I'm starting a Nuzlocke run on Emerald. I'll be going by these rules:
- Release upon Death
- First Poke in a Route Only
- No Healing Items Outside of Battle
- No Legendaries in Battle
- No Purchasing Poke Balls of any sort, by any means.
This is going to be somewhat of a blow-by-blow account; bear with me.
Chapter 1: A New Journey Begins
Hey, it's Professor Birch. Late again... go figure. He's blabbing about Pokemon, as if I don't know what one is. My dad's a Gym Leader; I would know. Anyhow, he's trying to figure out what gender I am. "ARE YOU A GIIIIIIRL?" I'm a boy, and my name is Terra. My new adventure awaits, etc. etc.
I'm sitting with the boxes in the moving van. Surprise, surprise. Mom's vase breaks on my head (no great loss there) and I know we're at our new house. It's actually a nice town. Mom's saying that I get my own room finally. Believe me, Dad smells like rotten goat feces. All these Vigoroth are marching around the house, moving us in. I go upstairs and set the clock: 9:36 AM. I've got a GameCube, I noticed. Cool beans. I grab a Potion out of the PC (how the crap did I do that?) and hear Mom yelling at me to come down. The announcer says something about Petalburg, and Mom says Dad was on. Meh, I see him every day. Anyhow, she wants me to go introduce myself to this Birch fellow. Wait, haven't I met him already?
Birch is away doing "field work". Yay. I head for the grasses north of Littleroot, but a little girl (what am I doing listening to a little girl?) tells me to not go out there. I decide to saunter over to my neighbor's house, whereupon some old lady jumps me at the door. She says she has a daughter around my age. She's excited about making a new friend, and she's upstairs. I'm hoping that two and two does not equal four here, if you know what I'm saying. Thankfully, it doesn't. She's not upstairs, so I raid her room and find a Poke Ball... or not. She arrives. Apparently, her name is May. Her Dad is Professor Birch, eh? I wonder if she knows where the old man is. She has to join him on field duties, but walks over to her computer. Eh, I'll try the grass again.
The little girl is telling me to go be fodder for scary Pokemon. No surprise there. Like the idiot I am, I walk forward. Professor Birch is being chased by a Zigzagoon, and he apparently needs my help. He says there are Pokemon in his Bag. Now, I could take all three... but for some reason, I don't. I take Mudkip, the Mud Fish Pokemon. So the battle begins. She's a fairly modest one, but I know she'll turn out great. Anyhoo, there's a Zigzagoon in front of me. TACKLE! TACKLE AGAIN! I DON'T CARE IF IT'S GROWLING, TACKLE IT! KO'd without a sweat; it doesn't even try to attack.
Apparently, Birch was studying Pokemon when he got jumped. He must be even more stupid than me. I'm suddenly at his Lab (wat?), and apparently he's heard of me too. Small town. He thinks I'm good at Pokemon because I can tell Mudkip to tackle, and gives her to me. Her name: Maddie (it's a pun on "muddy", see?). Birch thinks I have potential, and tells me to go see May. OK then oldster, I'll do it. Off with my own Pokemon, the adventure begins.
Team as of Chapter 1:
Maddy the Mudkip (Lv. 5)
Chapter 2: My First Test
Route 101 seems pretty serene. I try walking up to a wandering man, and a Poochyena pops up from nowhere. Maddie comes out and makes quick work of it with her Tackles, but suffers a bit of damage along the way. I talk to this guy, and he tells me that Pokemon jump out of tall grass. Thanks for telling me what I just learned, bro. The sign says that Oldale Town is ahead. Hi-ho!
I reach Oldale without any further incidents. I stop by the Pokemon Center to pep Maddie back up a bit, then talk to a guy in a Pokemon Mart uniform. The tutorial music screams at me, and I suddenly wish I didn't. Blah, blah, blah, asinine tutorial. I march past him, into Route 103. Surprisingly, I reach May without a single encounter. I jump her from behind; she's not startled at all. She sees that I have a Pokemon and (of course) challenges me to a battle.
So my first challenge as a Trainer begins. She has a Lv. 5 Treecko, which (thankfully) has no Grass moves yet. It decides to Leer at Maddie while she Tackles it 3 times, bringing it to red health. Its Pound is ineffectual, and Maddie gets the KO. She levels up to Level 7 with the experience given, and learns Mud Slap to boot. 300 Poke for a win is pretty crappy, but what do I care? May also thinks I'm so special because I know how to mindlessly Tackle, and tells me to go back to the Lab. OK then, can do.
She beckons me to the Lab, which I enter to find both Birch and May. Birch says May has been a Trainer for ages already... does that mean that she's older than I think? Anyhow, Birch gives me a Pokedex to keep track of Pokemon with. May gives me some Balls, which brings me up to seven. Now I can catch Pokemon! Not sure what to do from here, I leave the Lab.
My mom catches me en route out of Littleroot, and asks if I've met Birch. Of course I have. She's fawning over me and Maddie; we're both about to hurl. She gives me some Running Shoes, and reads me the instructions. Wait, Running Shoes need instructions? I head off on my quest, not to fill the Pokedex as May and Birch think, but to become Pokemon League Champion! I can make it. I know I can.
Team as of Chapter 2:
Maddy the Mudkip (Lv.7)
Chapter 3: Into the Wild
I pass through Route 101 again, running into a Wurmple. That reminds me, I need to buy some Antidotes. Everyone knows that poisonous places are a young Trainer's worst foe. The Wurmple itself is no trouble, though. After fending off another of its kind, I stop by the Pokemon Center to heal off the damage from that Treecko. I then go to the Pokemon Mart, where I buy three Potions and five Antidotes. I then proceed into Route 103, where I hope for an encounter with a strong Pokemon (having not had an encounter there before). A Poochyena, Level 3. Ah, well. It's worth catching. Sadly, I crit the stupid mutt with my second Tackle. Down it goes. I leave Route 103 and meander into Route 102.
My second Trainer Battle is against this twerp called Calvin, who has a Level 5 Poochyena. It deals quite a number with a +2 Crit, but I KO it with a crit of my own. Maddie grows to Level 8, and I head back to the Pokemon Center to heal off the 13 points Maddie took from that pooch. Having done so, I stroll once again into the grasses of Route 102. Another Poochyena appears, still Level 3. A Tackle and a Mud Slap nail it to a few HP points. My first Poke Ball catches it, and I name her Lucy. I don't reckon that she'll be of much use as a fighter, but any help is appreciated.
A Bug Catcher shows up; what a surprise that is. His name is Rick, and no doubt his Wurmple's nickname is Roll. It goes down without dealing a point to me, and a clone pops up in its place. This one manages to hit me with one measly Tackle before hitting the floor. Maddie grows to Level 9 off the experience spoils. Man, I'm getting no money from beating up children. I pass a sneezing kid to find another Youngster who has the audacity to challenge me. His Zigzagoon, at a puny Level 4, barely puts up a fight. He follows it up with a Level 3 Tailow, which does absolutely nothing before falling to my Tackles. Wow, Pokemon is easier than my dad made it out to be. I happen across some Oran and Pecha berries. I don't replant; I know I'll never see this patch of dirt again. Instead, I let Maddie hold one of the Orans and stow the rest in my pack. Another humdrum Trainer battle follows my Berry plucking: this time, it's a young Lass. As usual, Maddie mauls the challengers, growing to Level 10 and learning Water Gun in the process. After finding a Potion and squashing another Wurmple (not a good idea; they leave a mess all over one's shoe), I walk into Petalburg City.
