EndearingCharacterTrait

15

Chapter 15: Icebreakers (aka why I hate the first day of class) It's time to see what we can do about that random glacier blocking our path. With Dive, I can investigate a potential path forward. After some searching, we find another PULSE. This one's Avalugg, surely the cause of the roadblock. That's got to change, so we go to battle: Vs. Pokémon Redoubt Shelly follows after me, a bit surprised I cleared the path so easily. We go on through the tunnels and arrive in Ametrine City. The two of us begin looking for leads on where Heather might be, but the Ametrine-ites are strangely tight-lipped about it. Eventually we end up at a menacing-looking house, still without especially useful information. Even though Shelly is scared, we're determined to find Heather, so we search the place The diary tells the peculiar, sad tale of an experiment with Magneton(!) that went awry Then Blake appears, a thoroughly unlikeable person. He says he has been looking after Heather, but not much else really. Of course he refuses to be helpful. We had heard about a mysterious "guardian angel" who's been distributing food to the hungry Ametrine-ites, but no one wants to tell us who it is. Eventually we find a young boy who tells us about the guardian angel's guardian: No one talks about this hero because their guardian would not want them to be doing this. Definitely sounds like Blake. We decide to confront him directly. When we go to see Blake, he's still not going to tell us anything. Unless, of course, I'm willing to hand over my Ruby Ring I'm in no mood to negotiate with this jerk. Turns out it hardly mattered: Then Blake leaves. We step outside, a bit defeated. It seems like we have no leads, but a familiar face appears. Cal and Shelly apparently have some history, so she's reluctant to trust him (but then, so am I). However, he's really trying to redeem himself, so we eventually listen. He's done trying to one-up Blake now, and wants to be himself (he's Reborn). He tells us Blake will try to meet Solaris to pass on the Ring, and that there is an airborne Meteor unit incoming, so we'll need Heather's help to intercept them. According to him, we should search Blake's apartment carefully to find a secret path; that will lead us to Heather. Back up in Blake's apartment, we search for clues We eventually decode the mystery of the room, since Blake left all the clues we need just lying around (but dude couldn't even hide his pr0n effectively, so I'm not surprised). This leads to a secret passage, as expected. At the end there's a small shack; Heather's locked up inside. We bust her out, and she and Shelly are finally reunited(awww)! Heather's ordeals have caused some character development too. After briefing her on the situation, she and Shelly fly off to intercept the enemy. I head to the other edge of town, where Cal has confronted Blake. The enemy appears to slow us down, but I pair with Cal to dispatch them. While climbing the mountain I fight more (ace!) Meteor dudes, paired with Cal and then Shelly, who's learned several new tricks. Near the summit Shelly goes ahead of me, but I am stopped by none other than Aster. Having lost his partner, he's willing to give me TM Waterfall if I beat him one more time. And who am I to deny him this last favor? Vs. Meteor Ace Aster Even alone Aster still managed to give me a good fight. I found out last time how Golurk had the potential to be troublesome, since it knows Earthquake and DynamicPunch, so I had to bring the balloons to not lose too many to it. Defeated, Aster hands over TM Waterfall He wanted to change the world, having been affected by Eclipse's demise I continue to the summit, where Shelly has already been defeated by Blake. It falls to me now. Vs. Agent Blake I had blatant type advantage here, so no real challenge Blake refuses to give the Ring back after losing Before he can get away, Cal and Heather swoop in, and Blake gets wrecked. With Heather retrieved and the Ruby Ring returned to her, I remember the original reason I was supposed to come to Ametrine... But there's no sign of radio equipment that could send a signal to Agate here. Cal deduces that whoever told me it was here must have been lying. Cal is actually familiar with the culprit She's apparently been with Team Meteor since before even Blake and Cal joined, but started getting promotions once Lin took over since she's a skilled programmer/hacker Before we leave, I'm entrusted with an egg after proving my worthiness to a Pokémon Pariah I incubate the unborn mon to reveal this cutie And with friendship and training, I obtain a new team member, Gen IV's breakout star Lucario is fast, and speed is a premium on this run, so we'll see how she fits on the squad Our business here is now done. Next time I'll be confronting Terra, and thus facing yet another bad type matchup gym leader...do keep reading, I hope this continues to entertain!

