(ACE) The OLIVINE Team

Much like a cold wind would steal what little heat you had as you froze in the north, the appearance of the Ludicolo stole what little hope the Jolteon clung to. The foul creature lumbered into sight, laughing not unlike the pure evil antagonist in a fictional tale. This monster was much the same, taking pure ecstasy in the suffering its company brought and what it would surely bring.

Even if the fight was in vain, Rebel would do his namesake and battle until the bitter end.
The Jolteon took one stride forward. Only one, before the pitiful voice of his sibling drew him back. Her whining had been constant and pushed to the back of his mind, assuming she was being overly dramatic as she tended to be. But when he cast his red eye over the Eevee, hunched over and wailing, the fury he had towards the ones keeping them here disappeared, but only for a moment.

“Hurts,” she repeated. Only when the Jolteon inspected the kit did he realize her front leg was bent where she had no joint. The ulna had snapped and was protruding underneath her skin, an obvious result of their rough landing. Guilt immediately swept over Rebel, imagining his form tangled with hers the reason she was now crippled. “Your leg is broken,” Rebel said. The statement was as obvious as the sky was blue, but it was all that would fall from his mouth.

Everything seemed to stop in those moments. The sounds of battle flooded their ears but were unintelligible beyond noise. It seemed like the kit’s death was set in stone now— all she had was her light feet and natural escaping ability, and without it, especially here, she was little more than prey. “Stay out of the way, don’t draw attention to yourself,” Rebel instructed. “Pretend you’re dead if you have to.”

The kit’s clenched jaw fell open, her wet eyes staring at the mutilated face of her guardian. “No! Please don’t,” she pleaded. “Don’t leave me.” The Jolteon became deaf to her voice by his own choosing, turning away from the frightened Eevee to rejoin the fight. After all, if she wanted to live, he had to fight.

The pair lay in a miserable heap with stars dancing in their eyes. The Medicham's second impact had tossed Mel away too, but Etin had been too stunned to move from her incoming body. The crash was like some sort of cruel deja vu, and instead of defending themselves they were bundled together in a mass of matted fur, breathless and in pain. Etincelle wheezed as he dragged himself from beneath Mel's soft pelt. She whined as he did so, some sort of indicator of a broken rib or bruise of some sort. When that had happened earlier it hurt, but now the Electrike limped his way forward. I think I wrenched my shoulder. He had taken too much of a beating to really take much more. But we don't have the luxury of complaining.

Tugging Mel's scruff to get her back to her paws the pair stood shakily as they shook the stars away. What had happened? When Etin's pink eyes locked on to each shape of his friends he was shocked to find the terrible conditions spreading. They are outnumbered.. but we're severely outmatch. No one was being spared, not even Arry, and Etincelle's blood stared to boil at the mere sight. As he struggled forward through his own pain a paw was placed firmly on his back, and Mel puffed, "..This is bad." There was a whimper to her voice, and Etin could see that her ears were stiff and flicking too and fro like mad at each individual sound. Her free paws worked the ground anxiously and tails jerked as the mental visual became too much.

Beneath the whines the fox tried her best to rationalize, and ask the serious question of, "What are we gonna do?" Silence befell Etin's muzzle as he looked between her and fighting Pokemon. We can't just stand here. He still had the strength to fight! And if something happened.. Taking in a deep breathe the hound clambered onto Melanie's shoulders while taking the utmost care to protect his own and mind any wounds she had. Nudging her cheek with his own he pointed the fox's head to the side to direct her closer to the game board. "We have to help, somehow." The Dusknoir had peaked back out of the wall and was watching, cackling even, as the Ludicolo attacked their teammates. With one last adjustment Etin pulled his head back and barked, "Flamethrower, right there!" and the stream of fire came without a second thought.

Too caught up in its torturous fun the ghost wasn't expecting a second fire type and the flames billowed across its fat grey body. It roared in agony, 'falling' from the sky to a much more manageable height. "Charge it, Mel!" He instructed while jumping to the floor. His shoulder screamed, aching and need a rest but he could not give it one. Fighting back the pain he ran alongside the gal and panted, "Five strides, then give it another one!" Digging his pads into the moist floor the hound hopped to the side as sparks littered his fur. They spun, creating long arcs of electricity that wrapped into coils before flying forward. The Dusknoir flew out a hand as if ready to deflect a projectile but the Thunderwave paid it to mind. The archs jolted through its corporeal skin and sunk before resurfacing like dorsal fins in the ocean.

Mel counted in her head and on the second stride after the crackling of Etin's attack she opened her maw and shot a hard, flaming ball. The room was filled with the hisses and bangs of attacks but she still managed to catch the disgruntled noise the ghost made before her Flame Burst struck it and exploded.

Amber screamed, the sound shrill and reverberating as she raced at the Ludicolo. All her senses were on fire, telling her to deliver a killing blow regardless of the methods leading up to it. The infected Pokemon staggered away from her as it had found more fun in the flickering fire type, but Amber did not slow her roll. Electricity shrouded her pelt and without breaking her stride she shot the Thunderbolt ahead of her with a harsh hiss. Having not given her a moment of thought the dual type wasn't expecting a second assault. The zap arched through its tattered fur and the creature started to shake. After a few moments the attack faded, and its staggered moments turned 360 to come back at her.

Both disease ridden Pokemon yowled, a contest of wills ending with an Ice Beam racing at a Signal Beam. The bright colors met in the center, bursting and pulsing with with energy that had no place to go. The Ice Beam froze on contact, showering the floor with ice fragments and creating a frozen sheet on the wet floor. Amber roared, eyes going wide as she forced and pushed as much as should could. The Signal Beam thickened, glow brightening with strength as it overtook the other and raced at the Ludicolo. In a shower of light and hair it sliced through the infected's side, and it yelled, "Oh yeaaahhh!"

Cinder wheezed, her sodden fur was heavy and uncomfortable as she coughed and spluttered water. Gods. Her paws were shaking, forcing her to stay on the ground as the onslaught of water slowly trailed away to join the rest of the filthy floor. As if it wasn't bad enough. But then, why was the Luxray fighting with the infected of all the possible Pokemon? Wasn't the Medicham a tastier option, or was it just type advantage telling it to?

Rolling onto her side the Quilava took in a gasping breath and curled into a loose ball. Something hurt, bad. A broken rib, several? She wheezed again, practically wailing as the pain increased. Was she really about to be subdued by so little? Pressing her elbow into the floor the fire type tried to stand, but more painful wheezes kept her where she was. I'm cant. Self loathing swamped her as the furious hisses of the lynx rattled her eardrums, but despite the howls and wails of combat, it was Miyu's small voice that took her attention.

Turning her head, and noticing a pain in one of her cheeks, Cinder looked as best she could in the Eevee's direction. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that allowed her eyes to notice the awkward angle of her leg, or the swelling that seemed to start beneath her fur, but she could tell even from a distance something was wrong. It sank like a stone in her stomach; that tumble she had watched and done nothing about. Her friends were hurt, bad. She needed to help, she had to do something..! But each attempt to stand only resulted in more choking pain in her chest, and black splotches appearing over her vision. I'm useless.


