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“I should hope not!” Fern chimed pleasantly in response, a thin, but chipper smile curling on his mouth. Consider it…an evaluation of sorts. He didn’t expect to be disappointed by any stretch, but the outcome could spell future requests that Dorian work under him if all went well.[break][break]

Fern’s own pokemon joined the others–a Hisuian goodra and sableye, to be exact. “Niskus, assist,” he instructed simply as they watched the emboar halt the cart with efficiency. The goodra rumbled his assent and followed, gooey body sinking into the earth slightly as he conjured a wash of MUDDY WATER to flood the area and sink the truck’s tires.[break][break]

“Sidhe, you know what to do.” He tapped the keystone pin on his lapel as he looked to the Sableye, who cackled in delight as she began to glow–a sure sign of her mega evolution kicking in, complete with an oversized, shielding gem.[break][break]

It wasn’t until the first sign of the Leaguer driving the truck emerged that the sableye moved–sending a SHADOW BALL hurtling from her hiding place.

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It is, admittedly, satisfying to see Matias reduced to floundering in the water as his gyarados goes down. The smile that curls on their face is a cruelly pleased one, and it feels like retribution for what has been taken.[break][break]
They sink down toward the water’s surface on the back of their dragapult as Tapu Koko hovers behind them. It doesn’t move to attack, sensing the admin’s need to enact their anger and resentment.[break][break]
“Not so nice, being cornered, is it?” the hum as electricity crackles at their fingertips. “I suppose I won’t take your ear, too feral.” Instead, their hand connects with the water so that it ignites around the other with shocking force. "Oh, but I could stun you - not too nice when you need to tread water, hm?"[break][break]
The grapploct is pulled into the WHIRLPOOL to its annoyance, but it tries to tangle back. If it will be dragged down, so will the cloyster. Using its weight in the water, it tries to drag the other pokemon into SUBMISSION.

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For a spell, they leave the battle. Their swift exit through spectral space renders them unaware of what comes after. Of the anger jayden cross lashes out with, or of Tapu Koko’s actions in their absence. Not that they are particularly worried about either of them (this is not true, of course. They simply do not want to admit to their fretting.) Both man and deity have existed and survived and clawed their way free of battle long before Fern was ever a part.[break][break]

They are simply an accessory to it all now.[break][break]

And so they crawl through that temporal void, waiting for the right moment to reappear on the other end of the PHANTOM FORCE.[break][break]

Tapu Koko, though, grows more irritable in the wake of Fern’s departure and refusal to allow it entrance into that portal alongside them. It takes out its offended mood on the tyrantrum fixed on hunting it. Seizing power from the electric terrain that persists, the island guardian unleashes another pulsing DISCHARGE to stun the beast before spiraling upward in pursuit of Freya. A chase in the air has never bothered it, though it peels away at the sight of The Cursed plummeting forward atop Vodnik.[break][break]

This is not its chosen. No, they appear out of their portal just behind Freya and Melusine, the smack of their surprise attack aimed at the roaring moon’s tail rather than her bulk. An attempt to disrupt her balance in the air. “Okay. Okay, I couldn’t stay away,” they prattle as if they were chiding themself for having an extra cookie during afternoon tea. “This is just too much fun.”

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The grapploct works to continue keeping the cloyster occupied—an OCTAZOOKA spray of dark ink is jettisoned straight into the shelled creature’s face.[break][break]
It provides that continued opening for Fern who laughs at the outcry from the elite four member. “Did it?” they ask, coy lilt to their voice. Tapu Koko tries to weave away from the HYPER BEAM, but is clipped by it.[break][break]
One of its shielded arms is knocked askance and it spins in a rage before it descends on the gyarados and its rider again. The energy it collects swells into a crackling ELECTRO BALL that hurdles ahead of it toward its target.[break][break]
“You’ll only make it angrier,” Fern hums, as they concentrate to channel an ELECTRICAL STORM that builds around them, whipping up the water into a choppy torrent. “Not so easy, is it? Removed from the land?”

