To go even deeper into the Giant Chasm - to descend into Area Zero - was a strange feeling, to Ettie. She knew that caves existed, of course - and that some could reach pretty far... But was there a limit, to how deeply one could delve? To how deep one could dig? How much would it take, to reach that limit - and to end up in a world that you never belonged in?

... Perhaps, this wasn't the time for those sorts of thoughts, she decided - even if they were a bit less wordy and eloquent in Ettie's own head.

Instead, the wildchild focused on the path ahead as the pack crossed through the waterfall in a two-file line - with Midnight taking up the rear on his own, and Ettie seated atop Maria. Of course, Anne was less than enthused over having to get wet - being quick to shake herself off the first opportunity she got.

But otherwise, there was no troubles as the group entered the expansive cavern system beyond. The group was keeping good pace with Josh and his entourage - and with so many eyes and ears out, ambushes were exceedingly unlikely.

In Area Zero proper though, Ettie was a bit awed at the sights. Beautiful glimmering crystals, wide open spaces... "Pretty..." She breathed, glancing around and taking in the sights. This alone made it worth it coming down here, she decided to herself.

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Josh Devlin

The echoing sound of roaring water became less prominent as the duo and their Pokémon delved deeper into the well-lit cavern. Energized by the overflowing Terastal energy surrounding them, the two felt a battle lust overcome them. As a wild Kommo-o Terastallized into a pure Dragon-type, the two powerful Pokémon double-teamed it, the Iron Boulder's QUICK ATTACK leaving it reeling. Josh gasped; he had not expected the Terrakion facsimile to be so fast. Maybe it was a good thing he had wheeled and dealt his way to one instead of the Iron Leaves! That was, if he could ever get through to the paradox Pokémon. It seemed obedient to him as long as he was in the Great Chasm area, but when taken outside it, not so much.

"Those two are something else," Josh mused, watching the Type: Null and Iron Boulder cleave and rip apart Pokémon after Pokémon. "Been a long time, Ettie, what you been up to? This place is something else, too. We're hundreds, if not thousands of feet underground, and the caves are bright as day thanks to the Terastal crystals."

Though the place was beautiful, it was just as much dangerous. But, even if Aleph and Tyrfing are powerhouses, there is something to be said about the power of numbers. About the pack being able to take down something much larger than them individually, yet is on the backfood by sheer virture of being vastly outnumbered.

And with these numbers, Ettie is able to feel safe - no matter how dangerous this place may be.

As Josh speaks though, Ettie perks to glance to him - and she giggled, smiling bright. "Ettie-pack has den! Ettie found spot, pack really like! So is den-home now!" She chirped with a happy wiggle. With a proper den, she could pick and choose who comes with her and who stays home... It just so happened that going into the Giant Chasm and Area Zero, she wanted to bring more pokemon than what most other trainers seem to usually take with.

Glancing to Josh's pokemon though, Ettie would in turn ask "How Josh-pack? Alpha seems play-nice." After having figured out the issue with the Type: Null's more ornery nature, she was happy to see that it was able to cooperate a bit with Josh and his own pokemon.

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Josh Devlin

There was certainly safety in numbers, though having one or two powerful Pokémon had its merit, too. If the line ever broke, then numbers would dwindle quickly. Still, Ettie's pack was strong. The trio of Shiny Lycanroc in particular was impressive. How had he not gotten one for himself? The species would make a wonderful rock-type steed, especially for travel over rocky landscapes. "Where's your den at? I should stop by sometime," Josh offered. "Almost like the day you took the grand tour at my Gym. That was one fun weekend. I'll have to tell Shalin about it, too!"

