As we head to Route 110, we notice the cycling road above. But much to our surprise, we see a group of Magma grunts on the way. We hide behind the trees to eavesdrop on them.

"Let's keep going through Route 110 and head for Mt. Chimney!" "It'll be quite a long journey." "Let's take a rest in Mauville City, which is on the way." "I concur."

After they leave, Max says, "I wonder what is in Mt. Chimney that they're looking for?"

"Who knows..." I say back. "But it is not going to be something good."

When we are training with our Pokemon, our Lotad evolves into a Lombre, much to our delight.

Lombre: The Jolly Pokemon: Water and Grass Type. Evolve from Lotad at LV:14. Lombre is nocturnal - it will get active after dusk. It is also a mischief-maker. When this Pokémon spots anglers, it tugs on their fishing lines from beneath the surface and enjoys their consternation.

The next one to evolve is our Seedot, it evolves into a Nuzleaf.

Nuzleaf: The Willy Pokemon: Grass and Dark Type. Evolve from Seedot at LV:14. This Pokémon pulls out the leaf on its head and makes a flute with it. The sound of Nuzleaf's flute strikes fear and uncertainty in the hearts of people lost in a forest.

When we go to the Pokemon Center, we find that Nurse Joy is missing, after watching video footage from the surveillance cameras, we find that a Shiftry is responsible for this. With Nuzleaf's help, we manage to find where Nurse Joy is, and it turns out that the Shiftry wants Nurse Joy to heal a sick Nuzleaf. Team Rocket also interrupts to try stealing Shiftry, but in the end, they are sent flying because of the Hurricane attack. After Nuzleaf is recovered, the Shitry thanks us and gives me a Leaf Stone so that my Nuzleaf can evolve.

Shiftry: The Wicked Pokemon: Grass and Dark Type. Evolved from Nuzleef with a Leaf Stone. Shiftry's large fans generate awesome gusts of wind at a speed close to 100 feet per second. The whipped-up wind blows anything away. This Pokémon chooses to live quietly deep in forests.

As we continue on the road, we find Team Rocket again and this time they steal the Light Stone that operates the Lighthouse, so we get it back and then they put the Light Stone back inside the Lighthouse. After that, we see two Pokemon who get along with both Pikachu siblings.

"Wow, a Minun and a Pulsle, they are both cute." Max says.

"You are right." Alice says. And because of their friendship, both Plusle and Minun decide to join our team.

Pulsle: The Cheering Pokemon: Electric Type. Plusle always acts as a cheerleader for its partners. Whenever a teammate puts out a good effort in battle, this Pokémon shorts out its body to create the crackling noises of sparks to show its joy.

Minun: The Cheering Pokemon: Electric Type. Minun is more concerned about cheering on its partners than its own safety. It shorts out the electricity in its body to create brilliant showers of sparks to cheer on its teammates.

When we arrive at a house, and when we get inside, Max says, "I don't know why, but I think we're being watched..."

"It seems that the owner is of course here." I say as I open the table sheet, and there is a man under the desk. ""Hah? Grrr... How did you know I concealed myself beneath this desk? You're sharp!"

The man steps out of the desk and Alice asks, "Why are you hiding under the desk?"

"Behold! For I am the greatest living mystery of a man in all of Hoenn! They call me... The Trick Master! Wahahaha! Glad to meet you!"

"Trick Master?" After we introduce ourselves, he says, "You, you've come to challenge my Trick House, haven't you? That's why you're here, isn't it? Yes, it is! Consider your challenge accepted! Enter through the scroll there, and let your challenge commence! I shall be waiting in the back! One more thing... I have to warn you. My tricks are quite difficult. Don't get lost!"

He gives us each an Escape Rope, before he leaves, and it turns out that there is a hidden room behind the scroll, and we arrive at a maze made of trees. Good thing we have the HM for Cut, but as we continue moving, we notice an Orange Mail on the floor.

"What can this do?" May asks.

"It is just a collection." I say while putting it into my bag. "Anyway, let's finish the maze and get out of here."

After getting out of the maze, the Trick Master says, "Ai! You've made it this far? Hmm... You're sharp! It took me all night to plant those trees... You're almost my equal in greatness by one, two, three, four places! Great! You have earned this reward!"

We get the Rare Candy as a prize, and he says, "Scrub that smug smirk from your face! It's much too early to think you've won! I'll make new tricks to stump you, I will. You may mock me only when you're done. Come back for the next exciting installment!"

