The next day,
Reggie and Akemi went to visit their elders, leaving Yong alone at the Pokémon Center.
He called home again, sent Swampert back, and had Rhydon's Pokémon Ball transferred over.
Compared with Swampert's guidance, Yong felt that Rhydon, who shared Larvitar's types, would be easier for the little Pokémon to relate to. Besides, ever since he had given Swampert the Soul Dew, Swampert seemed to have entered a remarkable state!
Yong could sense that this was a good change. After discussing it with Swampert, he sent Swampert home to reflect on those changes in a quiet environment...
With Rhydon, Larvitar, and the others, Yong left the Pokémon Center and set out for the Great Marsh!
The Great Marsh lay north of Pastoria City. It was an enormous stretch of wetlands, covering even more ground than the city itself. It was also a famous wild Pokémon sanctuary in the Sinnoh Region!
Extremely rare Pokémon occasionally appeared there!
Croagunk, Skorupi, Staravia, Hoothoot, and others often lived in the Great Marsh for a time before disappearing again.
Since Croagunk only appeared here, Pastoria City had adopted the Pokémon as its mascot!
Following his map, Yong admired Pastoria City's distinctive wetland scenery as he followed the road out of the city's north side and deeper into the Great Marsh.
Pokémon found nowhere else in the Sinnoh Region could be discovered here, so the marsh constantly attracted large numbers of Pokémon Trainers and tourists drawn by its reputation.
Yong looked at the huge crowd before him with some frustration. He had actually wanted somewhere less crowded, ideally with plenty of water and marshland where Larvitar and the others could train.
But clearly, the current situation made his plan completely unworkable!
There were people everywhere!
Forget the larger pools! Even some of the bigger