Aegis Cave

[Shiny Phantump]

Seeing Cabot square up to fight, Celeste felt his heart rate pick up. Cabot couldn’t be thinking what Celeste thought he was, no, there was no way they could face two higher beings and a couple who’d defeated one of the Firstborn while hoping to come out on top. It was impossible.

He stepped forward. “Hold on. We... We don’t have to fight like this. Please, we cured Turf and Balm, we can cure all of you as well! I know the sickness... I know it’s telling you that you have to fight, but... It isn’t true! We’re here to save you. You have Surf and Turf to go back to, they’re worried about you! P-Please... Just... Just...”

He trailed off. There was nothing more to say. Either they could be reasoned with or they couldn’t. He hoped it was the former, but if the latter was the case, no amount of pleading would change that.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Fighting Legendaries already. God, it really was like being back at home. Judging by the way the way Turf had acted, there was no reasoning with anyone when they were possessed like this. And Team Spice looked like they could take one hell of a beating.

Starr took a stance, flares already lighting up across her pelt. This was gonna suck.

 

[Phoenixsong]

Skara gawked at Team Spice from the back of the group, keeping close to the cavern wall in case she needed to go vertical in a hurry, and wished fervently that they were still back in town. The recent conversation had been confusing, certainly, but at least the idea of the pseudonym was something she could understand. Most knights wound up with pseudonyms, after all, and while the situation back home was different she could agree that it seemed respectful enough in this case. The glowy box had taken some struggling, sure, but after a bit of thought she had dutifully entered "Charti" into the one she'd received. (She'd never seen one of the berries in person since they didn't grow near Crossmark, but the pictures in Feufollet's books always reminded her of little grubs.) She hoped she'd come up with one less... "food"-related (???????) for home before this one stuck, but best to get used to the general idea now.

But no. They weren't here to introduce themselves. They were here to fight, to fight legendary pokémon no less, and even though Diyem had been clear that fighting was always a distinct possibility this just seemed so wrong. That wasn't something mortals did, whether the legends in questions were guardians or mistlords. To say nothing of the fact that they still had no idea what these "shadow slugs" actually did, and they'd jumped into this rescue mission without being able to make any proper preparations at all aside from "well, Diyem's group can see them, I guess". Madness. Absolute madness. What was she even doing here?

Team Spice needed help. They were there to help. She was there to help. And it wasn't like fighting was ever off the table back home, either. But as the possessed mortals moved forward, the legends standing firm behind them, the shinx and the cranidos and the absol and the litten all looking a great deal more determined than she felt, she really, really wished she were back in town.

 

[Namohysip]

The moment they were certain that talking wasn't going to be enough, the group collectively linked and knew it was time to fight. The first to action were Mithos, Seyka, and Cuicatl, putting their strategy into action. The efforts to weaken Pepper, combined with an Intimidating aura from Starr, left Pepper second guessing herself, trying to shake off the weakening sensation to no avail.

Then came the sudden, electrified feeling of a dual Thunder Wave from Necrozma and Celeste, locking her limbs and stiffening whatever hope she had at pulling off an attack.

"Don't think you've stopped me!" Pepper shouted, and then she heard Zane. "Murderous psychopaths?! What are yo even talking about?!"

"Don't let him distract you," Thyme said with a snarl. "He's trying to divert attention away!"

"But we're not..."

Pepper is filled with doubt. Her Attack and Magic went down by 1!
Thyme Called Pepper to keep her motivated!
Team Spice is now immune to Calls!

"Wait, Cino!" Owen shouted. "That attack won't work on Thyme with Cresselia in the way!"

Cino, hesitating at this, trusted Owen enough in the moment to redirect his attack at Pepper instead, further weakening her offensive power.

While there were few, Starr and Cabot struck at Cresselia, stubbornly blocking Thyme, to grapple with how much defensive power they were dealing with.

Cabot's Iron Thorn dealt 21 damage to Cresselia!
Starr's Flame Charge dealt 17 damage to Cresselia!

"Hmph. Is that all you guys have? Your coordination's all off!" Thyme crouched down, a strange ball of energy forming above him. "Pepper!"

Pepper snarled and formed a ball of blue energy next.

Owen gasped. "Guys, watch out! They can do team attacks!"

