ppe 27: All the way

[xaq_the_aereon]

Or Road, in this case. XP

[BANDITS STATUS]
Iceberg, Lv 51
Nebula, Lv 52
Belfries, Lv 55
Atlas, Lv 52
Dogmeat, Lv 52
Tessa, Lv 55

So my plans to power-level have been cancelled after I decided to give Victory Road's entry a chance as a place to do it...and found the first Golbat I fought to be 7 levels behind Iceberg.

[I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY YOU'RE READY]
Especially since I stocked up on Leppa Berries to recharge spent moves. This is likely going to be a grind, so best to be prepared. Let's let this bird-brained trainer serve as a gauge.

[VS. Bird Keeper Hana]
[Round 1: vs. Noctowl]
Ice Beam takes most of its HP, whereas it...used some attack whose name I missed that just sent a pair of wings flying up? It did nothing but get bonked by hail and taken out by Giga Drain.
[Round 2: vs. Staraptor]
I tag in Nebula. She traces Staraptor's Intimidate, dropping both of their Attacks, making its Quick Attack not hit too hard while doing nothing to stop her Thunderbolt from dropping it out of the sky.

[YEAH, YOU'RE READY]
...I'm also lost. This place is a maze. Maybe this guy can give me directions?

[OR NOT]
[VS. Psychic Bryce]
[Round 1: vs. Haunter]
I moved Atlas to the front. Hex does a bit of a number on her, and Drill Run hits dead air due to its Levitate. I decide to heck with that and tag in Dogmeat, who gets nailed by a Confuse Ray. She manages a Shadow Ball for the one-shot, though.
[Round 2: vs. Gengar]
I tag Atlas back in, figuring this blubbard won't be flying. Shadow BPunch doesn't do much, and Drill Run pulverizes it. Its Cursed Body disables Drill Run, however.
[Round 3: vs. Alakazam, jackass!]
I swap Dogmeat back in since Psychic does squat against Dark, and unleash a 3-mon Beat Up to clobber it. Didn't see that one comin', did ya Bryce?

Just past him is the TM41 for Torment. Neat. Also, a dead end. Less neat.

...Okay, it's taken us 15 minutes to get nowhere. BRB. Gonna go stock up on one more thing I really need.

[REPELS?]
Repels.

[ONE QUICK STOP IN VEILSTONE LATER]
Okay, I think 79 Max Repels should be enough. It'd better be, since I'm now broke.

Ah, so I missed a path just past Hana. Whoops. Speaking of, there's an Ace Trainer up ahead. I swap Iceberg back to the front and get ready to dish out pain.

[VS. Ace Trainer Mariah]
[Round 1: vs. Golduck]
Snow Warning in effect! Also, Giga Drain, which takes most of Golduck's HP. Zen Headbutt whiffs, but its Cloud Nine prevents the hail from hitting it. Rude? Its Aqua Jet doesn't do much, and Ice Beam wraps it up nicely.
[Round 2: vs. Blissey]
You're adorable. Giga Drain saps it, while Double Edge hits us both, followed by hail. Ice Beam doesn't do much, while Soft Boiled restores its HP to full. Right, this is taking too long. Atlas, come out. Double Edge dinks off and hurts Blissey, and thankfully the hailstorm wears off. Hammer Arm clobbers Blissey for a quick KO.

[ATLAS: Dig -> Stone Edge]
Considered dropping Drill Run instead, but that move's been way too good to me, whereas Dig isn't all that useful outside of saving on an Escape Rope. Past Mariah is a stairway up into an HM/Bike maze. Joy.

A short ways in I find another AT. Double joy!

[VS. Ace Trainer Joy...JK, Omar]
[Round 1: vs. Rapidash]
Fire vs. Ice/Grass!? Oh HELL no, get out of there Iceberg! Atlas, you're up! Poison Jab doesn't do much, but does poison her. The hail hurts worse, though, and Atlas manages to force off the poison. Flame Wheel also does diddly, while Stone Edge hits like a ton of bricks for the KO...and then BONK, hail.
[Round 2: vs. Carnivine]
Dogmeat can handle this one.
[ONE FLAMETHROWER LATER]
See?
[BONK]
Okay, may I should stop leading with Iceberg so much...
[Round 3: vs. Rampardos]
Rock/Steel if memory serves, so I think Tessa's the right one for this situation. Scald one-shots it, so I was at least right about the Rock.

Just past Omar is another AT...yep, we're definitely approaching the endgame.

