "Dodge it!"
Ivysaur agilely leaped to the side, but the boomerang still grazed its hind leg. "Danee Lissa..." It cried out in pain, but quickly regained its footing.
"Don't give up, use Solar Beam!" Ash clenched his fist.
The bud on Ivysaur's back suddenly burst into dazzling light, and the surrounding air seemed to grow warmer. The hiker's eyes widened in surprise: "What? It can gather solar energy so quickly?"
"Danee Lissa--!" With Ivysaur's long cry, a scorching beam of light shot from its bud, directly hitting Marowak. Marowak was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, losing its ability to battle.
"Marowak is unable to battle, Ivysaur wins!" Brock announced fairly.
The hiker recalled Marowak, nodding in admiration: "Well done, your Ivysaur is very strong."
Ash was about to respond when he suddenly noticed that the ordinary wildflowers on the ground around Ivysaur were blooming at a visible rate, forming a beautiful wreath.
"Wow! What's happening?" Xiao You knelt down in surprise, gently touching the suddenly blooming flowers.
Ash also looked at Ivysaur in confusion: "Ivysaur, how do you feel?"
"Danee Lissa..." Ivysaur looked down at the surrounding flowers, seemingly confused itself. "(Ash, I don't know what's happening... I feel a strange energy flowing inside me.)"
Pikachu jumped to Ivysaur's side, calling out anxiously, "Pika Pika (Are you okay, Ivysaur)?"
Brock carefully observed Ivysaur's condition, his brow slightly furrowed: "This situation is very unusual. Perhaps we should take it to a Pokémon Center for a check-up."
Ash nodded, gently stroking Ivysaur's head: "Don't worry, we'll go see Joy right away."
Inside the Pokémon Center, Joy was giving Ivysaur a comprehensive examination with professional instruments. Ash, Xiao You, and Brock sat in the waiting area, while Pikachu restlessly paced back and forth on Ash's lap.
"Pikachu, don't worry, Ivysaur will be fine." Ash comforted, but his own brow remained furrowed.
Finally, Joy emerged from the examination room, a gentle smile on her face: "No need to worry, Ivysaur's physical condition is excellent."
Ash breathed a sigh of relief: "Then why did it suddenly make the flowers bloom?"
Joy's eyes sparkled with professional insight: "This is a sign that Ivysaur is about to evolve. The energy inside it is preparing for evolution, which is why it affected the surrounding flowers."
"Evolution?" Xiao You covered her mouth in surprise. "Ivysaur is going to evolve into Venusaur?"
Joy nodded: "That's right. And you've come at just the right time. Tomorrow, there will be an evolution ceremony for the Bulbasaur family in the Mysterious Garden. It's said that a very special Venusaur there presides over the ceremony and can help Bulbasaur and Ivysaur complete their evolution smoothly."
Ash's eyes lit up: "Mysterious Garden? Where is it?"
"It's deep in the forest west of town," Joy took out a simple map. "Follow this path for about two hours and you'll reach it. The ceremony begins tomorrow night at moonrise."
Brock took the map and examined it carefully: "It doesn't look too far."
"Danee Lissa!" Ivysaur emerged from the examination room, looking even more energetic than before.
Ash squatted down to meet Ivysaur's gaze: "Did you hear that? You're going to evolve!"
Ivysaur's bud trembled slightly: "Danee Lissa (I... I'm a little scared, Ash. What will I be like after I evolve?)"
Pikachu jumped to Ivysaur's side, gently nuzzling it with its cheek: "Pika Pika! (You'll become much stronger!)"
Ash gently patted Ivysaur's back: "No matter what you become, you'll always be my best partner. And tomorrow, there's a special ceremony where many Pokémon like you will evolve together."
Ivysaur was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly: "Danee Lissa! (I'm willing to try!)"
The next evening, Ash and his companions arrived at the Mysterious Garden, guided by the map. It was a mysterious clearing surrounded by tall trees, with a rich floral scent in the air. Moonlight filtered through the canopy, bathing the entire garden in a silvery glow.
"It's... so beautiful here." Xiao You whispered, afraid to break the sacred atmosphere.
Dozens of Bulbasaur and Ivysaur had already gathered in the center of the garden, forming a large circle, quietly waiting for something. Ash's Ivysaur also joined their ranks.
"Pika..." Pikachu nervously clutched Ash's collar.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble slightly, and heavy footsteps came from deep within the garden. A gigantic Venusaur slowly approached. It was almost twice the size of a normal Venusaur, and the flower on its back was astonishingly large, emitting a soft glow.
