[x] Call Tetsuya - Having earned his sixth badge, Testuya is on a mission to earn his seventh badge. He'd really like some advice on a few things.
[x] Explore the Safari Zone - A protected zone with a variety of Pokemon, it'd be very fun to explore it. Surely there isn't any danger here?
[X] Leave Fuchsia City - Now that you have the Soul Badge and Willow will be earning hers this week, you could head out. It's either this week or next week.
[X] Call Tetsuya - Having earned his sixth badge, Testuya is on a mission to earn his seventh badge. He'd really like some advice on a few things.
Hopefully, our advise for Tetsuya is good enough to allow him to make it to the Indigo League this year.
[X] Leave Fuchsia City - Now that you have the Soul Badge and Willow will be earning hers this week, you could head out. It's either this week or next week.
[X] Call Tetsuya - Having earned his sixth badge, Testuya is on a mission to earn his seventh badge. He'd really like some advice on a few things.
[X] Leave Fuchsia City - Now that you have the Soul Badge and Willow will be earning hers this week, you could head out. It's either this week or next week.
[X] Call Tetsuya - Having earned his sixth badge, Testuya is on a mission to earn his seventh badge. He'd really like some advice on a few things.
I don't think Tetsuya has any chance at all of making it to 8 badges, but it'd still be nice to be able to help him.
[X] Seek out a Powerful Trainer - There are trainers who can likely make the Indigo Plateau. It may be worthwhile to try and face them.
[X] Leave Fuchsia City - Now that you have the Soul Badge and Willow will be earning hers this week, you could head out. It's either this week or next week.
[X] Leave Fuchsia City - Now that you have the Soul Badge and Willow will be earning hers this week, you could head out. It's either this week or next week.
[X] Call Tetsuya - Having earned his sixth badge, Testuya is on a mission to earn his seventh badge. He'd really like some advice on a few things.
After her victory over Koga, Violet spent a day to ensure her Pokemon were healed up properly as per usual. While most of them didn't have any significant issues, Gengar and Umbreon took longer than normal due to fainting in battle. The local Nurse Joy was a little more cautious than normal due in large part to the gym's usage of poison types. Violet did get some interesting insight into the complexities of Pokemon healing, but she didn't have the months it'd take to explore it fully. Hmm, maybe when she visited Cerulean City again she could ask Luna about it.
As it is, Violet had a few days to herself before Willow and her would be headed to Saffron City. She had a few options on how to spend it, and a part of her wanted to test herself against a strong opponent. However, there was something else she could do.
Violet felt nervous as she heard the phone ring. She'd talked to Tetsuya many times on the phone, but now she planned on a rather extended conversation with him. While she was certainly more confident and willing to talk, Violet felt that her social battery wasn't as large as Tetsuya or Willow. Or as large as most people's.
"Violet!" Tetsuya picked up, loudly speaking into his microphone forcing Violet to move her phone away from her ear. "It's so nice to hear from you! How are you?"
"Good," Violet said simply, the softness of her voice a sharp contrast to Tetsuya's bombastic tone. "I, uh, got my eighth badge."
"Oh, that's awesome," Tetsuya replied, hesitating just long enough for Violet to know he was slightly jealous at her managing to get all 8 badges before he had obtained 7. "Just you wait Violet, next time we fight, it'll be at the Indigo Plateau."
To this day, Violet didn't know what to think of Tetsuya's insane confidence in both himself and his Pokemon. She would be happy getting out of the round-robin stage, but Tetsuya clearly believed he had a shot at the trophy. "M-maybe," Violet's voice stuttered as she tried not to convey her lack of confidence in that possibility. "B-but first you need to get all 8 badges."
"Yeah…" Tetsuya groaned before shifting his voice to a happier chirp. "I'm in Viridian just for that!"
"You, uh, mentioned you wanted some advice?"
Tetsuya paused for a beat on the other end. "By Arceus yes! There's so much I've been figuring out recently, and I don't even know where to begin! So I have a few ideas and wanted your thoughts on them …"
Violet blinked once at the deluge of statements coming from Tetsuya. Followed by her scrambling for a pen and paper to start taking notes on some of his ideas so that she could properly process them. Some of the ideas she could dismiss immediately, like his hope to switch a Pokemon in, attack, and then immediately switch them out. While she'd seen that performed by Lance's fastest Dragonite at one point, even he had trouble finding situations where that could be useful.
"...and that's everything, what do you think?" Tetsuya finally finished, finally giving Violet a chance to speak and comment on all his ideas.
"I think …" she hesitated slightly, not sure how to properly convey what she thought. "You're, uh, you're ideas are nice…"
"I'm sensing a but," Tetsuya said, his voice conveying that he valued her advice and wouldn't discard it.
