Welcome to another chapter of Diary! As always, I do not own Pokémon, and enjoy!

4. Moon and Water

Day 3 (February 5, 2018): Kanto

Back for another session, a bit later than that normally would be. Mainly because today was the day I finished porting the first three chapters of this story. It's a little odd, considering it was originally a blog post, and blog posts are not what I normally do. However, I think it's enjoyable regardless. Also bit later because I was at a family event, but that's neither here nor there.

However, there is a story change regarding someone's family.

In the Traveler series, there is a family member of one of the main characters. This family member was originally supposed to be present in Mold Breaker (the prequel story to Usurping, and to a lesser extent, Holly Rising) die near the end of it of old age, and appear once early on in Usurping as an angel. After that, this character would not appear again.

Now, things have changed a bit.

The end of Gracie's journey through the last region is confirmed to take place shortly after the other character dies (near the end of Mold Breaker). However, the change comes specifically in the final battle. Gracie gets heavily injured in this battle, falling unconscious. She thinks she is going to die or has died, waking up in some place that looks like Heaven. The first thing she hears is someone's voice saying "Please, wake up." This is when she sees the character as an angel and thinks she is here to take her away to Arceus. However, the character says "Please, find her. Protect her. She the one they're looking for."

Gracie is confused, wondering who "she" is, and why she must protect her. Gracie sees flashes of the main character of Usurping, but is unable to discern who it is. Since Professor Pine has not seen the character in many years, she is unable to help when Gracie returns. Gracie asks who the angel is, but the angel replies "My granddaughter... She's in danger... Please, help her…" Gracie simply nods, wondering who the granddaughter is, but realizing she is beginning to return to Earth. She notes that she doesn't have much time to ask any more questions, but there's still one in her mind. Gracie asks what the angel's name is, and a response echoes "Rosalie." Everything disappear into light as the angel completely spreads her wings, and Gracie finally regains consciousness. She realizes she has been taken back to Kanto by Professor Pine.

The nurses say it's a miracle that Gracie survived that attack, and that they believe she will make a full recovery. One says that it's like Arceus's angels watched over her. Gracie is shocked, thinking that the woman must have been an angel of Arceus, and that she really did save her. She remembers the woman's message and her name. She tells it to Professor Pine, but Professor Pine doesn't recognize it. She says she will keep an eye out for anyone that may need help, however. It's worth noting that since Gracie only sees flashes, she is unable to put together a face very well. This is why Professor Pine is unable to recognize the protagonist of Usurping initially when she sees her in the other companion stories (and only remembers her from memories).

Then, when Gracie meets the protagonist's group at the beginning of Usurping, she recognizes the protagonist from the visions and the angel. This is when she realizes that this is the person she needs to protect, and forces her way into their group. When the protagonist asks why she wants to join her and how she seems to know her, Gracie responds that she knows her from a woman named Rosalie, and that she sent her to their group. The protagonist breaks down, realizing that's the name of her grandmother who recently passed away. One of her Pokémon mentions that Rosalie was always known for her gifts, that she gave her one last gift from beyond the grave.

On a side note, I'm almost done with Pokémon Tournament DX. Hard to believe, but I will have only two more leagues before everything in the single player main game is complete... It will make me sad to leave those characters behind, but the game is well worth every penny I spent. The fact that I'm progressing through this game might have an effect on Angel.

At first, I wasn't sure what to do with the Rival fights. But now, there's a character named Nia that I like. She's already set to play a major role in some of the other books, so maybe I could have her be the rival. It would make sense, because she was the cheery type, but also one to check up on the player's progress in her own game. It also makes sense because the awkward status Gracie has (meaning the way she's between a Pokémon a Trainer) is similar to a concept Nia is fascinated by in the other stories in which she appears. And Nia ends up studying that concept alongside Professor Pine.

Nia finding Professor Pine is more believable if she knows Gracie. Otherwise, the two characters don't really know anything about each other up until Nia becomes Professor Pine's lab assistant in the beginning of Usurping. This way, Nia has a name and a face, although she might not know Gracie was the former lab assistant. Originally, they only knew each other because they both knew the protagonist of Usurping at one point, and Nia is looking for her (Usurping's protagonist) at the time Prof. Pine recruits the former into the study.

But that's neither here nor there.

For now, gameplay awaits.

Last time, Gracie started taking on Mt. Moon, but was forced to flee. Let's see if she can take on the rest of it…

Well, she almost can.

I find a wild Paras, the Pokémon I was trying to find before. I attempt to catch it, but it uses up my remaining Poké Balls, forcing a reset. It's also worth noting that Synchronize works well here, because Paras paralyzes Gracie. However, the opponent immediately gets paralyzed back, making it easier to catch.

