Day 234: Rival Passerb

 The next day, in the subway hideout...

 Spider sense!

“What I told you before was to deceive

you. I thought it would let me tail you,

and it would lead me to Lance.

Well, he never showed up.

...No matter.

I was planning to beat you after Lance,

but since you are here, I will repay

my debts!”

 You'd have to beat me about a dozen times to repay your debts...

 Passerb opens with Golbat. I start with Rhianna, who doesn't pair well against Golbat. So I switch to Nelly. She gets a Wing Attack in before getting confused.

 I switch again to Diane, finishing it off with Golbat.

Then, ominously...

 Passerb readies Feraligatr. Rhianna's the only one with a type advantage against it, but last time he wrecked her with Ice Fang. I decide to take my chances anyway...

Fuck!

 I try Nelly instead, who, to her credit, does beat him up quite a bit with Wing Attack. But eventually...

 Nelly's gone, and Diane's the only player I've got left.

 Flame Wheel's the strongest move she has, so I spam in in spite of its halved effectiveness.

Water Gun is rough.

 Quick Attack finishes it off. Passerb brings out his weakest Pokemon, Magenemite.

 I switch to Veronica, knowing I'll have several turns to prepare my dead and dying Pokemon.

 I begin by healing Diane. Magnemite uses Thunder Wave to paralyze Veronica.

 A few turns later, I have the whole team healed up. I switch back to Diane.

 The rejuvenated Diane destroys Magnemite with Lava Plume.

I switch to Nelly to one-shot Haunter with Bite. As Passerb prepares Sneasel as his final Pokemon, I switch to Rhianna just so she can nab some experience.

<insert TDK reference here>

 I Stun Spore Sneasel before switching back to Diane.

 Flame Wheel kills it in one hit.

“I've assembled the toughest Pokemon.

I didn't ease up on the gas.

So why do I lose?”

Didn't ease up on the gas...?

“Is what that Lance guy said true?

That I don't treat Pokemon properly?

Love...

Trust...

Are they really what I lack?
Are they keeping me from winning?

I... I just don't understand. But it's

not going to end here. Not now.

Not because of this.

I won't give up my dream of becoming

the world's best Pokemon Trainer!”

The irony being that love and trust do nothing in this game. What you really lack is enough strength! He should just apply his current philosophy, but more.

Day 233: Team Rocket Grunt

 The next day, after leaving the Radio Tower...

 With the Basement Key in hand, I head into the subway.

 Suddenly Geisha!

“I was wondering what was going on.

So, you took on Team Rocket?

You are impressive!

You may be able to face the

legendary Poke...

Hahaha! Never mind.

I must go now.”

 She runs off. Did she mean Qwilfish?

I defy the sign and head in.

 I kill it with a few simple Vine Whips.

Day 232: Executive Petrel

 The next day, after a trip to the Pokecenter and a hike back to the top floor...

 It's the director, finally. Gotta talk to him.

“...I am the Director.

We have decided to broadcast wonderful

shows to praise Team Rocket!

Everyone, I don't want to hear you

complain. Just do a good job to...”

 He notices me.

“Who are you?

...Oh no, it's you again, Stalin?”

 That's me!

“region to support Team Rocket!

This time I won't hold back!

Give me all you've got!”

Aw shit

:\

So Petrel not holding back translates to a shitton of Koffings. As always, Rhianna isn't good against poison Pokemon, so I'm forced to use Nelly. I use Bite to kill this first one.

 I switch to Air Cutter. It does a little more damage because of the STAB bonus (1.5x power for having the same type as the move used). Weezing is able to beat up Nelly quite a bit with Sludge before going down.

 By Nelly's third kill, she isn't feeling too hot.

 I switch to Rhianna to briefly entertain the idea of using her to defeat this fourth Pokemon. It doesn't last long. However...

 I use a Lemonade to heal Nelly up.

 I switch to Wing Attack now. I probably should have used this from the start - it's simply Nelly's most damaging move, with 60 base power and her naturally high attack stat (79). She successfully kills it. Four out of six...

 Here's the fifth Koffing. More Wing Attack for the win.

And yet more Wing Attack, for this, the sixth of six Pokemon. Whew.

“We stashed the real Director in the

underground warehouse.

It's at the far end of the Goldenrod Tunnel.

I am a nice guy. I will give you the
Basement Key to get to the

underground warehouse.

Take it with gratitude!”

 Both Petrel and I's sprites screw up for some reason, but hey, plot advancement!

Day 231: Team Rocket Grunt

 The next day, still on the 3rd floor of the Radio Tower...

I find Ben & Mary, some radio personalities, freaking the hell out.

“MEOWTH, help me!”

 Ahahahah. This Meowth doesn't give a fuck. Let's see what Ben has to say.

“Music enriches people's heart and soul.

Music lovers would never do such

horrible things at a place like the

Radio Tower!”

 ...not what I expected. Moving on...

“If you are in the way of Proton...

I mean Team Rocket. I won't allow that!”

  Are you positive about that?
Heh. Ehehehe. I already made that joke like four months ago.

 As always, Rhianna has to fight Pokemon resistant to her attacks. Vine Whip does a bit over a third of its health, which is tolerable enough for me.

 After a few relatively painless turns it dies.

 Grunt brings out another Ekans. It paralyses Rhianna with Glare, but I power through it.

 Ekans lands a critical Bite, but eventually Rhianna pulls through.

 Grunt's next Pokemon is an Oddish. I let Rhianna take a glimpse of it before switching over to Diane.

 I wreck it in one hit with Lava Plume.

 I keep Diane around for Grunt's final Pokemon. I kill it in one hit as you might expect.

“Who cares about Pokemon?”

theyre ok i guess