After beating Burgh, I went north to the tail end of Castelia City, where Colress checked out my Cottonee and knew it valued me. He wanted to challenge me and went over to Route 4.
Where he awaited, and since I had a Fire-type he was nothing really worth mentioning. I checked around some houses and got some items that might help me later, then before battling any trainers I went up to the Desert Resort to get my next team member...
A Dwebble! I named it
Crabcake. I considered naming it Fruitcake, since Crustle has a much bigger rock on its head, but since it's a crab I think that name fits it perfectly. Anyway, I then fought the trainers on Route 4, none of them were anything too crazy. After getting ownership of Join Avenue, I arrived in Nimbasa City, and after a bit of looking around got HM02 for Fly from Bianca. Then I went back to the Desert Resort.
Here, the trainers were not quite as much of a breather as the ones on Route 4 were. I got everything I needed to, including TM39 for Rock Tomb in the Relic Castle, and was on my way. Then I went back to Nimbasa City and took on the Subway Bosses with Nate.
His Servine scored a critical hit on the Gurdurr, which was nice. Then I went to Route 16 and Lostlorn Forest, which had more trainers, a few of which were annoying, some of which weren't. After that I went back to the former Nimbasa Gym and went on the roller coaster. Once I was done there I went to the real Gym, battling the ladies in Elesa's path. In doing so, Ginger reached Level 28, and I used the Sun Stone I got in one of the houses to get her to evolve.
And there was my little Not Jewish friend! I think since it has a more Gingerbread Man-ish look it fits well enough.
The next day (today), I decided to have my hand at Elesa with the levels I was at. Did it work out?
Yeah, this didn't go over well at all. After at least seven minutes of her squirming through Volt Switches and one of her Pokémon (Joltik) only going down because of Stealth Rock, at that time both Stocking and Fireside had been paralyzed, and Crabcake had already been downed by Joltik. Then, I only had Ginger left, and she somehow got past Emolga but quickly bit it to Zebstrika, ending the fight.
So I had to do some more training, and after a bit of leveling I felt I was prepared, especially after this.
With that, Fireside evolved into Magmar, which might be what i'll need to stand a chance against her this time. Did Round 2 go any different?
I'd say yes it did. I once again began with Stocking against Emolga. She immediately used Volt Switch and went to Flaaffy, who got Thunder Waved. My Return did just under half, then she paralyzed me. But I was still able to get in Light Screen before she used Volt Switch and went to Joltik. I switched in Fireside, but she used Volt Switch for hardly anything before going back to Flaaffy. Thankfully, Flame Burst finished that off.
Emolga was next up. I switched over to Crabcake, who took a light hit from Aerial Ace. She used Volt Switch, but it didn't do much thanks to the Eviolite and Light Screen, then she went to Joltik before I used Stealth Rock and my Light Screen wore off. She Volt Switched to Emolga, who took Stealth Rock damage…and even then Rock Slide didn't finish her!!! And her Sitrus Berry knocked her up from healing range. She killed me with Volt Switch and went to Joltik, which Fireside slammed with Flame Burst, and a critical hit too just to rub it in her face.
Next was Emolga again, and Stealth Rock almost killed her. She healed, sure enough, but I got in a good hit with Flame Burst. Her Aerial Ace did a decent chunk, but I was able to finish her with one more hit.
Zebstrika was last, and she immediately killed me with a critical hit Volt Switch that may or may not have mattered. I went in to Ginger, and used Charm to cut her Attack in half before she used Flame Charge for 1/5. I was then at 3/5 before using Giga Drain, but her Sitrus Berry got her to 3/4. Two more turns and the battle was over, and just for kicks I got the critical hit on the last turn.
With that I got the Bolt Badge and TM72 for Volt Switch, then got some Team Plasma grunts out of Nick's way before he told me about his sister's Purrloin. I then beat some trainers on Route 5, including Charles the heartbreaker in a Rotation Battle. Once I crossed the Driftveil Drawbridge into the city...
Stuff got real, it got physical in fact! After getting some items I went and beat Rood, got N's Zorua which I won't use, and then went into the Gym and fought a few trainers before making my way to the Gym Leader. How did that turn out?
Better than I planned for. Krokorok came first, and I began with Crabcake and got Intimidated. He used Crunch and did 2/7 my health because of the Eviolite, but lowered my Defense. Then I used Bug Bite and stole his Sitrus Berry. He used Torment…and lived my Bug Bite with 1 HP. He healed, so I set up Stealth Rock. He used Crunch and knocked me near half, lowering my Defense again before I did around half with Bug Bite. Then he killed me with Crunch. I went for Stocking, and he used Sandstorm before I finished him with Return.
Onix came after that. He used Rock Slide, and did around half with a critical hit, but I got in Reflect. I went over to Ginger and ate his Rock Slide like a champ, then slammed him with Giga Drain.
Sandslash was next, and I went over to Stocking again before taking a Bulldoze as the sandstorm subsided. He used Hone Claws, but I scored a critical hit Return that knocked him below half before my Reflect wore off. He used Rock Slide and flinched me, then scored a critical hit with another Rock Slide and killed me, but Ginger finished him with Giga Drain.
Excadrill was last, and I went for Charm before he used Bulldoze and slowed me down a bit. Then I used Leech Seed before he got in a Rock Slide, and went for another Charm before another Rock Slide hit. I switched over to Fireside, but even with -4 his Rock Slide still did JUST over half, but not before Leech Seed knocked me back up a bit. I was faster, and killed him with Flame Burst for the win.
So after getting the Quake Badge and TM78 for Bulldoze, I left the Gym, where Nick was waiting, and after being invited to the PWT I healed up and left it off there.
