Chapter 25: Hippopotas and Hippowdon!
Hikaru, Ash, Dawn, and Brock were all making their way to Veilstone City for Ash and Hikaru's third Gym battle and Gym Badge. On their way, though, they came across a sandy desert. "Whoa..." It was the word that the group could only say at the moment. "Awesome! It's like a desert!" Dawn exclaimed.
"And it's giant!" Brock added. "That would mean that the temperature can be very high, wouldn't it?" Hikaru asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Ferno." Monferno sighed, feeling hot as well, but happy about it, too.
"Alright! Here we go!" Ash called. He slid down the sandy slope, with the others following him. "Hey! Come on out!" Ash called. He threw his five Pokéballs in the air, calling forth his Pokémon. Chimchar, Turtwig, Gligar, Staravia, and Buizel appeared, witnessing the sand background.
Hikaru, Dawn, and Brock smirked as they took out their Pokéballs as well. "We can't leave them out!" Dawn admitted. "For sure!" Brock agreed. "Alright, everyone! Come on out for the hot sand!" Hikaru shouted out.
All of Dawn, Hikaru, and Brock's Pokémon appeared, ready to make their relaxation. They all ran around, with Ash's Buizel and Brock's Croagunk just looking around. Chimchar and Monferno were playing around in the sand with Ambipom and Dragonair.
Pikachu, Pachirisu, Turtwig, Piplup, Luxio, Leafeon, and Hikaru's Buizel were running around happily along with hot sand, enjoying the warmth of it. Buneary, Happiny, Sudowoodo, and Kirlia were making a sand castle together.
Staravia and Gligar were flying around, enjoying the view from above in flight. Just then, a rumbling was occurring, throwing everyone off balance! The four trainers felt it, too as they braced themselves for what's coming. Suddenly, a form took shape under Buizel and Pachirisu!
The form under the sand appeared, as it let out a roar. "Hippowdon!" The large Pokémon cried out. "Whoa! What's that!?" Ash asked, surprised to see the giant Pokémon. "That's a Hippowdon!" Hikaru answered, also shocked to see the Ground Type Pokémon. Dawn took out her Pokédex to scan it.
"Man, it's huge!" Ash commented. "Hippowdon, the Heavyweight Pokémon. It creates an enormous tornado of sand by blowing sand out of the holes in its body, and its mouth is over 6 feet in diameter." Dawn's Pokédex buzzed. Buizel and Pachirisu looked to see Hippowdon roaring.
"Hippowdon!" The Ground Type roared. Pachirisu ran to Hippowdon's nose, to check its giant mouth. Dawn widened her eyes of seeing that. "Pachirisu! Look out!" Dawn called. Pachirisu then started to slip, with Buizel catching her tail, but fell along with the Electric Type.
The two landed on Hippowdon's inside mouth as Hippowdon closed his mouth, trapping both Buizel and Pachirisu inside! Hikaru, Ash's Buizel, and Dawn nearly got a heart attack on this sight. "Ah! Pachirisu!" "No, Buizel!" Hikaru and Dawn called out, shocked.
"Bui bui!" Ash's Buizel yelled for his younger brother. Suddenly, Hippowdon began to dig underground, making its escape. "No you don't!" Ash yelled, running towards it. "Give Buizel back!" Hikaru demanded. The four trainers ran to where Hippowdon dug under the sand.
Buizel gritted his teeth as he looked around for the Pokémon that swallowed his little brother. Ash, Brock, and Hikaru dug to reach Hippowdon as Dawn looked around as well. "Pachirisu!" Dawn yelled out. Just then, as she called out, there was a dust explosion from afar.
Everyone turned to see Hippowdon coming forth from under the sand. "Over there!" Ash called. Hikaru gritted his teeth, before taking out his Pokéballs. "Everyone! Come back inside!" Hikaru called. He returned his other four Pokémon to their Pokéballs.
Dawn, Ash, and Brock returned their Pokémon as well, except for Ash's Buizel, who refused to go in, until he got his little brother back. The four trainers, Pikachu, Monferno, Buizel, and Piplup ran over to where Hippowdon was.
Pikachu, Buizel, Monferno, and Piplup managed to get there first. Just then, Pachirisu and the little Buizel appeared from the holes on Hippowdon's body! "Bui bui!" Ash's Buizel called out. Buizel and Pachirisu waved to their friends as the little Buizel tried to get out.
