Chapter 19:

Never Smile at a Sandile

Location: Castelia City

I looked to the gate that led to Route 4; the route out of Castelia City. I enjoyed my time here, but it's time to escape the city life for a bit.

Onto the desert!


Location: Castelia City Gate (North)

In the Gate, I had a call from Cheren on the Xtransciever. His voice was a bit crackly (you try making a video call during a sandstorm). This is what came through.

"bert… Le… battle… Meet… Out…"

Honestly, even the small amount of words gave me the exact indication I needed.


Location: Route 4

Construction work was everywhere on this desert route; you have to be a really ambitious worker to work in these sandstorm conditions. How they even build houses on sand is beyond me, but kudos to them. There was also a road in the distance with lorries going across from the road under the Skyarrow Bridge walkway.

Route 4 doesn't have grass per say, but it does have deep sand. I'm sure Cheren wouldn't have minded if I took a quick peak.

I walked through the hole in the fence that separates the road from the sand. The sand came up to my ankles, making it harder to walk through. I had to take exaggerated steps to make some sort of progress and, sure enough, I came across a Pokémon.

This Pokémon was yellow with a round head. On its belly was a red pattern and it also had baggy pants-like skin along with a long yellow tail.


Scraggy (ズルッグ)

065

Dark/Fighting Type

Shedding Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

26 lbs (11.8 kg)

It immediately headbutts anyone that makes eye contact with hit. Its skull is massively thick.


"I choose Dewott!" I shouted. "Use Water Gun!" Dewott shot water at Scraggy. Scraggy then ran up and bashed its hard head onto Dewott's head. "Some Headbutt! Okay Dewott, another Water Gun!" Another squirt of water and Scraggy was on the verge of clinging on. Then, Scraggy appeared behind Dewott and attacked it. "That was Faint Attack!" I yelled. "You know what? Scraggy, you're coming with me! Great Ball, go!" I threw the Great Ball, and Scraggy went inside. I knew this would be all or nothing, as Sandstorm takes damage to all Pokémon that aren't Rock, Steel or Ground Types so if it didn't stay caught, it would faint. I watched it as it shook in the sand…

Scraggy stayed in!

"I caught a Scraggy!" I yelled, giving it a Super Potion, then the Exp. Share. "You'll be great!" After all, Zorua isn't coming with me, so this Dark Type would be great!


I got out of the sand and took of my shoes to shake the sand out. There was basically no point in that though, as the sandstorm probably put twice as much back in.

"Stupid desert, urgh I'm never coming here again. Maybe."

"Hilbert!" Cheren yelled.

"Hey!" I said, though I could barely see him through the blistering sand. I continued to walk on till he came into view, his glasses covered in sand.

"Hey, so Bianca told me you had a battle shortly before catching Zorua! It's been some time since we had our battle, so why don't we have one now?"

I got out a Pokéball. "You read my mind, and I have a new Pokémon to try out. Let's give it a go!"


Hilbert Vs. Cheren

"Okay Liepard, go!" Cheren yelled, sending out a black Pokémon with yellow spots on it.


Liepard (レパルダス)

016

Dark Type

Cruel Pokémon

3'07" (1.1 m)

82.7 lbs (37.5 kg)

These Pokémon vanish and appear unexpectedly. Many Trainers are drawn to their beautiful form and fur.

Purrloin -Lv 20- Liepard


"Okay Scraggy, let's give you a go!" I shouted. Scraggy didn't know any Fighting Type moves, so I would have to rely on Defense being a great Offense for this match.

"Liepard, Fake Out!" Liepard clapped in front of Scraggy, making it flinch. At least that's only done on the first go. "Now use Assist!" I waited eagerly to see what Liepard was going to use. Thankfully, it was Rock Throw, which Scraggy resisted.

"Okay Scraggy, use Sand Attack!" Scraggy threw sand into Liepard's eyes, mildly blinding it and lowering accuracy.

"Liepard, Fury Swipes!" Liepard tried to scratch Scraggy, but it missed.

"Scraggy, Headbutt!" Scraggy bashed its head into Liepard's side. It was a Critical Hit! Two more would do it.

"Liepard, Assist!" The move that Liepard used this time was Water Gun. Scraggy pulled up its skin, trouser, thing (I still have no idea what it's supposed to be) and came back with another Headbutt, leaving Liepard almost down. Since we were in a Sandstorm, Liepard did indeed faint.

"You're first victory!" I told Scraggy, who was over the moon.

"Don't celebrate yet. Go Pidove!" Cheren yelled.

I recalled Scraggy, which was a shame because Scraggy's Ability is Moxie. This Ability raises Attack every time Scraggy makes a KO. Now I knew using Tranquill would be unfair, so instead I sent out Audino.

