"Oh man. Are we almost there?" Terra complained. "It's hot out here, and I swear I'm going to melt like an ice cube if I don't get some water soon."
"I'm afraid we still got ways to go." Cletus claimed as he and the others were feeling the heat.
Our heroes are continuing towards Gaios City so that Davis can have his fifth gym battle, but that's assuming they can even get there. They still have to get through such rough terrain and heat if they're going to make it there.
"Why did they have to put Gaios City out in the middle of nowhere?" Davis complained. "I never thought I would want to do anything except my gym battle when we get there, but I think I want a bag of ice more than that badge."
"There's got to be a way we can... Wait. What is that?" Imperialdramon questioned. They all looked and spotted a strange pokemon in front of them. It looked like a large lizard, only about a couple feet tall and wide. It was a mix of sandy brown and rusty red, but it's most distinct feature had to be the spikes sticking out of it's body.
"Thornvul."
"Is that a pokemon?" Davis questioned.
"I believe that pokemon is called a Thornvul." Terra said. Davis pulled out his pokedex to learn more about it.
"Thornvul, the Thorny Lizard Pokemon. A ground-type. Thornvul are capable of traveling across deserts without the need to rest. They are the only ground-types not to be bothered by water."
"A ground-type not be to bothered by water?!" Davis said. A ground-type that wouldn't mind getting wet. What kind of crazy pokemon is this where the types are a bad match and yet it doesn't bother it at all.
Through the water, forest, and up in the sky
In the fire, thunder, and right in your heart
There are so many, many, many to find
And I know I can do it
(I can do it)
I know I can catch them all-all-all
(Gotta catch'em all)
So let's go
(Come on)
Oh
Watch me, here I go
Pokemon, here I come
It's destiny calling
I'll give it my all
It's all I can do
(Davis' voice): Let There Be Water
"How is that possible? How can a ground-type not be bothered by water? Does that mean it won't even flinch with water? Does it even effect Thornvul?" Terra questioned.
"That can't be. All ground-types are affected by water." Cletus said. "Even if Thornvul was another type, there are no types that aren't affected by water-types."
"Well, let's find out." Davis said as he wanted to try something. "I'll battle it, and if it turns out to be true, I'll catch it. Having a pokemon like that could come in handy. Slotter, come out and use Aqua Jet on that Thornvul!" He called as he released Slotter.
"Slotter!" Slotter came out and attacked Thornvul like Davis wanted. The attack appeared to have worked as it made contact with Thornvul and it rolled against the ground. They all took a good look to see what that attack did, but Thornvul was able to get back up and the attack didn't seem to have had any affect at all.
"No way! That Aqua Jet didn't appear to do any damage at all!" Terra said.
"That's impossible! It should have done some damage!" Cletus said. They were all stunned at what they saw, but Thornvul fought back. It fired a Pin Missile attack and blasted Slotter with it.
"Slotter!" Davis called. "Well, I'm really going to catch it now after that!"
"Wait!" They all looked and saw someone dressed as a scientist with long black hair, bangs, and glasses came running out. "Could you please leave that Thornvul alone?! I need it for my research!"
"You're research?" Davis said.
"That's right. I'm studying the Thornvul, and that one is part of my studies." She claimed. "Please, don't try to catch it. I haven't been able to find another one around."
"In that case, you should know that this one is leaving." Imperialdramon said as they all saw Thornvul is leaving.
"I'm not too worried. I've been following it's movements, so it's fine." The scientist claimed. "Still, please don't go after it."
"Get me a glass of cold water and I'll find a way to turn into a Thornvul." Davis said.
...
A Cabin
The lady scientist brought them back to her cabin out in that wasteland and treated them all to some nice water.
"I appreciate you doing what I ask. My name is Professor Franny by the way." She introduced as she served each one of them.
"We didn't mean to bother the Thornvul. We were just curious to see if it's really not bothered by water." Cletus said. "By the way, my name is Cletus."
