Once more, into the breach. Vanilla scurried alongside Biscotti, as she'd have to keep an eye on him every now and again. Despite the minor age difference between them, the two were on par with being helicopter siblings with one another. "I'm still saying this is a bad idea. I know you were tough back when were adults, but do you really think you can just stand up to whatever we're going to go against?" She frowned, concerned over his well being. She was faring well enough after that events of what they had gone through, looking down at the necklace she wore, but didn't know if her older brother was mentally up to par for this stupid idea of his.

Regardless, she'd get to work and begin to mine as Biscotti would go about taking the brunt of the radiation from these crystal things. Vanilla paid careful attention to him, calling out every now and again as she'd willingly drag him out of here if it got too much for him.

---

TL;DR:
- Vanilla DESIGNATES BISCOTTI
- Vanilla OBTAINS 50 RKS POINTS
- Vanilla has a total of 50 RKS POINTS

Biscotti Kingsley

The pickaxe hits the crystal, one swing after the other. It was only slight work at first, but to get some of the larger and better samples, Vanilla has to start chopping away at the huge crystals. Every so often, she looked over towards Navy to get a sense of whether or not he could handle the radiation that he was absorbing for her, but would continue on with her gathering. After a minute or two, she's already feeling the effects of fatigue settle in, having swung her pickaxe at the samples and pocketing the larger, shinier portions of this. It's hard work and her arms are already feeling the burn, but still, she continued to swing.

"Holding up alright? This stuff is so strong. I could feel it vibrate." she called out to Navy, huffing as she continued to scurry around like the little rat she was and collect as much as she could before he'd have to pull out. Hopefully the gym leader was as tough as he made himself out to be in their last gym battle. "We're doing *huff* good so far! Just keep it up!"

---

TL;DR:
- Vanilla CONTINUES TO MINE
- Vanilla OBTAINS 1 CURIO
- Vanilla has a total of 50 RKS POINTS & 1 CURIO

Navy

Once again, thrown inside of the Ultra Sea. Vanilla was starting to get a little bit tired of this place, but when existing circumstances had made her volunteer to go inside of here and assist the League with whatever they might need. She does have some concern over what she can actually do compared to the rest of the people they send inside of here, as well as her glaring weakness of being a child still. Yet they gladly accepted her, whatever help they could get. A hand fell around Vivian's earring that was fastened around her neck, making a silent wish that she'd be able to get through this unscathed. One eye goes back to Navy but she doesn't really feel she could start any conversation without having to explain that she could handle herself.

In theory, anyway.

"There it is." Vanilla said aloud, looking down at the sample that was in need of mining and handling. She glanced down to the pickaxe as the geigar counter was the lone thing keeping them company. Eventually, Navy would step forward and take the brunt of radiation. Vanilla knew better than to waste valuable time by arguing against him. Instead, she'd get to work cracking the Dynamax infused Tera crystals and doing her best gather as much as possible.

---

TL;DR:
- Vanilla allows Navy to DESIGNATE HIMSELF
- Vanilla gains 50 RKS POINTS
- Vanilla has a total of 50 RKS POINTS

Navy

Like Thomas, Vanilla was much too distracted to take notice of her wounds slowly healing themselves. Her help with Skyler wasn't as needed as she thought, but was another display of her altruism on display. At least, that's what she told herself when it ended up working out. They continued down the tunnel as that sound continued. Horrible, rigid cracking of eggs that seemed to have no end. The teen would hurry with Skyler ahead. "Ugh, this place is a maze." Proxii complained. "Get in my pocket before something happens to you too." Vanilla said as the Rotom fled inside of her azure jacket's lower pocket. The Nhilego continued to surround them until a timely interference from Skyler's Pokémon would distract enough of them for an escape.

"With a Pokémon like that, I don't think so." Vanilla grinned at the woman. Proxii popped his head up and took a quick scan of the anchor shaped being before diving back down into safety. CLICK! She'd turn around to watch the unknown typed Pokemon with eager eyes, a smirk planting itself on her face. "If we don't die, you gotta tell me where I can find those."

She was pushed down a tunnel as she'd start in the front before Thomas would call out as he'd be doing the most Thomas thing that Vanilla had heard him do. "What?!" The girl looked up at Skyler for a moment before then going to the man. She wanted to drop everything and help her mentor out, to show him that she didn't need constant protection. But currently, not the time. "Be careful!" she called out to him, whistling as the Bisharp continued to follow behind them.

