If there was anything that Makoto had anticipated, it certainly wasn't a shadow pokemon bursting in from seemingly nowhere. The Arcanine's appearance drew a yelp from Makoto, who was barely able to stumble back and out of the way of the canine's wrath. Were they its primary target, perhaps they wouldn't have been so lucky.

Erebus' reaction, however, was near-instant. It would use a Teleport of its own to move out of the Arcanine's path, placing itself at Makoto's side - the alien's unreadable gaze watching shadow and rider both.

Its mind brushes against Makoto's. I recognize them. A notion communicated not in words, but in a simple sense of familiarity, tinged with hostility.

Who are they?

The response comes in snippets of memory. Of when it was still under Amor Rose's employ, of a clash in the Chasm... It's plenty clear to Makoto, why this person might have a bit of a vendetta against Erebus. And it seemed that the Deoxys in turn had firmly placed these two under 'enemy'.

All the same though, Makoto would speak up. "Is this really a fight you want to repeat?" It'd be likely clear from the absence of the cybernetic armor that this was not the Seraphim that Yuina might expect to find at Erebus' side.

Yuina Higashi

"Not here." Makoto spoke simply. They weren't sure how much they really should say - they certainly weren't going to say that he was in Kalos now, but would a 'not here' truly suffice? "If you really have a bone to pick with him specifically, you're looking in all the wrong places."

Were this any other situation, perhaps they'd withdraw - attempt to avoid a fight. But if this woman knows Rockets are here, and raises the alarm? League presence in this part of the route would only increase; which was the last thing they wanted, for a path of least resistance.

There was only one option here - and Erebus seemed to concur. Refusing to give the duo the first strike, it would act Without waiting for Makoto's command; reaching out with Psychic energy to try and snatch at the Arcanine, to send it flying..!

Mission - Make It Double

Yuina Higashi

Shadows siphoned at Erebus' psychic energy, and the alien hissed at the sensation of such. Unnatural, even beyond one might think of itself - a deep-sunken chill that shouldn't be.

Neither it nor Makoto were deeply worried, though. Even if that reduced Erebus' overall mobility, there would still be options if they had to get out of here in a hurry. Kuro would not fight unless absolutely necessary - and thus would remain a hidden unknown in Makoto's shadow, a viable option down to the very end.

Rather than attempt to match the canine's speed though, Erebus would instead rise to hover above. Electricity built along its tentacle limbs, before it began to rain down upon the canine in a rain of Thunderbolts - seeking to pester from afar, and hopefully paralyze the swift beast..!

Makoto, meanwhile, would step back and away from the fighting - not keen on getting caught in the crossfire.

Yuina Higashi

Ryu surges forth, and fangs catch on one of Erebus' legs. The deep dark chill that follows draws a hiss from the alien, and when simply jerking away isn't enough to dislodge the canine, it retaliates. Drawing back a fist, it swings a Drain Punch at Ryu's skull, attempting to both absorb the beast's biomass and force it to let go.

Makoto, meanwhile, snaps their gaze to Yuina as she draws her blade. Though their illusory face furrows its brows, behind that mask they can't help but be a little nervous. "If you want to risk being caught in Thunderbolts or your own beast's attacks, then be my guest - but I have no interest in doing the same." They retort, putting on an air of confidence - false as it may be deep down. "I have some sense - and if you do as well, I'd suggest you don't come too close."

The warning here was genuine - in their shadow, Kuro lurked; staring down Yuina from the realm in-between. The ghost was already poised to protect who it regarded as a parent, if she got too close.

But in regards to Yuina's prior words... "... I don't fancy myself a successor, however; I wouldn't be able to do as he did." They spoke honestly. They were no scientist or tinkerer as he was. They were simply a shadowy thief.

Yuina Higashi

It is only with a quick Substitute that Erebus is able to escape the Shadow Down that washes over it; chilling and corroding, but thankfully only to the false self it leaves behind. There is nothing left of the facsimile when the wave passes, however - leaving the alien exposed as Ryuu further presses the offense..!

Though it is just able to slip away from being caught in the Arcanine's jaws, the flames still lick at its flesh - drawing a low hiss from the alien. It is still prepared to hinge on slowing the beast down, however, and thus attempts to catch it whilst it's in close proximity with another Thunderbolt..!

Meanwhile though, Makoto takes in Yuina's words - and really, it makes them feel weirdly bitter. 'More prepared for taking his place'. It wasn't as though they had much a choice. Amor Rose left, and they were the one that was given what was left behind. What does she expect, from something like that? For them to suddenly become a scientist as he was?

howard slayte thought them Amor's protege, his next in line, but was that even the truth?

It's clear that Yuina wants an answer from them, though - and so they go for the first reply that could possibly come to mind. "I won't need to."

As if in time with Makoto's words, Bitter Malice rushed out from their shadow - ghostly flames swirling and licking through the space between Makoto and Yuina, but not touching the woman, as if a warning to come no closer. Kuro's eyes gleamed in the dark - not fully emerged, but making its presence known, as the little fox growled threateningly.

Yuina Higashi

Ryu lunges, and Erebus is sent to the ground. The alien hisses as it's brought under the beast's great and chilling weight - and unable to Teleport, its options are limited in creating space. With this proximity though, it would strike out with another Drain Punch - absorbing as much biomass as it could from the shadowy canine, to mend the accumulating wounds.

Makoto eyeballed Daikenki as he emerged, realizing they'd have to be just a little more on guard, now. Kuro had tricks it could employ against the Samurott, but well... The Zorua was more a protector, than a fighter.

As if to emphasize this, the little fox would attempt to force Daikenki to make his leave, the shadows rising up into an illusory facsimile of a far larger and more monstrous form, its great limbs protectively curled around Makoto, as it let out a low and deep-rumbling Roar..!

For Yuina's words, though... Makoto wasn't sure if they'd have the answer she wanted. Perhaps if someone had asked these sorts of questions to them in good faith, they'd be a little more honest, in how Erebus was just sort of dumped onto them. In that if they had a choice, they'd rather be a faceless and unnoticed grunt amongst the masses. They'd rather stay under the radar, do their work, then pretend they could live a normal life off the paychecks Rocket gave them.

They never really asked for this attention, and the more Yuina needles them, the more frustrated they find themself feeling.

"... If I told you my worth, wouldn't that just be showing an enemy my hand?" They instead respond, attempting to make the remark sound cheeky or humorous, folding their arms behind their head to give off a casual body language. They cannot help a bitter hue, however, as they continue "But really... What does it matter to you, anyways? You just want to see me as another Seraphim, don't you? Would it make you feel better, if I made myself look more like him?"

Yuina Higashi