A few days had passed since our Heroes ventured forward to Stow-on-side. Just like their trek to Motostoke, they opted for the senic route, knowing that unique pokemon waited along the way, as well as many tourist traps that they usually did not get to see.

Kai was still admiring his Kabu Card, holding it as he walked down the dusty road that parted from Hammerlocke. A little bit more walking would take them to the Dust Fields of Galar, where harsh sunlight awaited.

"It's too bloody hot!" Piers exclaimed. "Why'dnt we just take the Flying Taxi like we did when we were on our way to Turfield?"

Melony scoffed. "It's good exercise, mind you! Plus... there's a Boutique in Hammerlocke that no girl should ever pass up on at least checking in!"

"Bah! Women and their clothes..." Piers muttered.

"Guys! Guys!" Kai shouted, putting the card away once again. "No need to argue, Stow on side is just a few footsteps away at this rate! Let's just take it easy, yeah?"

Piers groaned. "I could use some water, or something. Say Mel, can't your ice types make me a cold glass or what now?"

Melony shot a glare at the punk. "Piers! That would hurt them!" she said, shaking her fists softly.

Piers chuckled. "Nah! Just a quick drink!"

The two argued again, as Kai spotted a little pokemon slowly making it's way across the path before him.

"Huh?" he questioned.

The pokemon stopped and turned to look at him. It's dome shaped head tilted, as it opened it's jaw. It seemed confused about Kai's presence.

Kai approached it, just before the pokemon instantly scurried away into a pile of sand.

"Hmm..." Kai thought, as Jangmo-o chased it down, digging the sand hole that the pokemon had just made. "That's a Trapinch... which, can become a Flygon. It would definitely be a good pokemon to have on the team!"

Kai waited as Jangmo-o dug up and swatted at the Trapinch, now nipping back at Jangmo-o in defense. The little dragon jumped in the air, grunting angrily.

"Easy Jangmo-o, I'm gonna catch this little guy."

Kai reached for a Quick ball, and tossed it with ease at the small Sand Trap.

One shake,
Two...
...SNAP!

Trapinch had broke free, falling back into it's sandy abyss.

"Whoops!" Kai shouted, as Jangmo-o dug it up again. Trapinch was distracted by Jangmo-o, angrily nipping back as Jangmo-o dodged it carefully.

"Let's try an Ultra Ball this time, surely this will work!" Kai said to himself, chucking the ball at Trapinch as it once again shook rapidly.

One...

Two...

Three...

*Click!*

The ball shut off, as Kai reached down to grab it, looking down happily.

"Alright! Another member to the Dragon Alliance!" He shouted, fistbumping. "Hey guys, check out this Trapinch I just caugh-"

Kai didn't see Melony or Piers anywhere.

"Guys?"

He looked in all directions, Jangmo-o panning the search out more by helpfully looking in piles of sand where Kai's friends were definitely hiding.

"Huh. It appears that I have been left... in the dust."

Melony and Piers arrived at Stow-on-Side in record time. Piers stretched, yawning. "It sure is hot out here. Time for a rest break!"

Melony sighed, annoyed. "We have to beat Mary! We can rest in Ballonlea!"

Piers groaned. "That's too long! Come on, I'm sure Kai would agree with me! Right Kai?"

Piers closed his eyes, waiting for a response. They flickered open when no response was given.

"Hmm?" Melony asked, turning in all directions.

"Ahem, Kai, wouldn't you rather rest NOW, instead of, ?" Piers asked, emphasizing the choices, as he too looked around.

Melony looked at Piers. "Now look! We lost him!"

Piers grinned. "Or... the cheeky lad is off running with the ladies." He made a cat call.

Melony's face turned into a squiggle. "Highly unlikely, romeo."

Piers chuckled, before turning serious. "Okay, but really, where did the lad run off to then?"

Melony grabbed her Phone, looking for Kai's contact, and calling him, but the service at Stow-on-Side was far from sublime.

Melony groaned. "Ugh... no reception!"

Piers shouted out Kai's name looking for him. "Kaaaai? Slugger?"

Melony put her hand on her head, sighing.

Kai walked carefully through some treacherous canyons, avoiding large rocks and sudden gaps.

Jangmo-o was safely tucked under Kai's armpit, to ensure that he didn't fall, and that his trainer would secure him safely.

"I sure hope this is the right way to go. My map isn't very helpful out here with this low reception."

Just as he said that, a sandstorm began to kick up.

"Great!" Kai exclaimed. "What's next?"

Jangmo-o closed it's eyes, frantically shaking it's head back and forth to avoid sand. Kai held up his hand in the direction of the wind.

As he continued to plow through these treacherous weather conditions, he ran into a strange woman messing with a machine.

"Uh? Hello there... could you direct me to Stow-on-side?"

the woman turned, coke bottle glasses and bowl haircut staring at him. "Hmm? Stow-on-side is that way... I think." She said, pointing Northeast. "I'm from Wyndon, I don't know anything about this area. I'm just looking for fossils... I think."

Kai looked at her strangely. "Yeah... thanks."

"You're welcome... I think." The girl said, returning to her toying.

"Weirdo." Kai muttered to himself.

