Colton could only stare at Navy in confusion. He wanted to keep some of these things for himself?! After everything they'd seen, he wanted to keep these creatures close by, even after watching one hatch out of a damn corpse?!

And yet, the researcher scooped up an armful all the same. There simply wasn't time to argue, especially since Navy seemed keen on wiping out the rest of them. "Well, whatever you plan on doing, do it quickly! I don't think they'll like me taking their young like this and I don't aim to be monster chow!" Colton shouted, before looking at his own Iron Valiant. "Watch my back, Optimus! They're going to be all over us!"

It was then that the proverbial dam was broken, Navy's Iron Valiant slicing open the hull of the ship and opening the nest to the elements. Water rushed into the hatchery, overtaking and smashing eggs from the sheer force. Bloody stains swirled around in the rushing waves as the infant creatures were mercilessly crushed beneath the force of nature Navy had chosen to unleash.

There was no time to dwell on it, however. Navy and Tsubaki were already running for the exit, with Colton hot on their heels. He kept the remaining eggs clutched tightly to his chest, Optimus dashing around him to ward off any of the older creatures that dared to draw close. He didn't look back as he ran, but he couldn't help but wonder if any of them were trying to save their young as the nest was flooded.

Colton felt a sense of relief as the tendrils were sliced, the threat safely removed as Navy's own Iron Valiant offered up an ELectric Terrain to boost the two futuristic Pokemon's power. But...there was something wrong. The creature that Optimus had cut to pieces, a Nihilego, was far too small to be fully grown, at least based on images he had seen before. Navy only confirmed his suspicions as Roland cut the preserved body open, and a nest of broken eggs and their undeveloped inhabitants spilled out onto the floor.

The sight was repulsive. Bloody fluid flowed away from the body, making the embryos float along. Colton felt his stomach turn and he turned away from body, vomitting what little food had been in his stomach onto the floor. His throat burned and he could only barely make out Navy's urging to move forward, but Colton could hear the quiver in the other man's voice. Even if he tried to put on a brave face, it was clear the sight was some fresh hell he had never seen before.

Colton wiped his mouth on his sleeve before following behind Tsubaki and Navy. His gut still churned, his mind still stuck on the horrifying sight from only moments before. He couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that now weighed over him. He had given the order for Optimus to kill the Nihilego that had been reaching out to Tsubaki, a creature that hadn't even made its way out of infantry. It had likely been acting solely on instinct, protecting itself and its siblings from foreign invaders it had never seen before. Could he really blame it for what had happened, the fear and pain it had felt in its final moments? Were they even capable of feeling those types of emotions?

His gaze turned upward, looking around at the clusters of eggs that lined the walls and ceiling, a singular Nihilego floating among them and observing them with invisible eyes. Did it know what they had just done? What atrocities had been commited against its children? Strangely, it wasn't hostile just yet, which was surprising considering they were so close to its other children. But, as he had considered before, did these alien creatures even think along those lines as other animals and humans did? "Whatever we're here for, we need to get in and out as fast as possible," Colton said. "We're pushing our luck every moment we stay in here and I'm al not sure how long it'll be til the creature floating around above us decides we'd make for a good meal."

The enemy Pokemon had begun to fall under the relentless assault of the kingdom's of Galar. The Rillaboom, Cinderace, and Inteleon were striking back desperately as they began to succumb to the the giant attacks of their own Dynamaxed Pokemon. It was unfortunate that these death throes managed to find successful targets, one being Colton's own Rotom. The Dynamax energy began to leave Arti's body and it shrank down to normal size before collapsing to the ground. It's efforts had not been in vain, at least, as the Rotom's Max Geyser had helped in breaking the Cinderace's shield. The battle seemed to be winding down almost as quickly as it had begun and Colton was beginning to lift Arti's Pokeball up to call it back when a familiar voice pierced through the din of battle.

His eyes went wide when he saw Victoria run over to his Rotom, calling the Pokemon's name out.

