Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter Fifteen: Through the Sandstorm We Go!
*Alex's p.o.v*
Brendan just finished his battle with Flannery this morning. We were ready to go back to Petalburg City eager to challenge Brendan's dad, Norman.
''You did well in your match, Brendan,'' dad complimented.
''Thank you, sir,'' Brendan replied rubbing the back of his head.
''Just answer me this, Brendan,'' I began. ''Of all the Pokemon to catch, why'd you have to catch a Grimer?!''
''That thing smells like a dirty toilet!'' May said waving the remnants of the smell.
''I couldn't resist!'' Brendan said defensively. ''I needed to catch more Pokémon and the only ones I had were Grovyle and Tailow!''
''Just keep that thing FAR AWAY from me!'' I said plugging my nose.
''Aw, c'mon!'' Brendan begged. ''You'll get used to it. Besides, she's a sweetheart.'' I just groaned in disgust.
''Hey guys!'' Flannery called running after us.
''What's up, Flan?'' I said.
''I know that your next Gym battle is in Petalburg,'' Flannery said. ''The shortest route to get there is through the desert on Route 111.''
''Great!'' dad said. ''Thanks for telling us.''
''But, the area is prone to sandstorms,'' Flannery said quickly. ''Take these goggles.'' Flannery handed us each a pair of goggles.
''Thanks, Flan!'' I said happily.
''Also, I've also heard that a monstrous Pokémon guards the desert,'' Flannery said. ''Please, be careful there and get through it as quickly as possible.'' My dad had a worried look on his face. I just looked up at him and smiled. ''Here, I'll show a quick way to get to Route 111.'' We followed Flannery to some rocky ledges. ''Jump down here and you'll be in Route 111 in no time!''
''Thank you, Flannery,'' dad said. ''I'll go first.'' Dad climbed down the rocks carefully. ''Who's next?'' he called from below.
''Me!'' Brendan said. Brendan followed suit. Afterwards, May came down.
''Guess that leaves me!'' I said eagerly. I started my way down.
''Be careful, sweetie!'' dad called in a worried tone.
''I will, dad!'' I said mildly annoyed. Sheesh, he acts like I'm still five years o-, I thought before my foot slipped on a ledge and I went flying downwards.
''ALEX!'' dad yelled panicked. Before I hit the ground, I closed my eyes bracing for impact. But, someone caught me. I opened my eyes and saw Brendan staring at me. Brendan caught me! I thought blushing hard. I hope he can't hear or feel my heart beating rapid fire!
''Are you alright, Alex?'' he asked concerned.
''Y-yeah,'' I said snapping out of my daze. He set me down on the ground and dad immediately ran up to hug me.
''Thank goodness!'' he said relieved. ''Thank you, Brendan!''
''It was only natural,'' Brendan said coolly. May, rather than scowling, looked somewhat happy. Maybe she's finally getting over her jealousy.
''By you guys!'' Flannery yelled waving.
''Bye!'' I yelled back as well. We walked down Route 111 and came across the desert Flannery mentioned.
''This must be it,'' dad said simply. ''Get your goggles on everyone.'' We did as we were told. I could tell dad was worried about me. In fact, I could swear I could hear his heart beating rapidly in anxiety. I came over to him and hugged him.
''We'll be okay,'' I said looking up at him. He just smiled and kissed my forehead. Just then, a sandstorm whipped up.
''Man, this sandstorm is vicious!'' Brendan yelled over the wind.
''Let's all hold each others' hands!'' dad said. We did so and pressed onwards into the desert.
*Anthony's p.o.v*
We trudged through the sandstorm. It was the most savage sandstorm I've ever seen! It's worse than one sandstorm my team and I were in when I was a member of Team Wildfire. But, it wasn't the sandstorm I was worried about. I was more concerned over this Pokémon Flannery mentioned. All I could do was try to get us through this sandstorm as quickly as possible. We then started to walk through a patch of sand that was thicker than the rest of the sand in the desert. ''Be careful, everyone,'' I said. ''Who knows what Pokémon could be lurking in this sand.'' Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my leg.
''Dad, what's wrong?'' Alex asked concerned.
''Something's got my leg,'' I said in pain. My leg then started to sink into the sand.
''Help him out!'' May yelled panicked. Brendan, Alex, and May then grabbed me and started to pull on me. Gradually, my leg started to come out of the sand. When we finally got it out, we saw a Pokémon had clamped onto my leg. It was light brown and insect-like with a big head and set of jaws.
''Let go of my dad!'' Alex yelled beating the Pokémon on the head with a stick. The Pokémon eventually let go as its head spun from the beating.
''I'm sorry! I'm sorry!'' the Pokémon said obviously female judging by its voice. ''I was just so hungry. I hadn't eaten anything in days!''
''Well, next time don't go biting people!'' Alex snapped as the Pokémon flinched in fear.
''Calm down, Alex,'' I said. ''It's okay. The bite isn't that deep anyways. What kind of Pokémon are you?''
''I'm a Trapinch,'' the Pokémon responded. ''The Ant Lion Pokémon. What are you humans doing in the desert?''
''We're just trying to get to the next city and this is the shortest route to it,'' Alex said.
''Can I come?'' Trapinch asked eagerly. ''I've always wanted to go on an adventure!''
''Fine by me!'' I said smiling.
''Sure,'' Alex said. ''Want to be my Pokémon?''
