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As expected, a post got deleted when it was bumped to page 5.

That's why I took the time to quote everything that looked important on page 4.

Oh hey, is it all fixed now? Good! That means I can unlock the Grading Room.
Only two posts got eaten by the bug, and as I said, I saved its contents.

Fixing... fixing ... fixing...

(Puts on bigger shoes)

Stomping the bug... stomping the bug...

Five posts to go.

Three.

One.... Please let this start working right.

MISSION- Mining in Granite Cave
Any Team Aqua member is asked to go to Granite Cave and get one of the rare stones (Fire Stone, Water Stone, Leaf Stone, Thunderstone, Moon Stone, Sun Stone) that are in it. But watch out for Steven. He often trains his pokemon in the cave, and won't hesitate to challenge you to a battle. (If you run into him, he'll use 3 basic stage Ground, Rock, or Steel-type Pokemon)

Pokemon:
Aron

Item: The evolution stone you bring back.

Funds upon completion: 600

Mission Level: 2

- - - - - - - - - -


Max woke up one morning at HQ, bright eyed and bushy-tailed. He struggled getting out of his blankets and fell out onto the floor, in a sprawling mess. He fumbled around for a few more minutes before finally dislodging himself from the blankets. He kicked them and insulted them, which made him feel better about himself. Feeling victorious, he got dressed and headed down the stairs to the Aqua HQ main room. He got very bored, considering there was absolutely nothing to do. He headed into the kitchen to get some breakfast.

While poring a bowl of cereal his TADS, which was in his pocket, vibrated, causing him to jerk and spill the cereal everywhere. No one was there to see him make such a fool of himself, so he hurriedly cleaned up his mess and put the cereal away. He left the room quickly, making sure not to get caught.

Back in the main room he sighed, no one had caught him. He reached into his pocket and flipped his TADS open, quickly reading his mission.

Go to Granite Cave, north of Dewford, and bring back an evolution stone. More details in the briefing.

A few seconds later Max received a few file documents via e-mail concerning his mission. He read them and snapped his TADS shut. Mission Time! He left Aqua HQ on Wailmer, who surfed him all the way there.

He arrived in Dewford later that evening and returned Wailmer. He stretched around and decided to make this a two day mission. One day collecting information, and the next devoted completely to finding that stone.

Max walked around chatting up the locals. He asked what kind of trouble he might run into in the cave and such things along the lines of that. He had heard a few rumors that a trainer named Steven trained in Granite Cave. He wasn't too worried. He had everything under control. He stayed the night at the Pokemon Center.

The next morning he was up early and at the cave before noon. He entered the cave like any other mission only to be surprise tackled by an Aron. He looked at the little creature that had just tackled him into the wall and threw out a pokeball. The pokemon that came out was Torchic

“Steel versus Fire.” Max smirked. “I like these odds.”

The Aron tried a Headbutt on the Torchic but the Torchic dodged. The Aron caught itself on a wall and Tackled this time hitting the Torchic. Torchic bounded against the wall.

“Jump off the wall and Flamethrower!” Max said. The little creature used it's relatively strong legs and jumped with fire streaming from it's beak. Aron took the blast and stood firm, though he looked hurt.

“Torchic Use Ember!” Max cried out to his pokemon. The little bird spit balls of fire at the Aron who stood it's ground. Max was shocked. This little guy was strong. The Aron had to be close to being defeated. It used Headbutt, and it was critical, wounding the poor Torchic badly.

Max returned the Torchic before it had to suffer through much more of this. He clipped the ball on his belt and on the back pull he grabbed Ripley's ball. He released Ripley, who would finish this fight quickly.

The Aron charged Ripley, but Ripley easily dodged the attack. Ripley turned and got ready for it's master's command.

“Use Force Palm! Finish it!” Max said. Ripley crashed into the Aron, who then flew into the wall. The little creature of steel tried to get up but Max threw a shiny ball at it.

Wiggle,
Wiggle,
Wiggle,
Ding!

Max captured the Aron. He returned Ripley and continued through the cave. It was really dark and he couldn't see much of anything. As he was walking he fell through what was probably supposed to be a ladder hole. He missed it entirely and on the fall down all he could think about was why he hadn't used Torchic as a torch. Torchic...Torch. He had just realized that little tidbit of information. He hit the ground with a sickening thud and laid there.