As the duo continued downward, Ettie seemed eager to catch up with Josh. "Sorry, did I say Alpha? His name is Aleph," the Gym Leader gently corrected. "There's something about this place that calms Pokémon like him. Pokémon that overflow with Infinity Energy. Maybe he'll understand me one day. It's still as much of a struggle as ever trying to understand him." Another QUICK ATTACK from Tyrfing was mesmerizing for the Gym Leader to watch. If he could strap a saddle to the Iron Boulder, maybe he wouldn't need to chase a Raikou anymore. There were so many other rare and strange Pokémon that could move at incredible speeds. First, Kora in the RKS Simulation, and now this Terrakion look-alike.

"I've been doing well, though! Did you see I got second place at Vital City? Took home quite the payday for it!" he bragged as the cave forked in three, a Flutter Mane patrolling the intersection.

Ettie smiled bright at the notion of him visiting - she'd love for her friends to be able to meet her pack in full, with how big it's become! "Pack-den near Meteor Falls. In rocky-ridgey place, with easy path to forest for hunting!" She explained, adding "Can show, later! Yip makes travel fast!"

Having a pokemon that could teleport, as it turned out, was quite helpful.

The talk of Aleph, though, would make Ettie hum. "Maybe Josh-packmates understand?" She suggested, glancing to him. There was the language barrier, for certain - but pokemon knew pokemon best. "Ask what your pack thinks."

On the other hand, Vital City made her perk up and giggle. "Playfights was fun!" She chirped, adding "Raikiri strong!"

Yip would blow a raspberry - but it all seemed well-natured, if the smile she cast Josh afterwards was of any indication. From the Smeargle's perspective, it was a friendly rivalry. She was looking forward to the opportunity to get the upper hand on that feline, if a rematch ever came along!

Though, as the group moved, there came a cry - distant, electronic-mechanical, and strange. It echoed from somewhere deep - and the pack, as a group, seemed to take note; ears perking and twitching. "... Is not here." Ettie soon stated in observation. "From far. Like howl."

Though, the meaning intended in this call was not clear to the pack. Perhaps an announcement of one's territory? With all the pokemon and people coming in and appearing around here, it only stood to reason that there'd be wild pokemon eager to tell their competition for territory and food to go away.

Distant Miraidon(?) call prompt

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Josh Devlin

Josh's smile grew; he was excited for Ettie to give him the grand tour of her den. "Let's set up a date for it and I'll drop by!" He remembered what Ettie was referring to; such was the utility of being able to teleport. "Braver can do that, too," the Gym Leader bragged. He wondered if he should bring the Arcanine to such a place in case they needed to make a quick escape. With all the highly dangerous Pokémon, though, he had to bring his best. He was also trying to build rapport with Aleph and the two robotic Sacred Swords. They were priority number one while inside Area Zero.

Ettie had a good point. "I might have to ask Saber about Aleph, Tyrfing, and Sigmund. I know him really well. Maybe he can help me figure it out." As he would find out firsthand, legendary Pokémon truly operated by different rules. Depending on their personalities, he might not ever be able to strap a saddle to any of these three. There would be no guarantee he'd be able to ride them like his other Pokémon, either. It was part of the reason he had backed off on his pursuit of Raikou so much. Nothing would be more disappointing than befriending Raikou and being told "No, you cannot grace my back."

The electromechanical call caught Josh's attention and gave Tyrfing and Sigmund pause, the Manectric and Type: Null overtaking the duo before the latter fell asleep on the job. "The only way we're getting answers is by going in deeper. Keep your eyes out for Pokémon, though. Even the 'normal' Pokémon here are incredibly dangerous. Let's take five and reevaluate until Aleph wakes up."

Ettie nodded eagerly, as Josh mused over asking Saber. "And packmates like Janus or Dashie, and friends of Aleph, Tee-... Tyr-fing, and Sigmund!" She agreed. Having a Psychic pokemon like Haru helped a bunch, in better understanding her packmates - and surely, those three had friends amongst Josh's other pokemon, too, right?

As far as that mysterious call went though, Josh was right, in that the only way to know for sure was going deeper. Ettie was curious as well - though she also wasn't sure if she wanted to deliberately bother a pokemon that had already found its place in these caves.

