Lavaridge Town and the Jagged Pass - Ground Chopper to lvl 26 in the Gym and the Pass when his EXP. Growth began to grow slow, his risk of fainting was growing high, and my patience was thin. I also realized that due to my two bag item limit, I would need a Pecha Berry to defeat Flannery, thus inspiring my trek across Hoenn.
Site Seeing Through Hoenn - First I levelled Chopper to 27 inside the Trick Masters House, and then I searched all available routes for a Pecha Berry. Unfortunately for me, I found none, and only got a White Herb in the process. I then headed to Granite Cave, where I knew a Rare Candy was hidden. I found the candy, gave it to Chopper, and he finally evolved into Machoke. My missions done, I headed back to Lavaridge.
Lavaridge Town - Without the Pecha Berry, I knew I would have to resort to using a status healing item, luckily I possessed two Full Heals. I also purchased 5 Energy Roots for maximum HP restoration. Then, once I healed my team, I headed in to face my fate.
Trainer Severus vs. Gym Leader Flannery
VS.
Gym Leader Flannery's Team:
Now I shall reveal to you my master plan for taking on this powerful Gym. Clearly I lack a Water, Ground, or Rock type move, as well as any notable resist to Fire and Ground. So, my plan was this-- abuse Jupiter's decent bulk, set up Bulk Ups, and spam Double Kick. This strategy had actually worked exceptionally well for me in my previous run, so I figured it would again here.
Alright, so immediately I am going "Fuck," because I thought that Flannery used Slugma first, not Numel, which was why I was so insistant on getting a Pecha Berry, because Slugma always poisons me with Smog. But this put me a far more precarious of a situation, I knew Numel was packing Magnitude, but I also knew I outsped and out powered by 6 levels (my 30 to her 24), so I took the gamble and used a Bulk Up.
Jupiter used Bulk Up, Numel used Take Down, Numel was hit with recoil.
That could have gone worse, thankfully it didn't. I lost about 10 HP, and had a +1 Def and Atk boost, sounded pretty good to me. Might as well go for another.
Jupiter used Bulk Up, Numel used Magnitude-- Magnitude 7!!!
Here I closed my eyes, because I feared a crit and the loss of my star player. But surprisingly, the Magnitude only did about 10 damage as well. Even more confident now, I went for another Bulk Up, as +3 is better than +2.
Jupiter used Bulk Up, Numel used Sunny Day. The sunlight is strong.
I kinda shrugged my shoulders at this moment in the game. While my Fire resist had technically just been removed, I was at +3 Atk and Def, as well as faster than her whole team, meaning I was a freakin monster. Knowing I was in a good position, I went on the offensive.
Jupiter used Double Kick, Hit 1 time, foe Numel fainted! The sunlight is strong. Gym Leader Flannery sent out Slugma!!
So as expected, +3 Double Kick coming off a Pokemon who outlevelled by 6 was too much for Numel to handle. And now Slugma joined in to meet the same fate. Well, can't have too much of a good thing, so I happily clicked Double Kick again and watched the carnage unfold.
Jupiter used Double Kick, Hit 1 Time, the foe Slugma fainted!! Gym Leader Flannery sent out Camerupt. The sunlight is strong
Another one bites the dust. Camerupt now only had a 4 level disadvantage and a whole lot more power behind it. But still, at this point my only real option was too Double Kick, as none of my other moves would have been effective.
Jupiter used Double Kick, Hit 2 times, the foe Camerupt fainted!! Gym Leader Flannery sent out Torkoal. The sunlight is strong.
Here is where I grew worried. My options were limited to exactly 1: Double Kick. Switching out was pointless, as I would lose all momentum, boosting again would also do very little, and my other two attacking moves were extremely weak. Meanwhile, Flannery's Torkoal would not be KO'd by my Double Kick, and could cripple me either through a sun boosted Overheat, a paralysis from Body Slam, or by striking me with Attract. But not having any options I clicked Double Kick and prayed.
Jupiter used Double Kick, Hit 2 times, foe Torkoal used Attract. Jupiter became infatuated with foe Torkoal. The sunlight faded.
Here I basically proceeded to swear with every foul word I knew. I mean seriously!! I can understand falling for the hotty that is Flannery, but not for that ugly tortoise!! And worse yet, Flannery could easily take back the match now if attraction roles didnt work in my favor. And all I needed was one more turn of Double Kicks to win!! I resumed my prayers, and clicked Double Kick.
Jupiter is in love with foe Torkoal, Jupiter used Double Kick, the foe Torkoal fainted!! Trainer Severus defeated Gym Leader Flannery!!!!
And now comes the obligatory whoops, hollers, and random dances of joy, as one of the most difficult battles in the game was won without a single casualty, item, or dipping into the orange health zone. It was a flawless battle, good job Jupiter and better luck next time Flannery, you are still gorgeous either way.
Lavaridge Town - Leaving the Gym, I met up with May, got my Go-Goggles, healed my team, deposited Sheala, who had outlived her usefulness (as of now), and saved.