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Without wishing to invoke disaster, I can state that Champ is one level away from evolution!

Part 20: House of Horror

Ugh. Last thing I remember is some crazy dude popping out from under a table. After that, it's all a blur. At least I still have all of my Pokemon and it--
HE STOLE MY ITEMS! That's it. I'm getting out of here and I'm gonna teach that dirtbag a lesson.

This place is full of trainers like myself:


"He said that only one of us can escape! I have to defeat you!"


"I want my mommy!"


"He calls himself the Trick Master. Please...you must escape. You must avenge us..."


This appears to be the key to getting out of here. Now I just need to escape and call the police.


Even as we triumph, this fiend rubs it in. I will not stand for this!


YOU! Give my stuff back, and then get out of my way if you know what's good for you. I'm leaving!

He did so, which was the only smart thing to do considering the very angry kid and his Pokemon threatening him. He even threw in a bit of candy, "as a reward". But he couldn't resist getting in one last taunt:


"I'll make newer, better tricks! And then we will meet again. Oh yes we will. Only once you have defeated all of my challenges may you mock me!"


And then he vanished
I followed a long and winding tunnel, which led to the room I first found the guy in. This place was clearly far more massive than it appeared from outside. How many other tunnels and secret rooms were there, just out of sight?
Of course, I called the police as soon as I was out. I didn't want to stick around though, so I just left all the information I could provide and continued on my way down Route 110. I had to get stronger, so I couldn't be captured like that again.

Things were looking up, and Jade had just learned a cool new trick, when all of a sudden...


Oh, hey May! Hey, did you know that your dad was looking for you?


I didn't say I wanted a battle! Oh, forget it. Let's get them, guys!


Whoa. That's quite a level disparity.

Lute sung it to sleep, but that didn't last long at all. It responded by throwing stars at Lute, which thankfully had a hard time piercing his thick skin. A couple of bodyslams from Lute, and round one was over. My Pokemon was pretty badly beat up however, so I switched out for Jade.


Damn, May. You should have stuck with your Torkoal. It's way cooler :|
Oh well. Time to show off Jade's awesome new power!

MAGNITUDE...4? Oh come on Jade, I know you can do better than that
Look at that, the slug is yawning in boredom! Try again!

She got Magnitude 5 this time. I guess that's a bit better...


What the--Jade, wake up! Now is not the time for a nap!


Jade, I'd like to teach you a new word: "overkill". That's what you just did 

Now all May has left is her starter. Since it's a water type, I think I'll let Portia try this one.



Er...let's try Stun Spore!


So far so good...and now that Portia's faster than May's Pokemon, I can simply wait for Marshtomp to relax and have her deal damage. We might be able to win this!


Ack! Okay, it lowered her speed but didn't do a lot of damage. We're still good.


And just like that, it was over!


Well, yeah. How else am I gonna challenge my dad?

After swearing that we would meet again and that I'd better be a lot stronger next time, she hopped on her bike and rode away. In hindsight, I should have turned back at that point, to rest my party. But I was flush with victory and wanted to keep pushing forward. We battled trainers and wild Pokemon, slowly being worn down from bizarre status effects and a string of unlucky events. At one point, Portia got confused and hit herself five times in a row! My pack became progressively lighter as I used every Potion and Super Potion I had. And that's when it happened.

The poor guy had just leveled up, and we were near the end of Route 110. He was paralyzed and nearly out of PP, but he just kept fighting. And then...

Handsome Jack, GladOS and Brock Samson may be in the same game together.

Also Ash Williams and Sam (of Sam and Max).

Wait, what? Explain.

I was recently threatened by a very large, angry, and quite possibly drunk Scotsman carrying a claymore around. So I fully support the containment of those barbarians to their isles.

Something tells me we'll end up "rescuing" you and at least one other person.

"One might even call me a spy."

: "Well, that was quite honest."

: "Just finding some, or eating it as well? Because I could go for the second option."

: "I can't think of anything off the top of my head. Charlotte?"