Chapter 22: Dig Those Diglett! (Re-edited)
The group was taking a pathway through some mountains trying to figure out how to get to Fuchsia City.
Brock takes a look at the map again, "Strange...it says that Fuchsia City should be right over the mountain."
Misty sighed, "Over which mountain? Because all we see are mountains."
Brock pulled out the map, "The map says the Fuchsia Gym is on the other side of one of these mountains right over there. Is it this way? Or that way? Or maybe it's that way. Oh, great, we're surrounded by mountains on every side!"
Mairin groaned, "Uh, don't tell me we're lost again."
"Okay... I won't tell you." Brock said.
Then Cora remembered her phone. There were times that she forgot about that it had a map on it. She took it out, "Well according to my phone, once we passed these mountains, we should find Fuchsia City."
"Really?" Misty asked with hope in her eyes.
Cora nodded, "Yup."
Suddenly, there was a noise of large explosion, which caused the gang all to shout and duck down.
Once the noise stopped, they looked up to where they thought it was coming from.
"I wonder what that was about." Misty said as they stood up.
They heard another explosion and looked to where it was coming from.
"It's over there." Ash said and they ran up the mountain and stopped at the edge of a small cliff when they saw trucks driving past us on a road, toward a construction site and saw a rock fell from the edge of a cliff. Holes appeared from the ground, making the trucks stop and some flipped over.
"What a wreck." Misty said.
"This is terrible!" Brock exclaimed before they ran down the cliff and ran toward the trucks.
A man walked out of one of the trucks and knelt down, hitting the ground, "I just can't take it anymore!"
"Are you all right, sir?" Cora asked.
"It's the Diglett! They are destroying everything!" The man shouted.
"The Diglett?" Ash asked.
The man pointed to the side in anger, "See? They're right over there!"
They looked to where he was pointing, and found a few Diglett in the ground, popping up and down in the holes. Cora took out her phone:
[Diglett, the Mole Pokémon. Diglett love to create underground tunnels. The movement of these Ground Pokémon can be easily detected by their tracks of upturned earth.]
Diglett popped up from the ground with a closed eye smile.
"Aw, how cute." Mairin smiled at the mole Pokémon who smiled back.
Then she felt a presence behind her and glanced over nervously at the man.
"You think they cute, do you?" he yelled and Mairin quickly moved away. "Thanks to them, we can't finish building that dam!" He glared toward the Diglett, "I hate Diglett! I hate Diglett! I hate them!"
"Wow, he really does hate them." Cora whispered to her friends.
"Sure does." Misty agreed.
"Although I don't see any upturned earth." Cora pointed out as she looked at the road.
The man suddenly stepped closer to Cora, which made her yelp and step back, "That's because the ground here is covered by concrete but if you would look closely."
"So they're underneath." Alain stated.
"It looks like a mini earthquake." Misty commented.
"And it looks like we'll never be able to accomplish our dream of building the great Gaiva Dam here in these mountains." the man admitted.
"Gaiva Dam?" Ash repeated.
The man pointed to the construction site, "Over there."
They looked over to the construction site, seeing workers there, and another rock felling down.
"That explosion is part of building a dam?" Brock asked.
"Yes! The blasting is part of building a dam!" the man shouted and turned to Cora again as he shouted, "But we can't bring the supply! All because of the Diglett!"
"Then why are you yelling in my face?!" Cora shouted back which caused him to step back.
"Mmmhmm... that is a problem." Brock said as Cora crossed her arms over her chest.
"We came out with special division for developing strategies to fight off the Diglett," the man said, "We're calling for any Pokémon trainer who's traveling through the area, someone with real Pokémon know how to get rid of these Diglett. The reward is a 6 nights and 7 days stay at the Giva hot springs resort. If you want to help, you're welcome to." The workman replied, walking towards the trainers.
"Well I don't want to attack the Diglett." Cora decided, "I'm sure there's a reason why they're doing this."
"I agree. There must be something." Brock agreed. Misty nodded her head in agreement.
"I wonder what it is." Alain commented.
