Singular Surprise Superior Shocks Salient Soldier!

The Responsible Parties

Woah, look at all that delay! Things have certainly been busy, what with going to Spehss and all, but I can explain - I wildly overestimated the capabilities of the Kanto Gym Leaders. In point of fact I went into my challenge with Lieutenant Surge expecting resounding defeat, only to turn it, as I always seem to, into a qualified success.

Nidoking, naturally, can claim the bulk of the responsibility for the victory... you might say he dug us out of a tight spot! So, moving on, onward and upward, with Sabrina in my sights... just as soon as I get our little Pichu up to speed, anyway.

I've updated the stock list, which was a process long overdue. The entries are now accurate, current as of about fifteen minutes prior to this posting, and the pokemon listed (mostly) in National Pokedex order.

Carpetbagging Champion Challenges Kanto!

New Region, New Team!

It brings me great pleasure to announce that only two days ago, me and my team defeated the Elite Four and sacked Champion Lance, rendering me (effectively) champion of the Johto Elite Four!

This would be more exciting news if the Elite Four was challenged regularly but as it turns out few make it past Will so there's little reason for me to spend much time at Indigo Plateau at all. In point of fact, Lance is staying on to continue to meet challenges as he is still by rights the Elite Four Champion for the Kanto Region.

I thought about hanging it up at that juncture, and retiring myself from the league. After all, breeding is certainly time consuming enough an occupation that I do not need additional challenges. Having said that, however, orders are thin on the ground, and for myself there is no need.

Therefore, I have resolved that yes, in fact, we will be challenging the Kanto Regional League! My good friend Professor Elm has furnished me with a ticket to travel upon the SS Aqua - ocean travel is a pleasure of mine - and once I make landfall in Vermilion City, we'll come up with a plan from there.

Before I go, however, it is my duty as host to introduce our latest team: Alexis the Rhyhorn, whose stubborn and quirky nature belie a certain amount of rock-headedness; Rowena the Murkrow, whose insomniac tendencies are likely to drive us all mad; Noel the Nidorino, an impish sort we aught not to pet because of his poison point; Vixen the Vulpix, who is brave if not somewhat drowsy; Tobi the Seel, who is (like most members of his species) calm and retiring, and, finally; Pitcher the Weepinbell, whom I met outside Violet City all those long years ago.

Now, there's still some preparation left to do. I'm awaiting the delivery of several cases of MooMoo Milk, I have an order to place from my herbal medicine supplier, there's still a few kinks to work out in the training regimen, and, above all concerns, I'm not 100% sure everyone is ready yet, including myself.

Unexpected Incapacitation

One of the things we often forget about pokemon training is that battles are violent sport. Injuries are usually minor, if they persist at all - abrasions, burns, and frostbite at surface levels that are readily healed by modern medical technology. Every now and then, though, something serious goes wrong.

Imagine my shock, then, when Kangaskhan broke her leg during one of our duels with Bruno of the Johto Elite Four. The nurses at the pokemon centre did what they could for her, of course, but I am afraid her battling days are over. She has retired back to our little ranch where she will live out the rest of her life in comfort, leisure, and informal sparring.

This proved a greater setback than many could bear. I pressed on without her, and though I could beat the Elite Four even with the handicap, no amount of material compensation (with potions, ether, and revive) could make up for the sheer skill of our champion, Lance.

It is therefore with mixed feeling that I am finally able to introduce the new, improved team of pokemon from Commune Pastures Pokemon Ranch of Azalea Town! Just a reminder: Farfetch'd is invisble on trainer cards!

We hope to announce our victory over Lance in the very near future.

Hitting a Plateau: Ranching at Base Camp Indigo

Farfetch'd Still Broken

I have achieved the tedious! The flagship team from Commune Pastures Pokemone Ranch has bested the eight gym leaders of Johto, traversed the victory road, and promptly gotten stuck.

Between training inequities and an overall lack of preparation insofar as our move selection and typing is concerned, we've hit a bit of a plateau. To that end, I've made a substitution - my Hoppip, violet, has been replaced with the Salazar, a dratini that was gifted to the ranch by the Master at Dragon's Den.

The Elite Four, and Champion Lance, will be the final five battles for this team, once we've gotten them ready to get to that point. The Johto Six has proven itself time and time again, from the earliest battles against Falkner and the local schoolboys around Violet City, right on up to the other league-recognized trainers preparing for their own Elite Four challenge bouts in the foothills around the plateau. Immortalized in the Hall of Fame, they will be retired to the Ranch, where they may live out the rest of their lives doing whatever they please.

I'm not sure yet whether or not I will undertake to topple the Kanto Gym Leaders and bring a challenge back to the Elite Four, and possibly beyond, but watch this space, because, if I do decide to go that route, I will be announcing the Kanto Six well in advance.