Also, I have a second encounter with a Paras when I start to go down to the lower levels. Gracie immediately uses a non-damaging move (Growl) in hopes that Paras will eventually paralyze itself. However, it keeps using Scratch, and Gracie loses more than half her health before I am forced to reset. I don't know why the Paras did that, but I suspect it might've been because of its low level. It was only level 5…

So continue heading down and defeat a Team Rocket member. He is nothing much, destroyed by a couple of Confusions without even getting to attack… I also find a Star Piece. That will help me with my money problems…

Also, I am not sure how to write Team Rocket into the story. They do make a resurgence, sometime during Mold Breaker (probably around the middle of it), but I'm not sure if Gracie is after them, because they don't really know of her importance yet… They might later, but I am not sure…

Anyway, I have a third encounter with a Paras, and this one manages to paralyze itself. Gracie takes a bit of damage, but it's an easy catch. I have a Paralyze Heal from earlier, so I can easily heal Gracie up. There are more Rocket Grunts down here, but they mostly use Poison Types and are not important.

What is important is something else.

The TM46, Thief.

This allows Gracie to have another attacking move, and something that isn't Psychic Type. Furthermore, Dark Type move are Special in the Kanto games, so they will run off Gracie's massive Special Attack. Also, a Dark Type move is very useful, because Psychics and Ghosts both come up in the late game.

So, I quickly teach the new attack to Gracie and continue on.

Trying to figure out how Gracie would react to that… Maybe she sees these people stealing, and realizes that in order to beat them, she has to steal things back…

From a gameplay perspective, many of the Rockets Grunts have Pokémon with Quick Attack. They still don't do much damage at this point, but it's worth noting.

Gracie tears through more Rocket Grunts, and I reach a Scientist. He's guarding a bunch of fossils. It is doesn't matter which I one take, but I have to battle him either way. Luckily, he only has Poison Types.

I choose the Helix Fossil. I'm a bit biased, thanks to the original Twitch Plays Pokémon run… For those who don't know, Twitch Plays Pokémon is a series of runs that heavily features the Helix Fossil. They're also very humorous, so anyone who enjoys a more comedic take on the Pokémon world should check that out…

And I'm on the route outside the cave… There are people who can teach Mega Punch and Mega Kick, but Gracie can learn neither move.

So I just proceed into Cerulean.

There's a lot to do here, starting with the north. I quickly heal up, sell my Star Piece, and head there.

Where the first thing that occurs is a Rival battle.

My Rival has stepped up his game, with his Pokémon near Gracie's level (Gracie was level 20, his Pokémon are in their late teens). He starts with Pidgetto, and the bird has the dreaded Quick Attack. It uses it to do a lot of damage, but Gracie soon defeats it with Confusion.

And that's when Gracie learns a very good move; Calm Mind. Calm Mind is an excellent move for Gracie, because it increases her massive Special Attack and Special Defense. With that, she can do a lot of damage, and take many moves as long as they are Special. It's also the first move she learns by level up. I quickly teach it to her.

Everything else goes without a struggle. However, I do decide to head back to the city, mainly to heal, and also to buy some potions. Now that I have the 10 Pokémon requirement, healing items will be of utmost importance. 10 Super Potions should do the trick.

Back to the north I head.

And on to the infamous Nugget Bridge.

There's still the person asking people to join Team Rocket, which I always liked. Too bad the player cannot join, but if they could it would be rather dark… The bridge is not difficult, because the opponents are weak and most are Poison Types… Gracie does nearly run out of Power Points, though.

I'm not sure how to write this part, really, since Team Rocket is here, but in Holly Rising, it is implied the person that gives the Nugget has been there much more recently than the resurrected Team Rocket. On top of that, it's also implied that this person is only distantly affiliated with Team Rocket… Of course, Usurping is a different timeline, so maybe things are not the same there…

Off I head to the routes near the Sea Cottage.

There isn't a lot here, other than a lot of Trainers and Gracie nearly running out of Power Points again. There are two useful moves here, though. They are Attract and Secret Power. The former might be useful later on, as a gives opposing gender Pokémon a 50% chance that they will not attack Gracie. The latter, while powerful, unfortunately runs off of Gracie's weaker stat. I probably won't be using it this run. It's worth noting that Secret Power can only be gotten now if the trainer in the bushes in front of it is made to move out of the way when he sees the player. Otherwise, the player needs to get a bit later.

