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The cavern walls shimmered faintly providing enough ambient light, as the trio moved deeper into Mt. Moon's tunnels. The faint sound of dripping water provided a rhythm to their otherwise uneven footsteps, and the occasional skittering of Zubat wings broke the stillness of the underground expanse. Ezra walked slightly ahead, his posture stiff, his hackles raised due to Shae's presence.

He would have answers soon.

Or else.

He couldn't say he was the most patient of guys, and someone so obviously up to no good in regards to him - he wasn't going to let it go on indefinitely.

Karen was a step behind him, her silver hair catching the soft light as her Sneasel and Weavile both, padded silently at her side. She stole glances at Ezra, her lips twitching as if she wanted to speak but thought better of it. Instead, her sharp gaze often flicked toward Shae, who trailed behind with an infuriatingly relaxed demeanor, her Arbok, Pride, slithering alongside her.

She'd probably be less relaxed if she knew I had my Pokemon following behind in her shadow… Ezra thought darkly.

He wasn't taking any chances, Rocket or no Rocket.

Shae seemed to enjoy the tension, her arms crossed loosely as she walked with a cocky grin plastered on her face. Every so often, Pride would hiss softly, its hood flaring slightly, as if mirroring her amusement.

"So," Shae began after another period of silence, her voice cutting through the quiet like a blade, "Are we going to keep walking in this awkward silence, or is someone finally going to say something interesting?"

Ezra didn't even look back, his tone cold as he spoke. "If you've got something interesting to say, Shae, now's the time. Otherwise, keep fucking quiet."

He was only interested in the real reason she was stalking him, everything else concerning her was just an annoyance.

Karen smirked faintly, her sharp tone laced with mock sweetness as she pounced. "Don't strain yourself, Shae. Interesting might be too much for you to manage, skeevy or trashy seems to be more in your ballpark."

Shae let out a laugh, the sound echoing through the tunnel. "Oh, Karen, you're adorable when you're all defensive and jealous. I almost feel bad for teasing you." She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "Almost." She clicked her teeth together in a mocking bite as she leaned towards Karen.

Karen's Pokemon growled lowly, mirroring their trainer's glare. "I'm not defensive," Karen snapped. "I just don't trust people who show up at the worst possible times and act like they're doing us a favor simply by being present!"

Ezra silently agreed, but wasn't in the mood to waste his words on the brewing argument. He wanted to get to a good defensive position to set up camp, and then get the truth out of Shae.

Shae feigned surprise, her hand to her chest. "Doing you a favor? When have I ever acted in such a way, we're just travel buddies aren't we? Traversing the mountain together because of the Rocket infestation." She grinned coyly, "Although if you do want a favor… I'm willing to talk about a mutually satisfactory arrangement sweetie."

Ezra's jaw tightened at the cattineas infecting his space. "Both of you, shut it," He said sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Any further discussion is pointless at this time with this bullshit, stop wasting my time and your breath."

It was too bad that he needed to keep his shadow secret, right about now would be a good time to scare the two bickering women into silence.

Or just knock them out and drag them along. It was getting more and more tempting…

A simpler solution for his short term peace of mind - and unfortunately not viable long-term.

For now.

If they were going to keep sniping at each other, he might have to reassess.

Shae raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Oh, Kassian, you wound me! I thought you'd miss my sparkling personality if I didn't keep you entertained on the way, or that at least you'd want answers? And here you just want me to seal my lips instead?"

Karen let out a scoff, "I think what he misses is his peace and quiet. Something you wouldn't understand, trash."

Ezra gave Karen an annoyed look, because he wanted her to shut up too. He also was trying to put his finger on what was up with Shae, because she was almost… Giddy, which was different then her previously cocky attitude - not that there was much difference between the two in practice.

Both were equally fucking annoying.

"Oh, I understand silence just fine," Shae said dismissively to Karen. "I just choose to make things actually fun and interesting. You should try it sometime, Karen. It might make you less of an uptight old lady." Her saccharine smile at the end, directed towards Karen, was obvious incitement.

Karen's fists clenched at her sides, her Sneasel and Weavile both watching her warily as if expecting her to explode. But she merely let out a slow breath, her voice dripping with venom as she spoke. "I'd rather be uptight than whatever you are claiming to be."

Shae laughed again, unbothered. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Ezra sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "If you two are done, we still have a long way to go. Save the bickering for when we're not surrounded by potentially hostile Pokemon or terrorists."

Not that a Team Rocket attack right now would be necessarily bad. He could use a target for his frustrations that was acceptable to brutalize.

Karen glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. "Sorry, Ezra," She said, her tone sincere. "I'll focus." She promised, looking somewhat chagrined to having been caught up in Shae's flow.

Shae tilted her head, her grin turning sly. "How sweet. You really care what he thinks, don't you?"

Karen's glare was immediate, but Ezra cut in before she could respond. "Shae, enough," He snapped, his voice cold. "You're not making the impression here that you think you are, I will knock you out and leave you here..."

Shae held up her hands in mock surrender, her grin never faltering even in the face of his threat. "Alright, alright. I'll behave. For now."

The group pressed on in silence. The path grew narrower quickly as they got deeper, the walls closing in as the air turned warmer. Umbreon padded closer to Ezra, keeping the way lit up as they encountered more sabotaged tunnels, normally maintained by the Ranger station, the lighting completely destroyed the deeper they went. Morrigan floated silently beside him, her translucent form blending into the shadows as she was on watch for surprise attacks.

Other than the Pokemon hiding in his shadow, and the ones he had hiding in Shae's, he was keeping his other Pokemon back for now, in reserve.

Too many Pokemon clumped together in these narrow tunnels would be more of a danger then a help if something happened.

Karen's Murkrow flapped its wings, landing on her shoulder with a soft call of its name. She reached up absently to stroke its feathers, her gaze flicking toward Ezra. "Do you think the wild Pokemon are still riled up from earlier? We haven't run into any…"

Ezra was going to nod, but paused as he thought it over. "I was going to say that we were likely to see such, but now that you mention it… We haven't seen any sign of wild Pokemon at all…" He glanced around thoughtfully, "It's possible the Rockets didn't go this deep and was only active in the first section of the tunnel system." Even as he said it, he wasn't sure he believed that.

Shae hummed softly, a hand gesture having Pride slithering ahead to scout the path. "If anything, this silence is more suspicious then if we'd have a multitude of encounters," She said with a dubious look at their surroundings. "I wouldn't count on nothing being wrong..."

Ezra agreed, he wasn't an optimist to begin with, and zero encounters? After a Rocket attack that riled up the inhabitants of Mt Moon? Something else was going on. "And you have no idea what, do you?" He asked Shae pointedly.

Shae sighed, some of her exaggerated mien slipping off, "Look, Kassian, I get that my actions look suspect, but I'm not in the habit of risking my own life. If I wanted to get at you, I wouldn't be walking along with you, alright?"

Ezra glanced back at her, unconvinced, "That's exactly what someone who's leading me into a trap might say…"

Shae chuckled lowly, "I guess my own enjoyment in playing around too much has bitten me in the ass, huh?" She shrugged, running a hand through her hair, "Fair enough, I'll take my lumps, it's my own fault really. I'd offer to let you spank me for being so bad, but I don't want to muscle in on Karen's territory."