"Pidove, Air Cutter!" Pidove fired streaks of air at Audino.

"Audino, come back with Secret Power!" Audino took in the surroundings (we were on a road) and then hit Pidove.

"Another Air Cutter!" Some more were fired. I am so thankful Audino has high HP, because it was taking them perfectly.

"Another Secret Power!" Audino hit Pidove again, this time taking it down.

"I'm only just getting started. Go Timburr!" Cheren yelled.

I once again switched, this time into Tranquill. "Looks like I'm two steps ahead of ya!" I said. "Don't worry, your Pidove will evolve soon! But for now, Air Cutter!" Tranquill started firing the attack at Timburr, but it missed.

"Now use Rock Throw!" Timburr hurled a rock at Tranquill for a Critical Hit. Tranquill had at least one more hit left.

"Try Air Cutter again!" Tranquill fired, and this time hit. Timburr didn't quite go down though.

"Wake-Up Slap Timburr!" Timburr went up to Tranquill and slapped it. Tranquil fell to the ground and fainted.

"No Tranquill!" I yelled as Timburr cheered.

Then it fainted to the sandstorm. Victory short lived.

"I choose Panpour!" Cheren shouted.

"Dewott, go!" I replied. "Use Fury Cutter!" Dewott cut Panpour.

"Use Bite!" Panpour bit Dewott on the leg.

"Another Fury Cutter!" This one was stronger, as the move goes.

"Another Bite!" Disaster: this one was a Critical hit. Dewott had one more move left. Even if the next one missed, the sandstorm would still take it out.

"Fury Cutter!" This did a lot of damage, but not to the point where Panpour would fall to Sandstorm next turn.

"Use Water Gun!" Panpour shot water at Dewott, knocking it out. I had to admire Cheren; he really had gotten stronger.

"Audino, come out!" I said.

"Bite!" Panpour bit Audino on the ear.

"Audino, come back with Secret Power!" Audino took in its surroundings, then attacked Panpour, finishing it off.

Cheren recalled Panpour and readied his final Pokémon. "Okay, ready for this? Servine, I choose you!" Cheren sent out a Pokémon that was Snivy, but longer. His partner had evolved.


Servine (ジャノビー)

002

Grass Type

Grass Snake Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

35.3 lbs (16 kg)

It moves along the ground as if sliding. Its swift movements befuddle its foes, and it then attack with a vine whip.*

Snivy -Lv 17- Servine

*Whilst Servine can learn Vine Whip, this is referring to Servine's biology.


I recalled Audino; I wanted a guaranteed Type advantage for Cheren's strongest Pokémon.

"Go Pansear!" I yelled. Fire vs. Grass.

"Now Servine, use Leech Seed!" Servine fired a seed at Pansear. Plants grew around it and started sucking HP away. Plus, the sandstorm didn't help.

Pansear's spirit started to soar. It started to get hotter, as a ball of flames appeared in front of its mouth. "Pansear, are you learning a new move?" Pansear shot a flame at Servine. Upon impact, it exploded. Sears flew everywhere.

"Pansear just learned Flame Burst!" Cheren yelled. "In a double battle, it can do some minor damage of the other opposing Pokémon. It's much stronger than Incinerate to!" Judging by the fact that it did far more than Incinerate, Cheren was right. "My turn, Leaf Tornado!" Servine created a swirling wind of leaves that hit Pansear for not that much.

"One more Flame Burst!" Pansear shot one more exploding flame at Servine, finishing it off.


"I congratulate you" Cheren said. "We've both gotten stronger with innovating our battle styles and, today's new skill, adapted to dramatic weather conditions like Sandstorm."

"Say" a Builder said. Like the other builders, he was wearing all green except the yellow hard hat. "Somehow through this storm, I saw your battle. I'm impressed, but I'm sure your exhausted. Come to my Cabin, we'll get you healed up."


The Builder took us to a small hut with other builders inside, getting their tools ready for more construction. Me and Cheren had our Pokémon healed.

"It's nice to get away from the sand" I said, blinking wildly to get it all out my eyes and emptying my shoes. I'm sure half the desert was in them because when I thought I'd finished, more seem to come out when I shook my them.

"You try working in it" the Worker told us as he got us both a glass of Moomoo Milk. "But still, people will do horrible things, even in these conditions."

Me and Cheren exchanged worried looks. "Is it Team Plasma?" I asked.

The Builder shook his head. "Not them. We're talking about poachers, who kidnap Pokémon rather than catch them and sell them on the black market."

Aside from maybe Team Plasma who matched the wickedness in their goals, there wasn't much I could think of that was as dastardly as that.

"Tell us more" I said.

The Builder simply pointed out the window to the sand, where multiple Sandile lay.

