*Seeker of awakening… this is Luminous Cavern.*

*H-huh?!*

Another voice, one Astrid had definitely not heard before, emanated from seemingly nowhere and everywhere at once. It almost drowned out the feeling of a giant spike through her body… Almost. If nothing else, it was definitely distracting at the very least.

Arashi and Zariel didn't seem to be privy to it, and much unlike the visions of other luminous sources of sound, she could make out the words that it spoke clearly. *Tell me. Do you seek to evolve?*

*E-evolve…?!*

"Astrid! Oh, Arceus above, Astrid!" Arashi cried frantically, dashing over the rubble of the shattered stone and closer to his comrade. "Are you okay?! Er-! That's a dumb question- of course you're not!"

The Froakie slipped off the bag and tried to dig up an Oran berry, but his hands were shaking frantically and made it far more difficult than it otherwise would have been. He could only fumble with it while trying to open it up, and the sight of Astrid's ripped, bloodied leaf bow lying in front of him certainly wasn't helping. A slight sound of drip, drip filled the room as little red droplets fell from the crystalline shard and pooled on the ground.

"You're gonna be fine!" he reassured, or at least, was certainly trying to. "You're gonna be fine! C'mon Astrid, say something…!"

Zariel cackled and took a few steps closer, embers and smoke coming out of her nostrils and maw, her expression absolutely diabolical. "Go on and try to save her, Smiley! Guess I'll have to settle for burning you to a crisp! Or should I Mega Punch you to a pulp instead?! Either way is fine by me!"

The Froakie cast her an absolutely horrified look as he finally managed to open the bag. "You are the worst!"

Astrid's beak opened just a bit, but no sound came out. Her vision was blurring and her eyelids fluttered as she tried, somewhat in vain, to keep them open. Evolution… It seemed like a terrible time to be striking up a conversation, but at the same time… Their assailant was wiping the floor with them. Anything to give them an edge over Zariel, even the slightest bit…

The sheer force from Zariel's punch that rammed Astrid into the spike seemed to compromise the crystalline fixture, for a slight cracking sound came from its base attached to the wall, and to the sharp eye, a hairline fracture could be seen forming.

*You and I both do not have much time to debate, seeker.*

She certainly didn't, and she certainly wasn't going to waste that time. *YES! I-if I can! If I can get stronger…!*

A cry of dismay came from Arashi as he shakily moved several chestnuts and a seed aside to grab hold of an Oran berry. "J-just give me a second, Astrid…! I'm coming! We're gonna get through this, you're gonna be fine! D-don't give up…!"

"Go on, Smiley, go on!" Zariel taunted, completely at leisure. "Only reason I'm not melting you right now is because this is fun to watch!"

At least she was just watching. Had Zariel let loose an attack, short of running at him for a Mega Punch, Arashi easily would not have had the mind to run from it. His friend with a spike through her body dripping blood onto the ground took over his mind. Try as he might to stay positive… it was difficult.

"And I thought the evolution spot was sealed off nicely! Hah, guess I am just too much!" Zariel mocked, crossing her arms and giving her wings a few ecstatic flutters. "Oh, this is just too good!"

Within a short time, however, the Charizard was regretting that choice of words.

*You who seek awakening… Let us begin.*

"Astrid, just hang on…!" Arashi pleaded, tucking the berry in one arm and crouching down to hop to her.

Before he could, however, the Rowlet's body seemed to change radically again, for instead of a ball of feathers, she became a ball of light. Zariel's eyes narrowed and Arashi's eyes went wide, both of them uncertain as to what was becoming of the Rowlet but the Charizard still retaining her cocky disposition.

"Oh, are you getting sent home already? Go on, make that ball of light and go home," Zariel mused apathetically, though looking a bit skeptical, as if she were also prepared to jump in again but doubting the need.

"No!" Arashi protested at the mention. "Astrid! W-what's happening?!"