Karen's Sneasel let out a warning growl, its claws flexing as it eyed Shae, reacting to Karen's sudden explosive glare and hissed out breath. Her Weavile was more used to her temperament and just kept an eye out for the return of the Arbok, marking it as more important.

Karen patted Sneasel's head reassuringly, her voice low even as she boiled on the inside. "Don't waste your energy, Sneasel. The trash is not worth it."

Shae's smile widened as she got the reaction she'd fished for. "Ouch, Karen. That almost hurt my feelings, maybe you're the one I should offer to spank me?"

Ezra sighed again, his patience wearing thin. "If you two don't stop, I'm leaving both of you behind."

He was beginning to mean it too. There was only so many times he could say something and have it ignored - before he got truly pissed off.

Karen's expression shifted, her tone softening as she addressed Ezra. "You wouldn't leave me, right? I mean, I'm the only one here who's actually helpful." She implored.

Ezra's lips twitched into a faint smirk despite himself. "Keep telling yourself that, Karen. It must be nice to be so optimistic."

Shae bullying Karen was annoying.

But his bullying of the other trainer was of course always a highlight of his day.

Shae laughed, her voice echoing off the walls. "Oh, he can be fun. I see why you like him so much, Karen."

Karen's cheeks flushed, and she turned sharply away. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Shae's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, you definitely do. Let me know if you need any tips, girl to girl."

"Definitely not!" Karen spat out, eyes still averted and body posture stiff.

Shae opened her mouth, a victorious grin on her face, only for Ezra to cut in with a sharp command, "Leave her alone, Shae."

Shae mimed sealing her lips shut, although her expression was still amused.

Karen gave him a thankful look, only to stumble and almost faceplant as he continued unabashedly with - "The crush is obvious and it's rude to bring it up to try and use it against her."

Karen spluttered, face red, as Shae broke down laughing, shoulders shaking as she turned away to try and keep some of her composure in the face of Karen's absolute shocked and blindsided face.

Of course Ezra knew about it. It was obvious. And maybe it was a little mean of him, but the sooner it was out in the open the better - so Karen could begin making her choices… Besides, their little catfight was annoying him, so this would finally shut it down, he hoped.

The group continued their trek in silence, the path eventually widening into a larger cavern. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth from the ceiling, and the faint glow of bioluminescent moss painted the walls in shades of green and blue. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth, and the sound of dripping water echoed softly.

Shae paused, her gaze sweeping over the cavern with an almost predatory intensity. "Nice place for my little interrogation," She said lightly. "Cozy."

Karen rolled her eyes. "If this is your idea of cozy, I don't want to know what your home looks like."

Shae raised an eyebrow. "How nice of you to assume I have one. Some of us grow up without any happiness and stability you know?" She gestured to the cavern, "Compared to cold nights on a dirty street and all that comes with it, this is practically luxury."

Karen opened her mouth to snap back, resolutely not looking at Ezra, but at Shae's words she deflated, "You… You did this on purpose didn't you?"

Shae cocked her head, a sly smile on her face, "Would I do that?"

Ezra, choosing to ignore their exchange, moved toward a small pool of water near the center of the cavern. Umbreon padded beside him as he crouched down, studying the water with a thoughtful frown. A place like this should have definitely seen some traffic from wild Pokemon in the area… Yet… Nothing. He thought.

He chose to ignore Shae's words, he wasn't an anime protagonist. Telling him a sob story wouldn't change his mind, even if it obviously worked to blunt Karen's ire. If the story was even true in the first place, something he couldn't discount.

Karen joined him, her tone somewhat blank as she continued to look in his general direction but not right at him, "What is it?"

"No tracks," Ezra said, frowning, "A place like this should have seen something come through at some point. Yet the mud around the water's edge is completely untouched."

Shae wandered over, her Arbok hissing softly as it slithered beside her. "Huh, now that's possible I suppose, but questions keep stacking up…" She said, her tone curious as she wrinkled her nose at the continued mystery.

Mt Moon had a dedicated Pokemon Ranger detachment precisely because it was full of wild Pokemon. So where were they?

Ezra straightened up from his crouch, his expression serious. "Stay alert. We won't get any answers right now, but we know to be careful." He looked around, assessing the area with hard eyes.

The cavern had only one entrance, making it defensible, and the floor, while uneven, was at least dry. The access to fresh water was also a nice bonus. "We are far from the next rest stop, let's just camp here." He said, voice firm, making it clear he wasn't listening to any objections.

Karen glared at Shae, just waiting for a smart comment, but Shae only nodded, unslinging her backpack, a conflicted look on her face.

Ezra dropped his backpack near the wall with a low grunt, brushing a hand through his messy white hair. His eyes swept over the area, scanning for any potential avenues for threats that he might have missed in his first cursory study. Karen made a sharp gesture, her Sneasel and Weavile both darting toward the entrance to keep watch.

Shae leaned casually against the wall nearby, and watched them with a frown on her face, her Arbok coiled at her feet, its hood half-flared in idle menace as if feeling its mistress conflicted emotions.

"Bit early to make camp," Shae said, her tone light. "But I suppose it'll do."

Karen shot her a glare as she unfurled her bedroll with sharp, precise movements. "It's better than wandering around all night and getting ambushed because someone can't keep their mouth shut."

Shae's grin widened in delight, even as Ezra audibly sighed at Karen biting again, this time completely unprompted.

"Oh, Karen, don't blame me for your lack of ability. I can hold your hand if you get scared, you know?"

Karen's hands clenched into fists, but Ezra cut in before the bickering could escalate, again. "Enough," He said sharply, his voice echoing slightly in the enclosed space. "We need to focus on getting this camp set up first and foremost."

Karen huffed, but she focused on smoothing out her bedroll. "Fine. But she's not helping with anything. She'll probably just make things worse."

Shae chuckled, sauntering over to Ezra's side as he unpacked a small portable stove. "You wound me, Karen. I'm great at making a little go a long way when it comes to food, you know." She smiled at Ezra, "I'll gladly volunteer for cooking duties."

Ezra didn't even look up, his tone dry. "The last thing I need is you poisoning us."

Shae placed a hand dramatically over her heart. "So much distrust. I'm hurt, Kassian."

Karen snorted, laying out her supplies in a neat row, but not saying anything this time, to Ezra's relief.

"Watches," Ezra said as he finished setting up the stove. "We'll need to rotate. Umbreon and Morrigan can take the first shift with me. Karen, you and your 'mon are next. Shae, you and yours can take the final watch." So I can be up and awake at the same time, he left unsaid.

Shae tilted her head, her smirk returning. "Oh, giving me the most sleep, are we? How kind of you."

Ezra glanced up at her, his expression cold. "Depending on your answers, things might change…"

Karen smirked faintly at that, while Shae chuckled, not looking overly worried, which did somewhat alleviate Ezra's thoughts. If he could believe anything she'd say anyway, he'd have to see what she'd claim.

As the stove began to heat, Ezra opened several canisters of soup and poured it into the pot. The savory smell wafted through the cavern soon enough, making Karen's Murkrow caw softly in anticipation. Ezra gave it a look, "Don't even try, I know Karen has food for you."

Murkrow lowered its head sadly, Karen giving it a scratch, and a quiet admonishment, "No begging, I've told you this…"

"Let me guess," Shae said, leaning over to peer into the pot. "Plain soup? No seasoning? How ~exciting."

