A few days later.

Sitting next to the crackling fire, Jared watched the light slowly fade from the resting bulbasaurs bulb, ...Pokemon truly are miraculous. I don't know if all pokemon are natural hyperpolyglots, but this bulbasaur remembered every single word I taught him. In less than two weeks he should master the language!

Glancing at his lightened backpack left to the side, Jared nodded, ...I wanted to get this rare bulbasaur far away from civilization, until such time as I could tame it, but my supplies won't last much longer. This bulbasaur is eating me out of house and home! I found a few edible berries to supplement our food stores, but I have to begin heading back tomorrow...

Unfurling his sleeping bag, he climbs in, and turns over, ...Nyx is getting more and more unruly by the day, but I can't torture myself out here to feed him negative energy in front of Bulbasaur. I don't know how much he knows of his kidnapper, but it would be better if he doesn't know of Nyx's existence. It could undo all my efforts.

In high spirits, Bulbasaur was walking next to Jared's side. Two rattata's had raided the camp in the early morning, and tried to steal the backpack, but he had fended the threat off with the help of the human's spear, which earned him high praise.

Trekking through the woods, Jared sighs, as he hears a familiar complaint, "Human, I demand negative energy!!!"

Mumbling under his breath Jared replies, "So, what happened this morning Gast-...Nyx?"

"Hmph"

"You already recovered your strength by possessing me, you don't even need it... Just be patient, you'll get your negative energy soon."

Turning his attention away, Jared smiled at the eager green creature, but he felt inwardly insecure, ...We will near the town tomorrow, and that will be the time I spring the question. If Bulbasaur chooses to leave in search of his mother, I will have no choice but to destroy this friendship and capture him. Nyx has helped me avoid humans, but they infest these woods. If I let him go, he won't go half a day before being captured by one of them.

Time passed as Jared taught Bulbasaur more words, but the smoke from civilization was already before him.

Stopping in his tracks, Jared turns to Bulbasaur and crouches down to better communicate.

Jared spoke slowly, "Bulbasaur, we are near my home."

"Bulba bulb?"

"You need to make a decision, will you stay with me, or will you leave on your own?"

Bulbasaurs eyes trail away, and soon his eyes rest on the forest, "bulba bulbb buls sar sa bulba"

Nyx's voice helps Jared out, "He's saying he thanks you, but he needs to find his mother."

Sternly, Jared replies, " I can see you miss your mother, but even if you find her, you'll eventually part ways, she can't protect you all your life."

Bulbasaur pondered the words, he just barely understood them after thinking for a moment.

"Sauur"

"He said he's sorry"

Jared turns his eyes down, ...I know, you didn't have to translate this time Nyx...

Walking away, Bulbasaur turns back, he had some reluctance, but his decision would not be swayed.

Jared sighs as he watches the creature move further away, ...Everything I touch seems to turn to ashes in my mouth huh...

In Jared's mind, Nyx howls with laughter at Jared's sullen appearance, but Jared ignores him, "Nyx, change of plans, we are going to follow him."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Nyx's laughter suddenly chokes, "Stupid human, I'm a haunter now, so I can move in the light, but the sun is high in the sky, and it still weakens me. Capture him or give it up, I'm not playing this game anymore, human..."

Gritting his teeth Jared bargains, "One week straight"

"You better keep your promise... foolish one"

An energetic young kid who was no more than nine years old was escorted through the forest by a Mr.Mime. His spiky black hair and red cap made him look rather rambunctious.

He had his eyes trained on a pidgey who angrily eyed him from the trees.

Turning to Mr. Mime he asks, " Mr. Mime..."

Mr. Mime lightly shakes his head, but the kid was undeterred, "I know Mom said you weren't supposed to... but please... help me capture it... I can't wait for a whole year to become a pokemon trainer!"

Mr mime just shook his head faster.

Pouting for a moment, the kid quickly regains his cheer as if he was never sad at all.

Suddenly from a bush, a green creature stumbled upon the two.

With wide eyes, the creature tries to correct its mistake by slowly backpeddling the way it came, but the two had already seen it.

The kid's eyes light up, with a shout," A BULBASAUR!"

Ignoring Mr. Mime, he begins a mad sprint towards the fleeing creature.

Mr.Mime facepalms then followed after him.

"A human child and a purple creature are chasing the stupid green thing"

"Purple? A Mr.Mime?"

Nyx condescendingly replies in his mind, "Yes, whatever, what are you going to do?"

"Just keep watch for now, if he gets cornered let me know."

From high in the sky a pidgeotto looks down and finds a Bulbasaur scrambling through the woods, he clenches his talons in the air, but when he finds a small human was pursuing, he pauses, and when he sees a Mr.Mime pursuing the child, he gives up completely. The Mr. Mime made him feel fearful, and with a squawk, he ignored the three in search of new prey.

"Wait Bulbasaur!!! I just want to be friends!"

Bulbasaur began sprinting faster, but soon he ran into another human, a kid, and his rattata, "Ahh! a bulbasaur! Rattata, you are the top 1%, let's capture the bulbasaur!"

Rattata blocked Bulbasaurs way with a snarl, and now he was sandwiched between two troubles.

Breathing heavily, the kid eyes the newcomer and his rattata, "Hey, I saw him first!"

"Who're you?"

"I'm Ash Ketchum, the future greatest pokemon trainer, and who are you?!"

"Kid, you don't look old enough to be out on your own, How about you get lost!"

Soon Mr.Mime comes into view prompting the rattata trainer to frown.

He muttered, "This is troublesome..."

Giving a quick lie, the older boy tries to trick the younger Ash, "Ash, I'm Joey, I've fought this bulbasaur many times, and I've been trying to capture him for a week, is it truly right for you to take it from me?"

Surprised, Ash lowers his head, "Sorry, if you were... then..." - A voice suddenly appears in ash's head sowing discord, "The human known as Joey is lying"

Ash looks around in confusion, but he can't figure out where the voice came from.

Speaking softly Ash says, "Where are you?"

Ignore Ash, Nyx continues, "Look at the green pokemon, he doesn't recognize Joey at all."

"He doesn't?"

Bulbasaur was trying to escape, but everywhere he turned, the faster Rattata blocked his way.

Angry, Bulbasaur ejects two vines from his back, and threatens the rat pokemon, "Bul bulbbb bulbaasuaur r bulb bulb bullbasaur"

Rattata smirks condescendingly, he doesn't even deign to give a reply.

Bulbasaur had bragged that he defeated two creatures like him, and if he doesn't get leave him he'll be the third. He wasn't taking him seriously at all!

Seeing his threats were ineffective, he begins lashing his two vine whips towards Rattata.

With practiced ease, Rattata evades each blow and continues to block Bulbasaurs way.

Ash finally speaks, "Even if you fought him many times, only Bulbasaur can decide who he wants to be with!"

Gritting his teeth, Joey looks past Ash, and his glare lands on Mr.Mime, "So what are you going to do?"

Ash thinks for a moment, then goes to block the Rattata with open arms, "Bulbasaur doesn't want to go with you. Battle Mr.Mime and win, or I won't let you go after him!"

Once again Mr.Mime facepalmed, his charge seemed to a magnet for trouble, and he was dragging him into it!

Mr.Mime walked closer, intending to pull Ash away, but Joey saw it as a challenge, ...His Mr.Mime looks strong, but we won't necessarily lose here, he has a dark type move!

"Rattata, quick attack the Mr.Mime, and give him a bite!"

Bulbasaur heard the words, but he was new to the language and they spoke too quickly. He saw the annoying Rattata suddenly sprint away, so he turned around with confusion.

With a glint in his eye, Mr.Mime lifts the approaching Rattata into the air with a psychic, then tosses him into the distance like a cannonball.

Joey gasps, "Ah... Rattata no!" he then begins running in the direction of his flying pokemon.

Bulbasaur was too gobsmacked to take the opportunity to retreat, and now a smiling Ash had his full attention on him!

Floating in the air thanks to Nyx, Jared sighed with appreciation, "...What a powerful Mr.Mime, send me down Nyx."

Cowering, Bulbasaur took a few steps back every time Ash tried to near him. He was scared to run, lest he incur the ire of Mr.Mime, but he didn't want anything to do with the human child either.

Smiling ash gives up whatever he was doing, and kneels down. He then holds out his hand, "Please to meet you, I'm Ash, do you want to be my friend?"

Bulbasaur could understand a few words, so he got the gist of it.

Shaking his large head, Bulbasaur backs away slowly.

Frowning lightly, Ash was about to say something, but a black-clothed man interrupted him. The older man spoke slowly, "Hello there, my name is Jared, I hope you can let Bulbasaur go. He is trying to return to his mother."