Alec honestly wasn't sure if his answer was gonna work, expecting that the guy wouldn't be so ... forthcoming as he was. Alec continued reading the choices, seeing that there were three. Definitely not sacrifice (whatever the hell he meant by that anyway ...) Physical intimacy was good, but not always the case. That left Alec to choose the one that made the most sense.

---

❤️ Communication.

Just as alec had captured the Galarian Ponyta, an unfamiliar one appeared shortly after. It looked like a crocodile, a baby-sized one at that, with a red-colored body. This must be that paldean pokemon I've been hearing so much about. I thought I'd never find one," Alec said as the small thing fired a ball of flame at him, tryna incinerate Alec right then and there, however, Ishi stepped in, tanking the attack, only to fire a METAL BURST at it.

Alec sighed, not liking the fact that Ishi had used that kind of force on the small red crocodile, but at least it was weakened enough for Alec to toss his last safari ball at it. As Alec waited for the ball he began to chastise Ishi for using too much unnecessary force. Hopefully though, the Safari warden wouldn't be too upset at this. Besides, he was lucky that her attack didn't cause too much damage to the area ...

---

Notes: Catching fuecoco
Safari Balls: 0/4

Alec looks back just in time to see the Nihilego grab Elise Calcifet with its tentacles, immediately pumping its toxin into her. Shit! Alec thought to himself. Even with Nat's speed, he wouldn't have been able to stop the Ultra Beast in time. Luckily, Aaron's Trevanent stepped in shortly after the alien jellyfish poisoned Elise, forcing it to let go of her as it attacked. After aaron faust gave his own little 'pep-talk' to Elise, showing symptoms from the Ultra Beasts toxins, Nat the Sceptile, slammed its hand onto the ground, using FRENZY PLANT standing in front of Elise and Altagracia. The tree-like vines began to separate Alec and Aaron from Alta and Elise, and just as the vines started growing over between them, Alec faced Alta with a smile and said, "Look after Elise. Aaron and I will deal with this,"

Alec finished just as the vines fully isolated them from one another with Nat also with the two women. Alec turned to face the danger that was in front of him and Aaron, prompting the dead corpse controlled by the other alien jellyfish to speak, a small piece of its flesh falling off from its face as it spoke. "IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU FACE ME ALL AT ONCE OR DIVIDED! YOU'LL ALL MEET THE SAME FATE!" it spat, releasing yet another Ultra Beast. Alec didn't know what the hell it was exactly, but from the looks of it, it looked like a Dragon-Type, and possibly a Poison type. "Oi, Aaron. You take care of the free overgrown Jellyfish. I got the flying syringe," Alec said, tossing out two pokeballs in front of him, materializing a Dragonite and an Aggron.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

TL;DR:
- Realizing that Elise had been poisoned by the Nihilego, Alec commands Nat to use Frenzy Plant to divide the Battlefield, while making sure Elise and Alta are safe.
- This in turn forces the dead megalopolan controlled by the other Nihilego to bring out a Nagandel, while Aaron faces off with the second Nihilego.
- Alec calls out Veta the Dragonite and Brix the Aggron.

Notes: none
Altagracia Contreras , Elise Calcifet , Aaron Toral

Alec stood there quietly, listening to Isaac as he switched out his Tauros back to the Scolipede. A smart move, given the fact that it was still confused. Bringing it back to its Pokeball allowed for it to recover, but that still change the fact that Pandora was severely weakened as well. What's more, is that the smack Maximus received from Omega allowed it to swiftly change who it was attacking. It barreled itself toward Pandora with the tip of its sword, breaking its own SHADOW SNEAK in order to use SACRED SWORD.

Inferno also followed suit after Maximus made its move, its claws glowing green as it too pursued the severely weakened insect. Alec didn't question it, despite the fact that the Metagross was gathering energy to release a METEOR BEAM. Perhaps his pokemon were aware? Either way, with Inferno and Maximus making a pincer tactic on the weakened Pandora, it may be able to dodge at least one of the attacks, but dodging both in the current state it was in was very unlikely. Even if it used BATON PASS, it'd only exchange itself out for Tauros, allowing it to take the heat instead.

