After obliterating our rival Tamt, it’s time to hit the road toward Oreburgh City. Right on Route 203, we snag the ideal companion for the next gym: a resilient Lotad, aptly named Blikey. Three unavoidable battles stand between us and progress, but with a little luck (and a lot of grit), we breeze through. One battle against a pair of Fighting types nearly gives us a heart attack, but we manage to pull through. In Oreburgh Gate, we capture a Zubat who’ll be known as ZooWee. Despite two required battles in this cave, we clear them with ease.
Once in Oreburgh, we venture onto Route 207, where an adorable Phanpy joins the team—meet Dumbo! We still need to track down the elusive gym leader, Roark, to remind him of his duty. Along the way, we encounter and catch a Geodude named Noxed. A moment of impatience later, I accidentally grab a Water Stone over the Dusk Stone we’d planned for Umbreon. But before we hit the gym, we land a jackpot: the Hoenn starters! Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip join us as Draymond, Stewart, and Beast.
With a level cap of 16, I craft our team carefully, aiming for the ultimate blend of Water, Grass, and Rock power. After some intense training, Blikey evolves into a formidable Lombre, Noster transforms into a Wartortle, Beast becomes a bulky Marshtomp, Draymond into a nimble Grovyle, and Pope turns into the fierce Ivysaur. Roark stands in our path, his Rock-type team ready to throw down with Nosepass, Bonsly, Geodude, Onix, Larvitar, and Cranidos. Knowing Nosepass might lead with Electric moves and set up for residual damage, we counter by opening with Draymond.
With Draymond’s speed, we hit a massive crit, knocking out Nosepass. Roark sends in Geodude, and predicting Fire Punch, we pivot to Beast, who tanks the punch and takes Geodude out with a Water Gun. Roark then brings out Cranidos, equipped with Thunder Punch. Thanks to Beast’s Ground typing, we’re shielded from the attack, but the Cranidos fights back fiercely with Zen Headbutt. In a nerve-wracking moment, Noxed steps in, narrowly surviving long enough to land the final blow. With Onix, Larvitar, and Bonsly left, Blikey steps up to dismantle the remaining team, earning us our first badge!
Back in Jubilife City, we encounter some pesky Team Galactic grunts up to no good. After evolving Leo into Staravia and Dipper into Monferno, we face them in a double battle with Dawn. With Noxed setting up Stealth Rocks and Leo swooping in to clean house, we make short work of them. Heading north on Route 204, we capture a feisty Makuhita named Piceo. In Floaroma Town, we welcome the Johto starters into our team: Chikorita (Bean), Cyndaquil (Zap), and Totodile (Rawr).
When we confront Mars at the Valley Windworks, things get heated. With Zubat, Bronzor, Yanma, and the menacing Purugly on her team, our strategy starts strong with Noxed setting up Stealth Rocks. But a brutal turn of events claims Cody to poison and Noxed to a brutal Extrasensory. Even Piceo falls to Purugly’s relentless Facade. In a final effort, Dipper lands a critical Mach Punch, taking down Purugly. We honor Cody, Noxed, and Piceo, knowing their sacrifice brought us this far.
We need to head north on route 205 to get to our next location, on that route we encounter a Pachirisu that we catch and name Sanders. When we enter into Eterna forest we have to fight Cheryl in this version. She has a Drifbloon, Makuhita, Wailmer, and Chansey. We are able to take out her team with a solid strategy; Dumbo takes out Drifbloon with two powerful Rock Tombs, then Blikey is able to take out Wailmer, Chansey comes in and Dipper takes her out with Mach Punches, and lastly Leo easily takes care of Makuhita.
Together, we plow through the forest, but a mishap robs us of a Mischievous that would have been an incredible addition. After a single required battle, we finally reach Eterna City, where our next gym battle, and the next chapter, await us. Stay tuned for Part 3!
The Kutty Katt's Thoughts 