And off to see Bill, the famous Pokemanic. Or should I say Pokemorph. I guess he is famous for that too, considering he's one of the few canonical examples in the series… I have to wonder what would've happened if he stayed like that…

Anyway, Gracie gets the ticket to the SS Anne, and time to head out back to Cerulean. Gracie needs to take care of a burglary…

And she does so flawlessly…

The first enemy Pokémon is weak to Confusion, but the second is weak to Thief. It's a Drowzee, another Psychic type. In tries to Disable Gracie, but fails. Talk about stealing something back from a thief… Maybe Gracie decides to fight dirty, and realizes she can steal the item back.

By the way, I'm not sure what the item will be at this point. It's normally the TM for Dig, but Gracie can't learn that… She will probably wind up giving it back to the person, just because that's the sweetheart she is…

And now the Gym awaits…

It's a Water Type Gym, which means Gracie has the advantage with her ability to ward off Special attacks… Here's hoping that will be enough…

It is, so far.

Gracie takes down both of the Trainers easily, with one hit for each Pokémon. She gets a critical hit on the second Trainer's Goldeen, but it's not like it matters.

Because now it is time to face the Leader.

I believe her Pokémon are around Gracie's level (Gracie is level 25). And I know her main Pokémon is resistant to Psychic Type moves. This really could go either way…

The first is a Staryu. That Pokémon goes down with Confusion.

But the real problem lies with Starmie.

It's Misty's second Pokémon, and it's her strongest. It survives an attack from Thief, and uses Water Pulse in retaliation. Water Pulse does good damage, and also confuses Gracie.

Here's hoping the rest of the battle goes smoothly.

Unfortunately, it doesn't. Gracie hits herself, and Starmie heals with a Super Potion (or recover; I can't tell from the animation). Luckily, Gracie still has plenty of health, but I wonder how long that will continue.

Another round of Thief and Water Pulse leaves both Pokémon injured.

Here's hoping I can finish this quick…

Unfortunately, I am not lucky, as Gracie continues to hit herself. I'm also able to confirm that Starmie is using Recover when it heals. I have to make a recovery of my own with a Super Potion.

Luckily, Gracie snaps out of confusion to use Thief. However, Starmie uses Water Pulse twice, confusing Gracie again.

And this time Misty does get in a Super Potion. Gracie tries to attack back, but is still confused. When Water Pulse hits again, she is injured. Gracie still manages to land on attack at some point, though.

Gracie and Starmie both heal up the next turn. Starmie fires a Water Pulse, but by that time Gracie has snapped out of her previous confusion. With that, she takes Starmie out with two Thieves. The last attack of the match is a critical hit.

And finally the Cascade Badge is mine.

And Gracie learns a new move to show for it. The move is Psychic, the most powerful Psychic type move that is not also a signature move.

And then I'm left to reflect as I take a break.

I always seem to have trouble with Misty during my playthroughs. This is a large reason why… The developers thought it would be a good idea to give her a vastly updated moveset in the remakes, more so than any other Gym Leader in the game.

And in doing so, she becomes difficult to beat.

It's easier if the player does extra training, but training spots aren't exactly plentiful at this point. Furthermore, many of the Pokémon available are weak… And weaker Pokémon don't give as much experience…

But because of what happened with Misty, I already have a storyline planned.

There's a character introduced to the Traveler series recently, Miranda. This character appears in the first Pokémon movie, and in that movie, she is a harbormaster. She stays in the harbor seen in the movie, and said harbor is somewhere in Kanto. In this story, however, she is a member of the Coast Guard, traveling around all regions. Miranda has a tendency to pop up whenever someone has trouble with water. So, she sees Gracie having trouble with the Starmie and frantically trying to keep herself from drowning when she is thrown into Cerulean's water. She rescues her and tries to heal her up. Miranda asks about Gracie's mission, and Gracie tells her everything that's going on.

Miranda nods and explains to Gracie that her next destination is probably Vermilion, as it is the closest city Gracie can get to next. She also explains that she has to hurry to Vermilion, because they're preparing for a special voyage on the local ship, the SS Anne. As someone with duties related to water, Miranda has to help people prepare.

Miranda points out that the ticket Gracie has is for the special voyage, and wonders if she will go. It leads to an area with unique Pokémon, and there are plenty of Trainers to battle on the way. Miranda points out the voyage will be good for training, and perhaps Gracie will get hints about what she's looking for. She also explains the journey will only get tougher from here, and that Gracie needs all the training she can get. Gracie at first is not sure, because the voyage wasn't in the vision. However, she thinks Miranda shows good sense, and accepts. Miranda goes ahead to help out with the ship, but says that Gracie should contact her if she needs anything. Gracie should arrive in plenty of time for the voyage, so she does not need to hurry. Gracie only nods politely, and sets out the next day.

So, a story heavy update, but one that was pretty important. It's hard to believe that I'm already a quarter of the way through the first leg of Gracie's journey.

The experience so far has been interesting, but hopefully the battles in the future won't be as annoying.