Pokemon: Randomizer!

Petalburg Woods!

After spending an evening with May and her family, Ash decided to leave Petalburg City and continue his journey. His next destination was Rustboro City, where the first Gym challenge awaited him. So the next morning, Ash decided to depart from Petalburg City. Just as he had expected, May had decided to join them on their journey, after a discussion with her parents, who had granted her permission to travel with Ash and Ashly, confident that their daughter would be in good hands with such experienced companions.

The previous night over dinner, Ash had learned quite a bit about May's background. He discovered that Caroline, May's mother, had once been a Top Coordinator and a well-known celebrity figure in the global Pokémon Contests circuits. This revelation helped explain why May had been so indecisive about her path as a trainer. With such influential figures in her life, May was struggling to figure out whether she should follow in her mother's footsteps in Pokémon Contests or train hard and take over her father's Gym as the next Gym Leader.

Ash also learned about May's younger brother, Max, who was currently attending Naranja Academy, a school located in Mesagoza in the Paldea region. Interestingly, May herself had graduated from the same academy not long ago.

In return, Ash shared stories from his own travels, recounting his journey across various regions like Kanto, Johto, and even the Orange Islands. His stories managed to impress May's parents, giving them confidence in Ash's ability to take care of their daughter on the road. It also provided them with reassurance that Ash had a decent amount of experience to handle most of the unexpected surprises they might encounter throughout their journey.

As the sun rose the next morning, casting a golden light over Petalburg City, Ash, Ashly, and May left Petalburg City, their packs ready for the road ahead. May bid her parents a fond farewell, promising to stay in touch. Soon, the trio was making their way toward Rustboro City, and after a full day of walking, they decided to make camp in the woods just outside the city.

The next morning, they ventured deeper into Petalburg Woods, a dense, sprawling forest and winding narrow paths. The sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor as the sounds of wild Pokémon echoed around them. Ashly hummed to herself, enjoying the serene atmosphere.

While chatting, May also told them that this area, known for being home to low-level Pokémon, was a popular training ground for beginner trainers. Sure enough, they spotted a few young trainers battling or catching Pokémon as they ventured along the winding paths.

"This place is so alive!" May exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the sights and sounds of the vibrant woods. "I've passed through Hoenn before, but I never spent much time exploring Petalburg Woods."

Ash nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it reminds me of the Viridian Forest back in Kanto," he said, smiling as he remembered a certain orange-haired friend of his. "Keep an eye out—there are bound to be lots of Bug-type Pokémon around here."

Ashly, walking beside her brother, grinned with excitement. "Do you think we'll find any rare Pokémon?"

"There's always a chance," Ash replied, his eyes scanning the foliage for any signs of movement. "But we'll probably come across some of the more common Pokémon like Wurmple or Shroomish. Just be careful not to get lost—these woods can be tricky to navigate. I've gotten lost in enough forests over the last three years to know that firsthand," he added with a chuckle.

As they ventured further, the woods became denser, the path narrowing as the trees grew closer together. They caught glimpses of Wurmple crawling along tree branches, Zigzagoon scurrying through the underbrush, and occasionally, the distant flapping of Taillow wings overhead. The sights and sounds of the forest were mesmerizing, drawing them further in.