Happiny was taking her scouting job very seriously, waddling ahead with tiny, yet purposeful steps. Skyler had nearly burst out laughing at the expression of sheer determination on the little pink pokemon's face, muffling a few rebellious chuckles against a closed fist. Murzim also floated ahead, providing a safety net just in case Happiny found herself facing a stronger opponent.

It was the sound of rock crashing against rock that alerted her.

Eyes widening in alarm, Captain Dross sprited towards the origin of the sound with wide, frantic steps. When she emerged on the other side of the curved path, a flash of light (cosmic power) nearly blinded her. Cursing profoundly, Skyler hooked an arm around a violently gesticulating Happiny, looking up just in time to see the wild Minior plop down onto the ground. Unconscious.

If Miniors could look smug, Murzim definitely did.

"Good job, Murzim." 

A flick of her wrist was all that was needed to catch the Minior.

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]YOU CAUGHT MINIOR!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD GALARIAN PONYTA APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

Three Minior now floated behind her, casting a prysm of colors over the nearby foliage. Despite Skyler's quickly growing collection, two of those meteorite-shaped pokemon wouldn't be staying with her for long.

It'd been a passing conversation, a brief mention that had quickly been buried under other topics and probably some flirtations, but Skyler could still remember the way Angelo talked fondly of the stars.

How his expression grew distant with aimless homesickness when he thought she wasn't looking, blue eyes endlessly seeking something just over the horizon. Longing and wonder etched into his expression like it belonged there even if only due to habit.

No, these Minior probably wouldn't stay with her for long.

Captain Dross ended up being too distracted by her own wandering thoughts to see a Happiny huff in annoyance when a passing Ponyta refused to serve as the paladin-to-be's noble steed. For such a small creature, her stomping nearly echoed in the space as she made her way back to Skyler.

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD HATENNA APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

The first thing that she noticed was the smell. Aroma Veil, maybe? A warm spring breeze carried it to them despite the sun's steady descent into the horizon, likely lifted by the warmth lingering within pale limestone. Its sunlight-soaked surface briefly keeping the sharp bite of the encroaching night at bay.

The maze twisted upon itself, sharp turns and dead ends planting an annoyed frown on Skyler's face. Even Happiny was losing some of her bravado, mouth opening frequently in wide yawns that she did her best to hide. Captain Dross watched with an edge of amusement to the curl of her lips, only leaning down to catch the Happiny when she actually stumbled.

"You know, even the bravest of knights have to rest." She wasn't sure Happiny had heard the last of her sentence - small snores drifted up from the Happiny's sleeping visage. Ah, well. At least she wouldn't try to attack random pokemon again; for a Happiny, this one was strangely... violent.

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD MINIOR APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

By the time Captain Dross crossed the drawbridge again, it was awash in sunset colors. A snoring Happiny had been called back to her pokeball and two Minior floated lazily behind the captain, their lights hidden by a hard carapace of rock. Maybe, she thought as peeked at them from under dark lashes, they were sleeping too.

Over the distant horizon the sky grew speckled with stars, tiny pinpricks of light that fought against the dying light of day, pushing back until the very last remnants on sunlight flickered weakly and died.

If she'd looked up at that moment, Skyler would've seen one of those tiny stars dislodging itself from its fixed point in the sky. Growing brighter as it streaked through the velvety darkness, leaving a trail of stardust in its wake.

The crash drove Skyler back with a shout of surprise, arm up to protect her eyes from the resulting shower of dirt sprayed into the air. Cautiously, the sailor approached and peered down at the crater, the rapidly cooling stone emerging with a familiar shape that she was quick to capture.

Maybe she'd keep this one.