ppe 5: Back on track?

[xaq_the_aereon]

[TEAM STATUS]
Belfries, Lv 13
Tessa, Lv 15
Buster, Lv 15
Floofy, Lv 13
Astra, Lv 15
Nala, Lv 15

So here we are, back on Route 204. I was momentarily confused when Lass Sarah didn't want to battle...then I remembered we dealt with her earlier. Whoops.

One person we didn't deal with, though, decides he's gonna stomp us.

[VS. Youngster Tyler]
[Round 1: vs. Magikarp]
... ...Is this one even worth writing up? It's...it's a Magikarp.
[Round 2: vs. Starly]
Time to see how Nala's new Luxio form fares. Thunder Shock proves it works very nicely for her!

[HE WAS ABOUT 10 LEVELS BEHIND US...MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN HIM EARLIER AFTER ALL?]

Perhaps. Maybe this next one will be a little more of a challenge?

[I RATHER DOUBT IT]
[VS Lass Samantha]
[vs Budew]
Belfries leads with Astonish, and it responds with Growth to boost its Attack. My girl busts out the Zubat staple and Supersonics the Budew, confusing it into hurting itself, then Astonishes it again for the knockout.

[CALLED IT]
Oh please. XP

In the midst of all the unaspiring challenges, however, I lost track of Tessa's Exp. But that Budew boosted her to Lv 16, evolving her from the adorable Piplup into the fairly badass Prinplup! Metal Claw comes with the evolution, adding a very nice attack to her arsenal.

And with that, we reach and enter the Ravaged Path. Apparently we could have gotten here earlier, but Rock Smash is needed to advance.

[IF ONLY WE HAD THAT MOVE IN THE POKETCH...OH WAIT]
For the sake of Exp, I shift Floofy to the front; once she evolve to a Bibarel I imagine I'll be looking to replace her now that I know I don't need an HM mule.

Inside, we have two options: a short path out to the right, or who-knows-what to the left.

[SO, LEFT?]
Obviously. ...Aaand it just leads to some water and a TM for Rock Tomb. Without a swimmer, this is a dead end.

[HOW ANTICLIMACTIC]
Indeed. So anyway, back to the right, and a quick exit to the rest of Route 204. The flowers smell nice up here, as one wanton lady puts it.

[WANTON OF A POKEMON BATTLE, THAT IS]
Pervs. :p
[VS. Aroma Lady Teighler]
[Round 1: vs Budew]
Absorb saps a little of Floof's HP, and I opt for Rollout. Stun Spore paralyzes her, but doesn't stop the 2nd hit from coming and scoring a KO.

[ROUND 2: vs. Cherubi]
May as well keep Floofy Rolling! Leafage stings a bit, while Rollout one-shots it.
[DANG, THAT MOVE IS RIDICULOUS...YOU SURE YOU WANT TO REMOVE HER FROM THE TEAM?]
Yeah. Less than 2 levels away from that evolution, so I'm sure she'll still get some mileage in with the team before I find a suitable replacement. For now, though, I move Belfries back to the front until I can get that Paralysis dealt with.

Which is perfectly timed to deal with this guy. Let's go!

[VS. Bug Catcher Brandon]
...*facepalms* I apologize for the unintentional pun there.
[Round 1: vs. Kricketot]
Supersonic whiffs, and Struggle Bug struggles to do much. Another Supersonic misses, while Pound does sting a bit. At this point I decide to quit playing nice and tag Astra in, letting her Intimidate soften its Pound even further before Wing Attack blasts it out of the battle entirely.

[Round 2: vs. Wurmple]
I leave Astra out for a quick wrap-up via Wing Attack.
[AAAAND IT CRITS]
Yeowza. X_x;

A quick glance up ahead shows signs of double trouble...namely, two young girls standing next to each other. Looks like we've got our first 2-on-1!

[VS. Twins Liv & Liz]
[vs. Double Pachirisu]
I'd be worried about Belfries here due to them being Electric, but the level gap should handle it. The both hit Belfries with Baby-Doll Eyes to lower her Attack, which does nothing to Absorb, and Floofy's Rollout fizzles to her Paralysis. I tag her out for Tessa, who gets nicked by a pair of Quick Attacks, while Supersonic strikes out again. I tag Belfries out for Buster, who gets knicked by 2 more Quick Attacks, while Tessa puts one of them in the red with a crit on Water Gun.

They both use Quick Attack on Tessa, who knocks one out with Metal Claw. Buster's Revenge would have scored a KO if they'd hit her, but as is still puts the remaining Pachi in the red. One last Quick Attack fails to hurt Tessa much, and a Water Gun wraps the bout up.

Just past them, before we head into town, I spy a TM for Bullet Seed.
[YOINK!]
With that in tow, we reach Floaroma Town. Very nice place, but more importantly, they have a Pokecen.
[TEAM HEALED UP, FLOOFY IS STUN-FREE]
Whew!

