Right then, back to Chargestone Cave.

Well, I do like that when you walk under the high floating rocks, they bob. It’s a nice extra. And the way the electricity goes nuts when you get near a big rock.

There’s this one bit that’s sort of a puzzle, where you have to push one rock but not the other to reach a magnet. And that’s about it.

Some people give me a nugget and big nugget. I like the sense of accomplishment from finding those things…

Some girl tells me she loves the rocks here, and gives me a funfest mission about finding ores, then declares she lives her now.

Okay, back down. There’s a doctor guy, so I can heal.

And there’s Bianca across the ledge…But she seems fine letting me go past without consequence when I reach the area.

Long ago, Pokemon and people lived separately. And now we all live together like this… I don’t know if it is a good thing or not, but it will surely lead to many changes.

You guys have been living together since your prehistory. Why would it lead to changes now? This line would make more sense if it were last game and he was talking about N’s plan.

My ferroseed is really awesome. It has the iron barbs ability, so I can take out a klink by just waiting for it to use gear grind. Also, it’s an amazing tank. It barely takes damage and knows leech seed and ingrain.

Also…

What is there to say, really? At least the outfit isn’t impractical.

You know what the worst thing about this is? It’s that the male sprites are sometimes androgynous enough that some of them could be female. The existence of the designated female version confirms that the others must all be male.

Okay, I’ll talk to Bianca now, since she didn’t force me.

Bianca: Know what? I’m here at Professor Juniper’s request! I’m researching a Pokemon called Tynamo!

Oh, are you trying to figure out why they suck so much? I’m curious about that too. I mean, levitating electric type, cool design, what went wrong?

But there aren’t many, and they don’t seem very strong…

Indeed. Possibly the former is connected to the latter.

And that’s all! She doesn’t ask me to get her some or anything. Aw, Bianca, I’d help!

Anyway. That seems like it’s all of the cave. No sign of N, sadly.

Now I’m in the plane city where last time, Juniper’s annoying dad jumped me for conversation.

Mistralton City used to be a desolate patch of land… This place was built through the cooperation of people and Pokemon.

And yet, as ever time, I only see signs of human intent here. Nothing was built according to pokemon needs.

And I’m jumped by Juniper. Well, it’s better than her dad.

Hi there, Farla! It’s nice to finally be able to talk to you in person!

Is this about legendary pokemon or weird cold? It’d better be.

I’m Professor Juniper! You accepted the Pokedex and came all the way out here with your partners… Here, I’ll evaluate your progress for you! So, Farla, you’ve seen 134 Pokemon up to this point!

God, I hate the seen thing. Seeing pokemon isn’t an accomplishment. Most of them are just trainers’ pokemon. It’s owning pokemon that requires actual effort on my part.

I see! Thank you! This is a token of my gratitude.

…and she hands me a masterball wait what?

Juniper: This Master Ball is the most powerful kind of Poke Ball. It can catch any Pokemon without fail.

I know. Getting one is supposed to really mean something. In Blue, I got the masterball by fighting the legions of Team Rocket, singlehandedly rescuing Silph’s employees, at which point I get the existent one bestowed on me and the president’s explanation that there will be no more because it’s too powerful and easily abused.

Here, I’m given one because I managed to point my pokedex at a bunch of people’s pokemon.

Journeys are about meeting Pokemon. Don’t let a chance get away!

The masterball is one of the many points where the idea this is voluntary breaks down. So, let’s say pokemon appear willingly and with full understanding you might capture them, and it’s just they want you to prove you’re worthy by beating them up first. Except you can just skip that by using a masterball, which are apparently given out for increasingly flimsy reasons, and this is a perk because it makes sure you don’t miss the “chance” to become friends, I guess.

Still, I’m amazed how much Pokemon distribution changes in two years.

The more they say this, the more I wonder why they never realized this before. Is Juniper the first person to figure out you should keep track of this? Why don’t they have data from any other point in time? For all you guys know, pokemon distribution doesn’t normally change and this is a sign of the apocalypse! YOU HAVE NO OTHER DATA POINTS!

That means my research will never end.

What? Besides, how much can your research rely on this if, again, the data I got you last game is the only data you or anyone else ever bothered with?