Victoria was a young girl that had become in psuedo-apprentice in the past years, a bright young mind with a willingness to learn everything Colton could teach her. She had great promise and a passion unlike any other, even to the point that she wanted to come along and observe the participate in the battle so she could see Dynamax used to its fullest potential. Colton had forbidden it, simply because it was too dangerous and yet, it seemed she had snuck along so observe out of sight, only to jump out of hiding when Arti had been injured.

Time seemed to slow, Colton's body beginning to move itself towards Victoria and Arti. Out of the corner of his eye, he could an oozing purple mass making its way to the young girl. He reached down to his belt, pulling Twoey's Pokeball from his waist and releasing her out in a flash of white. Words left, his mouth, a command to attack, but he couldn't hear what he said. All his attention was placed on Victoria as she lifted Arti up and began to run towards him, worry over the Rotom clear on her face. She hadn't seen the sludge, didn't watch it rise up like a toxic tidal wave.

And, then, she was gone.

Twoey's IRON HEAD, landed, but it didn't stop the remnant of poison as it slithered off into the brush. Arti's body tumbled to the ground, unaware of what had occured as Colton sank to his knees. His shield slipped off his arm, clattering to the ground as he stared blankly where Victoria had been only seconds before. The rest of the world had ceased to exist, leaving Colton alone with the hollowness in his chest.

TLDR:
- Colton fails to save a young girl he'd been teaching, leaving him to shellshocked to attack either Necrozma or Eternatus

Every instinct screamed at Colton to turn and run. To abandon this foolhardy quest for the comfort and safety of reality. Whatever lurked here, knowledge, beast, or otherwise, could not be worth this much effort to find. What they had experienced so far, the dancing flesh creatures and the visions of their own horrific deaths were warnings, promises of what horrors yet awaited them if they elected to push their luck further.

But, against all common sense, he continued to follow Tsubaki and Navy through the locked door, down, down, down into the depths. Further from fresh air, further from light, further from safety. His shoes soaked full of a fluid Colton dared not identify. The muscles and tissue that make up the walls, floors, and ceiling twitch and flex at the lightest touch, the entire space filled with an ever growing pounding sound. The beating heart of the great beast they dared to invade.

Colton flinched as Navy's Iron Valiant sliced the door open with its blade, looking around as the ship seemed to shudder in pain. If it didn't know they were there before, it most certainly did now. He couldn't stop himself from looking back down the hall that they had come from, almost expecting the rapid splashing of heavy footsteps as the ship's monstrous parody of a white blood cell barreled towards them to permanently remove the interlopers from its host. But, nothing came and the only sounds were the steady pounding of the ship around them and Tsubaki reading out the pages of the journal on the desk.

As she turned each page, Colton couldn't help but feel as if it were a ticking clock, counting down to their doom. He could only imagine what someone who had been trapped in this hell had experienced, what creatures he had seen, what horrors he had witnessed. Each shadow must have seemed like a great beast to him, his mind conjuring shapes as it fought against isolation and hunger. Colton's knuckles were white as he held onto Optimus' Pokeball, his heart hammering in his chest like a twisted backing vocal to the great beast's own pulse. He was all to ready to release his Pokemon when a creature suddenly burst from the corpse's torso and attacked Tsubaki.

"SPIRIT BREAK!" Colton called out as his Iron Valiant appeared in a flash of red, its blade glowing a bright pink as it dashed forward. The twin sword lashed out, looking to sever each limb of the creature in a few swift cuts.

Navy Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki

Colton’s lips drew thin as he gazed at the approaching army. A group of gigantic Pokémon, surrounded by even more instances of the sludge that they had been warding off of their city walls for the past two decades. One final push by their enemies to wipe them out and they would hold nothing back. Fear was only natural when facing against enemies that seemed more like forces of nature than Pokémon, but, as the cries of his allies’ Pokémon become earthshakingly loud with Dynamax power, their forms growing in size to rival that of the Rillaboom, Inteleon, and Cinderace, Colton could feel something else take the place of that fear: Hope, courage, and the will of everyone to succeed.

