A/N: Sorry about the delay guys was a bit lazy and couldn't think of how it would play out in this chapter.
P.S. The next chapter is already almost finished and will be uploaded by this Sunday or Monday at the latest. Thanks for being patient with me.
________________________
Center of Viridian Forest
Liam POV:
After a long walk and nearly getting lost a couple of times, I finally made it to the center of the forest. There, I found the pond where Bulbasaur was said to go.
"The sun is almost at its highest point. I'd better get ready for Bulbasaur."
I stood behind a couple of bushes and waited for Bulbasaur to appear. I had to admit, though, that the scenery was beautiful. The place had a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
Rustle. Rustle.
I heard something rustling from behind a bush a few yards away. When I looked, I saw a Bulbasaur.
Saur. Saur.
From the way it spoke, it seemed calm and at peace. Honestly, I would be too if I could come to a place like this every day.
Note to self: After finishing the Indigo League, save up money and build a cabin near here. It'd be a great place to relax.
Rather than battle and capture Bulbasaur right away, I decided to let it absorb nutrients under the sun first. I wanted to battle it when it was at full strength, and starting a battle while it was eating would be rude.
I took out a pen and notebook and spoke under my breath.
"While it's doing that, I should take some notes. This is one of the many things I need to start doing if I want to learn everything about Pokémon."
Come to think of it, I should also use my Pokédex and see what information it had on Bulbasaur.
Beep. Beep.
[#001 Bulbasaur
Grass/Poison
Seed Pokémon
Male
Description:
Bulbasaur bears the seed of a plant on its back from birth. The seed slowly develops. Researchers are unsure whether to classify Bulbasaur as a plant or an animal. Bulbasaur are extremely tough and very difficult to capture in the wild.
Ability: Chlorophyll
Moves: Vine Whip, Growth, Energy Ball, Synthesis]
"It knows Energy Ball and Synthesis!?"
Well, this isn't the game world, so it's possible for a Pokémon to learn a TM move on its own. Still, it also knows a move that's normally learned at a higher level, like Synthesis. This Pokémon is going to be a tough opponent.
And then there was the question of whether Bulbasaur was a plant or an animal. If I remembered correctly, the creators intended it to be both.
"Well, I'll need to do my own research before I can present my findings to Professor Oak the next time I see him."
When I looked back at Bulbasaur, it seemed to have finished basking in the sunlight. I decided it was time to reveal myself.
"Bulbasaur! Let's battle!"
"Bulba!? Saur!"
It seemed Bulbasaur wanted to battle me, too. But its calm gaze made it look like it had no intention of losing. This might really be a tough battle.
"Bulbasaur, if I win, you're coming with me. Deal?"
Bulba.
It nodded in agreement.
Since it was a Grass/Poison type, I decided to start with Weedle.
"Go, Weedle!"
Scrhch.
"Alright, Weedle. This is your first battle. Are you ready?"
Weedle nodded.
"Great! Now use String Shot to bind Bulbasaur!"
Weedle immediately fired String Shot, binding Bulbasaur in place. However, that calm expression on Bulbasaur's face bothered me.
I had Weedle use Bug Bite, a move I'd helped her learn last night because it was simple enough for her to pick up. She landed a direct hit and continued using Bug Bite until I told her to step back.
Two different lights began emanating from Bulbasaur and its surroundings. At first, I thought it was using Energy Ball.
Then I realized it was using Growth and Synthesis. Growth increases its attack and special attack power, while Synthesis healed heals itself depending on which weather it is used under.
Before I could tell Weedle to resume her attack, Bulbasaur used Vine Whip. With one vine, it struck Weedle, while the other grabbed a tree branch and lifted Bulbasaur into the air. It shook off the silk that had been binding it.
That single attack was enough to knock Weedle unconscious.
The strangest part was that Bulbasaur remained dangling from the tree, waiting for my next move.
"This feels like I'm facing an opponent in a shogi match—or chess."
"Weedle, return!"
I really needed to finish this battle.
"Go, Rattata! Use Focus Energy, then climb that tree and use Quick Attack!"
Rattata charged up and prepared to attack Bulbasaur.
I made sure to tell him to dodge Bulbasaur's Energy Balls. Bulbasaur was already preparing the move, and right on cue, it began firing Energy Balls from its mouth toward Rattata.
"Don't stop moving! You're almost there!"
Rattata finally reached the tree, surprising Bulbasaur with his speed. Before Bulbasaur could make its next move, Rattata landed a direct hit and forced it down to the ground.
"Great job! Keep going and use Bite!"
Everything seemed to be going well—until it happened.
"Tatta!?"
Just as Rattata was about to use Bite, Bulbasaur used Growth again. Thanks to its speed, it struck Rattata with Vine Whip and knocked him away.
