1.Ash's Story (Part 3: Hoenn)

Chapter 30

When we return to Route 118, Steven says, "Thank you for your help, guys. In the end, you were a far greater help than I expected you might be. I expect that you and your team will be able to best both Route 119 ahead and even the Fortree Gym beyond that. I'll be curious to see how much stronger you might grow by the next time we meet. Until then."

After he leaves, May says, "I can't believe what just happened..."

"Yeah, and you even get a Key Stone from Steven." Minami says. "You can use Mega Evolution just like us."

Then we decide to take a rest by the lake until a group of Sharpedo ambushes us. Mark and I try to tell them that we mean no harm, but we notice that the leader is poisoned and weak.

"Let me help you." I try to heal him and let him rest for a night. The next day, Team Rocket arrives with their submarine, and they shoot the nets and grab Pikachu and Sharpedo.

"It was those guys who attacked us. That Seviper has a Poison Tail." Sharpedo confesses, and that infuriates us. We have Cacnea cut the net and free them. But we decide to do nothing because a school of Sharpedo is doing in our place and send them blasting off again.

The Sharpedo thanks us, and both Mark and I capture one each. We are also delighted to see that Cacnea evolves into a Cacturne as well.

Carvanha: The Savage Pokemon: Water and Dark Type. Carvanha's strongly developed jaws and its sharply pointed fangs pack the destructive power to rip out boat hulls. Many boats have been attacked and sunk by this Pokémon.

Sharpedo: The Brutal Pokemon: Water and Dark Type. Evolved from Carvanha at LV:30. Nicknamed "the bully of the sea," Sharpedo is widely feared. Its cruel fangs grow back immediately if they snap off. Just one of these Pokémon can thoroughly tear apart a supertanker.

Cacturne: The Scarecrow Pokemon: Grass and Dark Type. Evolved from Cacnea at LV:32. If a traveler is going through a desert in the thick of night, Cacturne will follow in a ragtag group. The Pokémon are biding their time, waiting for the traveler to tire and become incapable of moving.

And while we train our Pokemon, our Aron also evolves into a Lairon, although it still doesn't change the fact that he likes to eat our metal things.

Lairon: The Iron Pokemon: Steel and Rock Type. Evolved from Aron at LV:32. Lairon feeds on iron contained in rocks and water. It makes its nest in mountains where iron ore is buried. As a result, the Pokémon often clashes with humans mining the iron ore.

The other Pokemon that evolve is our Spoink, when Team Rocket tries to attack them, they use Magic Coat to return the Poison Powder from Dustox to them, giving us the chance to send them flying.

Grumpig: The Manipulate Pokemon: Psychic Type. Evolved from Spoink at LV:32. Grumpig uses the black pearls on its body to amplify its psychic power waves for gaining total control over its foe. When this Pokémon uses its special power, its snorting breath grows labored.

We find ourselves lost on the road to Fortree City when we wander into an uncharted area of Hoenn. To make matters worse, a Skarmory takes May away. We chase her and go to the entrance of the Forbidden Forest, and two people are blocking us.

"No one was allowed to pass through this point. That is the law here, you must leave the forest here."

"But my sister is taken away by a Skarmory and they flew over this gate." Max says.

"What? You're saying that a human has gone beyond this gate?"

"Can you help? We gotta find her." I say.