According to Scrafty, Sylveon's group was half a day from the forest's border. The pokémon, from their walking and occasional fighting, had either dingy fur or muddy feet. Sylveon was inundated with relief when Scrafty told them earlier that they would reach the border milestone later in the day. The long treks of walking and vigilance of patrols wore her down so much that she wondered if her team's endeavour was mad. However, she recalled that Hydreigon would come for those in her forest home eventually, and few were actively interested in ending his tyranny.
Most of their journey through the plains had shrouded them in fog, however, it was starting to thin, and soon the crew would no longer have cover. Aerial flyers and those lingering at the border would spot them once the haze lifted, and it might happen in a few hours. The wind had shifted, taking not only the cold but also the humidity with it.
Concerned about this, Goodra asked, "What defenses are at the border?"
Scrafty led with Sylveon. It was a symbolic way to indicate their groups had united. The gangster sighed and then said, "I can't be entirely sure. Before the takeover, the northeastern portion included a settlement of many mixed 'mons, and they fortified their land with an earthen wall as well as a stone one. That's where the bastion of defense is, and Hydreigon took it over a four-season ago. I should have known he wouldn't stop," Scrafty said, his voice lowering.
Falinks commented, "I'd imagine the dragon would continue in their stead and safeguard the land near his base."
"He is," Obstagoon answered, "But it's only been a few moons since he bulked up the security, and he couldn't have erected an effective wall in that short amount of time. He'd only do so at key entry points where the land is easy to travel through."
"You mentioned you know where entry might be the easiest," Sylveon butted in, looking at Scrafty. "Is the terrain there difficult?"
"Better not be like the crags again," Boltund said dejectedly.
Scrafty's frown deepened. "A bit north of here, there's a mountain—I can't quite call it that; it's a big cliff-like hill a few hundred feet. I fear I missed one important detail about it."
"What, exactly?" Falinks asked, his voice almost a hiss.
Scrafty rubbed his head, looking embarrassed. "We can't simply go over the hill. I guess in my fatigued delirium I thought otherwise. Within that hill, there's a cave that connects to a huge underground system that the old settlement I mentioned frequently used."
"There goes plan A, I guess," Falinks said with annoyance.
Sylveon gave Scrafty a sidelong glance. "How are we supposed to get through a pitch-black cave?"
"We brought torches," Boltund mentioned. "Goodra stashed some in your pack way back."
"I mean how will we know where to go?"
"Will I fit?" Goodra asked, her simple question earning some light laughter from the group.
"Yes," Obstagoon said. "The pokémon there had some tall individuals back in the day."
"Is the cave damp, cold, and riddled with mushrooms?" Falinks asked, his tone apathetic.
Obstagoon laughed. "Those are extremely specific concerns. Why?"
"I don't like any of those things," the helmeted pokémon said.
Scrafty shrugged. "Yes, the cold depends on the season, and occasionally you have some fungi. Since we're approaching autumn, yes to all three."
"Shoot," Falinks said.
All but Scrafty tried to stifle a chuckle at Falinks' spelunking issues, but Scrafty's face remained set in thought as he contemplated their next course of action. It was like he hadn't heard anyone near him. He stopped walking, halting the group with him. He turned toward his companions behind him and Sylveon. "There's something you should know about the cave. It'll be easy to get in, but inside is another story. I'm confident the patrols know about it, but the conditions within—" he looked at Falinks— "deter a lot from entering. Plus, one can get lost, so generally the more intelligent lackeys use it."
"You're saying we'll encounter fewer pokémon but stronger opponents?" Sylveon reasoned.
Scrafty nodded. "Yes… at least as of the last reconnaissance report I got before we were booted from the village."
Falinks appeared to roll his eyes. "We're blindly traversing through this cave then. There's no way to force ourselves through the border?"
The gang leader grit his teeth and shook his head. "We'd be done for. I don't like to seem like I'm running with my tail between my legs, but we don't have the numbers."