As per usual, I've updated our stocking list.

Bold Battles form Banner-Building Bender!

Farfetch'd is still broken

It's been a banner weekend for us here at the Commune Pastures Pokemon Ranch, with our headlining team sweeping badges from Cianwood, Olivine, and Mahogany Gyms. Three badges in three days brings us screaming on back to Goldenrod City for some "relaxation" at the Pokeathelon Dome and some general-purpose housekeeping back at the ranch in Ecruteak.

Suffering from a shortage of orders, there's not quite as much to the latter as I would like - for the most part, it's raking in apricorns, keeping my bags organized, updating our comprehensive listing and planning my next moves. You see, I've come to really enjoy this gym challenge, and while I appreciate there's a bit of a jump between Pryce's skill level and that of the dragon-taming Clair, it's only a matter of time before I've run out of Gym Leaders to beat.

So, I've decided to test my continuing luck - and the quality of our breeding stock - by bringing my challenge to the Elite Four. Such a decision is never taken lightly, particularly when it involves travel to Kanto with a boatload full of pokemon - Quagsire and Kangaskhan aren't exactly small. Still, I think I've got it in me... and from there, who knows?

Mendicant Master Mashes Morty!

Another Day, Another Badge

It's been a long couple days for me here on the Ranch. Being bit by the collector bug, I've travelled from Ecruteak all the way south to Azalea, and back again, in search of a few wild specimens to round out our stock: as a result, we can now welcome quite a few species to our stables.

Notably, we've added a shiny female Heracross to our growing stock list, along with Pineco, Vulpix, and Farfetch'd (which, due to a glitch, is the pokemon missing from the team on the left). In point of fact, we have every pokemon available who can be wild-caught in the grass from New Bark Town to Ekruteak, if you follow the traditional route of trainers attempting the gym challenge. What's more, I've also been busy with the pokewalker, so I have a few species you actually can't catch in those areas at all.

With a fresh Fog Badge tucked into my belt, I'm also ready to press on and add even more options to our stock pool. I'm looking forward to hitting up Olivine City - the gym and its talented Leader aside, the fresh salt air and local food market is definitely a worthwhile use of my time. What's more, I seem to remember a little shop there where I can get a proper fishing rod and finally round out our options in the water department. Right now, we're stuck with Wooper, Magikarp, or Slowpoke for that. Oh, and psyduck, I suppose, but I find their headaches to be contagious.

Night has fallen, but with luck, I can make it to the city in time for lights out.

Weekend Warrior Wins Whitney, Weedle, and Wings with Willowy Wits!

I haven't booked an FC yet.

Been a big week for us here on the ranch, actually. Ever since opening our Johto branch outside of Ecruteak City, we've been inundated with challenges by local talent to see if we have what it takes to do business in their region and defeat their local gym leaders! Between the jeers of the locals and the need to have the badges to legally leverage certain transportation options (if you've never flown by Noctowl at night, you really should give it a try...), I've accepted.

Three days ago I set out from New Bark Town, following the very same route junior trainers the world over have taken when commencing their own Gym Challenges. Starting with a hand-reared Cyndaquil from my own stock, I quickly assembled and trained up a winning combination of local pokemon - pokemon we can welcome into our breeding stock as well. I must admit, a part of our success has been in luck - finding the very best specimens without too much wasted time.

It's been four days since I began that journey, and I spent most of that day slacking off. The second day was possibly the most exciting - it was the day in which I beat both Faulkner and Bugsy. So far, only Whitney has posed any serious challenge - as you can tell from the trainer card, the Normal Type is a chink in the armour I just don't have the knife to hit.

Still, we journey on, pressing to the north, and back to Ecruteak, where Morty awaits. While there, I hope to take advantage of having been home to announce a special contest.

The following are a list of particularly-valued pokemon. The first person to source me three or more is going to receive a specially-bred, Flame Weel Rattata I had originally intended just for me, until my Kangaskhan came along.

Pokemon We're Particularly Excited to See

• Mankey
• Growlithe
• Omanyte
• Spinarak
• Gligar
• Mantine
• Phanpy
• Donphan
• Sableye
• Baltoy
• Anorith

Pokemon We Have Available as Stock

*Indicates Male Pokemon who must be ditto-cloned. Please inquire for more information.

• Hoppip*
• Hoothoot*
• Mareep
• Wooper
• Kangaskhan
• Cyndaquil*
• Stantler
• Drowzee*
• Weedle*
• Onix*
• Sudowoodo*
• Geodude*
• Zubat*
• Pidgey
• Sentret*
• Ekans*
• Rattata
• Nidoran (Female Line Only)
• Bellsprout
• Sunkern