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"Well, la-de-freakin' dah, thanks for the vote of confidence, asshole." The playful voice, though gruff and grizzled comes from nearby. He looks roughed up from all his altercations earlier, but dammit, he looked better than he did when Cygne last saw him. He was alive. He was cleaned up slightly.[break][break]

But to say he was still wounded, that was another thing entirely. Guy could hardly keep himself up on his feet, but he was alive. Bongo was even there, holding him up, and keeping him stable.[break][break]

Turns out, after seeing Eris Halla with the Comfey, he had messaged in to Kep about not being able to leave. Not until he found Isaac and Cygne. And so, even as Rocket finished, he was searching. Terrified that the duo had died... But here he was. Happy to see they were alive. He pats Bongo on the shoulder. "Alright buddy. Let me go." The moment Bongo did, Ash was on a knee.[break][break]

"How you two faring? Better than me, I hope... eh, Sunshine? Isaac?" He still had a swollen left eye, but he was alive. He was ALIVE.

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Months ago, hell, half a year ago, Ash would have snapped at her. To hell with him, but nowadays that demeanor shifts. He doesn't hate Jayden. Sure, they can't be as close as they were before, but they could be friends again. They WERE friends. Kind of.[break][break]

"Yeah. We were. Turns out though, when I wanted out of Rocket, he had a problem with that. We had an... altercation, and I left." Ashley says it plainly, before throwing his hand to the side. Now he can make fun of it at least. "Then he tried to kill me near Dewford a year ago, I got back in Rocket, and well. We're good now."[break][break]

You know. Kind of.[break][break]

At least Naia asked for a change in subject. Ashley needed it, and the moment that she gets nervous, he's combing through his own topics, before Naia asked about kepler brueshaber. And he brightens considerably.[break][break]

"God... alright, so. There I am, getting lunch with an old friend of mine. They bail on me, whatever. I catch Isaac Merlo getting some groceries, right? Best friend, we're homies. Then all of a sudden, I see this skinny guy near him." His face is red now, cheeks heating up enough as he looks lovingly towards the table. It's a fond memory. "Idunno what came over me, but I want to make sushi for the duo. We go to my place, and I make food for the two, and uh-"[break][break]

He rubbed his cheek.[break][break]

"It's where my Scorbunny hatched. Sunny's birthday. I saw Kep's own Raboot, and figured hey, it's near Halloween, let's go trick or treat. And he comes in this cute Dr. Victor Frankenstein outfit with his Raboot as the monster. Kep and I kiss under a streetlight. Rest is history."[break][break]

He's babbling. He's red in the cheeks, and yet his grinning so much, he just focuses on it enough that it clearly airs out any dirty laundry from before. He begins to laugh, as he rubs his neck. Did he really have to explain it all like that?[break][break]

"Isaac was the reason I even had a chance with him. Love that guy." Ash is grinning now, begins to drink more. He was in such a good mood now. And he had to ask. "What about you? Any romance?"

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Ana is eating pizza too, taking full advantage as she folds a slice like a Unovan, and eats it slowly. That Pikachu was getting so chubby, but Ashley wasn't gonna stop that. It almost feels right, and as Ashley rubs his neck, he realizes how... yeah, Cygne was being that. But he can understand.[break][break]

Both had lost a lot in Ultra Sea. Rocket won, but at what cost? It burns knowing he lost more than he ever wanted to.[break][break]

Then the father bit comes out. "Yeah... my father. I was adopted since my birth mom put me up... turns out, he tried to overdose her when pregnant, and well. Found out recently. Hunted him down." He recites it with this cold, blank expression. One he doesn't wear often. The caring man underneath it was not the same, it was something darker, and bleaker. Like he was capable of it, and he'd do it again. Psychopathic, almost.[break][break]

Then the shine comes back to his silver eyes, and he sighs.[break][break]

"I... regret it now."[break][break]

He did. He could never take it back. Ever.[break][break]

"That's that though... you spoke of them in the cave we were in. Who did you lose?" Ashley wanted to know the stories about them. A quiet smile returning to his persona. Hope and sunshine returning.

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Ashley's face is riddled in sweat now, and with Salem, Ana, and Laguna staying up and about, it has Ash in better spirits. Though the stirring earth makes it hard to move, Selena's Chimecho helps him dull the pain. He's got a nasty burn, but it's manageable. He wipes at his face, and shoots Selena a nod. "Thanks!" He won't be running, but he'll be at least lightly jogging now.[break][break]

Circe (Delphox) continues to assist with a Focus Blast, intent to free Hitoshi's Gallade (Munenori), and succeeds, and everything is going well, despite a few problems here or there.[break][break]

Shit hits the fan with a wave of trepidation as the Precipice Blades fire out on all cylinders. And with it, plans, techniques, and skills are put to the test. No matter how fast Ashley wants to be, he can't get everyone.[break][break]

He makes a tough, painful decision.[break][break]

"Laguna, Protect the Kingambit. Triple Protect bubble. Salem, Moonlight on Selena and Hitoshi's front-soldiers." As the duo do just that, a triple layer of Protect bubbles for Kingambit to prepare the striker, Salem has a worried look on her face as she keeps the Moonlight up. Ash leaves his own at risk, and has a crazy plan, as the Precipice Blades come, he needs to make sure they can keep moving.[break][break]