The ball of light morphed into more of an oval and repositioned itself above the blood-covered spike, before solidifying a bit more into a shape bearing wings and feet with the black scarf and badge still situated at the base of one wing.

Zariel's smirk faltered. "WHAT?!"

The light left her body, leaving only the form of a Dartrix to perch atop the crystalline spike, no giant hole in her chest and the leafy bow back in place.

It was a definite comfort to her comrade, and Arashi's eyes practically sparkled at the sight. "Astrid!" he cried in relieved happiness.

Crack!

The spike found itself with a bigger fracture running along its length and several smaller shards fell to the ground below. Astrid brushed the two leaves framing her face out of her eyes and jumped off, the crystalline shard shattering as she did so. Arashi too moved out of the way, and Astrid flapped down to land next to him. Zariel's eye twitched a bit at the sight, and her claws seemed to be debating whether to curl into a fist or not, but she wasn't making any moves right off the bat.

"Give me that berry; there's no way I'm at full health after that," the Dartrix said quickly, sounding exhausted.

Without missing a beat, Arashi held it up for her and she grabbed it in her beak before scarfing it down.

"Are you okay?" the Froakie asked.

"I will be; let's take care of this one first," she replied.

Zariel's smirk had contorted into something resembling amused wrath, and the two she targeted certainly couldn't discern what precisely ran through her head. Either way, they doubted it was anything pretty.

"You're still alive?!" the Charizard roared while flashing her claws, then gaining back some of her smirk, "Hah, I guess that's par for one like you! I'll torch you both and drag you back!"

Astrid didn't bother giving her a response. Rather, she too gave her wings a flap to whip up a rather Ominous Wind (that simply seemed to come naturally with the evolved form), which she sent at Zariel, who in turn breathed off a Flamethrower. The Dartrix swooped up her comrade again and flapped out of the way of the flames, though she did stick just a bit close to them as she fled the cavern. The heat wasn't pleasant, but she ignored it.

"We've gotta talk about this later!" Arashi cried.

"We will!" Astrid affirmed, eyes still locked on Zariel.

Arashi spit a Bubble and Astrid struck with another Ominous Wind as she flew for the cave's opening, Zariel baring her fangs in a wild snarl. The Charizard gave her own wings a flap to create more airy blades that went for the Starstorm duo, but Astrid ducked out of the cave and upwards out of their way before they could make contact. Zariel came dashing after them with a frustrated but cheeky glare, leaving Cobalt slumped alone in the corner.

"You're down to fight this crazy lady, right?" Astrid asked her comrade, still flapping upwards.

"Of course! She's probably not gonna let us leave anyway!" the Froakie affirmed.

"Good. I think I've got an idea, but, let me ask… Are you afraid of heights?"

Arashi was still upbeat, but got a bit of a funny look. "… Why?"

"Because if she knocks me out, the odds of us both getting screwed over are high."

Her comrade paused and debated it for just a second, then went right back to smiling as if nothing in the world was amiss. "Nah, it's alright! I trust you!"

"Then in the meantime, keep your eye on Zariel for me!"

The crevice's edge was level with their eyes for just a second, then started to become smaller and smaller. Zariel spread her wings too and took off after them down below, still looking positively wild and out for blood. Astrid didn't look down at her but kept her eyes on the sky above, though Arashi kept his gaze on the Charizard, who gave several hard flaps of her wings to create another Air Slash.

"Air Slash incoming!" the Froakie cried.

"Tell me where!" Astrid replied, giving only a split-second look down.

Smaller and smaller was the crevice, closer sailed the air blades.

"Dodge left!" called Arashi.

Astrid did so, one of the blades flying past to her right and another just behind her.

"Go forwards!"

She did so, some of the feathers on her back and tail getting a bit ruffled. Arashi too lost a few bubbles from the attack, but ultimately the blades dissipated into the air above.

