Chapter 51 Baawool and the Ranch
As the group leaves the Lighthouse, Beacon gives Gina a warm goodbye hug before they set off toward Route 11. Gina smiles as she walks alongside the others, her excitement evident. "This route is actually famous for the Haybarrel Ranch," she says, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Haybarrel Ranch?" Ash repeats, curiosity piqued. "What kind of place is that?"
Red glances at Ash, a knowing smile on his face. "Why don't we head there so you can see for yourself?" he suggests.
Ash nods eagerly, and they continue down the path, the landscape around them gradually changing. As they approach the entrance to the route, a familiar figure comes into view—Keira, strolling toward them with a bright smile on her face.
"Hey, guys! Isn't this place beautiful? That lighthouse is just incredible," Keira exclaims, her eyes still glowing with admiration.
Alice nods in agreement. "You're right, it really is."
Keira's gaze shifts to the two new faces in the group, her expression curious. "Who are these two? It seems like you're always switching up your travel companions."
After Alice introduces Gina and Red, Keira's eyes widen in surprise. "Wow, the King has returned? That's huge news!" She laughs lightly. "But I'm having a great time on this journey. I've met so many different kinds of people and Pokémon. It's been a lot of fun."
Ash grins. "I agree, it's definitely been fun."
Keira's eyes sparkle with excitement as she continues, "Not far from here, there's a place called Lake Bliss. I've heard it's full of beautiful flowers and some really cute Pokémon. I've even heard rumors about some rare ones. I'm planning to check it out and see what I can find."
"Rare ones?" Ash's interest is immediately piqued. "That sounds interesting."
Keira's grin widens, and she reaches for a Pokéball. "But before that, how about a Pokémon battle?" she suggests. With a flick of her wrist, she sends out her Roobeop. "Let's see how much we've both grown."
Ash confidently sends out his Kapplash, ready to take on Keira's challenge. The battle begins with Kapplash swiftly dodging Roobeop's Power-Up Punch. Seizing the opportunity, Kapplash strikes with a powerful move, securing the first win as Roobeop misses its attack.
Next, Keira sends out Pooldog, but Ash is quick to respond with Pikachu. Pikachu's speed and agility prove too much for Pooldog, and with a series of well-timed Quick Attacks, Pikachu scores another victory.
Keira isn't deterred and calls upon Nimblow. Ash counters by sending out Eclipser. Nimblow tries to gain an advantage with its aerial maneuvers, but Eclipser cleverly uses Rock Tomb, slowing Nimblow down. With its speed reduced, Nimblow falls prey to Eclipser's powerful Stone Edge, resulting in another win for Ash.
Undeterred, Keira sends out Pixilily as her fourth Pokémon. Ash chooses Frogoo for this round. Pixilily's attempts to overwhelm Frogoo with its fairy-like charms are quickly countered by Frogoo's precise Sludge Bomb, which secures another win for Ash.
Finally, Keira calls forth her last Pokémon, Mountree. Ash meets the challenge with Purryo. The intense battle culminates with Purryo's Flamethrower scorching Mountree, followed by a strategic use of Quicksand to trap it. Mountree is unable to escape, leading to Ash's final victory in the match.
"You did so well," Keira says as she recalls her Mountree, a smile on her face despite the loss. "But I think I did well, too! You always need to have confidence in yourself and learn from your losses!"
"You're right," Ash agrees, appreciating her positive outlook.
Keira then pulls out a shiny object, handing it to Ash. "Well, I have a useful gift for you as well," she says, revealing an Amulet Coin.
"An Amulet Coin? I know I can get more money from this," Ash says, recognizing its value immediately.
"Yeah," Keira nods. "I need to find Rodney and give him one too. See you later!" With a wave, she turns and heads off, leaving Ash and his group.
Red watches her leave, then turns to Ash with a proud smile. "He did battle well."
"Yeah," Delia adds, her eyes warm with pride. "His style is just like yours."
"I know," Red laughs, sharing a knowing look with Delia.
As they arrive at Haybarrel Ranch, a confident cowgirl approaches them, her stride full of the easy grace of someone who knows the land like the back of her hand. "Howdy there! Are you a Trainer?" she asks, her voice carrying the warm, friendly drawl of someone who's spent their life under wide, open skies.
"Yeah, I am," Ash replies, as the group takes a moment to introduce themselves.
Sally's eyes widen in surprise as each introduction is made. "Oh, I can't believe it—the King, the Queen, the Prince, the Princess, and even a Gym Leader!" she exclaims, her smile broadening with warmth. "My name's Sally, and I live and work here at Haybarrel Ranch! I suppose you've heard of this place. We're known for raising Baawool. Come on! I'll show you around."