"Banana..." The giant Venusaur let out a low, majestic sound, and all the Bulbasaur and Ivysaur respectfully bowed their heads to it.
Ash's eyes widened in surprise: "It can understand what it's saying! It said, 'Welcome to the Evolution Ceremony. Tonight, the power of the moonlight will help us complete our life's transformation.'"
Xiao You looked at Ash curiously: "Did it really say that?"
Brock thoughtfully said: "It seems this Venusaur is the leader of this tribe."
The giant Venusaur walked to the center of the circle, looked up at the full moon, and let out a long cry: "Banana--!" With its call, the moonlight seemed to grow even brighter, falling upon every member of the Bulbasaur family.
Ash's Ivysaur's body began to emit a faint white light: "Danee Lissa... (Ash, I feel it...)"
"Go, Ivysaur!" Ash clenched his fist, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Just then, a harsh laugh broke the sacred atmosphere: "Since everyone is here, let Team Rockets take this great gift!"
"What?" Ash spun around, seeing the Team Rockets trio standing on a rock at the edge of the garden.
Jessie proudly tossed her long hair: "So many rare Pokémon, the boss will be very happy!"
James pressed a button in his hand: "Go, capture net!"
A giant metal net descended from the sky, covering the gathered Bulbasaur family. The giant Venusaur roared in anger: "Banana! (Despicable humans!)"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash immediately shouted.
"Pika--chu!" A bolt of lightning struck the metal net, but the net seemed to have been specially treated, and the current was diverted into the ground.
"It's no use, you brats!" Meowth laughed triumphantly, "This is a specially made insulated net, Meow!"
The Bulbasaur and Ivysaur panicked, scattering and fleeing. Ash's Ivysaur stood its ground, the white light on its body growing stronger and stronger: "Danee Lissa! (I can't let them hurt everyone!)"
The giant Venusaur turned to Ash's Ivysaur: "Banana! (Young warrior, are you ready to accept the power of evolution?)"
"Danee Lissa! (I'm ready!)" Ivysaur answered firmly.
"Banana! (Then, let's protect our tribe together!)" The flower on the giant Venusaur's back fully bloomed, beginning to gather dazzling energy.
Team Rockets' net had already fallen, and at the critical moment, Ash's Ivysaur was surrounded by dazzling white light, its form beginning to change.
"Ivysaur!" Ash exclaimed.
Within the white light, Ivysaur's body gradually grew larger, and the bud on its back fully bloomed, transforming into a giant flower. When the light dissipated, a majestic Venusaur stood in its place.
"Banana!" The newly evolved Venusaur let out a soul-stirring Roar.
The Team Rockets trio were dumbfounded: "What? It evolved so quickly?"
The giant Venusaur nodded in satisfaction: "Banana! (Very good, now let's fight together!)"
Both Venusaur simultaneously looked up, the flowers on their backs gathering astonishing energy. Team Rockets then realized the danger: "Wait, we were just kidding..."
"Solar Beam!" Ash shouted.
Two scorching beams of light shot from the Venusaur's flowers, directly hitting Team Rockets' machine. In a huge explosion, the Team Rockets trio were blasted into the sky.
"What a disgusting feeling!" Their screams gradually faded into the distance.
The garden returned to peace, and the moonlight once again gently fell. Ash ran to his Venusaur's side, embracing it excitedly: "That's amazing! You evolved perfectly!"
Venusaur looked down at Ash, its eyes full of gratitude: "Banana... (Thank you for always believing in me, Ash.)"
The giant Venusaur walked over, nodding to Ash: "Banana. (You are a true Trainer, able to connect with Pokémon's hearts.)"
Ash scratched his head shyly: "I just see them as my most important partners."
The other Bulbasaur and Ivysaur gathered again, beginning their individual evolution ceremonies under the moonlight. One Pokémon after another was enveloped in white light, completing their life's transformation.
Xiao You and Brock walked over, marveling at everything: "This is truly amazing."
Pikachu jumped onto Venusaur's back, happily calling out "Pika Pika." Venusaur gently stroked Pikachu with its Vine Whip, and the bond between the two partners seemed to deepen.
The giant Venusaur let out another cry: "Banana! (The Evolution Ceremony is successfully concluded. May the moonlight guide your future paths!)"
Ash looked at the garden full of Venusaur, his heart filled with emotion. He turned to his partners: "Let's continue our journey, Venusaur, are you ready for new challenges?"
Venusaur nodded firmly: "Banana! (Always ready!)"
Under the moonlight, the group left the Mysterious Garden, setting off on a new adventure. Venusaur walked steadily behind Ash, the flower on its back emitting a soft glow in the night, as if telling a story of growth and courage.