[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]While the Ultra Crater didn't hold the same innate appeal for Aurelie as the Mechanical Kingdom had, it certainly contained plenty intriguing mysteries and breathtaking wonders. The foremost of these were the craters, which were linked somehow with the moon and could be satisfied with strange offerings.

Unlike last time, when Jack had done all the work, Aurelie came prepared this time. From her backpack, she drew a stone bowl from a kitchen supply store, as well as a bathrobe printed with Typhlosions from her favorite thrift shop. For the jeweled branch, she offered an eyepatch adorned with leaves made of semiprecious gems.

Together, they toured the other craters to leave the offerings. With each stop, the moon grew larger and brighter overhead. At the last crater, it rose into dazzling prominence, a silver disc shimmering at the zenith of the sky, so huge that it looked close enough for them to reach out and touch.

Out of the corner of her eye, Aurelie caught sudden flashes of white. Turning, she gasped when she saw a group of Kartanas reacting to the sight of the great, luminous moon by leaping away through the fields and into the jungle beyond. She tugged at Jack's arm and pointed.

"Look at that!" the redhead whispered. "Where do you think they're going in such a rush? Maybe we should follow them and find out..."

Planting her feet cautiously to avoid stepping on a twig or rustling the grass, she hustled after the fleeing Pokemon. The jungle was dense and dimly lit, yet the trail left by the group of Kartanas was clear and easy to follow. Aurelie and Jack stayed at a distance, careful to avoid alerting them of their presence.

It didn't take long until they reached what looked like a spectacular emerald-green pagoda rising in the heart of the jungle, seemingly fashioned all from towering bamboo stalks. Dozens of Kartanas guarded the multi-story tower with gradually tiered, gracefully sloping eaves. Even in the celadon-tinted light filtering through the leaves and vines overhead, their blades gleamed bright and sharp.

As the party they were tracking through the jungle approached the pagoda, there seemed to be a guard change. For a few minutes, it seemed like no one was patrolling outside. "Do you think we should explore inside?" Aurelie whispered, catching Jack's eye.

Then suddenly, a single Kartana emerged from the entrance and stared directly at the two of them. Its sword rang free of its sheath as it hissed a fierce challenge at them and charged swiftly forward.

[attr="class","cred"]VEL OF PIXEL PERFECT