SolLock's Log: Day 5

I started the day by going to all of the Apricorn trees that I know, training Sting up along the way.  After that, it was back to Route 32, where, much to my delight, Sting evolved into a Beedrill.  She also learned Fury Attack.  My other pokémon have been training well, too, though the wild Mareep have been very frustrating - their Static keeps paralyzing my pokémon.  Pitcher learned Wrap, significantly expanding his repertoire, and Scrounger learned Bite, which is better than Tackle in so many ways.
Then, Wade called me, saying that he'd found some berries, which he wanted to share.  When I returned to him, he gave me a Pecha Berry, which was nice.
Feeling that my pokémon were up to the task, I decided to enter Falkner's gym.  On the floor proper was this odd platform which, when triggered, hurled me upwards at incredible speed.  At the top, I saw a zigzag of wooden platforms, leading past two trainers and on to Falkner.  Additionally, though, there were glass platforms on either side of this, which connected back into the wooden ones at later intervals.  I saw that I could go straight to Falkner this way, but I decided that it would be better to size up his minions, first.
His first trainer, Abe, had only a Spearow, which Watchman defeated without even a scratch.  The second trainer, Rod, was another matter.  Rather than wasting time with Growl and Leer, he started by having his Pidgey size up my Sentret with a Tackle.  Watchman was able to defeat it quite handily, though, despite a Sand-Attack.  For his second Pidgey, I sent out Scrounger, who again won with no trouble.

Feeling confident, I switched the undamaged Scrounger to the front of the party, and challenged Falkner.  Scrounger finished off Falkner's Pidgey without much trouble, but when he sent out Pidgeotto, I felt that I should play it safe, sending out Arsonist, my most powerful pokémon.  Seeking to end the battle quickly, and hoping to burn the foe, I had Arsonist use Ember.  Pidgeotto's aggression was strong, though, and I quickly found myself resorting to a potion, during which time Pidgeotto used Roost to heal itself.  The next Ember, though, burned the Pidgeotto, for which I was glad.  Pidgeotto tried to rest its way to full health, at which point I knew that Falkner was fighting a losing battle.  Still, I had to use another potion.  Arsonist must live.  The protracted battle went like that for some time, but I knew that a critical hit from Pidgeotto could spell the ultimate end for Arsonist if I let his wounds go untreated for too long.
Finally, when the Pidgeotto was weak, I thought that Arsonist could finish it with his Quick Attack.  When the Pidgeotto remained conscious, I feared for the worst, for Arsonist was heavily injured again.  Its attack did but little damage, though, and it finally succumbed to its Burn.
I was only relieved that my pokémon had survived the battle, but then, something wonderful happened:  Arsonist evolved into a Quilava!  I ended the day a few potions poorer and one badge richer, but, most importantly, I haven't lost anyone yet.

As it happens, when I left the gym, I got a call from Professor Elm.  He wanted me to carry that Egg from the other day, and sent his assistant to the PokéMart in Violet City.  I obliged him, and popped next door to the Mart, where his assistant gave me, telling me that a pokémon would hatch from it if I kept it with me.  I also stocked up on potions while there.  Upon leaving the PokéMart, though, I was suddenly accosted by a strange woman, who told me to take care of the Egg.  It was very random.
As one last matter to settle for the night, I checked to see if that guy was still blocking off route 32.  He was there, but he just gave me a Miracle Seed and let me pass.  Instead, though, I returned to Violet City, to give my pokémon a well-earned rest.  (I gave the Miracle Seed to Pitcher.)



[Note:  This entry corresponds to November 23rd, 2012.]