After arriving at Mauville City, I started preparing myself for the Electric Gym. I grinded my team a bit - as a result, Hito (Grovyle) learned Leaf Blade and Maki Eins (Makuhita) and Petunia (Oddish) evolved. I was now feeling pretty confident about my team, so I challenged the Gym and beat it without much trouble.
After that I headed on Route 111, on which I caught Goldia (Goldeen). For whatever reason I thought it would be a great idea to try her out. Soon after leveling her to lv.21 I learned that she (and her evo) doesn't learn any water attacks (not even Water Gun) till lv.38. Sweet. Day Cared her right after. Next Routes were anything but exciting, so I'll skip to Fallarbor Town. On the following Route I caught Lotella the Lotad, which was my first Water type worth training. Put her on a team right away, and managed to level her to lv.26. She didn't get a chance to live any longer than that though, because Maxie's Zubat OHKOed her with a critical Wing Attack. Seems that being at full health and having a level advantage just wasn't enough to save her from a quick death.
But I had yet to experience the worst.
I entered Lavaridge Gym with Maki Eins taking the lead. He steamrolled about 95% of Pokemon in the building, including Flannery's 3 mons. She then send out her final Pokemon - Torkoal. No worries, I thought, I have 3 Bulk Ups under my belt and Thick Fat to sponge her Fire attacks. Unfortunately, Lady Luck apparently had some personal vendetta against me that day, and after a few VERY uneventful turns I ended up with 14 HP paralyzed Hariyama on my side, and ~50% HP Torkoal on Flannery's side, ready to scorch my butt with Sun boosted Overheat. I immediately switched to a fodder, which died to said Overheat, then saced another one to a following Body Slam. My choice was now limited to Petunia, Hito and Maki Eins. I sent Petunia, hoping to cripple the turtle with a quick Sleep Powder. Of course it missed, and of course Overheat burned my ugly little flower to crisps. Panicked, I sent Maki Eins back, scoring some cheap damage with Fake Out. Not wanting to lose my best mon, I switched to Hito, which took Body Slam for about 50% HP. I retaliated with Leaf Blade, and Torkoal used another Body Slam, which left my Hito with 1 HP (!). Praying to God, I clicked Leaf Blade again, hoping that Overgrow and Miracle Seed will do the trick. They didn't. Torkoal lived with a silver of health left, and finished my Grovyle with another Body Slam. I was ready to ragequit at that point, but then I remembered that Maki Eins still had his priority Fake Out. Thankfully for me, the paralysis didn't kick in, and the burning turtle of hell finally bit the dust. I won the match, but at what cost? Crying over my lost companions, I headed to the next city, ready to solo my father's Gym with Hariyama only...
And miraculously, I succeed. Using my newly obtained Surf, I headed to Route 115, which I was carefully avoiding up to that point. I managed to capture a Tailow (now Swellow), which I named Pandora. Saved the game at Rustboro City.
Next stop - New Mauville (hoping for a Magnemite!)
Team:
Maki Eins the ;297; lv.38
Pandora the ;277; lv.26 (in-training)
Useless the ;327; lv.16 (fodder)
Wash-out the ;129; lv.8 (fodder)
Mary the ;183; lv.13 (HM Slave, fodder)
I Cant Fly the ;041; lv.16 (fodder)
Box: Aoi the Marill (lv.14) Crush the Trapinch (lv.20), ??? the Wynaut (lv.5) (can't remember the nickname)
Day-Care: Goldia the Goldeen, 1-2 Punch the Machop
Graveyard: Paris the Zigzagoon (lv.4-15), Silence the Whismur (lv.7-15), Ms. Fodder the Poochyena (lv.3), Badyena the Poochyena (lv.4), Jellycool the Tentacool (lv.8), Karpz the Magkarp (lv.6), Magmarashi the Slugma (lv.15), Lotella the Lombre (lv.16-26), Petunia the Gloom (lv.13-31), Hito the Grovyle (lv.5-29)
