These were strange lands and stranger people. He’d been here for quite some time now, but little had made less sense than this area. Not even Galar had something quite like this: a massive whole in the ground, filled to the brim with strange crystals and Pokémon from a different reality. How unreserved they were. How hostile.

But they deserved protection all the same. They were all Pokémon. Arceus’ precious creatures. Even if they were not of this time, they deserved to live their lives as much as the next Pokémon– especially since this was their land. Their home. If anything, he was the invader here.

But he’d make things right. He and Obstagoon trekked down inside the earth, deep within the dank caves that reeked of mildew, natural chemicals, and sweat. It was dark, but his eye had adjusted long ago. Besides, all he needed was the idle sound of wild Pokémon.

“Hold on,” Tavish held up a hand to stop his companion. Natural light filtered far ahead, down the rest of this path. Even better, the sound of heavy steps and the hum of some ‘engine’. Either someone had brought their car down here, or that was a Futuristic Paradox. Slowly, they crept forward.

They peered around the corner. Yep, there was a round metal one. A lot like a Donphan, but cast from iron instead of flesh. It looked peaceful, at home in the environment. And dangerous. It’d make things hard if they attracted its attention.

But something else caught the Obstagoon’s eye. She tapped his shoulder and signed. “A person? What? Where?”

She pointed directly to the figure, off to the side. At the edge of some foliage, away from immediate vision. Of their target, that was. For the pair, though, it was like they were in the perfect spot for an ambush.

But that face was eerily familiar. Like they’d been in conflict before…

It didn’t take long for Tavish to realize the connection. He swiftly pulled out his knife and stepped forward, his face in a hard scowl. He raised his free hand to shield his eye from the awful sunlight, “You! You bloody bastard, step back from the innocent Pokémon!”

---

Rhys Collins
TOTAL: 98
ZK2V7AO4

Thank Arceus; Tavish had shown up just in time to prevent this awful man from doing any harm (that he knew of). Who cared if a whole herd of Iron Treads, violent towards any entity that wasn’t their own, soon gave them the red death eyes? He’d prevented a tragedy, and that was good enough. With any luck, they’d trample this joke of a doctor along the way.

But, as much as he hated to say it, the quack was right: he’d be gored if he and Obstagoon also didn’t turn around and start to run after the doctor. However, he wasn’t about to show ‘mercy’ just because the other did.

That’s why, when they both entered the tunnel he had just emerged from, he bent down and scooped up a rock as they ran for their lives. And then another, and one more for good measure.

“Don’t think ye can outrun yer fate, you bloody devil!” Tavish lobbed the first rock right towards Rhys, hopeful that he’d blow out the doctor’s knee and damn him to death by robotic trampling.

Unfortunately, the one eye left a lot to be desired for depth perception. That’s why the rock instead went flying straight past the main, a few healthy feet in front of him. A second rock quickly followed suit.

“Damn you! Stay still, so I can condemn ye to a death suitable of your crimes!”

Obstagoon rolled her eyes. Now wasn’t the time to squabble– but she wasn’t about to step in when it felt like the Iron Treads were gaining on them. She knew they could get into sphere mode, but she didn't think they'd manage to catch up so well, in the dark and cramped space of these tunnels. They'd be in trouble if they didn't figure anything out fast.

---

Rhys Collins
TOTAL: 198
DSxiTEIU

Tavish’s final rock arced toward Rhys, still barely missing the mark as the man disappeared around the bend. He followed in hot pursuit, not nearly as thrown off by the appearance of the low-jutting pillar. This is also why he cleared it gracefully, like a ballerina in a play.

Obstagoon didn’t even bother to jump, as she instead raised her arms and delivered the sediment a powerful Cross Chop. Debris scattered in her wake, some chunks large enough to slow down the–

Nope, the Iron Treads barreled through it like it wasn’t even there. Obstagoon groaned but kept on running. They’d reach an open space soon, and from there they could try to plan out a response. Just needed to keep going.

