AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is chapter 33 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through the Hoenn region. I decided to have the Team Rocket trio join us in this chapter in honor of Rachael Lillis, who voiced Misty and Team Rocket's Jessie as well as Jigglypuff, who will be joining us later in the story. Rachael Lillis passed away from breast cancer this past August at the age of 55. You may recall the desert with that sandstorm that Team Rocket's blimp flew over in the Pokémon: Advanced Challenge episode: "The Princess and the Togepi." I decided to have Tristan and Hillary cross the ground on foot. Let's imagine there's a Trapinch living in that desert. What surprises will they encounter there? You'll just have to read it and find out.
TEASER: Tristan and Hillary cross a vast desert, but encounter a wild Trapinch and Team Rocket. Our heroes end up separated from one another while in an underground labyrinth. Will the wild Trapinch help get them back together?
Chapter 33: IN A TRAPINCH
(Music Cue: You Have to Earn Respect (full version))
Our heroes continue their journey to Fallarbor Town, site of Hillary's next Second-Chance Pokémon Contest. But for now, they have to get through a vast desert and a vicious sandstorm.
"It's getting tough to see!" grunted Hillary. "Maybe we ought to stop until this sandstorm dies down!"
Pikachu and Togepi seemed to agree.
"No, we can't," protested Tristan. "We have to keep going, otherwise we'll miss your Contest."
"But Tristan, the sandstorm is too powerful. We could get lost out here if we're not careful."
"Then I guess it's time to put these on." And Tristan opened his backpack, dug out his pair of Go-Goggles that the Winstrate Family gave him earlier, and put them over his glasses. "Ah, that's better."
"Great idea," chuckled Hillary. "Why didn't I think of that?" And she dug out her pair of Go-Goggles and put them on as well. Then she saw something that almost made her jump in surprise. "Tristan, look at this!"
"Look at what?" Then he gasped, for he saw that he and Hillary were standing just before a sandy pit.
"We almost walked into a sand trap!" exclaimed Hillary. "We could've been goners. Good thing we saw it with our Go-Goggles."
Just then, an orange insectoid Pokémon appeared out of the sand pit. It had a round body with a white underside, four stumpy legs, and a proportionally large head with small black eyes with twinkle-shaped pupils, and a zigzagging mouth.
"I wonder what that is," said Hillary as she scanned the Pokémon with her Pokédex.
"Trapinch, the Ant Pit Pokémon. Trapinch dig cone-shaped holes in desert areas. Its large and powerful jaws are capable of crushing stone."
"Hey, sounds pretty powerful," remarked Tristan. "I wanna catch it. All right, Pikachu, give it a Thunderbolt!"
(Music Cue: Raid! (full version))
Pikachu jumped up and unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity at Trapinch; however, Trapinch just stood there doing nothing, absorbing the attack.
"What happened?" gasped Tristan.
"Trapinch must be a Ground-type," replied Hillary. "Electric attacks aren't gonna work."
Suddenly, Trapinch leaped up and chomped down on Pikachu's tail using its mouth.
"That must be Trapinch's Bite attack!" gasped Hillary.
Trapinch swung Pikachu wildly by the tail and thrust it into Tristan, sending them both falling to the ground.
"Tristan! Pikachu!" gasped Hillary as she quickly ran over. "Are you both okay?"
"Yeah," replied Tristan as he and Pikachu got back up. "But that Trapinch is one tough customer. Maybe you should give it a try."
"Okay," agreed Hillary as she took out a Poké Ball. "Let's do it, Squirtle!"
Squirtle emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"Squirtle, hit Trapinch with your Water Gun!" commanded Hillary.
Squirtle unleashed a powerful blast of water from its mouth at Trapinch; however, Trapinch quickly leaped up and chomped down on Squirtle the same way it did to Pikachu.
"Look out, it's another Bite attack!" cried Tristan.
But it was too late, for Trapinch threw Squirtle into Hillary, causing them both to hit the ground.
Tristan quickly rushed over to Hillary and Squirtle and helped them up. "That Trapinch really means business."
"I can see that, goggle-head," grumbled Hillary.
Trapinch dug into the ground, but suddenly, the ground began to open up wider and wider, sucking up everything in it.
"Now what's that Trapinch doing?" wondered Hillary nervously.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it isn't good," replied Tristan. Then he gasped. "Of course! Trapinch is using Sand Tomb!"
