When trying to warm someone up to bug-types, it was always good to start small and cute. Which was why El would bring Leif the Snom - as a cute little ambassador. The little worm would be on their lap, as they fed little frozen berries to him and kept an eye out for the students. "Leif here is a Snom - which is the base stage form for the Ice-Bug Type Frosmoth. You can usually find them in snowy mountains, or in forests during the winter. If you see what looks like an icicle hanging in an unusual spot, that may just be a resting Snom!"

El smiled bright as they spoke, clearly happy to be talking about pokemon. Things were a lot less scary when you understood them! "As you can see, he has what almost looks like a shell on his back - which is, in fact, made of ice! This is equal parts armor, and a way for it to disguise itself to hide from predators." They'd gesture along the ice formation as they spoke.

"A major part of a Snom's diet is snow, which is used to maintain this protective covering, to enhance its silken threads, and to help regulate temperature when exposed to warmer climes. The more well-fed a Snom is, the thicker the shell and longer the spikes on it. Snom are particularly fond of softer, freshly fallen snow - so you can usually find them out and about when it's snowing!"

Gesturing to indicate the berries they were feeding Leif though, they continued "Otherwise, Snom will happily eat fruit - mostly berries - and plant matter like leaves. It's not uncommon for a foraging Snom to dig up the leaves that fell over the course of autumn from underneath the snow - allowing it to have both in one meal!" With a chuckle though, they emphasized "But, even if they're pretty easy to feed, they have high metabolisms that lead to voracious appetites. So if you decide to raise one yourself, be ready to provide them regular feasts."

"Otherwise, if you run into a Snom out in the wild, don't worry - they're usually timid, and often more nervous of us than we are of them. They're not particularly strong, and would sooner hide as an icicle or flee by burrowing under the snow rather than pick a fight. So just avoid cornering one, and you'll be perfectly fine." Though of course, you shouldn't corner any wild pokemon.

As El speaks though, Leif is simply content to continue munching on berries - and to allow the few who can get up the nerves for to to pet him. He has it easy today, it seems...

They say that things of great fun
Is like a barrel of monkeys
But what is it about the barrel
That a primate troop sees?

Buying a Dundunsparce for 100 PD (copying details below for my sanity)

SERENE GRACE
COIL
DRAGON RUSH
ROOST
BOOMBURST
THROAT CHOP
AQUA TAIL

Redeeming: (putting both characters' stuffs in one post for convenience sake ghdkfjghd)

- (for El Sunderland) Walking Wake (Excursion)
- - Hydro Steam, Dragon Pulse, Flamethrower, Aqua Jet, Sunny Day, Noble Roar

- (for El Sunderland) Behemoth's Cool Ribbon Rewards
- - 10pd and rainbow shard plz :3

- (for Ettie) Gouging Fire (Excursion)
- - Outrage, Dragon Claw, Flare Blitz, Lava Plume, Sunny Day, Howl

Aspear: Ettie's Zeit the H. Growlithe forgets Flame Wheel, learns Flare Blitz

Leppa: Ettie's Graci the Shaymin forgets Air Slash, learns Psychic

Liechi: Ettie's Daea the Shaymin forgets Leafage and Quick Attack, learns Seed Bomb and Trailblaze

Kee: Ettie's Bouba the Slurpuff - Play Rough, Energy Ball, Cotton Guard, Wish, Aromatherapy, Sticky Web

Oran: Makoto Kurumi's Koseki the G. Yamask evolves into Runerigus

Chesto: El Sunderland's Huckebein the Metang evoves into Metagross

Pecha: Discard

Persim: Ettie's Yip the Smeargle changes to Technician

Max Honey: Makoto Kurumi's Ryuko the Eevee gains Gigantamax Factor

Ganlon: El Sunderland's Walking Wake becomes Shiny

Under the Pressure, even the azure Wake - who wasn't as near by Suicune - was a little cowed. It was thoroughly outmatched, it recognized by now...

And El, meanwhile, sighed with relief that these two Paradoxes were spared. Even these otherworldly pokemon, invasive and often hostile as they were, the kindhearted Ranger didn't want to see anyone get seriously hurt - or even die. Letting out Akero, the two would approach the azure Wake.

Which, when the Wake made a soft growl, they spoke softly in response. "It's okay," They murmured reassuringly, carefully kneeling down to get to the raptor's level. "I just want to patch everyone up, okay?" Glancing and gesturing to Akero, they'd have her let loose a Life Dew for everyone - Wakes and combatants both.

As the dew sprinkled down upon Wake, it would relax a little - the pain relief putting it at ease. It let out a chirpy warbling croon, a more curious sound, as it looked to the pokemon, then to the humans. Outside of combat, it seemed that this one had a somewhat milder personality.

