Trial of the Ground

Chapter 2: Lutoca City

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Omar and Sandshrew were walking on the long way between Rasono City and its "neighbor", Lutoca.It was a 3-mile arid path, with little to no life in it. The sun was making all the sand extremely hot, but they didn't mind, living on the desert for some time.

"Hey Sandshrew."

"Hm?"

"Why don't we train a little for a change? I bet you're tired from walking."

"Yeah.But with what? I don't think with that orange rock over there..."

"Then let's eat something," said Omar as he laid down his backpack and grabbed a couple of sandwiches."

"Wait...that orange rock...it's moving" thought Sandshrew."Uh...Omar?"

"Mmhhmmmhhm?" his mouth was full of bread.

"Forget it.It's in your backpack." Sandshrew sighed.

"What the?!" Omar exclaimed as he got a Trapinch out of his backpack, his big mouth full of sandwiches.

"Trap!" sain the Trapinch as he gulped down the food.

"You little…Sandshrew! Fight him!"

"Okay!" said Sandshrew as he stood in a fighter stance, taunting the Trapinch. "Come here! Nobody steals our food and lives to tell it!"

"Come and get me!You…"said the Trapinch.But just when he was about to say that last word, someone screamed very loudly, not letting Sandshrew hear.

"Wow.A swearing Trapinch.You don’t see this everyday," Said Omar, astonished at the Trapinch’s words.

"KYAHHH!!!" screamed Sandshrew, leaping over his opponent.However, the Trapinch just stepped aside, producing a little Sandshrew-shaped crater in the sand.

"Are you OK!?" shouted Omar.

"Yeah…it’s just that it’s my first real battle.I only used to practice with my brothers back in my colony," apologized Sandshrew, rubbing the back of his head.

"Watch out!" said Omar, but it was too late.Trapinch had used Bite, and was now attached to Sandshrew’s arm."Scratch him with your free hand!"

"uh…yeah, sure!" Sandshrew started scratching Trapinch painfully in the head, thus angering him.

"TRAAAAP!!" screamed Trapinch, suddenly dissappearing.

"Where did he go?!"

"Look out!He’s using Faint Attack!" Too late again, Sandshrew got smacked in the back.

"He’s tough…"muttered Sandshrew, gasping.

"Or it’s maybe because you haven’t ever battled," said Omar.

"Try my Bite again!" taunted Trapinch, opening his huge mouth and leaping onto Sandshrew.

"Ahhh!" Sandshrew just curled up into a ball, which Trapinch bit.

"Heheh…ouchie," moaned Trapinch: Sandshrew’s hide was so hard, his teeth hurt.Before anyone knew, he was running toward his hole in the sand.

"I won!" Sandshrew was very surprised at his first victory.

"Yeah, come here pal.You deserve a sandwich…wait, Trapinch ate them all, so, let’s say you deserve to sit on my shoulders until we get to Lutoca."

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Three hours later, they finally arrived at Lutoca City.It was a big city full with shops, parks and houses, everything well arranged.There was a giant coffee plant at the center of the city, and the Pokémon center and the Mart were near it. The Gym was in the east of the place.It was beautiful with the birds singing and the sun shining.

Omar made his first stop in the Pokémon Center, they already had his pokédex and license.

"Okay.Everything’s ready.Your ID No. is 34557," said the nurse, handing Omar his license.

"Thank you, miss.Okay, Sandshrew, time to go," he spoke to Sandshrew in his new Pokéball, which Omar bought after healing him in the Center.

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"Wow.This place sure is dark," said Sandshrew to himself as he explored his new home.Suddely , he was immobilized and heard a voice.

"Welcome to your Pokéball.Scanning data."

"What the??" exclaimed Sandsrew as a red light scanned him.

"Sandshrew. Ground-type. Level 15. Relaxed Nature. Creating habitat."

Suddenly, Sandhrew’s surroundings were changed to pitch black to plain sand, with a burrow for him to fit in.He walked to the burrow and entered.

"Hm.This is comfy." He said to himself as he slept for the first time in a Pokéball.

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Omar arrived at the gym, a dark green building.Outside wer two people: a man and a small kid.

"Hey, you," asked the man.

"What?"

"Are you thirteen at least?"

"Yeah, why?" replied Omar.

"Just see it yourself," the man said, pointing to a poster in the wall.

"Let’s see…" said Omar, reading.

"If you are below thirteen, or older than twenty-five, don’t enter."

"Now I see why those two couldn’t enter." He said, opening the door.Suddenly, a beam enteredthrough his ear.

"The leader here sure has a problem with kids and adults…" Omar was transported to a room, where a guy about 18 was standing.He wore black clothes, a cap and his arms were all tattoo’d with Stage 2 Pokémon.

