Yeah, I think this chapter may seem dull at times but… here's chapter 28!

Digital Shaman, I'm glad you think so.

Skitty-san, is this quick enough? xD

And Moon, here's the next chapter, ahead of schedule this time!

Chapter 28

Sandsinger yawned and stretched her good wing. "That was a nice nap." She said to nobody in particular, as Tarragon had left a while ago with her message for Sara. She yawned again and saw a purple blur out of the corner of her eye. "Hey!"

The Crobat passing by was whipped back yet again by the winds. He looked down to see a Flygon waving and calling down. Shrugging, Crobat flitted down and landed on the hot sand behind a protective rock. "Yeah?" He asked impatiently, folding his wings over a piece of paper that had been tied to one of his back feet in the hopes it wouldn't be noticed.

"Hi!" Sandsinger beamed, "What are you doing here?"

"Flying."

"That's cool. I can't fly right now; my wing is a bit hurt…"

"It looks as if something shredded it." Crobat observed with a pointed smile.

"Well, you're stuck here now." Sandsinger pointed out as she sat down and delicately folded her wings down, "The sandstorm's too rough to pass."

"Oh? I was doing quite fine before I came down here to talk to you."

"Don't get your feathers ruffed, you'll be just like Star-bird."

"I beg your pardon?"

Sandsinger rolled her eyes. Why was it that everyone had no clue who Star-bird was? "Star-bird," she said slowly. "My trainer Sara's Swellow."

"I have a message for a gal named Sara." The Crobat lifted his wing and flashed the piece of paper. "My own trainer said it was of utmost importance. So if you'll excuse me-"

"Wait!"

"What do you want now?" Crobat stopped before he could even take off and glared at the Flygon.

"What does the note say?" Sandsinger inched forward and grabbed the paper before he could dart away. She fumbled with it for a while, her three fingers not working well serving more human purposes, and finally opened it with a big ripping sound.

"You broke it." The Crobat grumbled, "Wonderful, now I have to go back. So can you even read human scribble Flygon?"

"I'm Sandsinger!" She replied brightly, smoothing the note out and scanning it, her eyes crossing.

"Well?"

"There's Sara!" Sandsinger said cheerfully, pointing to the word 'that' and grinning. Crobat flitted over to hover over her head and looked down.

"Uhhhh… I don't know what to say. At least I don't know how to read scribble."

"I'm multitalented!" She grinned.

"So what does the rest say, multitalented-one?" Crobat was, for once, impressed. He had never met a Pokemon that could read English before.

Sandsinger crossed her eyes at the paper again and said, "I don't know. Your trainer is writing in part gibberish."

"I'll take the note back now, thank you." He accepted the paper back, "The sandstorm's too rough for me, I'll be taking the long way around. Your trainer is on the other side of this sandstorm, correct?"

"Yup!" She exclaimed, and Crobat nodded before putting the note in his mouth and flitting to the side of the sandstorm, and then ahead. Sandsinger watched him go, her smile slowly fading. She was alone again, and didn't like it.

The Flygon buzzed and tugged at Sara's arm playfully. "What's he saying?" She asked, looking to Elvina.

Seeing the confused look on her friend's face, Elvina stepped forward and said to the male Flygon, "She can't understand you." Tarragon gave her a look that must have said: Well, duh!

She pulled him over away from the group and had a conversation with the Flygon for a while. Every once and a while, Elvina would gasp, or nod, and Tarragon would buzz his wings as if flying. Finally, she returned to the group with the Flygon sitting down a little bit away.

"This is Tarragon." She waved a hand at the male Flygon, who watched the humans with one eye. "He claims he's some sort of leader in this desert. Like a desert master or something. Anyway, Sandsinger sent him here with a message."

Sara nodded and Star chirruped, "Well, why didn't she come herself?"

"Because Star, he kinda ruined one of her wings…"

"WHAT!"

Tarragon buzzed and shifted away from Sara a bit. "Sara, listen to me first. Alright, I'm guessing Tarragon thought his territory was being invaded, so he protected it. Sandsinger is just fine now, she's on the other side of the desert munching on her favorite food and being comfortable in the sand. She's fine Sara."