At any cost.[break][break]

Problem is... Salem hops up, and kicks Ashley out of the way, taking the blade herself. Thus, keeping Ashley from the pain and suffering, at the same time, skewered into the ground. The Umbreon cries out in a pain that has Ashley's face riddled in agony. Not again. Not again. Notagain.[break][break]

With a weak nod, the Umbreon urges them to keep up, as the lava begins to pool nearby. And with it, Salem dies.[break][break]

Simulation. Even so it hurts, but Salem wants Ash to succeed. She has every intention of making it real.[break][break]

With that, the match's times tables were drastically slowing down. Picking up Ana, now both Pokemon on his shoulders, the Groudon roars with primal energy, and crashes down with its own head upon the riddled volcanic earth, causing a tremor where lava pools out towards everyone, to turn the whole ground into a magma tomb. Scorched earth tactic.[break][break]

Clocks running low, and Ashley's down one. On comms, he calls out. "Salem's down. Make every move count now. I have an idea, but your Kingambit is gonna have to weather an attack. I'm giving them footing to make the strike. Think they can handle it, Swordboy?" Ruffling Ana's head, he kisses the side of her red little cheek.[break][break]

"Nasty Plot." Ana begins to charge up. Ana was going to have to play the most dangerous role.[break][break]

It meant Ash had to sacrifice a piece. For the first time, he steeled his resolve.[break][break]

Now or never. Laguna is the big kahuna here. The MVP. Ash just needs an opening.[break][break]

Just one.

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Today's the day.[break][break]

He holds in his pocket a small box.[break][break]

It's tiny. It's insignificantly so. But it's a lot of money inside. A tiny little aqua green jewel encrusted in it. It's cute, something he had spent weeks on. Maybe it's the mission at hand, but... Ash finds himself smiling at the box on their way to the Slateport Beach. He's hiding it away from Kep, because he knows his plan.[break][break]

Sunny day. Enjoying drinks on the beach, under a parasol. That was his plan. He had every intention of staying till sunset. He wanted Isaac Merlo to help him, but... man had enough on his plate.[break][break]

As they arrived, Ashley holding Kepler's hand, he gives his partner a smile. "I have a good feeling about today."[break][break]

Today was the day.

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Selena calls him the Shield, and Ashley's composure falters a spell. He was only hopeful that were the case, that he was the shield. Made sense that Hitoshi was the blade though. Man had Pokemon probably suited for this, but even so, he wasn't slowing either of them down.[break][break]

When Selena says to release all of them, he hesitates only one second, before nodding. He knows better than to dismiss words of a veteran. If Hitoshi sits as the sword, with every Pokemon suited for offense, and Ashley holds the defense, then she must be the one who wields them both. Releasing Salem the Umbreon and Ana the Pikachu, the Pikachu climbs onto his shoulder, and the Umbreon makes a MOW sound.[break][break]

Team Godslayer moves out.[break][break]

With Jubei and Munenori now breaking out themselves, Selena's Delphox, Hatterene, and Chimecho run with her and begin the assault, showing Ashley just what she can do, and it's... fucking awesome. The way they attack the Groudon with such power, and utilize the rain to boost the power of ice, it's stunning.[break][break]

Once the Groudon begins his EARTHQUAKE, Ashley has to mitigate it somehow. So he begins moving out on his own.[break][break]

"Laguna, Protect. Fire the bubbles out towards everyone, as many as you can." And he does so, though now as fast as Ashley would like. They make it towards half of Selena and Hitoshi's Pokemon, and the Trainers themselves, but the rest begin to pop. Little Laguna was still a Goomy after all.[break][break]

That's where Ashley began to smirk. "Salem, Moonlight. Heal their wounds, keep them up." And with a howl into the night, Salem does just that, and any lasting damage from the Groudon's Earthquake is lessened. It's not the best choice, but an idea forms. It's raining now, right?[break][break]

"Ana, be nice, and treat our guest to some TLC." And with that, he begins running with Salem close behind, the Pikachu running forward begins to blow kisses out towards the Groudon, hoping to lower the overall damage potential.[break][break]

With that in mind, things are going well. Hitoshi's Ceruledge and Gallade are assisting in damage, everything should be fine.[break][break]

Except for one thing.[break][break]

The sees a small fissure underneath Ana.[break][break]

And his silver eyes light up with realization, a moment of PTSD begins to reverberate through him as he remembers Jubilee's body, and instinctually, he steps forward and grabs her by the tail to pull her back, as a geyser of lava fires upwards, and begins to pool around the area.[break][break]

Onto his left foot.[break][break]

Ever hear a twenty-five year old scream bloody murder? Yeah, that's about right. Lava doesn't kill, but even simulated that is a nasty burn. As his silver eyes are filled with tears from intensity and the pain, he pulls away, falling over, and attempting, to get away.[break][break]

That pain was very real.[break][break]

"I'm fine." He growls out, and assesses the damages. Salem's Moonlight would help fix him up, but Ashley was going to be limping the rest of the simulation. And unfortunately for him. That hindrance would prove to be fatal sooner than later.[break][break]

Great. He loves handicaps!