And as its eyes fell upon El, their smile grew a little, and they carefully held out a hand to it. "Do you want to be friends?" They asked softly.

The Walking Wake considered it. Its eyes cast over El - then to the softly-whistling Akero - and then to Baron, whose mind brushed against its own in a more gentle and amicable fashion. Then its gaze once more fell upon El - and slowly, tentatively... It'd sniff their palm, before briefly nuzzling into it, feather-light.

El smiled at this - a good sign. They would wait until they were someplace quieter to figure out this Wake's comfort zone - but for now... Bringing out the empty pokeball, they'd reach to gently tap it against the Paradox, to bring it in. And without a fight, the ball clicked - the wake was happy to come with them.

Holding the ball close, El would get up to glance over to Isaac - smiling to his Wake, as it followed after Suicune. "Guess Suicune's getting a little pack, huh?" They mused humorously, joining back up with the others.

Glancing over to Isaac - as they returned Akero, and brought Bibidi and Haro back out - they'd add "This was a real nice find - I'm looking forward to getting to know our new buddies!" But of course, finishing the survey was first - Baron might have taken a bit of a beating, but the others were still plenty good to keep going.

What else would they find, down in these crystalline caverns..?

Baron did not immediately respond - though the barest turn of his head did indicate he heard Isaac. Instead, he was thinking deep.

These beasts were strong. In body, and in will. Even for a machine that did not necessarily feel the same way they did, he could understand the simple fact that they did - and they felt strongly. They were dragons, through and through - either raptor settling for a retreat was exceedingly unlikely, no matter what stream he looked down.

But this did not mean that death was the only option, either.

As Baron pondered though, El was quick to move to the two's sides - glancing to Isaac in particular. "A-are you okay??" They questioned, looking him over. Even if he had been able to avoid being burnt to a crisp by the Flamethrower, scalding steam was no joke, either!

Before much longer though, Baron settles upon an action - rather than an impression - for an answer. He moves fast - glancing to El and reaching into their bag, he pulls out two empty pokeballs. He places one in El's hand, and then tossing the other to Isaac.

The meaning here would surely be obvious. However, even if the solution was clear, getting there was another question. This was especially apparent as the azure Wake - despite a bleeding wound on its side - gets up to its feet, briefly swaying, and lets out another shrieking Noble Roar!

Baron, however, was undaunted by the display. Spear readied, he charges forward once more, into the fray!

Though his energy was beginning to run low, he was still a machine - and stamina was more a suggestion than a rule for his kind. The Wake, not so much - it was beginning to tire from the repeated exchanges in this extended fight, that much was clear.

Thus, as the raptor lets loose a Hydro Steam his way, Baron is already on the move. He charges straight into the attack, caring naught of the way his chassis groans under the pressure and from the extreme heat; in fact, it is his plan to withstand the attack completely. Under the cover of the steamclouds that billow in the attack's wake, he comes in close to land a devastating Close Combat..!

Once more, the Walking Wake is brought tumbling down - and this time, as it opens its maw to try and let loose another projectile attack, Baron strikes its jaw with the shaft of his spear. With a flourished twirl, he brings the blade down to point it towards the beast - a clear threat.

Though the others may not be immediately aware of it, Baron would 'speak' to the Wake. He impressed upon it the simple fact that if this fight were to continue, that it would likely die, as he would protect his charge to the end. And with this knowledge came a simple command; to leave, or to stand down.

The Wake growled in response, as it stared him in the eye. Slowly, almost cautiously, it'd shift to bring its feet underneath it - but it did not immediately stand back up. Instead, it would stay low to the ground - letting out a low warbling sound as it gazed to its brethren, a sound that Baron could only read as worry for the other.

Here, El commented softly "Will MUGEN let up on the other Paradox, too..?"

Baron looked to the other Wake, and to MUGEN - the two locked in a far more violent fight. But he would reach his mind out to the Genesect, with but a simple request that it, too, would allow the Wake a chance to stand down.

Isaac Merlo

"Yeahhh, it's definitely hard work." El agreed with a brief chuckle. "But my pokemon are still going strong so far, and it's not like I'm the only one at work." They'd been keeping a close eye on how everyone was doing, throughout the day, all in all.

But, it seemed Eris had a suggestion - namely, a couple of locations to clear paths to! "Good idea!" They chirped, giving her a light pat on the head. "Let's head that way, then."

Bibidi would already be giving direction to the congregation - and Yggdrasil and Arkos both were happy to lead the way. El would - with Bibidi's help - sit back up in Yggdrasil's tree, using it as a crow's nest to keep an eye on the group's surroundings.