Faux refused to stay down. Fury billowed in her inner flame, making it roar and swell as smoke and embers toppled from her throat. She may have had a sharp tongue but something about the way the Medicham said those things in front of Arry, something about her tone and forcefulness completely rubbed her the wrong way. "How dare you," she huffed as her eyes took on a dark, shimmery glow. But even as the Medicham sauntered over to her Faux could tell it was distracted, which was odd as her prep was not that subtle. It's dark eyes kept darting away and coming back with a cringe as she looked off at the Ludicolo that was practically euphoric as it took damage.

Taking the opportunity Faux shot her Confuse Ray forward, and while distracted the fighter was no fool. It's fist glowed with an attack, but changing priorities she barely sidled past the shimmering spheres and hopped back. "Hollo, is he a good idea?" She asked the Dusknoir while clapping her palms together. Debris floated above her spot, and the fox narrowly escaped the impact of the Psyshock. Behind the motion of the rubble Faux could barely spot the tainted yellow fur of Rebel. It was strange, she thought, that right now she could trust an undead more these living Pokemon, but now really wasn't the time for such philosophy. "Rebel!" She barked, "Keep this bitch busy." Additional words like 'help' or 'off the kids' would take too long, and the curt order should be clear enough as she scurried further away from the impact site.

Rebel’s limbs were heavy but every bound that didn’t reach the Medicham renewed the burning rage consuming his being. "Rebel!" Through the crashing of debris and splashing of pooled blood-water, Rebel acknowledged the voice as Faux and sought her out with his glowing red eye. "Keep this bitch busy."

“Got it,” he affirmed, quickening his pace for the Fighting-type. Whether or not there was a plan or what it consisted of was irrelevant - he was always shoot first and ask questions later, today being no different.
As the tiny shape taking shelter in the weakening Protect registered in his mind as Arry, his mind began functioning on something like autopilot— a Discharge leapt at the Medicham as he closed in, all construct of a regulated battle gone. No, as he went after the Fighting-type with a barrage of fangs and claws, he was more akin to a rabid dog fighting to the death.

His attacks had no set course or rhythm, relying solely on overwhelming the Medicham with an unpredictable assault. He did not try to down the creature, his goal for the moment just to keep her focus.
Every time the Medicham avoided his teeth, he would relentlessly snap again for the plush flesh while charging another blast of electricity.

“Damn you!” The Medicham twisted around to deliver a roundhouse kick to the furious fox. Her foot connected with Rebel, even for that brief instant he continued thrashing and reaching for meat to sink his teeth into.

He started making his way up once again, ignoring the throbbing pain and his stolen breath to the best of his ability. Rebel was just to his feet when an ice-blue orb whizzed by him, chilling his fur as it did so. The Hidden Power smacked into the Medicham, forming small ice crystals on her skin but doing little more than catching her attention.

It wasn't the attack he'd ask for, but hell he wouldn't complain. Dodging the small flames that showered around them Etincelle scrabbled at the wall until he could sink his fangs into the dangling tail of the ghost. Crunching down hard the ghost yelped, just as shocked as the hound that was making contact. Flailing and smashing the wall, the Dusknoir would freeze under the paralysis before continuing. Try as it might to grab the hound his bulbous body would not allow for it to reach. It grunted and struggled, bumping the wall as it shook to remove the nuisance. Hearing the commotion made pinpointing easy, and through unspoken words the Ninetales was able to spit another Flame Burst just above the ghost.

Though it missed the splash was enough to make the Dusknoir throw a hand up as it fell to the floor. Releasing his grasp the Electrike writhed his way out from beneath the ghost, again shocked by the weight of its corporeal form. "You insolent..!" It grunted while an element started to coat one fist. Mel charged, not knowing the coming danger, and while Etin barked a warning it was too late. Using the second hand as leverage the Dusknoir threw the Thunder Punch at the sprinting, growling fox.

Crashing straight into her jaw the fox yelped as her legs went limp. With a heavy lurch the ghost freed its other hand to grab the fox's neck, and with a strong grasp he started to raise into the air once more. Beneath its grasp the Ninetales couldn't breathe, her windpipe too constricted to even choke out a word.
"Melanie!" Etin exclaimed, horror dancing in his eyes as he watched her struggling fail. The Medicham said something far behind him but the words fell on deaf ears. The ghost was watching him maliciously, as through wondering how much he would sacrifice. "There is no choice."

Faux saved him just in time before he was about to take a devastating blow from the Medicham. Now though the fight was getting to intense and all sense of bravery was draining away from him as another fighter came in to make things worse. Everyone was occupied, but when he seen Cinder hurt he was afraid of what would happen to her if she didn't see someone to make her feel better. Everything was horrible. The Medicham, The Dusknoir, even the Ludicolo which is fighting Amber. Nothing was escaping Arry's mouth as things gotten more worse by the second. Inside his own head he heard his own voice in fear of everything that was happening. Cinder, Faux, Mel, Etin, Amber, Miyu, Rebel. They're all getting hurt because I'm so weak. I-I can't do this. They're gonna....gonna..... The fear had made itself visible for everyone to see. Arry was no fighter and he was surrounded by those who seen more action than he has in their whole life. "Keep this bitch busy." Nothing he was able to do would help anyone. Not even a single friend like Miyu would be safe from the things that makes Arry so afraid. The Aron was hyperventilating due to being so scared. Something then snapped him back to reality in the form of a voice. “Got it,” Rebel? Though he wasn't in the best condition he wasn't backing down. Hit after hit, Rebel kept going trying to protect them from the Medicham.

The Medicham was angered by Rebel's assault “Damn you!” It seems Arry was able to start following its movements now as if it was getting worn out. It wouldn't be long before Rebel bit his mark. However, before the next attack happened a ball of ice hits the medicham as it flies off before making impact into the wall. Then Melanie and Etin was keeping the ghost busy until it was getting angered by them as well. "You insolent..!" After that Melanie was hit by the Dusknoir which in turn made Arry shocked. How, how could he hurt someone who was still amongst the living and protecting everyone else. What kind of monster is he to hurt a female with malice intent? "Melanie!" Soon everything around Arry started fading out as if the ones that mattered had been a different color and the ones that was causing harm was blood red. The Aron got up and his eyes was different. As if a soul had wiggled its way into him and took control. All of it, everyone, every object; it was all an obstacle. "You had no choice? They're my friends and you said you have no choice!?" Arry was far beyond nettled. Rage had built up in him once again and this time it was adding adrenaline into his bloodstream. The Dusknoir seemed unmoved by Arry's words as it was dust in the wind. "Go play with your toy kid. I've no time for your banter" Not a wise choice of words for one who angered a child. The medicham on the other hand seen something the Dusknoir was ignoring. "No you don't! Back off kid or I'll put you in bed for good!" Arry ignored her. He was still coming and nothing was going to stop him from helping his friends. Because of the adrenaline in his bloodstream he was aware of each small detail of what they was doing. "You don't scare me anymore, I will never forgive you for what you did to my friends!" Arry was rearing for a fight to protect Cinder and Melanie.

