Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 54: The First Train to Hearthome

"The first train to Hearthome was early in the morning. We booked seats for it and everything. Then...we forgot to set our alarms for the morning and slept in. We missed it. We spent the rest of the day scrambling around trying to get seats on the next train. We almost had to wait another day for availability, until someone cancelled their seats on the Midnight Train to Hearthome last minute. We booked our tickets sometime around five in the afternoon, and then went off for some food. We were done dinner by about seven and had nothing better to do but sit around outside the Train Station. Until Lyss decided she wanted to battle..."

The ground napped underneath a tree, just outside of the Train Station. It was seven at night; within the clock tower of the Veilstone Train Station, a bell rang out the time.

Crickets chirped somewhere in the grass and sung their songs on this hot summer evening. It was peaceful. More peaceful than the group had deserved after such a long and hectic day.

They were tired, they were full of warm food, and they were all about to suffer a bout of sleep coma if they weren't careful.

They couldn't risk missing their train again.

Niya kept an eye on time with one eye open, peaking every few minutes to ensure she kept herself awake.

Sam was about to fall asleep himself when suddenly Alyssandra shot up, shoving him awake.

"Hey, you, up now!" she cried, shaking Sam mercilessly.

Sam jolted upright. "What the hell woman? What is it? The park better be on fire."

Alyssandra smiled at him. "No, actually. But I'm bored, I'm falling asleep, and I want to battle."

Sam sighed, running his hands over his eyes. "Do I have to?"

Alyssandra grabbed Sam's arm and dragged him towards the nearby open field. She wasn't taking no for an answer. "We have some time until our train arrives and I'm tired of sitting around almost falling asleep."

"So, what, now I have to be your puppet and entertain you with a Pokémon battle?" yawned Sam as he stretched himself out.

"Yes," smiled Alyssandra drawing a Poké Ball, "In a manner of speaking."

Sam sighed. "Fine, as you wish. But I'm not going easy on you."

Sam drew a Poké Ball and stretched one last time, popping his neck as he did. "Very well. In that case, if you win...I'll give you something special. Go Cranidos!"

"Go, Roselia!" cried Alyssandra.

She knew even though her Pokémon held the type advantage Sam was clever. She also knew Sam had equipped his Cranidos to deal with Grass Type Pokémon by teaching it secret moves meant to confuse opponents.

She had to be careful of the Flamethrower and—

"Cranidos, Ice Beam while Lyss is distracted!" cried Sam.

Alyssandra cut back into reality and quickly commanded her Roselia to dodge—just barely.

A patch of ice hit the ground where Roselia stood, rendering it slippery and dangerous.

Sam didn't let up, calling on another Ice Beam.

Roselia dodged again, this beam missing and hitting the tree behind her. Several leaves fell and a Murkrow flew from the branches cawing loudly.

Jeremy and Niya shot up to watch the fight, woken from their brief slumbers by the noise.

"What the hell is going on?" cried Jeremy.