Hoenn's Sapphire Chapter 5

Entry 6 Route 102

I made it, like I thought I would. The route was rather straight forward, but did have a few turns.

There were also four other trainers on the route, which meant I had to battle. Considering how my battle with May went, these guys were push overs.

I mostly let Mud handle the fighting, but I did let Hound out for a few as well. I didn’t really care to be truthful, I was enjoying taking my time, battling the few trainers and the occasional wild Pokémon in the tall grass.

After camping for two week in the forest, tall grass wasn’t that much of a worry anymore. And considering how much I worked on Mud and Hound during those weeks I felt confident that I would be able to handle what came my way.

And I was right.

Anyways, a bit into the route I found some berry trees. These weren’t the average wild grade berries, I could tell by looking at them that they were trainer grade berries.

For those that don’t know there are two grades of berries:

Wild Grade: This grade is the most common and grows like crazy in the different parts of the region. For the most part they are just food, they can improve Pokémon a bit, like the classic Oran berry, but Wild Grade berries have little effect. You would need a large bowl to get them to help heal an injured Pokémon. The most Wild Grades are good for is food, and spice.

Trainer Grade: This grade is far better than Wild Grade. The best only grow in special soil and can take a bit to grow but once they do they can last a good while. These berries are the ones a trainer wants. The effects of the berry differ by type but you can tell. Like the Oran berry I was talking about, a Trainer grade can help give a Pokémon a bit of extra energy. This grade can also be used in cooking and the like and generally are because they are more potent and they also taste better.

So the fact that I found a few Trainer Grade Berries out on a commonly traveled Route was quite nice. And since they were ready to be picked I went and did so.

The trees didn’t give me all that many each, but I figured a few from each tree would work by themselves and the rest would work if I wanted to use them with something. You never know when an extra half condition berry will come in handy.

Now other than the berries, the trainers, and the grass…it really was a boring walk. I even let Mud and Hound out at one point to give me some company. Hound seemed perplexed at the action, but Mud seemed happy.

Anyways I made it to the end, I’m about two miles from the edge of town and already have my camp site up. I could easily go into town but I want to wait till morning, less chance of having to deal with stuff that way.

I really do hope that tomorrow goes smoothly for me, I don’t want to deal with…stuff…

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Entry 7 Petalburg

I really don’t want to talk about this, but I sort of do…the fact that I got Mud half glaring at me until I promised to actually write is sort of forcing me. Odd how he wants me to do this, then again he may have just wanted me to do something other than be angry.

Any ways, I am getting way off. I last left off with me a few miles outside of Petalburg, the next town on my journey. It was also to be the first city with a Gym, and one I planned on skipping until much later in my journey, the reason will become clear soon.

So the day actually started off rather nicely, calm breeze, good sky, no massive hassle, you get the point a good day.

It took me little time to actually get into town, two miles is nothing really. The town of Petalburg can be called a small town easily, not many house, but it has several key features. It has the standard Poke mart and center, it also had a better looking house than one would normally see. And finally it had a Gym.

Like previously stated I was hoping to avoid this Gym, I did not even want to be with a hundred feet of its doors, so I aimed to avoid it. And walk straight through the town to continue on my journey. No such luck.

When I got to the edge of town, some random guy spotted me and almost came running to me.

The guy was to me and talking before I could do more than blink, “Hiya! Are you maybe…A rookie Trainer? Do you know what Pokémon trainers do when they reach a new town? They first check what kind of Gym is in the town.”

The guy then grabs my arm and drags me, almost literally mind you (that guy was amazingly strong!) to the very building I had been trying to avoid. Once there he looked proud of himself and spoke again. “See? This is Petalburg City’s Gym. This is the gym’s sign. Look for it whenever you’re looking for a gym.” And he leaves.

No joke, he just turned and left, not giving a care in the world. Though as I watched him I noticed He took up a spot where he could easily watch the door of the Gym and the exit to the town. Which meant I was not going to be able to exit the town without going inside the Gym, Oh lucky me…(insert mental cuss here)

So, needlus to say I had no choice but to enter the Gym. I walked straight up, and entered, half hoping it was closed, again no luck…

When I entered the Gym, I saw a single person in the center of the entrance room. I recognized him instantly. And he recognized me. I had talked a bit about this man before, and seeing him again brought up some rather upsetting memories.

I almost wanted to turn right around and leave, but sadly…the man noticed me, “Hm? Well, if it isn’t Jayce! So you’re all finished moving in? Come here; let me get a better look at you.” I suppressed a snarl and did as instructed. “I’m surprised that you managed to get here by yourself. Oh, I see. You’re with your Pokémon. Hm…Then I guess you’re going to become a trainer like me Jayce. That’s great news! I’ll be looking forward to it!”

I could not suppress the snort that came up, that was my father alright. And it annoyed the crap out of me.

So yea…the Gym leader of Petalburg is my father. And no, I will not be “airing my dirty laundry”, as the saying goes…maybe later.

Anyways, dad seemed to have noticed the snort, and was about to say something about it when the door to the Gym opened up and in came a new guy. He looked really nervous, for some reason. He was not a trainer, I could tell by looking at him. He looked more like a city boy who only knew about Pokémon from passing trainers, and books. It was a tad sad.

