This chapter was written by halcyonranhuer and edited by 4fireking. After this chapter halcyonranhuer also wrote a Christmas chapter. It is Christmas Eve today and so far there has been none of my fanfiction that talk about the holidays. If you are not celebrating Christmas you can just skip the next chapter.

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It took Patrick a good two hours for him to even get a little used to Colress and the other trainer following him around the desert. The trainer, in which by having a quick introduction for exchanging names and Patrick had found out, was called Ethan. He was not especially provoking in any manner, hence Patrick got used to his presence almost immediately. However it was Colress who even though unintimidating, had a sort of heaving aura weighing any stranger down.

Snivy wanted to smack his trainer for having to turn around almost every five minutes just to look at the scientist. It was because of this insecurity, Snivy had to walk on the desert floor. Since it was just past noon, the heat had risen to an unbearable level that it stung any sort of cool air even remained. Snivy disliked how his tail seemed to singe any moment since it was so near the ground.

"Huh, what is that?" Patrick raised up his head to look as Colress and Ethan caught up to him.

"I think it is a desert pit." Colress replied. He squinted his eyes and tried to focus on what was in the distance. "There are presences of Pokémon inhabiting the area. According to calculations from the coordinates that I have gathered, I presumed that it is a colony of Swindle."

"Swindle?" Patrick silently questioned as they advanced towards the pit. If memory had not failed him, it would be a brown baby crocodile-like pokemon. From the looks of it, it also had to be a ground type of Pokémon.

When he moved in closer, Colress' presumptions proved right. There were many Sandiles gathered. However Patrick had noticed that one Sandile was in a corner and it seemed to duck whenever another Sandile passed by it. However it had failed to flee from the sight of one of them and it was immediately being tackled by the other one.

"What are they doing?" Patrick inquired nervously as soon as he heard the Sandile's cries. They did not sound joyous and even Snivy had scrunched up his face in response.

"Bullying."

Patrick had not expected a response from the trainer who quickly turned away from the scene. Colress did not say anything.

"We have to stop the other Sandile." Patrick said after what seemed to be a minute of silence.

He stood up and started heading to the scene when suddenly another Pokémon appeared. This time the same reptilian looking species like the Sandile appeared. However it was standing on hind legs, revealing a pink underside of its body and it was a bigger size than the other two.

"The pokedex said that it was Krokorok." Patrick muttered to himself as he slipped the gadget back into his pocket after reading a quick summary about the Pokémon. "Apparently, it is the evolved form of Sandile."

The Krokorok, however did not take much notice about the picking. Instead it just quickly ushered the two smaller pokemon into the bigger group of Sandiles. Patrick noticed how the Sandile was looking increasingly distressed.

"The Krokorok appears to be the teacher of the Sandiles." Patrick doubled over in shock and fright after the sudden whisper beside his ear. "Oh it has gone away with several others. Behavioral studies suggest that it would be probably guiding the younger to find food."

"Mr. C!" He cried out exasperatedly. "Please do not do that again! It leaves with me only a bad fright."

Colress chuckled, "Patrick Strong, you are definitely not a trusting one."

Patrick remained flabbergasted. How are both related?!

However his eyes soon trailed to Ethan, who continued watching the Sandiles with a cold gaze. He looked down and realized that the poor Sandile was in a predicament more than it was originally in. Groups of Sandiles started ganging up on it and it was even more trapped than before.

"I really got to help that Sandile. I don't understand this bullying and all. There must be a sort of misunderstanding. We have to talk it out." Patrick rambled.

"You intend to reason by talking to pokemon?" Ethan asked. Patrick felt his words stuck behind his throat as he looked away from the trainer feeling slightly embarrassed.

"It is possible." Colress broke the silence. "Your pokedex has the ability to understand Pokémon speech."

If Patrick had not gotten shocked so many times today, he would trip over a rock. Had he seriously been travelling the entire journey without realizing such an important function?

In their pokeballs, Mienfoo was giggling while Houndour rolled his eyes. Snivy sniggered beside his trainer. Meanwhile, Patrick felt like a clown as Colress fiddled with his pokedex a little.

When Patrick approached the group of Sandiles, the other Sandiles immediately backed away, leaving that one Sandile behind. They scurried back to near to the pit, while that one bullied Sandile eyed Patrick cautiously. He lowered himself to face the Sandile who was much too tired to fend the trainer back.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you so… could you tell me why the others are treating you like this?"

Sandile looked at the trainer and then back down, before it looked back up again. It made some noises and a vibration from the gadget alerted Patrick. While trying to focus on what the Sandile was saying, Patrick was equally awed by the words slowing keying themselves in on the screen.

[…because…I am…dif…ferent…]

"Different?" Patrick echoed. "There's nothing different about you."

Sandile did not say anything. He just lowered his gaze down. Patrick had realized the other Sandiles coming out from their hiding places. They must have figured that Patrick was not exactly a threat to them. Patrick decided he would make this work. Biting his lip, he tried to think of a logical plan as fast as possible before the worst could happen.

He laid a bowl of pokefood in front of them. "You know how about making friends with this Sandile? I'll give you some pokefood in exchange!"

Inside the pokeball, Houndour rolled his eyes for the second time today.