After healing Maddie and Lucy up, I speak to a woman standing in the middle of the road. Her son, Wally, is missing. Ah, well. Sucks for her. I enter my dad's Gym, hoping to show him my Pokemon. To my surprise, the Wally in question interrupts our touching reunion, begging for a Pokemon. Dad lends him a Zigzagoon to catch his own Pokemon with, as well as a Poke Ball to keep it in. The tutorial music plays as Wally and I leave the gym, and I have a premonition that this is a tutorial for me. Oh, the irony. The lucky duck runs into a RALTS and manages to catch it. I'm so jealous. I'm teleported back to the Gym (how do these guys DO that?) to suffer through the rest of Dad and Wally's dialouge. Dad tells me to go to Rustboro and kick Roxanne's butt, and proceed to defeat the other Pokemon Gyms. Dad won't let me try for his Badge yet; no doubt I have to prove myself. Off I go, to Rustboro City! Glory and victory await! Of course, nobody realizes that they're sending a child to roam the region and get into finds... but I'm not miffed. Goodbye, Petalburg; hello, Rustboro!
Team as of Chapter 3:
Maddie the Mudkip (Lv. 10)
Lucy the Poochyena (Lv. 3)
Sadly, Chapter 4 and most of Chapter 5 were deleted when my computer shut off. A quick summary will be provided below:
- I ran into a weird man as I was leaving Petalburg
- I fought several trainers en route to Petalburg Woods; my encounter, a Poochyena, was KO'd.
- I fought a vicious battle with a Shroomish, but KO'd it before I could catch it
- I ventured through Petalburg Woods, encountering Team Aqua for the first time.
- I recieved the TM for Bullet Seed
- I fought several more trainers en route to Rustboro City, including my first Double Battle.
- I recieved Cut from Cutter
- I recieved Quick Claw from the Pokemon Trainer's School professor
- I fought past the Gym Trainers in Roxanne's gym
- I almost defeated Roxanne
- Maddie grew to Level 16; Lucy grew to Level 7
- Roxanne's Nospeass was lowered to 1/3 HP; Maddie was at 2/3
Chapter 5 Ending: Stone Badge
Her Nosepass suffered a final Water Gun at Maddie's hands, allowing the final KO. She grew to Level 17, proud of her victory. Roxanne's defeat came as a bit of a shock, and she admitted that she had much yet to learn. She then gave me 1500 Poke and the Stone Badge for my victory.
What?!? Maddie is changing! I've never seen this before... she morphed into a Marshtomp with a flash of white light! After Maddie's evolution, Roxanne tells me about the Stone Badge's properties. She says that it boosts my Pokemon's Attack stat and allows them to use Cut outside of battle. She also gives me TM 39, for Rock Tomb, and warns me that TMs are one-time use items. Apparently, she respects me more than the average challenger. I leave the Rustboro Gym, ready to proceed onward. Man, if the rest of the League is this easy, I'll be Champion in no time!
Team as of Chapter 5:
Maddie the Marshtomp (Level 17)
Lucy the Poochyena (Level 7)
Badges: 1
Chapter 6: The Theft of the Devon Goods
Immediately after exiting the Rustboro Gym, I see a Team Aqua Grunt running away from the building to the Gym's west. The Researcher attempts to pursue him, beseeching the Grunt to return his Goods. They both head northward; after resting my Pokemon up at the Pokemon Center, I set off in hot pursuit.
Running up into Route 115, I immediately notice that they both weren't there. I do, however, spy a Super Potion lying on the beach, which I proceed to place in my Bag. Heading for the last intersection, I happen upon the Devon Researcher. He stops me and begged for my help; it is apparent that the crook had gone off to the East. Knowing that he couldn't get through the caves I had heard of from my dad anytime soon, I take my sweet time in Route 116. My first encounter there is a Whismur, which I choose to not capture. A swift Water Gun is sufficient to KO the culprit. I find a Repel to place in my Bag, then challenge a Bug Catcher to a battle. He has a Wurmple and a Nincada; they are easy prey for Maddie. I also ambush a Youngster hiding in the tall grass; his Machop is no match for Maddie. He needs a bandage after the battle, which I don't understand at all. A wild Nincada that crosses my path is quickly gunned down by Maddie's Water Gun, and I move on.
A Schoolgirl decides to challenge me en route to the cave. She sends out a Shroomish, which I'm particularly scared of now. Maddie is now twice as weak to Absorbs as she was before; it poses a major threat. Maddie's Tackle barely does half, and the Shroomish (thankfully) Tackles in response. Again, a volley of Tackles is exchanged. After the final hit for the KO, the Schoolgirl is surprised at her loss; my victory is no surprise to me. After defeating her, I spy a Tailow in the grass. (OoC: I weep here. I really would like to have a Tailow; in fact, I'm regretting not catching Whismur. Maybe it could've learned Cut). It becomes mere Water Gun fodder, allowing Maddie to reach Level 18. A Hiker and a Youngster challenge me to a Double Battle immediately after I dispose of the bird; they lead with a Geodude and a Shroomish, respectively. Maddie Water Guns the Geodude for an easy KO, followed by a volley of Tackles between Lucy and the Shroomish. I order both of my Pokemon to Tackle Shroomish, and the results are grim: Maddie's Tackle misses, Shroomish Absorbs Maddie, and Lucy is put to sleep by Effect Spore. I Tackle again with both; this time, the still-sleeping Lucy is the Absorb target. Maddie lands a Tackle for the KO, but is Poisoned by Effect Spore. Sleeping Lucy gains a level from the KO as the Youngster follows it up with a Lotad. I order Maddie to Tackle it, while I use Lucy's turn to give Maddie an Antidote. The Tackle OHKOs Lotad; victory is achieved. The femme fatales strike again.
Another Hiker ambushes me after the battle, and he opens with a Geodude. Naturally, Maddie effortlessly KOs it with a Water Gun. His second Geodude faces the same fate. Finally, I approach the cave. An old man bemoans the loss of his Wingull Peeko, which some thug took. Coincidence? I think not. After grabbing an X Special off of an adjacent cliff, I enter the cave. My first encounter there is a Whismur; I'm determined to catch this one. Maddie's Mud Slap brings it to within an inch of its life. The Whismur's Pound scores a critical hit, still doing little. I toss a Poke Ball at the runty mouse. Once the capture is complete, I give Whismur his name: Screech. I check to see if Screech can learn Cut; to my dismay, he cannot. After snagging a nearby Poke Ball, I confront the Grunt who captured Peeko. He wails about his bad luck, then challenges me to a battle. His one and only Pokemon is a Level 11 Poochyena, who Maddie crits and KO's with one Water Gun.
After the Grunt's defeat, he hands over the Devon Goods and leaves Peeko behind as he flees. The old man enters the cave, overjoyed at his Peeko's safety. He reveals himself to be Mr. Briney, who owns a cottage by the sea near Petalburg Woods. He then departs the cave with his beloved pet, and I do the same after steamrolling an irritating Whismur with Water Gun. After a chance encounter while running back to Rustboro, I show the Devon Goods to the Devon Researcher. He gives me another Great Ball in thanks and escorts me to Devon Corporation's top floor (wait, did I just instantaneously move again?), where the office of the President resides. Believe it or not, he asks me to deliver the goods to Slateport City's shipyard! Unbelievable.
I then speak with Mr. Stone, the President of the Devon Corporation. He, too, has a favor to ask. He wants me to give a letter to Steven in Dewford Town, and gives me said letter. At least the President offers something useful: The Pokemon Navigator, or Pokenav for short. It has a map, and some as-of-yet unexplored features. He mentions two criminal syndicates - Magma and Aqua - who are causing trouble in Hoenn. He heals my Pokemon and tells me to head out with caution and care. I consult my Pokenav and see that Dewford is an island town. Perhaps Mr. Briney can help me get there, and to Slateport as well.
Team as of Chapter 6:
Maddie the Marshtomp (Level 18)
Lucy the Poochyena (Level 8)
Screech the Whismur (Level 7)
Badges: 1
Tune in tomorrow for Chapter 7: Letter to Dewport!