A New Beginning

by Rebecca Shapiro

  “Oh, wow!” Ash and Goh were both fascinated to see how Ivysaur had found a solution to its problem. Goh immediately started filming with his phone.

  They also both wanted to follow Ivysaur and see where it went next, so they both ran toward the brick wall to climb over it, too. But that didn’t mean their argument was over.

  “Don’t copy me!” Goh said to Ash angrily.

  “Right back atcha!” Ash replied.

  Ash was more athletic, and he and Pikachu made it to the top of the wall next to the Ivysaur with no problem. They looked at the view from their new vantage point while Goh struggled to climb the last few feet. In the distance, Ash saw a high metal tower that stood far above the surrounding trees. It looked like it was still under construction.

  As Goh pulled himself to the top of the wall, dripping with sweat, Ash pulled out his phone. “Rotom, what’s that thing?” he asked, holding it up toward the distant tower.

  The Rotom Phone answered, “A Pokémon Gym, presently under construction.”

  Suddenly, Ivysaur used Vine Whip again, attaching its vines to a part of the building on one side of the alley, and leaping forward to a window ledge up ahead. It was on the move!

  Ash, Pikachu, and Goh jumped down from the wall to follow it. A nice scent wafted through the air, and Ash and Pikachu tipped their heads back to inhale it.

  “Something smells really sweet!” Ash said.

  “Let’s see,” Goh said, thinking hard. He watched Ivysaur walking down the road ahead in the direction of the tower, and realized the scent was coming from the Pokémon. “I get it! It’s possible Ivysaur’s heading over there to evolve.”

  “Evolve?” Ash asked.

  Goh explained, “When their flower buds give off that sweet smell, it means that they’re about to evolve and their flower is going to bloom!”

  Ash gasped. That would be so cool to see! He and Goh looked at each other in excitement. Then they remembered that they were mad at each other and turned away again.

  “Pika-chuuu.” Pikachu drooped its head.

  Ivysaur kept walking up the tree-lined road. Goh, Ash, and Pikachu kept following it, staying a slight distance apart from one another. Pikachu was the first to notice what was up ahead, at an intersection with another road: more Ivysaur!

  “They’re gathering in huge numbers over there!” Ash observed. The one Ivysaur they had been following joined a line of Ivysaur marching toward the tower—and there was a line of Bulbasaur next to the line of Ivysaur, too. “They’re so cute!” Ash said.

  As they watched the Pokémon ahead of them, Goh held up his Rotom Phone toward the tower. “Rotom, any info on this location?”

  Rotom showed him a photo taken at the tower’s location when construction had just begun. It showed a man and a group of Machop at the building site.

  “Oh, Machop worked on it!” Goh said. He loved seeing any info about Pokémon.

  Ash heard him and came closer to try to see Goh’s Rotom Phone, too, but Goh was reluctant to share.

  The Rotom Phone kept giving him information. “Prior to the construction, this was a sunny field of grass where wild Bulbasaur and Ivysaur, among others, loved to come and soak up the sun,” it said.

  Soon, they’d followed the group of Pokémon to the base of the tower, where they stopped. One Ivysaur walked forward and studied the tower. “Saur.”

  “Saur,” all the other Ivysaur and Bulbasaur repeated.

  “Ivysaur and Bulbasaur sure look sad,” Ash said, solemn.

  Goh wasn’t sure how Ash knew how the Pokémon felt. “You can tell that?” he asked.

  “It’s on their faces!” Ash said.

  “I don’t see anything … ,” Goh replied, studying the Pokémon in front of them.

  Then Goh and Ash both realized that they were having a friendly conversation, but they were supposed to be mad at each other! They turned away from each other with sour expressions.

  “Saur, saur!” One Ivysaur saw the sun gleaming above the tower and seemed determined to get to it. It used Vine Whip to latch its vines onto one of the platforms on the construction scaffolding around the lower part of the tower. Other Ivysaur and Bulbasaur nearby started doing the same thing, and there was a chorus of vines whipping up and onto the scaffolding as the Pokémon leaped up to the platforms they’d latched on to. Then they used Vine Whip over and over again to reach the next, higher platforms. They were climbing up the outside of the tower.

