Hoenn Part 9
"Great, now we have no water..." May sighs as they continue their journey back to Petalburg, but their water bottles are now empty. Reisa says, "Don't worry, there is a world-famous freshwater spring nearby. We can go there."
But once they are at the dense forest, Max says, "Are you going inside?" And then May and Max are scared when Zubat flies out of a nearby bush.
As they continue, they fall into the trap made by Team Rocket, but thanks to a Solrock, they use Flamethrower to save them and then use Solar Beam to blast them off.
"Thank you for your help, Solrock." Ash says as the Pokemon leaves. The group decides to continue on to the spring, only to discover that the spring is empty.
"Hey, there is a village nearby." May says, but as they get closer, they realize that the town is empty, and the river that runs through the town is gone too.
"Great, what should we do?" Minami asks.
"Water Type Pokemon can locate water if we are close." Minami then turns to Reisa, who says, "Hey, are you wanting me to locate the water?"
"Why not? You are a the same typing as an Azumarill." Minami says as she sighs. "Fine, but I will need some help as well." Then they each send out a Lotad to find the water, they then find a well, and much to their surprise, both Lotad evolve into Lombre.
"Lombre? That is cool." Ash says.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.20 Lombre: The Jolly Pokemon: Water and Grass Type. Evolved from Lotad at LV:14. In the evening, it takes great delight in popping out of rivers and startling people. It feeds on aquatic moss that grows on rocks in the riverbed.
An old woman runs up excited to see two Lombre, she says, "The Great Water Lord has showed himself!"
Everyone is confused about her words, and then she explains that whenever hardship falls on their town, the great water lord, which is Lombre, show himself. Not only that, she also says that the Solrock and the bad luck it brings is to blame.
She calls out some other people from one of the houses. One of them is Mary, the old woman's granddaughter.
"I don't think that Solrock is at fault of this." Mary says.
"I know." Reisa says, "If there is water shortage, it must be something happened with the source."
"Yeah, but the villagers think the shortage has something to do with a meteorite they saw crash near the Great Lombre's shrine, and since then a Solrock has been wandering around the area. Since then no rain has fallen, all of which makes people think it is the Solrock's fault."
"There is no way, since Solrock just saved us." Ash says.
Outside, the villagers have begun doing a rain dance in hopes of driving away what they believe to be an evil Solrock and end the drought. Ash and his friends try to defend Solrock, but they won't listen as they believe it will anger the Water Lord.
Ash and Reisa have an idea to let Lombre dance to attract the Solrock and then they have a conversation. But then Skitty pops out of the Pokeball again. May says, "What are you two doing?"
Then the two Skitty run to the forest, so they go chase them, and they find the reason of the water shortage, which is Team Rocket again, they try to sell them for money and then use it to make equipment to send their boss back.
"You guys again?" Reisa is annoyed, but Team Rocket sees Lombre and Solrock, they try to steal them and send out their new mecha. But thanks to Solrock, he stops their plans and Team Rocket is blasting off again.
Unfortunately, Solrock is giving off so much power that it can't control itself to the point where it turns into a floating fireball and starts heading straight for the village. To stop it, Lombre use Water Gun, and all the steam being given off by the two attacks creates clouds in the sky. Soon the rain clouds are thick and it begins to rain, with the spring quickly filling up again. Now that the villagers' lives are back to normal, they begin to give thanks to Lombre.
After that, the Solrock is regarded as the new Sacred Guardian of their spring, and Solrock decides to join Ash for the gratitude.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.87 Solrock: The Meteorite Pokemon: Rock and Psychic Type. Solar energy is the source of this Pokémon's power. On sunny days, groups of Solrock line up facing the sun and absorb its light.
Ash and his friends are lost in the forest, Max says, "How about we trace our steps back to where we were?"
"Then we will be lost again." Mark says. Making the rest of the company get depressed.
"I guess we should stay here and have a lunch break." Ash says, as he and Mark go to cook.
