"Words like this," Are human speech. Humans and Pokemon can understand this.

'Words like this,' Are Pokemon speech. Only Pokemon understand this, humans just hear noises.

"Pika Pika chu," (Or any kind of Pokemon) Are noises Pokemon make that humans hear. Pokemon can understand this.

Words like this, Are thoughts/telepathy. Only the person thinking/who the telepathy is directed at can hear this.

Lunchtime, a joyful time for most of the ranch Pokemon. A time to take a break from the morning activities and enjoy a brisk meal under the sun. Most Pokemon awaited this time with bated breath (or a drooling tongues in some cases).

Most, but not Bulbasaur.

The usually outgoing and calm Bulbasaur was currently hiding in a bush. No, he wasn't scared, that would be ridiculous. He was just... anxious. Anxious that the stupid blue bug type was going to show up.

Bulbasaur cringed as he heard a loud bell sounding in the distance- Tracey, Professor Oak, or Gary- telling all of Ash's Pokemon that it was lunch time at last. Bulbasaur dragged himself out of the bushes. He was anxious, yes, but that wasn't going to stop him from assisting the Professor like he always did. He had a job and a reputation to maintain, and he wasn't about to let the humans down.

Bulbasaur darted forward, passing by Ash's other eager Pokemon on his way to the lab. They payed him no mind, for the only thing on their mind was the food that Tracey had waiting for them at the lab- whether the same thing from yesterday or a new recipe by the Professor or Brock- they didn't care, just as long as it was something they could stuff down their throats.

"There you are Bulbasaur," Tracey said warmly as Bulbasaur trotted up towards the lab, "Help me pass these out, please," and two dishes of food were quickly pressed into his vines. Feeding Pokemon was a chore enough for the few humans at the lab, but when nearly all of Ash's Pokemon took after his love of food... it became a challenge. And Bulbasaur was expected to help keep order.

Bulbasaur gave the human a smile, but he kept a cautious eye skyward for the menace that was sure to strike. Every time a flying type swooped down Bulbasaur flinched, ready to dodge. Swellow chuckled at this as he came down, and Bulbasaur shoved the food towards him, fuming in embarrassment.

His fear... anxiety, was getting out of hand. He took a deep breath, holding two dishes out of reach of Totodile and Gible as they jumped around him excitedly, 'Calm down,' He snapped, momentarily taking his eyes off the sky. He set the two dishes down (and far apart), the last thing he needed was these two to get into another food fight like they often did.

Bulbasaur walked back up to Tracey, who smiled, handing him one last dish, "Thank you, like always, Bulbasaur, this one is all yours. A brand new recipe, hope you like it."

Bulbasaur took it, nodding, but his mind wasn't focused on that. He was focused on Gible and Totodile. Their food was nearly halfway gone they were nearly always the first ones done, and they had both developed a habit of stealing the other Pokemon's food. Bulbasaur had taken it upon himself to get them under control in situations like this, which happened basically every meal. He did hear rumors that Ash's Oshawott was also a food thief, but Bulbasaur wasn't going to keep an eye on a third Pokemon, at least not without evidence.

Bulbasaur tossed the pellets of food into his mouth without much thought as to the taste. He was running a mental list in his mind as he ate: help Tracey gather the food dishes, deliver extra food to Snorlax, make sure the Tauros' fence was in one piece, make sure the trained Pokemon weren't gaining up on the wild Pokemon again, check on the wild Pokemon, help Gary with his latest research project... Bulbasaur shook his head, he still had a lot to do today.

Bulbasaur ate another piece of food, not noticing the blue figure gliding overhead, nor the unusually unattended bowl of nectar. Corphish glanced up, stifling a snicker of what was to come. Bulbasaur picked up another pellet of food with his vine just as a large, inelegant shadow passed over him. Bulbasaur stiffened in fear, wheeling around just in time for mass of shell and muscle to slam into him.

Thump!

Heracross rammed into Bulbasaur from above, picking up the small grass type in his two-clawed hands. Bulbasaur began lashing out, forgetting his normally calm and assertive demeanor. Heracross landed not far from where he had abducted Bulbasaur, happily licking his lips as he pinned Bulbasaur to the ground.

A few Pokemon paused, looking up from their meal. None of them made an attempt to help Bulbasaur, but were simply watching, most with an entertained look in their gaze. Totodile seized the moment of everyone's distraction, quickly darting forward to steal the meals from under their noses. Bulbasaur noticed this much to his annoyance, both because he couldn't stop him and that his situation was being used for mischief.

Heracross placed both clawed hands on the side of Bulbasaur's bulb, and began to suck the sweet nectar from the plant. Bulbasaur lashed out again, reading his Vine Whip and slamming it into Heracross defensively. But the grass type attack barely did anything to the bug type, who continued sucking nectar.