"Sand Tomb?!" repeated Hillary as she cringed in fear.
"Come on, we'd better run for it!" advised Tristan as he started running.
But it was too late for Hillary, for as she started running, she lost her footing and began to fall in!
"Hillary!" cried Tristan as he saw her fall.
(Music Cue: Lugia Appears!/Lugia's Explosive Birth (as heard in the Japanese version of "Revelation Lugia"))
"Tristan, help me!" screamed Hillary as she fell deeper into Trapinch's Sand Tomb.
"Hang on, Hillary! I'll save you!" And Tristan tried to grab ahold of Hillary's hand.
Unfortunately, Hillary lost hold of Togepi, and it fell deeper and deeper into the sand until it was lost from sight.
"Oh, no! Togepi!" cried Hillary. But out of concern for Togepi, she lost her grip trying to grab Tristan's hand, and found herself sinking deeper into Trapinch's Sand Tomb.
Trapinch, seeing this, stopped its attack and disappeared below the surface.
But Hillary sank below the surface and disappeared from sight too.
"Hillary? Togepi? Where are you?" shouted Tristan as he frantically looked for them.
But there was no response.
"Come on, Pikachu, we have to get them out, and fast," advised Tristan. And he and Pikachu began to dig for them with their bare hands.
(Music Cue: Kanto Title Card)
Ten minutes later, they managed to dig a small hole, but they were nowhere near deep enough to get Hillary out.
"We've been digging forever, Pikachu, and there's not a trace of Hillary or Togepi anywhere," groaned Tristan.
Pikachu was just about to agree when suddenly, a mechanical rubber claw suddenly snatched it, much to it and Tristan's alarm.
"Pikachu!" cried Tristan. Then he heard three familiar cackling voices coming from above and looked up.
Sure enough, it was Jessie, James, and Meowth, the Team Rocket Trio, and they started into their motto.
(Music Cue: Team Rocket's Interrupted Motto (as heard in "A Parent Trapped!"))
"Prepare for trouble from above the sands."
"And make it double, 'cause Pikachu's in our hands."
"Ain't it such a great plan?" chimed Meowth.
"Team Rocket!" exclaimed Tristan disdainfully. "Look, I'm in the middle of something important, so give Pikachu back, and make it snappy!"
"Well, we're just getting started," retorted Jessie rather smugly. "Go, Seviper!" And she threw her Poké Ball.
(Music Cue: Kanto Trainer Battle (as heard in "The Grass Route"))
Seviper emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"All right, if that's how you wanna play, that's fine with me! Beldum, I choose you!" shouted Tristan as he threw his Poké Ball.
Beldum emerged from the white light that shot out of it and awaited Tristan's directions.
"Seviper, use Bite attack, now!" ordered Jessie.
Seviper lunged forward and proceeded to attack Beldum with its fangs.
"Dodge, and use Take Down, now!" commanded Tristan.
Beldum swerved from side to side to dodge Seviper's Bite attack and quickly rammed into it, scoring a direct hit.
"Cacnea, go!" yelled James as he threw his Poké Ball.
Cacnea emerged from the white light that shot out of it, but instead of attacking right away, it hugged James as usual, with its pins causing him a great deal of pain.
"Eeeeeh!" shrieked James and grabbed ahold of it. "How many times have I told you: not me?!"
"Beldum, Take Down, now, while Team Rocket's distracted!" shouted Tristan.
Beldum quickly flew and charged toward the mechanical arm, ramming into it and freeing Pikachu, who landed safely in Tristan's hands.
Team Rocket exclaimed in horror as they saw Pikachu escape.
"Gotcha! You okay, pal?" asked Tristan.
Pikachu nodded.
"You've got nerve!" snarled Jessie. "Seviper, Poison Tail, now!"
"Dodge it!" ordered Tristan.
Pikachu and Beldum nimbly dodged Seviper's Poison Tail.
"Now, use Thunderbolt, Pikachu!" commanded Tristan.
Pikachu unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity at Cacnea, but instead of striking Cacnea, the attack swerved to the left, thus missing its target.
"No way!" gasped Tristan. Then he suddenly realized. "Of course!"
"Go, Cacnea, Needle Arm!" ordered James.
Cacnea's right arm glowed and struck Pikachu with it, sending it flying.
"Pikachu!" exclaimed Tristan as he ran as fast as he could to catch it safely in his hands. He slid in the sand as the force of the flight dragged them both along. "Are you okay, Pikachu?"
