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I headpatted Ulla as she created a bubble around me to keep me from overexerting myself any further. The healing helped lessen the soreness in my body, but the only way to really put a stop to it was rest, and with the bubble around me I was getting as much of that as I could afford right now. I just hopped her bubble could move somewhat quickly.

Keiko instinctively reached for her ears as the Boomburst went off, but the bubble was in the way. Fortunately, the bubble was doing its work and while she could still hear all the screaming, it didn't hurt her ears. When the time came for them to run, Keiko decided to stay close to Ulla and me in case anything else happened. She felt she had to protect what family she could, with Yuna and Serena out of reach.

As the Ion Deluge spread outward it would convert the Normal energy of the Swift stars to that of the Electric type and thanks to their new typing the Swift stars would also gain a new trajectory as they swerved away from Ogerpon and began to fly towards Tristen who would simply absorb them thanks to his Lightning Rod ability. As its attack turned the Type: Null would turn its attention to where the attack went and in that moment it witnessed a certain Bewear rushing in to attack it. The Synthetic Pokemon would tank the attack, sliding back just a ways as it took the Brutal Swing but immediately retaliated with a gust of wind filled with blades of air as it executed a powerful Air Slash against Fluffy. While the Brutal Swing didn’t harm it tremendously it did distract it long enough for Tristen to take his shot at WHITE.

WHITE, ever emotionless appearing, as a sitting Psyduck as Tristen unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt against WHITE, empowered by the electrified Swift he had absorbed from Type: Null. Without so much as trying to avoid the attack or defend the attack slammed into WHITE with all its might with a intensely bright flash of flash followed up by a thunderous boom which created a shockwave which swept the entire area. After the blinding effects of the flash went away WHITE could be seen on the ground, slouched over against a tree, his head hanging. Did Tristen do it? Did he defeat WHITE?

Type: Null would look back after the attack and see its trainer lying helpless, the Pokemon disengaging with the battle and rushing over towards his side. As Sub watched the Pokemon retreat like it would do what it did last time, heal its trainer. Like when they blew WHITE up, it looked like they dealt him a powerful blow but Type: Null retreated to his side and when they both returned there was a glow of energy shared between them and WHITE looked completely fine despite taking an explosive van to the face. Realizing this he shouted; “It’s going to heal WHITE!”

Agent WHITE did not stir after Tristen snagged his faithful Type: Null, be it because he was knocked out from that devastating Thunderbolt or for some other reason, either way the man currently had no idea that its key weapon was just taken from him as the rain drops splattered on him drenching the once menacing man.

Sub was shocked to see Tristen had actually tried to snag the thing, let alone succeeded. While Snag Machines were just machines at the end of the day there was, as far as Sub noticed, a willpower aspect to a successful snag. That's why it was difficult to snag away strong willed Pokemon or Pokemon with close bonds with their trainers. But here was Tristen, snagging away a Pokemon that clearly had a tight bond with its trainer and had power to boot. That boy sure was something special. "Huh? Oh! Yeah!" Sub said as Tristen calling to him snapped him out of his thoughts, wiping the rain water out of his eyes.





It was in that moment when Aile's Steelix began to move, Sub almost falling off as it suddenly moved, Sub looking towards Cera as Aile called out to her, Kuat not moving at full speed yet to allow Cera to catch up. Absinithe too. "Abby! Get on this snake right-"

"Now?" A voice called out in front of them as Kuat slammed into a Reflect wall, said wall becoming visible upon contact. Appearing behind the wall after dropping her camouflage was Essentia and her male Meowstic who had put the obsticle in Kuat's path, Essentia putting her hand on her hip and scoffing. "Don't worry about getting on the snake, sweetie, because it nor are any of the rest of you going anywhere."

It was then the sound of helicopters could be heard over the rain, their spotlights shining through the rain as they rapidly approached, the blaring police vehicles behind them as they all began to arrive on the scene behind them. "Sorry, Dark One, but you lose this time." Essentia mocked Sub as the SWIPE force began to rapidly accumulate behind them.

