The sandstorm becomes thick with pungent purples and the earth fissures in two. The latter, he can do little. The former, he can at least attempt to clear, though it would not surprise him to learn if Himiko could also breathe toxins rather than just wear them.

Hawkins takes out a ‘cigarette’. His shadow flickers for a few moments as it tries to light. Then he inhales, then he exhales: out murmurs a thin spool of green, just a thread in the tapestry of his chikorita’s concurrent AROMATHERAPY.

The rugged vegetation of Petalburg heed the call. They stand straighter amidst the storm. They offer the gift of life to the air, pale motes of lilac and lavender, the scents of hawthorne and vanilla and patchouli that rise and caress all the resentment in these winds, dissipating the poisons nearby.

For a short time, at least, flowers will bloom on this path in history; this meandering detour through the side stories of a heated battle under the feet of Giants.

---

hS7EQk4C



Location: J5
Interact: PETRA MONROE Yamaguchi Himiko Eduardo Hisakawa shiv (ulysses)
tl;dr chikorita uses aromatherapy to clear the toxic property of the sandstorm in J5

As Oscar and Calvary pushed onward, the agony of the dynaenergy only intensified. Even the cold waters of Elisabeth Fiorelli's surf could not relieve their suffering, and as far as Oscar was concerned that was how it should be. He deserved this torment, it was but a small penance for his idiocy. If only Prime could see him writhe beneath the barrier's glow. Surely it would be moved--perhaps even enough to forgive...

Oscar let out a pained cry as he forced his eyes upward. He refused to be some sort of flagellating whelp begging for forgiveness. He pushed forward for himself alone, reaching for proof of his own self-worth. Their climb seemed to stretch on for hours, until at last the barrier was broken and the dynaenergy would subside. Oscar let out a pained gasp as his suffering came to an abrupt end, his body still ringing from the energy's embrace.

Yet there would be no time to rest, as regirock began to gradually show signs of reverting to its normal size. The titan shook violently, and Oscar would watch with bated breath as Howard would lose his footing and fall. His body tightened, refusing to resort to panic. This was exactly why he was up here. Oscar leaned back, holding onto Calvary's mane with one hand and reaching for Howard with the other. As the archeologist fell past, Oscar would clasp his wrist and squeeze it tightly.

Despite the excellent timing of Oscar's clutch, gravity would refuse to show mercy. Howard continued to fall, and while Oscar could hold him for a moment Howard's weight would prove too much for Calvary's mane. The beast yelped as its red hairs were yanked off, forcing Oscar to lose his grip. Oscar felt his thighs slide against his gouging fire's body, but despite his best efforts he could not maintain their vice-grip. Oscar joined Howard in his fall.

The scientist yelped as he tumbled backward, still clasping Howard as tightly as he could. Despite his sudden free fall--and the distorted chaos that surrounded them--Oscar still had no room to panic. He immediately reached for his belt, fumbling for a beast ball before gripping it decisively. He aimed the ball downward, opening it below himself as he used all of his strength to pull Howard closer. The energy of the ball solidified into Robbie Rotten, the cruelest of all Naganadel, whose body would catch the falling Rockets with only a moment's struggle.

While Robbie let out screeches of protest, enraged that it would be used as some sort of living life net, Oscar would focus on getting himself and Howard into a riding position. Oscar's body was exhausted, yet still he could not rest. The regirock was faltering, and they had precious little time to act. As close as they were, despite the raging sandstorm and its blackening toxins, Oscar would spot the crevice across regirock's chest. He had no doubt that Howard would be able to spot it as well.

Oscar pointed a ball toward his poor Gouging Fire to withdraw it before tapping the raving Naganadel on the head. He pointed toward the crack with demanding fervor. "Go!" Robbie grumbled but did as it was told, flying as close as it could to the crevice without sacrificing its safety. They were close enough for Howard to jump in, which Oscar invited as he turned his head. There was no time for orders or one liners, the time to act was now!

Ki56eFLi

tl;dr
--Whoopsie, the regirock began to shrink! Oscar caught the falling Howard as the archeologist lost his footing, but ended up falling off of his Gouging Fire. Oscar acted quickly, letting out his Naganadel to break their fall in mid-air. With no time to lose, Oscar would direct the Naganadel toward Regirock's crevice with the expectation that Howard would jump in straight away shortly thereafter.

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"]

Cass nods in acknowledgement of Elise Calcifet's words, a tremble rattling her body as she takes a shallow breath of air. "Thank you." But it's not enough. Not enough as something in the air shifts.

A gutteral scream shakes the air as Munkidor rejuvenates and gets away. Immediately, Azelf leaps forward - and so does Cass, but she's actually reaching for its small hand, holding him back as the monkey's already disappeared into the sandstorm. "The sandstorm-" she says, an urgent tone in her voice as she sees the faint purple tinge grow stronger and stronger. "It's poisoned."

Alarmed, it nods, still trembling with rage. But there's no revenge if there's no one left ...

It focuses its power in Safeguard this time, creating a space that the poison could not touch. And for a moment - concern, doubt. What if this, too, will be corrupted? Cass squeezes its hand in that moment of doubt, nodding slowly. "We'll ... we'll figure it out. Do you feel anything different, or?"

