I think they were going for the other meaning of scrappy, the Japanese name translates the ability into "Spunk". It's still very annoying in this fight, but only two Pokemon have it: Miltank and Kangaskhan.
At least it isn't Thick Fat, meaning Quilava can go all out if it manages to not be hit by the fat pink bowling ball of death.
I'm Only Sleeping
There's also the fact that Scrappy-Doo fights ghosts (and is hated by the fans anyway. but that's a different tale)
INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.
Whitney is kinda funny.
"You fail to grasp the basic principles of mad science. Common sense would be cheating." - Narbonic
I am now a shiny stone~
So Scrappy might have been Spunky? Considering that both users of the ability are always female...
Whitney was reasonably calm, if a little red-eyed, after she finished crying over her loss.
Whitney: ...I can't help it, I always feel better after a good cry. Here's the Plain Badge, you've earned it! Also, take this Attract TM, which I use because my pokemon are cute like me!
Mari: Errr, okay. Say, what shows did you star in? I've never seen you on air before on the Science Channel or the Battle Circuit (Johto edition).
Whitney: I played a few child and teen roles on the Drama channel, and have a variety show in Johto LIVE!
Mari: I'll keep an eye out, then.
(LP note: Attract use has decreased in popularity as Schrodinger's Gender Roles comes into play, given that a noticeable population of pokemon are genderless, and even if they have gender, some will always be the same gender as the user. Of course, if your opponent is a silly fellow who only uses one gender for his team, feel free to abuse Attract against him (evil grin).)
Mari: Whitney sure was a tough fight, wasn't she, Gnaw?
(Gnaw nods and grins, his expression saying "Miltank was my best fight to date!")
Mari: I'm going to try my luck at the lottery again!
(LP note: This time, I won the lotto! Being that it happened on a Friday, the prize is TM 42, Facade! This is an awesome move that can be abused by Guts users holding a Burn or Toxic Orb, or a Toxic Heal Breloom holding the aforementioned Toxic Orb.)
Mari: At last! I finally won this silly lottery!
- Sender: renkobunny@sinnoh.gensou.net
- Sent to: marihan@johto.gensou.net
- Subject: re: congrats on your victory!
Hey Mari, Renko here!
I just found out about your victory in Goldenrod over Whitney, congrats! I recall that she was invited to be a Gym Leader due to her natural training affinity for Normal types, and her Miltank is infamous on battling message boards because of all the people who lost to her raging about it.
Congrats on evolving Gnaw! He'll grow even bigger and more fearsome-looking when he hits level 30, but I think that, given that you are a fan of the Feraligator Hunter, you'll like his appearance then. I recommend you use a toothbrush and help him clean his teeth, since Ibis pokemon are only found in far tropical/desert climates.
You're so lucky to get to stay in a pokecenter! Sinnoh pokecenters aren't so accomodating, which is why I usually ended up camping, looking for an Inn. or staying at some of my friend's homes! Of course, sleeping under the stars has its benefits - at least when it isn't raining.
I'll try and see if I can pick up a camera from Veilstone, then I'll take you some nice pictures of Sinnoh! Maybe I might upload them to my homepage so you can see them. You should start a blog or homepage too, and upload your photos there!
Training my new team has been slow but fruitful. I've got a little free time this Sunday, so I can visit the Wifi club again this coming Sunday or Monday. Want to trade stuff again? I could bring some of your team for Tutoring too.
Got to end my letter now, I have to meet my old rival and best friend for a sparring match to test my new team. Peace out and keep trucking!
Hugs in return, you penpal Renko
(Goldenrod Flower Shop)
Florist: (looks up) Oh, Whitney's badge! Perhaps you you can help me with a problem?
Mari: As long as there are no spiders involved.
Florist: I don't think that any spiders will be involved. Anyway, my little sister went out to try and clear the Sudowoodo blockage at the junction of Routes 36 and 37, I'm worried for her safety. I'll even give this Squirtbottle to help!
(LP note: Despite the lack of loamy soil patches, berries can be grown in Johto. How you ask? Well, next update, I'll be receiving a special Key Item that'll help in this regard. This Squirtbottle will come in handy for more than one reason.)
Mari: (accepts Squirtbottle) All right, I'll see what we can do.
Next time, on Pokemon Soul Silver:
- Saturday is Bug Contest Day! Chasing Butterfree in National Park!
- Road's no longer closed due to Sudowoodo. Berry Planter Get!
edited 13th Oct '09 7:47:08 AM by AceOfScarabs
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
I am now a shiny stone~
All right, time for Saturday to inch in during the playthrough.
(Goldenrod north exit, late Friday night)
Mari: Let's see about what we can do about the Sudowoodo and the florist's sister, Gnaw.
(Gnaw hopes the Sudowoodo is a good sparring partner.)
Juggler: Witness my amazing feat of beating you in a battle while I juggle!
Mari: Should be a good act. Gastly, go!
(Several Voltorb later...)
Mari: You dropped them all, man.
Juggler: N-no! I can't be this much of a failure!
Mari: Tell you what, you give me your phone number, and call me back when you've practiced some more, mmkay?
Copper: Halt! What are you doing out this late at night, Miss?
Mari: I'm a 3-badge league trainer, on my way to Route 36 to deal with a Sudowoodo blockade.
Copper: W-wait! Three badges? You defeated Whitney?!
Mari: it was a close thing, but my Gnaw here managed to topple her Miltank!
Copper: My son went to try and claim her badge seven times, and he lost to her Miltank each time, even though he's much better than me!
Mari: I could spar with you and teach your pokemon a little about battling, then they can teach your son's pokemon. Ready to teach this policeman's pokemon how to fight better, Gnaw?
