Pokemon: Thunder & Fire

Episode X: Sandstorm

Our protagonist, Enji, yawned loudly as he slowly woke up, stretching his arms as if shaking off the remnants of sleep. No sooner had he stirred from his slumber than a tumbleweed came rolling out of nowhere, smacking him square in the face. "Puff! Wh- what the hell?!" he exclaimed, flustered and still groggy from being suddenly jolted awake. The tumbleweed's rude interruption left him swatting at his face, trying to clear the dry plant's remains from his fur.

Next to him, Ketsushu sat calmly, sipping from a juice box, entirely unfazed by the commotion. "Hey there, you're finally awake," the Greninja greeted him, his voice casual and indifferent. Ketsushu didn't even bother glancing over at Enji, his focus fixed on the road ahead.

Finally managing to rid himself of the tumbleweed, Enji rubbed his eyes and took a moment to observe his surroundings. It was still early dawn, the sky above tinged with dark blue, and a few fading stars scattered across the horizon. The air was cool, and the desert around them was still, save for the occasional breeze stirring up sand. "What time is it? It should be sunrise soon, right?" he asked, his voice still carrying the drowsiness of someone just waking up.

Ketsushu gave a slight nod, never taking his eyes off the barren landscape stretching out in front of them. The long desert road was hardly more than an endless trail of sand and rocks, but the Greninja remained unfazed, quietly steering them toward their destination. The GPS on his bike showed they were getting close.

"Oh, right!" Ketsushu suddenly said, as if recalling something important. "You should eat something for breakfast, and take a painkiller while you're at it. I've got a feeling we'll be running into some of the villain's henchmen soon enough." His voice was cool but carried an undercurrent of seriousness.

Enji responded with a quick thumbs-up, acknowledging the advice without hesitation. His stomach, already growling from hunger, urged him to dive into the food bag in search of sustenance. He quickly grabbed two egg mayo sandwiches and began devouring them like he hadn't eaten in days.

As he chewed, he glanced over at Ketsushu, who remained ever watchful, scanning the desert with that calm, steady gaze that always seemed to predict danger before it arrived.

As Enji finished scarfing down the sandwiches, he reached for the painkillers, popping a few into his mouth while silently preparing himself for the mission ahead. The dawn light began to stretch further across the horizon, casting long shadows over the dunes as the desert began to awaken around them.

The sense of quiet before the storm hung in the air, and even Enji could feel the subtle shift in energy as the two of them neared their destination.

Out of nowhere, a sharp harpoon shot through the air, striking the bike's tire with precision. "I spoke too soon. Son of a-" Ketsushu cursed under his breath, his usual calm demeanor slipping for a brief moment. The bike wobbled but Ketsushu expertly hit the brakes, bringing it to a sudden stop. "Alright, you rest. I'll handle these guys," he muttered as he hopped off the bike, clearly shifting into battle mode.

Without hesitation, he ripped part of the bike's handlebar off, and before Enji's wide eyes, it transformed into a sleek sword. The blade, a fusion of medieval design and futuristic edge, gleamed menacingly. It was sharp, with a dangerous energy crackling around it. Taking a defensive stance, Ketsushu waited, his every muscle coiled, for the enemies to show themselves.

One by one, the enemy Pokémon slowly revealed themselves from the shadows. A cocky Breloom, standing at the forefront, spoke with arrogance dripping from his voice. "Boss said there was an approaching threat, but all I see is an injured kid and a weak frog," he sneered, clearly underestimating Ketsushu. The Greninja's sharp gaze didn't waver.