The Rise of the Outcasts | Pokemon

Chapter 2 | The Dust Storm

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A cold, dry wind blew past. The fire flickered, and the paper Cinderace had laid out in front of her nearly flew up, but she caught it before it could. The dust and sand on the cracked ground picked up. The drowsy fire-type Pokemon rubbed her tired eyes as another wind, harsher than the first, threw sand on the paper, which had areas in the Fire Kingdom mapped out. The fire weakened. She pushed the sand off the paper with a gentle nudge of her paw. The wind and dust began to pick up once more. The fire completely blew out with a whish.

Cinderace shook Comet awake as harsh winds blew past, creating a storm of dust and sand. The rapidash opened her eyes, lifting her head, but quickly closed her eyes back as dust flew into them.

Then they heard a voice calling out to them. "Hey!" It shouted, deep but loud. "Is anyone out there?"

The rabbit-like Pokemon's ears slightly perked up from the flops they were in. Her hat flew off as she called back, "Hello? Who are you?" Seeing that she wouldn't get a reply, she stood up and inched closer to the voice. "Where are you?"

"Over here!" The voice yelled loudly. Cinderace followed the call, and she could soon see the silhouette of a tall Pokemon, around her height, with pointed ears and a sharp, pointy tail.

As she struggled closer, holding her arms in front of her face to protect it from the storm, she saw a lucario closely studying a black hat that looked quite a lot like hers. In his other hand, he clenched a black hood that blew in the harsh winds. He glanced up from the hat, noticing the tall rabbit next to him.

"Is this yours?" He asked, offering her the hat.

"Uh, yeah, thanks," the rabbit Pokemon said, taking the hat from the Lucario's hands.

"Hey, can you follow me? My brother-" The lucario began to cough up dust before continuing. "I didn't know there would be another dust storm. I left my younger brother at home."

"Sure! I just have to get my friend, Comet. She's my travel buddy." The Lucario nodded with understanding. "Comet! Come here! And bring the papers 'n stuff!"

A soft neigh replied, and soon enough, Comet appeared from the dust, holding a wanted poster and large paper in her jaw, which was the one Cinderace used to map out the locations of Lucario.

"Can I have that? Thank you." Cinderace grabbed the papers from the rapidash, sorting through them.

"The prophecy flew away. I tried to grab it, but I couldn't... I'm sorry."

"It's fine! I've remembered it, anyways."

"The prophecy?" The lucario echoed Comet's words in question. Cinderace said in reply, "Yup! The one Mew delivered to Alakazam, you know, the yellow Pokemon that lives in the far away mountains, away from the four kingdoms?"

"Oh, right. That prophecy." The blue Pokemon's fox-like ears drooped, his eyes heavy with a sudden sadness.

"Come on!" Cinderace dragged the lucario next to Comet, hopping on the horse's back.

The lucario's ears pricked as he was dragged to the horse. "You mean you want me to get on that thing?"

"Yes! And she's not a thing."

Comet nickered in agreement. The lucario continued, "I'd much rather walk. I'm pretty fast. I can keep up-"

"Hah! I doubt you're as fast as or have better endurance than me," The Fire Horse Pokemon laughed.

"Just get on! It's not scary," Cinderace said.

"Fine," The lucario growled, hesitantly hopping on Comet's back and holding Cinderace's waist for support. The horse began to walk through the dry, dusty winds, struggling against them and blinking away dust that got into her eyes, but walking, still.