Chapter 3: The Enchanted Garden

“The chosen trio?” Dr. Sakuragi chuckled lightly. “What an interesting name.”

“It’s just a playful nickname of mine, Doctor. Please don’t take it seriously.” As she spoke, Xia You pressed on, “May I ask if you know where I might find wild chosen trio Pokémon nearby?”

“As for the chosen trio,” Renji replied, “Charmander is usually found in volcanoes and lava caves; Squirtle tends to inhabit more remote coastlines and isolated islands; and Bulbasaur can be spotted in dense forests. But as for nearby locations…” Renji seemed to recall something and asked, “Have you heard of the Mysterious Garden?”

“The Mysterious Garden?” Xia You paused briefly before shaking her head.

Dr. Sakuragi explained from the side, “Legend has it that the Mysterious Garden is where Bulbasaurs gather to hold a celebration festival for their evolution. However, since it has never been discovered by anyone, some say it exists only in imagination.”

Hearing this, Xia You seemed to remember the storyline. Didn’t Ash once enter the Mysterious Garden in the original series to search for his Bulbasaur?

Curious, Xia You asked, “Is it the season for their festival now?”

“That I’m not sure about,” Dr. Sakuragi pondered, then added, “But I believe the Mysterious Garden truly exists. Even if it’s not festival season, I think many Bulbasaurs must be living and thriving nearby.”

“I see.” Xia You frowned. “But I don’t know its exact location. How should I find it?”

Dr. Sakuragi operated his computer and pulled up a map of the area around Leaf City on a large screen.

“Although I don’t know the precise whereabouts of the Mysterious Garden either, our previous observations found many wild Bulbasaurs active deep in the forests north of Leaf City. Perhaps you should try your luck there.”

“I understand now.” Xia You’s eyes brightened with hope. “Thank you so much, Dr. Sakuragi!”

…

As Xia You and Koharu descended the steps of the research institute, Xia You glanced back and saw Dr. Sakuragi’s Electrike also running out, wagging its tail and following closely behind Koharu.

Xia You smiled, “Looks like it really likes you.”

“Is that so?” Koharu glanced down at Electrike with an unchanged tone. “I don’t really feel anything. It often clings to my parents at home, so it’s probably the same with everyone.”

From this brief interaction, Xia You realized Koharu wasn’t one to talk much. Though still a minor, she was calm and composed, giving off an air of maturity and gentleness.

Bending down, Xia You petted Electrike’s forehead. It closed its eyes contentedly and licked her hand with its long tongue.

Loving to be tickled—this was just like a regular dog after all.

“No need to see me off further. Well then, Koharu, until we meet again.”

Waving goodbye to Koharu, Xia You went to an outdoor gear store in Leaf City and bought a cap, sleeping bag, water bottle, binoculars, portable food, and a simple cooking set, packing them all into a large backpack.

Since she was heading into the wild, thorough preparation was essential. Otherwise, if she missed the town at night, she would have to camp out using only this equipment.

Leaving Leaf City, Xia You and Rarurace walked north for a long while before finally entering a dense forest.

Once inside, far from the city, her phone signal quickly vanished, rendering navigation useless. Xia You had to rely on her intuition, wandering back and forth.

The forest was vast and lush. At first, there were a few trails, but as they ventured deeper, the paths disappeared. To proceed, Rarurace had to use telekinesis to move branches aside.

All around was silent.

Not a single common forest Pokémon—no Caterpie, no Weedle, no Oddish, no Bellsprout—could be seen. The deeper the silence, the more certain Xia You felt she was in the right place.

Only within a specific tribe’s territory would such an atmosphere form due to their territorial instincts.

Wandering through this labyrinthine forest, stopping and moving, at dusk Xia You finally heard the calls of many Pokémon ahead.

Cautiously, she parted the branches and saw an open clearing before her—a basin nestled within the boundless dense forest.

At the center stood a massive withered tree, surrounded by countless Bulbasaurs playing and frolicking.

The Mysterious Garden had finally been found!

Gazing upon this peaceful sanctuary, Xia You refrained from intruding and instead took out her binoculars. Using the fading sunlight, she carefully observed the scene.

Bulbasaur was a quadrupedal Pokémon resembling a green frog. Besides its striking red eyes and dark green markings, the most distinct feature was the garlic-shaped bud on its back.

These Bulbasaurs had not yet noticed Xia You’s presence. There were so many that it was dizzying to look at, and from appearances alone, it was hard to discern their temperaments. After a while observing, Xia You fixed her gaze on one Bulbasaur that had just left the basin.

This one appeared relaxed, occasionally using its vines to pluck fruit from the trees and taste them, then quickly wandering away from the group.

Seizing the opportunity, Xia You no longer hesitated. She moved her steps gently, making as little noise as possible, approaching it.

Choosing this particular Bulbasaur was also out of necessity. Venturing too deep might cause panic and chaos among the others, which would be counterproductive if they all attacked together.

Coming close, Xia You did not opt for a sneak attack. She worried that even if she succeeded in capturing it, the Bulbasaur might resent her, making future commands difficult. When she was close enough, she suddenly sprang forward, standing behind the Bulbasaur and blocking its escape.

Startled by the noise, the Bulbasaur twisted around. Its vines suddenly shot out from the bud on its back, swirling wildly in the air, seemingly trying to intimidate Xia You.

Their eyes met. Xia You waved her hand, and Rarurace stepped forward a few paces.

Seeing Rarurace, the Bulbasaur seemed to realize something, calling out “Seed, seed,” and immediately entered battle mode!