Wow. So, a lot has happened since we last spoke! After beating Erika, and getting the Rainbowbadge, we decided to test out how well that Silph Scope worked, so we headed back over to Lavender Town. Saffron City was covered in Rockets! Don't those guys ever quit?
Anyway, we got to Lavender Town, and we headed straight for the Pokemon Tower. Apparently Team Rocket had kidnapped a poor old man!
Guess who we found on the second floor?

Yup! Lance. An old guy gets kidnapped, and he sits around waiting for us. Maybe he's scared of ghosts?
Speaking of ghosts, there was a whole bunch of weird things going down in the Pokemon Tower... Some crazy mist everywhere, possessed channelers, ghost Pokemon - which Growlie loved biting into - and, right near the top...

A ghost! Luckily I had that Silph Scope on me...

The ghost was, in fact, Cubone's mother, Marowak, who had been killed by Team Rocket. They really are terrible people. Thankfully,

They were still around, so I could dish out some serious punishment. They never stood a chance.

He thought I wasn't getting away with what I'd done. If they were waiting to ambush me, they would have been disappointed.

The old man that had been 'kidnapped' actually went to confront the Rockets willingly. He's more skilled at apparition than Giovanni though, and managed to teleport both of us to his house after the Rockets were defeated. As thanks for my trouble, he gave me this awesome Poke Flute!
I'd heard of a sleeping Pokemon that could only be awoken by the dulcet tones of a Poke Flute. I travelled south from Lavender Town to see if I could find it, while giving Drake a bit of training.

That Snorlax was no match for Nido; he double kicked it all the way back to the mountains. We continued south, battling against fisherman and crazy lovey-dovey couples, before we stumbled upon a small hut. The man inside gave me a Super Rod!
I had to test it out straight away. I cast out my line, and immediately reeled in a Horsea! I couldn't let this opportunity go to waste - I made it mine.
I was going to continue south to Fuschia City, but I knew the Rockets were up to something in Saffron. I had to go check it out. On the way there, I was plesantly surprised when Drake evolved!!
I got to Saffron to find that it had been all but shut down by the Rockets. Strangely, an old, run down gym was still open. I ventured inside, and discovered it was a Fighting Dojo. Never one to resist a challenge, I put Horsea and Zippo through their paces, and smashed all the Black Belts in there.
They were so in awe of me, they wanted to give me a Pokemon instead of a badge! I didn't even realise Gyms were able to operate like this. I guess it's not officially part of the Pokemon League... The actual Saffron Gym was off limits though, so I couldn't take my frustration out on Sabrina... Yet.
One of the Rocket Guards had fallen asleep at his post. Good to see Giovanni can pick his best men for the most important jobs! We snuck past him, and into what seemed to be the nerve centre of the whole operation: Silph Co.

This was a challenge. The Rockets were a lot stronger than when we just faced them in Lavender Town. Obviously Giovanni did bring some key troops to the big party. Surprisingly, almost half of the Silph Co. employees seemed to have defected to Team Rocket as well, making for a very interesting trip up the high-rise building. Horsea did make short work of some of the weaker opponents though, and soon enough:

She had evolved into Seadra!
I fought my way up the tower, defeating every Team Rocket member that stood in my way, and managed to get to the 10th Floor. I don't understand how anyone gets any work done in this place - there are teleport pads
everywhere. It makes no sense! Whatever happened to a staircase and
normal doors? Anyway. Who should I find secluded away on the 10th Floor, just 'waiting' around for me? Yeah. Lance.

He must have been pumping his Pokemon with Rare Candies or something, because his team was a heck of a lot stronger than last time we fought! I don't quite understand why he didn't just take on 'Boss Rocket' by himself. Was he scared, or is he testing me? Hmmm...
Either way, I found out the employees were much more grateful of my heroics; this nice man gave me a Pokemon!

I skipped up to the top floor, busted down the door to the President's Office, and found Giovanni, sweet talking the Silph Co. Secretary. He seemed surprised by my arrival; he obviously hadn't expected to be interrupted. I didn't have time to check that the Silph President was OK before Giovanni challenged me to a battle.

Of course, I had no trouble defeating him. He disapparated, taking the rest of the Rockets with him. I have to commend his abilities!
I glanced around the room, and saw the President cowering behind the lounge. He approached me, fear in his eyes, and gave me his ultimate creation - the Master Ball. Apparently it can catch any Pokemon without fail; though I'm not even sure I want any more Pokemon!
With Team Rocket vanquished (again), I decided it was time to take on the Saffron Gym. I'd heard they were some of the toughest, scariest trainers in all of Kanto; and that they used the Psychic type. With some difficulty, I fought my way through the gym, and eventually came up against the Leader, Sabrina. It took an incredibly brave sacrifice from Lappy to bring her down, but we earned the Marshbadge on our first attempt!
With Saffron saved, we can head on to Fuchsia City. I've heard there's another gym there!

CURRENT PARTY






SEADRA (Level 36)
Nature: Bold
Ability: Poison Point
HP: 85
ATK: 54
DEF: 88
SP.ATK: 84
SP.DEF: 43
SPEED: 78
Moves
Bubble, Water Pulse, Twister, Water Gun
ZIPPO [CHARIZARD] (Level 40)
Nature: Docile
Ability: Blaze
HP: 123
ATK: 80
DEF: 82
SP.ATK: 97
SP.DEF: 74
SPEED: 108
Moves
Cut, Flamethrower, Wing Attack, Metal Claw
NIDO [NIDORINO] (Level 41)
Nature: Modest
Ability: Poison Point
HP: 105
ATK: 65
DEF: 66
SP.ATK: 64
SP.DEF: 63
SPEED: 78
Moves
Poison Sting, Peck, Horn Attack, Double Kick
GROWLIE [GROWLITHE] (Level 36)
Nature: Sassy
Ability: Intimidate
HP: 95
ATK: 66
DEF: 47
SP.ATK: 70
SP.DEF: 57
SPEED: 60
Moves
Bite, Flame Wheel, Ember, Take Down
DRAKE [DRAGONAIR] (Level 32)
Nature: Naive
Ability: Shed Skin
HP: 89
ATK: 61
DEF: 51
SP.ATK: 59
SP.DEF: 45
SPEED: 64
Moves
Slam, Dragon Rage, Thunder Wave, Twister
LAPPY [LAPRAS] (Level 25)
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Water Absorb
HP: 100
ATK: 47
DEF: 48
SP.ATK: 52
SP.DEF: 53
SPEED: 37
Moves
Mist, Body Slam, Confuse Ray, Perish Song
Well, I think I'm going to head down Silence Bridge now. I've always liked the name of that place! Lappy has some serious training to do!