Another picture I drew at Daniël's, and it depicts a Safari Zone gate. It could be the Kalos Friend Safari (evidence being the peculiar patterns above the Safari entrance), but I personally leaned a bit more towards the FireRed/LeafGreen version of the Kanto Safari Zone. This art piece was the result of me mashing together my love for abandoned places with my love for Pokémon, and I figured since the Safari Zone is all about the wilderness (to some extend), I thought it was only natural for a place like this to be completely worn down and overrun by vegetation if it were to be left behind by the humans that used to run the place.

Here's a little story I just came up with too!

-- As I, a lone Sandslash, looked around, I saw the plant-life slowly take over the peculiar green-colored building in the distance. At first, I didn't know exactly what kind of building it was, nor did I expect it to be so run-down. Even though I didn't really like grass being all around me, curiosity eventually got the best of me, and I entered the building. Next to it was a grey sign that read ''SAFARI ZONE -- ENTERING GATE''. Well, that didn't help me at all figuring out what region I was currently hanging around in. The sign itself was covered in a greenish, moss-like substance, so the words were barely readable. Inside was a high wooden counter, with a table and a bench across the other side of the room, but the counter was badly damaged and some pieces of wood were either missing completely or were looking like someone had been violently slamming into them repeatedly with a bunch of iron tools. I looked at it in shock: ''I've got no crazy idea what horribly selfish person would vandalize a place as obscure as this one'' I sharpened my claws using a piece of wood that was hanging loose from the broken counter. With a loud ''SNAP!'', it broke off and fell to the ground. Oops, I didn't mean to do that... I decided to ignore the rest of the gate and head for the next area, which was the Safari Zone itself. I knew this place was SUPPOSED to be all wild and untamed, but THIS was a whole other level of a neglected nature preserve! At least the plants that DID get the chance to grow here were completely free to do so!

As I walked through this wilderness, I started wondering if there were still any Pokémon roaming around in this area. After all, the Safari Zone's whole THING, was to be a free-roaming paradise for all those Pokémon that were unlucky enough to be unable to adapt to the modern society of people, yet couldn't bare to be in violent battles all the time in order to survive. But that didn't make any sense either, since the Pokémon that DID live in this place weren't much better off than the regular ones that were present all over the dang region. As I laid down to rest a little, I spotted a creature standing in front of a small body of water, not far away from a couple of thin trees. I carefully approached the heavily built critter. As I got closer, I saw that it was a Rhyhorn, who was quietly drinking from the water in the pool. It was then that a bright ray of sunlight shone upon its rocky plates, which were coated a beautiful pinkish bronze. ''Ah... A visitor?'', the bulky beast mumbled as it looked over its shoulder, pausing its activity for a moment. Then, he turned himself around completely: ''I... wasn't expecting any guests today, my dear Sandslash. What brings you here?'' I really didn't know what to answer, even though I knew I entered the Safari just out of pure curiosity. So that was exactly what I told Rhyhorn. ''Ah, I see'', he concluded, ''...so, you long to... be a roamer like me, hm. I get that. You can stay here for a while if you so desire'' I sat next to him in front of the gorgeous, clean pool of water. Not too close though, since water is one of my many weaknesses. On that note, I thought it was kinda strange how a Rock type like Rhyhorn found it pleasant to be standing here and drinking from this pool. ''Come to think of it...'', I said, ''...we actually share a couple weaknesses. Ehh, SOME. Not all of 'em'' ''Yes'' replied Rhyhorn, showing off his precious bronze plates, ''...but the reason I'm hiding out here, is not the reason you'd think of when you'd encounter a lonely soul like me. You see... in the past -- and in this day and age, for that matter -- people used to come to these kind of nature reserves in search of us carefree Pokémon, especially one-of-a-kind beings like me. During past encounters with said people, I have so far managed to get away and find a safe place. I don't like being enslaved by some selfish human who is only looking for power and fame'' I put a claw on Rhyhorn's back: ''But... not all people are bad to the Pokémon they are travelling with, right? In fact, I know some people who deliberately put up a so-called Pokémon Fan Club in Hoenn's Lilycove City, in order to show their love for Pokémon like us. These guys just want us to live our good lives! They care about our well-being and health. They'd even go as far as to set up or recreate places like Safaris and Day-Cares in order to ensure we stay unharmed! That's what you call Poké-activists -- or, whatever the heck they're called'' Rhyhorn looked down at his reflection in the pool. ''I think these places are a bit too crowded and noisy for my liking. I prefer to live here out in the open, but still in a semi-closed place where I can tell what's my new home, and what's viewed as the outside world. I wouldn't mind escaping people by surfing away either -- my armor happens to be strong enough for me to not go down when entering the seas. And I'll have you know, my dear Sandslash -- the seas connecting the various regions to one another can be quite violent and dangerous. I only ever dare to enter water when there is no other option left'' As I listened to what Rhyhorn had to say, I looked around in an attempt to spot a drier and more shaded place. I could see one from a small hill consisting of grass and rocks. Even though Rhyhorn here would rather stay behind some kind of barrier such as a large tree or a high rock in order to hide from potential snoopers, he was willing to bathe in bright sunlight to simply warm up his body whenever he saw the opportunity. Ever since spotting Rhyhorn, I originally planned to take him to a different place where some humans could protect him and take care of him, and probably take care of me, too -- but if he wasn't ACTUALLY in danger of being hunt down by the people, he may as well stay, and I would be more than willing to be with him, if he didn't mind.

But then, just as we were about to walk off to the adjacent open area with short, yellow grass...

...I spotted them. I whispered Rhyhorn's name, telling him to head back to the pool and hide behind the trees. In the far distance, two skinny people wearing brightly-colored caps, were walking around out in the open, probably on the hunt for any Pokémon that may cross their path. I knew, they were deliberately looking for this Rhyhorn, with his gorgeous bronze plates that were a natural part of his body. How ridiculously far people would go to obtain such priceless materials... I wasn't even sure whether these people were looking to add Rhyhorn here to their training party, or if they... if they ACTUALLY wanted to take his life, in order to take his very body apart, so they could sell the different parts at a Poké Shop... ''Rhyhorn'', I said, ''...whatever it takes, I will make sure they're not laying a finger on you! You are just too kind for me to make you suffer'' ''Thank you, my friend...'', replied Rhyhorn, ''and maybe... maybe you were right all along. I will give it a chance. Please... kind Sandslash. Show me where I can find that club you were talking about earlier'' As I guided Rhyhorn through the ravaged plains filled with nasty spiked bushes and large trees, and headed back to the one and only entrance of this forgotten nature preserve, I started thinking. If I managed to bring Rhyhorn to a place where there were people, who indeed cared for others' well-being, we would get more than enough opportunities to get to know one another, as close friends.

🌾 (-o-) THE END (-o-) 🌾