And hope Tavish didn’t actually trip Rhys. That’d be another hazard she’d have to worry about as they emerged from the dark, decrepit tunnels. It was, by no means, a grand, open space. They were in a large pit, filled with various boulders and a few other wild Paradox Pokémon that clung to the edges like life-preservers. They all scattered as the earth rumbled underneath the wild pack of Iron Treads.

But Tavish kept his eye on the back of Rhys, who showed signs of lagging. He remembered when he’d been the same, before he condemned himself down the path of vigilantic justice. How out of shape he’d been. How that had nearly gotten him killed several times.

He’d ensure this man never learned that mistake. Tavish pulled off another smoke bomb from his belt and handed it off to Obstagoon, “Throw it ahead!”

She rolled his eyes, but she did consider a different approach. The pot did not fly forward but instead slammed into the ground at her feet. White smoke billowed out and covered their tracks, so to speak. The first few Iron Treads audibly lost track of where to go and barreled off to the side.

The earth shook violently, and they could only watch as four Iron Treads slammed into the solid earth. For Obstagoon, a breath of relief.

For Tavish, abject horror. “Arceus, please grant them safe passage into your domain…”

“And send this bastard straight t'hell!”

He doubled his pace, his eye now ablaze. He’d feed him to the beloved creatures himself if he had to.

---

Rhys Collins
TOTAL: 296
 |aObnM0W

“Oh that’s it! I’m gonna string ye by yer liver and feed ya to the Wingulls! Yer spleen’ll be great fer the Magikarp! I’ll pluck yer eyeballs–”

Tavish was too busy describing how each of Rhys’ body parts would be utilized for the benefit of Pokemon-kind to notice the entrance of the cave opened up. Or how Rhys deployed his own Starmie to wash them away, alongside the stragglers that still had a lock on to their existence. Trickle became stream became strong current.

Unfortunately for Rhys, Tavish still had a way to get to him. The distance between the two hadn’t been great enough to prevent him from seeing the Starmie. A psychic type. Perfect. Tavish quickly released Sonny from his ball and held the trap-Pokemon in his arms.

“You think yerself so clever, so let’s see how ye handle this!”

Tavish reeled back and tossed the heavy creature as straight ahead as he could. And thanks to the flat body of the creature, as well as the momentum, he skipped the first time he was in contact with the water. Once he flapped his body in such a way to go even further with the momentum, it took no time at all for him to close the distance on the Starmie.

Dark energy surrounded its fins and delivered a crippling Sucker Punch straight into the gem of the starfish.

“Show 'em who not t'fuck with, Sonny!” Tavish whistled, even as the current started to become problematic. If he didn’t stop the Starmie soon…

---

Rhys Collins
TOTAL: 365
  NYkmTgMQ

Tavish waded through the rest of the water and retrieved Sonny just as the smoke started to seep in from the ground, like a burst septic tank. Try as he might, the thick black smoke was simply too potent, as he reached the spot where he thought Rhys was. Of course, the bugger had run off before he could even get his hands on him.

Tear him a new ass, as one might say.

On the bright side, the smoke also prevented the Iron Treads from making good on their intentions. Sure, they ran out of the cave and shook the earth all around him. A few got too close for comfort and nearly crushed him underfoot. But none of them truly collided with him or Obstagoon. After a few moments, they had all run past and back into the wild of…

Where this was. Tavish snarled, but did not bother to continue the chase. It’d be like trying to work with Fluorine: technically possible, but probably not worth the effort or the risk associated with it. Still, it didn’t mean he had to be happy about it. He stomped one foot into the ground and looked up to the blacked-out sky.

“Don’t think we’re done ‘ere, ya quack doc!” He screamed into the void. “Ya ‘aven’t seen the last of Tavish Rose, ya hear!? I’ll get ya one day, and they'll have to glue you back together in hell!”

Obstagoon quickly put a furry claw on his shoulder and held a digit to her lips. The quiet, muffled beeps of the wild Iron Treads got a little louder. He nodded along.

Time to make an exit, before they really got surrounded by the Paradoxical Pokémon.

---

Rhys Collins
TOTAL: 470
  MCwPZAh_