"Damn," Falinks responded. He sounded disappointed.
Goodra agreed with Scrafty. "I'm no fan of caves, but at least we won't have to worry about getting attacked overhead." She rubbed her horns. "I hope?" she asked with uncertainty. "That cave's not filled with woobat and the like now, is it?"
Scrafty said, "I can't rule out that they might bother us."
Falinks grumbled, "We can't even sleep undisturbed there? A least a little bit?"
Boltund responded, "Look, Falinks… you're not in your quiet cave near the highest part of the crags anymore. We're in the enemy's territory, and we're all trying to get there alive."
"What will we do once Hydreigon's mountain is at our feet?" the segmented pokémon questioned. "Stare at it with mouths agape? Wait for the mountain lord to come out and expect an honest fight from him?" He shivered and then mentioned in a less acerbic tone, "Meet those possessed looneys again?"
"We've made it this far," Sylveon said. She stomped her forepaw on the earth and declared, "We're getting in there, somehow, some way, and freeing those young. Hydreigon isn't going to keep them or any land of Galar to himself if I say so."
"Sylveon, your dragon slayer is speaking," Obstagoon said with a small smile.
"I've been wondering," Scrafty broached, rubbing his skin hood, "Just how many are possessed by that thing."
"Where's this going?" Boltund asked, her tail ceasing its gentle wag. The six travelers didn't enjoy bringing up this subject, but it needed to be addressed.
"Will they help us if freed? We're going to come across them. I know we'll see Gallade again." The orange lizard blinked, and his face darkened.
"Given what we saw when Sylveon was soothing him," Boltund began, "They're… probably so despondent that they'll be no help."
"Aye, we'll need a psychic to help them out after that," Falinks said.
Goodra looked around at the group for effect. "None of us are."
"How ironic that Gallade is a psychic," Obstagoon pointed out.
"Everything about him is contrary." Scrafty said, remaining disturbed. He appeared to be turning something over in his mind, but he didn't express it. "Let's go. Better if we find that tunnel, having stocked up on provisions."
The gang leader veered to the north more than he had previously. Sylveon watched as he stepped away, hardly acknowledging her presence as he tried to get his bearings straight. He had become increasingly alarmed and watchful ever since they discovered that an outside force was working parallel to Hydreigon. Scrafty told Sylveon privately last night before their rest that he wondered if the groups were working together. If so, the young were in danger, and several of Scrafty's family might be under control. He remained quiet about this to the others, as Goodra had her daughter taken, and since she was the strongest and oldest pokémon among them, he didn't want her to lose her levelheadedness. Scrafty's biggest fear was the mountain lord was a victim himself, and his lackeys were none the wiser.
Scrafty tugged at his skin to orient himself. Sylveon walked up to his side and nodded. They beckoned the gang to follow, and the sextet began another trek through the monotonous, grassy plains.
They walked another hour more, and the fog around them diminished to the point that they could now view trees in the distance. The sun was a visible bright white sphere overhead which threatened to break through the remaining clouds and fog. They started going up a gentle incline when Boltund hissed, "Stop! I smell another pokémon's scent."
The group squatted or lowered themselves to the earth as best they could. "Recognize it?" Sylveon asked.
Boltund sniffed at the grass surrounding her. "It has fur, I can say that much." She paced a bit ahead of the group and sniffed again. "Female. She's going north too."
"At least we'll avoid an ambush," Falinks mentioned.
"Let's sneak up and surprise her then," Scrafty said. He gingerly walked forward in the direction of the unknown pokémon, and his companions did the same.
They came upon the hill's crest quickly, and then Goodra told them to halt. "I see them," she whispered. Goodra hunkered down and said, "She's a raichu." Goodra poked her head up. She grimaced at her fellows and said, "She's talking to a haxorus. Thankfully his back's turned now." She retraced her steps a bit down the hill to avoid being seen.
