She wiped her tears, a feat better described than put into action. Navy's hand on her shoulder had made this even more difficult. A thought crossed her mind of having never told Navy about her home life before, although she would had preferred that nobody but Biscotti and her remain privy to it. She didn't know why the hand felt more than it was, but it was warm all the same.

Just then, some strange noises came from the interior of the garage they were both in, until the lights had cut off. Now in the dark, Vanilla gently let the Lopunny down and laughed a bit when asked if she'd like to go ghost hunting for a change. "I'd love to. I needed an excuse to go and have a little adventure. I'll try not to slow you down."

Vanilla slowly pushed herself from her seat and gave a readying nod at Navy. Although it wasn't before getting closer and wrapping her arms around Navy again. She squeezed him with all of her might, one of somebody who placed all of their trust into another person. After a bit of hanging there, she wiped her eyes on her arm and nodded at the man.

"Let's go bust some ghosts."

Navy

Vanilla made a defensive huff in response to Navy asking her about her living situation. It wasn't as bad as the people in some parts of Hoenn. The ones who had lost legitimately everything as a result from their own hands or outside circumstances. "Yeah, I've been enjoying exploring around Hoenn. Even places I've seen a bunch always seem so different." Her cheery and average expression faltered for a moment as the teen look away outside for a moment. Her brows furrowed together in thought while tending to the other two Pokemon.

"I kind of miss home though. Especially around the holidays...My family's probably worried to death about me, and I can't really see them."

She remained quiet and very clearly homesick until Navy spoke up about her staying in some of the empty cottages that he had a hand in managing. The Lopunny was quick to really show her support for Vanilla staying with them. It was done out of the goodness in her heart, but she had a feeling that Jessica was also a fan of her cooking and Pokemon treats. The weight in her arms had almost caused Vanilla to fall over had it not been for Tormund's intervention. Still, she appeared quite moved at the offer and even laughed at their antics.

"If it's not too much, I'd love to stay here with you."

But she felt something wet on her cheek. Her hand reached up to wiped at it as she hadn't realized the tears streaming down her face. Vanilla laughed a little, trying to keep herself from bawling.

"Suh-Sorry...It just feels nice to..." she paused to inhale and choked down some more bitter tears, "To feel wanted for a change. Thanks, Navy..."

Navy

"Yeah, that little Ultra Space adventure was something." She looked back at that little adventure with at least some kind of fondness. Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki had really saved her a few times while on it, and she envied how the woman could handle herself in stressful situations.

"I'd love to go with her to places again," her free leg picked at the cast as the desire to scratch every part of her covered leg was dire, "but I'd be dead weight with this. Plus, you and Thomas worry about me enough as it is."

The Perrserker and the Lopunny enjoyed the treats, crowding over Vanilla as she laughed a little. The additional weight had almost made her lose her balance had it not been for Jessica's help. She continued to feed them from time to time before Navy asked about her living situation.

She looked away for a split second, debating on what to say. Her stance shifted while leaning more to the wall.

”I'm not a hobo trainer! I have a nice, cozy little tent with a slowburner, a bedroll, and a lamp. That's way better than a cardboard box."

Navy

Even though the weather was cold and the wintery chill shook her down to the bone, Vanilla couldn't shake off the holiday cheer that had come at the best time of year. Especially more so that she was visiting somebody she knew.

After recently being let go out of the hospital, the teen was faring well after the events of the Nariya Expedition. She had gotten some nasty looking burn marks and scars against her back that still gave her some trouble alongside her right leg being in a cast. But she hobbled on down on crutches and waved at the familiar sheriff and his party.

The girl joined Navy in his garage as he worked on cars. She even brought a bag of snacks for his Pokémon that had been specially made by her. A new festive little flavor with some combinations of berries.

"Reminds me of home, a little bit, yeah." Vanilla smiled to herself, dressed in a winter coat with a cute looking Poliwhirl hat and a Greninja scarf. "I'm gunna miss all the stuff there. We used to have all these family traditions before Dad left. We used to go out and get a tree in the wild, eat dinner at a friend's café. Mom said I always fell asleep during dessert and had to be put to bed."

Vanilla frowned, feeling a certain nostalgia for the current holiday season. She missed her family dearly, even if their relationship was strained. Her expression remained trouble for a moment or two, but faltered soon enough as she focused on his second question.

