The Lost Shellos

Summer had become a steadily disappearing season in the Hoenn Region as the much cooler Autumn was set into motion. Green leaves had turned into an array of beautiful orange and brown with Pokemon migrating to much warmer pastures towards the north. Interestingly, Hoenn had always been a split season Region with the northern hemisphere containing the smoking Mt. Chimney and Hoenn Desert, remaining incredibly warm throughout the year. However, down towards the southern areas, the seasons changed rapidly and sometimes with little warning. Getting a cold, or even the flu for that matter, on the road would lead to a much harder journey to the next destination. If there was one place in the world to avoid getting lost and sick, it would be the Petalburg Woods. A growing forest that was known for its twisting bends and disappearing pathways that made it hard to travel through. Many thought the Pokemon inside were the ones to cause confusion, but close research had brought up newer solutions. To aid travellers, a Pokemon Centre had been erected in the central areas to give those a break and to regain their bearings. Compasses would not work here due to the metallic rock formations between the trees and the lengthy blades of grass would send you in circles.

Rod and Forrest stood on the edge of the Petalburg Woods, both of them breathing in steadily at the vast, and seemingly never-ending, array of trees ahead. They were all much taller, some varying in height, and each cast a dark shadow towards them almost trying to keep them away. Forrest took out his Hoenn Region map and muttered, gesturing to his right, "We can try and go around this if you want, Rod?"

Shaking his head, Rod allowed confidence to fill his mind and replied with a wry smile, "Let's give it a go, Forrest. We have Pokemon that can search for the exit if we get lost."

Starly and Fletchling would be able to search from the air and guide them to the apparent Route 104 ahead and Rustboro City. Rod had been eager to add to his Pokemon team once again though, and walking around the woods would not help that cause. Forrest seemed satisfied with his reasoning and began to move forward into the darkness as Rod followed, feeling and eerie coolness strike his skin. They hadn't been able to buy warmer clothing due to the lack of options in Petalburg City, but they had been told Rustboro had the better shops. Would they be able to survive at least a couple of nights in here if the temperature was already so cold? It was too late to turn back, and Rod pushed forwards, crossing his arms to keep warm, as every step on the grass seemed to send a crunch echoing around.

Coughing, Rod looked around, feeling lost, and gasped, "Forrest...it is like everything around here is moving to make it harder."

His friend turned, seeing the path they were on completely vanish from sight as grass and leaves moved across to disguise it. Forrest muttered back, deciding to ignore it and move forwards, "Just keep positive. There is a Pokemon Centre ahead, let's focus on getting there first!"

It was on that note when everything changed completely in the Petalburg Woods, and it came in the way of a shrieking cry. Rod reacted first, spinning around with his mind scared as his heart began to beat faster. It wasn't a human scream, but the cry of a Pokemon and something he hadn't heard before. Turning to Forrest, they nodded simultaneously and dived off the dirt path into the darkness of the trees and bushes around them. The cry had come from somewhere deeper in the woods, and with the sunlight now gone due to the high canopies above, the path became hard to navigate. Ignoring the Spinarak climbing the trees along with Caterpie and Wurmple, some wheeling away in shock of the trainers running, Rod clambered past the branches and thick grass as the cry began to continue. His ears began to sting as he brought his hands up, immediately slowing down due to the pain as he gasped.

Forrest, also feeling similar pain, called loudly, "It's a Screech attack! We have to be careful!"

He was right, Rod spun around and was forced to dive to one side as a Taillow went flying past, in complete rage and confusion. The Screech was causing some of Petalburg Woods Pokemon to go out of their mind with some Bug Types running in front of them, rampaging through the bushes. Something must have been seriously wrong here, but a clearing came into sight between the trees as Rod struggled towards it. Forrest was faster as he burst into the opening, the sun beating down as the Screech got more intense and louder.

Rod scrambled, hands on ears, into the area as a large group of Pokemon hovered above them flapping their blue wings. Golbat! The Bat Pokemon seemed to be circling around, what seemed their territory, as a small pink Pokemon lay on the ground bruised and injured. It screeched again as the Golbat began to swoop in, powering Air Cutter attacks as their wings glowed brightly. Forrest reacted first, grabbing a Pokeball from his pocket and hurling it high into the air.

Steelix appeared, the Iron Snake Pokemon, as it landed on the ground hard making the world shake around them. Forrest cried, his ears turning red in pain, "Steelix, use Sandstorm! Push the Golbat away!"

The Iron Snake roared loudly as the Golbat immediately began to flee in shock, the oncoming wave of sand pushing them from the area. Rod was forced to dive behind a tree as sand filled the surrounding area blocking his movements. The power of the move was incredible, the resulting quiver of sand causing the trees to shake in what seemed like shock. Coughing, Rod crawled out of his hidinSg spot, brushing sand away from his clothing as he moved towards Forrest. His friend returned his large Steelix before falling to his knees to raise the small Pokemon from the ground.

Rod asked, he hadn't seen this Pokemon before, "What is it?"

Forrest examined it for a second before gasping and replying, "I believe...it's a Shellos!"