"I'm Terra."
"My name is Davis."
"And I'm Imperialdramon."
"It's nice to meet all of you. I take it you're on your way to Gaios City. A lot of trainers come through here on their way there." Professor Franny claimed. "I'm out here studying the Thornvul because I was curious about the same thing. When I heard that Thornvul aren't affected by water, I've been trying to study them and learn more about why that is."
"It doesn't make sense that a ground-type wouldn't be affected by water-types." Cletus said. "How come this Thornvul isn't?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out, and I asked a colleague of mine to lend an assistance." Professor Franny said.
"And that would be me." They all heard someone step in and they were all surprised to see it was Professor Sassafras.
"Professor Sassafras!" Davis said.
"Davis! Everyone! What are the odds we would run into each other out here?!" Professor Sassafras claimed. Seeing her again was surprising, but they were glad to see her again. "What are you all doing here?"
"We could ask you the same thing. Are you the colleague that Professor Franny told us about?" Cletus asked.
"I am." Professor Sassafras said. "She and I go way back. I was actually planning to study the area to begin with because I believe this area might have something to do with another myth or legend of Grecko. When she called me and asked me to study Thornvul's immunity to water, I had to come and lend hand because it fascinates me as well."
"So, did you learn anything?" Davis questioned.
"Well, I believe the reason for Thornvul's immunity to water is because it simply holds the ability Water Absorb." Professor Sassafras claimed.
"Water Absorb! Of course, but I can't believe a ground-type has that." Cletus said. "Water Absorb is an ability that makes water-type attacks useless. They can't deal any damage and replenishes energy. What I don't understand is how a ground-type is capable of having that ability."
"That there is one of the mysteries of nature." Professor Sassafras claimed.
"That is why your Slotter's Aqua Jet had no effect on it, Davis." Professor Franny said. "Thornvul is truly a unique pokemon in it's own right. I must see more of how this pokemon behaves. Now you see why I didn't want you to catch it."
"I would love to have a pokemon like that on my team. It not being bothered by a type where it would normally have the disadvantage would be a real game changer." Davis said. "So, what are you going to do about the Thornvul now? We let it go."
"I'm not worried about that." Professor Franny said. "I've been studying Thornvul's movements. I think I know where it's going to appear next."
...
Outside
All of them followed Professor Franny and headed to where Thornvul might appear next. They would love to see it in action how Thornvul isn't affected by water. A pokemon like that really changes things around.
"If my calculations are correct, Thornvul should be here soon." Professor Franny said.
"So, what exactly are we going to do when we see Thornvul? If we're not going to battle it or catch it, what exactly is the plan?" Imperialdramon questioned.
"We just simply watch and observe." Professor Franny said. "That is the nature of research. Watching and observing the subject helps you learn more about them."
"Here it comes now." Terra said. All of them kept themselves hidden and could see Thornvul just walking through the area just as she predicted. They all watched what Thornvul was doing closely. What it was doing now was heading for a cactus. "What's it doing? Doesn't know it's going to get prickled by the cactus needles?"
"Wait. Just watch." Professor Franny said.
"Thornvul!" Thornvul jumped right at the cactus and stuck its spikes right into the cactus with some sort of liquid coming out of it.
"What is that?" Davis questioned.
"Cactuses store water in them." Professor Franny said. "Thornvul's rough skin protected it from the cactus needles. It uses the spikes to penetrate the cactus to try and get the water."
"But what is it doing with the water?" Davis questioned.
"It looks like..." Professor Sassafras pulled out a special pair of binoculars and tried to get a better look at Thornvul. She was able to see the water flowing through Thornvul's body, but it was abnormal. "I don't believe it. Thornvul's body seems to have small canal-like structures flowing through it's body and bringing the water up to it's mouth. That must be how it drinks water."
"You mean the water flows directly into it's mouth no matter where it lands on it's body?!" Imperialdramon questioned. "That is so freaky!"