Pikachu gave a nod.
Suddenly, Tristan and Pikachu found themselves slowly going lower and lower.
(Music Cue: Flying Poké Ball Chaos (as heard in "A Promise is a Promise"))
"Look out, we're starting to sink!" cried Tristan as he and Pikachu tried to get themselves out.
But no matter how much they tried, they just kept sinking deeper and deeper until they, too, disappeared into the same hole Trapinch went into.
Beldum, worried for Tristan and Pikachu's safety, followed them in.
"Hey!" yelled Jessie. "You're supposed to stay afloat, not sink like a stone!"
"Yeah!" added James. "Especially when we haven't stolen Pikachu yet!"
"Save it, James, let's just go find dem Twoips!" interrupted Meowth.
"Wobbuuuuu-ffet!" agreed Wobbuffet excitedly.
Meanwhile, far below the desert sands, Beldum tried gently nudging Tristan and Pikachu in an attempt to revive them.
Tristan and Pikachu slowly opened their eyes and saw Beldum.
"Pikachu, Beldum," smiled Tristan. "Glad you're both okay." And he gently embraced them. "But wait, where's Hillary? And Togepi?" And he quickly looked around for them, but there was no sign of them anywhere. "We'd better go and look for them." And he got slowly back on his feet and walked with Pikachu and Beldum by his side.
Elsewhere, Togepi nudged Hillary and helped her regain consciousness.
"Togepi, thank goodness you're all right," smiled Hillary as she embraced it. "But where are Tristan and Pikachu? And how did we get down here?" She looked for them, but couldn't find a trace of them anywhere. "We'd better find them as soon as possible, but who knows where they could be?" Suddenly, she saw a familiar orange insectoid Pokémon right in front of her. "Hey, you're that Trapinch! So you're the one who trapped us down here, aren't you?!"
But Trapinch shook its head, maintaining its innocence.
"Oh, so if you aren't the culprit, then how did we end up down here? I order you to return us to the surface this instant!"
Trapinch, feeling dejected, felt like crying and started slowly walking off.
Hillary saw the sad Trapinch and now felt sorry. "Oh, Trapinch, please don't run off. I didn't mean what I said." She picked up Togepi and tried to go after Trapinch.
(Music Cue: Danger! Pikachu! (as heard in "A Meditite Fight!"))
Suddenly, a big rock gave way from the top of the ceiling and headed straight for her.
Hillary screamed and tried to make a run for it, but she tripped and fell to the ground, accidentally dropping Togepi into the oncoming path of the giant rock. "Oh, no, Togepi!" she cried.
Trapinch, seeing Hillary and Togepi in danger, jumped up as high as it could, and used its powerful jaws from its zigzagged mouth to crush the rock into bits, thus saving them from it.
Hillary shielded herself and Togepi from the dust that followed. When she opened her eyes and saw what happened, she was surprised, for she didn't expect Trapinch to jump in and save her like it did. "That was awesome!" she smiled. Then she ran to Togepi and held it gently in her arms. "Are you okay, Togepi?"
Togepi trilled happily and embraced with her.
Then Hillary turned to Trapinch. "Wow, Trapinch, you saved our lives. Thank you."
Trapinch nodded and smiled.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you the way I did. I shouldn't have misjudged you when all you wanted to do was to be our friend, right?"
Trapinch nodded again.
"Okay then, we need to find Tristan and Pikachu," continued Hillary. "Can you help us, Trapinch?"
Trapinch smiled and nodded, for it was willing to assist Hillary any way it could after what just happened. So it led the way through the underground labyrinth.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket had landed on the desert sands in the blinding sandstorm.
"Why did those Twerps have to disappear into quicksand?" complained James.
"No kiddin,' agreed Meowth. "I may be gettin' hungry, but dere ain't no way I'm goin' into dat."
Jessie lost patience. "If you two sad sacs don't stop your complaining and help find the Twerps, I'll make sure you never go hungry again in the worst possible way!" Suddenly, Jessie felt her feet begin to sink below the sand. "Uh, is it just me, or am I starting to shrink?"
"Aah!" gasped Meowth. "We're goin' down fast!"
"And there's no way out!" shrieked James.
Then just before they sunk below the desert sands, Team Rocket screamed, "Looks like Team Rocket's sinking down again!" Seconds later, they landed hard on their bottoms in the strange labyrinth that Tristan and Hillary sunk into earlier.
