Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sol's swing of his arm gave Kess the perfect layup to grab him by it, flinging him straight at the metal pole intended for her. Wrapping around him instead as he made impact with it, the union would see the Ho-oh hybrid fall to his side in his new metal burrito, watching as Kess bolted off. "Ngh! I know it's not in their line of courtesy," he remarked, struggling for a second as he started rapidly ramping up his body heat. The rainstorm made it harder on him, but he'd pour everything he could around him in the name of heating his bindings. "But you think she'd have some."

"Sol! Hold on!" Cera shouted out as she approached, quick to start using Psychic to start unwrapping the pole. With Sol's heat gradually making the metal more molten and malleable, its structural integrity was faltering and making it easier to unwrap. Steam kept billowing as raindrops crashed down and evaporated in an instant, practically acting as a neon sign during the effort, one that Cera found herself giving up on as something crossed her mind. "Wait... where's Sub?" She'd look around as more SWIPE agents were drawing ever closer, sure she'd see him somewhere. But... she wouldn't.

Sol wouldn't get a glance or any further help as she suddenly took off towards the agents, being left to finish unwinding himself. "Cera, where're you- at least finish- ...hope you know what you're doing." Knowing he needed to get out and away, he'd have to take a little more time to keep superheating the pole and free himself. His own feathers would stand on end once he did as Kess prepared another Thunder, looking back and forth before running to try and catch up with the rest, come rain or sand. As he did, he'd also cross paths with Tristen briefly, almost certain where he was headed while he tried to get closer to the tunnel.

Back with Cera, she wasn't about to leave Sub behind. She couldn't leave him behind. The brief spikes of energy would lead her further into extremely dangerous territory, but her mind wouldn't register that Tristen or Aile were also going the same direction she was and would've provided better information. Instead, she'd rely on physical sight and a link with Sub that she could still feel, flinging herself ever forward. She'd arrive just after Tristen and Aile did, just in time for the orbs to be lobbed and trying to hold them back with Psychic. "Get the hell away from him!" She yelled out as the orbs still inched closer, trying to act as a shield long enough to force the Psychic energy outward and send them back. Regardless of any success or failure, some of the energy would find its way towards Type: Null, but seemingly do nothing beyond a minor feeling.

---

At the tunnel entrance, Amaranth would pant and give a sigh of relief that she and the others at the lead made it over. "We made it... thanks, Ether." She'd start to recall him before the ground started shaking for a moment, seeing a few rocks sliding down and picking up on something in the air that gave her an awful lot of unease with how fast she could see someone approach. At once, she'd recall Ether and rush inside on Swift's back, another ball on hand in an instant. "If that thing doesn't work," she remarked towards Lykas, making sure she didn't stay anywhere close towards the potential impact. "I think I can get something going with my Minior. Don't have a lot of time, though... and it'll probably cause a cave-in if that doesn't." She was willing to let Lykas cook for now, but only for a brief moment.

Darts manages to make it into the tunnel alongside the rest of the group, setting Crystal down gingerly. Despite all of the differences between them, he couldn't help but grin at her comment. There was history between the pair, and even though they had been fighting lately he can't help but be himself. "Put it on my tab." Is the glib response to her thanks. He keeps a firm hand on her until he's sure she can put enough pressure to walk and leads her further into the tunnel, past Lykas who looked like they had an idea churning. Tsuki is just in front of them both, along with Keiko and Ter and the other members that have made their way into the tunnel.

"Are you asking me if I'm sure about having Ogerpon handle Agent WHITE?" The thought seemed to have not cross the gambler's mind until Crystal asked, trying to be close enough to support the Solgaleo hybrid if needed as they go further in. The rest of the team hadn't spent the year with Ogerpon like he had, didn't know what that poor Pokemon had lived through already to be able to judge it's strength. After a couple seconds of pondering silence, "She's a warrior." He answers, simply. "When we originally came to HQ she was already battle tempered, maybe too much so. She didn't trust anyone, not even me, though maybe me more than most. Our trip to the doctor... let's say Doc Owl isn't looking forward to the next visit. But that's what happens when you try to bring a field general off the battlefield after years of warfare." Darts pauses again, as they pause near the first bend in the tunnel, turning back to where the rest of the Snagems are clustered. The other members of the Dragon Clan had gotten to see it on their last visit, that internal instinct that pushed the Masked Pokemon to dizzying heights in combat. The Giratina hybrid had experienced it himself first hand, only surviving by the skin of his teeth, truthfully. She was untrained, but growing more skillful by the second under his tutelage. "I'd be more worried if I was asking her to go to the grocery store to buy us food or something, that's something outside of her experience. Her life has been war."



