In the face of Yggdrasil's righteous rampage, a number of Paradoxes are incapacitated by her Earthquakes. And of those - namely the Iron Leaves - that remain afterwards, a Crunch or two does wonders in dealing with them. With time, alongside the efforts of others, the large Torterra is able to thin out the Paradoxes in this particular stretch of the battlefield - to which she briefly tosses her head and lets out a proud bellow!

But as the sounds die down, other things draw the duo's attention.

Initially, there is Palkia emerging - the great god's presence making El's heart skip a beat in surprise. Clearly, it appears to be on their side - and it seems to be trying to do something about Kyurem. Is it trying... To cut away the dragon it had merged with?

El's not given much time to consider it though, before they hear a familiar voice - pained and perhaps frightened - on the wind. Someone needed help.

Yggy picks up on it too, the great beast already turning in the direction of the sounds and beginning to follow it. If one did not see her approach, they may certainly hear or feel it in her thudding steps...

... But before long, through the mist and snow, DESIREE BLOOMS comes into view for the duo. Seeing the scene before them - of the Ace unable to stand or even get onto her Togekiss' back - draws a softly muttered "Crud-" from El as they go to slip down from Yggy's back, ready to get right to work.

They approach - switching Yggdrasil out for Bibidi - and as they do, they speak soothingly and kindly to Desiree. "It's okay - help's here. I'm gonna have my Alakazam lift you with Telekinesis, and get you on your Togekiss' back, alright?"

Indeed; with all the care and gentleness that she could, Bibidi would use Telekinesis - enveloping Desiree in psychic energy to try and pick her up and out of snow. If Desiree cooperated, Bibidi would - as softly as she could - place the trainer on the Togekiss' back, and make sure that she was secure.

Then, El turned their attention to the Togekiss. "Your trainer's badly hurt; even with healing moves, I don't think it's safe for her to remain here." They spoke to the fairy-type, hoping it'd understand the situation. Really, noone in particular was safe here; but this was especially unsafe for her. "Please, get her to safety - and be careful."

TLDR:
- Gonna just note here El'll probably get a Iron Crown, just having a hard time figuring out how I wanna fit in it yet.
- Yggdrasil/Yggy the Torterra thins out the Paradoxes in her lil corner of the battlefield.
- Palkia emerges - but what becomes more pressing to El is DESIREE BLOOMS 's cries.
- The two follow the sound and find Desiree's current state; El is immediately Worry
- Switches Yggy out for Bibidi the Alakazam
- They speak reassuringly to her, letting her know they're going to have Bibidi lift her onto her Togekiss' back with Telekinesis.
- Bibidi does just that, using Telekinesis and attempting to put Desiree on her Togekiss' back as gently as possible.
- El tells the Togekiss that Desiree is badly hurt + probably not safe here no matter how much she gets healed. Asks that it get her to safety and be careful.

It's a good punch. Hard enough to hurt your jaw and leave a dent in your mask. He put some real effort into it. But he probably should have put in even more.

CRACK!

You reply with a punch of your own. A punch from a fighter, not a scholar. A punch from hands meant to break things instead of preserve them. Hands that have known little luxury and much hardship. More than anything, this your language, how you communicate with others. Arceus knows you speak it better than anything else.

"If you're going to fight, fight." You tell howard slayte, not the slightest hint of mirth in your voice. "Otherwise, go."

That's all you have to say. Really, that's all you need to say.

Meanwhile, Xurkitree stares down illeana reyes's Blacephalon. On the surface, it seems like a fair competition, Ultra Beast against Ultra Beast, neither with any inherent advantage over the other, the closest thing one can get to an even match within the dubious realms of Ultra Space. So, leave it to the League to immediately try and tip the scales using overwhelming force. With annalise henderson's Ceruledge behind it, PENELOPE LIVY's Camerupt in front of it, and lava beginning to form beneath its feet, it has remarkably few options. So instead of trying for a risky dodge, it leaps up over the Bitter Blade, and dives down into the chasm. Two sets of wires cling to Tera Crystals forming from the wall, while two more grab yourself and Howard, pulling you up before the lava can claim you. Of course, Regice is a little too heavy for that, but you're sure it'll be fine. Probably.

