Penpals give great stuff! .JPN Soul Silver time!

You'll need Rock Smash indeed. And more Awwwwws.

Our distraction with Elm's Egg is over! Let Mari continue her trip through Johto!

Early the next morning, Mari reconfigured her team again:

• Gnaw (Totodile)
• Elekid
• Gastly
• Zubat
• Rattata
• Weedle

Having seen some stone piles around, and having the Rock Smash HM, Mari decided she needed someone who could use the HM move. Renko's notes indicated that Beedrill could use it, so Mari prepared her little bee-grub and set out to do some training.

(LP note: Rock Smash has a pretty scary added effect, but its actual attack strength is very anemic unless the user is a Technician Hitmontop. Thus, it only goes on my Gimmick team member beedrill and the HM peons.)

As she trained her Weedle and it matured into a Kakuna, Mari noticed that her Elekid never really cared to try and block attacks, instead preferring to roll with the punches and/or try to punch through attacks. As a result, he tended to get hurt more often than Gnaw and Zubat.

Once it evolved into Beedrill, Mari smiled, used her HM to teach it Rock Smash, then set off for Union Cave and the Azalea beyond, only stopping to test Rock Smash on a rock pile that blocked an item capsule, then at the pokecenter to heal.

Fisherman: You wanna try fishing?

Mari: Sounds like it could be fun!

Fisherman: Truer words never spoken, lass! Take this Old Rod and have fun learning to fish! It was my first fishing rod, but it's still very sturdy and will work very well! Oddly enough, it's only good for catching Magikarp, must be the lure I made for it.

(One magikarp capture later...)

Mari: Union Cave is huge. Let's be careful not to annoy another swarm of Zubat like you did last time, Gnaw.

(Gnaw's expression is one that suggests that he wants to use the Zubat to train his strength.)

Mari: Ouch! (trips)

(Wild Geodude is not amused!)

Mari: Why do all these stupid geodude love to trip me up?

Hiker: What's a young lass like you doing out here, eh? Learning to appreciate the wild beauty of nature?

Mari: I'm headed to Azalea Town.

Hiker: How about a quick sparring match before you continue your journey? (Releases a Geodude from his pokeball) My Geodude's itching to battle!

Mari: (sigh) All right. Gnaw, send that stone packing.

(Gnaw uses Waterfall! Geodude is swept down the cave! Hiker chases after his pokemon!)

Mari: I didn't exactly mean it literally, but at least that's another distraction gone. Hey, there's a ladder there!

(Union Cave, B1 floor)

Mari: An underground river? Is this a Smuggler's hideout? I'll come back here once I have the Surf HM.

(Gnaw's expression suggests that he wouldn't want to ferry Mari across water with Surf because he's too small to do so, even with his massive strength.)

Mari: What's with your strange outfit?

Firebreather: I'm a Firebreather, practicing for a party I was hired to perform at. (blows a stream of fire)

Mari: Cool!

Firebreather: You might want to step back a bit, my breath reeks of burning oil unless I've had a breathmint.

Mari: Finally! Out of Union Cave at last!

(Gnaw cheers up at the sign of the afternoon sun.)

Mari: Oh! Look over there, Gnaw! There's the Old Slowpoke Well of Azalea!

Rocket Grunt: (threatening old man) Go away, you oldtimer! Your silly Slowpokes are all fine, unless you continue to pester me.

Mari: What a jerk!

Rocket Grunt: I heard that, you brat! Go on, get lost!

(After a vist to the Azalea Pokecenter for healing, Mari visits the famous Pokeball craftsman Kurt, but not before collecting the White Apricorn the tree in his yard is bearing.)

Kurt: Go away! I'm in a bad mood and too angry to make custom pokeballs.

Mari: (asking Kurt's Grand-daughter) What's with your grandpa?

Kurt's Granddaughter: Grandpa's mad because the Rockets kidnapped our sacred Slowpokes to make profit from fried Slowpoketails!

Mari: You mean like what some strange man wanted to sell me outside Union Cave?

Kurt: Those lousy Rockets have crossed the line! I'm going to teach them a lesson or two! (leaves the house)

Mari: Uh-oh. I'd better follow him in case he pushes his luck too far. C'mon Gnaw, let's go!

Kurt's Granddaughter: Bye-bye, Gator!

(Gnaw nods at her as if to say "So you later, kid," then follows Mari at a run.)

but its actual attack strength is very anemic unless the user is a Technician Hitmontop.

You have a good point, Hitmontop could make quite good use of that...

edited 9th Oct '09 4:04:19 AM by Pika Hikari KT

Of course, Rock Smash takes a backseat to Triple Kick (first hit may break substitutes) and Mach Punch (priority), but an armorbreaker attack is always useful for coaxing a switch.

Anyway, on with the story!

Last time we saw Mari(bel), she was catching up to a hopping mad Kurt, out for Rocket blood (if only to make sure he doesn't hurt himself too badly).

Mari: Phew, Slowpoke Well is further from Kurt's house than I-WOAH!

(The Rocket grunt on guard is unconcious, having been beaten senseless and shoved into the shrubbery headfirst.)

Mari: Let's hope Kurt doesn't kill them and taint the wellwater.

The Rockets were pretty well-prepared for this operation - a dark-grey unpainted metal ladder led into the well's depths.

Mari: How did they get one of these Steelix-hide ladders? Those things are expensive- oh wait, this is Team Rocket we're talking about, they probably stole it.