"Have you come for a badge?" asked the teenager.

"Yes," Omar replied. "Shall we start?"

"Hmph.You’re impatient. My name is Brian. Two on two battle."

"I only have one, but I think Sandshrew will be fine" Omar thought.

"Okay then.Go, Sandshrew!"

"A Sandshrew?Then go, Wartortle!"

The blue turtle appeared and stood facing Sandshrew, moving his tail impatiently, and preparing for attack.

"Water gun now!" Wartotle inhaled, and sho out a stream of water that hit Sandshrew.

"Don’t let him hit you!" ordered Omar. "Use Sand Attack!"

"Take this!" said Sandshrew, kicking sand into his opponent’s face.

"WAR!" Wartortle shot out more water, but Sandhrew dodged this time.

"Try my Scratches!" Sandshrew leaped onto Wartortle and started scratching.

"Wartortle, Withdraw now!" yelled Brian.

Wartortle withdrew to his shell, not making Sandhrew’s scratches so effective. Soon he popped out with a headbutt, which sent Sandshrew flying. Sandshrew recovered, and this time tried amother set of Scratches, but he didn’t succeed.

"This guy sure is tough" thought Sandshrew, then noticed the small pool of water in the gym. "I got an idea here". He approached the pool and started to drink some water.

"What are you doing?!" asked his opponent, confused.

"Just takin’ a drink.You know, I get tired easily."

" I’ll kick him to the water. When he’s there, there’s no hope for him now," thought Wartortle, grinning.He got closer toSandshrew and lifted his foot to kick him. When Sandshrew noticed, he inhaled deeply and curled into a ball.He was kicked to the center of the pool, but the air kept him floating.

"What?! Now you see…" Wartortle jumped on top of Sandhrew, but se sank a little, the air propelling him a little to the right, and Wartortle fell with a big SPLASH!

"Where’d he go?" said Wartortle, floating face-up.

"Here!" Sandshrew quickly jumped out of the water and stood on Wartortle’s chest, scratching him in the face.

"Wartortle, come back now!" Brian retreated his Pokémon." Now, go Pidgeotto!"

"Pidgeotto? I thought you used water Pokémon," commented Omar.

"No. I use only middle-staged Pokémon. First stage ones are too weak, and fully evolved are too slow.So I use the most balanced ones," explained Brian. "But it’s your time to lose!"

"Heh.From what I see, Sandshrew is still fighting fit."

Sandshrew had jumped back to the ground before Wartortle was called back, and he started by attacking Pidgeotto.

"Use Wing Attack!"

Pidgeotto attacked Sandshrew, and sent him flying toward the wall.Sandshrew tried to stand up, but he collapsed immediately.

"SANDSHREW!" Omar screamed.

"Why the scream? Don’t you have another Pokémon?" asked Brian.

"N-n-no…"

"Then go away! Come back when you’re ready!"

"I will…" thought Omar as he exited.

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"Here is your Pokémon.We hope to see you again," the nurse returned Sandshrew to Omar, he thanked her and left the Center.

"Go, Sandshrew," Omar sent out his Pokémon.

"Omar, listen…I’m sorry for not winning…"

"No, no. It’s my fault for accepting a 2-on-2 when I only have one."

"Will you try again?"

"Yes, but before we must catch more Pokémon."

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Omar and Sandshrew were walking in front of the giant coffee plant, new Pokéballs in hand, when something piqued Omar’s interest.

On one of the highest branches, there were many bird Pokémon eating the grains.But they were being constantly being scared away by another.It was a Natu.He was trying to get all the grains for himself, being rude to other Pokémon.But suddenly, a big Swellow wanted to try those grains, and he politely told Natu to let him pass.

"I’m not MOVING ANYWHERE!!!" the Natu seemed to get mad easily.But Swellow just pushed him off the branch and Natu started to fall…a twenty floor’s fall.

"Sandshrew, save him!"

"uh…Okay!" Sandshrew calculated the site of the impact and jumped, catching Natu.Natu’s hart was punding heavily.

"Thanks stranger, now I’m off to recover my turf…Argh…" Natu started to climb the tree again, but Omar stopped him.

"Not yet.I’d like to catch you."

Natu fell from the surprise of Omar’s words. "WHEN YOU WANT TO CATCH A POKÉMON YOU DONT SAY YOU’D LIKE TO CATCH IT!!JUST DO IT!"

"Then, attack, Sandshrew."

Sandshrew leapt onto Natu, while he tried to use his peck, Omar carefully watching the moment to throw the ball…

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End of Chapter 2.