"What a weird pokemon. It's body is designed so...strangely." Davis said.
"But there is one thing I don't quite understand about this pokemon." Professor Sassafras said. "Thornvuls are pokemon that roam around the desert. Why is it's body structured in such a way with water when the desert is a dry and desolate place that hardly has any water. The desert does have around a ten percent chance of rain, but that wouldn't be enough for a pokemon like this to gain immunity to water."
"That is a good question. Some pokemon adapt to their environments, but then again, it's really hard to say how they became the pokemon they are today." Professor Sassafras. "To understand something like that, we would have to go back ancient times or more, a different kind of evolution for pokemon that shaped them to how we know them today." Pokemon truly are a mystery and a wonder. As they were studying Thornvul, Thornvul seems to have noticed them. "It's looking right at us!"
"Now what?" Terra questioned.
"Thornvul!" Thornvul attacked as it launched Pin Missile at them. They all moved out of the way the attack before it connected.
"What was that for?!" Davis said.
"Thornvul! Thornvul!"
"It wants to battle. It wants to finish what we started with Slotter." Imperialdramon said.
"It does? Works for me." Davis said.
"Fascinating. So Thornvul seem to dislike unfinished battles." Professor Franny said.
"I don't think that applies to all Thornvul, just this one. Still, this gives us a chance to study Thornvul even further." Professor Sassafras said.
"You want a battle, you got one! Slotter, let's go and finish this!" Davis called out his pokemon.
"Slotter!"
"Let's see how much water Thornvul can take! Water Gun!" Davis called. Slotter battled by using the attack. The water splashed against Thornvul, but Thornvul still wasn't bothered by all the water. It was like replenishing instead of hurting Thornvul. "It really didn't do a thing! Amazing!"
"Thornvul!" Thornvul fought back by using Pin Missile once again with Slotter taking some damage.
"Since water attacks won't work, we'll have to use Quick Attack!" Davis called. Slotter used it's speed and and tackled against Thornvul and finally did some damage. "That's good, but Quick Attack is really all we got. That Water Absorb will just make Thornvul stronger. Got to work with what we got. Now use Quick Attack again!" Slotter tried attacking again, but Thornvul was ready for it this time. The spikes energized and extended. Slotter ran right into Thornvul, but the attack was repelled and Slotter was the one that took damage.
"What just happened?!" Terra said.
"That Thornvul knows Spikey Shield! Not only does it protect the user, but those spikes cause some damage if the opponent uses physical attacks!" Cletus said.
"Give me a break! That means all of Slotter's attacks won't work!" Davis said as there's no way they can battle back. Thornvul went straight for the finish as it used Bulldoze. It shot itself at Slotter and tackled it with a lot of power behind it. Slotter got hit rather hard and was taken out of the battle. "Slotter!" He called as he hurried over.
"Thornvul!" Thornvul laughed at it's victory and just made it's way off.
"Davis, is slotter okay?!" Cletus asked as they all gathered together.
"I think so." Davis said. "Oh boy. That Thornvul is one tough pokemon. I would have loved to have a pokemon like that, but I guess it's not going to happen."
"Unless you battle with Chamleaf next time." Terra pointed out.
"Still, we got a lot of data on Thornvul." Professor Sassafras said.
"Indeed. I may have bene studying it's immunity to water, but I learned more about it." Professor Franny said.
"This is why I love researching pokemon. You get to learn much more about them, learn interesting and mysterious things about them." Professor Sassafras said. "Interacting with them is a fun way to learn more about them as well. There are so many vast and amazing creatures out there, and learning about them can bring upon wonderful things to light." She practically said what makes learning about pokemon so much fun. She's also right. Pokemon are amazing and mysterious creatures, and learning more about them can bring about incredible things.
After meeting another interesting and unique pokemon, our heroes have learned once again how incredible pokemon can be. There are so many possibilities that comes from them, and so much about them we don't know. There's going to be more along the way, so don't miss it.
To Be Continued...