(Gnaw roars his approval and begins limbering up, as the copper lets out his Hoothoot and Growlithe. After about half an hour of sparring with Gnaw, both the pokemon are too tired to continue and fall asleep. Gnaw, on the other hand, is still able to keep on fighting.)
Copper: Man, your Croconaw is strong! No wonder it could beat Whitney's Miltank!
(National Park Guardhouse)
Mari: I wonder what's over there (points down a passage to the left)?
(LP Note: This is the first time I've seen this branched path! New content!)
Guard: That's the Pokethlon, they opened recently.
Mari: Is it some kind of sports ground?
Guard: Got it in one, I've been told you can get some cool prizes in there.
(LP Note: He's right. Pokethlon victories net you points that can be traded for Apricorns, buff items, evolution Stones, and held trade-evolution items! You need to use an item called the Apricorn Shaker, which can be acquired from the Pokethlon grounds itself from Whitney. I'm not going to take part just yet, I want to read up about it so I don't waste Apricorns. All I know is that Ditto and Sunkern can potentially own the Pokethlon because their stats for the events can be maxed out!)
Mari: Maybe I'll go there some time in the future.
Guard: Oh! (checks his Pokegear) I believe it's Saturday. Want to join the Bug Hunt?
Mari: What's that about?
Guard: You'll have 20 minutes, and 20 Bug Hunt pokeballs, to catch the biggest Bug pokemon! The prizes are great, and you keep the Bug you caught!
(LP note: After you get the National Pokedex, the Bug Hunt pokemon and prizes become more diverse!)
Mari: As long as I don't have to catch a spider or something. (Checks movesets on pokedex) I'll have Gastly help me to catch bugs this event.
(National Park, Bug Hunt in Progress)
Teacher with Meowth: Take this Quick Claw! It will sometimes let your pokemon move faster.
Mari: Thanks!
(wandering into the grass, a wild Pinsir appears!)
Mari: What a huge bug! I'll take this one. Gastly, put it to sleep!
(Gastly uses Hypnosis! Wild Pinsir fell asleep. Mari catches the Pinsir!)
Mari: I'm sure I can win a prize with this.
Guard: The 3rd place goes to... Hiker Andrew, who caught the second largest Weedle ever found in this park!
Mari: I'd hate to see the size it'd grow into when it matures into Beedrill.
Guard: ...2nd Place: Schoolgirl Matilda, who caught this huge Butterfree!
Mari: (I hope I win!) It's wings look strong enough to pull a boat!
Guard: Now, for the Bug hunt Winner - Bug Maniac Wilson, who found this massive Venonat!
Mari: What?! No way, I'm sure my Pinsir is larger!
Guard: Unfortunately for you, we also take size calculations based on the average size of the Bugs, and your Pinsir is only slightly larger than average. Nice try though, you'll get an Oran berry as a consolation prize.
(Pinsir is transferred to storage automatically)
Mari: Aawwwwwww, nuts. Never mind, I'll come back and try again on Tuesday!
(Route 36)
Mari: Here we are, Gnaw. Man, it's late!
Girl: Take a look at this "tree"! It shys away from my water bottle!
Mari: You do know that it's a Sudowoodo, right? (uses Squirtbottle)
(The Sudowoodo was frightened by the sprinkling water! It attacked!)
Mari: I Knew It!! Gastly, go! Whittle it down and sleep it!
(Gastly Used Night Shade! Sudowoodo tried to Low Kick gastly! it didn't work. Gastly used Hypnosis! Sudowoodo fell asleep. Mari threw a Dusk ball! Sudowoodo was caught!)
Mari: There we go, the blockade is over.
(LP note: Dusk Balls - making catching at night much, much easier.)
Girl: Nice! I actually wanted to get rid of it, but I knew my pokemon weren't strong enough to do the job. Ah! I know how to thank you!
(Mari received several Oran, Pecha and Cheri Berries. She also received the Berry Planter!)
Girl: It's hard to find open patches of loamy soil for berry growing in Johto due to the Apricorn trees, but Planters like this will let you grow your berries and carry them with you as you go!
(LP Note: As mentioned by the florist's sister, the Planter is a portable self-contained patch of loamy soil for growing berries. This is the best addition to Johto ever!)
Mari: Are you sure you can give me something so valuable?!
Girl: It's all right! I made that Planter myself, and can make more later! All right, I need to go back to calm my worried sister down before her hair starts turning white! Bye!
edited 13th Oct '09 7:47:53 AM by AceOfScarabs
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
I'm Only Sleeping
Sunkern is now officially a Lethal Joke Character. It still sucks in battle, but boy it can own the Pokethlon.
edited 13th Oct '09 7:51:35 AM by Kinkajou
INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.
I am now a shiny stone~
Over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week, I'll be doing a part-time job for extra cash, so I might be too tired to update then. In-story, Mari will take those any day I'm too busy to guide her through Johto as a "day off" to wander around Johto, perhaps to go back and play with her Mareep, or to sort out her notes from Renko.
@Kinkajou: Arceus also has potential for maxed-out stats in everything for pokethlon, but given that it's practically a God pokemon, that's pretty much expected. Also, Sunflora has worse pokethlon stats after evolving from Sunkern.
Worried about what might been on the road ahead, Mari decides not to head towards Route 37 at this time of the night, going back to Violet City instead to rest up at the pokecenter.
Man who gave Rock Smash: Thanks for clearing the road! Now I can go back to my hometown.
Student: The blockade is gone? Excellent!
(Sunday morning, Violet City)
Mari and Gnaw woke up late in the morning, and did a little Apricorn farming. After collecting her custom pokeballs from Kurt, Mari headed towards Route 37.
