Chapter 31: What's for desert?

"Look at that Badge!" May told me. She had arrived in Lavaridge that morning in order to take on the Gym. "So. Petalburg next?" That's the plan. "Start making your way over to Mauville. We will meet there. Dad is in his car again, he will take us back to Littleroot."

That was a good idea. I hadn't visited home in a little while. "Oh, by the way. Mr Stone heard about your efforts against Team Magma and asked me to deliver these to you." She gave me a pair of electronic goggles. "Go-Goggles, created by Devon Co. He got me some to. They let you get through the desert on Route 111! There should be lots of Pokemon there to see."

At that point, a woman came over. "Did this young lady just say that you are the one against Team Magma?" She got out an egg. "Please take this as a thanks" she said. I agreed to hatch the egg, but first things first, I needed to deposit a Pokemon.

"This is great!" May told me. I told May that I had deposited Seviper. After all, a desert will be full of Ground Types. Can't have a Poison Type going up against one of those. "Good planning" she said. I wished her luck and headed out.

When I first walked into the desert of Route 111, it was too sandstormy to see. I put on the goggles and I could see perfectly! Naturally, there were lots of Pokemon. I walked into the sand and encountered my first one, it was small and yellow with a square pattern all over.

Sandshrew

112

Ground Type

Mouse Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

26.5 lbs (12 kg)

Sandshrew has a very dry hide that is extremely tough. The Pokémon can roll into a ball that repels any attack. At night, it burrows into the desert sand to sleep.

Nuzleaf was sent out. I was very curious to see what Nature Power becomes. Nuzlaef used it and it came out at Earthquake! This knocked out Sandshrew in one.

I continued through the arid desert. It got to the point where I could barely make out rocks a couple feet away, even with the Go-Goggles. That's not a complaint with them, however. These were working a treat.

I came across another Pokemon at that moment. It was green and spiky.

Cacnea

119

Grass Type

Cactus Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

113.1 lbs (51.3 kg)

Cacnea lives in arid locations such as deserts. It releases a strong aroma from its flower to attract prey. When prey comes near, this Pokémon shoots sharp thorns from its body to bring the victim down.

Now I wish I did bring Seviper. At least I had Swellow to deal with Grass Types. Swellow used Wing Attack. It hit Cacnea. Cacnea then fired multiple sharp pins at Swellow. The move it was using was Pin Missile! It multiple times, but since Swellow doesn't take much from Bug Type moves, it didn't feel much. One more Wing Attack knocked out Cacnea.

Soon, I came across two rocks. One had a root design on it and the other a claw structure. I took the one with a claw structure and the root one sunk into the sand.

I decided it was time to head to Mauville. I started going back the way I came, battling Sandshrew, Trapinch, Cacnea and Baltoy as I went.

Whilst walking, I found some ruins. I went in.

Inside the cave was a small pattern on the wall. It was Braille.

"Interested in the Legendary Pokémon to?" I looked around to see a man in a green jacket, buttoned up. I told him I didn't know that a Legendary Pokémon was here.

"I forgot. You are from Johto. My name is Brandon, I have a huge interest in the Legendary Titans of the Hoenn Region. Of course, there is quite a puzzle to figuring out how to get them."

There wasn't much I could help him with. I don't know braille. "Don't beat yourself up" Brandon told me. "I believe that you could give me a hand when the time comes" he said.

I made it back to Mauville that evening. I checked the egg. Wasn't moving. "It takes some time for these things to hatch" said Wattson, coming up to me. "Say, you look rather sandy. Been to the desert?" I told him yes. I was about to tell Wattson about Brandon but kept it to myself.

At the Pokémon Centre that night, I had a talk with May. "I got the Heat Badge!" she said. "My Wailmer learned Water Pulse at the last minute. It's a Water Type move that can also confuse the opposition!" I asked her when she would be back. "I'll head back first thing. Should make it back within an hour or two on the bike. Then afterwards, you know what that means".

We are going home!