"Ow!" groaned Jessie.
"Dat really hoit," agreed Meowth.
Suddenly, Team Rocket saw an orange insectoid Pokémon slowly approach them.
"What kind of Pokémon is that?" wondered Jessie.
"Don't know," replied James.
"It's a Trapinch," explained Meowth. "And I know dat da Boss would love it, right?"
"Well..." said Jessie and James, doubtfully.
And Meowth began his fantasy.
(Music Cue: Team Rocket's Secret Strategy A (as heard in "Where's Armaldo?"))
"Imagine da Boss doin' his best to get a good night's sleep, like any Boss would do, when suddenly, a thief sneaks into his bedroom and tries to make off with his hard-oined stash o' money! Dat's when Trapinch wakes up out of a sound sleep itself, and uses its powerful jaws to clamp onto dat thief.
CHOMP!
"'Yeow! I'm outta here!'
"Undistoibed by dat toin of events, da Boss continues sleepin' soundly until mornin,' and hearin' about what Trapinch did for him during da night, he remembers da tree of us, and he'll say...
"'Thanks to Meowth and his friends, Trapinch has guaranteed my safety, so dey have oined demselves a big reward.'"
This made Jessie and James ecstatic.
Meowth joined Jessie and James and they all proclaimed together, "We'll dig, dig, dig, and hit it big, and we'll soon be rich with a jig!"
"Wobbuffet!" agreed Wobbuffet excitedly.
Just then, Hillary's voice was heard. "I wonder where this path will lead us."
Team Rocket and Wobbuffet, not wanting their jig to be up quite yet, quickly dashed from sight as she approached.
(Music Cue: The Moon Stone (full version))
"Will this take us where we need to go, Trapinch?" asked Hillary.
Trapinch nodded and slowly continued leading the way.
Hillary became concerned. "I sure hope Tristan and Pikachu are okay. Who knows where they may have ended up when they fell?"
Just then, Tristan's voice was heard a short distance away. "Hillary? Togepi? Where are you?"
"Pika, pika?"
Hillary turned around and frantically looked around. "Tristan? Pikachu? Is that you?"
Then, footsteps were heard from just around the corner, and sure enough, Tristan, Pikachu, and Beldum appeared.
"Hillary! There you are!" smiled Tristan as he ran to her.
"Hey, big bro!" replied Hillary as she and Tristan embraced one another. "I'm so glad you're okay."
"Same here," agreed Tristan. Then he turned to see Trapinch standing right next to her. "Wait, isn't that the same Trapinch that trapped us here when it used Sand Tomb?"
"Yes, it is," answered Hillary. "It saved Togepi and me from getting hurt."
"That's a relief. But now we need to figure a way to get back above ground."
"Don't worry, I'm sure Trapinch will get us back to where we started from, right, Trapinch?"
Trapinch gave a nod and slowly started off, motioning Hillary to follow it.
"Trapinch wants us to follow," said Hillary. "So let's get going."
"I'm with you," agreed Tristan as he, Pikachu, and Beldum followed Hillary, Togepi, and Trapinch.
As soon as Tristan and Hillary disappeared from view, Team Rocket crept out of their hiding place.
"Perfect," smirked Jessie. "Now all we have to do is let the Twerps lead us back up above ground and we snatch that Trapinch."
"Dat's right, and den once we do, we'll take it straight to da Boss," added Meowth.
"I'm digging this plan," put in James.
Then Jessie, James, and Meowth said together, "We're gonna be rich, and den we'll be famous! What a blast!"
"Wobbuffet!" agreed Wobbuffet.
Some time later, Trapinch led Tristan and Hillary to a soft rocky part of the labyrinth.
"Wonder where we are now," said Tristan.
"Well, this isn't above ground, at least not yet," replied Hillary.
Then Trapinch motioned to Hillary and used its powerful jaws to start digging into the wall.
"What's Trapinch trying to do now?" wondered Tristan.
"If Trapinch is doing what I think it's doing, it's probably going to dig its way back up to the surface," replied Hillary. "Of course! Since Trapinch is a Ground-type, it can dig us back up to the surface in no time!"
"That's a great theory," smiled Tristan. He was most impressed.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's follow it!" continued Hillary as she followed Trapinch through the wall.
"Wait for us, sis!" called Tristan as he followed her.
A moment later, Trapinch opened a hole in the surface and slowly crawled out, followed closely by Tristan and Hillary.