"No doubt that we'll be spotted if we continue north," Obstagoon warned. The grasses they sifted through ranged from two to three feet tall and neither she nor Goodra would be obscured any longer since the ground fog lifted. Being so close to the border, the vegetation yonder was flattened considerably from all the pokémon treading upon it. Weeds, grasses, and white flowers growing at the border had been crushed like bugs by the patrols and not even Falinks could hide once they entered the valley ahead.
Scrafty grumbled, "We've reached the border. The rock I mentioned is right there." Scrafty pointed at a looming hunk of stone just discernable to the north.
"I guess the security's heightened ahead," Boltund said, sitting down.
"Yes. The hill though is a natural barrier, so it'll be less replete with enemies. It's early afternoon too." Scrafty scratched his hood and then nodded. "This time of day they likely just ate. We best act now."
"We're going to attack?" Falinks asked.
"Even if we deal with those two, the rest south of that mound might notice," Sylveon said, her eyes overcast with trepidation. "Who knows how many are out there?"
"Just what I was thinking," Boltund agreed. "Electric attacks will light up the surrounding area. Might as well announce our denunciation of Hydreigon while we're at it."
"Perhaps we can distract them?" Goodra asked.
"With?" Obstagoon asked, looking at the flat, green terrain ahead.
Sylveon smiled as she found a solution. "I have an idea," she said, turning to Goodra. "Goodra, you know rain dance, right?"
"Yes…" the dragon said. "I'm a bit out of practice with it, but I can summon a quick storm."
"That's what we need," Sylveon stated. "Remember when it rained last? The flyers kept to their perches and roosts, and if lightning's coming from the sky, they won't question the electric attacks."
"Huh," Obstagoon said, nodding in approval. "Interesting that Sylveon and not Falinks has such strategy."
Boltund laughed lightly. "Well, Sylveon's approach doesn't always involve fighting," she stated. "Always being on the offensive has its drawbacks."
"However," Goodra started, "We need to be smart about this. Once I conjure a storm and it blows through, all the fog will be completely gone. In other words, we need to get to that rock within that time."
Scrafty and Sylveon peeked above the grass they had lain low in. They observed from the hilltop that raichu and haxorus were moving southwest. They idly veered northeast— they were patrolling, it seemed. Scrafty sneered at them and looked overhead. He turned his head northeast and then southwest, like he was surveying something.
"Something wrong, Scrafty?" Sylveon asked.
"Just wondering where their flyer is." Scrafty said as he pointed at the duo below. "Patrols usually have aerial accompaniment." Sylveon scanned the skies likewise, noticing no other pokémon nearby. In the distance, toward the border, she observed a flyer takeoff, its form hardly visible. It soared southwest.
"Best we counter before it comes," Falinks said.
"You're willing to go along with this plan?" Boltund asked.
"Yes," Falinks affirmed. "I'll still get to fight."
Obstagoon asked, "Can a pokémon detect this rain as being unnaturally caused?"
"Some water types can," Goodra said.
"Hope none are around," Sylveon said. The fairy-type looked at her team members. They then all turned and looked at Goodra. Sylveon nodded. Goodra began to collect aquamarine-colored energy around herself as she focused. She turned her head toward the heavens with her arms cast out.
A gust of wind buffeted the team as they witnessed the sky darkening to the southeast. "This will take several minutes," Goodra said as she continued. "And then the storm will be upon us. It will fizzle out quickly once I'm no longer supplying it."
"That rock's still some distance away," Scrafty commented as he stood up at full height. "Sylveon, you know who to target."
Sylveon peered at the tusked pokémon below. Haxorus looked up at the sky as he noted the coming storm. He looked at raichu and muttered something. A rumble sounded from behind the pokémon.
"And raichu?" Boltund asked.
Falinks inquired, "If we're making this quick, does anyone know ground-type moves?"
The pokémon exchanged glances. They shook their heads.
"It's sheer power then," Falinks said.