The blonde girl flashed Tarragon a very unpleasant glare, "So how are we going to get Sandsinger back here?"

Elvina was interrupted by the sound of hooves on hard earth as Alkie came to a stop next to Drake. Pocky jumped off, looking practically ecstatic, and her attention flicked to Tarragon. "Is it just me, or did Sandsinger grow?"

"Different Flygon." Drake said with a sigh, "Sandsinger's not here."

"Where is Sandsinger then? She owes me a-"

"Cro!" A purple burr swooped down on Sara; she squeaked and put her arms over her head.

Her friends were laughing when she looked up to see a Crobat hovering nearby, a mangled piece of paper in his jaws. She held out her hand and he dropped it into her palm. "It's from Maxie." She said after scanning the thing over once. "It says: 'To Sara and company: Our forces were kicked out of the desert by strange Pokemon. We've returned to Mount Chimney to find it swarming with rescue people and our base is ruined. There's no doubt that Team Magma will be blamed for this.'"

She had to stop to smooth down the sides of the note, across a wide rip and Crobat-tooth marks. "'There is good news though. I've managed to catch a little buddy of my own. We've split up all across Hoenn now, it was necessary. You will be able to find me in Mauville City with Tabitha, who's wearing a dress. Maxie, over and out.'"

"Wow." Drake commented, snickering slightly.

Sara continued to read and nearly fell over laughing, "There's more!" She exclaimed, "'P.S.: Tabitha looks hot in a dress!'"

She looked up just in time to see a very queer look on Pocky's face. It was gone in a second though, and she shrugged, "I wonder why he told me that…" She murmured, "This was addressed to me."

"Never mind it Sara." Pocky said, taking the note and placing it on Alkie's mane. The note didn't catch fire. "Hey, can you flame this?" She muttered softly into the horse's ear. Alkie snorted and her fiery mane set the note a-flame.

Crobat screeched and flew around in tight circles. Both Elvina and Pocky looked up at him, and finally Elvina said, "He said: Sandsinger can't read scribble after all!"

"You saw Sandsinger!" Sara exclaimed, jumping up and trying to snatch the bat out of the air. Crobat, surprised, was caught on one of his lower wings and dragged down.

"Yes, now can you let me go?" Star translated with a fluff of her feathers, "No. We want to know about Sandsinger, idiot." The Crobat said something to her, and she fluffed out even more, "Yeah, that's what she calls me."

Mellow woke up with a cheerful chirp. He took off after Star as she scratched her trainer's head ever so slightly when she pushed off. "Do you think Star really likes him?" Jacob asked, looking after the two Swellow as they flew around high above their heads. He was still on Alkie, rubbing her head affectionately.

Sara looked at him, then down at his steed, and had a crazy idea. "Hey Jacob." She grinned evilly. The boy looked up into her blue eyes and swallowed.

"Why do I think you're about to say something crazy?"

Alkie followed the blur that was Tarragon through the harsh winds of the sandstorm. Her movements, just like his, were completely unhindered by the storm. Sara held her head down to keep the sand away. The Go-Goggles didn't help to protect anything but her eyes, and sand stung. Jacob was in a similar position.

"How much farther?" Sara screeched over the whistling of wind to Jacob.

"Not much!" He yelled back over his shoulder.

The four of them moved on for a while before the sandstorm gave off a little bit. Sitting a little bit away was none other than Sandsinger, her left wing folded in an awkward-looking position. Alkie came to a stop a little bit away from her, and Sara jumped off immediately and ran to her Pokemon. "Sandsinger!" She gasped taking in a mouthful of sand, but not caring, hugging the Flygon around her neck.

"Sara! You wouldn't believe what I've been doing!" Sandsinger replied, as bright and bubbly as ever.

"We heard a little from your new friend." She jerked a thumb back at where Tarragon was tamely standing, giving them both the strangest look. Alkie turned around; Jacob called a farewell to his Pokemon. She would return with Elvina and Pocky soon, and then Drake with the two un-captured Pokemon afterwards. Rio had decided to leave their company to adventure on his own. He would eventually run across Devon and Rena, and tell them of Alkie, the two of them would eventually be the last to cross the desert.