(Route 37)
Twins: We challenge you!
Mari: Oh please, kids, what makes you think you can beat a 3-badge trainer? (sigh) I'll humor you. (takes out pokeballs) Zubat, Ratatta!
(Twins sent out Clefable and Wigglytuff!)
Twins: Our cuteness will overwhelm you and fill you with despair!
Mari: Er, if you say so. Guys, focus your attacks on the Clefable first!
(Wigglytuff's eyes gleamed! It used Metronome! Dark Void was unleashed...)
Mari: What the MISSINGNO was that?!
(The Dark Void engulfed Zubat and Rattata! They fell into a restless sleep!)
Twins: Despair and feed us with your fear!
Mari: Rrrrgh! I've heard enough out you two! (clenches fists) Gnaw! Elekid! Take them down.
(As Elekid pops out of its pokeball, Gnaw looks a little uneasy despite knowing his massive strength to be sufficient to claim victory.)
Mari: They're just Normal-types! Focus your moves on the Clefable before it does the same thing as the Wigglytuff!
Twins: Resistance to our power is hopeless! Give in and accept your end!
(Clefable waggled its finger! It used Metronome!)
Mari: Oh, no, not again!
(Metronome unleashed the power of Swift!)
Mari: phew.
(Moving in different directions, Elekid and Gnaw converge on their foes! Cross Chop and Brick Break connect - they're both super-effective! Clefable and Wigglytuff fainted!)
Mari: Yes! Good teamwork, guys!
(Gnaw and Elekid exchange hi-fives.)
Twins: We aren't done with you!
(Another Clefable and Wigglytuff are sent out! Gnaw and Elekid groan.)
Twins: Cease your meaningless struggle against us!
(Gnaw growls and roars quietly to Elekid, as though he were saying something. Elekid salutes, and climbs onto Gnaw's shoulders!)
Mari: Uh, guys, what're you doing?
(Gnaw's expression seems to say, "Trust me on this, Mari.")
(Clefable used Doubleslap! It missed! Gnaw and Elekid perform Cross Chop and Waterfall in a glorious combination strike! it was a critical hit! Clefable fainted! Elekid punches the air in victory!)
Twins: What? This cannot be! Our unholy pair is broken!
(Wigglytuff's morale has fallen! it goes berserk! It spammed Doubleslap and hit 5 times! Gnaw was driven to the ground painfully!)
Mari: Oh no! Gnaw, hang in there!
(Gnaw shakes his head to clear the cobwebs. Elekid rushes ahead and uses Cross Chop! Wiggytuff entered a martial trance and evaded it!)
Mari: Oh, come on! This is supposed to be Pokemon!
(Elekid attempts to use its speed to feint back and forth to distract Wigglytuff. Gnaw takes advantage of this moment to unleash Waterfall! Torrent activated! Wigglytuff bounced off a tree and fainted!)
Twins: Impossible! Our combination should have been unstoppable!
Mari: Not if you challenge Gnaw and myself, who have bested Whitney's Miltank together!
(Ecruteak entrance)
Mari: Finally! That was a battle I'd never have expected. Let's go heal you up first, then we continue exploring this place!
(Gnaw, looking rather battered, nods his approval.)
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
I am now a shiny stone~
I usually break sequence and face Pryce first, but for this playthrough I'm going the standard route.
Mari's crew:
- Gnaw, Coroconaw
- Elekid
- Gastly
- Zubat
- Rattata
- Oddish (Cut, Flash)
(Ecruteak pokecenter)
Mari: Ecruteak's a peaceful place, but is there anything really notable here, since the Gym Leader isn't in at the moment?
Nurse: You could visit the Twin Tow- sorry, I meant the Tin Tower.
Mari: What happened to the other tower?
Nurse: The Ecruteak Towers were the resting grounds of two powerful Legendary pokemon. Many years ago, one of them burnt down, and the Legend that live there left for parts unknown. The other legend brought life to some of the pokemon who died when the tower was burned, and turned them into a Trio of powerful pokemon.
Mari: I might go and explore there later. Anything else interesting in town?
Nurse: There's also a traditional dancing house where the Kimono Girls perform, but lately...
Mari: Trouble?
Nurse: I suppose you could say that, yes.
(Ecruteak Traditional Dance Hall)
Rocket Grunt: You all fail at real dancing! Let me show you how to do it! (dances terribly)
Manager: Oh dear, none of us have pokemon strong enough to resist him!
Mari: (groan) You again?
Rocket Grunt: It's that brat from Azalea again! This time, I have a better pokemon! (sends out a Level 12 Koffing)
Mari: You have got to be kidding me. Bat it aside, Gnaw.
(Gnaw used Waterfall! Koffing was sent out of the Dance hall via an open window!)
Rockets: Curses! (chases after Koffing) I won't forget this!
Kimono Girl: Thank you!
Manager: Thanks for getting rid of that guy! Take this HM as a gesture of thanks! (Mari received the HM Surf!)
Mari: Thanks!
(Route 42)
Hiker: I have been on a journey to seek the answer to the greatest questions of all, and all I have to show for it is this HM. Please take it, I'm going to quit this journey and sleep at home for a week.
(Mari receives the Strength HM!)
(Ecruteak)
Mari: Enough messing around, I have a burned tower to explore!
(Gnaw refuses to learn Surf and Strength!)
Mari: What? Why not, Gnaw?
(With a little growling and some gesticulating, Gnaw manages to let Mari know that he already has powerful techniques and doesn't need to use those HMs.)