As the air became filled with the deafening roar of tidal waves, blazing infernos, and booming thunder, Colton couldn’t help but feel his ego being stoked a little bit. It was power he had helped create, the Dynamax bands being key in leveling the playing field between themselves and the steadily approaching Gigantamaxed Galar Pokemon. He wondered if they were surprised by the citizens of the different kingdoms being able to shatter the barriers that surrounded them, their own show of force potentially outmatching the attackers. Did they have other tricks up their sleeves to force a shift in the kingdom’s attack strategy? Was this all bait to burn out their resources early before a vicious counter attack would come that they’d have no chance in stopping?

”Well, no use in giving them the chance to counter attack,” Colton said, his own Dynamax band glowing as he raised Arti’s Pokeball. The red energy flowed into the Pokeball, causing it to expand enough to require Colton to hold it with both hands before tossing it upwards. In a giant flash, the Rotom appeared, it’s tinny cry now deep and booming as it’s trainer turned his attention back towards the approaching Pokémon, his gaze settling on the Cinderace. Without a word, he pointed towards the rabbit Pokemon, his other hand lifting his King’s Shield to ready it’s own defensive power while Arti launched a MAX GEYSER towards it.

TLDR:
- Colton Dynamaxes Rotom, readying his King’s Shield to absorb any counter attacks
- Rotom launches Max Geyser at Cinderace
lhRmcodS

The following decade had been a fruitful one for Colton. After toiling over the mysterious Dynite ore for twenty long years, it felt like he ascended to a huge plane of existence when he and sergei dachev had finally cracked the mystery. Unveiling the first Dynamax band for the citizens of Hammerlocke would be a moment he would never forget and he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of pride every time a gigantic Pokémon would rear its head over the city.

Still, even as the years went on and his memories of Hoenn continued to fade with time, Colton would still often find himself laying awake at night, wondering if any of it mattered. Did this world they had lived in for so long even truly exist? Did his accomplishments mean anything if one day they would all just wake up and it would be gone? Despite it all, the hardships, the constant war with the poison attacking their walls, the lack of any modern conveniences, there was a small part of him that wanted to stay. To stay in a place where he felt important and had done something that had truly helped people.

Was that too selfish of him?

Still, another decade had come and gone, and with it, new problems arose. With the mystery of the Dynite ore and black metal solved, or at the very least, with the two materials mastered, Colton devoted his full attention to maintaining the city. The sharp uptick in earthquakes coinciding with the ever approaching winter solstice, Colton’s sole focus became strengthening the foundations of the city’s buildings and continuing to prep their defenses. He could sense that something big was on the horizon, if the prophecies others had managed to decipher were anything to indicate, but prophecies had a tendency to be vague and esoteric and often times, trying to prevent them is what ultimately brings them about in the worst of ways.

Colton stared upwards at the clashing visages in the sky, his expression stony. Just what lay in store for them and had they prepared enough to make it through to the other side?

TLDR:
- Colton ponders about the past years and what comes ahead, uncertain if he wants to give up what he’s built in Hammerlocke
HPVHoo0q

Lodestone's magnets spun with glee as it's Thunder Wave landed, freezing the Articuno in place long enough for their allies to really lay down the hurt. Its black armor chipped and fell away under the assault, the bird itself soon collapsing after as the damage became too much to withstand. The attacking poisonous sludge retreated soon after and the air became filled with the din of cheers from the peasants they had worked with, their praise being directed at Zev Harcourt and kyle lopez as the saviors of Hammerlocke and their new kings.

Colton smiled, falling back to the ground with his Magneton floating down next to him. He was content to simply observe, simply glad to have made it through the battle. With the threat eliminated, he fully expected for them to return back to their proper reality before too long. A few days, at best.

That hope was dim following the first month they'd been in Hammerlocke.

