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He doesn't see it coming.[break][break]

A force impacts from behind, too swift for even Lugia to intervene. His vision blurs from pain as he's knocked flat, dangerously close to the chasm. As he forces himself up on an elbow, he sees the TERA CRYSTALS are gone.[break][break]

"Fuck," he groans, rubbing the back of his head.[break][break]

Get up.[break][break]

Though her telepathic tone rings with command, Cillian thinks he can sense worry in it, too. He might've smiled if he wasn't in so much pain.[break][break]

He pushes himself to his feet, swaying a little, Lugia's HURRICANE swells around him, protecting him from interference as he recovers from the blow. What the hell was that, anyway?[break][break]



[break][break]

With Kalameet's help, Thomas managed to get out of the snowbank. Despite the pain he was in, the protective suit underneath his winter gear managed to stave off most of the damage. The fact that he landed in soft snow, rather than on hard ice or rock, helped matters. Still, taking the Hoopa's fist hurt like hell.

Thomas recalled Artanis, and climbed onto his Hydreigon. The three-headed beast did his best to guide his master onto his back, before taking off.

The Hydreigon began to fire a barrage of Dark Pulses down the crater, attempting to attack the horde of automatons at their 'source.'

NYSlBUdq

---

tags: Yuina Higashi DESIREE BLOOMS El Sunderland Isaac Merlo
notes: Thomas provides air support on the back of his Hydreigon
ex-AQUA Reroll

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@--

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All around her, even through the numbing, relentless cold, Yuina could feel energies reaching out to her through the dense pain that wracked her entire body. Heal Pulses from El Sunderland's Ponyta, Floral Healing from DESIREE BLOOMS's Comfey, Jungle Healing from Violet Fairbanks's Zarude, and Isaac Merlo's own powers. All of the combined efforts had very likely saved her life, but she would be far from perfect for a good while after taking such a devastating hit...[break][break]
Slowly coming to, clutching El Sunderland's hand still, Yuina tried to focus, though finding one point to fixate on was difficult. Everything was happening so quickly, and she could feel movement around her shifting in the snow, various voices... El Sunderland was closest first for a moment, Yuina could hear their voice... Trying to make sure that she was alright. She coughed still through painful breaths, but she tried to nod along, showing that she was receptive...[break]
"I... I was... dragged through one... of those portals," her voice was stifled, she coughed between heaving breaths, but she did remember, being grabbed, and everything shifting for a moment before she was thrown through the air in the strangest way...[break][break]
Thomas Benoit was in front of her still, his figure looming over her now, but beside her, close enough that even through the frigid snow she could swear she flet her warmth, Yuina shifted as much as she could, finding DESIREE BLOOMS beside her...[break]
"Des... Des, you're bleeding...," Yuina coughed, she could see the red staining DESIREE BLOOMS's mouth, trailing down her lips... She was hurt too... This all had to stop...[break][break]
Biding what strength she could from the energies she was given, Yuina tried shifting on the ground, but found the urgency of adrenaline once more as their small group was suddenly overtaken by an onslaught of raging horns and beasts that were stomping every which direction. One of which was attacking Isaac Merlo head on, very literally, and breaking down his safe guard... She was hardly able to register that he himself was the one manifesting both the healing that she initially felt and the shield that blocked some of the ice and snow... But that hardly mattered now that they were all effectively under attack.[break][break]
The ground quaked, tera crystals were shimmering and raining down in every direction, shining steel monsters rampaged everywhere, and the fire that lit the sky and rained down upon the entire tundra... Yuina knew she couldn't stay where she was, even if moving at all was still painful. Gritting her teeth together and holding her torso with one arm, Yuina struggled and shuffled to try and sit upright, just in time to find both Heatran and Rasza rushing towards them through the mass of their attackers. Yuina felt tears sting at her eyes at knowing Rasza was actually alright, that by some fate the dragon was able to come back to her... But she wasn't going to keep her out in the fray... Nor Heatran... Instead, she needed to be able to ensure that she and DESIREE BLOOMS could stay safe for now... If that was even a concept in the given situation.[break][break]
Both Rasza and Heatran returned, Yuina winced through the pain as she took out another Pokeball, releasing North the Glastrier into the fight. One of the steel monsters rushed towards the horse, but his giant hooves met metal as he gave a solid kick, keeping the machine at bay.[break]
"Come on... Des, get on," Yuina coughed, struggling and standing as she helped herself up against North's figure.[break][break]
"Thank you... I... Still don't know your name, but... Thank you, and El Sunderland," Yuina mustered, thanking Isaac Merlo before she felt like she wouldn't have the opportunity, he probably very well saved her life.[break][break]
As Thomas Benoit helped both herself and DESIREE BLOOMS up onto the great horse's back, Yuina slumped against the back of his neck with heaving breaths, the exertion so painful, but she was upright, that was enough for them to keep going in the fight.