Sub would sneer at Essentia and then look at the increasing SWIPE vehicles and the couple of helicopters, recognizing how hopeless this looked. Sure, Aile's Mega Steelix could smash through that Reflect and keep going, a very minor obstacle in the grand scheme of things but they would just keep pursuing them. Also it was impossible to simply teleport away. While he too solace in knowing that with these guys hear focused on them it gave the others time to get far away he still had to figure out a way to save their own hides.

Looking to Cera he thought to the one Pokemon he managed to keep on his pursue, tucked away out of sight or touch. He expected it would come in handy at some point but he never thought he'd have to use it so soon. But first he had to do one other thing, he was just glad he conned Looker into letting him take this. "Cera!" Sub shouted at the Mew as he took a Master Ball out of his pocket and pointed it at her. "Return!" A beam of red light would fire off from the ball, hit Cera, and pull her into the device, a device she had been in only once before.

As Sub recalled the Mew it certainly got the attention of SWIPE as they all became to release their Pokemon, ready for a fight as they were certain Sub was about to attempt some trick. Even Essentia was getting ready for something as she recalled her Pokemon and leaped back, ready to scrap. And they were correct to think that as his shadow rose up from behind him at that same moment and took the form of his Spiritomb, Griswold. Sub would raise his free hand up as he stashed Cera's ball away, Griswold spitting out another Master Ball into his hand. He kept this in on the one place Looker couldn't find it, the man only partially fibbing about having a single Pokemon. Then again, these days he saw Griswold less as a Pokemon and more of an extension of himself.

"You guys got spirit, I'll give you that. Let's fix that." Sub said as he tossed the Master Ball into the air, device bursting open and releasing from inside a mass of black and red flames which would take shape as the creature released spread its wings in the twilight sky and let out an angry shriek.

"Moltreees!" Cried the legendary Galarian Moltres, its black flame-like aura spread out from its body and across the sky around them, its physical body blocking out the remaining sun for those on the ground as everything went dark for them. It was in this moment where it became apparent why he recalled Cera particularly as the Malevolent Pokemon's oppressive energy bore down on everyone here, a soul draining dark force which threaten to sap the energy away from anyone or anything in its presence. Only the strongest of wills could withstand the malevolent force of Galarian Moltres and from the looks of it almost no one in SWIPE met that standard with even Essentia falling to her knees.

One by one Sub watched as SWIPE agents passed out, their Pokemon as well as they hit the ground. Helicopters in the sky would begin to fail with most of their pilots hanging on long enough to land them roughly, only one falling into some trees but it looked like they would be okay.

"I'm sorry about this guys, I know you all feel like crap but we need to go! Kuat, tap into that Mega Evolution energy and get us out of here, please!" Sub implored with the Mega Steelix, knowing if anyone here was the least affected it would be it, its Mega Evolve state should have allowed it enough energy to resist Moltres' oppression.

Amber saw Kuat run into a barrier, courtesy of Essentia's Meowstic. The blue fur of the Psychic-type marked it as a male, if Amber remembered correctly. Her own invisibility prevented anyone from seeing her, but when Sub returned Cera, she suddenly had a bad feeling. What was he doing? She watched as he took another Master Ball from his Spiritomb. Where had the Dark/Ghost-type come from? What was in that second Master Ball? She got her answer in the form of the most malevolent presence she'd ever felt since becoming a hybrid. Even WHITE didn't have the same presence this thing did. Immediately after it materialized, she felt her energy being drained at an alarming rate, her Ghost typing working against her. Oh, that wasn't a good thing. If she didn't move fast, she would wind up passing out and getting caught by SWIPE again. She wasn't about to let that happen, so she gritted her teeth as she made her way toward Kuat, her invisibility failing as she managed to climb up onto the Mega Steelix before her strength failed her. "Let's... go!" she ground out, trying not to pass out right then and there.