(She carefully climbs down the ladder, but not before recalling Gnaw into his pokeball at attaching to her belt. At the bottom of the well, she releases Gnaw from his pokeball once more, before noticing a bruised Kurt lying flat on his back.)

Kurt: Ouch. I fell pretty hard, kid. Too sore to get up at the moment. Leave me here! (snapped at Mari as she moves to help him up, before softening his voice) the Slowpoke are in more trouble than I am. Go save them before you pick me up, y'hear?!

Mari: If you say so, it can't be healthy to lie flat on your back in the clay.

Kurt: Just save the Slowpoke! ouch...

Mari: Kurt sure has a sharp temper, huh Gnaw?

(Gnaw shakes his head and sighs.)

Rocket Grunt: Hold it right there! This is our turf now, and you're not welcome!

Mari: Try and stop me!

Rocket Grunt: Rattata! Show them out unkindly!

Mari: Elekid, go!

(Elekid uses Cross Chop! Rattata goes cross-eyed for a moment before crumpling into a whimpering heap!)

Rocket Grunt: Rrrgh! My seniors will pay you back for this insult!

Mari: Yeah, right.

Rocket Grunt (senior): An intruder? Maybe you'll amuse me for a bit, since it's been boring down in this mudhole of a well.

(Senior Grunt sent out Koffing!)

Mari: Ugh, I hate these poison gasbags! Gnaw, bat them down!

(Koffing uses Smokescreen! Gnaw uses Waterfall - but it missed!)

Senior Grunt: Hahaha! Koffing, get ready to use Poison Gas!

Mari: Not if I can help it! Gnaw, step back a bit! Gastly, go! Negate the poison gas with your own vapor!

(Koffing uses Poison Gas! It doesn't affect Gastly. Gastly used Lick! Koffing was paralysed!)

Senior Grunt: No!

Mari: Job well done, Gastly, come back and let Gnaw finish this!

(Gnaw used Waterfall! Koffing was unable to avoid it and was bounced off the cave wall!)

Senior Grunt: How can I be bested by a child?!

Mari: I wouldn't know, maybe you just fail at battling. (notices Gnaw glowing) uh, Gnaw?

Pokedex: (printed onscreen) What's this?! Gnaw has evolved into a Croconaw!

Mari: You look different now, Gnaw. Less cute, but more awesome!

(Gnaw grins. The two Rocket grunts pale at seeing more teeth than before and flee.)

Mari: You need to clean your teeth though.

(Gnaw's grin takes an turn for embarassment.)

Rocket Admin Lance: Why are you interrupting our operation?

(LP Note: No relation to Dragon Trainer Lance of Blackthorn, cousin to Gym Leader Clair and member of the League. his name will probably be changed in the English translation!)

Mari: Because you're abusing the poor Slowpoke!

Rocket Lance: Hahahaha! They don't even feel it, and their tails grow back anyway! Why not make a profit out of this fact, and why mess with us? Now I have to hurt you!

Mari: Get ready, Gnaw!

(Rocket Lance sent out Zubat! Gnaw used Waterfall! Zubat fainted!)

Rocket Lance: How is it so fast?!

Mari: Training. Lots of training.

(Gnaw grins.)

Rocket Lance: (unfazed) My bosses smile scarier than that! Go, Koffing!

(Gnaw used Bite! Koffing flinched!)

Rocket Lance: Of course, they're a bit more bark than bite... I'll pull out for now, but don't expect me to forget this!

(Team Rocket blasts off and leaves Azalea!)

Mari: They sure are fast when packing up and disappearing. At least the Slowpoke are safe.

Kurt: Ah, my back is better! Where are the Rockets?!

Mari: You're late, old man. They've aleady blasted off.

Kurt: Excellent! Come back to my home, it'd be more comfortable to talk there.

(Kurt recalls his own Slowpoke, and everyone leaves the well.)

edited 10th Oct '09 1:45:37 AM by AceOfScarabs

Let me show you my pokeymans. My pokeymans. Let me show you them.

I'm going to have to keep up with this. SNEAK PEEK YAY!

Awesome, more viewers!

For the record, the reintroduced Apricorn Pokeballs are awesome, and thus Kurt is even more awesome for making them.

(Kurt's house, Azalea)

One backrub later, Kurt's back stops aching enough to affect his mood.

Kurt: Ah, that's much better. Thanks for your help in solving this town's problems with the Rockets.

Mari: I could have sworn they disbanded some time back.

Kurt: If they can barge into our town like this, they might have faked their disbanding. Anyway, I owe you a great deal. Take this custom pokeball...

Mari: My name is Mari.

Kurt: All right, Mari, take this pokeball. It's an old-fashioned Apricorn Pokeball, hand-crafted by yours truly. All those factory-made pokeballs in use these days aren't as effective as the ones I make, even though you can buy them in bulk.

(Mari receives a Fast Ball!)

(LP note: Fast Balls are Apricorn Pokeballs made with White apricorns. They are effective (As good as Dusk Balls at night!) against Abra, Magnemite, Grimer, Tangela, Mr. Mime, Eevee, Porygon, Dratini, Dragonair, Quagsire, Entei, Suicune, Raikou, Latias and Latios (info as nicked from the Bulbapedia), or basically most pokemon that either have an AI routine to flee or use an escape move.)

