//------------------------------// // Sheer Cold, Part 2 // Story: The World's Greatest Team of Six // by CassandraMyOCisBestpony //------------------------------// ***** Mood Music The desert in Hoenn was by no means the world's largest, but a daunting obstacle nonetheless for Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. Rarity's tailor-made Go-Goggles protected their eyes from being blinded by the sandstorm, but did little against the gale forces of the wind, and the punishing rays of the morning sun. "Just hug the wall" advised Twilight, raising her voice over the whipping sand, "as long as we don't get turned around, we'll be headed in the right direction." All around them, Trapinches popped out of the sand, snapping at their legs and forcing them to do some fancy footwork. Sableye was out of his Pokeball and scurrying about, looking to replenish his master's diminishing supply of gems. The wild Pokemon spat sand in his face, but his diamond-eyes were unaffected. After what seemed like hours of nothingness, they came across another traveller, a Ruin Maniac called Ivan, "Hello there" he said, "didn't think I'd get company all the way out here, especially such odd-looking ones." They were taken aback by his candidness, but Twilight stopped the other two and replied calmly, "It's true, we look different, but we're just a group of trainers on our way to Lavaridge." "Trainers are you? How about a battle then? Two each?" "I'm the only one with two Pokemon, so you've got yourself a challenge!" said Rarity. "Hold on" said Twilight, "you need to keep your Sableye in good health so he can scavenge. Ivan, how about a double-battle, me and Rainbow against your two?" "Sounds good to me! Sandshrew and Nosepass, I choose you!" "You're on, Happiny!" "I choose you, Misdreavus!" Ivan grinned, "looks like one of us was more prepared for the desert." "What's he mean, Twilight?" said Dash indignantly "This sandstorm's going to hurt all Pokemon except Rock, Steel, and Ground Types" explained Twilight, "Also, Sandshrew's ability Sand Veil makes it harder to hit in a sandstorm." "Well," said Rainbow, knowing the importance of sounding undaunted, "nothing worth doing was ever easy. I'll start. Happiny! Charm that Sandshrew!" "Dodge it, Sandshrew!" Happiny charged at Sandshrew, arms extended, but where Sandshrew once was there was just an impression left in the sand. "Sand Veil, remeber?" whispered Twilight. "Er yeah, I meant to do that." "Nosepass, get her with a Rock Throw!" "Nooose!" the Pokemon quickly shuffled behind Happiny, and tipped over on top of it. "Don't worry Rainbow! Misdraevus, Psybeam!" Misdraevus fired a psychedelic beam of light at Nosepass, causing the bulky Pokemon to grunt and roll off of Happiny. "Sandshrew, Rollout on Misdraevus!" called Ivan. Sandshrew curled itself into a ball and barreled into Misdraveus, knocking the Pokemon back. Before if could recover, Sandshrew was on it again, with a more powerful roll than before. "Misdreavus, use Skill Swap!" cried Twilight. Misdreavus' eyes glowed red, and it slowly descended to the ground. It looked like easy prey for Sandshrew, but when it slammed into Misdreavus, it hit nothing but sand, the surprise causing it to break its roll and flop dizzily on the ground. "That was awesome Twilight!" exclaimed Dash, "what was it exactly?" "Skill Swap gave me Sandshrew's Sand Veil." "But you gave me Levitate" interjected Ivan, "and now you pay the price, Nosepass, use Magnitude!" "Noooose!" the Pokemon stomped on the ground, sending a shockwave towards the other three Pokemon. Misdreavus and Happiny were bowled over, but Sandshrew floated up gracefully and was unaffected. Twilight gritted her teeth. She and Rainbow's Pokemon had taken a real beating, and were almost finished. "Happiny, use Return!" declared Dash "Sandshrew, use Poison Sting!" As Happiny charged towards Sandshrew, it was met with a barrage of needles. Suddenly, it stopped in its tracks and clutched its arm teary-eyed. "Oh no! It must have gotten poisoned." explained Twilight "Pfft, no problem! Happiny, Refersh!" Happiny stood in place and glowed blue, as the poison seeped out of its body. Taking advantage, Ivan yelled, "Sandshrew, Tackle!" The deft Pokemon sprung into the immobile Happiny and slammed backwards. "That was low!" objected Dash "That's just good strategy. Now Nosepass, another Magnitude should finish Misdreavus!" Nosepass stomped down again, this time a little softer than before. Misdreavus was clearly on the precipice following the attack, but the Magnitude had been low-level enough to allow her to hang on. "Don't expect your luck to save you forev-" "Misdreavus, Pain Split!" interrupted Twilight. A red ring of light formed around Misdreavus and Nosepass, and began to spin. When it dissipated, Misdreavus looked slightly refreshed, and Nosepass slightly exhausted. "Now Skill Swap back with Sandshrew!" she followed up, hoping dearly that Rainbow would figure out her strategy before Ivan did. "Sandshrew, Rollout again! And don't miss!" responded Ivan. Without Sand Veil, Misdreavus had no chance of dodging, and Sandshrew pounded into it hard. "Happiny!" began Rainbow Dash. Please please please Dash thought Twilight "Use Copycat on Nosepass!" YES!!! Happiny stomped on the ground with tremendous force. This time, the shockwave glided harmlessly under Misdreavus, and battered Ivan's two Pokemon. Both fell to the ground, defeated. "Well, drat!" he sighed, "good match you two." "Hey, we can't all be awesome" said Dash with a grin. "Incidentally, what are you doing all the way out here if not travelling to Mauville?" inquired Twilight. "I'm looking for fossils" replied Ivan, "This area was once rich with Lileep and Anorith" "Fossils..." mulled Dash, "that wouldn't be one of these, would it?" She produced the strange rock that Sableye had presented her days ago. "No question about that" replied Ivan, "this is indeed a Pokemon fossil... of some kind. But shamed as I am to admit, I only know about the fossil Pokemon from Hoenn, I have no idea what this one might be." "Twilight?" asked Dash, passing it to her book smart friend. "Sorry Rainbow, they didn't have pictures of these in my books." She ran her hoof over the oval-shaped imprint curiously, "but we won't have to wait long to find out. A few towns over is a research center that can not only identify this, but bring the Pokemon back to life!" Dash had stars in her eyes "Wow! I didn't know science could be that awesome!" ***** "Heads up, Applejack!" Applejack turned just in time to see a snowball smack into her flank. "Oh, yer about to wish ya hadn't done that Pinkie Pie!" Applejack quickly rolled up a snowball and returned fire. Pinkie Pie giggled as she ducked out of the way and lobbed another towards Applejack. "oof" squeaked Fluttershy, the accidental recipient. Pinkie and Applejack looked concernedly at her - the two had had a silent agreement to exclude her from their snowball fight. She looked at them with her head cocked for a second, and then smiled, devilishly. With her wings, she made two snowballs at once and hurled them at her friends. Working furiously, she made two more and threw them again. Applejack and Pinkie ran away, screaming giddily. The three of them collapsed onto the ground, laughing. The three had been travelling through the Viridian Forest for a few hours now, and Viridian City was long out of sight. They had bought scarves and winter coats at the store, and while the coats didn't fit in the traditional sense, the ponies got some warmth out of draping them over their backs. "Look, look! It's snowing again!" said Pinkie excitedly. She stuck out her tongue, "Be' I can catsh a thnowflake on my tung!" "No' if I do i' firtsh!" said Fluttershy, unable to resist getting into it. Applejack meanwhile had spotted a wild Deerling, its fur a dull taupe. "Hey there li'l guy." She reached out a hoof to nuzzle it. Moments too late, Fluttershy happened to turn her head. "Applejack, don't!" she cried out desperately. "Wha? Why not?" There came a low growling noise and a rustling from the bushes. "it's ok" whispered Fluttershy, motioning for her friends to join her behind the bush where she was cowering, "maybe he'll just go away..." "maybe who?" whispered Pinkie "SAWSBUUUUUCK!" The three ponies turned around, slowly and nervously. Looking them straight in the eye was a gigantic elk-like Pokemon, almost 20 hands tall, with jagged white antlers that looked like they could go straight through a tree trunk. "RUUUUN!" screamed Pinkie Pie. The ponies broke into a sprint, but couldn't get much distance between themselves and the charging Pokemon. Fluttershy fumbled around in her saddlebag, and eventually found her Pokeball. "Masquerain, I choose you!" "Masqueraaain!" The Pokemon quickly assumed its Intimidate position, but the wild Sawsbuck was blinded by fury and didn't slow down. "Masquerain, use Gust!" The petite Pokemon flapped its wings and antennae like mad, conjuring up a mighty gust of wind. Sawsbuck was knocked off its feet, and rolled backwards. It got back up, and glared at the party, and Masquerain glared back. Sawsbuck decided that this wasn't a threat worth engaging, so it bounded away. "Please wait!" called Fluttershy, "Pokeball, go!" She tossed a ball at the retreating Pokemon, rather weakly, and the ball fell short. It landed on an incline and rolled downhill. Fluttershy started towards it, but Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder, "It's after noon. We shouldn't get sidetracked." "Yes, but we shouldn't litter either. It'll only take a second." Fluttershy carefully slid down the incline and located her Pokeball. As she reached out to grab it, there came a terrible groaning noise beneath her feet. It was a sound that Pinkie Pie had come to recognize after years of Winter Wrap Up experience, and one she hoped never to hear again. "Fluttershy, UP!!!" she cried, "you're on ice!!!" "Wh-?" before Fluttershy could fully process her friend's warning, there came another sharp cracking noise. The ice gave way, and Fluttershy plunged into the frigid depths of the frozen lake.