The gambler pauses in his active pursuit down the other tunnel as Reno hails him, but reluctantly. His red eyes stare out into the darkness of the cavern, the only light illuminating the area he found himself in at the moment. It felt like he was standing on the edge of an abyss, endless and dark like a black hole swallowing all the light as it tried to escape. Even still, he could feel it in his essence, there was a magnetic pull as a force somewhere behind his nostril and where his navel used to be luring him down this tunnel further. Unconsciously, he takes a half step forward, and then pulls himself back, shaking his crest back and forth. Reno's prompting and his apprentice's peril grounds him back in reality and he spins on his heel, throwing one last questioning glance over his shoulder down the road in Rusturf not traveled.

He shows back up as they're preparing to excavate the semi-collapsed bit, cracking his fingers and preparing to wind up and drill a hole straight through the wall until... he hears Leslie prompt Crystal. "Well," He comments out loud, thoughtfully. "That would make a good deal more sense for us not to get buried, wouldn't it?"



Speaking of being burnt out, Kess was running herself half-ragged fighting three legendary hybrids at once but she's not giving up yet. Gritting her teeth, she spins her sword to give pursuit to the heavily wounded Blizzard and Sol when all of a suden Freth kicks it into overdrive, slamming a massive Psychic blast powered by Competitive. "Kah...!" She coughs, flecks of blood drifting from her mouth as she suddenly finds herself in the middle of a effective crater, Freth drilling her straight into the earth with all of the force her mind can muster. The Zapdos hybrid was shocked by the force of the move, a few leagues beyond what Freth had showcased so far. She can feel her defenses deteriorating, eroding from the impact of the iconic namesake Psychic-type move. "Damn...." she groans, her beak barely moving as she tries to struggle through the full impact of the beam, barely upright. "I can't believe... it's come to this..." She re-holsters the hilt of Saetta in her uniform, the handle sliding into place cleanly as she stumbles forward, the Galarian Articuno closing the distance to unleash another Psychic, spurred on by the Special Defense drop this was set to put the mercenary out of commission.

Psychic is often described as an attack as 'the target is hit with a strong telekinetic force to inflict damage.' Telekinesis is defined as 'the psychic ability allowing an individual to influence a physical system without physical interaction.' However, in interacting with a physical system there's always an equal but opposite reaction. Even though someone may interact with a physical system without engaging in it physically, you still become a part of the system by pressing on it, adding force and manipulating matter. And, when you push someone to the edge. Something surprising can happen.

A calm falls across Kess' face as Freth approaches, and then all at once her sword is in her hand as she blurs through the Galarian Articuno hybrid, every muscle in her body rippling to its utmost. The electric blade flashes through the air as their paths cross, and there's a deep slash of crimson across Freth's body from collarbone to hip as in one move she unsheaths the blade, crosses her with a single cut and then returns the weapon to its holster. Laser Focus. Newton's third law in action. Pushed to the brink, the Zapdos hybrid tumbles face down as most every muscle in her body cramps all at once, filled with lactic acid and dumping herself into a hell of her own making. The exhaustion from the battle alone was going to take a toll, to say nothing of this singular pinpoint focused action, every instinct and every bit of training honed to one singular purpose. To cut.

As for Freth, she's not dead. But she should be very grateful that Kess had a type as the wound across her body blooms crimson. It may have been an overreaction, given that she was an officer of the law now, but it was an equal yet opposite one.



When the Moltres emerged onto the field of battle, Ogerpon felt it again. That oppressive haze, the stench of death in her nostrils. It was like she was back at the mouth of the cave, seeing THEM. The ones they called loyal and their master. Standing together, gloating. She saw them laughing, cheering, exalting in his death. They had taken everything from her. And so she would take it all back, and in doing so lose it all.

Every emotion, every bad and violent feeling welled back up inside of her as she tried to struggle to her feet. The Masked Pokemon was barely able to process everything that was coursing through her mind and body, like an out of control panic attack brought on by the Galarian Moltres' pure unfettered Dark-type energy. Swapping from mask to mask to mask didn't help, none of them providing any solace or comfort from the onslaught of emotions as she staggered upright, settling on the Teal Mask for nothing more than familiar comfort... it was his favorite mask, after all.

