The Consequences of Playing Dead

"Draaa!"

Drapion sensed danger and tried to leap up, but a barrage of Pin Missile struck first, blasting it back into the sand pit.

The instant the massive Focus Blast touched the sand, time seemed to stand still. Then came a tremendous shockwave.

Boom! A towering curtain of sand rose and fell. The entire stretch of sand seemed to come alive, shaking violently as waves of energy from Focus Blast erupted unchecked. They churned the sand even further and swept away the Poison-type energy hidden within it.

Thud!

Aggron landed heavily in the sand. Misdreavus immediately sent out a tendril of shadow to take its Poké Ball, returned the unresisting Aggron to it, and handed it to Dian.

Dian looked at the buried Drapion, unable to tell what shape it was in, and gave Beedrill a look.

Beedrill nodded silently, then raised its Poison Sting again without hesitation, ready to use Pin Missile once more.

Boom!

Sharp white Pin Missiles rained down without pause. Beedrill kept up the bombardment until even it was exhausted. As for the other Pokémon hiding in the sand, they had fled the moment Aggron's Focus Blast struck and dared not come near.

"Mis."

Only then did Misdreavus nod to Dian, confirming that Drapion could no longer resist.

Dian took out a blue-patterned Poké Ball. He had prepared it before entering the desert, and it came with Lock-On.

Some Pokémon held grudges. If he defeated one and left it alone, chances were it would lie low until it could take revenge. Better to lock it in a Poké Ball and release it once they left the desert.

"Larvitar, use Sandstorm to lift Drapion."

Dian pressed the Poké Ball's button to enlarge it.

"Lar!"

Larvitar had been itching to act. At the command, it followed its instincts