Rain started to fall shortly. The wind whipped up the grasses and ruffled Sylveon's feelers and Obstagoon's and Boltund's coats. Scrafty's loose skin caught the wind and forced him to the earth as he landed on his behind. The falinks crowded around their leader as the brass cast his shields up as a bolt of lightning struck the earth about a mile south of their location.
Goodra stopped supplementing the storm and yelled, "Now!"
The group ran down the hill as they bolted at raichu and haxorus unawares. The two pokémon appeared to be walking toward the border. The ambushing pokémon came up upon them quickly. The first pokémon to dish out a move was Sylveon, who fired disarming voice at haxorus' back. With the wind whistling, the two lackeys failed to notice the six pokémon approaching them until the attack contacted the dragon.
"Ambush!" Raichu shrieked, however, her voice was carried away by the wind and muffled by thunder. Rain poured upon the combatants as the electric mouse cast a bolt of lightning at Sylveon.
To everyone's surprise, it was Obstagoon, not Scrafty, who intercepted the electric bolt and she cast a sort of barrier—like a dark light screen— in front of her which nullified the attack. Raichu's eyes narrowed when she discovered that her attack did no damage. Surrounding her within seconds was Falinks, who kept her rooted to the ground she stood upon. The brass launched himself at her, helmet spike first, and his troops performed the same attack. Raichu emitted a bolt of electricity at the Falinks, with the electricity arcing across each troop, reaching the brass penultimately. The fatigued troopers remained adamant and kept pummeling the electric mouse, who collapsed and lay supine after the assault. All Falinks' troops hobbled on their feet; the thunder attack she used damaged them considerably. The one who took attack first fainted, which meant his fellows needed to carry him.
Haxorus returned to his feet as the other five attackers approached him. He looked at his opposition, noticing Sylveon in particular, and then he shook his head and then retreated toward the border at breakneck speed, knowing he wouldn't win the battle.
"After him!" Boltund shouted.
"The storm will end by the time we get him!" Goodra rebuked. She looked up at the sky, observing the rain already easing and wind dying down.
"He'll tell the others!" Sylveon retorted. She gnashed her teeth and then fired another disarming voice in his direction. In her aim to bring down the dragon before he got too far, the attack threatened to hit Falinks and it narrowly missed Scrafty, who rolled out of the way.
"Sylveon, watch where you're directing your attacks!" Obstagoon hollered. The badger-like pokémon stood before Falinks and erected another blocking wall, but this time it failed and the disarming voice hit her, knocking her down to the water-logged ground.
"Sylveon, stop!" Scrafty said, grabbing one of the fairy-type's feelers. She turned and looked at him, looking enraged for a moment before she realized what had happened. She became horrified and apologetic as soon as she noted Obstagoon slowly pushing herself up from the earth. The fire in her eyes died and was replaced with worry.
Sylveon ran up to Obstagoon. "I'm terribly sorry…" she said quickly. "I just… something came over me."
Obstagoon, her back covered in mud, gave Sylveon a grimace. "You need to get your instincts under control," she criticized.
"Obstagoon!" Goodra hollered. "Are you all right?"
"Mostly…" she admitted reluctantly.
"Falinks?"
"We'll manage," he said. "One of us is down, but we got him. Let's get out of here."
None one spoke further as the storm Goodra created rapidly began to fade. The team headed north toward the rock ahead, hoping to make it there before the lackeys investigated the battlefield and recovered their injured comrade. Haxorus would report the attack, and they had perhaps a few minutes until the storm was gone and aerial pokémon would seek them.
Sylveon bolted toward the rock, her mind in an incoherent haze. She wanted to destroy and wrestle that haxorus to the ground, wishing to hear him shriek and beg for mercy. Her only driving thought then was to vanquish the dragon. It was almost a primal desire that she needed to satisfy, like hunger or thirst. It made her feel disgusted with herself and filled her with anxiety. Would she always lose her head when a dragon was around? She looked over her shoulder and offered Goodra a furtive glance, wondering if she might turn on her friend if her rage took control.
