A wild wind swept in without warning, and the courtyard was instantly filled with flying sand and stones.
The flowers and plants Melanie had meticulously cared for were blown askew, and the wooden house's doors and windows creaked loudly.
A massive dark shadow was diving down rapidly, its wingspan reaching three or four meters wide. The wind pressure it kicked up even made the small trees in the courtyard bend!
It was an exceptionally sturdy Pidgeotto—more accurately, it was Roy's Pidgeotto.
But at this moment, a "ferocious light" flickered in its eyes, its sharp beak slightly open as it let out a piercing cry, looking as if it were about to attack the courtyard.
A terrifying pressure spread out.
The Pokemon that were originally strolling leisurely in the courtyard instantly panicked.
Oddish was so scared it curled into a ball, its leaves trembling.
Several Pidgeys flapped their wings in a panic, but they couldn't fly high because of their fear.
Even a Goldeen poking its head out of the river dove back underwater with a "splash."
"Saur!"
In the midst of this chaos, Bulbasaur rushed to the very front without hesitation?
"Pika!"
Almost at the same time, a streak of yellow lightning darted out from Roy's side.
Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity as it rushed to Bulbasaur's side with a fighting spirit, striking a combat pose.
But just as it got close.
"Pika?"
Pikachu's small ears suddenly twitched.
It raised its little head, carefully peered at the "vicious" Pidgeotto in the sky, and then turned to look at its owner.
Roy stood in place, his expression calm, only giving Pikachu a gentle wink with his right eye.
The moment their eyes met, Pikachu understood.
Oh... it's time to test my Movie Star acting skills again!
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu immediately let out an "angry" cry, its hind legs kicking off the ground as it turned into a bolt of lightning and charged toward Pidgeotto!
Its momentum made it look as if it were truly going to fight Pidgeotto to the death!
Seeing this, a "ruthless" look flashed in Pidgeotto's eyes, and it gave its massive wings a powerful flap!
Bang!
A strong Whirlwind hit Pikachu with precision.
Pika—!
Pikachu let out a "blood-curdling" scream, its small body being slapped away like a broken kite, falling "heavily" onto the grass over ten meters away.
After landing, it even twitched twice quite professionally before its head slumped to the side as it "fainted."
The entire process was seamless; the acting was so realistic it could win an Oscar.
Saur!!!
Bulbasaur, seeing Pikachu who had just been fighting alongside it get knocked away and "faint," was instantly enraged!
Several sharp Razor Leaf blades sliced through the air, shooting straight at Pidgeotto!
Immediately after, Vine Whips lashed out from its sides, coiling toward Pidgeotto's talons like two green venomous snakes!
The offensive was fast and fierce, a completely desperate fighting style!
"What's wrong? What happened?!"
Hearing the huge commotion outside, the three women in the house rushed out as well.
Misty's legs were still a bit clumsy, but she quickly made it to the doorway with Delia's support.
"Is that... Roy's Pidgeotto?"
Misty recognized the massive bird Pokemon in the sky at a glance and was stunned.
Delia was also slightly taken aback, but then she saw Roy's calm expression and the "fainted" Pikachu on the ground.
She instantly understood something, pursed her lips slightly, and didn't speak.
The two women exchanged a look, both seeing understanding in each other's eyes.
Sensibly not ruining Roy's arrangement was their tacit understanding as "insiders."
"Oh my god! Is that... a Pidgeotto?! Why would it attack this place?"
Melanie, however, was truly terrified.
But in the next second, she suddenly remembered the whisper Roy had shared in her ear last night.
"Melanie, I'll arrange an 'attack' tomorrow to help fully stimulate the fighting will of the Pokemon here... Don't worry, it's my Pokemon, it won't actually hurt them."
She relaxed a little then... but... Melanie looked up at the Pidgeotto in the sky with its astonishing wingspan and aggressive Aura.
Is Roy's bird really this big?