Karen rolled her eyes, tossing her silver hair over her shoulder as she pulled out a packet of dried rations for her Pokemon. "You're welcome to eat whatever you brought." She said snidely.

Shae only chuckled, seemingly happy to just watch Ezra cook their dinner.

Finally, as they settled in to eat, Ezra set his bowl aside for a moment and reached into his backpack. Karen glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, looking right at him for the first time since his comment about her crush. "What are you doing?"

Ezra pulled out a tightly bound bundle of cloth and wraps, which wriggled faintly. "Letting out our guest."

Shae's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Oh, am I going to get to find out why your backpack has been acting out this entire time?"

"In front of her?" Karen complained, giving Shae the stink eye.

"She couldn't take us both even if she wanted, and we can't leave him in my backpack all the way to Cerulean." Ezra said plaintively, getting Karen to give him a reluctant agreeing nod.

Ezra untied the bundle, revealing the restrained Meowth. The talking Pokemon's eyes blazed with indignation as he struggled against the bindings. Ezra carefully removed the crude muzzle they'd fashioned. The moment it was off, Meowth launched into a tirade.

"Finally!" Meowth snapped, his voice nasal and grating. "I was startin' to think yous forgot about me!"

He paused for breath for just a moment, before immediately continuing, "Do yous have any idea how disgusting that muzzle was?" He snarled. "It smelled like a Muk's armpit! And these bindings - what are they, recycled Zubat wings treated to be extra itchy? And don't even get me started on that backpack! Cramped, dark, and reekin' of old socks! I'm a civilized Pokemon, not some wild Rattata!"

Ezra noticed that Shae didn't seem overly surprised at the talking Pokemon, making him frown, because she didn't look like she knew Meowth specifically, so she knows other talking Pokemon? He thought with interest.

Karen's lips twitched at Meowth's rant, finding some amusement in the Pokemon's complaints, even as she still seemed amazed that he could speak. "You're alive, aren't you?"

"Barely!" Meowth snapped. "And the way yous argue? Torture! Absolute torture! I'm starvin', dyin' of thirst, and forced to listen to you three go at it like a buncha Primeape in a fightin' ring!"

Ezra, unfazed, opened a container of Pokemon food and placed it in front of Meowth, having finished unbinding just one hand. "Here. Eat."

The Pokemon wasn't exactly wrong about the arguing, so he had no reason to fire back against him.

Meowth sniffed the food suspiciously before diving in, his complaints abruptly silenced as he chowed down with gusto.

Shae giggled, watching the scene with delight. "Things are always happening around you, Kassian! You really are…" She searched for the words for a moment, before smiling seemingly honestly, "So different."

Ezra eyed her contemplative, wondering if it was time to push for his answers. "So -"

Only for Karen to talk over him, her focus entirely on Meowth. "You'll have a great time with Lady Agatha," She said, her tone almost sweet. "She's one of the greatest Pokemon researchers in the League, even if not usually geared towards your typing. You'd be studied thoroughly, your abilities documented for future generations in a way that could revolutionize Pokemon relations and knowledge forever."

Meowth froze mid-bite, his eyes wide with horror. "Agatha? The ghost lady? No way! No how! I ain't goin' anywhere near her!" Meowth protested adamantly, casting his eyes around, looking for any escape routes.

Ezra smirked slyly, leaning back against the wall, seeing an opportunity. "Or… You could come with me. Sure, it'd be a research project, but you'd be one of the leads, not just a subject. You can speak for yourself, after all. And you'd have all the luxury you could want. Food, a proper bed, clean accommodations, ladies…"

Meowth looked a lot less flight prone at that, cocking his head with a gleam of interest in his eyes, even as Shae giggled and muttered, "Pimp." Under her breath.

Karen glared at him, her voice sharp as she got fired up. "You can't just poach him like that! He's evidence, and he belongs with the League!"

Ezra met her glare with a calm expression. "It's only fair the Pokemon gets to choose since he has even more agency than any other Pokemon due to his communication skills."

Meowth twitched in irritation, his tail lashing behind him. "I choose to go back to Jessie and James then!"

"Denied," Ezra and Karen said in unison, their voices firm.

When Ezra meant agency, he meant agency to choose his business. Not to go back to two bit criminal hacks.

Meowth groaned, slumping to the ground dramatically. "I hate all of yous."

Soon enough, the Pokemon had been watered and fed. Meowth packed up again, although left unmuzzled for now. He was still a flight risk so he wasn't allowed unbound, and got to spend the night in Ezra's backpack again.

With the diversion taken care of, both Karen and Ezra turned to Shae, who gave them a wan smile.

"Guess it's my turn huh? And I didn't even get the benefit of being all trussed up and helpless either?" She sighed, sitting down cross legged, expression turning slightly softer.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"No lies, no bullshit or disassembling. Full stop, tell me what you're up to, why you're after me, and everything even slightly connected to these things." Ezra said bluntly, sitting down across from her, Karen sitting at his right side.

Only known to Ezra, his Pokemon hiding in her shadows were ready to go into action at any time if needed.

Although it would take a lot, considering Karen was right there, but worst case he'd put her to sleep, and deal with Shae himself.

For the first time since they'd met her, Shae wasn't filling the silence with barbs or provocations. Instead, her voice came low and steady, carrying a hint of an emotion neither of them had heard from her before - vulnerability.

"I didn't start as much," She began, her fingers absently tracing patterns in the dust on the ground. "Less than dirt, really. Just another broken street rat, scrounging for scraps in whatever alley or dumpster I could find. No family. No friends. No future."

Karen snorted, muttering under her breath, "And here comes the sob story."

Shae's gaze flicked to Karen, her eyes sharp for just a moment before softening again. "Believe what you want," She said, her tone unusually restrained. "I'm not looking for pity. Just giving you the truth."

Ezra said nothing, his gaze remaining steady as Shae turned back to meet his gaze. Her voice grew quieter as she continued, the cavern amplifying every word.

"It was just one of those nights, you know? The kind where you wonder why you bother? Why you fight so hard just to see another day that's as miserable as the last." She gave a bitter smile. "That night, I didn't bother. Some gang decided I looked like a fun target, and, well… Let's just say they didn't leave much of me intact."

Karen shifted uncomfortably, her arms tightening around herself, but she didn't speak. Ezra's eyes narrowed, but his expression gave away nothing.

She was either telling her truth or she was the best liar he'd seen so far.

Shae let out a hollow laugh, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and bitterness. "I was left there, bleeding out in the middle of an alley. Cold. Alone. And for the first time, I didn't even care. I figured, that's it. That's the end of the great and mighty Shae, huh? What a joke."

Her fingers stilled in the dust, curling into a fist. "But then… Then I heard a voice. Clear as day. A voice despite there being no people in that alley. A voice that shouldn't have been there."

Karen scoffed, breaking the somber air with her sharp tone. "Let me guess, the voice told you you're special and destined for greatness, right?"

Ezra tilted his head, giving Karen a look, her interruptions were not needed, and if Shae was being truthful, was only going to make the girl feel bad later.

For all her temper, Karen was a surprisingly empathetic girl deep down.