Flicking open his Pokedex, Rod aimed it towards the small Pokemon as it spluttered to life, 'Shellos, the Sea Slug Pokemon, is known to inhabit the Sinnoh Region. They have different colours depending on their location in the Region.' A pure Water Type, but yet rare to the Hoenn Region, what was one doing here in the middle of Petalburg Woods? Rod leaned in, realising it was barely moving due to the damage done. Looking up at Forrest, he commented, "It looks badly injured, should we head back to Petalburg City?"

Shaking his head, Forrest lay the Sea Slug Pokemon on the ground and opened his large hiking bag. He replied, his voice serious, "This Shellos needs attention right now or it may remain unconscious for a long time. I'll apply some Super Potion, but we need to get Nurse Joy."

"I can run to the Pokemon Centre, there is a small one in the Woods isn't there?" Rod had remembered reading this on a sign before entering the area, but its location had remained unknown to them both.

"You'll have to be quick, and be careful not to get lost!"

Nodding, a plan came to Rod's mind as he took out two Pokeballs and threw them into the air above as they exploded into life. Starly and Fletchling both appeared, crying out to the forest as they landed softly on their trainers shoulders. Rod spoke to them directly, "We need to find the Pokemon Centre and get back here without getting lost. Starly can you stay here with Forrest so we can find you after, and Fletchling can help me search from the air!"

They both called, understanding the plan as Starly landed on Forrest's shoulder ready for instructions as Rod gave it the thumbs up. Forrest looked up, his face looking panicked as he gestured in the direction they had just come from, "Find the path and continue the same direction we were on before!"

"Fletchling, head up high and search! Try not to lose me!" Rod turned and ran back into the thick forest, now barren due to the Sandstorm attack and the screeching. So many questions had been left unanswered about why it was there, and the Golbat that were attacking it. They seemed to be wild Pokemon, but Rod had never heard of such a large group attacking a single Pokemon before even if it had come through their territory. Forgetting these thoughts, Rod focussed on the task at hand with the Pokemon Centre apparently close by. Fletchling was high above, but with the thick trees it was getting harder to see its trademark red feathers at all.

Rod ran ahead, the surroundings getting more unfamiliar before his pace slowed as realisation set in...the path was no longer there!

…

Forrest had applied the Super Potion on the worst of the bruising, but Shellos' breathing still remained faint. It had taken damage, but why was it even attacked in the first place? He took out a Pokeball as Geodude was released from within, the Rock Pokemon stretching in the sunlight, before its trainer commanded, "Geodude and Starly, gather up some leaves so Shellos has a softer place to rest!"

They both immediately set out into the surrounding area as they collected the fallen green and orange leaves from the Sandstorm attack earlier. The sand had already began to move away, revealing the hard dirt ground below. As more leaves were placed to the ground, Shellos seemed to be more comfortable as it moved around, its eyes still closed. Forrest stood up, wary of the dark surroundings as all Pokemon in the area had seemed to have disappeared after the Golbat attack. Where had they gone, and was this a territory they shouldn't be in? Everything seemed peaceful, but those Golbat could come back again with a vengeance. Geodude returned with a final group of leaves as Starly dropped some from above where Forrest arranged them neatly on the ground. It would help for now, but Shellos needed more urgent medical attention especially if it was more than bruises making it sick.

It had been nearly an hour since Rod had left them, and Forrest had began to worry. It shouldn't have taken that long to reach the Pokemon Centre, but Petalburg Woods were known for being hard to traverse, and he could have been lost. Starly had begun to look more anxious, its trainer being so far away for a significant period of time, and it began to cry every now and then hoping for a return. Looking down at the still unconscious Shellos, Forrest knew he had to do something to help.

He called to Rod's Starly, flying up above in circles, "Starly! You have to go try and find Rod, he may be in trouble!"

It was a risk, but Starly was the first Pokemon Rod had ever caught, and Forrest knew it would be successful. The Starling Bird Pokemon screeched, understanding the command, and took off into the distance as its darkened silhouette flickered away through the trees. Quickly gathering his hiking backpack, slinging it over his shoulders and clipping the front in, Forrest took out an empty Pokeball from his pocket knowing it had to be done. Raising his arm and throwing it towards the injured Shellos, the Pokeball opened into an explosion of light before the Sea Slug Pokemon disappeared within...

…

Rod had reached the Pokemon Centre despite losing the path, his Fletchling guiding the way from above, but a nightmare enveloped around him. Something had seemed wrong ever since he laid his eyes on the building, the red roof shining through the darkness of the forest. No Pokemon were anywhere near it all, he had been running the opposite way of their travels as if terrified about something. Fletchling landed back on his shoulder as Rod crouched down behind a nearby bush and glanced over at the building, looking innocent as ever, but goosebumps exploded on his arms. A chilling mist began to fill the opening, sending his sense of direction into complete disarray. Gulping down the building saliva in his mouth, Rod stood up and slowly made his way towards the familiar glass doors. Hoenn had built every Pokemon Centre with identical design and architecture to aid finding location, but there were more forces at work here.

Stuttering in the sudden cold, Rod forced away the fear in his stomach and called, "H-hello? Is there anyone here?"