I wonder if everyone working together can hold it off?
...In the sky, Pidgeotto let out a high-pitched cry, its massive wings flapping once more.
This time, it no longer held back, its Elite grade Aura exploding completely!
A powerful Hurricane swept down, and the Razor Leaf blades Bulbasaur fired were blown into disarray mid-air.
The Vine Whips were even more unable to get close, blown away by the gale.
There was a gap in level and a gap in size.
Even though Bulbasaur had a tenacious fighting will and decent skills, it was ultimately only Common Grade.
Faced with a Elite grade Pidgeotto, it was still difficult to withstand.
A Wind Blade "grazed" Bulbasaur's side, plowing a deep furrow into the ground!
Bulbasaur was knocked back several steps by the aftershock, but its gaze became even more unyielding.
It couldn't retreat!
Behind it was the courtyard Melanie had carefully tended to, and its companions who had yet to recover their courage to fight!
At this moment, Roy shot a look at Melanie.
Melanie understood immediately!
"Everyone! Don't be afraid!"
Melanie summoned her courage and shouted loudly:
"Bulbasaur is fighting to protect us! We can't let it face this alone."
"Everyone, come and help!"
Her voice was crisp and firm, carrying through the gale.
The panicked Pokemon in the courtyard, seeing Bulbasaur blocking the front, covered in wounds yet still refusing to back down, and then seeing Melanie calling out to them anxiously... their eyes gradually changed.
Oddish was the first to step forward.
It trembled, but still managed to condense a few small Razor Leaf blades and fire them into the sky.
Though the power was weak, it was a signal.
More and more Pokemon joined the fight.
Skills of various types wove into a net, blanketing toward Pidgeotto.
Pidgeotto dodged nimbly in the air, but faced with such a dense barrage of attacks, it still appeared a bit "flustered."
It looked at Roy, its eyes asking: Master, is that enough?
Roy nodded slightly.
Pidgeotto immediately let out an "unwilling" cry, its huge wings flapping once to shake off several attacks, then it "clumsily" turned around and fled toward the distant forest in a panic.
"We won... we won!"
Melanie jumped up in excitement.
The Pokemon in the courtyard also cheered one after another.
They looked at each other, the courage and confidence to fight reignited in their eyes.
So the power of unity was this great!
"Saur..."
Bulbasaur let out a long breath, its body swaying, nearly collapsing.
The continuous high-intensity combat had taken a massive toll on it.
"Bulbasaur!"
Melanie and the other Pokemon immediately surrounded it, looking at it with concern.
Oddish gently touched Bulbasaur's front leg with its leaves, and the Pidgeys landed beside it, chirping.
At this moment, the courtyard was filled with a warm atmosphere.
Melanie crouched down, gently stroking Bulbasaur's head with tears in her eyes:
"Thank you... thank you for protecting everyone."
Bulbasaur nuzzled her hand, tenderness showing in its eyes as well.
Then, Melanie took a deep breath, stood up, and faced all the Pokemon in the courtyard, saying:
"Everyone... I'm so happy to see you regain your courage to fight."
"Now that your injuries are all healed and you have the strength to protect yourselves again..."
"It's time... to return to nature, to return to your own lives."
After she spoke, the courtyard was silent for a moment.
The Pokemon looked at each other, then one by one lowered their heads to Melanie to express their gratitude.
A Pidgey was the first to spread its wings and take flight, circling twice in the air before flying toward the depths of the forest.
Then a second, a third... in less than ten minutes, the courtyard was much emptier.
Only Oddish and Bulbasaur remained.
Oddish looked longingly at the Eevee and Pikachu beside Delia; the three of them had a great time playing last night.
Bulbasaur lay quietly at Melanie's feet, its gaze complex.
Roy came to Oddish's side, expanded his Aura, and communicated: Do you long to travel with companions and see the wider world?
Oddish shook its leaves, its eyes lighting up.