I talk with an elderly couple at the entrance, and...the old man gives me JIRACHI!?

[WHAT...HOW...WHY???]
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!

[ONE BIT OF RESEARCH LATER]
Oh, okay, so you have to have a Sword/Shield save for this. Still, what the...

[MOVING ON]
On the north side of town is the Berry Shop. Apparently they let you take the Berries from the trees out front for free!

[AND AGAIN, YOINK!]
We score 2 Oran and 2 Cheri...one of each of which I go ahead and replant. Inside, we're gifted another Cheri and a Sprayduck watering can. Apparently we can also trade Berries for Stickers here, but...why would we?

Back outside, I water the Berries we planted earlier and do some looking arou--uh oh.

[GALACTIGOONS SPOTTED]
And apparently they're just...there. Complaining about their assignment.

[IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN LEAVE]
Sadly, they're resolute in following orders, so...on to route 205. A few more Berries to take, replant, hear a cry of help from nearby, and water...wait, what?

[CHILD IN DISTRESS!! GO!!]
We may not be the Problem S.O.L.V.E.R.S. team, but we're on it! This young lady wants us to get her papa from the Valley Windworks area, but she can't get to him because of Team Galactic. And so, we prep for the long, arduous journey to the Valley Windworks...

[WHICH IS ABOUT 5 FEET STRAIGHT AHEAD OF US]
And look, a Galactigoon at the entrance.

[WE SHOULD STOP CALLING THEM THAT]
Why?
[IT'S RUDE TO THE ZIGZAGOON LINE]
Ooo, good point. Hmm...Galactigrunt?
[THAT WORKS]

Anyway, this Galactigrunt tells me to beat feet. Very well then.

[VS. FEET]
[Vs. Glameow]

Scratch doesn't hurt Belfries very much, and Supersonic confuses it. It still manages a Growl to drop Belfries' Attack, but Absorb undoes most of the damage it did earlier. Scratch knicks again, and Astonish...does nothing. Right, Normal-type.

With that in mind, I tag in Buster. Scratch hits again as its confusion wears off, then another one...setting up Revenge for the KO.

[OUTTA THE WAY, DOOFUS!]
And he moves...inside, locking the door behind him. Would be a problem if he didn't mention that his friends back in town have another key.

[TIME TO TAKE ON THE OTHER GALACTIGRUNTS?]
After a quick check in the grass to see if there's any new 'mons to catch. Yay for action-based plot advancement!

[POKEMON CAUGHT WHILE PUTZING AROUND]
Shelly (Shellos]
Drifter (Buizel)
Patch (Pachirisu)

The sidetracking also nets Floofy her boost to Lv 15 and evolution to a Bibarel. Back in town, we find the Galactigrunts...are gone? A townsperson nearby mentions something about Honey, which reminds me of a weird tree I saw by the Windworks station...seems I may be sidetracked a bit more here.

You see, there's one Pokemon I was dead set on getting, and the only way I'll get her is with some Honey. So, time to see if one of the townsfolk will sell/give me some.

[NOT YET, BUT HERE'S SOME TMs FOR PLUCK]
Nice! Hmm...maybe the Pokemart?

[NOPE]
Dang! Okay, time to look up where...oh, it can be found in Floaroma Meadow.

...The place the Grunts were blocking. Guess we're staying on-track a bit after all.

[AND THE FIRST THING WE FIND IS THE GRUNTS TRYING TO GET THE HONEY]
Seems they think they can silence me in a battle. Fat chance.

[VS. STOOGE #1]
[Round 1: vs. Wurmple]
I moved Nala to the lead earlier. Thundre Shock almost KOs it, and it retaliates with Poison Sting to almost no effect whatsoever. One Bite and it's done.

[Round 2: vs. Silcoon]
I tag in Astra for Type advantage. Wing Attack proves this was a good choice. Bye-bye Grunt!

[ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO]
Stooge #2 thinks my having already fought will give him an edge.

[VS. STOOGE #2]
[vs. Zubat]
His having one mon and a Type disadvantage proves him wrong, as does Nala's Thunder Shock.

[YOUR KEY, IF YOU PLEASE]
They run off without forking it over...though they DO drop the darn thing. The gentleman they were accosting gives me some Honey as a thank-you.

[SCORE!!]

Right, now we're probably gonna have to do some save-scumming to get the one particular 'mon I want...fortunately there's a Honey Tree nearby with good odds on the one I want.

Unfortunately, it takes 6 hours IRL for things to pop up, so...this is gonna be where I call it for now.

[TEAM STATUS]
Nala, Lv 17
Belfries, Lv 15, Mean Look -> Poison Fang
Buster, Lv 16, Leer -> Knock Off
Tessa, Lv 17, Tackle -> Metal Claw
Astra, Lv 16
Floofy (Bidoof -> Bibarel), Lv 15 (Graduating)

Have a good night, everyone.
[BYE!]