Note: No characters belonging to Pokemon are owned by me.

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Not Another Pokefic-Sandgem Town

The sun was up now and lit everything around the traveling trio. Pokemon were stirring and becoming active. Wild Starly were fluttering from tree to tree and wild Bidoof were out foraging for their breakfast. None of them, however, were interested in these wild Pokemon. Xander nearly did go for one before Roku told him how common they were. The group also couldn't risk any sort of delays to reach Sandgem town or else they might've had to camp out tonight. So the group bypassed any Pokemon they met on the way.

Angie was growing bored with the silence. Despite their building friendships, none of them were saying a word. She usually wasn't one to talk herself, but the silence was beginning to bother her. She looked towards Xander to see what he was doing. The newcomer was staring off at the clouds in the sky with a smile on his face. Xander loved watching the clouds roll by. It was sort of soothing to him. However, today, there weren't many out.

"What're you doing, Xander?" Angie asked.

"Huh?" Xander said, snapping his attention towards Angie. "Oh, I was cloud-watching."

"Why?" she asked.

"It's sorta soothing, I guess..." Xander replied, scratching his head. He didn't really get why he liked it either, but watching the clouds was something he loved to do. Then he returned to his upward gaze. Angie frowned. Her attempt to create a friendly conversation failed. She looked over at Roku. The blond trainer seemed to be deep in thought as well. Angie thought it over for a second, before sighing. This was getting her nowhere. The silence was dull.

"So, uh, what's your favorite contest?" she asked, hoping this would cause a conversation. To her luck, it did.

"I like cool contests," Roku said, snapping away from his deep thought for a second. "They're fun to participate in and it really makes me feel cool."

"Back in Hoenn, I liked to smart contests, cause they were fun and easy for me," Xander replied. "Which ones do you like to do, Angie?"

"I like beauty contests. Winning makes me feel beautiful..." she said, daydreaming of a victory. She blinked and snapped back to attention. "Are contests in Hoenn any different than the ones in Sinnoh?"

"I dunno, how do the ones in Sinnoh work?"

Angie chuckled a little, then began to explain to Xander how contests worked. "Contests are held in one contest hall in a place called Hearthome City. We should be going there sometime, so you'll get to see it. But...they're divided into three parts. The first part is the Visual part. This is where you get to dress up your Pokemon based on a certain theme with special items to dress your Pokemon up with. Feeding them a Poffin or two doesn't hurt either," she said.

"Poffin?" Xander interrupted.

"Mhm. It's a bread-like food for Pokemon that increases their appearance in the contests. Certain flavored Poffins enhance certain aspects of a Pokemon. For example, sour Poffin helps a Pokemon look more tough," she explained.

"Oh, so like a Pokeblock bread?" Xander asked.

"What's a Pokeblock?" Angie said, giving Xander an odd look.

"They're something like this..." Xander said. He opened his bag and fished around in it a second before pulling out a small case filled to the brim with multi-colored cubes. He opened the case and shook it. Two cubes fell out into his hand. He held them up to Angie for her to see. "These are Pokeblocks. They essentially do the same thing as Poffin, they just are candy instead of bread."

"Ooh, I see..." Angie said.

"Can you continue with your explanation?" Xander asked, putting the Pokeblocks away.

"Oh, right! Uh...oh yeah, the second part is Dancing. In it, there's a lead dancer and three backup dancers. The lead dancer's job is to set a dance, while the backup dancers are supposed to match the dance," Angie explained. "A Pokemon gets two turns to be the lead dancer, then they alternate until everyone's had a turn."

"I see...what's the third part?" Xander asked.

"The third part is acting. This is when trainers command their Pokemon do specific moves in order to impress a group of judges. You select one judge to perform for and then you perform the move. You can get some good bonuses if no one else performs for your judge," Angie said, smiling.

"Ah, I see..." Xander said, nodding slowly. "That's a lot different than Hoenn..."

"Really? How were Pokemon contests there?" Angie said, looking inquisitively at Xander.

"Well, they were vastly different. You used Pokeblocks instead of Poffin to boost your Pokemon's appearance. Also, we only did the Acting part, no dressing up or dancing. There used to be four separate contest halls, but they did change it to just one contest hall after the Battle Frontier was made. But at least there's an improvement when-" Xander said, getting cut off.

