[attr="class","mareep-post"]
persephone hears the same sound bailey does; steel yielding against fire. there's nothing to be satisfied about really, but she flashes stormy a quick smile anyway. persephone herself never particularly used fire-types and had none with her, but at least they have a specialist among them. [break][break]

"got it!" she calls out to bailey, quirking her brow in thought before addressing her pokemon as she draws a third capsule from a pocket, her fingers searching for the specific combination of protruding dots while she spoke. [break][break]

"repeat what you just did, but i want to see more flames!" persephone says, addressing her ghost-type. [break][break]

dusknoir does as instructed, seemingly pleased for a moment as he regards the interaction between the fire licking at his fists and the potent sunlight. he puts up his two fists, FIRE PUNCHES ready, and starts swinging at the lethal origami creatures. [break][break]

[break]

she releases a third pokemon, a frosmoth, onto the field, tossing the pokeball high up so it joins bailey's togekiss as its winged, pale shadow. [break][break]

"dull those blades for us, and help out, uh-" persephone interrupts herself to look around and finds herself drawn to bailey's darmanitan, and she points to him as he prepares to surge forward to perform his attack. [break][break]

"help the big guy." [break][break]

the frosmoth identifies the threat and focuses on the largest of the kartana, and then begins to quickly spin together a fluffy, down-like in a FEATHER DANCE that envelopes the kartana whole that aims to bind and cover its blade-appendages. as the frosmoth dips down to deposit its handiwork on the kartana, it cheers on bailey's darmanitan and offers him a HELPING HAND to boost up his attack. [break][break]

[break]

persephone waits for another heartbeat to see what unfolds around her, and her gaze settles on kyle's smeargle unleashing a potent, flame-based attack. it's another one that she had never seen before, and she feels her lips part in awed wonder. she'll really have to ask him about that later. [break][break]

"can you do whatever that was, please?" she says to the sigilyph. [break][break]

finally the sigilyph turns to the enemies and unleashes an echo of what kyle's smeargle had done; a cascading of intense flame of a strange hue. [break][break]

[break]


» dusknoir readies its 2 fists and uses FIRE PUNCH x2[break]
» perse releases frosmoth[break]
» frosmoth uses FEATHER DANCE to cover the kartana in down and HELPING HAND to buff up bailey's darmanitan[break]
» sigilyph uses MIRROR MOVE to repeat kyle's smeargle's SACRED FIRE


[break]

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There are still things unseen: the lonely sea, the sky

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[break][break]
The horde descends and a battle ensues. [break][break]

Bailey's SUNNY DAY sets the scene for the battle and those around her will feel invigorated by her artificial sun. Despite how much Ultra Space mirrors their home SUNNY DAY never draws out the actual sun. It remains to be seen. Something about her pale imitation feels eerie, as if it's a new concept in a world fueled by something else. [break][break]

Her Darmanitan and Blaziken feel the immediate boost in power and lash out at any enemies that enter their striking range. Fortunately, the way the flames coat their body renders them impervious to attacks. Any of the Kartana lucky enough to land a blow will find their blades shirking upon contact, withered into feeble paper. [break][break]

Bailey's duo prove formidable but if their attacks are impenetrable then Kyle's formation is invincible. Surrounded on all four sides, his Pokemon's collective attacks cover every angle. They roast anything that dares intrude on their airspace and it shows with how the Kartana fall. However, the proximity of their attacks raise the temperature to an uncomfortable level. [break][break]

Kyle feels it. [break][break]

His Manectric feels it. [break][break]

The rest of his Pokemon seem fine due to their typing. His Smeargle proves the only exception, blessed as the inheritor of Entei's SACRED FIRE and impervious in the same manner. Blue flames jut forward and the Kartana are reduced into nothingness. Bailey's SUNNY DAY only amplifies the power and their combined performance is nothing short of impeccable. [break][break]

Too impeccable. [break][break]

The flames show no restraint and burst into a rain of hellfire, retribution for borrowing someone else's power. [break][break]

Stormy's Delphox will find that luck is not on her side. It doesn't even exist. The incantation is recited perfectly but the mystical veil never manifest. Further probing reveals that there's no outward interference — it's almost as if there's no magic at all. [break][break]

Several Kartana beeline straight for the Delphox but they never make it past her Turtonator. Along with her Darmanitan, they cut through the incoming wave with their combined flames. None get close enough for her Aegislash to be of any particular use but the weaponized Pokemon remains steadfast. [break][break]

It is Persephone and her lack of fire Pokemon that seem to have the most trouble. Her Dusknoir finds victory with every punch but the Kartana prove overwhelming. Thankfully, none of their attacks find any real purchase against the ethereal ghost. Every time the cleave the Dusknoir in half it coagulates back into its static form, ready to retaliate with another FIRE PUNCH. [break][break]