Saliva strings flung from her teeth as Amber roared. Why did it not fall? Why was it charging her? Crouching, Amber leapt clean over its coming punch and dug her Thunder Fang back into its hat. The electricity arced and hissed across its water type body, and the pair spun around as though in some strange dance. "You wanna go? You WANT'A gagagoooo?!" Even to her its words made no sense. How could it even speak with the pulsing blood of a life and death situation in its nonexistent ears? With the thought of the hunt and primal feeding? That it would soon be prey for a higher part of the food chain? They kept twisting until her fangs slipped free and the cat was cast aside. Fresh blood stained her muzzle, rich and thick as she licked it off. How she missed it...! How she wanted to feed. Pushing off her back paws Amber lunged with her claws wide and extended, but the Ludicolo was ready.

It hopped and bounced, like some sort of funky dance move, and dodged each lunge with the utmost ease. Blinded, the cat kept at it as the fury built up. This creature was toying with her. As she landed she drew her paws near, and with another warning roar short powerful beams of electricity at the creature. Its dance moves quickened, having it leap past one beam and then the next before finally being hit and succumbing. Falling to its knees the thing was stiff, a perfect opportunity! But the cat was cautious; all her instincts told her this was when a creature was most desperate, and she approached slowly with a slow growl rumbling in her throat.

With Rebel firmly and relentlessly keeping her attention Faux took the chance to sear the Medicham with short burst Flamethrowers. Her throat was chafing, itching beneath the overuse of her fire power but there was no chance to stop. Tomorrow, she would need Rawst berries. Tomorrow she would be fired out. Tomorrow would only come is she did this now.

With careful aim she would hit the fighting type in places the Jolteon was not; a leg one point, then the shoulder, square in the back, a foot. Her shots were not super powerful or quick drawn, but the additional damage was quickly adding up on the Medicham as it fought off the seething undead. Burns and blisters started to dot its backside while blood drippled off her front like the spray from a waterfall. When Faux finally felt she was making progress shiny ice spheres hurtled their way forward and scattered across its tattered skin. Miyu! Looking at the kit Faux was grateful she had been ignored by the other two Pokemon. Did they still have enough honor to leave downed opponents alone?

Her thought went unanswered. The Dusknoir responded to his friend with a stone cold, "There is no choice." His sinful voice forced her eyes to turn, and an audible gasp came from her maw as she saw the larger fox being held by her throat. "Melanie!" She called out, ready to put all her fire power into a saving burst, but someone else was faster. Electricity flew across the room, splashing and smashing against the wall the ghost and fox hovered in front of. Rebel was with her, and Etin bounced desperately below the pair, meaning...

Her eyes darted to the source, and Faux was shocked to see the beams were were coming from Amber. They were no more than missed shots from her own target, but they now had a new purpose. A crash like thunder could be heard on each impact, and when one finally hit the Dusknoir she tensed up for Mel's release.

It did not come. The ghost cringed, grasping tighter before recovering and chucking the fox across the room like a stone. It was like watching a ragdoll, and worse, he had aimed right at the brawling infected. "Samba, new toy." What? Was that the lack of a 'choice'? That they needed fresh prey to feed their lost friend? Faux's inner flame burned, swelling with rage. This was no test, no challenge; it was a search for someone strong enough to keep the infected entertained. "This wont help him," she growled, knowing too well all chances for reasoning were gone. "It'll just make him worse!"


Cinder gasped, finally feeling her breath return to her. If she could breathe, if she could move, she could fight. But she dare not stand as Thunderbolts soared overhead. Even when they stopped, even when Mel had been tossed her body would not move. Before her gold eyes the game board flashed, having taken damage from the attacks without anyones notice. There were too many other things to watch after all, but from her position the weasel couldn't really look away.

Its patterns flashed and blinked erratically, more lights breaking and dribbling sparks as they pulsated. The center portions were marred with burns and breaks, making the panels blink symbols instead of of rotate them. What had she done to the thing? Smoke wafted up from a broken light. Did that mean they wouldn't have to deal with anyone of that random shit..? Struggling to her paws Cinder didn't dare think on it anymore. She swayed, very unstable despite her low center of gravity. She had to help, somehow.

((Skip. I think another post from these two would be pushing the realism of their abilities. Rebel is winded and Miyu struggles with her broken leg.))

Alarm bells screamed in Melanie's head as the Dusknoir gripped so tight she could not draw in air. Her paws flailed, desperately trying to catch the ghost and make him release her but they felt nothing no matter where she swatted. The struggled decreased, her mind slowing from lack of oxygen, when finally the pressure was released from her throat. For a half second she could breath, thinking of nothing else but the sweet inhale, but by the time it had concluded the panic was back. Her body was moving alarmingly fast, soaring through the air for an unknown distance before crashing hard into the ground like a stone. And, unfortunately, the air was forced out of her once more.

Etincelle stared in horror, and while normally his first instinct would have been make sure she was okay a blind fury swamped his thoughts. The Dusknoir not only strangled her but threw a blind Pokemon across the room with no warning?! His head turned to see her, moving, alive, and once that registered he turned back to the Pokemon above him. "How could you," he seethed, taking a couple of stiff steps back. "To her?!" Giving himself enough spaces for two strides Etincelle bound forward and leaped at the ghost, finally gaining the height necessary to sink his teeth into its voluminous body.

But he wasn't about to stop there. Between his fangs and claws the Electrike climbed up the ghost as it grunted in pain. The electrical arcs of his Thunderwave were still in effect, and while the guy would have certainly grabbed at him the paralysis kept him stiff. Making it all the way to his shoulders like some sort of parrot instinct told him to go for the throat, but his prey did not really have one. "She's blind," he spat in a half-hushed tone between his teeth. "and you removed touch?" The dangling was bad enough, but throwing her at something she couldn't even see? Curling his claws deep into its corporeal flesh Etincelle launched his maw into the ghost's forehead. An angry Spark crossed over his fur as he bite into the ghost and managed to draw blood, and the electricity had no choice but to sink into the being around him.

With another agonized groan the Dusknoir struggled and attempted to move back into the wall. "You should have taken better care of your pet." Hollo whispered ever so softly, annoyed that his body refused to sink into the solid surface. Instead, he turned, and crushed Etin between himself and the game board. A loud yelp could be heard beneath the bubbling blood as a broken lightbulb's jagged edges were jammed into his side, but he was too angry to stop now. More electricity swamped his pelt as the pain grew worse, and the distortion on the blood increased as it passed through the filament.

Melanie had managed to get to her feet and regain some simbalance of normal breath. Where was she, relatively speaking? The floor was wet but she couldn't tell which way she had slide. She was too far from the walls, and while she could hear her friends fighting there was a definite distance between them now. Whatever was fighting next to her, it wasn't anything she wanted to be near. The sick growling and quick-paced steps of something fighting practically next to her was enough to make the fox crouch and back up. The sound got closer, but her name was never spoken. It didn't stop, and the spook was enough for her to spit a defense, small Flame Burst at whatever it was.

