"who let this gremlin in the magma base?!"

(@tiny-grunt-bow)

Hoenn’s beaches were much warmer than the Pokemon Breeder remembered. He was at the base of Mt Chimney with a backpack, a map, and a Numel named Phlox. He was going to work on training with Phlox while he was still in Hoenn, but his mind kept drifting back to the map. He had barely gotten anything done and Phlox was tired. 

Harte looked over the map skeptically. He had received it as payment from one of his clients after he had hatched a shiny Zubat on the first egg. The map was of Hoenn, but there were a few marked locations. One was a bit southeast of New Mauville and had Fabled Cave scrawled over it in readable but messy handwriting. There was also one north of Petalburg marked as Trackless Forest, and one near Mt Chimney labeled Gnarled Den. The trainer he had got the map from had said that these locations used to be really important but now hold nothing other than strong Pokemon. 

How the guy knew that Harte didn’t know. It was pretty crappy payment, but it would have to do for now. If the strong Pokemon rumor was true, maybe Phlox could get more of a challenge. She was struggling to grow stronger in this environment somehow. Maybe she just needed a change of opponent? Whatever it was, Harte had a hunch that what the trainer was referring to was somewhat special. If things got too tough, he could just turn to Thea, his shy Noibat buddy.

“C'mon, Phlox.” Harte called, patting the Numel’s warm hump to move her along. Phlox waddled beside Harte. They were going to find the nearest Pokemon Center and stock up on items - not that they weren’t already prepared for an expedition, they just needed to be extra prepared.

Luckily, she noticed a breeder walking his Pokemon down the shore. As he noticed her she saw him flinch and tighten his grip on whatever he was holding. "Haha!! Suspicious person spotted!!" Bow ran up in front of him and his Numel so they couldn't move.