Pokemon Pearl - Sunyshore Gym

Before taking on the Sunyshore Gym, I went ahead and did some training against one of the Fisherman on the path west of Sunyshore, and at the Seven Stars Restaurant, and for my efforts Lucius grew to Level 44, while Alexander and Annabelle grew to Level 45! I also checked a couple trees I lathered with Honey, and one of them shook with a Cherubi (Grass, Female, Lv. 13) which I caught for my collection.

My team consisted of:

Lucius (Rapidash, Fire, Lv. 44)
Marcus (Staraptor, Normal/Flying, Lv. 44)
Maria (Gastrodon, Water/Ground, Lv. 44)
Alexander (Machamp, Fighting, Lv. 45)
Annabelle (Torterra, Grass/Ground, Lv. 45)
Maximus (Luxray, Electric, Lv. 45)

When I went inside, I found myself on a platform standing above lots of machinery, next to massive gears with paths protected by guardrails. It was pretty obvious that the Gym Leader, Volkner, is focused on Electric-Type Pokemon.

The first room had 3 gears dividing the room in half. I walked over onto the center gear, was forced to turn right onto a big green button that spun the gears around, and then found myself turned back around on the platform. The first and second gear had turned so their paths combined, so I went onto the middle gear again and turned left onto a green button that spun the gears again and led me to the platform ahead.

I came across a Trainer just before the doorway to the next room, and we battled. She sent out Pachirisu, and I sent out Lucius against it. Lucius used Fire blast for massive damage, which brought it to the red and caused a burn, then it countered with Discharge for good damage, and after that the burn finished it off. I won the battle and continued on my way.

The next room was more complex, with a couple different platforms with stairs leading to smaller platforms, and several gears both normal AND vertical. I went on the gear to the left, onto a blue button that spun the gears around but otherwise got me nowhere. I went to the gear on the right that led me to another trainer and a set of stairs. I battled the Trainer with Maria, and she won against his Luxio with one Mud Bomb.

I went up the stairs next to him and found myself at a dead end. in front of a pair of vertical gears. I went back to the first gear to spin things around and found that I could go over to another platform with the vertical gears on the left, going up the stairs and across the platform those gears spun to reveal, then back down to fight another young Trainer. He sent out Mr. Mime while I sent out Maria. Maria used Body Slam for great damage and paralyzed Mr. Mime, who afterward couldn't attack because of paralysis. Another Body Slam knocked it out, and the battle was won.

I moved onto the gear past the boy, and the blue button in the center spun the gear around, then I moved across the platform onto the next one, the green button on it spinning things around so I could go down to the first trainer and past the stairs next to him. I fought another young Trainer at the top platform leading to the next room, and her team of Pikachu went down easily against Maria (for 1) and Lucius (against the other 3).

The next room, and what I assumed must be the last, was huge, and very complex with many gears all over. I fought a Guitarist near some stairs, and his Raichu went down against Lucius' strength, though I had to heal Lucius before moving on. I went on the middle gear that led me to the gear on the right, and stepping on the red button caused all three gears to spin about. I went over to the gear on the left after and was spun around to go down to a separate platform with stairs going to a platform ahead.

I fought another Trainer before going up those stairs, and Lucius grew to Level 45 before I went up the stairs and onto the next platform. The upper level of this room was even more complex than the lower level, with several more gears. I fought another Guitarist at the top of the stairs, and upon victory Maria grew to Level 45. It took me a bit to figure out the 6 gears here, then I moved over to another platform that went down, past another Trainer I beat quickly.

Finally I reached Volkner, who told me that it wasn't often he was challenged by Trainers. In all honesty, it doesn't surprise me seeing how he's modified his Gym so extensively... He told me all those battles were boring, and he didn't even break a sweat. He formally introduced himself, then said we'd better get this done. Volkner hoped that I could make him remember how fun it is to battle.

The first Pokemon Volkner sent out was Raichu, and I sent out Annabelle. Raichu used Brick Break for good damage against Annabelle, who countered with Earthquake for massive damage that knocked it out instantly.

The next Pokemon sent out was Octillery, and I sent out Maximus to fight it. Maximus used Spark for massive damage that took it out instantly before it could do anything.

The third Pokemon was Luxray, and I sent out Maria against it. Luxray used Crunch for good damage, then Maria tried to counter with Mud Bomb but missed. Luxray used Crunch again for great damage, then Maria hit it with Mud Bomb for great damage. Luxray tried to use Crunch again but missed, then Maria hit it with Mud Bomb for great damage, but Luxray hung on and ate a Sitrus berry to regain health. Luxray used Crunch again for great damage that brought Maria to the red, then Maria countered with Body Slam for good damage. I had to switch out to Annabelle while Luxray got healed by Full Restore. I had Annabelle use Earthquake for massive damage that brought Luxray to the red, then it countered with Crunch for great damage. Annabelle finally finished Luxray off with Wood Hammer.

The last Pokemon Volkner sent out was Ambipom, and I sent out Alexander to counter it. Ambipom used Agility to raise it's speed, then Alexander hit it with Revenge for massive damage, and knocked it out in a single blow!

With all his Pokemon defeated, Volkner started to laugh. He told me that it had been the most fun he's ever had in a battle, and that he was also excited to know that my team and I would keep battling to greater heights. Volkner handed me the Beacon Badge, which lets me use Waterfall outside of battle, though I hadn't found the HM yet. The Beacon Badge also allows me to control all Pokemon, no matter the level. Volkner also handed over TM57 (Charge Beam) which may raise special attack if it lands.

I made my way out of the Gym, remembering what that Gym Leader at the beach said, and when I talked to her she handed over HM07 (Waterfall) before wishing me luck against the Pokemon League.

I've got all 8 Gym Badges for the Sinnoh League now. It's just a matter of getting through Victory Road, training my Pokemon, and beating the Elite Four!

Current Team:

Annabelle (Torterra, Grass/Ground, Lv. 45)
Marcus (Staraptor, Normal/Flying, Lv. 44)
Lucius (Rapidash, Fire, Lv. 45)
Alexander (Machamp, Fighting, Lv. 45)
Maria (Gastrodon, Water/Ground, Lv. 45)
Maximus (Luxray, Electric, Lv. 45)