Arry was now only acting on instinct and everyone's voice was blocked out from his hearing. The medicham blocking his way to the Dusknoir had also been muffled out by the fight of flight that was happening. The Aron continued to move closer as if he was going to stop this once and for all. The Medicham attacked trying to knock Arry unconscious however Arry countered with protect causing the attack to be parried. This left an opening to use tackle and like so Arry did. It didn't do much, but it was enough to knock some of the wind out of her with his own weight. "How dare you...you little brat. Just wait till I...get back up." Soon though Arry's adrenaline ran out as he returned to normal. "Huh? How did I get over here? Did I do that?" He was quite confused as it felt like a blackout. After that he realized what was going on again but this time he seen the Dusknoir fighting with Etin. Arry's body wouldn't listen to him this time as it was to tired to keep moving. "She's blind," Even though his teeth was muffling it somewhat he was in hearing range. "and you removed touch?" Arry tried to move towards Etin though he couldn't stand because of being exhausted. The Ghost couldn't go into the walls to hide out of sight however what he seen next was enough to dishearten him further that something horrible is going to happen. "You should have taken better care of your pet." Etin was hit against the big screen and tears started swelling up in Arry's eyes. "I don't wanna die here. Mommy, Daddy. I'm so scared." His body locked up completely gripped in fear.

The Medicham then laughed at Arry. She was still recovering from the blow, but overall wasn't able to make her approach to him. "Aww, out of gas already? Stupid kid. You're a coward and you always will be." The Aron started to cry from the words. How could another pokemon be so cruel to kids. Soon he closed his eyes and a memory of when his parents got him out of danger by getting him away from the undead. They told him that one day he'll be brave and when the day comes that he'll need to help those looking after him. Arry's eyes opened back up and he started to get back up. There was no way the bad guys are going to win and his movements was slow at first then he eventually started going back to full speed. A look to the right there was a downed box with a super potion sticking out of it. The Aron got ahold of the bottle with his teeth and seen Cinder still hurt. Once he brought it over he moved it close to Cinder to help her. "Cinder, will this help you feel better?" Hopefully Cinder is able to use it or if Arry needed to help her use it. Though true what the Medicham said that he was a dumb kid, but he'll learn someday, but even so, he'll get over his fears.

In her peripheral Amber could see the shower of sparks and electricity that was coming from the far wall. It was strange, she remembered nothing of her birthplace. Not the land or its weather, nor the Pokemon and terrain. As she approached the Ludicolo something felt, oddly at peace. Like this was how it was supposed to be when she hunted, bright and alive with electricity. But something was missing. Distractions, barriers, things for her flawless sight to pierce and cause her prey utter terror upon discovery. Oh yes, that would be divine.

But her hunt would have to continue without such luxuries. Clicking her teeth until they sparked with electricity Amber approached with caution. The Ludicolo lay prone, its water and fist skills useless unless it got upright, but she knew too well how fast it could be already. Placing a paw heavily on the stem of its hat she pressed until she could hear the cracking of the fibrous material. Her good eye widened as she opened her maw, ready to sink her fangs in a killing blow to its ungodly thick neck, when something flew past her eye and crashed far behind her. With a quick turn Amber was ready for a new opponent, but the distraction was just enough for the infected to reach out and grab her legs from beneath her.

Twisting, he brought her down with little effort and crashed a heavy Drain Punch into her ribs. An audible snap could be heard as the bones broke beneath the weight, a distressing noise to any creature, and Amber struggled despite the rapid lose of energy. Kicking and writhing she escaped its grasp onto to lunge back with her Thunder Fang, and while she got a good rip on its arm the Ludicolo was not ready to submit thanks to its stolen energy supply. It showered leaves all around her, slicing off fur and flesh but it only sought to make her more angry. Why would it not submit?!

The brawling turned to a scuffle as the pair rolled across the floor, one gaining power over the other as they moved. Suddenly, their squabbling came to a sudden end as a faint whimper cuffed beneath their yowling. Amber had forgotten the thing that distracted her, but now she could see it was a being from earlier moments before a rush of flames erupted around her. She hissed, breaking free of her prey to escape the fire. The Flame Burst struggled, snuffed as it rolled and broke. The balls hissed and bellowed as they evaporated the water on the floor and created steam columns, but the fire fought and remained alive around the flailing cat. Roaring, she slashed at the air, frightened by this thing she was too familiar with. Hisses of hatred came from her dripping maw, and like a frightened animal she shot more Thunder Bolts around her in a futile defense from the flames.

Trying to keep her eyes focused Cinder could see Mel wasn't seriously injured. Or at least she could assume so since she stood up immediately. The infected beasts were still going at it, their brawl not interrupted by the new competitor. Was this her chance to take out the Ludicolo? Taking one step forward Cinder felt her chest crumple inward, and as the air was forced from her lungs her chest fumped the few inches to the floor. Inside, her flames were burning, roaring, scalding with desperation that translated to external, bright hot flames. She could fight, she knew she could! But she couldn't get herself going...

Wheezing, the starter resigned herself to having to attack from her spot. All she could do was give a well aimed, well timed, high risk shot. No biggie, right...? Yeah, right. The inhale alone was enough to nearly choke her with smoke. Pushing onto her elbows Cinder refused to back down, but the fire would not come up. Clouds of smoke billowed from the corners of her mouth until she started to cough, and any idea of a 'last attempt' went up with it. Goddammit.. A Captain, a leader, all she was was a pathetic failure. The few inches she had managed fell away as her jaw hit the floor. Would she really have to accept doing nothing more than sitting by..?

"Cinder, will this help you feel better?" Arry's voice was very sudden in her storm cloud of thoughts. She had been so focused, so intent on her own actions she hadn't even heard the child's steps, let alone see him find the item clenched in his teeth. "Is that-?" She rasped, cutting herself off as her gold eyes widened and reflected the orange bottle. "Yes, yes it will!" She spoke hurriedly, shifting so she could take the bottle in her paws. Cinder groaned as the squeeze tab refused to move in. No matter how hard she squeezed the handle was jammed in some way and the spray refused to come out. Fire burned in the weasel's eyes; she would not back down. Taking the plastic top in her jaw she bite and tore until it popped off, the glass bottom breaking partially in the process.

Ignoring any sharp bits Cinder tilted it back and chucked what she could of the remaining liquid. It was horrifically bitter, and she knew it was not meant to be ingested this way, but she had little choice. Besides, her pain was mostly inside anyway. Fighting past the urge to gag the starter could feel said pain starting to reside, and finally a clarity returned to her head. Standing on even footing the Quilava's fire died back to a normal level, but her body no longer felt like it would quit at any moment. "Thank you Arry," she breathed easily on a relived sigh. "I owe you one big time."

Positioning herself between Arry and the fighting undead Cinder was completely prepared to jump back into the fray. Her toes spread and legs tensed up, she could fight! But, her eyes fell away from the cat and rested on child. He showed so much bravery to put her first, and now she had to do the same. Taking a step back she smiled at the steel type before looking off toward the ball of brown fur that hadn't moved in a while. "Were there any more of those potions?" She asked, trying to keep her voice calm. "I think Miyu could use some help too."

They would be safer as a group, right? If Miyu was critical Rebel wouldn't have left her, right? The Quilava swallowed roughly, disappointed in herself for not watching out for her teammates. Sure, it was everyones responsibility, but she hadn't even tried. With hurried steps she bound for the Eevee and could only hope for the best. "Miyu!" She called out just loud enough to get her attention but hopefully no one elses. When she was close enough to give her a once over the Quilava winced at the only thing that seemed out of place. 'Are you alright' seemed like such a pointless question, so she opted for, "Can you move?"