As Reno ushers Ter and Ulla into the tunnel, Lykas' first spark of energy hits the gem right around the same time a Mega Steelix Bulldozes its way into the cave, carrying any other quarry that had wanted to get onboard. Unfortunately for Lykas, the gem didn't need much prompting, emphasized by the fact that someone as untrained as Blake. Hall. Was able to utilize it. As soon as that first drip of energy hits The Red Gem, the beam erupts full force in an uncontrollable hosing down of pure concentrated fire energy. Lucky enough, it misses the incoming Steelix but it cleaves straight through the twice-weakened stone and supports around the cave entrance. There's some screams and curses from the outside as the beam manages to glancingly strike some of the oncoming strike force pursuing them, those closest to the cave maw itself.

There's another more massive rumble and the mountain collapses in, the rocks burying the entrance in tons and tons of heavy granite stone. The team, similarly, was also split in twain now. There was the group outside who had chosen to stand and fight against Agent WHITE and Kess, without a handy exit to their backs anymore, and those inside Rusturf Tunnel without a way back to help their comrades.

Stunned, Darts turns back from Crystal to look at Lykas, who is still holding The Red Gem outwards from himself, at what used to be a door. "What did you do?" He asks simply, not an ounce of accusation in his voice. It was more bemused shock setting in as he tried to get ahold of himself. Had they sealed their comrades off to die?



The Chilly Two's presumptions would be correct, as Kess had been heavily considering a beeline for Tristen but that was before she had the equivalent of an epilepsy grenade thrust into her face. She tries to put the arm with her Light Screen up to block what she thought was an attack, but to no avail as it was sensory based. "Awgh! What-" The Zapdos hybrid's squawk cuts off midway as the Ancientpower now blasts her full-on, Super-Effective as it sends her airborne, her eyes going wide as it catches her in the gut. Unfortunately for the mercenary this put her at a perfect angle for the rock to smash into her as well and send her back into the ground. She struggles to her feet, clutching the unlit pommel that served as her sword, agitatedly rubbing her eyes with the other hand as she wheezes for breath. For the first time so far, she was badly out positioned and on the backfoot but there was no telling how long that was bound to last. The Thunders didn't cost low energy, either. Similar to Blizzard's Sheer Cold it was one of her trump cards and continuing to use it had tired her some.

There's a loud clap, many times louder than thunder as the tunnel behind them all collapses, after a jet of red-hot energy spews out from inside, striking some of the surrounding SWIPE forces. You know what they say. When it rains, it pours.


Ogerpon had originally taken a step back to admire its handiwork, switching from the Hearthflame mask to the Teal to try and avoid the biting sting of the rain as it came down now in earnest. But once WHITE had gotten away, however temporarily, the former Oni had to find a new target. And if she couldn't strike the monster itself, she would take the next best thing, his Pokemon. Bounding forwards with large strides of its long legs, the Legendary Pokemon came in right behind Tristen, its club whirling. Rather than attack, the Grass-type had a different tactic in mind. The whirling and flashy display of aggressiveness was an attempt to distract Type: Null and help Tristen close the gap, as she saw the boy's brave charge in her periphery.

"Po pyon!" She shouts defiantly, rotating the club from hand to hand in a dizzying display of weapon control. I'm the one you want, brute! Follow Me!

Monique was spending her time trying to tame the Tauros. WHITE had ignored her in favor of connecting Crystal to the Ultra Space equivalent of a ground wire. She was far enough at the rear that other attempts to threaten Snagems had been exhausted. And she was still behind the sandstorm that some or other team member had summoned at the front of the convoy.

It was an oddly mundane if extraordinary encounter. The Tauros was a swift mount with handy built-in water cannons. It was also tempestuous, at times barely showing any signs it had been tamed. Is this just normal or does it know I'm not its normal rider?

The sandstorm was degrading visibility on the route as the grassy areas turned into rocky outcroppings of sage-colored stone. Monique could barely keep her eyes open as she was buffeted with sand and small pebbles. Eventually, it all rebounded. Its visibility diminished, Tauros clipped a tree. That threw Monique off the saddle, leaving her stuck on the dirt. Tauros looked around, clearly a little dazed. A lot had happened, and the Fighting- and Water-type's brain was trying to cope. Monique got up, shaking the dirt off her outfit. Her Illusion had faded because of the hit.