While everyone deals with their immediate targets, Persephone and Bailey have their Pokemon take to the skies. [break][break]

Clearly, Persephone is the smartest person here. If it was obvious by her many credentials and credits, then her choice in dispatching the largest and most fearsome Kartana exemplifies her quick thinking. The FEATHER DANCE is brilliant! Try as it might, the shiny Kartana cannot cleave through the impeding restrainer. Every attempt to dice through the tirade of feathers causes them to catch on like unwanted pollen. It bogs the Pokemon down and paints it as an obvious target. [break][break]

Bailey's LIFE DEW condenses like a fine mist and anyone within its grasp finds a mild comfort in the water's condensation. Unfortunately, that includes the Kartana. Their paper-like body never straightens out but it puts out the still burning fires on the few that manage to break away from the group. [break][break]

Noelle's Blissey finds that her bleeding stops thanks to Bailey's LIFE DEW. The attack isn't potent enough to seal her wounds or heal them outright but at least the trickling sensation of her own warmth comes to an end. Instead, it is her FIRE BLAST that helps cauterize her cuts while laying waste to her enemies. [break][break][break][break]

[break][break]

Noelle and Persephone's fascination with the SACRED FIRE is understandable. The mighty flames have no equal. They burn brighter than anything they've ever laid eyes on, peaking as their hue transcends the spectrum of what's possible. Even Stormy will feel enraptured by their allure, unaffected by the heat, but drawn in by their raw power. [break][break]

And it is the same power that proves more effective than anything else the group can conjure. Anything the blue fire touches turns into a crisp, literally shriveling up the Kartana into non-existence. However, their hope to imitate this holy power comes with consequences. To fake a faker border sacrilegious and they will see the error of their sins. [break][break]

The raw heat of the SACRED FLAMES harm even the user. Noelle's Lopunny feels the regret immediately as her mouth sears in pain, numb in a matter of seconds as the potent flames unleash their wrath. Persephone's Sigilyph fairs better but only in the slightest. Conjured from its psychic powers, the burn marks scorch the Pokemon's runic skin rather than boil internally like Noelle's Lopunny. [break][break]

The Kartana around them vanish into thin air. Their inability to control the SACRED FIRE become apparent when they linger even after their enemy is defeated. Rather than die off when the attack ends, they congregate, feeding off the abundance of fire moves around them, empowered by the SUNNY DAY. [break][break]

Kyle isn't the only one feeling the heat. They all do and that only gets exacerbated by Noelle's Dragonite. Her HURRICANE fans the flames of defeat and in one fell swoop the Kartana are no more, devoured by the SACRED FIRE (3). The few that escape the attack drift away using the HURRICANE as a TAILWIND to depart. But the damage is done and the Ultra Beast have paid the price. [break][break][break]

[break][break]

With their victory comes the consequences of their brutal efficiency. The HURRICANE sweeps the remnants of the flames into a FIRE SPIN that spreads around the group in an encirclement. Noelle's foresight into the after effects of dealing with the Kartana means that her Blastoise is poised and ready. It's HYDRO PUMP keeps her relatively safe from the encroaching fire but they do nothing against the might of Ho-oh's flames. [break][break][BREAK]

---

[break][BREAK]

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They set the forest on fire.[break][break]

“Fuck,” and Bailey Cooper clasped her forehead. “Not again.”[break][break]

This was not the first time a fire had spread out of her control. This was, however, the first time it had been caused by her indirect involvement. sunny day might have been too effective.[break][break]

Nothing good would come from this. “Shit. Should we stick around?” It would be a waste of valuable time. Through the billowing smoke, she would squint to catch the sight of the tree that they had seen when they had first arrived.[break][break]

And through it, her eyes would seek out @kingsley .[break][break]

“Bumbo! Grab freaky arm man!”[break][break]

Bailey's pokemon would be returned to their capsules as her Darmanitan would approach the unconscious dimension traveler—and if the tentacle was limp, he would attempt to heave him over his shoulder.[break][break]

In the mean time, Bailey transitioned from fire to water, deploying Swampert. Not to beat back the flames, but to wet the fabric of her ribbon that was usually tied around her neck.[break][break]

It fashioned as a filter as she tied it over her mouth like a scarf, just to have something to cut back the brume.[break][break]

“I got the stranger handled! We either got to go or stick around!”[break][break]

And if everyone were to attempt to cancel out the flames, she would order her Swampert to help in those efforts; mud created from the wet secretions of its skin as it waited for the order to deploy muddy water.[break][break]

The pile of unconscious ultra beasts from the dark void existed as a temptation, and curiousity tempted her to fish for an empty capsule from her rucksack...[break][break]

and drop it on one of the smaller creatures, just to see if it would respond similarly—just for her own curiosity, not because she was tempted to own one. They were kinda creepy.[break][break]

tldr: bumbo goes to retrieve @kingsley . bailey makes a smoke mask. swampert has prepared muddy water if everyone decided to quench the flames. bailey chucks a pokeball at these weird little bitches.