Bulbasaur fumed with frustration and embarrassment as most Ash's other Pokemon watched with amusement, some with some laughs, now that Tracey had gone back into the lab. He'd get back at them. They'd be sorry when he "accidentally" shuffled the Professor's notes and they were fed berries in tomorrow's meals. A nice little... wake up call about their sour attitude.

Bulbasaur tried to fire a Solarbeam, but couldn't absorb the energy he needed to do so with Heracross's shadow covering him. Bulbasaur knew he needed to calm down and think of a strategic way out, but it was hard without a trainer supporting him and Heracross on top of him sucking his nectar. Bulbasaur lashed out with his vines one more time, seizing the top of Heracross's horn.

He yanked back, managing to pry Heracross's mouth off his bulb, but the bug type still was pinning him down. Bulbasaur panted, he had perhaps ten seconds before Heracross broke free with brute strength and overpowered him again. He needed a way out of this, now.

Heracross swung his head about, testing the limits of Bulbasaur's grip. The grass type struggled to keep the bug type back, but he reared his head back, breaking free of Bulbasaur's temporary grasp. He quickly pressed his mouth back on the bulb, once more sucking the sweet nectar. Bulbasaur rumbled in frustration, shifting the spores, pollen, and nectar that rested in his closed bulb as he heard laughing at his pathetic struggle. Was this ridiculous charade going to remain on schedule for the rest of his time at the lab?!

Wait... Bulbasaur thought, realizing something. Something so simple that it was a wonder that he had never thought of before. A small grin appeared on his face, despite the fact Heracross was still raiding him of his nectar. If Heracross wanted to eat out of his bulb so badly, he might as well have everything in it.

Bulbasaur closed his eyes, shuffling the contents of his bulb. His grin widened, and he released a plume of blue-green spores from his back.

Heracross recoiled as he was swiftly engulfed in the cloud of Sleep Powder. He stumbled back, eyes sagging as he inhaled the spores. Bulbasaur dragged himself out from under the drowsy Heracross as he sank to his knees, nectar dripping from his lips as he collapsed on the ground, out cold. The laughter quickly died down as the now-free Bulbasaur stumbled to his feet, huffing.

Bulbasaur brushed dust off of him with his vines, taking in a deep breath. A small smirk pulled on his lips, he finally had a solution to what had seemed to be an unending problem. He straightened his shoulders, then slowly glared at Ash's Pokemon. Most looked away, some quickly returned to eating their meal, pretending they hadn't been watching.

Suddenly Bulbasaur began charging right at Bayleef. She let out a startled cry, quickly jumping back as Bulbasaur lashed out with his Vine Whip, but he wasn't targeting her. His vines wrapped around Totodile's leg, lifting the water type into the air. The stunned Totodile dangled upside down in the air, pieces of stolen food falling from his mouth and arms. Totodile gave Bulbasaur a hesitant smile, revealing bits of food caught in between his teeth.

Bulbasaur released another plume of Sleep Powder, and soon the thieving Totodile was asleep in his grip. Bulbasaur dropped Totodile to the ground, then turned to face the rest of Ash's Pokemon with a rebuking glare.

"Anyone else planning on disrupting our meal?" Bulbasaur asked sweetly, though it was quite clear he wasn't happy. Everyone looked away, quickly shaking their heads and muttering promises and apologies. Gible quickly placed some stolen food back into Corphish's bowl, retreating back to his own empty food dish with a sigh, "Good," Bulbasaur said, relaxing, and he trotted back towards his own food dish, settling down. For once he could enjoy his meal without worry.

The rest of Pokemon returned to their food as well, though the chatter seemed much more quiet. Bulbasaur let out a content rumble, soaking up the warm rays of the sun. Sure, he'd have to help feed the other trainer's Pokemon on the ranch after this, but they weren't nearly as unruly as Ash's. He closed his eyes, savoring the moment. It seemed too good to be true, but he was finally free!

At least, until a powerful Hyper Beam filled the clearing.

Bulbasaur's eyes snapped open in time to see food dishes flying and Pokemon running. He stared on in shock as he saw Heracross stumbling forward, horn glowing bright green with a powerful Megahorn as he charged towards the fleeing Pokemon. He stumbled, hitting a tree, muttering to himself as he prepared another Hyper Beam. Bulbasaur sprang to his feet, desperately preparing another Sleep Powder, until he noticed something.

Heracross's eyes were still closed.

Bulbasaur face palmed with his vines at his stupidity as Heracross blindly stumbled through the mass of panicking Pokemon, forearms wildly swinging Focus Punches. Bulbasaur heard the humans running out of the lab, panicking as Heracross fired one more Hyper Beam while still fast asleep. Bulbasaur huffed, of course he couldn't have a quiet meal. Of course his plan had a hole in it. Of course he had overlooked one little fact.

Heracross knew the move Sleep Talk.