"What's the Battle Frontier?" Roku asked. He had become suddenly interested when the word 'battle' was spoken. Xander blinked and looked at his fellow trainer. He sighed. Explaining things was a hassle, but he didn't really have anybody else to explain for him. So he began explaining what the Battle Frontier was like. Xander did enjoy it a little, the Battle Frontier was a great place. Their conversations continued like this for the rest of the journey. They talked about the differences between Hoenn and Sinnoh. All three of them, by the time they were approaching Sandgem, were amazed at some of the similarities and the differences between the two regions. Suddenly, Angie realized how close they were to Sandgem.

"Hey guys, I can see it!" she yelled, pointing off to the small, beach-side village in the distance. Finally, Sandgem town. It was their first stop on their way to Oreburgh City, the home of the very first gym. However, to go there, they would have to pass through Sandgem and eventually Jubilife City. Besides, they had been walking all day, and Angie was certainly glad to get a rest and a bed to sleep in.

"So that's Sandgem..." Xander said, staring at the small town. "It's...quaint, I guess..."

"Well, what are we waiting around here for? Let's go!" Roku yelled, running toward the small town. Angie dashed after him. Xander sighed and ran after them. They were really energetic, he thought. Oh well, it seems like fun.

The group managed to reach Sandgem before the sun went down. They walked around town asking for directions to the nearest Pokemon Center. A kind woman told them the way to it. They thanked the lady and then ran off towards it. Within ten minutes, they had arrived at their destination. They walked into a Pokemon, the first for Angie and Roku. Both of them couldn't help but to look around the building. It was new to them. However, Xander, who had seen every Pokemon Center, shrugged. Each one was just like the next, right down to the nurses who ran them.

After Angie and Roku finished their look-around of the Center, they walked up to the nurse in charge. To Xander, this one looked just like the others at a glance. White outfit and burning red hair. No different from the one in Petalburg or the one in Fortree, at least not from a glance. There were minor differences among them, Xander was sure, but from a quick outward glance, they were all exactly the same as the rest. He chuckled a little. New trainers seeing their second Pokemon Center were often quite a scene to see. Their shock at seeing a lady just like the one at the last Pokemon Center they were in was quite humorous to veteran trainers. However, Xander himself still wasn't used to the similarities between them. It kind of unnerved him, like someone getting the bright idea to make 100 clones of the same person and give them all nursing jobs. Either way, they had to get a key from this woman in order to spend the night their.

"Hi, can we get one room key please?" Xander asked. The nurse nodded in response and pulled out a small, steel key.

"Are you new trainers?" the nurse asked. Both Angie and Roku nodded. "Okay then, let me explain what you do when you come to a Pokemon Center."

Xander took the opportunity to leave. He had to start training his Piplup in order to prepare it for the next gym, his first gym battle. Riddle would be fine, he thought, but he had to make sure that Deep Azure was ready for the fight. So, quietly exiting the red and white building, he snuck off to the beach to begin his training of the blue and white penguin Pokemon.

Once outside, Xander paused and thought for a second. He remembered passing the beach on his way here. Delving through the contents of his mind, he eventually remembered its location and dashed off to find the beach. Xander ducked and dodged the small population of Sandgem Town, nearly running into somebody twice. He didn't have much time between now and dinner though, so he had to make as much use of it as possible. The trainer managed to reach the beach shortly. He stopped to catch his breath for only a moment, then released both Riddle and Deep Azure. Xander gave the instructions, then sat down and watched what his Pokemon could do.

Meanwhile, back at the Pokemon Center, Roku and Angie were unpacking their things and preparing for the night. Both of them prepared their beds, while food was being provided by the Pokemon Center for them. Roku was a little relieved. Warm food and a cozy bed awaited him. All he had to do was eat dinner and...wait. Something's missing. Or rather. Someone. Roku looked around, trying to figure out where Xander was. Roku was a little shocked. Did they lose him? Did he run away? He hoped not. Otherwise, he couldn't battle him again. And if he didn't battle again, how could Roku beat him? Roku sighed and decided to shrug it off. He was probably somewhere around, doing something that Roku wasn't interested in.

