The sandstorm becomes thick with pungent purples and the earth fissures in two. The latter, he can do little. The former, he can at least attempt to clear, though it would not surprise him to learn if Himiko could also breathe toxins rather than just wear them.

Hawkins takes out a ‘cigarette’. His shadow flickers for a few moments as it tries to light. Then he inhales, then he exhales: out murmurs a thin spool of green, just a thread in the tapestry of his chikorita’s concurrent AROMATHERAPY.

The rugged vegetation of Petalburg heed the call. They stand straighter amidst the storm. They offer the gift of life to the air, pale motes of lilac and lavender, the scents of hawthorne and vanilla and patchouli that rise and caress all the resentment in these winds, dissipating the poisons nearby.

For a short time, at least, flowers will bloom on this path in history; this meandering detour through the side stories of a heated battle under the feet of Giants.

---

hS7EQk4C



Location: J5
Interact: PETRA MONROE Yamaguchi Himiko Eduardo Hisakawa shiv (ulysses)
tl;dr chikorita uses aromatherapy to clear the toxic property of the sandstorm in J5

His body was starting to hurt. He made sure to do all the proper stretching beforehand, too. And this sunburn? One shudders to think.

PRCA0cY|

SPOILER: Click to show

primarina twist

6k

They go back to their swim lessons. It is not lost on Hawkins that the happiny focuses on something beyond his arm, dives down at very specific intervals, and gurgles with excitement when it catches sight of... someone.

Wearily he glances over his shoulder too, to see Absinthe Blackwood come up with yet more pokeballs.

In a perfectly audible tone he agrees: "She's not very good at this, no."

h4LOePhy

SPOILER: Click to show

1x clamperl, 1x devolution stone, 2x pokeball, 3x form change, 1x dynamax candy, 1x salac berry, 2x incense

No, he wants to say. He’s never felt unwell. That tiredness is just from a lack of sleep, even though he sleeps solidly every night. The way every wall seems dim is because the world has become a darker place, not because his eyes just don’t see clearly anymore.

How could she know that a drink that is exacting, without love or passion, is the only drink that doesn’t poison him?

“I have several prototype consumables. I have the materials. I lack the ability to refine them to safety standards for mass use. I need your assistance.”

Absinthe Blackwood

The odds are good but the goods are odd. By the end of this, everyone should be master mantine surfers.

9Kk5CSSb

SPOILER: Click to show

primarina twist

5k

The baby pokemon swims back to him. It is oblivious to the waves of the ocean and the waves that pass between ghosts past and present; that same line of ghosts that stretches far behind one's shoulder.

Hawkins nods and leaves the burrowing viper be. There's no point relocating too far, so he situates back where he was in the first place. And every now and then, that happiny waves to Absinthe Blackwood as she continues her dives.

XztHnqIb

SPOILER: Click to show

1x clamperl, 1x devolution stone, 2x pokeball, 2x form change, 1x dynamax candy, 1x salac berry, 2x incense

“Remember to survive,” is the first and only thing he tells Himiko as she strides past him and towards Ulysses. It is a reminder for why she followed him in the first place.

Thereafter, fading in and out like a mirage at the edges of the sandstorm is this humble, hobbled silhouette—like an overgrown crow perched on the branch of plausible deniability. Close enough to observe the action, to meddle in the Terrakion’s efforts; far enough to be a nuisance to strike.

When the sludge wave flows like a tide towards Hawkins and his chikorita, they seemingly slip back into the sandstorm.

Soon, more pinkish planes of light shimmer throughout the arena, forming a LIGHTSCREEN on top of the concurrent REFLECT. One gets the sense that the battle will only become more walled the longer it goes on.

---

3SiP7iYD



Location: J5
Interact: PETRA MONROE Yamaguchi Himiko Eduardo Hisakawa shiv (ulysses)
tl;dr dodges sludge wave. stands near the edge of the conflict like the nebby support character he is. chikorita uses a spread out, weaker version of light screen on the rocket side.

Faint psychic power accompanies the mantine and its rider. Because they are Rockets, and they cheat. Naturally.

ZA2vIw4z

SPOILER: Click to show

primarina twist

4k

A strange scene. Like a mother, a father, and a baby in between.

Hawkins feels an uneasiness stir in him. Yes, that's how it should be—but the wrong woman was in the picture. Or perhaps the wrong man. The wrong place, the wrong time, a world that is all wrong...

"No. She knew she would be safe with you."

He says, as the happiny offers Absinthe Blackwood the pokeball with pride.

LSfMmI78

SPOILER: Click to show

1x clamperl, 1x devolution stone, 2x pokeball, 2x form change, 1x dynamax candy, 1x salac berry, 1x incense

Normally pokemon were very pliable to him. They followed him, perched on him, curled up by his feet. This mantine similarly seemed friendly. Was it just not very good at tricks, or was Hawkins just exceptionally bad enough at them?

X0Xi006e

SPOILER: Click to show

primarina twist

4k

It was an unfortunate fact of life that children had a favorite parent.

Hawkins watches his traitorous happiny make plane motions in Absinthe Blackwood 's hands, wondering where he went wrong.

After their next dive he swims over. "Thanks. For humoring her."

eG9uiiuj

SPOILER: Click to show

1x clamperl, 1x devolution stone, 2x pokeball, 1x form change, 1x dynamax candy, 1x salac berry, 1x incense

Glints of faceted ice and rock move through the sandstorm with their morbid geometry. These giants and the people experiencing their greatness must have a feeling for the myth they are in.

They must, because the world must balance that with the anxiety and pain experienced elsewhere on the field—the one Hawkins sees now with his hawkish eyes, eating away at half of Petra’s life.

He had nestled in her mind before. He didn’t need Ulysses’ shout to see this fractured future.

As his chikorita jumps into his arms with fright at the standoff, he merely holds it close reassuringly, whispering words of encouragement.

Thus if PETRA MONROE (and/or Eduardo Hisakawa) were to engage Ulysses or any of the present Rockets (and/or Yamaguchi Himiko), they would soon notice the REFLECT hindering their attacks.

---

JTN11FHD



Location: J5
Interact: PETRA MONROE, Yamaguchi Himiko ?, Eduardo Hisakawa ?
tl;dr hawkins arrives at J5. he notices the petra-ulysses standoff. he is aware of their connection because of the prelude. his chikorita roughly covers the rocket side with reflect.

At one point he nears back to the beach where his trusty partner, his literal mind-meld, nods.

The next mantine manuever feels a little less death spiral and a little more pirouette.

p5X8_HiW

SPOILER: Click to show

primarina twist

3k