The moment Uxie told Hideo to release the chain, he did so - just in time for Ogerpon to run in and score a homerun on the little thing he'd drawn in.

Hideo would've felt worse for it if it hadn't just attempted to attack him. Guess that Pokemon was the root of the problem.

Oh well.

His next instinct was to try and detain Cyllora, but it sounded like the Megalopolans were taking them, in spite of many attempts to kill Cyllora. Hideo wanted to voice his objections - but he could feel his body aching all over.

He was tired. He didn't have the energy to fight against the same mob that just tried to kill the Megalopolan.

And his mind was suddenly bombarded with Uxie urging him to return to Azelf. Groggily, he walked over, only to feel the sheer emotions radiating from Mesprit.

Feelings of joy.

"They're…they're alright," Hideo muttered. "Azelf's alright…"

He didn't even question the phenomena he couldn't see - he was just relieved. Uxie was as well, holding tight Azelf's other hand.

He'd finally found what he'd been looking for for so long.

…

…

Now what?

Uxie told him Azelf still needed time to rest. And now that the current problem was dealt with, it was only a matter of time until bad actors started something. They had to leave, to take Azelf somewhere safe to restore its energy. Once they had some time, he could think about what to do next.

His immediate thought was to bring Azelf to Evergrande - but that was dashed as he recalled that even there wasn't impregnable, if Chu-e Choi 's escape and return to Rocket was a sign of anything.

So his next thought was to the place where Uxie and Mesprit first joined them. The town he called his own now.

"We…we should take Azelf somewhere safe," Hideo said. "I know a safe place where they can rest." He was in an awkward spot of being unable to say exactly where, unsure if there were any unfriendly ears it might reach.

Even Ettie he was cautious of, even in spite of her Heal Pulse and kind words.

Thankfully, Uxie could help him with that. It spoke a single word in both Eris Halla and Cassandra Kubrick 's minds:

LITTLEROOT

"I…I need a ten-hour shower first. Then we can get some cake…"

Or maybe not. An entire week's diet of sweet mochi had him craving some dry, salty crackers.

And he could take this mask off once he was safe. No need to protect his identity in private.

Doesn't feel bad for Pecharunt

Oh crap the adrenaline buff went out

Oh fuck yes Azelf is alive

Chooses to take Azelf to Littleroot (discussed with Eris Halla and Cassandra Kubrick 's players)
However, doesn't say so aloud: Uxie mentally tells Eris and Cass

Really wants something not-sweet to eat right now

Not yet aware that he can still use the Red Chain

PRISMATIC PENITENTIARY

It's Over. It is done.

As is customary of Hoenn, it ends with what feels to him like abrupt anti-climax. For a moment, he's afraid they've murdered yet another person, yet another pokemon.

It is not Cyllora who dies, however— it is Velmos.

The Ever Rot is punted away, right across the horizon. Like a cartoon, never to be seen again.

As if.

Someone should go make sure the thing is...

Dead? No... Contained...?

He doesn't have the energy to do it himself, though. Isn't willing to tell others to try, either.

There are more important matters.

"Yuina..." He intones as he stumbles to his feet, feeling a familiar pressure assert itself above his head as Tapu Lele descends, settling her weight unto him.

He looks around, finding Yuina Higashi and Celebi once again.

And then he hears Lucia Aldrete's voice.

Her cries.

"Lucy...?" He mutters, spinning about, eyes swiveling before finding his fledging student. Out of everyone that didn't deserve this mess, she did not deserve it the most. "Lucy."

He goes to her— stumbling at first, before finding the strength to march, every tear spilled by the child hammering away at exhaustion and finding the will beneath.

"Lucy." He said once again as he stood before the girl, kneeling in front of her before gently wrapping his arms around her, cradling her in his arms before rising, picking her up. "You can cry now, Lucy. It's okay, no one will punish you for it..."

He turned back to look at Yuina, giving her his most tired, genuine smile as they were enveloped by Palkia's power.

"We're going home."

---

TL;DR:

As soon as Elisabeth Fiorelli and WO-CHIEN had left, Josh's bloodthirsty trance expired, sharp pangs of pain shooting down his left arm. He and his Raikou stumbled through illeana reyes ' portal, whisking him away from Ultra Space and back to... Mauville Gym's lobby.

---

Secretary on duty SHELLY SPIEL gasped when she came back from lunch to see the Gym Leader on the floor, his arm in a wholly unnatural position. She immediately called Hoenn's emergency number, an ambulance on the scene within minutes. As he was carried away on a stretcher, Swift disintegrated into the ash he was composed of. She was distraught. On one hand, Josh had at last hunted down Raikou and made the Beast his own. But at what cost? The cost was clearly dire, not just for himself, but for everyone working at Mauville Gym. For if the Gym Leader's recovery was complicated, he might have to close Mauville Racing Grounds.

Would he ever be able to ride again?

[attr="class","emapokemonteam"][attr="class","emapokemonteam"][attr="class","emapokemonteam"][attr="class","emapokemonteam"][attr="class","emapokemonteam"][attr="class","emapokemonteam"][newclass=".emapokemonteam"]height:40px;width:40px;background:#2b2b2b;border-radius:100%;margin:0 5px;[/newclass]

The teen breathes a sigh of relief as Ettie doesn't move after the disappearing figure of Cyllora, vanishing amongst the other Megalopolans. (And isn't that it, in the end, how evil is plain ...) "We'll get loads of it!"

And then.