Squinting to avoid damage to her eyes, the Sheriff of New Po had scarcely gotten back on Tauros, intending to charge toward the tunnel, when a massive red flash came from the direction of the passage. A thunderous roar and a rising cloud of dust confirmed the worst news. The tunnel entrance had collapsed.

There were one or two other people in this area, though it was a bit hard to see them as the dust cloud from the tunnel collapse blocked her view.

The tunnel was closed. She'd been told not to fly, and though she hadn't yet met one Kess, she had no intention of tempting fate and disregarding Sub's earlier instructions unless it was absolutely necessary. And it felt like that moment might be coming.

Cut off from most of the other Snagems, she began asking herself questions about her new exotic ride from Rent-a-Tauros. Did it come with all-hoof drive? Could it cross the mountain range over the top and then come down on the Verdanturf side? And what hazards still lay on this side of the severed link?

I went wide eyed from the surprise Carbink that came from effectively nowhere. I looked back, seeing Aria show up then looked back towards Kess as she was caught out on the backfoot, taking one attack right after the next between my Ancientpower attack and the large telekinetically thrown rock. “Blizzard!” Freth shouted out.

“Yea, on it!” I said, rushing in. We had to keep her on the backfoot if nothing else. She was severely pressured and we needed to finally put the stake in her to end this fight. I quickly rushed going in first, full on fisticuffs before she would try to get her composure back. Punches and kicks would fly right at her at a rapid rate, and unlike Kess, in spite of the damage I took, I still had plenty of energy to use. Freth would alternate out with me. Trying to keep the woman off balance. The team work of Freth and I on full display. Kess would show that if I was troublesome alone, the two of us was an outright force to deal with. The coordination between the two of us bringing our strikes down on her, the fierce speed and intensity of the attacks, was a force to be reckoned with. In all the weaving about, attacking in, trying to dodge and parry otherwise, we both knew that this wasn’t enough. We needed a finishing blow. After a brief exchange with Kess, I would dart out of the way once more for Freth to come in once again. As she went and made her exchanges with the Zapdos hybrid, I quickly charged an Ice Beam in my two hands. Freth quickly glanced back and then darted out with Agility herself. At that point, I fired the chilling beam towards the Zapdos hybrid. Freth would appear a short distance away, lining the Zapdos hybrid up then went for it. Her eyes started to glow a fierce neon violet then she started to fire off her own Freezing Glare to try to lock her down.



Meanwhile, Tristen straightened himself up. “I’m fine, I’m fine!” Tristen said. It was going to take more than a tumble to keep him down. Though, it still did hurt, admittedly. Adrenaline was a hell of a thing. Zebstrika, who struck the odd Pokémon, was wincing himself after dealing a fierce hit with his Wild Charge attack, but steeled itself as the zebra grinded his hooves in the dirt and sparked some electricity in its jagged mane. Tristen looked back, seeing Ogerpon start getting the attention of the Type: Null. This was good, this made things a lot easier to neutralize that Pokémon. But then a word of fear came out of Sub. Tristen looked back, seeing Agent WHITE start making his way towards the group…this large and imposing man, with a strut that didn’t seem to have any hint of fear. It was enough to intimidate Tristen a little bit, not really sure what this man’s story was all about.

Tristen instantly then started to realize the rain wasn’t necessarily coming down on them anymore, although it was still raining. It could easily be channeling, but what about it being a hybrid? The only thing that could stop the rain like that was a few abilities, like Cloud Nine. But there were very few Pokémon, never mind hybrids, that could actually do that. Never mind Air Lock, which was exclusively to the legendary Rayquaza, the mighty dragon that quelled Groudon and Kyogre. But none of that seemed to fit that bill. Following that, it seemed like in that instant, he empowered the Type: Null, its Swift attack even more potent, which made no sense to the likes of Tristen. This continued to seem like a hybrid than channeler than anything, but for the life of him he couldn’t think of what WHITE could be, not with abilities like that. Tristen had the realization that with such limited time, there was something that needed to be done. WHITE needed to be at least neutralized and maybe…just maybe…figure out what the story of this Pokémon and his trainer is. It was time to get a hair bit more crazy…

“Zebstrika! Use Ion Deluge!” Tristen shouted. Zebstrika then wailed out, sending out a harsh flood of electricity which started to spread across the field. Sparks started to scatter across the field, everything would start feeling like it tingled a bit, similarly to if a Pokémon went out to put out an Electric Terrain. Tristen, noting that WHITE was aiding Type: Null in some fashion, figured to try to try to take him out. He didn’t think a Thunder Wave was going to subdue this guy, he needed something extremely potent, and with him already having to take up a bunch of electricity throughout this whole attempted escape, between Kess and his Zebstrika discharging electricity while on his back, there was a lot he wanted, if not outright needed to discharge for his own sake. Even so, he needed to make the attack count.

