Pokemon Pearl - Canalave Gym

Before I started through Canalave Gym, I put Maximus into the PC storage and went to Iron Island again to get that egg from Riley. While in that part of the cave, I battled a pair of Workers and beat them easily, and also found a Max Potion and HP Up. I also managed to catch a Steelix (Steel/Ground, Male, Lv. 34), and then realized right after I caught it that I then had no room for the egg, and had to return to the city to drop off Steelix and head back to get the egg.

My team consisted of:

Alexander (Machamp, Fighting, Lv. 37)
Marcus (Staraptor, Normal/Flying, Lv. 38)
Lucius (Ponyta, Fire, Lv. 37)
Annabelle (Torterra, Grass/Ground, Lv. 37)
Maria (Gastrodon, Water/Ground, Lv. 37)
Maximus (Luxray, Electric, Lv. 37)

I went into the Gym, and found it to be a maze. I talked to the man by the door, who told me that the Gym Leader uses Steel-Type Pokemon. I know Fighting-Types and Fire-Types are best against them, so Alexander and Lucius will be my go-to Pokemon for this, as well as Marcus who has Close Combat.

I came across my first Trainer, and we fought. I sent out Alexander, and he sent out Steelix. Steelix used Screetch to lower Alexander's defense, but then Alexander used Revenge and did massive damage, bringing it to the yellow. Alexander then used Rock Smash and did great damage, but Steelix clung on, and countered with Double-Edge, which did great damage to Alexander without doing any recoil damage to Steelix. I had Alexander hit it with another Rock Smash to knock it out and win the fight, and he grew to Level 38.

I continued past the Trainer and found a couple platforms, and when I went on one it rose up to a dead end. It appears that this is a multi-floor gym, and I need to navigate several floors worth of mazes to finally reach the Gym Leader. I went past a couple platforms to fight another Worker. He sent out Onix, and I sent out Alexander. Onix used Iron Tail for minor damage, and then Alexander countered with Revenge, and knocked it out in one blow. Before I continued on, I decided to go ahead and use TM35 to teach Lucius Flamethrower in place of Ember.

I went up one platform, across a hall, then down another platform, and got into another battle with an Ace Trainer, and Lucius took out both his Pokemon easily. I continued on to go up another platform, then went across on a platform, and made my way up again on another platform to a third floor. I went across on another platform, then got into a battle with a Worker, and went past him on a couple platforms to fight with a Black Belt, and after a victory which saw Lucius grow to Level 38 and learn Fire Blast in place of Take Down, I kept on going.

I kept on my way, and got into another battle with an Ace Trainer, then continued further on a few platforms before I finally found myself in front of the Gym Leader, Byron. He revealed to me that his son is the Oreburgh Gym Leader, telling me that his son still has much to learn. He then challenged me, and we fought.

Byron sent out Bronzor, and I sent out Alexander to fight it. Bronzor used Flash Cannon for minor damage, then Alexander countered with Revenge for massive damage, and knocked it out in one blow. Next up was Bastiodon, and I decided to send out Marcus. Marcus' Intimidate cut it's attack in half, and then I had Marcus use Close Combat for massive, super effective damage, and it was knocked out in one blow. Marcus grew to Level 39, and then I switched out to Lucius to fight his final Pokemon, Steelix. Lucius used Fire Blast for massive, super effective damage, and Steelix too was knocked out in one blow. I won the battle, proud of my Pokemon and feeling confident at my training and movesets.

Byron congratulated me on my victory and my strong Pokemon, before handing over $4600 and the Mine Badge! With the Mine Badge I can use Strength anytime, meaning I can go do more exploring now, and all Pokemon up to Level 70 will obey me. He also gave me TM91 (Flash Cannon), a special Steel move that does great damage and may also lower the target's special defense. Byron was amused at how Trainers like Simon and I were popping up, and between us and his son the future of the Pokemon world was bright, but he wasn't about to step down yet!

I made my way out of the Gym, and met up with Simon. He immediately noticed the Mine Badge, and told me I was tough enough to consider going for the Sinnoh Championship. He then boasted that he was tougher though, so it wouldn't happen. He then told me to come with him to the library, before running off. I decided to heal my Pokemon before going back to the Canalave Library.

Current Team:

Alexander (Machamp, Fighting, Lv. 38)
Marcus (Staraptor, Normal/Flying, Lv. 39)
Lucius (Ponyta, Fire, Lv. 38)
Annabelle (Torterra, Grass/Ground, Lv. 37)
Maria (Gastrodon, Water/Ground, Lv. 37)
Maximus (Luxray, Electric, Lv. 37)