On the way to the next town, Ash and his companions encountered a confident Hiker Trainer who challenged Ash to a battle.
Ash sent out Bulbasaur to fight.
The battle was not particularly difficult. With its solid fundamentals and flexible techniques, Bulbasaur successfully defeated the Hiker's Rhyhorn.
However, the moment the battle ended, something strange happened.
Centered around Bulbasaur, the surrounding area, which had only been ordinary grassland and a few budding plants moments ago, suddenly burst into full bloom. Countless flowers blossomed instantly, and the air filled with a rich and mysterious fragrance.
"W-What's going on?" Misty looked around in astonishment at the suddenly vibrant and colorful scenery.
"It's Bulbasaur! The energy it released is triggering the power of nature!" Brock said in shock. As a breeder, he could clearly sense the tremendous life energy flowing through the area.
Ash's pupils shrank slightly as he immediately understood.
This was the sign of the Mysterious Garden.
In the original events, Bulbasaur had evolved here under the witness of many others of its kind, following an ancient tradition and becoming an Ivysaur.
His Bulbasaur had finally reached this critical moment of evolution as well.
Yet a strong sense of hesitation rose in Ash's heart.
He clearly remembered that the Bulbasaur in the original story possessed immense pride and firmly believed it could grow stronger without evolving. In the end, it had rejected evolution entirely.
Ash was not sure if his Bulbasaur held the same belief. Forcing evolution might go against its own wishes and damage the precious bond between them.
That night, after finishing dinner at the Pokémon Center, Ash noticed that Bulbasaur seemed unusually restless. It kept staring toward the depths of the forest, as if sensing something calling to it.
Late at night, Bulbasaur quietly left the Pokémon Center and walked toward the forest.
Ash followed without hesitation, moving silently behind it.
After passing through the dark forest, the view suddenly opened up.
Before them lay a mysterious garden hidden beneath the moonlight. Strange and beautiful flowers bloomed everywhere, and the air carried the same rich fragrance they had smelled earlier.
This was the Mysterious Garden.
At the center of the garden gathered many Bulbasaur, surrounding a massive and dignified Venusaur.
The Venusaur was clearly the leader of this group. Ash's Bulbasaur walked forward and began communicating silently with the leader through subtle movements of its vines and the exchange of scents.
Ash hid behind a tree. Through his Aura, he could clearly feel the struggle and confusion inside Bulbasaur's heart.
It wanted to become stronger and live up to Ash's expectations. It could also feel the powerful call of evolution.
Yet deep in its heart, another voice resisted the change. It enjoyed fighting alongside Ash in its current form and worried that evolving might cause it to lose something important.
The Venusaur leader seemed to be urging it to make a decision and follow the ancient tradition by absorbing the energy here and completing its evolution.
Seeing that Bulbasaur was still hesitating, Ash stopped hiding and stepped out from behind the tree.
His sudden appearance immediately made the Venusaur leader and the surrounding Bulbasaur wary.
But Ash ignored them and walked straight to his Bulbasaur. He knelt down, his gaze calm and firm.
"Bulbasaur, I know what you're thinking," Ash said softly. From his backpack, he took out the Everstone he had purchased from Flint in Pewter City.
"Whether you evolve or not is your own choice. I respect any decision you make."
He held the Everstone out in front of Bulbasaur.
"If you don't want to evolve, then wear this. It can help you stay the way you are and grow stronger at your own pace. And if one day you change your mind and decide you want to evolve, you can take it off anytime. I promise you that no matter what form you're in, you'll always be one of my most important partners."
Bulbasaur looked at the stone in Ash's hand, which contained stable energy. Then it raised its head and looked into Ash's eyes, which were filled with understanding, trust, and absolutely no pressure.
Its body trembled slightly as tears the size of beans slid from the corners of its eyes.
It could feel its trainer's complete respect and support.
Bulbasaur extended its vine and solemnly accepted the Everstone. It integrated the stone into the part of its body connected with the plant on its back, near the base of its vines beneath the bulb.
A wave of stable energy immediately flowed through its entire body, suppressing the restless urge to evolve.
"Bulba!" it cried firmly.
The confusion in its eyes vanished, replaced by pure clarity and determination.
Nearby, the Venusaur leader had watched everything.
Its wise gaze shifted between Ash and Bulbasaur, sensing the deep bond and mutual respect between them that went far beyond that of an ordinary Trainer and Pokémon.
It let out a deep rumble that sounded like approval and perhaps even admiration.
The Venusaur no longer pressured Ash's Bulbasaur and instead signaled that they were free to leave.
Respect, sometimes, was more powerful than strength.
Under the moonlight and surrounded by fields of flowers, Ash and the determined Bulbasaur quietly left the Mysterious Garden.
Bulbasaur had chosen its own path, and Ash had once again proven through his actions that in his heart, the will of Pokémon and the bond between them were far more important than mere power.
[Ding! Host respected Bulbasaur's wishes and strengthened their deep bond. Bulbasaur's friendship and potential have greatly increased.]
A/N: After thinking it over again and again, it was better not to evolve yet. Someday in the future, at the right moment, it could evolve all at once.
...