139 The Colony of Treecko
The group had gone through a lot as they traveled to Rustboro city:
The gang had met another Pokémon trainer named Nicholai who had a Mudkip for a starter. Nicholai was kind of peculiar because he liked to dress up as a Pokémon, even when battling or catching a Pokémon. He believed that it was a good way for him to study Pokémon and become one with his own Pokémon. Ashlyn and Max had also managed to catch a Zigzagoon for themselves.
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They had also helped Officer Jenny catch a poacher named Rico who was very hard to track down. When May and Max first saw how Brock reacted whenever he saw Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy, they were quite shocked to see such a change in his behavior. Ashlyn simply told them that that's Brock's normal behavior towards beautiful women.
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The gang continued going through Petalburg forest, but right now they weren't going anywhere. Ashlyn had read in the guidebook that a colony of Treecko lived in the area, and she wished to catch one and so did Max. So, they went to find the colony of Treecko.
"That's a surprise to know that wild Treecko live around here." Max commented.
"That's what you get while on Pokémon journeys, Max," Brock said, "there's always a surprise lurking around every corner."
"So true." Ashlyn agreed.
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Soon enough, they found the colony of Treecko living in a huge tree.
"Wow, look at all those Treecko's." Max beamed.
At that moment, a lone Treecko jumped down from the tree and stood across from Ashlyn. She took out her Rotom phone and scanned the Pokémon.
[Treecko, the Wood Gecko Pokémon. Treecko are able to climb smooth vertical walls and use their thick tail to attack opponents. Since Treecko build their nests in large trees, it is said that those trees will live a very long life.]
"Well it looks like this Treecko wants to fight me." Ashlyn said and released Percy, "Let's go, Percy!"
"Taillow!" Percy appeared.
Treecko spit out a blue flame shot at Percy.
"Quick Percy dodge!" Percy quickly dodged the attack.
"That was Dragon Breath." Brock said, surprised.
"Now Double Team and Aerial Ace!" Ashlyn ordered.
Percy made copies of himself and few at the Treecko and flipped in the air, then he was engulfed in streaks of white light and flew into Treecko disappearing before hitting Treecko. The Wood Gecko Pokémon quickly got to his feet and went into a fight stance. Then he jumped into the air and multiple glowing green leaves started spinning around Treecko's body. Then he fired the leaves at Percy.
"Quick Air Slash!" Percy's wings glow white, and he flaps them, releasing multiple white glowing saw disc-like energy blades from his wings. The blades slashed through the leaves and hit Treecko which sent him flying back. Treecko slowly got to his feet as he breathed heavily.
"That is one tough Treecko." Max commented.
"Yeah." Ashlyn agreed.
Then Treecko fell forward with swirling eyes. Ashlyn quickly took out a Pokéball and threw it towards Treecko. It tapped Treecko on the head and it was sucked inside. The Pokéball wiggled three times before it stopped with a ding sound which meant it was a successful capture.
Ashlyn picked up the Pokéball and smiled happily, "Yes! I caught a Treecko!"
"Lucky." Max muttered. Then he walked over to the tree, "I wish to challenge one of you!" He pointed to the Treecko.
It was silent for a moment until another Treecko came down from the tree and stood across from Max.
"Alright!" Max cheered.
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Max had caught the Treecko who challenged him. He was very pleased with himself. Ashlyn named her male Treecko 'Kazuki'. Soon after Ashlyn and Max caught their Treecko's, the gang decided to stop for a break, and they healed their Treecko's and introduced the gang's Pokémon to them. Somehow, they all got along with one another. Strange enough in Ash's world, his Treecko wouldn't get along with the other Pokémon. Maybe it's a good thing that hers and Max's do get along.
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Later that night, the gang woke up to the sounds of something rumbling nearby.
"What's that noise?" May asked, rubbing her eyes.
"I don't know. But I think we should go check it out." Ashlyn decided.
The gang ran towards the noise. As they ran, they heard pained cries and shocked cries as they saw a giant bulldozing machine right in front of them!
The bulldozing machine had bashed into several trees, knocking them down, while forcing all of the Treecko to fall down from their new home, screaming in shock and pain. Nets were used to catch the falling Treecko as they were placed inside the machine.
"The Treecko!" Brock gasped.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Max snapped angrily.
At the angry demand, a hatch opened on top of the machine, revealing a familiar evil trio! It was Team Rocket!
"Team Rocket!" The gang exclaimed.
"Prepare for trouble, and that's a threat!"
"This time, what's double is our net!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all people within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Tesla, Kazuki, use Iron Tail! Cobalt, Bone Rush!" Ashlyn interrupted.
Tesla and Kazuki's tail glowed a metallic color and Cobalt summoned two glowing bones as they ran towards Team Rocket's machine. They jumped onto the machine and slammed their tails on the container, breaking the glass, freeing the Treecko's.
"Oh no!" Team Rocket gasped.
"Everyone, let's send them off!" Ashlyn commanded.
Everyone ordered their Pokémon to use their attacks on Team Rocket's machine which caused it to explode and sent the trio into the air.
"So much for catching the Treecko." James whined.
"Darn those annoying twerps!" Jessie growled.
"We should be used to this by now." Meowth commented.
"Wobba!" Wobbuffet saluted.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!!!" The trio screamed before they disappeared into the sky.
The group let out sighs of relief. Suddenly they heard cracking noises nearby and turned towards the source; it was the old tree where the Treecko were living. They were shocked when they noticed a large crack split in the middle of the tree. Then the tree split in two. Kazuki and Max's Treecko were devastated at what had happened to their old home. The Treecko were saddened by the state of their home.
But suddenly, as in a miracle, the morning sun rose up, getting everyone's attention. The light that was between the split tree shined bright, shocking everyone that was looking at it. What they saw in the light was a new seed, sprouting out a small plant with two small leaves. The small plant started to grow, forming branches while growing big. Eventually, the tree started to become the same tree as the decaying one, only that the growing tree was new and was growing like an energetic plant.
"Look at that! A brand-new tree is born, right in front of our eyes!" Brock exclaimed.
As everyone kept watching, more trees started to form when seeds fell on the ground, forming into what became the forest. The first tree became the leader and the giant one.
But soon, the vision of the growing trees faded, revealing the split, and decaying tree once again. Due to no one supporting the decaying tree anymore, the two halves split away from each other, breaking apart and crashing onto the land. As the halves crashed, a seed plopped out, rolling in front of Kazuki's feet. He blinked, before he picked up the seed.
"When something perishes away, a new life will be born." Ashlyn said.
"Huh?" May, Max, and Brock asked.
"The tree is like a phoenix. When a phoenix dies, a new one is born from the ashes." Ashlyn explained.
"I see." Brock understood.
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It was soon time to go. Kazuki and Max's Treecko said their goodbyes to the other Treecko's who were now taking care of the tree which relieved Kazuki. Ashlyn knew that it would become even more grander than before once its fully grown.
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And so, the gang continued on their way to Rustboro City where Ashlyn's next gym battle is and first contest.
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Pokémon Caught: Poochyena (Lela)(F), Mudkip (Finn)(M), Shiny Torchic (Hestia)(F), Ralts (Miku)(F), Ralts (Lancelot)(M), Taillow (Percy)(M), Zigzagoon (Ziggy)(M), Treecko (Kazuki)(M)