(LP Note: Gnaw is a physical powerhouse rather like a Gyarados with a little less raw power, but also with less of a lightning weakness. He doesn't need Surf, and Brick Break plus Rock Tomb plus Ice Fang give pretty good type coverage. Later I might give him Earthquake or Rock Slide or Stone Edge, depending on whether I need something more powerful than Rock Tomb. Or I might take Crunch over Rock Tomb at level 30 for the armorbreak effect and its respectable base 80 power.)
Mari: If you say so, Gnaw. Looks like I'll need to catch a Krabby or something.
(LP note: Krabby is an awesome HM peon, and can learn Cut, Strength, Surf, Rock Smash, and Whirpool. Yes, Whirlpool dethrones Defog in the return to Johto.)
(Burned Tower)
Mari: This isn't that bad a wreck, I'm sure they could reclaim this tower.
Eusine: I don't think they want to.
Mari: Why not? Also, who are you?
Eusine: I'm Eusine, a scholar. They wish for this tower to remain as it is for pokemon to live in.
Morty: Indeed.
Mari: Morty, right? You're the Gym Leader of Ecruteak?
Morty: The one and only, yes. I've been looking around, but I won't wake the Sleeping Trio at the bottom for now.
Mari: Why not?
Morty: Because they end up running all over the place until they're exhausted and come back here to rest, and it always fill up the newspapers and tabloids with sightings, something that always bugs me.
Eusine: While they sleep, I have a chance to take photos of the lovely Suicune! (produces digital camera)
Morty: As long as you don't scare them into running around, I'm fine with that. (notices Mari's badges) Oh, you're doing the league Challenge? Fascinating. Stop by the gym later, I'd like to see how good you are if you can surpass Whitney.
Bato: ...You.
(LP note: due to a brainfart, I forgot to mention Bato's battle in Azalea after you claim Bugsy's badge. In the interest of continuity, I shall make it such that Mari never had a Bato encounter there.)
Mari: Not again with the redheaded stepchild.
Bato: Stop calling me that, you ironing board!
Mari: You started it.
Bato: I overheard Morty say you have been busy collecting badges. It baffles me that a weakling trainer like you could best Whitney.
Mari: Want me to prove my skill here and now?
Bato: I'm going to steamroll you. Don't cry when you lose, girl.
Coming up next: RIVAL FIGHT in Ecruteak Burned Tower!
edited 14th Oct '09 8:06:52 PM by AceOfScarabs
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
R Lee Ermey Looks At YOU
- Gasp!* Rival fight!
Need...more....liveblog...
Go, go rival! Go go, go rival!
Er, I mean...
Go, go Mari...
Just kidding! 
I am now a shiny stone~
Too tired to update due to my part-time job. Will add update when I've rested properly.
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
Alrighty then!
"You fail to grasp the basic principles of mad science. Common sense would be cheating." - Narbonic
A Mediocre Khan
This is pretty good. It's nice to hear about the new content in the game in context, rather than just reading about them in articles.
https://www.facebook.com/emileunmedicatedanduncut
I'm Only Sleeping
We'll wait, don't worry.
INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.
I am now a shiny stone~
I'm back! Large update time!
Previously, Bato claimed that he would steamroll Mari in a pokemon battle. Let's see (snerk) if he can live up to his words.
Bato: Gastly, take them on and win!
Mari: Elekid, go!
Bato: How did you get that pokemon?
Mari: It's a baby that I hatched after a trade.
Bato: You'd use something so weak as a baby? Hahahah-
(Elekid shows Gastly its moves and FALCON Ice Punches it unconcious!)
Bato: ...ha? Pah, Gastly's useless! Go, Magnemite!
Mari: I see your Magnemite and raise you my own Gastly!
Bato: You copycat.
Mari: Don't give me that! I decided to use Gastly on my own! (turns to Gastly) Use Nightshade!
(Gastly used Nightshade! Magnemite used Thundershock! Gastly was paralysed.)
Bato: (Grinning) It seems your Gastly is as weak as mine.
(Gastly was immoblized by paralysis! Magnemite used Thundershock! Gastly fainted!)
Bato: You won't beat my whole improved team.
Mari: Not by my watch. Elekid, come out once more!
(Elekid tried to circle around to Cross Chop the Magnemite! It kept floating just out of reach! Magnemite used Sonic Boom!)
Bato: Type resistance doesn't matter to my Magnemite.
(Unfortunately, Magnemite floated too close! Elekid used Cross Chop again! Magnemite goes down!)
Mari: Unfortunately, it's type weaknesses do matter.
Bato: That was a fluke. Bayleef! Win this for me.
Mari: (thinking: Should I have Gnaw...? No, if this thing was easily frightened by Gnaw when he was still a little tyke, it'd be too easy! Besides, I'm not risking a crit Razor Leaf!) Er... Zubat, go!
Bato: Another of my ideas stolen, I see.
Mari: Stop thinking that I need to steal ideas from you of all people! I was inspired by my friend's notes!
(Zubat used Supersonic! it missed! Bayleef used Reflect, erecting a barrier that reduces Physical damage!)
Bato: You stoop to riding the shoulders of giants, like those of the Sinnoh League Champion?
Mari: Wha- How did you know that I was the Champion's friend?
(Zubat used Wing Attack! It's super-effective! Bayleef used Synthesis and healed itself!)
Bato: I figured out from checking her blog, where she mentioned she gave an Elekid Egg to someone in Johto, a pokemon which you conveniently began the match against me with! (dramatic finger-pointing pose) Someone weak like you couldn't beat Whitney under your own strengths.
Mari: How dare you! I never used Renko's notes to best Whitney!
(Zubat used Bite! Bayleef flinched!)
Mari: I defeated her by whittling her Miltank, then tricking it into Rolling Out and trouncing it with Gnaw!
(Zubat used Wing Attack! It's super-effective! Bayleef panics and throw Razor Leaves at Zubat! It's not very effective.)
