Some sort of progress

I'm growing very fond of my team, as small as it is. Our power is unmatchable in these parts.

The boy who blocked me at the south exit before tries to again, but one flash of my newly acquired badge stops him. He drops to his knees and presents me with a tiny seed that he claims will increase the strength of all plant-based attacks for whatever Pokémon is holding it.

To think, Garrison will be even more deadly with this...

I thank the boy genuinely.

The wildlife here is about the same as what I'm used to, with a few new faces to round things out.

I am interested in this wide-faced blob with two leaves - perhaps its species is distantly related to Garrison's? I almost want to capture it for the team, but I know I have to keep an elemental balance.

The narcissism just doesn't seem to end.

In one battle of note, Garrison's high intellect proves to be too much even for himself to handle.

He rams his head on the ground several times to stifle his incredible IQ.

-sigh- Garrison... The world just wasn't ready for you.

One creature of note that lives here in abundance is this electric sheep. They are unfortunately weak and not quite interesting enough to warrant a place on my team.

And after destroying several of them, Garrison figures out how to release clouds of toxic spores.

And yet he thinks he's going to win against my team of rigorously-trained supermonsters.

These are the sort of things the fishermen put up against me. They are as pathetic as worms trapped on baking asphalt, and I treat them as they deserve.

Poorly.

This boy here is spinning in place for some reason. He looks determined, and not the slightest bit dizzy. I have to commend his perseverance.

The Pokémon he commands is admittedly interesting. It's none too smart and taken out quickly with a single Razor Leaf attack, but there's still something about it that I like.

This trainer has left an impression on me. I ask him for some words of wisdom before we part.

And he goes back to spinning.

I find here a girl who shouts to the world about how amazing it is that it's Friday, and then hands me a very dangerous barb soaked in poison. A thought flashes in my head, of me plunging this barb deep into Knabbs' chest.

I put it away carefully and thank her.

At a Pokémon Center which I find along this route, not only is there yet another hellspawn woman, but also a man who asks if I want his Old Rod. I see that he is carrying a bundle of beat-up fishing rods, and I am relieved. I take one, even though it doesn't seem like it'll ever be any use to me.

This trainer boasts some kind of floppy-eared pink pincushion. Garrison is more energetic than usual and dispatches the creature in no time.

Huh?

HUH?

Garrison! You... you've changed! Altered! No longer are you a tiny spud! You're a slightly larger spud with more growths!

This is the happiest day of my life.

Did I say we were unstoppable? I was lying.

NOW we're unstoppable. Not only that, we're the greatest ever.

Oh... I mentioned a cave before, didn't I?...

Here you go.

NEXT TIME: Frez actually goes in the cave! Oh, for the love of Pete!