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Hot as hell in here.[break][break]

Hard to breathe even. He pulls off his over shirt, revealing the sleeveless one underneath as he ties the sleeved one over his head. It reminds him of his time flying around Mt. Chimney with Shalin Nariya, and hat could only mean it must have been a similar location, but what really digs into Ash is the context of the bracelet's voiceover.[break][break]

The Attack on Littleroot during Meteno. That's right. So this guy, the Avatar of Groudon, was the reason that it was halted? Ashley never went to Littleroot that day. He makes a gulping sound though, as the task at hand would be them fighting the Groudon alone. Just the three. Prepare for the worst. The pain will feel real, and they are to be evaluated.[break][break]

"Got it."[break][break]

That was the easy part. This was the hard part. Fighting a literal god. He wonders if Hitoshi's bravado can hold a candle to a literal magma hellscape, but seeing him think on his feet, Ashley does the same, releasing Laguna out. "Help him out. Make it rain." That would free up Munenori, giving Hitoshi his 'blade' back.[break][break]

He may dislike the man, but he isn't going to let their verbal spat earlier sour his ability to teamwork. Well. He won't, anyways.[break][break]

He shoots Selena a look and smiles. She was sensible. And he had left her without answer to a question due to a bit of a bruised ego. One he would rectify now. "For the record. I still have fight in me." He liked her.[break][break]

That doesn't quite stop the monster lurking closer. Groudon comes closer and closer, and Hitoshi inquires of the plan. Asks them to think.[break][break]

He has an idea.[break][break]

"Okay. Laguna here can Protect from Groudon's attacks. My Umbreon has access to Moonlight, and we have a sky here, so we should be fine defensively. However, my Pikachu isn't the most fit for the situation. I can provide cover and healing for you both, and you two hit it with everything you got." He didn't have the best team for this, but he'd make due. Improvise.[break][break]

Isn't always about getting the kill over the secure, and he knows how much his teammate wants to slay a god, considering the team name now was all the more fitting.[break][break]

His hand was shaking, hidden now behind his back. "Sound good, team?"

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Realization. Zacian was that important. Hm. Walsh wanted them, so it obviously meant they were. It just... he would cross his arms over his chest. He didn't want to believe that. Not really. But the lore the king on the horse was pelting, it had him stare with half-disbelief, and half a want to hope it wasn't true.[break][break]

But they were in a sword. At this point, sky is the fucking limit. This place is a farce where things are only as powerful as memories. But his words... universes? Of course, Kep said as much.[break][break]

Thankfully, the duo would be going to the same place. As Haku is on standby nearby... once Ash realizes that the only way out is to bring Zacian back, his heart sinks a little.[break][break]

Great. Outted myself AND helped the lot of us get here. I have a target the size of Theo's on my back.[break][break]

This was gonna be a long, long, looong couple hours...[break][break]

---[break][break]

Bad news first. Kep is shot into that beam, and away he goes. Ashley's heart drops a moment, and he goes in, hard. Hopping on Haku, and ordering it out. "Yip yip." And with a SWOOSH, he's inside.[break][break]

And as soon as he reaches the other side, he shoots out on Haku, practically above he smoldering city, broken Poke Centers, walls, weathered in every way. The protective part of him has him panicked, searching the entirety from the sky, as he looks for him. But he has a vantage, and to fly in without any care was a stupid, idiot decision. He needed to take it all in.[break][break]

THEO BECKETT taught him better than that.[break][break]

Focus, Ash.[break][break]

The Castle-Stadium... something is there. He's not sure what, but its oozing something from below. His eyes travel west. Double doors... what are they for? People are going in there. Why? What reason could they have? He ponders. Then the ground around Hammerlocke.[break][break]

He needs to survey as much as he can. The city... there are peasants? People about? ... he's sure he notices someone familiar at the power spot, but he knows better than to start a fight now.[break][break]

The good news. He finds Kep. Rather, hears him over comms, and Ashley decides to do something ballsy as he sees him from above.[break][break]

He doesn't even think. He jumps off of Haku, and begins falling to the earth, the Dragonite rushing to his side, and falling with him, gripping him from below to gain speed as they dive towards the ground. The Dragonite uses its wings to slow the descent as it had been trained to do, ingrained into its very biology, as Ashley finally lands nearest to Kep.[break][break]

"Need a hand?" Evil Dead one-liners, baby. That's the good shit.[break][break]

Reinhardt was out of commission, but Haku isn't, and he was using that to his advantage.[break][break]

"Outrage until they are nothing left. Clear the area, buddy." Haku nods, and begins to fend them off as such, and Ash decides to answer his question, pulling Kep into a hug.[break][break]

"Well, Smartest Guy in the Room-" He's being playful, and making sure to say as much, as he prepares his pistol to fire at these bastard hands. "-we're in a memory, and those hands are about to mess with these hands."[break][break]

So long as Haku doesn't mind some handiwork.[break][break]

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