No response, not even an echo of his voice. Rod began to hear movement around him, but the mist had become overwhelming. Vision became completely blocked at Fletchling gripped down harder on his shoulder, obviously scared, as he leaned against the glass doors. They normally opened automatically, but this Pokemon Centre seemed completely shut down and unused. Rod called out again, but no reply appeared, just growing dark shadows around as he gasped in shock. He felt claustrophobic and threatened, and it was time to finally back and discover what was behind this.

Rod commanded, forcing confidence into his body, "Fletchling! Use Razor Wind, get rid of the mist!"

The Tiny Robin Pokemon screeched loudly, happy to be moving again, as it stretched its wings and unleashed several slashes of wind into the surrounding. Immediately, the mist began to lessen, the sun appearing slightly from above, but then another voice thundered into the area. It boomed loudly, "Drop your Pokemon and Pokeballs and leave. You cannot escape, and you cannot fight back."

Something blue flashed from the darkened figures approaching, and Fletchling was struck down as Rod dived forward to catch it. He hadn't even seen the attack called, but it had done severe damage, and his Pokemon had become very cold. Taking a Pokeball out, Rod returned it safely before any further harm was done. Standing back up and leaning against the glass windows, the mist returning, he forced himself to think. Somebody was here, and he wanted his Pokemon and supplies, but that was in no way an option. His Pokemon team was still so young, and fighting against someone who had the power to mist a section of a forest, in Summer time as well, had to have significant skill.

Taking another deep breath, Rod dashed back towards the way he came, pushing off the glass door with his hands. Immediately, blue flashes of light appeared from the mist as avoided them as best possible. However, he had finally heard their cry, and they were Golbat, the Pokemon he had encountered earlier with Forrest. He knew someone must have had been controlling them, but the only thing on his mind was helping Forrest and Shellos. They had to get back to Petalburg City and get help from anyone! The Golbat fired more attacks as Rod yelled in pain, a deep cut appearing on his right arm, as he punched through another group of them.

The voice boomed again from behind, "You cannot escape little boy! Golbat, use Air Cutter again!"

Rod tripped over, the ground still hard to navigate, and as he spun around he could feel the oncoming rush of pain towards him. Air Cutter would easily slashed his skin to bits, but he had nothing to defend himself with now. Desperately trying to roll to one side, the safety of the trees around him, the first few attacks landed around him, forcing him back. A much louder screech entered the surrounding area as the attacks immediately stopped, but Rod knew it was. Steelix! Forrest's powerful Iron Snake Pokemon appeared from underground, ripping the dirt apart as it towered above and unleashed a powerful Sandstorm attack once again. The whipping barrels of sand sent the Golbat flying, decimating the mist at the same time as Rod looked up at its sheer size and stature.

Forrest's voice came from behind, "Rod! Are you okay?"

Rod gave him the thumbs up, before struggling back to his feet and replying, "Somebody is trying to steal Pokemon here, I heard him!"

More Golbat appeared from the sandstorm as Steelix was taken by surprise, their constant use of Air Cutter finally penetrating its hardened defences as it flinched. Sandstorm was reduced completely as it tried to brush off the oncoming Bat Pokemon. However, Rod had seen another Pokemon flying from above, and he cried, "Starly! Use Whirlwind!"

His small grey Starling Pokemon screeched and unleashed a powerful gust of wind from its two wings, as the Golbat were filtered from the area. The mist cleared slightly as Rod eagerly pushed his Pokemon onwards, its power getting stronger and more complete. Some of the Bat Pokemon crashed to the ground, unable to stay balanced in the gripping winds, and Starly screeched loudly as a result. It continued its attacks as it switched to a more physical Wing Attack, slashing down aggressively at the mass of blue and purple Golbat, as they were unable to fight back.

Forrest called, "Nice work, Rod and Starly! Steelix, finish them off with Stone Edge!"

The last of the Golbat disappeared high into the sky, or back into the trees, as the whole area returned to normal. The powerful flurry of sharp edged rocks from the Iron Snakes body had frightened them off, their attacks useless. The Pokemon Centre returned into view, the afternoon sun beating down with no individual appearing around. Where had that voice come from? Forrest muttered as Steelix continued to screech, sending Pokemon in the distance scuttling away, "We have to let Officer Jenny know there is a Pokemon Poacher in the area."

"How do you know it's a poacher?"

"This Shellos is extremely rare to Hoenn, it makes sense completely." Forrest revealed the Pokeball, shivering slightly in his hand, as Rod understood what he had done. Shellos had been caught by the Pewter City Gym Leader, and it would be easier to carry for the next Pokemon Centre. Forrest gestured onwards, returning his large Steelix once again, "Rustboro City is nearby, let's head there now!"

Rod immediately followed his friend as they ran through the remainder of the forest, wanting to leave that nightmare behind them. His mind still remained clouded and uncertain as to what they would come across next. From the Oldale Ruins to now Pokemon Poachers, were they linked and was there any coincidence? He tried not to dwell on it, but his mind became irresistible. Was there another plot in mind, or was he being targeted for something else?