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"Gishath, try not to run off in this. We can't see anything worth squat." The Gabite hissed in response.

Another dip into Ultra Space, though this time, Gwen found herself by Ameena proper, surrounded in a dimly lit area. It was like nightfall but somehow, even darker, if such a thing was possible. Gwendolyn had prepared for this voyage unexpectedly, as she had her handy Magneton all ready to go. There was her Xurkitree she had been wanting to try out, though she really wasn't in the mood to really test inviting more Ultra Beasts to fight them.

"Hang on, Ms. Abadi. I got this."

She took out Reppi's pokeball and threw the Magneton out into the blackened space in front of them. The wirey, robotic cry of her electric-type signaled its arrival into the field. She rubbed the exterior of their skin before looking at her pal.

"Mind giving us a little light, Reppi?"

The trio of eyes had began to glow an intense gold color as their bodies began to expel a soft light that allowed for some amount of limited vision inside of this strange place. The Ranger looked back towards Ameena with a thumbs up as their spotlight into the darkness was a means for them to begin to explore.

"Where to first then?"

---

01. use an ELECTRIC-TYPE Pokemon to help light your way.

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”Good point. There's a lot here to see. It's crazy how people can just live in a place like this without any light.”

Gwendolyn observed, with her Gabite matching her enthusiasm to explore but lacking the willingness to attempt more peaceful glances at passing Pokémon and people. It certainly was more welcoming than the previous spot they had found themselves at. Maybe giant Xurkitrees wouldn't start trying to electrocute them upon sight here.

A part of her was ready to start scavenging around the ruins in hopes of finding some in tact pieces of technology to disassemble and hopefully discover something that she could easily integrate into one of her ranger gadgets or more. Would they technically still be stealing here? The city had seen better days, but it didn't look like anybody could live here realistically. Her stream of thought came to a halt upon being offered some of the crystals on the ground that Ameena was quick to discover.

She took one of the Z-Crystals handed to her and held it up to the light, inspecting it in front of the light provided by her Magneton.

"I've seen some of them before. But seeing them drained is just...insane."

Gishath sniffed the residue of ones scattered around them. While not as enticing as the rubies and gems back at the Draciary, he still had enough to try and gather enough for himself. Gwen glanced down for a moment until a flickering light caught her eye from a machine that was close by. A strange design was on top, but the can front and center did catch her eye.

"Is that..."

Her feet carried her closer to the machine to inspect it fully. Beyond her initial thoughts, it was a vending machine! But instead of where a dollar bill was put into the machine, there was a slot for something entire entirely.

Something that was in the same shape of what was in her hand.

"No way!" Gwen gently slid the defunct Z-Crystal into the slot as it fell through. "A vending machine?"

The sound of churning, electric gears could be heard loudly scraping against one another. Gwen had been afraid that the machine was going to explode after so many seconds of grinding. Just as quickly as it was born, the noise pollution subsided. A rumble came from somewhere inside before spitting out one of the cans plastered on the front.

Her hands looked around the surface of the can, studying the weird language and design.

"Is this some sort of weird recycling system? They drain Z-Crystals and turn in the bodies for...drinks?"

---

07. discover barely working vending machines that dispense odd tasting energy drinks in exchange for defunct Z-CRYSTALS.

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"Good point."

But wow, that noise was something else. It was like a Metagross had been screaming around and smashed into a manufacturing plant reactor. Like that's how loud it was. Once it had ended, she quickly observed the energy drink provided in return for the used z-crystal. It seemed like an average kind of drink, though Gwen didn't want to test downing it here.

Way too many people around here.

"Right, let's leave before more people show up. I can't imagine that nobody will come and investigate this noise."

Gwen packed the drink away in her bags just in time to hear a shambling of feet behind her. She spun around and lead the way to the next little street clear of debris and people roaming around. It was a tad darker than most other places. Any light source was more distance and fleeting, akin to a dying light bulb struggling to continue to bathe its surroundings in light.

Across from them, the sound of a scuffle were nearby. Shouting was present, with some voices ringing out in the cold darkness.

It was faintly visible, but two Megaopolans were forcing another down, beating them up pretty roughly. They did have some kind of chance to pass by while they were busy with the other grunt, but that look in Gwen's eyes. Maybe Ameena hadn't recognized it by now, but Gwen wasn't one to let things like this go.

"Shock 'em both, Reppi!"

An orb of electricity shot out from their position, smashing into the two feral sounding Megapoloans as the force had knocked them back alongside a powerful shock. Such an act would have been commendable in any other context.

But not with the sound of the horde growing closer.

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Ah, Mega Evolution. The solution to many a problem that any person could really have. Ameena pulled up her bracelet so swiftly to mega evolve her Gardevoir. Unfortunately, Gwen didn't have such niceties and was thus left to fend for her own self while the more powerful of the two would be their building force through the ongoing horde.

"Sure do!" Gwen replied when asked about who else she had. "C'mon out, Crunch!"

In an instant, the fierce looking Tyranitaur emerged from the pokeball, letting out a terrifying roar with his cry. The dragon-type stomped around them while the orange haired assistant smiled at Ameena in a youthful pride. His skin was a shade different than most, notably due to finding him wandering around the mountains.

"I've been working with him for the Pokemon HOME Initiative. He's kind of quick to anger, but this will be a nice little venting session for him."

Indeed it was, as the Tyranitaur raised a stumpy foot into the air before bringing it down as the area around them shook at his presence. The large portions of the mindless population here would fall to the ground, while weakened buildings and structures would begin to tremble and creak in weakness.

"A-As you can see..."

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Well, in hindsight, maybe bringing the most destructive Pokémon out to an area that was already on the brink of collapse wasn't the best idea she's ever had. Gwendolyn watched ad the resulting earthquake and managed to stop a good portion of the crowd here, alongside further damaging the buildings present within the immediate vicinity.

Ameena’s tone shifted into being much more serious and pointed than what Gwen had been used to. The disappointment that the woman likely had for her protege was likely a painful realization about Gwen's haste to think of a solution on the fly.

"Sorry, I...I didn't think that..."

She returned Crunch into his capsule silently and appeared guilty at the mess she had caused. The Ranger looked over at the Mega Gardevoir and readied themselves to be teleported out of Ultra Space and back home.

"This is all my fault, I should have been more careful. Next time, I'll pick my team better."