Boltund led the group, for she was the fastest. Falinks managed to charge in front of the fairy-type, the brass leading with his four troops huddled together, the fainted comrade being carried by them. Sylveon looked adjacently at Scrafty, who held up his skin high to avoid tripping over it.
She wondered if Obstagoon and Falinks would forgive her for her lapse, as she had been a sylveon only a week and still adjusting to her new form. She felt a pang of envy that Falinks wouldn't have to undergo such an abrupt alteration to his figure and behavior. Her friend, Boltund, seemed to have it the easiest out of all the evolved forms, followed by Scrafty. She was the only one of the six that completely changed types, and she realized she still had some introspection and adjusting to do.
The group was about another two hundred paces from their destination when Sylveon felt a razor-edged gust of wind narrowly miss Falinks in front of her. She looked above to notice that a flyer found them. She gasped despite herself when she noted what pokémon it was— a togekiss, which was almost angelically peaceful otherwise.
"Damn!" Scrafty shouted, noticing the pokémon above. "Half of our team is weak to its moves!"
"Boltund!" Falinks shouted. "Give that togekiss some lightning! The storm's not totally over!"
The boltund leading the pack stopped abruptly, throwing up dirt and grass as her paws dug into the earth. She concentrated and directed a bolt of lightning at the fairy above, who anticipated the attack and deftly countered with sparkling, pink-tinted wind which flew at the bolt. The attacks collided and canceled each other out, the electricity and fairy energy fading into the air.
The togekiss prepared another attack. This one appeared to be a strong fairy-type move as a ball of rose-colored energy formed in front of it. As the attack readied, however, a beam of freezing water hit the togekiss and then solidified upon contact, forcing the pokémon to halt the attack. The pokémon fell to the earth, colliding with the ground, breaking the ice that formerly encased it.
Sylveon looked wildly around to see who performed the counterattack. Wafting off an irritated Goodra were the remaining tendrils of the ice-type attack. The togekiss attempted to rise from the ground, but Scrafty was upon the pokémon, hardening his tail to steel. He hit the downed pokémon, who shrieked in pain and terror. The fairy then feebly raised its head at Scrafty, muttered something, and then shut its eyes lay still. Scrafty stared at the fainted togekiss, looking dispirited.
Sylveon exchanged glances with Falinks and Boltund, who stood nearby her.
"Scrafty?" Goodra wondered. "What did he say?"
Scrafty cocked his head as he studied the fallen fairy-type. "He said 'stop them'… seeing him up close I now recognize him. He has big blue triangles on him, just like a togetic friend of mine from the village."
Obstagoon approached her brother and put a paw on his shoulder. "I fear he's a victim just like Gurdurr is."
"The possessor gave him a shiny stone?" Goodra mused as she shrugged.
"Well, that's… just perhaps how Gallade got his stone," Boltund responded.
Scrafty's face remained blank as it lingered on the togekiss. The scrafty shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, friend. I promise to free you, somehow." He rested a hand on the fainted pokémon's head, holding it there for several moments before returning to the group. "Let's continue. We can't help just yet."
The team resumed their quest to the cave, heading for the rocky hill ahead of them. Sylveon noted the area seemed abandoned as the terrain steadily increased in grade as they started going uphill. They arrived at the base of the cliff, which was several hundred feet high. It featured grey striated rock pockmarked with ruts and rust.
"Where's this entrance?" Falinks asked.
Boltund looked at the ground before her and sniffed it. "This way," she said, jerking her head in the direction of the scent she discovered. The group followed her as she jumped on to a rock sticking out a few feet from the cliff base itself. Sylveon immediately remembered the crags and of the number of times that Boltund or Goodra had to help her scale the larger rocks. She jumped the three feet needed to surmount the rock. Falinks was too short to leap upon the stone. The brass' solution was to thump the rock with his helmet a few times, loosening stones to leave a notch in it that he could climb. Scrafty, Obstagoon, and then Goodra cleared the obstacle and they continued to follow Boltund, who was on her toes to try and get them out of harm's way.