Around this time, Angie noticed Xander was missing too. Angie became instantly worried. She wondered where he went. Did he get lost? Did he leave them? She hoped not, she was beginning to become close friends with Xander and didn't want to lose his friendship already. She rushed to finish preparing for the night, laying her journal under the pillow provided and laying her bad next to her bed.

"Roku, Xander's missing!" Angie said, after she completed her routine.

"I noticed," Roku replied, uncaring. "He's probably out on a walk staring at the clouds or he ran to get them. He'll be back."

"I'm going to go look for him!" Angie said. The female breeder ran out the door and left the Pokemon Center. Roku grumbled. Now both of his friends had left. He might as well train, he thought. Roku grabbed his Pokemon and left, hoping to be lucky enough to find a cool Pokemon to catch.

Angie dashed through the town, going what would've been the long way around to the beach, if she knew that's where Xander went. However she didn't. She had remembered to ask the nurse if she had seen Xander leave. The nurse said she had, just as they were checking in. However, she didn't know where he went, so she apologized to Angie for not being able to help much. Angie ran through the town. She looked along the streets and checked the PokeMart to see if he was there. Unfortunately, he wasn't in either location. Angie finally arrived at the stretch of sand that reached up into Sandgem Town. She noticed a fresh set of footprints in the sand. She got a hunch and followed the footprints. At the end of it was her target-the missing trainer, Xander. His Pokemon were still training hard. Deep Azure was panting, and Riddle had started to look a little fatigued. Angie was amazed that the little Piplup had held up so long against something that had completely demolished Sparks and Inferno. Xander closed his eyes for a second. Then he nodded.

"That's good guys, take a break," he said. His Pokemon both smiled and jumped into the water. They splashed about in the waves, enjoying the fresh feeling of the cool water against their fatigued bodies. Angie watched Xander and his Pokemon for a second, smiling at them. The trainer was really talented, she thought. Xander was staring at the sky, watching the sunset. He appeared to be deep in thought. Angie wondered what went on up in his head. Was he plotting on how to make his Pokemon better? Was he trying to figure out what he was going to accomplish here? Or was it something else? Angie shyly removed herself from her hiding place and walked over to Xander. She quietly sat down next to him, hoping the sand muffled her footsteps. However, she was unlucky. Xander heard her.

"Looks like you've found me," Xander said. He turned his head and looked at her. Angie blushed, then nodded. "Sorry for running away," Xander said. "I just wanted to try and train here. This beach is a good location for Deep Azure to fight and I wanted to try and see him fight when he's got an advantage in the location..."

"It's okay," Angie said, smiling at Xander. Xander returned her smile, then looked back at the sunset. Angie also turned her gaze towards the sun. It was the end of their first day on their adventure. Xander knew there'd be many more days before this adventure had ended. However, he wanted to enjoy each and every day. He certainly was today.

"You know," Xander said, "I used to think I was going to hate coming here. I really did like Hoenn and didn't want to leave. I didn't want to leave my friends behind and I didn't want to leave my own home. Also, I didn't want to leave my Pokemon behind and I really would mis the Battle Frontier. But, I'm kinda glad I did move here. Sinnoh has beautiful sunsets, and I'm sure there'll be many more beautiful places to see along the way. Also, if I didn't move, I wouldn't have been able to meet such a good friend like you," Xander said, smiling at Angie. Then he suddenly got really nervous saying that. He turned his head away and blushed. "...a-and R-Roku too..." he mumbled, his stutter returning.

Angie giggled a little at his nervousness. She found it cute and a little sweet. Xander was really letting his true feelings out and she was glad. Xander seemed like the kind that would be hard to crack and show his true feelings. He was pretty emotionless, whether it came to battle or other subjects. However, he seemed to be a deep thinker and he expressed a good interest in learning and his new friends. Angie smiled. She got the feeling she could trust Xander.

Now, during this time, Roku was just completing his own training. He returned his Pokemon and surveyed the damage left by them. There were a lot of scorch marks left in the surrounding grass and trees. A lot of the area was covered in ash. Roku sighed. His Pokemon were really destructive. However, there wasn't much he could really do at the moment. So he left it as is and went to find his companions. He first checked the room to see if they were back yet. However, there wasn't a sign of them. Roku grumbled and went to find them. He left the building and went what would've been the short way to the beach, if he knew that's where his friends were.