Mari: Renko's notes are not spoilers, unfair hints, or some kind of arcane secrets! All of it is common sense and tricks every trainer is meant to know!
(Bayleef attempts to heal with Synthesis! Zubat went first and used Wing Attack! Bayleef was knocked out!)
Bato: Whatever. I'm still making more progress than you are! (sends out Zubat) I only need power, raw power and strength to win!
Mari: Zubat, switch out! Let Gnaw tag in!
Bato: Ugh...
Mari: I rely far more on skill than you do, Carrot-mop, and that is why... (Gnaw uses Ice Fang!) ...I will always best you!
(Bato's Zubat fainted! He is out of useable pokemon!)
Bato: Why you-! ...Fine. I'll let you have this win, but don't expect to stay ahead of me. I will triumph in the end! (leaves the Burned Tower)
Mari: I'm not letting him win. (addresses Gnaw) Let's beat him again next time, Gnaw!
(Gnaw roars his approval).
Pokedex: What's this?! Zubat has evolved into Golbat!
Mari: It's stronger, but, that huge mouth...! I better evolve it again soon before I get too creeped out!
(Exploring the Burned Tower, Mari discovers several undamaged healing items, and fights off some looters that decided to try and rob her. Having seen the whole of the ground floor, she climbs down a ladder that leads to a cave under the Tower.)
Mari: Stupid looters.
Wild Koffing: Koffing!
Mari: Oh hey, I might as well catch it. Gastly! Send it to dreamland with Hypnosis! (throws pokeball)
(LP Note: Koffing is a pretty good pokemon when evolved. Say what you like about the incompetance of Jessie and James, at least they have good taste! Also, Burned Tower is pretty cool now, even if you already see the Three Gerbils from the player's overhead view when you first enter.)
Mari: Oh, look at these boulders! I'll need to come back with a Strength user to tidy it up.
(sounds of large creatures snoring)
Mari: Oh wow, that's some epic snoring there. I wonder what's- woah, they're huge!
(In a clearing in the middle of the cave are the Johto Trio. Curled around each other in some kind of group hug, their snores reverberate throughout the cave under the Burned Tower.)
Mari: Eusine was right! They are gorgeous! I wish I had a camerOUCH
(Mari was slapped in the face by a Wild Zubat's wing! Her cry of pain woke the Johto Trio and frightened them! Entei and Raikou immediately panic and run off helter-skelter into the distance!)
Mari: Oh, damn it! Lousy wild Zubat... huh?
(Suicune was not particularly freaked out like the other two! It ran up to Mari and studied her intently for a moment! Gnaw has a worried expression on his face from being this close to a Legend!)
Mari: Err... Nice Suicune? Sorry I woke you guys up, eheheh.
(Reaching some kind of unspoken decision, Suicune leaps out of the cave with a purpose!)
Mari: Hey, wait! Where are you going?
Eusine: It appears that Suicune wishes to play with you a game of tag.
Mari: Eusine! Wait, a game of tag?
Eusine: For some reason, Suicune seems to like you, and wishes you to follow it around the country. Lucky girl! I wished that Suicune would have selected me to play tag with!
(LP Note: I decided to have Suicune play a game of catch-me-if-you-can meets hide-n-seek with Mari, rather like how Azelf played Tag with Renko in my Platinum file. This is a bit of Crystal that has been brought forward into both Heart Gold and Soul Silver!)
(Ecruteak Pokecenter, night)
Mari: (Checking mail and other things on the pokecenter terminal) I have to apologise to Morty about waking Them up, and anyway he wants to see how skilled at battling we've become. C'mon Gnaw, let's go after you finish your steak! Gastly, tonight you prove yourself in battle! (Opens a tiny message from Renko)
Oh! Renko's in the Wifi Club! Gnaw, be a good Croconaw and finish your steak, I'm off to see Renko and do a little trading!
(LP Note: Time to do another round of trades! This time around, Renko has an Electrizer, a Kangaskhan, and a TM 29 (Psychic) for Mari. 'Khan goes into storage for now, and the Psychic TM goes on Gastly. Electrizer will be kept for when Elekid evolves into Electabuzz. In return, Mari trades Renko some wild pokemon she caught recently, as well as some nutritional supplements Renko had trouble buying because Veilstone ran out stock due to her bulk purchases (does not actually happen ingame, thankfully!).)
Renko: I hope you can catch a rare Gyarados for me! I want to give my old friend Barry a surprise with a Red Gyarados!
(LP Note: In Diamond and Pearl, the reason Barry and the player character met Rowan was because Barry wanted to hunt for a Red Gyrados in the Great Lake behind their hometown!)
Mari: What are the odds of me finding one of those? Well, if I meet one and catch it, you can have it!
(Ecruteak Gym)
Gym Groupie: Hello, Champ-in-the-making! Have you had dinner yet?
Mari: Yup, I had a nice one. What about you?
Gym Groupie: (looking sad) I'm waiting for payday, so I'm forced to survive on instant noodles.
Mari: Awwww, it really sucks when that happens! (remembers Leftover Nights and Noodle Nights whenever Mum ran out of money before her Trust Fund check comes in.)
(LP Note: Mari's father was a famous explorer who set up a trust fund with some of his earnings to keep his family well-financed with his money while he went out into the wilderness to discover more of the lost past of the world. In during WMGs of post-apocalyptic Pokemon Earth!)
Gym Groupie: Anyway, taking on Morty tonight? I hear he's just returned from an extended training trip in the Burned Tower.
Mari: I know, I met him and he wished to meet me here.