Sandsinger grinned when Sara mentioned her 'new friend' and waved at the aloof Flygon. He blinked once and nodded, flashing a Flygon-smile. "I told you about desert flies, didn't I? Want one?"

Her trainer refused very quickly, "Uh… no thanks Sandsinger, you can enjoy them." She stammered out, "Come on, this sand is rubbing my legs raw."

Jacob and Sara flanked the Flygon as she got up and spread her wings, flinching slightly, protecting their backs from the wind. At least they didn't fall over because of that. Sandsinger shook off at least a pound of sand from her body and wings when they were a good distance away from the sandstorm.

Alkie whinnied as she came back around with Elvina and Pocky, both girls covered in sand by the time they were out of the sandstorm. "That was fun!" Pocky exclaimed happily, patting the fire horse's neck affectionately.

Elvina gasped the fresh air in and sighed, "I can't believe what you say sometimes Pocky." She stated, shaking her head to get a bit of sand out of the blue locks of her hair.

"Hey, look at that!" Sandsinger pointed with a clawed finger at lady in a tight mauve skirt, her shirt white under a matching mauve vest. She was pointing a microphone at a young trainer that was looking quite pale and nervous. It was probably because of the TV camera that was pointed his way by another man that was hidden behind the camera.

"Uh, TV people." Jacob said blankly and shifted away from the group slowly. "We'll be on TV if we pass by them. And I'd think that would be a bad thing, don't you guys? Hello Sara, you've got like tons of people that would love to get their claws on you!"

Sara chewed her lip, "You're right, we should stay here." She sighed, "Wait for Drake and the rest to get here."

"Drake's already here." The said person jumped off Alkie's back and walked up to them. "What's up guys?"

Jacob motioned to the two interrogating the boy trainer. "That's what's up. We can't go any farther until they leave."

"Hey, that's one of the traveling battle pairs for Pokenews Live!" Drake exclaimed, "They battle trainers and put the battle on TV!"

He stepped forward and was caught on the arm by Pocky, "Don't you get it kid? We can't be seen on TV! You'd be like a beacon to the guy… Dominus… since you're always with his enemy!"

Her glare was so fierce that Drake took a step back and swallowed, "Sorry." He mumbled, going to stand next to Sara. "You know, that reminds me Sara. We should battle soon again; I want to prove I'm still a better trainer than you!"

"You're on Drake!" She exclaimed, keeping her voice down just enough it couldn't be heard by the reporter. Yet the reporter and cameraman seemed to be done, and they were moving on, towards Mauville Town. Sandsinger twitched her good wing, making a high-pitched buzzing sound, in annoyance.

"I can't fight like this!" She scolded them both.

"Yes, we know, but…" Sara stepped forward and whispered in her Pokemon's ear, "I think he's jealous that I have a full-fledged Flygon and none of his Pokemon have evolved to a third-form."

Sandsinger looked away for just a second when Sara mentioned her as a 'full-fledged Flygon' and flapped her right wing again, "He'll be put in his place, eh?"

"Exactly." Her trainer mumbled and looked up when Alkie announced herself again with Devon and a very ruffled-looking Rena on her back. Perhaps it was because Devon was sitting behind her, his arms locked around her waist.

"You know, I wonder why she doesn't slap him." Elvina muttered to Pocky, who got the most amused look all of a sudden.

"She does hit him, sometimes." She muttered back, "When he does something like that, actually. Don't be surprised."

Elvina laughed silently and grinned with the sweating form of Alkie came over and butted her chest. The horse seemed to forget about her quickly though, when Jacob clicked his tongue, she came prancing over to him and accepted a carrot slice.

Rena stood beside Sara and glared at her stalker over the smaller girl's head. "So are we moving on or what?" She asked with a tone of grumpiness in her voice.

"Sure, but we should return all our Pokemon. The news reporters ahead won't think we're trainers if we don't have any Pokemon out." Elvina said, with a small sigh.

Sandsinger went into her Pokeball without complaint when Sara recalled her. The only problem was Fiendre, who kept telling them he had enough of moving that day. Eventually, he was put over Devon's shoulder and carried along, Sara cowering slightly next to Elvina on the other side of the reporters to not be spotted.

