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Part 5: Glistening Forest

There are two ways out of Pinwheel Forest--the road that goes straight and the path that winds through the woods. I will take the straight road after them! If they're not there, I'll block the exit. Would you please take the other way and check whether Team Plasma is hiding in there somewhere? You'll run into a lot of Trainers, but it's basically a single path, so I'm sure you won't get lost. Come on! Let's do this for Lenora's sake!

Found Team Plasma. Well that was easy.

...who names their kid Mayo? Right so Sewaddle is a pretty great Pokemon to use, Bug/Grass is great typing early on, and while it has horrendous weaknesses, well you have the rest of your team for that, surely. It start with Razor Leaf AND Bug Bite to deal some nasty damage, and you'll want to get it early due to Swadloon requiring happiness. You'll want to fully evolve it early too since Swadloon only learns Protect, but it's not worth keeping Sewaddle around to learn Stuggle Bug, or even Bug Buzz later on. You'll never get moves to hurt Steel and you'll be waiting a while to get strong moves as Leavanny, but it has a strong start and that's usually enough to carry.

It would be greater if we knew what two Pokemon will do. What I've heard is it's good to use Earthquake when your ally is floating!

Plasma Battle

When I'm through with you, you won't be able to chase us anymore!

With cool sunglasses, Sandile makes an impression, it's a pretty alright Pokemon that gets weighed down by all the shitty earlygame Ground moves like Sand Tomb and Mud Slap. Having Bite is real nice so it can contribute and Crunch just before evolving is nice. The only issue is that's all it'll really have for quite a while, since it evolves a little late for a Basic stage. Though, uh, AHEM, let's not get into lategame Basic Pokemon just yet lmao, you'll be waiting until it gets Bulldoze later on, but at least it can get coverage in Rock Tomb...

Too bad! I haven't got anything! If you want to get it back, you're just gonna have to look for my associates!

Ah whoops, went a little too far forward, there's a reason I came in here immediately and it might involve a new team member, always hard to tell.

Easy exp for Tristan, only a few more levels to go until he stops being shit!

Sorry! I'm empty handed. Do I look like the kind of girl to carry a heavy load? Better try somewhere else!

I only want to catch one thing in here at the moment, but might as well grab a couple things.

The perfect catch, Venipede isn't as immediately useful like Sewaddle, but it offers nice defense utility to various early game mons. Now it needs to get to level 19 to get a better move that isn't fucking Pursuit, but it'll also get Bug Bite shortly before evolving, so it only takes a little love to become much stronger. If we could catch it one level earlier then it would have Rollout instead of Protect, but it's not a big deal. It'll get a great variety of moves later on and will be able to take down Steel types, but its somewhat early moves will be all it gets for a while and thankfully all it needs. It'll also learn more than just Protect as Whirlipede!

"Its bite injects a potent poison, enough to paralyze large bird Pokémon that try to prey on it."

Nice and simple nickname by AradoBalanga, I'm fine with whatever the thread votes for, I'll just catch the first one I find and slap it on.

Another Speed lowering Nature... okay. Again Milli won't be too amazing to start with, but Screech will carry it a long way. Even with STAB Poison Sting is weaker than Pursuit, but Poison damage and Poison Point means we'll be just fine. With 31/25/5/28/8/28 IVs, it's actually not a defensive tank at all, little annoying, but it means Milli will hit pretty hard lategame and will even out its Speed lowering Nature!

Pinwheel Outside

Alright, let's explore outside by healing our Pokemon. By hurting them first.

I assure you that won't do much.

Tough Trainer! I will make your Pokemon healthy. Around Pinwheel Forest, many Pokemon use moves to inflict problems such as poison and paralysis. If anything happens, let me know!

Should be a lot easier training up Milli with free healing so close. Great to have these so I'm not retreating to the center every few minutes. Also, combine these with Audino grinding and you can stay out as long as you want!

Please show me what kinds of Pokemon you are training!

