Eva smiles, wiping the sweat from her brow, “You’ve got that right,” she grins, adjusting her AQUA branded bandana to catch more if before it stings her eyes. She sits on the dark rocks beside Zac, a leg hanging over the edge while the other is bent for her to rest an arm on. Emeralds peer over the edge at the two pokemon. It really is wonderful to see them playing together. She laughs, “Yeah, super cute,” she grins, sparing a glance over at Zac’s notebook. Eva’s a scientist, but not the kind that studies things like seismic readings. It’s fascinating, and in preparation she did read some things so she didn’t sound completely ignorant on their mission, “Yeah, some of them are, I guess. A lot of them get used to being alone or befriend the local wildlife,” Tapu Koko, for one, seemed to enjoy its solitude. She had yet to see it interact with any of the other pokemon on the island it is currently on. Apart from fights, of course. It is always itching for a good battle, “They do seem to enjoy it though,” she decides, motioning towards the two Heatran, “I’m sure bein’ on top of an active volcano is rather exciting for them too,” their instincts were probably running wild, absorbing the sulfur and heat greedily.

Zac Ramsay

Eva listens carefully, keeping her eyes on the two Heatran in the crater. They seemed to hit it off immediately, “Hm, so these two must be old flange-mats then?” that detail had escaped her. It is no wonder they got along so well like old friends. Perhaps that’s why these two were so tame to begin with. Heatran were mostly known for being fierce guardians with hot tempers. The Heatran in the League’s custody had done little to combat their authority. Perhaps some of that had to do with the training Sénon Game did with it after the AQUA Initiative meeting.

Before Eva has a chance to speak again, she notices the Heatran pause in a curious way, both looking to each other as if something is about to happen. The doctor leans forward, watching as they shift uncomfortably, “I wonder wha-“ her question is cut off by the low rumbling of the ground beneath them.

That can’t be good.

Zac Ramsay

It’s like nothing she’s ever felt before. The earth shuddering violently, the sudden spike in heat burning her skin, it was mother nature at its finest. And even amongst all the chaos, Eva couldn’t help but wonder when Zac was going to host a volcano biome contest This is giving her several ideas.

Eva could barely keep her balance and a sudden explosion kicked her right off her feet and sent her tumbled down the mountainside alongside Zac Ramsay. The fall leaves her dazed and dizzy. The world around her spins and the rumble of the mountain beneath her sounds like it’s a thousand miles away.

“Zac?” she coughs, blinking to clear her blurred vision. A gruff roar sounds out above them as the Heatran climb over the edge of the Caldera and stomp towards the two trainers. A shower of hot rocks falls across Eva’s back, waking her up really quick, “Shit,” she gasps, jumping to her feet and shaking the stones off of her now charred shirt, “You alright?” she calls out towards the large figure she assumes in Zac. It may not be audible above the rumble of the next quake.

Zac Ramsay

Eva is quick to hot-step her own way down the mountain, following Zac closely as his Dracozolt screeched, blasting its way through rocks, brush, and really whatever stood in their way.

The following explosion shakes the ground, threatening to send her flying off her own feet again. Luckily, she’s quick to catch her balance. It only stalls her progress momentarily. It’s enough to put a bit of space between them. When Zac suddenly cuts left, her gaze follows his path.

Keep going?! Who did Zac think he was talking to? Eva couldn’t just abandon an entire village. The doctor is quick to cut left, leaping her way from rock to rock in quick pursuit. A hand is quick to reach for the pokeballs lining her waist. The first is always Blade.

A light flashes, releasing the Gallde into the chaos. He’s surprised to find himself on the edge of an erupting volcano. Regardless, his training supersedes his surprise and he’s striding alongside Eva effortlessly, Get us over there,” a finger points to the space in front of the crawling magma flow.

Yeah, right in front of it.

Blade grabs Eva’s outstretched hand and TELEPORTS them to the rocky terrain and right into the path of the magma. Eva assumes Zac has some sort of plan – she’ll buy him time.

The heat is even more oppressive here. A sharp inhale burns her throat, “Sanctuary,” she manages to choke out. To make things more dramatic, Blade and Eva move as one, spreading their arms over the head in a wide circle before pressing their palms forcefully forward. A light builds around Blade, pulsing like a heartbeat. With each beat it grows in intensity, spreading further until it consumes them. A shimmering dome arcs from around them, Blade at the epicenter. The protective move spreads wide enough to meet the flowing magma. It impedes the progress, an impenetrable wall. Sizzling rocks clatter off the roof of the SANCTUARY, rolling down the sides like rain drops, “Alright Zac, do what you gotta do,” hopefully he had a plan.

SANCTUARY: a temporary, protective dome rises around all creatures within the vicinity of the user, protecting against all attacks including z-moves. within the dome, ongoing attacks and status conditions are neutralized briefly.

Zac Ramsay

Eva strikes a Z-pose (cause why not) and Blade uses his Z-Move SANCTUARY to hold the magma back while Zac does whatever it is he is planning on doing.

Blade quivers, shaking under the pressure of the focus of the z-move, “C’mon, buddy, you got this! Just a little longer now,” she encourages him to hold the Sanctuary as long as he can. A pair of desperate eyes glance over to Zac, searching for an idea anywhere on that brilliant face of his.

It seems he does have an idea. Eva shakes her head when he asks about the Heatran. She lost them too in the chaos of everything. Her gaze follows the bolt of lightning as it tears through the space above the glowing magma, arching uncharacteristically towards the steel pokemon. They seemed to pop out of nowhere, unimpeded by the searing heat of the magma.

Zac’s idea doesn’t quite click with her until the DRACO METEOR begins to rain down into the field of magma. Just a little longer, Blade. Blade pushes with everything he has, hold the protective barrier strong even as burning rocks and magma crash against the shimmering SANCTUARY. Eva nearly loses her footing as the mountain underneath them shudders again. For a moment, she fears the worst: another eruption. Instead, the magma begins to recede, spiraling down the newly formed crevice and back into the volcano.

“Wow! That was a really good idea, Zac!”

Zac Ramsay