
First trainer: A younster with a Rattata. Looking familiar?
Also, I probably grinded a bit too much. Ah, well...
Next trainer:

I hate you, game.

After having only one way for all the time up to now, I suddenly have 3. In the south there is nothing, on the plateau in the north is an item, the stairs leads to a trap - A Hiker with, among other things, a Spearow. Arceus, I hate these things now.


So, after the Spearow finally was down, I found myself in a somewhat critical situation (Sharifa II was down to 0 PP)... But, it did not use Quick Attack and I managed to win. Somehow.
Later...

For Growl.

So, I finally got out of this cave, just too...

run into a trainer with a Spearow. Oh great. It took me all the 2 Potions I had with me to beat this thing.


At least, while running back to where I could heal, SawrII evolved.
Later, in the first patch of grass after the cave...




Hell Yes.
Or not.
>DrillPeck! is poisoned
>I used all my Potions on that Spearow
>No Antidotes
Crap.
So...:


I really hate myself for this stupidity, right at the beginning of the next City, Dodou dies...
Note to myself (and everyone else): don't catch Pokemon using Poison. It's not going to end well.
RIP, DrillPeck!, Lv.5-5.
But, the challenge goes on, so, I firsz explore the town I'm in.

Got a Bike Voucher here, even without hearing the word "Rapidash" just once

This gym looks watery to me. The name makes me think of a Gyarados being the leader's strongest Pokemon. Not good, it might know Dragon Rage or something.

And there's a part of grass in this town, in which...

...I find a Hitmonchan,

A LEVEL 20 HITMONCHAN (the highest wild thing I met up to now was a level 6 Pidgey) Sawr II seemed to lose the battle, so I decided to switch and...

...the damn thing just killed Sharifa II. And, what makes the thing worse, Sawr is not going to be able to take just one more hit from that thing.
So, in despair, I throw a Pokeball, and...

...surprisingly, it worked. So, the challenge is saved for now, but still, I hate the thing for killing Sharifa II, so...


Team at this point:

Hmm, I think Sawr II could need some grinding, just in case...

Much better.
Time to take on Karpman, the leader. As expected, he uses Water Pokemon. In particular, that means:


Horsea and Vaporeon. The Vaporeon was, despite the level disadvantage, quite tough. Luckily, only defense-wise.

And, Karpman (by the way, there was not a single Magikarp in his gym) doesn't only look like Brock, he also gives out his TM. Which I am probably never going to use.
Next route, north of Merson City:


I really seem to be cursed when it comes to Doduos...
...or stupid, since I should have used Vine Whip instead of Tackle.
Somewhere, I also found another cave where I'm going to need Strength to progress. I don't know the cave's name yet, but...



...at least I got a Psyduck there. Took me 8 or so Pokeballs because I didn't dare to touch it with any attacking move. Accidentally didn't nickname Psyduck.
So, after seeing it only has Scratch, I decided to use the Water Gun TM I found somewhere in the first cave, just to see that...


...TM12 isn't Water Gun in this game.
Octazooka causes Poison by the way, so I'll have to be careful and not use it against Pokemon I want to catch.
Some minor Psyduck grinding later, it was time to progress. Just a bit north of the cave entrance, I found this house:


Basically it's like Celadon mansion. The Pokemon in the table is, if I remember correctly, Porygon. I didn't take it because I already met the Doduo I killed on that route.


Also, we have an underground path somewhere here that takes us to a rather watery area. What exactly will await us here? We will see. But later.
Current Team:


The good...


...the bad...


...and the useless. At least up to now due to lack of moves.
Oh, before I forget it: Here's the map:

Seriously, I have no idea where the hell I am now. The tunnel was going to the west, so I might be somewhere north of Seashore.