  Goh filmed the Pokémon with his phone. “Maybe they’re climbing up because there’s more direct sunlight up top?” he guessed.

  Ash wasn’t spending time thinking about why the Ivysaur and Bulbasaur were climbing—he was preparing to climb himself! “Let’s go, Pikachu!” he exclaimed. He bounded over to the tower and started climbing up one of the scaffolding poles. Pikachu leaped up easily to the first platform.

  Goh was surprised, but he started to see the logic in Ash’s action. “So we’ll understand if we go up?” Then he started trying to climb up the scaffolding, too.

  Ash watched a Bulbasaur make its way up to the level above him. “Awesome!”

  Then Pikachu drew his attention to what was happening just below their platform. “Piiika …” Ash saw that Goh was really struggling to make it up the pole. There was only one thing to do.

  “Grab my hand!” Ash said, extending his arm toward Goh. Goh was surprised, but grabbed on gratefully, and Ash helped pull him up to the first scaffolding platform.

  “Pika, piiika!” Pikachu cried in delight.

  Once they’d caught their breath, Ash looked way up to the top of the tower. “We’ve gotta get up there!” he said.

  Goh bent down on one knee and interlaced his hands to give Ash a step up. “Hop on,” he said.

  “You sure?” Ash asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Wow, thanks!” Ash said. He used Goh as a boost to grab on to the pole and the next platform and scrambled up. Then he leaned down and extended his arm. Goh climbed partway up the pole, and Ash helped pull him the rest of the way up. Helping each other made the climbing easier and faster for both of them!

  It was a long, long way up. But Ash and Goh worked together to boost, pull, lift, and encourage each other, and at long last, they reached the roof.

  “Hey, we made it!” Goh said, pleased and somewhat surprised. He and Ash chuckled and bumped fists in celebration. Pikachu was very happy the boys were friendly again!

  Ahead of them were tons of Ivysaur and Bulbasaur, all resting happily with their eyes closed in the sunlight.

  “Everybody’s getting some sun,” Ash observed.

  “As the Bulbasaur soak up sunlight, their bulbs will get bigger!” Goh added.

  The bulbs on the backs of the Bulbasaur bobbed cheerily, and the flower buds on the backs of the Ivysaur emitted the same lovely scent as before.

  “Wow, what a sweet smell!” Ash said.

  Goh realized what was going on. “So that’s why they came up here in the first place,” he said. “They were looking for more direct sunlight.”

  That inspired Ash. “I know! All you gotta do is act like an Ivysaur to feel what they feel!” he said. Goh was skeptical, but Ash ran over and crouched down in between two Ivysaur. Pikachu hopped onto his back, sitting right where Ash’s flower bud would be if he were an Ivysaur. “You really are my bud!” Ash said to Pikachu.

  “Piii-kachu.” Pikachu and Ash both closed their eyes as they happily soaked up the sun.

  “It’s just like I’m starting to turn into an Ivysaur,” Ash said.

  Goh doubted whether any person could really feel like they were turning into a Pokémon. But Ash and Pikachu seemed to be having such a good time, he decided to try it out, too. He crouched down on the other side of the Ivysaur from Ash and closed his eyes. “It might be strange, but it does feel great!” he said.

  The wind blew gently, rustling the trees below and releasing more of the sweet scent from the Ivysaur buds.

  “Awesome,” both
boys said. What a great smell!

  “The breeze feels great, too!” Ash said.

  “This part of Vermilion City is famous for its amazing breezes,” Goh explained. As a local, he knew all about it.

  “Ivy-saur,” the Pokémon between them murmured happily. Suddenly, it started glowing—and so did the other Ivysaur and Bulbasaur all around them!

  “Is it evolving?” Goh asked. He and Ash waited breathlessly to see what would happen next.

  But what happened was the last thing they expected: A huge net dropped down from the sky and scooped up a ton of Pokémon!

  It was Team Rocket! They were always trying to steal strong and rare Pokémon. Ash could see Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet up in their Meowth-shaped hot-air balloon, with the giant net full of Pokémon hanging beneath them. All the Ivysaur and Bulbasaur in the net had immediately stopped glowing.

  Goh was surprised. “Team Rocket?! Now this is a first!”

  “And it sure won’t be the last,” Meowth called over the edge of the basket.