"Run all you want! I'll roast you, Astrid, and watch your little friend go splat!" Zariel yelled, happily vicious and gradually catching up.

True to her words, she opened her maw and embers started glowing amid a bit of smoke.

"Flamethrower!" Arashi cried.

"Oh, come on!" Astrid haplessly protested.

Nonetheless, she glanced down to see a stream of flames coming at them and quickly started flying at a slant rather than straight up. Arashi went to counter, but the Bubble was almost entirely lost in a burst of steam. The flames died down just a bit from his attack, but Zariel's sheer heat easily overpowered the Froakie's move, and Astrid flapped as fast as she could to avoid it.

Zariel laughed, still hardly concerned. "You don't think I've never fought a Water-type before, do you?! The both of you are nothing!"

Arashi spit another at her, which the Charizard dodged and let float towards to the ground far below them. The landscape was beginning to look something like a quilt from the altitude, the cliffs and trees still discernible but the crevice and ground losing their features. The top of the cliffs started to become smaller too after a few moments, while Zariel kept getting closer and closer. Her draconian form started to look its normal size rather than just a smallish Charizard closer to the ground below, and another Flamethrower would've been harder to dodge.

"How high up are we going?!" Arashi inquired. "She's getting closer!"

"That's fine!" Astrid brushed it off, studying the dark clouds above. "Keep watching her!"

The Froakie did so. Zariel didn't seem bothered at all, and in fact began whipping up more air blades with her wings.

"Air Slash!" Arashi called.

"Perfect," Astrid said, eyes narrowing.

Her comrade perked up a bit at her tone, unsure if it was sarcasm or gruff determination. Nonetheless, the windy blades sailed up at them, Zariel snickering.

Arashi's eyes followed them. "Forwards! Right!"

"Eeek!"

Astrid maneuvered around them for the most part with her comrade's cries, but one still nicked the end of her tail. Zariel laughed, but the Dartrix paid it no mind. The air blades sailed past them, upwards into the clouds where they dissipated and the clouds parted just a bit. A slight mist graced them for just a second, but the moment Astrid felt the air's slight dampness, she too loosed an attack- an Ominous Wind, straight up at the clouds.

Zariel seemed taken aback for a second, her smirk faltering but her eyes still wild. "… No!" she breathed with a smoky breath, mostly to herself.

The Charizard growled, more fire welling up in her throat.

"Flamethrower!" Arashi called.

Yet as Zariel opened her maw to exhale it, the clouds opened up from being disturbed by the attacks and droplets of rain fell down, a bit scattered for a few split seconds before giving way to a proper deluge. A cloud of steam filled the air as the rain and flames met, though still Zariel's heat radiated from it. Astrid gave a few quick flaps backwards while Arashi went to spit another stream of bubbles, but the bubbles seemed to coalesce into something more- a Water Pulse that shot straight through the fire. Zariel gave another frustrated growl.

"That wasn't Bubble, was it?!" Astrid inquired, briefly glancing down at her comrade.

"Nope!" Arashi called back. "I was trying to give my Bubble some more oomph, but this works too! The rain gives us a big advantage!"

"I had a hunch!" Astrid affirmed.

Whatever cockiness was in Zariel left, the Charizard clearly not having a good time with the water droplets pattering against her skin and making steam on her tail's flame. Her expression contorted into one of wrath without a shred of amusement or mirth. Evidently she could tell Flamethrower wasn't going to be her best option anymore, for her maw filled up with sparks and blue smoke, and a Dragon Breath followed shortly after.

Astrid shot back with another Ominous Wind while holding her wings in for a second to let herself and her comrade fall out of the way of Zariel's attack. The Charizard tried her best to dodge, but the repulsive wind's reach was simply too broad, and Arashi too let off another Water Pulse in the same moment.

"Whatever you're doing, don't let up!" the Dartrix cried to her comrade. "Our damage output is mostly dependent on you here!"