"Besides the medication and how itchy my leg is, I'm okay." She motioned to her cast ridden leg and would offer another round of treats to the Lopunny or the Perrserker around her.

"Staying in bed all day was awful. They wouldn't let me train or do anything and the painkillers made me sleep half the time I was there. How are you and Tsubaki though?"

Navy

The dull sound of a BULLET SEED going off had not gone unnoticed to the Galarian's ears. She leaned back into the hallway and held her communicator back to her mouth in a hurry, ready to try and pull out if she could. "Josh? Is everything okay? Josh?" she asked before being interrupted by the sound in the other room.

Rocket had managed to capture one of the Pokémon currently being pulled out of the wormhole, that being a deadly looking Roaring Moon as it thrashed around to escape. The device pulling it in could launch a strange kind of pokeball at it, captured the Paradox Pokémon and contained it inside of the Pokeball. The scientists congratulated one another on another fine catch, as a small cart was filled with several would be pushed out of the room in front of her.

Thinking fast, Vanilla pocketed one of the balls containing the Paradox Pokémon and then shoved it into her uniform pocket before then starting to wander off in search of Josh. She continued down the mines in hopes that she could get some sort of signal with him.

"Josh! I've got a sample. Are you there? they're up to no good down here. Answer me!"

Josh Devlin

Dear Father Winter,[break][break]

Vanilla here! Sorry for not writing you last year. I had just left home and I barely had a moment to really get in contact with you. This year, though, you're all mine! [break]

What do I want for Wintertide? I was thinking it over about what I've wanted the most, but I really can't think of anything. Ever since I left home, I've met so many wonderful people, ad such cool adventures and even started changed my dreams to become a trainer. That's why I want to ask you for something really important. I wanna ask that you help other people instead of me. [break]

There's this guy, Thomas Benoit . He saved me from Rocket this year and took me under his wing. He acts all cool and I wanna be like him, but I can tell something's eating at him. I don't know what he thinks of me, I've never been good at that, but I want him to find some peace for a change. He needs a break and deserves it. Maybe something like a vacation to Alola? Or someplace where he doesn't have to run around all the time.

Next, there's another League official I met named Navy . He was my first gym leader I fought against and taught me about how life works out of the League. I told him about the nightmares and troubles I have with other kids. He's nice and just like Thomas, I know he could use an extra wish or two. His deputy, Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki , could also use it! I've met her once and she's nice.

Even Elise Calcifet ! She's a royal of Galar and definitely could use some help. I don't know with what, though. Maybe you know since you can see everything! She's probably got too much work to do, or wants to work on something.

I don't know much about her, but Thomas also introduced me to DESIREE BLOOMS . She's a musician in Hoenn and really cool. Pink hair and everything! She was said when we got home from the Swamp thing (you probably already know) but I was hoping you could help let her know that she's brave. It takes a lot to be a singer like her. It would be cool to sing with her one day, even if I barely know how. Maybe next Chrismas, I'll want to be a musician.

Lastly, I'd really want you to let my Dad know that I'm okay. I'm still searching for him and never giving up, but I bet he misses me a lot. Can you maybe tell him that we're all okay back home? One day I'll find him, and then I can go back home.

What do I want to change in my past? If I could redo my past, I'd want to be braver than I was before I left home. I remember using Proxii a lot because I was scared of meeting new people, but now it feels so strange. I can walk and talk for myself that I barely use him anymore. I hope he understands. [break]

What do I want to change in my present? For one, I would want out of this cast. My leg itches like hell and I can't ever scratch it that it's driving me crazy. Other than that, I wanna meet more people and learn a lot more. There's a ton of Pokemon out there that Proxii wants to catalogue and I'm gunna help him see it all. [break]

What do I want for my future? I wish I knew. Hoenn moves so fast it's like every week that I get distracted from knowing what i want to do. I know I love battling and I want to be a Pokémon Master, but is that what I'm made for? I want to help people in need like Dad does. Be somebody that isn't afraid of helping others, but what if I want to be a streamer, a musician or even a chef again? I wish I could make up my mind. [break]

Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble. I don't have a permanent address anymore, being camping most nights, but I'll still leave cookies out for you. Could you send me a Snorlax next year though? I think they're cute and perfect to nap on.[break]

Sincerely, [break]

Vanilla Kingsley [break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

"I guess we should be careful then..." Vanilla said to Josh, rubbing her elbow in worry as the girl would look around the mines. Josh had used his Salazzle to get a piece of the Terra Crystal from the walls. True to his word, that thing was huge, even for just a small sample size. Although they knew very little about their true properties yet, Vanilla would nod in agreement and then listen to her feedback for proposing they split up. Whatever could get them to their goal faster.