"More than one 'mon went this way," Boltund called, pointing her muzzle at a crevice in the hill. Sylveon sighed in relief. At least there was a path which led to the entrance, even if that meant they might have company inside.
The craggy surface dissolved soon into a moderately-sized entrance in the stone. It was about eight feet high and nine feet in width. The daylight exposed the damp nature of the tunnel, but the light failed to reach far within. The six entered the cave's mouth to avoid being seen from overhead.
"Torches?" Falinks pressured. "We'll be sitting farfetch'd without them!"
"And so will you once your adrenaline runs out," Obstagoon said as she inched toward Boltund and asked her for berries from her pack. The electric hound agreed and Obstagoon procured oran and sitrus berries which she gave to the segmented pokémon. She then crushed the berries in her paws to offer to the fainted trooper.
"May I?" Goodra asked Sylveon as she pointed at the fairy-type's back. Sylveon nodded, although her heart started to beat faster. She took a deep breath to calm herself. The fairy-type felt a jolt run down her spine as she felt Goodra rummaging through her pack. Goodra didn't seem to notice. She had to remove berries, greens, cloths, salt, and dried fish to reach the bottom where the torches lay. "Here they are," the wetland dragon said as she procured one tallow-tipped branch of wood. Goodra's expression then went sour. She picked three pieces of wood out of the pack and dropped them on the ground. Sylveon's heart sank.
Goodra returned the provisions she extracted into Sylveon's pack hastily. "We can use only this one," the dragon said, holding up the intact branch.
"Does anyone know fire-type moves?" Obstagoon asked as she helped herself to an oran berry.
Like with the ground-type moves, the pokémon didn't know one. Falinks then said, "There's bound to be some flint to use against the cave wall to light it. It's pretty dry here at the entrance."
The team examined the ground and the loose stones to seek any flint. Scrafty found some first and then beckoned Goodra near the cave wall. He said, "Well, looks like other pokémon using this tunnel system are lighting torches just like us." He pointed at streaks in the stone were flint, rock, or steel struck the wall to produce sparks.
"Hopefully we can find another torch then," Sylveon said, the dash of hope easing her nerves.
Goodra kneeled and Scrafty was about to strike the wall when he said, "We a need starter." He turned and looked around, his eyes falling on the remnants of the broken torch. "We can use those."
"Those pieces are too big to light," Boltund countered.
Obstagoon walked up to the pieces, selected the largest portion, and extended her claws. "I've got it." She began to rake them across the wood, shaving off pieces.
"Is one torch enough?" Sylveon asked. "Is this tunnel short or long?"
"In this tunnel it's easy to get lost. It branches out in many directions. Some tunnels go to Wingfell, and others go toward the forest."
"Wingfell? The settlement has a name?"
"It's the only named settlement on Galar," Obstagoon added as shavings continued to fall on the cavern floor before her. "It was a prosperous town until Hydreigon overtook it."
"The original founders weren't too fond of bird pokémon," Scrafty clarified. "There were a lot of fighting types there though. Eventually other 'mons started to gather there and began their agriculture and built further. They quite inspired me, albeit they prohibited our kind within their walls. Which is why I had to establish my own place," Scrafty elaborated.
"Wow," Boltund said, otherwise speechless. "I've noticed you housed some fairies in your settlement. Were they accepted there?"
Scrafty shrugged. "It's haphazard pickings. Some species they consider good; consider the togepi or ralts family. Others they view with suspicion, like hatterene and morelull. My fairy-type friends usually weren't interested in being seen as paragons of good as they got taken advantage of. They got called surly and moody and then others began to doubt them."