Thyme used Grass Pledge and Pepper used Water Pledge!
It combined into a team attack!

The Pledge combo attacked Dave, Astrid, and Nip!
Dave: 34
Astrid: 24
Nip: 47

The combination created a swampy field on the ground, briefly sticking everyone in a thick marsh. Everyone's speed went down by 2 for their next turn!

As if in retaliation, hailstones from Astrid went flying toward Thyme and Pepper, though they seemed to be little more than an annoyance for now. Additionally, some hailstones pelted Nip for getting too close, though he seemed right at home...

Thyme, Pepper, and Cresselia took 5 damage from hail!

Thyme: 595 + Cresselia: 357
Pepper: 695

Manaphy and Darkrai are recharging...

Everybody on the ally team has 1 turn.

 

[Tanuki]

Oh, they were already fighting. Everyone already had an attack out while Zane stood there yelling. He remembered fighting Brisa, frustration burning in his stomach. He had no idea how he managed any of the attacks she'd said he'd used and knew throwing a punch would do nothing.

Especially compared to their attacks. Watching them hit his teammates, some were barely still standing. They wouldn't stand another hit. He grit his teeth at the sight, turning back to Team Spice. He didn't care that they were hurt. He didn't care. The team needed their damage output. That was it. He didn't care about them.

He stepped ahead of everyone. "All right, sure, you're heroes!" If shouting was all he could do, so be it. "Too late, though, I'm afraid!" That fickle energy welled up in his lungs. "Wanna save the world? How's about your own kids?" They had kids, right? This would be a disaster if they didn't. "Well, there's good news and bad news." He flicked out a claw and drew his tongue along it while his other hand rubbed his stomach.

"They're gone, but they sure were tasty."

Zane used Follow Me!

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

"...what in the blazes??"

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot spluttered incredulously at Zane's remark.

"Why would you say that?! We're trying to calm them down!"

 

[Namohysip]

"H-he's lying!" Owen said frantically, raising his arms in the air. "Zane! You're going to make them get angry! Do you know what that means?!"

Thyme and Pepper looked horrified for only a second before rational thought returned. Thyme snarled. "Our kids are too strong to die to someone like you."

"Who do you think you are?!"

But while Cresselia and Manaphy watched with silent disgust, Darkrai serenely brought his hand forward, gesturing elegantly toward Zane. "Kill him."

 

[Tanuki]

Zane almost flinched at Darkrai's call for his demise, but still felt that energy swelling in his chest. "They'll calm down when they're unconscious," he whispered to Owen. The move was coming! He just had to stall. "Oh, they were strong all right!" Wait, he needed to convince them he killed their kids—he made a mental note not to think about what made him think of this plan later. "But you'd be surprised who a kid's willing to trust and what they're willing to do to save mommy and daddy."

The energy swelled and burst out when he finished his screed, and he watched anxiously to see what his move did. Nothing happened. He waited. Nothing. For just a moment, his smirk faltered.

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian knew Zane was lying. Surf and Turf had seen them off before their portal entry after all. Still, he twisted his face in disgust. What was wrong with that Zangoose?

There were more pressing matters. Nip had received a solid hit just a bit earlier, and it looked like the next hit might take him out. Cynthian's petals trembled, yet he couldn't even believe himself when he ran ahead and stood in front of Nip.

"I'll cover for you, so please... do what you can!" Cynthian uttered through clattering teeth.

 

[Namohysip]

They ignored Zane's further jeers and endured the attacks from the others. They were surprised at how quickly they were picking up on their own momentum; at this rate, what were they supposed to do against a team that so quickly got into their rhythm?!

Several Howls from Dave and Curio filled the air; Power Swap from Astrid, Agility from Nip, and Psych Up from Celeste powered many members of the team!

Cabot's Assurance dealt 132 damage to Thyme's shield!
Starr's Flame Charge dealt 20 damage to Thyme's shield!
Cino's Iron Thorn dealt 15 damage to Pepper!
Vix's Solar Beam dealt 55 damage to Pepper!

Thyme and Pepper stood side by side and spiraled their Grass-Water energies together once more. They had to endure. At the rate they were going, perhaps they could outlast them.