"Just don't get knocked out and drop me!" Arashi replied, not too worried.

Zariel, however, seemed eager to end the battle quickly with their surroundings swayed out of her favor. Another set of windy blades formed with hard flaps of her wings, and Arashi spit another pulse of water at the Charizard, though the Air Slash diminished the effect of the Froakie's attack by scattering it just a bit. Astrid ducked and flapped out of the way, though a few of her feathers and a bit of her skin got a bit roughed up from the attack's fringes. It wasn't a major distraction, but nonetheless, she would have much preferred the damage not be there to cause any worries. Nonetheless, Zariel snarled and rushed at them with one clawed fist clenched, but the Dartrix again ceased to flap and fell out of the way just as Zariel Mega Punched the air she used to occupy.

"Nope! Definitely nope!" Astrid cried.

The Dartrix's body swerved with her wings still held in to give Arashi a better aim. His Water Pulse went straight for Zariel's tail, and the Charizard was too busy regaining her position in the air to notice that it wasn't just a stray shot.

"Gwaaaargh!" Zariel hollered as it hit, her flame wavering for a moment but still burning amid the steam.

The flame didn't go out, but still Astrid had to imagine that it seriously hurt to have it doused. Still, the sensation she'd formerly had of a spike tearing through her back and out of her front dried up any sympathy she otherwise would've had.

Another Dragon Breath followed, Astrid putting her wings out and flitting aside, and Arashi sent another Water Pulse Zariel's way. The threat of being burnt to a crisp was at least gone, but the threat of paralysis with Dragon Breath, a super effective move for Astrid with Air Slash, and getting reduced to a smear on ground or cliffs loomed over them with the rest of Zariel's attacks. Astrid wanted to end it quickly too.

Nonetheless, Zariel too folded her wings in and dropped for a second to let the burst of water fly harmlessly over her head, then immediately breathed off another beam of bluish energy and sparks, which Astrid flew out of the way of.

Clearly Zariel wasn't comfortable in the rain judging from her frustrated snarling expression, though her two targets were plenty happy with that result.

"Gah, if I had my comrade with me…!" Zariel growled, voice pained, wings whipping up another Air Slash.

"But you don't! You're alone!" Arashi shot back.

A threatening snarl of wrath was the only answer, along with the blades of air.

Astrid's eyes narrowed just a bit and she too created another attack of her own, summoning up an Ominous Wind while jerking around in the air to avoid Zariel's blows. She couldn't dodge all of them, however, and took one slash to her wing.

"Ngh-!" the Dartrix held her tongue.

Astrid stalled in the air for a second but ignored it, giving the ground far below a glance that came closer for just a moment. She certainly didn't want to go crashing into it, especially not with her comrade grasped in her talons.

"You alright?!" Arashi asked quickly.

"I'm fine!" was the answer, pained though it may have been.

Zariel wasn't, clearly not thrilled at taking another hit from her contorting, wild facial expressions. The Starstorm duo was certainly getting a good look at her fangs bared in a snarl, but that wasn't worrying them near as much. The Charizard's movements had become labored rather quickly, though she still was dead set on tearing them apart in whatever way came easiest.

Arashi wasn't wasting time, hitting her with another Water Pulse. She growled, her wings seeming to become a bit too heavy to move but the energy of a Dragon Breath welling up in her maw. Nonetheless, she was stalled, and Arashi hit her again, the flame on her tail becoming little more than an ember.

"Gwah-…!"

That seemed to be plenty enough, for the sparks and smoke vanished from Zariel's jaws and a gnarled cry of frustration and pain came out. Her eyelids fluttered and her wings stopped moving, the Charizard quickly losing altitude.

"Yes! Is that a win?!" Arashi cried, surprisedly excited.

"Hold on," Astrid replied, not quite believing it entirely. "I wanna make sure she's not playing us."

