After dealing with a Team Magma grunt, Omega sails to Dewford Town to deliver a letter from the head of the Devon Corporation. He’s not really sure how he got dragged into that, but, eh, there’s a Gym there. Icarus and Beldum wreaked havoc in Brawly’s Gym, with the latter taking on the Leader single-handedly!

NEW TITLE ACQUISITION: For Omega, “Bearer of the Knuckle Badge”; for Beldum, “Gym Slayer”

After that, Brawly told us to look for Steven in Granite Cave. We headed right there…and then dawdled a bit, just long enough to catch a Makuhita.

TEAM PROFILE: Armstrong the Hariyama

TITLE: The Muscle

An enthusiastic Pokémon who can go from quiet to loud in an instant. Armstrong takes great pride in his every move, insisting that each of his attacks has been passed down his family for GENERATIONS (including the ones he just learned…). He is energetic but patient, and, despite what setbacks he may encounter, always manages to bounce back.

When Omega met Steven, it was discovered that he was the one who sent Beldum to him. Apparently, Steven has a bunch of shiny Beldum and entrusts them to Trainers he thinks has potential. Weird. Anyway, we delivered the letter and then went on to Slateport to deliver the Devon Parts (I should be getting a paycheck at this point…). Team Magma was occupying the city’s museum. Omega isn’t quite sure what to think about them: one member said they work for the good of mankind, and the very next member he talked to mentioned how excited he was to commit nefarious deeds. Oh, the contradictions. This led to an encounter with Maxie, the Head of Team Magma. He explained his ideals, which Omega thought sounded fairly reasonable…but that sinister look kind of undermines any trust that he may have placed in him.

So, then it was on to Mauville City. By this point, Gadunka, Beldum, and Icarus had all evolved. Omega met Wally, who challenged him to a battle, but the young Trainer only had his Ralts, who was quickly dispatched with a single Iron Head from Metang. Oh well. Then it was on to Watson. Gadunka, now a Marshtomp, did all the heavy lifting—Armstrong tried fighting Watson’s Magneton, but was knocked out, so Gadunka ended up sweeping. Omega was excited at their success, but also had the strangest feeling that, somewhere, an Omastar was weeping…

NEW TITLE ACQUISITION: For Gadunka, “Gym Slayer”; for Omega, “Bearer of the Dynamo Badge”

Omega then picked up a Mach Bike and headed north. After learning about Secret Bases and reaching Fallarbor Town (Armstrong evolving in the process), he learned that Team Magma was up to no good yet again and went to stop them…after catching another new Pokémon. Sadly, this meant the end of Icarus’s time on the time, but at least he was able to have fun and evolve into a Swellow while it lasted. Farewell for now, my friend.

TEAM PROFILE: Cygnus the Swablu

TITLE: The Successor of Icarus

A Swablu who has taken over after Icarus’s departure. She feels a bit strange joining a team that has already been together for so long, but the others have done their very best to make her feel welcome, and she has a feeling that they will soon become great friends. Loves dancing.

NEW TITLE ACQUISTION: For Icarus, “The Retired”

Omega wanted to keep Icarus on the team, but that last slot was taken by a Mightyena being kept around for Rock Smashing and Secret Power…ing. They pushed on, training Cygnus as much as possible, and fought Magma Admin Tabitha at Meteor Falls. After that some other people showed up claiming to be from Team Aqua, and they also made some thinly veiled threats before walking off. Man, everyone’s got a team these days…

Omega went back to Mauville with May and began planning his next move. While a bit worried about what Teams Magma and Aqua might be up to, he is excited to press on with his Pokémon, because spending time in battle with them makes him feel happier than he ever has.