He tried to reach his little brother, as Hikaru's tried to reach his older brother as well. "Pachirisu! Get out of there, right now!" Dawn called. Pachirisu nodded as she tried to get out, but couldn't for some reason. She tried again and again, but it was futile.
The old Buizel managed to get his little brother in his paws, as he pulled. But, just like with Pachirisu, it was no good. The little Buizel yelped at being stretched for a while. Just then, the Heavyweight Pokémon dug under the sands again! Everyone wailed in surprise as sand got into their faces.
"Ugh... Come back here!" Ash demanded. "Bui bui Bui!" Buizel snapped angrily, demanding for his little brother back. Hikaru gritted his teeth as he looked around again, seeing where Hippowdon might appear again.
Just then, another sand explosion came up, as the group turned. "That's where it should be right now!" Hikaru called. He ran ahead, along with Monferno and Ash's Buizel. "Hikaru! Wait up!" Ash called. "I need Pachirisu back, too!" Dawn reminded, running after her best friend.
Later, the group managed to catch up to Hippowdon as Ash and Hikaru got ready. "There's Hippowdon!" Ash called. Both the little Buizel and Pachirisu came out, looking around. "Pachirisu! Discharge!" Dawn called. Hikaru widened his eyes at the order.
"No, Dawn! That'll shock Buizel, too!" Hikaru shouted. But, it was too late as Pachirisu used the attack. But, to everyone's surprise, the attack didn't work! The Discharge didn't manage to hit Buizel as well, much to Hikaru and Ash's Buizel's relief. "Nothing!" Dawn gasped.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt, let's go!" Ash called. "Monferno! Use Flamethrower!" Hikaru called. Both Pikachu and Monferno shot their special attacks at Hippowdon. Ash's Buizel shot Water Gun as well at the Heavyweight Pokémon. The attacks made a hit, but it made no dent.
"Our attacks had no effect!? But how!?" Hikaru shouted. "Fire and Electric Type moves wouldn't work since Hippowdon's a Ground Type Pokémon... But, I don't get why Buizel's attack didn't work, either..." Brock explained, also confused with this matter. Then, Hippowdon dug again!
"No! Not again!" Ash gasped. "Pachirisu!" "Buizel!" "Bui bui!" Dawn, Hikaru, and Buizel called out for their lost ones. Luckily, Pachirisu and the little Buizel hid inside, preventing the sand from getting in.
That left the group, searching for the evolved Ground Type once again. "Oh man! That Hippowdon! Where did it go?" Ash asked, irritated with the situation. Just then, there was sand plowing out from a form. Everyone got ready for the Pokémon. "That it?" Ash asked.
Buizel hissed as he got ready to fight. However, as the form came up, it wasn't Hippowdon. It was a wild Hippopotas! "Hip? Hippo Hippo!" The Pokémon cried happily, wagging his tail. "It's a Hippopotas!" Ash cried out. The Pokémon walked over, nuzzling Pikachu and Monferno happily.
The two Pokémon giggled, happy to see their old friend again. That left the four trainers surprised, remembering their Hippopotas friend. "No... Do you think?..." Ash asked. Hikaru widened his eyes. "Is this the same Hippopotas we met that other day? The lost one?" Hikaru asked.
"Yeah! It is! I'm sure of it!" Ash agreed, smiling at the little Ground Type Pokémon. Brock made some thoughts on the little Pokémon. "I wonder... Did it get lost again?" Brock guessed. Hikaru was about to answer, when there was another rumble!
The group and their Pokémon stumbled, seeing another giant form coming up. It was Hippowdon! "Hippowdon!" Ash called out. The group and the five Pokémon ran over, seeing the giant Ground Type. "Hippo!" Hippopotas called. Hippowdon roared, getting irritated.
Suddenly, the little Buizel and Pachirisu came out of Hippowdon's nostrils! "Bui bui!" The little Buizel called out. "Pachi Pachi!" Pachirisu squealed. Hippowdon widened its eyes, shocked to see two little Pokémon inside him. "Pachirisu!" Dawn gasped.
"No, Buizel!" "Bui!" Hikaru and Ash's Buizel gasped. Hippowdon vacuumed the two Pokémon back inside his body as he dug underground again! The group covered their eyes, preventing the sand from getting in their eyes. As they looked back, Hippowdon was gone!
"Argh! Gone again!" Ash snapped angrily. "Hippo..." Hippopotas replied sadly. The others noticed the sad voice from Hippopotas. "Did you hear that?" Brock asked. "Yes. We all did." Hikaru answered.