Thyme and Pepper used a Grass-Water Pledge on Zane, Cabot, and Celeste!
Zane: 47
Celeste: 31
Cabot: Skara took the hit for 26 damage!

The swamplands persist, reducing everyone's speed by 2 once more!

Pepper was getting limber, hopping from one foot to the next. Her speed went up by 2!

"I'm not gonna let you slow me down again," she hissed. She could feel it; she just had to do this one more time and she'd be able to move even faster against them.

Thyme glowered at Zane and prepared another Grass Pledge.

"No," Darkrai shouted, "Focus! They're trying to distract y--"

Thyme used Grass Pledge on Zane, Cabot, and Astrid!
Zane: 26
Cabot: Serka took the hit for 15 damage! Cabot is no longer shielded!
Astrid: 14

"That's the dangerous one," Thyme said, pointing at Cabot. "But he looks frail. Take him out!"

Darkrai seemed surprised, but then lowered his hand, nodding.

Residual hail dealt 5 damage to Thyme, Cresselia, Curio, and Cabot!

Manaphy and Darkrai are fully charged!

Astrid and Zane are Staggered!

Celeste and Nip have 2 actions; the rest have 1!

"They're too coordinated!" Owen shouted. "We need to make them panic so they'll stop thinking to use that combination attack! Maybe knocking one out would disrupt that for a little bit!"

They had a Reviver each; he told everyone has much at the start of the fight. He had a really bad feeling that knocking one out would make the other an even bigger threat... but just getting one down and forcing them to use a Reviver--would that help at all?

This team was trying to disrupt their momentum. They had to counter them back and force a strategy change. This wasn't Team Spice at their best--they could still be made to panic!

 

[Tanuki]

Zane ate a pound of mud before slamming into the swamp below them. Body aching, he forced himself up only to see a flurry of rocks ready to pelt him. He threw his arms up to block them a second too late, and the rocks bounced off his face. When they ricocheted off, a flash of light ricocheted them back. The barrage ended with their momentum.

He finally got a chance to look and see some blue shield around him, a white reflection of the mark on his chest. Excitement took over his pain and he threw his arms up again, a flash thickening the barrier. "I did it!" he shouted, pumping a fist in the air. "I used a move!" For a moment, there was nothing in the world but him and his little bubble. This was, coincidentally, near identical to his standard worldview.

Zane used Protect^2

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot glanced at his teammates, sharing and discussing new ideas with them in mere seconds. Whatever powerful abilities some of the Pokémon in Cibus had, he and his teammates were certainly able to rival them by the way they could communicate with each other. With a new strategy in mind, Cabot turned back to Thyme with a determined glare.

"Well, I'm not gonna let you take me down that easily!" he shouted

The Cranidos stomped the ground as large boulders rose up from behind him, before thrusting his right arm forward, sending a barrage of rocks at Thyme and Pepper.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr's muscles ached. Her movements were sluggish; trudging through that godawful swamp was sapping her strength. The flares in her coat were still keeping her going, faster than she would have been without them, but it wasn't enough to pull herself out.

And then there was Owen, cheering for her to keep going. It was beyond cheesy, and she instinctively wanted to tell him to knock it off. But at the same time it was... kind of nice. His energy, his optimism, he reminded her of Ajia, in a way. And somehow, that energy was actually rubbing off on Starr. She felt lighter. The Litten wrenched her paws out of the muck and broke into a run, and this time she didn't sink.

So the Meganium had a shield protecting him? Flames were ineffective? Fine.

"Let's see you block this!" Starr snarled, sinking her fangs into his left foreleg.

 

[windskull]

Nip winced, doing his best to shrug off his injury. One more hit like that, and he'd be down again. Just like in the magikarp fight.

He grit his teeth, readying another attack while expecting another blow to come his way. But then Cynthian stepped in front of him. And despite how anxious the plant looked, the fact that he was standing in front of him now still meant a lot. He gave the roselia a quick, appreciative dip of his head before readying himself to charge forward, coating both sets of claws in spectral energy as he focused.

 

[Torchic]

Cino clutched another Iron Thorn he was preparing. The odds should've been in Team Spice's favour: three mythical and two fully evolved Pokemon against a group of kids. (Kids meaning not yet evolved 'mon.) But, for some reason, his team was standing strong. Landing hit after hit, tanking hit after hit. The swampy terrain was certainly an inconvenience, though not enough to stop Cino's team from giving up.