Yes, you won't be able to get the key until after you have Strength, so no relearning for now

You can get Espurr. If it's female when it evolves it will learn tons of different attack moves, all of which can be useful

I-I want to play! Can't promise I'll be any good though

Magikarp

11

8

Girafarig

4

Chapter 14: Burn My Dread I head back to Fiore Mansion to claim the TM Surf I was promised. Titania says it may take a minute to find it since they seem to keep a messy house. There's all kinds of stuff just lying around... Of course Titania gets mad anyway Titania really does love Amaria, but it's apparently closer to philia than eros. It's pretty exhausting for Titania to keep up this romance with Amaria she didn't want, I can almost understand why putting on that mask every day would make her so irritable after a while. She is, of course, doing it for Amy, who otherwise doesn't have the strength to overcome her depression right now. She thinks it's best Amy doesn't know the truth. But Amaria displays some unbelievably unfortunate timing Titania thinks Amaria will break if the truth comes out, and unfortunately she's right. After Amaria jumps, Titania goes after her, but she doesn't have a way to get back, telling me to handle that part of the problem. So now I'll be needing Waterfall as well. But right now I can't do anything for these two, so with a heavy heart I continue. I see Cain, Aya, and Hardy again in Ametrine Mountain. The path to Ametrine City has been blocked by a wall of ice...earlier we were told that's where the radio signal afflicting Agate originates from so this is a setback. Unable to break through, we have to continue to Calcenon instead, by way of Route 3. Hardy tells us Route 3 should be an easy trek. But that proves false since Calcenon is currently under siege. The blasts destroy the bridge to Calcenon. Saphira appears to tell us the attacks are coming from a PULSE Clawitzer. Still undaunted, we continue on, but another blast separates Hardy and Cain from myself and Aya. I pair up with Aya to push forward. We end up in a weird cave, which we soon realize is actually a Meteor base. Eventually we come face to face with Aster and Eclipse (haven't seen them in a while). Apparently they got promoted. Vs. Meteor Knight Aster and Meteor Dame Eclipse These guys proved to be difficult...didn't help that I had to carry Aya most of the time. It took several attempts before I avoided a sweep by Magmortar and/or Electivire Afterwards Eclipse says she's quitting, and it was convenient that we raided the base when we did since she now has an excuse to stop the PULSE Clawitzer Eclipse doesn't like the direction the team is going, and she won't support the attack on Calcenon since that's where her Father lives But now that Lin is in charge, the group is a lot more ruthless and evil-er. While she's talking Sirius shows up and destroys her soul (definitely a lot more ruthless now). Trying to save me Aya gets taken hostage, so I have to finish the trek alone. While passing through Route 4, I catch this, the one I missed so long ago In Calcenon City, I find some old friends. Anna, Noel, and Shelly, as well as Laura and Charlotte, made it here safely, so that's good. Cain's here too (we already passed Hardy of course). He's telling them about how he left Heather with Blake. Hearing about my problem, Anna suggests I go under the glacier we can't breach. Thus, I will need to use Dive, which will require another badge. Shelly says it's Charlotte's badge, so that's convenient. When I go to see Charlotte, she's trying to comfort Laura, who abruptly got fired from the Elite 4 (It's that Bennett guy isn't it. Why is he still causing problems). Laura runs away. Also Fern's here. He's siding with the bad guys now, since he's a bandwagon fan who's ok with murder and terrorism apparently. Sirius shows up with Aya, demanding my Ruby Ring But I refuse, since by now I have to be more pragmatic in my strategies. Charlotte then shows up and steals it from me while getting all upset This is of course an act, since Charlotte has proven to be a master negotiator and shrewd tactician Having bought us time, she gives me the ring, and we head over to the gym. This was once her mother's Fire gym, and this is her first challenge here. Let's see what she can do. Vs. Firebug Charlotte I had a lot more room for error in this fight than with Samson. Charlotte's technique is so straightforward that she really can't handle Trick Room at all. That being said it was essential that Bronzong survive the first round and not be beaten by Darmanitan targeting it (this is ultimately why I sent Bastiodon first, a brutal strategy but necessary), or by just being obliterated immediately by (crit!) Eruption...But once that happened I never had trouble, funny how this was the easier of the two big fights this time. After proving who burns hotter, I get the mostly not useful TM Flamethrower (but Aggron and Bastiodon can learn it so...) and my 11th badge, thus enabling Dive. Next Time: We clear the path to Ametrine! What's going on in the snowbound city? Stay tuned to find out!

