Part 43: Badgering a Master

Update 35: Badgering a Master

Blackthorn City




Man, I hope my product gets all the Dragons' approval. Okay, with that reference out of the way, let's go in.

Dragon's Den



Huh, that was a short cave.



Gah!



We're not done with dragon trainers just yet.



We're getting pretty up there in levels. Definitely not on track with how we were in Yellow, but still fine for the curve we're on.



: You're not allowed to just go in!



Neat.



: A shrine honoring the dragon POKéMON said to have lived in DRAGON'S DEN.



Man, does no one believe I got in here legit?



: When I do, I'm going to become an admirable dragon trainer and gain our MASTER's approval.



(Pia): Who are you?



Now that's just rude.



(Pia): Meanie.



: MASTER will be angry with you.



That's all the trainers in the area, so let's grab some items and head down.



We'll have to get rid of this Whirlpool to move on, but I'm not teaching that garbage move to any of my team, so during these times I'll be bringing along the Red Gyarados. It's a very useful HM Slave, able to learn all three of the Water HMs, but no area in the game actually requires all three.



Yeah, yeah, I'll go inside in a minute.



In Gold and Silver, just picking up the Dragon Fang was enough for Clair to give you a badge. Now it's just something you can find. Now normally, the Dragon Fang would boost Dragon moves by 10%. However, due to a glitch, the Dragon Scale does this instead as well as evolving Seadra through trade. Therefore, the Dragon Fang does nothing.



Alright, in we go.



: CLAIR sent you here, didn't she? That girl is a handful... I am sorry, but I must test you. Not to worry, you are to answer only a few questions. Ready?



We've got three choices and, depending on the question, there's either one or two right answers. You can probably guess what it is, but try not to get any wrong. The Master will pretend to not hear you if you do, so you don't have to restart the whole quiz, so it simply changes the prize at the end.



I mean, I have been using Action Replay codes here and there, but let's not mention those.



Well I have been fighting everyone in order to combat the terrible level curve. I dunno if I succeeded.



While I may have thrown profanities around when things go wrong, I've been very happy with how my team has performed in this LP.



That is just the selfish perception of peohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I get it.



: You care deeply for POKéMON. Very commendable. That conviction is what is important! MARINA, don't lose that belief. It will see you through at the POKéMON LEAGUE.

Clair's Theme



: I guess there's no point in asking. You did fail?



: You're lying! Even I haven't been approved!



: This child is impreccable, in skill and spirit! Admit defeat and confer the RISINGBADGE! Or must I inform LANCE of this?



: Here, this is the RISINGBADGE... Hurry up! Take it!

Dragon's Den

"waterfalls."

: Also, all POKéMON will recognize you as a trainer and obey your every command without question.



: Reflect upon what it is that you lack and this child has.



Well that's one way to get a badge.



Yeah, brb.



: He looks so much like our MASTER did in his youth. It's in their blood.

"approval."

: In fact, not since Master LANCE.



Now that looks much better. We're ready for the Pokemon League.



: Here, take this as my apology.



: No, it doesn't have anything to do with my breath. If you don't want it, you don't have to take it. What's the matter? Aren't you going to to the POKéMON LEAGUE? Do you know how to get there?



: Then SURF east to POKéMON LEAGUE. The route there is very tough. Don't you dare lose at the POKéMON LEAGUE! If you do, I'll feel even worse about having lost to you! Give it everything you've got.



Aww, I think she likes us. Right, back to the Master.



: Your arrival is most fortunate. I have something for you. Take this DRATINI as proof that I have recognized your worth.

"clan."

: You have shown you can be entrusted with one.



This Dratini is special in that it has Extremespeed (Shinsoku: Swiftness), a Normal move with 80BP, 5PP and 100% accuracy with +1 priority, basically making it an upgraded Quick Attack. It will have this move if you answered all the Master's questions correctly, otherwise it'll have Leer instead.



Saves me catching one!



We still need to catch one though.



You can probably guess why.

Blackthorn City



: I have something here for you. Could you swing by my LAB? See you later!



I'm actually quite glad I got the right gender on the first try.



Now we can do that trade!




HP: 60 | ATK: 110 | DEF: 70 | SP.ATK: 60 | SP.DEF: 60 | SPD: 100 | TOTAL: 460
#200: Dodrio

"DRAGONAIR!"

: How is that DODRIO I traded you doing? Your DRAGONAIR's so cute!



Aw yeah, I've got a second Dodrio. And a second Smoke Ball. This is the best trade for me.



I think the Rhydon trade is a bit better, since you should have a flyer by now, but this trade is fine enough.

Route 45



That's everything in Blackthorn, so we need to head back to New Bark Town and prepare for the Pokemon League. This route has two distinct paths we can take: left or right.

Dark Cave



Just as soon as we finish up Dark Cave.



