Eterna City Gym

I find the first trainer hiding in the trees. She has a pokemon that looks like cherries. Khali confuses her, but gets caught in a move called leech seed that steals her health, so I switch to Sekhmet. Oh. Electric moves are not good against grass types. Noted. Bite still finishes the cherries off. Up next is Roselia, a pokemon with roses for arms. Who comes up with these names? Roselia poisons Khali, but I remember that I have antidotes, so I use one. She tries to paralyze Khali with stun spore, but Khali is having none of that. Confuse ray and astonish beat the Roselia's tricks and I win the match. My opponent informs me that another trainer is "at the end, past two boulders." I could already see her anyway.

This one leads with Budew. These gyms seem like remarkably inflexible places. All one need do is figure out what type the gym specializes in, then bring whatever that type is weak to. I am holding Hanuman back for now, because Khali is having few problems and Apsu is getting stronger. He will evolve soon. I am sure of it somehow. Did I read about it somewhere? Another Budew. They seem weak, but I have one on my own team, so perhaps I judge them too harshly. Paralysis is taking its toll on Khali, so after she finishes Budew, I have Sekhmet fight the next Budew. My opponent tells me that the next trainer is in the middle of three trees. What is this, a mind game? If so, it is becoming a rather profitable mind game for me, as each of these trainers is having to pay me after I crush them.

This trainer has only one pokemon, and he's a Turtwig, the same thing Dawn uses. He trades attacks with Sekhmet, barely losing. My next opponent is beside four flowers. Hanuman and Ninhursag are still fresh, but the former is my surprise for the Gym Leader herself and the latter might not fare well against her fellow grass types. I use some medicine to bring Sekhmet and Khali back into fighting condition. I don't know if there's a rule against leaving the gym and healing at a Poke Center, but I want to get this done now anyway. A Roselia is first out, and she poisons Sekhmet. Bites defeat the Roselia just in time, and I expect Sekhmet to expire from the poison, but that was the trainer's only pokemon, so I win the battle. Hurriedly, I cure Sekhmet with an antidote.

Gardenia appears on the platform at the end of the gym. Well, I have played your little game. Now accept my challenge. She leads with Cherubi, and I switch to Hanuman. Cherubi uses safeguard, which will not help Gardenia in this battle. Flame wheel takes out Cherubi. The Turtwig that follows is more resilient, surviving flame wheel and then taking fury swipes too thanks to Gardenia's interference with a super potion. The next flame wheel takes care of that. But Gardenia is not the pushover Roark was. Well, she has been so far. But I see now that she saved her strongest for last: a Level 22 Roserade. It looks like the evolved form of Roselia. Roserade deals considerable damage to Hanuman with magic leaf. Flame wheel returns the favor, but Roserade has a berry to heal itself. For some reason, Gardenia has Roserade use grass knot next, so Hanuman survives and launches a final flame wheel. She could have force me to use two pokemon, but she didn't.

I am becoming rather jaded about these gyms. I would give my victory a little celebration though, but before I can, Apsu surprises me by evolving. Finally! The little red fish becomes the big blue sea serpent thing (and learns bite). Amaranthine! Gardenia awards me the Forest Badge and now I can use cut outside battle. She also tells me that now all pokemon up to Level 30 will obey me. That eliminates my problem with Kazza, but Articuno is far beyond Level 30. Still, not bad.