Part 42: Dragon Her Heels

Update 34: Dragon Her Heels

Blackthorn City



Blackthorn City: A Quiet Mountain Retreat
(From the plant, blackthorn, where the sloe fruit grows. It's a slightly larger blueberry that's closer to a plum.)
Fusube City: A quiet city standing among the mountains.
(From fusube-iro, smoke black colour and fusuberu, to smoke. Can also be from the Fusube-yama, a mountain in north-central Japan and can be roughly translated as to hide and surrounding area.)



Mmm, now this is a Mart selection I can use. There's a fair amount to do in this small city, so let's get started.



: Want to trade it for my DODRIO?

Now this is a weird trade. As far as I know, this is the only trade in the entire series that requires the Pokemon to be of a certain gender. We can't obtain a Dragonair just yet, but what we'll receive in return is fair, since we haven't found either of the Dodrio family yet. In GS, this trade would get you a Rhydon, which we also won't be able to get for a little while.



We'll be back.



: I can make POKéMON forget moves. Shall I make a POKéMON forget?

The Move Deleter is very useful, as it's the only way to get rid of HM moves, as well as Gen 2 moves to allow trading in the Time Capsule. Still no Move Reminder, that comes next gen.

"for you."

: However, it would be impossible for a run-of-the-mill trainer to win.



Our final gym is a Dragon one. RIP Dark.



Well that's thematic.



All we have left is Squirtle.



: I'm SANTOS of Saturday... You can have this...



: SPELL TAG... Ghost-type moves get stronger... It will frighten you... ... See you again on another Saturday... I won't have any more gifts...

Kaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy? That's all the Siblings and all the items they can give us. Woo. Gym time!

Pokemon Gym



: It's been a long journey, but we are almost done! Count on me! CLAIR uses the mythical and sacred dragon-type POKéMON. You can't damage them very easily. But you know, they're supposed to be weak against ice-type moves.

Hmm, we'll see how much that holds water.





HP: 41 | ATK: 64 | DEF: 45 | SP.ATK: 50 | SP.DEF: 50 | SPD: 50 | TOTAL: 300
#241: Dratini



We'll be seeing a fair few Dratini in this update and they all have these really annoying level up moves.



Why does no one believe that I met Batman?



Strength puzzles!





"past me!"

: CLAIR would be livid if I did!




HP: 55 | ATK: 65 | DEF: 95 | SP.ATK: 95 | SP.DEF: 45 | SPD: 85 | TOTAL: 440
#187: Seadra



Mamma mia!



Here's another Strength puzzle and we'll need to do it, cause there's some lava to cross.

"one percent!"



HP: 61 | ATK: 84 | DEF: 65 | SP.ATK: 70 | SP.DEF: 70 | SPD: 80 | TOTAL: 420
#242: Dragonair



This is getting real annoying.



: Thanks for showing me!



Rock pushing!

"type POKéMON."

Yeah, this is similar to Morty's Gym, where you have a Dragon Gym in a gen with 4 Dragon types. At least you have some more options with Horsea and Seadra.



I'm glad you don't, they're annoying to fight.



Does that mean I have to get permission too? Maaaaaaan.



Alright, we've got a clear shot to the leader. After one more trainer.



: They are full of life energy. If you're not serious, you won't be able to beat them.


"type moves."

Good thing we have plenty of those! Ooh, this should be a fun battle...



: The world's best dragon master. I can hold my own against even the POKéMON LEAGUE's ELITE FOUR. Do you still want to take me on? ...Fine. Let's do it! As a GYM LEADER, I will use my full power against any opponent!

Gym Leader Battle VS Leader Clair





Clair: The Blessed User of Dragon Pokémon
(Rhymes with lair? O-Okay, Bulbapedia, if you say so.)
Ibuki: Blessed Dragon Pokémon Tamer
(From 伊吹 Ibuki, Chinese Juniper and from Mt. Ibuki, in west-central Japan, or from 息吹 ibuki, breath.)



Understandably, a Dragon Gym Leader won't have too much variety, with three Dragonair up front. They do have their subtle differences in attacks, with this one having Surf, but they all have Slam, Dragonbreath and Thunder Wave.



Need to get Future Sight going as soon as possible.



...huh?



Now that's a wombo combo.



The second Dragonair is REALLY ANNOYING.



But that's two down. This is the Ice Beam Dragonair then.



Oh get used to this.



Unsurprisingly, an Ice type can rip through Clair a fair amount. But not all of her team. Dragonbreath (Ryū no Ibuki) is a Dragon move with 60BP, 20PP and 100% accuracy that has a 30% chance to paralyze the target.




HP: 75 | ATK: 95 | DEF: 95 | SP.ATK: 95 | SP.DEF: 95 | SPD: 85 | TOTAL: 540
#188: Kingdra



We shouldn't have too much trouble taking Kingdra down, since I'm just gonna paralyze it, then take it out.



Okay, that's annoying.



OKAY, that's annoying.



GODDAMMIT. Hyper Beam (Hakai Kōsen: Destruction Beam) is a Normal move with 150BP, 5PP and 90% accuracy that requires you to recharge on the turn after you use it. It's not as great as the last gen, but it's a cool way to finish off a battle.



Oh yeah, this Pokemon is pretty fragile, but at the same time, so is my team.



Okay, we should be able to take this thing down no problem. Maybe I could've taken it out by just attacking... but I wanted it to show its stuff. Y-Yeah.



This has gotten so old.



Coooooooooooooooool.



Alright, sheesh, it's over, we have our eighth gym badge.



L I don't believe it. There must be some mistake...

Believe it, toasterhead!

Pokemon Gym



: I may have lost, but you're still not ready for the POKéMON LEAGUE. I know. You should take the dragon user challenge. Behind this GYM is a place called DRAGON'S DEN. There is a small shrine at its center. Go there. If you can prove that you've lost your lazy ideals, I will recognize you as a trainer worthy of a GYM BADGE!







I hate you.



: All that's left is the POKéMON LEAGUE challenge. You're on the way to becoming the POKéMON CHAMPION!



We're gonna have to fix this. NEXT TIME!