Shae didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she met Karen's gaze, her expression unreadable. "It told me I had a greater fate," She said simply. "That I wasn't meant to die in that alley. That there was something I had to do - that I had a use."

Ezra leaned forward slightly, his voice cold but curious. "A Pokemon spoke to you." He guessed. Just from her reaction to Meowth.

Shae nodded, a faint, wistful smile on her lips. "Yeah. Not like the one in your bag, though. Older. Wiser. And a lot less annoying." Her gaze grew distant again. "It picked me up - dragged me, really - and brought me to this forest, into somewhere special. A place I didn't even know existed, that I still don't know how it exists."

Karen's skepticism deepened, her glare sharp. "And let me guess, the forest was full of magical people and talking Pokemon who all wanted to save the world?" She scoffed, ignoring Ezra's deepening glare, "It's the standard fairy tale, you're not even original!"

Shae chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Not quite magical. But there were others like me. Street rats. Runaways. People who didn't belong anywhere. And yeah, there were talking Pokemon, too. Not many, but enough to teach us. Guide us, together with Ma, and the elders."

"Guide you to what?" Ezra cut in, his tone demanding. "What does any of this have to do with me?"

Shae's smile faded, her gaze turning serious as she looked directly at him. "Everything."

Ezra's jaw tightened, but he didn't interrupt. Shae took a deep breath before continuing.

"They taught us about the Legendary who'd created the commune," She said, her voice reverent. "About the one protecting it, and sometimes… Testing it. And they told us about the One. The mythical person destined to stand at the center of it all when darkness would stand ascendant."

Karen rolled her eyes, her voice laced with disbelief. "This is a fairy tale. A cult fairy tale. And you're actually falling for this, Ezra?" She gestured at Shae, "She's in a cult!"

"I'm listening," Ezra corrected sharply, his gaze never leaving Shae. "Keep going."

No matter what Karen was saying, he believed Shae. That her emotions and reactions were not faked, nor were her words. And perhaps this was a clue to how he'd come to be in this world…

Shae nodded, grateful for the chance to continue. "We worshipped the Legendary who brought us together. Gave us food, shelter, purpose. But they never demanded much of anything from us. No sacrifices, no blind devotion, no dues or services. Just one thing."

She met Ezra's eyes, her voice steady. "To find and assist the One. To guide them, protect them, help them reach their destiny. That was all that was ever asked of us." She shrugged, "We weren't told much of the how and why, the myths are in generalities, but we know enough."

"And you think I'm this One?" Ezra's tone was curious, his expression unreadable.

Shae's smile returned, faint but confident. "I didn't at first. I wasn't sure. But the more I watched you, the more I saw it. The way you move. The way things happen around you - like you're a focal point. The way the shadows cling to you like they're alive." Her eyes gleamed. "You're not normal, Kassian. You've never been normal. And you know it."

Karen's voice cut through the air like a whip. "This is all bullshit! A sad little girl gets picked up by a cult, brainwashed into believing some fantasy, and now you think you're part of some grand destiny? You're pathetic, Shae!" She snapped, agitated from Ezra's easy acceptance, her head whipping back and forth between them.

"Ma took care of me, the old crazy bat… She made a broken girl wishing for death, grow up into someone who could enjoy life and do some good, have some worth." Shae said slowly, fists clenching, "Call it a cult, whatever you like, but they're good people. They save those who have nothing left."

Karen looked away first, grimacing.

Ezra leaned forward, "Tell me more about this group who's so sure I've got something to do with this mythical 'One' and this Legendary." He requested.

Shae opened her mouth, and the calm around them was shattered by a low rumble that echoed through the walls. Ezra, Karen, and Shae froze, their bodies tensing as they exchanged wary glances. The sound grew louder, the ground beneath them trembling slightly, and the faint patter of skittering claws followed behind it.

"Something's coming," Ezra said, his tone low and cold as he rose to his feet. His red eyes were sharp, scanning the cavern entrance.

Karen grabbed her Pokeballs, her expression tight as her silver hair glinted in the firelight. "A lot of somethings," She said grimly, three of her Pokemon already released in Sneasel, Weavile and Murkrow.

Shae's expression was replaced by a more serious one as she straightened, her Arbok uncoiling beside her with a low hiss. "Well, this should be fun," She muttered, though her voice lacked its usual levity.

The noise grew into a cacophony - rocks grinding, wings flapping, claws scraping against stone. Then, with an earsplitting screech, the first wave of Zubat poured into the cavern, a swirling cloud of leathery wings and piercing cries. Behind them came the thunderous rumble of Geodudes rolling in, followed by the heavier thuds of Gravelers and the earthen roar of an approaching Onix. Paras and Parasects skittered in next, their glowing mushrooms casting a glow over the rest, Sandshrews darted between their larger, more aggressive companions.

The sight made Karen hiss sharply. "It's a stampede," She snapped, her voice tight with anger. "Why are they all coming this way?" She quickly released her last three Pokemon, Honchkrow, Houndor and Houndoom.

"Does it matter?" Ezra bit out, already releasing the rest of his Pokemon as well to join Umbreon and Morrigan. His Annihilape, Akuma, stepped forward with a guttural growl, cracking his knuckles in anticipation, Alduin, Mimikyu and Dusclops all readying themselves. "We have to hold them here."

Shae released her Weezing and Croagunk, as well as releasing her other Pokemon, a Crobat, a Nidorina and a Muk, "I guess this makes us friends for the night after all," She quipped, though there was no humor in her tone.

Karen's Murkrow and Honchkrow flapped into the air with loud caws, her Houndoom and Houndor stepping forward to stand beside Sneasel and Weavile as the horde approached. "Don't get in my way," She said curtly to Shae before nodding at Ezra. "Let's do this."

The horde of wild Pokemon surged toward the trio, their combined cries and roars reverberating through the cavern. Ezra barked out his first command. "Umbreon, Flash as bright as you can, blind them! Morrigan, Dragon Breath on the Paras! Dusclops watch our flanks and snipe anyone trying to circle us. Alduin, Mimikyu, use Protect on your comrades, Akuma, make a defensive perimeter, don't stray from backup, but let loose!"

Umbreon unleashed a wave of pure bright light, the pulse rippling through the air and slamming into the oncoming horde. Dozens of Pokemon screeched as they stumbled and fell only to be trampled by those behind them, but more surged forward to take their place.

Morrigan hovered higher, releasing a stream of crackling blue flames that engulfed a cluster of Paras, forcing them back, Alduin's and Mimikyu's Protect shimmered in front of the group, blocking a couple Geodude's Rollouts with a loud crack even as Dusclops vanquished two sandshrews who'd circled around them with full powered dark pulses, elevated by Ezra's aura.

Akuma gleefully pounced on the Geodudes that had failed to get through, completely annihilating the Pokemon with his fists, shimmering with fighting energy.

Karen's commands were sharp and precise as her Pokemon were constantly moving in a circle around her, crushing anything that tried to make it through. Her Murkrow and Honchkrow fighting back against the cloud of Zubat, Ezra's Pokemon taking a few potshots when they got a moment free as well.

With Weavile, Houndor and Houndoom circling her in a tight ring and slicing, icing, or burning away all opposition, Karen snapped an order.

"Sneasel, Ice Shard on the Zubat, we can't let them overrun us!" Adding Sneasel into the mix of Pokemon keeping the fliers off them.