The next thing they knew, they had gotten past the sandstorm on the other side of the desert.
"Wow, I guess Trapinch came through for us after all," remarked Tristan.
"Just like I knew it would," replied Hillary. "Isn't that right, Trapinch?" And she knelt over to stroke it on the head.
But Trapinch, still not used to Hillary's presence, tried to bite her with its powerful jaws; however, Hillary quickly got her fingers away at the last second.
"I guess Trapinch has some issues with its manners," remarked Tristan.
"Yeah, I guess so, but at least we back above ground now," agreed Hillary.
Just then, there was a rumble that shook the ground beneath everyone's feet.
"What's happening now?" gasped Tristan.
He was soon to find out, for the next thing he and Hillary knew, a giant machine came up out of the ground below. It looked like a giant Trapinch. Then suddenly, a mechanical claw shot out from the machine and snatched Trapinch, much to its surprise.
"No, Trapinch!" cried Hillary.
Seconds later, three familiar voices cackled. Soon after, Jessie and James emerged from it and started their motto:
(Music Cue: Team Rocket's Hoenn Motto (as heard in "Tree's a Crowd"))
"Prepare for trouble from underground."
"And make it double with that deafening sound."
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie."
"James."
"Team Rocket, digging up Pokémon at the speed of light."
"Surrender now, or prepare for a dirty fight, fight, fight."
"Meowth, dat's right!" sang Meowth as he joined Jessie and James.
"Wobbuffet!" added Wobbuffet as it popped out of its Poké Ball.
"Team Rocket!" exclaimed Tristan.
"Pipi-kachu!" added Pikachu disdainfully.
"Give back Trapinch!" demanded Hillary.
"No way," retorted Jessie. "Not after it forced us to sink underground the way it did."
"So now we're taking it straight to the Boss as its punishment!" fumed James.
"And dere's nuttin' you can do to stop us," put in Meowth.
"So, tough luck," finished Jessie as the hatch closed. Then she turned to her teammates. "It's time to get digging back to the Boss and receive our big reward."
"Aye-aye!" agreed James and Meowth as they started the machine up.
(Music Cue: Groudon, Kyogre, & Rayquaza Battle (as heard in the Japanese version of AG003: "There's No Place Like Hoenn"))
The giant Trapinch machine quickly turned around, leaped into the air and started digging underground in an attempt to escape.
"Oh, yeah? Pikachu, use your Thunderbolt attack on that machine!" ordered Tristan.
Pikachu nodded and unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity at the giant Trapinch; however, the attack proved to be futile.
"Thunderbolt isn't working!" grunted Tristan.
Meowth cackled profusely. "You should know by now dat Electric attacks don't woik against dis thing."
"It's our turn to attack now," smirked Jessie.
"Roger!" agreed James as he pushed a button.
The giant Trapinch quickly turned around and proceeded to attack Pikachu with its makeshift powerful jaws.
"Dodge it, Pikachu!" shouted Tristan.
Fortunately, Pikachu was quick enough to avoid the machine's powerful jaws just as they crushed the ground next to it.
"I've got an idea, Tristan," suggested Hillary.
"What is it?" asked Tristan.
"Well, normally, since Trapinch is a Ground-type and is immune to Electric attacks, then maybe we should use Water attacks against it instead."
"Then once we hit it with one, then their machine will lose power and release Trapinch from Team Rocket's grip! Great idea, sis, let's try it." And Tristan readied his Poké Ball and threw it. "Mudkip, I choose you!"
"You, too, Squirtle, come on out!" added Hillary as she threw hers.
Mudkip and Squirtle emerged from the white lights that shot out of their Poké Balls.
"Use Water Gun on that machine!" commanded Tristan and Hillary together.
Mudkip and Squirtle unleashed powerful blasts of water from their mouths on the giant Trapinch, scoring a direct hit on it.
Seconds later, sparks crackled from it.
Meowth laughed profusely again, feeling overconfident. "You should know by now dat Water attacks are super-effective against giant Trapinch, ya know."
"Meowth!" yelled Jessie and James angrily.
Suddenly, there was a little explosion, followed by another, and still another as the machine lost power and released Trapinch from its grip.
"Yes, you're free, Trapinch!" smiled Hillary excitedly as it ran over to her. "Are you okay?"
Trapinch gave a nod.
