It was swelteringly hot, and right now I wished that I was anywhere but here. Going to the desert on such a day was now looking less and less like a good idea and more like a bad one. I kept daydreaming about ice-creams and a hug from the Snover who had followed my mom home from her trip to Snowpoint City. However, there was a reason why I was out here (and I had to keep it in mind): to catch a Trapinch! It'd been on the news lately that there had been an outbreak of these rare Pokémon in Hoenn and I had jumped at the chance of having one.
My friend had dropped me off suggesting to me to look around the desert area, before flying away on her Staraptor. Now, I was here, wishing that I wasn't. So far I'd encountered only a couple of Baltoy, which had left me feeling frustrated and somewhat cheated. So, kicking my feet, I'd continued on, until a flash of purple suddenly caught my attention. I turned to follow its movements, then, curious, I went after it; the sand crunching beneath my feet. Soon the thing stopped, and so did I. Finally, I was able to examine it. That's when I recognized the thing to be a Drifloon, with its balloon-like body and thin little upside-down heart tipped arms, it couldn't be anything other! ... But why was it out here?
It uttered a quiet sound, then drew back; its eyes wary.
"It's okay, I won't hurt you." I attempted to reassure it, bringing my hands up to emphasize I meant it no harm. It cooed and hovered closer. Now that I looked at it, its skin seemed dry. Probably it was to do with the fact that it was wandering out here in this desert.
"You poor thing... here." I unclipped my water-bottle from my belt. "Would you like something to drink?"
It looked from me back to the water-bottle curiously. I mimed taking a drink from the bottle. The Drifloon clapped its hands and giggled softly, then edged closer toward me. I popped open the cap and the Pokémon took it defly from my outstretched hand. It drank deeply, then shyly passed it back. As I returned the bottle back to my belt the Drifloon bobbed up and down happily. It looked better already.
I dipped my head to it. "I've got to get going now, I hope you don't stay out here too long and end up the same as before." I made to turn, then heard a quiet cry. Looking back, I started. The Drifloon had lifted its hands up to its eyes and seemed to be weeping.
"Oh... No don't cry." I approached it. "I'm sorry; do you want me to help you out?"
Suddenly the ghost latched onto my right hand. It studied me for a moment, then let out a call. In a matter of seconds, a whole group of Drifloon had appeared, circling above my head and cooing to each other.
"Huh? What's going on?" I looked from one to the other, then back to the first Drifloon. Its grip was frightening. Its small hands tightening about my own. Others clustered about me, dropping to grab onto my arms and legs. I struggled against them, minute fear turning to dread.
What were they doing? ... Where were they taking me? I kicked out, trying in vain to force them away, but to no avail. I tried to jam my arm downwards so I could reach my belt, where my Pokémon lay waiting in their capsules, but the Drifloon simply retaliated; pulling my arm up out of the way.
They hummed, then summoned a massive Gust of wind, forcefully lifting me up into the air. I could see the sandy ground below me growing smaller and smaller... I gulped and closed my eyes. I-I couldn't bare to look. The Drifloon giggled. I felt faint. A brush of something across my face made me open my eyes, then I wished that I hadn't. Everything had turned black. There was nothing, no movement, no vision. Just emptiness.
"Friend. Stay with us."