Sneasel darted forward, sharp shards of ice forming in its claws before being hurled at the Zubat. The ice struck true, sending several crashing to the ground. Houndoom decided to assist in a moment of peace, and opened its jaws, releasing a searing stream of fire that licked at the edges of the Zubat cloud, making them shriek and retreat slightly. Murkrow and Honchkrow took the chance and swooped up, their wings glowing as they slashed through the air, scattering the smaller Pokemon.

Shae wasn't idle either, her voice carrying a mix of irritation and steel as she rapid fire orders. "Pride, use Glare to slow them down! Envy, Sludge Bomb right in the middle, give them less room to move! Lust, assist them against the Zubats! Greed keep our six clear, Wrath, assist Envy."

Pride, her Arbok, glared, its eyes glowing ominously, freezing a group of Sandshrew in their tracks as they locked eyes with the serpent. Envy, her Weezing spewed a thick bomb of sludge that impacted the hordes center, impacting the sandshrews and a few Geodudes while poisoning the ground for those coming behind them in a thick purple sludge that forced the whole Horde to readjust even in their frenzy.

Lust, her Crobat zipped through the air with precision, its wings slicing through the cloud of Zubat and also firing down a mix of wind attacks and poison, striking several Sandshrew and Paras attempting to circumvent the poisoned ground.

Greed, her Croagunk, did as Akuma did, and took up position to smash down any Pokemon that squeezed through the many techniques that were constantly firing into the mess, while her Muk, Wrath, alternated firing more sludge into the group, and assisting Greed with targeted toxic spikes. Meanwhile her Nidorina mostly stayed by Shae, not likely equipped to do much against such a horde.

Yet for every Pokemon they pushed back, more surged forward, their numbers seemingly endless. The horde wasn't just attacking their position - it was relentless and mad, and the trio quickly realized they couldn't afford to waste a single move as more and more Pokemon slipped through.

"Hold the line!" Ezra barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Dusclops, Will-O-Wisp on the Onix! Akuma, Rage Fist on the Graveler coming in hot!"

Dusclops' hollow eyes glowed as it summoned ghostly blue flames that wreathed the approaching Onix. The massive Rock Snake let out a deafening roar as the flames bit into its body, slowing its charge - but more importantly, in its rush forward, the flames impacted the small army of paras riding along. Meanwhile, Akuma launched forward, his fists glowing with a fiery red aura. He slammed into the Graveler with a deafening crack, sending the rocky Pokemon reeling back.

Karen gritted her teeth, stepping closer to Ezra to consolidate their defenses. "Houndour, assist Sneasel's flank! Ember on the Paras trying to get through!" She turned to her Weavile, which had just returned to the fray after briefly covering Shae's back from a group of Geodudes. "Weavile, Ice Shard on the Gravelers!"

Houndour darted to the side, releasing small but fierce bursts of flame that scattered the advancing Paras. Weavile's claws gleamed with ice energy as it tore into the Graveler nearest to it, firing several ice shards that cracked it open, causing the Pokemon to stumble and lose its balance, crushing a sandshrew underneath it.

Shae, meanwhile, stood slightly apart, her face lit by the eerie glow of her Muk's body as it seemed to expand out. "Wrath, Acid Armor and spread yourself out! Greed, Poison Jab anything that gets close to the trainers!"

Muk shuddered before melting into a toxic puddle, spreading across the rocky floor and creating a treacherous barrier for the wild Pokemon trying to advance. Croagunk moved with surprising agility, its glowing fists jabbing at Paras and Sandshrew alike, forcing them back with each strike.

But the horde pressed on.

A Graveler barreled through Muk's toxic pool, its Rollout increasing in speed as it aimed directly for Karen's Houndoom. "Houndoom, Protect!" Karen shouted, her voice sharp. A shimmering barrier appeared in front of the Dark type just in time, stopping the Graveler in its tracks. Greed falling upon it immediately with vicious jabs.

Ezra noticed the Graveler's momentum had created an opening through the horde. "Umbreon, Dusclops, rapid pressure Shadow Balls! Focus the center!" They immediately began firing, scattering a cluster of Paras and Geodudes, leaving room for Shae to take advantage and she immediately took it, spreading the poison across the ground through her Weezing and further forcing the horde on the backfoot.

Meanwhile Akuma and Karen's Weavile tag teamed the Onix before it could crush them, the fighting attacks combined with Weavile's ice, bringing it down with a loud crash, crushing dozens of the horde at the same time.

Karen's Murkrow and Honchkrow worked in tandem above, keeping the swarm of Zubat at bay with a combination of Wing Attack and Dark Pulse. "Keep them off us!" She commanded. "I don't want those things getting near the others!"

They were managing, the Onix going down and the poison fields funneling the horde, but it could all go awry if the Zubat cloud got free reign.

Ezra caught Karen's eye for a brief moment. "You're doing great, keep it up," He said, before barking an order to Mimikyu, "Help against the flyers, Alduin, focus on protecting Mimikyu and Umbreon." Morrigan had already switched to targeting the flyers as Akuma cleaned up the area in front of them, the remaining horde for some reason not willing to get close.

Karen nodded tersely at Ezra's words. "You too. Don't let your guard down, it's not over."

Shae, however, smirked from her side of the line, her Crobat darting through the air like a whirling blade, cutting down Zubats by the dozen. "Aww, look at you two getting along," She teased, her voice lilting even as she called out commands to her Muk and Croagunk.

Wrath's amorphous form surged forward, its toxic barrier forcing the advancing Sandshrew to retreat. Greed darted behind it, landing precise Poison Jabs on any Pokemon that dared to cross the line as the horde began struggling.

The battle dragged on, the trainers and their Pokemon holding their ground with gritted teeth and sheer determination. Every time the wild Pokemon broke through, they were met with a barrage of attacks that pushed them back.

Wild Pokemon should have fled by now. But then nothing about this was normal.

Ezra growled in frustration as a Geodude rolled past Alduin's Protect and barreled toward him. "Dusclops, Shadow Punch! Now!"

Dusclops moved, its ghostly fist slamming into the Geodude with a force that sent it crashing into the cavern wall. Ezra exhaled sharply, glancing at Karen. "We need to thin them out faster."

Karen nodded, her eyes sharp as she assessed the battlefield. "Weavile, join Houndoom! Ice Beam and Flamethrower - aim for the Geodude formation, and the Parasects!"

The two Pokemon moved as one, their attacks striking the cluster of Geodudes and Parasects and forcing them into retreat as dozens fainted or worse. The fiery and icy blasts sent steam hissing through the air, creating another opening in the horde.

The tide of battle shifted slightly, the trio of trainers slowly gaining control over the chaos. The horde was relentless, but their combined efforts created a tenuous balance. Each trainer and their Pokemon worked tirelessly to hold the line, their exhaustion beginning to show in their movements.

Ezra's voice rang out again, steady despite the strain. "Morrigan, another Dragon Breath! Alduin, Dark Pulse to back her up!" The Deino no longer used for defense as they pushed to break the horde.

Morrigan released another wave of crackling blue flames, the attack washing over a group of advancing Sandshrew. Alduin followed up with a pulse of dark energy that scattered the survivors, buying the trainers a brief respite.