[break][break]

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Honestly, now that he had the cranky ol’ man around… things were starting… to look a little better?!

At least, he hoped that the earlier frigid wind helped stick or at least trip up some of the iron-coated ‘monsters’ that were rampaging around and trying to indiscriminately hurt and/or injure people.

He wondered if this would make a difference before—

He’d gotten so lost in thought a Hoopa fist almost knocked him off his feet, twice, had the cranky ol’ man not come to his rescue with a Dragon Hammer body slamming attack before the fist actually landed a direct hit on him. Yikes!

“Wha—oh, thank you,” he breathed out, realizing that there was a quickly-disappearing golden ring where the Tornadus had jumped in to block the cheap shot that was aimed his way.

---

↠ Tornadus used Dragon Hammer to block the earlier cheap potshot Hoopa attempt trying to smack Alex!

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[attr="class","textbox"]Damnit! There were more injured? At Yuina Higashi's words, Isaac turned towards DESIREE BLOOMS, a touch of concern in his eyes. However, before he could say anything, Akane let out a roar of pain. The Iron Crown had rallied, burying its Tachyon Cutter right into her shoulder. Where did Isaac even go from here? So many people needed him. Too many people needed him. Mist formed in one hand. Ice froze over another. He looked from side to side, trying to figure out where to go first.[break][break]

He was so caught up that he'd completely forgotten Hoopa. Luckily, Thomas Benoit hadn't.[break][break]

Isaac hit the floor like a sack of potatoes, skidding across the ice as Thomas pushed him out of the way. He tried to reach out for the other man, but it was too late. The unbound Hoopa's fist, larger than his entire body, sent Thomas flying into a nearby snowdrift. Anger gave way to action, and the mist and ice dancing within Isaac's hands formed a crude spear. He tossed it into the Hoopa's hand with reckless abandon, as if hoping to startle it away from poor Thomas.[break][break]

For a moment, Isaac felt pretty cool about that whole sequence of events. Then Eris came crashing down from the skies, landing right on his gut.[break][break]

After wheezing like a sack of potatoes that had just been stabbed, he shot Eris a weary smile. "Nice of you to drop in, sis," he said, giving her hair a quick ruffle. At least, against all odds, he'd made for a soft landing. It only cost him all his air and, in a few hours' time, probably his lunch. With one hand used to help brace Eris, he prepared to ease himself back to a standing position.[break][break]

Yuina and Des were riding off into the sunset. Thomas' team were stepping up to the plate while he was left planted in the ground. Akane's body sparked violently as she smashed into the Iron Crown's body, forcing it away from her. Steam and sparks blew from the gashes on its side, but it nonetheless continued pushing forward as it struggled with the other Paradox.[break][break]

"Well. Looks like it's all going to shit," Isaac said, the prophecy thus far unveiled. None of it sounded any good, if you asked him. Hoenn was already a cataclysm enough without leading up to some destined clash of the titans. He gazed upon the sea of Paradoxes spilling across the Icelands, the League and Rocket alike standing tall against them. He turned to Eris, then shot her a proud smile. "You ready to kick some ass until we fix it?"

Y92J3D4Q[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break]
Isaac, caught in trying to figure out who to help, is ambushed by Hoopa.[break]
In the process, he is barely saved by Thomas and flings a spear of ice Hoopa's way to avenge him.[break]
Before he can get back into the fray, Eris pancakes him.