Redeeming:
- 150 PD (Clamperl Diving)

- Tera Shard (Mantine Surf)
- - Yip the Smeargle gains Steel

Ultra Deep Sea... Ettie recalls her past treks through here - for better or worse. It was a dangerous place; a place made even more dangerous, by the distortions that now filled this space.

It is a good thing, then, that she isn't alone here. In particular, this has been used as a chance for the Flock to come with and sharpen their talons against any hostile pokemon that bother them. Perhaps this experience would do them well - and it would, even if not for the expected reasons.

And as always, well... She can't say no, to any new shiny objects.

Ettie nodded, at the suggestion of new prey. Being able to get the drop on something less aware would save a lot of trouble, assuming that prey could be found.

But in the meantime, as they moved, there came the question of advice. Ettie considers for a second, before musing "Dracozolt... Attacked, but not looked. If friend waited... Might not hit tree." She spoke. "But Dracozolt fast. Could chase, if not stuck. Pack good at long-chase. Prey runs lots, pack follows, prey gets tired... Pack catches." Persistence hunting was a wolf's bread and butter, in many cases.

And how Ettie hunted... "Pack smells... Ettie watches." She taps near her eyes. "Ettie look for tracks. Watches herds. Sees weak, or sick, prey." She had a good eye for these things - tracking and singling out targets alike. By riding atop Anne's back, she could also keep an eye on their surroundings whilst the pack chased their prey.

"And when close... Ettie help." She concluded, fingers meaningfully tapping along Scarlet's crossed scabbard. She was no stranger, to leaping from a packmate's back onto a prey's back with her Doublade in hand.

Kouji Matsubara

Ettie smiled and nodded as Kouma introduced his friend proper. "Draco-zolt good packmate, for Kouma-friend!" She'd declare; to be so eager to protect Kouma even when they'd just met, it was hard for Ettie to view him any other way! Pack helped pack - it was a simple way of life, and one that Ettie felt that not enough people embraced. You had nothing to worry about when you had your pack at your side, after all - and your packmates had no need to worry, knowing that you're there.

(Sure, perhaps in the case of the Garchomp swarm, they weren't quite able to cover for each other in a fight... But was still the fact that they were probably able to help each other, in getting away in the first place!)

Nonetheless, it seemed that Dracozolt's attempt to catch prey didn't quite go to plan! As he slammed into the tree, the Stantler that he spied would almost instantly turn tail and run - disappearing into the underbrush.

Anat would come up to help pull Dracozolt out of the tree, and let out a sigh - lightly patting the dinosaur as if to say 'easy there, sport'.

Ettie's eyes, though, were locked upon the direction that the Stantler fled in. "... We chase, or find new prey?" She'd question Kouma, her voice having dropped into something more serious, focused.

Either option was equally valid to her - no matter how far the Stantler got, as long as it left a trail, Ettie was confident in her ability to keep up. It was the question of whether one wanted to hope that they could stay on the Stantler's trail, or whether one wanted to hunt for some other prey to ambush instead...

... But it was safe to say that her train of thought had shifted from that of a happy stray puppy, to that of a wolf.

Kouji Matsubara

Ettie's eyes meet Navy's, and for a moment, she recognizes the sadness there. It is a similar sadness that she feels, when she thinks too heavily on that long dream.

But as he speaks, there is a soft and almost melancholic smile on the wildchild's face. "Ettie remembers, too, kind of." She speaks. Her memories are foggy and fragmented, but she knows that it had happened. And she knows that he was a good person, too. That he was a hero, as well. Someone who braved the blighted in-betweens that she couldn't - wouldn't, for her loyalty had always been to protecting Ballonlea. "Navy is friend."

Accepting the badge, Ettie and her pack follow Navy's lead - approaching a wall with carved words aplenty. There is a moment where - as Ettie stops to try and read each one - she is once more reminded of her illiteracy. Certainly, the time spent amongst people had helped in making some words vaguely recognizable to her...

... But it is a far cry from the understanding she had, as an adult, in that twenty-year dream. And it is frustrating - cause she feels as though she should still have it. That she forgot is one of the few things in the world that feels oh-so-unfair to her.

All the same though, there is still advice to be offered here, she feels. And as she reaches for the tools, her gaze briefly meeting Anat's, the Lucario joins her side to help add to the countless statements that stretch across the smooth expanse of rock.

Have trust in your pack.

As soon as the fight is called to a stop, Ettie's own pack comes to a pause. They watch on as the dragons are recalled - before they finally relax, returning to Ettie's side when she calls with a low bark. As the pack gathers, wounds are licked, and bonds are reaffirmed with gentle nuzzles shared amongst each other.

