Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 28: Sand and Scalchops

Route 4 kept changing under our feet.

One moment the road felt like a normal path between cities, dusty but simple. The next moment the sand grew deeper, the wind pushed harder, and half-finished walls rose beside pale ruins like Unova could not decide which future it wanted.

After Colress and the red-eyed Crustle, I did not trust quiet machines or still rocks as easily.

Pikachu rode on my shoulder while Blitzle trotted ahead, mane flickering with small sparks whenever sand scraped against its hooves.

Cottonee drifted close to Alice so the wind would not carry it too far. Petilil stayed near Alice's arms, clearly preferring shade and steady steps to the open desert road.

Iris stretched and grinned at the open space. "At least this route has room to breathe."

Cilan adjusted his hat against the wind. "It has a dry, unfinished flavor. Half construction site, half ancient memory."

Golly looked unimpressed. "And full of loose ground. Watch your footing."

The sand suddenly collapsed beneath us.

I heard Alice shout my name before the light vanished, and then Pikachu and I dropped through a hidden tunnel into a pile of soft sand below.

"That sure hurts," I muttered, sitting up.

Pikachu shook sand from his ears and sparked with irritation.

A familiar Sandile wearing sunglasses stood across from us in the tunnel, looking far too pleased with himself.

"I have been waiting for you!" Sandile said.

I stared at him. "I know you. You dug that hole, didn't you?"

Sandile lifted his snout proudly. "Simple. I want to challenge Pikachu to a battle."

Pikachu hopped down from my shoulder, eyes brightening despite the fall.

"What do you say, Pikachu?" I asked.

Pikachu's meaning came eager and amused. "Ground friend makes bad door. Battle still accepted."

I brushed sand from my jacket. "Looks like he says yes."

Sandile grinned behind his sunglasses and scraped one foot against the tunnel floor. He looked confident with those glasses on, like the whole desert belonged to him.

Before either Pokémon could move, a Ducklett waddled out from a side passage.

It looked at Sandile. It looked at me. Then it snatched Sandile's sunglasses and flapped away with a wicked little quack.

Sandile froze like the desert had vanished.

Two more Ducklett appeared above the tunnel edge, one swooping low enough to steal my hat before I could grab it.

"Hey, that is still my hat!" I shouted.

Pikachu sparked angrily beside me. "Pika, pika!"

The Ducklett trio laughed in their own quacking way and scattered toward the sunlight.

Without his sunglasses, Sandile shrank back against the wall. His confidence vanished so quickly that it hurt to see.

He reminded me of Blastoise, of the way some Pokémon carried symbols that were not only decoration. Sometimes confidence needed a shell, a pair of sunglasses, or one trusted thing to stand behind until the real courage could breathe.

I crouched near him. "Sandile, I'll get your sunglasses back. You can count on me."

Sandile's meaning came smaller than before. "Bright sand sees me. Without glasses, I am too open."