Pikachu and Sylveon sense something unusual, they follow their senses and see a burned tree. They find a heavily injured Swablu with another Swablu worrying for it. Minami sees the Swablu and she tries to apporach it, but the other Swablu tries to defend the injured one as it tries to use Hyper Voice, but Minami blocks the attack and then bends down at the Swablu.
"You must be hurt. Don't worry." Minami uses a potion to cure the damage wing and tying the bandage on it.
"There, feeling better?"
"Thank you so much." The injured Swablu says.
"No problem." She smiles at her.
"Wait, you can understand us?" The well Swablu asks Minami.
"Well, I am a Pokemon disguised human, so of course I know what you are saying." Minami says.
"Cool." They get back to where the others are, May comments how cute Swablu is, only to scare her and she uses Sing attack, causing May, Max, and even the Swablu that is with her sleep.
After waking them up, a Nuzleaf and its Trainer shows up, making the injured Swablu get afraid and hide behind Minami's legs.
"Morita, you scared her." Ash says as the said girl apologizes.
Max asks, "Ash, you know him?"
"Oh, he is Morita, he is the ranger of this nature preserve. I meet all the rangers when we're training to be one." Mark says.
"Yes. Ash and Mark are both talented."
He takes them to a cabin and tells them about the horrible storm that caused havoc to the forest last night and says that many baby Pokémon were separated from their parents, including these Swablu, who can only help each other. He then talks about how a flock of Swablu and Altaria migrate through this preserve every year.
"So the Swablu might be injured when a lighting hit the tree she was in?" Minami asks.
"Yes. How about I take care of this Swablu until she gets back to her own group?" Swablu shakes her head and clings to Minami, while the other one also shakes his head and flies around Ash.
"I think they don't like it. How about we stay here for a while when we can all take care of her?"
"Good idea."
After Swablu's wings are cured, she wants to fly, but she fails, it also causes the Swablu besides her to worry.
"Maybe she gets the trauma after the experience she had gone through." Morita says. "It might take a long while for her to fly again."
Minami encourages Swablu by saying that they will take whatever time they need to help her. Everyone happily agrees and Morita says he will offer some help by locating the flock.
After training Swablu in vain, Morita appears and tells them that he has located the flock. The gang then ride Morita's van to the lake that the flock is located in. Suddenly, some mysterious projectiles shoot down the van's tire, stopping the van.
"I think we need to make it on foot." Morita says.
But then Team Rocket appears and capture the Pokemon. Ash wants Absol to use Razor Wind, but he is afraid that he might hurt Swablu. Thanks to the Swablu that was with them, it use Sing.
Team Rocket then falls asleep after she sings. But, James manages to tell Cacnea to use Pin Missile before falling asleep. That causes Cacnea to use the move while being asleep and not having proper aim, which causes disastrous effects such as the air balloon's burner catching on fire and waking Team Rocket up with a Pin Missile in their bottoms. The balloon then loses control and starts to go down.
"Get out of the balloon! Or you might hurt again!" Minami yells.
But Swablu is too afraid to do that since the fire reminded it of the trauma caused by the forest fire which caused its injury and abandonment. The fire then spreads to the whole balloon, increasing the speed of the descent. The Swablu besides Ash starts to fly towards the balloon and then it starts to evolve into an Altaria. And then he offers to let Swablu stay on his back. But when the Swablu manages to stay on its back, Team Rocket suddenly wakes up and Cacnea uses Pin Missile to knock the two, much to their shock.
"Swablu! Altaria!" Minami yells at top of her lungs, then Swablu plucks up her courage and then it starts to fly, and the Altaria also gets back to his senses and then fly away from the balloon.
The burning remains of the air balloon drops to the ground with Team Rocket in it. Minami shows her anger by sending them flying with her Disarming Voice. The group then rush to the lake, but finds the lake empty, much to their disappointment. Seeing the empty lake.
"Looks like the Swablu and Altaria are gone…"May says sadly.