The Dartrix dove down after her, though carefully keeping some distance safely behind. Zariel went crashing down into a cliff's face, a startled wild Aron giving a small jump and scurrying away as the Charizard slumped down on the ground in an immobile heap. Her flame was still going, but it was small and steaming, clearly not the bright and healthy flame it was when she showed up in the cave. Astrid carefully let her comrade down then landed herself, but she kept a good distance back from their motionless assailant.

"Zariel?" the Dartrix asked, eyeing her carefully.

One draconian eye opened up slightly and her fangs were bared as best they could be. "You can come closer if you want to- I'll turn you into a torch, rain or no rain," was the soft growl of an answer.

"You just don't quit," Arashi remarked, studying her with an awkward, slightly uncertain look.

Astrid, though, refrained from Zariel's offer, staying where she was. "Can I ask you something?"

"Can I ask you something?" was the acerbic response.

Astrid's eyes narrowed, but still she replied, "Fair enough. I'll answer you if you answer me."

Arashi looked a bit unsure of that arrangement, but a quick glance with Astrid kept him quiet.

"Get on with it, then. What do you want?" Zariel growled.

"How does Salem know who I am?"

The frustration turned to mirth, and Zariel's eyes got a wild look again. A weak, subdued snicker came from her. "Because the one who sent you fucked up.~"

Both the Dartrix and Froakie perked up, but the Froakie much more so.

"You know who sent her?!" Arashi exclaimed.

Astrid too wanted the answer, but Zariel laughed weakly again.

"I said I'd answer your friend, Smiley, and my job is done. It's your turn now, human," the Charizard's gravelly voice shot back.

Astrid deflated. "… Fine. What is it?"

Zariel's eyes narrowed, her maw still curled in a smirk. "Did you get your fluffy ass kicked by a Beast?"

Astrid didn't appreciate her phrasing, but nonetheless answered, "… Yes."

More flippant, weak laughter. "… I guess they didn't finish the job. Not that I'm complaining about getting my turn too…~"

Astrid's eyes narrowed some more, and without missing a beat, she looked to her comrade. "Hit her again."

The snarling smirk faded for wrath again almost instantly, the Charizard's claws clenching but Zariel unable to pick herself up. Arashi had no protests, and another Water Pulse ended her efforts and made her go completely limp.

Still, the Dartrix couldn't be too cautious. "One more time to make sure," Astrid said, still eyeing her.

Arashi's glance went to his teammate. "Are you sure that's necessary? I mean, I don't like her either, but it's raining and she's weak and all…"

"She can't wake up anytime soon. Once we get Cobalt and get out of here, we've gotta tell everyone else that Salem's underling is knocked out in the cliffs. Hopefully someone else can get more info out of her than we can."

Arashi nodded and hit her with a pulse of water once more. The Charizard didn't move, her tail still a steaming ember. The Dartrix and the Froakie shared a glance, then gave each other a nod before Astrid swooped up her comrade and started making way back to the crevice.

Arashi went right back to smiling. "You know, for a first mission, I'd call this a total win!"

"I would too," Astrid wasn't disagreeing. "You were right- we do have synergy."

The Froakie giggled. "Well, you were the one with the advantage last time, so this time was my turn!"

Astrid's beak curled up a bit at their edges, but nonetheless she noted, "We gotta get Cobalt and ditch this place fast. If Salem is a Delphox, then I'd think a Psychic-type would be able to tell when one of their subordinates is in bad shape."

Arashi grinned awkwardly. "You're right- I don't think we'd be winning that one, aha…!"

Carefully Astrid fluttered back down to the crevice's bottom surface, the two of them shortly scurrying inside the cave where Cobalt lied. They paused for just a second, giving the shattered wall and red-streaked shards a glance.

"You know…" Astrid's voice uncertainly trailed off, "… I don't think we should speak of that ever again…"

Arashi too looked visibly very uncomfortable. "… Agreed! Nothing bad ever happened!" he fibbed to no one in particular.

