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The fact that Derek doesn’t pry into the apparition means more to her than she can properly express. Luka turns her gaze up towards him, giving his arm a little squeeze as she flashes a smile. And then she realizes that she’s still clinging onto his arm and she quickly lets go, more than a little flustered despite the circumstances.[break][break]
”Registeel…” She doesn’t know much about the three titans, quite honestly. But she’s aware at least that they’re a part of Hoenn’s lore, and perhaps something she should study more in her free time. Then again, anything insightful would probably go right over her head.[break][break]
”Well, I’m rooting for you! Third time…yeah! It would be mine too, if I ever see Cresselia again. So I kind of hope you’re right.”[break][break]
The bitterness in Derek’s voice is noted but just as he respected her privacy, she’ll respect his. Though she can’t help but throw in a, ”I’m happy to support you though, in any way I can!” It’s subtle, but hopefully gets the point across.[break][break]
The mist continues to reveal nothing to them, almost as a taunt. Though as they walk, soft whispers seem to echo on the mist, so quiet that Luka almost wonders if they’re just echoing around her own head. You stupid girl, they taunt, a high-pitched hiss that mimics the tone and timbre of her own voice, Do you really think you’ll find anything here? Are you really that foolish? So selfish that you can only think about yourself with an entire region on the line! Your father would be ashamed.

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Luka is exhausted. Her battle against oscar clayton had left her team decimated— potions are enough to keep them going but even then, their energy is stretched thin. And knowing that Lulu is targeting her directly, even with Andrea in the midst, has her terrified. In fact, were it not for the other woman she’d most likely be completely screwed.[break][break]

She’ll have to thank her later, there’s no time now. Instead, Luka uses Lulu’s distraction as an advantage. She doesn’t feel confident in her ability to face the woman head on, but she can at least support her new partner as best she can and try to incapacitate Lulu’s powerful team.[break][break]

While her Clefable strikes out with a Moonblast towards Darkrai, Luka releases her Sylveon. She’s very lucky that she’d disabled her sygna suit after meeting with Remiel Calcifet, though that might come to bite her later. But for now at least, it puts her at an advantage.[break][break]

”You’re not killing anyone!” she shouts, while Macaron leaps forwards, extending her ribbon-like feelers towards both Darkrai and Marshadow. ”So l-let’s just stop fighting! This is pointless!”[break][break]

Her Sylveon gleams with a bright pink aura— almost blinding in its intensity as she unleashes her z-move against Lulu and her team:[break][break]

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It’s not like Lulu’s entire team is out of commission, but this might just give them enough time to escape. Luka grabs her allies’ hand a starts to tug her forwards with an almost frantic urgency. ”Come on!” she urges with another tug, ”This is really dangerous. W-we should get out of here!”[break][break]

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”You think so? Mmm…” Honestly, she isn’t sure. The interdream zone seems capable of dredging up the most terrible of things from one’s own head, so to impose limits on it seems silly. Then again, it’s not like Luka understands this place better than anyone else. Derek might just be right.[break][break]

”And, um, yeah. I-it is.” she confirms with a sheepish smile. ”I know this isn’t really the time or place to be looking for something- I mean it seems really selfish, right? But, um….I saw Cresselia in the interdream zone once before,” she admits. ”And I have this, erm…a feather, from the last time I saw her.”[break][break]
Those circumstances had been far different, and so far impossible to replicate. But the memories are still fresh. [break][break]
As though the interdream zone can read her thoughts, a body seems to materialize in the mist as they continue to walk. A young girl, crumpled on the ground- her brown hair is in pigtails but her eyes are wide open, and their color is the exact same as Luka’s. She shudders and makes an abrupt u-turn, pulling Derek away.[break][break]

She tries to pretend the apparition isn’t there and fills the air with idle chatter instead. ”Is it a pokemon too? The thing that made that noise, I mean.”