"You're ignoring the basics again," Violet replied after a few seconds of thinking how to say it politely. "You remember our battle a few months ago?"
"I'm doing the same thing again, aren't I?" Tetsuya groaned. "Alright, well looks like I'll have to change how I do my training. Besides that, any advice for the Viridian and Celadon Gym?"
"Well, Giovanni's Pokemon are stronger than they look. And Blaine likes making trainers find the gym themselves." Violet explained, a bit hesitant to share the exact location of the Cinnabar Gym.
"Ooh, a scavenger hunt." But based on Tetsuya's voice, he didn't seem worried about that. "So, how do I explore caves then? All cool, secret bases are underground."
"I have a few bits of advice for you," Violet began, entering into a conversation far longer than she wanted. But eventually, the talk ended, and Violet spent the rest of the day in the most relaxing way she could think of. Curled up on the bed watching movies.
Pick 1 Route to Saffron City
[] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
[] Via Route 13 and Lavender Town - The route most likely to provide some training, a circuitous route through multiple areas known to have wild Pokemon. There is a chance you may be delayed.
[] Via Acapulco and Vermillion - Heading to Acapulco and taking a ferry to Vermillion City would be fairly boring but relatively quick.
[] Write-in
GM Note: Sorry for the delay, I somehow forget yesterday was Friday then today I got roped into all sorts of stuff.
[X] Via Acapulco and Vermillion - Heading to Acapulco and taking a ferry to Vermillion City would be fairly boring but relatively quick.
We are speed. Seriously though let's get this over with so we can settle into the Indigo Plateau for a few weeks of hard-core training so we can at least make a good showing at the actual tournament.
[X] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
Zoom with a bonus of parental update and free food.
[X] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
[x] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
[X] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
[X] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
[X] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
There is far more to life than just the tournament, imminent as it may be.
Alright, looks like Route 17 then Celadon City before Saffron City it is.
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Jan 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM, finished with 29 posts and 10 votes.
[X] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
Violet is channelling her inner Sly Marbo I see. Up to dedicating the second year of the quest to a guerrilla warfare campaign against Team Rock anyone?
[X] Via Route 17 and Celadon - Thanks to your bike, you could carry Willow through Route 17 before the two of you rush through Celadon City. You'd also get to have food with your parents in Celadon.
Violet was rather glad she spent the last day relaxing considering her schedule over the next few days. Waking up before the sun had risen, Willow and her headed out via Route 17 on their way to Saffron City. Carrying Willow on the bike was more tiring than she expected, but switching between the two of them every hour or so allowed them to make excellent time.
The route itself was almost picturesque, with them beginning to cross the bridge on Cycling Road between Fuchsia and Sunny Town shortly after the sun began to rise. Trying to take a picture one-handed while riding a bike proved harder than Violet had expected, but Willow noticed the difficulty she was having and took pictures of the rising sun for her. Continuing their bike ride, they passed through Sunny Town and a bicycle gang before arriving in Celadon just as the sun began to set.
Exhausted from the exertion and distance traveled, Violet was very happy her parents had prepared dinner for them along with letting Willow stay over once more.
While her companion chose to quickly scarf down some food and then head to bed early (she didn't want to intrude on Violet's time with her parents), Violet sat across from her parents as polished off the food on her plate.
Her mother was the first to break the silence. "It's nice to have you home, Violet. It's been ages since you visited."
Violet glanced down at her plate, shifting awkwardly at the implied 'you should visit more.' "Yeah, it's … been a while."
Her father interrupted, sensing her uncomfortable mood. "So, Cycling Road? Not exactly the quickest route with the ferries. Why did you two pick that?"
Violet shrugged avoiding her parent's gaze. "Willow wanted to. She thought it'd be fun." It was a bit more complicated than that admittedly. Rather than just for fun, Willow was also the one who had the strictest time limit on them. And if she wished to delay their trip, Violet was fine with that.
"And was it?" Her mother asked, giving Violet a soft smile. "Or are your legs regretting it now?"
A faint smile tugged at Violet's lips. "A bit of both. Willow took a few pictures of the sunrise for me." She took out her phone, holding it out so both her parents could see the images of the rising sun.
Her parents exchanged an approving glance, having clearly discussed what they thought of Violet's companion more than once some of that leaked out in the moment. "That's good to hear," her mother said. "Do you plan on traveling with her after the Plateau?"
"I'm … I think so," Violet replied, subconsciously allowing a frown onto her face. "It's fun to travel with her, and I trust her. Also helps to have backup when I run into Team Rocket."
"Running into them implies you don't seek them out," her dad dryly commented. "But you've always had an adventurous streak so I don't see you stopping."
