This playthrough will be documented in something of a first person, in-character style. Probably not the whole way through, though.
"What's wrong?" my female competitor, Shauna, says to me as I eye my white collared Froakie. I didn't know what it was, but something about it's rubbing me the wrong way. I almost don't want to use it, but I have no idea why. It's probably just jealousy; after all, it has more facial hair that I do and I'm already...um...How old am I? Well, I don't have much time to dwell on the matter as Shauna's Fennekin uses Ember. The battle ends pretty quickly thanks to my type advantage, and after the battle we part ways.
After the battle I say goodbye to my mom, and stock up on potions and pokeballs, all the while thinking "When can I box this darn Froakie?" It's funny, because I've seen Froakies before and I liked them, but this one...eh, it's no big deal. I capture a Pidgey on Route 2.
Suddenly I had a flashback of this same thing happening before. Just standard deja vu, probably. Anyway, I make my way through the Route and then towards the Santalune Forest. I heard the place was known for its Pikachu, and I'm pretty excited to catch one, but what I really want a Caterpie. C'mon, look at 'im. C'mon. Heck, even a Weedle would be good, I'm always down for a Beedrill. Or maybe even a Flet-
"..." Ignoring yet another bit of deja vu, I catch the pokemon and name it
Isaac. Still, I'm speechless. This won't help me against the leader...or any other pokemon on the route (especially not pikachu). Is there some sort of curse on me or something? Do I just attract pokemon that are weak against Electric-Types? I mean sure, there was one time when I accidentally put a fork in a power outlet once, but that doesn't mean I need to have a team of anti power outlet pansies!
I calm myself...barely, and continue out towards the next route, catching a Fletchling on the next route that I name
Bhunivelze. It's not the name of a real religious figure...but it's god, albeit in a fictional religion. I make it to Santalune city and box Bhuni, realizing there's no need for two Flying-Type pokemon at the moment, and I decide to go to Route 22. Bad idea. What comes next is an absolute massacre by the most unlikely of foes. How can trainers be so nice to you after having killed your pokemon?
After capturing a Psyduck which I named
Throne,I challenge a trainer of moderate strength. Unluckily for me, they had a Litleo and Isaac had yet to learn any Water-Type moves. It did have strength though, and it tore Sati apart. It was kinda like seeing that Fletchling that always comes by your house and sits outside your window suddenly be mercilessly torn apart by a Houndour.
...Actually, it was exactly like that, just with slightly different pokemon. I won the battle and
put Sati to rest, unboxing Bhuni and continuing through Route 22. I completely underestimated Bhunivelze, she really held her own. Just like Sati.
Sad Face
Oh well, at least I still have Bhuni, the first gym will still be easy. Oh, this trainer has Riolu, simple for a Flying-Type. One Peck takes it down to the red, this'll be over as quickly as- wait, Counter?
COUNTER!?
...
Whelp, now it's just me and two water types against a Bug-type gym. Perfect. If it hadn't been for that Riolu and its Counter I'd at least have Bhunivelze, but nope. My luck, I guess. I (reluctantly) challenge the first kid to a battle and he sends out a Ledyba while I send out Isaac.
I'm able to lower the Ledyba's Attack with Play Nice but it easily has a stat advantage. And Supersonic. Oh, does it have Supersonic. Isaac goes down and so do my spirits. Even though I was disappointed when I caught him, he was with me for not much shorter a time than Sati. More than that, though, I only have one more pokemon, and it is barely more effective than Isaac. I'd already used it in the battle before, and it was a little worn thanks to some hits from Tackle and Supersonic. It was pretty much over. Ledyba used Comet Punch, bringing Throne down to one HP. Even with Water Gun, I'd still need two hits to take it down. Ledyba used Comet Punch again and sent the nearly dead Psyduck back to its pokeball.
...
...
...Or so I thought, but by some sheer AMAZING luck, Throne dodged out of the way and used Water Gun, finishing the job. I won. I won? DEAR CHRIST I WON! Completely have new found respect for Throne now. All I have to do is beat the gym leader. With one Pokemon. A Psyduck.
...Guess I'll be using that mercy rule earlier than expected.