Karen wiped sweat from her brow, her voice firm as she called out to her Honchkrow. "Finish off those Zubat! Murkrow, cover Honchkrow's flank!"

The two dark and flying types dove together, their combined attacks finally bringing down the remains of the Zubat swarm.

Shae flashed Karen a grin. "Not bad for a League girl. Maybe there's hope for you yet."

Karen didn't dignify her with a response, focusing instead on directing her Houndoom and Houndor to block another surge of Paras and Parasects.

The battle continued, each moment feeling like an eternity as the trainers fought to hold their ground. Slowly but surely, the horde began to thin, the wild Pokemon finally showing signs of retreat, hundreds of corpses and fainted Pokemon littering the ground.

Ezra glanced at the others, his voice low but commanding. "Keep pushing. We've almost got them."

Karen nodded, her expression resolute. "Everyone, one more push! Let's end this!"

Shae's smirk returned, her confidence undiminished. "Gang, full out push, let's show them what we've got!"

With one final coordinated assault, the trio of trainers and their Pokemon broke through the horde's defenses. The remaining wild Pokemon scattered, their cries fading into the distance as they fled the cavern.

For a long moment, the only sound was the trainers' labored breathing and the faint rustle of their Pokemon settling into place. That and the haunting sound of dying or injured Pokemon and the sizzling of the poisonous fields as Pokemon slowly succumbed before them.

Ezra exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair as he surveyed the scene. "Well, that was... Something."

He had almost thought he'd have to reveal his shadow there for a moment.

Karen nodded, her expression tight as she recalled the most exhausted of her Pokemon. "We need to get moving. If there's another wave, we might not be so lucky."

Shae laughed lightly, leaning against a dead Graveler. "Oh, come on. You're not even going to say anything about how kickass we were? I think we made a pretty good team."

Ezra shot her a look, his red eyes sharp. "We're not done talking, but that doesn't make us friends yet." He warned her.

Shae smiled, looking pleased. "Ah, but I heard a yet there, so I'm on my way already, hmm?"

"We'll see."

----------------------------------------

A few minutes later,

The cavern's oppressive silence was the complete opposite of the chaos they had just endured, whatever noise the dying had been making had petered off, as they finished packing up their belongings.

Ezra was on edge still, his gaze sweeping over the scattered remains of the earlier battle - a field of dead and fainted Pokemon that would be an oddity in anything but a war or a major culling of the likes which the League had only ever been forced into a few times in their history.

Or so Karen had said, while looking out over the field with a somewhat haunted gaze. The teasing about her crush was old news now, the brutality they'd been forced to use not lingering with Ezra, but obviously affecting Karen.

He looked away from her, focusing on his team.

His Pokemon were tense, their breaths coming hard but steady as they reformed their ranks around him. Morrigan hovered protectively near his shoulder, her ghostly form flickering faintly. Akuma cracked his knuckles, his imposing Annihilape form emanating barely restrained fury as he still looked for opponents to test himself against. Alduin, Mimikyu and Umbreon were all underfoot, tight against his legs, while his Dusclops stood apart, seemingly unaffected.

"If Team Rocket set that off," Ezra muttered, his voice sharp, "I'm going to have some very angry words for them." He crouched briefly, checking on Alduin, the Deino snorting softly as he nudged Ezra's hand in reassurance. He somehow doubted it was them however. It didn't feel right.

Karen rolled her eyes as she surveyed the cavern, wiping grime from her gloves. "We all know you don't actually mean words, and I'll help extract the punishment," She said flatly, her tone determined. Her Sneasel and Weavile stood beside her, ready for any further surprises.

Shae stood a few feet away, her arms crossed and her expression thoughtful as she studied the wreckage. Her Crobat flitted overhead, scanning for any signs of lingering threats. "I don't think it was them," She said after a moment, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "They probably stopped whatever scheme, after the Rangers weren't taken down and called in reinforcements."

Ezra thought she was probably right. There hadn't been much of a point for Team Rocket to send a horde of wild Pokemon after them instead of simply trying to capture them, not to mention how hard gathering them up would have been to accomplish. At that point why not just capture the lot?

"To drive so many Pokémon into a frenzy…" He frowned deeply, the implications gnawing at him. "It would take more than those small-time tactics we saw earlier. And I can't think of any reason why they'd waste so much effort when the Rangers are already aware of their presence and would no doubt keep them from whatever real objective they have."

Unless this was meant to kill them.

A possibility. If Team Rocket knew how badly he'd spanked them, which from how he'd found out the League leaked like a sieve - was likely.

Karen scowled as she crossed her arms, her Sneasel pressing against her leg. "Then what else? A frenzy like this doesn't just happen." Her glare shifted toward Shae. "Unless you know something we don't."

Shae tilted her head, her lips curling into a smile that was almost amused. "A test, perhaps." She said simply, locking eyes with Ezra.

Ezra's scowl deepened, his red eyes narrowing into a glare. "If this was you…" He let the threat linger, his voice sharp enough to cut stone. Beside him, Akuma slammed his fists together, the sound echoing ominously. Ezra patted the Annihilape's shoulder to steady him, though his gaze never left Shae.

Shae held up her hands in mock surrender, though her expression remained calm. "Not exactly," She said. "I'm talking about what Legendaries are capable of, Ezra."

Karen threw up her hands, her voice laced with disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me." She gestured wildly at Shae, as if Ezra needed to understand something. You see this? Can you believe it? Her entire mien seemed to say.

Ezra's gut twisted as he processed the statement, a part of him suspecting she was telling the truth. "You know a lot about Legendaries, do you?" He asked, fishing for more information while his voice carried a dangerous undertone.

She'd began telling him before all this started, but hadn't had a chance to get into details as of yet.

Shae's wry smile widened. "I'm part of a... Let's call it a group, that worships one, remember, so yes."

Karen's expression darkened into one of pure incredulity. "I almost forgot she'd said it, but… She's in a cult. Burn it with fire, Ezra. It can't be saved."

Ezra rubbed his face, exhaustion creeping into his voice. "What, your cult believes a legendary Pokemon is testing me?"

"Yep!" Shae popped the 'P' with a maddening cheerfulness. "Not a cult by the way." She added, before continuing, ignoring Karen's scoff, "I wasn't sure at first, but I think it might be the case now. Our Myths speak of several tests of the 'One'."

"Fuck any Legendaries," Ezra snapped coldly, absolutely not having it. "I am in charge of my own destiny. I don't need any Pokemon to decide my fate. I don't care what you think you see."

Karen, emboldened by Ezra's words, turned on Shae with a triumphant smirk. "You tell her, Ezra. We don't need her or some stupid Legendary. Which, by the way, I don't believe for a second," She added venomously.

The ground beneath them trembled, the vibrations growing stronger until the entire cavern shook violently. All three of them were thrown off their feet, their Pokemon bracing themselves as the rock walls groaned ominously. As debris rained down, it sounded like the mountain itself was splitting apart, as rocks tore asunder and they couldn't even hear themselves think over the cacophony.

Shae's gaze shot to the roof of the cavern, as things settled down and the noise level lowered, beads of sweat forming on her brow. "I really hope that was a coincidence." She muttered.

Karen scoffed, steadying herself with a hand against the wall. "Stop the bullshit, Shae. This isn't some test or whatever you're claiming, earthquakes happen."

