she entered the wreckage as well, floating in the glow of the illumina milotic. her nose scrunched at the rotten smell that they were greeted with, stomach turning a little. she held her hand over her nose, as though it might help. no luck.

”it’s a nest, then?” that explained all the dangerous things hiding around. ”i wonder if they’re ultra beasts. maybe we should try to look for more?” ones that weren’t rotten, to take.

as she looked up, suddenly, the ship powered on. lights, controls, and not just that. even a crew of phantom megalopolans, hurrying around them.

nina gasped. ”oh my gods.”

prompt 25 experience the quaestor lucis suddenly powering up or finding rooms completely refurbished with phantom megalopolans before it all reverts back to normal.

DANNY HALL Toshiaki Macallan freya morningstar

this time, despite all that had happened prior, they found themselves at the wreckage of the quaestor lucis even quicker than before. in fact, their entire mission today revolved around uncovering the ship’s secrets. however, their first trip had proven it to be very dangerous.

”okay guys, help us clear out the ship!”

from behind rocks, in their hiding place, nina tossed another pokeball like a grenade, from it burst a second milotic, and together, the two water-types dove into wreckage like worms into a rotten apple. water pulse and whirlpool were enough to push out the same predators from before, so that they could be driven away, for safe(r) exploration.

DANNY HALL Toshiaki Macallan freya morningstar

they seemed to be going in teams, danny and his mamoswine, versus nina and her excitable pinnipeds. they passed by those slower, barks bugled about their victory.

at the bottom of the hill, nina found herself the winner—and alive, not even having run into any trees. she called teasingly to danny, ”oh, so close!”

they could keep going, or, they could move on for now. get out of the cold. besides, he owed her. those were the rules.

pulling her mask up unveiled her grin. ”wanna go for a little longer, or just cut straight to the hot chocolate?”

DANNY HALL

she grinned. ”great!” but not in the middle of the street, he said. not like a damn rocket.

”oh, of course not. we can go, um—” while she looked around with him, she was soon distracted by the nearing floette. her brows rose on her face at the comfey’s aggression, attempting to pluck the flower right out from under the small fairy-type, but a pokeball solved the situation.

her attention returned to symon, and she nodded. ”okay. sounds good.” how near, she wondered. ”lead the way.”

skipping

symon blessing

it was not the rumors of draconids which had attracted her there, but rather the tradition, and the luck she truly did believe could be had from visiting the shrine and its bell.

good fortune. power. protection. all these were things that she prayed for, adding to the soft noise of other prayers around her, like the trickle of nearby waterways. she thought of the year ahead, and what else she wanted from it. briefly, her mind wandered even to the newness of romance.

still seated on a cushion just ahead of her resting milotic, she finished with one last request.

”show me wisdom.”

illumina milotic learns dragon hammer

no trees, but she was definitely going fast towards those that awaited them at the bottom. when it seemed clear enough that he was going to win, she did her best to steer clear of the potential obstacles, leaning away.

”damn!” he was too fast. ”okay, but i’ll get you next time!” she called with a laugh.

a whistle called her gyarados back. it descended the hill, its shadow waving across sparkling white, carved into by boards, flippers, and mamoswine feet. it would deliver them to the top again, so they could go a third time and break the tie.

”one, two…” she looked over at him. ”three!”

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DANNY HALL

”sounds good.” when they were both free. despite herself, she hoped it would be sooner than later.

at his sweet words, she felt herself withdrawing a bit. yet, she couldn’t bring herself to reject his opening up to her.

”yeah, i like it too.” trust, comfort. danny provided unfamiliar sensations that were as intriguing as they were daunting. “thanks for having me.” there was a sparkle in her eye at that second, a hint of moments in the waves with him.

she finished her breakfast, and figured the time was upon them, then.

”okay, well, i’ll get going.”

DANNY HALL

nihilego. she caught a glimpse of them just as DANNY HALL pointed them out, her hazy eyes sparkling with interest. even if they were rushing out now, she decided then and there, she’d be coming back.

that awestruck gaze returned to freya, only to now see the mutation that was quickly growing over her skin. it was nauseating to witness. a hand came up over her mouth and she looked away. ”oh god. what is that?”

they wouldn’t find out there. in even more a hurry than before, they’d head back to the rift. clinging to the glowing form of her newly evolved milotic, she stole one more glimpse at the bright-haired woman with pity, only to avert her gaze again.

”hope she’s okay.”

all the while, she could feel a headache coming on.

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DANNY HALL freya morningstar Toshiaki Macallan

this was bad. though hazy from the hit, she managed to wrap fingers around the floating pokeball, releasing her gyarados in time to thrash at the nearby predator. with the help of all their pokémon, the threat was finally neutralized. she was left foggy, a small trickle of blood still floating in drops around her head.

her milotic uncoiled, and she pulled herself towards it, returning her gyarados again. the urgency of everyone’s yelling brought her back to clarity.

”get closer,” she urged.

when they were near, she offered, ”if we’re getting out of here, anyone need a lift?” milotic would be a fast escape from whatever else might be lurking there. presumably, though, so was freya’s dragapult.

she then noticed freya morningstar looking particularly distraught.

”are you okay?”

DANNY HALL freya morningstar Toshiaki Macallan

”uh-huh.”

any big bad wolves, and then, speak of the devil, there was… sal. in lollipops. nina eyed the get-up, not daring to comment. it was quickly forgotten at the mention of breakfast. ”oh, thanks sal! that’s sweet of you.”

then, parker was swinging in to the passenger seat. ”hm?” she stared like a deer in the headlights,

”oh me? drive?” she pulled her blanket closer around her. ”mm.” looked out the window and onto the street.

shit.

”okay.”

eyes went to the ignition and she turned twisted the key, but sat there for a long moment before asking, ”but can we eat first?” why die on an empty stomach?

parker jones

gyarados soon arrived at the top, its tail creating long lines in the snow as they landed there. it was left out, a looming, glaring observer. eventually, both the walrein and dewgong made it to the top of the hill as well, alongside danny’s panting mamoswine.

”aw. he looks so tired.” definitely had gotten his exercise for the day.

nina buckled her feet back into her board, soon readying with him at the edge of the slope. on his mark, she went for it, gunning down the hill. she should have probably been more cautious this time around, with all the trees ahead, but she leaned into it anyways.

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DANNY HALL