[attr="class","top"]

[attr="class","colorbar"]

[attr="class","body"]



Genevieve Cromwell wasn't the only one curious about the Dream Mist. It had been present during the STARRY SOIREE and Unown had come in and out of it. At first he'd thought the strange visions and nightmares had been power of the unown but now? Creating the paradox pokemon?? [break][break]

He's not so sure anymore. [break][break]

So when his scouting leads to clouds of mist he's cautious, but not put off. Especially not when the first SHADOW BALL goes off. Alpha speeds into action, deflecting the attack with her own THUNDER PUNCH and looking for the source. "That's not a HEATRAN." [break][break]

"Cool it, I want to see what PARADOX pokemon reveals itself." He said pushing forward. "If we stop moving, the nightmare things start to overrun us." he added as he pushed forward. Alpha still searches for the ghost but upon being unable to locate it presses forward with her trainer.

[attr="class","lyricbox"]
it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .

[attr="class","top"]

[attr="class","colorbar"]

[attr="class","body"]



Alpha stays protectively between Genny and her trainer as Neon catches up with the electric type. "Sup, Rookie." he said after tilting his head to look over Genny for a moment. His Ampharos huffs as Neon stretches his arms over his head. [break][break]

"Don't get stuck in your own head." he warned, the only nice thing he'd ever do for a Leaguer. He grinned, his helmet reflecting it on the screen that took place of his face. He can begin hearing the screeches and the pokemon cries. [break][break]

His attention goes to the pink mist beginning to manifest at their ankles before pushing forward without much else as something begins to stomp and shake the ground. "Alpha, get ready to subdue." he warned, as his pokemon's tail began to glow.

[attr="class","lyricbox"]
it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .

[attr="class","top"]

[attr="class","colorbar"]

[attr="class","body"]



Neon afford the ranger a sideways glance, casually giving her a once over. He inspect her appearance before turning back forward with a laugh. Alpha strides with him nonchalant as well, though her sideways once over is more of a glare than anything. Don't even think about it. Though, form how Neon moved, it didn't seem like he thought her capable of it. [break][break]

"Ok, cutie." he said with a bark of laughter as something else echoes in their cavern, almost shaking the pink mist that enveloped them. "I'm Neon." [break][break]

Foliage thickens around them. From moss to grass to thick underbrush. Humidity seems to heighten and the pink mist serves as the bottom layer, the heaviest gas around them. Pale white mist floats for a few feet just above the top. It almost feels prehistoric. "I don't...see any open portals. I doubt the mist can open shit to the past." he said, musing aloud as he remembered his own experience during the DESOLATE LAND raid. [break][break]

The to their right the sound of rocks and tree splintering echoes, and chips go flying towards Alpha and Ebony, now at point. Neon gets ready, tapping something on the side of his head. He swaps the mode, trying to get a clear picture through the mist. "Alpha, 1 o'clock, its running!" he said stepping to the side as a BRUTE BONNET came charging through setting off a cloud of strange red dust. RAGE POWDER begins to infect their pokemon as the BRUTE BONNET roars despite its small size.

[attr="class","lyricbox"]
it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .

[attr="class","top"]

[attr="class","colorbar"]

[attr="class","body"]




While Ebony manages to get out of range, and Neon is pretty sure he'll feel fine if he keeps his helmet on, Alpha charges ahead unable to keep form inhaling the shiny bright red powder. Neon still manages to take cover. Alpha runs straight forward, tail glowing oddly as she blasts out a CONFUSE RAY. Her mouth is pulled back into a snarl, and her eyes seem to almost glow red form the RAGE POWDER effects. [break][break]

"Shit, won't be able to disengage like this." he said as more BRUTE BONNETS emerge and run to assist in Alpha's beat down as she closes in, screaming. [break][break]

"Rookie- it's an ambush!" he said as more pairs of eyes glows in the gloom and mist.

[attr="class","lyricbox"]
it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .

[attr="class","top"]

[attr="class","colorbar"]

[attr="class","body"]




"Aplha! We're overwhelmed!" He shouted, trying to get her to see sense. She hears him, but doesn't back off, blasting out a DAZZLING GLEAM that seems to push back on a few of the paradox pokemon. Some INGRAIN and make a barrier. Another pushes forward at the Ampharos screeching with PAYBACK attack. [break][break]

Shortly after the Absol slashes that one to pieces and Alpha takes another hit, this semi helping her snap out of her RAGE POWDER effects. In the gloom, Neon swaps to heat vision, taking stock of the wall of BRUTE BONNETS prepping in front of them and the ones trying to flank around to stop them from going back out where'd they'd come. They had to move quickly. [break][break]

Though, some that try are managed to be downs in horrible fashion by one determined Absol. Neon moves back, calling out, "Move back, 5 o'clock as far as you can!" Before the paradox pokemon could block off their last avenue of exit. [break][break]

He moves back, nearly about to crash into Genny and the BRUTE BONNET on her. Mid drain, he slides behind and grabs a sharp knife on his side. Unable to clean it since it's last use, the thing doesn't shine by has a dull, dried red on it. He plunges it into the rare breed of mushroom pokemon and slashes upwards, yanking out a chunk of flesh as he pulls back. [break][break]

Despite himself, Neon gags in his helmet, shuddering at how soft BRUTE BONNET flesh was. "Alpha, I'm leaving WITH or WITHOUT you!" he screams. That gets a reaction as the Ampharos launches herself backwards with a THUNDER PUNCH that sends the short paradox pokemon to the side and off the ranger, for now. [break][break]

It doesn't last however as another of them lunges towards Neon with a similar attack only for Alpha to intercept with a harrowing screech. For Neon's part he backs off towards the way he'd pointed out only briefly glancing at Genny. "Get up, or get left behind." sounds the warning.

