The battle was fiercer than Sasha anticipated. Her experience with Pokémon battles had taken place in official arenas, which ensured the safety of the trainers, and in the open fields and forests outside her hometown. She wasn't used to combat in such close quarters, and she suffered for it with bruises and scrapes. Collateral damage. [break][break]

Still, she and the Ranger and their Koraidon—that's what he'd called it, anyway—emerged victorious. And when it offered an escape on its back, she did not hesitate to climb aboard. [break][break]

Eyes wide with wonder observed the cavern and its wonders as they passed it. Sasha reached out a hand to brush her fingers against some unfamiliar plants, even as her surroundings faded into blankness.

TAGS – Raziel Beckett[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]legendary event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]KORAIDON 1-A

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]The battle between Koraidon is an intense, bloody clash. Harsh sunlight douses the cave with searing heat and light. Claws and fangs crash against scales before the opposing dragon is felled. Your Koraidon roars in triumph, though it is severely hurt.[break][break]

You may have suffered collateral damage in the process. In this small space, avoiding tail swings and grandiose explosions is an arduous endeavor.[break][break]

The Koraidon offers its back to you. You must push onward. As you sprint, glide or climb through the cave, you discover crystalized plant life, including Herba Mystica. Glimmora and Paradox Pokemon wander around you, presumably native to this mysterious place.[break][break]

Sasha tilted her head at Mr. Navidson. On the surface, his words suggested a love for Pokémon drawn from a similar vein as hers had. But when she dug deeper, she found a peculiar desire to escape into their world. [break][break]

Not to become like them, as some online subcultures seemed to want, but a yearning for a time that no longer existed. Perhaps it never had, for him. [break][break]

"Do you wish for an uncomplicated life?" Sasha asked lightly, as she finished clearing the floor of ash. Even as she asked such a personal question, she closed up her heart, holding the man at a metaphorical arm's length. [break][break]

Habit, she thought. Her mother's voice murmured in the back of her mind: Observe and unveil, but never reveal.

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

A faint blush colored Sasha's cheeks at Benji's confidence in her hypothetical success. She shook her head. "Art doesn't pay as well or as consistently as my day job. I work as a secretary," she said, choosing not to share the exact details of her employment. [break][break]

The revelation of Benji's own occupation caught her off guard. Never would she have imagined the man to be a Pokémon doctor. Her suspicions waned and her body relaxed almost imperceptibly. In fact, she flashed him a small smile. [break][break]

After all, how harmful could a man be if he treated ill and injured Pokémon? [break][break]

"Really? You take care of Pokémon?" she asked, interest piqued. "That's amazing. You must have a lot of work here, all things considered." [break][break]

She briefly glanced at her Dedenne, still playing with his Furret. [break][break]

"I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to Dedenne—or to any of my other Pokémon, really." Her gentle smile for Benji widened. "Sometimes it seems to me that people in your line of work perform miracles."

TAGS – benji sawyer[break]
NOTES – mission

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Thankfully, the Glastrier did bring Sasha back to where the Ranger and his Pokémon waited before the scenario ended and a new one began. She landed awkwardly on her backside when the horse disappeared, wincing from the slight pain. [break][break]

"Where are we?" she wondered when she finally looked around. As fascinating as the crystalline cavern was, however, the sight of a magnificent red lizard took her breath away. "I've never seen that Pokémon before. Do you know—" [break][break]

But a roar cut off her question, heralding the arrival of a second lizard. The two Pokémon sized squared off, sizing each other up, waiting to see which one would attack first. [break][break]

Sasha stood firm next to her Ranger associate, an uncommon calm settling over her. It was as if her body had defaulted to a once-familiar state. She plucked a Pokéball from her belt and tossed it with practiced ease, releasing her Snorlax. [break][break]

"No more running," she said, determination flashing across her face. [break][break]

TAGS – Raziel Beckett[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]legendary event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]KORAIDON 1

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]The scene changes to a terastal cavern. Encased entirely in these crystals, you see your reflection... and beside yourself is a massive lizard-like creature. The simulation states that the Pokemon is a Koraidon: a muscular, ferocious dragon able to break the earth with its fists. No other data exists pertaining to this Winged King. Curiously, it seems paired with you.[break][break]

A roar rattles down the tunnel. Another Koraidon stomps toward you in apex form, its fierce plume and twisted antennae flicking about like whips.[break][break]

You're in the middle of a territorial dispute and there's no way out.

Sasha flushed with guilt when the Ranger explained how he and his Pokémon had stood their ground against the predator in the jungle. Perhaps she should have stayed with him and fought it off, too. [break][break]

"Sorry to put you in that predicament without any help," she said, glancing at him from over her shoulder. [break][break]

The mention of carrots brought a slight frown to her face, but when she looked back at her outstretched hand, a perfect specimen of the vegetable had appeared in her palm. Wrapping her fingers around the wide end, she offered the treat to the Glastrier. [break][break]

The horse bent its front legs to kneel, sending a new layer of frost across the ground. It was clear what it wanted Sasha to do. As soon as she'd hopped onto its back, it rose back onto sturdy hooves and burst into a gallop. A yelp escaped her throat as she clutched its icicle-like mane for dear life. [break][break]

Not that she could have fallen off if she'd wanted. Ice encased her legs, securing her to the Glastrier's back.

TAGS – Raziel Beckett[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]legendary event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]GLASTRIER 1-B

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]To tame this horse, one must brave its immense physical strength and brutal cruelty. You may attempt to tame the beast in various ways: plucking three hairs from its tail, riding it until it is fatigued, brute force, or whatever else you manage.[break][break]

However, whoever tames the horse finds themselves permanently bound to it. Ice freezes your limbs to the horse in eternal linkage. While the townspeople celebrate, you realize your predicament too late as you gallop out of the town.

As Sasha ran, the jungle around her transformed into a rural countryside. The suddenness caused her to stumble and fall; she landed painfully on her hands and knees on frost-covered ground. As she sat there catching her breath, a stranger approached, bearing ill omens. [break][break]

Rising on shaky legs, Sasha looked around for the Ranger who'd accompanied her into the simulation. Spying him nearby with an unfamiliar, dark-colored Pokémon, she trudged over. [break][break]

"Are you all right?" she asked, though they seemed far more composed than she felt. [break][break]

Then the clopping of hooves reached her ears. She caught sight of the icy horse making its way down the dirt road toward the village. Townsfolk cried out in terror and fled into their homes. But when Sasha looked, the Pokémon did not seem so horrific. [break][break]

"I wonder what it wants," she mused aloud before approaching it with careful steps, a hand stretched out to touch it. [break][break]

TAGS – Raziel Beckett[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]legendary event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]GLASTRIER 1

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]The scene shifts to a rural village in Galar. Gates and crops have been ruined all around you, splintered and upturned, coated in ice. A townsperson shakily approaches you, recounting a legend that has been passed on for generations.[break][break]

They say, "a specter doth roam among us. it doth don the visage of a frosty steed, its countenance clad in a mask as unyielding as jewels... 'tis known to appear upon the eve, striking fear into both folk and creatures of pokémon alike!"[break][break]

Suddenly, you can hear the sounds of hooves clopping toward the village. The townsperson shrieks and flees into a nearby home as a GLASTRIER crashes through the fencing.[break][break]

Sasha blinked. "Oh, okay," she said, uncertain of their choice, but deciding to commit to it. So she took a deep breath, cupped her hands around her mouth, and joined the screaming. [break][break]

Unfortunately, the Pokémon was none-too-pleased by their intrusion. Just as Sasha thought it would attack, a bigger and much more dangerous-looking Pokémon appeared and ate it in one bite. She couldn't help but scream as bones crunched and blood sprayed across the verdant foliage. [break][break]

Neither was she going to wait around to find out if this new predator would eat them. Turning, she raced off in the opposite direction.

TAGS – Raziel Beckett[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]pokemon event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]SCREAM TAIL 1-B

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]You join the Scream Tail in making noise. Whether you want to entertain its shrill cacophony, or want to drown it out in competition, the Paradox Pokemon does not appreciate its song becoming a duet.[break][break]

With its powers, it levitates and swerves toward you with a truculent glare. As it sucks in air for another scream, the trees behind it split apart.[break][break]

A Walking Wake emerges with a snarl. With one terrible chomp, it devours the Scream Tail and chases after you, hungry for more.

Sasha heard through her usual volunteer network that the League's most esteemed scientists were looking for individuals to test something called an RKS simulation machine. It generated stock scenarios that changed based on user input. Curious, she signed up and promptly received instructions for where to go, who to meet, and what to do. [break][break]

The explanation she received paled in comparison to the real thing, however. When she opened her eyes to a lush and unfamiliar jungle, she gasped audibly. Seconds later, the terrible scream caused her to press her hands over her ears. [break][break]

Curiosity overcame her, and she walked in the direction of the noise to find a strange-looking Pokémon, one she'd only seen before in images posted to the Internet. A Scream Tail, she remembered. [break][break]

Turning to her partner for the simulation, a Ranger by the name of Raziel Beckett, she asked, "Er, what do you think we should do?"

TAGS – Raziel Beckett[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

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