When we last saw our hero, he was about to plunge into the leafy darkness of Petalburg Woods, a land of fearsome creatures and evil repute. His Pokemon were ready. His body was ready. His enemies were not.Enter the Nightmare Upon entering the forest, CONAN noticed that there was a dead end on the right. CONAN figured that there would be a trap set in such a place, so he charged in to slay the cowardly fools who had tried to trick him. He was met with no resistance save for some litter, which helpfully turned out to be a Great Ball. CONAN had forgotten to even get any Pokeballs in Petalburg, so it was a welcome find. Taking the Western path from that intersection led to the real trap; Bug Catcher Lyle.Close Encounters of the Sixth Goddamn Wurmple Bug Catcher Lyle was a godless heathen of the worst sort. Not only was he terrible at fighting, he abused his country's free healthcare beyond anything that should be legal. In battle, his strategy is to wear down his enemy by sending out a half-dozen Wurmples that (might) poison the foe and try to survive until their opponent faints. When all of his Pokemon had died, he would just walk back to Petalburg and get them fixed up to do the same thing again. When battle was joined, Meroveg tore asunder four of the putrid worms in quick succession, ignoring the pain of their poisonous stings. When the battle rage left him, though, Meroveg had to retreat before the poison overtook him. Hrothgar replaced him and pecked another Wurmple in half before it could even move. Boudica crushed the last one's mind until it knew that its master had done evil, and it fled into the woods. In an attempt to save his new land's health care system, CONAN used his sword to cleave Lyle himself asunder with one mighty blow.Battle is joined North of the battle, CONAN found a Slakoth hiding in the underbrush. While it loafed about, CONAN captured it with his lone great ball. The lazy beast hadn't done much, so CONAN was stumped as to what to name this creature. He eventually decided upon the name Gerald, after a warrior of no particular note.+
Deeper within the labyrinthine confines of the forest, CONAN came upon a fat and chronically confused businessman, the type that would never survive the frozen northlands alone. Before CONAN could drive him out of this land, the land of danger and manliness, a mysterious man clad in red leapt from a tree. Fists raised, he rounded upon the befuddled salesman with madness in his eyes.Mystery Man: Hey! I saw you come into this forest, and I know who you are! Hand over the GOODS!
Befuddled Businessman: Err... I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just here to find some Shroomish, man!
Mystery Man: I know you have it! Don't make me have my Poochyena tear your face off.
Befuddled Businessman: How much is it worth to you? Worth going to jail for murder? Because there's a witness right behind me.
Both the suit-sporting salesman and the crimson-clad criminal whirl towards the South, where CONAN is standing with sword raised, Boudica at his side.Mystery Man: I don't know who you are, but you'd best get out of here. You can keep a secret, right? I'll pay you good.
CONAN: What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs—I was a man before I was a king.
Mystery Man: You're no king. You're just a stupid k-
The Mystery Man falls silent as CONAN approaches him, sword bared and eyes blazing with fury.CONAN: You are a petty thief and a coward. Flee if you wish to live!
The Befuddled Businessman hides in a tree behind CONAN as the Mystery Man draws out a Pokeball, releasing his Poochyena. It is a powerful foe, stronger than all of CONAN's Pokemon save for Hrothgar.
Boudica was deployed first, her mind ready to blast that of the Poochyena into mush. However, there was one thing terribly, terribly wrong. Confusion had no effect! The Poochyena rushed on unhindered, its jaws snapping shut over Boudica's frail body. Seeing that she was critically wounded, CONAN rushed to pull off the Poochyena and save his friend. Hrothgar was sent forth to provide covering fire for CONAN as he pulled Boudica off to the side to bind some of her wounds.Mystery Man: Dumb mistake, kid.
CONAN: You're a dumb mistake.
Hrothgar's purging flame quickly incinerated the Poochyena, but when the smoke cleared, the Red-Robed Rascal had already escaped.Befuddled Businessman: Don't tell my boss I was here, okay? You saw nothing.
CONAN: If you do not leave now, you never will.
The businessman quickly fled to the north, presumably towards the metropolis of Rustboro. Before CONAN could continue onwards, he made camp and tended to Boudica throughout the night, applying a poultice of crushed berries and solid mangrit to her gruesome injuries. When the sun arose, Boudica did not.Villainous Scum To the north, Bug Catcher James searched for easy prey. He found none, as his limbs could attest from where they lay across the clearing from his torso. He was no longer too cool for school.Bug Catcher James CONAN spotted the gated exit to the forest to the north, and made his way there quickly.I spy an exit! CONAN's journey has only just begun, and already the fury of battle has ended too many lives. With another dawn, he will arrive at the gates of Rustboro, a land of steel and rock. In Rustboro lies the first Gym Leader CONAN will face, Roxanne.