Still, you could say that’s what makes it fun…

???: Professor Juniperrrrr!

The game has been really abusing the ??? thing.

It’s the gym leader.

Professor Juniper: Why, if it isn’t Skyla! She turns to me. This is Skyla. she’s Mistralton City’s Gym Leader.

Skyla: Why are you so surprised, Professor? You did ask for a lift in my plane to cross Twist Mountain, since you can’t reach Opelucid City by foot.

Professor Juniper: Aha ha! You’re right. But I have a quick favor to ask first. I want to look at Celestial Tower. Do you mind waiting till I’m through? She turns back to me. See you, Farla! Be sure to always get along with all kinds of Pokemon!

Skyla: Honestly! I can’t tell if she’s just laid back or if she’s not paying attention to anything outside her head. The apple sure doesn’t fall far from the tree. What’s next? Are you coming to my Gym to challenge me? Or are you going to follow the professor to Celestial Tower and do some training?

I guess I’ll fight one of your undertrainers and see which is the best idea.

As long as I get to battle with a strong Trainer, I’m fine either way!

Then don’t talk about it. I’m not so dumb I need you to tell me I can visit either location mentioned previously in the dialogue.

And off she goes.

Team Plasma went after certain Pokemon, like Purrloin!

Okay, so I guess this is to explain why Team Plasma has such homogenous teams, but that just changes the question to “but why were they intentionally trying to have such homogenous team?” so it’s really just making it worse.

Many people had their Pokemon stolen. That’s just unforgivable!

I still think it’s okay to steal a three year old’s cat.

Over in the plane area, I’m told they’re now doing passenger flights. Going inside, someone asks me to use my pokemon to help with the cargo, and then gives me net balls as a reward. Because that’s what equality and working together mean – I get something for telling them to do something.

Inside the gym, it’s been done up to be on top of a plane and the gym guy explains it’s a wind tunnel, where I need to seek shelter behind barriers to progress.

Hm, first gym trainer has a L40 swoobat. Of course, the AI apparently decided to be an idiot, so my L30 drilbur kills it with rock slide while it sits around using amnesia.

Then my drilbur levels up. Evolution time! Excadrill.

Forming a drill with its steel claws and head, it can bore though a steel plate, no matter how thick it is.

I’m not sure that’s really how steel against steel would work out.

Zebstrika.

When this ill-tempered Pokemon
runs wild, it shoots lightening
from its mane in all directions.

And I haven’t even seen blitzel yet.

…actually, consulting the pokedex, they don’t even exist on the map. How does that even work?

Ooh, serviper!

Constant polishing makes the edge of the blade on its tail extremely sharp. It’s Zangoose’s archrival.

That guy at the house where you learn about T tells you about them again and they get into your pokedex. Then the kid says he saw them but they looked different. So I guess getting quieted changed their forms? Also I guess you can still catch them this game. Or maybe not, maybe they’re registered to the pokedex because you can’t catch them normally, and this just means they’ll have another form if they’re traded.

Oh hey, my koffing’s evolving! I didn’t know they evolved at L35.

Inhaling toxic fumes from trash and mixing them inside its body lets it spread an even fouler stench.

So grouchy looking.

Time to rearrange my team, I think.

Koffing’s been fun, but it hasn’t really stood out. Levitate would probably be pretty useful if I were around more ground pokemon, though, or just in the higher level part of the game where people use earthquake all the time.

And my solosis is finally evolving as well. Now I’ve got a duosion.

When their two divided brains think the same thoughts, their psychic power is maximized.

Does this evolve normally or is the final stage by trade, by the way?

Ooh, zangoose.

It’s Serviper’s archrival. To threaten those it encounters, it fans out the claws on its front paws.

Okay, back to the pokecenter. First, I want to get an emolga to trade. The guy in the first house says he’ll trade me a gigalith for it.

The solar rays it absorbs are processed in its energy core and fired as a ball of light.

Incidentally, you know what’s really cool?

Its shiny form. Look at how cool that is.

Right then, now to figure out my team.

L33 duosion
L39 zozoark
L38 serperior
L38 ferroseed
L35 volcarona
L28 klink

That should work for now.