Feng Che had heard legends of the Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden, but few had ever found it. It was said to be ruled by a Venusaur of champion-level strength, guarded by a legion of powerful Ivysaur. To obtain a high-quality Bulbasaur here, one had to pass the Venusaur's trials—or risk being annihilated on the spot.
Bulbasaur is a quadruped Pokémon resembling a toad, with vibrant red eyes and a distinctive seed bulb on its back. This bulb shares a symbiotic relationship with the Pokémon, growing alongside it from birth and allowing it to master a vast array of Grass-type moves. From solar beams to sleep powder, everything originates from this miraculous seed.
The pack of Bulbasaur that had come to the water's edge soon noticed Feng Che. Instead of attacking, they used their vine whips to hoist him up and carried him toward the heart of the garden. Feng Che signaled Corvisquire to stand down; he could sense dozens of hidden Ivysaur in the brush. Any aggression would lead to a swift, leafy execution.
[Bulbasaur: Another trainer has arrived. I wonder how many will pass the Great One's trial this year?][Bulbasaur: I really want to see the world outside. I'm tired of seeing the same scenery every single day.]
Feng Che noticed the "Heart Voice" came from the lead Bulbasaur. While these specimens were well-developed, most were only of Yellow potential. Having a team of elites already, Feng Che wasn't interested in mediocrity.
As they moved, they passed crystal-clear streams filled with Surskit—an indicator of zero pollution. Above them, a gargantuan Cheri Berry tree loomed, its white blossoms falling like snow.
Upon reaching a clearing, the Bulbasaur unceremoniously dropped Feng Che. He used his psychic power to cushion the fall, but he still looked quite disheveled. His clothes were damp from the river and covered in grass stains.
"Pfft," a mocking laugh rang out. "Is this the kind of competition the Garden is attracting now?"
A young man dressed as a wealthy heir flicked his long bangs, looking at Feng Che with disdain. Beside him were a blonde girl in a maid outfit, a man weighing nearly 200 kilograms, and a thin boy with glasses analyzing data on a laptop.
"Dressed like a loser and looks like he crawled out of a swamp," the heir sneered. "Don't dream of competing with me for a Bulbasaur."
Feng Che stood up and brushed himself off. Go ahead, underestimate me, he thought with a smirk. Playing the pig to eat the tiger is my specialty. He used a subtle burst of psychic energy to evaporate the water from his clothes, making them look even more wrinkled and worn.
Suddenly, a massive tree trunk in the center of the garden opened with a heavy creak. A gargantuan Venusaur stepped out, each footfall shaking the earth. It was ancient, its skin thick with warty bumps like a toad's, and the flower on its back was supported by a trunk that looked like a palm tree.
"Greetings, human trainers," the Venusaur's voice echoed directly into their minds. "You are the destined ones who have found the Mysterious Garden on the eve of the Great Evolution Ceremony. I will give you the chance to take a companion with you—provided you pass my trials."
The Venusaur laid out the rules:
Herbology/Berry Identification: A trainer must recognize quality, as Bulbasaur are cultivators by nature.
Combat: You must defeat a powerful Ivysaur to prove your strength.
The Heart's Choice: Even if you pass the first two, the Pokémon must choose to follow you. If it refuses, you leave empty-handed.
"The failures will be escorted out and their memories wiped. The winners must swear an oath of secrecy. Shall we begin?"
As the first trial started, a line of Bulbasaur marched forward. The one at the very back suddenly slipped, crashing into the one in front of it and causing a domino effect that sent the whole line tumbling into the grass. The lead Bulbasaur looked at the Venusaur with a face of pure exhaustion.
Heavens, another Ditto-level troublemaker, Feng Che thought.
The Venusaur cleared its throat, trying to hide its embarrassment. "A minor accident. Proceed."
The Bulbasaur began the demonstration. They planted seeds and channeled natural energy. Within minutes, sprouts became trees, flowered, and bore fruit. One Bulbasaur, however, lost control. It poured too much energy in, causing its tree to skyrocket into a gargantuan height. The branches snapped under the weight of the fruit, nearly crushing the Bulbasaur before the Venusaur's vines caught it.
"I've told you a thousand times," Venusaur sighed. "Control your output. Don't force the energy."
"Now, trainers. Identify which Bulbasaur has produced the fruit of the highest quality. You may observe, but you may not touch. You have thirty minutes."
While the others hurried to examine the piles of berries, Feng Che looked at the "troublemaker" Bulbasaur sitting dejectedly to the side. Its limbs were twitching rhythmically.
[Bulbasaur: Why can't I control my body?][Bulbasaur: The Great One says I have immense talent, but I can't even walk straight. I can't use Vine Whip or Razor Leaf. My brain wants to go left, but my legs go right.][Bulbasaur: Even if my berries are high quality, no one will pick a Pokémon that can't fight. I'm just a burden...]
Feng Che observed the twitching. Neurological Discordance Syndrome, he diagnosed immediately.
In this world, it was a rare condition where the signal from the brain to the limbs had a significant lag or became scrambled during high-stress activities. To the outside world, the Pokémon looked like it was "slow" or "clumsy," but in reality, its cognitive processing was likely far beyond its physical capabilities.
It's not that it lacks talent, Feng Che realized, his eyes narrowing. It's that its natural energy output is so high its nervous system is literally overheating trying to keep up.
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