Just then, they suddenly appears, Minami says, "Your friends are here, fly towards them."
Swablu says, "No, I want to go with you."
Altaria says, "Same here."
"What?" Ash, Mark, Minami and their Pokemon exclaimed. Minami says, "Sure. Welcome to the team."
Minami captures the Swablu and happily hugs her. Ash also captures the Altaria, once they did it, Reisa asks, "But I thought you only capture Fairy types."
"Well, Mega Altaria is a fairy type." Minami retorts.
"In that case, how about you take these Altarianite?" Morita takes out the stones and gives them to Ash and Minami. They happily thank him.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.82 Swablu: The Cotton Bird Pokemon: Music and Flying Type. A Pokémon that has wings like cottony clouds. After enduring winter, in which little food is available, Swablu flocks move closer to towns in the spring.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.83 Altaria: The Humming Pokemon : Dragon and Flying Type. Evolved from Swablu at LV:35. It hums in a beautiful soprano voice. It flies among white clouds in the blue sky. It launches intensely hot fireballs from its mouth.
The group are enjoying lunch in a harborside city park, but when May tries to reach for her sandwich, a round green Pokémon slides by and inhales it with a gulp, and does the same to everyone else. It turns around and swallows hard before burping up Pikachu's bowl.
"Our lunch..." Max whines.
"But it is lucky we found a Chemical Type Pokemon like Gulpin here." Mark says.
"And it is cute as well." May says.
Gulpin slides away as an emergency siren sounds, with Officer Jenny providing the voice over for an evacuation of the area.
The group walk along one of the deserted streets in the evacuated city, when a piercing scream breaks the eerie silence. They rush into a local bakery to see a woman cowering as a horde of Gulpin chow down on her loaves of bread.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt to stop them!" Ash says. But the Gulpin quickly smother Pikachu in a dogpile. As Ash finally recovers Pikachu, more Gulpin pour into the room through the ceiling air vents. The group, along with the woman, are soon nearly smothered by the horde of Gulpin.
"Tangela, help them out." Officer Jenny arrives with her Tangela to help them out of the Gulpin mob, but then the Gulpin then slide out as one mass into the street, leaving the bakery behind for a new food source.
"It is too dangerous to remain in the city, you should leave now." Jenny says as the bakery owner leaves, but Ash says, "But we need a place for rest."
Then the officer takes them to the local Pokemon Center. When they arrive, they find Nurse Joy manning a control panel that is monitoring the city, confirming that the evacuation was complete and that measures to remove the Gulpin from the city are about to be launched.
"Wow, I have never seen a Pokemon Center like this." Mark says.
"Well, it had been specially outfitted to be a center for defense against Gulpin attacks." Joy replies.
Then they meet a specialist on Gulpin research, Professor Jacuzzi, who immediately recognizes Ash as one of the fellow Professor. Then he tells them that the Gulpin population is on the rise again.
"You see. Gulpin attack the town around this time every year, devouring all of the food in the city, and that this year, the defense center's goal is to rid the town of Gulpin for good." Officer Jenny says.
Jacuzzi points out on a map where he knows the Gulpin are headed: the city's main food storage, in the center of town. So that they are going to stop them.
They first try to use the Pokeblocks as the way to attract the Gulpin, but Team Rocket comes and they ruin it. But then Gulpin use Sludge to crash their balloon, and then use Stockpile and Spit up to send them flying again.
Once they manage to lure Gulpin away, they decide to take a rest, but that night, the Gulpin are seen to be coming back, so they try to close the gates in the sewer. Ash and his friends decide to attack the Gulpin themselves by using their Pokemon, and they are blasted off by Jacuzzi's Mach III Particle Cannon, which is inspired by Gulpin's Stockpile and Spit up attacks.