Then he just leaves, so I guess we need to wait until the next installment is ready.

At the river, we find some Watermelons floating in the river, we return them to the owner and then the owner shows us the Watermelon patch. I notice that the trainer has a Grovyle and I really want my Treecko to evolve. So I asked her for some training, and she suggested that Treecko try using Bullet Seed with the help of its watermelon.

But during the training, Team Rocket appears and they try to steal the watermelon. Thanks to Treecko evolving into a Grovyle, they are blasting off again.

Grovyle: The Wood Gecko Pokemon: Grass Type. Evolved from Treecko at LV:16. The leaves growing out of Grovyle's body are convenient for camouflaging it from enemies in the forest. This Pokémon is a master at climbing trees in jungles.

By battling some of the trainers on the Cycling Road, our two Starters also evolve in the end.

Combusken: The Young Fowl Pokemon: Fire and Fighting Type. Evolve from Torchic at LV:16. Combusken toughens up its legs and thighs by running through fields and mountains. This Pokémon's legs possess both speed and power, enabling it to dole out ten kicks in one second.

Marshtomp: The Mud Fish Pokemon: Water and Ground Type. Evolve from Mudkip at LV:16. Marshtomp is much faster at traveling through mud than it is at swimming. This Pokémon's hindquarters exhibit obvious development, giving it the ability to walk on just its hind legs.

Then we stumble into a forest filled with many different kinds of Pokemon, and it turns out to be a Pokemon preserve. We meet the owner there and she has a set of Mightyena. Seeing their Mightyena really wants mine to evolve, I also send out my Poochyena to play with them.

Poochyena is trying to fight the Mightyena, but the battle is stopped because the owner tells us she found some poachers around the area. It turns out to be Team Rocket and they have trapped a lot of Pokemon. They also manage to grab my Poochyena as well. Thanks to Taillow who keeps pecking the balloon and the trio, I have Poochyena use Bite to get through the net to free itself and the other Pokemon.

After Pikachu gives Team Rocket a blast off once more, Poochyena finally evolves into a Mightyena in the end. The other Mightyena are happy for my Mightyena, and then we decide to bid farewell to them.

Mightyena: The Bite Pokemon: Dark Type. Evolved from Poochyena at LV:18. Mightyena gives obvious signals when it is preparing to attack. It starts to growl deeply and then flattens its body. This Pokémon will bite savagely with its sharply pointed fangs.

Not long after, we arrive at the Banana Slakoth Garden, which is said to have the largest population of Slakoth in the world. Mark says, "So how about we go inside and see what's famous for?"

"Yeah, that sounds very cool, I mean your Dad has a Slakoth." I say.

"He does! Now we get to see their natural habitat!" Max says.

"Time out! We already said that we're going to the next town to get dessert, remember? I want my ice cream!" May says.

"Don't worry." Alice says while checking the Rotom Phone. "This place is also famous for its banana splits."

We go to the place eagerly, only to see it closed, we find the owner Marcel, and he takes us to the reception office after an earthquake appears.

"That was not an earthquake." Marcel says to us. "Just look out this window and see what was shaking the ground."

We find a Snorlax sleeping outside, and Marcel says, "It was a catastrophe. That Snorlax wandered in here uninvited one day, started eating some bananas, and never stopped. It won't be long until the bananas are gone! And when that happens, the Slakoth will have nothing to eat at all! It is so big the Slakoth are powerless to stop it! So he walks, and eats, and sleeps. And it starts over again!"

"Where are the Slakoth?" Minami asks.

"They hidden themselves out on the farthest corner of the garden. They're so afraid of losing the few bananas they have left that they would never come out at all anymore."

"I really wanted to see them...so much for that." Max says.

As Snorlax shakes the ground again, I say, "I always thought that Snorlax lives way up in the mountains."

Alice says, "You're right. I say it's pretty unusual for one to be down here in the foothills. I wonder if it got pushed out from its territory somehow."

"Now that you mention it." Marcel then says, "There was a building project up on those mountains one month ago."

"Right about when the Snorlax showed up?" Minami asks.

"I never made this connection, you know Snorlax before?" Marcel asks.

"I caught a Snorlax before, but I keep it at Professor Oak's ranch all the time." Then we decided to help the owner out. Back at the office, Marcel shows them the security cameras he has placed in the garden, as we keep an eye on the sleeping Snorlax. And when Snorlax wakes up and eats the bananas, we go to Snorlax, but their attacks leave nothing on the Snorlax, and then it starts to shoot out bubbles.