"Sure," Ash responds, excitement in his voice as he anticipates exploring the ranch. Just as they are about to follow Sally, a familiar voice calls out, "Hey, wait up!"
Turning around, they see Rodney and Keira hurrying over, with Rodney slightly out of breath. "Are you heading to Haybarrel Ranch?" he asks, trying to catch his breath.
Sally looks at them with friendly curiosity. "And who might you two be?"
"I'm Rodney," he introduces himself, and Keira quickly adds, "And my name is Keira. We're here to see the Baawool, if that's okay!"
Sally's grin widens, clearly delighted by their enthusiasm. "Of course! I was just about to show them around. You're welcome to join us!" With that, she leads the growing group toward the farmhouse.
As they approach, Sally gestures to the sturdy building with pride. "This is our farmhouse. My dad built it himself. All the farmworkers live here—it's like one big family."
She then points toward a field filled with neat rows of freshly tilled soil. "And this is the berry planting field! If you've got some berries on you, feel free to plant them here and see how they grow."
Ash nods, clearly impressed by the layout of the ranch. "Sure, I'd love to give it a try," he says, stepping closer to examine the field, intrigued by the idea of nurturing something from the soil.
After a short walk, they arrive at a large, rustic barn. Sally's pride is evident as she gestures toward the structure. "This is our barn! It's where we raise our Baawool, and when they're old enough, we evolve them with evolutionary stones. Come on in, I'll show you all the Baawool!"
Inside the barn, the group is greeted by the sight of forty Baawool contentedly milling about within a fenced area. Their soft, fluffy wool almost seems to glow in the warm light filtering through the barn's windows.
"They're so cute!" Keira exclaims, her eyes lighting up with delight.
"They are, aren't they?" Sally agrees with a smile. "Baawool are famous for their incredibly soft and silky wool. It's one of the reasons we take such good care of them here."
Rodney, always curious, asks, "I've heard that Baawool can evolve into different Pokémon. Is that right?"
Sally nods enthusiastically. "Yes, that's right! Baawool can evolve into six different Pokémon, each of a different type, using evolutionary stones."
"Wow! I want one so bad!" Alice says, her eyes wide with excitement. "Can we pet them?"
"Why not?" Sally replies, clearly pleased with their enthusiasm. "Go ahead!" She then leads them further into the barn, where they come across six different breeders, each tending to one of the six Baawool evolutions.
As they approach, Sally turns to the group. "You can ask the breeders here about the evolutions! I'm sure they'd be happy to give you all the information you need."
The group splits up to explore, and Ash and Alice decide to check out the different Pokémon evolutions first. They approach the first one, and the breeder introduces them. "This is Baabush," the breeder begins. "It's the Grass Type evolution of Baawool. It evolves when Baawool is exposed to a Leaf Stone! Baabush's wool is very bushy and bouncy, and it has an amazing aroma! Go ahead, have a sniff."
Ash leans in and takes a deep breath. His eyes light up as the scent fills his senses. "I'm in love with the smell… Alice, maybe you should make a perfume that smells like this."
Alice giggles softly. "I'll consider it."
They move on to the next Pokémon. "This is Baabble," the breeder explains. "It's the Water Type evolution of Baawool when exposed to a Water Stone. Its wool is incredibly silky and smooth. Give it a touch."
Alice reaches out and runs her hand through Baabble's wool, her expression one of pure delight. "It's like running my hand through water," she says, the texture cool and soothing. Ash follows suit and nods in agreement.
The third breeder introduces them to another evolution. "This is Baablaze, the Fire Type evolution of Baawool that evolves when exposed to a Fire Stone."
Ash gently touches Baablaze's wool, feeling the warmth radiate through his fingertips. "It's so soft and warm," he comments.
The breeder nods. "Indeed, hikers often use its wool in their clothing to keep warm."
They move on to the fourth evolution, Baabreeze. "This is the Flying Type evolution, which evolves from an Air Stone," the breeder explains. Alice touches its wool and sighs contentedly.
"It's so soft and light… like my pillow back in my gym," she remarks.
The breeder smiles. "Yes, its wool is often used in pillows. It's like sleeping on a cloud."
The fifth Pokémon catches Ash's attention. "This is Baablock," the breeder introduces. "It's the Rock Type evolution, which evolves from Baawool with a Solid Stone."
Ash looks puzzled. "I've never heard of this type of evolution stone before." He reaches out and touches Baablock's wool, feeling its rough and dry texture. "It's rough and dry…"
The breeder nods. "That's because it's one of the strongest materials in the world."
Finally, they arrive at the last evolution, which immediately piques Alice's interest. "This is Baablizz," the breeder says. "It's the Ice Type evolution of Baawool, evolved with an Ice Stone. Its wool is thick and sleek, perfect for clothing in colder regions. It's excellent at insulating heat."
Ash notices Alice's fascination. "Alice seems to like this one," he observes with a smile.
Alice nods, her eyes fixed on Baablizz. "Of course."
Sandy approaches and asks, "So, what do you think?"
Alice smiles, her eyes still on Baablizz. "I love them so much, especially this Baablizz."
Ash, looking at the different evolutions, says, "I'm not sure which one I want yet."
Before Sandy can respond, a loud explosion echoes through the barn, and she quickly turns toward the sound. "What's that?"
"It came from the back of the barn!" Ash exclaims.
The group rushes outside and sees a Team Solar grunt trying to capture ten Baawool with nets, while the others are chasing the remaining Baawool, attempting to round them up.
"Get back here!" the grunt yells. "You can't escape me."
"Herd them in!" commands the only female grunt, her voice authoritative.
Rodney clenches his fists. "Hey, it's Team Solar!"
"Leave those poor Baawool alone!" Keira demands, stepping forward.
One of the grunts spots them and groans. "Not those kids again…"
Sandy, confused and concerned, asks, "Who are these people? What are they doing with the Baawool?"
"They're bad guys," Alice replies, her voice firm.
"We're taking these Baawool! They'll be useful for us!" one of the grunts declares.
"Stay out of the way, kids! You've messed with our plans too many times already!" another grunt adds, frustration clear in their tone.
"Take them out!" the female grunt orders as the Solar Grunts release their Pokémon.
Ash turns to his friends. "Guys, let's show them what we've got. We'll take care of this, Sally."
The group springs into action, sending out their Pokémon. The battle is fierce, but Ash and Alice manage to defeat several of the grunt's Pokémon, and in the heat of battle, some of their own Pokémon begin to evolve.
Mountree: The Guardian Pokémon: Grass and Rock Type. Evolved from Forestone at Level 36. Mountree guards its forest against any danger, willing to risk its life to help those in need. Its shell is as hard as granite.
Flearoe: The Gepard Pokémon: Fire and Ground Type. Evolved from Purryo at Level 36. Flearoe attacks by exhaling hot breath that singes its opponents. Its fur produces heat on its own and is sometimes used to produce winter clothing.
Salaslam: The Salamander Pokémon Water and Poison. Evolved from Salanip at Level 36. This Pokémon can slug prey with its powerful arms and tail. Salaslam can excrete toxins through its mouth and skin.
Horshush: The Horse Pokémon: Grass Type. Evolved from Spony with High Friendship. In the past, Horshush were the primary form of transportation in the Rikoto region. Since then, farmers raise them for their ability to rejuvenate tired soil.
Moostrike: The Moose Pokémon: Normal and Steel Type. Evolved from Moostone at Level 36. Moostrike are fierce and aggressive Pokémon, despite their appearance and usual portrayal. Males are known to fight to near-death over territory and mates.
Banshreek: The Banshee Pokémon: Ghost Type. Evolved from Skreech at Level 36. Banshreek are seen as heralds of the passing. It is a common belief for families to shut their windows close at the sight of one.
"Not again… why do you keep messing with our plans?!" one of the grunts yells, clearly frustrated.
"Let's get out of here, FLASH!" the female grunt orders. In an instant, the grunts disappear, leaving Ash and his friends standing victorious.
Ash quickly rushes to the net and frees all the Baawool. Much to his surprise, the Baawool all gather around him, hugging him tightly in thanks.
Sandy, beaming with gratitude, says, "Thank you so much for saving the Baawool! I don't know what I would've done if they had gotten away with them! I need to go tell my pap what happened! Come with me!"
As they begin to leave, they are surprised to see the ten Baawool following them closely. Once they arrive at the farmhouse, Sandy quickly recounts everything to her father.
Sandy's dad listens carefully, then nods with a smile. "Sounds like these kids saved the day, then!"
"They did, Pap! They saved all the Baawool!" Sandy adds, and the Baawool nod in agreement, their fluffy bodies bouncing with enthusiasm.
Sandy's father turns to the group, his expression full of gratitude. "Thank you, kids! Who knows what that Team Solar would have done with the Baawool! You saved them and our ranch!"
"It was no problem at all!" Rodney says, modestly.
"We're glad we could help!" Keira adds, smiling.
Sandy's father notices the Baawool that followed them and says, "I want to thank you for your help. I'll let you take care of these Baawool that followed you here from our ranch. They're yours to keep."
"Really?!" Rodney asks, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Wow, thank you! Oh gosh, I'm so happy!" Alice exclaims in joy, hugging Ash tightly.
"It's the least we could do!" Sandy chimes in. "Oh, and we also have plenty of Evolution Stones for them as well. If you want, I can give you some for their evolution."
With that generous offer, Ash ends up receiving all six evolutions of Baawool, while Alice joyfully receives her own Baablizz. They eagerly take out their Pokédexes and scan their new Pokémon, excited to learn more about their unique traits.
Baawool: The Fluffy Wool Pokemon: Normal Type. Baawools are famous for their soft wool which is used for all sorts of clothing. Baawool farms still thrive today due to the lack of artificial material that can replace wool.
Baabush: The Aroma Wool Pokemon: Normal and Grass Type. Evolved from Baawool with a Leaf soft, bushy wool of Baabush regrow instantly under sunlight if sheared. It has a pleasant aroma which is used in perfumes.
Baablaze: The Heat Wool Pokemon: Normal and Fire Type. Evolved from Baawool with a Fire Stone. The coat of Baablaze is revered by many who live in cold climates to be the best; not just for retaining heat, but even generating warmth on its own.
Baabble: The Damp Wool Pokemon: Normal and Water Type. Evolved from Baawool with a Water Stone. Baabble's wool can soak up the water of a volume much larger than its size, and yet remain dry to the touch. Towels produced from the wool are a customer favorite.
Baabreeze: The Windy Wool Pokemon: Normal and Flying Type. Evolved from Baawool with an Air Stone. Baabreeze's wool feels as light as air. It's often used for blankets and pillows to provide a soft texture as if a piece of cloud to the sleeping.
Baablock: The Hard Wool Pokemon: Normal and Rock Type. Evolved from Baawool with a Solid Stone. Baablock's wool cannot be sheared with mundane tools at all, as they are as hard as a rock; They are valuable in building walls and other strong structures.
Baablizz: The Snow Wool Pokemon: Normal and Ice Type. Evolved from Baawool with an Ice Stone. Baablizz's wool can cool down a heated piece of metal without being ignited. It is considered a cheap substitute for air conditioners in arid areas.
"I'm so happy! My Baawool is so cute!" Keira exclaims, holding her Pokémon close. "I wonder what I should evolve it into!"
"I already know what mine will be," Rodney says confidently. He then turns to Ash. "So, Ash, where are you off to next?"
"Well, I want to find the sixth gym, but I also want to check out Rassic City," Ash replies.
"Rassic City? I've heard of that place," Rodney says, his interest piqued. "There's an Artifact Museum there. They have heaps of ancient things—really cool stuff!"
Keira chimes in, "I think to get to Rassic City, you have to go through Sailport Town. It's not too far from here. I'm heading to Lake Bliss. I've heard there are lots of cute Pokémon there!"
"I'm going to the Safari Zone. It's not far from here, either. I'll catch you later!" Rodney says, waving as he prepares to head off.
After bidding farewell to Keira and Rodney, Ash and his group make their way back to the farmhouse to say goodbye to Sandy and her father. With their goodbyes said, they set off down the road, ready for the next adventure.
Ash has all six of Baawool evolution, and Alice also has one. As for Red's Pokemon, since he was dead and his Pokemon were as well, so he will be sharing Pokemon with Delia and Ash in the journey.
New Pokemon/Evolution: Mountree, Flearoe, Salaslam, Horshush, Moostrike, Banshreek, Baabush, Baablaze, Baabble, Baabreeze, Baablock, Baablizz
Route 11:
Land: Bullson:25% (LV:34~36), Psyflock:25% (LV:34~36), Wormune:20% (LV:34~36), Hosehush:20% (LV:34~36), Bushup:10% (LV:33~35)
Headbutt: Weashock:50% (LV:33~35), Paraful:30% (LV:33~35), Aeroma:20% (LV:33~35)
Surfing: Angelish:60% (LV:33~35), Swellegent:30% (LV:33~35), Smaqua:10% (LV:33~35)
Old Rod: Angling:100% (LV:5~15)
Good Rod: Angelish:60% (LV:25~30), Weedsea:20% (LV:20~25), Aquad:20% (LV:20~25)