Mari: Awww, thanks, Kurt! Say, I was given an Apricorn Case by a man outside of Cherrygrove, and I've collected quite a number of Apricorns-

Kurt: No problems! I can make custom pokeballs for you. It'd take about a day to make a stack of them, and I prefer to work on one kind of Apricorn at a time.

Mari: Hmmm... could you help me craft them from Green Apricorns?

Kurt: No problem, come back tomorrow to pick them up.

(LP Note: Green Apricorns yield Friend Balls when crafted by Kurt. These are better than the Luxury Balls that were introduced in the 3rd Generation; Where Luxury Balls merely increased the rate of Happiness growth, Pokemon captured in a Friend Ball start out with a large amount of happiness - almost enough for a Loyalty Evolution!)

Mari: I didn't notice the Azalea Gym until now, maybe because it's facing the other way. Gnaw, let's rest up a little before we take on the Gym Challenge!

(Gnaw approves with a roar that startles some of the old folk.)

(One quick pokecenter trip later...)

Gym Groupie: Come to take the gym leader on? That's the spirit, kid! As his name suggests, Bugsy is a trainer of Bug Pokemon!

Mari: Urgh, I hope there aren't any Spinarak in there.

Gym Groupie: Why?

Mari: Long story involving an errand for Professor Elm and a colony of Spinarak.

Gym Groupie: Uh, okay. (regains composure) Anyway, Bugsy has renovated the gym recently, with moving platforms forming a puzzle of sorts.

Mari: Oh, great. Why am I starting to feel like Link?

Gym Groupie: Oh, the puzzle isn't that hard anyway. I'm sure you're familiar with the Bug-Type weaknesses, so I won't repeat info that you already know. Good luck, kid!

(LP Note: Bugsy's gym has been renovated since the late 90s. Now, you need to ride Bo-Spider-styled moving platforms on a suspended maze of cables, with switch puzzles included. It's a fairly basic puzzle that shouldn't take too long to solve.)

Bugsy: Wow, you're fast! I think you've beat the record for gym challengers trying to clear my maze!

Mari: It wasn't that hard.

Bugsy: I like Bug Pokemon a lot, which is why I made it my theme. Don't underestimate their power, or you'll lose to me!

Mari: All right. Gnaw, Elekid, get ready!

(Bugsy sends out Scyther!)

Bugsy: My Ninja-mantis is the finest of my collection! Can you best it?

(Scyther uses Quick Attack! Elekid uses Thunderpunch! It's super-effective! Scyther's Sitrus Berry activated!)

Mari: Wait, wait. That is insanely strong for a Quick Attack!

Bugsy: My Scyther's ability is Technician, which is why I said it was my finest.

(LP Note: Oh, dear. Technician is a powerful move that effectively adds another 50% more power to attacks with a base power of 60 or less. Scyther effectively has STAB on his Quick Attack! Unfortunately, due to the triple serving of egg-moves, Elekid ended up without Quick Attack in his own starting moveset, so I can't fight Priority moves with my own. Rattata is too battered to switch in too.)

(Elekid refuses to back down and tries to use Thunderpunch again! Scyther outspeeds it and uses U-turn! Elekid fainted! Metapod was switched in!)

Mari: (shakes head) Elekid, Elekid... your hastiness cost you the fight. Come back now, and let Gastly get some experience from the Metapod.

(After Gastly defeated Metapod, Bugsy brings Scyther back in!)

Mari: All right! Gastly try to keep that Scyther still!

(Gastly used Hypnosis! Scyther managed to avert its eyes...)

Bugsy: That's the way you do it!

(Scyther used U-turn! It wasn't very effective. Kakuna switched in!)

Mari: Grrrrr. That ninja-swapping again! Gastly! Finish the Kakuna, than let Gnaw take over!

(Gastly spammed Night Shade! Kakuna was taken down in two hits! Scyther came back in.)

Bugsy: Your team is tough! It takes the punishment from my mighty Scyther quite well.

(Gnaw tags in to take Gastly's position! Scyther used Quick Attack!)

Mari: Oh no! Gnaw, catch! (Throws Super Potion)

(Gnaw drinks the Super Potion! His injuries are healed.)

Dropping the spent Super Potion, Gnaw prepared for the next barrage of attacks by his foe.

It was infuriating him, all that ninja-swapping! Why wouldn't his foe face him in maw-to-claw combat?

All the dizzying movement by the Scyther was distracting him, so Gnaw shut his eyes, and tracked his foe by sound alone. The buzzing was a dead giveaway of the Scyther's position, allowing Gnaw to collect himself.

He knew he could not match the Scyther in speed, so he waited for it to close in and attack again.

Movement directly behind him!

(Scyther used Quick Attack! Gnaw used Waterfall! it's a critical hit! Scyther fainted!)

Mari: Awesome! You did it, Gnaw! (picks him up and hugs him.)

Bugsy: ...Wow. That was quite a move your Croconaw pulled back there, feinting Scyther into entering melee range. Your training skills is great! Here, take the Hive Badge, you deserve it! (Holds a soft-toy Spinarak Doll)

Mari: Hold on, this isn't a badge... EEK SPIDER GET IT AWAY AAAAAAAA

Bugsy: Oops, that was my good luck charm. Hey, calm down, here's the real Hive badge, and the TM for my Scyther's attack, U-Turn!

Mari: You have got to sort your pockets better, girl!

Bugsy: Huh? I'm not a girl.

Mari: Wait- bu- what... er...

Bugsy: Oops, I hope I didn't break her.

(Gnaw glares at him.)

