Charap

I trade Buizel for this Chatot pokemon, nicknamed Charap. She looks rather weak and I already have a bird pokemon: Articuno. I do not think my team is big enough for two avians. However, I do have some trainers on cycling road to beat up on, so I might as well test Charap out before switching back to Hanuman for his rock smash. Of course, the first trainer I come across uses Shinx, so a flying type would be bad and I happen to be using three of them. And when I switch Khali, she takes a damaging bite from the rascal. This is looking bad. Khali take heavy damage from the Shinx, but astonishes until the feline is out of commission. Charap goes up to Level 9 from the experience, but this taught me the lesson that I am not invincible. I need to carry a team that has answers to everything, not give each pokemon I've ever caught equal time with me. The thought of Phlogeus or Hecate or Charap, my newest addition, sitting in a box doing nothing seems like wasted potential, but I perhaps it must be that way.

I continue downhill, still pondering this quandary. My next opponent has Starly. Charap is outclassed by this other bird, so after a few exchanges, I bring in Nyx. Starly is down in two hits. My opponent tries Ponyta next, which only lasts a little bit longer. Another cyclist also leads with Starly, and again, Nyx uses the power of the wind to decimate the bird. He calls in Staravia, which fares no better. Nyx gains a level. Charap has been gaining levels too. Maybe I can get away with this. Charap is already Level 11.

The next trainer uses Zubat. Khali and the Zubat confuse each other, so I switch to Nanabozho, with pound taking out the confused Zubat. The last cyclist on the road uses Pikachu. This pokemon has a tail in the shape of a lightning bolt. I think I know what that means: electric type. I switch to Khali. No electric moves were used, but I wanted to be safe. As I disembark, it occurs to me that those cyclists are exactly where they were when I left them. A road would normally have traffic moving one or both ways, not the same individuals camping on it or going in circles as though the whole reason they are there is to wait for me. The more I contemplate this, the more disturbing it seems. Forget it. I visit the Poke Center in Oreburgh City and make some team adjustments so that I now have Kazza again along with Hanuman for rock smash. I cut through the bushes to get beneath Cycling Road. Time to do some exploring.