Melanie did her best not to whimper as the enraged grunts changed. They were no longer in response to one another but the flames she could hear crackling from her own creation. Backing up with unsteady steps the large fox tried to get her bearings but those closest to her drowned any tell tale voices. Amber's calls were the loudest, and the sounds of electrical sparking was enough to set her fur on end. The Luxray was attacking but no matter where she hopped to the Ninetales did not feel safe. Her paws skid across the wet floor, bumping and stumbling across bodies from their previous kills. Her stomach twisted into knots, she wanted to be sick, but she kept running and darting in some hopeless attempt to regain composure.

Moisture soaked into the fur around her pads in a way that was not like water. In her minds eye Melanie could see redness saturating her paws, a torrent of blood that splashed onto her legs with each step. Panic pulsed through her veins like her roaring blood. Were they losing, was this battle lost? Quickening her pace the fox was positive she was being chased, that at any second fangs or fists would be driven into her pelt, but what she felt was so much harder.

With a loud thud Mel crashed into a wall, her only saving grace being the slight angle that protected her neck. Pain and confusion hit her in an instant, throwing her paws up until she was no more than a heap of blonde fur. A pathetic whimper squealed from her jaws. Had something just broken within her? It was hard to tell beneath the overwhelming sense of fight-or-flight. There was pain, but nothing she could pinpoint. She tried to stand but her legs refused, keeping her rooted to the spot she had fallen. Was this it? Struggling and fighting the fox just could not get up.
Dread and hopelessness rushed in, choking her burning lungs. She couldn't run anymore. Submission weighed down on her like a fallen tree, and just when she thought there was no hope left a familiar smell brushed her snout with intense freshness. "Faux..?" She croaked, ready for it to be a trick and pain to come.


Blood was welling down Etincelle's flank and dripping off his toes. The sensation was disturbingly noticeable, butt he hound could do nothing about it as the ghost pressed him harder into the game board. It was odd, a spirit being so physical, but he couldn't marvel in such thoughts right now as his lungs were screaming for an unhindered inhale. Pushing all he could into his Spark Etin threw his neck to bite into the specters skin. It groaned, reaching for him with uncooperative muscles that froze and threatened with all the stimuli. "You little-" He cursed, but the thought couldn't even be finished before his voice locked as well.

Dark splotches and panic filled Etin's mind as his blood oxygen level decreased rapidly. He was going to pass out, he was about to be completely vulnerable. Terror pulsed through his weakening body, making it flail and fight in some final effort to survive. Sparks flew all around him, making the board go crazy with irritating, distressing sounds that only made things worse. The electrical crackling was so intense the Electrike was shocked with himself. He couldn't be doing it all..?

Suddenly, by some miracle the Dusknoir fell away from the wall. It let out a wail of pain as Etincelle fell to the ground. Fluttering his pink eyes open he drew in a lasting breath and let his mind come back to life. Turning his gaze about the room he could see now the Luxray was going crazy again, and its random shots had stuck all around him and his opponent. Huffing, the small electric type was not about to thank the creature for its mistake, but he would not pass up the opportunity. Getting back to his paws his eyes scoured the ground for anything he could use to bolster his horrible normal set.

OoC)) Skip for now, I"ll edit this as soon as I get home from work.

They were everything. A rising wall of fire, a demonic incantation of a forest of flames. The cat roared a sound so shrill it was more of a screech as her perception of the dying flames transformed into that of an inferno. They were trying to kill her. Stamping in place and bucking her paws as she spun Amber hissed and spat, her electricity flying wildly like Zubats in a swarm. ..Why? Physical pain seemed to creep from inside her muscles as her body remembered the pain and beatings of her youth. Was this place, were these creatures trying to recreate that torment?

The cat's vision went red. She would not return to that. Throwing her forepaws down with might the lynx roared at the flames, and with a clenched jaw she bolted through them with no fear. Though she saw a wildfire the fleeting Flame Burst barely had any might, and only one or two strands of her fur got even remotely singed. She stood proud, but her face was that of fury and not pride. Her gaze swept the room, and luckily for the other Pokemon her mind determined them to be too far away to go after, unlike her original target. The Ludicolo was struggling; its soiled hairs were tinged black from flames and missing from her stray electricity. There would be no more games.

Stepping forward as smoothly as possible the Luxray broke into a run, charging the Ludicolo before it had a chance to recover. It blundered backward, throwing up a defensive fist that the cat was prepared for. Parrying to the side Amber crunched down on the dancer's wrist and yanked hard enough to pull it off balance. Electricty pulsed through her teeth and the thing gave a bellowing yelp. It did not struggle, but managed to turn enough to shoot an Ice Beam toward her. Aiming was not a really needed as the cat was so close the Beam landed on multiple areas without even trying. Breaking free Amber hissed as her bad leg refused to bend, frozen stiff, and ice hung off her fur, but the damage was done. Going in for seconds she could see the awkward angle of the dual types hand and knew she would not lose to it.

Faux stumbled forward as all her instincts yelled at her to help Melanie. The larger, younger fox had stood up but she would clearly be disorientated. Moving her muzzle close to the ground the Vulpix spat a Flamethrower toward the undead and hoped they would clear out. The Ludicolo dodged after a quick singeing and the Luxray followed without acknowledgement, but they hardly moved away from Mel. With a growl Faux kept hobbling, prepared to do whatever she could, but then a godsforsaken sensation shot through her body. With a firm, relentless grasp something grab onto her tails and pulled. "It's rude to ignore your opponent." The Medicham said, clearly ignoring all taboo of grabbing a -fox's tails.

A blind rage shrouded her thoughts, how dare she, and Faux whipped around to bite like a savage animal, but Ayja was ready. Pulling her arm up the flailing fox clawed and bit at nothing but air. Flames came up without a second thought at her itching throat, but the Medicham just twisted and turned her to point her maw away. Growling like a beast the Vulpix wished for the first time that she had evolved and could lay a curse on this brute, but that thought was short-lived as the fighter let out a sort chuckle. "That's more like it." The Medicham said, spinning hard in place with a leg stuck out. Releasing the fox right as her leg came around there was no chance she could dodge the Low Kick and the force easy thrust her against the wall in the same place it had before.

Faux gasped, hardly able to breathe as pain radiated in her chest. "Faux..?" She could hear Mel's voice, close and safe. Daring to shift her head in her crumpled up position the fox looked through squeezed eyes to see Mel had made it to her after all. Had her flames guided her? Tucking her paws in Faux whined as a sharp pain stabbed her chest. "Are you alright?" She wheezed, ignoring the cracked rib as best she could. Gritting her teeth she managed to stand, but the effort exhausting. "Do you have any fire left?" She asked tensely. "Or anything to bring this chick down."

Miyu pressed her tiny, soaked form close to the floor. There were moments she would have to sink her little fangs into the liquidy heap of fur around her neck. The pain in her leg was the worst physical ailment she’d ever endured, and she had to choke back a mouthful of water from her fur to suppress a small, not-unchildlike whimper.