"Got it. if I run into trouble, I'll get back to you ASAP. Just be careful, alright? The League cares more about you than they do me." Vanilla flashed a smile at him and then hurried off deeper into the mines down a differing corridor from him. She'd keep Proxii's phone body on hand, just in the event that she'd need to bring him up for proof of anything.

The shafts were filled to the brim with miners and Pokémon chucking away at the many veins of ore here. Carts loaded to the brim with Tera Crystals would travel along the cart tracks around the wide open rooms back and forth. She'd reach into her pocket and quickly flash a picture of the operations here, then move along.

"There's gotta be something in here in here." she murmured to herself.

Vanilla wandered around for a bit more while doing her best to blend in with the grunts here. It also helped her size made it easy to hide with things that she could fit under as well. Her traveled had been detailed to Josh every now and again, providing some ample feedback and updates and so on. But after a while of walking around with no real new updates, she groaned.

"I don't see anything else worth noting. I'm not sure if...Oh my-"

Vanilla swung a corner and found herself standing in the doorframe of a room where several people stood behind what looked like some kind of strange machine, akin to some kind of satellite dish. Arcs of lightning poured into a weird hole in the wall, where swirls of colors rushed as fast as the eye could comprehend. They were pulling out something big, judging by the chain dipping inside and with somebody barking orders inside.

"I think i found our anomaly."

Josh Devlin

"Really? I never would have thought of it as that. Looks like some weird bug." Vanilla said, observing the Vibrava. Her blue eyes went along the Vibrava's body before allowing the two to continue their fight.

Contra had her jaws around the Vibrava's side, crunching down on it in an attempting to force it to submit as Vanilla leaned forward, still as hyped about the battle as ever. Even in her weakened and damaged state, the girl shared her father's joy of battle. Isaac shed a little light about the the typing of her dragon pal, as the girl took it to heart and continued to her on her support from the sidelines. "Good work, Contra!"

The responding attack had caught the Dragapault off guard, as its tail was the recipient of a Crunch attack. Shocked by the attack on its tail, the Pokémon let go of its grab on the ground and dragon type, screeching as it wagged it away to try and shake the attacker off. This was right when Vanilla would panic a bit, wondering what to do.

"Er, I'm not sure what other moves that Contra knows, actually. B-But I bet she knows a way out!"

The Dragapault flailed, growling as it spun its body around, aiming for the Vibrava with its hand as it began to make a dive as the swarm of insects followed it, attempting to use ASSURANCE.



Isaac Merlo

The ship was catapulted through the muck and mud, rising all the way to the surface, though not without its fair share of hiccups and bumps. The ship wasn't entirely meant for these kinds of conditions and Vanilla puts everything into the thrusters to try and get them out of there before they end up lodged inside. It's a terrifying series of minutes but eventually, they rise and shoot out of the murky waters.

"Yes, we did it!" Vanilla cheered and pumped her fist, before a red notice screen had come onto the viewfinder. A lot of the message was status updates on engines and things, but that sudden explosion behind them just so happened to be their left most engine. They were dropping altitude fast as the youth would make another call on the announcement system.

"Uhh, so one teeny little problem. We appear to be getting ready to crash into the treeline so BRACE FOR IMPACT!"

Good news. They all weren't dead and had survived!
Bad news. There was a crater sized chunk of the route missing now.

Yet around them, the ship had all but disappeared. Vanilla blinked and found herself in the remnants of the wreck, surrounded by others. With a moment to herself and just absorbing what had happened, the girl just sat down and her Altaria came to rest beside her and...thought. The bodies, the horrific sight that wouldn't leave her mind, joined by other sights. She slowly closed her eyes and just sat in place until a familiar shadow stood overhead, Thomas Benoit

"Thomas, I..."