This little trickster gets by its low attacking stats with Prankster, letting it use Stun Spore or Leech Seed or Growth with +1 priority. As a stone evolution, you should wait a little bit to evolve it, though Whimsicott and Lilligant are weird in that they still learn moves even after evolving, just not many. Best time to do it is level 26, when you learn Giga Drain, since it'll be around then you'll get a Sun Stone. You can get them from dust clouds, but this works out better. It'll learn Razor Leaf soon but it doesn't really have much oomph with those stats, you'll have to Growth up a few times so Mega Drain and the like can actually sting.

Now for the other version exclusive, though as we saw with the earlier trade, that's not really the case. Similar moveset to Cottonee, though Synthesis works better with its lower Speed and Magical Leaf is better than Razor Leaf, though Giga Drain makes it mostly worthless. Again, evolving at level 26 works good since there's some good moves Lilligant gets early. A lot easier to use, Own Tempo is a great ability to combo with Petal Dance later, but until you get some fun tools, it's a pretty standard slow Grass type that also suffers from lack of coverage, having Hyper Beam and Hidden Power as the only special coverage moves it learns. Hope you get a good one!

When you let a Pokemon evolve, it will be stronger, but if you don't let it evolve, it will learn moves quicker.

I will let you see what kind of Pokemon I have!

Thank you for not using Rock Blast twice.

Pokemon with the Sturdy Ability cannot be knocked out with one hit!

Didn't expect this to be the first encounter. Another duo of version exclusives but not really, this is why Lenora isn't a huge issue, Throh can take some punishment and then hit real hard with Vital Throw, or if you grind a little, you can oneshot Watchog with Revenge while tanking its full powered Retaliate. Otherwise it's pretty slow and needs TMs to hit Ghost types, but with a bunch of great early moves it can last for a fair while before lagging behind the rest of your team. Storm Throw will always crit making it an 80BP move basically, before STAB, and it gets Bulk Up later on to take even more hits, along with Endure. You can give it the standard physical TMs, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Poison Jab, Strength, nothing too crazy, it's a pretty alright Pokemon that sure has stats for a never evolver.

Definitely want to catch this mon quickly, since it definitely hurts!

"When it tightens its belt, it becomes stronger. Wild Throh use vines to weave their own belts."

Milli will be useful by the end of the update, but I don't fancy using Audino to grind too much, by using Trainers instead I can keep the overall exp gain low so I stay at lower levels so I have some modicum of difficulty in this series.

Anyway Tympole deals a bit too much damage, so out we go.

Corazon gets worn down due to being pretty fragile, but handles the 3 Tympole fine enough.

I will tell you 'cause you're strong! Only one piece of the challenge rock will be chipped off each day!

Hmm, okay.

Found a new Pokemon, but taking out a Throh first is easier said than done.

Let's catch this before it wrecks my whole team.

"They warn others of danger by vibrating their cheeks to create a high-pitched sound."

Finding hidden items is a breeze!

Subtle circle changes when we fight on the puddles compared to the ground or even the grass.

OK! I will catch some different Pokemon in Pinwheel Forest and have more friends!

I think Corazon is gonna have a good time.

My Fighting-type Pokemon! I train it to smash the challenge rock!

You'd think that Rock Smash would help you with this, but nope, just a Fighting type.

Definitely worth it.

It is important to make steady progress, little by little.

Ow, stop that.

I test the challenge rock every day with my Pokemon! Why don't you check out the challenge rock with a Fighting-type Pokemon?

Took a little bit to find, but until we get the Thunder Wave TM, I guess Lick will have to do?

"It fights by swinging a piece of lumber around. It is close to evolving when it can handle the lumber without difficulty."

Well that was fun, weren't we in the middle of something?

Since we need a rustling grass encounter, might as well take out one Audino. Sawk and Throh are supposed to be version exclusives, but thankfully you can obtain the other one in rusting grass, definitely a great way of doing it.

"The sound of Sawk punching boulders and trees can be heard all the way from the mountains where they train."