All of a sudden with the commotion and battle ongoing, she watched Freth get cut down in mid-flight, powerless to stop it, but she could smell the pain from here. It was happening again. Another person lost. And there was nothing she could do.... nothing it could do. Nothing the Oni could to do stop it again. She had become a monster, and for what? It was still powerless to save everyone that it needed to. "Grahhh...." She growls, her teeth grinding behind her mask, before she springs into action, leaping out from the rocky outcropping she had taken shelter from the Swift behind. Running headlong past the collapsing SWIPE grunts and even the collapsed Kess, she slides to a stop beneath the falling hybrid, vines extending from behind her into a woven net to catch Freth before she hits the ground, trying to cushion the impact as much as she can. "Pyon, po pon!" She pleads with the other Snagems, casting a wild glance through her Teal Mask as she does. Please, help me.

The Galarian Moltres' flames were peeling back layers of Ogerpon's mental defenses, exposing her weakest and most intimate memories and emotions, and despite not knowing Freth she knew that her trainer cared for this team. She knew that she couldn't let her die if she could help it, dragging and pulling Freth along towards the Steelix with the hope of all of them being able to escape.

Aile would stare and watch WHITE finally get beaten down by Tristen with some help from Abby’s Bewear, only for Type: Null to try to rush over to help its trainer. “Dammit all…” Then once more, Tristen came to the rescue, blocking Type: Null’s advance and actually snagging it. “I… Okay. Let’s go, indeed, Kuat-” Aile would keep a grip with her left hand as well as she could, slipping a bit otherwise as the Mega Steelix slammed into the Reflect. “Gah! The hell? Oh, you salope,” she spat, seeing Essentia appear out of nowhere. Her attention would pull from her once the rest of SWIPE arrived, with the woman snarling. “Dammit…”

The woman would then raise an eyebrow as their leader recalled Cera, something that was never done. He had to have had an idea, prompted by the sudden appearance of Sub’s Spiritomb, causing the woman to jump back slightly as memories of her final moments in HQ before getting dropped off in Orre came back, though she’d regain her composure quickly. Then the Master Ball swap was made as Sub sent out a new acquisition. “What the?...” Aile could feel her vitality start to drain, looking down to Poggle, as the Nincada had stayed latched to her left arm the entire time. Whatever the black and pink bird was doing, passively at that, it wasn’t great for them. Nor, however, was it good for any of the SWIPE members that were here, even Essentia. “Pogs. Baton Pass. Get out of here.” With a nod and a weak wave, the Nincada would recall himself, the energy bouncing to a worn Great Ball before Kayvaan would be forced out. He looked around at the situation, including up and the strange black flaming bird before turning his attention to his trainer.

“Kayvaan, Brick Break the Reflect screen, then return as well. Only stay out here as long as you need.” As the shiny Greninja bounced forward to shatter the Reflect ahead of them, Aile would then look down at Kuat, who was still indeed seeming to function decently for the moment. His attention would be at Sub for the moment, as the last one who addressed him, though with Aile falling forward onto her hands from the drain, his attention would be brought back to her. “Kuat, Sub’s right. Get us out. Continue to Automize. Go as fact as you can. Even if I somehow pass out, keep going, listen to Sub. You are our ticket to safety, just keep going!”

With a small nod, the Mega Steelix would look around, noting some of the others still left on the ground. “Steel?”

Aile would see who he was talking about. Blizz, Sol, a rather injured Freth, Ogerpon, and Monique further back, with the fox hybrid nearly passed out. “Arceus, those five are ours as well. Head back for Monique first, and then we’ll get all the others on our way back.”

Nodding, Kuat would change direction, heading back to allow Aile to try and pull Monique up onto the snake. Hopefully she’d manage to Snag the Tauros before passing out, because room was starting to become a precious commodity where everyone was, something Kuat himself was notably aware of. Next up, on the way back, Kuat would aim for Freth and Ogerpon, being as gentle as he could when scooping the pair up into his mouth. He’d now keep it somewhat open now, to allow them to still get fresh air inside the giant jaw of the steel snake. Finally, as Kuat went past Blizz and Sol, she’d help them on if they wanted or needed any help getting onto the giant metal serpent. With all of his new passengers on, the Mega Iron Snake would begin rotating the non spiked segments and shedding more excess steel, adding it to the iron shards around him as he charged forward once more.

