"Sparkle, try Ember!"
The tiny Vulpix opened her mouth, and a spurt of flame shot out, but instead of hitting Flame, it curled back and slammed into Sparkle. The Vulpix got to her feet doggedly, though she was used to this happening.
Flame walked up to the Vulpix and gave her some tips on how to control the fire, then ambled back to the other side of the makeshift arena and signaled that he was ready to begin.
Sparkle tried again to produce a reliable Ember, and managed to make it straight enough that it didn't hit her, but curved to the side. It hadn't hit Flame either.
She tried again. The fire wriggled like a snake, and hit Flame head on, making him reel back a little, but did not hurt him. Cougar cheered, and Sparkle looked like she was going to cry with joy. Flame called Tessa over to speak with her about the Vulpix's fire.
"I think the squiggle to her flame is natural," he said, looking curiously at the yapping fox, "she's a different type of Vulpix. She could probably do attacks I couldn't even think of!"
"Wow, really?"
"Yeah. She should be a hit at tournaments, that's for sure! Especially when she evolves into a Ninetails."
"Hmm. She looks like she's pretty powerful for her age too, though that could be because she was born on a farm."
"Yeah, we should keep practicing."
Sparkle yipped to show that she was ready to try again, and Flame took up his position on the far end of the arena. Again the wriggling flame snaked across the battlefield, sending up earth behind it from its speed. It hit Flame with tremendous force, knocking him backwards onto the dusty ground.
The little Vulpix leaped for joy as Flame picked himself up from the ground. She sent tiny spurts of fire from her mouth, watching them twist away and fade in the morning light. Cougar picked her up and gave her a treat, smiling widely.
"This is the best thing that's ever happened! Thank you guys so much!"
"No problem. We should get going now; it's starting to get late."
"Okay."
The two trainers pulled out their mach bikes and unfolded them. When the bikes were reconstructed, Tessa called Flame back and sent out Lavender to enjoy the ride. Cougar set Sparkle in the small wire and cloth basket on the front of his bike, and Tessa did the same for Lavender.
The going was slow at first, but soon they were riding at an amazing speed. The land around them was transformed into little more than a blur as they rode by. Suddenly, Tessa saw something up ahead, and she pulled on the brakes, screeching to a halt just before she ran into a row of boulders. Cougar had also seen them, and he pulled to a stop beside her.
"What now?" he asked.
"Well, I think Brown knows Rock Smash." answered Tessa.
She pulled a Poke'ball from her belt and pressed the button. The Kadabra materialized in front of them, and Tessa told him their predicament.
"No problem," said the Kadabra, "I can get these boulders out of the way even though I don't know Rock Smash."
"Oh, yeah..." mumbled Tessa as Brown moved the rocks with his Psychic powers.
She thanked the Kadabra and called him back into the Poke'ball, reassuring him that she would let him out at the next Pokemon Center. They rode on, but came to a huge obstacle that could not be crossed as easily.
"Oh, the desert." said Tessa, looking at the swirling sandstorm enveloping the huge expanse of sand, she glanced at Cougar, "Do you have Go Goggles?"
"Afraid not." said Cougar, staring at the arid land with curiosity.
"Well, we'll have to make a detour to Lavaridge then."
"Lavaridge? Don't we have to go to Mt. Chimney to get there?"
"Yeah. Well, let's get going." said Tessa as she turned her bike away from the swirling sands.
"Wait up!" called Cougar as they sped to the mountain.
"You want to go up the mountain?" asked the lady at the cable car service desk.
"Yes, please." answered Tessa.
"Well, that'll be twenty dollars for each passenger."
"I don't have that much money!" hissed Cougar to Tessa, who just shrugged.
"Don't worry about it." she said, handing the service lady forty dollars.
"Thank you for riding with Chimney Cable Car Services. Have a nice day!" said the lady, helping them into the contraption.
"Thank you." replied Tessa, buckling her seatbelt and moving Lavender from her shoulder to her lap.
As the car started moving upwards, Tessa saw that Cougar was shuddering, trying not to look outside.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I don't like heights." replied Cougar fearfully, squeezing Sparkle.
"Don't worry. I was afraid of heights too, until I went flying with Flame!"
"That doesn't help."
"Worth a try, though."