"Hey, what's that?" Xander asked, pointing out into the distance. Something was floating to shore. He couldn't make out what it was, but it looked round, almost egg-shaped. However, it was hard to tell from this distance. "Deep Azure!" he commanded. "Go get that object!" The Piplup nodded in response and swam out to get the object. It quickly reached it and stuck it on its back. Then it rapidly swam into shore. It ran the object to its trainer. Xander looked it over for a second. It was an egg, alright, but it wasn't one he hadn't seen before. It was blue in color with white spots lining themselves in a circle around the egg. In the center of the egg was a red mass, though Xander couldn't tell what it was. It was definitely an egg though.

"Wow..." Xander said, wondering about the egg. "I wonder who dropped this in the ocean..."

"They were pretty careless to do that," Angie said. "But...uh..Xander, can I take care of the egg...?"

Xander looked it over for a second, before smiling and nodding at her. He handed her the egg. Angie put on a warm, motherly like smile. She cradled the egg in her arms. She seemed very warm now, Xander thought, giving off a motherly aura. Xander felt that she would take very good care of whatever Pokemon hatched from that egg.

Around this time, Roku was discovering them on the beach. He smiled. So Xander hadn't run away, he thought.

"Yo!" he called, getting the attention of Angie and Xander. Xander recalled his Pokemon, then both of them got up and ran to their friend. "So, it looks like you found the runaway," Roku said once his friends approached him.

"Sorry bout that..." Xander said nervously. "I didn't know y-you guys would worry about me th-that much..."

"It's okay," Roku said. "Just don't do it again." Xander nodded in agreement.

"Alright then, let's go back and have dinner!"

"Okay! I'm starving!!"

"I am a little hungry, and I'm sure my Pokemon could use a good meal..."

With that, the three ran back to the center. All of them ate their dinners rapidly. It was a light dinner, consisting of mostly pasta for energy for walking tomorrow. Xander enjoyed a little, but Pokemon Center food was mostly pasta, for the same reason. It was the thing that unnerved him the most about the Pokemon Centers, they were exactly alike. Though the rooms for three were different than the rooms for four, he thought. That was a nice change.

Once they had finished their dinners, they realized how tired they were. They slipped into their pajamas and went to bed. Roku and Xander both fell asleep immediately. She was excited about tomorrow, and she still had to finish her journal entry. She pulled the pen out that she kept with it at all times. She flicked on a small light attached to the journal and began to write.

Journal Entry-Sinnoh Gym Circuit, Day 1.

Well, I finally got started. Today was full of surprises. Hoenn sure is different than Sinnoh, if Xander described everything accurately!! I hope I get to go there someday. Maybe he'll take me if he goes back to visit? Also, Xander was really sweet on the beach. He says he's happy to be here! That's good, I'm glad he's not homesick. Or maybe he is...? I've also found an egg on the beach! It looks rare, too. I wonder what's inside? Anyway, tomorrow we start out for Jubilife! I better get some sleep!

-Angie

With that, she flicked the small light off, returned the small pen and replaced it under her pillow. Angie hugged the egg that she found today, covered herself up and slowly fell asleep.

Meanwhile, outside, two shadowy figures watched from the window. Both of them had teal hair and wore similar uniforms of gray. Emblazoned on their chests was a bright yellow G. They took the risk and peeked inside to see if the group was all asleep. Once they realized that it was safe, they looked around inside. One of them, the male, spotted the egg in Angie's arms. He growled, and at the same time, was despairing.

"Darnit!" he said. "They got the egg!"

"Well, if you hadn't dropped it on the way here, this wouldn't have happened," the second, a female, scolded. "We'll have to report this failure to Cyrus."

"We could just break in and steal it back," the first suggested again, looking hopeful. That was his only chance at redemption.

"Are you blind? He's with them! If we break in, we'll wake him up. If we do, we'll get defeated and captured for sure! What's worse, whatever Master Cyrus can think up or jail?" the second hissed.

"Well, jail's not sounding too bad, compared to what Master Cyrus could do to me..." the first said, feeling small and weak.

"Well, you may get lucky and get a chance at redemption if you go back. If you're in jail, you're not going to get another chance. Now come on. Let's get going," The second said, trying to reason with her cowardly partner.

"Fine, let's go," the first said reluctantly. And with that, the two shadowy figures dashed off.