Kayvaan would also return to Kuat once he shattered the Reflect in front of them, poking his Great Ball and returning to the safety of it. He might have been a dark type as well, but he could still feel whatever this aura was eating at him as well. Might as well listen to his trainer. And Aile? She was doing her best to keep an eye on how Kuat was doing. He was certainly tenacious, but Mega Evolution was certainly straining on a Pokémon, and she had a feeling this was going to push any sort of limits they had gone to prior.

—-

Crystal would sigh as Darts left, not knowing what she expected him to say, but she would have thought he’d say something. And that rankled her. Again. Something that she would admit was small, and honestly, she would try to brush this one aside. He didn’t dodge anything by making her look like a buffoon. He just… didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure if that was better or worse, but it was different. Although she would function just fine on her leg without any extra healing, why waste Ulla’s energy further by healing her? She just needed to keep her leg from feeling like it would buckle and bend in an unintended direction at the point of impact, that’s all. Once Darts walked off, she would turn to Ulla and shake her head. “I’ll be fine, Ulla. Don’t waste any more energy on me, please. We still have a ways to go.”

The hybrid would shift slightly as Reno took command of the group here, once more feeling like she was dead weight. Maybe not literally this time, but as it stood currently, she was just an intergalactic Espeon hybrid with the steel type added on, with whatever WHITE did. Still, she didn’t have much of a use at the moment. So, she would just patiently wait while Aria and Deo did their path hunting. As she waited for the others to do their survey, though, an ear would twitch as she felt something… change, or maybe more accurately, release within her. “Huh?” Her head would turn to the direction of the former entrance. She wasn’t quite ready to see what it could have been, but… Did something happen? Did the others manage to bring down WHITE?

The interdimensional catwoman would just blindly follow the others, lost in her thoughts now, tempted to see whether or not she could actually access that side of her again, but the warning from Sub when they first fled kept ringing in her head. Don’t try any interdimensional shenanigans. So, she still didn’t want to attempt to even start Sunsteel Strike, despite her not needing to leave reality to use it. Somewhere in her, there was a bit of a fear that even using it could cause yet another wormhole to appear, and she didn’t want to be the cause of someone else taking another unintended vacation through Ultra Space. But, she couldn’t deny that it was tempting to try-





Her ears would flick towards the group first, her head turning next as Crystal was drawn back into reality when she was mentioned by name. “Hm?” Quickly realizing the situation, and that she now had eyes on her again. Also that Darts had returned, but she wasn’t going to question things. Now she felt awkward, though, and somewhat nervous. She could, in theory, create the walls, or some sort of scaffolding… And that also tapped into that side of her as well, how she did it at least. She could test it that way. She didn't think that this had any sort of risk of opening any wormholes… Though, it would give off a unique energy signature, but it’s not like SWIPE didn’t know where half of the team generally was anyways. “...Let’s see if this isn’t something in my imagination that I’m feeling now,” she admitted quietly, nervous that she was just starting to go insane in some fashion. “Get ready to smash down our new door if this works correctly.”

Placing her hand in front of the wall, with just a bit of space between the two. She closed her eyes once more, taking deep breaths as she went to pull on both the energy she used for Reflect and Light Screen, as well as went to reach for her cosmic steel energy. And... she felt it. Warm, with the occasional fiery flare up, but it wasn’t blocked off this time. There was some amount of relief as she pulled on it just a little, weaving that energy into the Reflect and Light Screen how she was familiar with. Though, this time, she was now needing to figure out how she wanted to have it set up this time. What they needed was something to keep the rocks from falling on their heads long enough to get out. So, a web or netting of sorts… That should be doable.

