"Valor, Lumina, and Bulbasaur, don't put so much pressure on yourselves. And don't let yourselves be consumed by this sense of crisis."
"The moment you became my partners, you also became my family."
"No matter how powerful I become in the future, I will never abandon my partners or my family. So please... don't worry, okay?"
"And besides, because I possess supernatural abilities, I've always been different from ordinary Trainers. I can heal your injuries, help you master moves, and now using my powers in battle is simply another extension of that. Isn't that perfectly natural?"
"And isn't it a good thing that I now have the strength to fight and protect myself? If my growing strength only makes all of you feel pressured..."
"Then from today onward, don't think of me as your Trainer."
"Think of me as one of your teammates."
"A companion who's no different from the rest of you."
"Let's grow stronger together."
"Right now, I'm at the very bottom of the First Tier."
"Pikachu, Greninja, Pidgeot, Fearow—you'd better work hard, because from now on, I'm joining your little ranking competition too."
"And Valor, Lumina, and Bulbasaur..."
"From now on, think of me the same way you think of Pikachu, Greninja, and the others."
"Work hard."
"Catch up to me."
"Then surpass me."
"I'll be waiting for all of you up ahead."
"So..."
"Let's all do our best together!"
Ash's words eased much of the anxiety and insecurity that had settled in his Pokémon's hearts.
But...
The pressure itself hadn't lessened in the slightest.
Because, just as Ash had said...
He had officially become another competitor within the team.
For Pikachu, Greninja, Pidgeot, and Fearow...
The First Tier had gained a brand-new rival.
For Gyarados, Milotic, and Bulbasaur...
There was now one more goal they desperately wanted to surpass.
…
During these two weeks...
Ash's own strength had increased dramatically.
And thanks to this "big catfish" stirring up the entire pond...
Every member of the team had also undergone astonishing growth.
Team Power Rankings
No.1
Pikachu — Lv.48
Greninja — Lv.48
Fearow — Lv.48
No.2
Pidgeot — Lv.47
No.3
Ash — Lv.44(Aura Power)
No.4
Gyarados — Lv.28
Milotic — Lv.28
No.5
Bulbasaur — Lv.16
…
Because of Ash's influence...
Everyone—including Ash himself—had grown significantly stronger.
Especially Pikachu, Greninja, and Fearow.
All three were now approaching the Gym Leader level.
Such rapid improvement was nothing short of astonishing.
But...
The overall strengthening of the team was only the second piece of good news.
The third great piece of news was—
(3) Bulbasaur Had Finally Built a Perfect Foundation and Reached the Evolution Threshold
After enduring this period of grueling training...
Combined with countless real battles in the Pokémon Battle Hall...
Bulbasaur had finally forged an exceptionally solid foundation.
Its level had also reached Lv.16, the point at which evolution became possible.
Even better...
Thanks to Ash's careful guidance over the past weeks...
Bulbasaur no longer feared or resisted evolution as it had in the original timeline.
That alone made Ash genuinely happy.
Ash had always intended for Bulbasaur to become the team's future Grass-type ace.
If it had stubbornly refused to evolve as it once did...
There would have been little Ash could do.
He would never abandon Bulbasaur.
But...
He also couldn't continue raising it as the team's primary Grass-type Pokémon.
Instead...
Bulbasaur would have been relegated to the reserve squad.
Only appearing against weaker opponents.
Most of the time...
It would probably have been left sitting on the bench.
Or perhaps, just like in the original story...
Once Ash's roster became larger, it would have been sent to Professor Oak's Laboratory to help manage the Pokémon there...
Or perhaps assist Delia at her flower shop.
Fortunately...
Thanks to Ash's patient guidance—both direct and subtle—
Bulbasaur had completely accepted evolution.
For both Trainer and Pokémon...
It was the happiest possible outcome.
"Bulbasaur..."
"Are you ready?"
Around noon...
Standing in the small courtyard filled with blooming flowers and lush greenery...
Ash looked at the determined Bulbasaur before him.
"Bulba!"
Bulbasaur nodded firmly.
Its face was overflowing with excitement.
Ash only knew from the anime that Bulbasaur had once resisted evolving.
He had never known the true reason.
But Bulbasaur itself understood perfectly.
After being captured by Ash...
After witnessing how sincerely Ash cared for every one of his Pokémon...
It had quickly been won over by his kindness and character.
Not long after joining the team...
It had completely changed its mind.
Not only had it stopped resisting evolution...
It had begun longing for it.
It wanted to grow stronger.
It wanted to fight alongside Ash on even greater stages.
It simply hadn't told Ash how eager it truly was.
That was why Ash had continued giving it heartfelt encouragement while helping it patiently strengthen its foundation.
Now...
The day had finally arrived.
In truth...
Bulbasaur was even happier than Ash himself.
"Pika! (Go, Bulbasaur!)"
"Croak! (You can do it, Bulbasaur!)"
"Pidgeot! (We're cheering for you!)"
"Fearow! (Show us your new strength!)"
"Roooaar! (Come on, Bulbasaur!)"
"Milooo! (We're all with you!)"
Evolution was one of the greatest milestones in a Pokémon's life.
As one of their companions prepared to evolve...
The entire courtyard erupted with encouragement.
Ash...
Pikachu...
Greninja...
Pidgeot...
Fearow...
Gyarados...
Milotic...
Every one of them was cheering Bulbasaur on.
"Bulba! Bulba!!"
Bulbasaur gave one final determined nod.
Then...
It completely relaxed its body...
And released the tremendous evolutionary power it had been suppressing within itself.
The very next second—
Flash!!
Brilliant white light burst forth from Bulbasaur's body.
The dazzling radiance of evolution completely enveloped it.
Within that mysterious light...
Filled with life itself...
Bulbasaur's body began rapidly growing.
It wasn't merely growing.
It was undergoing a complete transformation.
A leap in existence.
That...
Was evolution.
And it was precisely because evolution was so miraculous...
That countless Pokémon longed for it.
And countless Trainers devoted their lives to pursuing it.
…
The process didn't last long.
Barely ten seconds later...
The brilliant light gradually faded.
Standing before Ash and the others...
Was no longer the small Bulbasaur from moments before.
Instead...
A brand-new Pokémon appeared before them in an entirely new form.
"Pika! (Bulbasaur—no, Ivysaur! So that's what you look like after evolving! You look awesome!)"
"Croak! (You've grown so much! And the seed on your back has become a half-bloomed flower bud! Looking good!)"
"..."
Before Ash even had the chance to speak...
His Pokémon companions rushed forward together.
They surrounded the newly evolved Ivysaur, chattering excitedly as they admired its brand-new appearance.