Nice work! I'll be looking forward to that Shelly encounter.

226

I gave Escavalier Shell Armor specifically to stop those shenanigans My problem was that he would fall immediately if the attack was at least POWERFUL (which it pretty much always was) though I guess EV/IVs are the reason, and I'm trying not to get too serious with that unless I have to. I hoped that with Intimidate Mawile would have an easier time (I was mostly wrong though), plus access to a fairy move seemed helpful. In the last attempt Mawile didn't get the KO on Hariyama but on previous tries it could with prior damage from Bronzong

Beldum is indeed (still) accessible after Luna but before Samson (as long as you have a Data Chip). I probably made some tactical errors in the fight, but I lacked confidence in taking hits from him. I was saving Aggron to have a second shot at Metal Burst, so I didn't want him to lose to Hariyama if possible. And having Stealth Rock on Aggron would have required breeding I think, so to use the rocks I would have needed to bring Steelix, and team spots were competitive for this fight. I initially did bring Escavalier, but I changed for Mawile after we kept losing to high powered Brick Breaks. I probably should have tried to get Trick Room right, but I only ever got one opportunity to use it before Bronzong would faint. Escavalier probably would have worked but live and learn I'll have to be sharper to beat Charlotte though

Only the one major battle this time, but it was a doozy... Chapter 13: The Agate Incident I meet Cain at the Agate City Gate, and we decide to investigate, knowing it may be a long diversion. Inside the city is deserted, and eerily quiet. But we soon spot Aya and Hardy, who we earlier learned is the gym leader here, passed out in the street. Before we meet the same fate, Terra...happens. Thanks to her, Aya and Hardy blast off again (denying me a chance to fight Hardy I suppose...I even had type advantage!) She tells us to leave since everyone in the city falls asleep. So we end up at the Circus. After I play the carnival games for a while, I come across the (new) Ringleader. She's struggling to keep control after the disturbance caused by Aya dropping from the sky in the middle of the circus and Hardy flying overhead. Samson leads me to where they brought Aya. Too soon Samson's the new Fighting leader since Kiki's gone now, but I can't challenge him (or Terra, or Ciel) without the appropriate pass...Aya's alright, but Hardy's still missing. I have to traverse Route 2 before reaching Fiore Mansion, where Amaria (it's been a while) and Titania, Amy's gf and Hardy's older sister, live. They found Hardy, luckily, so he's alright too. On TV we hear about the ongoing conflict in Calcenon and Labradorra, where Saphira and Charlotte's gyms are. Hardy leaves, and Amaria wants to go too, but Titania forbids it since 1) she's still recovering from that run-in with Solaris a while ago and 2) she has the Sapphire Bracelet that Team Meteor is seeking. I would go, but I can't get there without Surf...which they have a machine for! But Titania thinks it's pointless to give it to me now since I don't have the badges to use it yet...but she does give me a pass to fight Samson. Back at the Circus I can fight Samson, so here we go Vs. Strongman Samson I know I confessed said Luna was heart-pounding, but this guy...he just hits so ridiculously hard. Words like "defense" and "not very effective" meant nothing in this fight, as I learned over many, many tries. On occasions where I let Aggron fight Hawlucha he would still use Acrobatics...and it would still do so much damage, no matter that we have 4x resistance. Even though we did win, I can't help but be annoyed that it came only after my strategy completely broke down. There were times when Hariyama chose Brick Break first, and even times when it chose Smack Down to stop Bronzong's Levitate (for some reason), and I would succeed in having Metagross one-shot Mienshao, Blaziken, and Hawlucha all in a row. yet each time it would fall apart when Lucario appeared, since Trick Room usually ended around then. Its inability to fall to Metal Burst proved troublesome. And then if it fell there was Conkeldurr, which had the frustrating trait of being faster than Bastiodon but slower than Aggron, in addition to being so strong that nothing could survive even a single attack from it. I might have tried to make a prettier fight where my tactics defeated his brute strength, but that might have taken a dozen more tries...so I'll be satisfied the team bent but didn't break this one time. Having defeated Samson, the next order of business is heading back to get the TM Surf from Amy and Tania. We've got to lend our strength to the resistance effort in Labradorra/Calcenon, so it will be necessary. Until next time!

