Pokemon Pearl - Veilstone Gym

After exploring the city and doing some shopping, I decided it was time to go ahead and start on my next Gym Badge. I went to the Veilstone Gym ready for a battle.

My team consisted of:

Alexander (Machop, Fighting, Lv. 25)
Maximus (Luxio, Electric, Lv. 26)
Marcus (Staravia, Normal/Flying, Lv. 26)
Maria (Shellos, Water, Lv. 25)
Lucius (Ponyta, Fire, Lv. 25)
Annabelle (Grotle, Grass, Lv. 26)

I went in and talked to the guy by the door, who told me that Flying and Psychic Types would be useful against the Fighting Types used by the Gym Leader. Inside the Gym there were lots of walls around and several small areas with Trainers ready to fight. I decided to just go down the middle and see what happened.

I came across the first Trainer, someone who called themselves one of the Karate Quad; he sent out Machoke, and I sent out Alexander to fight. He used Leer, and Alexander used Revenge for good damage. Machoke used a powerful Vital Throw against Alexander, and then was countered by a Vital Throw to be put in the red. Machoke was brought back for Meditite, and Alexander's Rock Smash didn't do much against it. I switched out to Marcus and he was knocked out by a critical Force Palm. I sent out Maximus to fight it next, and Spark took out Meditite. Machoke was sent out next, and a Bite from Maximus finished it off.

I revived Marcus and healed him and Alexander up, then looked around. I realized that the walls could slide from side to side, and that I'd have to go through several trainers to slide the walls aside and make a path to the Gym Leader. I went ahead and fought another Trainer, who sent out Machoke to fight against Marcus. A Wing Attack did critical damage and knocked out Machoke in one hit, then Machop was sent out. I had Marcus use another Wing Attack to take it out in one hit, and another Machoke was sent out. Marcus used Wing Attack for great damage, and then got hit by Seismic Toss for some damage. Another Wing Attack finished it off and won the battle, and Marcus grew to Level 27.

I continued trying to figure out the puzzle, trying to get the path fixed to the Gym Leader, but it looked like I messed up the puzzle and would have to leave to get it fixed and restart. I went to fight another Trainer, he sent out Meditite and I sent out Marcus, and one Wing Attack took it out for victory. After the fight, I realized that I hadn't done anything wrong, I was fine, and I continued through the puzzle. I came across the last of the Karate Quads, and took him out with quite some effort. Alexander grew to Level 26 upon victory, and I healed up the team before continuing on to the Gym Leader.

I met up with Maylene, the Gym Leader. She wasn't sure how strong she was, or how she managed to become the Gym Leader, but she told me she would do the best she could. She sent out Meditite, and I sent out Marcus, whose Wing Attack took it out. Marcus grew to Level 28, and then learned Aerial Ace in place of Endeavor. Machoke was sent out next, and then Aerial Ace did great damage, but then Rock Tomb did great damage against Marcus. Marcus used Wing Attack for the knock out, and then I switched out for Alexander when Maylene sent out Lucario. Lucario used Drain Punch for a one-hit KO before Alexander could do anything, then I sent out Maria to fight it. Mud Bomb did some decent damage, Lucario's Metal Claw missed, and it was hit with another Mud Bomb, then Lucario ate a Berry to heal up a bit. Maria used another Mud Bomb to do decent damage, then got hit by Drain Punch for great damage before she could use another Mud Bomb. Water Pulse was used against Lucario for some decent damage, and then another Mud Bomb missed before Maria got hit by Lucario's Metal Claw. Force Palm took out Maria, and I sent out Lucius to fight it next. Metal Claw did some decent damage against Lucius, and Stomp was ineffective in return before Maylene used Hyper Potion to heal it fully. I had Lucius use another Ember to do good damage, then another Ember did good damage, and Lucius was knocked out by Lucario. I sent out Annabelle who got hit with Metal Claw for good damage, and countered with Bite for minimal damage. Annabelle used Razor Leaf for minimal damage after getting hit with Bone Rush, and then Absorb did little against it too. Annabelle got hit with Force Palm and brought to the red, but one last Razor Leaf knocked out Lucario and won the battle.

I got $3600 from the battle, and a lot of unconscious and injured Pokemon too. I received the Cobble Badge and TM60 (Drain Punch) from Maylene as well, and now I'll be able to Fly from place to place when I get the HM. I headed out of the Gym for the Pokemon Center to heal my Pokemon, and wondered what would come next. I've been able to take care of most every other Trainer so far pretty easily, but then Maylene took out SEVERAL of my Pokemon before she was beaten, how much training will I need to put my Pokemon through before they're ready for the NEXT Gym Leader?

Current Team:

Marcus (Staravia, Normal/Flying, Lv. 28)
Alexander (Machop, Fighting, Lv. 26)
Maximus (Luxio, Electric, Lv. 26)
Maria (Shellos, Water, Lv. 25)
Lucius (Ponyta, Fire, Lv. 25)
Annabelle (Grotle, Grass, Lv. 26)