“Hey....hey...Are you all right?” A voice asked. Max opened on of his eyes to look up. He had a splitting headache and really just wanted to leave the dang cave. Max sat up slowly rubbing the back of his head. He looked straight forward and saw a Fire Stone. He got up to rush for it but the person whose voice he heard grabbed his wrist.

“Hey pal hold on a second. I came down here for those and they are mine. You may have found that one first, but I need them.” he said before letting Max go. Max straightened his sleeve and looked at the man, slightly threatening.

“I am on a mission to get that stone.” Max said as he got a mischievous look on his face. “How about we battle for it?” Max suggested.

“Sounds fair.” the other one said. “My name is Steven by the way.”
“Max.” Max said.

They squared off facing each other. Steven threw a ball and a Geodude appeared from it. It took everything Max had not to laugh. Almost half of his team were Water types. This was going to be an easy battle. Max threw a ball and his Wailmer appeared.

“Geodude Use Rock Throw.” Steven announced. The Geodude started tearing out large chunks of rock out of the ground and hurling them at Wailmer.

“Wailmer Use Rollout!” Wailmer rolled straight through the rocks, taking some damage, and careened into Geodude. Geodude halted Wailmer with his strength, but that left him vulnerable. “Wailmer use Water Gun.” Max said calmly. Geodude versus Wailmer. It was over before it began. The water gun barraged the rock creature in the face sending it flying into a wall. Steven returned Geodude as Max returned Wailmer.

“Hmm you aren't half bad.” Steven said.
“Neither are you.” Max said.

Steven threw another pokeball, releasing his Nosepass. It took everything Max had to stop from laughing. Was this guy's team made to be defeated easily? He shook the idea and tossed out his Totodile.

“Rock Tomb!” Steven said to his Nosepass. The pokemon started stomping it's feet. As Totodile looked up rocks were whistling through the air. Totodile attempted to dodge and managed to dodge most, save for the one that hit his tail. It yelped in pain as it looked at the Nosepass angrily.

“Water gun!” Max yelled. The Totodile unleashed a monsoon from it's mouth, aimed directly towards the Nosepass. It managed to score a hit, a critical hit, but the Nosepass still survived.

“Use Zap Cannon!” Steven said. The Nosepass stored energy near it's mouth as it prepared. When the sphere of light achieved the appropriate size, the Nosepass hurled it at the Totodile. Totodile managed to side step, but the cannon managed to graze his shoulder, and the Nosepass was defenseless.

“Water gun again!” Max yelled. The little blue gator unleashed it's fury again, K.O.ing the Nosepass. So far Max was 2-0. He was excited. He was about to beat Steven. The trainers returned their Pokemon and released their final ones. Steven's turned out to be an Aron and Max's was Ripley.

“Aron use Zen Headbutt!” Steven said. The little Steel creature came bounding at Ripley with a break neck speed. Max had to think fast.

“Use Force Palm!” he said. Ripley tried to side step, but was swiped by the Aron. Using the momentum from the hit, Ripley swung full force with Force Palm, sending him sailing, where he landed 8 feet away.

Both Aron and Ripley were wounded. Their next attacks might be their last. Max and Steven eyed each other down, preparing and anticipating, critical things to a Pokemon battle.

“Use Headbutt!” Steven cried out to his Pokemon. The Aron lunged towards Ripley, who stood their, with the will of steel. As Aron was about to collide with Ripley Max yelled.

“Ripley Use Counter!”

Ripley started to glow with a light that encased his body. The Aron slammed into the little blue jackal and sailed back through the air and was defeated. Steven returned his Aron and shook hands with Max.

“That was a great battle. You have good strategy.” he said.

Max took his hand and said. “You too. I thought I was gonna be done in there.” he said scratching the back of his head in his nervous fashion.

“Well the stone is all yours. Take it.” Steven said handing Max the Fire Stone. Max thanked him and put the stone in his bag. They exchanged goodbyes and Max left for Aqua Headquarters, with his mission completed.

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Items Used: Shiny Ball x1
Pokemon Used: Totodile, Wailmer, Torchic, Riolu