They passed without being bothered and walked the last strip of grass with most of their Pokemon out. Squee and Meep had cried out happily when they were released and were playing, as usual, but this time attacking and ruffling up Karen, who they found to be really fun to play with. "Little terrorists." Star muttered looking down her beak at the two fluff-balls and the Espeon that was actually daring to have fun with them.

"Aw, cheer up Star." Sara said cheerfully, "At least you aren't down there getting your feathers ripped out."

"You really know how to make me feel just wonderful, don't you?" Star said sassily and avoided the gentle push her trainer would have given her to make the Swellow fall by flying up. Instead of being attacked by two kittens, she was attacked by a yellow-chested Swellow. 'Thorn' offered her a branch of berries and followed 'Berry' around until she accepted them.

In Mauville City, a lady with long red hair stopped in front of Sara when she was half-way to the Pokemon Center. "Good day, welcome to Mauville." She said, winking at her. Tabitha's dress was long, flowing, and quite tight. Maxie's comment seemed to fit her well, Sara decided.

Tabitha followed the group into the Center, grinning and flirting with Drake, who didn't recognize her at all. Sandsinger and Alkie were the only Pokemon that weren't returned to their trainers almost immediately. It turned out the fire horse had torn a muscle running.

"Hey Sara!" Maxie, surprisingly strange-looking in a normal white shirt and black pants, exclaimed as he walked over to her and Drake, who were setting up where and when their battle would be. She looked up and giggled gently at the red-haired man's appearance.

"We got your note." Sara said when he sat down across from her on a cushion, "The P.S. got some attention."

"Hey, that wasn't Tabitha, was it?" Drake asked blankly.

"Yes, dim one, that was Tabitha." Sara replied, rolling her eyes. The boy looked over and goggled at the lady in a dress that he just recognized.

"She-but-gosh! Tabitha is hot is hot in a dress." Drake said, smiling after the lady. Pocky was walking by and she happened to 'accidentally' hit him over the head.

Maxie was grinning wickedly, "I'm glad. And I meant every word of it too."

"What was that about a 'little buddy' Maxie?"

He pulled out a Pokeball, "See for yourself!" Maxie exclaimed happily, releasing a Squee onto his lap. Meep and Squee stopped in mid-tumble and stared at the little kitten in Maxie's lap for a second. It looked like Maxie had had fun with his Squee; there was a black and red collar around his neck with the Team Magma symbol hanging off the side.

"You finally caught a Squee!" Sara exclaimed, grinning as the kitten finally saw the two others playing around and scampered over to them.

"HI!" Meep exclaimed. He and Maxie's Squee sniffed each other for a second before the tumbling resumed, with three kittens instead of two this time. Maxie watched this all and a smile spread across his pale face.

"They make friends quickly, don't they?" He murmured.

"Everyone's a friend when you're a Squee or a baby Naki." Karen said as she yawned and sat down in her trainer's lap.

Maxie chuckled, and Sara looked up, "You understood her?"

"Well, yeah."

Sara blinked down at her Pokemon, waiting for her to explain. "Psychic Pokemon can make themselves heard by anyone." Karen purred.

Maxie talked to them a bit more, still talking in a light voice. His mood seemed to be good, until they got onto the subject of Mount Chimney. "They've been reporting about it for hours now." He said with a sigh, "It's already common knowledge by now that Team Magma's base was in there, and of course we have been blamed for it many times over the air." He shook his head, "The reporters need someone to blame, and we're it."

His sour look was ruined when Meep fell over into his lap, being chased there by his own Squee. Meep giggled, "I'm it! You'd better run Puff!"

Puff, Maxie's Squee, giggled right back and darted off, Meep at his tail. Squee was the next to be 'it' as Meep found her curled up and purring on Rena's lap.

That night, Sandsinger was released from the nurse's care with Alkie, her right wing bandaged up tightly. "She says it'll be able to hold my weight again in a couple of days." She informed her trainer as she stretched out and sat down with her tail curled around her legs.

