Rustboro City

Leaving the woods behind me I finally arrive at Rustboro. During my trek through the woods I got some training done and Jay evolved again!

Jay ♂ Lv. 10

Patricia ♀ Lv. 9

Frank ♂ Lv. 9

Colonel ♂ Lv. 10

Gustavo ♂ Lv. 10

Shiitake ♂ Lv. 10

After a visit to the pokemon center I go directly to the gym. The place has a somewhat familiar look to it, a poor attempt at a maze where I could be ambushed by trainers. Dealing with the trainers hardly took any time and I find myself face to face with the leader.

Hello, I’m Roxanne. Are you the latest graduate from the school?

- No, I’m looking for the Doc.. Professor Oak.

Oh so you’re his assistant! He’s not been here for a long time, but you should know that. You’re here to start the next phase of the Professor’s project, right?

- Project? Uh.. sure?

So I assume you have no other badges yet?

- Well…

I reach for my badge case only to find it missing. It had all the badges I earned from Kanto and Johto.

- … yeah.

I’ll use these three pokemon, then.

Clearly this project the Doc has set up involves me going through the old Hoenn League, but I have no idea why he wants me to do this. I put no further thought to it right now and just go with the flow.

Are you ready?

- Ready enough, I suppose.

Go Geodude!

- Go Shiitake!

- Absorb!

Defence Curl!

Shiitake saps life from geodude, small globules of energy fly from geodude to Shiitake. Geodude fold’s its arms in and curls into a ball shape.

- Absorb!

Roxanne quickly grabs a potion and sprays it on her geodude but Shiitake just absorbs it all along with the rest of geodude’s life.

Go Geodude!

Good to see gym leaders valued variety in this time too…

- Absorb!

Defence Curl!

Shiitake saps life from geodude, small globules of energy fly from geodude to Shiitake. Geodude fold’s its arms in and curls into a ball shape.

Changing up strategies also…

- Absorb!

Roxanne quickly grabs a potion and sprays it on her geodude but Shiitake just absorbs it all along with the rest of this geodude’s life too.

Go Nosepass!

HOLY MOTHER OF ARCEUS! What the hell is that thing?!

It looks rocky enough, I’ll keep ordering grass moves.

- Leech seed!

Harden!

Oh sure just ignore me and the fact that that pokemon is freeky as hell!

Nosepass toughens it’s rocky skin. Shiitake launches a small seed, on impact it immediately sprouts vines, wraps around nosepass and begins to slowly drain life from it.

- Stun spore!

Harden!

Nosepass toughens up some more and Shiitake scatters spores around but to no effect. A little more life is drained from nosepass.

- Absorb!

Block!

Nosepass throws a large boulder towards me, it crashes just by me feet and blocks my view. I can only assume Shiitake absorbed a chunk of nosepass’ life next along with some from the leech seed.

I can’t see a thing so I try to play it safe.

- Stun spore?

Tackle!

Nosepass leaps at Shiitake and knocks him down, releasing a puff of spores that paralyse nosepass. The leech seed keeps doing it’s thing.

Try taking two steps to the left, moron.

I take two steps to the left and now I can see perfectly.

- Oh… Absorb!

Rock Tomb!

Shiitake drains a chunk of life from nosepass. Nosepass chomps on an oran berry it had stashed and throws boulders at Shiitake that pin him to the ground. A little more life is drained from nosepass thanks to the leech seed.

- Absorb!

Rock Tomb!

After freeing himself from the pile of boulders, Shiitake absorbs more life from nosepass. More boulders from nosepass bury Shiitake, the small globules of energy drained from nosepass that go to the pile of boulders makes me confident Shiitake is fine.

- Absorb!

Rock Tomb!

Shiitake burst forth from the boulder pile, leaping into the air. Globules of glowing energy fly upwards to Shiitake from nosepass, they stop abruptly as there is no more life to drain.

Well done! I award you the Stone Badge!

- Great! … Do you know where I should be going next?