It was strange, being stuck in a time with such primative technology. It was like going to school all over again for Colton, having to learn research techniques fitting to the era. But, with little else to do, he persevered, spending most of his waking moments learning these ancient methods and perfecting them. With the arrival of the prophecy and the Power Spot acting as a prime spot for raw research materials, understanding their new world and exploiting it to its maximum potential was going to be of the utmost importance.

The first year had been spent much like the first month, toiling away in a personal lab, though by now Colton had managed to craft tools and research methods, almost entirely dedicated to studying the black shards left behind by Articuno and the dynite ore mined from the Power Spot. It was frustratingly slow, the rocks unable to be pierced by any tool or attack his Pokemon could muster. The increasing threat of the sludge Pokemon were equally as vexing, as he found himself being pulled away more and more to help maintain and improve their physical barriers.

At the very least, Colton could not say he was upset he was trapped in this foreign place, in a time so separated from his own. He could still be helpful, still provide as a man of science and math. And, so he worked, further refining his knowledge and skills for ten, long years...

It appeared that Colton was something of an extremely late bloomer, that or living in a place without his creature comforts had done quite a number on him. His youthful features had disappeared and his hair had begun to gray, his age showing quite early on. But still he worked, trying to his best to help maintain the city and its people, no matter the threat, but it was clear that the passion the man had once held for learning and discovery had begun to slip away.

Despite how terrifying the Necrozma's sudden attack had been, Colton could not deny that his research had only been benefitted by its arrival. The amount of black metal that had been left behind, it was all the material he could have ever hoped to do work with. While much of his work in the last decade had begun to grow stale, this oppurtunity brought new life to Colton's work and he was quick to begin working with the mysterious metal.

But, with the prophecy seeming to be right on the horizon and the poisonous Pokemon an ever present threat, Colton would need to carefully consider what he created. Even after all these years, he was still no warrior. But, with how much time he had spent with the walls, he could certainly say he knew a thing or two about barriers and defending others.

So, Colton made a shield, fashioned in the shape of Zamazenta's golden mane and imbued with the power of King's Shield. While it may not have been a flashy weapon, it would suffice in keeping others safe should anything get passed the more capable warriors of Hammerlocke.

TLDR:
- Colton spends much of the decade studying scraps of black metal and dynite ore
- When not studying, he is applying his engineering and science expertise to help improve the barricades to better defend against the sludge Pokemon
- With the abundance of metal available to them, Colton creates a proper King's Shield, aiming to serve as a better wall to defend others when the next attack comes.
VDVH0YDT

A grin grew across Colton's face as Lodestone's Light Screen lit up the dark city, with the others around him battling back against the sludge that threatened to overwhelm him. It was working, at least for the time being and perhaps it would be long enough for the others scouting the city out to find the source and purge it. "Stay strong, pal. Not much long-"

Colton's sentence was cut off as warning bells began to ring around the city, mixing in with the cacophony of Pokemon cries and shouts of panic. He directed his attention past the barricade, seeing a large purple bird clad in black armor flying towards the barricade. Its clawed feet clash against the defenses, including Lodestone's Screens. The force sent the Magneton tumbling backwards, the three magnemites making up its body bouncing apart for a moment before their magnetic attraction pulled them back together.

Lodestone floated up off of the ground, its trio of eyes narrowed at the Articuno as it continued its assault on the city's defenses. Despite the heavy hit, the Magneton was far from out of the fight and Colton nodded in confirmation. "THUNDER WAVE!" he ordered, his plan to try and slow the Pokemon's assault before the barricade broke down completely, especially since its army of poisoned allies had quickly joined in on the assault. Sparks charged along Lodestone's magnets, its body glowing before a pulse of electricity released off of its body, directed right at the Articuno.