Was the Metagross's next attack going to do Inferno in? Or did Inferno have something planned when the time came? Either way, the look in Alec's eyes made it certain that he wanted to see for himself. He trusted his own pokemon's judgments while in battle. That was why he hadn't made a single order to his pokemon, instructing them to use this or that move. He just simply preferred to watch and let them take over. That is how one knows the bond between him and his pokemon.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

TL;DR:
- Right as soon as Maximus is swatted away by the Metagross, it immediately breaks its Shadow Sneak, changing its target of choice to the Scolipede and making a beeline for the weakened insect with Sacred Sword.

- A few minutes after Maximus makes his bee-line tactic, Inferno swoops in from the other side of the Scolipde with a Dragon Claw.

Isaac Merlo

Alec blinked quizzically, unsure of what kind of pokemon it was. It looked like a Delibird, but it looked like a machine ... Alec didn't want to kill it, but he didn't know what kind of power this unknown pokemon had. If they did send it to another dimension without prior knowledge, wouldn't it just destroy the people or whatever in that universe? Alec sighed, unsure of what to choose. That was when his finger pressed on the option Catch it for ourselves. Despite this being just a game, he wasn't going to be responsible for destroying an entire universe all because he sent an unknown creature there.

Alec noticed the sun starting to set, worried that he may not be able to catch that paldean pokemon. However, he was still determined to catch it. Besides, Ishi seemed fine continuing. As the dragon tamer and his aggron continued down the path, he spotted a galarian ponyta. It noticed them, however, due to its height compared to Ishi's it looked kind of scared. Ishi was about to attack, but Alec stopped her once again like before with the Applin.

Alec pulled out a carrot, somewhat slowly holding it out toward the pontya. It was hesitant, however, it eventually came around to accepting the treat in Alec's hand rather than running away. Alec 'hmmed' debating on whether or not to catch it. "It'd be a great thing, considering Etain would have a friend to play with every now and again. I could also try and train this one to battle," Alec thought, taking that into consideration as well. After making his decision, Alec gently tossed a safari ball at the galarian ponyta.

---

Notes: Catching galarian ponyta
Safari Balls: 1/4

Alec takes a mental note of the Metagross trapping Maximus with its own Magnet Rise. "You and you're pokemon are no joke either. However," Alec pauses as Maximus decides to go with the magnetic pull instead of resisting it while keeping its SHADOW SNEAK up, still managing to launch through the Metagross's central part of its body. "My pokemon will still find a way to counter yours," Alec said.

Meanwhile, before Maximus countered the Metagross, Inferno eyed down the Tauros, seeing the WAVE CRASH forming on its sides, gushing from its sides. As it neared, Inferno's clenched its left hand into a fist, starting to glow orange, and then once the two of them were standing in front of one another, Inferno's DYNAMIC PUNCH and the Tauros's crashing waves collided. Since Inferno had only recently entered into the battle, Alec had no need to worry about him fainting anytime soon.

"Looks like Inferno is saying he can afford to get a bit of water on him." Alec said, smirking. With the way his pokemon were fighting now, Alec's words only rang more true. The real battle had only just begun, and they weren't gonna submit so easily. Plus, Alec had his own Mega Glove as well, which continued to support his earlier statement. Alec did admit though that Isaac and his pokemon were a worthy opponent. It was just a matter of time before either his or Alec's pokemon would make the battle reach's climax; coming to an end.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

TL;DR:
- Despite being trapped by the Metagross's magnet rise, Maximus holds his Shadow Sneak, allowing Maximus to still attack and slip through the Metagross's own tactic.

- As the Paldean Tauros run's haphazardly around the Arena, Inferno waits for the Paldean Tauros to get close colliding his Dynamic Punch into charging Tauros's Wave Crash. The contact of Inferno's Dynamic Punch ensures that Buffaloman will stay confused.