As the flurry of stars started to get unleashed, the star shower started to convert from its normal typing to starting to spark full of electricity. And then suddenly, was diverted. “That’s right…hit me.” Tristen said with gritted teeth. Each of the stars would start getting absorbed by Tristen, and like that he could feel it. He was once again getting filled to capacity with electricity. Though this time, there wasn’t really any fear. There was intent behind everything. And his intent was the ginormous trainer. “Now lets see you take this…no where to run…” He severely sparked up, perhaps the most he has in some time, perhaps the most dangerous to be near the Manetric hybrid in some time. With a furious shout, the massive build-up of electricity would be unleashed to Agent WHITE. It was time to see what this guy was made of.

Crystal rolled her eyes at Darts’ response to the thanks, but nothing more. Maybe the faintest, briefest hint of a smile. That sort of response should have been expected, honestly. The more things change and all that. Once they were in decently, she would pause as Darts explained what he thought she was asking, sliding her hands down her right leg, trying to feel for something through her long skirt. Once she found it, she would close her eyes and focus, the blue lines that denoted her eyes glowing brighter for a second. “Light,” she muttered, ears flicking a couple times as they stopped, with Crystal standing up straight once more to put weight on her right leg again. Still hurt and felt somewhat awkward, but not like before. She could move better without much of a limp now.

“Well. That’s… good, though honestly rather sad. No one should have to have a life of only war.” The galactic hybrid frowned, shaking her head. “That’s not what I was asking, though. I meant to come after and help me.” The intergalactic catwoman would pinch the bridge of her nose and let out a huge sigh. “I was already planning on heeding Sub’s warning anyways, but I can’t even access Sunsteel Strike now. WHITE’s locked me out of it somehow. Which, apparently, bled over to my light platforms. Not how I would have liked to make that realization. But I’m locked down, and that scares me that one person is able to do that. And I don’t know…” She trailed off, her words deciding then and there to get stuck in her mouth, though the tunnel entrance coming down would perk up her ears briefly and divert her attention. “Oh. Oh boy.” Crystal’s ears drooped slightly, worried now about their comrades on the other side of the tunnel.


Aile and Kuat would flinch slightly when they saw the fire beam come out, with the woman looking bewildered as memories of nearly becoming fried human back at the volcano in Boyleland came back to the surface. That wasn’t pleasant, and she was glad that the beam wasn’t aimed in her direction. But the tunnel collapsing soon after… That wasn’t good. They were cut off from their allies, and it would probably take too long for Kuat to burrow through, not to mention that doing that would give SWIPE easier access to catch up to them. No, probably better to find a different route. As soon as the others had a moment-

The Mega Steelix would get rocked as Type: Null rushed in with its Payback, Aile gripping onto the Iron Snake with her left hand as he steadied back out. He was about to swing back for another attack when his trainer would tap his head a couple times. “Kuat, stop! We need to get out of here, we can’t just keep fighting back!” Aile would take a quick look over the Mega Steelix’s body, noting that while there was some indentation, maybe a fractured spike crystal, nothing seemed to be able to penetrate the steel. Yet. “We’re good, Sub. We- oh, what the nine blazes.” She, too, would watch as WHITE just casually strode through the rain, not even getting a drop on him. Casually. As you do. “This. Is just insanity. Kuat.” Aile turned her attention back to the Mega Steelix, who seemed to be itching to battle some more. “While we still have Magnet Rise, north, now. I don’t think we have time to dig through all the rocks at the tunnel entrance, judging by the pretty blue lights ahead of us. Let’s go now!”

Kuat’s eyes would look up toward his trainer for a moment, before snorting. “Lix.” He didn't like it, just leaving a fight. However, his trainer probably had a point, judging by how these two just took all of these attacks and kept getting up. This was starting to feel like a battle of attrition and they were winning so far. Turning in the direction Aile ordered, Kuat would begin to take off from the fight, albeit somewhat begrudgingly.