Now that you're "safe" in one sense of the word, Xurkitree quickly clambers back up out of the chasm, narrowly dodging stray magma all the while. Once it finally arrives back on the surface, it places you back on solid ground, and tosses Howard back behind it. Then, you face down the small but elite League contingent you've just made an enemy of.

"If you're just picking this fight because your bosses told you to, then fuck off. But, if for whatever reason you have some personal stake in killing me or protecting that pink dragon, then fine." You growl, pulling your pistol from your coat pocket as you glance between the many unfriendly faces. "I'll humour you. But if that's the way you want it, then you've got to humour me, too."

If they want to wage this war, then there's no room for soullessness. If they want to stop you, then they better put their all into it.

---

TL;DR - Shred tells Howard to kiss him or leave (paraphrasing), Xurkitree dodges like three different attacks while rescuing Shred and Howard from danger, then Shred attempts to threaten the half-dozen League Members protecting the dragon he's trying to beat up.
Shred's Disguise
howard slayte illeana reyes PENELOPE LIVY annalise henderson Isaac Merlo

A starburst of pain erupted as Howard reeled back from the strike. He should've expected a thug like Shred to strike fast and hard.

"Ack... Motherfucker!" Howard gingerly felt his face, before hissing in pain. "You broke my fucking nose!"

Not only was it painful, but Howard's voice was hurt. This was a betrayal of trust, even if Howard had struck first. Shred had put his own ego over the objective. It was threatening to undo everything they had worked for today. What was this for? What was the reason? Howard's eye flicked up, breathing heavily, before it flicked to Kyurem.

What would it be without that additional part? Palkia was ripping it asunder, and Kyurem would return to emptiness, from which it came. Without an additional part, what even was it, but a wastrel but no purpose?

It was the same as the man who had just punched his lights out.

"You're an idiot. I pity you, Beast." Howard groaned from the floor, before reaching for his visor. Hiss. It clicked into place. "But..."

Pity is not forgiveness, nor is gratitude absolution.

"You'll lose this fight without me." Howard's teeth chattered as he stared down the League's squad. PENELOPE LIVY and her magma, which even now licked at Regice in an attempt to melt the primordial shard. annalise henderson and her Ceruledge, firing dancing through the snow with blades of fire. illeana reyes , the Head Scientist chosen by a deity. Merlo, Calcifet, and several of the League's dogs against two men. "Hell, we probably still will."

He wanted to run, but he couldn't. Shred had run forward in a desperate charge against Regice. Howard would follow his example. He willed his legs to move.

"We're going to die. We'll die here and time will pass anyways. History isn't going to stop because of that. All we have is this shout in the wind, Beast. This is how we live, how we go, and how we stand before we fall." The masked man looked towards his colleague and grinned as blood trickled down his face.

"So let's fall."

Regice disappeared into its Pokeball as Howard repositioned it alongside Xurkitree. As soon as it struck the field, a layer of frost coated everything in the immediate facility. This was the power of an era made manifest. The Ice Age was harsh and uncaring, and it made no exception for the deity of space or the numerous foes put in front of it.

⠋⠕⠗⠑⠊⠛⠝ ⠞⠓⠗⠑⠁⠞ The pattern on its face blinked in rapid patterns as it registered the several new enemies, including Palkia. ⠙⠑⠋⠑⠝⠙ ⠓⠕⠍⠑

"I have little to say, I confess. This is Regice, sworn to defend this region. My name is Admin Fox." The visor glinted with frost as the Galarian inclined his head. "This is an unbalanced battle, but war rarely is fair."

After a momentary pause, Admin Fox continued.

"But we..." Fox grabbed Zeppelin's shoulders. "...will triumph. Fire."

After several loud beeps, the Regice met Penelope's Lava Plume, Annalise's Bitter Blade, and the various protective barriers with a strike that could crack a mountain.

---

Shred breaks Howard's nose. Damn!
Howard ponders the situation before joining Shred. Yippie!
Regice relocates to square up with everyone (sorry Penny this fight's choreography is nuts)
Regice is firing Hyper Beam to counter the various strikes levied against Xurkitree
ITS COLD
MASKED BOWARD BLAYTE
Namedrops Admin Fox (hi remy)