Isaac Merlo

Alec and his aggron continued to press onward through the safari, still not seeing any signs of that paldean pokemon that he heard so much about yet. However, he came across a bunch of Applin, rooted into the branches of trees. Aggron had attempted to pick one up from the tree, however, Alec stopped her. "Don't worry about them. Let's just keep moving," Alec said. Ishi huffed, however, she reluctantly followed Alec's orders.

---

Notes: Skipping!
Safari Balls: 2/4

Alec couldn't help but smirk once again when he saw how Espeon the Paldean Tauros's own SWAGGER. Surely that'd anger the brazen bull. That was when Isaac revealed a trump card, raising his arm high, the sleeve falling down somewhat to reveal a Mega Brace, however, he wasn't mega evolving the Metagross. Instead, he was preparing to use a Z-move. "So, he's using a Z-Move, and judging from the looks of it, it's powering up the Tauros," Alec said, carefully analyzing the energy pouring out of it; gathering around the confused bull. It then broke loose, running straight forward into a raging stampede, water gushing forth from its hooves as it charged.

Meanwhile, before the Tauros began to charge, the Metagross used its PSYCHIC powers to form an unseeable barrier to Luna and Maximus's right while using its long steel legs to block the left side. Despite the Metagross's legs being uneven due to Maximus's SACRED SWORD attack from a few seconds ago, it still managed to hold both of them. However, Maximus wasn't going to stand there idly by and be trapped. Its own shadow formed over its entire body shield and all, passing through the Metagross at its center with a SHADOW SNEAK, then took a long as well as wide turn to the right, well beyond the Psychic wall that was formed.

Luna could still sense the Psychic wall still being up, keeping her from escaping. Despite the inevitable, Luna's eyes glowed, unleashing a PSYCHIC blast at full power onto the incoming Tauros before it was trampled on. Alec knew that Luna would not be able to survive the attack, despite unleashing her own at full power. Alec swiftly took Luna's Pokeball from her belt, waiting for the dust from the collision to settle before returning the fainted Espeon.

"You've done an incredible job, Luna. Rest up! You deserve it," Alec smiled at Luna's Pokeball before Alec's face grew serious once more. After all, this battle was still not yet done. While Isaac seemed to have the advantage, his Metagross was starting to weaken, especially after Maximus having passed straight through it with its SHADOW SNEAK. Then, there was also the Tauros, who despite managing to take down Luna, also took a rather nasty hit from her own attack.

"Isaac," Alec called out to him, his voice loud enough for not only Isaac to hear him, but the people in the stands watching. "You said that Metagross was your strongest, right?" Alec asked rhetorically, a smirk forming. "Well, you're about to meet mine," Alec said, grabbing another pokeball that was strapped to his belt. "And if you think Luna was a problem," Alec said as he tossed the pokeball out in front of him; a black Charizard materializing in front of him, "Then surely Inferno will definitely make you sweat!" Inferno let out a powerful roar, its wing spreading out wide, asserting its dominance, making the crowd go absolutely nuts.

"As I told you earlier, the battle was only just beginning. But now, it's time for your true challenge!"

---

SPOILER: Click to show

TL;DR:
- Maximus utilizes its Ghost Typing by using Shadow Sneak to not only go through the Metagross but also deal damage to it while safely evading the Water-breed Tauros's Z-Move attack.

- Luna makes one last stand, delivering a fully-powered Psychic attack onto the stampeding Tauros.

- Luna the Espeon faints, prompting Alec to bring out his fourth and final pokemon, Inferno, the shiny Charizard.

Isaac Merlo

Alec didn't know why he had chosen the Oceanic Museum in Slateport to visit on his off day. Perhaps a place that was quiet was a good place to let his thoughts roam freely. A lot has happened since his return to the Hoenn Region and what's more, was that ... he didn't really know how to feel about it. He was grateful that the League's higher-ups had given him the opportunity to take his job as a Gym Leader back, but then there was the issue with Team Rocket ...

