Brock's Return

Ash and the others made it to Petalburg Forest. Max was hoping to see lots of Pokemon right away, but so far the gang hadn't encountered any Pokemon.

"Be patient Max." Ash said. "Pokemon will turn up soon. I've been in lots of forests before and Pokemon always turn up when you least expect it."

"Can we stop for lunch?" May asked. She was feeling hungry.

"Yes we can." Ash said. "Have you still got the cans of Pokemon food I asked you to pack May?"

"Yes I do." May replied. She took out some cans of Pokemon food from her backpack.

"That's good." Ash said. "And Tomo and I bought some food from a store back in Petalburg City."

The brothers took out sandwiches, rice balls and some little cakes from their backpacks.

"We have some other food too, but we'll save it for dinner." Tomo said.

"You two certainly know how to organize things." Max said.

"One thing about being on a journey is that you must always be prepared." Ash pointed out. "And that's why every time we visit a town, we will always buy food and medicine okay?"

May and Max nodded in understanding.

Soon everyone and the Pokemon were having lunch.

"Hey Max I've been meaning to ask you. When did you get your Zigzagoon and Linoone?"

Max explained that a few months ago he found a injured Zigzagoon and Linoone at a park and he took them to the Pokemon Center right away.

"They had no trainers, so I asked my parents if I could have them as I like normal type Pokemon a lot." Max said. "At first my mom thought I was too young, but dad agreed as long as I took responsibility for them."

"I see, well they look happy with you." Ash said.

"I agree." A voice stated.

It was Brock's voice.

"Brock, what are you doing here?" Ash asked. He was surprised to see Brock. Tomo was surprised too.

"Everything at the Pewter Gym is fine and I decided to come to Hoenn to travel with you again." Brock said.

Ash and Tomo were happy to hear that and introduced him to May and Max. May and Max were surprised to hear that Brock was a gym leader.

"Have you got Pokemon on you as well?" Max asked.

"Actually I do." Brock said, releasing Forretress and Aggron from their Fast and Heavy Balls.

Ash was surprised that Brock had an Aggron and asked Brock where he got one.

"It was rampaging around the Pewter Gym and I caught it before it could do any real damage." Brock explained how he obtained Aggron.

Ash was surprised to hear this. Brock noticed all the new Pokemon that Ash and Tomo had and thought they were cool. He also liked May's Torchic and Azurill. He liked Max's Zigzagoon and Linoone.

Brock was about to have lunch with everyone else, but they heard a chirping and a snarling noise.

"What is that noise?" May asked.

"Sounds like two Pokemon fighting." Ash said. "We better go and check it out before it gets serious."

They soon discovered the source of the noise; there was a Zigzagoon and a red, white and blue bird fighting each other.

"That bird is a Taillow." Max said.

Ash looked Taillow up on the Pokedex.

"Taillow, the Tiny Swallow Pokemon. Taillow courageously stands it's ground against foes, however strong they may be. This gutsy Pokemon will remain defiant even after a loss. On the other hand, it cries loudly if it becomes hungry."

"Why are Taillow and Zigzagoon fighting?" May asked.

"Either territory or food." Brock said. "This happens all the time with wild Pokemon. They fight over everything."

Ash liked the fighting spirit of Zigzagoon and Taillow and decided to catch them.

"Ready Latias?" Ash asked.

He also released his Poochyena as well.

"Latias, use Dragon Breath on Taillow and Poochyena use Bite on Zigzagoon." Taillow was paralyzed after being hit by Dragon Breath. Poochyena charged in to bite Zigzagoon, but it charged at Poochyena to use Headbutt.

"Okay Poochyena, use Sucker Punch." Ash said.

Poochyena punched Zigzagoon and now both Taillow and Zigzagoon were weakened.

"Okay time to catch you two." Ash said.

He caught them with two Poke Balls.

May, Max, Tomo and Brock congratulated Ash for his capture.

"You know, even though the journey in Hoenn has just started, I'm already enjoying it." Ash said.

"So am I." Tomo added.

"With you guys capturing new Pokemon it's no wonder why." Brock said.

"I can't wait until I start capturing more Pokemon for myself." Max said excitedly.

"Me too." May added.

So there was no doubt that Ash and the others were going to enjoy their journey throughout the Hoenn Region.