Trainers, which of Drilbur's Abilities has the least use in a Sandstorm?
a) Mold Breaker
b) Sand Rush
c) Sand Force
Hilbert and Hilda had no words. They had just exited the Pinwheel Forest, their work done. The sight of the Skyarrow Bridge, even just seeing it's majesty, was breathtaking.
"Wow… race you to Castelia!" Hilda said, before running off. Hilbert followed behind, laughing, but not quite able to catch up to Hilda. She was laughing as well.
The humour almost immediately fizzled out as they arrived in the hugeness of Castelia City. Hilbert and Hilda had taken but a moment to be in awe of the surroundings, before Burgh walked up to them.
"We have trouble…" he said. He trailed off, leaving his point plain.
"It's bad, Team Plasma is involved, or both?" Hilda sighed, resigned to having to thwart Plasma again.
"They stole a Pokémon. A young trainer named Bianca. It was her Munna." Hilda wasted no time. She pulled out her tracking tools, and followed the path of Castelia City like she lived in the town. She turned back.
"You guys following?"
"Burgh! Those two meddlesome bush-heads. And Burgh, as well!" a Team Plasma Grunt cursed. Hilda put away her craft tools, thankful she could track down Team Plasma with them.
"This is your last warning. Hand over the Munna, or I go nuts. You won't like me when I'm nuts," Hilda told them.
"Hah, yeah right."
Hilda is challenged by Team Plasma Grunt!
Team Plasma Grunt sent out Sandile, Sandile and Trubbish!
Go! Petal, Samaur and Drill!
Hilda was engaged in a Rotation Battle. A unique knob showed up on Hilda's Battle Ring.
Petal, a Petilil that Hilda picked up in Pinwheel Forest, attacked first. The Sandile that was currently leading the opponent's team was defeated. Plasma shifted to the right, as did Hilda.
Samaur used a Razor Shell, charging and slicing. Plasma's other Sandile fell to this threat. Concerned, the Grunt was forced into his last Pokémon.
The Trubbish was up against Hilda's Drill. Drill drilled underneath the tarmac, and pierced the rubbish bag from underneath.
Hilda defeated Team Plasma Grunt!
"Step aside. We're crashing this joint!"
"Ghetsis. I knew you were up to no good, right from the start!" Hilbert boasted.
"Good one, bro."
Ghetsis shook his head.
"So, you figured it out. Yes, I am the leader of Team Plasma. But so what? We will take the original dragon, and then we can take over the land… just like how Unova was created?"
"Of course! The creation myth! The guy who allied himself with the mythical being, and created a land of harmony for people and Pokémon alike! That's totally what Team Plasma's going for!" Hilda said, enlightened. Hilbert and Burgh looked at her.
"No. Just no," Hilbert said.
"It's called sarcasm, bro."
"Harrumph. Take back your Pokémon. But we will win the land's hearts and minds. Foolish trainers like the one who had that Munna will be separated from their Pokémon. Farewell!" Ghetsis stomped, and the room was suddenly lacking in Team Plasma goons.
"Well, I suppose I must thank you for your efforts," Burgh told the two. They were in Castelia Gym, recuperating from the fight with Team Plasma.
"We thank you too, Burgh. We couldn't have done that without you."
"Well… are you ready?" Burgh asked. Hilda scratched her head, before the realisation dawned upon her.
Hilda is challenged by Leader Burgh!
Leader Burgh sent out Whirlipede!
Go! Samaur!
Samaur had his scalchops on either side, and bowed before his foe. He ran forward, and Razor Shelled the Whirlipede up, and then spiked it down. It bounced about like a ball, and Samaur backhanded it.
Leader Burgh sent out Dwebble!
The Dwebble looked up at the Samaur with eyes that were almost pleading. Samaur's Razor Shell knew no boundaries.
Leader Burgh sent out Leavanny!
"Insects are more annoying than might seem!"
Leavanny's Razor Leaf took down Samaur. Although he attempted to catch the shots on his scalchop, the attempt was doomed to failure.
Go! Bao!
What? Bao is evolving!
Time stood still, as the Flame Burst that flew skyward glowed on Bao's fur. Bao curled up, and unfurled. He was a must larger monkey with that evolution. His fur didn't quite catch up, and several parts of his skin were bare. Rather than detract from his appearance, this enhanced it. Although the fur's shape on his head could have done with not looking so weird.
Congratulations! Your Bao has evolved into Simisear!
Bao spat out another Flame Burst, this one at his target. Leavanny, as faithful as it was, struggled against the fiery blow.
Hilda defeated Leader Burgh!
"Magnificent! Awe-inspiring! Tactic at its finest! And the best Dewott warrior I have ever seen! There is but one reward I am worthy of bestowing!"
Hilda received the Insect Badge from Burgh!
"I am significantly grateful for your help, and wish you the best of luck in your journey."
"Hello, Hilda, Hilbert. Thanks for saving my Munna," Bianca said. The two had just found the exit to the maze that was Castelia, after having found the one that went backwards several times.
"It was nice kicking the spit out of Team Plasma, tell you that much. But we've got butt to kick elsewhere."
"Well… how about a fight with me?"
"…I'll field it, sis."
Hilbert is challenged by PKMN Trainer Bianca!
PKMN Trainer Bianca sent out Herdier!
Go! Drill!
Drill clasped her hands together, and rushed the Herdier. Herdier managed to dodge, and used Take Down. Drill caught the attack on her claws, and thrust back. The recoil damage was enough to take both opponents down.
PKMN Trainer Bianca sent out Pansear!
Go! Samaur!
