There is one thing I will say about this part – it has a 56K warning. Seriously, get on a decent, reliable connection before reading on, because there are five videos in a very short space of time. I mean it.

Part 6, The Surfing Days

First and foremost – Empol needs to forget Brine and learn Surf. Although Brine is good with it’s double-power-when-below-half-HP, until then you have to deal with a base power of 65 and 10PP. Whereas Surf is 15PP and 95 base power across the board. Let us now make our way through Mt. Coronet towards our next destination, Canalave. Only stopping to beat Trainers (such as taking out a Bronzor with a crit-Fire Fang after it Iron Defensed twice), or to acquire TMs (like Psych Up from that creepy guy who is a little too self-confident), it wasn’t all that eventful…

Ummm, wait one sec. I have a little problem here, and that’s the lack of Strength… I remember you used to get it at the top of the Lost Tower, but they moved that. I guess it wasn’t to the bottom of the Solaceon Ruins since that’s where you get Defog. Maybe I’m forgetting somewhere…? In the off-chance that I don’t yet need it, I’ll just take out my little Starly HM Slave and Fly back to Jubilife. Yes, I know it’s a shortcut, but at least this way I can still keep going

While I’m here I may as well check out the upgraded GTS, since I now have a badge… All I can say is… Well actually, I can’t say it, I can only express it in smilie form:
I really can’t describe it, but the only flaw I can point out is that when you go to the globe to register your location on it, you no longer get to pick the location on the globe, instead you have to pick from a long list of country names in Japanese. No thanks…

To Route 218 we go, and onto Empol we ride. There’s no much to say other than – WOAH – Surfing is now a lot faster than before. I’d say you go at double the speed you used to (almost like Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald speed), making those water journeys much quicker than before

Once in Canalave City, everything is the same as before. Same people, same buildings, same place where you rival ambushes y- fuck…

I’m beginning to hate this ambush-style major battle gameplay… Whatever, to Iron Island! Now remember how I said I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to already have Strength given how you used to get it in the Lost Tower? Well, I’ve just figured out it’s new location. When you arrive on Iron Island, Riley will be waiting in front of the cave. Talk to him and he will give you HM04, before going in. Presumably, there is still the same reward at the other end (on top of the “reward” of being with a partner to make training much, much easier), so may as well take the shot

Current Party: Empol (Lv41), Garch (Lv38), Leaf (Lv38), Togek (Lv37), Doom (Lv35)

Whilst in Iron Island, nothing much happened… I know, I’m boring that way. However, once you reach the end of the caves, there is a new room available just before the exit. Inside it is just a normal room with a Metal Coat sitting in the middle. It’s true purpose? Well, I do know what it is, but I’m not saying anything just in case

Also, I was going some more “research” on my party, and apparently I should have picked up a Shiny Stone somewhere in there?! Checked and yes, there is one. I think we all know what that means

New Pokémon acquired: Egg, yet another egg that needs hatching and raising from Lv1.
Evolution: Togek -> Togekiss

Good thing I still have Heart Scales left over, because Togek is going to need a couple of moves relearnt! Side-quest completed, it’s now time to take on Byron for badge number six. I figured I may as well ue my new evolution, just to see how strong it is.

Yea, that’s strong alright. I kinda feel like I cheated my way to victory given how quick and easy it was. In fact, just for the challenge, I’m doing to go this again, but without going the Togek route!

Either way, WTFH was waiting outside the Gym, to get me to come along to the Canalave Library, as Rowan and Dawn were waiting there for us. As usual, it’s to discuss the lake crap, so I’m off to Valor, WFTH is off to Acuity, and Dawn to Verity. But then, things suddenly change as an earthquake hits! Checking out the TV shows a massive explosion took place at Lake Valor! I guess it’s time to take off and see what the story is.

Which turns out to be Team Galactic after setting off their massive bomb, blowing up the lake, leaving Magikarp strewn all over the place. In the centre cavern waits Saturn, the third of the Galactic commanders. Says some crap, as they all do, and then he challenges me! God sake, I hate these unexpected battles

With Saturn out of the way, Saturn says more crap, mentioning that there was one of his compatriots at Lake Verity with Dawn and the Prof. Which means I have to do another rescue mission… A long bike ride back (gotta get the steps in to hatch this Egg! – and when did it rain on Route 213?), and sure enough Galactic are swarming all over the lake. A couple of double battles later (the grunts all attack you in pairs), and there’s Dawn, helpless as always. And with her is none other than our friend Mars. And again, a fight…

She doesn’t half rant on after beating her, but the Prof. did mention WTFH so I guess that means a trip up to Lake Acuity to see what the problem is. Woo, new route/city!