She tried to block out the horrors around her. Breathe. Just breathe. She focused on her breaths, in a hopeless effort to ride out the agony in her leg until she could move again. She could hobble, right? She couldn’t have been the first Pokémon to get a broken leg in the epidemic.
And then she saw Melanie. She was oblivious to Mel moments prior being lifted in the air like a rag doll, but the Eevee watched only for an instant the sightless Ninetales bounding and crashing harshly into the solid wall. Miyu’s hind legs dug into the floor and she propelled herself forwards, raising her fore-quarters with her good leg.

As she came down on her front legs, it became suddenly real how hard it was going to be to do… anything. The pain was arguably worse now than ever before, and her small body collided with the floor and she rolled once, her butt-end diagonally crossing her shoulder leading to the broken leg.
"Miyu!" The ever-comforting voice of her Quilava companion met her ears and brought an instant ease to her. She was by no means calm, or okay in any sense, but the dread she was about to be mauled apart by a straggler was soothed as Cinder reached her. "Can you move?"

The Eevee’s face was pressed into the floor in defeat and she shook her head negative. It wasn’t completely true but she was firmly gripped by defeat. What good is limping in a world where monsters can run, fly and swim? The leg was contorted in such a way her pawpads were facing upwards, but she didn’t dare look at it. “I don’t want to struggle anymore…”

---

“Etincelle!” Rebel yowled. His body seemed to soar with every long bound towards the game board where the Electrike was, held prisoner by the Dusknoir. Etin was struggling to the end like a true warrior, while the Jolteon wracked his brain for a way to assist. Every shadow ball he tried to form became a defective fizzle of useless energy. Goddamnit!
Suddenly the board went wild, sending deafening sounds and buckets of blinding sparks out graciously.

Etincelle dropped, free from the ghostly grip. The canine was scanning the room frantically as the Jolteon made the final bound to his side. “Fuck, that scared me,” Rebel wheezed, breathless. “You good?”

Faux's scent was warm with the air of life and flames. It drenched over Mel's senses and comforted her, and only the sound of her voice could do more so. "Are you alright?" She said immediately, not hung up on the events prior. Mel's lips pursed, a cringe forcing her words to hesitate as she heard the pain in the smaller fox's voice. For someone so stoic and resolute it was almost nauseating to hear agony squeeze through her normally solid voice. The smell of blood permeated the entire room, making it impossible to tell how much stained Faux's pelt, but Mel could sense the hairs starting to mat much like her own fur.

"I, I think I twisted my paw." The words were flat on her tongue, lacking confidence as she lay slouched on the floor. Or broke my leg. The limb refused to hold her weight but as it trembled from the slightest motion Mel could not be sure what the extent of the damage was. Regardless, she was not at risk of keeling over, and with that satisfaction Faux was quick to return to the matters at hand. "Do you have any fire left? Or anything to bring this chick down." With a rough swallow Mel shook her head. Etin had guided more than enough fire from her gut, but that last panicked blast she gave had been too much. Coughing up a pathetic cloud of smoke the large fox pawed at the tiled floor. It was cracked here, damaged from shrapnel and impacts from the Medicham and had the potential to be dug through, but as she shifted her weight and twinged from her bum leg she knew that was a pipe dream.

"A slow, weak tunnel, maybe a small Flame Burst." Though that was all she could manage saying it aloud really made it sound pitiful. Struggling, wheezing, and suppressing any whines Mel pressed her frame against the wall as she tried to stand once more. Her body was stiff, legs trembling, but she started to scratch at the ground and mentally prepare herself to Dig if she had to.


Air was a fantastic thing. With shaky breaths Etin padded along the wall and searched with eyes that refused to stay in focus. He was only moving a few inches at a time, his head spinning and feeling heavy. Blood welled from his wound, and the glass in it bite back with each movement he made. What was he doing? What was he looking for? His legs shook, willing him to lay down and rest, but instead he forced himself to take a few more steps before resting his cheek against the wall. His paws felt cold. Were they touching something, or just doing that themselves?

“Etincelle!” Rebel's voice was a clear beacon inside his fuzzy hellhole. Turning his head seemed to take forever, and by the time it had moved and his eyes focused the Jolteon had made it up to him. That final burst must have been something as the spiky Pokemon seemed rattled while acknowledging it. A tentative grin spread across his maw, the small hound's thoughts barely getting past gratitude for his presence. “You good?”

That smile stayed but his vision refused to hold. The spiky Pokemon turned to no more than a blur of similar colors before him that only sharpened slightly when he blinked. "Y-eah." He said breathless, but the word was hardly an answer as he pressed his cheek even harder against the wall. Any self concern was gone as his thoughts slowed as another grunt came from the ghost above. Tilling his head back Etin could barely see that the Dusknoir was slouching, faint electrical burns on his corporeal body as he hung limply above them. The blast must have done a great deal to stop its rampage, and his Thunderwave was still holding firm for now.

But as nice as that should have felt Etin's gaze was drifting away from the threat to the more interesting board behind it. He couldn't see it before when he was pinned, but now he could see its condition was rapidly deteriorating. Several more lights had broken and showered sparks while the panels showed blacked out spaces, dead, white pixels, and jittery images as it tried to stay functional. Arcs of electricity jumped across it randomly much like his Thunderwave, and Etin shifted to get a better look. A paw slipped beneath him, making the Electrike slump onto his chest, but it brought his eyes to what he had touched before. Copper.. coil? The spiral was all out of wack, broken and mangled as it was ejected from the board, but it gave him an idea that slowly connected within his mind.

Gripping it in his teeth Etincelle looked back at Rebel with new intent in his unfocused pink eyes. "Can you jam this.. in the board?" Speaking a full sentence was agonizing but he managed to get it out. He was too small, too short and fucked to do it, but if Rebel could just get it there.. We could end this.

Arry was happy seeing Cinder had got back up and ready to fight again. However Miyu was hurt as well as Etin. There had to be some more potions around. "I think Miyu could use some help too." The Aron just hoped that the Medicham hasn't got back up. He ran back to the knocked over box where he found the potion and just before he was to try to bite ahold of the flap, the Medicham put her foot right in front of him. Yet she was holding onto her chest and breathing heavier. "You damned little brat....thanks to you, I have broken ribs." Her movements was a lot slower with what he did. Arry began backing up against the wall trying to avoid getting pummeled by this mad pokemon. With his options slim he ran away from the injured pokemon with her giving up her pursuit. He then hid for a bit behind something until it was safe. The Aron then went back to the box and bit ahold of the box again forcing it open with each tug until two normal potions fell out. “I don’t want to struggle anymore…” Hearing that, Arry tried to get the potion to her as fast as he could, but he couldn't get a hold of it due to the bubble wrap around it.

It was getting a little more quiet, but there was plenty of danger still. Each attempt of trying to grab ahold of the potion ended with it just falling out of his mouth before he could lift his head. This time he needed some help. "Cinder! I can't get the thing! It keeps falling out!" At one point he wanted to cry because of the bubble wrap. That was until he pushed it on its side seeing that the wrap made it roll. So he rolled the potion over to Cinder and Miyu for Cinder to give to Miyu. Then he ran back to get the other one over as well. Etin would need one as it is. In all hope Arry felt like a brave boy for once, but fighting still had its scary side which still scares him. Now he had to just be brave a little while longer before this was over. Seeing Miyu's paw twisted to where it was not facing where it should made him a little scared she was hurt worse than he thought. Still, he would rather be helpful than crying and frightened. "Is Miyu gonna be okay Cinder?" Arry said as he brought the last of the two potions over. The Aron then thought that Mel, Amber, Rebel and Faux would need something as well, but could he even get the other four potions out if they was tightly packed inside? Though he weighs quite a bit, Arry wasn't sure if he could do it. Then the Aron asked Cinder something. "Am, am I a brave boy?" Honestly he felt like it, but fear still had its way of creeping up on him when he least expects it.

