Writing Project: Johto Journeys (Part 3)
Day #15
I decided to head back to Olivine City, leaving early in the morning just after sunrise. Along the way, I handled some training with my team, trying to whip them into better shape. At Olivine City, I was directed to the lighthouse near the waterfront for Jasmine's whereabouts. Climbing the lighthouse proved to be difficult because of both trainers and the sheer amount of steps to walk! At the top, Jasmine implored me to fetch a medicine from Cianwood's Pharmacy since the Ampharos who acted as the lighthouse beacon was far too ill to be left alone. Seeing the extent of that weakness, I decided to forego asking about the Gym match and got on my way.
I had Croconaw use Surf to help ferry me across the sea to Cianwood. I got a good look at some islands along the way but there were rough waters around them, including whirlpools which would have certainly been dangerous. I avoided them entirely, and along the way I let Bayleef work on the swimming trainers. By the time I reached Cianwood's shores, I had Meganium instead, which was quite a useful evolution!
At Cianwood, I found Silver had already been here and made a trainer part with a Pokemon so he could build his team better. I was handed another Pokeball with pleas to keep it safe. The Shuckle inside isn't of much use to my team, so I quietly stored it away in Bill's system; it'll be perfectly safe in there. I made sure to grab the medicine for the lighthouse Ampharos, then heard about the gym here. The Cianwood Gym specializes in Fighting-type Pokemon. Kadabra, Pidgeotto, and Meganium formed the core of my team this time as we walked in and began dismantling the Black Belts. Chuck, the Gym Leader, was busy meditating under a running pipe of water so I shut it off; this got his attention and he decided I might be worth the interruption.
His Primeape did a number on poor Pidgeotto, forcing me to send out Meganium to clean up. After he sent out his second Pokemon, Poliwrath, I knew this was all over without needing to resort to Kadabra. Chuck presented me with the Storm Badge and his compliments on a powerful team, before I left. Outside I had a woman introduce herself as his wife, and on seeing my Storm Badge she commented how it might push her husband to work out harder to improve himself. She slipped a HM into my pocket and waved goodbye; it turned out to be Fly. I quietly taught it to Pidgeotto, since that is a worthwhile move for a fighting Pokemon.
I felt a chill on the air and wandered north along the beach to see Suicune standing there staring at me. It ran off, sprinting across the waves and leaving small sheets of ice where it walked. Eusine was not far behind, and stared out over the path it had taken. He said he realized I was indeed special to Suicune and wanted to duel me to prove to himself he could be worthy of that attention himself. This was much harder than the Gym Leader, and I wound up resorting to quite a lot of effort. An Electrode he trained demolished Pidgeotto and Croconaw before I had Meganium finish it off. His Haunter was the last one to fall, though it took Kadabra down with it.
After the battle, he smoothed his clothes and congratulated me. He said he would resume only watching, just to see if Suicune truly had chosen me for something . . . and left me standing there pondering the gravity of his words. Then I remembered the medicine, and had Pidgeotto fly me back to Olivine for delivery. Jasmine was grateful for the delivery and told me tomorrow I could have my Gym Battle.
Day #16
I prepared for the Gym Battle with Jasmine, learning she favored Steel-type Pokemon. This led to me setting up with Quilava, Croconaw, and Meganium. Jasmine led off with an Magnemite, who was dedicated to trying to trying to paralyze and confound Quilava. After a wayward Flame Wheel, it was gone and I was able to switch to Croconaw to deal with Steelix. Steelix was a great deal more imposing than Onix, but it was still quite slow compared to Croconaw. Even after being healed by Jasmine with a potion, all it took was an extra helping of Surf for Croconaw to destroy it. Quilava returned to deal with the last Pokemon, which was another Magnemite using more offensive attacks like Thunderbolt. Jasmine congratulated me and handed me her Mineral Badge.
Despite the Gym Battle not taking too much time to complete, the fallout left my Pokemon in no state to continue for the day. I took the rest of the day off to let them rest, while contemplating where I'd need to go for the next Badge. I needed to learn more information on what Gym was next and how to reach it. I received a notice that the Johto Safari Zone was open - maybe I'll check it out tomorrow, and see what's going on there.
Day #17
It was a long way from the Cianwood Safari Zone Gate to the actual park! There were a lot of bridges over waterfalls, and trainers, and caves. Caves meant Zubat swarms, which I really hate. Once at the park, I was greeted and had the concept explained to me. The staff gives you thirty special Safari Balls (which are worthless at catching things, I'll note from memory) and set you loose on the grounds. Whatever you catch is yours to keep, but once you run out, you're done. It costs some money to take a chance, so it's not like it's a piece of cake. I ventured within to check it out.
The layout is interestingly open, and seems vaguely compartmentalized. A flower garden area, a cliffside, wetlands, an area with a lot of ponds, a small forest grove . . . and a small assortment of Pokemon to catch. I was asked by the owner to participate in his challenge and catch a Geodude with a Safari Ball. After an hour of stalking through the cliffside area, I finally caught a clean glimpse of one, and managed to catch it. I also managed to catch a Drowzee, a Jigglypuff, a Marill, and a Sentrett to round out my Pokedex data. Afterwards the owner mentioned he'd get back to me about the other half of the Challenge.
I heard discussion about a Lapras being sighted in the Union Cave depths, and headed out to go find it. Once I got deep into the caves I discovered I was really not the only one here after it. Several ace trainers were down here, and I had to fight them off one by one. One of them had a team of Eevee evolutions, another used Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander, a third used a rather well-trained Poliwhirl. Along with the constant Zubat attacks, this wore my team down considerably before I saw Lapras at the small lake floating happily. Flaafy managed to land a Thunder Wave attack, and left it wide open for a Net Ball; I will have to take great care to remember to let Lapras out now and then!
I heard the next badge would be from Mahogany Town to the east, so I flew with Pidgeotto back to Goldenrod City for the evening. I spent some time playing at the Game Corner and shopping for supplies. As I walked around town, I noticed a lot of people who looked like they were Team Rocket members, but when I tried to look again I didn't see them. Perhaps something is going on here . . . I wish I knew for certain. I would hang around for a day and see if anything was developing.
Day #18
I didn't see any suspicious figures in Goldenrod City this morning, but I was reminded of a Bug Catching Contest in the National Park. I attended with Alia, who seemed eager to find herself out and about again. The goal is to capture the strongest Bug-type Pokemon from those released in the Park. You were limited to one Pokemon from your six on hand, and no recovery items such as Potions or Antidotes. I found mostly Weedles, Caterpies, and settled on a Beedrill for my contest entry. I don't know how the scoring was done, because someone with a rather sickly looking Venonat took first place and I was stuck in last. Afterwards I let the Beedrill go, not needing or wanting to keep it about.
After returning to Goldenrod City, I heard the strangers in uniforms had departed and opted to continue my work training my team. Flaafy, Quilava, Kadabra, and Alia both needed some work to get them up to par with the rest of the team; Feraligatr and Meganium were both quite highly useful for their types. Pidgeotto has been a very good help, but I'm not sure yet if it'll be useful for what's ahead. I still prefer my Staraptor . . . what can you do? I suppose I could always send for them . . .
No, I decided to do this with a clean start, and deciding to cheat those rules to be more comfortable with my team is a lousy way to go. I'll bring them out only after I make my bid at the Pokemon League, win or lose. I went into the caves under Mount Mortar, finding it quite a good start to training. I felt something else here, which drew me to explore deeper . . . something felt unnatural, the air charged with an energy similar to when I saw Suicune a couple days ago.
Perhaps it's in these caves somewhere, waiting . . . I'll delve deeper tomorrow and find out.