"Makes me wonder if these pokémon considered 'good' ever get fed up with what others expect of them," Boltund suggested.
"That's also a hit or miss thing," Obstagoon said as she shaved off enough wood chips to result in a small heap in front of her. She gathered them and then went toward Scrafty who held the flint. "Some species are wired to always help, others, however, do get fatigued if they believe no one is considering them."
Sylveon said, "I guess that's another reason I'm glad I'm not an espeon."
Scrafty struck the flint against the cavern wall. He managed to get a few sparks upon the kindling Obstagoon deposited on the cave floor. Near the entrance the cave was quite dry, albeit the floor was damp from the recent rain. All they needed was a flame to sustain long enough to light the tallowed torch Goodra held. The dragon stood at the ready, watching Scrafty grate the flint on the wall. After five minutes, the kindling managed to light, and after burning through the shavings for thirty seconds, Goodra stuck the torch in the flames, and it finally caught.
"Yes!" Falinks exclaimed.
Obstagoon gathered up the broken pieces of wood on the ground and approached Sylveon with a hint of consternation. "I'll give you back the rest of the torch. We might need it later." She opened Sylveon's backpack and placed the oily wood back inside.
"About earlier…" Sylveon began.
"No need to mention it," Obstagoon responded, her reply sounding more like a snap.
"No," Sylveon urged. "This involves Falinks too." She looked at the segmented pokémon. "I'm sorry for losing my head. I need to get used to that destructive tendency when dragons are involved, but I know I very well can hurt you and if Goodra gets caught in my crosshairs, I don't want her to be victim of that madness."
"It was that strong?" Boltund asked.
Sylveon nodded. "Very… like a mad rage. Obviously as an eevee I never felt that way."
"None of us changed type-wise from evolution," Scrafty mentioned, "Besides you." He studied her for a few moments, his grin faltering into a frown. "I understand you need to feel your new self out. I'm unsure if there's a baseline or threshold that you need to reach to not go crazy."
"You're saying she must constantly combat dragons?" Falinks asked, his eyes wide.
"No," Scrafty said. "But she might need to fight off her energy… much like we do."
"We?" Falinks interrogated. "We're nothing alike!"
Boltund rolled her eyes. Goodra intervened and said, "Yes you two are. You're fighting types. You're apt to fight your way out of a predicament."
Scrafty snorted and said, "Not exactly wrong, but you make it seem like we're barbarians without regards for consequences."
Goodra tugged one horn as she had her right hand wielding the torch. She leaned in and whispered something into Scrafty's ear. Whatever she said pacified him and he no longer looked defensive.
"Is this something about me?" Falinks questioned, glaring at Goodra.
Goodra sighed. "Not really. Scrafty's also a dark-type and has other predispositions."
"Just because we got hard heads doesn't mean I'm the stupid one!" Falinks burst, the brass looking at his troops, all their bright blue eyes narrowing.
"No," Boltund interrupted. "What she means is your type has a lot to do with your character. You can stereotype pokémon based on them, but I've noticed there are many misunderstandings that happen from that alone."
Obstagoon concurred and said, "Which is why dark types overall get a bad rap."
Falinks groaned. "Whatever," he said dismissively. "The smart thing to do is to start our trek before the torch burns out."
"Yes," Sylveon agreed. "Now Goodra will need to lead."
"Where will you be?"
Sylveon looked at the group and said, "The back this time."
Obstagoon announced, "I'll lead with Goodra. I can carry the torch if she feels her arm will fall off." Goodra chuckled in response.
"I'll stick by Sylveon," Scrafty said.
"I'll be in front of her," Boltund said.
"I'm near the front then," Falinks noted. "I'm fine with that."
The team assembled and then the line of pokémon crept into the interior of the tunnel. The light failed quickly, and the group was plunged into darkness save the flaming torch. The floor was compacted gravel mixed with mud and ranged from damp to wet. Sylveon cringed as her feet sloshed through an unseen puddle. The air cooled the farther they travelled in. They followed the leaders down a singular tunnel for some distance and conversed quietly.
