Pokemon Ruby: Nuzlocke Challenge - Pt. 5

DAY 5: Heat and Suffering
Took on Wattson's Gym, which turned out to be easier than crushing a bug underfoot. The only Pokemon that almost gave me trouble was a random Meditite that had Thunderpunch (I had Nigel out against it). Wattson... I don't know, but I thought I remembered him having a level 26 Manectric in his team. Guess not.

After that, I went back to the cave in Verdanturf and--with the power of Wattson's badge--was able to break the rock separating that couple inside. They thanked me by giving me the HM for Strength. A shame that I can't use it (yet).

Anyway, I went back to Mauville and headed up north to Route 111 and came upon the Winstrate Household. Each member of the family challenged me to a battle, but I defeated them quite easily. The wife gave me a Macho Brace, but mentioned--along with the rest of the family--that their son/brother/grandson is much stronger and that I'd lose if I ever challenged him. We'll see...

I continued north and came to breakable rocks. This route has a desert on it, which still counts as Route 111. I want to catch something there when I'm able to traverse it, so I crossed my fingers and hoped that nothing appeared from the rock as I broke it. Thankfully it was empty, and I continued onward. I soon came across a TV reporter and her cameraman, who challenged me to a battle. I beat them before they could even move, and in the interview afterwards, I said it all with one simple word: "Easy."

Anyway, I soon reached Route 112, and a new opportunity to expand my team here. I stepped into the grass, and found...

A Numel. Neat. I could use a Ground-type. I sent out Nigel to weaken it with Bite (after Todd paralyzed it with Stun Spore), which took off 1/3 of its HP. Unfortunately... the second Bite was a critical hit, which KO'd the Numel. Ah, dammit, Nigel. Opportunity lost.

I went inside of the Fiery Path, where I encountered a Koffing. ...Eh. I caught it and named it "Smokey". Then, in a big middle finger moment, I found a Numel right after that.

I exited the cave, and made my way back to Route 111, and continued north. A guy next to a tree gave me a Secret Power TM, which could come in handy. ...Once I use it on someone, that is. I also found a "safehouse"--if you will--run by an old lady who was probably suffering from Alzheimer's, since she kept making me rest there over and over again.

I continued onward to Route 113; this ashy route would provide me with a new capture opportunity. Unfortunately, this place is filled with Spinda, which I did end up finding and catching. I even forgot to give it a nickname. Whatever.

Trainers all over the place here. I ran into a ninja with three or four Koffing. Ziggy was facing once when...

...It used Selfdestruct and took Ziggy down with it. NOOOOOOO!!!! ;_:

Our first casualty... My Pick-Up buddy... My tree-slicer... Gone...

...

Upon arriving at Fallabor Town, I found my team down to 5. I could have brought back Hanna, but I decided against it.

In the Pokemon Center, I ran across Lanette, who asked me to come to her house on Route 114. I went there, and she gave me a rather useless Seedot Doll. I haven't even made a Secret Base yet, let alone USED the TM I got.

Route 114 provided a new opportunity to patch up the hole in my team, which came in the form of Swablu, which I named "Fluff". Not bad, especially with me being a fan of Dragon Pokemon, which Swablu would one day evolve into (though Altaria isn't really my first choice). After healing, I trained it a bit against the Wild Pokemon (I even saw a Zangoose!) and trainers, before entering Meteor Falls.

Great. A cave no doubt filled with Zubat.

...What's this?! Solrock?! Fuck yeah! Welcome to the team, "Phobos"!

I found some Team Magma grunts harrassing Prof. Cosmo into giving them his meteor, before being chased off by Team Aqua. ...But they still took the meteor. The Aqua Leader Archie introduced himself, and said that he aims to stop Team Magma's plan of expanding the world's landmass, before giving chase after Magma.

I returned to Fallabor and switched Sounder out with Phobos. Since Sounder was also my Rock Smasher, I went and taught Nigel the move. Anything to give it more moves (since all it has were Tackle and Bite ...and Splash).

After training Fluff and Phobos a bit, I headed to the top of Mt. Chimney, where Team Magma and Team Aqua were caught in an epic clash of- oh wait, no. They were just cockfighting with their Poochyena. Archie, who was busy being triple teamed, told me to stop Maxie.

I defeated the goons guarding him (including what looked like a man named "Tabitha"), and then took on the big man himself. His Mightyena fell to Hotblazer, his Camerupt fell to Gyarados (Rock Smash came in handy here), and his Golbat took the combined efforts of Phobos and Gluttony (both because the Golbat confused Phobos with Supersonic, and then tried to Bite it to death; so I had to switch out, lest another tragedy occur). With Maxie beaten, he and his goons ran off. Archie thanked me, before he too disappeared. With this behind me, I climbed down the volcano, through the Jagged Pass.

Since I didn't have the Acro Bike, this would be a one-way trip, but at least here I was able to finally catch a Numel, which I named "Caliente" (it's female). If I had caught the first one, I could have at least tried for a Spoink here (I wanted a Psychic-type), but at least I have a Ground-type now, and I DO have a Psychic-type already.

Anyway, I eventually made it to Lavaridge Town, where I decided to call it quits for now.

Current Team:
Hotblazer, Level 28
Gluttony, Level 28
Todd, Level 26
Nigel, Level 24
Fluff, Level 22
Phobos, Level 24

Deceased:
Ziggy, Level 21

Next up, the Lavaridge Gym.

Also, I've decided not to release the Pokemon that fall. Instead, they will be placed in Box 14, which has been renamed "Heaven", with the Sky wallpaper to boot.

...Ziggy... ;_;