She also keeps a critical eye on it, one hand on her pokéball to recall it should it show any signs of overexertion ...

tl;dr N4
- azelf mad munkidori healed and got away, wants to chase
- cass holds it back as the sandstorm turns poisonous
- azelf uses safeguard but can it truly keep the poison at bay thonk
- cass assures it and asks if it feels anything different abt the safeguard
Ych35rpD

Uxie did not go easy on the Okidogi, and it felt a grim satisfaction as Ogerpon struck a critical blow against their mutual foe. And how it wanted to surround the downed Okidogi and kick it for what it'd done. But it knew better than to assume this was the dog's demise; it wouldn't be the first time it came back from death, the Pixie keeping a healthy distance away from it.

And sure enough, Uxie kept back when it saw that chain swinging, and was well out of the Okidogi's range when it started having a Stomping Tantrum. It watched as the Okidogi ran off into the sandset, and was more than willing to join Ogerpon in chase…

But it took notice to the change in the sandstorm - and it knew it couldn't leave Hideo behind. So it'd share its observation as it retreated back to its trainer:

THE CHAIN

If they wanted to take the dog down for good, they had to do something about its chain. It mentally spoke its hypothesis into the minds of the Ogerpon, the Quaqualva, and their trainers, Andrea Vaneau and Roze Falkner , but it'd leave them to work out what to do about it.

Hideo was still standing, but he was wobbling as he walked; his Sygna Suit may have tanked the damage from those rocks, but the damage was accumulating - and the poisonous sandstorm was not going to do him any favors.

All it took was one quick message to Hideo, and he shakily took out his Hatterene's Pokeball, a quick tap letting her out. The Hatterene was not pleased to see Hideo's current condition, shooting a glare at Uxie, who merely shrugged and pointed back to Hideo, telling her to focus on keeping him conscious rather than her rage.

The Pixie retreated into its Pokeball before she could smack it upside the head, a groan escaping her mouth as she turned back to Hideo. Her first priority: make sure his condition doesn't get any worse.

To that end, she let out an Aromatherapy to try and ward off any poison, both present and incoming, before putting her skills as a Healer to use, trying to help improve his condition well enough to get through this battle.

And if anyone else needed healing, she was there - and no doubt others could benefit from her Aromatherapy as well.

Uxie stays out of Okidogi's range, avoids Stomping Tantrum

Uxie guesses chain is behind rezzing, informs Andrea Vaneau , Roze Falkner , and their Pokemon

Uxie retreats back to Hideo, switches out with his Hatterene

Hatterene uses Aromatherapy, puts her ability as a Healer to use to help heal up Hideo

Salac x2

62oP_BOg

What others wanted wasn't a concern of his.

The world didn't care about what you wanted, it simply would act in accordance with it's own will. That was the simple truth of all life, you survived the world, or it killed you.

That was why Gaius didn't care about anything except for the fight in front of him. Why he was able to smile.

So when the deep strike came in, he felt the burning pain in his ribs as the knife sank in, but the smile on his lips never faded. This was a fight, this was what it meant to be alive.

To feel yourself clawing away from the grasp of death.

Quickly he snapped a palm underneath his opponents elbow, and another on his forearm, and with all his strength, using the knife in his side as even more leverage. He attempted to force the mans arm apart, and break the limb from the elbow down.

Gaius might not be able to fight at full capacity past this, but neither would his opponent.

Still whether his attack succeeded or failed, he would stumble backwards. The knife still lodged in his side. A souvenir of this glorious battle he would smile at the other.

"I will find you again....This is not enough for me....But there is someone else on this field that can slake my thirst." He states to Kouji, and starts to move away from him.

His Lucario using it's speed nimbly avoids the Psychic Fangs, and return to his masters side.

He had seen the light in the peripheral of his vision. A light that only a select few could properly command. A light that made someone the apex of a battle.

Gaius even in his wounded state sought the battle of that Apex. Mindless constructs were no better than the materials they were made of. No what he sought was there, and it was a man squaring off against two others. His Aerodactyl was beautiful in all of it's savage glory raining rocks down upon their foes.

A man that could fight multiple enemies at once was surely worth his time. This man could sate his hunger.

"Go...." He gave the command to his faithful Hound, and it used Copycat to copy the Rock Slide, and it attempted to hit Monroe, PETRA MONROE , and Eduardo Hisakawa all at once along with that flying beast.

"You....You can sate my thirst." Gaius said, and he squared up against this stranger that he had never met before, and those who might be caught in the crossfire.

uVMbCXA1

TLDR
Kouji Matsubara stabs Gaius in the ribs, but in return Gaius tries to break Kouji's arm!
Gaius with a knife in his side sees Monroe doing battle 2v1 with his Mega Aerodactyl, and appreciates that level of strength.
New Target acquired!
Gaius squares up to Monroe!
Lucario uses Copycat to copy Rock Slide, in order to rain down more hell on everyone, and on Monroe himself!
If PETRA MONROE Eduardo Hisakawa get caught in the crossfire that is a sacrifice Gaius is willing to make.