The Flygon turned her head to look at her trainer in the eyes and smiled slightly, "Can I go outside? I'd say to stretch my wings, but that's kinda impossible. Maybe just for a little fresh air?"

"Sure Sandsinger." Sara nodded, "But be sure to come back soon, alright?"

"I'm glad you're worried about me." Sandsinger told the other Flygon at the back of the Pokemon Center. She had heard him call her for a while now, and it was just now that she had been able to come out.

Tarragon smothered a yawn with one clawed hand, "Are you alright, little Flygon?" He asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"Wrong? Oh, nothing's wrong." She replied, shuffling her feet nervously.

It appeared that Tarragon wasn't fooled, "I've been watching you, and there is something wrong. Care to tell me about it?"

"Well…" Sandsinger started, biting her claw nervously, "My trainer things I'm such a powerful Pokemon. She… acts like I'm undefeatable, and I'm not. As you've proven yourself."

"And this bothers you because you're not living up to what your trainer thinks of you?"

"Exactly." Sandsinger nodded, "And I hate to let her down so often, in battles when I lose all the time and when I can't even do what one of my own kind can…"

Tarragon sighed heavily as he sat down with his back leaning against a fence board. Sandsinger joined him as he said, "Sandsinger, every Pokemon has a weakness. Every Pokemon fights a battle and loses it sometimes. It's unfortunate, but it's true."

"But I can't even fly in a sandstorm without being blown around!"

"That we can work on." Tarragon replied, "Perhaps I can help you after all. Come visit me when you wing's healed, I just got an idea."

It took Sandsinger a long time, but she finally convinced Sara and her friends that saying in Mauville City to rest was a good idea. Sandsinger's wing healed up to the point that it was fully usable again in two days, and she even got permission to visit Tarragon alone. Things were going perfect, and she reported to Tarragon the second she could.

She had to fly around the desert, riding against the winds, for a while before Tarragon found her. "I only had to make enough sound to wake up the whole desert, right?" She asked, in high spirits as the two Flygon touched down on a place that was devoid of anything but the two of them and sand.

"We won't be bothered here." Tarragon said when he saw her looking around, "Welcome, young Sandsinger, to Flygon training!"

"I think we have about five days to work on this. Until we have to move on…" Sandsinger told him as she stretched her wings in preparation.

"Wonderful!" Tarragon said, "Now, today we'll tackle our surroundings. Also known as: the sandstorm. First let's fly around a bit and see a little more of your problem."

They took off, Sandsinger in the lead and fighting the winds to stay aloft. The other Flygon followed her at ease, flying circles around her to see Sandsinger's flying at all possible angles. When they finally landed again, she was breathing heavily already. "Do you always fly like that?" That was the first thing he asked her, his tail lashing from side to side in slight annoyance.

"What? Of course I always fly like that."

"Then we've already found your problem. Follow me." He took flight again and led her out of the desert and onto a towering figure of rock. "Your wings get all tangled up. Here, spread them like this." Tarragon demonstrated, unfolding his wings so that they were straight out on both sides.

Sandsinger attempted and failed. Her wings wouldn't open past a sixty degree angle. "Here, let me help you." Tarragon said kindly as he took hold of both her wings at once and pulled.

"OUCH! Ow, ow-ow-ow!" She groaned as her wings were finally in the right position.

"Uh-huh." Tarragon nodded when her wings were correct. "Now flap."

"I… can't." Sandsinger said, trying to get her wings to move, yet they wouldn't obey. They were stuck in the correct position, and wouldn't budge. Yet again, Tarragon 'helped' her and loosened the tight muscles of her straining wings by way of pressure. It hurt.

"Can we stop now?" She asked hopefully when she finally demonstrated the correct way of flapping her wings. Tarragon shook his head.

"We're just getting started, little Flygon!" He laughed, "Now you've got to fly around like that, not with your wings half-folded."

She snorted at him. "Is that even-" Tarragon took off and beckoned for her to follow before she even got the chance to finish. They weren't flying in the sandstorm anymore, and for that Sandsinger was glad. But this new way of flying was much more tiring than the old way that she was used to.