  Goh shrieked—he was so shocked that Meowth could talk, he couldn’t stop taking photos and videos of it with his phone. “It talked! It talked! It really talked!”

  “Yeah, yeah … get it out of your system,” Meowth said.

  Ash wasn’t surprised. He was ready to get down to business. “Let the Ivysaur and Bulbasaur go, right now!” Ash yelled.

  “Ha!” Jessie replied. “How can we resist the pomp and circumstance of a sun-seeking mystery mob?”

  “I say, if you can’t beat them, steal them!” James added. “Farewell, dear twerp!” They started to fly the balloon away.

  “Come back!” Ash commanded.

  Goh was still distracted by Team Rocket’s manner of speech. “Did he say ‘twerp’?” he muttered.

  But Ash was determined to protect the Seed Pokémon. “Pikachu, use Iron Tail!” he called.

  Pikachu leaped into the air and cut down the net from Team Rocket’s balloon with its powerful Iron Tail move. The Bulbasaur and Ivysaur were free again!

  Back on the roof, one of the Ivysaur thanked Ash with a grateful “Ivy-saur.”

  “You’ll be safe with us now!” Ash replied.

  Jessie was outraged. “How dare you take back what was wrongfully ours?!” she called. She turned to Meowth and said, “Get us to ground level.”

  Meowth brought the balloon down to the roof, and Team Rocket hurried out.

  “You don’t just cut and run!” Jessie said to Ash, stomping her foot. But before she could act, a Pelipper called out from above, dropping something down to Team Rocket’s feet. They each groaned. Their boss had sent them something. It was a strange robot that seemed to be filled with purple Poké Balls.

  “So that’s our secret weapon?” Meowth asked, skeptical.

  “It looks just like a gumball machine,” Jessie said.

  “Then to make it work, we need a coin,” James concluded. Like a gumball machine, it needed a coin put into its slot before it would release the Poké Balls.

  “We’re fresh out of coin,” Meowth said.

  Jessie and James looked at the gleaming coin on Meowth’s forehead. “No we’re not!” they replied—then grabbed Meowth and turned him upside down to stick his head onto the machine.

  “That’s my Charm!” Meowth cried as he struggled against them, scrabbling his paws against the robot. But Jessie and James turned the knob, and two Poké Balls came out. Meowth sat up, dazed.

  “So if this is the Boss’s secret weapon, the Pokémon inside are ready to rumble!” Jessie said. She and James each tossed a Poké Ball, crying, “Out we go!”

  The Poké Balls flashed open, and info cards dropped into Jessie’s and James’s hands. They giggled evilly. “It’s the Atrocious Pokémon, Gyarados!” Jessie said.

  “And the Armor Pokémon, Tyranitar!” James announced.

  “That’s the Boss for you,” Jessie said.

  “Leading us to spar along with some feisty Pokémon!” James finished.

  Meowth was ready for the battle. “Let’s start this show!” he said.

  Jessie commanded, “Gyarados, make me proud!”

  “Tyranitar, Fire Fang, long and loud!” James cried.

  Gyarados and Tyranitar flew forward with menacing roars.

  “Pikachu, dodge those!” Ash called.

  Pikachu leaped out of the way of the attacks. “Pikaaa-chu!”

  “Do something epic!” Jessie said to Gyarados. It used Hydro Pump. A huge stream of water poured out of its mouth.

  “Use Dark Pulse!” James said, and Tyranitar immediately began its attack.

  “Electroweb, go!” Ash said to Pikachu. All the moves hit each other in midair. “Use Quick Attack!” Ash added, and Pikachu attacked the other two Pokémon before they could use another move. “Awesome!” Ash called in praise.

  Goh was impressed. “Sure was!” he said.

  Jessie wasn’t ready to back down. “One more time!” she said to Gyarados. It used Aqua Tail—which knocked Pikachu backward onto the ground.

  Before Pikachu could recover, James told Tyranitar to use Stone Edge. That move also hit Pikachu, flipping it farther backward.

  Ash was worried, and so was Goh. “We’d better do something and do it quick!” Goh said.

  “I know,” Ash said, and ran over to his Pokémon pal. “Pikachu, are you all right?” he asked, his hand on its back. Pikachu made a pained noise, keeping its eyes closed. This wasn’t good!

