It feels subterranean here, for how dark it is - even as El gazes off into the void beyond. Crystalline lights occasionally flicker in the dark, in the city ahead - but everything else is an inky uninterrupted black. There is no sun to warm one's skin. There are no stars to let one feel as though they aren't alone. No moon to give even the barest luminescence in this strange and ruined world.

After the chaos of the Bloodmoon Ursaluna, El had wanted to know more. To better understand everything that was going on - with the Megalopolans, the Ultra Beasts... And the siblings had both agreed, that the best way to learn more was to investigate where a number of them probably used to live. A city that had seen better days - left a husk of its former self.

At El's side, Bibidi floated closeby - regularly reaching outwards with her psychic senses to keep an 'eye' out for any other presences. She did not like it here. Something about this place unsettled her in a number of ways. And if she didn't care so much about El's autonomy, she'd have scooped them up and left this place a long time ago.

Yet, they had questions - questions she could not answer on her own. And so, they sought answers.

As Isaac spoke, the two would both glance in his direction - and El, smiling in equal parts reassurance, nervousness, and determination, would nod. "Yeah - we don't need to stay if, uhm, things get a bit too scary." They agreed. Bibidi would be able to help in that regard, they figured - her Teleport was very handy, and she could bring the group back to the rift in no time if they had to make an escape.

At Isaac's lead, the group would move into the city - the only real sounds being that of their own footsteps, echoing emptily through forgotten streets. El's gaze was constantly on the move - observing the old and dilapidated buildings that had been left behind. "Do you... Know what might've happened here?" El asked softly. Isaac had been here once before - so he probably had a better idea of the big picture here than they did.

Whatever it was though, it was probably something catastrophic.

Isaac Merlo

El couldn't help a soft smile as Isaac provided some reassurance, the gravity and grimness broken up by a little bit of brevity. With the confidence in his demeanor, the nervousness they felt before would melt away in turn - released with a light chuckle. "We'll watch eachothers' backs," They spoke with a nod, trying to match his energy the best they could. Even if this place was unsettling, the two of them would be fine, surely - they just had to keep an eye out.

As Isaac answered and mulled over their question though, El would quietly digest the information given - examining a wall. Indeed, much like he said, it didn't seem as though any huge dragons had been rampaging around here. There would've been a bigger mess, otherwise, right?

"Maybe... The dragon didn't attack here?" They wondered out loud, glancing around. "Maybe it attacked another part of the city, and everyone abandoned here to get away?" Though, then came the question of where... "Or maybe it terrorized them, and people left as a result..?" Even if it was just something like your cliche of a monster demanding maidens as tribute, eventually people would start leaving, right? "And then without anyone to maintain the city, it began falling apart?"

Isaac had his own theories, too - and the mentioning of something having been drained made them perk up a little in thought. "Like... Something was stolen?" They questioned, glancing in Isaac's direction. Something important, perhaps.

Like maybe even the people themselves; something that Bibidi would suggest with imagery of indistinct citizens disappearing from the streets one by one. "Maybe, yeah!" El mused out loud in response. They felt like the three of them were onto something...

... But, any further thoughts would be interrupted by the howling of wind. Much like Isaac, El would jump a little bit - surprised - before settling back down as they felt the brush of some gentle breeze against their skin.

Unlike Isaac, El didn't have any immediate reasons to believe that the wind was off; this was their first time here, after all. But this wind was an ill-portent - and when their older brother insisted that it was time to move, they weren't going to argue against it. Especially not with the look on his face, and especially not when Bibidi was similarly unsettled.

There was some form of interference that was putting her on edge - some form of static, that was messing with her ability to cast out her senses. Like the equivalent of sending out a ping that never gets an answer. And this sensation was only getting closer and closer by the second.

But even as El let Bibidi scoop them up so that they could pick up the pace down the street, there came a question. "Which way do we go?" El asked, looking for Isaac's input. "Should we hide, or take cover somewhere?" Was this some sort of natural disaster they had to weather, or a living breathing thing that they had to avoid?