Then Cora saw a very familiar red convertible with four buses, along with the cheerleaders, in front of them. A familiar trainer popped out of the car. It was Gary Oak, "The first Pokémon trainer has arrived! The rest are in those buses!"
"Oh great." Ash and Cora muttered, frowning.
Gary noticed them, "Well if it isn't little Ashy and Cora. What brings you two here?" Gary asked in a superior tone.
"I'm on my way to get my sixth badge." Ash answered.
"So am I." Cora added.
Gary chuckled with an arrogant smirk. "I've already got my sixth badge."
Cora felt annoyed by that; ever since they were kids, Gary would always boast about being the greatest. It was most annoying thing about him.
"Espeon espe (What an arrogant brat.)" Kilala growled.
Pikachu glared at the arrogant trainer.
Cora rolled her eyes, "Yippee for you."
"So what are you doing here?" Alain asked.
"I have been asked by the workmen to help with the Diglett problem," Gary replied, "So, Ashy, were you called here? Only the best of the best are here."
"I'm not here to hurt the Diglett." Cora declared.
Gary shrugged, "Whatever." He walked off to join the other trainers.
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The workman explained to the trainers that they needed to get rid of the Diglett.
"These bugs cause nothing but trouble!" He shouted through a speaker.
Gary raised his hand in the air, "Excuse me, but Diglett are Ground-type, not Bug-type."
"I don't care what type they are!" The workman shouted angrily, "I just want them gone!"
==========================
The gang were watching this scene play out not too far from the group of trainers.
"Well an Alolan Diglett is a Ground and Steel Type." Cora informed.
"Really?" Misty and Ash asked, curious.
"Yup, they even have hair." Cora took out her phone and showed them a picture which was a Diglett with two strands on blonde hair on the top of its head.
Misty giggled, "How cute."
Brock and Ash found it interesting yet amusing as well.
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"I'll handle them." Gary declared.
Gary kissed one of his Pokéballs and threw it to get a Pokémon out.
But what happened next was weird; Gary's Pokémon came out and then went back into the Pokéball.
"It went back in." Ash commented, confused.
"What?!" Gary exclaimed.
A Diglett returned Gary's Pokéball.
Gary bent down and took the Pokéball, "Oh thank you. Wait!" He shouted.
Gary tried again with another Pokéball, but the same thing happened.
"Argh! I'll try every Pokémon I have!" He shouted angrily and threw out all six of his Pokémon.
The other trainers tried to call out their Pokémon, but like what happened to Gary, they refused to come out.
What was stranger was that the Diglett would give the Pokéballs back to the trainers.
"Oh, thank you." All of the trainers thanked the Diglett for returning their Pokéballs.
========================
Cora, Alain, Mairin, Ash, Misty, Brock and the Pokémon were watching from the sides. Cora already knew what the problem was with the Pokéballs: the Pokémon didn't want to attack the Diglett.
"You have to admit that was quite interesting, no?" Cora asked, amused.
"To see Gary so frustrated like that. Definitely." Alain grinned.
"He looks so funny." Mairin laughed.
"Espeon. (What an idiot.)" Kilala agreed.
The gang chuckled at Gary's frustration.
"Weird," Misty commented, "You think something is preventing the Pokémon to come out of the Pokéballs?"
"I don't know." Ash said.
"Something doesn't feel right around here." Brock stated.
After trying five times, Gary gave up and left in his red convertible. The other trainers decided to leave too, since their Pokémon refused to come out.
The workman got so angry, he pulled out a sledgehammer and shouted angrily, "Youuuu Diglett!"
He tried to whack the Diglett with a sledgehammer, but the Diglett easily dodged it.
The group sweat dropped as they watched the workman trying to whack a Diglett.
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When evening came, the gang decided to relax in the hot spring baths at a Hot Springs Inn.
"This feels nice." Misty sighed happily in bliss.
"Guys I think that the Diglett are destroying the construction site because the workmen are building the dam on their home." Cora stated.
Alain nodded, "Yeah, I agree."
"Do you think that's why the Diglett are doing all this?" Brock asked.
"Pokémon won't attack unless their home is being threatened. So the Diglett must be doing the same thing." Alain theorized.
