A Sandshrew is a bipedal, mouse-like Pokémon, though it uses all four limbs to run. Its skin is a deep, earthy yellow—hard, dry, and patterned with brick-like ridges that make it resemble a sturdy wall.
From its jaw to its belly, the fur is cream-colored, ending in a thick, conical tail. Its forelimbs boast three sharp claws, its hind limbs have two toes, and its small triangular ears give it a remarkably honest, reliable look.
In the distance, the Sandshrew's blue-black eyes kept darting toward Owen's direction. Clearly, it had noticed the boy who had been staring at it all afternoon.
The Sandshrew's movements didn't escape its Trainer—a girl with short brown hair who looked to be around Owen's age. When she looked over, Owen offered a polite, friendly smile, then redirected his focus back to Eevee.
Sandshrew are Ground-type Pokémon. Naturally timid, they instinctively burrow into the sand to hide from predators.
They are professional excavators and sand-shapers.
Just as Owen suspected, no matter how hard Eevee worked on her sandcastle, she couldn't surpass the majestic palace built by a literal ground specialist.
Even as lunch approached, Eevee was tirelessly refining her work. It wasn't until Owen called her over that she snapped out of it. Her stomach let out a loud growl, and she looked up at him with a pitiful, hungry expression.
By now, the girl and her Sandshrew had left, but they left their sand palace behind as a silent monument.
Eevee's eyes drifted toward it for the umpteenth time. While her work was better than almost any other abandoned castle on the beach, that palace remained a standard she hadn't met.
"We'll come back after we eat," Owen said, picking her up and patting her head.
It was a small thing, but it showcased Eevee's competitive will. This kind of spirit was precious. Even if they spent their entire vacation building sandcastles, Owen felt it was a worthwhile investment in her character.
"Vee, Vee~"
Hearing Owen's promise, Eevee blinked in surprise, then chirped happily.
The Revelation
That afternoon, Owen and Eevee didn't see the girl or the Sandshrew again, and the sand palace eventually collapsed or was washed away. Though the reference was gone, Eevee used her memory to keep comparing and adjusting.
However, due to her physiology, she struggled to achieve the same level of structural perfection in the fine details that the Sandshrew managed.
In terms of effort and seriousness, she was already the Sandshrew's equal, but nature had its limits.
Just as Eevee was about to flatten her work and start over once more, Owen stopped her. He pointed to an empty space nearby, and Eevee understood. She moved to the new spot to start a fresh project.
Looking at Eevee's current masterpiece—her best work yet and the one she'd spent the most time on—Owen couldn't bear to see it destroyed.
He took a photo to record it, then picked up some small tools to help her carve the finer textures.
He had photos of all her previous attempts; he planned to keep them as a memento to show her when she was older.
"Vee..."
Eevee, working in the adjacent area, heard the noise and turned around. Seeing Owen lying on the sand, meticulously carving the details of her castle, her heart felt heavy with a complex emotion.
Recalling Owen's unwavering companionship throughout the day, a strange sensation washed over her—different from anything she'd felt before. She stopped her digging and just watched him.
In that moment, Eevee felt as if she could see through Owen's eyes, feeling the very essence of the sand.
Suddenly, she felt a strange warmth in the grains beneath her paws. A peculiar vibration rippled out, creating a resonance with her own body.
The sensation startled her. She let out a confused, panicked cry that immediately drew Owen's attention. As he looked over, he saw Eevee's short, slender forelimbs swipe across the beach.
The sand at her three toes seemed to be commanded—it surged violently to one side as if propelled by an invisible force.
After the incredible event, Eevee felt her body return to normal, but she remembered that feeling vividly. It was like muscle memory. If she wanted to, she could do it again.
"Is that... Sand Attack?"
Owen's eyes widened in delight. He had assumed Eevee would only learn Sand Attack once they started formal training. Who would have thought she would grasp it like this?
In reality, learning a new move is difficult. Even moves learned by "leveling up" in games aren't a guarantee in the real world.
Sand Attack is a Ground-type move that manipulates sand to lower an opponent's accuracy. In the games, it's one of Eevee's earliest moves.
In reality, there is no "leveling up"; moves must be realized through specific opportunities or taught by a Trainer.
For Eevee to learn Sand Attack while playing in the sand spoke volumes of her talent—or perhaps, her total obsession with building the perfect sandcastle had finally triggered a breakthrough!
"Vee..." Eevee looked at her paws, both lost and curious. She only relaxed once Owen picked her up.
"Isn't this great? Let's try building one more time!"
Owen looked at the vast beach with newfound expectation. If Eevee learned Sand Attack through this game, couldn't the move help her build an even more perfect castle?
"Amazing... discovering a move this way."
He set Eevee down, and they began a new round of effort.
From their experience, they knew the secret to a great castle lay in the water-to-sand ratio. Too little water, and it wouldn't stick; too much, and it wouldn't hold its shape.
The ideal ratio is roughly 99% sand and 1% water for stability, especially for tall, intricate structures. Before, they were just guessing, but now that Eevee had Sand Attack, her perception of the soil's moisture was far more acute.
She found the perfect balance with ease.
With her nimble, sharp claws acting as better tools than any hobby knife, they soon erected a structure that truly rivaled the Sandshrew's palace.
"Perfect! Well, almost perfect."
Realizing they hadn't accounted for the rate of evaporation during the "construction," Owen and Eevee shared a knowing look.
With a synchronized laugh, they knocked it down and started again, using Sand Attack to build with newfound joy.
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