There was blood oozing onto the floor. Dark blood, full of disease as it poured viciously from the Ludicolo's new wounds. It smelled sourly of rot, perhaps more so than it did iron, but Amber did not care; its presence spoke well of her battle. She panted, her battered body struggling to maintain this primal combat. The ice creaked and whined as she walked, refusing to bend as her leg fluttered in an attempt to walk normally. "Tsk--AAaaamh." The dual type gasped, a failed 'damn' or something as its good elbow dug into the ground. Its red eyes were blazing, a fury alike to her own bright in the spheres as they watched her approach. It coughed a red cloud, its Ice Beam failing as blood started to pool in its lungs. I am the alpha.

Saliva strings, greyish and dark with her own rotten blood dripped from her teeth. She was so close to the Ludicolo she could smell its mattered hair, its skin, its fear. It was struggling too move, as if petrified by the situation. The floor was quickly running red from its mangled wrist, and the limb shook as pain and shock filled its host. Lifting her bad, frozen leg Amber placed it down upon the hairy body of her prey and growled as it batted her away. "You.. cur!" It gasped, clearly fighting with itself as its desperately fought to do something. Now, she could see one of its stubby legs was at an awkward angle, possibly dislocated or something from one of its falls. The reality of its living status was catching up to it, and pain had finally brought it down.

It gagged up blood, the internal damage being the worst of it. Amber felt her lips drawing back in some sort of grin, good eye going wide. It was defenseless. Writhing like a Caterpie caught in a spiderweb the Ludicolo struggled, kicking at the cat with pathetically short legs and shaking its hat until a shower of leafs flew out and raced toward the cat. The growling intensified as Amber was forced to look away, protecting her eye as the leaves scoured further scratches across her pelt. She had seen this before, she had felt this before, and with a massive roar the lynx slashed her claws forward and felt hair rip beneath them. The Ludicolo screamed, agonized as blood welled form beneath its coat. The Razor Leaf finally stopped, and with nothing to stop her the cat finally had her chance.

Stepping forward she spoke as no more than a whisper, "Retribution." In a sudden lunge sank her fangs into its managed wrist as shook wildly. Its bones cracked, snapping and stabbing into the surrounding muscles as she tore them apart. Blood spurted into her mouth, slathering her tongue in a last she constantly longed for. "Deliverance!" A red mist coated her mind, and with a hard jerk she felt her morsel come free of its host.

Faux couldn't tell if Mel's voice was small or if it was being blocked by the sound of her own breathing within her head. "A slow, weak tunnel, maybe a small Flame Burst." Each breath was a gasp, a hard exhale compared to the shallow inhale that came with a sharp gasp of pain. Get it together. She'd been through this before, but damn, did it not get easier. "Okay," she huffed, shifting one paw before stumbling and clenching her teeth as pain shot through her chest. "It's something." Arry's distraction was enough to slow the Medicham, hindering her moments even further as she skulked up to the foxes. Faux could only hope it was also enough to keep her from hearing Mel's response.

Raising her tail's Faux roused her inner flame for anything she could muster. It fought, and she could feel the heat spreading throughout her core in the most uncomfortable way. Smoke billowed from her maw in a horrid cough, and as pain gripped her chest the fox thought she would go down. Luckily, her paws held true, fighting the agony as she stared down the Medicham. She wasn't in any better shape; scratches and burns littered her skin. Blood ticked down her arm from the grievous wounds she had personally caused, and the fox wondered how much more she could take as well. Her body had taken quite the beating, and physical attacks probably only made it worse.
Faux couldn't agree more.

As smoke continued to trail from her maw she knew she had do something else. Running, or anything close range would be a death sentence. Using Mel's last blast now would waste their trump card. If they could even call it that.. Faux could feel her heart beat quicken as the Medicham came even closer, and as the only plan she could think of the fox let her eyes take on a glow. Straining her mind she could feel the power and distortion of her Extrasensory just in front of the Medicham that eyed her wearily. Just as she was about to snap her power a pain tightened her chest and forced a harsh wheeze out. With her focus broken the psychic attack popped prematurely, sending a shock wave outward instead of the focused damaged she wanted. The dual type stumbled, but other than an irritation upon her face seemed otherwise unscathed. With a narrowed gaze, however, she seemed to take the idea to heart.

Faux felt each hair along her pelt crawl as the Medicham clapped her hands together and let the same sort of glow coat her eyes. The ground shook, and debris all over from prior impacts began to shudder. Curling her claws Faux thought fast, and barked, "Mel, Dig, now!" They were sitting Duckletts for the Psyshock, but if they could buy some time--


Cinder's eyes went forward and back between Miyu's face and leg. What could she do, where could she go? Guilt clouded her mind at cursing her own injuries and using healing supplies without a second thought. She needs it more than I did. Would a Potion even help a bone in this condition...? Arry's wails dared to pull her eyes away but Miyu's voice was so pitiful. “I don’t want to struggle anymore…” The corners of her lips puckered as Cinder's face twisted with pity. "I'm here." She comforted her softly with the only words she could think of. "You're safe with me." Her heart lurched in her chest, pained by the poor girl's plight. Would she even be able to keep her safe?

Looking stiffly at the fighting Pokemon Cinder was able to sigh with some comfort, "Thankfully it looks like everyone's too tied up to bother us." Were they winning? Their was blood on everyones pelts and limps abound. This is nothing like the Empoleon. If they managed to win, or at least come out of this, would they even survive..? That fear had to be pushed away as Arry bound up to her with another miracle being pushed before him. "Thank you, Arry." She breathed, gratefully for his fortitude and help as she tore at the plastic with strong claws. It fell to pieces in her paws, and with a last rip Cinder had the vile clamped firmly in her paws for spraying.

With a deep, calming breath she inched closer to the kit's bad leg. Suppressing a wince she forced a smile, and spoke gently, "this might sting on something like this," before offering a moment to mentally prepare. After another breath she squeezed, letting the spray free and hopefully some sort of relief. When it died back she could only hope it offered some support like it had her. "Is Miyu gonna be okay Cinder?" Arry's voice practically snuck up on her, but the question was enough to make her fur stand on end. "Of course she is," she responded quickly, refusing to consider anything otherwise. "I know she will be." Again, that thought from before came back. If we make it out.. will we be whole? Will we survive?

Doubt pulled her gaze away from her friend. This had been her idea, and now look at them. Even if they got out and by some miracle were all healed and healthy, they had gone through this pain, and that wouldn't be forgotten. The stress and torment.. it was the stuff that would be remembered in nightmares. "Am, am I a brave boy?" Lifting her eyes up from the floor Cinder looked at the steel type with her mouth slightly agape. Despite it all their youngest was trying his very hardest. He wasn't sulking in the bog of doubt. "The bravest." She cheered with a grin, feeling her own spirit lift.