"Having backup always helps," her mother added, her eyes briefly looking at the ceiling as if remembering a few such occasions where she made use of backup. "And Willow is a good influence on you."
Violet didn't respond immediately, her gaze drifting toward the window. "I guess … she's easier to talk to than others. Less awkward too."
"She does talk enough for two," her mother quipped. "And I'm sure you've helped her grow as well," she added somewhat abruptly, more for filler than actually meaning her words.
Violet shifted in her seat, unsure if she should ask if her mother really meant it or if it was just a platitude. "Maybe … I don't know."
The silence stretched for a moment before her father stood up, picking up Violet's empty plate. "You should get some sleep, you've had a long day and tomorrow you have even more traveling."
Violet nodded, standing up and mumbling a quiet, "Goodnight."
"Violet?" Her mother hesitantly asked, having realized the reason for the sudden awkward tension. Violet turned to look at her mother who was trying to hide her own nerves. "I want you to know that I'm proud of you."
Violet smiled, recognizing the sincerity in her mother's voice. "Thank you."
The next day, Violet and Willow left early in the morning so that they could avoid camping overnight. Taking the main route between Celadon and Saffron there were more than a few trainers around which let them zone out and simply follow the various packs moving through the trail. During which they ran across a rather interesting sign, denoting an exhibition available to trainers that had 6 badges and played key roles in operations against Team Rocket. Starting in a few days, it also claimed that it would involve a member of the Elite 4.
Needless to say, Willow was going to commit to that, even if it may delay some of her training. However, first the two of them had to unpack and relax in Saffron City.
The 46th Week, Pick 2
Pokemon Actions
[] Spend time with your Pokemon - It's been a while since you simply enjoyed the company of your Pokemon. It'd be good to spend time with them outside of battle or training.
[] Train with your Pokemon - All of your Pokemon are skilled in battle with unique skills, but they can see significant improvements through practice.
[] Teach your Pokemon TMs and HMs - You did recover a very large stash of TMs and HMs recently. Teaching your Pokemon would be worthwhile.
[] Buy Items - Now that you've earned eight badges, you should start looking into buying items for your Pokemon.
[-] Train with Willow- While it would be nontraditional to train with your rival, both of you have unique skill sets that could complement each other. Sadly she's busy with her preparations.
Battling Actions
[] Challenge an Experienced Trainer - There are at least a few experienced trainers around here that may be worth fighting.
[] Seek out a Powerful Trainer - There are several trainers who can likely make the Indigo Plateau. It may be worthwhile to try and face them.
[] Challenge the Dojo - An unofficial gym with skilled Fighting Type Pokemon, you may benefit from challenging the leader within.
[] Challenge Sabrina - You could try and challenge Sabrina to a full six-on-six duel with the team she plans to use at the Indigo Plateau. It … may be too much for you, however.
Exploration Actions
[] See the Sights Inside the City - Several interesting attractions in Saffron City would be worth exploring, even if you've already done so.
[] See the Sights Outside the City - With Diglett Cave nearby, it could be fun to spend a few days exploring the cave system and see what interesting locations and Pokemon are within.
[] Attend the Exhibition - A chance to interact with a member of the Elite 4 and learn about survival and tracking would be incredible. Why wouldn't you?
Traveling Actions (Will be taken either this week or next week)
[-] Leave Saffron City - Until Willow defeats Sabrina, you're going to remain in the city.
Social Actions (For socials, it's assumed you keep up a basic level of contact through text, choosing a social means I write it up)
[] Call Your Parents - Your parents appreciated your visit and would like to continue talking with you.
[] Call Tetsuya - Having trained in the basics intensely, Tetsuya managed to defeat Giovanni and earn his seventh badge. He's currently headed to Cinnabar Island to find and challenge Blaine.
[] Hang out with Willow and her Family - Hanging out with Willow
[X] Attend the Exhibition - A chance to interact with a member of the Elite 4 and learn about survival and tracking would be incredible. Why wouldn't you?
[X] Challenge the Dojo - An unofficial gym with skilled Fighting Type Pokemon, you may benefit from challenging the leader within.
[X] Teach your Pokemon TMs and HMs - You did recover a very large stash of TMs and HMs recently. Teaching your Pokemon would be worthwhile.
Why wouldn't you, indeed?
Though I think Sabrina is too high level for us here, to the point where we wouldn't get much out of it at our current level.
Though hanging out with Willow and her family would be nice too, if we can afford it?
[X] Attend the Exhibition - A chance to interact with a member of the Elite 4 and learn about survival and tracking would be incredible. Why wouldn't you?
[X] Challenge the Dojo - An unofficial gym with skilled Fighting Type Pokemon, you may benefit from challenging the leader within.
