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for whatever reaon fathomable, he finds himself venturing into another rift with boruta maher. it seems he cannot get rid of his brother. but then again, it's not like he's making an effort to. even if he doesn't admit as much, he appreciated having bo on their ultra desert team.[break][break]

"thanks for the invite, mel! and welcome to the minor league, young hideo."[break][break]

he greets Melody Miro and Hideo Kino respectively, then remembers and turns to Eva Morales.[break][break]

"oh, and it's a pleasure to finally meet you, dr. morales!"[break][break]

it's safe to say he's excited to explore the mechanical kingdom.

[attr="class","bottom"]Hideo Kino Melody Miro Eva Morales boruta maher[break]

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despite any discontentment, it was better to have cian in his sight, especially as things in their world kept getting weirder. war loomed like tall clock towers in the distance.[break][break]

though self-conscious before all three of them because of CIAN MAHER , bo still smiled.[break][break]

”yeah, thanks.” for the invite, Melody Miro . and to Hideo Kino , ”congrats on that.” the minor league. ”i’ll have to come take the challenge some time.”[break][break]

Eva Morales was the more familiar of the three. he knew her from the tea atelier. ”good to see you, dr.” he wondered about rayquaza, but imagined she was likely too used to that now, so he’d spare her the usual questions. besides, he had one more pressing.[break][break]

”what do you know about this place?”[break][break]

Back to the Mechanical Kingdom. The sepia world stretches out before them; an artificial world that hum with the groans of rusty mechanical life. Eva’s right hand grips the bag’s strap tight across her chest. Their last visit was quite eventful, she’s happy to be going with people she knows she can trust this time around even though she’s not familiar with all of them. Honestly, she’s still wary of the Rocket turncoat, CIAN MAHER, but she returns his kind greeting with a warm smile, “Nice to finally meet you too.”

Eva was more familiar with Cian’s brother, boruta maher, “Thanks for coming!” she chimes in, giving Melody Miro and Hideo Kino a similar gesture of gratitude. She doesn’t have much to add to Hideo’s explanation, “Yes, but we wary of the mechanical instruments. There were some traps last time too,” steam that burned as hot as fire, “I’ll have Jabber here help us DETECT any,” she releases the Hitmonchan to lead the way for them. The combination of his KEEN EYES and ability to DETECT threats would likely come in handy.

The Hitmonchan pounds it’s crimson fists together before jumping forward to lead a safe path further into the Kingdom – Eva follows, “The Volcanion travel in packs and can be quite vicious so speak up if you see any,” she warns to emphasize Hideo’s point.

---

Melody Miro & CIAN MAHER & boruta maher & Hideo Kino

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cian regards cobalion with a nod and nothing more. his attention is quickly pulled away by Melody Miro's question.[break][break]

"i have no idea but i'm excited to find out."[break][break]

he smiles brightly before asking a question:[break][break]

"anyone else hear music?"[break][break]

he pauses, listening.[break][break]

"is it coming from that?"[break][break]

he points to the BROKEN CLOCK TOWER in the near distance. it seems like the most convenient place to investigate. that's what these expeditions are for, aren't they? investigation. discovery.[break][break]

"want to go check it out?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Hideo Kino Melody Miro Eva Morales boruta maher[break]

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hideo looked his son’s age, which was basically an adult in hoenn years, so nothing to worry about, right? especially if he was a protege of the elite four. he smiled at the relationship between teacher and student. hopefully, one day, Roman Maher would take a break from being such a shithead and let him teach him a thing or two.[break][break]

”noted,” he chuckled. ”alright, then. i’ll check my schedule after we make it outta here.” would bo take Hideo Kino ’s challenge before CIAN MAHER ’s?[break][break]

cobalion was greeted with a respectful nod, similar to his brother’s. ”no offense taken,” he assured Melody Miro .[break][break]

some of these notes had been passed on to the rangers already, but it was good to hear from those with firsthand experience. bo nodded, interested especially in the packs of volcanion Eva Morales had mentioned.[break][break]

the music found its way into his ears next, setting his bones to some rhythm unfamiliar to him. ”i hear it too…” and he was starting to feel a bounce in his step.[break][break]

not quite realizing how he was losing control, he nodded, ”yeah, sounds like that's where it's coming from. what do you guys think?” [break][break]

Eva’s smile brightens at the sight of Coballion, “Hey there buddy!” she smiles warmly, offering the Sword of Justice a gentle pat on the side if permitted. She got to spend quite a bit of time with Virizion, but never too much with Coballion. She’s actually never met the third member of the party, Terrakion.

As they move deeper into the kingdom, Eva nods silently in agreement with CIAN MAHER. Whoever – or whatever- made this place had a certain sick sense of humor. The way the mindless Volcanion seemed trapped in a daze broke the professor’s heart. There had to be a way to free them of this curse.

Eva intended to find out.

Eva stops to silence the shuffling of feet when they mention music. She cocks her head to the side, listening carefully. Beneath the whirl of rusty cogs she can hear a soft melody. Eva’s SYGNA SUIT kept her better protected from the effects of the song. The clocktower was familiar, but she didn’t get to thoroughly explore it last time, “Yes, let’s head there!” she ushers the DETECTING Hitmonchan to lead the way.

Upon closer inspection of the clocktower, it becomes clear that is . . . broken. The large iron hand high above their heads are stuck at no particular time. It almost looks as if they had fallen limp, stuck at the 6:30, as it missing a piece to keep them at the appropriate time, “Unlike everything else mechanical here, this seems . . . broken,” Eva scrutinizes the structure further. There’s no mysterious force keeping it running like the Volacion and . . .

Hitmonchan straightens up, eye peels on the corner of the clocktower as a small figure rounds the side. The mechanical Magearna doesn‘t pay them any mind as it floats by, seemingly undisturbed by their presence.

---

Melody Miro & CIAN MAHER & boruta maher & Hideo Kino

PROMPT: Examine the clocktower and discover it is missing a part

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cian's in the front of the group so he would have missed what was happening if not for the scorbunny on his shoulder. the fire-type tugs at cian's hair, getting him to look back at Melody Miro.[break][break]

"...mel?"[break][break]

he's quick to close the distance, unsure what to do exactly.[break][break]

"hey, mel! snap out of it!"[break][break]

his hands fall from her shoulders as he reaches down to pick up her pokeball. he remembers the herdier and calls it out without any hesitation.[break][break]

"maksim! bark!"[break][break]

suddenly, a squadron of magearna burst free from the clock tower clearly seeking something. what it is exactly, they'll soon find out.

[attr="class","bottom"]Hideo Kino Melody Miro Eva Morales boruta maher[break]

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magearna passed by, catching his attention, and finally he realized he wasn’t in control of his feet. he found himself dancing in circles to the strange song, and noticed melody was dancing too. was the idol also a ballerina?[break][break]

”shit. i can’t stop!”[break][break]

but luckily, the bark from maksim cleared the sound in time for them all to be about their wits in the face of the coming threat. magearna rushed in pursuit of… them? bo was quick to defend from the mechanical pokemon, figuring his heatran was perfect for the job. a golem joined it.[break][break]

”golem, keep us safe. pompeii, magma storm!”[break][break]

while golem’s protect kept them shielded from the flames, fire ripped around their foes in whirlwind of red and orange, leaving them burned and weak.

04 find yourself perpetually dancing before breaking the curse (e.g. dampening sound).[break][break]
🗺️ BORUTA MAHER's prowess in battling/fighting must be pivotal in some way.