Samaur gave a short scalchop slice, and Bianca's Pansear went down. By now, Samaur was almost completely overpowered.
PKMN Trainer Bianca sent out Dewott!
Now this would be interesting. Samaur tried the same tactic that worked on Pansear, only to be met by Dewott's own scalchop.
"Like it? I saw what you did with that Oshawott… well, now Dewott. So I worked hard to produce a Dewott that could match!"
"Wow, Bianca… I'm amazed." Dewott defeated Samaur. Samaur's scalchops dropped on the ground.
Go! Servine!
Servine used a Vine Whip, drawing on twin appendages to deal some Grass-typed damage to the Dewott. Dewott blocked one, but had no time to deal with the second.
PKMN Trainer Bianca sent out Munna!
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to send out little Munny!"
You concern yourself too much.
Munna used a Psybeam, which made short work of Servine.
Go! Panpour!
What? Panpour is evolving!
Time stood still, as Panpour picked up one of Samaur's scalchops. The sound of an ocean breeze echoed around the battle, as Panpour grew taller. Her fur grew into a skirt-like shape, and her hair fell down her head.
Congratulations! Your Panpour evolved into Simipour!
Simipour clapped excitedly. Munna rolled her eyes, and thus didn't see Simipour's Bite coming.
Hilbert defeated PKMN Trainer Bianca!
"You've been training, too! Well, I suppose I'll be seeing you: I don't think I'll be getting through Route 4 in a hurry."
Route 4, as Bianca mentioned, was a sandstorm-blown wasteland. It was barely possible to see anything. Hilbert crashed on, shielding his eyes as best he could. He knew that, to reach Nimbasa City, he would have to pass through this Route. And he knew that the best way to pass through this Route would be to go north and never look back.
*SLAM*
Hilbert fell down. He looked over his shoulder. He found a small, green orb. Ignoring what his instinct said Hilda would think, he touched it. It unfurled, revealing a small alien creature.
*!&30Bw*%*/&… 9f36. I AM LIGRAY 42, OF THE ELGYEM PEOPLE. YOU ARE BEING OF STRANGE PLANET, KNOWN AS PNF-404. PIKMIN, I ASSUME?
"Pik… Pikmin? No, I don't know what a Pikmin is."
ERROR IN GUESS. BEING UNIDENTIFIED.
"I am a creature known as a human. My friends call me Hilbert."
SUBJECT IDENTIFIED AS HILBERT, RESIDENT OF PNF-404. NOW PROCESSING…
"You want something, don't you? If it's something I can give, I'm more than willing to provide."
HILBERT OFFERS ASSISTANCE. DOES HILBERT KNOW OF LARGE STRUCTURE WITH j*Y#*%*I*)%FIW BELL?
"Bell tower… The Celestial Tower! Even the youngest child in Unova knows about that! Ligray 42, I will get you to the Celestial Tower. Now, on PNF-404, humans carry non-human creatures known as Pokémon in items called Poké Balls. It saves a lot of energy on behalf of the Pokémon. Would you like to use it?" Hilbert asked, holding up a Poké Ball. Ligray 42 scanned it.
HILBERT HOLDS ITEM POKÉ BALL. ITEM CONFIRMED TO HOLD LIGRAY 42 WITHIN. LIGRAY 42 ACCEPT PASSAGE.
Ligray 42 entered the Poké Ball, and Hilbert officially caught his first non-gift Pokémon. Now to find a way out of the desert. He thought, before sending out Ligray 42.
HILBERT NEED HELP?
"I need you to direct me north, out of this desert. I can't see a thing."
LOCATION, DESERT. DIRECTION, CONFIRMED… THAT WAY. LIGRAY 42 GUIDE HILBERT TO EXIT LOCATION DESERT.
"Have to find… Hilbert!" Hilda panicked. She shoved sandstorm aside, but more took its place. Drill was aiding Hilda's efforts.
"Oh… it's no use. I can't even tell which way is which. We'll probably wind up going in circles. It'll be hopeless getting out of here."
Do not say that, child of flesh.
A being of abstract mark descended from the sky. It was difficult for Hilda to comprehend its appearance, even if it weren't for the sandstorm.
"Wait, you can see the way out?" Hilda asked.
I see all and know all.
The being descended before Hilda. She got on it warily, withdrawing Drill into her Poké Ball.
Hilda arrived at the Nimbasa City terminal just as Hilbert did.
IDENTIFYING NEW CREATURES… ONE IDENTIFIED AS HUMAN, LIKE HILBERT. OTHER… ERROR! ERROR!
What? How insulting!
"Guardian, please! This creature undoubtedly saved Hilbert's life!"
And why should this save it?
"Because Hilbert is my brother, and I wouldn't give him up!"
…Alright. The weird thing is allowed to live. I am Sigilyph, one of the guardians of Kasedraru.
"Si-gil… you mind if we call you Guardian?" Hilda was ashamed to admit that she couldn't pronounce Sigilyph.
Guardian is also acceptable. Sigilyph must be a hard word to say with tongues. I have only ever heard the Original Dragon say it before.
"Wait, you knew the Original Dragon?" Hilbert was in awe.
Long story. And I don't want to discuss it: humans have excavated Kasedraru and found our treasure. I want it back.
"OK. And your friend, Hilbert?" Hilda asked.
"This is Ligray 42. He wants to go to the Celestial Tower."
"Well… we have quite the cast. Let's go forward."
The correct answer is a) Mold Breaker. If there is any use for it in Sandstorm, it is indirect and highly situational.
Next time, on What is Good, Really?, we visit Nimbasa City.