Bugsy: Please don't look at me like that.

edited 9th Oct '09 7:46:35 PM by AceOfScarabs

Mini-Update: E-mail to Renko

• Sender: marihan@johto.gensou.net
• Sent to: renkobunny@sinnoh.gensou.net
• Subject: 2nd badge, yay!

Hi Renko!

In case you haven't checked the League network yet, I have the badge of Azalea now! Bugsy's Technician Scyther was a pain to defeat with its Quick Attack and U-Turn trickery.

I didn't know that League championship could be such a busy thing! I don't think too many people treat you differently because you beat the Elite Four, right? It'd be strange if you suddenly became a celebrity or something after you beat them!

Gnaw's still as toothy as ever, don't worry. In fact, he hit level 18 and evolved, so if anything, he's toothier than ever! He needs to clean his teeth more though. Maybe I could catch some kind of Ibis Pokemon that cleans crocodile teeth?

Life on the road has been easy for me. I spend my nights in the Johto Pokemon Centers, which have excellent facilities and allow for trainers to stay! I stuffed a camping kit in my pack just in case, though. I hope I don't have to deal with perverted pokemaniacs, or I'll sic Gnaw on them.

Maybe one day you could send me pictures of your Resort Area house? I would love to find your pad one day, when I have the means to travel to Sinnoh and meet you there. I'll send you photos of myself and my team in return!

Tomorrow I'll head out to the Ilex Forest to find the trail to Goldenrod City. I can't wait to see their department store :D

With hugs, your penpal Mari(bel)

edited 9th Oct '09 9:23:00 PM by AceOfScarabs

Kekeke. This is an awesmoe liveblog.

Two questions- are there wild Eevee (since the Fast Ball is triggered for them), and does Kurt process multiple Apricorns now (you said he'd make a stack)?

(1) I don't know if wild Eevee appear in Johto, but apparently Fastballs are coded to work better on them, sort of just in case.

(2) Kurt will take a pile of one kind of Apricorn, and make it all into their specific custom pokeball. He'll take a stack of 5 White Apricorns, but not 2 blue, 2 pink, and 1 red.

Ohhh, useful! It was a bother only being able to process one apricorn a day.

Awww. Too bad for Mari, since Spinarak's one of the cuter Bug types IMO. Good thing she didn't look down on the platform...;)

And damn that Scyther. In past playthroughs of the original games I think I'd use Geodude against it...but what I always forgot was that Bug hits for neutral damage against Rock! Quilava had to clean up after the mantis Fury Cutter'd it to the red zone.X(

Bugsy actually got harder since the GSC days, thanks to Technician and U-turn. Fury Cutter is about as scary as Rollout, because it still misses occasionally, causing it's power to reset. Thankfully he didn't over-pad his team with more fodder for ninja-swapping.

Mari dislikes spiders in general because of a Noodle Incident involving an errand she ran for Elm concerning a Spinarak colony that went awry. She doesn't like to elaborate on it.

But enough (small)talk (tosses plexiglass goblet), Let's Play at you!

The next day, Mari decided to backtrack for apricorns first. After retracing her steps back to Azalea from an Apricorn-farming spree, she visited Kurt.

Kurt: Here, Mari, your Apricorn pokeballs are done. (gives Mari a stack of Friend Balls.)

Mari: Thanks!

After leaving a stack of Pink Apricorns with Kurt, Mari ventured into the Ilex Forest.

(LP note: Pink Apricorns make Love Balls, which are extra-effective if the wild pokemon is of the opposite gender of your active pokemon! They're awesome except where the genderless, like the Legends and Magnemites for example, are concerned.)

Mari: Yeesh, it's kinda gloomy in here, Gnaw.

(Gnaw looks around warily, sensing something.)

Mari: What's the matter?

(A flash of yellow in the shrubbery.)

Mari: Is that what I think it is?

(Notched-ear Pichu takes a look at Gnaw from the bushes! It panics and flees!)

Mari: Oh, a pichu!

(LP note: Notched-ear Pichu is a time-traveller event pokemon that was given out by Nintendo in commemoration of a recent pokemon movie, and cannot evolve or be traded out of your cartridge. It has a story event if you own one and visit Ilex Forest and Elm will talk about it if you bring it to him. Unfortunately, I don't own one, but then again, it doesn't do much in serious battling so it'd only be a novelty in my collection.)

(Charcoal Burner's) Apprentice: Oh man, what am I gonna do? Boss is gonna string me up for this.

Mari: What's wrong?

Apprentice: My boss sent me to gather firewood for our charcoal burning, but both of his farfetch'd won't listen to me! Can you help bring them back to me?

Mari: I'll try to, maybe Gnaw can scare them back to you.

(LP note:Thy've made the Farfetched sequence more involved by adding twigs that crack and cause the Farfetch'd to turn. You got to sneak behind them and grab them, tactical espionage style. It's also longer because there are two Farfetch'd you need to grab now.)

Mari: There's one of them! Be very, very quiet, Gnaw, I'm catching Farfetch'd. (slowly approaches the Farfetch'd)

Crack

(Farfetched notices the sound! It turns to watch the spot!)

Mari: Pah, lousy dry and crackly twigs! (IDEA) Gnaw, sneak around the other side and break some twigs there!

(Gnaw does as asked admirably. Farfetch'd snaps around to watch the source of the sounds, and doesn't notice Mari sneaking up.)

Farfetch'd: Squawk!

