Heat Badge
Party: Cresta Lv. 32, Mephala Lv. 33
Been spending too much time being picky about a new Pokemon, so by the time I got to Lavaridge, it's still just the two. Challenged Flannery as soon as I got there - Torkoal gave me a bit of trouble but it wasn't too bad.
Team's getting a little lonely, and being desperate for a new Pokemon I decided to go fishing and caught a Goldeen - Maris. I'm still using the Old Rod, so it's a Goldeen or Magikarp. And since I'm not evolving Pokemon, Goldeen > Magikarp.
Balance Badge
Party: Cresta Lv. 34, Mephala Lv. 36, Maris Lv. 29
Prettty close to game over here, but everyone made it out alive.
Side note, I am pleasantly surprised with Maris - course she's not
amazing but she can hold her own in most battles and is doing a lot better than I expected.
With daddy's badge, I can surf now - I don't use HM Slaves, so I'll be surfing on the back of a goldfish. First priority, get my Good Rod on Route 118, so I can catch more than Goldeens and Magikarps.
Got a Castform at the Weather Institute - obviously not gonna use that but I needed Team Aqua off the bridge. Rival battle at the end of the bridge, then she gave me Fly!.. now I gotta catch a bird to teach it to.
But first, I go Absol hunting in Route 120.
7 years later...
Finally, a boy joins the team. I named him Hades, the god of the underworld in Greek mythology.
I had hoped I would have more options by the time I got Fly, but with the current restrictions I have, it seems like the only Pokemon I can catch for the job is a Wingull. I caught a boy and named him Irving, but he didn't make it - died during the training.
I don't think another Wingull is gonna cut it so I'm not gonna bother with it - my next challenge is Winona and I think I'll ally with her after, just for the sake of having a decent Flying-type on my team. I'm thinking of going back to that route full of soot for a Skarmory.