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The formal greeting earns a nod of respect from Fern, though he has always found it odd that others default to him now—even after almost a year of adminship.[break][break]
“Likewise,” they agree easily, “I very much expect this to go quite smoothly.” Or as smoothly as unleashing chaos for chaos’ sake can go. But in terms of their effort, yes, smoothly.[break][break]
“Hm?” His head tilts, curiosity causing their tone to perk. Fern lets one arm sweep out in gesture. “If that’s the case, then by all means, lead the way.” Tapu Koko drifts down from the hiding place it had tucked itself, obviously confused as to why its chosen has opted to let another pave the way despite rank.[break][break]
“I am interested to see what exactly it is you have in mind.” Something tells him, though, that he will not be disappointed.

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“You’ve bitten off more than you can chew, Little Red,” they coo, head tilting as they draw nearer, stooping down to where she’s fallen thanks to their goodra’s efforts combined with their own electrical talents. “Perhaps you should give up now.”[break][break]
They glance at the pair of pokemon who refuse to give up, “Though, they’re putting up quite a fight for you,” Fern muses as the teddiursa and togetic push back against their larger opponents. “A shame you don’t do the same for them now.” How would they respect her that way? If their words sound encouraging, they are not. [break][break]
Pitying, maybe. But certainly mocking. “Sniffling will get you nowhere, dear,” they continue as they move away again, hands clasping behind their back. They don’t acknowledge the fact that this is probably far more stressful for her. That somewhere, deep down, there is a seed of sympathy. But many of their softer emotions have been stifled and buried today.[break][break]
Their nature is a far less stable thing than it once was, and it has always been a touch fickle. They have given into the chaotic tumult provided by their bond to Tapu Koko, even if they don’t fully realize that as the source of their delight in cruel mischief.[break][break]
The teddiursa’s ineffective SLASHES only emphasizes its lack of direction. Her inability to direct the little creature in this pivotal moment proves to be their benefit. Their sableye giggles again, peering back at Fern as they nod. The glimmer of a gem it holds shines in time with the matching stone on their lapel and the ruby grows as Sidhe mega evolves to shield herself using the enlarged gem she bears.[break][break]
Niskus, meanwhile, lets out a shrill sound as the earth quakes underneath him again. The goodra tumbles from the onslaught of ANCIENT POWER, but pushes through it out of a dedication to his trainer, much the same as Genny’s do. Though the retaliation of spewed DRAGON BREATH is far less effective than its prior efforts.

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He has lost Tapu Koko in the fog. An annoying thing– because he could just whistle to call for the deity, but that would draw attention to his position. Not that he’s aware that he’s already been spotted. Not until the first spray of water comes blasting toward him. Well, so much for approaching the camp discreetly.[break][break]
His flapple squeals as she’s smacked back by the second jettison of HYDRO PUMP. The blast causes the mist to part, if only for a moment, and Fern looks up to see the man seated on the ledge. His voice cascades down and Fern’s head tilts, a smile spreading under the half-mask he dons. “You would be right,” he calls back, hand lifting to cup around his mouth. “But if you think the theatrics are going to intimidate me, you’ll be sorely disappointed.”[break][break]
Two can play at that game, after all.[break][break]
Coaxing her onto his shoulder, Fern ensures that the flapple is secure before moving. Faster than a snipe shot of water or bullet is likely able to keep up with. They flicker out of view, and this time it is not the mist that disguises them, but the ability to travel in a sudden crack, from below to above.[break][break]
“Hello!” he greets cheerfully, eyeing the man at the edge of the outcropping, though he himself doesn’t draw so close toward the risk of a precarious fall. The hand he’d been using as an impromptu megaphone waves at him–an air of mockery to the gesture.[break][break]
The other hand finds the stone kitted as a neat little lapel pin on their jacket. Activating it sets the flapple alight as she flutters forward, and she glows as her size swells from the tiny little dragon into something much larger–entombed in a hardy apple shell that she pokes out of at will. Fern’s attention fixes on the man’s arm in a sling. “League’s really so desperate they’re even sending out the injured, huh?”[break][break]
Not that this will prompt mercy from Fern. “Uproot ‘em,” he commands the flapple, and Honeycrips acquiesces. Roots and tangled vines pull from the earth, GRASS KNOTS sent to pull the inteleon’s feet out from under it.