"Yeah?" Shae pointed toward the far end of the cavern, where the wall had been split wide open, torn through like tissue paper. "Tell that to that guy."

Ezra and Karen turned, their gazes locking on the massive figure filling up the entire back wall. A Rhyperior stood there, its towering form nearly scraping the cavern ceiling. It was unlike any Rhyperior Ezra had ever seen - Kanto didn't even have any yet, not any known one as far as he could tell - and it was taller than a Snorlax and rippling with an unnatural, feral energy.

Its eyes glowed a fiery red as it roared, the sound reverberating through the cavern like a shockwave. It clapped its massive hands together, creating a blast of air so powerful it knocked the trainers and their Pokemon to the ground again, the air whistling by them like they were caught in a wind tunnel.

"You were saying?" Shae snarked, brushing dirt off her sleeve as she scrambled to her feet. "Sure seems like something like a test to me! I've never even seen that Pokemon before!"

Karen snarled wordlessly, her frustration and disbelief written across her face. Her Weavile and Sneasel growled lowly, their hackles raised as they squared off against the colossal Pokemon.

Ezra didn't care about the hows or whys of the situation. All he knew was that he wasn't about to be bullied - not by a Legendary, not by a freakishly large Rhyperior, and certainly not by Shae's cryptic nonsense. His eyes blazed with determination as he pushed himself to his feet, his voice like steel as he declared his intention.

"Crush it!" He growled, his command snapping his team into action.

Akuma let out a battle cry, his fists glowing with energy as he charged forward. Umbreon flanked him, her eyes intent and pulsing with dark energy as she released a concentrated Dark Pulse aimed directly at the Rhyperior's head. His other Pokemon all fired over or around Akuma, as his Annihilape roared and slammed into the Rhyperior, fist glowing brightly.

Only to have the Rhyperior roar and smack Akuma back, a shimmer coming across its skin as it tanked the attacks, taking only cosmetic damage, Umbreon having to jump back with a a squeak as the Rhyperior slammed a foot down almost on top of her.

Karen didn't miss a beat. "Houndoom, Houndor, Flamethrower! Weavile, Sneasel, Ice Beam! Murkrow and Honchkrow, double Wing Attack - keep it occupied!"

The issue that rested at the back of their minds was the concern over how most of their Pokemon were already on their last legs. Shae being the only one who'd conserved energy by not tossing too many high energy attacks during the previous horde frenzy.

Karen's team responded with precision despite their exhaustion, each Pokemon releasing their respective attacks in a coordinated assault. Houndor and Houndoom's flames licked at the Rhyperior's armor-like hide, while Sneasel and Weavile's beams of frost struck its legs trying to freeze them in place. The Flying types dove in, their wings slicing through the air as they targeted the creature's face.

Shae joined the fray without hesitation. "Lust, Cross Poison! Pride, Wrap it up - go for its legs! Wrath, Acid Spray - keep it on defense!" Her mouth clicked shut as she was unable to order her other Pokemon forward, as the Rhyperior stomped once, and the earth rippled, before a large rock smacked her other Pokemon away, dazing them as they hit the wall, hard.

Her Crobat, Lust, zipped through the air, releasing a venomous strike that hit the Rhyperior's chest. Meanwhile Pride, her Arbok slithered forward, its powerful body coiling around one of the beast's legs in an attempt to immobilize it. Wrath, her Muk oozed across the ground, releasing a toxic spray that hissed against the Rhyperior's armor. At the same time, another round of attacks slammed into it from Ezra and Karen's Pokemon.

But the Rhyperior was unfazed. It roared again, slamming its massive fists into the ground and sending a shockwave rippling outward. The force knocked several Pokemon back, and cracks spiderwebbed across the cavern floor.

Ezra gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "Morrigan, Dragon Breath! Alduin, Dark Pulse! We have to keep hitting it - don't let up!" Nothing they were doing was doing anything, he felt a creeping dread begin to set in. He changed at Karen and Shae, wondering if he should reveal everything.

To his shock, Morrigan and Alduin pushed themselves so hard, they began shining brightly. They were evolving.

Which meant they weren't able to attack, as Akuma was slapped back, getting slammed into the earth so hard its legs and lower torso got stuck. Ezra was forced to divert his other Pokemon to help Akuma, hoping Karen and Shae could keep the Rhyperior from using any truly devastating attacks.

His eyes, even in the situation they were in, were drawn to Alduin and Morrigan.

Alduin's small, quadrupedal body started to elongate and expand. The black fur that once covered his head and neck receded, revealing two emerging heads, each with fierce, determined snarls. His limbs grew more robust, supporting his now larger frame. The transformation culminated in the evolution from Deino into Zweilous, and in any other situation he would have been thrilled.

Simultaneously, Morrigan's slender, spectral form began to shift. Her translucent body became more defined, and her head more triangular and solid. Her tail extended, becoming more substantial, and her eyes gleamed with a sharper, more focused light. She'd evolved into a Drakloak.

"Use that newfound energy! Charge up and let loose your strongest Shadow Balls, aim for the eyes!" He ordered the newly evolved Pokemon, even as Akuma was back on his feet again, but staggering in obvious exhaustion and injury.

Also while he'd been distracted, Karen and Shae had been unable to as much as put a dent in the Rhyperior, their Pokemon flagging.

Ezra growled, his focus entirely on the battle again. His team's relentless assault was starting to take its toll on the Rhyperior, as it averted its head with a pained roar, but it wasn't enough. The creature clapped again knocking the Pokemon back with a flash of wind, its fiery eyes locking onto Ezra specifically with a chilling intensity.

The massive Rhyperior then roared again, the sound reverberating off the stone walls and shaking loose chunks of rock. It stomped forward, its massive legs leaving craters in the cavern floor with each step. Ezra shouted commands to his Pokemon, his voice hoarse from the effort, while Karen and Shae flanked him, their teams throwing everything they had at the towering beast.

Shae's Muk oozed forward, releasing a sickly green cloud of toxic gas that began to fill the cavern. Combined with Crobat's Poison Fang and Weezing's Smog, the air was becoming nearly unbreathable. Ezra coughed sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Shae!" He barked, glaring at her across the battlefield. "Stop spraying poison everywhere! You're going to suffocate us before that thing even touches us!"

Shae whipped her head around, her eyes narrowing at him as her Croagunk leapt forward, narrowly dodging a falling stalactite. "Tying one hand behind my back isn't going to help!" She shot back, but her tone softened as she added, "Fine, fine. Wrath, pull back! Envy, Flamethrower - aim for its eyes, it's the weak spot, cover his vision!"

Ezra and Karen immediately understood what she was going for, and moved to continue the distraction as they moved towards the perfect opportunity to pierce the beast's eyes.

Karen's voice rose above the noise, sharp and commanding. "Weavile, Ice Beam! Sneasel, Quick Attack and fire Ice Shards into the joints! Houndoom, Flamethrower! Keep it pinned!" Her Pokemon darted around the Rhyperior with practiced precision, their attacks battering its rocky hide as they tried to distract it to allow someone, anyone to get a clean strike to its eyes.

Her other Pokemon had been returned, too weak to continue fighting, either from exhaustion or damage.

Ezra's team moved in tandem, but other than Morrigan and Alduin, they were all exhausted. He did his best to help them with his aura, but even that wasn't enough with the damage they were taking and the energy they were expending.