Cass didn't think herself capable of quickly cycling through emotions in that near-death exhaustion state, but seeing Azelf alive fills her with a variety. Joy, then another 'bout of anger (what did she go through all stages of grief for!!), then embarrassment, which all becomes a big complicated soup of just relief. Whatever else comes, at least this trio will be together to face it again.

She nods at Hideo Kino's words, pensive. (She really hopes he doesn't think of Ever Grande ... her trust in the League as weak as ever.)

Littleroot.

Cass does her best not to widen her eyes at the sudden voice - Uxie? - speaking in her mind, but does glance at Eris Halla - surely, she also got that, right? It's obvious Hideo doesn't want to speak about it here, so she just nods, both in agreement to Hideo's comment about needing a 10 hour shower and the location. "A shower sounds really good ... ..." She touches her hair and doesn't even want to think on the state of it. It's ... no, she refuses.

"Let's get home now."

She nods to her pokémon, who start moving. Effie and Saude do not need clear instructions, as they flurry and fly around, trying to aid in keeping Azelf concealed to even the smallest degree. No need to make a fuss now. She smiles at the two as she departs, readily walking through the pink rift without any further thought left in her brain.

And as soon as she sees the familiar scenery of Petalburg's streets, the last bits of energy leave her. She collapses - her fall only cushioned by her pokémon who quickly move to catch her before she hits the hard ground. However, they're not quite strong enough to move her, even with combined efforts ... Saude would speed away to their home, finally home, banging against Calpurnia Kubrick's window to get her attention. She'd hopefully recognise the little electric flying squirrel as one of Cass' pokémon and go pick up her girl. In the streets, she'd find Cass amongst her pokémon, with Martin spreading Aromatherapy and Floral Healing to ease away the injuries - bruises and scratches, unkept hair and clothes. A shoulder wound starting to look real bad. And purple stains on her arms and hands, even if the rest of her skin returned to a (slightly sickly) normal colour.

But above all - she's breathing.

tl;dr epilogue - cass' exit!
- ettie interaction
- cass finally realising azelf is actually alive (goes thru all stages of grief in reverse)
- agrees with littleroot, but doesn't say as well; makes some light chat
- fletchinder & emolga try to fly some distraction to conceal azelf
- go through the rift to return home to petalburg - alas doesn't end up in bed, collapses in the streets
- emolga flies to fetch calpurnia to pick cass up

The red chain gambit was working, with significant progress being made as Oscar crawled toward the would-be captors of the Never rot. Soon Oscar would be within a few feet of the squirming fruit, it was nearly within his grasp. His eyes went wild as victory neared, the possibility of his desires being fulfilled fueling his ailing body.

Then the fucking green thing grand slammed it into oblivion.

Oscar lay frozen, reaching for something that was no longer there. The Never rot had been launched with a blow so powerful, that it had likely gone a distance undocumented by megalopian scholars. He collapsed, pressing his face into the pavement and letting out a pained groan. With the last of his energy he would turn over on his back, looking up at the Ultra Space sky. Once again his selflessness had let him down.

Abner had taken a great deal of punishment as he protected his charges, but not quite as much punishment as Navy's Urshifu. Its endurance was admirable, and working alongside such a powerful being filled Abner with a bizarre sense of pride. Not for himself, but for his species. As the battle ended, a bleeding Abner would turn to his fellow wounded warrior, his expression hardened by instinctual disdain. Yet he would not act with malice, instead offering the warrior his hand--to help it up, to shake, to slap away, it did not matter. The gesture itself was a rare signal of respect from a normally stoic being. It should be relished while it lasts, for the next time they meet these Urshifu shall clash on the field of battle. And it will be glorious.

Once the moment had concluded, Abner would limp over to his master, kneeling down to check his vitals. Oscar did not react as Abner's claws checked his pulse, instead choosing to continue to stare up at the alien sky. He felt so foolish, so defeated. Yes his freedom had been earned, but Oscar's body and spirit had been crushed in the process. The thing that stuck with him most, beyond the coursing poison and persistent internal bleeding, was that stolen feeling of satisfaction.

He felt it when he saw his desires fulfilled through the mask, and then again when he realized that the Never rot could grant him what he wanted. Yet it was all an illusion, orchestrated by powers beyond his control. He was never in control...

Oscar went into auto pilot, struggling to raise himself on his own. Perhaps he had help, perhaps he did not, all he knew was that eventually he would find himself resting in a private hospital bed within his office. How did he get here? How long had he been in this bed? IVs were purging the poison from his system, and morphine was numbing the pain of his wounded body. Oscar just stared forward, the same vision playing again and again in his mind: Him standing upon a tower, looking over a shattered Hoenn. Details began to change over time; the Rocket airships lost their affiliation, instead bearing the logo of Infinity Industries. The toxic chain he used to supposedly achieve victory disappeared. He would require neither Rocket nor the Never rot to achieve his dream of domination. In time the answers became all too clear: He only needed himself.

tl;dr
--Oscar is a grumpy gus

PRISMATIC PENITENTIARY

UGLY WARD

THE BATTLE DOES NOT DISSIPATE JUST BECAUSE A COMBATANT IS DISARMED. for there are still enemies amidst them. in another timeline, fernando would have rallied himself for a second offensive. to attack obvious rockets and run through anyone in his way.

if it was him.

a knowing glance looks back at her. at the person he knows she’s not. a frown surfaces from beyond the backdrop of their portal home.

are you okay?

he doesn’t voice it in front of others. instead, a single syllable will have to convey his turbulent heart.

“el.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Elisabeth Fiorelli priam conrad