I think the Professor went to Dewford Town when he finished here.

- OK… and why am I on this project of his?

Is he doing a blind study or something? He said he needs strong pokemon, what better way to test that strength than the Pokemon League!

- Of course, the er… project needs strong pokemon to work… how could I forget?

I actually have no idea what the project is, but the part about strong pokemon is making some sense to me. Every time I’ve used the Doc’s time machine was inside the hall of fame and there’s only one way to get through those doors…

I ponder this some more as I leave the gym but my train of thought is interrupted.

Stop, thief! Somebody help! Team Aqua’s stolen from me!

Yaharr! I plundered me some booty! Time I made meself scarce, anchors aweigh!

The guy from the Aqua Crew makes a run for it and quickly gets out of view.

- What’s up, what did he steal?

Oh hey Caldar, he stole your broken fancy pokenav! Looks like he went to Route 116, if you hurry you might catch him!

Route 116

I made a quick dash here. Even though I’m in a hurry I take the chance to recruit while I run through the grass. A nincada? Pokeball g–

- Aww, Patricia did you have to water gun it to death?

Wingull-gull-gull-gull!

- Nevermind, we’re in a hurry!

I keep running until I reach a cave entrance with a distraught looking old man nearby.

That thug stole my Peeko! My poor little Peeko! He went into that cave!

Rusturf Tunnel

I dash into the cave and trip over a whismur. I’m in a new area so I figure it’s fair game and throw a pokeball at it.

Whismur: Looks like it could be quite the listener.

- Welcome to the bench, Mumble!

Mumble ♀ Lv. 7

Further into the tunnel I find the guy from the Aqua Crew with a wingull.

Leave me be! Ye be askin’ fer trouble!

I step closer to him.

- Make it double!

I can’t believe you just said that…

Once again I battle his Poochyena, defeating him even quicker this time.

Grah! Keelhaul it all! The Cap'n said it’d be an easy caper, but it’s more bother ‘n it be worth. Ye want yer gadget back? Fine, take it!

He drops a parcel with with what I assume is my pokegear inside and lets the wingull go too before running past me and out of the tunnel.

The old man from outside barges past me and embraces the wingull.

Peeko! I’m so glad you’re safe! Oh thank you, young man. I don’t even know you name…

- It’s Caldar.

Well, Caldar, I’m Mister Briney. I have a cottage on the coast just south of Petalburg Woods, if you need anything come find me there and just ask.

Mr. Briney leaves the tunnel and presumably returns to his home. I make my way back to Rustboro.

Rustboro City

Oh, you got it back! I was on my way to take that pokenav of yours to the engineers in Slateport. Since you’re here, why not visit Devon HQ with me?

- OK…?

We walk to the building, pass through the entrance and past security. I’m taken to a large office with a man sitting behind a desk.

Ah at last we meet, so you’re Caldar. I’m Mister Stone and I’d like to thank you for protecting my employee here in the woods. I am sorry to ask but since you’ve established yourself to be a capable trainer I am in need of your services.

- My services?

Yes and this concerns you too, anyway. I’d like you to deliver that parcel to Slateport so our engineers can repair your pokenav, and on your way could you deliver this letter to my son in Dewford please? I’ll make sure you’re properly reimbursed, of course.

- Sure, but why do you need me to do this?

As you may or may not be aware there are many shady characters around. They’re mostly from the two criminal organisations of the region, Magma and Aqua. They’ve been causing quite a bit of trouble lately.

- Right.

As for payment; take this pokenav. It’s our latest model, it’s also a mobile telephone! It should help you get around.

- Thanks.

Good luck!

Later at Devon HQ:

Have someone keep an eye on that Caldar fellow.

Yes, sir.

That device he has, broken or not, is far beyond anything we have. Real bleeding edge stuff here, the techs here think it’s some sort of secret "not currently existing technology" made by the government!

Sir?

I need the eggheads in Slateport to look at it as soon as possible. If that gadget was made by one of our rivals we’re in serious trouble!