Kai climbed ladders, rock walls and embankments, but he was pretty sure he was either going in circles, or going the opposite direction. "Darn this Sandstorm!" He shouted, sighing. "If I could just see the areas around me... then I'd have a better idea of where to go."

Just then, he heard what sounded like a woman screaming.

"Ayiiieeeeee!"

Kai's eyes widened. "Melony? Piers?"

He ran, dropping Jangmo-o, who screamed in anger, running after his friend.

Kai shielded his face with his arm. "Melony? Are you alright? Piers?"

"Waaaaaaah!" The woman screamed, as she slowly faded into view.

"Hey! Whoever you are! I'm coming!" Kai shouted.

The woman's silhouette was cowering backwards, as she seemed to be bracing for a large impact of some kind.

"Noooo!" Kai shouted, lunging forward, getting a faceful of sand. The woman looked down, confused, and startled.

Kai had landed in a small enclosed cavern, and looked up at a woman with Almost Gray hair adorned with a blue and black headband looked down at him in a concerned matter. "Oh my, are you alright?" She asked, placing a hand down onto Kai's arm.

Kai groaned, looking up and spitting out a mouthful of sand. The woman's face was empathetic. She helped kai up, dusting him off. "You alright?" She asked.

Kai looked down, an angry jangmo-o joining his side. "I'm fine.. thank you." he said, smiling. He examined the woman up and down. She had a black body suit that went to her elbows and knees respectively, adorned by a black and white Gym Leader's uniform of Shorts and a Shirt, two arm bandanas on each hand respectively... Hey, wait a second, this was Mary!

"Say, I know you! You're Kai! That young trainer prodigy from Postwick!" Mary shouted, grinning.

Kai scratched his neck. "Eheheh, yeah! And you're Galar famous Mary of... Stow-on-Side! Say... you uh, wouldn't happen to know the way there, would you?"

Mary smiled. "Well, I live there, don't I? Haha!" She responded. "If you were on your way there, you were going the wrong way! It's Southeast of this cavern, past the diglett monuments."

Kai scoffed. "Lousy Nerd."

Mary kneeled down, stretching her calves. "Sorry, I was just training for a while out here with my daughter, Beatrice... or Bea as we call her. She's only three, but she's going to take my place once I decide i've had enough. Gotta start them young, right?"

Bea walked out from behind a stone, a machop following her. They were sparring lightly, as Bea fell over, giggling.

"Careful now Bea, these rocks are no safe zone for you to play around in." Mary scorned.

Bea looked at her mother. "Yes Mama." She replied, doing as told.

Mary picked up her attentive daughter, returning the Machop to it's pokeball and putting it on her belt. "Just so you don't get lost, how about I show you the way to our little city? Maybe along the way you can tell me your strategies... so I can... use them in battle." She giggled.

Kai chuckled. "Well, I don't really have a strategy on lockdown, but that sounds nice to me."

Mary and Kai went on their way, chatting for a brief moment as Bea began to fall asleep on her mother's shoulder.

Piers was panting, hands on his knees. Melony was sitting on a bench, sipping a cup of Apricorn Tea.

"It's your fault that we lost him!" Piers shouted.

Melony stopped sipping her tea, Looking at Piers crossly. "Me? You're the one who was arguing with me about stupid shit!"

Piers got up, slumping against the bench that melony was on. "I'm sure he'll find his way. He knows how to get out of a pickle."

Just then, the two spotted their friend entering the city limits... joined by some lady in a pair of pajamas...?

"Kai! Over here!" Melony shouted.

Kai turned briefly to face the bench, grinning. "Those are my friends!" He shouted, briskly walking over to them as Mary followed.

"Sorry, I got lost.. heh." Kai embarrassingly admitted. "But I met this all star on the way!" he exclaimed, pointing at Mary.

Mary chuckled lightly. "Oh no, I'm not an all star. Just like you three! They just give me some fancy clothes to wear in a stadium." She smiled lightly. "So, I take it you all are preparing for the next battle in the Gym Challenge, right?"

"Yes!" Melony happily replied.

"No!" Piers exhaustedly replied.

The two shot dirty looks at each other.

Mary giggled. "Don't worry, I'm always ready to battle when you are. Take your time and practice. Things get interesting with me! It won't be like battling those first three boys..." she smiled, walking off. "See you all soon! Good luck!"

The gang waved. "See ya!" Kai shouted, turning back to his friends. "So, are we going to crash for the night? All that desert exploration made me tired..."

Piers snapped his finger. "Bingo! I win! You owe me 50 Pokedollars!" he shouted.

Melony grunted. "I don't owe you anything! We didn't bet!"

"Yeah, but I said that if he said yes, then I win the bet and you have to give me money!" Piers replied.

They all began heading for a hotel.

"Rubbish!" Piers shouted out as Melony shook her head. "Pay up, now!"

"No!"

- - -

Looks like I had another silent block. But fear not, I've returned briefly... again. Lol.

After playing the DLC for SWSH, I got inspired to write once more. It's given me some ideas I may try to incorporate down the road. We will see!

Hope you enjoyed this little tease to next chapter. I'm pumped to write it.
Thanks for reading as usual!

~Cheesikaze