The Dartrix was in accordance, quickly adding to it. "I just happened to evolve!"

"And you just happened to shed a few feathers and leaves! We don't know whose blood that is!"

"Exactly!"

They shared another perturbed glance and nodded emphatically in agreement, but the next moment, Arashi was throwing his arms around the Dartrix and the Dartrix was reciprocating.

"I thought you were gonna die!" Arashi blurted out.

"I thought I was, too!" Astrid cried, slightly dismayed-sounding, in return.

"That was terrifying!"

"It sucked!"

They stayed in an embrace for a few moments before separating, both of them deflating with a deep breath out. No words needed to be said to convey their sentiments, but in a few moments, Arashi went back to eyeing the crystalline shards with an inquisitive look.

"Say, if you were able to…" the Froakie's voice trailed off.

"I doubt that thing is in working order, but you should give it a try," Astrid mused.

Arashi hopped over, still with a careful bounce as if the shards would obtain a mind of their own and impale him next. Astrid eyed them too, wanting to see if they would somehow start talking again… but then she figured it wasn't the crystalline fixture itself that had probably been talking. Whatever the case, she had to wonder whose idea it had been to stick a crystalline spike jutting out at such a precarious angle, then brushed it off on account of Zariel's interference likely being a one-off.

"Um…" Arashi's voice trailed off, the Froakie glancing among the pieces (but trying not to look at the pool of blood), "is this place still active…?"

"I heard it was called Luminous Cavern," Astrid called, "Maybe if you say its name…?"

"Luminous Cavern?" Arashi asked, reaching out and touching one of the shards. "Are you still… well, luminous? Can I evolve?"

He waited for a bit, Astrid watching, but his form didn't start glowing, nor was there any other response.

He glanced back to Astrid. "You heard a voice, right?"

"Y-yes."

"… I'm not hearing it."

"Is that… bad?"

He shrugged, turning and hopping back over to her. "No, but you were probably right- being broken apart like that probably means it won't work. And I have no idea how to fix an evolution spot, aha!"

She fluffed up a bit. "That freaking Charizard's Mega Punch…"

"Well, hey, if they're after you, the added strength is a good thing," Arashi brushed it off, then grinning, "But I'm gonna catch up with you! Being cute and bubbly is nice, but I wanna ditch this form at some point!"

Astrid giggled slightly. "But Frogadier still has bubbles…"

"Yes, but they're cooler bubbles!"

Astrid wasn't going to dissent. Without another word, they both strolled over to Cobalt, who was still passed out.

Arashi gave him a slight nudge. "Mr. Cobalt? You've gotta have some strength left- she couldn't have attacked you recently if you were alone when we came here," he mused while slipping the bag off and opening the flap.

The slightest bit of sound came from the Heracross- a pained, shallow sigh that was obviously a purely reflexive gesture. Nonetheless, that was signal enough- the Froakie reached into the bag and retrieved their last Oran berry before holding Cobalt's mouth open and nudging the berry in. Whatever part of Cobalt's energy that had been missing returned, for he gulped down the berry fairly quickly and opened his eyes. The Heracross was on his feet in moments.

"Where is she?!" Cobalt exclaimed, glancing around, then looking at the Starstorm duo, "Did you two-…"

He paused on seeing Astrid.

"It's me, j-just a little b-bigger. The rumors were true," Astrid clarified.

That assuaged the Heracross. "…They were," he said, breaking into a smile. "I was puzzled for a second! I knew Arashi's friend was a Rowlet, but I just wanted to be sure!"

Arashi giggled. "What, did you think I'd replaced her for an upgraded one?" he jested.

"Oh, absolutely not!" Cobalt amiably brushed it off. "So you two saved me! I knew it wasn't gonna be Blaze, but that crazy Charizard kept knocking me out every time I tried to leave! I was expecting a fight, but then she just swooped down from nowhere and made quick work of me!" He grew a bit more concerned. "Where is she? You two didn't beat her, did you?"