A few smaller Nhilego would grapple onto Vanilla as she passed by, catching her off guard as she frowned. "Cutlery!" A swift slice came down on the mass of tentacles, freeing his owner as she'd continue running with Skyler away from trouble. Proxii, once again, would peek out of the coat pocket to catch an eye on the egg in Skyler's hands before then diving back down into his owner's pockets.

"I don't hear as many eggs hatching up ahead of us. We might be in the clear."

Just as he said that, some large shadows swerved above them. the Nhilego that were busy feasting on some poor denizens had taken control and were diving down to get them. Cutlery would jump into action again, using Iron head to clash against a Nhilego controlled Sharpedo as it aimed to take a bite of of the group.

"You just had to say something!"

skyler dross | Thomas Benoit

Some nearby shrubs would begin to shake as Vanilla's eyes went immediately towards the sounds of the disturbance. "Charcadet?" she asked, getting an eager smile as she'd grin and rush over with baited breath. Before her course of action could be corrected, she'd scurry over to the bush and spread it apart with a joyful smile...until it soured upon spotting the Ledyba. She'd frown in frustration, taking Proxii as she snapped a screenshot of the bug type and move on in search for her lovely little fire guy.

He had a point. Vanilla frowned, pouted even. She didn't want to admit that to him but it was something that she had only heard of. Navy could tell based on her expression that it pestered her. That glimmer of rebellion that all teenagers gave when a lesson was being imparted in the most in your face and rather blunt way. "Yeah, well...Fine." She puffed her cheek out as the dragon-like Pokemon would prove itself to be fast. Faster than both of her Pokémon out on the field. Shit, how was she supposed to think of an answer for this? This played out a lot differently than it had in her mind. "Cauli, you okay?" The Altaria, though scratched a bit, would let out a strong chirp of retaliation, ruffling its quill.

"Lizzy's gunna be a problem." Vanilla said to herself, trying to think of a plan on the fly here. "Gotta think, Gotta think, what's the plan here..." She tapped for foot, gritting her teeth together with her brows furrowed. "Let's get that Lycanroc out of the way first. then we can deal with the speedster."

The Altaria would flutter its wings onced and then rear its head back before unleashing a ray of dazzling colors at the Lycanroc, using MOONBLAST at the pup. In tandem with this, Skeledirge opened its mouth as a dark lavender sphere would gather, charging inside of its toothy maw before launching its SHADOW BALL directly towards the Lycanroc.

Navy

All it took was a little prick and then Vanilla could feel her panicked mind slowly return to normal from its highly erratic pattern. She exhaled, feeling an enormous pressure off of her shoulders. "Thanks. I needed that." she said, looking back over at Skyler as she'd turn back to them just in time to see a tentacle piercing through her gut. Vanilla gasped just as soon as Thomas would send his Scizor towards the approaching storm. Not one to fall behind, Vanilla followed suit.

"Cutlery, Metal Claw!" She threw out a Pokeball right as the steel-dark type would pop out the Bisharp hurrying over to slice through any surrounding Nhilego as Thomas' Pokémon worked on the tentacle that pierced through the ship captain. He continued along as Vanilla ran up to help Skyler over and get her away from the horde. "H-Hey, you okay?" she said, doing her best not to look at the wound and focus on going forward. Her Rotomphone whirled forward as he kept an eye out for surrounding Nhilego.

"I think this way is clear, but these things are coming from everywhere. We need to get moving!"

skyler dross | Thomas Benoit

"Hehehehe, this is awesome!" Vanilla said, tossing the Pokeball containing the Zigzagoon up into the air. She'd walk along with Proxii while the two would continue down on their little Safari Excursion. "There should be more if we go a little further inside of this place. No sign of that Charcadet though." Vanilla looked forward into the land, hellbent on getting that little guy as she'd continue forward. "We're gunna find one. And I'm gunna make him as cool as the one that Thomas uses." They continued forward, eventually stumbling across a sleeping Clampearl. Proxii took a quick scan of it before leaving the sleeping Pokémon to itself.

Vanilla walked out onto the field. The competitors and such were already around and raring to go. Their Pokémon would each be preparing themselves alongside one which even yawned. Still, the teen would get ready herself before a voice would introduce himself to her. Her eyes went up to see Josh Devlin welcoming her to his gym challenge. "It's an honor to meet you, Josh!" she said, though looking around at the competitors with worried eyes. The pressure of doing well, the anxiety of the gym challenge, even racing at super high speeds! It was almost too much. "Ah-I haven't really gotten used to this though..."