"You know" Cheren said. "Sandile's teeth are so tough, they can-"

"Thanks" I told him. I squinted my eyes. One of the Sandile looked different. Rather than brown, it was yellow. Its underbelly was blue rather than pink, but it retained the black stripes and eyes. "IS THAT A SHINY?!" I shouted.

"Yes" the Builder said. "It's the leader of that particular bask of Sandile. However, it's shrinking. Poachers have been stealing them one by one, and the group's been getting smaller and smaller. Before you know it, they'll be none left. They come every Saturday, which… is today."

Me and Cheren stood up.

"We'll stop them for you!" Cheren said. "Nimbasa City can wait; those Sandile need our help!"

We saw a big black van pull up. That must be them.


Two men, one skinny and one fat, came out. We couldn't see their faces, but something seemed familiar about them. Quickly, they ran over to the Sandile and started kicking them about, then taking one at a time and putting them in a sack.

"Hey!" I shouted, as they turned to me.

I scanned their faces. It was them. The people who stole Zorua.

"What's the big idea?" Cheren said. "Stealing and selling Pokémon is wrong. If you want a Sandile, catch it!"

"Keep out of this kid!" the Skinny one told us. "Sandile sell for quite a fortune but add a Shiny into the mix… Oh we've been waiting for this one to come aboveground for some time baby!"

Me and Cheren got ready.

"Aww. Widdle childwen want to battle us?" the fat one said. "Well, fine. But you'll regret it!"


Hilbert and Cheren Vs. Skinny and Fatty

"I choose Pansear!" I said.

"Go Pidove!" Cheren replied.

"Sawk, go!" Skinny said.

"I choose Darumaka!" Fatty shouted, sending out a round, orange Pokémon with yellow eyebrows.


Darumaka (ダルマッカ)

060

Fire Type

Zen Charm Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

82.7 lbs (37.5 kg)

Darumaka's droppings are hot, so people used to put them in their clothes to keep themselves warm.


"That is legitimately disgusting" I said. The thought of putting Darumaka crap in my clothes? Bleh.

"You know, it has an internal flame that-"

"Just focus on the battle Cheren!"

"Pidove, Air Cutter!" Pidove fired streaks that hit both Pokémon, particularly Sawk who was weak to Flying Type moves.

"Sawk, come back with Rock Smash!" Sawk punched Pidove. It didn't do much and weirdly, its Defense wasn't lowered.

Cheren adjusted his glasses. Usually that would mean he was going into smarty pants mode, but he was also adjusting them due to the dusty wind. "Nice try, but my Pidove has the Big Pecks Ability. No Defense lowering here."

"Flame Burst Pansear!" Pansear fired the flame at Sawk. It exploded, taking out Sawk and doing some damage to Daramaka.

"Fire Punch Darumaka!" Darumaka's right hand caught fire. Then, it punched Cheren's Pidove for lots of damage.

Cheren had no choice but to recall Pidove, then he sent out Panpour.

"Pansear, Yawn!" Pansear yawned, causing Darumaka to yawn as well.

"Fire Punch!" Darumaka came back with another Fire Punch, but it missed.

"Darumaka must have Hustle!" Cheren said. "It raises Attack but at the sacrifice of some Accuracy. Let's take this opportunity."

"Pansear, Cut!" I said, as Pansear swiped Darumaka.

"Panpour, Water Gun!" Panpour however shot a larger torrent of water at Darumaka. I felt some of the water come on to me; it was boiling. "Scald! A Water Type move that can potentially burn!" Darumaka was down.


"Time to give up thugs!" I shouted. "Cut, Pansear!" Pansear swiped the bag with the Sandile inside and they all escaped. The Police arrived at the same time. Officer Jenny ran out and put them in cuffs.

"Your days of poaching are over!" she said, as she took them to the police car.


Later, after all the arrests had happened, we thanked the Builder and said that we should really head to Nimbasa City.

"Anytime, especially after the work you've just done!" he told us. "And congrats on your new moves!"

Cheren saluted as the two of us made our way north, where the glowing lights of our next Gym challenge could be seen, even through the raging sand…


Location: Nimbasa City

If Castelia City is the business centre of the Unova region, Nimbasa City is the recreational Centre. They have two sports stadiums, a Musical show, a Subway used just for battles and, the main attraction (well, except for the Gym obviously), the theme park called Pokéland, part of the Six Pokéballs brand of theme parks.

"I use to come here when I was on my good behaviour" I told Cheren, and he did the same.

Honestly though, we were far too tired to have fun. And quite frankly, far too sandy.


New teammate, new move and new destination reached; Nimbasa City. I'm really excited to take on the Gym Leader, Elesa. Oh, trust me, I know her. She's a celebrity. But on top of that, I helped take down Zorua's poacher. You know, in all the rush, I had almost forgot about Zorua. I will return it, but I just need to do a few things first.