CZ's Challenge Chronicles

I take the Pokemon Nuzlocke challenge across every region, making use of reader input, suggestions, and requests along the way. The Nuzlocke rules are simple: If a Pokemon faints, it is dead, and cannot be used ever again. You can only catch the first Pokemon to appear in an area, no exceptions. That's it! Think it sounds easy? They don't call it Hard Mode for nothing.

[no-revives]

R5 to Driftveil: Collecting Companions

Lisa the Liepard, Level 22 (Route 5)

Naive nature, likes to fight

Limber ability

Fury Swipes / Pursuit / Torment / Fake Out

Davis the Ducklett, Level 22 (Driftveil Drawbridge)

Sassy nature, loves to eat

Keen Eye ability

Water Pulse / Aerial Ace / BubbleBeam / FeatherDance

Henna the Herdier, Level 22 (Cold Storage)

Adamant nature, sturdy body

Sand Rush ability

Bite / Helping Hand / Take Down / Work Up

[no-revives]

Nimbasa City: Win Some, Lose Some

We defeated Elesa, for the prize of the Bolt Badge.

It cost us our first wild partner, Patrick. He was so close, but... critical hits. They get you every time. Emolga's Volt Switch plowed over him before he could react and that was that. He was fascinated by the desert ruins; perhaps being buried there will give him some peace, just a little, to light up the dark hauntings with. The world will seem less lively without his brightness in it.

Patrick the Watchog, Level 4 - 29

Bashful nature, impetuous and silly

Illuminate ability

Cut / Leer / Crunch / Confuse Ray

[no-revives]

Relic Castle: Fossilization

Huh. There's a traveller here whose backpack has become too heavy for her to easily continue on with both fossil she uncovered in it, and she's offering to let me take one. I don't know much about the prehistoric pokemon here; I believe one was a turtle and one was a feathered flier.

Do I want the cover fossil, or the plume fossil?

[no-revives]

Relic Castle: A Single Step

That's all the farther I was able to get inside the ruins before we were accosted by an angry desert inhabitant. Considering the local gym leader is that electric model, Elesa, running into a ground type is pretty awesome.

Scotty the Sandile, Level 21

Modest nature, capable of taking hits

Moxie ability

Torment / Sand Tomb / Assurance / Mud-Slap

[no-revives]

Deset Resort: A New Partner

Miles the Maractus, Level 20

Mild nature, proud of its power

Chlorophyll ability

Pin Missile / Mega Drain / Synthesis / Cotton Spore

Nice! I don't know much about these guys; I don't know much about any of the pokemon out here in the Unova deserts, honestly. Hopefully he'll be a good addition to round out the team!

[no-revives]

Nimbasa City: Rendez-vous

That was unexpected.

I had meant to meet up with Bianca at the musical theatre, to give her some encouragement, but I got sidetracked along the way. Nimbasa's a big city with a lot going on! It wasn't the distraction of the lights and entertainment though that really delayed me. It was who I ran into.

Do you remember that guy, the one who was hanging around after Ghetsis' speech when this started? His name was N, and he pulled me aside as I was wandering around the amusement park. I know he's related to Team Plasma somewhat, but he seemed almost apologetic about having me talk to him, and frankly at this point anyone who doesn't immediately try to steal pokemon is worth giving a listen to. Maybe he's the only sane one of them.

He is... definitely one of them, though.

They call him lord. And sire. He says he is the king of Team Plasma. That would explain the knighted grunts, but, a king?! I've never heard of any monarchy in Unova! Still, no matter how crazy this keeps getting every time I cross paths with him, he made sure that when the knights found us all of us got away, both them and me, and also seemed impressed by my battling.

What the hell am I getting wrapped up in this time?

[no-revives]

R4: The Team Expands

Looks like I spoke too soon about our team staying small.

Darius the Darumaka, Level 18

Bold nature, impetuous and silly

Hustle ability

Rage / Fire Fang / Headbutt / Uproar

[no-revives]

Castelia City: Three for Three

As anticipated, defeating Burgh in a battle was no challenge at all really. With a Swoobat and a Blitzle on the team, it was simply no contest who was going to be the winner at the end; I do love Winona and Beckett very much, as well as Iggy and Patrick. We're not a very large team, I admit, especially having made this much progress into the region it feels like, but we work well together and we don't have much trouble managing ourselves no matter what we're against so far.

[no-revives]

Castelia City: Familiar Faces

Again?!

Team Plasma is everywhere, like a swarm of bugs, it almost makes me wonder if one of their higher ups has some kind of connection to Cyrus. This time they had stolen Bianca's own Munna, but despite the size of this city they left a clear straight path and we chased them down easy. Beating the grunt knights into submission wasn't hard either; I almost wish there was a social media for organizations like this so they could share my face and I wouldn't have to keep proving that I will find you if you pull crap like this while I'm in town.

They left with little complaining, though, which makes me wonder if maybe the Seven Sages who lead them aren't that horrible after all. Can they really just be this misguided about their ideals? I don't know. I'm heading to the gym with Burgh. Gyms are easy to understand, no matter what kind of tricks they challenge you with.

[no-revives]

Pinwheel Forest: Skulls and Bones

Dragonite skull recovered.

Unfortunately, part of the reason that was so easy is because one of the so-called Seven Sages, whom Ghetsis is apparently one of, said that it was the wrong legendary skull. I don't understand how bones would help them anyway, the only fossil revival project I know of is right there in the museum's research center and they ran away from there. Unless Team Plasma has a resurrection machine of their own?

Anyway, with the skull recovered Lenora and Burgh have returned to their cities to oversee things, and I have a path to continue on through Pinwheel Forest to meet Burgh there in Castelia.