Her opened his hands for a hug as she was surprised. no chewing out or anything. Just praise. But Vanilla lunged at him and wrapped her arms around her tutor. Feeling his own arms hugging back, she finally let out what she had been holding in since this expedition started. Tears began to stream down her cheek over those damned missing people. Her mind continued to replay the face of one closest towards her again and again.

"I'm glad you're okay. Really, I don't know what I'd do if you were..." Vanilla said, muffled as her face was buried into Thomas's clothing. "Can we talk once this is all over? When you get a chance after your reports and everything I...need some advice." she asked, recalling her previous discussion with Navy and his words on the matter. The journey so far was a hard one, and Vanilla wasn't sure she could repress things any longer.

But her own worries were dwarved when DESIREE BLOOMS walked over to ask Thomas to walk with her home. Vanilla winced, unable to imagine what it must have been liked to have been chained like she was. "I'm glad you're alright, Desiree." She said, letting Thomas free to console her in full. She didn't want to be a third wheel, but this was awkward. What would Thomas try and say in a time like this?...

"You are brave, Des. I don't know anybody else who would go into the swamp like you. And your music, the way you get on stage a-and just...be you. I know it's coming from somebody you barely know, and it doesn't feel like anything I say matters, but you're stronger than you could ever know. Especially to the people you know."

Okay, kind of cringe inducing, but Vanilla didn't really know what else to say.

---

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TL;DR:
↳

Vanilla's ALTARIA'S sky attack had resulted in her speeding past the other people and ending up on the landing ramp in the ship. With Thomas Benoit behind her, the Altaria would come down to make contact with the floor of the ship. Once she lands safely, the trainer jumped off and had a quick look of things around. The interior of the ship was larger than she had thought it would be, thought that was a given for what this was likely used for. The teenager made her way inside only to be met with the sight of crystals blocking different hallways.

"What're they doing blocking off access to them?" she said to herself during the sprint towards the pilot room. "Wouldn't they need whatever is in those rooms?"

One burning question aside, Vanilla stepped foot into the cockpit and was met with several screens. There wasn't anybody inside either, which gave them free access to get the hell back home. As she entered and sat down in one of the the pilot seats, green lights flickered all around the viewport as she jumped in surprise. "What the h- Hey!" A glint of light had been blown in her eyes, causing the girl to rub both eyes in annoyance. During this, the screens and controls shifted around her, simplifying themselves into something somebody of her age could understand. Screens, functions, levels all culminated into more simple things for her screen.

The most obvious one being a glowing red button that was labeled START ENGINE. Once she could see better, Vanilla would notice the controls had changed. She wanted to start asking questions left and right, but in her haste, Vanilla did what any kid would and smashed the button.

The engines of the ship roared to life as the controls spread out for Vanilla. It was like one of those mopeds back in Galar. Two levers that were simply shown to be ACCELERATION and BRAKE. Some other buttons were around her, but those didn't seem too important now. Luckily, one was meant for the ship's intercom and speakers outside the ship.

"KSSH! Attention passengers. My name is Vanilla Kingsley and I'll be your pilot today. My hobbies are cooking, the Gym Challenge and GETTING US THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, SO STOP MESSING AROUND AND GET IN THE SHIP NOW!"

That peaceful and calming message done, she'd press another button that showed camera footage of what was going on in the sip while grinning widely. Thomas Benoit was going to blow a gasket when he learned what she was doing. But that would be after he helped get them out of there.

---

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TL;DR:
↳ Is the first on the ship, with Thomas Benoit not too far from her.
↳ She bolts inside of the ship and encounters the rooms blocked off by the crystals before entering the cockpit
↳ She sits in the pilot's seat and has a device flash in her eyes, which customizes the ship's main controls for her to use
↳ Vanilla pilots the ship and activates the engines as the ship roars to life.
↳ SHe makes a call over the speakers in and out of the ship for people to get inside.

The eruption had died down a little while after Vanilla was in the middle of it. Isaac Merlo was still under the control of the chains, busy trying to fight somebody else. She rushed to go get him, diving and ducking under people while getting ready to plot a course of action to tear that chain out of his head. It wasn't too hard, or so it seemed. "Isaac!" Vanilla shouted at the man while he was still being controlled. Thankfully, his chain was complete destroyed by the fortunate timing of @tsubaki , as the teen smiled as he returned to his normal faculties. "Nice one, Tsubaki!"