We're finally on the second side of the cave, with all those higher level encounters. Since we've already caught them, there's just a few items left to grab.



Oh wow, we finally get Ice Be-



...damn. Wait, why do they give you a second one???



Heh, don't think that's happened before. Anyway, nearly done.



: I had my BLACKGLASSES on, so I didn't notice you at all. What am I doing here? Hey, don't you worry about it. I'll give you a pair of BLACKGLASSES, so forget you saw me, OK?



: BLACKGLASSES ups the power of dark-type moves.

Route 45



Alright, 30 updates on, we finally cleared the Dark Cave. Now, we'll stick to the left side of the route on our first run through, which mainly contains tall grass and items. Lots of new Pokemon to catch!




HP: 90 | ATK: 120 | DEF: 120 | SP.ATK: 60 | SP.DEF: 60 | SPD: 50 | TOTAL: 500
#196: Donphan



Useless Body Slam paralysis strikes again.




Correct on both accounts.



: So, I just plow ahead with power! Sheesh, the way you attacked! That was something! We should meet again! How about giving me your number?

"like battling!"

Sure, I'll keep your number for like 5 whole minutes cause I've only got two slots left.



: It is foolish to use strong moves indiscriminately.



You're quite blunt, madam.

"ful moves."

: I want to win, but I also don't want to harm POKéMON.




HP: 65 | ATK: 75 | DEF: 105 | SP.ATK: 35 | SP.DEF: 65 | SPD: 85 | TOTAL: 430
#189: Gligar



Okay, that's everything on the left side. We're more or less at the end of the route.



: Because they're there. Why do I train POKéMON? Because they're there!




Same.



Just loudly shouting that doesn't make it true.



You're making me tougher though. Fun fact: this guy's team is all level 30s and two of his Pokemon, Fearow and Primeape, are Pokemon you face during the level 30 challenge. Tauros, however, is not.



: I never, ever lose there, but...



This lake marks the end of our journey. We're right next to Route 46, which we've already fully explored.



Couple more items and one last Pokemon to catch in the grass.




HP: 60 | ATK: 80 | DEF: 140 | SP.ATK: 40 | SP.DEF: 70 | SPD: 70 | TOTAL: 465
#198: Skarmory



Alright, that's everything we can do for now.



Now it's a simple matter of flying back to Blackthorn and heading to the right side of the route. Immediately, we've got another split, so we'll go left.

"raised properly!"


I, heh, rocked your world.



Have fun. The Pokemon levels there are terrible.



Since the split we just went down more or less immediately links up again, we can fly back to Blackthorn and face the other trainer on the right side.

"ing POKéMON?"



HP: 83 | ATK: 80 | DEF: 75 | SP.ATK: 70 | SP.DEF: 70 | SPD: 91 | TOTAL: 469
#012: Pidgeot



The fuck's with this bullshit?




HP: 63 | ATK: 83 | DEF: 57 | SP.ATK: 95 | SP.DEF: 85 | SPD: 105 | TOTAL: 490
#155: Electabuzz

"with care."

: The bond you build will save you in tough situations.



Right on.




Uh, training yourself, or your Pokemon?



: I must take to the hills and train in solitude. Our battle was remarkable! I wish for something to remember you by! Perhaps your phone number will do? My training makes it impossible to chat much, but...

"the mightiest!"

I think you're All Right, so you might have what it takes to become the All Mightiest.



Right right right.



: When it comes to sheer spunkiness, I'm the man!




HP: 80 | ATK: 110 | DEF: 130 | SP.ATK: 55 | SP.DEF: 65 | SPD: 45 | TOTAL: 485
#036: Golem



: I keep drinking my POKéMON's! I can't help it!



We'll leave that guy to his addiction, because we're done with... basically every route in Johto! And here we are on the first route we travelled. Ah, memories.



It's good to be back home. Didn't the Professor need to see us?

Pokemon Lab



: Take this as a token of my appreciation.







: It's the ultimate BALL! It'll catch any POKéMON without fail. It's given only to recognized POKéMON researchers. I think you can make much better use of it than I can, MARINA!

New Bark Town



Well I'll be sure to use that on a Pokemon that's worth it. And hey, since I care about my MOM in this LP, let's go visit her.

"hard, I see."

: Or is this about your money?



Crap, parents always know that's why you bother contacting them. They're good like that. Let's see how much we've got.



...holy moley that's a nice chunk. I won't be taking any out, we still need to save up, but we won't be having any money problems for the rest of the game.




However, since we're back home, we might as well put out the dolls our MOM bought for us. There's a lot of ways to decorate your room and we'll get more items later on.



For now, this looks good.



And next time, we'll head up the long road to the Pokemon League. Buuuuuut, we haven't checked in on SoulSilver for a while and I think it's also time for Battle Tower Level 30. Bye everybody!