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”I mean, i-it’s not like they can do anything with it now. Besides, it’s like…p-probably for the best, right? If they don’t have as many weapons or supplies or like…whatever.”[break][break
It still feels like stealing though, which is silly. This isn’t the time or place to be precious about things like this. Luka inspects the crate again, then glances at the Rocket they had taken it from, and nods.[break][break]
”Okay. But we should probably move it a little bit first.”[break][break]
This time, she enlists her Lopunny to help. Though small, the rabbit lifts the crate with relative ease and follows Milo and Luke while they make their way quickly down the cave system and into a more secluded spot. She also makes quick work of the lock holding the top in place- one swift kick is all it takes to bust the thing wide open. Perhaps if Luka had less scruples, she and Milo would make good partners in crime.[break][break]
Luka lays her hand on the lid, but chickens out at the last second and glances at Milo instead. It’s silly, but she seems almost afraid that something might jump out of the box. ”W-would you like to do the honors?” she asks.,[break][break]

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”Oh, okay! That’s a good idea, Monsieur!”[break][break]
She doesn’t bother asking him how he knows how to do such a thing. Frankly, it doesn’t really matter. Instead, Luka inspects the passed out body, then carefully props them up against the cave wall so they don’t end up accidentally trampled.[break][break]
It may be a greater kindness than this person deserves, but that doesn’t mean she won’t grant it.[break][break]
Afterwards, her eyes fall to the sound that they had initially heard against the stone. A large shipment container, the contents securely locked away. Luka casts her partner a sidelong glance, then turns back to the crate.[break][break]
”Should we….d-do you think we should, erm…take it?”[break][break]

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”A-are you okay, Monsieur Connors?!”[break][break]

Concern laces itself through her voice, though her partner is still on his feet for now. The misty terrain surges around their feet, keeping the effects of the sleep powder from taking a complete hold over them.[break][break]

However, an ill-timed nap is the least of their worries for now as a barrage of attacks seem to come out of nowhere. Luka has no idea how many Rockets might be lurking in the shadows, but she doesn’t intend to take any chances. She tosses out another love ball to release her Alomomola, hurriedly asking the fish pokemon to provide a wide guard for their side of the field.[break][break]

”You can focus on offense,” she shouts over at Greyson. ”I’ll try to protect us!”[break][break]
But that doesn’t mean she won’t fight back at all. Their opponents certainly aren’t pulling punches, and the dangerous storm that forms around them can’t be ignored. Luka’s Sylveon leaps into the fray again, countering the surging Hurricane with a Springtide Storm of her own. The swirling winds collide with each other, creating a fearsome gale that explodes into a shower of petals and hearts, of all things.[break][break]
It’s not a terrible strategy— but that doesn’t mean that all the damage can be mitigated.
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”Mhm! Don’t worry too much about me. I’m a big tough girl!”[break][break]

Luka flexes— which is far from impressive but at least serves to shed some levity on their situation. Things are so dark and bleak down here, and keeping a positive attitude- or at least the illusion of one- seems to be the best way to combat it.[break][break]

However, she has another ace up her sleeve, in a way. Even though the sygna suit she’d received had been as part of an advertising campaign featuring popular contest stars in Hoenn, it’s just as functional, and she’s eager to test it out soon.[break][break]

But just as Greyson suggests, Luka releases her own Pokemon. Her Sylveon chirps merrily at her side, though the empathetic fairy type quickly grows somber just from feeling the mood around this place. She wraps a ribbon around Luka’s arm, the pair of them supporting each other as they take Greyson’s lead and begin to spread out and search the place.[break][break]

At first they don’t see anything, just the same eerily glowing stones that sprout from the floor and line the walls. A pretty treasure to take back home, perhaps, but that’s not their goal right now. As they search, Luka and her partner are keen not to let Greyson out of their sight, though this means that they overlook any possible enemy creeping forwards. It’s only when something darts out to attack them that Sugar reacts— the Sylveon’s ribbons identify a threat and she barks out a warning, though they still don’t notice the Vivillon until it makes a move.[break][break]

Luka recognizes the spray of sleep powder immediately, if only because sleep is her preferred tactic as well. She’s caught off guard but reacts as quickly as she can, and her Sylveon bounds forwards to spread a Misty Terrain all over the cave floor.[break][break]

Whether she’s able to intercept the sleep powder in time remains to be seen. But at least this nullifies future threats for now, though it also sabotages Luka’s ability to do the same right back.