He was forced to recall Mimikyu and Dusclops as both took the brunt of one of Rhyperiors attacks as their attack was broken apart.

Just as they thought they had the opportunity, Rhyperiors vision blanked, and massive attacks hitting his torso and head, the Rhyperior retaliated, ending the opportunity.

With a deafening roar, the Rhyperior slammed both fists into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling through the cavern as the ground cratered. The force knocked several Pokemon off their feet violently, including Karen's Houndoom and Shae's Weezing, who crashed into the cavern walls with a sickening thud.

It didn't do much better to them, as both Ezra and Shae were now bleeding from their legs, several rends in their skin, Karen somehow getting off scot free from the large scale attack. Their Pokemon were now spread out, unable to quickly do the massed attacks that had kept the Rhyperior at bay so far.

They were in a bad situation.

"Houndoom, no!" Karen cried out, watching as her Pokemon struggled to stand. Her teeth bared in frustration, as she called it back to its Pokeball.

Shae's Crobat screeched in anger at the defeat of its comrade, diving toward the Rhyperior and slashing at its face with its wings. "Envy, get up! Stop being lazy! Greed, Poison Jab! Aim for its eyes!" Shae's commands were relentless, but the exhaustion in her voice was starting to show just as it showed in their Pokemon.

Ezra felt a pang of frustration as he watched the Rhyperior shrug off their attacks. His own Pokemon were on their last legs as well. "Come back together!" He ordered them, halfway pondering a retreat as the only way forward.

If the thing would let them go.

The Rhyperior roared again, swiping at Morrigan and catching her with a glancing blow. The Drakloak cried out as she spiraled through the air, landing near Ezra and fainting on impact, dust and dirt kicking up.

The Rhyperior shouldn't be able to so easily handle Ghost Pokemon, but like everything else in this situation, it was working against them in an unfair way.

Ezra cursed under his breath, recalling her to her Pokeball. "Damn it!" His hand tightened around the ball before he turned his focus back to the battle. "Akuma, keep it distracted! Alduin, help Karen's team!"

The cavern shook again as the Rhyperior stomped forward, its glowing red eyes locking onto Karen's Houndour. The smaller Pokemon let out a desperate howl before being knocked aside by a massive crushing sweep. It didn't get back up. Ezra averted his eyes with a grimace.

The red light of the Pokeball return mechanism failed, the Rhyperior roaring in victory.

Karen's face twisted in fury and grief as she tried again and again to recall her lost Pokemon. "You're going to pay for that!" She snarled, her voice shaking with emotion. "Sneasel, Slash - go for its throat!"

Shae's Arbok lunged forward, sinking its fangs into the Rhyperior's leg, but it was thrown off by a violent kick, crashing into the cavern wall with a pained hiss.

"Pride, no!" Shae shouted, her confident facade cracking for the first time. She clenched her fists, her teeth grinding audibly. "We're not done yet! Lust, Supersonic! Wrath, screw the surroundings, Sludge Bomb then toxic!"

Her attacks didn't even get a chance to go off, the Rhyperior making the earth move again, throwing her Pokemon off, her Crobat missing it's own attack due to needing to dodge debris.

Ezra's mind raced as the battle raged on. They were losing ground. One by one, their Pokemon were falling, and the Rhyperior showed no signs of stopping. Its hide was cracked and bleeding in places, but it still stood tall, its glowing eyes filled with an almost malevolent fury.

"We need to hit it with everything we have at one point," Ezra said, his voice low and urgent. "All at once. No holding back, go for the throat!"

Karen nodded, her expression grim. "Agreed. We're running out of options, and this thing needs to die!"

Shae wiped blood from a cut on her cheek, her eyes blazing with determination. "Fine by me. Let's end this."

The three trainers barked out commands in unison, their voices overlapping as their remaining Pokemon rallied for one final assault. "Alduin, Dragon Pulse! Akuma, Close Combat! Umbreon, Dark Pulse!"

"Weavile, Ice Beam! Sneasel, Slash!"

"Lust, Cross Poison! Wrath, Sludge Bomb! Sloth, Poison Sting! Greed, Bullet Punch, Envy, Flamethrower!"

The combined attacks collided with the Rhyperior in a blinding explosion of light and energy. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the cavern, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and debris that obscured the battlefield. Rocks crumbled from the ceiling, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.

Ezra shielded his face with his arm, his heart pounding in his chest. The air was thick with dust, making it impossible to see. For a brief moment, silence filled the cavern, broken only by the sound of falling rocks and the labored breaths of their Pokemon.

"That had to have worked," Ezra muttered, his voice strained as he peered into the haze. His shadows stirred around him, instinctively pooling at his feet. He clenched his fists, readying himself for the worst. If the choice was life or death, he would choose life - even if it meant revealing everything.

The dust began to settle, and Ezra's eyes widened in horror as a massive shape emerged from the cloud. The Rhyperior was still standing. Its hide was battered and cracked around its throat and face, bleeding from multiple wounds, but its glowing eyes burned brighter than ever. With a guttural roar, it charged forward, its massive flat hand aimed directly at Ezra.

He didn't have time to react. The shadows beneath him surged upward, but they wouldn't reach him in time. His body tensed as he braced for the impact, knowing he wouldn't make it.

That his shadows and all he'd done wasn't enough.

"Not him!" Shae's voice rang out sharply, desperately.

Before Ezra could process what happened, Shae shoulder-tackled him with all her strength, knocking him out of the way. Time seemed to slow as he stumbled backward, his eyes locked on the scene unfolding before him. The Rhyperior's hand collided with Shae, slamming her into the cavern wall with a sickening crunch. The force of the blow cratered the rock, and blood and viscera splattered across the stone as the wall caved in completely, thankfully hiding the sight from view.

"Shae!" Ezra shouted, his voice raw with shock and disbelief. Why? Did she believe in this bullshit that much!?

Her Pokemon erupted into a frenzy, their cries of rage and anguish filling the cavern. Crobat screeched as it dive-bombed the Rhyperior, its wings slashing with deadly precision. Muk and Nidorina unleashed everything they had, their attacks wild and frenzied, her Weezing beginning to glow the bright light of self destruction even as her Arbok cried to the ceiling, before launching itself forward.

Karen grabbed Ezra by the collar, dragging him back as the poisonous gases began to fill the cavern as Shae's pokemon went full tilt. "We need to go!" She shouted, her voice trembling with urgency and rage.

Ezra grimaced, his chest tight with a mix of fury and helplessness. He cast one last glance at the scene - the raging battle, the bloodstained wall, Shae had been crushed through. "Her Pokemon will give us the time we need," He agreed bitterly, his voice heavy with guilt and hatred.

He didn't see Shae as one of his, she hadn't even been a friend. But she'd saved his life. And it would be a debt he couldn't ever get rid off, because she was gone.

The foolish girl saved him because of a story. A myth. Throwing everything away because of some Legendary.

If he were to ever repay her… It would be by finding the Legendary she had believed so much in, and making it regret playing with humans' fates.

Ezra's heart burned with anger as he glanced back at the Rhyperior. He would be back one day. And he would kill that thing.

And if this really was some challenge from a Legendary?

He clenched his fists, his red eyes gleaming with defiance.

He would kill that too.

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