When we last saw our heroes, they had defeated Roxanne,

the Gym Leader of Rustboro. Now, they are continuing on

their journey, out of Rustboro.

"Since, we're still in Rustboro, we should go sign up for the

Pokemon League! That's what we forgot to do!" Daniel said. "

I've always wanted to be a Pokemon Co-ordinator. I should sign

up for Grand Festival while you guys sign up for the Pokemon

League." Said Sydney, following Daniel and Brennan on their

way to the Pokemon Center. Their names were keyed into the

computer, and they exited into the city. As they walked out of

Rustboro, Sydney was looking at the brochure, and she found a

Slaking Reserve not too far away. At the Slaking reserve, they

saw herds of wild Slaking roaming the grounds. The trio were

amazed at the immense amount of wild Slaking, Slakoth, and

Vigoroth there. "Pika, Pikachu!" the trio heard the voice of a

young Pikachu running into the wild lands where the Slaking

roamed. The Pikachu picked wild fruit from the trees, and while

it was stuffing its face, a Slaking stood behind it, which was

oblivious to the Pikachu until it saw the shadow. "PIKACHU!"

Pikachu shrieked and ran around, and eventually came to a

stop, and used a Spark attack on Slaking. Slaking was obviously

hurt, and called out to the others. One by one, Vigoroth

gathered around Pikachu in a circle, blocking any possible

escape route for the electric mouse. "Vigo….roth." The Vigoroth

bellowed in a deep voice. "We've got to help that poor

Pikachu!" shouted Sydney, much to Daniel and Brennan's

surprise.

"But we can't!" said Daniel, who was obviously following

the rules of the reserve. "Well, we can't just let that Pikachu

suffer!" said Brennan, and Daniel had no choice but to let them

have their way. Majority rules, after all. But when they turned

back, they saw no Pikachu. They didn't see the Slaking in a

circle, either. "Where'd the Pikachu go?" asked Daniel, but the

others just shrugged. "We need to get down there!" said

Sydney, even though she knew the risks. "She jumped over the

railing, followed by Brennan and a reluctant Daniel. "We don't

know where Pikachu is, but we can't just look around the entire

forest. We need clues." Brennan said, in the way that he

sounded like Sherlock Holmes. "How about that for a clue?"

Daniel suggested, pointing up. They saw a Spark attack shooting

through the air. "That's the way to go." Said Daniel, rushing into

the trees. Sydney and Brennan hurriedly followed.

Daniel, Sydney, and Brennan skidded to a halt at what they

saw next. There was Pikachu, wrapped in vines to trap it. It lay

against a tree trunk, struggling to shake free, but unable to aim

Spark attacks at the vines without electrocuting itself. "We

have to help!" said Sydney, slowly releasing a pokeball from her

belt. "No. We have to keep a low profile and think of a plan."

Said Daniel. "Sla….KING!" a sudden shout came from behind

them, and they were trapped by arms with huge muscles. "It is

weird how this Slaking is so active! They normally are the

world's laziest pokemon!" commented Daniel, who was only

answered by Brennan who said, "That's not helpful!" "Looks

like we have no choice but to battle!" said Daniel, letting out

Breloom. "Breloom Mach Punch!" Breloom's fist glowed with

energy, and he punched Slaking with it. Slaking growled in

frustration, and let go of the trio, stumbling backwards.

"Mudkip go and use Bubble!" Sydney called out to her

pokemon. "Go Torchic! Use Scratch on the vines holding

Pikachu!" Torchic followed his instructions, claws glowing

white, and he sliced the vines perfectly in half. "Good job! Hold

these Slaking off with Ember!" Torchic released heated embers

at the opponent, and then used Quick Attack instinctively. "Go

Carvanha and use Water Gun! We've got this!" Brennan said

and Carvanha exited its pokeball, the piranha-like pokemon

shooting a steady stream of water at the Slaking. "We might be

able to fight better if we know what Slaking can do." Said

Sydney, whipping out her Pokedex. Slaking, the Lazy Pokémon.

Slaking lives most of its life asleep, eating only grasses that

grow within its reach. "Wow. That certainly was helpful." Said

Daniel in a sarcastic tone. The Slaking yawned, and Daniel,

Brennan, and Sydney realized what it was doing. It was Yawn, a

move that would cause the opponent to fall asleep. "Return all

of your pokemon!" said Daniel, immediately sending both

Breloom and Torchic to their pokeballs. "This will stop them

from hearing the yawn and falling asleep! Or so I hope…" Daniel

said, muttering the last part under his breath. Soon, both

Carvanha and Mudkip were back in their pokeballs again. "Go

Torchic use Ember, then Scratch!" "Treecko, Quick Attack!"

"Surskit, Bubble!" The three pokemon were let out of their

pokeballs, back onto the battlefield, and they released their

attacks. Even though the pokemon were young, they were

already hitting with some hard moves. Slaking stumbled

backwards, tripped on a rock, and landed on the ground,

curling up near her leg. "Do you want to come with us?" asked

Sydney, bending down to Pikachu's level. "Pikachu!" Pikachu

replied, which Sydney took as a 'yes'. She enlarged an empty

pokeball, and gently tapped it on Pikachu's head, transforming

him into energy and letting it enter the pokeball. The pokeball

shook for a while, and then stopped, with a sound that signaled

the capture of a pokemon. "Alright! I got a Pikachu!" said

Sydney, striking a pose. As they ran towards the railing which

they used to get into the wild reserve, they were stopped by an

Officer Jenny.

The lime green-haired policewoman stopped them in their

tracks, holding up a gloved hand. "You have broken the rule of

not going into the Slaking Reserve. Furthermore, you have

attacked a Slaking who was only trying to defend its own

territory. Thus, I ban you from entering Hoenn for a year." Said

Officer Jenny strictly. "But we're in the Pokemon League! And

Sydney's entering the Grand Festival! And we live here!

Additionally, I would like to say that we were only saving a wild

Pikachu who entered the reserve." Said Daniel, defensively.

"That Pikachu wandered in there for food. However, you were

only breaking the rules to help a pokemon. I will thus lighten

your punishment. You are only banned from entering Hoenn

regional competitions, and still for a year." "OK, I guess that

sounds legit." Daniel said. "But we've already signed up for the

Pokemon League here!" Brennan complained. "Yeah, but I've

heard of a new region we can go to. It's full of new pokemon,

and the region was only recently discovered. It's called the

Tsuyosa Region, which literally translates in Japanese as

'strength'. We can compete in the League there, a year's

enough time for the entire cycle of training and competition, so

we've got enough time, and when we return to Hoenn with

pokemon from Tsuyosa, and strong Hoenn pokemon, we'll do

well in the League! How's that sound?" Daniel said. Brennan

and Sydney's jaws gaped wide. "How do you know all that

stuff?!" asked Brennan. "I read the news." Replied Daniel

calmly. "I say we go to Tsuyosa for a year, agreed?" Sydney

asked. "Sure!" "It's OK with me." Daniel and Brennan both said.

"It's agreed then. We leave for Tsuyosa first thing tomorrow

morning, alright?" Sydney said "Good.".

After being banned from entering Hoenn regional events,

Sydney, Daniel, and Brennan have decided to travel to

Tsuyosa for the League and Grand Festival there. They are

leaving first thing tomorrow morning, and if you want to

know what happens there, read the next chapter!