Aile would look back as Kuat started, frowning at Cera staying behind. “Cera, come on! What’s the point of coming back to help you all out if someone else hangs back again? Lets go!”

Having managed to drag Ter and Ulla into the cavern from their position just outside of it, Reno would gently let Ter off of his back as he looked around to assess the situation. It looked like Darts and Crystal had been the last ones to make it through, right on the heels of Leslie's Onix bus. And while there was certainly some more grace that could have been attempted on a plan to haphazardly use something they had no idea on how to control, throwing that particular stone from his glass house seemed a little foolish for him. But he could already see things beginning to fray as panic about their exit, panic about somehow cracking open the entrance that they had just spent that time collapsing, and general confusion on what exactly to do next.

It was slowly becoming time for him to actually assert some authority in this situation.

Marching over to Amaranth, he would wrap his right hand around her shoulder and spin her to face down the tunnel and towards him. "I get the instinct, trust me. But attempting to break down the barricade that we just set up isn't doing effective work. Especially when your efforts might be just as likely to bring more of the tunnel down on our heads." Moving his hand from her shoulder onto the Pokeball for her Minior, he would try to get her moving along towards the rest of the group. "The others out there should be able to manage. Cutting north through the forests and hitting the Meteor Falls area might not be the fastest route for the entire team, but with who I know is out there it should be fine. And if it isn't, then I guess Sub will have to actually use that trump card he has squirreled away on him."

Turning to the rest of the gathered Snagems, Reno would raise his voice so that they would all tu8rn towards him. "Alright! No use waiting! Staying still just lets SWIPE catch up to us! Now, we can exit the other end of this tunnel normally, but I expect that SWIPE will be preparing for that so we are going to be trying to see if we can find any other exits." Scanning over the Snagems inside the cave to assess what options they might have, his eyes would focus in on one of their largest members. "Hey, Deo. Those Luxray eyes can go full x-ray, right? Let's see if we can spot any side tunnels that might get us out of here somewhere else." Tapping his chin as he thought it through, Reno would ask out loud, "But how do we narrow down where to look? can't just slow walk our way through staring at the walls the whole way...."

Across the cavern, Aria would be slightly sidetracked as she stared at the local Pokemon of the Tunnel. The singular species she could see, Whismur scattered along the length that she could observe. And After getting Vibrato and Billy, it just seemed....like destiny, being here right next to another sound Pokemon. And then she heard the ask for figuring out where to look. And the seeds of an idea began to grow within her head. Returning her Pangoro and Carbink, she would open up a third Pokeball and look towards her Noivern. Pointing towards the nearest Whismur, she said, "Alright, Vibrato. Fire off a Boomburst at that Whismur there."

The move would likely be slight overkill against the little Pokemon, but that wasn't point.....okay, it wasn't the whole point. Because alongside making sure the little guy would be weak enough for her Luxury Ball to work, she wanted the loud echoing noise to blast down the tunnel. She was going to use the Boomburst for a quick blast of sonar. And if the Whismur responded like she was expecting them to, with their loud cries, it would make sure that her Noivern and herself would be able to get a much clearer picture of things. And hopefully get those images a few times just to make sure that they could continue their advance at a good pace.

Ulla and Ter were dragged into the cavern as the entry was soon blocked off from the ruble. The Fairy Child sighed of relief as she looked at the group that was here. Barely half of the team was here in the tunnel. "As much as I want to go back...we have to keep going. Type : Null and WHITE is out there. We have to trust the others and pray we all meet up again." She said as she recalled her partner Togekiss back into their Pokeball for now. Ulla then looked over at Ter and Keiko, seeing how Ter was still critically hurt from the Thunder following the fall earlier.

Ulla walked over to them as she showed some concern. "Papa...You're really hurt." She said as almost by instinct. Formed a small bubble in her hand as it slowly expanded, as it made it's way towards Ter. The bubble then consumed Ter as it slowly started to heal his wounds. "Come on Papa...My sisters need their father strong. So take it easy for now. Leave the battling and protecting to Mama and I." She said with a smile as she made the now bubbled Ter float a bit off the ground. While the other were coming up with a plan, she noticed what Aria was doing as she bubbled Keiko as well to protect her ears. She did the same thing for everyone else that was in the tunnel. Didn't need anyone to go deaf in a crucial moment.