"You sure, Alain?" Ash questioned.
Alain nodded.
"It makes sense. Remember what happened with the Tentacool and Tentacruel at Porta Vista?" Brock reminded Ash and Misty.
Ash and Misty nodded. They remembered that incident perfectly.
"Then that must be it." Brock confirmed.
Just then a Diglett popped up in front of Kilala, Chespie and Pikachu.
"Diglett Diglett Dig (We live here. It's our home)." The Diglett said.
"Espe, espeon espe espeon (Cora, the Diglett live here and that dam is being built on their home)." Kilala said as the Diglett nodded.
Cora translated to the gang.
"So it is like the Tentacool and Tentacruel." Brock said.
Then more Diglett popped up and started to move. The gang immediately got out the baths, changed quickly and went to follow the Diglett.
======================
The gang ran past the workman, who was still trying to whack the Diglett with his sledgehammer. It was a funny sight, but they didn't have the time to stop.
The gang continued to follow Diglett to a mountain range and saw a lot of Diglett and a set of their evolved form, Dugtrio.
Cora looked at Dugtrio on the phone:
[Dugtrio, the mole Pokémon. The evolved form of Diglett. This Pokémon is able to tunnel deep beneath the earth's surface.]
The three heads were moving through the ground leaving a trail of upturned earth as they go while a pair of Diglett's were planting tree branches, trying to help them grow.
The workman shown up as Ash gasped, "Wow look at this."
"Yeah these small Diglett and Dugtrio actually created this whole mountain range themselves." Cora said.
"They really were defending their territory, not for themselves but for others." Alain added.
The workman looked towards the gang, "What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Humans and Pokémon need oxygen to survive and also when trees grow, they become homes for the other Pokémon that live in this mountain." Cora explained as she pointed to the Diglett and Dugtrio's home garden.
Misty looked in amazement and asked, "You're saying all of the trees in this mountain range were planted by these little guys?"
"It's possible." Brock added as he theorized, "Perhaps all of the forests and mountains that have these were planted by them and Pokémon like the one huge garden."
The workman saw the mountain range as well, "If my men and I build the dam," He said, "We would not only destroy this mountain range, but also the home to lots of Pokémon. I'm going to cancel this project and leave the mountains and forests alone."
Then the workman left to go talk with the other workers. The group were delighted. Just then they heard a familiar laughter in the distance. They all turned around to see Team Rocket.
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reaches to the stars above."
"Jessie."
"James."
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
Meowth jumped over and crossed his arms over his chest, "They know the rest."
Jessie and James looked disappointed.
"Team Rocket, I forgot about them," Cora told the others and the Pokémon as they all looked at them in boredom.
"Sorry guys, but we are not in the mood for you right now, okay?" Misty told them.
"But we're in a good enough mood for everyone." Jessie smirked.
"Yes, and we never even had lunch!" James said, "But now, we have a special treat for all of you."
Cora rolled her eyes in boredom, "Oh please."
"Our Ekans has evolved into...Arbok!" Jessie called as she held up her Pokéball, releasing Arbok.
"And Koffing is now... Weezing!" James said as he held up his Pokéball, releasing Weezing.
Cora scanned Team Rocket's new Pokémon:
[Arbok, the cobra Pokémon. The evolved form of Ekans. Transfixing prey with the face-like pattern on its belly, it binds and poisons the frightened victim.]
[Weezing, the poison gas Pokémon. The evolved form of Koffing. Inhaling toxic fumes from trash and mixing them inside its body lets it spread an even fouler stench.]
"Go, Arbok!" Jessie called and Arbok went forward toward them.
"We can take care of that." Cora said as Kilala stepped forward.
"Arbok, dive underground!" Jessie called. Arbok used dig, disappearing under the ground with Weezing right behind him.
Right after that, they heard Diglett and Dugtrio's voices under the ground and not long after Arbok and Weezing were thrown up to the ground, unconscious.
"What happened?!" Meowth exclaimed.
"I know what's coming." James said, dreaded.
"Me too." Jessie added.
