Previous Episodes:
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3| Episode 4
Episode 5: Rock Tunnel → Pokemon Tower
(Lv. 29 Cap)
After the rollercoaster of Episode 4 — beating Lt. Surge comfortably but losing two Pokémon to my rival Ink — I’m hoping for a slightly smoother Episode 5.
Route 9 – Back on track
Heading back through the Underground Path towards Cerulean, I cut down the tree and enter Route 9.
After dealing with the first wave of trainers, I start looking for something new.
I realise there’s no new encounter here — I’ve already caught everything available on this route.
Route 9 only offers Rattata, Spearow, and Ekans — and looking back at Route 11, getting Arrow (Spearow) instead of a Drowzee is now pretty frustrating.
Carrying on, I beat a Bug Catcher with a Lv. 20 Caterpie (which is ridiculous), and make it into Route 10.
New Encounter.
Route 10 only has one encounter to offer — our first Electric-type since Lucky: a Voltorb.
Not the most exciting Pokémon, but having different types available is always useful in tricky battles.
I send Sprout out and do the regular sleep powder half health catch trick.
It works, and I name it Eyeball. A serious Eyeball — not my best effort, but it’s a weird Pokémon to nickname.
I then realise I never picked up the Flash HM, so I head all the way back to Route 2 via Diglett Tunnel and grab it from Oak’s aide as a reward for having 10 species in the Pokédex. Normally I wouldn’t bother with this move, but since I’m documenting the run, it feels like something I should have.
Somehow, Broccoli can learn it — giving it another use. At this point, it’s basically becoming an HM slave, and I’m fully on board with that.
I head back to Route 10 and do a bit of levelling with the Art squad, teaching Eyeball Shockwave along the way.
New Encounter
New area = new encounter, and Rock Tunnel is no exception. The options here include:
- Geodude
- Onix
- Machop
None of them are exactly screaming “future MVP.” They’re all pretty underwhelming (Onix especially — still not over how bad it is), but options are options.
I run into a Machop.
It’s an easy catch — a few tackles from Sprout and a Poké Ball gets the job done. No drama, no stress.
Welcome to the team… briefly.
I name him Chopper, and he’s rocking a Jolly nature, which is actually pretty decent.
Unfortunately for Chopper, he’s been hired straight into a zero-hours contract position — the PC box.
With Bam already on the squad, there’s just no space for another Fighting type right now. Maybe he’ll see daylight again… but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Rock Tunnel was relatively straightforward — just a long stretch of trainer battles against Hikers, Picnickers, and Pokémaniacs. The Slowpokes in particular were great for EXP, so no complaints there.
At one point, I was accused by a Picnicker of some suspicious behaviour when all I was trying to do was mind my own business and find the exit.
(Do I look like Brock or something?)
After clearing my name — apparently it was just “the darkness” talking — I finally make it out of Rock Tunnel.
From there, it’s straight on to Lavender Town… and the Pokémon Tower.
We arrive in Lavender Town — easily one of the most depressing places in the entire game.
I remember as a kid playing Pokémon Yellow and genuinely not even wanting to listen to the music here. Still not sure it’s improved with age.
Route 8
After a quick heal at the Poké Centre, I head straight over to Route 8. Plenty of trainers to deal with… and more importantly, another encounter.
Now this one is actually exciting.
With only one possible encounter here, I’m guaranteed a Growlithe — one of my favourite Pokémon. The only thing standing in the way is Roar sending me packing before I can catch it, which would be an absolute disaster.
Luckily… no drama this time.
Growlithe secured. I name her Hotdog — because, well… she’s quite literally a fire dog. It felt right. She’s rocking a Mild nature too, which I’ll happily take.
This one definitely has real potential to make the final team… assuming I don’t somehow mess it up later.
I spend the next hour or so grinding through Route 8 and 12 — mainly levelling up Arrow and Hotdog. They’re going to be needed for what’s coming next: my rival’s Kadabra… the same one that caused absolute chaos back on the S.S. Anne.
On Route 8, I run into what can only be described as an army of Meowths, all spamming Pay Day. These trainers must be absolutely loaded.
I meet Super Nerd Leslie — a man who looks like he hasn’t seen daylight in years, but somehow surrounded himself with lasses.
Over on Route 12, Bam finally evolves into his final form: Primeape.
With Hotdog added to the squad and Bam hitting his prime (pun fully intended), the team is starting to come together nicely.
Time for my fifth battle with Ink… and this time, I actually have a plan.
Last time, Kadabra absolutely ran through me — too fast, hit too hard, and I had nothing that could deal with it. So this time, the plan is simple: outspeed it with Eyeball (Voltorb) and hit it before it hits me.
What could possibly go wrong?
He opens with Pidgeotto. I send out Kaa, and it’s a pretty clean fight — three turns, a couple of Bites, job done.
He does land a Sand Attack, which is always annoying, but nothing too serious.
Next up is a new addition: Exeggcute.
Psychic/Grass is not something I want to mess around with, so I bring in Hotdog. A couple of Embers later and it’s gone — but not before taking Hotdog down to 13 HP. Not ideal.
Then… the problem shows up.
Kadabra.
And I’m already on the back foot.
I’m forced to switch into Eyeball and take a Confusion on the way in. This is exactly how things went wrong last time.
But this time… we’re faster.
Eyeball outspeeds and lands a Spark — over half HP gone.
Kadabra fires back with Confusion, and suddenly Eyeball is down to 10 HP.
So now it’s a gamble.
I go for Spark again. No backup plan this time.
Kadabra goes down.
We survive… and honestly, that feels like the hard part might be over.
Next up: Gyarados.
Yeah… fantastic.
I immediately switch Eyeball out and bring in Sprout. Gyarados starts thrashing — literally — and the damage is no joke. I set up Leech Seed to start chipping away and keeping Sprout alive.
It turns into a bit of a messy back-and-forth. Thrash keeps hitting hard, Sprout drops to 16 HP, and I have to burn a Super Potion just to stay in it.
Eventually, with Leech Seed ticking and a Razor Leaf landing, Gyarados goes down.
That was… stressful.
Finally, Ink sends out his ace: Charmeleon.
I switch straight into Bam, who takes an Ember (cue Nugget Bridge flashbacks), but thankfully it barely scratches him this time.
Karate Chop lands, bringing Charmeleon below half.
Another Ember comes out… and Bam finishes it with a second Karate Chop.
Hurrah!!
No casualties.
After the last two rival fights, that honestly feels like a miracle.
Ink mutters something about having “a lot to accomplish” and runs off.
…no sign of his Raticate.
Summary
Episode 5 goes suspiciously well.
The Art Squad makes it through Routes 9–12 and Rock Tunnel with minimal disaster, picking up Eyeball the Voltorb, Chopper the Machop, and Hotdog the Growlithe along the way.
Bam evolves into Primeape, which solves several problems and probably creates a few new ones.
The highlight is the fifth battle with Ink, where a long-overdue plan actually works, Kadabra is finally dealt with, and — against all expectations — nobody dies.
- Celadon City
- Erikas Gym
- Rockets Hideout
Continue the Journey
← Episode 4
(The Rollercoaster)
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