Petalburg Woods was a rather ordinary forest, linking Petalburg City and Rustboro City. Yet, the lush, intricate terrain often left Trainers hopelessly lost within its depths.
"Viridian Forest radiates with vibrancy; will Petalburg Woods have its own charm?" John muttered, eager to leave this place behind.
As he ventured deeper, the strength of the Trainers he encountered proved disappointingly low. The highest level among them was a mere 7, and most relied on Wurmple, far from being a formidable threat.
John cut through the competition effortlessly, collecting scattered items left behind by the Trainers as he kept an eye out for any rare Pokémon lurking in the underbrush.
On his path, he brushed past the usual suspects: Poochyena, Zigzagoon, and Wurmple—the local specialties. He spotted Silcoon, Cascoon, Taillow, and Shroomish, but none caught his interest.
Suddenly, a wild Slakoth jumped out from the grass, its lazy demeanor captured perfectly on the screen.
"Finally, something different!" John rubbed his chin, intrigued. Slakoth was one of the rarer Pokémon in Petalburg Woods.
Its final evolution, Slaking, was a powerhouse, famously known as the Trump Card of the Petalburg Gym—The protagonist's own father's Pokémon.
"In the game, Slaking has stats rivaling a legendary Pokémon," he recalled, chuckling at the irony. "Too bad no one takes them seriously due to that 'Lazy' ability."
With a smirk, John prepared to catch the Slakoth.
[Slakoth (Normal)]
[Level: 7 Ability: Laziness (can only use one move every two turns)] [IVs: HP (21), Attack (31), Special Attack (11), Defense (24), Special Defense (17), Speed (16)] [Moves: Grab, Yawn, Encore] [Held Item: None]
He remembered the countless Trainer videos online showcasing Slakoth's antics—always amusing, always frustrating.
"Still, a Slaking could be a beast in doubles, especially with the right partner," he mused. But for now, he had other Pokémon to train, and he didn't want to waste time on Slakoth.
As he decided to deposit the Slakoth with Professor Birch for training, John pressed onward until he reached the heart of Petalburg Woods.
Suddenly, he spotted a man in a suit and leather shoes, searching the area with a furrowed brow.
[Old Man: "I could have sworn it was around here…"]
When the man noticed John, he hurried over, his expression a mix of hope and desperation.
[Old Man: "Have you seen any Shroomish around? I adore those Pokémon and I've been hoping to catch one!"]
Before John could respond, a young man in a sailor's outfit with a blue scarf rushed in, looking determined.
[Subordinate of Team Aqua: "We were planning to take you out, but it looks like you'll be our target instead! Hand over that briefcase!"]
With a swift move, he lunged toward the uncle, intent on snatching the briefcase from his grasp. But the uncle jumped protectively behind John.
[Old Man: "Young man! I'm counting on you!"]
John couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Old Man you really need to work on your stealth skills!"
The atmosphere shifted as the battle began. Standing in the shadowy depths of the forest, illuminated only by scattered beams of sunlight filtering through the leaves, John prepared for action.
[Boy, you dare to interfere with Team Aqua's plans? You're in for it!]" The Team Aqua grunt hurled a Poké Ball with a flourish.
A Poochyena, level 12, emerged, teeth bared and ready to fight.
"Finally, a decent challenge," John said, a glimmer of excitement sparking in his eyes. He quickly released Froakie.
In this unorthodox battle, there was no call to start; the Aqua member wasted no time. "Poochyena, use Bite!"
The dingo-sized Poochyena lunged at Froakie, darkness swirling in its mouth. Just as it was about to strike, John commanded, "Dodge, then use Pound!"
Froakie's disdainful gaze fell upon the oncoming threat. It leaped aside, avoiding the attack with ease. As Poochyena turned back, Froakie's fist glowed with a white light.
"Pound!"
With a satisfying thud, Poochyena's head met the ground, leaving it whimpering.
John watched with satisfaction as Froakie didn't stop there. If one hit wasn't enough, then it would take another.
"Pound again!"
The second strike pushed Poochyena deeper into the dirt, its energy nearly spent.
Before John could savor his victory, the scene shifted, and he found himself back in his small apartment.
A notification popped up on the screen.
[Defeated Poochyena LV12, gained 240 experience]
[Defeated Team Aqua, earned bonus 181 Pokedollars]
The Team Aqua member fled, glancing back with a glare. [Subordinate of Team Aqua: "I'll remember you! The wrath of Team Aqua is coming!"]
[Old Man: "Thank you, young man!"] The old man hurriedly handed John a Great Ball before scurrying away, clearly relieved.
"Not a bad haul," John said, pocketing the Great Ball. With renewed determination, he continued his journey toward Rustboro City.