It was as she lay in the blood tainted puddle consuming the entire floor the Eevee truly realized how tiny and fragile she was. It was a miracle the kit wasn’t one of the first to fall to the infection but now she would barely be able to stand on her own feet and the terror rattled her to the core. A chill consumed her being and she could never remember being this cold.
"I'm here." Cinder’s voice was a glimmer of light in the dark void she found herself mentally trapping herself in. "You're safe with me."

Her thousand-yard stare disappeared, replaced with the alert gaze she had before this hellish nightmare began. The awful anxiety gripping her moments prior lost its hold, if only for a moment and she took a breath without the weight bearing down on her shoulders.
The Quilava’s eyes gazed over the battlefield. "Thankfully it looks like everyone's too tied up to bother us."
“These Pokémon are worse than undead,” she murmured. “At least most of them are driven by instinct… these guys want us to suffer. How horrible…”

Her laments trailed off as the sounds of boxes toppling over filled the air. Her eyes scanned out of instinct, making sure nothing targeted her Aron friend making the noise while he struggled with… something. A few moments passed before the youngster was rushing over in their direction, frantically nudging an item over.
"Thank you, Arry." Cinder said, reaching to tear open the packaging of what was now clearly a Potion. The Quilava gripped the medicine in her cream colored paws and aimed the nozzle at Miyu’s twisted leg. The sight of it like that still made her queasy, like watching intently as a needle pierced your skin. "this might sting on something like this," Cinder warned. She nodded, clenching her teeth in case it really stung. The medicine started saturating her leg with a quiet psssshhhhhhhh sound. True to the Quilava’s word, it stung that leg very mildly for a brief moment before the pain melted away. The stinging faded away and took the excruciating ache with it. The agony she gritted through and was replaced with a gentle numbness that she praised the Legends for. She even thought her leg might’ve been healed, but upon inspection, it remained in its broken state. But she would not complain. She was nothing but grateful to Cinder and Arry for relieving her suffering.

She let out a heavy breath and rested her chin on the paw of her good leg. Just… relief. She would never take for granted again being able to stretch out pain-free.
"Is Miyu gonna be okay Cinder?"
Her eyes snapped open at Arry’s question. Not in shock, but concern she might’ve led her young companion to believe she had passed.
"Of course she is," Cinder responded with zero hesitation, "I know she will be."
“Yup,” the kit added, “don’t tell anyone, but I’m a superhero.” She joked, hoping to lighten up the situation a bit.

---

"Y-eah." The canine was clearly seeing stars from that explosive situation but the Jolteon was grateful he was still in one piece. Both males stared up at the Dusknoir, visibly fucked up by electrical explosion and hanging like a big sack of shit. If looks could kill, then the single eyed, go-to-hell glare the Jolteon gave the ghost would’ve solved their problems.

Rebel turned his attention to Etincelle as the canine began to speak. "Can you jam this.. in the board?" Reb stared at the copper coil quizzically, but he was in no position to make questions. Hell, the hound might’ve had the best idea since light bulbs, and Rebel would be thrilled to ruin these asshats’ day.
“Fuck. Yes. It would be a pleasure,” Rebel agreed, voice dripping with evermore malice than even the virus gave him. He gripped the cold copper in his mouth, tasting ever so slightly like the blood his undead body craved, and leapt into action.

There was a pause before Faux answered. It was small and possibly unintentional as the small fox wheezed beside her, but Mel picked it up nonetheless. "Okay. It's something.  Faux's words made her heart sink. The fox was not one to console but her attempt to reduce panic had fallen flat as the severity of the situation became clear. She needed my backup. Or anyones really. She wasn't crucial enough to be that selected partner, just the fool who wandered by when one was needed. A shaky breath rattled her chest and made her paws shake as Mel's ears shot straight up and pinpointed a noise. The sound was soft, buried beneath the noise pollution, but Mel could hear the beaten and uneven steps of the approaching Medicham. Faux really needed that back up.

The hum of focused energy buzzed in her ears and made every hair on her pelt stand up. Fuck. It popped very suddenly, sending the fox's belly to the floor as fear shot throughout her muscles. There was no pain, but the sound was followed by another psychic noise and the rough shuffling of things across the floor. Fear was quickly replaced with panic. Mel could only imagine it but she knew something was coming. They were about to be finished off by some sort of blast or strike or-- "Mel, Dig, now!" Faux roared at her, forcing the fox out of her own head and her paws to start working. The floor had been damaged here, the tile and metal chewed up at the surface. Her Dig wasn't a miracle worker, but sitting by wasn't an option.

Memories of the back room flooded up from her memory and forced her paws forward through boards and other construction that lay beneath the surface of the floor. Pain shot through her legs like ants, hidden beneath the instance since of urgency and panic but too strong to be fully ignored. Biting it back the fox pushed, feeling her body sink down into the floor as the hole grew. It twisted, forming a tunnel, giving her a flat bottom as her jelly legs slide along with her flailing paws. The scene of Amber replayed in her head; the waiting, the listening, and the strike as close as she could.
This was different. Her location on the Medicham had been skewed and the alarm going through her had only made it worse. Should she bother rushing upward? What if she missed her target, or the fighter dodged? They'd be dead in close range. With nothing but adrenaline carrying her the fox kept moving. Her bum leg hit something hard, metal or machinery of some sort, and she squealed loudly as pain shot through her leg. Tears bubbled up under her eyelids and she bucked only to hit the roof of her tunnel and collapse in a ball of agony.


Etincelle teetered on his paws as he replayed his plan in his head in an attempt to stay focused. It would work, he was sure of it in some delusional sort of way. “Fuck. Yes. It would be a pleasure.” Rebel vivified himself at the idea, reassuring the hound that his makeshift plan was sound. His short tail wagged, practically elated as the Joltie grasped the coil before bunching his haunches and leaping a the damaged board. It was the perfect plan, Etin thought again, having forgotten he already thought that. Peferct until the Dusknoir broke its paralysis and let a massive fist dive down toward him.

It swept right where Rebel just was, and kept moving for Etincelle, ready to clench the small hound in its grasp once more. It three another fist, forcing the Electrike to backstep over and over until the Dusknoir managed to grab him. "You foolish-" he started before turning around and seeing the Jolteon. He had landed and leaped again to give the coil a good slam. A shower of sparks came from the board, its lights all failing for a second as they rained down. This would work.

"Don't touch that!" Hollo threatened, an Ice Punch coating its free hand as it swing awkwardly toward Rebel. Etincelle struggled within its grasp, but he was too tired to put up a fight. Sparks filled his pelt, but it wasn't enough to release him. He wasn't being crushed, just restrained, and that slight liberty allowed his dizzy eyes to wander. "Instead of worrying about my friend you should care about your own!" He barked, letting his pink gaze land helplessly on the fighting undead. A victor had risen, and upon realizing this the Dusknoir gasped. "Samba-!" It called out, releasing him in an instant before rushing the lynx with an outstretched shadow.

With an ugly grunt the Electrike stood, unbalanced, focused lost. The sound of sparking was delicious and natural to him, pulling his eyes up to the board with their makeshift lightening rod. "Yes. Yes!" He wheezed, giving a small hop closer. "Now give 'er a blast of electricity!"