Hitmonchan and Baltoy

The desert winds whipped around them, throwing up a veil of flying sand. It ran over their skin like sandpaper. If it wasn't for the goggles, they would probably be blinded. Despite the discomfort of being out in the sandstorm, it was their best option. An engine roared nearby. The desert might just be able to hide them.

The human girl dropped down on her knees, thinking it would make her less visible. She wore red-violet runner's shorts and a matching sports tank. Her shoes and socks were in the canvas bag she carried, for she had been out here training just minutes ago. Her orange hair was tied back with a clip that had the logo of the dojo she trained in. She watched the direction the engine sounded from.

Next to her, her partner kept an eye on other directions. He was a Hitmonchan, a four foot tall Fighting Pokemon with brown skin and a killer punch. His fist were covered in red calluses from his constant practice against stones and boulders. He also had light purple armor that had grown over his chest and flared out past his waist, to protect vital organs from serious damage. All adaptations to help him in close-quarters combat.

The engine changed directions. It was an ATV, perfectly capable of driving in this sandstorm. The driver and passenger were something to worry about. They had showed up five minutes ago, with guns in hand, demanding that the girl come with them quietly. While she and her Pokemon were both capable of defending themselves in regular combat, guns were something they did not want to mess with. So they had run into the sandstorm in hopes of losing them.

The Trainer then nudged his shoulder armor, letting him know that they were to move over to the cliff walls surrounding the desert. There might be a shallow cavern to hide in. He nodded and led the way. They trained often here, but generally not in the middle of the sandstorm. It would cover their tracks, but made it difficult to see the way ahead. The flying sand made him completely miss a rapid sinkhole until he fell right into it.

"Jack!" the girl shouted. She tried to grab his hand, but he slipped under the quickly moving sand in a blink. Seconds later, a burst of gas shot a plume of sand into the air. But not the Pokemon.

The ATV headed right for her.

Although Jack feared that he was going to drown in sand, he was soon falling through air. He rolled in time to hit the ground safely. When he got back to his feet, he saw a gas hole shoot out all the sand it had swallowed up. As it finished, a yellow shimmer appeared in the ceiling, keeping the sand from falling inside.

"Casey!" But the sand blocked his voice and that shield blocked him.

Seeing as he wasn't getting out that way, he pushed his goggles onto his forehead and looked at his surroundings. He was in a room carved out of tan stone. There were a few holes in the ceiling like the one he had dropped through, corresponding with holes in the floor. What purpose they served, he had no clue. There were drawings all over the walls. These were simple figures, abstracts of people fishing, farming, and building. Other figures appeared to be Pokemon, some he recognized, some he didn't. The room was empty save for himself and another Pokemon.

This other was shown in the pictures, but Jack wasn't sure what it was. Appearing to be made of clay, it had a head shaped like an onion, a slightly larger body, and no legs. Instead, it pivoted slowly on one point, like a child's top. It had flat arms that curved out, nearly touching the floor. It spun about two inches off the ground, perfectly balanced. Even while it levitated, it was a head shorter than he was.

"Excuse me, but where's the exit to this place?" the Hitmonchan asked.

Two eyes opened up as it stopped spinning. "Hmm?" it asked sleepily.

He bowed his head. "Oh, sorry. I didn't realize you were asleep."

It glided around him, observing. "Fascinating."

"Pardon me for asking, but what are you?"

"Baltoy." The voice had a higher pitch to it, so was this a female? "You?"

"I'm a Hitmonchan. My name is Jack."

"Name? Lucky."

"You're Lucky?"

She shook her head. "No name. You lucky."

"I see. I'll ask again: where's the exit to this place?"

"Exit?"

"I fell through a sinkhole up there. My Trainer was with me when we were threatened by strangers with guns. I have to get out to help her."

"Guns?"

"Very bad weapons. We can't fight them."

"Ooo, bad. Exit. Come." She moved towards the door, turning herself to it as she went along.

Jack followed the odd Baltoy into a hallway. There were more of the same tan stones and more of the same style of drawings. "What is this place?"

"Ancient," she replied. "Temple."

"An ancient temple to who?"

"Rock."

"That would make sense," he said, mostly to himself. A temple to rocks in the middle of a desert... but then why had there been pictures of fishers?

She paused in front of a small shaft and whistled. It seemed to be some kind of signal, as it was long and moved between several notes. Then she moved on down the hall.

"What were you doing there?"

"Calling. Come."

She made a curving turn to go through a doorway into another room, much larger than the one he had fallen into. The outer rim was a raised pathway of stone, but the central area was dusted with sand. Six tall columns stood there, surrounding the middle of the room. But there was nothing there. "Is there supposed to be something here? It seems like there should be."

The Baltoy stopped in the center of the pillars, on top of a large block. She tapped the floor. "Rock. Sleeping."

There was a whistle, followed by another. And a dozen more. Many Baltoys entered the pillar room, looking exactly like his guide. "Guest?" one asked.

She shook her head. "Trouble, above. Help?"

The others looked over him, then nodded. "Help."

Jack bowed to them. "Thank you. My Trainer was being threatened; I don't know why, but I have to help her."

"Human?"

"Of course."

His guide beckoned with her hands. "Exit, come."

Setting off as one, the Baltoys moved to the largest doorway in the room. Jack went with them, glad to find stairs on the other side. The lead Baltoys pressed a few switches on the way up, causing a rock slab to slide backwards. The wind sent flying sand at them, but the Baltoys just closed their eyes and pressed on. Jack put his goggles back over his eyes.

He did not hear the engine. "Casey!"

With their eyes shut, the Baltoys all pointed to the north. "Three," his guide said.

So they had her. Jack rushed that way, ignoring the sand blasting away at his skin. He soon saw a tall rock jutting out of the ground. Casey had her back to the rock, trying to watch the two men at once. Only one had a gun this time. The other was threatening her. "You're going to give us the password, one way or another."

Normally, he wouldn't hurt humans. But this was a definite exception. Jack slammed his right fist into the back of the gunman's leg, then spun around and punched the hip with his left as the human was falling. Before the man hit the ground, Jack grabbed hold of the gun and yanked it out of his hands.

He had no clue how to actually use the gun, so he simply bludgeoned it onto the man's chest. "You don't threaten my Trainer," he snarled.

"Jack?" Casey asked in astonishment. "Thank goodness." Then she delivered a fierce kick to the other man's chest.

He gasped, but then got hold of his gun.

One of the Baltoys tapped Jack's arm, then pointed to the rock. "Up."

Deciding to trust them, he nodded and darted over to Casey's side. He pointed up onto the rock. "Come on!"

Seeing the first man scramble for another gun, she nodded and picked him up. Once he climbed onto her back, she jumped up for a handhold. She was on top of it in the blink of an eye.

Jack looked back down in time to see the sandy air vibrate. The Baltoys all released Psychic energy that, while not bothering each other, put the two man below in immense pain. That energy left trails in the sand, all directed straight at one or the other. Since they were so short, their blasts did not touch Casey and Jack up on the rock.

"What's going on?" the first one said, panicking.

"Let's get out of here," the other replied, rushing for the ATV. Once his partner had stumbled on board, they got out of the desert in a hurry.

Once the sandstorm drowned out the vehicle's roar, Casey slid off the rock, putting Jack down. "That was sure impressive. But, where'd they go?"

For a moment, it seemed like the Baltoys were all gone. Only the straight trails of sand held any hint that they had been there. The sandstorm was already erasing those. But then one glided into their range of vision. "Safe?" Her voice was familiar; it was the one who had guided him.

"For now, I think," he replied. "Thank you."

She bowed. Then she raised one arm up. "Follow?"

"Maybe."

Casey knelt down, like she did when she wanted to talk to Jack. "Thank you, little Pokemon."

The Baltoy brought her other arm up and appeared as if asking to be picked up. "Follow?"

"I'm not entirely sure what you are." She put her hand to her chin. "What do you think, Jack? Want to fight with this one?"

"She's different, but sure, let's give it a try."

She bowed again. "Good."

…

Hitmonchan Fire Red entry: The spirit of a pro boxer has infused this Pokemon. It throws punches that are faster than a bullet train.

Baltoy FR/LG entry: It was discovered in ancient ruins. While moving, it constantly spins. It stands on one foot even when asleep.

The Baltoy means it was Regirock's chamber and the legendary was sleeping. Of course, there aren't Baltoys in that chamber… but whatever.