"That's the move Yawn, watch out." I yell, but too late as Pikachu is sleepy. "I think we need to have another plan." Alice says as she uses Wake Up Slap on Pikachu to wake it up.

"How about feeding them Pokeblocks?" Minami says.

"Sure, but we have to wait until it goes up, and if we need to encounter the Snorlax, we have to have a Pokemon that is able to have the ability such as Vital Spirit or Insomnia." Mark says.

"And Vigoroth has the ability, maybe one of the Slakoth is going to evolve." Max says.

"Both of us have Slakoth." Minami says as we send out our Slakoth. After we train up our Slakoth, both of them evolve into Vigoroth

Vigoroth: The Wild Monkey Pokemon: Normal Type. Evolved from Slakoth at LV:18. Vigoroth is simply incapable of remaining still. Even when it tries to sleep, the blood in its veins grows agitated, compelling this Pokémon to run wild throughout the jungle before it can settle down.

"Good, now we are ready." I say as we go find the Snorlax. This time we use Vigoroth to battle, and then after beating the Pokemon, Marcel uses a Pokeball to capture it.

"Nice work, Vigoroth." I say, and our battle is watched by the other Slakoth, who comes to cheer with our Vigoroth.

With the problem finally settled, the renamed Banana Slakoth and Vigoroth Garden reopens to the public, and a Vigoroth has been added to the entrance sign. To celebrate, Marcel has made them a banana cake with tiers, and a Slakoth on top, which May particularly appreciates. Marcel also reveals that he has come up with a novel use for Snorlax, he's made a rest area for people to take a nap with the help of Snorlax's Yawn attack.

As we are close to Mauville City, we meet up with Brendan again. "Hey, guys. So this is where you've been. How've things been going?"

"We're doing great. What about you?" I ask.

"I was just checking out the Pokémon around here to help with my dad's research. He says that a long, long time ago, nature used to be way more diverse and there were lots more kinds of Pokémon, too. My dad and I want to learn more about those Pokémon from the past, you know? That's why we do fieldwork."

"That sounds cool." Max says.

"And this journey has really helped. I've met a lot of Pokémon on my way here and learned about them, too. Which reminds me! Come on! It's the first time we've met in ages, so let's have a battle! Show me what you and your team have accomplished on your journey!"

I decide to battle Brendan, and he uses three Pokemon, Shroomish, Slugma, and a Marshtomp. So he also evolved his Mudkip, which is good to know. But in the end, I kinda sweep his team because he's more focused on fieldwork instead of battling.

"Sheesh, Ash, when did you go and train your Pokémon up that well? It's, like, I don't know... It's pretty surprising, OK! Both our teams look pretty wiped out after that, huh? Here, let me help them out."

After healing up my Pokemon, he gives May a present, and May asks, "What is this?"

"That's a Dowsing Machine. Use it to root around for items that aren't visible. If it senses something nearby, it'll react, see? Truth is, once I started using it, I got pretty hooked on it. It's addicting! But I recommend you give it a try. Careful though, you won't be able to sneak up on Pokémon while you wear it! I guess I'm off to get started surveying the next area then. I hope you meet a lot of Pokémon, too, guys!"

Then we bid farewell to Brendan as we all rushed to Mauville City.

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, there are a lot of evolutions and I hope you like it. The next chapter will be the Mauville City exploration, which might be a lot.

Ash + Alice's Pokemon:

Butterfree x2 (One Pink), Pikachu x2, Lapras, Meganium, Espeon, Steelix (Crystal), Mantine, Grovyle, Combusken, Marshtomp, Mightyena, Zigzagoon, Beautifly, Dustox, Lombre, Shiftry, Taillow, Wingull, Ralts x2 (One Shiny), Surskit, Shroomish, Vigoroth, Nincada, Whismur, Makuhita, Nosepass, Skitty, Sableye, Mawile, Aron, Plusle, Minun, Wailmer, Corphish

May's Pokemon:

Torchic, Beautifly, Skitty

Mark's Pokemon:

Blaziken, Marshtomp, Ludicolo, Wingull, Surskit, Shroomish, Hariyama, Wailmer, Corphish

Minami's Pokemon:

Zigzagoon, Taillow, Ralts, Vigoroth, Delcatty, Mawile, Lunatone