Chapter 87:

One Man Sand

Me, Barry and Crasher Wake thanked Buck one more time for letting us stay over; we all needed it after all. We said our goodbyes at Route 225.

"That's fine" he told us. "You helped save the Heatran after all. So, what's your plan?"

Barry looked out into the distance. "I gotta head back to the Battle Frontier. Master is waiting for me."

"I need to head back to Pastoria" Crasher Wake informed. "The Gyms unoccupied and I don't want to be like Fantina."

As for me, I wanted to continue going around the Battle Zone. There was one more area to visit; the Resort Area.

"Good luck!" Buck told us all. "Oh, Lucas. There is a desert separating here and the Resort Area. Please stay hydrated and take these." Buck gave me some glasses with red lenses. "These are called the Go Goggles. They'll help you see in the sandstorm. Okay, I shouldn't delay any of you further!"

As Buck headed north back to his house, Barry and Wake headed west and as for me, I went east.


Well, Route 228 was unlike any desert I had seen. Now to be fair this was the only desert I've seen in person but nonetheless, it looked different to the movies. There was abundant plant growth including tall grass and even some lakes. This was a desert however because there was a raging sandstorm. I put on the Go Goggles and whilst I couldn't see perfectly, they protected my eyes.

Underneath me seemed to change from sand to grass every maybe half an hour. But the Pokémon remained consistent. Mainly Ground and Rock Types, specifically Dugtrio. These were bean shaped brown Pokémon that always came in trios and had the second half of their bodies always underground.


Dugtrio

051

Ground Type

Mole Pokémon

Region of origin: Kanto

2'04" (0.7 m)

73.4 lbs (33.3 kg)

Its three heads move alternatively, driving it through soil to depths of over 60 miles.

Diglett -Lv 26- Dugtrio


There were also green Pokémon that were spiky all over and had a large black grin. They were the only non Rock or Ground Types that I saw.


Cacturne

332

Grass/Dark Type

Scarecrow Pokémon

Region of origin: Hoenn

4'03" (1.3 m)

170.6 lbs (77.4 kg)

It becomes active at night, seeking prey that is exhausted from the day's desert heat.

Cacnea -Lv 32- Cacturne


It was weird to think that Pokémon could like in arid environment like this.

I continued to trek through the desert when, through my vision, I could see black smoke rising into the sky. Concern swept over me and I ran in the direction of where it was coming from.


The core of the smoke was a giant red truck. The engine looked absolutely totalled, but the actual truck was fine. On the truck read the words "Circus."

Depicted on it was a Rapidash jumping through a hoop, some clowns, multiple gymnasts and dead centre, two people. There was a man in a white tuxedo with purple hair and a blonde woman in a red dress wore by woman who work in the circus. Under it read the following.

"Featuring the world-famous acts of Diane and Butler!

(With special guests Cirque de Solrock)."

If I was 5, I would be really excited. But at 11, I was more concerned for whoever was driving the truck. I ran to the driving seat to see a man in a black suit headfirst in an airbag. The door was locked, so I sent Toxicroak out to use Strength to force it open. Hey the truck couldn't be anymore totalled.

"Hello!" I shouted worriedly, nudging him. "Are you alright?"

The man slowly got up. His nose was bleeding furiously above his small black moustache.

"Urgh, that Rhyperior came out of nowhere" he muttered. He saw me at the window, then opened the door and started shouting at me. "What's the big idea? Breaking my door!"

"The door is the least of your worries" I said, pointing to the wrecked engine.

The man struggled out the seat. "Oh no. The circus is tomorrow, how will I ever get this to the Resort Area in time? Sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Ben, the ring man of the Circus and driver of this truck. Come on, you're the Champion. Could you help me?"

I suggested the first thing we should do would be to call the towing company. Ben got out a phone and tried making a call. "This might be a bit sticky. Connection in a sandstorm could be a bit weird."

I suggested I go on ahead to find someone.

"Yes! Do that!" he said, suddenly full of energy. "Go and find someone. I'll just… see if the contents is okay…"


I reached Route 229, which was a path situated within a tropical rainforest. Within this route were many signs saying that the circus was supposed to be tomorrow. That would be if we could get the truck ready.

"What am I to do?" I thought.

"Say, what seems to be the problem?" Coming up to me were, to my shock, Butler and Diane! The people on the side of the truck!

"My goodness Butler" Diane said. "It's the Champion!"

"Just the people I need" I said. "The circus is in trouble!"

"Calm down" Butler said. "Okay, let's start again. What is wrong?"

I told both about the truck.

"Oh my, that isn't good at all!" Diane said, concerned. "Butler dear, what are we to do?"