The Froakie started beaming. "We sure did! She was tough, but Astrid made the clouds drop rain and that gave us the advantage!"

Cobalt started beaming too, holding up both arms for a high-five, which Arashi enthusiastically returned but Astrid followed suit in a much more subdued manner.

"D-did you know she was using you as lure…?" Astrid inquired, fluffing up a bit and brushing the leaves out of her face.

Cobalt eyed her a bit uncertainly. "What do you mean, a lure?"

"Sh-she's with Salem," Astrid shyly noted. "She's the Charizard subordinate. Sh-she told us outright."

The Heracross' eyes practically bulged out of his head. "No way!" he exclaimed. "We gotta get out of here before that crazy form of a Fennekin torches us, then! By the gods, I did not anticipate that!"

All three were in agreement, and shortly they were scurrying back to Tranquil Town while Zariel stayed slumped in the cliffs, the Starstorm duo telling Cobalt all about their encounter and Cobalt in turn telling them all about his failed expedition. A chestnut or two ended up gone from the bag, on account of Cobalt having spent the vast majority of his time missing in an unconscious state with no time to procure a bite to eat. Nonetheless, he certainly seemed to be fine, even making remarks about Megahorning a Pupitar if one went skipping across the ground at them.

. . . . .

However, in the cliffs…

Crack!

Lightning flashed down among the pointed rocks and crags stretching towards the sky, the bolt drawn to a certain creature with a body made of cable-like limbs tied at strategic places with a glowing spiked ball for a head. It didn't come too close to Zariel either, but still studied her.

"… I did not see that coming," its metallic voice mused.


Blaze was certainly happy when his partner returned, and the little sack of golden coins he turned over to Arashi and Astrid were quite nice too- around 500's worth, as Arashi counted. They stowed them in the bag for safe-keeping.

However, the news they brought back caused quite a stir. The town was shortly abuzz, everyone talking and chattering away to each other save for a few.

"You're not thinking of heading out there, are you?" Nez inquired of a certain Greninja, a bit concerned as he shielded himself from the rain with a leafy umbrella.

"I am," Kaminari replied. "Someone has to- we can't just let these crazies run wild forever."

"She's right," Reina concurred. "Someone has to. I'm much better at telling someone how to battle than battling myself, or I would tag along."

"You could go tell the sheriff's office," Kaminari noted to the Vespiquen.

Reina thought that was as fine of an idea as any and shortly the Vespiquen was flitting off in that direction.

Astrid and Arashi, however, were likewise occupied by the matter. Their friends looked a bit antsy to talk to them, along with Veeko and Rina, but they didn't interrupt.

"Tell me exactly what she said to you," said Niles, kneeling down and looking both the Dartrix and Froakie straight in the eye.

Astrid ruffled up a bit. "W-well, her words, not mine… 'Because the one who sent you fucked up.' She wouldn't say any more."

Niles nodded. "And she said she'd been sent to guard 'the important things?'"

"Y-yes."

"And she referenced a beast, not the beast?"

The Dartrix nodded.

"Does that mean there's more than one?" Arashi inquired of his father.

"With that phrasing, it sounds like it." Niles answered, "But thankfully, only one seems to be familiar with Astrid, and I can only assume it's the same one that's been lurking about. And if this Zariel knows of it, that means it must also be related to Salem one way or another."

Astrid whimpered a bit, not thrilled at the existence of one and dreading a meeting with several if such was possible. Salem was just the awful cherry on top of a terrible cake.

"… It seems Salem is more nefarious than we'd thought," Niles deduced, thinking for a moment. "She's after something more than just causing massive amounts of damage if she's privy to… well, what we can't mention except among ourselves. That's also a likely explanation for the beast attacking Nez- trying to keep visibility on you low so she'd have an easier time obtaining you."