But, whatever minor advantage Colton thought he was making, it mattered little as a massive roar shook the city. He covered his ears, the sound shaking him to his very core. Slowly, he turned backwards to look at the newly Gigantamaxed Pokemon behind them, his eyes wide and his jaw hanging loose. "Shit..." he muttered to himself, needing to use all the strength in his legs to simply stay upright. What the hell were they supposed to do against that?!
TLDR:
- Magneton releases a Thunder Wave to try and paralyze the Articuno attacking the barricade.
dxZ2Dhqk

Colton nervously rolled Optimus' Pokeball around in his hand as they stood on the deck of the ship, the Iron Valiant standing alert next to him. He really didn't want to be back on this ship, not after what had happened the first time. Back into the belly of the beast, when they had barely just made it out the first time and, given the alien nature of this place, it remembered exactly who they were.

And it was going to punish their hubris.

Optimus jumped in front of him as the rotten frog leapt out from the shadows, Navy's own Valiant swiftly stabbing it before it could harm them. Colton readjusted his glasses as he looked at the creature and how mutated it had become in death. "It could have been from earlier expedtions, before they realized how dangerous this place is," he said, crouching next to the creature to observe it more closely before Navy collected it into his special Pokeball. So small and weak. Easy prey for the horrors that lurk within.

He gently touched Ferrus' Pokeball as he rose to his feet. His Beldum, while having the potential for great strength, was all too vulnerable and what Navy had said made him feel guilty that he had elected to bring the Pokemon along. Had he brought Ferrus to its death, left to the whims of whatever entity controlled this space to mutate and decay as it pleased?

Uncertainty was clear on his face as he looked towards the door and thought about what lay beyond. A whisper of his name curled around his ear, making a shiver run through his spine. Colton looked around, trying to find a source that he figured wouldn't be there. "No point in waiting around any longer, I suppose... he finally said, turning back to the other two people with him, waiting for Navy to make the first step into the void.

HARVESTING

be sure to visit the pretty petal flower shop near rustboro!

2X tamato berry
1X rabuta berry
1X grepa berry

TOTAL

do come again!

## PD

Colton's eyes narrowed further, his grip on Optimus' Pokeball tightening as the woman returned his gaze. There was a mocking smile on her lips and it was clear that, if they ever encountered each other again, she was eager to be a thorn of his side once again. There was nothing more he could say or do as he watched her disappear into one of the other portals, but he was certain that day would come one day...

The relief from the cold was short lived after he entered Hammerlocke, as it seemed that everyone who had arrived had jumped right out of the frying pan into the fire. Waves of poisonous sludge pushed up against barricades that the peasants desperately tried to keep up. Amorphous hands rose up out of the toxins, reaching forward and snatching wayward people away and pulling them into the depths. At the very least, the Rockets and Leaguers wouldn't be at each other throats while all of this was going on. For once, common sense won out.

"For however long that holds..." he muttered to himself, exchanging Optimus' Pokeball for Lodestone's at his waist. The Magneton appeared in a flash of red light, its magnets rotating as if it were stretching its non-existent limbs. He pointed towards the barricades the peasants were building. "Help those people out with a LIGHT SCREEN. We need to keep the poison back and not let it grab anyone else!"

The Magneton buzzed in confirmation before floating over to the barricades. Its magnets began to rotate rapidly, energy charging up between them before projecting a psychic barrier that merged into walls the peasants had already built. Hopefully, it would provide enough defense to hold back the tide long enough for them to to figure out how to stop it. Though, Colton couldn't help but wonder if this poison was the same that had infected Calyrex, driving the noble Pokemon to insanity. Just what kind of creature could produce such a toxin...?

TLDR:
- Magneton puts up a Light Screen to help with strengthening the barricades.
jReQQWhz

As expected, Colton's attempt to save the dying Pokemon was all for naught. He could only watch as Optimus' Wide Guard failed to form and his head instead turned to look at a Smeargle that had taunted his attention away. He could do nothing as the attacks brutally pierced the Calyrex, ending its life only moments later, but from what the Pokemon had said, that would be a mercy for it. Its final wishes, stated numerous times, was to be killed and left alone and forgotten by everyone. A painful death, but one that would give way to peace, where it could no longer be tormented by whatever it had been afflicted with.

And yet, Colton could not stop feeling as if he had failed.