Apprentice: Yay, thanks! You're awesome, can you help me with the other one?

Mari: Well, you can catch them by sneaking up while they're distracted.

Apprentice: (looking sad) I suck at stealth sequences, though.

(After some wacky hijinks...)

Mari: (disgruntled) Here's the other one, kid. It's such a pain to chase down and corner!

Apprentice: Thanks for saving my hide, miss!

Charcoal Burner: I hear you've been helping my rather inept apprentice! You deserve a reward... (produces a HM) like this Cut HM!

Mari: Nice! Thanks, mister!

Charcoal Burner: If you ever feel like it, I'd like to teach you the art of charcoal burning.

Mari: I need a Cut user now, that tree is in the way.

(Wild Oddish appeared!)

Mari: Ah, a volunteer! Gastly, give it sweet dreams!

(Gastly used Hypnosis! Oddish fell asleep.)

Mari: Got you! (throws pokeball)

(one Cut tree and several wild encounters later...)

Kimono Girl (!): Oh dear, I'm lost. Where's the trail to Goldenrod? I'm late for the show...

Mari: Uh, it's over there.

(Gnaw helpfully points out the path.)

Kimono Girl: Thank you! I'm sure my sense of direction is getting worse these days.

Mari: Why are you bashing a tree with your head?

Move Tutor: I'm trying to shake some rare pokemon off the tree. Want me to teach Headbutt to your pokemon?

(LP note: Headbutt is a pretty decent battle move until you get even butter stuff later, with a side of flinchhax. Just like in good old GSC, you can knock pokemon off certain trees; while you can headbutt any tree now, only a few trees have pokemon on them.)

Mari: You ought to get a hardheaded pokemon (like a rock-type) to do the headbutting for you.

Move Tutor: No thanks, otherwise I might forget how to teach it.

Mari: Finally, the gatehouse!

Guard: This way to Route 34, please.

Lady with Butterfree: Here, take this TM. It contains Taunt!

Mari: Taunt? I though you gave out Sweet Scent!

Lady: They changed the contents of TM12, dear.

Mari: Ah.

(Route 34 - Pokemon Daycare)

Hibiki: Thanks for the help, old man! (notices Mari) Hey Mari! This is the Pokemon daycare. the old couple who run it will help you raise your pokemon! For a nominal fee, of course, since they aren't a charity.

Mari: They raise two at a time right?

Old Man: That's right, lassie! Sometimes we even find Eggs! (wink)

Hibiki: here, take the Daycare number! You can call them to find out how your pokemon's doing there!

(Evening, Goldenrod)

Mari: Goldenrod City at last! I've got to get a shower and have dinner.

(Gnaw looks hungry too.)

Mari: Oh don't worry Gnaw, I'll buy your dinner first.

(Gnaw's expression suggests that he'll wait for Mari to wash up, then eat dinner with her, because it's less enjoyable eating alone.)

Mari: After dinner, (big smile) I'll go shopping~

(Gnaw's expression seems to say, "Elekid can carry your shopping then, he needs more strength training.")

(Notched-ear Pichu takes a look at Gnaw from the bushes! It panics and flees!)

Yes, Spiky-ear Pichu is worthless all in all (she can't evolve, and what the hell are you going to do with fricking PAIN SPLIT?!). But still...Squee~ I wanna take her home with me!

Guard: This way to Route 34, please.

NOOOOOOO~ Seriously, nice pothole.XD

edited 10th Oct '09 8:30:44 PM by Pika Hikari KT

"I suck at stealth sequences, though." I feel his pain. Awhile back, I tried playing the NES version of the original Metal Gear. I quickly decided that stealth-type gaming was not my forte.

Interesting...

Bugsy got mistaken for a girl again?

@Pata: Hahaha, I only potholed it because some troper mentioned that bit of trivia on the r34 page.

@Kinkajou: I always decided not to think about Bugsy's gender. I later found out, either from a guide or from the Internet, that he was a dude. Mari got reverse-trapped :D

The liveblog is catching up to my playthrough. I'm taking the liberty of not narrating Training from Hell montages, because it'd get boring to read about how Gnaw/Gastly/Elekid ate entire swarms of Rattata or Zubat for their speed training.

(After dinner, Goldenrod Department Store)

Mari: I wish Renko were here to shop with me, Gnaw.

Receptionist: Welcome to Goldenrod Department Store! Is there anything in particular you're looking for?

Mari: Hmmm... Not really, I'm just here to see if there's anything I may want or need.

(LP note: There's a guy here who wants a Drowzee. He's trading a Machop holding a Macho Brace! I make the trade, of course.)

Man: I want a Drowzee, but I don't have the time to hunt one down as I'm waiting for my girlfriend to finish shopping and she wants me to appraise her new clothes before she buys any.

Mari: Hold on, I'll be back in about 10 minutes.

(10 minutes and several wild pokemon captures later...)

Mari: I have a Drowzee I'm willing to trade!

Man: Awesome! I'll give you a Machop for it.

(After trade)

Mari: A tip for you - be very careful what you say when your girlfriend asks how her new clothes look on her.

Man: I know, my other buddy got dumped because he said she looked fat.

(Gnaw's expression seems to say, "Dude, your buddy's a moron.")

(Top floor)

Mari: I'm thirsty. Let's load up on lemonade!