Isaac Merlo

One moment, El and Bibidi were preparing to escape on foot - to perhaps even try a Teleport somewhere, if she could also get a grasp of Isaac... But much to the two's surprise, Isaac would be the one taking grasp of them - and in the next moment, they were moving with that of the wind. Carried upon a chilling - and yet comforting - embrace, that rushed around and with them.

Were it not for the dangerous situation they were in, El would've loved to take in every moment of this experience.

But instead, they found their attention drawn to the eldritch storm that seemed to chase after them - a cyclone of pure dark, drawing in and consuming any energy that it could snatch up into its embrace. Staring into it sent chills through them, a deep gut feeling of this did not belong. That this wasn't normal. But there wasn't much that they or Bibidi could do to force the storm back, or get away from it - all they could do was trust that Isaac knew what he was doing.

Which, he sort of did, sort of didn't. It was hard to plan an escape on the fly when you were being actively chased by a threat - but their brother was a clever quick-thinker. The trio would make for the nearest shelter - and though El would make a shout of alarm as they realized they were about to fly into a wall...

... They'd instead find themself tumbling on through the wall, into the safety of some unknown building! For the duration of the storm's presence - roaring outside the walls of this mystery building - El would be laying flat on their back, staring at the dark ceiling above. They, perhaps, needed a good few minutes to process everything that had happened here.

But - in the window of time where the howling winds gradually faded away, before the lights turned back on - their voice would speak up. "Isaac... P-please... Warn me next time, when we... When we decide to no-clip?" They request with a half-wheezed half-anxiety laugh. "I... I think I saw my life flash for a second..." They could still feel jitters in their entire body from their near-heart-attack experience.

As the lights began to flicker back on though, El would finally move - carefully pushing themself up onto their feet. And as they did, they'd listen to Isaac speak in turn - and they would mull over his words.

"... So... Maybe the dragon stole like... Their souls, or something? And they became zombies as a result?" El wondered out loud, glancing to a few of the stripped down machines. Cause really, 90% of the damage in the city felt less like 'rampaging monster', and more like 'wear and tear from noone taking care of it'. "That, or they were relying on something in the city, that the dragon stole?"

However, they still didn't have much of a chance to properly consider things. Because as they cast a glance back in Isaac's direction, they'd see something staggering in his direction! "Behind you..!"

Bibidi would act quickly - reaching out with Telekinesis to stop the Megalopian in their tracks and hold them in place.

Isaac Merlo

As Isaac grins to them, they initially try to give him a firm look - as if to scold him - but it's clear to see that they're in full agreement. Their serious expression quickly breaks down into a smile they're failing to hold back, and snickers escaping their lips - all until they begin to laugh, smiling brightly to Isaac. "Ehehe - yeahhhh, I guess it was pretty cool," They respond with a coy hue.

But not long after, there's that familiar light in their eyes as they muse out loud "I wonder how it'd work with like... Going underwater! Or maybe even when other pokemon are doing wind stuff, like using Tailwind!" They'd love to better figure out Isaac's newfound abilities - how far it could be pushed, what it could bounce off of.

. . . But, any more chatter would have to wait - as the two of them had a surprise visitor, in the form of a Megalopian. One that appeared quite sapient, at that! El would watch and listen as Isaac spoke with them - their own expression shifting to one of brief sympathy at the sorrow that this individual showed.

Though, with the conversation came the question - did they trust this Megalopolan enough, to let them go? Because El's first impressions in the swamp debacle weren't exactly a pretty look at how Megalopians are. But as they glance to Bibidi for her counsel, she dips her head, and they nod back. "Bibidi thinks they're being honest," They mention to Isaac - trusting in her judgement, and trying to avoid being biased against who appeared to just be an innocent survivor.

And as El speaks, the Alakazam releases the Megalopian, relaxing her stance. Her attention is still on the Megalopian - just in case - but she otherwise is more welcoming of this blue-hued stranger.

Though that being said, that meant that the other's words were worth some salt. Glancing to the Megalopolan, El offers them a friendly smile and asks two questions. "You probably know this place better than us - any suggestions in where to go? And what's your name?"

