After reuniting with Brock, Ash and his friends officially left Petalburg City and entered the vast wilderness of Petalburg Woods.
Towering trees stretched endlessly into the distance, their emerald canopies filtering the sunlight into scattered beams that danced across the forest floor.
The cries of Bug-type Pokémon occasionally echoed from deep within the woods, while a cool breeze carried the refreshing scent of grass and earth.
However, not long after entering the forest
“Aaaah… I’m so hungry…”
May dragged her feet weakly along the dirt path, her expression utterly exhausted.
“Can we stop and eat lunch already…?”
Ash looked at her helplessly.
May had only recently become a Pokémon Trainer.
Her stamina was nowhere near the level needed for long-distance travel yet.
At this pace, they probably would not even make it through the outer section of Petalburg Woods before sunset.
“We might end up camping again tonight if we keep moving this slowly,” Ash said with a sigh.
“But I’m really hungry…”
May puffed out her cheeks pitifully, looking as though she might collapse at any moment.
Brock chuckled warmly and stepped forward.
“It’s fine.
We just arrived in Hoenn, so there’s no reason to rush,” he said calmly.
“Besides, traveling slowly gives us more chances to observe the region’s Pokémon and scenery.”
Ash nodded slightly.
Brock was right.
Traveling together was not only about reaching destinations quickly.
Sometimes, slowing down and supporting each other was also part of the journey.
Soon, Ash asked Pidgeot to scout the surrounding area.
After circling overhead once, Pidgeot guided them toward a small clearing beside a clear stream.
“This place should work.”
The group quickly began preparing lunch.
Ash and Brock worked together efficiently, setting up cookware and gathering ingredients while Pikachu rested lazily nearby beneath a tree.
Meanwhile, Max crouched beside the stream with sparkling eyes.
“Wow!
The water here is so clear!”
It was his very first journey outside Petalburg City, and everything around him felt exciting and new.
Then, after glancing around curiously, he suddenly asked, “But why haven’t we seen many wild Pokémon since entering the forest?”
Brock paused while cutting vegetables and smiled patiently.
“The outer areas of large forests usually don’t have many Pokémon gatherings,” he explained.
“And we’ve been walking along the main road.
Most wild Pokémon avoid busy paths with lots of human activity.”
Ash, who was currently heating milk for Ralts, added calmly,
“And if you ever enter a forest and suddenly stop seeing Pokémon altogether, you should be careful.”
May blinked in confusion.
“Why?”
Ash’s expression became slightly more serious.
“It could mean you’ve entered the territory of a powerful Pokémon group.
Many wild Pokémon are extremely territorial.
Once outsiders enter their domain, they’ll drive them away immediately.”
“Exactly,” Brock agreed with a nod.
At that moment, wanting to contribute, May raised her hand enthusiastically.
“Um… Ash?
Brock?
Is there anything Max and I can help with?”
Ash smiled faintly.
“Actually, yes.
May, can you have Torchic light the stove fire?”
May’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Really?!
Leave it to me!”
Ever since joining the group, she had mostly been taken care of by Ash and Brock.
Now that she finally had a chance to help, she became visibly excited.
“Come out, Torchic!”
A flash of white light appeared as Torchic landed on the ground cheerfully.
“Torchic, use Ember on the firewood!
But keep the power low!”
“Torchic~!”
The little Fire-type Pokémon nodded confidently before opening its beak and releasing several small embers.
Fwoosh!
The firewood ignited smoothly.
“We did it!”
May happily picked Torchic up and spun around proudly.
“You were amazing, Torchic!”
“Torchi~!”
Watching the interaction, Max looked incredibly envious.
“Ahhh… I want my own Pokémon already…”
Then he quickly ran toward Ash.
“Big Brother Ash, is there anything I can help with?”
Ash glanced at him before pointing deeper into the nearby woods.
“Then help Pidgeot gather some dry firewood.
But don’t go too far into the forest.”
His tone became more serious afterward.
“If you accidentally enter another Pokémon’s territory, you could get attacked.”
“Got it!” Max replied energetically.
Pidgeot lowered itself slightly, allowing Max to climb onto its back before flying toward the trees.
Watching them leave, Brock suddenly asked curiously,
“By the way, why does Max keep calling you ‘Big Brother Ash’?”
Ash smiled helplessly but did not answer.
Instead, May answered for him.