She flashed a relieved smile towards the two, but the order was given to the rest of the chained people by their superior. They didn't have enough time to go and free every single person, but they could at least try and control whatever was causing them to act this way. With the leader taken care of in a bloody matter, this left the people with a sudden choice to make. Either leave the Megalopolans in the past and rid them from Hoenn or take the risk and hijack the ship and take them with them back home.

Cauli came down the the sky to roost by her owner, which Vanilla rewarded the Altaria with a comforting embrace. Her soft plumage was still something that she enjoyed the feeling of, even after all that time. It brought some amount of calm to Vanilla as she looked up to see Thomas doing well still. "I'm fine!" she called out to him, waving her arms. Her tutor was making a mad dash to the ship, along with the many others that had gotten the same idea. Vanilla did have some hang ups, but it seemed like the best play. It beat being thrown back to the past, after all.

"Time to show these guys how we earbed the Quick Badge. Ready, Cauli?" The Altaria chirped in pleasure as Vanilla slid on board. Although her stature was about the size of the Altaria, Cauli thankfully was larger than the average of her species. Once fully boarded, her eyes hooked onto Thomas currently cutting somebody free from their chains. Even when the world was collapsing around them, he was worried about other people. It was part of the reason why she viewed him so highly. Even if he gave the look of somebody hardened, Thomas couldn't help but be a big damned hero.

"Let's ride!"

Cauli took off, flapping her wings as she jumped towards Thomas Benoit and Kazimir Wynter , managing to land next to the two as Kazimir was recovering from having his chain pulled off. She offered a smile to Thomas, nodding her head. "You guys okay? C'mon! We've got a ship to catch." Her hands clutched on Thomas and Kazimir's bodies as the distortion around them was growing worse and worse. "Cauli, get ready!" The Altaria took a moment to slowly gather energy as Vanilla looked down at the recently freed Kazimir. It could have been a pretty bad idea, but she was confident they'd be able to make it. "Hold on and pray that this is gunna work!" After surrounded tmitself in energy, Cauli would complete the use of its SKY ATTACK and take off in a burst of smoke.

The Altaria and its riders sped towards the ship and its controls at top speeds, Vanilla having to grip both men with her full strength and try to keep them on with her as they pushed through the crowd towards the ship and aimed at any Megalopolans in their way.

---

WL5ZKCsH

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TL;DR:
↳ Vanilla readies herself to break Isaac Merlo 's chain before @tsubaki beats her to it!
↳ OPTION A: She meets up with Cauli again and notes that people are running towards the ship and decides to join them
↳ Vanilla rides her Altaria towards Thomas Benoit and Kazimir Wynter .
↳ With the terrain worsening, Vanilla takes both and has her Altaria use SKY ATTACK to boost them towards the control room.
↳ Hopefully this doesn't backfire.

"A gym badge winner? This'll be good for sure! Contra is still recovering from when I found her in the wild, so she only knows a few moves but this will be good practice."

Contra cooed as it would look the Vibrava up and down some, as if it judge it against itself. Now that it had been infested with the previous move, the ghost dragon type would hover in place. The Vibrava had been pretty quick to really come back from being infested with bugs, but that's not what Vanilla had been banking on. As the ground type used Earthquake, it rocked Contra about, causing it to tumbled back. It would swoop back up as the Dreepy in its horns would bounce about inside of their little chambers. It did pretty good damage, as the Pokemon would slowly recover.

"Whoa, I didn't think a Vibrava could use that! Isn't it a bug type or something?" Vanilla asked before going on the offensive. "Bite 'em!"

The speedster flailed towards the Vibrava, snaking through the air and it opens its mouth full of razor sharp teeth to sink into the opponent.



Isaac Merlo

ASPEAR- Contra -> Dragon Darts
ASPEAR- Contra -> Phantom Force
LEPPA- Charcoal -> Flamethrower
SITRUS- Dusk -> Dark Pulse
MAGOST- Moruga -> Venoshock & Cross Poison
ORAN- Omlette -> Exeggcute
CHESTO- Pico -> Corvisquire
PECHA- Pocky -> G. Slowpoke
PECHA- Omlette -> G. Exeggcute
PECHA- Thrown Out
PERSIM- Pico -> Big Pecks
TEACHER'S APPLE- Cauli -> Shiny Altaria
DARK SHIV POWDER- Charcoal -> 7th Move Slot