When Mawile hit the abomasnow's half-formed Energy Ball with an Ice Beam, the resulting explosion was enough to stun even the mega evolved abomasnow they were fighting.

Marinette had no idea what just happened.

There was a split second where the Ice Beam seemed to crystallize the abomasnow's attack, but the next second, whatever structures formed had snapped, and the entire thing blew up with amazing force. Right in the abomasnow's face.

Marinette's jaw dropped. How did he know that would work?! Using ice against an abomasnow in the middle of a blizzard?! Why did that work?

Luckily, Mawile didn't freeze like she did, and managed to follow up, taking advantage of the fact that the abomasnow was stunned. "We have to find the thingy!" Chat yelled.

The thingy. We really need to figure out what to call those devices. Marinette shook her head. Chat's a performer. Moves and move interactions is his thing. To make it pretty. If nothing else… well, I'll just trust him when he says to do things like that from here on.

How are we supposed to find a tiny device on an abomasnow though?

Marinette frowned, trying to find anywhere where the device could be. But the abomasnow was covered in shaggy fur that would hide any small thing on it.

It roared, hitting Mawile squarely with a Wood Hammer. Mawile flew into the snow off to the side. Marinette ran to her, depending on Chat Noir to cover for her. Which he did.

"Alright, Frosty, I'm your opponent now!" He yelled cockily, jumping out to draw its attention from Marinette. She saw his absol and zoroark working in tandem, covering him as he leapt and rolled and practically danced out of the way of the abomasnow's attacks. If he couldn't dodge, one of his pokémon would attack to either redirect or stop the incoming threat. It was almost like a performance in itself.

Dropping to her knees, Marinette brushed the snow off of Mawile, helping her to her feet. "Are you okay?"

With a solemn nod, Mawile stood.

"Let's help him out." I can't believe he's putting himself in danger. Not just being here, but actively making himself the target. Arceus, the stupid cat! "Hey!" She yelled to get the abomasnow's attention. Quite frankly, she was surprised it heard her over the rushing wind and Chat Noir's own taunts. "It's not over yet!"

Mawile leapt, clamping her jaws down hard on the abomasnow's shoulder.

Chat's pokémon kept its arms busy and away from Mawile, so it couldn't grab her, by nipping and attacking at them, especially irritatingly when it did try to reach up. The abomasnow stomped angrily and swiped at Chat's pokémon, but Absol and Zoroark were agile and quick, able to dance out of the way just in time. But there was only so long they could keep it up. It wasn't long before the abomasnow got a hold of Zoroark, lifting him up, and with his other arm the abomasnow managed to pluck Mawile from its shoulder. With a definitive movement, it slammed the two pokémon into each other. Marinette winced, knowing that it had to be painful, especially for Zoroark since Mawile had a sturdy body. She was a steel type, after all.

Chat looked absolutely horrified. He let out a strangled gasp and rushed forward to check on Zoroark. Marinette was right on his heels. While she didn't doubt Mawile would stand up from the blow (something she wasn't as confident about for Zoroark), she still wanted to be near her pokémon.

Unfortunately, the abomasnow had other ideas. When it separated its hands, it didn't let the two pokémon fall, instead, it reared back and threw them with all it's might across the street.

Where, Marinette only realized as Mawile was sailing over her head, there weren't any buildings.

No, they were on the riverbank.

She booked it to the river wall, already calling out Ariados, aiming the pokéball at the wall so Ariados had that little bit of extra time when he came out of the pokéball. He shot out his webs before Marinette was even close.

When she reached the wall, leaning over to get a look at Mawile and Zoroark both hanging from Ariados' web, she let out a sigh of relief. Mawile was beginning to climb back up, but seeing Zoroark hanging limp made Marinette's stomach turn. She could only imagine what Chat felt.

And his face when Marinette looked over at him, leaning over the wall just like her, gave her an idea. It wasn't good.

She didn't have time to ruminate on it though, because in the next moment, something had slammed into her, pitching her straight over the wall, clearing the concrete riverbank and sending her down towards the river beyond. Arceus. Thinking fast, she twisted to look up, seeing the web from Ariados already speeding towards her, as well as Chat Noir flailing through the air. Despite already struggling with weight, and no doubt even more when Marinette was caught, Ariados sent another web to Chat, but the response was delayed. Neither Ariados nor Chat were expecting it, Ariados was already focused on Marinette when Chat went over, whatever the reasons, Marinette caught the web and swung towards the river wall while Chat plunged straight into the water, the fourth web not half a meter short.

Ariados made some strained noises, but thankfully managed to pull Chat Noir out quickly. The web made contact with him right when he hit the water (rather painfully, it looked like), since the water slowed him, but it couldn't save him from taking a swim.

In this weather… I don't know if the river is freezing or not, but he definitely needs to warm up. Now. Marinette looked back up at Ariados, who was slowly crawling backwards, and the abomasnow, looming over them. "Watch out!" Marinette called.