Butler scratched his chin. "I know what!" From up his sleeve he took out multiple bits of rope. "Now Champion. I believe that you have a Mamoswine. If we all work together, I'm sure we can get that truck out of the desert safe and sound. Does that sound like a plan?"

But it would take a long time. "Who else can help?"

"I can!" A man in a purple and black magicians' uniform with purple hair and white glasses floated onto the scene.

"Will, just the person!" Butler informed. "Listen, we may need to use some of your Psychic Types."

"Gladly!" he said. Multiple Pokéballs floated in front of him. He then threw them up into the air and sent everyone out. The ones I knew included Jynx, Mr. Mime and Slowbro. The other two I didn't quite know. One was brown, had three heads and green leafy hair.


Exeggutor

103

Grass/Psychic Type

Coconut Pokémon

Region of origin: Kanto

6'07" (2 m)

264.6 lbs (120 kg)

It is called "The Walking Jungle." If a head grows too big, it falls of and becomes an Exeggcute.

Exeggcute -Leaf Stone- Exeggutor


The other was green and feathery. Its wings were white, red and black.


Xatu

178

Psychic/Flying Type

Mystic Pokémon

Region of origin: Johto

4'11" (1.5 m)

33.1 lbs (15 kg)

This odd Pokémon can see both the past and the future. It eyes the sun's movement all day.

Natu -Lv 25- Xatu


"Okay Xatu, search for the truck!" Xatu flapped its wings and flew off.

"You to Drifblim!" Drifblim went to float off with Xatu.

"Salamence, help out!" Butler sent out a large scaly blue Pokémon with giant red wings.


Salamence

373

Dragon/Flying Type

Dragon Pokémon

Region of origin: Hoenn

4'11" (1.5 m)

226.2 lbs (102.6 kg)

As a result of its long-held dream of flying, its cellular structure changed, and wings grew out.

Bagon -Lv 30- Shelgon -Lv 50- Salamence


Salamence lifted off the ground and flew off quickly.

After about an hour, the team came back with the findings.

"That must be the location!" Diane said, as we all ran off.


Swiftly, the four of us found the crashed truck with Ben waiting outside inside scared out of his boots.

"Ben!" I said. "I've-"

Ben just put his finger to his lips. He then pointed subtly at the ledge, where a Rhyperior was staring down at us.

"So that's what caused it!" Will said. "Rhyperior are very territorial, we should have come up with a different route."

Rhyperior jumped down. Its face was filled with anger as it approached us.

"Don't threaten it" I said. "It's all a misunderstanding."

Rhyperior continued to approach.

"THIS IS THE END!" I yelled.

However, Rhyperior didn't attack any of us. Instead, it forced open the back of the truck.

"Hey, out of there!" I yelled.

Butler put his cane in front of me. I knew it was best not to anger a Rhyperior. Inside, there was no tent, no rings and no popcorn or candy floss machines. Instead, there were some Rhyhorn in cages, cowering in fear.

"Butler, what is this?" I asked.

"I don't know… but I don't think this is our truck."

Ben jumped out of the truck, apparently now full of energy. "What are you talking about?" he brought up.

Just then, Butler got a call. It was a bit fuzzy due to the weather, but we could make out some of the voice.

"Butler… this is Ben. Had to take … different route but I've arrived."

We looked back at Ben, who was slowly starting to back away.

"You better have a good explanation for this!" Diane shouted. "Oh wait, you don't because there is no excuse for this!"

Ben pulled off his clothes to reveal, to my shock, the same Team Rocket Grunt from Victory Road.

"You got me!" he said. "But these Rhyhorn are…"

Rhyperior towered over the Grunt.

"Mine?" he squeaked.

Rhyperior started creating a giant rock between its hands. Then, it fired Rock Wrecker at the Grunt.

"Blasting off already?!" the Grunt shouted as he flew into the air with a twinkle.

All the Rhyhorn slowly crawled out from the truck to Rhyperior who comforted the lot.

"Your babies are fine" I told Rhyperior, who smiled at me.

Butler said we could use this truck as an extra storage space, so the Rhyperior agreed to help us with taking it back to the Resort Area.


We reached the sight of the circus where the tent was now laid down.

"Sorry for the delay" Butler told Ben. "But we had business to attend to."

"Oh I do hope tomorrow night goes well." Diane said, before she knelt down to my level. "Lucas my love, you really helped us back there. How would you like to be part of an act tomorrow?"

I gulped. I mean, yes but what was I to do?

"You'll find out" she said winking.

Oh brother. The Battle Tower and a circus debut would be happening within days of each other.