Regardless though, it appeared that Aleph wanted to rest - and thus, Ettie was happy to give the pack a breather as well as they set up a perimeter. In the meantime, she'd turn to Tyrfing and Sigmund, asking the two Paradoxes "Friends okay?" It seemed they had been put off by the call in some way - and carefully raising a hand, she'd offer them some reassuring pats.

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Josh Devlin

Ettie was onto something, mentioning all of Josh's psychic-type Pokémon. He knew Janus well enough that the Espeon could serve as a rough translator between the paradox Pokémon and himself. He might be able to get to the bottom of why they were so well-behaved here. Even Aleph wasn't quite as on edge as before. "I think next time I'm down here, I'll bring Janus with me. I think it's specifically this place that's making them calm. Every time I use them outside here, they're... not nearly as cooperative." He vividly remembered the time Sigmund nearly fried his brain into a short circuit in front of Yuina Higashi . Why here, though? Why could he command the futuristic Sacred Swords here?

Sigmund and Tyrfing shot Ettie menacing glances when the wild child pat the two, as friendly as the young one's gestures may have been. Were she to persist, she would find her hand with a small cut of the Terrakion look-alike's blade and a neural spike in her mind. "Careful around them," Josh cautioned as Aleph at last stirred. "I'm sure they'll be friends in due time. I'm finding these kinds of Pokémon... like legendary Pokémon. The ones that look like Cobalion and Terrakion... they're just like Cobalion and Terrakion themselves. They operate by rules other Pokémon don't." The more rare Pokémon Josh raised, the more he was realizing that he may not have had the strength to bond with one properly himself. Were he to befriend Raikou, would it be a true friendship, or would Raikou dominate him?

Regardless of Ettie's decision, Josh would urge the party beyond the waterfall and into the cavern. "I'm ready to go deeper if you are." With a light kick to Saber's sides, the Manectric was off, bravely bounding through the waterfall and to Area Zero proper.

Ettie's expression shifted into something thoughtful, as Josh mused over the relation between this place and them being calmer. Aleph she was less sure of the origins of... But didn't these weird funky metal paradoxes come from here, from what she'd heard?

Were they calmer here because it was home, she wondered? Familiar? She only knew so much about of things like Infinity Energy - which was to say not much - so her own theories went in a different direction from Josh's own.

As far as Sigmund and Tyrfing went though - it became quickly apparent to Ettie, that these two were not ones for physical contact. Which was a shame - she wanted to reassure them, if that call had them spooked! They were moving as a pack, after all, so neither of them had to worry!

But, she gets the message - and thus, she gives the two Paradoxes their space. Instead, she's content to check on the other pokemon, particularly her own pack.

It's when Aleph begins to stir and get back up, that the pack in turn begins to gather back together - ready to continue onwards. "Mhmm! Am ready." Ettie confirmed, as she hopped onto Anne's back - continuing onwards through the crystalline caverns...

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Josh Devlin

It was fortunate for Ettie that the two paradoxes were friendlier than Aleph was; the Type: Null was liable to lash out and hurt people for not giving them their space. Tyrfing and Sigmund weren't overly friendly, but they at least knew how to be polite and respectful. One day, they might be just as amicable as the rest of the Gym Leader's Pokémon, though that would take quite some time.

Ettie and Josh rode their canine Pokémon alongside one another, bravely advancing beyond the waterfall and into the Terastal Cavern below. Slowly but surely, they would delve beyond where Josh had been with others previously, expanding the League's map of the place. Progress was slow; with every couple hundred paces, a horde of Terastal Pokémon would halt their advance.

The ground-type Tera Crown of a wild Glimmora prompted Josh to rein his Manectric to a stop. "I'm not well-equipped to handle ground-type Pokémon," the Gym Leader frowned. "Let's turn back and try again tomorrow. Better prepared." Perhaps he would need to bring one of his water Pokémon around. If only Kairi was feeling well...