After leaving Whitestone, Ash and his companions continued their travels.
They had now reached a small hillside and were preparing to take a break.
"What should we do? It's getting later and later," Misty said, looking up at the slowly setting sun.
"We don't have a choice. We'll have to camp here," Brock replied. He then called out to Ash, who was training his Pokémon. "Ash, hurry up! We need to set up camp."
"Okay, got it."
At that moment, Ash was training Bulbasaur, Bayleef, and Gloom, the three Grass-type Pokémon currently with him. They were not his only Grass types, but these three were part of his rotating team.
Professor Oak had previously told him that Bayleef and Gloom had both become unusually energetic. Barring any surprises, they were probably showing signs of evolution.
Ash therefore sent Jigglypuff back to the lab, making sure to warn Professor Oak about its unusual tendencies so that he could remain on guard, and had Gloom transferred over in its place.
As for Bulbasaur, Ash wanted to ask it personally whether the recent evolutions of its companions had affected it.
"Bulbasaur, Professor Oak told me that something has been troubling you lately. Is it because of evolution?"
Hearing Ash's question, Bulbasaur gazed into the distance, its thoughts impossible to discern.
Ash stroked Bulbasaur's head. "I already told you at the Mysterious Garden that whether you evolve is entirely your choice. I'll never force you to do it."
Bulbasaur thought back on everything that had happened since Ash caught it. The team was growing stronger and stronger, and it did not want to fall behind.
Bulbasaur extended a vine and took out the Everstone Ash had given it long ago.
The next moment, Bulbasaur's body slowly grew larger, and the bulb on its back bloomed open to reveal four broad leaves.
Having made up its mind, Bulbasaur finally chose the path of evolution.
"Welcome, Ivysaur!"
"Kirlia! Kirlia!"
Just as Ash was about to call the others back, Kirlia tugged at his trouser leg and pointed in a particular direction.
"Kirlia, did you find something?"
"Kirlia."
Kirlia nodded.
Ash followed the direction she was pointing and spotted an herb garden at the foot of the hillside. The surroundings looked exceptionally fresh and peaceful.
Kirlia had originally been practicing her psychic powers nearby when she noticed the herb garden across the way. She had immediately come to tell Ash about it.
An herb garden?
Ash recalled this part of the original story. Shortly after his Chikorita had evolved into Bayleef, it struggled to adjust to its much larger body and caused several problems for the group. Then, after a misunderstanding with Ash, Bayleef ran away on its own and ended up at this herb garden.
That sort of problem would not happen again now.
"Misty, Brock, we won't need to camp tonight. I found a good place for us to stay."
Ash then brought them over to see the herb garden.
"We owe this one to Kirlia. She was the one who discovered it."
Ash and his companions visited the owner of the herb garden, an elderly woman everyone called Grandma Haruno. After they explained why they had come, Grandma Haruno warmly welcomed them.
"This is delicious!" Ash and the others praised after tasting the tea Grandma Haruno had specially prepared for them.
"I'm glad you like it. I brewed it using medicinal herbs that my Pokémon and I worked hard to cultivate," Grandma Haruno said with a nod.
Grandma Haruno lived peacefully in this tranquil place alongside her Machoke, Bellossom, and Skiploom. Their life was truly enviable.
"Surrounded by flowers and herbs in this garden, even your heart naturally becomes peaceful."
Meanwhile, Ash's Pokémon were having a wonderful time playing throughout the herb garden.
Pikachu and Eevee chased each other around, Kirlia and Gloom helped Bellossom and Skiploom water the herbs, Ivysaur helped Machoke loosen the soil around the plants, and Bayleef ran happily by itself.
The moment no one was watching, they ended up covered in mud.
"If you don't mind, why not stay here for the night?" Grandma Haruno offered. "It's rare for so many people to visit. Even an old woman like me enjoys having the place feel lively for once."
"If that's all right with you, we would be very grateful."
Just then, cries rang out from the Pokémon, accompanied by two dazzling beams of light.
The light was coming from Bayleef and Ivysaur. They were about to reach their final evolutions.
Bayleef's evolution was expected, but Ash had not imagined that Ivysaur would evolve again so soon. Could it be that the energy accumulated within its body had been so excessive that its previous evolution had not fully released it?
However, once the two of them evolved, their bodies would become enormous. They could easily destroy the herb garden.
"It's all right. If the herbs are ruined, they can always be planted again. A Pokémon's evolution is far more important."
Grandma Haruno clearly understood what truly mattered.
Even so, Ash still wanted everything to go perfectly.
"Kirlia, use Safeguard at full strength to protect this place! Bayleef, Ivysaur, move as far away from the herbs as you can. You don't want to see this garden destroyed either, do you?"
Kirlia spread her arms and used Safeguard with all her strength. Bayleef and Ivysaur fought through the surging light surrounding their bodies and hurried away from the herb garden.
As waves of rich fragrance spread through the air, their evolutions were completed.
The leaves around Bayleef's neck transformed into five flower petals, while the leaf on its head became a pair of antenna-like stamens. Its body had grown to twice its former size, and the sweet fragrance drifting from its petals was intoxicating.
Ivysaur's evolution was equally striking. The bud on its back blossomed into an enormous flower as its body steadily grew larger. The patches on its skin became raised bumps, and its four limbs grew thick and powerful. Combined with its imposing gaze, the sight was enough to leave anyone awestruck.
"Ash, these two Pokémon of yours are incredible," Grandma Haruno praised enthusiastically as she looked at Venusaur and Meganium. "They will undoubtedly become central members of your team in the future."
"Grandma Haruno, those two aren't the only surprise I have for you."
Ash took out a Leaf Stone.
"Gloom, it's your turn to evolve."
Gloom was delighted. After watching its two seniors evolve, it could no longer wait for its own turn. It touched the Leaf Stone in Ash's hand, and dazzling white light immediately enveloped its body.
When the light faded, a Vileplume standing on two legs, with an enormous flower atop its head, appeared before Ash.
The three Pokémon exchanged glances before using Sweet Scent together. Meganium also used its unique move, Aromatherapy.
The medicinal herbs they had accidentally damaged instantly returned to their original condition.
Venusaur struck the ground with its forelegs, sending Grass-type energy from the flower on its back deep into the soil. Some of the medicinal herbs even began producing beautiful blossoms.
Meganium and Vileplume were delighted by their evolutions, while Bellossom and Skiploom circled excitedly around Venusaur, as though celebrating their transformations.
The person most deeply moved was Grandma Haruno. She had never imagined that one small act of kindness would reward her herb garden with such a beautiful sight.
This young man named Ash had brought her good fortune.
He would surely achieve his dream one day.
...
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