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Luka doesn’t have nearly as convenient a transport device. However, her sygna suit allows her to move a bit more swiftly, and her Musharna is able to transport them short distances in a hurry. The hardest part is avoiding Rocket or those strange paradox pokemon on her way, but luckily Luka only encounters a few members of her faction during the trip. She considers stopping to ask them for help, but they all seem busy with their own tasks and it would take too long to explain anyways.[break][break]

”Not yet. I think I’m almost— woah.”[break][break]

She rounds the final bend of an undulating tunnel and into the vast, cavernous room. While Remiel had found himself on a ledge overlooking the pit she finds herself standing right in the depths, staring up at the large growths of plants and fungi that tower over her. It’s like something out of Jules Verne’s imagination— which she would know if she actually read any classical literature that wasn’t Jane Austen.[break][break]

”I…I’m down here,” she says hesitantly. She can’t see Remiel at all, and his absence makes a crawling unease settle in the pit of her stomach. His absence reeks of ambush. ”But I don’t see anyone else…”[break][break]

But she hears something, very suddenly. A sharp cry pierces the air, followed by an even more disquieting silence. From his vantage point Remiel might be able to see what’s going on, but Luka can’t see a thing amidst the vegetation.

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The dream mist provides a better cover than she expected. But whether or not it's enough to deter an enemy remains to be seen. Luka huddles alongside it with Milo, realizing too late that while the cloud might keep them hidden, it prevents them from getting a clear look at anything either.[break][break]

But she can still listen, and the dragging sound seems to be accompanied by footsteps the closer it gets. It's a person then, hopefully. But a friend or a foe?[break][break]

The answer comes with surprising ease. A voice soon filters through to them, along with the crackle of radio static. "Sector 4B reporting. Looks like the interdream zone has moved here too. Still checking for signs of League activity, over."[break][break]

And that squares it. Two choices present themselves: fight or run. Though the latter is more Luka's style, she had already promised not to leave Milo. Besides, they'll be moving much slower, laden down with goods as they are.[break][break]

It may be playing dirty, but her first instinct is to try and end this as quickly as possible. A whispered request is given to her Musharna again, and this time a hypnosis echoes through the misty air. Luka waits with bated breath— if they're lucky, they'll soon hear the sound of a body falling harmlessly to the ground.[break][break]

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Right— they have a job to do. Luka sends out her Furret to help Ollie's pokemon with the search, the pink-and-white ferret's lithe body squeezing through cracks to inspect hard to reach places. She remains within eyesight of Luka and Sugar, however, not keen to get separated in a place like this.[break][break]

"Yeah, I have. They're, um...t-they're not very nice, are they?"[break][break]

A breathy laugh follows, for she's sure she's stating the obvious. "It's much better with company though. Although...the mist has never been here before, h-has it?"[break][break]

She sighs softly, staring into the fog as though it might actually reveal something significant to them. "This stuff is...mm. Have you had to deal with it before? The dream zone, I mean."[break][break]

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"Wait, did you hear that?"[break][break]

Though the strange mechanical boom of a registeel might be familiar to Derek, Luka's never heard it before. It echoes eerily through the mists and she stops where she stands, peering nervously around.[break][break]

Nothing can be trusted in the interdream zone but as that weird misdreavus had just proven, not everything here is intangible either. Whatever had made that sound might be just as dangerous. The fact that nothing has appeared yet only makes her more wary and alarmed.[break][break]

"Sorry, I—" She wants to tell him but paranoia surges into her veins instead. Without realizing it, Luka has reached out to grab Derek's arm, using him as an anchor. "W-what was I saying? This place sucks. Y-you heard that thing, right? Do you think there's something else out there?"
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"I—"[break][break]

The answer is yes, yes, obviously yes. Even if it's foolish, even if she's walking into her doom, Luka can't bring herself to abandon someone in dire need of her help. Her altruism might just be her achilles' heel— easily exploited by the wrong people— but even though she's lost everything else she hasn't forgotten her kindness.[break][break]

"Ten minutes. Mmm. If this is some kind of trap," she mutters into her earpiece, "I...I'm never going to forgive you, okay?"[break][break]

A pause. "And Helios will probably come after you too, just so you know."

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"Yeah, yeah! I mean, I'm obviously biased, but Kalosian fashion is the best. A-and I'm sure the rangers there are lovely too! I'm so happy you enjoyed your time there."[break][break]

Luka beams up at him, though a genuine smile seems out of place in a situation like this. Even so, it's nice to have a moment of peace amongst the chaos. Perhaps that's a testament to the Captain's cheerful disposition— he's able to bring out the sun amidst all this fog.[break][break]

Sugar bumps her nose against Luka's leg again, though this time it's not for pets. It's a reminder that despite how pleasant the company, they shouldn't linger.[break][break]

"But, um...m-maybe we should walk and talk, ehe. I don't think staying in this place for too long is a good idea..."[break][break]

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