36 Chapter 36: Field of Flowers
There were over a hundred trainers from 11 to 18 standing at the front gates of the Great Marsh. Each one of them had 6 Pokeballs attached to their belts or pants.
Each trainer was given Safari Balls which were Pokeballs that had camo coloring where the red part was on normal balls. These Pokeballs could only be gained in select locations and were only kept by trainers who caught a Pokemon in them. Though these balls weren't anything special, the design is what made many trainers want to paint their balls like this even if they were not true Safari Balls.
Xander, Cynthia, and Marley were lined up toward the back of the crowd, not wanting to deal with the initial stampede of trainers rushing in. Unlike the other trainers, they had a specific goal in mind.
Cynthia and Xander wanted to head to the Field of Flowers since that was where Xander saw Cynthia getting her Pokemon in his vision while Marley wanted to go there since she loved flowers and hoped to find a Shaymin there.
So when the gates opened up and everyone ran toward the swamp and the pond, the trio made their way to the Field of Flowers. This was located in the furthest section of the Great Marsh so they had to take the train that would take them further in.
By the time they got to the station, the first train was already filled with more trainers trying to force their way.
"Shall we?" Xander asked, motioning toward one of the empty benches. Both girls nodded and proceeded to walk toward the bench where they sat and watched the chaos.
"S-so crazy," Marley muttered, surprised that they would try to force their way onto the train even when it was full.
"They want to win the prize," Cynthia shook her head while looking at the scene. Although she was curious about the prize, she was more interested in finding the Pokemon that Xander saw in his vision.
The train was filled 3 times before there was enough room to board without any trouble. The three kids sat together on one of the seats while waiting for the train to take off. Once it did, the group looked out the window at the wonderful scenery.
The Great Marsh was a national park several miles long and three times as wide. It had several different areas, each one fit for a different group of Pokemon, ranging from those that lived in swamps to those that thrived in forests. It was created and protected because these environments were the most trainer-friendly and therefore where most trainers caught these Pokemon. To help the Pokemon populations not sink too low, the Great Marsh was created as a place for them to thrive and later be distributed to other areas in Sinnoh or where trainers could catch Pokemon in a much more limited fashion.
The trio looked out the window at the large forests and swamps that covered most of the immediate area around the train tracks.
"It's so pretty," Marley exclaimed. She loved beautiful places like this the most.
The trio rode the train until the end of the line, where they were the only ones left. This area had the least amount of Pokemon since it was open. Only those who liked to graze or live within the flowers stayed there. Even the Coombee and Beedrill would travel from the nearby sectors to pollinate the flowers before returning home. Because of that, very few trainers came there to try to win the competition.
The trio walked out of the station and through the plain where they saw a large number of Rapidash and Ponyta running around. Many of these Pokemon would stop and look at the group from a distance before continuing on their journies, not paying the group any mind.
Xander led the two girls through the plains until they arrived at the Field of Flowers. The group was greeted by the sight of thousands, if not millions, of flowers before them, each of them different kinds and colors. They ranged from blue roses to black and white lilies. Throughout the entire field were several Pokemon such as Budew and Roselia.
"Wow!" The trio held their hands over their chests, barely able to take in the beautiful view. This was a sight that would take away the breaths of those not even interested in flowers, let alone those who loved them such as Marley.
The group slowly made their way through the field in a line, careful not to trample too many flowers. None of them wanted to ruin the beautiful location.
The trio got to the middle of the field where they saw one large bud in the middle of all the field. As soon as her eyes landed on it, Cynthia felt a connection with the Pokemon.
"That's it. That's my partner!" Cynthia's latent powers let her feel a strong connection to the Pokemon that was hiding. Cynthia was determined to make it hers. She immediately grabbed one of the Pokeballs on her belt before clicking the center button. The ball expanded to its full size before the girl threw it at the bud.
A red light covered the bud and the rest of the Pokemon before falling to the ground and shaking. Cynthia and the others walked up to the ball and by the time they reached it, it suddenly stopped with a click.
"Yes!" Cynthia shouted while pumping her fist into the air. "I got a new partner!"
Cynthia picked up the ball before releasing the Pokemon in front of her. The new Pokemon surprised Xander since it was not what he was expecting.
It was a small, quadrupedal amphibian Pokémon that had blue-green skin with darker patches. It had red eyes with white pupils, pointed, ear-like structures on top of its head, and a short, blunt snout with a wide mouth. A pair of small, pointed teeth were visible in the upper jaw when its mouth opened. Each of its thick legs ended with three sharp claws. On the Pokemon's back was a green plant bulb that concealed two slender, tentacle-like vines, which grew from a seed planted there at birth. The bulb also provided it with energy through photosynthesis as well as from the nutrient-rich seeds contained within.
'She got a Bulbasaur? That is even better than her Roserade! I would have competed with her if I knew it was this little fellow,' Xander mentally slapped himself in the face for not wanting the Pokemon. He could do without Rotom and Togekiss but Venasaur was a Starter Pokemon which meant it was strong but it also could Mega Evolve and had a Gigamax form.
While Xander was stewing in regret, Cynthia and Marley were cooing at the new Pokemon and thinking of names for it.
"How about Green?"
"That's too basic. What do you think about naming it after a flower?" Cynthia shook her head at the first name
"Everyone names thiers after a flower. Just name the thing Ivy," Xander suggested. He always named his Bulbasaur Ivy since he liked the DC anti-villain/anti-hero, Poison Ivy and because the bulb/flower reminded him of her red hair.
And with his suggestion, the name of the Bulbasaur was decided.