He recalled his Iron Valiant before it decided to ruthlessly attack the Smeargle that had dared to taunt it. What good would that do? Cause the groups to devolve into pointless fighting when escaping back to whevere Zamazenta was took priority. But that didn't mean he couldn't remember who haad done this, Colton turning his gaze towards Rhydia Ver and committing her appearance to memory. One day, he would make this act against him right and pay her back for what she did.

One day...

Colton looked back towards kyle lopez as he indicated the path he was going to take. He nodded, settling on following the other man to Hammerlocke since he really had no other ideas of where he would want to or should go to. Of course, this didn't go without yet another impressive fireworks show from the man's Smeargle, now producing a ear piercing roar that corried well across the hills in a powerful echo. Colton watched in awe as time iteself seemed to distort around the statue, warping it before Kyle disappeared into the portal, with Colton following shortly after.

TLDR:
- Colton recalls Iron Valiant to keep it from fighting
- Colton goes to Hammerlocke
eXfEBeoM

Cold.

That was all Colton could focus on as he stomped his way through the snow. His teeth chattered and his body shook as he desperately rubbed his hands together and blew warm air on them. No place on Earth had any right to be this cold and he could only wonder what time of insane person would ever choose to live in a frozen wasteland like this. And yet, his destination was proof enough that people did live here, at least at one point. ”Backwards, unhinged lunatics, all of them…” be muttered to himself angrily as he fumbled at the Pokeballs on his waist. With a couple of clicks, Optimus is returned, with MM quickly taking its place.

In an instant, the natural heat the Fire-type produced brought blessed warmth to the area close by, the snow even melting at his feet. He sighed in relief, rubbing his arms gratefully before continuing his trek upwards. All was quiet around him bar the crunch of snow beneath his feet and the hum of his Pokemon’s body, so much that he was beginning to believe he was alone in this frozen hellscape save for random crackles of his radio indicating their were in fact others somewhere, when he saw two figures in the distance. His pace sped up, one hand waving in the air as he opened his mouth to call out to the figures, now revealed to be a man and a Smeargle now that he was closer.

Only for the sky to suddenly rip open above him.

Colton couldn’t help but cry out in surprise, falling backwards into the snow as he stared awestruck by the sight. The sky was soon filled in by an inky black fog, as if it was trying to fix the wound in it, but couldn’t quite figure out how. His radio sparked to life again, and the voice of kyle lopez, brought him back to reality. It didn’t take much for Colton to connect the dots that he was the figure just up ahead and his Smeargle had, through whatever means, opened up the hole in the sky. And that same man was already walking up the hill again.

”H-hey! Wait for me!” he called out, scrambling back to his feet and stumbling through the snow to catch up to the other man, MM floating behind him casually. It seemed a being born from dreams had no issues existing in a space that didn’t really exist. However, as he reached the top of the hill, he returned the Pokémon back to its ball, Optimus taking its place once again, along with the cold MM had kept at bay.

Colton was gasping for breath as he finally reached the crest of the hill, though his eyes were still very much fixed on the Glastrier and its rider trotting around, massive spears of ice being tossed out in every direction. He could see the spark of intelligence in the rider’s eyes, though the clarity it held would come and go, the engineer’s gaze flicking towards the damaged bulb on its head. He looked around at the others nearby, some of which were already readying attacks to kill the injured Pokemon, without so much as asking if they could help save it.

”We can’t just let it die! Isn’t there something we can do to help cure it?” Colton said, directing his Iron Valiant forward with one hand. ”Put up a WIDE GUARD!”

Optimus’ eyes glow as it leapt forward, placing itself in the path of the attacks and forming a barrier to absorb the blows. Would it work? Colton doubted it, but he wouldn’t feel right if he didn’t at least try to save it. There had to be something they could do…

TLDR:
- Colton is in awe of the Spatial Rend tearing open the sky
- Iron Valiant attempts to defend Calyrex and Glastrier, Colton refusing to believe simply killing it is the only answer
RdEnyVCc