Gym Groupie: Morty uses the Ghost type, which I hope doesn't scare you as much as spiders. He's set up his gym with a narrow catwalk suspended over a lot of Warp Tiles, so if you fall off, you'll be teleported back to the entrance here.
Mari: That's not so bad.
Gym Groupie: Also, the path is poorly lit and the gym's other trainers carry the only sources of light here in their lanterns.
Mari: Oh, dear. This might take a bit of work.
(LP Note: Morty's saving on his power bill this time! He's turned off the lights in his Gym, and given lanterns to his trainers. The catwalk is much harder than it was back in GSC, but at least all his trainers are still armed with Gastly and Haunter.)
Monk: Haunter, hit hard and fast with Sucker Punch!
(LP note: also, one of the monks has a Sucker Punch Haunter. Low attack stat aside, it still hurts a glass cannon like my poor Gastly quite badly. Did I mention the Gym trainers also snuff their lanterns out when you beat them?)
Morty: I heard you fell off the catwalk three times. Nice to see you didn't give up on meeting me.
Mari: What possessed you to make such a challenge in your Gym?
Morty: I felt like testing any challenger's dedication towards meeting me. If they gave up after falling off a few times, they probably weren't serious about it.
Mari: I also need to apologise for waking the Three up.
Morty: What?
Mari: A wild Zubat slapped me with its wings, and my cry of pain woke them up.
Morty: Ugh. This always happens, so never mind.
Mari: Suicune seems to like me, it sort-of invited me to play tag with it all over Johto.
Morty: Really? That's odd, I always though Suicune was the most antisocial of the Trio. Perhaps it's just shy. (Unlocks belt of pokeballs) Anyway, I'm sure you know why I invited you to meet me here in my gym, right?
Mari: You just want to see how good I am to have bested Whitney, don't you!
Morty: That's right! This time, I, Morty, Gym Leader of Ecruteak, will be the one to challenge you, Mari, to battle me for my badge! Gastly, en guarde!
Mari: I accept your challenge!
Next: Gym Battle with Morty! Mari gets some nicknames for her battling crew! I dabble in Gratitious Japanese when naming some of them!
edited 18th Oct '09 10:06:19 PM by AceOfScarabs
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
Fair warning; Shadow Ball will really freaking hurt thanks to those insane Special Attack and Speed stats...
Mari: what
We're talking about a cow that can somehow run faster than Rayquaza's top flying speed. Not surprising, really.
edited 18th Oct '09 11:04:43 PM by Starscream
MariaMoments: The wonder of 91% accuracy is that it [Thunder] still misses 50% of the time.
(LP Note: In Diamond and Pearl, the reason Barry and the player character met Rowan was because Barry wanted to hunt for a Red Gyarados in the Great Lake behind their hometown!)
Oh yes...*flashback, Mt. Coronet*
Katie: There's gotta be a Feebas around this lake somewhere...*battle flash* Oh, a GyaradHOLY SHIT SHINY GYARADOS!! Master Ball, go!
*end flashback* Kagami's been a stand in for my Floatzel ever since.^^
edited 19th Oct '09 7:07:31 PM by Pika Hikari KT
My little brother managed to snag a shiny Zubat.
Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?
I have a shiny zubat.
"You fail to grasp the basic principles of mad science. Common sense would be cheating." - Narbonic
I'm Only Sleeping
I want a SHINY PIDGEY
INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.
Your army sucks.
I have TWO shiny dittos.
I love chaining.
Sorry, I can't hear you from my FLYING METAL BOX!
I am now a shiny stone~
I actually have quite a few shinies myself: an albino Floatzel, a green-gemmed Tentacruel, and a brown Starly. The Floatzel was encountered while Effort Training in Diamond, the Tentacruel and Starly were random encounters while travelling in Emerald and Diamond respectively.
Also, HGSS brings back the freebie Red Gyarados, so Mari will have tradebait for Renko later.
@neo: Chaining isn't easy, I lost patience after getting Bidoof Hijack'd too many times, and I dislike wasting money on Max Repels - maybe I should invest in an trained, overleveled Hustle user, since Hustle acts like a Repel out of battle.
Also, it seems I must capture Lugia before I can take on the Elite Four. That's a Broken Bridge that's new to me.
(Morty's Gym, Ecruteak)
Mari: I'll face you with my own Ghost, Morty! (produces Premier Ball from belt) Yuyuko, go!
(LP Note: I keep forgetting to implement nicknames. Some of them have been nicknamed for a bit now, mostly use either short English names or Gratitiously Japanese names written in kana characters. Yuyuko is my Modest Gastly, who'll become a Gengar later through trade evolution with Renko. As Gastly learns Shadow Ball naturally at level 29, I am delaying her evolution, which normally happens at level 25, for now. If I plan to use pokemon that have no nicknames yet in the future, I might ask for them!)
Morty: Planning to use a Ghost of your own? Good choice, but also a risky one.
(Yuyuko uses Death by Moe Psychic! Morty's Gastly fainted!)
Morty: Not bad! I'll have to up the stakes with my Haunter!
Mari: I believe my Gastly is faster! Yuyuko, once more with feeling!
(PROTIP LP Note: I indulged in some effort training to make up for Yuyuko's low stats, by cranking her speed and special attack power in the hopes of making her effective even without evolving. Sprout Tower has lots of Gastly and Rattata to grind on at night. Morty was not bluffing when he said pitting Ghost versus Ghost was risky, as Yuyuko herself is also weak to Shadow Ball. Also, he has several Gastly and Haunter, plus a single Gengar. I'm leaving out the extras because they're just encore performances by Yuyuko spamming Psychic.)
(Yuyuko's reaction was faster than the Haunter's due to her training! She used Psychic! Haunter fainted!)
Mari: Yes! Reactions Training really does work!
