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WO-CHIEN's cursed name had barely left Elisabeth Fiorelli's lips before the ground quaked and gave way beneath them. The floor immediately slanted, buckling both their knees and causing the pair to slide downward toward the viridescent abyss below.[break][break]

"No!" Frantically clutching at an embedded STEALTH ROCK with one hand, the other desperately clung onto Elisa's own — though it only served to briefly extend their time together before gravity inevitably ripped them apart.[break][break]

In the end, they both plummeted into the unknown.[break][break]

Stone and rubble offered little help in cushioning BARNABY FINCH's fall. He was greeted to this new floor by blood tickling his throat and an overwhelming pain at his chest and thigh. Cracked ribs? And a gash on his leg. Tearing the tattered sleeve off one arm, the admin tied it fast around his injury before shakily righting himself.[break][break]

He saw no Elisabeth Fiorelli when he did so. Instead, when he felt his resolve waning the most, AZELF's energy flooded the room and broke the TOXIC CHAIN around his neck. Fleshy tendrils fell to the floor, freeing him, yet Barnaby retained his singed and bloodied mask. [break][break]

Blissfully, the magenta haze faded from view, replaced by the viscid green of the breeding vats around him. With this cleared vision came an overflow of the sweetest kind — MOLTRES' energy sprung anew within him, invigorating in its deluge of power. It was more than enough to stave off the pain and push through to the continued battle ahead.[break][break]

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As with the others, MOLTRES was freed from its poisoned shackles by AZELF's intervention. But rather than a wholesome reunion with BARNABY FINCH, the LEGENDARY BIRD instead rushed forward from its tube, slinging viscous fluid all around in its haste for one thing: the POWER SPOT and the DYNERGY it emitted.[break][break]

[break]

A horrid screech — predatory and ravenous — reverberated around the crumbling room as it absorbed the DYNERGY and DYNAMAXED alongside several other Pokémon. Taking its place beside LUGIA, MOLTRES' hungry gaze fell briefly on the shard of NECROZMA, then to BARNABY FINCH, before focusing on the raucous sounds above. [break][break]

Using its FUTURE SIGHT, MOLTRES readied itself for what was to come next. [break][break]

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• 3x salac berry [break]
• mask is still on[break]
• separated from elisabeth (for now)[break]
• injuries: cracked ribs & gash on thigh[break]
• avatar powers return and invigorate him[break]
• moltres immediately beelines for the power spot[break]
• MOLTRES DYNAMAXES [BARRIER 3/3][break]
• moltres uses FUTURE SIGHT[break]

[break]

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After having been practically dragged here by Caleb Harcourt, BARNABY FINCH had stationed himself at the cleanest of the nests, closest to the city center. Though he had no interest in actually scrubbing them until they were useable again, to any passersby it would look as if he was actually helping. [break][break]

Not that he needed much assistance in avoiding work considering Caleb's periodic interruptions.[break][break]

"Why not simply focus on the ranger, hm?"[break][break]

Barnaby suggested, throwing ollie morales a withering look before shooing Caleb Harcourt away.[break][break]

"Pay me no mind."[break][break]

Elaine, to her credit, was much more interested in the task at hand than her trainer. She busied herself by giving a HELPING HAND to the Pokémon all around, skipping merrily from one birdhouse to another wherever she was needed.

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As howard slayte was beginning to notice, Admin Bee hadn’t been indoctrinated by the ROCKET mantra in quite the same way Cillian Quinn had or even THEO BECKETT. To him, ROCKET was not a family. When treason inevitably reared its head, it was not a personal affront to BARNABY FINCH. [break][break]

ROCKET was a business. A means to an end. While everyone had their own reasons for joining, they were collectively bound together by their own self-interest.[break][break]

Howard included. Just like everyone else, there were things he wanted out of his relationship with ROCKET. The question was – did those things align with Barnaby’s own interests? [break][break]

howard slayte was dabbling outside his area of the pool, dangerously close to the deep end. [break][break]

His next words would decide whether BARNABY FINCH pushed him over the edge or offered a lifeline.[break][break]

“Go on.”