So remember when Throh could oneshot Watchog with little issue? What about a mon that can do that without taking a hit? Speed and Attack go a long way at the cost of slight fragility, which is just how I like it, both muppets offer different styles of play. Sawk gets slightly weaker moves though its high stats help ease that, then it gets Brick Break and a variety of TMs mid to lategame and can do you just fine for the rest of the game. It still has pretty good bulk compared to Throh and if you outspeed and KO a mon, you take less damage. It's insane for this early on, even if it doesn't do much else until later on when it gets coverage.

Alright, no more distractions, we've got thieves to chase down after all! Though we should go and check on Burgh, make sure he's doing alright.

"That's the theme of my research."

Oh look more trainers to fight, what a shame we'll have to delay the chase a little bit longer.

Why do Pokemon and people stay together...? I think we stick together because we are different.

Munna is actually really annoying to fight, a fair few early game mons are like that due to getting midgame support movesets that the AI just loves using.

Oh, you have it, too! Then let's have a Pokemmn battle to see who is stronger!

Tristan cannot catch a break right now.

You know, there's a pedestal at the entrance of each Pokemon Gym. If you get that Gym's Badge, your name will be carved there.

Please have a Roggenrola or something.

Knowing something and being able to do it seem pretty similar, but they can be very different.

Team Plasma hasn't come in this direction... the forest's bug Pokemon are quiet, too.

Fine, fine, onto the actual plot, bah.

Okay maybe one more rock shaped distraction.

Hamlet is my Herdier panic button.

A Ranger always has one of these. I'll give it to you!

The forest is alive... something changes every day, so it's fun to patrol!

Hmm... well surely one of the 156 Pokemon in this game would evolve via this rock, right?

"Leavanny dress it in clothes they made for it when it hatched. It hides its head in its hood while it is sleeping."

Ow, please stop that.

Ugh, it's been one step and already another encounter, it's jacked up way too high in this-

HOLY SHIT!!! I found a shiny already?! I didn't realise until it sparkled since it's not too different, but wow, guess we've found our Musical star!

"The leaves on its head are very bitter. Eating one of these leaves is known to refresh a tired body."

I'm so happy we got another really nice shiny and of course like with Wingull, I hope you believe this was legit. Because I can cheat my way into any encounter I fancy, I don't feel the point of faking this for... what, clicks? E-cred? Also monkey detractors best not get too excited, if I'm gonna use a shiny on my team, then it best show up before I gain too many levels on one I was already using, so Tristan stays.

We still need to catch another one for the trade, but I was gonna do this anyway. Stats aren't too amazing, of course, but I'll take it!

Alright, now let's head off, I think we've done enough messing around.

I'm still in a post-shiny haze, I don't give a FUCK

My Pokemon's strong points? Hmm... I don't know 'cause there are too many!

"That is the strength of Rangers!"

GAH

Why do all the early game mons learn Dark and Ghost moves... well that was only one monkey, wonder where the other two are?

This is one of the powers I got from nature.

Even the things you can't do alone, if you're with someone else... that's right. We always have Pokemon around us. Isn't that great?

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. All right! Next, let our Pokemon fight!

GAH

Another monkey.

Well, a sigh and this lovely gift for you!

Different Pokemon can be found in different places. Does that mean there is a perfect place for everyone?

I'll hold you here so my friends can get away!

Yep! I'm here to buy time! And if you don't step lively, we're going to get away!

Patrat have Sand Attack and Detect now. So that's fun.

"That is a Ranger!"

GAH

What a waste of three trainers, though in this area it is understandable.

I'm sure you can fully utilize this.

If you blend into the wilderness too well, you won't be noticed by Pokemon, let alone people. That is a problem...

Can be some interesting special coverage if the opponent is heavy enough, we'll maybe try it out later.

Uh, ha ha. A kid like you--beat some of us?! That can't be helped, but... I'll take you on now!

Alright Milli is useful now, that's a relief!

Hamlet won't be getting anything nice for a while, but I don't think he minds.

Bit of a pain, but having 3 Pokemon really screws his level, so not a problem.

Fine. Take your stupid skull!

So the dream our king had--the dream we had--won't come true...

Seven Sage Encounter

Gorm of the Seven Sages! I'm mortified that this skull, which we went to so muh trouble to obtain, was stolen from us so easily.