Morty: Oh, it does all right. However, raw speed is just as important...
(Morty sent out Gengar!)
Morty: ...when your opponent is simply too fast for reactions alone.
(Gengar used Shadow Ball! Yuyuko fainted!)
Mari: urk! That thing is fast! Golbat, go! Try and outfly it!
Morty: Your Golbat isn't fast enough.
(Gengar used Shadow Ball! Golbat barely survives the hit, and retaliates with Bite! it's super-effective! Gengar used Shadow Ball again! Golbat fainted!)
Mari: At least your Gengar is dented quite nicely. Gnaw, wrap this fight up!
Morty: Are you sure you Croconaw can withstand a Shadow Ball?
Mari: I have confidence in Gnaw's toughness!
(LP Note: Gengar is a powerful sweeper with massive speed and Special Attack, but it's also a Glass Cannon. Golbat actually did take a significant chunk of its health off with a single Bite! Also, Gnaw is very tough indeed, Mari's confidence in him is not misplaced despite the fact that his physical defense is higher than his special defense.)
As he sized up his opponent, Gnaw knew that he would never have the speed needed to outrun the Gengar and strike first, just like the time he fought Bugsy's Scyther.
However, he also knew that the Gengar had to stop dodging whenever it launched Shadow Balls, having observed it take a nasty Bite from Golbat before knocking it out. Knowing the Gengar's tactical weakness gave him a measure of confidence. Gnaw prepared his attack, and waited for an opening.
Just to keep the Gengar from realising that he knew its weaknesses, he made a show of lunging at it with some Bites of his own.
...Gengar had stopped moving around and was collecting darkness! NOW!
(Gengar used Shadow Ball! Gnaw lunged through the Shadow Ball and used Bite! Gengar fainted.)
Morty: That's amazingly audacious of your Croconaw! I've never battled a pokemon that lunged thorugh a Shadow Ball to attack Gengar.
Mari: It's not like it didn't hurt Gnaw, though.
(Gnaw accepts a can of Lemonade gratefully and peforates the top with one of his teeth.)
Morty: I wonder if you knew I foresaw your approach to Ecruteak?
Mari: It wouldn't be surprising, you could have checked the League Website and tracked my movement by my badge trail.
Morty: No, I meant I foresaw you arriving in Ecruteak last month.
Mari: You have Divination?
Morty: It's not very foolproof, mind you, I've tried unsuccessfully to use it to turn a (small) profit on the stock market. Anyway, you deserve this Badge. I think you can make use of this Shadow Ball TM too.
Mari: Nice! I won't need to use the TM on Yuyuko though, she'll be getting Shadow Ball naturally at Level 29.
(LP note: What a far cry from the RBY days, when the Gastly family have no STAB attacks and their strongest type-matched move was Night Shade! GSC fixed the problem slightly with TM 30, but until the 4th gen, Shadow Ball was still physical, which meant that only the Physical Ghosts like Banette and Dusclops could use it well with STAB. Now we even get moves like Shadow Claw, Shadow Sneak, Shadow Force, and Shadow Punch for those Physical ghosts!)
Morty: You could go to Magahony Mahogany or Olivine next. Magahony is near the Lake of Rage, which is commonly believed to be a lake created by a Gyarados rampage, while Olivine is near the sea, and has a Lighthouse.
Mari: I think I might explore a bit first.
(Goldenrod, Name Rater Tent)
Name Rater: You probably know who I am. I'll help you rename your pokemon if you want to give them new names...
- Gnaw (Croconaw) retains his nickname
- As mentioned, Gastly (female) is now called Yuyuko
- Elekid (male), due to his tendency to salute smartly sometimes, will be called Sosuke.
-
GolbatCrobat (female), who evolved by Loyalty on the way back to Goldenrod, is now named Sally. - Rattata (male) is now FEAR. I even have a focus sash ready for him!
Name Rater: Your pokemon now have new names. If you want my services in the future, do come back.
Next: Moomoo Farm, and a sick cow problem! Olivine City here we- Oh, it's you, Redhead!
edit: fixed typo.
edited 20th Oct '09 6:42:33 AM by AceOfScarabs
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
I'm Only Sleeping
It's Mahogany. Still, nice job beating Morty (and Gnaw wins the day again).
INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.
I am now a shiny stone~
Gnaw is the Heavy of my team - he's not the fastest, but man is he tough! Oh, he's no Blissey (with its ridiculous 600-odd hitpoints and loads of special defense!), but he can certainly take a licking and keep on ticking :D
Morty's weakness is that his entire team is made of glass cannons. Weather his Ghost barrage, and you win easily. I can't remember if he tries to use Curse, but that would only make the fight even faster if he did.
(Ecruteak Pokemart)
Courier: Special delivery from your mum, Miss Mari.
Mari: I wonder what this soft bag contains? (rustle) Oh! A Choice Scarf!
(LP note: Mum can buy really awesome stuff now. By the time I have the 8 badges of Johto, Mari will have had her mum pick up a Choice Scarf, a Muscle Band, various Resistance Berries, and she has yet to get me the cream of the shopping crop, the almighty Choice Band. The Choice Scarf is a powerful item that locks you into a single move when it activates, but it also gives you a significant speed boost! It's often utilised by powerful sweepers that need that extra edge of speed, and is a staple item in serious battling.)
Courier: Your mum has excellent taste in shopping, kid.
Mari: You don't say. I've got to thank her for helping me get this Scarf somehow! If Gnaw needs the speed boost, he can wear it.
(Ecruteak City, npc house)
Man: You look like you have the knack for treasure hunting. Take this Itemfinder and use it to point out hidden items!
