[Gen 3] The Other Voyager - Travel Journals | The Ultimate Solo Challenge I: Fire Red Version

[The Other Voyager]

The Other Voyager - Travel Journals | The Ultimate Solo Challenge I: Fire Red Version
| INTRODUCTION:
While exploring the Challenges section here in the community, one of the challenges introduced intrigued me.
The challenge is called The Solo Challenge, made by user @TheCrystalFlaaffy, and I thought: why not?
That's how I decided to challenge myself, for the first time in a long time.
The challenge described by @TheCrystalFlaaffy works based on the following rules:​

Spoiler: Rules

"1. You must beat the game with only one Pokemon."
"2. HM Slaves are allowed but cannot be used in battle. If your chosen Pokemon faints and you have to send out your HM Slave you may use revives."
"3. Hacking or trading your Pokemon in is perfectly fine, this allows you to use your Pokemon from start to finish. The hacked/traded Pokemon must be within legal limits, no more than 510 EVs or moves that it cannot learn. Egg moves and hidden abilities are allowed."
"4. For Pokemon that evolve via stone or item, you may hack in the item after obtaining the fourth badge if the item isn't obtainable before then. In Sun & Moon you may hack in the item after unlocking Poke Pelago. For Pokemon that evolve via trade and you are unable to do so you may change their evolution method to evolve them via level up. The level you chose to evolve them is up to you, but stay within reason."
"5. Playing a Pokemon hack is allowed, however complete hacks will only count as single challenges, whereas remakes/demakes/complete pokedex/difficulty hacks, like Liquid Crystal or Blaze Black, can count towards an ultimate challenge. Challenges in Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness are accepted, but only for single challenges."​

There are also other additional things, related to the Ultimate Challenge - the challenge that I decided to try and, if possible, manage to complete.
When mentioning the Ultimate Challenge, @TheCrystalFlaaffy's words were:​

Spoiler: Additional Things

"Most of you may only want to take on the solo challenge for one game, and for those the single challenge is perfect for you! But some of you daring challengers may want to go the extra mile and take on the ultimate challenge. What is an ultimate challenge you ask? An ultimate challenge is when not only do you play through one generation using your chosen Pokemon, you play through all generations your chose Pokemon is available in. For most Pokemon that means playing through all seven generations!"
"For example: An ultimate challenge using Bulbasaur would require the player to play through a game for Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos and Alola, but an ultimate challenge for Snivy would only require the player to play through a game for Hoenn, Unova, Kalos and Alola."
"Unfortunately since they are only available in one generation of games Pokemon from the Alola region are only eligible for single challenges. This will change in the future with the release of any new games."​

That's how I decided to challenge myself, and I decided to start with the Pokémon Fire Red Version game.
I will update my challenge details here as often as possible.
Would you accompany me on this long journey?​

 

[The Other Voyager]

The Other Voyager - Travel Journals | The Ultimate Solo Challenge I: Fire Red Version
| PART I:​