“Max really admires Ash,” she explained.
“Ever since watching his Silver Conference battles, he’s wanted to become a Trainer just like him.”
“He even said he wants to become the strongest rookie Trainer of the next generation.”
Brock nodded in understanding.
“I see.”
Ash merely laughed awkwardly.
At the same time, he gently looked down at Ralts resting in his arms.
“After lunch, we’ll begin your training too, Ralts.
Are you ready?”
“Ralts~!”
The tiny Pokémon raised its arms happily.
Because of Ralts’ natural sensitivity to emotions and Aura, Ash could already understand much of what it wanted to express.
He could feel it clearly
This little Ralts possessed extraordinary potential.
Perhaps someday, it would become his strongest Psychic-type partner.
But suddenly
Ash’s expression changed.
He abruptly stood up.
The atmosphere around him instantly sharpened.
Brock immediately noticed the shift.
“Ash?
What’s wrong?”
May also stopped what she was doing and looked over nervously.
Ash slowly closed his eyes.
A faint blue Aura began flowing around his body.
Then, moments later, his eyes snapped open.
“Something’s coming,” he said seriously.
“Pikachu!”
“Pika!”
Pikachu immediately leaped onto Ash’s shoulder, entering battle stance.
At the same time, loud rustling sounds rapidly approached from deep within the forest.
Whoosh!
Pidgeot burst out from the trees first.
Max clung tightly to its neck with pale cheeks and trembling arms.
“Aaaaaah!”
Pidgeot quickly landed beside the group.
However, everyone’s attention was immediately drawn toward the Pokémon clutched carefully in its talons.
It was an injured Combusken.
“Max!”
May rushed forward anxiously.
“What happened?!”
Before Max could answer, Brock’s eyes narrowed toward the forest.
“There’s still something coming.”
The next moment
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
Dozens of Taillow suddenly burst from the trees.
The flock instantly surrounded the entire campsite.
May’s face paled.
“A Taillow flock?!”
Ash immediately helped Max down from Pidgeot’s back while asking,
“What happened in there?”
Max swallowed nervously before answering quickly.
“P-Pidgeot and I were gathering firewood when we heard sounds of fighting deeper in the forest.
Then we found this injured Combusken surrounded by Taillow…”
“I thought it was in danger, so I asked Pidgeot to rescue it…”
Ash and Brock immediately understood the situation.
This Combusken had likely wandered into the Taillow flock’s territory by accident.
And now the flock considered them intruders as well.
“Taillowww!”
The flock screeched angrily.
Then they attacked all at once.
Ash’s Aura erupted instantly.
Blue energy spread outward from his body, forming a powerful defensive barrier around the group.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The charging Taillow were repelled one after another.
“Amazing…” May whispered.
“Big Brother Ash is incredible…” Max muttered in awe.
But Brock’s expression remained serious.
“They’re not backing down,” he warned.
“Once Ash’s Aura weakens, they’ll attack again immediately.”
Ash looked toward the furious flock overhead.
“That’s true,” he admitted calmly.
Then his gaze sharpened.
“But if they insist on fighting, then we’ll fight until they retreat.”
“Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”
“PIKA CHUUUU!”
Pikachu leaped high into the air.
Crackling golden electricity exploded outward like a storm, engulfing the entire Taillow flock.
BOOOOM!
The forest lit up with blinding lightning.
A moment later, dozens of Taillow dropped from the sky like rain.
However, despite the damage, the flock stubbornly forced themselves back into the air.
Not a single one fled.
Ash’s eyes narrowed slightly.
That unyielding fighting spirit…
He liked it.
Especially one particular Taillow flying at the very front.
Unlike the others, its gaze remained sharp and fearless even after enduring Pikachu’s Thunderbolt.
Ash instinctively focused on it.
Taillow
Gender: Male
Type: Normal/Flying
Ability: Guts
Potential: Crimson
Moves: Peck, Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Double Team
A crimson-potential Taillow.
And one with the Guts Ability at that.
Ash’s eyes immediately brightened with interest.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
“That Taillow…”
He pointed directly at the fearless bird Pokémon leading the flock.
“I want to catch it.”
“Taillow!”
The leading Taillow stared directly back at Ash.
Then, after several moments of silence, it slowly flew forward from the flock.
Its sharp eyes burned with fighting spirit.
It had accepted Ash’s challenge.