Jagged Pass

Luchenko gets a little over excited in our training, bounding down the side of the mountain and bulldozing down any wild pokémon in her way. With my leg feeling better than ever I’m actually able to keep up and come to a stop at the bottom without falling flat on my face.

Lavaridge Town

I’ve got another batch ready for you. It should be in your PC five minutes ago.

- What?

Oh nothing, just a little joke.

I draw out Clara and head directly for the gym.

Hey. Oh man I wish I’d thought of it myself! A sauna, I love it!

- Got to agree to disagree there.

I regret my choice not to change into shorts before leaving the pokémon center.

I guess you’re here for a badge?

- Yup.

Right on! Let’s get this show on the road!

Hey, where’s my- Oh nevermind, go Slugma!

- Go Luchenko!

- Bulldoze!

Light screen!

Luchenko wastes no time and smashes into slugma, sending it flying before splatting on the arena wall.

Go Numel!

- Bulldoze!

Earth power!

Luchenko slams into numel, flinging it into a nearby hot tub outside the arena.

Wait… did I leave Magmar at the pokémon center? Go Torkoal!

- Bulldoze!

Sunny day!

Luchenko crashes into torkoal’s side. Seemingly unmoved, torkoal launches a bright fireball high above, lighting the arena up.

- Bulldoze!

Curse!

Luchenko smashes against torkoal’s shell while torkoal builds up strength.

- Bulldoze!

Overheat!

Luchenko bounces off torkoal’s shell again before torkoal fills the whole arena with intense flames.

- Bulldoze!

Blaine sprays a hyper potion on torkoal before Luchenko bounces off it’s shell yet again.

- Luchenko return! Go Amber!

Overheat!

Amber enters the arena to be greeted by a wall of flame.

- Amber return! Go Susan!

Body slam!

Torkoal rears up on it’s hind legs and brings itself slamming down on Susan.

- Water pulse!

Curse!

Susan blasts torkoal with a giant glob of water while torkoal builds it’s strength.

- Water pulse!

Body slam!

Susan can’t move and torkoal takes the opportunity to slam it’s shell onto her.

- Water pulse!

Body slam!

Susan hits torkoal with another blast of water heavy enough to make torkoal pass out.

Well done, kid! You’ve earned this… Heat Badge!

I snatch the badge and leave the gym as quickly as I can before the heat gets too much for me. After a check-up in the pokémon center I decide to take the long way to Petalburg so I can train up Clara.

I almost didn’t notice Mauville City was back to normal as I pass through. Streets with open air above and considerably fewer stores around.

Passing through the Rusturf Tunnel I make good time in reaching Rustboro City. No wacky wobbly wall and no double me this time, until I reach the woods.

About halfway through the woods I find myself between two different twisting, rippling walls of air. One to the left and the other to my right, it feels like I’m in a house of mirrors only without my reflections.

To my left I see myself making my way south and disappear towards the beach. To my right I see myself beating up a plasm person who was going to rob that Devon scientist, and around a corner I spot a female aqua grunt watching the whole thing. She quickly hides away as the other me and the Devon scientist passes near her.

Petalburg City

That was close!

- What?!

You didn’t hear my warnings?

- No!

I was shouting at you until we lost track of you in the woods. All I got from the feed were images from inside your stupid backpack!

- Oh…

Just hurry up and get the next badge! I’m getting bored just sitting around and the eggheads from the lab keep staring at me, they’re creeping me out.

Zinnia hangs up. I was thinking of taking it easy this afternoon, maybe do some more training and get some sleep but I guess making more progress will make Zinnia feel better.

I go directly to the gym, practically busting down the door I storm up to the gym leader’s arena to find…

- Cheren?!

Oh, hi there. It’s an interesting place right here, very traditional. I suppose you’ll want a gym battle?

- You don’t remember me, do you?

I’m sorry, have we met?

- Never mind. Let’s battle!

Hm, an interesting gym stock. Go Slaking!

- Go Clara!

- Will-o-wisp!

Yawn!

Clara burns slaking with a mystical flame while slaking yawns loudly in return.

- Confuse ray!

Slaking takes a break and Clara just fires a psychedelic beam right between slaking’s eyes before she falls asleep.

- Flame burst!

Feint attack!

Clara snoozes while slaking smashes it’s face on the arena wall.

- Flame burst!

Clara wakes up and spits a fireball at slaking, exploding on contact. Slaking can’t be bothered to move.

- Flame burst!

Cheren sprays a hyper potion on slaking before another fireball explodes on his hide.

- Flame burst!

Feint attack!

In an effort to swat away the incoming fireball, slaking punches itself in the face at the same time the fireball blows up at the back of it’s head.

Flame burst!

Slaking has had enough and stops doing anything, especially after receiving another exploding fireball to the face.

Go Vigoroth!

- Will-o-wisp!

Feint attack!

Vigoroth darts across the arena and claws at Clara, who burns it with her ghostly flame.

- Confuse ray!

Encore!

Vigoroth applauds and demands an encore, Clara obliges and burns vigoroth again but to no added effect.

- Clara return! Go Luchenko!

Feint attack!

Vigoroth’s claws barely even leave a mark on Luchenko’s hide.

- Rock smash!

Feint attack!

Vigoroth takes Luchenko by surprise but doesn’t make much of the opportunity, Luchenko gores vigoroth with her horn.

- Rock smash!

Feint attack!

Vigoroth tries the exact same thing but only ends up blunting it’s claws before being crushed between a Luchenko and a hard place.

Go Slaking!

- Bulldoze!

Feint attack!

Luchenko bounces off slaking’s belly before being bashed into the ground under slaking’s mighty paw.

- Luchenko return! Go Choppa!

Slaking doesn’t seem to really care about what’s going on right now.

- Dragon rage!

Swagger!

Slaking shows off it’s swag, enraging Choppa who charges face first into an arena wall for no reason.

- Dragon rage!

Choppa spits dragonfire in slaking’s face as it tries to take some time off.

- Dual chop!

Chip away! Slaking smacks Choppa with it’s giant paw, dealing critical damage, shattering Choppa’s spine and sending him flying before embedding his remains in the arena wall.

- CHOPPA!!

- Go Clara!

- Will-o-wisp!

Clara burns slaking with her mystical flame while slaking takes five.

- Confuse ray!

Swagger!

Slaking gets schwifty while Clara beams a confuse ray into it’s eyes.

- Flame burst!

Slaking sits down for a bit and Clara’s fireball blows up in her own face before she throws it.

- Flame burst!

Feint attack!

Slaking moves unnaturally quick and crushes Clara under foot, leaving a waxy mess on the floor.

- CLARAAAAA! WHYYY!

- Go Blade!

- Fury cutter!

Slaking doesn’t seem to care, but it flops to the floor as Blade’s scythes cut deep.

Oh, well. You’ve earned the… er… Balance Badge!