Spoiler: PART I

I decided to challenge myself to test my perseverance and willingness to complete challenges.
I chose as a partner a Rapidash, which is still a small but powerful and destructive Ponyta.
Before starting the Ultimate Solo Challenge in the Pokémon Fire Red version, I installed a small program on my computer to be able to modify one of the starters. Using this program, I replaced Bulbasaur and in its place was Ponyta.
I decided to give him the nickname Shadowfax, a character from the Lord of the Rings - a horse and a mystical creature that understands human language and is capable of running faster than the wind.
At the beginning of the adventure, Shadowfax, my Ponyta, proved to be excellent. The first fight against the rival was easier than I would have expected. Shadowfax's Quick Attack proved to be an excellent move, which I want to keep for a while longer.
As soon as I defeated my rival, I went to Route 1, with the aim of training Shadowfax until level 10. It took a while, but the effort was worth it.
After that, I went to Viridian City and picked up the Oak Parcel at Pokémon Mart, and gave it to Professor Oak - who gave me 5 PokéBalls.
With extra items in my pocket, Shadowfax and I headed to Route 22 - with the aim of facing our rival once again.
We lost in a humiliating defeat!
Her Pidgey started with Sand Attacks, which lowered Shadowfax's accuracy, making her miss most of her Quick Attacks. When Pidgey was finally defeated and Charmander came, he defeated Shadowfax, who was already tired, with just a few Scratchs.
On the second try, my loyal Pokémon and I were ready to lose, but also eager to win.
In the end, we won!
After that, we went to Viridian Forest - and I forgot to go to the Pokémon center before that.
When we fought Bug Catcher Rick, he poisoned Shadowfax with his Weedle's first Poison Sting.
We defeated his other Pokémon, but Shadowfax was still poisoned. Seeking to take away his pain, I used the Antidote I had found before.
We fought the other Trainers we encountered throughout the Viridian Forest, and found two Pikachus! I defeated them both, seeking to increase Shadowfax's already immense Speed.
And even though the second Pikachu was defeated, he lost the fight, but not the war. His Static ability paralyzed Shadowfax as soon as Shadowfax defeated him, and we fought Viridian's last trainer a little hesitantly. We won, fortunately.
Once we arrived in Pewter City, I went to the Pokémon Center and Shadowfax was completely healed by the kind nurse.
Ready to lose but eager to win, I went to the Pewter City Gym - whose leader has the upper hand over us. The leader of this Gym is Brock, whose Pokémon are Rock-type.
Before facing Brock, Camper Liam was our first challenger. And I tell you, it was a great battle!
His Geodude was not faster than Shadowfax, but he was physically strong, and almost defeated Shadowfax with his destructive Tackle. We beat him, but there was still Sandshrew left...
With the HP bar in the yellow and a dream in our hearts, we faced Sandshrew - who defeated us with two of his Scratchs.
On the second attempt, I had a new strategy that I had to put to the test.
Camper Liam sent Geodude, and at my command, Shadowfax used Tail Whip more than five times.
This would be enough to defeat Geodude with a few Quick Attacks, but we have to remember that Geodude has high defenses. And unfortunately, he used Defense Curl right after we used Tail Whip.
We were lowering his physical defense, but he was increasing right after us.
He was defeated, in the end.
Sandshrew was next, and we did the same strategy.
Shadowfax used Tail Whip, which lowered Sandshrew's defense.
Sandshrew used Sand Attack. But luckily for us, he missed the move.
This was our opportunity to defeat him!
Camper Liam lost, but this is just the first of our challenges ahead on my journey.
That's how I learned that I wasn't millions of light years ahead of Brock.
Geodude wasn't easy to defeat, but we beat him on most attempts.
Onix was the problem!
Brock has this habit of always ordering his Onix to use Rock Tomb. This destroyed us, a lot!
This horrible move, in addition to being super-effective against Fire types because it's a Rock-type move, also lowers the Speed of the Pokémon it hits!
Shadowfax's speed would be our biggest ace up our sleeve if it weren't for Onix and his Rock Tomb!
We lost badly, many, many times.
But our determination and stubbornness would not allow us to accept defeat.
With each defeat, we became more aware that we were NOTHING.
But learning comes from trial, error and effort.
Shadowfax burned Onix with the first Ember.
Onix missed his Rock Tomb, and that gave us hope.
Onix missed his next Tackles, and that brought us closer and closer to victory.
But Onix hit his last Rock Tomb, and we lost, but once.
I wasn't willing to accept that, ever.
So I tried again.
Shadowfax, once again, burned Onix with his Ember!
Onix missed his first Rock Tomb, but his second Rock Tomb hit Shadowfax.
Shadowfax was tired, I could feel it. We try many times, we lose many times.
But she won.
With Shadowfax's last Ember, Onix fell after being hit by a critical hit!​

​

Finally, Shadowfax and I will be able to taste victory.
The feeling of winning is incredible.
Our next Gym challenge is in Cerulean, Shadowfax.
"I hope you're ready."​

| PART II:

Spoiler: PART II

The adventure continues, and so does the challenge.
After defeating Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City, I went to the museum in the same city.
Paying a small fee to enter, I was able to witness the past with my own eyes.
Fossils of Pokémon from past eras were on display, stones that supposedly came from the moon, and everything else.
After leaving the museum, I headed towards the nearest route: Route 3.
When we got there, we saw one of Professor Oak's aides, who gave us something called Running Shoes before running off.
Maybe he has one of those shoes too.
I noticed a small piece of paper stuck to the shoe, and there was something written on it.
"Dear Voyager,
Here is a pair of Running Shoes for my beloved challenger. Remember, I'll always cheer for you! Don't ever give up!
From Mom"
I put away the note, put on my shoes. I took a deep breath and, with renewed confidence, moved forward.
Fighting without any fear against the trainers who awaited me for a great showdown, Shadowfax once again proved to be an excellent and great fighter.
Upon leveling up once again, Shadowfax learned a move that I am sure will save this challenge: Stomp.
Battle after battle, victory after victory, step by step, we arrived in front of MT. Moon - a cave that I have to explore.
Before entering the still unexplored cave, I went to the Pokémon Center that was right next to the entrance of MT. Moon.
After healing Shadowfax, I finally entered MT. Moon.
The first thing that greeted me was a Zubat, which Shadowfax defeated.
Then, another Zubat appeared - and one that was also defeated.
Thus, while I was exploring the mysterious cave, fighting against any trainer who was ready to challenge me and destroying every single Zubat that crossed my path, I came across curious people dressed in black uniforms with a red "R" marked in the center of their shirts.
They claimed to be from a gang called Team Rocket, and apparently, they were searching for the fossils that place hid beneath its ground.
With little effort, and many Stomps, Shadowfax defeated the Team Rocket Grunts, one by one, until none of them were left...
Well, actually, they were almost all defeated.
In the middle of the path, I remembered that I had forgotten to go down one of the stairs and fight another Team Rocket Grunt.
That's why I retraced my steps, defeated another dozen Zubats, and faced this Grunt.
"Victory is not on your side today, my friend."
With the last Team Rocket Grunt defeated and a Star Piece in my backpack, I climbed the stairs and ran to the top floor of MT. Moon, and the one closest to the exit.
Someone stopped me as soon as I set foot near the fossils I saw and challenged me to a not-so-wild battle.
First, Super Nerd Miguel sent out a Grimer, which withstood Shadowfax's first Stomp but fell to the second.
Koffing was next, and what happened to Grimer repeated itself.
Finally, a Voltorb was the last opponent Shadowfax would face in MT. Moon...
And an opponent who was defeated with a single hit.
With the end of the battle, Miguel offered us one of the fossils. Choosing quickly between the two, I decided to take the Helix Fossil and put it in my backpack.
Finally out of MT. Moon, I came across two men dressed in karate's gi, wearing headbands.
Talking to them, they asked me if I wanted to teach a new move to one of my Pokémon, just once.
Interested in one of those moves, Mega Kick, I asked one of those men if Shadowfax, my loyal Ponyta, could learn it.
Unfortunately, that's how I found out that Ponyta can't learn Mega Kick.
Shadowfax's dream of kicking his opponents in the face with his front hooves did not come true, to his great sadness.
Leaving there, I finally arrived at the location of my next challenge against a Gym Leader: Cerulean City.
Once again, the Cerulean City Gym specializes in Pokémon of another type that has an advantage against Shadowfax.
Being of the Fire type, Ponytas and Rapidashs are weak against some types.
One of these types is the Water Type, whose Pokémon are the ones used by the Cerulean Gym.
Quickly going to the Pokémon Center to recover my energy, I headed to the Gym with two and only two purposes in mind.
Lose, or lose.
My first opponents were easier than I would have imagined. An honorable mention to Swimmer Luis, who has a Horsea that could have had the chance to be a great opponent for Shadowfax, if he hadn't missed his attacks.
So, the Gym Leader from Cerulean Gym came...
Misty.
The first battle I had against this powerful gym leader was a humiliating defeat, just as I expected.
Shadowfax is faster than your Staryu, so we attack first.
With a Stomp, my loyal Ponyta pinned Staryu to the ground, and the starfish missed the opportunity to attack that turn.
The Water Pulse that came afterward was devastating, and it almost literally brought us to the Pokémon Center after the defeat.
Not at all shaken, I decided to try again.
This time, Staryu wasn't having its best days in the pool.
The first Stomp almost defeated him, and his HP bar turned red.
Misty used a Super Potion, unfortunately for us.
Even healed, Staryu didn't seem to be a great opponent.
The second Stomp came, then the third and...
Staryu became unable to fight.
So, Misty brought Starmie to the battlefield.
With confidence exploding in our minds, we attacked, without any fear.
This overconfidence might destroy us one day, but the important thing now is that we won.
Starmie fell after two consecutive Stomps.
On our second attempt, we emerged victorious and added an badge to our collection.​

​

"You are feeling happy, aren't you, Shadowfax?"​

| PART III:

Spoiler: PART III

When I approached the bridge located north of Cerulean City, my rival was waiting for me, so we could have our third battle.
Sending its Pidgey, now a Pidgeotto, onto the field, the Flying-Type Pokémon withstood Shadowfax's first Stomp.
Defeated when hit by the second move, my rival sent his loyal Rattata into battle and...
He was defeated with a single Stomp.
Abra was the next to fight, and the third to fall.
His Charmander was next, and resisted with all his might.
With his HP bar glowing red, Charmander attacked with his Scracth for the last time.
Shadowfax was hit by Charmander's scratches, and retaliated with a Quick Attack.
Charmander fell, once again.
The rival ran away, looking quite frustrated, but returned, reluctantly, to give us an item called the Fame Checker.
Keeping the item in my bag, I headed to the bridge, where I had to face 5 more opponents.
An honorable mention to Lass Reli and his pair of Nidorans. Even though both Pokémon were defeated, the male Nidoran managed to poison Shadowfax with its ability: Poison Point.
Fortunately, I had one antidote left in my backpack, which I quickly used.
When I left the bridge, I defeated a Grunt from Team Rocket, who offered us an almost unrefusable offer to join this gang.
I refused, and even got a Nugget as a gift.
Very good for me.
Following Route 24, also known as Nugget Bridge, we fought many opponents several times.
At the end of the path, when I was near an isolated house at the end of Route 24, Shadowfax reached Level 30.
There, in that house, I found what looked like a Clefairy, but was actually a human dressed as a Clefairy.
After helping him take off his costume, he introduced himself as Bill, and handed us something called an S.S Ticket.
It was an item that would give us free passage to a ship called the S.S Anne.
Leaving Bill's house and returning to Cerulean, I entered a house that was previously being investigated by a police officer.
Entering the wall passage, and arriving on the route outside Cerulean, I came across a Team Rocket Grunt again.
Defeating him, he handed us a TM that contained a move called Dig.
Going down the route, I entered an Underground Path that took us to a route, where I was to meet my next opponents, and Shadowfax would defeat them.
Well, that was the plan, if Shadowfax hadn't been poisoned.
In a fight against a Bug Catcher, who had a Butterfree, we were poisoned in the first round, with Butterfree's Poison Powder move.
Without fear, I fought the last two trainers on that route.
An honorable mention to the last one, which had a Spearow and a Raticate as part of its team.
Shadowfax managed to defeat Spearow, with a single Stomp.
It was at that moment that I started to feel apprehensive and hesitant to continue this battle, as the poison was hurting my Ponyta more and more.
When Raticate entered the field, he attacked us with a move called Hyper Fang, which thankfully didn't instantly defeat Shadowfax.
Shadowfax almost defeated him with his Stomp, but fell from the poison.
The next thing I knew, I was back at the Cerulean Pokémon Center, with a lot of thoughts on my mind.
With the purpose of victory in mind, I continued all the way until I finally came face to face with one of my biggest obstacles so far: this guy.
And he was defeated, this time.
Heading to Vermillion City, I had a task to complete before boarding the S.S Anne.
I should train Shadowfax as much as I can.
So, heading to the route located on the right side of that city, I faced all the trainers that were there.
With this useful preparation, I entered the S.S Anne and fought everyone I met.
So, my rival and I met again.
And we fight, once again.
His Pidgeotto fell, followed by his Raticate - his recently evolved Rattata.
Kadabra was next, and Charmeleon...
None of them managed to survive more than two turns in battle.
"You and your team trained hard, rival. I wish you to continue like this, to continue training."
Climbing the stairs to the captain's cabin, I woke him up and he handed me an HM that contained a move called Cut.
Leaving the S.S Anne, I saw it sail away to sea.
Looking for a Pokémon to teach HM Cut, I captured the first Meowth I found.
Continuing towards the Vermilion Gym, Meowth cut the tree that blocked our passage with his sharp claws.
When I entered the Gym, I did what I always did: I fought everyone who was waiting for a fight.
The bad thing is that Shadowfax was paralyzed by the Pikachu electricity from one of the trainers there, as soon as he was defeated.
Luckily, I had a Paralyze Heal. I used it as soon as the battle was over, and the status condition that Shadowfax had was gone.
Digging my hands into the trash cans on the gym floor, I searched for buttons inside.
There was a door that prevented me from challenging the Gym Leader, Lieutenant Surge.
When I finally pressed the buttons in the correct order, the light ports opened.
I entered.
Face to face with Lt. Surge, he sent his Voltorb into battle...
And Voltorb fell with Shadowfax's first Stomp.
So, Lt. Surge sent his Pikachu.
Pikachu withstood two Stomps from Shadowfax, but fell with an Ember.
The last Pokémon Shadowfax should face is a Raichu.
I must say I was scared.
Raichu nearly fell from Shadowfax's Stomp, and its HP bar glowed red.
Raichu was faster than Shadowfax, and used Double Team before being hit.
This decreased our accuracy.
I was apprehensive about the end of this battle when Shadowfax was paralyzed, in the same turn, right after attacking.
I didn't have any more Paralyze Heal, I used the last one a few minutes ago.
Unfortunately for us, Lt. Surge used a Super Potion on his Raichu, which left his HP bar full.
For the next few turns, Lt. Surge commanded his Raichu to use Double Team as many times as possible.
We missed a lot of hits, and Shadowfax's Status condition meant she couldn't attack.
We were at a disadvantage, and what I feared most happened.
Shadowfax fainted after two Shock Waves.
Placing Meowth onto the field, I desperately searched my backpack for a Revive.
Lucky for me, I had one.
And only one.
Using Revive on Shadowfax, she was revitalized.
Meowth fell in the same turn, from the same move that defeated Shadowfax.
When Shadowfax returned to the metaphorical battlefield, I knew what we must do.
We have to win.
With her mind made up, Shadowfax attacked with her Stomp, and resisted Shockwave.
With a dream burning in our minds and souls, Shadowfax landed his next attack and...
Raichu fainted.
She won, once again!
We won another badge, but I have a big doubt, which only the future can give me the answer to.​

​

"How long will we be victorious, Shadowfax?"​