"The beast isn't attacking us! Hold your fire!", he tried to warn Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki.

The information relayed by Yuina Higashi proves to be of interest to Thomas. It seemed that the Ursaluna belonged to a member of this Medical Corps that Yuina spoke of. He had questions, but they'd come later.

"Thank you.", he'd tell the Faller.

As he got a closer look at the beast, he'd notice how similar it was to an Ursaluna, yet how different it seemed to be. Most strikingly, the normally yellow circle on its forehead was blood red.

Once the strange Ursaluna was ready to lead them through the waters, Thomas recalled Mordred. The Kalosian would swim after the bear. Thanks to his training in swimming in full combat gear, Thomas was able to keep up with the Ursaluna the best he could.

Finally, the group would arrive in the area the Megalopolans were holed up in. With their disguises shed, there was no mistaking it.

DESIREE BLOOMS, Elise Calcifet, luka chêne, Eris Halla, Isaac Merlo, Aubre McKenna-Settentrione, Kazimir Wynter, all of them were constricted by strange Nihilego. All of them were in desperate trouble.

Thomas vowed to save them from their captors.

As the Ursaluna went to Rest, and the others went on the offensive, Thomas brought out his Iron Valiant. But rather than join in on the assault, Thomas had a different play in mind. Especially with Shred Zeppelin and howard slayte's reckless play with the former's Gholdengo, and the latter's Claydol.

"Watch your fucking fire!", Thomas scolded the two.

"Artanis, Wide Guard! Protect the Ursaluna!", Thomas ordered.

The mechanical hybrid would put its blades together, before taking a defensive stance, in an attempt to protect the bear from any harm that may come to it. Meanwhile, Thomas brandished a bowie knife, and got into a stance, ready to fight off any approaching Megalopolans.

---

tags: Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki Yuina Higashi Shred Zeppelin howard slayte
notes: Thomas calls out Tsubaki
Thomas thanks Yuina for the provided intel
Thomas recalls Ceruledge
Thomas follows the Ursaluna
Thomas sends out Iron Valiant
Iron Valiant used Wide Guard to protect the Ursaluna

A Rage Fist from an Annihilape desperately struck out at the Iron Treads. After his encounter with Xenon Antheil, which ended in the two being separated by Paradox Pokemon manifested from the Interdream Mist. Thomas found himself dealing with a large, and very angry Iron Treads, which Ralph was heading off valiantly, despite his evolution only being recent.

Unfortunately, the encounter would go from bad, to worse, as another Paradox Pokemon began to manifest from the Interdream Mist.

But as Thomas would soon find, much to his relief, he wouldn't be dealing with this alone.

---

tags: Elise Calcifet
notes: Participation +50
Paradox Pokemon Spawned from Interdream Mist +10
Post +10

Something was off about Kyle. Why did he seem to be more concerned with fighting, than the objective? And why the hell was he asking for a fight, in the middle of the mission!?

"Kyle, what the fuck happened to you?", Thomas asked the Champion flat out. His tone was clearly that of a concerned friend.

"Come on, we got to get to the objective, before Rocket does!", Thomas told the Champion, attempting to keep the man's eyes on the proverbial prize.

Still, the feeling that something was desperately wrong ebbed away at the man's mind.

---

tags: kyle lopez
notes: +10 (Post)

After an arduous day of fighting, League forces had finally breached the ruins. Unfortunately, Rocket forces had done the same, pitting both factions in a race against one another. Though it would've been better if the League had been ahead of their enemies, at least they weren't falling behind, clearing the temple at an acceptable pace.

As Thomas moves through the ruins, he notices Kyle behaving in an unsettling manner. The Champion barely acknowledges the former Elite Four, before staring at the etches on the wall. To say the sight was unsettling to the Kalosian was an understatement.

"Lopez, what's going on?", Thomas finally spoke.

---

tags: kyle lopez
notes: +50 (Participation)
+10 (Reference to faction's race obstacles)
+10 (Post)

The Spotlight only aided in Thomas' surprise attack. As the Rocket's Pokemon suddenly started tearing each other apart, Thomas, and his own, joined the fray.

With a baton extended, Thomas met the Rockets head on, striking them down with decisive strikes, while dodging and deflecting their own weapons. The League forces accompanying him joined in, taking advantage of the sudden infighting caused by the use of Spotlight.

Soon, the battle would quickly turn in favor of the League forces.

The only question was who was responsible for the use of Spotlight?

---

tags: Eris Halla
notes: +10 (Post)

Thomas listened to what the sheriff had to say, and realized that he had a point. Though in all honesty, he was worried less about the masks they'd encounter on the battlefield, but about the masks that went unaccounted for.

Most specifically, the mask of the man he had encountered twice. Both as Wraith, during the battle of Littleroot, and as himself in the Ultra Sea. Though he didn't know it, the mask he was thinking about was that of jayden cross.

"Good point.", Thomas replied to the man. Thomas would flash a hip flask to the man, before quickly putting it away. It was clear that he hadn't opened it, yet. No, he was saving that for the aftermath of the battle.

