"Those traps were indeed set by me."
Melanie lowered her head apologetically.
"My goal was simply to stop other people from getting close. I'm really sorry. Ash, Clarissa... neither of you got hurt, did you?"
"No, not at all."
Ash shook his head with a smile.
"Don't worry about it, Melanie. The reason we asked about the traps was because we were worried there might be Pokémon poachers operating nearby."
"Besides, you don't have to be so formal. Just call me Ash."
"That's right!"
Clarissa nodded enthusiastically.
"You can call me Clarissa too. That's what all my family and friends call me."
"Th-Then... alright."
Melanie smiled shyly.
At the same time, she couldn't help sighing inwardly.
Just like people say online, Ash and Clarissa really are wonderful people.
Friendly, approachable, and completely free of any celebrity arrogance.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Melanie looked at them and asked,
"By the way, Ash, earlier you mentioned wanting to catch Bulbasaur, and Clarissa wanted to catch Gloom, right?"
"Mm-hmm." ×2
The two nodded honestly without trying to hide it.
"That's true," Ash admitted.
"But that's only because we thought Bulbasaur and Gloom were wild Pokémon."
"Now that we know they're Pokémon you've been caring for, we naturally won't try to take them away."
"No, no—that's not what I mean."
Melanie quickly shook her head.
"What I'm saying is... if possible, I'd actually like the two of you to take Bulbasaur and Gloom with you."
"...Huh?"
Ash and Clarissa froze.
Both looked at her in astonishment.
Wasn't Bulbasaur the guardian of this sanctuary?
And wasn't Gloom one of the Pokémon she had personally cared for?
Why would she willingly let them be captured?
They had originally assumed Melanie brought up the topic because she wanted to tell them how important Bulbasaur and Gloom were to her.
They thought she was going to ask them not to catch either Pokémon.
Instead, she was actively encouraging them to do so.
"Bulbasaur is different from the others."
Melanie gently stroked Bulbasaur's head as she explained.
"Most of the Pokémon here were abandoned by Trainers for various reasons."
"But Bulbasaur wasn't."
"It originally lived in Viridian Forest as a wild Pokémon."
"Just like you two, it happened to stumble upon this valley one day."
"Afterward, it chose to stay here voluntarily and help us."
Ash and Clarissa exchanged surprised glances.
Melanie continued softly.
"Bulbasaur has sacrificed a lot to protect the weaker Pokémon living here."
"But if things continue like this... it'll eventually become a frog at the bottom of a well."
"If it stays here forever, it won't continue growing."
"The seed on its back will never truly flourish."
"So I hope you'll take Bulbasaur out into the wider world."
As she spoke, Melanie bent down and lifted Bulbasaur into her arms.
Then she looked at Ash with pleading eyes.
Bulbasaur also gazed at Ash.
And within those eyes was a faint but unmistakable anticipation.
A longing.
At the beginning, Bulbasaur had viewed Ash as an unwelcome intruder who had invaded the Pokémon Sanctuary.
But after the Beedrill attack...
After witnessing Ash step forward and save everyone when they were at their most desperate...
All of that hostility had disappeared.
In its place remained gratitude.
Trust.
Admiration.
Among ambitious Pokémon, the desire to follow strength was often even stronger than it was among humans.
"What about this sanctuary then?"
Clarissa glanced around the peaceful valley.
"Without Bulbasaur protecting it, what will happen here?"
"It's true that Bulbasaur has contributed greatly to protecting this place."
Melanie looked affectionately at the Pokémon gathered around her.
Then she let out a soft sigh.
"But Pokémon were never meant to stay here forever."
"My goal in creating this Pokémon Sanctuary was to heal injured Pokémon."
"To mend their bodies."
"And to heal their wounded hearts."
Her gaze swept across Caterpie, Rattata, Gloom, and all the others.
"However, many of them recovered long ago."
"The problem is that life here became too comfortable."
"So comfortable that they no longer wanted to return to the outside world."
"I hoped that after recovering, they would go back to where they belonged."
"I hoped they would return to nature."
"Of course, if injured Pokémon continue arriving here, I'll still do my best to help them."
"But after they're healed..."
"I hope they'll return to their original homes."
"That's the dream I've always had for this sanctuary."
When she finished speaking, Melanie withdrew her gaze from the surrounding Pokémon and looked directly at Ash and Clarissa.
"So, Ash, I hope you'll take Bulbasaur into the outside world."
"It shouldn't spend its entire life standing guard here as a protector."
"It deserves the chance to grow stronger."
"It deserves a bigger stage."
"Bulbasaur has a place where it truly belongs."
"Don't you think so, Ash?"
She paused before adding sincerely,
"So I'm entrusting Bulbasaur to you."
"And Clarissa..."
"I'm entrusting Gloom to you as well."
The sincerity in her voice moved everyone present.
Ash and Clarissa were touched.
Bulbasaur and Gloom were deeply affected.
Even the other Pokémon nearby fell silent.
Because Melanie was right.
This sanctuary had never been meant to become their final destination.
Life here was simply too peaceful.
Too comfortable.
They never had to worry about food.
Never had to worry about shelter.
As a result, even after their physical injuries healed and their emotional scars disappeared, they became reluctant to leave.
Now, hearing Melanie's words felt like a wake-up call.
It reminded them that perhaps it was finally time to move on.
After a moment of silence, Clarissa stepped forward and crouched in front of Gloom.
"Gloom."
"My name is Clarissa Joy."
"My dream is to become the greatest Pokémon Doctor and Pokémon Breeder in the world."
"I really like you."
"And I truly sympathize with everything you've gone through."
Gloom looked up at her quietly.
Clarissa continued sincerely.
"But if you become my Pokémon, I won't force you to battle other Trainers."
"I'll respect your wishes as much as possible."
"So..."
She extended her hand.
"Would you like to become my Pokémon?"
"Gloooom~" (^▽^)
Hearing Clarissa's invitation, Gloom immediately nodded.
After living in the sanctuary for so long, the emotional wounds left by its former Trainer's abandonment had mostly healed.
And earlier, near the spring, Clarissa's Chansey had already defeated it in battle and earned its respect.
Now, faced with her heartfelt invitation, Gloom felt no resistance whatsoever.
Instead, it happily agreed.
"Thank you for trusting me, Gloom."
Clarissa's face lit up with joy.
"I promise I'll treat you well."
"And I'll help you grow stronger."
As she spoke, she took an empty Poké Ball from her pocket.
Then, with a gentle smile, she lightly pressed the capture button against Gloom's forehead.
The Poké Ball opened with a flash of red light.
And Gloom's new journey officially began.
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T/N:
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