Treecko

The gang was still traveling through Petalburg Forest. Petalburg Forest was very big and there was no telling when the gang would reach the end of it. After Ash captured Tailow and Zigzagoon, the gang had met another Pokemon trainer named Nicholai who had a Mudkip for a starter. Nicholai was kind of peculiar because he liked to dress up as a Pokemon, even when battling or catching a Pokemon. He believed it was a good way for him to study Pokemon and become one with his own Pokemon.

After meeting Nicholai, the gang continued walking through Petalburg Forest, but right now they weren't going anywhere. Ash read in the guidebook that a colony of Treecko lived in the area and he wished to catch one. Ash's desire was to capture every starter Pokemon in the Hoenn Region, and since he already had a Mudkip he now had the chance to catch himself a Treecko.

"It's surprising to know that wild Treecko live around here." Max noted.

"That's what you get while on a Pokemon journey Max." Brock said. "There's always a surprise lurking around every corner."

Ash then spotted the colony of Treecko; they lived in trees.

"Now's my chance to catch a Treecko." Ash said.

He released his Taillow to battle one of the Treecko.

"Treecko's a grass type Pokemon, so Taillow should have the advantage." Max explained to May.

Ash was about to command Taillow to attack, but then a blue flame was fired at Ash and stopped him in his tracks.

"That was Dragon Breath." Brock said. "But where did it come from?"

"Up there." Tomo pointed to a tree branch.

There was a Treecko sitting on the branch and it was holding a twig in it's mouth.

"How can a Treecko know Dragon Breath?" Max asked. He had never seen a Treecko use Dragon Breath before.

"It must be a egg move." Tomo said. "Pokemon can learn a move from it's parent from birth. Even moves that a Pokemon can't normally learn."

May and Max were impressed by that.

Ash decided that he would catch Treecko, but the Treecko ran off.

"That's one speedy Treecko." May said.

"I'm going to follow that Treecko because I want to catch it." Ash told the others before running after Treecko.

"Why is Ash so worked up about a Pokemon?" May asked.

"This is common behavior for Pokemon trainers when they see a Pokemon they want." Brock said.

"Besides May, you were excited as well when you caught Azurill." Tomo reminded her.

May remembered that and admitted Tomo was right.

"Let's stay here and wait for Ash." Brock suggested. "He'll come back once he catches Treecko."

Tomo, May and Max agreed.

Meanwhile Ash and Taillow were following the Treecko and then they ended up at a big tree.

"Wow, I've never seen a tree like this." Ash said.

Taillow hadn't either. There were hundreds of Treecko living on the tree. Ash looked for the Treecko that held the twig in it's mouth and he saw it sitting on a branch alone. Ash called out to it and said he wanted to battle. The Treecko heard Ash and accepted the battle.

"Okay Taillow, get ready." He said.

Taillow was ready to battle now. The Treecko fired Dragon Breath at Taillow, but it dodged the attack.

"Show that Treecko your egg move Taillow." Ash said.

Taillow's body was surrounded by a white aura; his egg move was Sky Attack. Taillow charged at Treecko fast and tackled it hard; poor Treecko didn't have the chance to dodge. Treecko fainted on the spot after being hit by the attack. Ash tossed a Poke Ball at the Treecko and easily captured it. Treecko's ball was sent to Prof. Oak's lab as Ash had six Pokemon on him.

"My very own Treecko." Ash smiled before returning Taillow to his Poke Ball.

After capturing Treecko, Ash was just about to head back to the others. But then a big grey jeep approached the big tree at high speed.

"What the?" Ash gasped.

A muscular man got out of the jeep and he sent a Fearow out to battle all the Treecko; this man was a poacher.

"I should get the other's help." Ash said. "I don't think I can deal with this poacher by myself."

Ash ran back to the others as fast as he could.

Brock, Tomo, May and Max were just about to get something to eat when Ash ran up and informed them about the poacher.

"We better get over there and stop him." Brock said.

The others agreed and Ash led them to the tree. As soon as they got to the tree, the poacher locked all the Treecko in a cage.

"Let those Treecko go now!" Ash shouted.

"Not a chance kid." The poacher retorted.

He commanded his Fearow to attack the kids and he also released a Tyranitar. Brock sent Aggron out to battle Tyranitar and Ash released Latias to attack Fearow. Aggron took Tyranitar out with Focus Punch and Latias zapped Fearow with Thunderbolt. The poacher was then paralyzed by Thunder Wave so he couldn't escape.

Officer Jenny then pulled up.

"You're under arrest." She told the poacher before tying him up.

She then faced the gang.

"Thanks for keeping the poacher here." She told them. "I've been pursuing him for a while."

"I'm glad we stopped him before all the Treecko were taken away." Ash said.

All the Treecko were released from the cage and Officer Jenny took the man away.

"Man I'm glad that's over." Ash sighed in relief. "And the good news is that I have my own Treecko now."

With a new friend in tow, the gang continued walking towards Petalburg City.