How could Barnaby pass up another outing with Martín del Mar? After the events at Fleur Tea Atelier, where yet another UNOWN had shown itself accompanied by shady characters, it came as no surprise that the ROCKET admin continued in his diligent hunt to complete the report.

And so they found themselves atop an ominous mountain, infamous for it's spiritual presence.

"A little." Barnaby admitted as Mars brought up the topic of ghosts, shrugging lightly. "Aren't we all, though?"

The idea of an afterlife was a nebulous, worrying thing, made ever more complicated by the presence of Ghost-type Pokémon. Were they true ghosts? If so, why didn't human spirits haunt places like Mt. Pyre as well?

Perhaps they did... they could simply be more reclusive than their Pokémon counterparts, Barnaby mused to himself.

"Admittedly, I don't really have much experience with ghosts. I have my Froslass, and..." A Poké Ball was recovered from his pocket and tossed in front of them. "This guy."

A spectral TYPHLOSION appeared in a burst of light, it's eerie violet-flamed collar casting a haunting glow around it. "My Quilava evolved into this in one of the recent distortions. Typhlosion, but not."

Barnaby glanced skyward, observing Mars' own odd Pokemon. "My Rufflet did the same. You saw Étienne at the atelier already. I have others as well."

Martín del Mar
[psychic/ghost]

☉

When had holding Martín del Mar's hand become so easy? It almost felt natural, at this point, that their fingers be intertwined. So, Barnaby gladly took the offered hand, enjoying the warmth the small touch afforded him.

"How kind of you, Martín." He replied in a similar tone, rolling his eyes with a smirk on his lips.

"Mmm... my Stantler and Decidueye changed as well. Who knows how many more type of Pokémon are affected by the distortions?" Barnaby figured there had to be research going in relation to the phenomena. Surely it was only a matter of time before the public was given more information. Meanwhile...

"... I do, actually. For work." He paused before adding, "My journalist work. I was accidentally caught in the first distortion and they've asked me to cover them ever since. I've gotten some great footage so far, actually."

These had been dangerous endeavors, however. And yet he found himself drawn to the chaotic energy more and more. The mystery intrigued him.

"What about you?" He asked, squeezing Mars' hand.

SKIPPING
Martín del Mar
[psychic/ghost]

☉

"The same Pokémon in the Tree of Life and in one of these distortions?" He left the rhetorical question hanging for a moment, pondering the significance and probable correlation between the two locations.

"Do you go alone or with a cameraman?"

He thought of Tomás, so happy-go-lucky with the kind of infectious personality that anyone could fall for; a bright light in the darkness. Then, another thought, of the cameraman felled by a rampaging Pokémon - his loved ones aching the loss, his wife screaming in disbelief, his children crying out for their father.

"Alone." Barnaby replied, looking out toward the fading sunset. "It's easier that way. I just film it vlog-style, with a camera strapped to my chest." Not a cinematic masterpiece by any means, but good enough for an eager public wishing to dispel some of the terrifying mystery behind the distortions.

He watched as the sun began slipping below the horizon; already faint stars were appearing in the sky. Before it became too dark, Barnaby noticed a silhouette descending from above and moving closer to where they stood. When it came within range he nodded for Fantôme to attack. "Infernal Parade."

The TYPHLOSION went off to do as it was told, leaving Barnaby to turn back to Martín del Mar and his BRAVIARY. It took a particularly aggressive approach in it's assault - overkill, honestly. "Quite ferocious, your Boreas. A wild beauty." He appreciated the bird's sleek black feathering, his crown of vibrant blue energy.

"... What reason do you have to go into the distortions?" It came out almost like an accusation. Barnaby's voice was pleasant as always, of course, but there was the thinnest undertone of worry there. As Mars had said, these were dangerous places.

catching SIGILYPH
Martín del Mar
[psychic/ghost]

☉

Despite the gravity of their situation - with both of them risking life and limb venturing into the distortions - Barnaby couldn't help but smile back at Mars' question.

"Yes, absolutely. You'd be the biggest hypocrite, in fact." It came out playful, but of course there was a sliver of truth there. Their lives were inherently dangerous, anyway, but Mars' especially seemed to attract perilous situations. Unfortunately, there was no way to avoid the inevitable.

"Just… Be careful, alright?”

"Always. I have too much to live for to be careless." Another squeeze of the admin's hand, hoping he'd catch on. You're stuck with me. "That goes both ways, though, hm?"

Their conversation naturally pauses as more Pokémon wander into their vicinity. As Boreas began his assault on a MISMAGIUS, Barnaby noticed a JELLICENT floating idly along the path ahead. His eyebrows scrunching in confusion, he looked around for signs of water - shouldn't this overgrown jellyfish be swimming in a pond or something? Whatever the case, Fantôme wouldn't be a good match against this particular Pokémon. So, Barnaby released another of his that had been influenced by the distortion's energy.

Guerrier appeared and immediately rushed forward toward his target, auburn leaves bristling as he prepared to attack with Razor Leaf. The fight was brief, with the Hisuian DECIDUEYE having received minor damage from the wild Pokémon's Water Pulse. It was felled soon after, though.

Once the JELLICENT was caught, Barnaby again returned his full attention to Martín del Mar. He listened, gravely quiet, as the other man spoke of the Unown Report and training his growing hoard of unassumingly powerful Pokémon.

"How goes your training? Have you been able to open another portal?"

He'd let Mars answer before moving onto another question that had been on his mind. "Why do you think the distortions are happening now? What's causing them?"

catching JELLICENT
Martín del Mar
[psychic/ghost]

☉

“Martín! Ultra Space?” A statement spoken in disbelief and followed by an exasperated sigh. Barnaby was almost glad to hear it was an unsuccessful endeavor because what would Mars have done if he had opened a portal? Just stoll on into Ultra Space? A dimension known to house lethal giants that had already attacked Hoenn on at least one occasion? Barnaby nearly balked at the thought.

Their conversation shifted to talk of the space-time distortions, but the topic was short-lived as something caught Boreas’ eye. The huge raptor immediately went on the offensive… unfortunately with little regard for the humans in the vicinity. Before the present danger could truly sink in, Barnaby felt Mars’ arm pull around his waist - then, nothing.

The only thing that registered was a momentary feeling of weightlessness, similar to when he Teleported with his RALTS, before their feet found purchase on land once again. God, would Barnaby ever get used to such a thing? Or the fact that Martín del Mar was the one teleporting around using this superhuman power? He felt himself lean into the admin without meaning to, unaccustomed to the sudden sensation.

The pair had traveled a considerable distance away from the ensuing battle between the BRAVIARY and… wait, could it be… ?

An UNOWN. And not one of Mars’ considerable horde. Barnaby watched the impressive display as the two Psychic-types faced off, almost missing the GOLETT that had snuck up behind Fantôme. Luckily, Guerrier had his back and attacked the wild Pokemon with a volley of Razor Leafs. It was felled quickly and soon secured within a Poke Ball.

“Merde... another one for your collection, then.” He said, still pressed against Mars’ side.

catching GOLETT
Martín del Mar
[psychic/ghost]

☉