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News spread fast within the HQ, about the strange labyrinth that lied below. Of course, news always spread fast when it went to every SNAG and Sub was the one sending it. There was solace in that it wasn't anything biting like GRAY tended to do with his alerts, but that would be the only such moment of calm to remain. As Amaranth neared the doors of the labyrinth, there was a sense of dread. That one did not simply enter these doors, that one might want to be as prepared as possible. She felt that she might be, with a small bag of items in hand and the ball containing her Pidgey. At least, she hoped she would be as she took a deep breath and entered its doors, wondering what would await within.

Pokemon Info:
Pidgey (Shadowfied): 284/284 HP | Shadow Meter: 0/10
Ability: Keen Eye (Ignore Accuracy-related range changes.)
Current Status: None
Purification Points: 13/20
Known Shadow Moves: Shadow Rush

Current Items:
Hyper Potion
Revive
Shadow Vaccine

At first, it didn't seem like it'd be so bad. Despite all the bouncing, there seemed to be some way to get through the room. Perhaps if they could angle theirselves just right, Amaranth thought, they'd make it out. What seemed like a hopeful moment of simply ending up at the room's entrance again, two of the bounces sent her and her Pidgey at an angle that might be laughing in the face of physics right about now. The bounces sent them both through a hole in the room, making them both take a nasty fall.

"Aah! Ow... are you okay?" Amaranth asked, only for Pidgey to promptly free herself before she found herself in more danger. Emotions were already running high for the infected bird, it seemed, even as a small chest seemed to be in view alongside a stairway leading to the next room. Cautious, Amaranth walked over to open it, eyeing its contents before suddenly seeing it vanish and leave only a single token. Opting to take the token before it did the same, she hurried to the stairs back up as Pidgey flew just behind her.

Roll Results:
1, 1: Roll for "Chest 1" reward. Reward was a Revive, which was immediately lost.
6, 6: Fall through the floor, take 50 damage.
4, 4: Proceed to the next room.

Pokemon Info:
Pidgey (Shadowfied): 234/284 HP | Shadow Meter: 0/10
Ability: Keen Eye (Ignore Accuracy-related range changes.)
Current Status: None
Purification Points: 13/20
Known Shadow Moves: Shadow Rush

Current Items:
1 Silver Token
Hyper Potion
Revive
Shadow Vaccine

Almost as soon as Amaranth entered the room, she could see the slope leading downward. The room was long enough that she could barely see the door at the other end, looking around and trying to get her bearings. That is, until she heard a clicking sound when she stepped on one of the tiles within the room, just before where the slope began. "Huh? What was...?" As she turned around, her answer came promptly when she heard something rolling down. Several somethings. She wasn't sure what they were, but as she grabbed Pidgey, she wasn't about to sit around and find out.

"Sorry, just hold on!" She shouted as she slid down the slope without another thought, hoping to outrun whatever trap she managed to spring.

Compared to the rooms before it, this seemed to be a lot less... risky. In fact, it was somewhat cozy and colorful with the balls of yarn and scratching posts littering the room. It did smell a lot like a cat Pokemon just turned this room into its house, but otherwise, it could've been much worse. As she looked around the room, using this chance to let Pidgey hopefully relax for a bit, she'd see one of the Meowth come up to her, rubbing against her leg and looking up with expecting eyes.

"Um... hello?" She asked curiously, kneeling down to pet the Meowth and feeling that she'd found the first "nice" thing in the labyrinth so far.

Realizing that hoping things wouldn't be too rough had begun to be an idea that wasn't the greatest, Amaranth tried her best to keep her wits about her as she went into the next room. Pidgey, on the other hand, stayed far away from Amaranth now and went in a while after her trainer did.

Maybe this next room would be safer? Nah, it wouldn't be safer.

With an odd flub in her trajectory, Amaranth would find herself bouncing from pad to pad before ending up back at the door she came in through, finally making it clear that this room wasn't totally identical to the first. "Maybe start from here?" She asked herself, going to a different bounce pad to try again. In the meanwhile, Pidgey perched herself on the ground, a laugh-like chirp escaping as she watched and didn't have to deal with this.

It wasn't long before Pidgey turned around and went back to Amaranth, just in time for her to get to... the stairs? Was the next floor ahead? They wouldn't have time to figure out for sure before a Primeape got the jump on both of them and went to slug Pidgey out of the air. Something didn't seem right about it; not only was it much larger than usual, but she could swear that it had a visible aura to it. Was it like the odd Raticate and Gumshoos back in Alola? Regardless, the two readied theirselves for a fight, just as soon as Pidgey got over being punch drunk.

A moment later, she'd get back up, glaring at the large Primeape before her and rearing back to get ready for an attack. Amaranth seemed to have a similar idea, already knowing they weren't getting through here without a fight. Not after the first attack coming like it did. "We need to get through! Wing Attack!" To her surprise, her command would actually be met with Pidgey rushing at Primeape to land a hard hit with her wings before spinning in the air to keep her bearings. Already, Primeape's Rage seemed to grow, slugging Pidgey yet again. Though the attack connected, the bird didn't seem to be ready to stop so soon.

"Try to keep it off balance... maybe a- no, not that!" In fact, Pidgey was already done with this after the first few rooms, deciding to assault Primeape with a sudden Shadow Rush to send the Totem Pokemon tumbling from the surprising amount of force. Despite this, Primeape got up with ease, only looking angrier for the effort as it began to Thrash about. Pidgey was forced onto the defensive just as soon as her offense had begun, doing her best to evade the attacks and keep her distance after getting slugged a third time. Overall, Amaranth had to admit that she was a bit surprised. Maybe Pidgey was finally beginning to work through the Shadow Virus plaguing her and having a slightly more level head for it.

Quietly, she watched and waited, hoping to find some kind of opening to keep Pidgey from getting hurt any further than she already was. She clutched a small, crystal-shaped item in her hand, hoping she wouldn't have to use it this soon. Finally, as she went to put the item away, she saw it. Primeape slowing down, fatigued from all its thrashing. There wouldn't be long, but if anything was going to be done, it had to be now. "Pidgey, now! Wing Attack while it's tired!" She called at once, watching Pidgey swoop down to land another sudden assault with her wings.

As she went back into the air following the impact, she could see Primeape lose its footing, slamming onto the ground. It didn't seem to be totally knocked out, but continuing the fight looked to be detrimental to it. Opting to fight another day, it moved a token that had been clutched in its fist and limped aside. Was it letting them through?

Roll Modifiers and Result:
"Super Effective" Matchup: 20-75 base Damage.
Totem Pokemon: Lower minimum damage roll by 10, raise maximum by 10
Paralysis: Raise minimum damage roll by 5 if new base Speed is lower than the opponent's; base 28 versus base 95.
Overall modification: -5 to minimum, +10 to maximum; Roll is now 15-85
Damage Taken: 82

Pokemon Info:
Pidgey (Shadowfied): 162/284 HP | Shadow Meter: 3/10
Ability: Keen Eye (Ignore Accuracy-related range changes.)
Current Status: Paralyzed (1/2 Base Speed)
Purification Points: 15/20
Known Shadow Moves: Shadow Rush

Current Items:
5 Silver Tokens
Revive
Shadow Vaccine

Floors Cleared: 1/3

To what may have been good fortune, Amaranth would find herself in a nearly empty room. Just a few walls, safe for a lone Delibird that came over and handed over a Present from its sack. No strings attached, just a present. Opening it up, Amaranth wondered how bad it could be while Pidgey braced herself.