(LP Note: The new itemfinder is awesome! It uses the touchscreen and has a new method of pinpointing items - as you poke at the itemfinder screen with your stylus, it will illuminate a circular area about the position you prod at with a dull red glow and make a weak beeping. The circle will light up as you approach a hidden item thermal-tracker style, and the beeping will intensify in frequency and pitch. it will even pinpoint the precise location of those hidden items when you prod close enough, just like the Poketch Dowsing App! There are far too many items hidden around for me to keep track of reliably, seriously! Small Mushrooms, Nuggets, Ethers, Nutritional Supplements, and PokeUltra Balls!)
(Route 38)
(LP Note: Wild Farfetch'd appear here! I catch one later to use Cut and Fly, since Krabby I'll pick up will get Strength, Surf, Whirlpool and Rock Smash.)
Mari: I feel like visiting the beach at Olivine, Gnaw.
(Gnaw perks up, as he's never seen the sea.)
Mari: I wonder, are you a freshwater or saltwater pokemon?
(Gnaw's shrug suggests that he was hatched from an Egg in the custody of a Trainer, and doesn't know for himself.)
Sailor: Ahoy there, lass! Heading to Olivine?
Mari: I'm off the visit the sea!
Sailor: Ah, yes, the sea. It's a fine place, under the open sky with a deck under your feet, Wingulls following your ship, and the delicious sea air.
Mari: Why are you all the way out here?
Sailor: I'm headed to Goldenrod to visit my cousin and her children. Saaaay... (notices Mari's pokeballs and Gnaw) ...you're a good trainer, aren't you? Wanna spar with my Wooper?
Mari: Sure, my team does need the experience. (produces pokeball) Go, Sosuke!
(LP Note: Sailors traditionally pack Fighting and Water types, and I've seen them use Poliwag, which is usually a freshwater pokemon, before. I'm sure Wooper is more of a marsh/swamp species, but I guess he may picked it up before going off to the sea. As previously mentioned, Mari's Elekid has been nicknamed Sosuke because of his tendency to salute to her.)
After a few rounds of sparring, both pokemon are worn from exertion.
Sailor: I'm sure your Elekid is quite tough to be able to fight Wooper like that. He's quite relentless in melee range!
Mari: He's a little too hasty to go on the offensive, but other than that, he's pretty good.
Sailor: I've seen quite a few trainers who get their Elekids to play keep-away with their speed and Special attacks. It's refreshing to see one fight in close quarters like yours does!
(Route 39 - Moomoo Farm)
Mari: Ooh, a milk farm!
(A sign says, "Whitney of Goldenrod endorses this Miltank farm! She even buys our Moomoo Milk regularly! Come in and buy some for yourself!")
Mari: I bet she obtained her Miltank with help from this place. Let's look around, Gnaw!
(The pasture is home to several Miltank, who lounge about peacefully chewing their cud. Mari hears a weak mooing come from the cowshed)
Mari: Someone sounds a bit ill there, Gnaw. Let's see what's wrong!
(Moomoo Farm cowshed)
Mari: What's wrong with that Miltank?
Farmgirl: She's a little ill at the moment. Our handbook on the illnesses on farm animals said that this illness can be treated with some Oran berries, but we don't have anyone to spare to make the trip to Goldenrod to buy some!
Mari: Hmm, let me check my pack. (sorts through the Berry pouches she uses for organising berries) ...Cheri...Pecha... Aha! let's see, we have about... eight berries, and I have a couple maturing nicely in the Planter at the moment.
Farmgirl: Oh, do have some to spare?
Mari: I suppose I can share my berries with the Miltank.
(Mari feeds her Oran berries to the Miltank slowly. As the Miltank eats each berry, her condition improves! After the seventh berry, the Miltank is fully recovered!)
Miltank: Moo! (translation: I feel better!)
Farmgirl: How wonderful! Father will be glad! I must thank you somehow!
Mari: Oh, it's all right, my Berry planter has some almost-ripe Oran plants growing in it, ready to bear more berries.
Farmgirl: I still wish for you to accept this! (Gives Mari the Seal Case.) I could give you a better reward, you dear little thing.
Mari: Er, it's okay, the Seal Case is already a pretty expensive reward. (I feel a little uneasy! Maybe I should be careful, in case...)
(LP Note: the Seal Case works exactly as it does in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Many silly, immature kids use it to spell rude words when they call their pokemon out.)
(Mari is worried about the farmgirl's attention towards her, and discreetly retreats to the farmhouse.)
(Moomoo farmhouse)
Farmer's Wife: Oh, you are the girl who helped out prize Miltank get better? I insist on giving you this TM as thanks! It contains the move Natural Gift, which uses the inherent power of Berries!
(LP Note: Natural Gift's element and base power is affected by what berries the user holds. I'm not a fan of it, but I understand it can be useful for giving a pokemon a multi-type moveslot at the cost of spending berries on it. I need to read up on the move's capabilities to see if it's really worth it as more than a novelty.)
Farmer: We have some fresh Moomoo Milk in stock. Would you like some?
(LP Note: Moomoo Milk is easily the best healing item you can buy in bulk, with comparable healing efficiency to Lemonade. I'll stock up on this too!)
Mari: Sure! I'd like a dozen bottles to start with, I have lots of pokemon who like it.
(Gnaw eagerly hopes he'd get a bottle to drink on-the-spot!)
Next: Mari finally reaches Olivine and the sea! Another Rival sighting (but not a fight yet)! A better fishing rod!
edited 20th Oct '09 7:42:08 AM by AceOfScarabs
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
... Whitney. Why must you be one of the numerous Ms. Fanservice this game has?
And Scrappy has a Meaningful Name indeed. Well played, Nintendo.
INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.