It's not important. We can afford to abandon the Dragon Skull. According to the results of our research, this is not the legendary Pokemon for which Team Plasma is looking. It is completely unrelated. But we will not allow anyone to disrupt our plans and get away with it. We will fix it so you never interfere with us again.

The bug Pokemon were getting all worked up, so here I come, and what do I spy with my little eye? This important-looking guy! Are you here to help your friends, whom I defeated?

The others didn't have anything... and who are you supposed to be? Is this guy the big boss?

I am one of the Seven Sages of Team Plasma. Ghetsis, another of the Seven Sages, will liberate Pokemon with words alone! The remainder of the Seven Sages have ordered their compatriots to take Pokemon with full force! But the odds are a little against us now. To you, the Bug Pokemon user Burgh and the Normal Pokemon user Lenora, I say... know your enemies, know yourself, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles... this time, we shall retreat quietly.

To secure the liberation of Pokemon, we will steal Pokemon from Trainers! Even though you are Gym Leaders, we will not tolerate any further obstruction from you. In any case, we will settle this someday. I hope you are looking forward to that time as much as I...

Pinwheel Forest

What are you planning to do, Burgh? Are you going to chase them?

Hmmm... we got back the stolen skull, and if we corner them, there's no telling what they might do. I think I'll be heading back, Lenora... well, now. Well... I'll be waiting for your challenge at Castelia City's Pokemon Gym. Yes, indeed. I'm certainly looking forward to it!

Touya! You're holding the Dragon Skull you worked so hard to get back, right?

Touya, thank you so much. With a kind Trainer like you taking care of them, the Pokemon with you must be happy. Here is a token of my gratitude. Please use it carefully!

That is a Moon Stone! Some Pokemon evolve when you use this item on them. Now, I must take the Dragon Skull back to the museum! See you! Take care of yourself!

Another word filled encounter with Team Plasma done. Now when we encounter the Seven Sages, I'll be using some fanmade sprites since there was never any official artwork of any aside from Ghetsis and it's pretty hard to tell them apart otherwise. The sprites won't match up with the fanmade ones, but they wear very similar outfits so properly colour coding them was a necessity.

Last couple of things to do!

Yay! Please take good care of my Cottonee! I will take good care of your Petilil! Thanks to our Pokemon, you and I became friends!

Nice and easy version exclusive, Trade Pokemon are set, like always, but now they're always set in level, regardless of what Pokemon you sent over. Definitely a good Pokemon to use, since it'll always be Modest, have Prankster for Fluffee or Chlorophyll for Lillil and have 20/20/20/31/20/20 IVs.

"When attacked, it escapes by shooting cotton from its body. The cotton serves as a decoy to distract the attacker."

Last up is the rustling encounters, oh I know you're gonna love them.

Hmm, I should maybe stop using Milli for this. But yes, all 3 monkeys can be found in the rustling grass at a 10% rate, thankfully there's not just the one at the Dreamyard.

"The water stored inside the tuft on its head is full of nutrients. Plants that receive its water grow large."

And the other one. There's also 2 other rustling encounters, aside from Audino, obviously, which are Whimsicott and Lilligant at 5% for their versions. So hey, saves a Sun Stone, but there aren't any other Pokemon in the game that requires it and they start with pretty lame moves, so I won't bother going for them.

"When it is angered, the temperature of its head tuft reaches 600°F. It uses its tuft to roast berries."

Least I don't have to think about these until I can evolve them! Okay, I'm being mean, it's too easy to after all, I still like every Pokemon, even the monkeys, but boy I understand why people don't.

Finally, finally, we can leave Pinwheel Forest, feels like we've been there all update. Look at those graphics!

If you give it to a Pokemon to hold, maybe it will let that Pokemon use its move before its opponent can. That's what I gave you. It's called Quick Claw!

Always nice to have for casual play, it's come in clutch over the years. We'll give this to Milli since he's the slowest right now.

Time to leave Long Island!

Skyarrow Bridge

S-Sorry.

Next time, we explore the big city! Boy are we gonna be here a while...