"It must be Chlorophyll, combined with the afternoon sunlight. This Bulbasaur is tough! Why didn't Samurai mention that?"
---
No One's POV:
Back at his cabin, Samurai was getting ready to head into the forest to catch more Bug-type Pokémon when a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"It seems I forgot something... Damn! I forgot to mention that the Bulbasaur living in the center of Viridian Forest is known as the 'Strongest Bulbasaur of Viridian Forest.' Even ordinary veteran trainers have been defeated by it countless times over the past few years."
He paused to think.
"Hmm... But if it's Liam, he should be able to succeed."
Samurai continued with the rest of his day, confident that Liam would capture the Viridian Forest Bulbasaur, a Pokémon said to have been strong and unbeatable for years.
---
Liam POV:
"Rattata, are you okay!?"
Rattata gave me a look that told me not to worry. He could keep going.
I nodded and ordered him to use Quick Attack once more.
We'd been battling for a while, but Bulbasaur didn't seem hurt enough to be captured or tired from Rattata's onslaught of Quick Attacks and Bites.
"Rattata, can you hold on a little longer?"
"Tattata!"
Rattata looked at me and shouted, his expression saying, 'I can keep going!'
As he continued attacking, I realized the best way to weaken Bulbasaur was to lead it somewhere shady, away from the sunlight. That would slow it down.
The hard part was luring Bulbasaur away from the sun. Given how intelligent and calm it was under pressure, that wouldn't be easy.
It might be time to get a little serious and use that.
I took a deep breath and focused on the battle. Then, everything clicked into place.
"Rattata, keep using Focus Energy! Get ready to dodge ten of Bulbasaur's Energy Balls, and watch out for its Vine Whip after the third, fifth, eighth, and tenth shots!"
Even though we hadn't been together for very long, Rattata understood my thought process. Just like Courage, he trusted me enough to follow my plan.
And everything happened exactly as I'd predicted.
Now it was time to lure Bulbasaur away from the sunlight.
"Rattata, now! Use Quick Attack and Bite, and drag Bulbasaur deep into the forest, where the sunlight doesn't reach!"
Before Bulbasaur could figure out what was happening, it was already too late. While Bulbasaur spammed Energy Ball, I had Rattata move closer, making it seem as though he was only trying to dodge its attacks.
Rattata connected with his attack and dragged Bulbasaur deep into the forest, away from the sunlight.
Bulbasaur believed it couldn't be defeated because of its advantages, but those advantages were now its undoing.
I quickly ran after Rattata. Just then, I saw Bulbasaur use Vine Whip to push Rattata away from it and slam him into a tree.
"Rattata! Are you okay!?"
Rattata had been thrown with enough force to hurt him, and his stamina was already close to zero.
The best choice would have been to return him to his Poké Ball and let Courage finish the battle. But before I could even take out his Poké Ball, Rattata called out to me.
"Rattata!"
The look in his eyes told me he wanted to see this battle through to the end.
I could only smile at his determination.
"Alright, Rattata. The sunlight is no longer an issue. Bulbasaur can't use Synthesis or Growth as quickly anymore. Let's finish this!"
I wasn't lying when I said we could end the battle. That last attack had done a number on Bulbasaur, and it was still shocked by what had happened. We had only one chance to finish this.
"Go, Rattata! Use Quick Attack and Bite!"
"Bulba!?"
Before Bulbasaur could regain its composure, Rattata was already inches away. But the incredible thing was that Rattata didn't use Bite.
No—he had learned a new move.
Crunch!
That attack decided the battle. Bulbasaur fainted, and Rattata, knowing he had won, collapsed from exhaustion.
"Rattata!"
I ran over to check on him.
"Rattata, are you okay? Don't worry! I stocked up on food, Potions, and water!"
Tattata.
Rattata spoke, then opened his eyes and smiled at me.
I couldn't help laughing and smiling with joy at his performance in the battle. I returned him to his Poké Ball so he could rest.
But before I could catch the unconscious Bulbasaur, it was already back on its feet. It looked tired and exhausted, but its expression remained calm.
Bulba. Bulba. Saur.
"You want me to catch you?"
Bulbasaur smiled and nodded, essentially answering my question.
Weedle and Rattata had worked so hard to battle it, and I'd planned to catch it from the start.
"Alright, here we go."
I took out an empty Poké Ball and held it out to Bulbasaur. It pressed the button with its head and was pulled inside.
The light continued flickering until it finally stopped.
"Great! We caught a Bulbasaur!"
I jumped as high as I could, celebrating my new companion. But another thought soon crossed my mind.
My stomach was growling.
"Well, I guess we'll have lunch first and finally leave Viridian Forest. Good thing Samurai showed me a shortcut to Pewter City."