Sandslash was my very first pokemon to reach LVL 100, and was a party member for my first ever victory over the Elite Four...ah, brings back memories of the good ol' Blue/Red/Yellow/Green days...
'shrew and 'slash are visually solid 'mons (that is, they look solid, not that they are visually sound, which they are, don't get me wrong). This, though, is a parallel sort of solidarity.