(Music Cue: Advance Adventure (Orchestra & Guitar (as heard in "The Bicker, the Better"))
Then to everyone's surprises, Trapinch darted off in the opposite direction towards Team Rocket's machine, much to everyone's surprise. It then started chomping on the machine as if it were a big snack.
Tristan and Hillary were perplexed.
"Well, there's definitely nothing wrong with its appetite," remarked Tristan.
Pikachu agreed.
Sure enough, Trapinch kept snacking on the machine. Faster and faster it went.
"Get off o' our moichendise!" yelled Meowth.
"Hey, you! This machine's not a meal!" shouted Jessie.
"Stop it!" shrieked James.
But Trapinch wouldn't listen to them, for it just kept chomping and chomping until there was no machine left, leaving Team Rocket completely exposed.
Team Rocket groaned. They didn't expect their machine to be beaten so easily by being eaten.
"Ya feelin' full now?" asked Meowth.
Trapinch proudly stood there, satisfied with the sustenance it consumed, and gave a loud burp.
"You're gonna pay for that, you nasty little anteater! Seviper, take it out!" shouted Jessie as she threw a Poké Ball.
Seviper emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"Get out there, too, Cacnea!" added James as he threw his.
Cacnea also emerged from the white light that shot out of it, but quickly turned around to hug James as usual, causing him enormous pain.
"Don't give a pinch to me! Give it to that Trapinch!" shrieked James.
"Let's go, Seviper, use Bite!" ordered Jessie.
"Cacnea, use Pin Missile!" added James.
Seviper lunged forward and used its fangs to try and bite Trapinch while Cacnea unleashed a barrage of needles from the pins on its arms.
However, Trapinch was easily able to avoid the attacks by quickly burrowing underground. Seconds later, it surprised them by scoring direct hits on them.
"That's Trapinch's Dig!" said Hillary excitedly.
"I guess that Trapinch can really dig it," remarked Tristan.
"That's no fair! Seviper, Poison Tail, now!" ordered Jessie.
"Go, Cacnea, use Needle Arm!" added James.
Seviper's tail lit up in a purple poisonous glow while Cacnea's right arm glowed. Then they both charged in for the attack.
But once again, Trapinch was ready for them, so it used its jaws to grab onto the edge of Seviper's tail, and, in doing so, stopped its Poison Tail attack in its tracks. Then it spun Seviper around and around until it sent it flying into Cacnea, causing it to be sent crashing into Team Rocket.
"Ready, big bro?" asked Hillary.
"You bet!" replied Tristan. "Beldum, use Take Down! Mudkip, help out with Water Gun!"
"Use your Water Gun, too, Squirtle!"
Beldum flew forward towards Team Rocket full-body style while Mudkip and Squirtle unleashed powerful blasts of water from their mouths, boosting Beldum's Take Down speed. Then, using all it had, it rammed into Team Rocket, sending them flying.
BOOM!
"That Trapinch just pinched our victory away!" groaned Jessie.
"That Pokémon could've helped us set those traps for those tenacious Twerps!" added James.
"Instead, WE'RE da ones who got trapped!" put in Meowth.
"Wobbuffet!" added Wobbuffet.
"We're blasting off again!" yelled Jessie, James, and Meowth as they disappeared into the sky.
"Wobbuffet!"
DING!
"That was great, guys, good job," commended Tristan.
"Yeah, way to go!" added Hillary.
All the Pokémon cheered as they celebrated their victory.
Hillary knelt over to Trapinch. "And it couldn't have been possible without the help of Trapinch," continued Hillary.
But Trapinch quickly turned around and tried to bite Hillary's finger with its jaws.
"Hey, what was that for?"
Trapinch just jumped up and down, acting hyper.
"Hmm, with the way Trapinch is moving like that," remarked Tristan, "I'd say it wants to challenge you to a battle."
"What? A battle?"
"It's true you and Trapinch became friends, especially after it saved your life, but it wants you to prove your strength as a Trainer. Isn't that right?"
Trapinch gave a hard nod.
"All right then, I accept your challenge, Trapinch!" agreed Hillary. "Tristan, could you please watch Togepi for me?"
"Of course."
(Music Cue: Team Aqua & Magma Grunt Battle (full version))
A moment later, Hillary and Trapinch faced each other on the edge of the desert as Tristan, Pikachu, and Togepi watched.
"I've been wanting to catch a new Pokémon for a while ever since I caught my Ralts," said Hillary. "And Trapinch, I hope you'll become even better friends with me and the other Pokémon when I catch you."
Trapinch struck a fighting pose, readying itself for battle.
"Wow, now that's confidence," remarked Tristan. "I have a feeling this battle's gonna be awesome. And with no annoying sandstorms getting in the way, it should be clear sailing from here."
Pikachu and Togepi nodded in agreement.
"Squirtle, I choose you!" shouted Hillary as she threw her Poké Ball.
Squirtle emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"Are you ready, Squirtle? I'm counting on you."
Squirtle gave a hard nod. It was ready to help any way it could.
Trapinch charged forward and proceeded to bite Squirtle hard using its powerful jaws.
"Go, Squirtle, hit it with Water Gun!" commanded Hillary.
Squirtle unleashed a powerful stream of water from its mouth at Trapinch, scoring a direct hit.
But Trapinch wouldn't give up so easily, for it quickly burrowed underground.
"I knew Trapinch would use Dig," said Hillary to herself. "The question is, where will it come up?"
Squirtle frantically looked around for Trapinch, but suddenly, Trapinch appeared from underground and used its hard head to score a direct hit.
"Squirtle!" exclaimed Hillary.
"That Trapinch sure means business," remarked Tristan.
Pikachu and Togepi agreed nervously.
Next, Trapinch used its powerful jaws to bite hard onto Squirtle's tail, spinning it around and around. Then it threw Squirtle to the ground with a crash with a cloud of sand following the impact.
"Can you keep going, Squirtle?" asked Hillary.
Squirtle struggled back to its feet and gave a hard nod.
"Yeah, that's the spirit!"
Trapinch quickly burrowed underground again and prepared itself for its next attack as Squirtle quickly searched for it.
There has to be some way to stop Trapinch's digging right in its tracks, thought Hillary. If the holes can somehow be plugged up with...wait, that's it! "All right, Squirtle, use your Water Gun attack to plug up those holes!" she instructed aloud.
Squirtle nodded and unleashed a powerful stream of water from its mouth into the hole Trapinch just dug.
The holes became wetter and wetter, just like a flood.
There was a rumble, a roar, and seconds later, a surprised Trapinch was shot out of the hole by the onrushing flood of water.
"All right, it worked!" cheered Hillary. "Now, use Water Gun!"
Squirtle unleashed a powerful blast of water from its mouth and scored a direct hit on Trapinch.
"Now's our chance! End this with a full-power Tackle attack!"
Squirtle charged at Trapinch full-body style and rammed into Trapinch so hard that it didn't know what hit it.
Trapinch tumbled to the ground with a dazed expression in its eyes; it was weak enough for it to be caught.
"Nice work. Go, Poké Ball!" shouted Hillary as she threw an empty one.
The Poké Ball hit Trapinch, who instantly shot inside. Then it dropped to the ground and wiggled as the button gave red flashes.
Everyone watched as the seconds went by.
Then suddenly, the Poké Ball stopped wiggling and emitted a tone, signaling that Trapinch had been caught.
(Music Cue: Ending 1997-1998 (as heard in "Fowl Play!")
Hillary excitedly took the Poké Ball and proclaimed, "Yes! I just caught...a Trapinch!"
"Pi-Pikachu!" added Pikachu as it, Togepi, and Tristan applauded.
"Congratulations, Hillary," commended Tristan.
"Thanks, Tristan." Then she picked up Squirtle and held it close to her. "You were really great, too, Squirtle."
Squirtle gave a happy reply.
Then Hillary held her Poké Ball and held it close to her. "Thanks, Trapinch. Welcome to the team."
The Poké Ball, now with Trapinch inside, glistened in the sunlight, as if it were saying it was great to be part of the team.
That evening, Tristan and Hillary came to a familiar building with a letter 'P' on it.
"Hey, look! There's a Pokémon Center!" said Hillary.
"Great," replied Tristan. "I can't wait to have a great meal and a good night's sleep. We've certainly had a big day."
"That's for sure. Last one there's a rotten Exeggcute!" And Hillary dashed off toward the Pokémon Center.
"Hey, wait up, sis!" called Tristan as he and Pikachu raced after her. "I thought you exhausted yourself catching that Trapinch!"
And so, after a big adventure in a very big desert, Hillary finds a new friend in Trapinch. And you know what that means: more excitement awaits for our heroes as their journey to Fallarbor Town continues!
TO BE CONTINUED...
