Skorupi, Ampharos, and Bronzor

Her ears picked up vibrations in the sand, the first sound besides the wind that she'd heard in many moons. Steady regular crunches of the red sand, it was something walking on two feet. Too big to eat all at once. Still, it was another coming this way and hope that she'd get food before she starved.

It was strange. Normally, the desert was quiet until the rain came. Then life would burst out: plants blooming, insects buzzing, Pokemon stirring. After a few days, all would settle into quiet again. But it had been a long time since the last rain. She needed to eat again.

Since this was the first creature to be moving in the desert in a long time, she waited and watched. It was night with a sliver of silver moon in the sky. Close to the ground, she saw three yellow orbs, glowing and swaying. Sometimes the outer two disappeared for a second, while the middle was blocked by someone regularly.

Then she heard the sounds that she hadn't heard in a long time: voices speaking words. "Still no signs of the villagers. It's so dark tonight; are you sure this is the right way?"

A matching metallic voice said, "Yes, according to the map, there should be a watchtower out this way. It'll be tall enough that we can send a signal over the dunes."

Then a third voice, different from the other two. "The night's dark enough that I might not need your assistance."

"It will cut down on the chance for interception."

"Fine."

Words, with meaning. They triggered memories in her mind, from when she was young. From a time when she spoke. She used to live in a village near the oasis with many other Pokemon. Working together, they kept a good supply of food and water no matter when it rained. There was no need to lie in the sand, waiting for prey to come to her. There was cooperation and happiness. Being here like this, only thinking about hunting, the rains, and the sand, this wasn't like her. But she had been here for many moons, so why?

The three Pokemon were closer now, enough that she could make them out. The one walking was an Ampharos, using the ball on the end of his tail as a light source. Beside him, there were two Bronzor, floating over the sands. Their bodies were well polished, enough that they reflected the Ampharos' light clearly. They all seemed strong and healthy.

Hoping that they were nice too, she carefully pulled herself out of hiding, trying not to expend more energy than she needed. Then she called out to them, her voice rough from disuse and lack of water. "D-d-d-d..."

"There IS someone here," the Ampharos said, changing his pace to find her.

"Careful," one of the Bronzor said, following.

"Do you have a-any food t-to share?" she asked.

"Sure, not a problem," the Ampharos said, opening a bag at his side and pulling out a large apple. "Here you go."

Without even a question? "Thanks," she said meekly, then gripped the apple in her claws and devoured it. It was surprisingly fresh and so juicy, smelling like a gift from heaven. Maybe it was how long she'd been without, but it was the best tasting apple she'd ever had.

"Hungry?" one of the Bronzor asked jokingly when she was finished.

"Sorry," she said. "I haven't eaten since the last rain, and it hasn't rained in a very long time. Were you looking for the watchtower? It's just over here, I'll show you." She headed that way, still careful with her movements.

"Yeah, the watchtower will help," the Ampharos said. "Miss Skorupi, do you know what happened to the village at the oasis? We came since we've heard nothing for almost a year now."

"I'm not sure," she said. "I hardly remembered up until I heard you three talking; couldn't even think at all."

"Then it is like the other lost villages," one of the Bronzor said.

The Ampharos agreed. "Yes, all the Pokemon living in those places went wild overnight. We'll just have to find the villagers and help them recover."

"I don't know if that's possible," she said, feeling a little sick realizing it. "Very little has moved or made a sound, since it's been a long time since the last rain. My kin were originally great survivors... maybe the only reason I'm still alive. I don't know how many we can find."

"She may be right," the other Bronzor said. "We haven't felt much life out this way."

"It certainly happened before the town of Goldsand," the other agreed. "What do you remember?"

"Sorry, I still need some time to think about that," she said. "Um, here's the tower." She looked at the stone steps that led up to the top. "I, I worked here, I think. The gate's not even shut." She headed up.

The Ampharos climbed with her while the two Bronzor floated up to the top. With such a small moon out, the sands of the desert soon blended into the darkness. She saw a darkened torch standing at one corner, reminding her that there were other torches on the tower and around the village. Maybe they had all gone wild and there was no one able to think well enough to consider lighting the torches. She certainly wasn't capable of crafting fire as a Skorupi.

At the top, she found some slimmer stairs that led up to a low safety wall. By using footholds on the wall, she was able to climb up top, as her low body stance made it hard to see over the wall otherwise. "Yes, I definitely worked here," she said, noticing how familiar the tiny stairs and footholds were.

"Were you working here when the village went feral?" the Ampharos asked, leaning against the wall. "Huh, can't even see the village from here."

"You could if the torches were lit," she said. "Um, let me think."

"You might want to go over to that corner if you're staying on the wall," one of the Bronzor advised. "We need to send a light signal."

"Okay." she backed up and watched them.

"Celestial signs and earthly position assessed," the other Bronzor said. "Direction of Watchtower 357 to Watchtower 019 discovered. Brother, I've got the deflection angles." He floated closer to the other and told him a series of complicated numbers.

The Ampharos jumped onto the base of the large torch that used to burn on top of the tower. Charred sticks crumbled under his feet as he dropped down on all fours. "Whenever you two are ready."

After the numbers were confirmed, the two Bronzor went behind the Ampharos, positioning themselves precisely. The Ampharos then caused a series of bright flashes from his tail orb, all in a brilliant yellow-white. Reflected by the polished steel, his beacon powered through the darkness. She could even see glimpses of the desert, in a thin trail underneath the beam. It took a minute to get through his coded message.

They waited for a little while in the darkness until another flash of light appeared on the horizon. She couldn't quite interpret the message. Thinking on that made her realize that she hadn't been working on the tower as a watcher for very long. Certainly not long enough to learn the light signals.

"What are the chances that there were survivors?" the Ampharos asked after the return message was complete.

"If there are any, they would probably be near the oasis because of the water," she said.

"I really doubt there's other survivors at this point," one of the Bronzor said. "We didn't even feel life near the water."

"What do we do about her?"

"Um, could I go with you, back to where you come from?" she asked. "Maybe if I have a few days, I can remember things better. And, if there is no one else here, not even any creatures to eat, I'd rather not stay and end up going wild again."

"That would be for the best," the other Bronzor said. "You're welcome to come with us."

"As long as you don't slow us down," the Ampharos asked.

"I'll try to keep up, but I still need to get my energy up," she said.

"We'll look around just in case. Go ahead and tell them we'll start heading back tomorrow night."

While the Ampharos went back to messaging the other tower, the Skorupi wondered if it was right for her to leave. She had a feeling that the oasis village was her home, a peaceful and friendly place. But they said the village was empty and she hardly remembered it. If she remained just because of the feeling, she might end up dying anyhow.

When she remembered her family and neighbors, she should return here to pay her respects. For now, it looked better to live on and figure out what happened with these travelers.

…

Bronzor B/W entry: There are researchers who believe this Pokemon reflected like a mirror in the distant past.

Ampharos Soul Silver entry: The bright light on its tail can be seen from far away. It has been treasured since ancient times as a beacon.

Skorupi B2/W2 entry: It lives in arid regions and can go without food for a year while waiting for prey.