No. We were gonna make it. We were gonna free Team Spice of those shadow slugs that possessed them. We'd be making sure of that. Owen had a good idea regarding the two's Revivers. It kinda made sense. Let's see if this works.

He aimed for Pepper again. Truth be told, his last hit wasn't his best. He tried to throw it with all of his force he could get together. Maybe... just maybe... he would land a direct hit, piercing through their defenses. Cino could just hope.

 

[The Walrein]

Jaro had barely been able to make heads or tails of what was going on in the intense battle, but a comment from Thyme cut through the confusion. Apparently Cabot was the most important Pokemon to protect right now. It was so nice of the enemy to give helpful advice like that!

"Hey, Thyme! Pick on someone your own size!" Jaro shouted, getting in between Cabot and the Meganium as he drew in air and puffed himself up to the maximum.

 

[Namohysip]

This time, there was little standing in the way for the team to get their all-out attacks in. And while Curio topped off the rest of the team, everyone else fell in line to get as much damage as they could.

Brisa's Strike dealt 32 damage to Cresselia!
Ashwood's Strike dealt 38 damage to Cresselia!
Tricky's Strike dealt 24 damage to Cresselia!

Curio's Howl powered up Cabot, Nip, and Starr!

Dave's Assurance dealt 90 damage to Cresselia!
Cabot's Rock Slide dealt 50 damage to Cresselia and 42 to Pepper! Thyme's shield broke!
The Small Blast Seeds from Necrozma and Celeste dealt 50 damage to both of them!
Cino's Iron Thorn dealt another 15 damage to Pepper!
Nip's double Shadow Claw dealt 114 damage to Thyme total!
Starr's Leech Life dealt 51 damage to Thyme!

Thyme and Pepper are both Staggered!

"Good! Th-that was good!" Owen shouted, following up with a few of his own attacks, if only to distract. He didn't have the offensive power of his allies. But something was bothering him; Darkrai was barely doing anything. Was he--

Suddenly, Darkrai's eye flashed, and a malevolent aura surrounded a trio of their team.

Darkrai used Hex II on Celeste, Dave, and Starr, lowering their Resistance!
Manaphy used Boon II on Pepper, raising her Speed by 2!

Thyme and Pepper used Grass-Water Pledge on Cabot, Celeste, and Nip!
Cabot: Jaro shields for 70 damage
Celeste: 38
Nip: Cynthian shields for 15 damage

Thyme wobbled where he stood, still unable to shake off his bad stance. "We need to raise our defenses. They're physical attackers! I'm gonna use--"

"No." Darkrai pointed firmly. "Save your strength and focus on your stance. Take an Elixir and use the boost next. Reflect is pointless right now."

"Well, I'm gonna attack that Cranidos," Pepper said. "I'll slow him down with--"

"The Jigglypuff is in your way. Do not attack him. Wait."

"But--"

"Wait."

Owen winced--Darkrai was being their tactician. He was positive that Pepper would have tried to target Cabot again had it not been for him... He was making them fight smarter. But he was too far in the back to strike. They had to stick with the original plan or, if they were lucky, maybe they could take them both down in one shot... No, Owen wasn't sure if they had that sort of firepower yet. "Keep going!" he said.

Thyme drank an Elixir. He'll get an extra action next turn!
Pepper used Scary Face on Celeste, Curio, and Dave, lowering their speeds by 2!

Thyme: 375
Pepper: 519

Pepper looks agitated...
Darkrai is eyeing Cresselia...

Darkrai and Manaphy are recharging...

The swamp persists...
Nip has 2 actions!
Everyone else has 1 action!

 

[Torchic]

Ugh, so much for that. At least they're both staggered.

 

[Tanuki]

Pain, aches and exhaustion, plagued Zane, but even worse than that—he was thirsty. Parched and tired, the worst combination, and only one drink could save him. He reached into his bag and took out a beaming can of Pop-Star.

He cracked it open and downed all that sweet flavor in one gulp. Like swallowing a piece of heaven. It quenched his thirst and cured his hurt. That’s why Zane always chooses Pop-Star.

Pop-Star: Make life sweeter.