Half-way through the day, Tarragon called a break and brought out some more desert flies for a reward for the wing-sore Sandsinger. "You're doing well." He complimented when she took the flies with her thanks.

"Yeah, but why do I have to be re-taught how to fly anyway?" She asked, crunching down on one of the little hard-shelled bugs with a content smile.

"I would think you've taught yourself the way you were flying. Perhaps because you've been ridden by humans and that way seemed to get less wind in their faces. I don't really know. Whatever it is, humans can ride on your back no matter how you fly, young Sandsinger."

"How old are you?" Sandsinger continued to pester, as she relaxed her overworked wings, "You call me little and young all the time…"

"Older than you." He supplied with a shrug, "I know that."

Sandsinger snorted again, "Yeah, sure."

"I'm bigger than you."

"You're supposed to be."

"I suppose you have a point. Come on, this is enough break." Tarragon nodded when she groaned and flitted into the sky again.

Sandsinger bid him a good-bye later when the sun was going down. He did insist on accompanying her back to the Pokemon Center, to make sure she flied correctly. At least that was the reason he said. "Bye young Sandsinger. Tomorrow's another day!" Tarragon laughed and flitted away, but first gave her a quick Flygon-hug. She was sorry to see him go.

She was exhausted by the time she had finished her dinner, and Sara kept asking her what she was going. "Nothing Sara, just hanging around with friends." The Flygon kept answering. Apparently, that wasn't helping her trainer any.

"But… oh, never mind. I suppose you're going tomorrow too?" Sara continued. For what felt like the hundredth time, Sandsinger nodded to the question.

"I'm going to sleep now." She informed her trainer, "Good night."

The next morning, Sandsinger uncurled from the awkward position she had been sleeping in and found herself nose-to-snout with none other than the grumpy Houndoom that seemed to always have ignored the cheerful Flygon until now. Fiendre shook his head when she opened her mouth to say something and jerked his tail to point at the door. She understood what he meant and went outside with him.

It was still dark, the sun was about to come up. "I've been curious ever since you left. Kid, what were you doing out there yesterday?" Fiendre asked abruptly.

"Why is everyone older than me now?" Sandsinger asked, more to herself, "I was with Tarragon."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You know-the male Flygon." She was getting nervous about the agitated tone he was starting to take.

"And what were you doing with this male Flygon?"

"Alright, who put you up to asking me this?"

"If you must know, it was the curly-haired boy." Fiendre answered. "I really don't care, so tell me whatever you please."

Sandsinger got a very wide smile, "Tell Drake that Tarragon is lonely and I'm his only friend."

Fiendre snickered, "Will do." He turned and walked into the Pokemon Center again. Eventually, Sandsinger followed him and ate a quick breakfast that the Nurse Joy served her. By that time, everyone was awake and Drake was grinning secretively at her, probably from what he had been told by Fiendre and translated by another of his own Pokemon.

She bid her friends good-bye and flitted off, not even realizing she was doing it the correct way, to go find Tarragon. This time, he flew into her. "Oh, 'ello little Flygon! And would you look at that?" He grinned when she looked back at her wings and realized for the first time what that meant.

"I didn't even notice!" She exclaimed.

"Good! You're not supposed to. Come on, today for Flygon training, we're going into the sandstorm."

The day proceeded with Sandsinger getting roughed around by the desert winds. When she returned to the Center that night, she was doubly exhausted, this time flying correctly with harsh winds added.

On the third day of Flygon training, Tarragon was smiling sadly, "You remember the song of the desert, right?" He asked. Sandsinger nodded, she had still heard the groaning sound every time they went into the desert. "Well, today we're going to destroy it."

"You mean…?"

"Yup little Flygon. The song is a living, breathing thing."

"But are you sure-"

"I'm positive Sandsinger." Tarragon replied, giving her a firm glance, "It is nothing to be afraid about, I guess, as you have said. So, come on, I think it's waiting for us." And he proceeded to flit away into the sandstorm, Sandsinger following nervously. From everything that he had said about this 'song' over the past couple of days, he made it out as a fearsome thing. But perhaps, she reflected, he wanted another with him to tackle it down and regain control of his desert completely. And she was proud to help.