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It has become hot, too hot. Whatever intense and magical fire that burst from the Smeargle's body was mimicked once, maybe twice, by two other Pokemon. It appears the Lopunny has suffered as a result of it's power and Stormy finds herself gazing upon the curious shiny painter.[break][break]

She arrives on the other side of the bloodbath unscathed. Aegislash's king shield stands unblemished by the flames and the papery remnants of their attackers. Delphox seems aghast with fear at her inability to finish her cantation, or perhaps it hadn't worked at all.[break][break]

Turtonator and Darmanitan are poised and breathing heavily - anticipating more. But nothing else comes but more and more fire.[break][break]

It surrounds them in an inferno and, while Stormy is unfazed by the heat, her Aegislash seems to groan under the pressure. So she returns him promptly, rescuing him from a fate that she is oblivious to.[break][break]

The woman glances at Bailey as she calls out, indicating her intention to grab the strange man who had been alone and single-handedly fending off the Kartana. She then watches as Kyle returns the majority of his Pokemon in exchange for those capable of tracking scent. His Remoraid soaks the rest to protect them from the flames, and Stormy ponders.[break][break]

"Sol, help us out, buddy."[break][break]

Darmanitan and Turtonator remain close by, on edge with protective instinct. The Castform seems to tremble with unease and his cloudy exterior nearly faints at the heat, but with the encouragement of his friend's instruction, he eventually works hard to cast a rain dance. [break][break]

Stormy then glances back to ensure the rest of the group is otherwise fine before following Kyle cautiously.[break][break]

"Have they found anything?" she calls out to him.



[break][break][break]

[attr="class","mareep-post"]
so they slightly overdid it. persephone watches the cascade of flames swallow the trees and lick at the sky with a fervent hunger. this is fine, mainly because they don't answer to anyone here and there is no council member who will be calling them into their office to chastise them. [break][break]

persephone inclines her head to see how her colleagues react because, quite frankly, turning and heading in the opposite direction seemed like a very solid option. when the others opt for pokemon more equipped to dealing with fire, persephone semi-reluctantly follows suit, switching her three for a new trio in a fluid motion of tossed capsules. [break][break]

with kyle pressing forward, persephone and her three pokemon position themselves around him so that he and his pokemon can concentrate on tracking, intending to cover him from either flank and the front. [break][break]

while the swampert's MUDDY WATER sloshes ahead in a dirty, barely controlled wave, the kingdra's HYDRO PUMP blasts ahead with the pinpoint accuracy of a ]SNIPER to the group's left. [break][break]

the dragalge flops on to the ground like a pile of seaweed just washed ashore, and seems to contemplate its predicament for a moment. its brown fins darken and its body takes on a uniform, mottled hue as its CAMOUFLAGE interacts with the moistened dirt underfoot (thanks, swampert) and turns it ground-type. seemingly reassured, the dragalge straightens itself and bursts out its own HYDRO PUMP at the fires. [break][break]


» perse withdraws dusknoir, sigilyph and frosmoth[break]
» perse releases swampert, kingdra and dragalge[break]
» swampert uses MUDDY WATER to extinguish the flames[break]
» kingdra uses HYDRO PUMP to extinguish the flames[break]
» dragalge uses CAMOUFLAGE to turn ground-type, and then uses HYDRO PUMP to extinguish the flames


[break]

[attr="class","mareep-lyrics"]
There are still things unseen: the lonely sea, the sky

[attr="class","ihead"]

[attr="class","ipad"]


[break][break]
Bailey's Darmanitan has no trouble escaping their encirclement. By the time the Pokemon has approached Kingsley he's returned to his dormant state of being bruised and battered. Without the slightest sign of resistance, her Pokemon throws him over its shoulder and makes a daring escape as the group's would-be firefighter. [break][break]

Unfortunately, Bailey's own endeavors prove lackluster in comparison. Her Pokeball bounces harmlessly off the sleeping Pokemon, now out of reach. Unless she makes a deliberate detour for it, the item is left to be forsaken amidst the raging forest fire. [break][break]

Kyle's Lucario uses is Aura sense to etch out a map of all sentient beings nearby. The amount that surround them but remain out of sight prove immeasurable. One in particular is making a beeline right for them. The size and mass of it sends a tremble down the Lucario's spine and it reels back when the aura prove overwhelming. It whimpers to itself before barking aloud to warn its trainer. [break][break]

