Day 37
Cool and sunny
Current mood: content
Current location: Ilex Outpost
Dear Diary:
We're resting here at an outpost just oustide the Ilex Forest this evening, where a famed Charcoal maker and his son, Sylvester, live with their Farfetch'd. We would go through the forest tonight, but it would be too dark for us to see anything.
Oddly enough, we arrived here by accident. After losing our way on Ilex Pass, we came upon Sylvester trying to tell Farfetch'd to Cut down a tree, but was not doing a good job of it. We tried to help, but Sylvester just shied away from us, embarrassed that we had found him. Ash tried to help Sylvester out, but when Sylvester asked Farfetch'd to Cut again, Farfetch'd simply refused.
Sylvester told us that he dreamed of making Charcoal like his dad, but he didn't know how to control Farfetch'd, much less know the attack names! Ash just assured him that he and I started out on rough terms as well, but with time, we became fast friends and loyal teammates. He then gave Sylvester a little advice: You're only a loser if you're a quitter.
We found the outpost's Pokemon Center not long after that, so Ash decided to call Prof. Oak again and tell him about our plans. Right as he got to the part about winning a badge, Sylvester raced into the Center, panicked that he lost Farfetch'd after some more practicing. Nurse Joy suggested that he look at his house. However, Sylvester wasn't too keen on that; since he was worried about his father's reaction. Ash quickly said his goodbyes to the professor and assured Sylvester that we'd help look for Farfetch'd.
At the house, we found the Charcoal maker hard at work with his Magmar. When he heard what happened, he was not very pleased with Sylvester for losing Farfetch'd. It looked like the lecture was about to turn into a shouting match, but Ash stepped in and explained that training Pokemon was more than just ordering the Pokemon around--you had to work as a team. On that note, we raced into the forest, where we met nearby a tiny shrine.
Sylvester told us that the shrine was dedicated to the Legendary Pokemon Celebi; the "voice of the forest"...and that it was our meeting point for our search. As Ash and I hurried off to the west, I saw Brock try to summon Pineco, but he quickly called Pineco back before he could explode.
We were about to give up when Heracross informed Ash that Team Rocket had captured Farfetch'd! We called for the others, and sure enough, Team Rocket was there, tying Farfetch'd in a net!
Ash summoned Bulbasaur and Chikorita to deal with Arbok and Lickitung, but their efforts didn't even faze them. Then, Weezing and Victreebel joined the duel! Weezing would've poisoned Ash with Sludge; had Brock not summoned Onix to toss Weezing away! Misty decided to summon Poliwag; and told him to hose us down to clean us up.
Weezing and Victreebel were about to attack us again, but Squirtle washed them both away with a nicely timed Hydro Pump. As Sylvester watched us combine our power to free Farfetch'd, he asked Misty why he couldn't get Farfetch'd to obey...Misty replied that Ash was working with us as a teammate.
About that time, The Farfetch'd had been freed, found his leek, and was proceeding to give Team Rocket a beating. They tried to escape, but Farfetch'd Cut a tree down to block their path. As I gave Team Rocket their daily zapping, I noted that Sylvester was overjoyed that the Farfetch'd had Cut a tree. He then asked Farfetch'd to Cut the tree into logs. It obliged, and we carried the logs back to the house.
The Charcoal maker was very pleased when Sylvester told him how he managed to get Farfetch'd to obey him, and as a reward, we received a bag of Charcoal; some of which we used for our campfire tonight. Ash also gave Cyndaquil a piece as well...maybe that will boost his fire power a bit.
Dinner's almost ready, so I'll wrap this up and get ready to eat.
Until tomorrow,
Pikachu
Day 38
Warm and breezy
Current mood: happy
Current location: Kaiho Harbor
Dear Diary:
We arrived in Kaiho Harbor this afternoon, which is host to the famous Pokemon Swap Meet: an annual event where trainers gather to trade Pokemon. As we were exploring town, we found a boy conversing with his Wobbufett. The owner, a boy named Benny, was planning to trade Wobbufett so that he could train a different Pokemon. He offered to take us into town to trade, so we followed Benny and Wobbufett to the square.
Just as we arrived, the ground started shaking as a stempede of Tauros and people raced by. Brock wondered what was happening, so a passerby explained that the Running of the Tauros was going on--whoever could touch a Tauros' horns won a prize. Ash wanted to try and run, but after he saw how big the stampede was, he quickly changed his mind. I was also relieved...had Ash actually ran, he probably would've been squished flat by all the Tauros!
After the running ended, we followed the Tauros herd to Kaiho Stadium, where the Tauros dueled each other. Ash wanted to try this, so when we found the stadium's Pokemon Center, Ash called Prof. Oak right away and asked for one of his Tauros. In return, he sent Heracross back to the lab so Prof. Oak could examine him.
The duel was quite exciting, and Ash received a medallion for his efforts. Beeny was amazed at Tauros' power and offered his Wobbufett for him. However, several other people made offers too! Ash politely declined them all, but offered to help Benny find a good trade for Wobbufett
Benny tried offering for a Scyther, but was rejected. As we shopped for offers, I swore I saw Lady Snubbull in the crowd, looking for Meowth...but I shook off my gut feelings for the moment and continued searching.
At that time, Psyduck decided to come out and look around, but Misty shooed him back inside his Poke Ball with threats to trade him if he didn't behave himself. Before long, we finally accepted an offer: Benny would get a Stantler in return for Wobbufett. They were about to finalize the deal until the other trainer decided that a Hoothoot was a better offer. Benny was crushed--he must've wanted that Stantler.
Just then, we saw an angry crowd gathering--Team Rocket was there with a fake exchange machine! Before we could do anything, we were all fit to be tied. As Ash worked himself loose, he told the townspeople to try using the Tauros to get the Poke Balls back. But when we finally recovered them, we found they were empty!
Jessie then summoned what she thought was Lickitung, but out came Wobbufett instead. She tried an order, but Wobbufett just stood there. Ash ordered Chikorita to attack, but Wobbufetts counter sent her flying. He couldn't counter my patented Thunderbolt, however, and with that, Team Rocket and Wobbufett were blasted away.
As we returned the lost Poke Balls, Benny was confused as to who gave him Licktung...so he just called a thank you into the crowd. We said our goodbyes and headed off to camp.
I hope everyone that traded today was happy...
Until tomorrow,
Pikachu