POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

Bulbasaur stood frozen in place, clearly unprepared for Ash and Pikachu's invitation. It stared blankly at the trainer and his Pokémon, unsure of what to do.

"I mean it!" Ash said earnestly, taking a step closer. "You want companions, and your desire to protect them aligns perfectly with mine. I think we'd make great partners and even better friends!"

Ash's determination was evident. He could see the potential in Bulbasaur—the courage and strength it had shown in protecting weaker Pokémon. To Ash, this was a clear sign that Bulbasaur possessed the makings of a great fighter, one willing to grow stronger to safeguard its companions.

Not all Pokémon shared this mindset. Some had timid personalities or simply lacked the will to fight. Forcing them to train rarely yielded results. But this Bulbasaur was different. Its boldness and loyalty hinted at extraordinary potential.

Ash recalled how this very Bulbasaur had stood its ground in the anime. Its only limitation seemed to be its reluctance to evolve. But Ash believed he could help it overcome that hesitation. If not, he could still help Bulbasaur unlock its full strength in its current form.

Ash clenched his fists, his mind briefly flashing to the reward system he relied on. If Bulbasaur agreed to join him, he planned to use his next reward draw that very night—perhaps it would yield an inheritance to help Bulbasaur achieve greatness.

At that moment, Melanie's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Go with him, Bulbasaur!"

Startled, Ash, Misty, Bulbasaur, and even Pikachu turned to see Melanie and Brock standing at the doorway. They were carrying plates of food for the Pokémon, their expressions both serious and hopeful.

"Ash is right," Melanie continued, walking toward them. "You shouldn't stay here forever. You have incredible potential—more than most Pokémon. You deserve to show the world what you're capable of!"

Bulbasaur blinked, clearly taken aback. It hadn't expected Melanie, its longtime companion, to encourage it to leave.

Melanie knelt beside Bulbasaur, placing the food on the ground before gently cupping its face. Her voice softened as she spoke. "And these Pokémon? They need to learn to stand on their own. You can't protect them forever. One day, they'll face challenges you won't be here to shield them from."

Tears welled in Melanie's eyes, but her resolve didn't waver. "I'm not abandoning you, Bulbasaur," she said, her tone firm yet tender. "On the contrary, I'm so grateful for everything you've done—for me, for them. But I'm not a trainer. I can't help you grow the way you deserve."

Bulbasaur gazed into Melanie's eyes, searching for any hint of insincerity. But all it saw was honesty and love.

"Bulba…" it murmured, shaking its head slightly before stepping out of Melanie's grasp. It turned toward Ash, its mind racing. After a moment, it let out a loud, determined cry.

"Bulbasaur has made its choice," Ash said, his lips curling into a confident smile. "But it wants to test me first—to see if I'm worthy of being its trainer."

"What?" Misty exclaimed, looking between Ash and Bulbasaur.

Melanie smiled, wiping a tear from her cheek. "It wants to battle Ash to decide if he's strong enough to bring out its full potential."

The announcement left Misty stunned, but Melanie's smile only grew. Bulbasaur's decision to step out of its comfort zone was a significant step toward something greater.

Ash's expression turned serious. "I won't hold back, Bulbasaur!" he declared, stepping back to prepare for the battle.

"Bulba!" Bulbasaur's determined cry echoed through the clearing, its stance radiating confidence. It made it clear to Ash that anything less than his full strength wouldn't cut it.

"Let's do this, Pikachu!" Ash called out.

"Pika-pika!" Pikachu leapt forward, its electric cheeks sparking with excitement. It understood the importance of this battle. If Bulbasaur was to become its teammate, it needed to prove its worth—and show Bulbasaur its own strength.

Bulbasaur wasted no time. Extending two vines from the bulb on its back, it launched a swift Vine Whip attack.

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to dodge!" Ash ordered.

Like a bolt of lightning, Pikachu darted forward, weaving through the air with incredible speed. It nimbly dodged both vines, causing them to slam harmlessly into the ground.

"Seed!"

Bulbasaur quickly retracted its vines, its body glowing faintly with energy as it transitioned into a Tackle. It rushed toward Pikachu, its determination shining through every movement.

"Pika!" Pikachu, however, stood its ground. With a quick nod to Ash, it picked up speed and launched itself headfirst at Bulbasaur.

The two Pokémon collided mid-air with a resounding crash. A small shockwave rippled through the clearing as they pushed back against one another. Both were sent skidding away from the impact.

Pikachu landed on its feet gracefully, shaking off the blow. Bulbasaur, on the other hand, stumbled and slid nearly two meters before coming to a stop. It struggled to its feet, clearly surprised by Pikachu's strength.

"That's the difference between them," Ash murmured. Pikachu wasn't just any Pikachu—it had undergone transformations that placed it leagues above its species' typical strength. Its power was approaching that of legendary Pokémon.

Melanie covered her mouth in awe. "Bulbasaur is strong, but Pikachu… it's incredible!"

"Bulba…"

Bulbasaur's gaze shifted between Pikachu and Ash. It had felt the raw power Pikachu held, and it realized that Ash's training had brought it to this level. A thought began to form in its mind.

"If I follow him," Bulbasaur wondered, "could I become this strong too?"

The idea of leaving its safe haven no longer seemed so frightening. Instead, it felt… promising.

---

In the distance, Brock and Melanie watched the battle unfold. Brock crossed his arms, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Bulbasaur has great instincts," he said. "It's testing Ash in its own way."

Melanie nodded. "It reminds me of Zhou Wei, a trainer from my village. He always said a strong bond begins with trust—and trust begins with a battle."

Brock smiled. "Ash will earn Bulbasaur's trust. He always does."

---

Back in the clearing, Pikachu and Bulbasaur locked eyes. Despite its earlier stumble, Bulbasaur's spirit hadn't faltered.

"Seed… Bulba!"

It let out a fierce cry, signaling its readiness for another round. This time, though, its gaze held something new—hope.

Ash grinned. "Let's finish this, Pikachu. Show Bulbasaur why we're the best team out there!"

"Pika!" Pikachu charged forward, electricity crackling in its wake.

Bulbasaur braced itself. Whatever came next, it was ready.

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