(LP note: Lemonade is the most economical healing item in the game, healing 80hp at half the price of a Super Potion, apart from Sitrus berries, which restore a fixed 1/4 of max health and can be grown. I will be buying these constantly from now on, but I'll skip mentioning Mari's repeated return trips to buy lemonade unless interesting things happen.)

Counter girl: Miss would you like to try a lottery? 300p a shot!

(LP note: New to Goldenrod Dept Store is the Lottery, which has 3 prizes: random healing berries, specialty pokeballs including the almighty Dusk Ball, and TMs that change depending on the day of the week.)

Mari: Sure, (packs away a few cans of lemonade) I hope I win something nice!

edited 11th Oct '09 3:06:46 AM by AceOfScarabs

Yeah, lemonade's the best. I used Moomoo Milk in Platinum though since you can buy it in bulk.

And I did read a girl!Bugsy fic once.

Moomoo milk is also excellent value, 100hp for 500p is actually almost comparable to Lemonade. I have over 190 bottles of moomoo milk in Renko's backpack at the moment in Platinum, after a little overzealous shopping.

(Goldenrod Pokecenter, late evening)

Mari: I shouldn't have spent so much on the lottery, I didn't even get the TM! At least all these Dusk Balls and berries will be useful.

(LP note: I really did end up with 13 Dusk Balls after my first attempt at winning the lottery. 70 percent discount on their retail price in Sinnoh is fine though :D)

(Gnaw eats an Oran berry.)

Mari: I feel like taking a walk, Gnaw.

(Mouth full of berry, Gnaw follows Mari as she heads downtown.)

(Goldenrod East, Bike shop)

Bike Shopkeeper: I knew I should have leased the more expensive shop site, hardly anyone comes down here to shop!

Mari: (walking in) Is this shop still open?

Shopkeeper: Ah, welcome! Would you like to buy a foldable bike? It'd fit right in your pack!

Mari: I wouldn't mind having a bike, but I just spent too much money on the department store's lottery. (sigh)

Shopkeeper: Ah. Er... (thinking) ...I know! Listen, miss, I'm having trouble because hardly anyone comes down here to shop, so I haven't sold many bicycles lately. Can you help me advertise my shop by riding a bicycle from here? I'll even give you the bike as payment!

Mari: If so, I want a bike strong enough to support my Gnaw here!

Shopkeeper: No problem, no problem! Our bicycles are made from alloys adapted from the natural steel hides of Steelix! They'll have no stress supporting your Croconaw even if he evolves. I can throw in a secondary seat too! Just fill in this form, and the bike is yours. (holds out a part-time employment form)

Mari: Wheeeee, this bicycle is great!

(Gnaw is enjoying the bike ride.)

Mari: Oh, that flower shop looks interesting!

Florist: I'm worried about my sister! She went to deal with the Sudowoodo blockade at Route 36.

(Goldenrod Underground Entrance)

Mari: That was a great ride, wasn't it Gnaw?

(Gnaw nods happily.)

Hibiki: We meet again, Mari! I just went down there to take a photo with my Marill.

Mari: The photo shop is down in there?

Hibiki: Sure is. it's pretty cool too, they have some Team Rocket costumes from when the Rockets disbanded some time back!

Mari: Somehow I don't think they've completely disbanded, I recently chased some of them out of Azalea.

Hibiki: Seriously? Maybe they're just criminals wearing stolen Rocket uniforms as a disguise.

(Goldenrod Underground)

Pokemaniac: Heh-heh-heeey, cutie. Wanna play dress-up and pretend to my Clefairy? (holds up cosplay outfit)

Mari: (disgusted face) What? No way!

(Pokemaniac slinks away disappointed.)

Mari: Renko was right! Pokemaniacs are creepy. (shivers, notices a shiny box in a corner.) What's this?

(The box has a note inside saying, "I'm swearing off slots, and quitting the Game Corner for LIFE! if you pick this Coin Case up, you may keep it!")

Mari: Must have been a former gambling addict who ditched this.

edited 11th Oct '09 9:02:34 AM by AceOfScarabs

Moomoo milk is something I use more then lemonade.

Speaking of berries, HGSS will give me something really useful for berry cultivation... soon (after Whitney).

(Goldenrod Underground)

Mari: All the flea market stalls here are closed.

Young Man: I'm still open, miss! Want me to syle you Croconaw's hair - or at least its head-fins?

(LP Note: The return of the mighty Haircut brothers! One of them is more likely to give a moderate boost to happiness, while the other has a crapshoot of potentially giving a large boost to happiness.)

Mari: Sure!

(Gnaw hops on to the chair and points out what haircut he wants from the poster. One haircut later, he looks a little more stylish. Looking in the mirror, he grins in approval.)

Young Man: All done, miss! Your Croconaw seems to like my handiwork.

Photo Man: Hey miss! Want a memento of your visit to Goldenrod? I can take a photo of you with your pokemon!

Mari: Sounds good!

Photo Man: I got some old Rocket Costumes from back when they disbanded a bit back. Want to wear one for this photo?

Mari: Uh... well, I'm willing to try it.

(One costume change later...)

Mari: It's nice and comfy material, but a little drafty around the thighs and belly, not to mention the top's a little loose.

Photo Man (ouside changing room): There's a smaller top, you know.

Mari: Oh.

(One quick top-swap later...)

Photo Man: call out all your pokemon! I'll make this a picture to remember!

Mari: Okay. Gastly, Elekid, Rattata, Zubat, Oddish (activates pokeballs)! Let's take a photo together!

Photo Man: All right, now group together... Ah, that's nice... Smile for the camera! (click)

(Goldenrod Pokecenter)

Mari: I'm tired, Gnaw. Tomorrow, we'll visit the Radio Tower!

(Gnaw smiles and yawns.)

The next day, after breakfast, Mari returns to Azalea for a quick collection of Apricorns, and leaves another stack of them for Kurt to convert. Returning to Goldenrod, she heads to the Radio Tower.

(Goldenrod Radio)

Whitney: What is this?! Why is the quiz so freaking impossible?!

Receptionist: Sorry, Miss Whitney, League standing orders is that Gym Leaders and (elite) League Trainers need to take the harder quiz for this event.

Mari (just entered the building): Look Gnaw, this is where they broadcast Radio programs!

(Gnaw doesn't seem particularly interested in radio.)

Receptionist: (turns to Mari) Welcome to Goldenrod Radio! Would you like to participate in some promotional events?

Mari: Promotional? Why not?

Receptionist: Okay, I need to register your Trainer Card... done! First, I'll check the lottery number... 49827... I'm afraid you don't win the lottery.

(LP note: Mari's Trainer ID is 52362, scarily similar to my old GSC Trainer ID with matching first, as well as last two, digits. The lottery gives prizes for matching Trainer ID starting from the rightmost, with the Grand Prize for a perfect match being a Master Ball, which you have about a 1 in 65536 chance of winning.)

Mari: Awwwww.

Receptionist: (taking out quiz form) Next event is a Radio Card event! Pass this Quiz and you'll be given a Radio Card for your Pokegear!

(LP Note: I suspect the 5 questions you need to answer in the remake are pretty much the same as they were about 12 years ago, I can't "really" read Japanese (only extrapolate meaning by an arcane context-based method difficult to describe) so I can't confirm it.)

Mari: Okay... this one is obviously False, this one is True... (muttering)... All right, I'm done with the quiz!

Receptionist: Let me see... ... ...All correct! Miss, you win a Radio Card!

Mari: Yay!

Whitney: Aaaaaaaaaah! I give up, I'll just buy my Radio Card! (storms out with a Sparkling Stream of Tears)

Mari: Who is she?

Receptionist: She's the latest Goldenrod Gym Leader, Whitney, who was selected by the league due to her talent in battling. I think she's also an actress, but I could be mistaken.

Whitney's also pretty popular among male fans, If You Know What I Mean.

Previously on Soul Silver, Mari(bel) finally encountered the Gym Leader of Goldenrod, Whitney, and got her to return to her Gym! Will she prevail against the infamously powerful pokemon Whitney has at her command? Stay tuned, and find out!

@Kinkajou: Well, her official artwork suggests that she's rather developed for her age. Couple that with her Miltank, and the milk pumps come out in the fanart.

(Goldenrod Pokecenter pre-battle prep)

Mari: I didn't know Whitney was an actress.

Nurse: She wasn't a particularly big actress, but she does have a loyal fan club; most of that club's members became trainers in her gym as part of their show of support.

Mari: I wonder what pokemon she uses to battle.

(Goldenrod Gym)

Gym Groupie: Yo, Champ-in-the-making! Finally got Whitney to pick her Radio Card up later, eh?

Mari: She gave up on trying to beat the quiz after I won mine, and stormed off.

Gym Groupie: Whitney's a cute girl (somewhere around your age, lass), but don't you underestimate her! She specialises in Normal-type Pokemon, which have very few weaknesses.

Mari: You sound like you're reading from a script.

Gym Groupie: Well, I practiced my lines so I won't say the wrong thing to prospective challengers. Good luck, lass! You'll need it.

(LP note: Whitney's Gym is once again laid out with a maze shaped like a Clefairy. This time around, the raised section can be climbed onto like a walkway.)

Beauty: There's the girl who made Whitney cry!

Schoolgirl: What?! How dare she!

Twins: We must punish her for her crime!

Mari: Wonderful. Line up and take a number each, I'll take you all on one by one! Gnaw, Elekid, Rattata, you three are up for this.

(Gnaw and the two freshly-deployed pokemon strike asskicking poses, as they are faced by a squad composed of a Snubbull, several Sentret, and a couple of Meowth.)

(LP Note: Gnaw knows Brick Break, and Elekid knows Cross Chop. Game, set, match.)

(After a quick, brutal mauling which has been omitted by Nintendo, Gnaw and his two partners stand atop a pile of groaning, bruised critters.)

Twins: Oh, no! We aren't strong enough to deliver our just punishment for Whitney Big-sis's sake!

Beauty: Don't worry, Whitney-sama herself will deliver the punishment personally!

Mari: That's the fan club dealt with. That last line was definitely ominous though, I hope I'm prepared.

Picnicker: I'm not one of that useless fan club - I'm a real trainer studying for the League Challenge under Whitney. Prepare for a real battle!

Mari: Elekid, be careful this time! Don't take too many lumps in this fight!

(Elekid nods as he turns to square off against the challenger's pokemon)

Whitney: I'm Whitney, the cutest of the Johto Gym Leaders!

Mari: Including Bugsy?

Whitney: (Ignoring jab) I haven't fought any trainers worth going all-out against lately. Seeing as you've defeated my fanclub so easily, I think I'll actually have to step up my game! Clefairy (activates pokeball), test her skill!

Mari: Elekid, I'll lead with you!

(Elekid rushed forward and used Cross Chop! In his haste, he telegraphed his attack too early and it was dodged!)