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Bellona hadn’t particularly liked the children, either. Her hackles stood on end as they proceeded down the path and continued to do so even after putting considerable distance between them and the shouting adolescents. [break][break]

“You just need to let off some steam, hm?” And for the HOUNDOOM, that likely meant one thing. [break][break]

Within moments the dog had MEGA EVOLVED, after which she shook out her coat in excitement and barreled forward. In doing so, she flushed a FLETCHLING from its hiding spot in some nearby thickets.[break][break]

Of course, Bellona sprinted in PURSUIT of the bird.

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“We are.” Barnaby assured almost immediately, his eyebrows scrunching in concern.[break][break]

“Which is why I’ve kept this between us.” No underbosses or even declan walsh himself were aware of howard slayte’s little trysts to Dewford Town. Not yet, anyway. “I’m concerned you’ve bit off more than you can chew. That’s all.” [break][break]

Depending on how Howard responded in the next few minutes, he could either be running his entire reputation into the ground or solidifying BARNABY FINCH’s confidence in him. Only time would tell.[break][break]

“You know, Dewford is an especially interesting choice. I doubt you’re there for the beaches.” The admin mused, his cobalt gaze drifting to the looming AMAURA skeleton beside him.[break][break]

“The rift, perhaps? Or the Power Spot on Route 105? I suppose that’s somewhat nearby. Or maybe...” His eyes slid to the map of Hoenn pinned to the wall behind howard slayte, landing on Dewford Town for a moment, before they lowered to meet Admin Fox’s singular eye.[break][break]

“The sheriff?” Navy, a thorn in ROCKET’s side. “Oh, wait, sorry. Michael’s moved up in the world now, hasn’t he? Elite Four, is that right?”[break][break]

Straightening up, Barnaby’s arms folded together as he leaned into his side of the desk.[break][break]

Subtly, the darkness continued to lengthen.[break][break]

“Tell me everything, Howard.”

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"Clay, this way, this way! I swear I saw a Shaymin in the bushes over there!" [break][break]

BARNABY FINCH rolled his eyes, moving down a path away from the noise.[break][break]

The Safari Zone seemed so uncharacteristically packed these days. It annoyed Barnaby, who preferred this time in solitude — where he could avoid the likes of young children scampering around, scaring off the wild Pokémon.

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“Nothing to me, no.” BARNABY FINCH had been too busy birdwatching, as howard slayte so lovingly put it, to spend much time with CALYREX. But he knew the High King’s appearance – along with its twin in Ever Grande – was a fortuitous event. [break][break]

It had heralded his union with MOLTRES, after all.[break][break]

“We need as many boons as we can get, Dynamax included. Especially if Eternatus’ return is indeed on the horizon.” He gave both Admin Fox and Admin Cross a look, somewhere between concern and incredulity. “I doubt the League will abstain.”[break][break]

Turning to fern delaney, Barnaby continued by asking, “Your thoughts, Fern? Am I alone in my use of Dynergy?”[break][break]

This was an arms race. War was on the horizon, as jayden cross cautioned. They couldn’t be caught lacking. Thankfully, The Cursed was working to pick up the slack in other facets of their defense, which Barnaby didn’t mind at all commending. [break][break]

“Impressive work, Jayden.” Picking up the file, he perused the data for a bit, noticing several familiar names near the top of the list, such as Grigori Sokolov, priam conrad, parker jones, and Aurelie Lefevre, among others. “Any standouts?”[break][break]

When talk of the DRK TRIAD arose, however, BARNABY FINCH set the manilla folder back on the table before leaning into his seat, a thoughtful finger on his lips.[break][break]

“I’d hoped that business with Father Winter would lead somewhere, but,” He sighed. “Maldacena remains ever-elusive.”

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