But it was too late. When Ariados looked behind him, the abomasnow had already sent down an Avalanche.

The next several moments were a blur for Marinette. She was only vaguely conscious of what she was doing, for the most part, when she curled up, knowing but not looking at the concrete riverbank directly below them.

Ralts came out of his pokéball, leaving Marinette scrambling in the air to try and grab him, which she only just managed to succeed in doing before she hit the ground… surprisingly gently.

It was still going to leave a bruise, but it left Marinette totally capable of leaping to Chat's side and screwing her eyes shut half a second before the Avalanche covered them.

When nothing crushed her but the crisp cold air, silence, and an overwhelming sense of panic and dread, she cautiously opened her eyes. She couldn't see anything, but she had no doubt that Ralts' Protect made a small dome for them. I am so giving that baby anything he wants. Right after I finish killing him. "Ralts!" she hissed, her voice shaking, "that was w-"

Ralts cried out, interrupting her, and reminding her about Chat Noir. Oh Arceus, Chat. Forgetting about Ralts for the moment, Marinette carefully moved Chat so she could take off his soaked scarf, fumbling to remove his bell choker with it as well. He was already absolutely freezing, and just handling the scarf, Marinette felt the freezing cold water on her hands. She shook while Chat shivered, and she had no idea if he was even awake or not, since it was pitch black. "Chat?" she asked. Her tremulous voice was the only sound in their little space except some clicking of chattering teeth. She wasn't sure if it was hers or his. "Ralts, Heal Pulse! Please!"

Ralts nodded grimly and his horn glowed softly. A gentle wave came off of it. Ralts was still young and not very powerful, but hopefully it would be enough. Marinette, for her part, felt the pain in her back, from where the abomasnow hit her, lessen significantly.

"L-Lady?"

"Chat!"

"Arceus, I-I'm c-cold."

"You said you have a vulpix, right?"

"Y-yeah. Just a s-sec."

When the flash of light lit up their prison, Marinette had a split second to realize that none of the other pokémon were with them. I just have to trust they're okay. Ariados knows Protect too. Maybe he managed to do what Ralts did. Shaking, Marinette shook her head, fighting off tears. No. I have to believe they're okay. I do believe they're okay. I need to focus on Chat.

"V-vulpix," Chat said. "C-can you warm us up at all?"

After a soft yip, a few feeble, floating flames appeared. Four of them, each moving to one of the inhabitants of their dome. Marinette immediately moved closer to the Will-O-Wisp, feeling its warmth with her hands, and basking in it.

Chat was still shivering something fierce, though.

"Chat, you have to take off your clothes," Marinette said resolutely, going to his side, her little flame following her. In the ominous light, Chat looked absolutely miserable, and Marinette was terrified to think that maybe it wasn't just the lighting making him look like that.

He still had the decency to blush and gasp, "What?!"

"We don't have any dry clothes, but those are only making you colder. At least take off your shirt until we figure out how to get out of here."

He bit his lip and nodded, unable to meet her eyes. Marinette thought nothing of it until he actually did take off his shirt and hoodie in one pull. He was shivering, and he cupped the little purple flame and pulled it close to him, sighing.

Marinette took hold of his wrist, trying her best not to focus on his bare torso. "Arceus, Chat, not so close, you're going to burn yourself!"

"H-honestly, My Lady, at t-this point, it'd be welcome."

Marinette peeled off her own jacket and offered it to him. It would be small, but at least it was something. And she at least had a dry, long-sleeved shirt. It was significantly colder without her own hoodie, but despite his protests, she made him put it on. There was no hope of him being able to actually zip it up, but he pulled it around him as he hugged himself and looked at Marinette with big, scared, thankful eyes that made her know for absolute sure she made the right call. "You need to go to a hospital."

His eyes widened. "But I can't! No one knows that I'm Chat, and my dad-"

"Are you sixteen yet?"

He swallowed hard. It was clear that he knew what she as implying. Sixteen year-olds were allowed to go on journeys around the region on their own. As such, most places set that as the same age that kids were considered legal adults, since they'd be largely unsupervised anyway. And if they were responsible enough to go on a pokémon journey, they were responsible enough to sign legal documents. "Yeah."

"Then your dad doesn't matter. We'll get you there, you tell them that you don't want to inform your family. If there's anyone who does know, I can find them and let them know so they can visit you."

"You don't understand. My dad would definitely find me."

"Then we need a story. Either way, you're going to the hospital."

Chat tightened his jaw. "So are you," he said.

Marinette saw the look in his eye. It was the kind of look that told her she had to either concede or lose the argument completely. "Fine."

He shifted, shivering. Marinette held herself as well, trying to warm her arms. "So how are we getting out of here?" Chat asked.