The new guy walked a bit slowly up next to me, practically ignoring me mind you, and started talking to my dad, “Um…I…I’d like to get a Pokémon, please…”

My dad, he instantly had a half smile on his face, though after growing up with him I could tell the smile was a fake, and he had more or less put on a very convincing mask. “Hm? You’re…Uh…oh, right. You’re Wally, right?”

How dad knew this is beyond me, but of no concern of mine either. The new guy, Wally, nodded his head. “Yes. I’m, um,  going to go stay with my relatives in Verdantuf Town I thought I would be lonely by myself, so I wanted to take a Pokémon along. But I’ve never caught a Pokémon before. I don’t know how…”

Looked like I had nailed the personality on the head.

Dad did a half nod, “Hm. I see. Jayce, you heard that right? Go with Wally and make sure that he safely catches a Pokémon. Wally, here, I’ll loan you my Pokémon.” And Gives Wally a zigzagoon.

Now I know that isn’t much, BUT REALLY. And then he goes and gives the guy a pokeball! The guy looks younger than me! I had to beg to even get my dad to let me WATCH HIM TRAIN! And now here he is as a gym leader and….AH!

Okay, I need to calm down……sorry but that just really pissed me off. Thankfully I was able to hid most of my aggravation at the sight before me at the time. I did learn a few things from my dad, and masking my moods was one of them…at least around him.

Sadly, Wally’s exclamation of “Oh, wow! A Pokémon!”, and “Oh, wow! Thank you!” after being given the two things almost made me lose my control and face palm, this guy was WAY too naive for me.

And then, he finally seemed to notice I was there as he turned his head and looked at me, “Jayce…Would you really come with me?”

I shrugged, “Might as well.”

The kid, for he really does act like one, got a bright smile on his face and was off to catch himself a Pokémon.

I suppressed another sight and followed him.

I could tell the kid knew the city, and found a quick and easy way to get to Rout 102. From there he was a bit lost, so I had take a bit of a lead.

I directed Wally to some tall grass not too far in and made mention that he could probably get a Pokémon there. It was not fun at all.

The kid looked in the grass, he really did but for some reason Pokémon seemed to be avoiding the area. It was a bit frustrating because I really wanted to move on.

Eventually Wally got distracted by me standing nearby and practically glaring at him, well more the area around him really. But something about me seemed to peak his interest. “Are you, um related to the Gym leader?”

I suppressed a growl and instead sighed, “Yes, but if you try and ask questions about him I will leave you out here to defend yourself.” Hey, let it never be said I did not give out warnings.

Sadly, he seemed to have ignored me, “Is it true then that he came from Johto?”

I’ll admit here, in a slightly more private area, that yes, my family is from Johto. Now I will admit I enjoyed growing up in Johto, which is part of reason I am so aggravated with my dad. He is the reason me and mom moved to Littleroot town.

My dad, had been applying for a Gym leadership for ages, and when he finally got it he damn near dragged mom and me with him. But then separated from us slightly and had us move into Littleroot town while he moved into the Gym. And that is the farthest I am going for now. I am really in no mood to talk about this stuff, or well write about it.

Back to what happened, when Wally asked the question I was just about ready to turn on my heals and leave, when the sound of a Pokémon caught both of our attention. It was a Ralts.

Long story short, Wally showed he actually knew how to catch a Pokémon, and low and behold he caught the Ralts. Goody for him. He was all happy and had no problem almost skipping all the way back to the Gym.

When we got there dad was in the same spot, “So, did it work out?”

Wally, with energy I was starting to think would never leave him responded, “Thank you, yes, it did. Here’s your Pokémon back.” He then surprised me by turning to me, “Jayce, thank you for coming along with me,” then looking at both of us, “You two are why I was able to catch my Pokémon. I promise I’ll take really good care of it. Oh! My mom’s waiting for me, so I have to go! Bye, Jayce!”

…well at least he was kind enough to say bye to me…but I wonder why he did not say it to dad…odd. Anyways, with the new excited trainer gone dad turned to me.

“Now…Jayce, if you want to become a strong trainer, here’s my advice Head for Rustboro city beyond this town. There, you should challenge the Gyme leader, Roxanne. After her, go on to other Pokémon gyms and defeat their leaders. Collect Badges from them understood? Of course, I’m a gym leader, too. We’ll battle one day Jayce But that’s only after you become stronger, Jayce.”  

That was the gist of it. He said a few other points mostly saying that he felt that I was currently too weak and never stood a chance. At least until I gained a lot more experience.


I was lived by this point, but I restrained myself and did not yell at him like I wanted to, and oh did I want to.

Instead I turned on my heals and left, not even dignifying what he said with a respond. My right had did twitch as I left, I almost flipped him off but did not. Now that would have been interesting to have seen, but I also knew I would have caught hell for it.

Well after that was over with the day was already getting long I did not fancy trying to find a camping spot in the dark, so I checked into an available room at the Pokecenter and decided to spend the night.

Tomorrow I am leaving this town and get back to my training, I am not looking forward to when I need to come back here to challenge my dad, but I know I will.

Well my anger is sated, and both Mud and Hound are half asleep already, I guess I’ll head out. Man I hope things run much smoother after this…