Thankfully, her Rotomphone would pop out of her jacket pocket to lend some much needed support. "What she means by that is that she's ready to leave you guys in the dust! Kekekek!" She flushed, Vanilla letting out an anxious sigh before the rules of their race were given. Everything seemed straightforward enough. It would be a curvy looking course, having expected something a bit more mundane. "Seems simple enough. I'm ready to get going!"

Vanilla climbed onto Cauli, the Altaria puffing her plumage as she'd make herself easier to get a hold of. The air was tense, and she'd get Proxii back inside of her pocket for safekeeping while the race was in progress. No use in having him flying out and having her get too distracted. Her posture adjusted itself while keeping her head low, eyes on the marker as it would signal the beginning of the race.

Josh Devlin

The two continued down the path before the ground would begin to quake. Vanilla's eyes would widen with a mixture of fear and anticipation. That sudden cry as some trees nearby would fall down, birds flying as their perch was disturbed. Vanilla immediately recalled Kicks as she'd get a confident expression on her face. "It's time." She threw out Cayenne as the fiery croc roared in the direction of the disturbance. All was quiet for but a moment before the stomping would grow closer and closer. Trees shaking as they made their way towards the group. And then, a gigantic stinger smashed into the ground in front of them.

The largest Drapion Vanilla had seen.

"Alright, Cayenne, just like we trained for!" Vanilla said. The fire type would billow out smoke as her and the Drapion would glare at one another. After that little moment of silence, they'd quickly move to begin the sprint towards one another. "Alright, Cayenne, Torch Song!" The Skeledirge would inhale before sending a melodic blast from its wind pipes. The flames coming from its mouth began to grow, the fire grazing along the tip of the overhead branches. The Drapion, hit by the attack, had been pushed back, but would hold its own against such an attack. It countered with swiping its claws against the Pokémon, as the two would go back and forth against attacking one another.

Once it was done, it would slowly lurch towards Vanilla. The trainer began to bound away but it was too quick. The Drapion lunged on top of her, pinning her down as the Trainer would watch as it opened its mouth to reveal its teeth. She pushed back against its jaw with all of her strength, attempting to crunch down on the girl.

"Ca-Cayenne!"

A large ball of fire smashed into the Drapion's side, the Skeledirge using a Fire Blast as it pushed the Pokémon onto its side, freeing the trainer. As it scurried to upright itself, Vanilla pointed towards the type. "Earth Power, now!" The croc buried itself into the dirt as the ground beneath the creature began to shake. The Drapion would struggled to keep its balance before chunks of earth would punch into its, sending it back again. Winded by the assault, Vanilla would take the chance to throw out a Pokeball. It smacked against the carapace of the giant before locked itself inside of the ball. After a few rocks back and forth, the light would glow green.

"Alright, we did it!" The trainer said, beaming to herself as Cayenne would blow fire from her maw as a show of force. "You were amazing! All that training really paid off!" she said, stroking the Skeledirge's head.

Thomas Benoit

Their expedition continued across the Safari Zone as Vanilla soon caught wind of a Galarian Zigzagoon from afar. Her interest piqued while pointing at it. "Oh, we found one! I've always wanted a cool Obstagoon like Beryl." she squeezed, rubbing both hands together while sending Proxii out, catching the phone that had dropped out from him depossessing it. "Kekekeke!" The Rotom cried as Vanilla would flick towards the dark type. "Electro Ball!" An electric type smashed into the unsuspecting Zigzagoon, forcing it too tumble backwards and look up to attack. Vanilla thought ahead, the wild Pokemon running straight into an empty safari ball as it was contained and captured.

The elevator begins to go down as the entire party are brought lower and lower into the arena that will house this little gym battle. His two Pokemon are brought out and raring to go. Vanilla peeked over to catch a Rockruff and...what even was that one? Her brows furrowed, having to guess it was some kind of Dragon type. She's about to call out her Pokemon when Ferir would use Stealth Rock and cover the landscape in entry hazards.

"Hey!" Vanilla said, frowning. "What gives? The Gym Challenge rules state that the challenger has the first turn." Regardless, Navy would make his challenge known and the two were faced with the realization that this wasn't going to be a fair fight. She'd huff and throw out her team onto the field. With a suddenly toss, Cauli and Cayenne were brought onto the field, though not without taking damage.

Cauli would puff up her plumage, using COTTON GUARD to ready herself for the battle ahead. Her cloud-like feathers would only grow in size as she fluttered about. Meanwhile, Cayenne would huff out a pillar of smoke as the bird made of flames chirped about on her snout. She'd focus on Fenrir, the culprit behind the Stealth Rock, and retaliate with an EARTH POWER aimed at the Lycanrok.

Navy