After the morning exercise, Ash and his companions had breakfast, packed up, and left, continuing their journey toward Fuchsia City. This time, Brock meticulously followed the map's markings, double-checking before proceeding to avoid getting lost again.
Although their previous detour had led to Ash capturing the powerful Aerodactyl, such luck couldn't be relied upon consistently. Sticking to the planned route was the wisest choice.
On the sixth day of their journey from Dasha Valley, en route to Fuchsia City, Ash and his friends passed through a mysterious forest known as the "Venusaur Garden" by the locals.
This name stemmed from the fact that during this period, numerous Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur would gather in the forest from far and wide.
Upon congregating, the Venusaur group would hold a celebration, during which Bulbasaur and Ivysaur with sufficient capabilities would evolve under the watchful eyes of their peers.
Ash's Ivysaur, drawn to the gathering, joined the celebration and successfully evolved into a Venusaur. Though its strength didn't immediately reach the Silver level, it was remarkably close.
This unique experience further broadened Ash's horizons, reinforcing their decision to embark on this Kanto journey on foot rather than opting for the quicker but less enriching mode of air travel.
After a night's rest at the Pokémon Center in a village near the Venusaur Garden, Ash and his friends learned from Nurse Joy that by continuing along their path, they would soon reach the outskirts of Fuchsia City. Near the city's edge lay the renowned Safari Zone, also known as the Wild Wilderness Area.
The Wild Wilderness Area, formerly called the Safari Zone, was a Pokémon habitat encompassing diverse terrains, including mountains, plains, and lakes.
This rich and varied landscape attracted a wide array of Pokémon, making it a dream destination for countless Trainers seeking to expand their collections.
To safeguard the area's ecology, the Alliance had implemented protective measures and zoning regulations.
Only Trainers were permitted to capture Pokémon within the Wild Wilderness Area, and their numbers were limited.
Each Trainer was issued 30 Safari Balls, granting them 3,000 capture attempts.
Recognizing that the term "Safari Zone" wasn't entirely respectful to Pokémon, the Alliance later renamed it the "Wild Wilderness Area."
Upon learning of the Wild Wilderness Area's proximity, Ash and his friends decided to pay it a visit. Even if they didn't capture any Pokémon, witnessing this unique environment would be worthwhile.
Moreover, the Wild Wilderness Area was conveniently located near Fuchsia City, only half a day's journey or a mere hour by bus.
After two more days of travel, Ash and his companions finally arrived at the Wild Wilderness Area.
"Wow, there are so many people! I thought this place would be deserted," Ash remarked, surprised by the bustling crowd at the main entrance.
"Why would you think that?" Misty, cradling the Pokémon egg, looked at Ash, puzzled. The Wild Wilderness Area's fame was widespread; it was only natural for it to attract visitors.
Ash was momentarily speechless. He had formed his impression of the Wild Wilderness Area from the anime, where he had captured a total of 30 Tauros.
In the anime's depiction, the Wild Wilderness Area seemed devoid of other Trainers, with only Ash, his friends, the Team Rocket trio, and the area's staff present.
However, Ash quickly reminded himself that the real world differed from the anime, a fact he had encountered numerous times. Yet, he still found himself drawing comparisons.
The Wild Wilderness Area was enclosed by tall wooden walls, encompassing a vast expanse. From the main entrance, the perimeter was barely visible, hinting at its immense size, likely comparable to a city.
"Can we explore anywhere within this vast area?" Ash inquired, gazing at the map displayed on the bulletin board, which illustrated the diverse terrains within the Wild Wilderness Area.
"Absolutely!" the staff member responsible for explanations at the bulletin board replied with a smile.
"But how do you track whether Trainers use Safari Balls for capture?" Ash was curious. In the game, a programmed system restricted players to using only Safari Balls and prevented battles. He wondered how this translated to the real world.
"Before entering the Wild Wilderness Area, Trainers must register," the staff member explained.
"Upon registration, the Pokémon storage system temporarily switches to a specialized system for the Wild Wilderness Area.
The system will record whether a Pokémon is caught with a Poké Ball or a Safari Ball. They will all be sent to the depository."
The staff pointed to the large building behind them.
"If it is discovered that someone has illegally used Poké Balls for capture, they will be punished to a certain degree, such as being banned, or they may have their Trainer level revoked."
After listening to the staff's explanation, Ash and his friends nodded in understanding. Even if they wanted to capture Pokémon with Poké Balls after using 30 Safari Balls, it would be impossible.
Continuing to ask the staff, Ash and his friends learned more information. For example, a Trainer could only enter the Wild Area once a year, and the number of entries wouldn't accumulate.
Trainers who entered the Wild Area usually didn't capture as many as thirty Pokémon. The main reason was that not every Safari Ball guaranteed a capture, and most Trainers couldn't afford the expenses of caring for 30 Pokémon.
After learning the details, Ash and his team decided to explore the Wild Area. They didn't have to go too far, just the Great Plains behind them, as they still needed to reach Fuchsia City later.
From the Wild Area to Fuchsia City, it only took half a day to walk, and there was also a bus that could get them there in just an hour, making it very convenient.
In the end, before leaving the Wild Area, Ash captured a Tauros he liked, and Misty captured a Krabby. Brock didn't capture any Pokémon, but he learned about the habits of some of the Pokémon living there, so everyone had their own gains.
After retrieving the Safari Ball from the depository, Ash chose to send Aerodactyl back to Professor Oak's Laboratory because he and Aerodactyl had already developed a strong bond, and with Brock's help, a training plan was formulated, eliminating the need for Aerodactyl to accompany him.
As for Tauros, Ash needed to develop a relationship with it and create a training plan. Once they were familiar with each other, he would send Tauros back to Professor Oak and have Wartortle join him instead.
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