I restarted SS since I just need Chikorita from a Johto game, so that was my starting Pokemon. I'm not keeping him on my team, though. Instead I decided to play through with different Pokemon that I never used before.
I traded Chikorita over to my Pearl version for a Machop, caught a Geodude, and a Ladyba. The latter two were used more, since Machop couldn't handle the constant Bellsprout and Hoothoot in the local Violet area. Also, I didn't want to raise his level too high because of the lack of badges.
Lucky Star the Ladyba did well against the Bellsprout, tackling them to submission as they pitifully tried to Vine Whip her down. And while Rockster (it was either that or Heavy G) the Geodude knew Rock Throw, Falkner's pathetic spamming of Sand-Attack made the already low-accuracy move pointless. So he just tackled the Flying-types down.
Right now the two, with their little buddy Machop, are staring at an egg that contains a moving Togepi. Tetsuo (which would be the trainer, and I'm really attached to that name) didn't get far tonight.
Hoping that tomorrow Tetsuo gets to at least Azalea Town, though he may decide to level grind Rockster a bit before facing Bugsy.
And also going to be using the PokeWalker once I go back to work to help raise levels. (Re-downloaded the Yellow Forest route just now.)
