Chapter 1 - Leaving Littleroot

Apologies for the broken style of the first 3 Chapters - I originally logged my progress in bullet points. Any moves and Pokemon you'd like to know more about can easily be found using the search bar on the left of Bulbapedia.

So, I started the game, calling myself Locke. I moved into my new place in Littleroot Town, and after the first few introductory conversations, started up Route 101 and found Professor Birch being chased by a Pokemon. Birch called out to me, asking me to save him using a Pokemon from one of the three Pokeballs in his bag. I picked Mudkip out of his bag, a Water-type, and took out the Poochyena with no trouble. I chose Mudkip because even though I like Torchic best of the Gen III starters, I wanted a chance against the first Gym, and I don’t like Treecko much.

Prof Birch gave me the Mudkip, which I named Crash. Serious nature… Good to know, because I have a feeling this game will get pretty serious…

I headed up Route 101, suddenly becoming aware of how nervous the tall grass made me feel (wild Pokemon randomly attack in tall grass, any readers who don't know the games).I took a deep breath, and headed into my first patch of grass in my first ever Nuzlocke challenge… I hoped I’d make it through safely without being attacked as I didn't have any Pokeballs yet, but as I reached the last square of grass, was attacked by a lv.3 Zigzagoon. I beat Zigzagoon after he Growled repeatedly, but was annoyed that I wouldn’t be able to catch a Route 101 Pokemon.

Headed up to Oldale town with no further battles, healed at the Pokemon Centre, sold my only Potion (not gonna be using it!) and headed up to Route 103. I was attacked again by a lv.4 Zigzagoon (damnit, no catching Pokemon on Route 103 either!). Zigzagoon took Crash down to 8/20 health – Growling 6 times made it difficult to finish the bugger off! Crash hit level 6 and learned Mud Slap. Suddenly I remembered that the Physical/Special split didn’t exist in Gen. III. I’ll need to get used to that again… If you don't know what I mean, check out these links: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Stats and http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Attacks#Characteristics_of_moves.

Next I headed back to Oldale town, healed up, then set off for Route 103, looking for May. I reached her… and she attacked! Her Treecko started off with Leer, which made me nervous. Mudkip used Tackle, scored a Critical hit to put my mind a bit more at ease. Treecko used Pound. My heart was in my mouth – I had no idea how much damage to expect after the Leer earlier… phew, only 5 damage. Another Tackle and Treecko’s down to 1 HP. Another Pound and another Tackle and Crash has beaten Treecko with 12/22 HP remaining! Even better, he’s up to lv.7! Make that 14/24 HP remaining…  Back to Oldale to heal up. May mentioned going back to her dad’s lab for something… maybe I’ll follow her… I meet her by Route 101, she tells me to hurry home. Will do! I jump all the fences and reach Littleroot Town again unscathed.

Straight to the lab to meet May and Birch – he tells me beating May is quite an achievement as she has an extensive history as a trainer. Obviously not that extensive as Treecko, her only Pokemon, is only lv.5…Birch gives me a Pokedex, and May challenges me to finish it before her. Probably not going to happen, that. She gives me some Pokeballs though, which is nice. Off to get some backup for poor lonely Crash! On the way, I chatted to Mum, who gave me running shoes. About time; did she let me walk about barefoot before?!  Back out to Route 101. Can’t catch anything here, so ran straight through, and avoided all wild Pokemon. Straight to the Mart to buy my 10 Pokeball allowance – plus a free Premier Ball. Next stop, Route 102!

-Samwise