But the machine stops as only Gulpin is left. Ash sends out Grovyle and has it use Bullet Seed. The Gulpin counters with Sludge. While the two Pokémon battle it out, Jacuzzi hurriedly tries to get the Cannon working again, and finally succeeds as the lights come back on. Ash orders Grovyle to use Pound; just as Treecko's tail comes down on the Gulpin's head, Jacuzzi fires the particle beam, striking both Pokémon at once and absorbing them together. Inside the computer's database, Gulpin responds to Grovyle's attack by using Spit Up, knocking Grovyle away and overloading the system. The machine begins to spark and smoke before the vehicle self-destructs. When the smoke clears, Jenny finds the rest of the group amongst the rubble, all safe and accounted for.
"Something unusual is happening..." They turn around and see that Grovyle and Gulpin become oversize and they starts to fighting again.
"What should we do now?" Max asks.
Then they decide to take the citizens to safety while Ash handles the situation. Ash orders Grovyle to intervene, and Grovyle responds by landing in front of the Gulpin, pressing its hands on the Gulpin's head to block its path. As the two giant Pokémon fight, Jenny and Joy help the remaining citizens to reach the shelters. Unable to keep Gulpin back, Grovyle uses its force against it and tosses Gulpin into a building. In retaliation, Gulpin opens its mouth wide and fires several rounds of Sludge with a loud belching noise, causing numerous explosions to erupt all across the city.
"Maybe it is a mistake to build the cannon..." Jacuzzi says.
Grovyle is knocked down, causing rubble to fall, which nearly squishes Ash. Standing up, Ash notices the lake on the edge of town. Using a loudspeaker, Ash orders Grovyle to force the Gulpin close to the lake; Grovyle follows through by lifting Gulpin up over its head, and tossing it towards the lake. Sent flying, the Gulpin prepares an attack in mid-air, but only to hit Team Rocket and send them flying.
The Gulpin splashes down, and Grovyle jumps in after it, getting ambushed as the Gulpin suddenly surfaces right in front of it and knocks it stands back up, and the two have a second staring match as the group watches from a rescue boat. They notice Grovyle breathing heavily and realize that it must be getting very tired. Max cries out as the Gulpin uses Stockpile to prepare for another Spit Up attack, and Grovyle evades as the beam tears through the water and blasts a hole in the concrete wall.
"So what should we do now?" Mark asks.
"There is only one way." Ash says as he takes out the Pokeball. "Go! Pokeball!"
Just then, the Gulpin is sucked inside the Pokeball, but it gets burst out. Jacuzzi says, "I have a Heavy Ball, how about you try to use it."
Ash takes the ball and then thanks him, then he captures the Pokemon successfully, at the same time, Grovyle also return back to normal size. "So the battle had bring him down to the size..." Joy says.
"You deserve a good rest." Grovyle is then recalled.
With Ash and Jacuzzi working to reverse the machine, they manage to make the Gulpin back to normal. And Gulpin also joins Ash so that he can be stronger than Grovyle, which he agrees.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.65 Gulpin: The Stomach Pokemon: Chemical Type. This Pokémon's stomach fluid can even digest scrap iron. In one gulp, it can swallow something that is as large as itself.
And then after leaving the city, Ash decides to train up his Pokemon, resulting Grovyle and Loudred to evolve in the end.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.3 Sceptile: The Forest Pokemon: Grass Type. Evolved from Grovyle at LV:32. In the jungle, its power is without equal. This Pokémon carefully grows trees and plants. It regulates its body temperature by basking in sunlight.
Hoenn Dex Entry No. 44 Exploud: The Loud Noise Pokemon: Music Type. Evolved from Loudred at LV:40. It has sound-generating organs all over its body. It communicates with others by adjusting the tone and volume of the cries it emits.
After evolving, Ash and his friends come across Team Rocket again, who uses a machine to capture Absol, Sylveon and Pikachu.
"Sceptile, let's save them. Mega Evolve!"
Sceptile mega evolves, and Max says, "So this is the Mega Sceptile… so cool…" Max says.
Ash tells Sceptile to use Bullet Seed to break the machine and sends Team Rocket flying, and he says, "We did it, now we can use your Mega Evolution as well." Sceptile nods.