His other Pokemon remain oblivious, unable to discern anything except Mateo's stench. His smell is as strong as it is foul, sticking out like a sore thumb compared to the otherwise odorless surroundings. The only other scents they can pick up on belong to those present and the roasted remains of the various Kartana. Those that remain asleep and out of battle remain scentless. That being said, they do hear the faint sound of tree collapsing deep within the forest. They turn to face the source, howling. Unfortunately, Mateo's scent coincidentally points in the same direction. [break][break]

The group's combined efforts put out the raging inferno with ease. Between the five of them, nothing is impossible. Their copious water type Pokemon saturate the air with moisture and water with Kyle's SOAK minimizing damage to those acclimated to the heat. Stormy's RAIN DANCE overshadows the last of the flickering flames and their quick reaction prevents the incident from growing into unmanageable proportions. [break][break]

But peace never lasts long in Ultra Space. Kyle's Pokemon hint at something looming over the horizon and the sound of uprooted trees grow louder as the ground rumbles underneath. The first on-sight of tremors threaten to throw off their balance but that soon becomes the norm. For some, the sounds of their next obstacle is a familiar one. [break][break]

[break]

[break][break]
[player]https://www.mboxdrive.com/finalGuzzle.mp3[/player]
[break][break]


[break][BREAK]

---

[break][BREAK]

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[attr="class","frlastcontmid"]



“just wanted to see if these things could even be contained,” Bailey would explain with a shrug to Noelle Lane , disappointed by the inability of the pokeball to capture the paper-like construct.[break][break]

If they could be captured, that could simplify future fights—a pokemon contained in a pokeball, even if able to escape, was still removed from the field for a breath's length of time. That was enough time to swap pokemon—enough time to prepare for the foe to reemerge and for the fight to begin again.[break][break]

The disposed capsule meant that was not possible.[break][break]

She would have went for the pokeball, if not for a sound that resonated with something deep in Bailey's stomach.[break][break]

Panic; it coiled her intestines so tightly that her legs lost feeling, like a tourniquet had been wound around her body so tightly that it was ready to cleave.[break][break]

She knew what that fucking sound was.[break][break]

“Bumbo. Run,” they were words that her throat could not choke.[break][break]

A pivot. Her boots would kick dirt as she'd turn to see the line where the trees would part. The feeling of the tailwind from kyle lopez felt like a kick in the ass as her eyes registered the hulking mass of the guzzlord.[break][break]

When Darmanitan moved, it was with a heavy sprig that made the earth quake—one large hand snagging Bailey like a doll from a shelf. She had wondered if she would have been able to muster the urge to move, if not for his interference.[break][break]

flare blitz emitted from the Daramanitan's back, acting as if they were thrusters to help the fire pokemon gain distance.[break][break]

The Swampurt would chase after the others, closer to persephone amavi than his trainer.[break][break]

tldr: darmanitan and bailey fucking book it. darmanitan is currently using flare blitz to gain distance, and has increased his speed thanks to kyle lopez 's tailwind. darmanitan is carrying bailey in one hand and kingsley over his shoulder. Swampert is running next to persephone amavi

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[break]

The quiet only lasts for so long. The sound of rain is rhythmic and normal, bringing Stormy a moment of peace, however short-lived. Together, they'd managed to choke the flames and prevent massive destruction, but something worse was coming.[break][break]
Stormy had never formally seen an Ultra Beast until last night. She had never laid eyes on the Celesteela or the Guzzlord or whatever other horrors had visited Hoenn. The clown had been her first, and she could feel panic settle into her toes as some unseen beast began to scream.[break][break]

Kyle has released a Pokemon capable of aiding Bailey in her plight, and she watches with bated breath as the woman and her Darmanitan make a run for it. The Guzzlord has no interest on the rest of them, it seems, and Stormy promptly returns the majority of her arsenal for the sake of their safety and her own. [break][break]

Only her Castform remains, and he nestles into the crook of her neck, terror making him tremble like a leaf.[break][break]

She hears her friend as he calls for them to run, and, without question, she does just that. The gym leader is hot on Kyle's heels, her hands reaching for a pokeball to release something a little faster than herself. A pretty in pink Galarian Rapidash is released and she places her arms over its neck as they sprint, hoisting herself up with only some struggle.[break][break]

It occurs to her then that the rest of their group might not have something to ride on, and there's plenty enough room behind her - considering how tiny she is. She looks over her shoulder to Perse and Noelle.[break][break]

"Anyone need a lift? Give me your hand, I'll lift you."[break][break]

But she doesn't stop running.

[break][break][break]