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Eris seemed so tired, so weary, maybe even more so than she had when they had last spoken at the Dewford memorial. Eddie didn't blame her, though – that just meant that he had to have energy enough for the both of them, [break][break]

“Yes ma'am!” he called back brightly. [break][break]

The Mudsdale at his side whinnied anxiously, ears twitching and tail swishing. The soldier wasn't sure if it was simply out of concern for their party in this strange, extra-dimensional land, or if she perhaps sensed some great looming thing on the horizon. Eddie shielded his eyes with his hand and stared out onto the expanse that lay before them, [break][break]

“Got some'a my bestest buddies with me – I figure this'll be a piece'a cake!” [break][break]

Well, maybe not, but who would Eddie be if he didn't play the part of the foolhardy and overconfident sidekick?

[attr="class","bottom"]Eris Halla [break]

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Soon enough, indeed. Eddie realized dismally that he might have just invoked Murphy's Law when he watched the oceans of sand ebb and flow. On the dark horizon, they swirled with seemingly malefic intent, [break][break]

“Oh, that don't look good.” [break][break]

This wasn't just some trek through the Asado – this was a whole other world, and for all Eddie knew, that sandstorm was going to swallow them whole. He fumbled with another of the Pokeballs at his waist, recalling the Mudsdale to summon a new companion who would be entirely unbothered by the coming sandstorm no matter how fiercely it raged, [break][break]

“Stella, give us some cover!” [break][break]

So emerged the Copperajah, who landed in the sands before them with a thunderous whump! Before the light above could be smothered by the coming storm, her metallic patina twinkled beneath it, shimmering as she put up her IRON DEFENSEs. Eddie nodded in her direction, [break][break]

“She's as broad as the side of a barn and weighs damn-near a ton. Think we can hunker down with 'er 'til this mess blows over?” [break][break]

Coal-black eyes narrowed with disapproval at the man. How could he be so boorish as to comment on a lady's weight?

[attr="class","bottom"]Eris Halla [break]

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Goggles would have been a smart idea. Eddie instead settled for shielding his eyes with a broad hand as the ground trembled beneath them, [break][break]

“Shit, yer prob'ly right,” he admitted. Eris had a third of his age but thrice his wisdom. [break][break]

They certainly weren't going to get anywhere if they just sat around and waited for this alternate universe Regirock to come cave their heads in. It was time to be proactive, Eddie figured. He slapped his other hand against the pachyderm's glittering side, [break][break]

“Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone!” [break][break]

Dark eyes followed his movements as he nodded towards the swath of land beyond, [break][break]

“Stella, you think you can clear us a path?” [break][break]

She rumbled, a low, deep sound, of acknowledgment, and she lowered her tremendous head. Eddie took a step back and motioned for Eris and Reiner to do the same, [break][break]

“Show 'em whatcha got!” [break][break]

What came next wasn't some terrible stampede, but rather the slow and trudging march of a cautious creature. Stella BULLDOZEd her way through the raging winds and swirling sands, carving out a clear swath in her wake for the party to follow. Eddie did so with glad pride, and waved on the rest of his party to follow suit, [break][break]

“Atta girl! We'll reach that rock in no time!”

[attr="class","bottom"]Eris Halla [break]