Roy understood its meaning and turned to inform Delia: "You can capture this Oddish now."
Oddish blinked its eyes and suddenly jumped up happily, lunging straight toward Delia!
"Eevee!" Delia reflexively shouted, thinking she needed to battle to capture it.
Eevee: Roger that!
A tail sweep.
Smack!
Oddish was smacked into a somersault in mid-air and fell to the ground with a "thud," its head tilted in complete confusion:
???
Didn't we agree to be partners? Why are you hitting me?
"Ah! Eevee! No!"
Delia hurried over and picked up Oddish, feeling sorry for it.
Roy was also caught between laughter and tears:
"Delia, this Oddish is following you voluntarily; there's no need for a battle to capture it."
"You can just throw a poké ball."
Delia was taken aback, then her cheeks flushed:
"I-I was just too nervous... it's my first time capturing a Pokemon..."
She hurriedly pulled an empty poké ball from her bag and gently touched it to Oddish's head.
Capture successful!
"Great!"
Delia trembled with excitement, her full chest swaying slightly along with her.
She gripped the poké ball tightly, her eyes shining:
"I captured... an Oddish!"
Eevee also realized what happened and leaned in apologetically, nuzzling the poké ball in Delia's hand to say sorry.
Delia released Oddish, and the three little ones immediately started playing together again.
A happy ending.
Finally, Melanie turned her gaze toward the Bulbasaur beside her.
She crouched down and looked earnestly into its eyes:
"Bulbasaur... I'm leaving this place too."
"I've decided to go somewhere further to study Pokemon nursing and become a more professional nurse."
"You... are so strong, you shouldn't just stay in this small courtyard."
"You should go to a higher stage and see the wider world."
"Let go of this place and go find your own Trainer, or... go challenge stronger opponents."
Bulbasaur was stunned.
It looked at Melanie's gentle yet firm gaze and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, it nodded gently, a hint of relief flashing in its eyes.
Yes... it was time to let go.
It stood up and started walking toward the forest.
"Bulbasaur."
Roy's voice came from behind.
Bulbasaur stopped and looked back.
Roy walked up to it and said seriously:
"Would you like to travel with me?"
"I promise I will never abandon you."
"And I will definitely take you to higher stages—the League Tournament, Victory Road, and even further."
Bulbasaur looked into Roy's eyes.
Its impression of this Trainer was good; he was strong, smart, and very gentle with Pokemon.
It had seen how he helped treat the other Pokemon last night.
But... "Saur."
Bulbasaur shook its head and struck a combat pose.
It wanted to fight once more to see Roy's true strength!
Seeing this, Roy smiled and raised his hand to whistle.
In the next second, the massive Pidgeotto that had "fled in panic" earlier flew back from the forest and landed steadily beside Roy, affectionately nuzzling his hand.
Bulbasaur: "!!!"
It widened its eyes, looking at Pidgeotto, then at Roy, then at the nearby Pikachu who had already "woken up" and was scratching its head sheepishly... It understood instantly!
The "attack" just now was an act!
"Sorry for tricking you."
Melanie walked over and explained gently:
"This was a plan Roy and I agreed upon... in order to Helping Hand everyone in the courtyard find their courage to fight again."
"Your performance was truly amazing, Bulbasaur."
Bulbasaur fell silent.
It looked at Pidgeotto's massive size and Elite grade Aura, then felt its own energy which hadn't fully recovered... Finally, it sighed and shook its head.
No need to fight.
Right now, it really couldn't beat this big bird.
But the look Bulbasaur gave Roy held a bit more recognition and trust.
Someone who could Helping Hand other Pokemon by carefully designing such a plan, and who could have a Elite grade Pidgeotto be so obedient... was worth following.
Bulbasaur walked up to Roy and lowered its head.
This was a gesture of submission.
Roy smiled, took out a poké ball, and gently touched it to its forehead.
Capture successful!