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The first night, they die immediately.[break][break]

It’s quite tragic, really. And kind of excruciating to be torn to bits by rampaging houndoom. It is even more unfortunate when they are unable to summon even a single spark to their fingertips to ward the wild dogs back. It’s a vexing setback, and unfortunate turn of events.[break][break]

But it is not a mistake they make again. There was no real time to evaluate. No time to take measure of what they could or couldn’t do. They lived and survived the majority of their life without the blessing Tapu Koko had provided, however. And they can do so again now.[break][break]

Their focus had been on finding Medb with abandon, and it made them foolish. Exposed.[break][break]

On the second night, they took much more care once they respawn outside of the castle.[break][break]

Fern still does not think to scrutinize their player screen. And ultimately, they do not need to. Because when they are just starting to think that it would be useful if they had some kind of light, the screen blinks to life in front of their face.[break][break]


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Suddenly, catching the weirdly intrinsic scent of their dragapult is that much easier, and they pursue.[break][break]

When they find her, she is not alone. She twirls through the air with a second dragapult in matching hue before they peel apart. One hurtles away to another part of the forest. They do not recognize the second, but would know Medb no matter her hue— the notch in her fin sets her apart from the rest of their brood, and it is the same here.[break][break]

They coo and coddle, but they are met with a reptilian hiss. Dark energy swirls around her, and she is strong as she uproots the earth in jagged spikes. It is a power that Fern hopes to reclaim. Both because she is strong, and because she is dear to them.[break][break]

Their eyes follow her in the gloom, and she cannot use the dark to her advantage in their game of catch. When they throw the dream ball, it lands true. Maybe because they are so accustomed to traveling astride dragapult, they do not register the fact that they levitate a few inches off of the ground with the same fluid movement, a long semi-translucent tail sprouting to drift behind them. Canines and nails sharpening.[break][break]

Fern is too fixated on the option they are presented with.[break][break]

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Their fingers turn over the pokeball in wondering, but the choice is easy. They choose that strength, and select continue.

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A quick, successive of attacks finally fells their own dragon. Slowed by stone, she is pelted by electricity and does not sport the same immunity as her handler. A guttural, enraged shriek sends her downward. Crashing among the upturned earth with a reverberating echo.[break][break]

The sharp strike of the tyrantrum’s attack splinters their perch before they can predict it. The stone collapses under them, and they fall hard amid the rubble, but they do not linger there for long. Meraxes is withdrawn for a dragapult to take her place. One that wraps them up, and pulls them skyward in swift, fluid motion. One that Freya may just recognize, should she look closely enough.[break][break]

“Oh?” they coo at her from above, “Did you not just say you had hoped I would put up a fight? Not simple now that you realize the truth, hm? But beggars cannot be choosers, freya morningstar.”[break][break]

It seems, though, that there may be options, after all. Though she may not like them.[break][break]

A plume of flame drops down over them, and Fern looks up with the dawning of recognition in their reaction. Another Roaring Moon sweeps into view. They know Vodnik by sight and so this means— “A mhuirnín.” A wild grin pulls across their mouth as they look at her again. “If you don’t want to fight me, fight him instead.” They leave her to his wrath for a moment, laughing loud and bright as Medb pulls them into the front end of her PHANTOM FORCE and winking them from view.[break][break]

Who’s to say exactly where they will reappear.[break][break]

While Fern commits to a temporary disappearing act, Tapu Koko surges forward again, unafraid of larger creatures as NATURE’S MADNESS flows outward toward its nearest target.

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Fern could not stifle the entertained laughter that continued as the masked man dropped from the tyrantrum to the ground with a plop. “Size isn’t everything, y’know?” How often have they themself been overlooked because of their less imposing posture?[break][break]
They are not so harmless now, though.[break][break]
Making no effort to utilize any of their own abilities just yet, they watch as Tapu Koko is battered back with a swipe of the tyrantrum’s massive tail. It catches the deity and slings it back. As it turns over itself in the air, Fern can practically feel the offense it takes to being swatted at like a fly.[break][break]
Electricity crackles around it, but Tapu Koko does not summon the power of sky and storm this time. Instead, when it hurtles toward the tyrantrum, it dives at the last moment—shielded arms snapping together in a garish avian mask.[break][break]
The pointed beak of it drives into the earth, bright, colorful energy surging around it as it summons NATURE’S MADNESS. Fern calls from off to the side, grin wide as they look at the drago -wielder with playful taunt— “~Looks like you’ve made it angry!”

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