215

Seel

181

163

Luckily Magneton already has very good stats, and it's actually one of my faster mons right now. I'm pretty sure Magnezone is actually slower, though I have Trick Room finally so that can be a strength

Chapter 12: Hello Darkness In search of Luna, I ask my boss Maxwell (cuz I had no intention of fighting yet another fire trainer if I didn't have to) where to look. I am directed towards 7th Street, a wretched hive of scum and villainy. There are plenty of useful things to be found here if I'm willing to embrace a life of crime, or at least act like I am. Among the useful things I get are TMs for Explosion and Rain Dance(!), as well as a second Piplup in exchange for drugs: After I bought all the black market Pokémon (to give them a better life in my PC box), I get pointed towards some suspicious character in white. I come across none other than Bennett, who says he'll lead me to the cultists' lair, where they are keeping Luna. This, of course, is a trap I get imprisoned, but bust out. After staging a daring escape by dodging all the guards (it was a lot easier this time, incidentally), I confront El at an altar, ready to "purge the darkness" from Luna, whatever that's supposed to mean. Does that include her preference for dark Pokémon too? I saw you throwing Shadow Balls at me earlier so how is that different(ok yeah that's ghost but conceptually speaking)? They also brought Cain here, since I left him outnumbered at the castle earlier and he got captured (again). Just when things look bad, Gardevoir appears, and Radomus reveals he was actually there the whole time (in disguise, apparently he has a cultist robe also) ready to save our sorry butts (again). With their help we can escape. Cain's a little bothered he got caught again. Luna gives me a Crystal Key so I can find her in Iolia Valley. Not wanting to keep the lady waiting, I head over. While traversing the maze of tunnels, we see that Bennett is following us; he wants to apologize to Luna for the ordeal he forced on her. When I finally reach Luna Bennett is right behind me: Bennett apologizes, and Luna accepts. But he then goes on to try and justify his actions, something no one asked for. Apparently, he did what he did because he loves her and he was doing what he thought was best for her. At one point Luna was chained to a table because of this, and he thinks that was best for her? The implications are frightening. Luna is unsettled by Bennett's inability to know when to pump the brakes, and tells me again to meet her alone, since Bennett shouldn't be able to follow without a Crystal Key, before vanishing. Bennett still doesn't know when to give up. Bennett threatens to take my key, but being the southern gentleman I am, I resolve to fight for Luna's honor Vs Lepidopterist Bennett II 4 of his 6 are double weak to rock. A shame I couldn't sweep with just Aggron really Bennett gets all mopey after losing But he decides to continue his chosen path, since El agreed to make him an Elite With Bennett gone I can go to see Luna. Finally alone, we can have that gym battle: Vs. Dark Dreamer Luna We beat her, but I was seconds from defeat. For sure I did more switching than necessary, but it looked bad when 2 of mine went down to Bisharp, so this result is a good one After the heart-pounding encounter with Luna, she directs me toward Agate City, where Cain said he was going next. The gate guards are in some sort of cursed sleep...something is going on there, so preparations must be made before finding out what. First, we search in the dark caves to find this: The next stop is the Byxbision Wasteland, where through some bullshit expert gaming I am able to catch this gem: We do some training to help out the new team members Now we're ready to find out what's going on in Agate City. Stay tuned, more thrilling adventures and harsh challenges await young Stahl on his journey. Just kidding, I appreciate the support of whoever follows this

125

136

Aggron hasn't learned Metal Burst yet, but I guess the correct strategy would have been to bring Bastiodon for that fight. I usually don't because he's still a bit to passive to be on the main team. Radomus is an interesting character. Eccentric and rational all at once Well if I were smarter I could have bred Aerial Ace and Megahorn at the same time, since Heracross learns both. I may need to fix that, but it's worth it; Escavalier is exactly what my team will need in the future My first advice would be to evolve Pineco. Setting Spikes at the start can help. Past that I know I needed Onix to help beat Eelektrik, so I couldn't let it be beaten by his other mons...though having said that Onix does learn Screech at 31 I believe. Also if possible you could breed Sucker Punch onto Pawniard if you got Cacnea. I'm afraid I don't have much more in terms of strategy but I had to level everyone to at least 30+ to beat this guy, so if it's still not working don't be afraid to go all the way to the level cap. Bubblebeam or Brine from Prinplup should be able to do good damage, Brine especially with its double power when the opponent is below half