Marinette took a shaky breath, turning to examine their situation. We need to get Chat out and we need to finish this as soon as possible. So that we can get Chat to the hospital. And Zoroark. I know Chat won't leave until the abomasnow is helped, so that's the priority. That and keeping Chat out of the activity as much as possible. That means our best hope is… Marinette glanced nervously at Ralts.

Maybe Vulpix can help? She crawled over to pet the little pokémon. He wasn't lying when he said she was a baby. Her second tail hasn't even totally split yet! Marinette smiled down at Vulpix running a hand down her back and examining the pale rusty color of her fur. And she still hasn't even turned completely red yet. No wonder he didn't want to bring her out. Well, we'll put her back in the ball before we get out. Speaking of… there's no other choice, is there?

Marinette pulled a pokéball off her belt, hoping that, for once, her Misdreavus was still inside it. When the ball reacted after she pressed the button, she let out a sigh of relief. "Misdreavus, Ralts is going to teleport us out of here, okay? Be ready."

Chat Noir raised his eyebrows at her, so she explained as the ghost phased through the snow above them. "Ralts is still a baby too," she said, picking him up. "He hasn't mastered teleporting yet. I'm sending Misdreavus out first because the only reference Ralts has is 'up', so there's a pretty good chance we'll appear somewhere in the air above the street. Or river. Especially carrying two people with him, it's not the safest option, but it's the only one we have."

Chat gulped. "What about Zoroark? And, oh Arceus, is Absol still up there? Is he fighting alone? My Lady, we need to get out of here!"

"Calm down! Chat!" Marinette shifted Ralts, who was beginning to get agitated as well, into one arm, and put her free hand on Chat's shoulder. "They'll be fine. We'll get out of here, we'll get them out, and we'll all get medical help, alright? Just calm down! Keep your head on straight. Like when you were fighting! Yeah?"

Chat shivered and nodded, starting to mumble. It was something about psychic powers and how they affected dark types, but Marinette didn't pay attention. Instead, she focused on Ralts. "You okay, baby? You strong enough to do this?"

Ralts nodded, pumping his little fists cutely. He bit his lip, concentrating. "Chat," Marinette said, "return Vulpix."

Chat looked at her with wide eyes and did as she said. A moment later, the little lights warming them disappeared.

Marinette groped in the dark for his hand, grabbing his arm and then sliding her hand down to slip her fingers through his. "My Lady?" He asked, his voice shaking as much as hers was.

"Shh, just be ready. The abomasnow is still up there."

The next moment, Marinette was blinded by sunlight. She and Chat Noir both let out little hisses of protest. Before she could even open her eyes again, she knew that Misdreavus was carrying her with her Psychic. There wasn't any solid ground under her, and the only wind was going sideways and all over the place, so she wasn't falling. She squeezed Chat's hand, feeling the warmth of his palm against the chill of the wind ripping through her shirt.

Finally, when she heard a roar below her, she opened her eyes slowly. Absol and Mawile were teaming up against the abomasnow, who seemed tired and frustrated. Zoroark, however, was laying some distance away, unconscious by the looks of it. Ariados was right there with him.

Mawile and Absol both looked beaten and battered, but then so did the abomasnow. All three of them were fighting… savagely. Mawile gave no mercy, biting and twisting and ripping out chunks of the abomasnow's fur. Absol wasn't much better. And of course the abomasnow was out of control. The entire scene was a little terrifying. But I can't afford to let fear hold me back.

She returned Ralts to his pokéball and looked at Misdreavus, silently telling her to set them down. Instead of doing that, though, Misdreavus flew them over the abomasnow, flying just a little too close herself to gesture emphatically at something around halfway down one of the protrusions on the abomasnow's back. Did Misdreavus find the thingy?! Then we can do this! Marinette grinned, seeing a small silver device come floating out around Misdreavus.

Until the abomasnow caught Misdreavus with a Wood Hammer. Marinette yelped as she was dropped unceremoniously into the snow, but collected her wits quickly, ducking around the abomasnow to where she thought the device was sure to have fallen.

"Distract it!" Chat's voice, noticeably weak, called, so Marinette dove to the side, avoiding the abomasnow's attack, and joined Mawile and Absol between the abomasnow and the river. With its attention on her, Marinette watched as Chat snuck around behind it to roughly the spot that the device fell.

"Absol, Mawile!" Absol leapt to deliver a Night Slash, distracting the abomasnow so that Mawile could deliver a devastating Sucker Punch. That was enough to ground the abomasnow for at least a few moments. It did stun Aggron, after all. And Chat used that time wisely.

In one moment, while the abomasnow was down, Chat called out Vulpix and asked her to Flamethrower the ground in the entire area where the device could have been.

A few seconds later, Chat dived in, snatched something up from the ground, and tossed it to Mawile, who caught it in her jaws and crushed it.