"If Hippopotas feels sad, maybe it's because it misses hanging out with that Hippowdon!" Brock guessed. "You think?" Hikaru asked. Ash crouched down, looking at the little Ground Type. "Hippopotas! Is that true?" Ash asked. "Hippo..." Hippopotas said sadly, answering the question.
Ash smiled, and petted the Ground Type. "Hey, we'll help you out! We need to find Hippowdon, just like you!" Ash assured. Like the last time, he out Hippopotas on his head, as Buizel fidgeted around, restlessly.
Later, the group ran around, searching for Hippowdon, Buizel, and Pachirisu. Suddenly, their heard a pained voice, belonging to the Heavyweight Pokémon! "That's Hippowdon's voice, alright." Hikaru stated. The others nodded as they ran to see what was the problem.
As they got there, they all grew surprised. It was Team Rocket! They have trapped Hippowdon on the net and is trying to pull the Pokémon away. "Team Rocket!" Ash called out angrily. The evil trio turned to see the group and their Pokémon. "Eh? It's the goody twerp shoes!" Mewoth grumbled.
"Leave Hippowdon alone!" Ash demanded. At this moment, the evil trio began their motto.
"Listen! Is that the voice of empty threats I hear?" Jessie started, then gave a sigh. "Excuse me. Can we save his treat for another time? We're way overbooked." Jessie muttered. Hikaru glared at Team Rocket in a death glare.
"We've got stuff to do, too! So, save it!" Ash snapped. "Yeah! My poor Pachirisu is still trapped in that Hippowdon!" Dawn cried out. "And Buizel is in there as well, you nitwits!" Hikaru snapped, his eyes glowing once more. Jessie giggled after hearing these statements.
"Oh! I just adore getting a Pokémon with a prize inside!" Jessie giggled. Just then, another rumble was coming. Everyone grew startled of what was happening. "Is that another Hippowdon!?" Meowth guessed, gulping.
Just then, a big form knocked Hippowdon and Team Rocket out of the way as they all fell to the sand. Hippowdon was knocked upside down, struggling to get back up from the net. "What in the world..." Hikaru replied, shocked of what's near them.
As the form showed, it was a machine that looked like a Rhyhorn! It had a Team Rocket sign on the machine as well. "Is that... yours?" Ash asked. "Nah! We're broke!" Jessie answered, also shocked to see a Team Rocket machine. Just then, two unfamiliar people appeared, beginning their motto.
"A shrieking whine! A blast from the past!"
"Spinning like a Gyro Ball and moving fast!"
"To the moon..."
"...And beyond..."
"What a blast!"
"Administering justice with lightning speed!"
"Bashing the bad guys, should we feel the need."
"So here's a newsflash from across the wire..."
"The real Team Rocket is now on fire!"
"Cassidy!"
"And it's Butch!"
"Shuck-uckle!"
"Teaching the losers a thing or two..."
"...The true Team Rocket..."
"Us! Not you!"
Ash, Brock, Jessie, and James all gasped while Hikaru and Dawn stared, confused, but understood that this was a bad timing. Cassidy was a woman Team Rocket member with orange hair, purple triangle earrings, and a black Team Rocket suit.
Butch was wearing the same uniform, but in a men's uniform. He had green hair, and a creepy looking face. "Cassidy!?" Ash and Jessie called out. "And Biff!" Brock and James called out. Butch grew annoyed as he glared at James.
"I told you it's not Biff, it's Butch! James, you're as bad as your twerps!" Butch snapped. Hikaru gave an annoyed sigh, glaring at the other Team Rocket. "We've had enough of one Team Rocket, but two? This is going to be such a big pain." Hikaru grumbled.
"Ferno..." Monferno growled, glaring at Cassidy and Butch. As the group grew annoyed with the other Team Rocket's appearance, the two teams made their explanations and questions. Cassidy narrowed her eyes of seeing Jessie, her long-time rival.
"So... What are you doing here, messing up the landscape, Jessie?" Cassidy asked. "Stop stealing all of my lines! What are you doing here!?" Jessie shrieked angrily. "Ask Prof. Bamba... Hm?" Cassidy started, but was interrupted by a phone call. She picked it up and answered it.
"Hello there?" Cassidy asked. "IT'S NAMBA!" An angry voice bellowed out from the phone. Cassidy grumbled as she put the phone away. "Ugh... We're here on orders from Prof. Namba. He wants to study the sand that Hippowdon spread out. So, he sent us to capture one!" Cassidy explained.
