The first Ultra Deep Sea expedition had gone a bit awry for poor Ettie - even if it was otherwise successful for them, in scouting out the tunnels and even retrieving some supplies. As it turned out, getting poisoned by a Nihilego was an unpleasant experience - one that had temporarily reverted Ettie into that of a wild animal when it happened.

Was that enough to discourage Ettie from diving into this realm a second time? Heck no - if anything, she felt even more determined to accompany Johanna and Nikita, not wanting them to face such a place alone.

This time, the wildchild was a lot more careful - recognizing just how easily it was to get snuck up on, in these dim tunnels. The pack was watching its back - and eachothers' backs, as well - as they tread onwards.

Which, of those who were out of their pokeballs, it would be a slightly different arrangement from before - Anne the Lycanroc, Penny and Pagu the Dewgongs, Cassie and Aurien the Primarinas, and Duke the Jolteon would be following after. In addition to this, Scarlet the Doublade sat sheathed at the small of Ettie's back, and Delle the Marshadow lurked in her shadow.

Peeking around a corner, Ettie's eyes scanned the path ahead - before glancing back to the others. "Is clear," She spoke softly - not wanting to make too much ruckus, especially given how easily sound sometimes traveled through these tunnels. Gesturing the others with her, she'd take careful steps onwards - a hand resting on the pommel of one of Scarlet's blades, in preparation to draw it at a moment's notice.

What would they find out here, this time?

Nikita Sokolov , Johanna Joy

Back at it again.

By now Johanna’s pretense of going here as an expedition was slowly whittling away. The truth slowly became bare in her heart. She was here to catch the various Pokémon of the place.

But to do so they had to find some weak enough to be caught.

Luckily it seemed familiar faces had joined her for this run. She had also dressed more appropriately. Her clothes covered as much as it could, surely protecting her against the poisonous touch of Nihilego. At her hip hung a bag carrying anti-venoms and other such things that might be helpful in case of anyone getting hurt.

She was as ready as could be, and with Nikita’s eagerness to take the leading role, she was not one to deny them. Instead joining Ettie in a more look-out’ish role.

TAG: Ettie Nikita Sokolov
MISSION: Ultra Deep Sea

Nikita's well-wishes had been met with a bright smile - and Ettie was eager to hug the older man, briefly nuzzling her cheek against him. "Sick not-fun." Ettie spoke with a nod, before glancing up at him. "Ettie... Still-sorry, for bite." She had made an attempt after he had given her the antidote shot, before it had had a chance to kick in - but thankfully, it seemed that the detective was okay!

When he took the lead, Ettie was content to fall in alongside Johanna - glancing over to the gym leader. "Johanna-friend wear lots." She observed, noting the difference in clothing from what Johanna usually wore - this covered a lot more skin. Which, it made sense to Ettie - clothes protected you like fur did! But, it was still a curious difference from what the wildchild was used to.

The path soon led to a pulsing pit, however - one that Ettie couldn't see the bottom of. Not that it was an issue - gravity was a bit of a suggestion more than anything here, given the ability that people had here to swim thru the air. But, it seemed darker than the tunnels that they navigated - save for the distant glow of some form of bioluminescent life further down. That, and the aforementioned pulses - like a heartbeat, one that Ettie could feel down to her bones - which were a strange sensation...

"We go?" Ettie asked softly, glancing to Nikita for confirmation.

Nikita Sokolov , Johanna Joy

The sound of a beating heart gave rise to worry. Had she not known better she would think herself going crazy.

But she knew she wasn’t.

And so she focused on the words being shared by her companions. She gave nods at both. First at Ettie’s comment about clothing and second at Nikita's comment about the lack of predators.

Having reached the edge of what seemed like a nigh bottomless pit. For a moment they considered their options, but in the end Nikita jumped into the bottomless pit. Johanna was quick to follow. Letting herself descend slowly through the grace of the weird gravity in the realm.

And as she fell deeper and deeper, things started to feel odd, seem odd. As if they were being watched. Watched by eyes that she could swear she saw. But when she blinked they were gone, when she turned, there was no eyes to see.

Had it all been an illusion?

She did not know.

TAG: Ettie Nikita Sokolov
MISSION: Ultra Deep Sea
PROMPT CLEARED:
- 20

Johanna was not the only one who seemed troubled by the trip downwards.

Initially, the bioluminescent plants that grew along the sides of this chasm had caught Ettie's attention - and the wildchild, from her seat atop Aurien's back, would occasionally direct the Primarina to drift closer to get a better look. She knew better than to directly interact with said plants - cause who knew if they were safe - but at the very least, she found the glow that they gave off quite fascinating...

... At least, that was, until she saw something. Something that drew a yelp from her - sending a confused Aurien whirling about to try and figure out what it was she saw. And as if in reaction to Ettie's sudden cry, the lights would suddenly go out - the bioluminescent life that grew along the sides of the chasm going dark in an outwards pulse.

However, the dark didn't do any favors for Ettie's situation - the wildchild flinging herself back and away from some unseen threat, eyes wide and wild, teeth bared as she let out a snarl of fear - huddling closer to Nikita and Johanna.

The pokemon, however, were confused. Anne and Duke would go to Ettie's side to try and reassure her - and the pinnipeds glanced about, as if hoping to see what she had seen. But as far as they could tell - even in the lessened light...

"... Not... there?" Ettie asked softly, glancing to Anne. The wolf nodded in confirmation - nuzzling Ettie in an attempt to soothe her.

"Ettie saw... Not-know. Big. Sharp." She murmured, her voice somewhat timid. "Saw blood. Smelled lots... But not-there? Why..?" Quietly, her gaze slid to Johanna and Nikita both - as if hoping for an explanation.