[attr="class","lyricbox"]
it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .

[attr="class","top"]

[attr="class","colorbar"]

[attr="class","body"]




Neon tracks the multiplying paradoxes as best as he can. The dream mist is thick around them, and truly their only recourse was to run. Except he hadn't yet. Neon shakes as a primal instinct courses in his blood. Run. This is not a battle they can win easily and he shouldn't expend all his resources here. And yet- [break][break]

He's holding the line on their escape route, back to the wall as he directs Alpha. Crystals abundant shine and when Genny can't even respond he snarls, electronic tuning sparking as it tries to mask the sound. "To me!" He yells as Alpha pulls back, no longer covering. "Channel these crystals you piece of shit-!" [break][break]

He pulls out a TERA ORB that shines in the gloom. "Alpha, DAZZLING GLEAM." his expression shifts from something angry to a bright LED smile. Energy seems to synergize and the surrounding cavern crystals glow white then pink. A giant crown appears on Alpha's head as she jumps forward. And when she slams down a wave of pink glitter pulses out of her, sparkling and blinding the mob. Horrible screaming is heard as she pushes back some of the threat before, through sheer brute force, they make it to her and she's dragged back to be devoured. [break][break]

Neon is already reaching for a second pokeball, eyes beyond on his Ampharos fighting for her life as she withers and cries out. "Tango! Get ready!" He ordered as a shiny soft green Weezing pops out, flsting idly as another DAZZLING GLEAM goes off, his Ampharos losing the fight. That much is evident by her crown breaking and the lights dimming again. His Weezing inhales deep and flies upwards to blast out a HEAT WAVE but even Neon isn't sure how much good that does.

[attr="class","lyricbox"]
it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .

[attr="class","top"]

[attr="class","colorbar"]

[attr="class","body"]



The HEAT WAVE clears some but not everything. The mist is thick and with low visibility, even with Neon switching the modes his helmet were in, it's hard to saw what mass of heat is one or three BRUTE BONNETS. Unfortunately, his Weezing is too late, the poor poison type groaning sadly as he inspects the scorched patch of cave as the paradoxes come closer. Alpha is...ripped to pieces. Withered and gone. Limp. [break][break]

He can only mourn for long before there's a sudden cry of another pokemon as the Weezing is smacked down onto the earth. Neon is furious, and that is reflected in the way his Slither Wing shrieks at the the ambush. She FLAME CHARGES to the shiny Weezing, easily fending off the current threat, but they needed to leave. Perhaps a mist of the ambush as well as their own subconscious was the reason more and more BRUTE BONNETS appeared. A feeding loop had been created and the only solution was to get out of the mist as fast as possible. [break][break]

The ranger and her partner had managed to get out, and part of Neon laments the amount of time he had given to them. But another part of him doesn't wish the withering on anybody. He shudders at the thought backing up as his own paradox pokemon comes to his side. [break][break]

But his Slither Wing isn't fast enough. And she shrieks in horror as a BRUTE BONNET pounces on him, only to be sliced in half by the Absol accompanying the Rookie. He looks down, mask showing off a digital frown at the exhausted looking omen of a dog next to him. She mews, and he can barely utter a "Did the Rookie send you? In this state-" Chaos erupts. More stomping, more fighting, A blast of HEAT WAVE once more before the Weezing is smacked to the ground, unconscious. Before the poison type is swarmed, he's recalled. His Slither Wing body blocks Neon, urging escape. [break][break]

"Ok let- Wait!" As the Absol runs off, he's left feeling sick to his stomach. She's fighting to a point, but when the Absol falls on a back leg and is then knocked over and left panting, he gives his orders. "Charlie- take her out! Quickly!" The Slither Wing, obedient as ever FLAME CHARGES, curving around the fallen dog protectively, flames pushing back the swarm before Neon skids down neck to the dog, knife in hand. "I'm giving you the easy out, Ebony." he warned, putting a shaky hand on the Absol. Neon swallowed, having never put down a pokemon. Vague memories of it from Galar escaping him. He takes the knife, scratching the dog's head and depositing a small pokepuff before her. Then he finds the right spot on the neck, and slices, fast and efficient. "Sorry, just sleep." he said, autotuned voice shaking. Carbonara shrieks, grabbing her trainer forcefully. Neon hesitates, wanting to stay a moment longer before waving at the dog and running off. [break][break]

Carbonara zigzags, FLAME CHARGING as he does, leaving trails of fire to deter anybody from following before the gloom lessens and he can see light filtering from the outside. That's when he stops running, resting on his knees and panting harshly, nearly hyperventilating. Carbonara takes guard as he catches his breath. [break][break]

"Rookie." Genny feels too personal. And he isn't about to be personal. They're not friends. He's just being courteous. He stands up, looming over the Ranger, irritated and jumpy. He waits for her to stir and when it's not fast enough he kneels to her eye level and slaps her across the face. [break][break]

"Ebony's dead." He's serious for once. Partially the exhaustion. Partially the two deaths Ebony the Absol had faced.

[attr="class","lyricbox"]
it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .