[attr="class","alex"]"oh?" he smiles.

"judging by your pokemon — i'm sure you'll do great." alex adds, silently regarding the whimsicott's quiet bursts of energy that sent the pursuing wild into a state of unwanted slumber. "that absol," a pause, "was she your starter?" some part of him doubted the query as soon as it withdrew into the open but the curiosity persisted an alternative.

samuel carter passing!

[attr="class","alex"]alex can't help but imagine this scenario in perfect comparsion to pokemon unite. it was a game he hadn't bothered too much with but the amount of media gave enough of an idea as to what it was like. toxic could've been one of them in regards to the competition.

instead of making a remark, he tosses a ball sky—high. 

VlhyHqbh

[attr="class","alex"]"o—oh sure."

alex tilted his head in appreciation. 

as the group neared the ending, one sprawl of smooth stone resided a platform that seemed to be some grander form of a grave. however — upon closer inspection the pillar settled centre made it seem like a shrine. 

empty of what should've sat within.

"forced to do this, bounded by chain. i almost destroyed the world, i almost lost my power." alex knelt down to read out the riddle devised upon the surface. "have you seen anything like this before? it looks important." or maybe he'd just felt the otherworldly connection beneath a puzzle of words. the beginning of another adventure.

suddenly a figure poked up behind the shadow of the structure. they were visibly distraught and seemed as though they'd just woken up from a daze. 

alex extended a hand towards them. 

"lets get you home."

samuel carter // mission link.

[attr="class","alex"]"i see," alex tilts his head to the side, only half surprised that someone wielded a different approach, "it's always a good thing to have and in your case, i guess i can see why."

"it's a proof of power but... not everyone really needs it." he pauses, "when i left hoenn, i'd encountered a few trainers that hadn't bothered to lay claim to badges and yet... they were incredible." his expression lights up, "they could've been champions, honestly."

"have you beaten any yet?" curious — alex wondered if sam would've tempered the strength of his older brother. perhaps if he was still a gym leader, the pair would've also had the chance to battle. 

samuel carter  passing!

[attr="class","alex"]a smile briefly roused in response to the reply. 

alex couldn't say he was just as fortunate as the little ghost but he hardly valued such a notion when it came to the rest. every time the rounding structure reflected the motioned flame, he was tricked into thinking they'd reached the end of their journey. 

the vastness wasn't as feeble as he'd original thought.

eventually, however — the familiar radiance of the moon cuts into the opening. lycanroc bounds further ahead, catching up with the infernape and eventually emerging into the opening. when alex lastly reaches the ending of the cavern, he stops to catch his breath.

"t—that was quite the hike."

one prominent bark seeks to grasp their attention. the graves atop the mountain are far more notable within the faint light. in the distance seems to be some formation of a pillar. one where a stone once settled.

samuel carter mission link.

[attr="class","alex"]"oh?" he says, the owlish blink accompanied with a smile, "the meteorite pokémon."

alex would begin moving. somewhat thankful there was now a decent venture settled before them. as much as he could appreciate the unknown ending that derived a pathless approach into the outskirts that surrounded them.

"are you a challenger?" he asked, the slight strain in his step not perceived by the lighthearted nature lingering in his tone. "are you planning to challenge the gyms i mean." he'd elaborate with another quirk.

samuel carter  passing!

[attr="class","alex"]the lycanroc pursues the advancements made by the absol. with certainty the attack hits and she joins the clash with another crunch! this time keeping the near drifting ghost within place. it utters another line of gibberish and her discomforting fangs lessen their hold.

"what is it?" alex asks, managing to approach the gengar despite the sway that accompanied his movement. the wide—eyed once mischief filled eyes seem to now be begging for mercy. "we're not going to kill you. just tell us where you're keeping the poor soul." its gaze lowers towards the soft grassy terrain.

another few incoherent grunts and the translucent being makes a gesture towards the higher point of pyre. "further up?" hesitant — it is quickly pushed aside as he begins up the steps. the beast passing the gengar a glare as they move aside. "is the little one okay?" he'd question. the fatigue conjured by hypnosis visible in the glance made towards sam. "for a moment i thought we were done for."

samuel carter  mission link.

[attr="class","alex"]"it's alright." alex started, "just a scratch." it would seem he had neither a first aid kit or the desire to bother the other any further than ruining a peaceful afternoon.

perhaps the discomfort wasn't fully perceived.

"were you headed somewhere by any chance?" he'd ask after a moment. the dazzle of his blue eyes flickering towards the whimsicott — offering her a small smile of reassurance. the alolan variant of a hovering raichu seemed just as concerned as it hung on his right shoulder. "jasp and i were meant to go to meteor falls but we got distracted on the way there." pale digits gently patted the head which rested close—by. earning immediate delight in the act.

samuel carter
not my dumbass forgetting electricity has no effect aha

[attr="class","alex"]"go figure." he jokes, their encirclement still dancing with mist. "iz." their gazes cross.

the beast daringly dives into the viel.

she finds the flinched! gengar and bares her teeth. one prominent crunch causes the ghost to cry — unpleasantly — in pain. it rattles left then right, her restraint not giving room for recovery. eventually, the lycanroc is sent tumbling towards the group. with it the coverage wears away to reveal the damaged culprit.

however — the battle seems far from over.

the luminous violet aura is seen only momentarily within the large eyes of the gengar. unfortunately for alex who stands somewhat closer — hypnosis reaches him first. stumbling forward the quickly rising lycanroc sends another torrent of stone edge in its direction. "don't!" alex orders, "d—don't damage the graves." pale digits endeavor to keep his head steady but gradually he draws closer to the ground.

samuel carter  mission link.

[attr="class","alex"]sure enough — krokorok emerged from the foliage with an outstretched array of jagged teeth. poised to bite alex, the raichu that settled in—between them sent a powerful thunder punch directly into it's face. the reptile stumbled backwards — the radiance of hostility not faltering but its previous advances deciding to be reasonable.

in the end — it leaves.

relieved albeit for a moment, sudden pain lurches him forward in surprise. one tiny beast below is grinding her still admirable strength into his ankle. enough it has even drawn blood. alex drops down — carefully removing the deino as she endeavors to crunch the closest limb possible. however the effort is met vacant of such.

eventually, the bewildering torrent of constant nipping is subdued by the light of a pokeball. alex sighs — glancing down at his ankle and then the additional company. managing a smile despite the discomfort. "that was a close call." he said, shoving the object into the safety of his jacket. 

samuel carter capturing the deino!