Mari: Ugh. Remember what I taught you about concealing your attack until the last moment, Elekid!

(Clefairy used Mimic! It copied Cross Chop!)

Mari: Quick, take it down before it turns your own move on you!

(Relying on his speed, Elekid proceeds to feint back and forth rapidly, then suddenly brings out another Cross Chop from an unreadable stance so fast, the Clefairy didn't notice until it was too late! It was Super-effective! Clefairy fainted!)

Mari: That feinting looks familiar.

(Gnaw's expression suggests that it reminds him of Bugsy's Scyther and its ridiculously fast ninja feints. He was impressed!)

Whitney: Wow! You're certainly strong! Now I'll really have to bring out my champion! Close this match down, Miltank!

(LP Note: Ohshi- The infamous boss Pokemon Miltank is back for HGSS, as strong as ever. It has a new(passive) ability, Scrappy, which allows it to hit my Gastly with its Stomp attack, so I can't tank in that regard. This is one fight a Geodude would have helped out greatly in, but as I used Geodude in all my previous playthroughs of the old GSC, I wanted to try something completely different.)

(Gnaw's expression changes from boredom to sharp interest, as he studies the Miltank's stance. He notices its awesome strength and wishes to prove his skill against it.)

Mari: Elekid! Try to take it out as fast as possible!

(Miltank was quicker on the draw! She used Attract!)

Mari: what

(Elekid was affected! It tried to fight the power of the move, and was immobilised! Miltank used Stomp!)

Mari: Don't just stand there, Elekid! block or dodge it!

(Elekid by immobilized by his conflicted and tortured thoughts, and couldn't defend! It was a Critical Hit! Elekid fainted!)

Mari: Ugh.

(Gnaw gave Elekid a reassuring pat on the shoulder, as though saying "Well done, you did what you could.")

Mari: Gastly, go! Try to put the Miltank to sleep!

(Whitney smiles menacingly cutely.)

(Gastly used Hypnosis! Miltank averted its gaze in time!)

Mari: Not again...

(LP Note: Hypnosis was given a boost to 70 percent accuracy in Diamond and Pearl, but the buff was removed from Platinum onwards. At least it's still more likely to hit than Supersonic.)

(Miltank used Stomp! It was a Critical hit! Gastly's gas form was disrupted, and it fainted in shock from being hit by a Normal attack that should not have affected it!)

Mari: I though Ghosts were immune to Normal damage!

Whitney: My Miltank has the Scrappy ability! It can even hit Ghosts.

Mari: I'm not giving up so easily! Rattata, you can do this!

(Rattata used Quick Attack! Miltank used Attract! Rattata was afflicted!)

Mari: Dammit Miltank! Rattata, try and ignore that move's effects!

(Rattata was disrupted by emotional turmoil, and it could not attack! Miltank used Rollout! Rattata's survival instincts kicked in, and he dodged at the last second!)

Whitney: Not bad! Your (male) pokemon can fight my Miltank's cute, feminine charms!

(Rattata managed to focus enough for a Hyper Fang! It's a Critical Hit! Miltank used Stomp! Rattata fainted!)

Mari: Ouch. Rattata, good job with that last attack! Rest for now, and let Zubat take over!

(Zubat tried to flinch Miltank with Bite! Miltank was unfazed. Miltank used Milk Drink and recovered health!)

Mari: Arrrrrrrgh! Zubat! Confuse it and don't let it heal again!

(Zubat let out a Supersonic squeal! Miltank covered its ears!)

Whitney: Good work! Miltank, knock that bat out of the air!

(Miltank used Rollout! Zubat managed to dodge it! Zubat used Bite! Miltank used Rollout - it was Critically Super-effective! Zubat fainted!)

Mari: Miltaaaaaaaaaaaaaank! Gnaw, that thing is yours.

Gnaw was genuinely impressed by the strength of the Miltank. Having watched it systematically overpower his teammates with its powerful Stomp and Rollout, he was sure he could figure a way to overpower it by a cunning plan.

Milktank was still Rolling Out. It turned for another pass, and connected! Gnaw bore the brunt of it, and retaliated with an unavoidable Brick Break at point-blank, causing the Miltank to go spinning back to a "safe" distance while still rolling.

(LP note: It's actually a good thing Miltank is still rolling out, as it cannot cast Milk Drink, Attract, or use its painful, flinch-inducing Stomp while still rolling.)

Shaking his arms to restore some feeling into them, Gnaw prepared for the next attack. Exactly as he planned, the Miltank struck him again, this time with more force than before.

The shock of pain stabbed straight through him like a meteoric Snorlax free-falling from orbit. Somehow, he still stood, though, which was the Miltank's undoing. Gnaw grinned.

(Gnaw used Waterfall! Torrent boosted its power! Miltank fainted...)

(LP Note: Thankfully the third hit of Rollout didn't crit!)

Whitney: N-no! Miltank! I can't lose like this! I-I- (sniff) This can't be happening! Waaaaaaaaaah! not loooose like thiiiiiiiiis! You meanieeeeeee

Mari: Uh, Whitney?

(Whitney continues to cry.)

Mari: I hope I didn't break her.

Picnicker: It's all right, Whitney's just very emotional. Let her cry it out of her system.

(We'll return to our regularly scheduled LP after Whitney cries it out of her system. And yes, she still cries when she loses.)

edited 12th Oct '09 6:49:01 AM by AceOfScarabs