''Yes ma'am!'' Trapinch said happily. Alex pulled out a Pokeball and caught Trapinch. After bandaging my leg, we pressed on into the desert. Soon, the sandstorm cleared up.
''That's much better,'' May said relieved. ''Sand is all in my hair!''
''Relax May,'' I said. ''You'll live. I just want to get through this desert quickly. I think I see the end over there.'' I looked around and noticed that Brendan and Alex were nowhere to be seen. ''Where're Brendan and Alex?'' I asked starting to panic.
''Dad, come see this!'' Alex yelled across the desert. I turned and saw Brendan and Alex at some kind of tower.
''Alex, Brendan, stay back!'' I yelled running up to them. But, Alex and Brendan went inside anyway. I groaned in annoyance. That girl, I thought. She's not listening to me! She takes after…me! I ran to the entrance of the tower and Brendan and Alex standing in front of two little rocks.
''What're these?'' Brendan asked kneeling down.
''They look like fossils,'' Alex said. ''One looks like a plant and the other looks like a shrimp.'' Alex and Brendan picked up the fossils.
''Don't' touch them!'' I yelled. As they picked them up, the tower started to rumble.
''The tower!'' May yelled.
''Get out of there NOW!'' I cried. Alex and Brendan ran out of the tower and soon, the tower sank into the sand. All of us sighed in relief. ''Why are you going against my wishes?!'' I asked angrily at Alex. Alex stood there in silence. ''Answer me!''
''I didn't think that-'' Alex started to say.
''That's it!'' I said. ''You didn't think! That is completely irresponsible of you, young lady! From now on, I'm not letting you out of my sight.'' I grabbed Alex by the hand and started to walk with her until she pulled away.
''Would you please stop treating me like a kid?!'' she asked angrily. I was flabbergasted at her disrespect.
''What's gotten into you?'' I asked. ''How dare you disrespect me! I'm your father!'' Alex then ran away as the sandstorm started up again. ''Alex!'' I called out. Why do I keep fighting with her? I thought. Maybe I am a little too hard on her. I guess I still have a lot to learn about being a father to a teenager. Suddenly, Alex screamed.
''ALEX!'' all of us yelled. We ran through the desert and saw Regirock holding Alex in its grasp.
''INTRUDER ALERT!'' Regirock bellowed. ''ALL INTRUDERS MUST BE DESTROYED!'' Regirock then began to squeeze the fist that Alex was being held in.
''NO!'' Brendan and I yelled. Brendan and I pulled out a Pokeball.
''Go!'' we yelled. I summoned Lucario and Brendan summoned Grovyle.
''MORE INTRUDERS! MORE INTRUDERS!'' Regirock yelled. ''DESTROY! DESTROY!'' Regirock then fired a Hyper Beam at our Pokémon but they dodged it.
''Lucario, Aura Sphere!'' I commanded.
''Grovyle, Leaf Blade!'' Brendan ordered. Lucario blasted Regirock's face causing it to stagger. Grovyle slashed the arm that Alex was in and she dropped into the sand and ran towards us and hugged me.
''I'm sorry, dad,'' she said quietly.
''No,'' I said. ''I'm sorry.''
''INTRUDERS MUST NOT ESCAPE!'' Regirock cried. Regirock used Rock Slide over us. We ran out of the way.
''Trapinch, help us!'' Alex yelled throwing her Pokeball.
''Regirock, please calm down!'' Trapinch begged. ''These humans mean no harm!''
''INTRUDERS MUST NOT ESCAPE!'' Regirock countered.
''Please!'' Trapinch pleaded. ''They're my friends!'' Regirock looked at us and stood silently.
''MUST HELP FRIENDS,'' Regirock stated. We sighed relieved. Regirock's eyes glowed and we were suddenly teleported to the other side of the desert.
''Hey, we're on the other side of the desert!'' May said happily. ''Thanks Regirock!'' May yelled into the desert.
''FRIENDS WELCOME,'' Regirock responded from nowhere.
''Regirock's not so bad when you get to know him,'' Trapinch said to us.
''Guess you're right,'' I said crossing my arms. ''Anyway Alex, I'm sorry for treating you like a kid. I was just trying to protect you. I know you're not little anymore, but it's so hard to accept that. It feels like only yesterday that you were small enough for me to hold.'' I looked down in shame. ''If I didn't overreact, you wouldn't have been put in danger,'' I said solemnly. ''I'm a bad father.''
''No you're not, dad,'' Alex said hugging me. ''You're a great dad. I'm sorry that I put myself in danger with that tower.'' I just hugged her back.
''How touching!'' Trapinch said crying.
''I guess it's in our blood,'' I said to Alex. ''So I can't fault you too much. I love you so much.''
''So do I!'' Alex said kissing me. I kissed her back.
''Check this out!'' Brendan said. We looked and saw the next route, Route 113. The difference with this route was that it looked like it was snowing.
''Is this snow?'' Alex asked. I held out my hand and saw that the flakes didn't melt.
''It's ash!'' I said surprised. ''It must be coming from Mt. Chimney.''
''It's kind of pretty,'' May said entranced.
''You can't eat it though,'' Brendan said somewhat disappointed.
''Cheer up, Brendan!'' Alex said cheerfully. ''Our next Gym battle with your dad is not far away. Let's go!'' Alex ran into the ashy route.
''Wait!'' Trapinch yelled trying to keep up. ''I can't run that fast!''
''There she goes again,'' I sighed. But, I then just laughed. ''That's my girl!'' I said smiling.