The others would see Crystal tense up for a moment as she closed her eyes, though her shoulders would drop quickly with a small sigh. Then, from her hand, a line of light would emerge, branching out at various points to form a sort of tight scaffolding, going out just a bit further than where the Snagems were gathered, taking in a just in case scenario and just making sure that no one would have to worry about a cave in on them. Opening her eyes to see her handiwork, the hybrid couldn’t help but give a small smile for a moment. “Well. I guess WHITE’s currently nonfunctional. Your move, Darts. Unless you want me to also smash it open?”

Tristen was about to bolt from the area on the back of his Zebstrika, expecting Aile and her Mega Steelix transport to be right behind him, but then the bunch was instantly stopped by yet another member of SWIPE. Tristen was trying to figure a way out of this one. He took the risk to backtrack just to make sure the ones lagging behind managed to make it back to the tunnel, but now he was caught just as much as the rest of them. With reinforcements starting to surround them, it started to look dire. He doubted a Flash attack was going to work in this particular case. Then Sub spoke up. And that was when all hell would break loose. Tristen’s eyes went wide, seeing the black and crimson red flamed Pokémon. The flames would come down and before he knew it, Zebstrika whined out and started to collapse, Tristen falling off his impromptu steed. Even the flames affected Tristen rather negatively; feeling like it was a bit hard to breathe as the malevolent flames started to wreck havoc on the area. He looked up and started to see that even SWIPE had to make emergency landings and repositions just to recover from such a devastating attack. Sub was quickly trying to rally people to get the heck out of here now SWIPE was now distracted by the likes of the Moltres. He would recall his Zebstrika back to his Pokeball then fought through the dark fire and flames and scrambled on the gigantic iron snake, just in time for it to try to carry everyone off.



Meanwhile, Freth had the upper hand, needing to keep this pressure on. At least…that’s what she thought. It only took an instant. Kess quickly darted by, and Freth, in spite of her heightened telekinetic senses and power, couldn’t keep up with what Kess did. Before she knew it, Kess was behind her, a look in confusion prominent on Freth’s face. But then she felt something, a sensation. Something out of place. She looked down at her torso, the crimson seeping into her outfit. She reached up to touch it for a second, giving it a feel, then looked at her hand. That moment of comprehension. She knew going into this, even along side her significant other, their chances weren’t that great. They needed to work together, give the A-game and then some. And they did.

“Freth?” Eris spoke up. But things started going dark. “FRETH!” Freth’s eyes, glowing with power dimmed. Her feathers started to dim back to normal, her hair no longer fanned out from the influence of her sudden overlocked psychic power. The psychic power that kept her hovering ceased, and once she touched the earth, she fell forward onto the ground. She wasn’t conscious for any thud, never mind Ogerpon trying to help her as soon as it was able.

“FRETH!” I roared out. I fought my way up, now severely pissed off. But I wasn’t in too much of a condition to do much fighting anymore. As I started to try to scramble to go check on Freth, I then realized Sol was still having difficulty getting up still. I quickly looked back towards Freth, then Sol, then Kess who I saw was having difficulty continuing the fight as well, putting everything she had to finish Freth off in that moment. I then perked up, senses tripping then looked down the ways, seeing Aile show up on the back of what was effectively an armored transport. I quickly hobbled over, pulling Sol up. “Get up, you! I’m not leaving anyone here! I didn’t get my hide kicked across the region just for anyone to lose it here!” I said. As I helped Sol up and pulled him up to the Steelix for others to set him on there, as fast as I could manage rushed back over to Ogerpon. “Here you go. Here…” I said, picking Freth up off the ground. I got a good look at where Kess got her, eyes going wide. That was a crucial strike…she needed help and in the worst ways now. “Come on!” I said, dragging Freth off back to the Steelix. “Ogerpon, get on!” I said, trying to help the Oni on. Finally, I would get Freth on the Steelix and then I would warily climb up right after. “Go, go, go!” I shouted to Aile. We had long overstayed our welcome here.