Jessie grew annoyed as she pointed at her rival. "You tell that Prof. Fanboy... Huh?" Jessie started, but was interrupted by another phone call. Cassidy picked it up and passed it to her rival. "It's... for you." Cassidy replied, sighing grimly.
Jessie caught the phone and answered it. "Hello?" Jessie asked. There was the same angry voice. "IT'S STILL NAMBA!" Prof. Namba bellowed on the phone. Jessie flinched, before throwing the phone back to the black Team Rocket.
"Alright! Why didn't that loudmouth give us the orders instead of you!? Better not forget that the Sinnoh region is our turf!" Jessie snapped. Cassidy shrugged and let out a sly smile.
"Well, that's not what I hear! Giovanni told me personally that we're his and only Sinnoh region reps!" Cassidy explained. Those words caused the white Team Rocket members to gasp in shock. "But, we've been hitting the dusty Sinnoh region trail from way back!" James complained.
"Perhaps you've forgotten on how forgettable you fools can be!" Butch taunted. "True! 'Tee hee!'" Cassidy taunted. Then, the two laughed at their rivals and enemies as Jessie gritted her teeth angrily. She pointed at the Rhyhorn mecha.
"Grrr... Where did you get that bucket of bolts!?" Jessie demanded. "It's actually a present from Prof. Kimba!" Butch answered, before a phone rang up. Butch picked it up, and guess who? "IT'S NAMBA!" Prof. Namba bellowed angrily. Butch put the phone away and continued.
"It's one of Prof. Namba's inventions!" Butch explained. James gritted his teeth this time, while complaining. "Grr... We find and build our own machines! It's jus not fair that a prat like Bill gets all these bills!" James complained loudly. Butch glared at James again, annoyed with this issue.
"I told you, it's not Bill, it's Butch!" Butch snapped angrily. While the two Team Rocket teams were distracted, Ash took this chance to summon Turtwig. "Now! Turtwig! Razor Leaf, let's go! Help out, Hippowdon!" Ash called.
Turtwig appeared, severing the net with the Razor Leaf attack. Hippowdon was freed as it made its escape, digging under the sand. "We don't need twerp interference!" Cassidy shouted. Hikaru and Monferno both stuck their tongue out at the two.
"Too bad for you. We already did interfere!" Hikaru taunted. "Ferno! Mon!" Monferno teased, showing his tail to the two, causing Cassidy to grow beet red. "Urgh! Hooch! After them!" Cassidy snapped. Butch glared at his partner this time. "Come on! That doesn't even rhyme!" Butch complained.
The two then got into their Rhyhorn machine and made their way to capture the evolved Ground Type Pokémon. As they got away, Hikaru gritted his teeth. "Okay. The only way we're going to get Buizel and Pachirisu is that we need to get to Hippowdon first!" Hikaru explained.
"Right!" The other three trainers agreed. Monferno, Pikachu, Piplup, Buizel, and Hippopotas agreed with a nod and their call as well. Then, they all ran after Cassidy's team and Hippowdon, like in a race.
So, the four trainers have come across a desert, where a wild Hippowdon captures the little Buizel and Pachirisu! Will the group be able to retrieve them back before it's too late? With the double Team Rocket team around, it's not going to be easy! Stay tuned for some more!
To be continued...
Hikaru's Team:
Monferno: (M): (Flamethrower, Flame Wheel, Mach Punch, Fury Swipes)
Luxio: (F): (Shock Wave, Thunder Fang, Iron Tail, Hidden Power)
Leafeon: (F): (Magical Leaf, Shadow Ball, Synthesis, Iron Tail)
Buizel: (M): (Aqua Jet, Ice Beam, Swift, Water Gun)
Dragonair: (M): (Dragon Tail, Dragon Rage, Twister, Thunder Wave)
Kirlia: (F): (Psychic, Shock Wave, Teleport, Magical Leaf)
Next chapters:
Chapter 26: A Team Rocket Battle!
Chapter 27: Maylene's Leader Doubts
Chapter 28: Ash VS Reggie! Brother Rival!
Chapter 29: Dawn's First Gym Battle!
Chapter 30: Dawn VS Maylene!
Next chapter preview:
Ash: We've got to stop Team Rocket!
Hikaru: They're not taking Buizel, Pachirisu, or Hippowdon! I won't let them!
Jessie: Cassidy! You'll pay for this! And I still have a bone to pick with you!
Cassidy: I don't pay dumb loser girl! What, wanna fight!?
James: I will not forgive or forget of this, Bill!
Butch: I told you again! It's not Bill, it's Butch! Why won't you just get it right!?