But while they worked, no harm in a little bit of chitchat, right? "What's your favorite season or weather, do you think, Eris?" They'd ask - glancing to her. "I'm big on summer; but maybe it's partly cause I grew up in Lavaridge. The heat's never bothered me, but I kinda gotta bundle up thick in the cold like this... Else I shiver like no tomorrow."

Eris Halla

As Isaac grinned, El's own expression became one of fondly-exasperated resignation. "... I know that look, Isaac. Please don't get yourself hurt, okay?" Is all they had to say on the matter - because they knew there was no stopping Isaac, once he got going. And whatever plan he had, it'd be equal parts batshit and viable.

Though, they'd be a liar if they said that they weren't prone to their own dangerous or impulsive decisions... Which, they blamed Isaac for rubbing off on them in that way; though, perhaps it only went to show how much the two were truly siblings.

Whereas Isaac's side of the fight was one of tricks and gambits though, El's side was far more straightforward. One of a robotic dragoon-knight and an intelligent, calculating beast locked in combat.

The azure Wake and Baron alike prodded at eachothers' guards - looking for a gap, an opening, to exploit. But in terms of agility and smarts, both sides were at at an impasse; trading grazing blows, gained ground constantly being traded. Whilst Baron might have had the advantage of typing in being Fairy versus the Wake's Dragon, the Wake's Protosynthesis and Noble Roar both provided an edge of its own...

... But it was only a matter of time, before the stalemate gave.

As the more normal-looking Wake is struck by MUGEN's Zap Cannon, the azure Wake is distracted - looking to its kin. Its lip curled back in a fearsome baring of teeth - letting out an enraged shriek as it loosed a Flamethrower at the Genesect, moving in to try and back up the paralyzed Wake!

As if a call-and-response - or perhaps more likely a coincidence - another strange cry, one that El had long-since grown adjusted to, calls from deeper within Area Zero's depths...

However, the distraction leaves the azure Wake open - and Baron is quick to take the advantage given. Intercepting with a Spirit Break, his spear sinks into the Wake's side - drawing another enraged cry from the Paradox, who is sent tumbling onto its side..! It attempts to force Baron back with a Hydro Steam - but the knight once more uses Double Team to get out of the way.

Baron takes a step back from the Wake, so as to avoid any point-blank attacks - but all the while, the psychic energy of a Future Sight shines within his eyes as he studies the streams of possibilities before him.

(Koraidon call prompt)

Di2B4_Qa
Isaac Merlo

El hummed as Elise mused over the possibilities of the Electric Terrain's sources. "A lot of the metallic Paradoxes seem to like this sort of terrain. Baron kinda gets, like, a huge energy boost from it," Briefly, they glance to the Valiant in question - looking over his lights. "Though, with how many non-Paradox pokemon have been migrating down here, I wouldn't put it past an electric-type..."

They briefly glance around for any sort of signs or trails that a wild pokemon might leave - footprints, shed fur or scales, territorial markings, and the like. But nothing conclusive comes up...

... And they are soon distracted, when once more, a strange cry echoes from deeper within the caves. Whatever this mystery pokemon was that they were hearing, there was either multiple of them - or a rather chatty individual. "You hear that?" They question, glancing to Elise. "What sort of pokemon is that..? I've never heard a pokemon with a cry quite like that before..."

If it was a new pokemon - paradox or not - it'd certainly be a curious find for the Rangers to hear about...

(Koraidon call prompt-)

SUc2WucQ
Elise Calcifet

El's eyes lit up with a bit of curiosity at the mention of an Entei paradox indeed being a thing. "You'll have to tell me more, when we head out there!" They spoke - adding "I'm sure Isaac's Suicune will find at least a little interest in, uhm, knowing these exist..." Though, perhaps the Northern Wind would just find it strange. It'd certainly be weird to El, if they had learned that there were strange almost-clones of themself running around.

But in any case, as the Gym Leader opened the gate, El nodded. "Yeah, let's go!" They spoke, eagerly double-timing it out of the research station. Maybe, if these paradoxes were running around, they'd be able to find one of their own to learn more about..?

And, perhaps, to get some funny reactions out of their brother and his patron. They could only begin to imagine the looks that Isaac or the true Suicune would have, if they came along astride a Glamrock Raptor...

Mochi (18) :

SPOILER: Click to show

- 5 - Sneasler
- 3 - Hammers
- 5 - Latias
- 5 - Statues

Rewards: x1 TM/TR, x1 Free Evolution, x1 Devolution Stone, x1 Gacha Ticket, x1 Abillity Capsule, x1 Premium Gacha Ticket, x1 Draught of Purification, x1 Poison Tera Shard