They Say that Deaths Come in Threes...

Starting Pokemon:

Izze the Charizard

Claire the Pidgeotto

Allie the Mankey

Blossom the Vileplume

Doug the Dugtrio

Sykes the Jolteon

Week 31:

Got word that something big was going down in Saffron so I hopped atop Claire and flew off to investigate. Turns out Rocket has taken over the Silph Co. Building and I don't think anyone else is gonna try to stop them. 

After one battle, Claire begins to glow. Her feathers are emitting little beams of light and her usually piercing screech is taking on a timbre I've never heard before. She lands atop my shoulder and I can feel her getting heavier. With a thundering shriek, Claire leaps from my shoulder and lands on the ground. Claire has evolved into a mighty Pidgeot. Get ready, Rocket, 'cause I ain't slowin' down for no one.

This will hopefully make using FLY more comfortable.

I'm worried about Allie and Doug. They're like glass cannons. They both inflict heavy amounts of damage and are fast as lighting (well, not as fast as Sykes) but they just can't take a hit. I find myself registering first aid and healing them after almost every battle. Most of the other guys are good for a long while, maybe a Fresh Water here and there to recover, but Allie and Doug are really concerning me. I can tell they're trying their best but I'm worried I'm pushing them too hard.

In all of my concern for protecting Allie and Doug, I grossly underestimate the danger of taking on the forces of evil. They don't play fair. They don't fight honorably. They don't bother to focus on anyone but themselves.

As Blossom faces down the enemy Electrode, she becomes paralyzed by a well-placed Shock. I instruct her to use Sleep Powder and she aptly puts the Electrode into a deep slumber. She tries to Cut him down, but it's only taking off about a quarter of his health. 

I could have switched to Doug. His type advantage would have made quick work of the Electric Pokemon. 

I'm worried that a wayward Selfdestruct or Screech/Sonicboom combo could seriously harm Doug. Surely Blossom can withstand this Electrode.

I'm wrong.

With but a sliver of health remaining, the enemy Electrode awakes and the crazed scientist screams for him to Selfdestruct. I helplessly look on in abject horror as Blossom turns to me, shielding her face from the terrible explosion. In an instant, her lifeless form at my feet, her petals burn off and leave but a charred corpse. The looks of pain remains etched across her mossy face. 

---IN MEMORIAM--

Blossom - Lv33 - The Mild-natured Vileplume met in Rte 25 as a Lv12 Oddish. You will be sorely missed, my friend. I am so sorry.
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So senseless a killing.

The scientist wasted no time in sending out his next Pokemon, a disgusting Muk. In a rage, I sent out my first Pokemon: Izze. With a fury I've never seen before, Izze took dow the Muk with a single Flamethrower and stalked over to the unmoving body of Blossom. He looked down at me in anger. He knew. He knew that it didn't have to be this way. With tears streaming down my face I recalled Izze into his Pokeball and left Silph Co.

Good-bye, Blossom. You were incredibly brave and your death will be avenged. We will take down Rocket and make it so no Pokemon ever has to die in vain like you.

May you find peace, my friend. 

Perhaps my concern for Doug wasn't as misplaced as I thought in my grief over losing Blossom. As we climbed to the tenth floor of Silph Co., we encountered another Rocket goon with an incredibly powerful Machoke. Doug's Magnitude attack was firing on all cylinders. A Magnitude 8 took Machoke's health down to almost nothing, but it wasn't enough. The enemy Machoke used Revenge, and took Doug down with just one attack. 

It isn't fair.

You think that's revenge? You haven't seen anything yet, Rocket.

Today is becoming the worst day of my life. I've lost two friends to these monsters called Team Rocket and I now know of nothing but vengeance. I sent out Claire to finish off the Machoke and tried to gather myself. I'm not even crying anymore. I'm stunned.

---IN MEMORIAM--

Doug - Lv36 - The Hasty-natured Dugtrio I met in Diglett's Cave as a tiny little Lv17 Diglett. You will be missed, friend. I promise that your death will not be for naught. 

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As we attempted to leave Silph to lay Doug to rest, another Rocket Scientist leapt out at us to challenge me in my grief. You picked the wrong day, asshole.

Allie is enraged. She and Doug were always close. With a mighty Karate chop, the enemy Magnemite fell to the floor. A one-hit KO. The scientist throws out a Koffing and she begs to stay in. A Karate Chop and a Rock Slide take its health down pretty low, but I'm not risking another death. I pull Allie and throw in Izze. His Flamethrower takes down the Koffing and we make a mad dash to the elevator. Today is a horrible, horrible day.

These deaths shall be avenged.

With only 4 active Pokemon left in my lineup, I check through my PC to take a look at my reserves. I withdraw Kingsly and head out to train up a bit more before tackling the top floor of Silph. I cannot bear the thought of losing another.

Week 32:

With my lineup reduced to reserves, I set out to find trainers. I needed to build up my team and right then, it meant getting Kingsly back into fighting shape. He was a good ten levels lower than anyone else on my squad and I would need him in prime condition before attempting to take down Rocket.


We headed toward the Fighting Dojo. I knew his level was still a bit low, but was intent upon getting him used to fighting speed again.

I had hoped that he earned an early retirement. I had hoped that I would never have to fight with him again, for he had already done so much.

I hoped in vain.

With a mighty Karate Chop, Kingsly was cut down before his prime.

---IN MEMORIAM--

Kingsly - Lv32 - The Timid Butterfree I met in Viridian Forest as a stubborn Lv5 Metapod. You are one of my oldest friends, and this hurts more than anyone can imagine.

-------------------------

And then I flew into a blind rage.

Enough fucking around. I gather myself and march to the top level of Silph Co. I can hear voices behind a wall, but there is no way in. There must be a key to these warp panels. I start running through the warps at random, trying to find a pattern.


I don't care if I only have four Pokemon. If they've survived this long then it means they're the strongest, right? It means they're the ones that are supposed to live on. These four will have to be enough because its clear that no training is good enough. I'll take on Rocket with my own bare hands if I have to.


WHERE THE HELL DO THESE PANELS LEAD?

Gary Oak.

Really, Gary? I'm in the middle of trying to take down an evil organization and you don't even bother to help? He says he was waiting for me because he "knew I'd show up" sooner or later. This kid is sick. He's twisted.

He... He's stronger than me.


Against all logic and reason, we defeat Gary. Sykes pulls off two critical hits in a row, and Izze manages to dodge about three attacks, but...


This was a victory we did not deserve.


And Izze knows it.

You have no idea.