Cinnabar Island

Cinnabar Island

Transforming fossils into Pokemon 

As you exit the caves of Seafoam Island, you will spot a trainer standing just outside of the exit!

Picnicker Irene has a Level 30 Tentacool worth 675 XP, a Level 30 Seel worth 642 XP and a Level 30 Horsea worth 532 XP and $$600.

With her disposed of, head back into the water and Surf to the west, on to the continuation of Route 20.

-- Back on Route 20 --

Ahead of you on a small sandbar you will spot Bird Keeper Roger, who has a Level 30 Fearow worth 1041 XP, a Level 30 Pidgeotto worth 726 XP, and a Level 30 Fearow worth 1041 XP and $720.

In the water to the west is Swimmer Nora, who has a Level 30 Shellder worth 622 XP, a Level 30 Cloyster worth 1305 XP, and a Level 30 Shellder worth 622 XP and $120.

In the water further west is Swimmer Dean with a Level 35 Staryu worth 795 XP and $140.

On a very small sandbar to the southwest is Picnicker Missy with a Level 31 Goldeen worth 736 XP, and a Level 31 Seaking worth 1128 XP and $620.

In the water to the west is Swimmer Melissa with her Level 31 Poliwag worth 511 XP, and a Level 31 Seaking worth 1128 XP and $124.

Melissa is the final battle as Cinnabar Island comes into view!  On the shore you can see the Island's Gym, its Poke Mart, and its Pokecenter!  As you make landfall you notice that there are people wandering about.

-- Cinnabar Island --

Our first stop is the Poke Mart, where you can re-supply part of your kit. Probably the most needful of items will be our Poke Balls, which we really put a dent into the supply of capturing Articuno.  As we happen to have a large chunk of money at the moment, I think that a serious investment in Ultra Balls is in order -- there is no point really in buying the lesser balls, as the catch rate on the Ultra Balls is far superior to that of the Great Ball...

I decided to pick up 50 Ultra Balls, because there are some spots coming up where I do not want to be caught short on Poke Balls!   Of course $60,000 in Poke Balls puts a serious dent into our budget (grin), but what can you do?

If you did not activate the Mystery Gifts system earlier you can do that here as well - simply target the Questionnaire on the counter and enter the phrase "Link Together With All" and it will unlock this, adding the option to the menu on the Start/Load Screen.  If you are activating this, be sure to save when you are finished entering and the clerk congratulates you, right?

In addition to the Ultra Balls, you will probably need to restock Revives, Full Heals, and the cheap beverage healing items from the Celadon Department Store -- so it would be an idea, once you have the items that we can get here, to pop outside and Fly back to the Department Store and stock up on healing drinks before popping back to the Island!

And now that we are back -- and conveniently standing in front of the Pokecenter, why not head inside, heal, and then save?

-- Cinnabar Island Pokecenter --

The Cinnabar Pokecenter

Inside there is an old bloke who will encourage you to take advantage of the Union Room, but unlike the newer games in the series, LeafGreen and FireRed are not WiFi connected, so unless there are other trainers in the same room with you in real life with one of the games and a wireless adapter, going there is not going to be much fun!

The young trainer sitting on the east side of the table will reveal that you can cancel evolution and still learn techniques on your Pokemon... Good to know!  The purple-haired trainer near the desk tells you that the Gym is locked -- but then she tells you that there may be a key somewhere in the Mansion that was partially destroyed by fire...  I believe in the detective world they call that a clue :)

Nurse Joy happily heals our team, and of course we should save now, as we are in tip-top shape!

Examining your team should give you an idea of where you stand on level training.  We are bound for the Elite Four and the Indigo Plateau, so keep in mind that this is all preparation for that!  Before departing the Pokecenter be sure to use the PC and distribute the recently collected Pokemon to their proper boxes.  With respect to Articuno, being as he is a Legendary, you may want to just drop him in the bottom of your B-Team Box for now?

Make sure you separate all of the trade-bound Pokemon into the Outgoing Box, so that when we get around to doing all of those trades they are conveniently grouped together, right?

OK, it is time to head out and take a look at the rest of the Island!

-- Cinnabar Island Proper --

The old bloke standing beside the Pokecenter outside fills you in on what the building next door is being used for these days, and as it is literally next door, that is our obvious next spot to visit!

As we enter we say hello to the bloke in the lobby and then enter the first room -- this is where two of the NPC trades are based -- we would need a Raichu and a Venonat, neither of which we have spare for at the moment, so we must politely decline for now!

The next room is the R&D Room -- Research & Development!  There is a bloke in here that will teach you the move Metronome if you like -- we do not have a suitable Pokemon at the moment, so again, politely declined.

Use the computer in the back to learn about the Legendary Pokemon we caught -- and its two brothers!

The final room is the Testing Room, and when we head inside we find another NPC Trade -- this one for Ponyta.  Remember where these are for later, right? 

Now the reason we really game here!

-- The Fossil Doctor --

In the read of the room is a Doctor who, if you give him one of your Fossils, can turn it back into a living, breathing, Pokemon!  Go and talk to him, and when he asks, give him one of your Fossils!  He tells you that this will take some time, but really all that you need to do is leave the room and then return and he is finished!

Now had over the Old Amber and he sets to work while we step outside for a moment and then return, to collect our new Aerodactyl!  How cool is that?! 

In addition to covering the fossils in the video for this section, we also do the trade of our Venonat for a Tangela since we are here and it is convenient, and it would be nice to be able to show you that process :)