Isaac Merlo

Even if the toothy smile did give El a bit of unease, they would smile back to Merola, nodding. "I'm El - and this is my brother, Isaac." They'd introduce themselves in turn, gesturing in turn. "It's nice to meet you, Merola - even if things aren't the safest right now. But we'll protect you!" And that was a promise; they wouldn't let someone else who was just trying to get by in this ruined city be hurt, if they could help it.

It'd certainly be a way to make up for that psychic grabbing before, as well.

But once introductions were out of the way, came the question of what next. Staying here was apparently a no-go; though the mention of light made El blink. Being able to see was important, sure - but did it matter for weathering the strange storm, as long as the shelter held up? (And did Merola mean cycles having been stripped down as in bikes..? The next mention of cycles in the context of time was a bit confusing...)

At the mention of a hospital though, El smiled and nodded. "Yeah; that sounds like a safe place to hunker down!" They agreed - maybe it'd even have something like a backup generator, to counteract the storm knocking out the lights like it did here?

And Isaac had just the thing for the three of them to get there in a hurry. The only trouble was whether Merola was ready for it - and El glanced over to the Megalopolan with the intention of warning them... Only for Isaac to place a hand on either of their shoulders, and whisk them away without any further warning!

At least with the initial heads-up, El was able to remain on their feet this time around - but Merola was not in as good of shape. They would give the Megalopolan a gentle rub on the back to try and help soothe any lingering nausea from the trip - mentioning "Sorry - he's, uhm, more used to doing that on his own than having passengers, I think. It took me by surprise, too, the last time he did that." They spoke in a soft tone, to avoid Isaac overhearing them. "You okay?"

The hospital was certainly not what El had expected for a building to look like, though, let alone a medical building. The round and smooth shape was equal parts less imposing than the geometric shapes the other buildings were, and more unsettling - especially with the markings, and the lack of any apparent windows or doors.

When Merola opened the way though, El was the first to step in - Bibidi close behind, just in case. They'd also let out another pokemon - their Shedinja, Ahtal-ka - so as to act as a scout, for the way ahead. Because what better scout, than a pokemon that treated walls as a suggestion and attacks as a 'please'?

Isaac Merlo

The hospital was a strange one - but perhaps that was to be expected, given this was an alien civilisation that they were wandering through. Ahtal-ka, though, was not moved by the sights. Instead, they were simply content to continue wandering - occasionally floating through a wall as ghost-types tend to do.

El scratched their cheek a little at watching the Shedinja's straightfaced antics - not that they really expected Ahtal-ka to be much for emoting. They sometimes found themself wondering what was on the bug-type's mind - though it seemed as though that since they had sent Ahtal-ka to scout, that they were content to continue scouting.

Which, though El didn't expect any danger here - aside from maybe trying to mess with machinery that they didn't understand - did help put them a bit at ease. Especially since Bibidi was actively keeping tabs on Ahtal-ka (and Merola, albeit less directly) all the while.

So, El was free to focus on other things - such as exploring the building alongside Isaac. They'd eyeball the different objects - from the odd chairs, to the shell-shaped device that almost made them think of a phone. There was even a little model in the middle of the room - and on closer inspection, it almost made them think of those 3D jigsaw puzzles. Perhaps something to help occupy someone while they wait for their appointment?

What appeared to draw Isaac's attention in particular though, was a number of vending machines. El blinked as Isaac tied the crystal with a bit of string - and they couldn't help but wonder if it'd work the same as with a coin-operated vending machine. "What do they have?" El questioned in response, walking up to see what the machines had on display.

The snack-based machines seemed as though they'd already been more-or-less emptied, and El wasn't sure if they were willing to trust the snacks that remained - they'd probably get some form of alien food poisoning... But one of the drink vending machines caught their eye - and they'd gesture to one of the cans. "Let's... Try one of those?" They suggested to Isaac - an adventurous smile growing across their expression.

If they were gonna be here awhile, then might as well have a little fun trying new things, right?

(Bibidi, all the whilst, would give the two siblings a skeptical look. What - and why - in the world were her charges doing, drinking potentially expired soft drinks..??)

Isaac Merlo