Grigori prayed Declan Walsh never conspired with the likes that produced Saturday Morning cartoons. As silly as such a hope might’ve seemed to an outsider, the reality spoke otherwise: many had fallen to their ‘Murder Roulette’. Many a foe– and even some allies. His Kingambit one of them.

She must’ve gotten bonked on the head during the assault. The grunt grimaced at her position, flat as a pancake and blade pointed upward. He quickly retreated the Pokémon as to avoid someone tripping and decapitating themselves on the blade. More for his sanity than hers; she would’ve relished such an accident.

“Mr. Shred, once again, it is Grigori,” the man corrected through an unamused look. Slowly, he went to the video section of Shred’s phone (and past all the silly memes and illicit images) and replayed the video in all its ‘glory’ to the man. Through dark lighting and a slight tremble that pervaded the entire video, it did clearly show the Claydol and Gholdengo's attack and its many, many victims.

And then he pushed it into Shred’s hands. “Watch it on your own time. While I admit your ‘stunt’ was effective, you’ve racked up quite the collateral damage. Me included.”

Hopefully, they caught on to the numerous stares pointed directly towards them, and even ryker hayes who called them out justly. Great. Everyone probably thought him directly part of this endeavor.

But… at the end of the day, they had prevailed, and the strangers were done for. But someone earlier mentioned something about ‘reinforcements’ behind them? Which meant they’d likely attack them if they dared venture back outside. Looked like the cave split into two distinct paths. Not that he could make out either of them from his immediate position.

“Mr. Shred, Mr. Howard, I recommend we follow the large Ursaluna wherever it goes. The Pokémon seems to know more about this situation than any of us. Somehow.”

But before he did that, the far wall caught his eye. Grigori closed the distance and investigated the numerous Missing Persons Posters, many now dotted with thin needles. Grigori grimaced. With any luck, these strangers had faked them all in some attempt to lure more people out here. He carefully pulled the papers out from around the needles. Those left behind either had too many needles that punctured the stone to make it feasible to take them, or had been destroyed in the attacks altogether.

---

Tl;Dr
 - Sorry Kingambit but I am NOT eating shit just so I can write you being violent for seven more rounds. Kingambit has fainted due to the Murder Roulette attack!
 - Chides Shred, but starts the video and hands his phone back
 - Hopes that no one hates him as well not trying to stop them and even recording it
 - Unless Howard and Shred have objections or different plans, Grigori will go down Path 2 with the Ursaluna and Thomas
 - Also walks over and tries to take some of the Missing Peoples posters (any that weren't destroyed, if they exist)

Well, it looks like the Ursaluna had accepted their little offering. Vanilla watched intently while hoping that they wouldn't be played by this Pokemon and end up like the others dragged down into the swampy depths. She sighed and looked to Thomas Benoit as everyone could begin to descend into the murky waters. Like any person here, the teen followed suit and once again, sunk her head underneath the surface.

She'd need a rose bath after this...

Vanilla popped into the area with everyone else, spotting the ink haired idol nearby, DESIREE BLOOMS. She run over with Thomas, waving her hands. "Desiree!" While she did let some semblance of relief wash over her, there were still others not accounted for. Still, it was nice to know that at least some of them were safe. The girl smirked at Desiree and allowed Thomas to have a moment with his girls hugging him. A part of her missed Proxii, who no doubt would be teasing the guy. She wondered if her RotomDex slash emotional support Pokemon would ever get angry at her for leaving him behind on dangerous missions like these.

"That Ursaluna is pretty cool." Vanilla said, turning to look at it in admiration. No wonder people always loved Teddyursa, if its final evolution looked so cool. She continued doing her thing and would remain quiet, just trying to process everything that was happening, including the...best not to think about it. She shook her head as Thomas went about listing off a game plan for everyone. But more importantly, Vanilla wondered just how far the Megaopoleons would go. Were they as extreme as Rocket would go? One would only hope not.

With the plan met, Vanilla had wondered what her next move should be. Maybe Elise Calcifet was nearby and needed help? The Galarian was royalty after all, and they were pretty close. But DESIREE BLOOMS invited her and some others to their planned route as Vanilla frowned. The Hatterene's Healing Mists had worked wonders though. Vanilla was still affected by what she had been through, but somehow with the mists, it seemed a bit more trivial. She smiled to herself at the comfort and gave her answer.

"I'd love to." Vanilla said, nodding at the singer and superstar. They had a little group going now! "Thomas would drag me along anyway, even if I didn't want to go." She had avoided that other phrase that came to mind. The teen hurried by DESIREE BLOOMS and Thomas Benoit, hoping that the other two people would join them as they went into the darker paths.

---

| |

TL;DR:
↳ Feeds the Ursaluna snacks and follows Thomas Benoit into the depths
↳ Pops out and rushes over to make sure DESIREE BLOOMS is okay
↳ Enjoys the Hatterene's HEALING MISTS while feeling her mental state slowly begin to heal
↳ Surprised by DESIREE BLOOMS's offer and accepts, tagging along with her and Thomas Benoit

"Man." Howard scratched his chin thoughtfully as aliens and allies alike bled out across the battlefield. "We're so fucking cool."

As everyone threw out their disdain against Howard and Shred, Howard's head slumped slightly. It had been really cool! They had been so cool! Look at the amount of enemies that they had defeated! Yet people had been yelling at him! Was this what Shred dealt with? Was this what it meant to suffer from success?

Yet he slumped his hand and pat Claydol on the head, before returning it to its ball.

"I'm sorry... I thought it would help." Howard's Golurk appeared, awfully cramped within the cave. Suddenly, the Golurk's fist became engulfed in ice. With a gentle tap, the water was frozen. There! He was helping! Looking at both paths, Howard scratched his chin thoughtfully. Darkness or water? He could freeze water, but his Golurk was heavy. He checked his Pokemon.

Ghost. Psychic. Flying. He looked towards the cave filled with ominous shadows.

Fuck.

He checked his belt again. Rock. Rock. Rock. He looked towards the cave filled with water.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Sheepishly stuffing as many coins into his pocket as possible, Howard began walking towards the scary path. He was not afraid of the dark. He wasn't! He was afraid of what was inside the dark. Maybe he could hide behind Shred and Grigori Sokolov. He gave Tempest Quinn a watery thumbs up as he trudged past.

Man. He had been super cool, but at what cost? What was coolness if you violated the Geneva Convention? Maybe he could atone by throwing himself in the water and drowning himself.

"We're gonna get so many likes on the internets after this." He told Shred as an attempt to bolster morale.

---

Picking the DARK path (Path 2)
"I'm based... but at what cost?"
Freezing water with Golurk's Ice Punch.

As soon as Grigori loosens his grip on your phone, you immediately snatch it back, like an overeager child stealing a pack of Pokemon cards. And, despite his request and/or warning, you immediately turn around to review the footage. As you watch the plainly shot video depicting your controversial combination attack, a single thought lingers in your mind.

Holy SHIT, you are so fucking cool. You definitely have a chance.

"Ooo...!"

Eventually, the Pokedollar signs fade from your eyes, and you snap back to reality. What are people talking about? Something something, splitting up, something something, two paths, something something, kill more aliens? That seems like the gist of it, anyway. It seems like Howard and Grigori are going to follow along with the majority, along with the bear, and all the people who hate your guts for daring to inconveinence them... Hm. Not a tempting prospect. Lucky for you, you're dubiously a contrarian, obviously a bad decision maker, and undeniably averse to the consequences of your actions.

"Alright fellas, we'll hit this one like a seven-ten split." You declare to the members of Team Griwarred (NAME STILL PENDING), as though that's a real saying that people actually say. "You two take one tunnel, I'll take the other tunnel, and together, we'll get to the bottom of this mystery. After that? That's when the money rolls in."

And just like that, without a word of further explanation, you're already walking towards the bright and wet path. Well, formerly wet, now icy. Nice of Howard to spare you the trouble of setting up those screens, though! After Making It Rain that much, Chester C. Coins is probably...

"...Chester, what are you doing?"

"SHHH! Keep it down, chap." The doll whispers, still as a rock. "Haven't you heard the chit-chat? These people aren't too fond of me after our joint venture with the Crumble Corporation! Why, if they get their hands on me, they'll probably sentence me to the guillotine there and then!"

"Yeah, someone's REALLY going to assassinate YOU, of all people..." You grumble. Playing along, you bend down to pick up the Substitute, and almost throw your back out in the proces. Despite how light and fluffy it looks, it's still got all the weight of a Gholdengo. Lucky for you, he shed a good few pounds and pennies during the fight, or you'd be dragging him across the floor right now. Instead, you can just barely manage to pick him up in your arms, like a box full of bricks, or an overweight Purrloin. "Just keep quiet, alright? I'll make sure nobody murders you, you little weirdo."

And so, you scurry along down the first path, over the frozen water, and into what lies ahead.

---

TL;DR - Gholdengo uses Substitute, Shred goes down Path 1, and abandons his allies to be a hipster.
howard slayte Grigori Sokolov

Grigori returned to the main group, which looked to be on their way down the dark path. And when Shred announced his intentions, he groaned. “Mr. Shred, that seems like a terrible idea. Don’t you think it best to earn the goodwill of your–”

Too late. The man already trudged towards the path less traveled by. For no good reason. Light and illumination were cold comforts if you couldn’t swim. Or if something or someone pulled you underneath and held you there long enough. And considering the experience nearly all of them had in the last few minutes…

And he carried around a Substitute that strained his muscles and would surely throw out his back if he didn’t stop lifting with it. A vein on Grigori's forehead bulged, but he barely managed to hold back a slew of insults. A twinge of shame joined the vein on his head.

Only a twinge, though. It was still, in his eyes, an incredibly foolish idea.

“Do not fret, Mr. Howard,” Grigori attempted to comfort the one of the two who seemed capable of serious remorse. “I’m sure you had good intentions. Maybe save the move for a more advantageous scenario? A greater ratio of enemy to ally?”

Hopefully, the dark path they started down was not paved with these good intentions.

“Also," Grigori leaned closer and whispered into Howard's ear, "speaking of internet fame, remind me to have Shred delete that video. Or encrypt it. I’m sure you understand the reasons, yes?” 

Team Rocket was the sole reason. Safety hazard. Surely a shame for the pair, as their attack had been mildly amusing in the moments before it started to hit their companions. And their Pokémon. Then HIS Pokémon. Messy affair. But not nearly as messy as them getting an exclusive meeting with Declan Walsh in the privacy of his remote office, with convenient access to a trash chute that lead right into the massive dumpster in the bowels of their headquarters.

---

Tl;dr

 - Tells Shred he is a fucking idiot but does not actually try to stop him
 - Attempts to comfort Howard a little
 - Also tells Howard their attack is a safety risk to their identities and they should make sure the video of it never sees the light of day
 - Still has all those Missing Persons Posters as they follow the Ursaluna onto the Dark Path