"Here's to hoping I drink this in celebration of a victory, rather than in lamentation of another defeat.", Thomas told Michael with a dry chuckle.

---

tags: Michael Navidson
notes: +10 (Post)

As Thomas sped towards a boat, a Starmie would greet them. Thomas watched as it charged up a Thunder Wave, attempting to stun the Sharpedo. "Left!", Thomas called out, prompting the Sharpedo to Aqua Jet to the left, dodging the Thunder Wave before it came.

While it didn't paralyze the Sharpedo, it did manage to get the Dark-type's attention, thus buying the boat some time.

From below, the Seaking would see this. Breaking formation, the horned goldfish would attempt to jab the Starmie from below with a Megahorn.

---

tags: Naomi Sato
notes: +10 (Post)

The man on the back of the Genesect was a hard thing to miss, especially when one was looking for aerial threats. The Roaring Moon, and its followers, would fly towards the man on the metallic creature. As it closed in, the Roaring Moon would call in a Sunny Day, clearing the skies of clouds, in order to bring unfettered sunlight down upon the battlefield. Protosynthesis activated, causing the primordial Salamence's muscles to swell.

The Emolga, excited at the prospect of some action, flew ahead of the pack, using Agility to boost his already impressive movement speed up to much greater levels.

---

tags: Tempest Quinn
notes: +10 (Post)

As Thomas examines the bodies, he immediately realizes something is amiss. In stark contrast to the grisly remains discovered earlier, the bodies they examine show no signs of physical trauma. The slight blue tint is also a dead giveaway, as Thomas hurriedly backs away.

By then, it's already too late.

Kazimir Wynter , DESIREE BLOOMS , Elise Calcifet , luka chêne , Aubre McKenna-Settentrione , all of them are overwhelmed and dragged away by the bodies. Thomas, like ryker hayes , managed to back away in time, striking at the nearest Megalopolan in the process. More would attempt to converge onto him, only for Thomas' training to kick in, allowing him to repel the aliens with throws and well-placed strikes.

"Mordred! Change target! Attack the bodies!", Thomas yells to his Ceruledge in sheer desperation.

Thomas can only watch in horror as his friends are dragged off, and he's too slow to save them. The only comfort is that Vanilla Kingsley is spared the same grisly fate.

"Fuck!", Thomas shouts, fist clenched.

Thomas was right. The Megalopolans were responsible for this. And they just walked into its trap.

"Vanilla, I'm so glad you're alright.", he told the younger trainer. "If you need a moment to collect yourself, I won't hold it against you.", he continued.

Interestingly, rather than attack the group, the strange Ursaluna instead ran off into the swamp, as if it was more terrified than angry. Aubre McKenna-Settentrione was right about the Ursaluna, for sure.

Thomas would turn to the remaining members of the group. "Anyone who's got access to Heal Pulse, use it on the bear to calm it!", Thomas attempted to rally them, before making his way deeper into the swamp to deal with the Ursaluna.

Thomas, remembering a jar of Honey he had on him, produced it from his bag. He would approach the Ursaluna, cracking it open, and holding it out to the bear, as a peace offering.

"I don't know if you can understand me. But for what little it's worth, I'm sorry we attacked you. Think of this as a small peace offering.", he called out to the Ursaluna.

oDIdaMl3

---

tags: @tags
notes: The lack of trauma, and blue tint, alerts Thomas
Thomas manages to fend off the bodies
Thomas watches in horror as his friends are grabbed, desperately calling to Ceruledge to change targets
Thomas rallies the remaining party with Heal Pulse access to use it on the Ursaluna to calm it
Thomas offers the Ursaluna a jar of honey he had on him, as well as an apology for the attack
1 Salac Used

The findings that Elise and Alba presented came with more disturbing implications. Allegedly human bones with the marrow sucked out of them. Deleted photos, one of which being the corpses of two of their missing persons.

Thomas turned to Tsubaki.

"So far, we have adhesive poison, bones with the marrow sucked out of them, and now a photo of two corpses. Given the fact that we've had increased Megalopolan sightings in this month alone, and the danger they present, I'm just saying we shouldn't eliminate them as potential suspects.", he'd tell the deputy. "I really hope I'm wrong, though."

Thomas continued on, stepping into the swamp. He internally cursed himself for not bringing along a Pokemon to float or surf on.

Thomas joined the others in examining the bodies. The former Elite Four was looking for signs of electrical trauma, specifically from elecroshock batons. Given his experiences with Megalopolans, it was another sign that they were involved.

As the bear charged, Thomas' Ceruledge charged the bear, Bitter Blades flared and ready to act in Thomas' defense.


sMbBTiwx

---

tags: DESIREE BLOOMS Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki Kazimir Wynter Alba Evovae Elise Calcifet
notes: Thomas examines the new evidence
Thomas responds to Tsubaki
Thomas steps into the swamp to examine the bodies
Ceruledge used Bitter Blade