They passed the rest of the trip in relative silence, except for when Sparkle squeaked in protest when Cougar squeezed too hard. Soon, they reached the summit.
"Finally!" exclaimed Cougar, stepping out of the car, "I thought I'd never get off that thing!"
Tessa, Lavender, and Sparkle just giggled. Cougar gave them all scathing looks, then smiled.
"I'm pathetic, aren't I?"
"Nah, just funny!" squeaked Lavender, making Sparkle laugh even harder.
"What?" demanded Cougar, looking at Sparkle.
"Lavender just said something funny, that's all." soothed Tessa, smiling despite the look on Cougar's face.
"Fine," Cougar sighed, "Let's get to Lavaridge."
The two took out their mach bikes and sped down the Jagged Pass to the small town. Lavaridge was famous for its hot springs, which were provided by the heated water under the volcano.
When they reached the town, Tessa immediately headed for the store. She bought a pair of Go Goggles for Cougar and, on a second thought, bought two mini Goggles for Lavender and Sparkle.
Cougar was amazed at his goggles, and so was Sparkle with hers. They looked comical when they put them on, though, and Tessa couldn't help but laugh. The two laughed at what Tessa and Lavender looked like as well.
"Let's just save these for the desert, why don't we?" said Tessa, taking off her goggles.
The others nodded, and took theirs off as well.
"I know a shortcut to the desert, so we can get there faster than we came here." said Tessa, gesturing to a well-concealed path that the others would have missed if she hadn't pointed it out.
"Wow! Let's get going then."
The desert wasn't very big, and they were able to get through most of it in only a few hours with the help of their bikes. There was only a short stretch left, so they decided to take a break for a while. Tessa found a sheltering boulder, and the sat down under it. Cougar flopped down on the slightly cooler sand.
"Whew, it's hot!"
"It is a desert, you know."
"Yeah, but I didn't realize they were this hot."
"We'll be out of it in a while."
"Hey, what's that?" said Cougar, suddenly focusing at a spot in the sand.
Tessa looked at the spot also, and saw a slight movement.
"I don't know. Let's wait and see."
The sand moved a few more times, and then a small, brown head emerged from the dust. The strange Pokemon rose and shook the dirt off. It floated above the ground, looking at them curiously.
"Hello," it said, though the voice was in their heads. Tessa realized that this was a psychic Pokemon.
"We don't get many humans through here anymore, too many Trapinch, you know."
"Really, what do they do?" asked Cougar.
"They dig big holes in the sand and wait for prey to fall into it. They crush them and eat them, and they don't much care what it is they eat."
"Sounds dangerous."
"It is, human, especially for ones who cannot fly."
"Why are you the only Pokemon we've seen so far, then?"
"Most Pokemon live only in the deep sand, which you two went into when you approached the boulder. Plus, I've never seen a human up close before, and I was curious."
"Wow, if you don't mind my asking, what type of Pokemon are you?"
"I'm a Baltoy."
"Cool, never thought I'd see one of you guys."
"We're very rare." said the Baltoy proudly.
"Yeah. Well, it was nice to meet you, but I think we should go now so we don't run into any Trapinch."
"I guess so. It was a rare treat to see a human up close, thank you."
"Same here reversed."
Tessa and Cougar picked up their Pokemon and put them in the baskets. The Baltoy watched this, and then floated up to Cougar again.
"Yes?" asked Cougar when the Baltoy nudged him.
"I was thinking, where are you going?"
"We're going to Fallarbor to investigate a Pokemon attack."
"Really? Can I come?"
"I'm sure you can, if it's okay with Tessa?"
"Sure, the more the merrier. You do realize this could be dangerous?" She asked the Baltoy.
"Yes, but I have chosen my trainer, and I know the risks."
"Oh! You want me to be your trainer?" asked Cougar in surprise.
"Yes."
"Thank you! I think the basket is big enough for both you and Sparkle." He said, carrying the Baltoy the last few feet to the bike.
"By the way, my name's Jaycou."
"I'm Cougar." said Cougar.
"Well, we're off!" said Tessa, speeding off on her bike.
Cougar raced after her, and Jaycou leaned out of the basket, watching in fascination as the ground flew by. The trainers laughed, and biked faster. Soon, they had left the desert and were on their way to the ash-fields.