And then Reisa finds a Water Stone, so she decides to evolve her Lombre into a Ludicolo. Ludicolo likes to dance, so Pikachu and the other Pokemon also join him in the end.
They finally arrives at North Petalburg, they are ambush by a group of Norman's fans. After hearing Ash is going to battle Norman, he is ambushed by an angry mob and they don't want to let him win against their idol. Ash only can battle them until Norman comes and save him.
"What do you think you are doing? Just because I am your idol and you don't want him to battle me?" Norman roars.
"Losing is another step to winning, I will not let anyone interrupt my gym battles!"
Then the angry mob all run away for fear of angry Norman.
"I am sorry for the mess." Norman says to all of them, Ash says that he is fine as May and Max hugs their father. They get back to the gym and even help out their anniversary with the Beautifly lights that night.
A new Chapter for you guys. Ash arrives at Petalburg City and they are going to have a gym battle. I hope you like it.
Ash's Current Pokemon:
Butterfree, Pikachu, Lapras x2, Mewtwo, Mew, Meganium, Azumarill, Espeon, Steelix, Mantine, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Sceptile, Combusken, Marshtomp, Mightyena, Zigzagoon, Beautifly, Dustox, Lombre, Shiftry, Taillow, Wingull, Gardevoir, Masquerain, Shroomish, Ninjask, Shedinja, Exploud, Makuhita, Nosepass, Skitty, Sableye, Mawile, Lairon, Medicham, Manectric, Plusle, Minun, Volbeat, Illumise, Gulpin, Shapedo, Wailord, Flygon, Cacturne, Altaria, Zangoose, Seviper, Solrock, Crawdaunt, Lileep, Anorith, Milotic, Absol, Sealeo, Gorebyss, Relicanth, Shelgon, Latias, Latios, Jirachi, Gallade, Sylveon
In Home or with Lillie:
Venusaur, Blastoise, Pidgeot, Raticate, Fearow, Arbok, Raichu, Sandslash, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Clefable, Vileplume, Venomoth, Dugtrio, Persian, Golduck, Primeape, Poliwrath, Alakazam, Machamp, Victreebel, Tentacruel, Golem, Rapidash, Slowbro, Magneton, Farfetch'd, Dodrio, Muk, Cloyster, Gengar, Hypno, Kingler, Electrode, Exeggutor, Marowak, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Weezing, Rhyperior, Kangaskhan, Seaking, Starmie, Mr. Mime, Jynx, Pinsir, Tauros, Gyarados, Ditto, Omastar, Kabutops, Aerodactyl, Snorlax, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Dragonite, Typhlosion, Feraligatr, Furret, Noctowl, Ledian, Ariados, Lanturn, Xatu, Ampharos, Bellossom, Sudowoodo, Politoed, Jumpluff, Sunflora, Umbreon, Slowking, Unown x28, Wobbuffet, Girafarig, Forretress, Granbull, Scizor, Shuckle, Heracross, Ursaring, Magcargo, Corsola, Octillery, Delibird, Skarmory, Houndoom, Kingdra, Donphan, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Larvitar, Tyranitar, Lugia, Honchkrow, Weavile, Lickilicky, Yanmega, Porygon-Z,
In training: Charizard, Charla
Reisa's Current Pokemon:
Feraligatr, Quagsire, Azumarill, Slowking, Blastoise, Politoed, Omastar, Kabutops, Seaking, Octillery, Starmie, Tentacruel, Gyarados, Lanturn, Corsola, Lapras, Mudkip, Relicanth, Ludicolo, Sharpedo, Corphish, Wingull, Huntail, Sealeo, Surskit
May's Current Pokemon:
Torchic, Beautifly, Skitty
Mark's Current Pokemon:
Blaziken, Lucario, Breloom, Hariyama, Meditite
Minami's Current Pokemon:
Primarina, Carbink, Mawile, Togepi, Swablu