[VS. Ace Trainer Sydney]
[Round 1: vs. Clefable]
Remember what I said about not leading with Iceberg? I clearly didn't. Giga Drain does some damage and restores her to full, while Cosmic Power boosts its Defense and Sp. Defense before ice bonks it. I go for Wood Hammer next and give it a REAL bonk for the KO.
[Round 2: vs. Torterra]
Dogmeat's in to take on the Grass starter's final form. Her Flamethrower proves its prowess once again, ending the battle before a hail-bonk can occur. X_x

[IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN CHANGE ICEBERG'S ABILITY???]
I wish.

Past her is a low-battery warning for my controller, and an old man in a kimono. I can deal with both easily, I think.

[VS. Veteran Clayton]
[Round 1: vs. Staraptor]
Snow Warning does its thing again. Take Down misses Iceberg, who then one-shots it with Ice Beam.
[Round 2: vs. Hippowdon]
I forget Ground's weaknesses, so I leave Iceberg in so nobody gets ice-bonked. Its Sand Stream changes the weather to a duststorm, though, so I immediately tag in Atlas, who gets smashed by Earthquake. Drill Run almost takes it down, while Ice Fang whiffs. Another Drill Run scores the win.

I swap Nebula to the front and move back downstairs on the path ahead. The path ahead puts us in front of a karate man. Perfect.

[VS. Black Belt Miles]
[vs. Machamp]
The way its extra arms grow out of its shoulders like that looks REALLY uncomfortable, now that I actually look at it. Not nearly as uncomfortable as being blasted by Psychic, though.

[OUCH]

Onwards and downwards to a Surf maze. First stop, an esper who can see the past.
[MOST OF US JUST CALL THAT "REMEMBERING"]

[VS. Psychic Valencia]
[Round 1: vs. Chingling]
Thunderbolt scores the one-shot. SHAZAM!!
[Round 2: vs. Chimecho]
Dogmeat takes this one on with Shadow Ball for half its HP, while it Wraps her for a bit of damage over time. One more Shadow Ball does the trick.

Past her is a waterfall to a person with wig-like hair in a purple cloak. Da heck?

[VS. Dragon Tame Andre]
[vs. Gabite]
Suddenly wishign I'd led with Iceberg, but then I remember Nebula has Dazzling Gleam. Fairy works nicely on Dragon, right?
[GIVEN IT'S OUT COLD, I'D SAY SO]

Anyway, back upstairs and past a Veteran, we find a guy in coveralls blocking an entryway. He sizes me up, says I'll meet lots of new Pokemon, and then...doesn't budge.

[BACK TO THE VETERAN, THEN]
[VS. Old Man Edgar]
[Round 1: vs. Tentacruel]
Thunderbolt does the trick nicely.
[Round 2: vs. Golem]
Ah, the elusive trade-locked Graveler evolution. I'll let Iceberg handle this one, kicking up a hailstorm before Giga Draining it to 1 HP thanks to its Sturdy. It Earthquakes for a little damage, then gets KO'd by the hail.
[BONK!!]
[Round 3: vs. Empoleon]
Oh hi not-Nessa. Aqua Jet doesn't do much of anything, while Wood Hammer hits super hard while doing a bit of damage to Iceberg. Giga Drain takes care of the damage and Empoleon, though.

Past the veteran I have 2 paths to take. Right goes to a Dragon Tamer, so I go left instead, reaching another upward stair. It's a dead end with TM79 for Dark Pulse. Belfries or Dogmeat could learn it, but Beat Up's been too good, so I'll hold onto it.

[BACK TO THE DRAGON TAMER, THEN]
[VS. Dragon Tamer Clinton]
[Round 1: vs. Gible]
Fun fact: I almost went with Garchomp as the last Bandit in place of Iceberg, for the memes. Another fun fact: Dazzling Gleam KO'd Gible.
[Round 2: vs. Gyarados]
Nebula keeps at it and Thunderbolts it away.
[Round 3: vs. another Gible]
Fun fact: Dazzling Gleam KO'd this one too.

Past him is an exit from the tunnel...we made it.

[WELCOME TO THE POKEMON LEAGUE]
We ascend a huge waterfall and arrive at the final challenge. A grand palace stands before us, beckoning us in...to find a Pokecen.

[WHEW!]

Frankly, my nerves are a bit shot. This feels like a good time to call it a night.

[BANDITS STATUS]
Belfries, Lv 57
Atlas, Lv 55
Nebula, Lv 55
Dogmeat, Lv 55
Iceberg, Lv 54
Tessa, Lv 58

Next entry will likely be the finale, barring any postgame stuff.

[WHICH YOU HAVE A LOUSY TRACK RECORD OF FINISHING]
True. XP Anyway, see you guys next time for the final showdown with the Elite Four and the best Regional Champion in the franchise.

[LATER!]