Ettie, too, smiles as she alternates between stroking different packmates. "Did good," She praises the pack as a whole - warm and loving. She adores her pack with all her heart, and to see them able to cooperate as they do makes her happy.

She perks up when Navy addresses her - Ettie's eyes lighting up at the praise, as she giggles brightly. "Pack is good! Pack strong!" She states proudly, delighted that they had been able to hold their own.

The mention of rangers, however, makes her expression shift to one of curious thought. Though he may have his doubts, the possibility is there; she had grown and been molded by the wilds, and it only stands to reason that she is at home amongst pokemon, wild or otherwise. Though she may be a hunter, just as much a predator deep down as her 'kin', she is equally able to be a friend.

It is, perhaps, just a question of how those few years pass. But until then, she smiles bright and nods. "Like Josh-friend! And Julia-friend!" She chirps eagerly, thinking to Julia Davis and Josh Devlin both. The idea of truly becoming a Ranger was, indeed, a fascinating one...

... But, for now, her gaze once more drifts. Once more, to the carved Zacian that sits on Navy's platform. She approaches, step by step, to look at it more closely - reaching up to gently trace along one of the details, that might be the wolf's braided fur.

"... Friend remember... Long dream?" She asks softly, glancing up to him. Even before she had the idea to sign up for this fight, she had recognized him - not as a gym leader, but faintly, distantly, as someone else. A knight, a pale rider, who once wandered into her territory on his lonesome. A friend.

The fist lands lightning-fast - quicker than Anne can react - and she snarls, briefly reeling. But, the Lycanroc as zero hesitation to retaliate and make her feelings on the matter known. The wolf lashes out with a Counter - seeking to grab the arm that Arthur swung with in her teeth, and throw the Kommo-o to the ground.

Ettie, meanwhile, casts a glance to Navy - a flicker of puzzled inquisitiveness in her eyes. Though Navy surely had a sixth pokemon, it has yet to enter the field - despite the fact that his pokemon were presently outnumbered. Was he waiting for the right moment for it - or did he only intend to use five pokemon?

It was hard to say - but that wasn't to say that the pack wasn't dangerous.

Clearly, Graci had overextended - because she is suddenly on the receiving end of a one-two punch; yelping as she's ping-ponged between Leviathan and Grendel both! Scrambling to catch the wind, she lets herself drift away from the dragons - attempting to Recover her footing.

The remaining three, however, make themselves plenty known - and Anat is there to lead the charge, as the second-in-command. Leaping with an Extreme Speed of her own, she attempts to strike at and grapple Grendel to try and bring him to the ground!

Which, in turn, prompts Zeit to fling himself at the Dragonite with a Double-Edge!

Princess, on the other hand, does not leave Leviathan hanging; the Granbull attempting to move for the Kingdra and Play Rough!

TLDR: Lycanroc is struck by the swift punch - and though briefly reeling from it, she attempts to Counter by grabbing Kommo-o's arm in her teeth and trying to throw him to the ground! Shaymin gets ping-ponged by Kingdra and Dragonite, and attempts to fall back to Recover - whilst Lucario leads a charge alongside Arcanine and Granbull. Lucario attempts to strike and grapple Dragonite with Extreme Speed to bring him to the ground, and Arcanine tries to follow up with a Double-Edge. Finally, Granbull keeps Kingdra busy with a Play Rough.

Navy

Spin, spin, spin - Ettie was full of delight as she pulled off another trick, flipping and twirling through the air with the Mantine! Surely, a streak like this meant for something - the people on the shore were certainly going wild, it seemed like!

And there was another one - this one wasn't unique, it was a lot like one they'd found before, but this was still a pretty good find! There could never be too many shinies, after all - and she'd happily add this to the collection.

The trick immediately after this would, as well, end up a success - Ettie having a gigglefit as she pulls it off. Again, again! She was looking forward to continue spinning about in the air, just like that!

Now see, this one was much more comprehendible for Ettie - it was much like the other two discs she'd found before, but it was another unique one. An interesting find, for sure - it was also quite nice and shiny, at that!

Whatever Ettie's spinning had meant to accomplish, it certainly helped the next trick - the wildchild and Mantine both hyped up from the shenanigans! As it twists through the air, Ettie lets out another whoop of delight.

And, oh... There's... another one? In fact, this one seems completely identical to the previous one. Down to even the little scratches, now that she looks closer.

... Ettie is not sure how she feels about this. She doesn't want to think too hard about this. Back to the search!