Prompt 18

Nikita Sokolov , Johanna Joy

Johanna’s attention was drawn to Ettie the moment the illusions took hold of her. The young girl flung herself back and away from enemies unseen even for Johanna.

Johana was about to offer the girl comfort but the pack was faster, and offered it aplenty. Instead it seemed Ettie looked for her and Nikita for an explanation.

Johanna had naught to offer.

Luckily Nikita seemed to have an idea. “Could be, yeah.” She mumbled. “It would make sense if it was.” The constant rhythm, the growing sense of paranoia and audible and visible illusions. It suggested something living was behind this.

But what if that was just a fake sensation as well?

Nikita was right, they needed someone whose senses were better adjusted to dealing with illusions and manipulations of this nature. For that she had a Pokémon in mind. From a Pokéball she summoned a Marshadow.

“Shadow, keep an eye out for any and all peculiarities.” Johanna commanded the little Marshadow who all too eagerly jumped into action.

TAG: Ettie Nikita Sokolov
MISSION: Ultra Deep Sea
PROMPT CLEARED:

They couldn't trust their senses...? Ettie blinked a bit, not seeming to immediately understand what Nikita meant... But the mention of ghost, dark, and psychic types seems to make her perk up in some form of understanding.

Delle rises from Ettie's shadow, the Marshadow's attention drawn towards Shadow. The ghost-type nods a bit upon seeing one of her own kind, before turning her attentions to the surrounding area - her connection to the supernatural aiding in discerning reality from fiction.

But, there was another ghost-type at Ettie's beck and call. Reaching down, she takes hold of Scarlet's hilts - drawing both swords of the Doublade. Scarlet's tassels wrap around the wildchild's forearms - and Ettie's expression takes on a sudden shift. Where she was anxious or nervous before, she was now grinning - eyes wide and manic - as Scarlet's influence fell over her.

However, whereas Johanna might fear a repeat of the time in the Border, it seemed that the duo were far more docile this time around. Eyes scanned their surroundings, Ettie's head lolling to the side as she giggled. "I don't see a thiiiiing, not yeeeet~" She spoke as the group landed at the bottom of the pit - and gazing towards a tunnel that the pulsing sounds seemed to be coming from.

Anne gave a soft growl - vaguely unsettled at this - but she nonetheless followed close to Ettie, protective.

Slow and steady, the pack advanced to investigate.

Nikita Sokolov , Johanna Joy

Johanna’s Marshadow appreciated the sudden appearance of a fellow Marshadow. It even seemed somewhat familiar. Perhaps because they were caught in the same general area?

Unfortunately there was a job to be done and so the Marshadow turned its attention upon the task at hand.

For now, it saw nothing. Perhaps whatever its trainer and the others had experienced had come to an end? It certainly hoped so.

Johanna on the other hand looked a bit worried toward Nikita who seemed to be affected by an illusion, still, before she could help, the illusion was beaten somewhat, paving the way for a question.

The humongous organ in front of them, which they had approached through all of this, had become a thing that they needed to now investigate. And what better way to do so than to touch it. Which is where Nikita’s question came in.

Johanna sighed for a moment, realizing that she might as well be the one to step forward.

“Sure, I can do it.” Johanna proclaimed stepping forward. Quickly she turned her head to her Marshadow and said. “If anything happens, pull me away as fast as you can.” With her luck the organ would try to consume her.

Marshadow nodded.

Johanna stepped forward moving as close as she could before letting both hands gently touch the organ. For a moment she felt nothing unusual. Then a sudden heartbeat ran through her, followed by another, and for a moment it felt like every cell in her body was being pounded by the rhythm of the heartbeat.

She tried to stand against it. But it felt like her chest was being pulverized. Her lungs couldn’t breathe, her ribs were being beaten and broken. She was choking, she tried to heave for air but found nothing came through, by now she could move her hands from their position, as if they had fused with the organ. Her vision was consumed by darkness.

And then it all came to an end, as the Marshadow pulled her away from the organ and down onto the ground. The pound was gone, no more pounding, the air come easily to her lungs.

Another Illusion...

TAG: Ettie Nikita Sokolov
MISSION: Ultra Deep Sea
PROMPT CLEARED:
- Prompt nr 24: cleared

The illusions and hallucinations were wearing down on them - but with Ettie seeing through Scarlet's eyes, the wildchild was undaunted. In fact, for the most part, it was the Doublade puppeting her body along - the wildchild content to allow her this control. She didn't like some of the things that she saw, when she allowed herself to be aware of her own senses.

The organ would be met with deep unease by the pack. It certainly beat like a heart, and it looked as though it was pumping something - but... The shape was not right. Even Ettie knew the intended shape of a heart. You didn't hunt, and not know the shape of your prey's innards.

Nikita would suggest touching it - and Johanna was willing to volunteer for this. But, the hallucinations seemed to grow all the stronger with the proximity, if the sounds and tension that came from the gym leader were of any indication. Delle and Anne both were quick to join in pulling Johanna away alongside Shadow - and Cassie would come close to check in on her, the shiny Primarina making soft and concerned little whistles.

Ettie - or more accurately Scarlet - would step forward, however. The child raised a blade - and without hesitation, struck at the heart with a resounding Sacred Sword, as if attempting to slay it! But, the blade glanced off - bouncing off of the surface of the organ, and sending the two stumbling back. With it came the sights of broken twisted bodies - sights that were surely a retaliation of sorts, and that Scarlet would hide away from Ettie, to spare her it.

Once they regained their footing though, Scarlet would 'speak' through Ettie's lips, musing "Too touuuugh, a shaaaame~" with a limp tilt of her head to the side. But glancing to the other two, Scarlet watched - wondering if the other two had any other ideas.

Nikita Sokolov , Johanna Joy