"What the- Amber? Where did you come from?" Sub asked the Froslass hybrid as, to his eyes, she suddenly appeared on the back of Kuat with the rest of him. He didn't pay that question much further time beyond verbalizing it, now that it looked like their crew was loaded onto this iron snake. Sure a few Snagems were in its mouth rather than on its back like a civilized person but now wasn't the time for decorum. With the Reflect also shattered their way forward was open and Moltres was provided them the distraction they needed. With Kuat beginning to move, starting to plow through the forest to the north of Route 116, Sub looked back as he went to recall his Galarian Moltres and noticed something familiar on the ground.

"Griswold, go get that ball." Sub said as he pointed to the Beast Ball on the ground where Cera once was. The Spiritomb would crackle as he lunged at the ground, splattering against it and becoming a shadow which would slip across the earth until it reach underneath the ball, said device sinking into its shadowy form. With the ball acquired Griswold would Shadow Sneak back to Sub and re-materialize behind him, dropping this ball in his hands as well. Pocketing Buzzwole's ball alongside Cera's he finally recalled his Moltres just as they disappeared into the forest. While doing so meant the stream of oppressive flames would end he imagined SWIPE wouldn't recover so quick that they could pursue, at least not for awhile.

After a couple minutes of plowing through the forest, the Mega Steelix carving a path through the forest thanks to its mass, Sub realized they couldn't keep riding the beast. Not only would Kuat's Mega Evolution fail before long, his Galarian Moltres helping sap its strength, but the iron snake was just creating a path for SWIPE to follow once they regrouped and began their pursuit of them again. However they had injured Snagems now and needed something big enough to carry them, what else could? They had escaped SWIPE but they were still far away from safety. "Aile, they can follow the destruction Kuat is leaving in its wake." Sub started as he looked to the woman. "I really hate to push your Steelix like this but...how fast can Kuat go? We need to get as close to Mauville City as possible, as fast as possible. SWIPE will inevitably catch up to us but if we can get to Mauville I think we can lose them before making off for Trainer Hill." He explained to the woman. "Turn Kuat to the east. Hopefully we'll run into the others as well."

Taking out Cera's Master Ball he tapped the button on the front to open the device, releasing the Mew from within its confines and immediately apologized to the Pokemon as she appeared. "Sorry about that, Cera. I know you didn't see it but I released something called a Galarian Moltres, a Dark type version of Moltres. Its flaming aura burns away at the spirit of those simply in its presence and considering your nature I didn't want to put you in danger. Forgive, I know you're not a fall of Pokeballs."

Looking towards the Ogre of Oni Mountain Sub got an idea for how they could maybe slow down SWIPE if they pursued them in this direction, at least anyone on the ground. "Ogerpon, think you could leave a few obstacles behind us?" He asked the Pokemon as he pointed at the clear path the Mega Steelix was leaving as it knocked down and pushed trees out of the way. "Maybe pull some trees down yourself or something?" Sure, SWIPE could send more helicopters or flying Pokemon at them, follow the path of destruction on the ground, but now they knew Sub had a flying legend of his own that can take them out of the sky so they'd likely send more ground forces than airborne. "They don't know where we're going but they'll figure it out soon enough, we just need to slow them down." He said to Ogerpon before addressing the others. "If anyone else has an idea to disrupt our trail be my guest."

"Amber, you doing okay back there?" Sub asked as he looked back at the Froslass hybrid, wondering if she had caught her breath yet. "If and when we get to Mauville City I got a job for you and Monique, right now I think she's still passed out in Kuat's mouth though." Sub said as he glanced towards the front of the Steelix for a bit. "There is a girl named Laverne at our embassy in the city, at least there should be, provided they didn't shut that down yet. I'll tell you where to go when we get there but I need you to get to her as quickly and undetected as possible, that's why I'm counting on our stealthier members. I have an important message for her."

With that said he turned his attention back to the front of the snake, watching as they turned east and continued to plow through the woods. They were on borrowed time, he just hoped they could pull this off. Looking up he noted the beginning of stars in the sky, night would be upon them before long. Looking back again he met eyes with Tristen and smiled. "You did real good out there, kid. Took guts to snag WHITE's little freak show." He said with a chuckle as he turned away. "I just wouldn't release that thing any time soon, we don't know if he can somehow track its location or not. I'm unsure what their relation is currently."