Alec suspected that dahlia goode would have some reason as to why she'd reinstate him, but the reason why was unknown to Alec. He didn't think that she had some ulterior motive, but it still made him curious all the more why she had made such a decision. Perhaps she had a feeling that he'd want to decimate Team Rocket and wanted to keep tabs on his actions from here on out, or perhaps she just simply believed that he deserved his job back.

Alec's train of thought dissipated the moment that he had seen a familiar face almost pass him by. "Hey, Elise! Fancy seein' you here," Alec said to his new acquaintance. Elise Calcifet and him met on their first Expedition to the Ultra Deep Sea. She as well as Altagracia Contreras were rather nice company. Then, there was Aaron - the young kid with a mouth. Alec as well as Elise both got quite the lip from the young trainer, however, Alec wasn't about to verbally fight a kid. It wasn't worth it, honestly.

---

Notes: Hope dis okies <3 x3

Alec looks over, hearing a stranger's voice belonging to a man that seemed to be about his age. He still had been trying to get used to talking to strangers ever since he had come back to the Hoenn Region. When he was living in the Kalos region, he kept to himself, and in a way, he sort of did the same thing when he first came back here too ... but that ship had sailed after a while. The guy seemed to be friendly enough, so the dragon tamer decided to indulge in being polite.

"Nothin' really, Marsha here likes coming to the swampy areas around here," Alec says, pointing to his female Swampert as she continued to have fun bathing in the mud pond. "What about you?" Alec asks the gentleman, also seeing the man's Rillaboom. If Alec remembered correctly, Rillaboom were from the Galar region, just like his Ineleon, Wigglez. Despite both of them being a Water type, Wigglez didn't much care for areas like this. It preferred swimming in freshwater ponds. "Name's Alec. What's yours?" he asks the stranger, figuring that giving him his name was an okay thing. Normally, Alec would either forget about greeting himself in that regard, or he'd simply just not care to do so.

---

Notes:
Ashley Shepard

As Alec and his aggron continued further into the safari, the dragon tamer spotted a tirtouga, bathing in the small pond nearby. Alec was tempted, but he already owned a Tirtouga. "I should probably train him soon," Alec thought to himself. With his new gym not being focused on his dragons anymore, it gave him the opportunity for all of his pokemon to shine.

That being said though, there were some of his pokemon that weren't fit for battle, or at least ... not yet. Some of them, like his Galarian Ponyta, actually didn't like battling. Etain considered himself a lover rather than a fighter, but Alec liked that about Etain. He was gentler than most of the pokemon he owned, and if it didn't like battling, then he wasn't gonna force it to do something it didn't enjoy. Alec and his aggron left the wild tirtouga to its bath, deciding to move on.

---

Notes: Skipping!
Safari Balls: 2/4

From the looks of things, Alec and Veta seemed to be in Sixth Place, with MATIAS SILPH right behind them. Figures it'd be two dragonites trying to see which one's faster, Alec thought to himself while ignoring Matias's words regarding kyle lopez being a cheater. Honestly, despite his own placement in the race, he figured it was better than being last. As him and Veta finished passing through the narrow path of trees, Alec to see the many sharp turns up ahead.

"Veta, be careful with the turns up ahead! Use Wing Attack help yourself with those tight turns!" Alec said to Veta. With a trill of her own, Her wings started to glow upon reaching the first sharp turn.

3wPs91Sk

---

SPOILER: Click to show

TL;DR: - ENDURANCE PATH(TN: 140)

- Due to Veta's Speed being ranked A(4), the maximum roll is increased by 40.

- Due to Veta's Endurance being ranked C(2), the TN drops by 40, becoming 100 instead of 140.

- The use of Veta's WING ATTACK is for flavor!

SPEED A | ENDURANCE C | REACTION C
TERA TYPE - NORMAL