Diglett and Dugtrio popped up from the ground, all of them looked at Team Rocket. They all group together and formed a tall mud wave, taking Team Rocket away.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket screamed.
Misty commented, "These guys don't know how to catch a break do they?"
"I don't think they ever will." Ash said.
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It was the next morning when the gang headed on to Fuchsia City. They noticed the construction plan and large bold sticker that read 'CANCELED!' in its place.
Brock nodded, "That's good."
Cora noticed something behind Brock and smiled.
"What?" Brock asked.
"It seems like you have a little friend following you." Cora replied.
"Huh?" Brock turned around and saw Diglett, "Hey what's wrong, Diglett?"
Diglett looked up at Brock with a smile, "Dig Diglett! (I want to go with you!)"
"Diglett wants to go with you, Brock." Cora translated.
Brock was surprised and nodded. Then he took out a Pokéball and tapped Diglett. It was a successful capture.
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After saving the Diglett and Dugtrio's home from a construction dam and Brock capturing a new Pokémon, the gang headed off towards the Fuchsia gym for Cora and Ash's next gym badge.
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Pokémon Obtained:
Cora: Shiny Espeon (Kilala)(F), Shiny Charizard (Nuri)(F), Altaria (Talia)(F), Shiny Lucario (Jackal)(M), Frogadier (Kenji)(M), Pidgeot (Gail)(F), Shiny Gyarados (Rory)(M), Cloyster (Matta)(M), Shiny Starmie (Pyxis)(Genderless), Butterfree (Papilio)(M), Beedrill (Stinger)(M), Nidoran (Juno)(F), Nidoran (Malik)(M), Pikachu (Tama)(F), Clefable (Shayla)(F), Sandslash (Digger)(M), Meloetta (Odele)(F), Chikorita (Kalmia)(F), Shiny Braxien (Rogue)(F), Mienfoo (Mulan)(F), Glaceon (Nieva)(F), Leafeon (Panra)(F), Shiny Gengar (Sypro)(M), Shiny Monferno (Pirro)(M), Galarian Ponyta (Althea)(F), Shiny Chespin (Cybele)(F), Alolan Raichu (Zuma)(M), Rockruff (Romulus)(M), Meowstic (Yuki)(F), Oshawott (Daisho)(M), Kingler (Kuka)(M), Shiny Umbreon (Zunair)(M) Sylveon (Stella)(F), Vaporeon (Kaori)(F), Jolteon (Lyn)(F), Flareon (Egan)(M), Dratini (Scylla)(F), Absol (Twilight)(M), Shiny Scorbunny (Scorch)(M), Popplio (Naia)(F), Alolan Vulpix (Elsa)(F), Pink Butterfree (Momo)(F), Sobble (Mystique)(F), Mankey (Manny)(M), Magnemite (Static)(Genderless)
Alain: Charizard (M), Metagross (Genderless), Tyranitar (M), Weavile (M), Bisharp (M), Unfezant (M), Leafeon (F), Umbreon (M), Chestnaught (M), Malamar (F), Steelix (M), Shiny Gyarados (F), Scyther (M), Golbat (M), Shiny Zorua (Unovan)(M), Frigibax (M), Prinplup (M), Copperajah (F), Lokix (M), Magby (M), Axew (M), Rockruff (M), Rhydon (F), Alakazam (M), Meowstic (M), Sandile (M), Absol (M), Cyndaquil (M), Deino (F) Rookidee (M), Squirtle (M)
Mairin: Chespin (Chespie)(M), Flabébé (Bébé)(F), Gogoat (Grazer)(F), Butterfree (Bira)(F), Parasect (Paxtin)(M), Clefairy (Pixie)(F), Lilligant (Unovan)(Petunia)(F), Swadloon (Evanthe)(F), Thwackey (Biri)(F), Grotle (Aspen)(M), Pansage (Sage)(F), Roserade (Rose)(F), Azumarill (Mary)(F), Skitty (Cathy)(F), Cherubi (Cherry)(F), Maractus (Amaranth)(F), Snivy (Vinicius)(F), Shaymin (Carissa)(F), Squirtle (Kai)(M)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone