Ethan let out a relieved sigh as he walked down the pier, for a couple minutes he'd thought he lost his lucky Charizard claw. It wasn't an actual claw, just a brass imitation of one that hung off a black leather necklace. He'd had it as long as he could remember and always felt better wearing it when going out into the field. If he'd lost it, that would have been a bad omen in his book. Ethan, with a crisis averted, was excited to meet his partner and get to work. The mysterious Hippowdon Temple surely held some secrets that were just waiting to be uncovered. Of course he'd also be searching for Z-Crystals and Mega Stones for the Poketopia Foundation, who paid for his expenses and the expedition.

The temperature quickly hit him like a wall as he made his way into the village to the meeting point. He had experienced intense heat in his travels but nothing like this. For once, he was glad his parents were such athletes and imparted that lifestyle on him. If he was in the great shape he was, this would have been terrible to work in! Thankfully the Poketopia Foundation had supplied him with a desert-friendly outfit, the khaki color and coherent style making him feel official.

As he neared the meeting site, he came from behind Averi in a direction that prevented him from seeing her face. Ethan had a pretty good hunch that the girl sipping tea in a similar outfit to him was his partner so he approached ready to say something but instead caught the end of her muttering "Ask me what?" A smile appearing on his lips "I'm going to take an educated guess and say you're the person the Poketopia Foundation wanted me to partner up with." He quickly added on waiting for her to turn around, a friendly tone accompanying his voice.

There was something familiar about the girl as saw her face, heck even her voice seemed to tug on a memory he just couldn't recall. At the very least he had a cute partner to work with! He gripped her hand in a firm but not crushing handshake, standing up tall a few inches higher than her. His brows furrowed with confusion as she suddenly cut off her name "Something wrong? Is there something on my face?" He proceeded to touch the corners of his lips looking for a phantom piece of barbecue sauce.

He traced her gaze to the necklace he wore, given to his best childhood friend. The moment he heard his name, it immediately all came together as his blue eyes widened "Averi?" A feeling of excitement filled his body, making his smile only bigger "Yeah it's me! Too long I would say! I'm glad to see you doing well." His mind was flooded with fond memories of the two of them using donning their plastic toy hard hats and shovels to dig giant holes. Every time they got together felt like an a new adventure.

Ethan returned his hand to his side and smirked "There's no way I could forget." After all, there was a constant reminder hanging around his neck at all times. He rubbed the back of his neck with a small laugh "I've been travelling across the regions trying to learn more about the relationship between ancient civilizations and their Pokemon. The Foundation heard of my work and asked me to be a part of the expedition." He let out a chuckle "It's awfully convient too! 'Cause I was gonna come here anyway!" He adjusted the straps of the light backpack he had on. Of course he had more stuff but that was being delivered to the place where they would be staying "How about you? I'd love to hear what you've been up to."

Ethan had to admit he was a tad jealous. Professor Rowan was their childhood idol and she got to work with him! "That must have been exciting getting to work with Professor Rowan. It must have been a STARK contrast from digging up rocks when we were little." He smirked at his lame joke. How many times had he punished her ears with ones similar to that? The number was far too high to count. His eyes widened with interest as Averi took out three poke-balls and placed them on the table. Like the scientist he was, he examined them closely.

A wide smile filled his face as the pokemon left their capsule. Astounding. All of them were fantastic specimens and looked to be in fine shape, just as he would expect of Averi. He did the same as Averi and set his three pokeballs on the table upon her asking. Each one was pressed and expanded, ultimately releasing the creature within.

"Shelgon!"

"Beldum!"

"Totodile!"

Shelgon emerged on Ethan's right side while Beldum hovering above his head, observing the two of them with his single eye. His totodile however had jumped right into this arms, where Ethan was forced to hold him where Ethan let out a small laugh "My Bagon evolved into Shelgon after I left Johto and was doing some research in the Hoenn region. Professor Elm gave me Totodile as a parting gift and he's been a huge help on my journey. Beldum I caught while out in the field in Hoenn, it startled me when I saw hovering it over my shoulder!" He set Totodile on the table where the energetic water-type greeted Lavitar in raspy kind of voice. Shelgon came over to Averi and nudged her leg before looking up at her.

He shifted to a more relaxed posture "Looks like we'll be able to finally go on a real adventure together. Now that its you I'm working with, I'm even more excited than before!" His lively personality taking ahold of him. The sense of discovery enveloped him, there was no telling what they would find out in those ruins. They were once a great team and he was absolutely positive they would be again.

Ethan smirked as he was rewarded with the sweet confirmation of his terrible pun "I couldn't resist!" He was not about to let their reunion happen without one. It was already beginning to feel like they hadn't been apart for so many years.

Shelgon let out a small happy cry as Averi acknowledged him and moved eagerly into her hand "Gon!" It then proceeded to happily trot back over to Ethan's side having said hello and receiving attention in return. Shelgon was as loyal as a trainer could hope for, except when it had come to Averi. He always seemed to take her side against Ethan whenever there arguements.