Astrid and Arashi knew exactly what confidential thing he referred to, and kept it quiet. Astrid ruffled up at the myriad of unknown connotations surrounding Salem's knowledge of it, not liking it in the least.

Nonetheless, Niles gave her a pat (and she couldn't help but notice that his hand could no longer curl around her like a ball). "Don't fret over this, dear. It will get taken care of."

She nodded, and Niles gave them both a pat before standing back up and venturing over to Nez and Kaminari. Ace was joining them shortly too, and all four of them were talking amongst themselves.

Lila, Trixie, and Charlie quickly sprang upon the two of them, Veeko and Rina tagging along too.

"So it was true!" Trixie cried, looking Astrid over.

"W-well, u-um…" Astrid stammered.

"Keyword there being 'was,'" Arashi quickly noted. "The spot got Mega Punched and it's not working anymore. Trust me, I tried it too."

That certainly didn't assuage the Croagunk, for as soon as the words left Arashi's mouth, she let out a despairing cry towards the sky before collapsing onto her hands and knees and seeming to cry into the ground. Lila rolled her eyes and Charlie shook his head, but the Aipom's tail nonetheless gave the Croagunk a few pats on the back. Veeko's ears drooped a bit at the sudden outburst.

"That's a nice look you have there," Lila chuckled at the Dartrix.

"Th-thanks," Astrid replied, again fixing the leaves framing her face.

"Sheeeesh, you're already evolving and you didn't even know how to preen," Rina remarked, studying her skeptically.

The Dartrix fluffed up a bit, blushing beneath her feathers. "W-well, amnesia does that, I g-guess…"

"Well, I don't know about anyone else, but Salem or not, I'm gonna go launch some Thunderbolts at the clouds over by the lake," the Jolteon mused, "You guys wanna tag along?"

Trixie instantly perked up from her ground-hugging and cry-yelling and quickly said, "Bonus points if you hit a Pelipper!"

Charlie's tail-hand gave her a shove and shut her up.

At the same time, Nez and Kaminari's conversation had grown to include several more- Niles, Ace, and two Toxicroaks.

"You're gonna go out there and drag the 'Zard back?" Jax inquired, getting a bit shifty-eyed. "Got room for another~?"

The one next to him with a smaller vocal sac looked a bit shifty at the thought too, but mostly shook her head in amusement. "What, do you feel jilted about not getting to Sucker Punch an Excadrill, so now you're going for a 'Mon that's probably way ahead of you?"

Trixie's father laughed. "You know how it is, Juno!"

"We are," Kaminari affirmed. "Me, Niles, and Ace. Do you want to come too?"

"Yes, oh yes~!" Jax chirped back, cracking his knuckles.

The Greninja looked to the other Toxicroak. "You, Juno?"

Juno shook her head. "Nah, I'll let y'all have fun. Someone's gotta stay here to Sucker Punch Salem if she shows her ugly face!"

Nez chuckled. "That makes two of us, Juno. And if that beastie goes after little Astrid again, maybe I can give it a proper walloping in return!"

"That's the only time I have ever heard you excited about getting into a fight," the Staraptor noted of the Nidoking.

"Well, it takes a lot to make me mad, but that beastie did it, and in record time too," Nez brushed it off.

"Seems we have our parameters covered in that case," Niles noted. "Reina at the sheriff's, you two here, and us four out there."

"We should go before she gets any strength back," Kaminari declared, giving the cliffs to the west and the sky a glance. "The rain's probably keeping her down longer. We can't waste that time."

No one was in disagreement.

"You four be careful," Nez said amiably, shifting his leafy umbrella a bit. "I don't want any of you to end up in the headlines."

"Don't worry about that," Kaminari wasn't fazed.

"Hold the fort down for us," Ace said.

Shortly they too were parting ways while the youngsters followed Lila off to the crags close to the lake. Rain or not, the cliffs still held Zariel, but someone else was on the move.