1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 34: Sunlit Contest

We reached National Park with the Pokéathlon Dome still fresh in my mind. Wide paths opened into green lawns, tall trees, and bright flowerbeds. Pikachu rode on my shoulder, Togetic floated beside Lillie, and one Eevee padded at her other side, stopping every few steps to sniff the flowers.

Lillie paused at a sign near the entrance. "Since today is Tuesday, the Bug-Catching Contest starts this afternoon."

"That sounds fun," I said. Trainers were gathering near registration, and Bug-type Pokémon moved through the grass beyond the fences. "We still have time. Let's train before the contest crowd gets any bigger."

Everyone agreed, and we found a sunny field away from registration.

Pikachu stretched on a low stone wall while Togetic circled above Lillie. Eevee rolled once in the grass, came up with petals stuck to his fur, and sneezed.

Eevee shook himself hard. "The flowers attacked first. I was defending myself."

Pikachu looked down from the wall. "You lost to three petals."

Lillie laughed after hearing them. "You two are already keeping score again."

She released Oddish into the grass. Oddish shook its leaves, looked at the open field, and bounced once.

Oddish planted both feet. "I want to get stronger today."

"Then we'll work on balance first," Lillie said. "Take your time."

I let Bayleef out to help. She stepped beside Oddish and lowered one vine until it rested just above the grass.

Bayleef gave Oddish an encouraging look. "Follow the vine. Don't watch every shadow."

Oddish started forward. Whenever sunlight shifted through the leaves overhead, Oddish hesitated, but Bayleef tapped the ground ahead instead of letting the little Grass-type stop completely.

Reisa watched nearby with Marill in her arms. "The steps almost have a rhythm."

Oddish heard her humming under her breath and tried to match it. The first turn was clumsy enough to make Eevee flatten himself before Oddish bumped into him.

Eevee scrambled aside. "That dance needs more warning."

Oddish spun again, found his footing, and laughed.

Then light wrapped around Oddish.

Lillie gasped but stayed where she was. Oddish's small body stretched upward inside the glow. The leaves changed, a larger flower bud formed, and when the light faded, Gloom stood in the sunny grass.

The stronger scent reached us immediately.

Gloom looked from Pikachu to Eevee, then lowered the flower overhead. "Does Lillie still want me this close?"

Lillie moved forward and hugged Gloom before Gloom could retreat. "Of course I do."

Gloom relaxed against her. Bayleef touched one vine lightly to Gloom's shoulder.

Bayleef smiled. "You grew. That's all."

The stronger scent made Eevee sneeze again, but he stayed beside Gloom.

Eevee rubbed his nose. "That was stronger than the flowers, but I'm not leaving."

Gloom blinked in surprise. "Really?"

Togetic circled lower. "You look different, but your voice is the same."

Pikachu hopped down beside them. "We noticed you before we noticed the smell."

Gloom finally laughed and lifted the flower overhead.

A rustle came from a nearby flowerbed. Another Oddish peeked between the blossoms, watching Reisa while she kept humming.