[no-revives]

Nacrene City: Gym Rumble

Well. That was unexpected.

Getting through the gym trainers and the gym itself -- an interesting puzzle setup in the back of the museum -- wasn't much of a challenge, to be honest, although I probably overtrained a bit out of caution, heh. THe team is doing quite well:

Iggy the Servine, Level 26

Adamant nature, highly curious

Overgrow ability

Tackle / Leaf Tornado / Vine Whip / Growth

Patrick the Watchog, Level 25

Bashful nature, impetuous and silly

Illuminate ability

Cut / Leer / Crunch / Confuse Ray

Winona the Swoobat, Level 25

Adamant nature, likes to relax

Unaware ability

Confusion / Heart Stamp / Air Cutter / Assurance

Beckett the Blitzle, Level 25

Timid nature, somewhat vain

Lightningrod ability

Flame Charge / Thunder Wave / Charge / Shock Wave

The real surprise came when I was ready to leave after Lenora presented me with the Basic Badge. Team Plasma. Again. This time stealing a Dragonite skull from the museum, heavens only knows why what for, but Lenora is understandably distraught. Cheren and Bianca showed up just in time to take over protecting the museum from further theft while Lenora and I split up to track down Team Plasma. A friend of Lenora's named Burgh is also going to be helping me out. This should be interesting.

[no-revives]

Nacrene City: N

I recognize this guy! He was hanging around after Team Plasma and Ghetsis left before. Having trained up I was going to test the waters of Nacrene Gym, since we're here, but he wouldn't let us in until we battled him. He's a bit odd, but he also seems... sad. Keeps talking about wanting to know what the real dreams and ideals of pokemon and trainers are. I confess I don't entirely understand what he's looking for, but battlewise he wasn't much of a challenge. Beckett took out his Pidove; Iggy handled Tympole in one a hit; and Winona wiped the floor with his Timburr.

Anyway, I --

What?

I thought he had walked away, but we passed him still hanging around on our way to heal up at the Center, and he was saying something to himself about befriending Reshiram's power. I admit I've run into more than my fair share of legendary pokemon, but, Reshiram?! The story that I've heard goes that Reshiram created Unova, much like Kyogre deepened the seas of Hoenn and Groudon raised the mountains. Does he seriously plan to find and befriend Reshiram, just on his own?

[no-revives]

Pinwheel Forest: First Casualty

I feel like I've let Peter and his old trainer down horribly. Before, the critical hit was his; this time, it was against him. Vital Throw hurts a lot in that situation. He was so close, so close, too, to levelling up and taking a break.

The rest of the team is a bit sore at me, even though there isn't anything I can do about hits like that, and I think they are right. We're still fairly new together. Winona is the most untouched by it; in her perspective it's a risk of life. Also understandable, since those Plasma chicks in the cave were roughing up her sister before I got there, apparently.

He carried us well this far. His time has passed, I guess. Rest well in the quiet of the forest, young Peter.

Peter the Panpour, Level 10 - 16

Naughty nature, likes to thrash about

Gluttony ability

Scratch / Leer / Lick / Water Gun

[no-revives]

Pinwheel Forest: Oops

Passed through Nacrene City, trying to just move on ahead to train up the team, and uh, apparently we're a little too well coordinated. After meeting up with Cheren briefly, we headed out into the tall grass, and I was pretty excited and hopeful about teaming up with the Throh we were battling until a critical hit smashed it into the ground, completely knocked out. Dang.

[no-revives]

R3: Wildlife

Beckett the Blitzle, Level 8

Timid nature, somewhat vain

Lightningrod ability

Quick Attack / Tail Whip / Charge

Heh. I like this fellow's personality. He's going to be coming with us. I've also chosen to leave Maxwell the Munna in the PC for now, since we have Winona with us and two Psychic types is probably not the safest bet, with so many Biting pokemon in the fields. Besides, Winona has a lot more reason to be starting a crusade, and I can't blame her for that.

[no-revives]

Wellspring Cave: Confrontation

I may pick at Cheren, but one thing about being roommates during this time, we've figured out how to work well together. In fact I probably work better with him than I do with Bianca even. It's a good thing, too, because we were able to beat the grunts that had run away to hide in the cave with their stolen pokemon. Fortunately they gave them back after admitting defeat, but still, why do that in the first place? I could understand their liberation speech if they sent it out to the wild, but surely simply changing the trainer in possession of the pokeball necessarily improves anything, does it? ... Actually, I take it back. It can definitely help. I just don't know that these guys are the ones to provide that help.

Unsurprisingly, a few wild pokemon were pretty riled up by the cave intrusion, by I managed to calm down one of them at least and capture it to come with us. She seemed interested in being able to get back at the Team Plasma guys.

Winona the Woobat, Level 10

Adamant nature, likes to relax

Unaware ability

Confusion / Odor Sleuth / Gust

[no-revives]

R3: Contest and Crime

Sigh. I swear, Cheren has some sort of complex, he has to challenge me to a new battle every other step of the way. Tepig was no match for Peter, though, although I'm surprised he managed to beat those cheaty three without some kind of grass pokemon. Maybe they weren't as tough on him. Hnn.

Anyway, there wasn't time to ask him about how his gym fight went, as Bianca showed up running after a couple of fancy pants grunts from Team Plasma again, this time shouting that they'd stolen the Pokemon from one of the kids at the daycare center. Seriously, how can these guys think they're helping anyone?

I, and Cheren, need to give chase of course, because that's messed up and I stopped being lenient a long time ago after Team Rocket and their experiments on the slowpoke and magikarp. Those guys are quick, I'll give them that.