  Jessie was ready to take the win. “Let’s end this with a double attack!” she said.

  “Good choice!” James agreed.

  But before they could tell their Pokémon what moves to use, they were surprised by a huge, glowing blast that slammed right into Tyranitar and Gyarados!

  “That was Solar Beam!” Ash said in surprise. The Ivysaur had worked together to help Ash and Pikachu out against Team Rocket! Ash thanked them, and Pikachu nuzzled the Ivysaur next to it affectionately.

  Jessie and James tended to their Pokémon. Both Pokémon roared to affirm that they were still feeling good.

  “I say first we zoom in on those annoying Ivysaur,” Jessie began.

  “Then scoop up what’s left!” James finished.

  They called out to their Pokémon, “Hyper Beam, go!” Gyarados and Tyranitar began working together, gearing up for a joint move aimed at the Ivysaur.

  But Ash stepped in front of the group of Ivysaur, planting his feet and spreading his arms wide. “Not today … ,” he said defiantly.

  “Pi-kaaa!” Pikachu was crackling with electricity and ready to keep battling.

  Tyranitar and Gyarados unleashed the double Hyper Beam. At the same time, Ash called out, “Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!”

  “Piiii-kaaaaa-chuuuu!” An enormous Thunderbolt emerged from Pikachu, clashing with Hyper Beam in midair.

  “Let’s goooo!” Ash encouraged Pikachu, who used Thunderbolt again … and knocked out Gyarados and Tyranitar!

  Ash was thrilled with his best Pokémon pal’s incredible attack! Even Team Rocket was impressed as they were launched into the air along with their Pokémon.

  “That Pikachu’s still amazing,” Jessie said.

  “So, back to plan A!” James agreed.

  “To make that Pikachu the catch of the day!” Meowth finished their thought.

  “Wobbuffet!”

  “But first, like old times … we’re blasting off again!” Jessie cried. And with that, Team Rocket was gone.

  Pikachu immediately called Ash’s and Goh’s attention back to the Ivysaur. They were glowing, just like before. But this time, they weren’t interrupted!

  “They’ve all started evolving!” Goh cried. He and Ash were amazed to see this Evolution in action. The Ivysaur bulbs closed all the way … and reopened to full flowers once they’d evolved into Venusaur!

  “Wow!” What an incredible sight!

  Ash held up his Rotom Phone to learn about Venusaur. “A Grass- and Poison-type. It’s believed that a
nutritious diet and lots of sunlight make Venusaur’s flower bloom in more vibrant colors. The flower’s scent can calm and heal the human heart,” Rotom Phone said.

  Ash and Goh watched in fascination as the Venusaur flowers released special, sweet pollen into the breeze. It floated over the Bulbasaur on the tower roof and then spread all across the town, making every plant it touched come into full bloom. The people and Pokémon of Vermilion City were delighted!

  Then, one by one, all the Bulbasaur on the roof evolved into Ivysaur!

  “Saur! Saur!” The Seed Pokémon on the roof were very happy.

  “So the Venusaur came here on purpose to let the wind spread the pollen from their flowers!” Goh observed.

  “You’re right!” Ash said. “Guess this is what you meant by them learning to live on their own.” Even though the field the Pokémon had been planning on visiting now had a tower built on it, they had figured out the perfect spot to soak up the sun and evolve. “Pokémon are just the best!” Ash added.

  “For sure!” Goh agreed. “And you know what? Both of you are, too—you’re amazing!”

  “Huh?” Ash was surprised to hear such praise from Goh.

  Goh chuckled. “Nothing, just forget it!”

  * * *

  Back at the Cerise Laboratory, Professor Cerise was fascinated to hear Ash and Goh’s account of their day. “Hmm … A strange power hidden inside Venusaur’s pollen … You’ve done it again, you two!”

  Goh smiled proudly. “When it comes to the work of an excellent team like Ash and myself, today is par for the course!”

  “Today was such a blast,” Ash said happily. “Not only did we get to watch Evolution up close, we got to make friends with a bunch of Ivysaur!”

  “First with Lugia, and today, a group of Ivysaur,” Professor Cerise said, impressed. “You guys are doing great!”

  “Thanks!” Ash replied.