Ethan unaware of his actions took a few steps closer as Averi answered a call, looking at the guy on the display screen. He appeared to be quite impatient and suddenly Ethan felt guilty that he had made them late for their ride. Kai was his name? He had to agree with Averi that they shouldn't keep him waiting anymore. Besides, they would have more time to talk later considering they were going to be working together for awhile.


Ethan quickly retrieved his pokeballs and called back all his companions "He'll probably blow a gasket before his truck does if we do." He casually joked as he adjusted the pack on his shoulders, tucking the pokeballs onto his belt. Ethan followed behind Averi as they left the town to meet up with Kai. It was quite a cozy little village. When they finally arrived, Kai was leaning against the passenger side of his truck with his arms crossed. The crease in his forehead was enough to tell he was upset "We really appreciate the ride out to the ruins! My name is Ethan, I heard your name was Kai?" He would try diplomacy first to ease the tension.

Ethan was left a little speechless at the demeanor of their driver. He a youthful appearance but he talked like a miserable old man. Oh well, it didn't bother him that much. Instead he just accepted that Kai was a tad irritable "Yes, we'll get right in." His energy didn't take a hit and instead he followed Averi to the back of the truck. If a sandstorm did hit them, as was likely, he was glad he brought his special googles.

He slid the bag off his back and lifted it onto the back of the truck while Averi spoke "Maybe he's already got some sand in his pants?" Ethan joked as he grabbed the side of the truck and pushed himself up, then offered a hand to Averi to make it easier for her "So you think we'll actually find what the Foundation is looking for?" He asked casually.

Ethan sat down across from Averi, his head turned towards his back looking out into the distance as the vehicle moved forward then looked back at her with a grin "I can picture it now...Exclusive! Explorers Birkenhall and Rosewood's amazing discovery." He extended his hands forward a bit making a picture frame with his pointer fingers and thumbs, Averi in center frame, as he put on a stereotypical reporter voice for the last line. He let out a small laugh dropping his hands to his sides.

His body leaned forward as his elbows rested on the tops of his knees, looking at the map as he processed Averi's words. A pondering look filled his face as he took the map "I see, it appears we ma-" He had barely gotten a grip on the map when the whole truck went airborne for a moment, cutting him off.

Kai voiced his exact thoughts, what had just happened? It sounded like they hit a hole or large rock but after looking around he didn't see anything of the sort. As Averi announced the cause of the problem, Ethan moved over to check it out as well "It doesn't look like a accident to me. This is strange..." No quicker did he say this than three individuals dressed in the same black uniform, with a strange symbol on their chest, moved from their hidden position.

The one in front spoke out as the got close to the truck "Are you two Ethan Rosewood and Averi Birkenhall?" His rough voice asked, though it sounded like a command. Ethan hand hovered over Shelgon's pokeball as he replied "U-um what if we are?" His snarky tone was perhaps unnecessary but he had a bad feeling about this. The grunt looked at the other two behind him briefly before turning back to Ethan and Averi "You're going to come with us. We can't have you interfering!"

Before Ethan could react, the three took pokeballs from their belt and released them. A Houndour, Drowsey, and Skorupi appeared before them ready to attack. Ethan took a hold of Shelgon's pokeball and, pressing the button, tossed it forward releasing the tough Dragon-type. Shelgon then postured defensively between the hostile Pokemon and his trainer, as he waited for Averi to join in "I don't think these guys can be reasoned with." He said somewhat sarcastically.

Ethan was confident in Shelgon since its hard shell was perfect for defense plus it was the strongest of his Pokemon. He nodded while staring down the grunts as Kai spoke "We'll send them packing!" His voice was confident, although perhaps more so posturing than anything. There were so many questions running inside his head but no time to worry about them. The head grunt had his Houndour charge in "Houndour! Ember!" The rough voice shouted.

A shot of flames coursed forward aimed at Kai "Shelgon, use Protect and cover Kai!" A shine washed over Shelgon's barrel body as his partner rushed forward to intercept the flames. For a couple seconds, flames encased the body of Shelgon before they dissipated leaving him unharmed. The irritated grunt did not have time to react as Ethan called his next command "Push'em back with a headbutt!" Shelgon did not hesitate, showing the trust he had for his trainer. Despite being notoriously slow and heavy, Shelgon rushed ahead with some speed.

The unknown grunt showed a slight look of apprehension "Dodge Houndour!" It was too late for the Pokemon. As Houndour tried to moved out of the way, the 'forehead' of Shelgon smashed into its side. The weight behind the hit sent the Houndour flying a few feet, sand getting kicked up as it rolled across the desert. Ethan's eyes turned to Averi as the other two grunts' Pokemon came forward while the Houndour shakily stood up.