"Do you know the way?" Goodra asked doubtfully. "Once we find a fork in the tunnel, at least?"
"No," Obstagoon said. "Some scouts ran through here when our settlement was intact, but that was moons ago. I have never traveled to this region. Then again, we're underground. We'd need a navigator who knows these tunnels."
"And they're in short supply since most of them are the enemy," Falinks grumbled.
"I wish we left earlier," Sylveon mentioned, "When Toxtricity came through. She knew how to navigate to boot."
Boltund softly said, "Sylveon, we couldn't leave earlier… the river back home was too high and running too fast for us to cross."
"It was," Sylveon admitted. "I wasn't ready either."
"I sort of want to meet this toxtricity you mention," Falinks said. "She sounds like she's made many waves against Hydreigon."
"Yet," Obstagoon started, "She's why the border security is as high as it is."
"I don't think that's completely true," Goodra protested. "I get this feeling there are more reasons."
"The possessed crowd?" Boltund asked.
"Morgrem…" Sylveon found herself saying.
"He might be with Hydreigon for all we know."
"Yes… but can you imagine how he'd feel with a fairy that close?"
Goodra glanced over her shoulder at Sylveon in the rear. "He'd no doubt feel on edge. I can say that simply from you, Sylveon. Please take no offense."
"No, I understand," the fairy-type conceded. Goodra sounded touchy, which was uncharacteristic of her. Then again, none seemed too thrilled to be navigating a cramped, dark, and damp cave where enemies could spring upon them at any moment.
"Here it is," Obstagoon said, reorienting the group. "Our first fork."
"Ah…" Falinks cooed. "I hate this game. Left tunnel or right tunnel? At least back home all the tunnels were shallow enough that I could see in them!"
Scrafty said, "We were facing northeast when we entered this tunnel. Thank you Goodra for getting rid of that fog."
"You're welcome," the dragon said.
"The tunnel curved north I think…" Scrafty said.
"You don't sound sure," Boltund announced.
"I'm not." Scrafty laughed. "I lived on the plains. I don't know this area."
"Hush," Obstagoon scolded. "I hear something."
"Which tunnel?" Boltund whispered. "So many smells here are stale or drowned in woobat scent."
Obstagoon groaned. "I think I hear woobat."
"Damn," Scrafty said, "There will be a swarm of them!"
A woobat came from the tunnel to the left, which was the tunnel Sylveon wished to go down. It regarded them cautiously from what Sylveon could see. The pokémon didn't seem to have visible eyes. However, once its heart-shaped nose pointed at Boltund, it shrieked loudly.
Scrafty shook his head and said, "He just called his buddies!
"Down that tunnel!" Goodra exclaimed, indicating with the torch to go down the right tunnel.
"Right behind you," Obstagoon assented, following Goodra's lead as three more woobat appeared from the left tunnel. Sylveon's companions bolted into the right tunnel. Scrafty and Sylveon pushed past Boltund, who fell behind them purposefully. The electric hound emitted a thunderbolt at the increasing swarm, hitting several of the psychic bats. Some of them fainted and crashed to the muddy floor. However, more woobat kept coming, and then Boltund backed away and indicated for her companions to move away from the swarm.
They rushed down the tunnel as safely as they could, with Goodra and Obstagoon warning of deep puddles or of stalactites and stalagmites that might impede their friends. Goodra, in her haste, broke some rocky columns from the cavern ceiling, which then toppled on Falinks' troops, who were busy trying to avoid puddles on the floor. They remained carrying the fainted trooper, who was slathered in oran and sitrus poultices.
The brass huffed, "It is not my day!"
"Sorry!" Goodra said, rubbing her head.
Boltund caught up to the group and asked, "Everyone okay?"
"Yes, besides falling rocks," Falinks moaned.
"I said sorry," Goodra emphasized.
"Whatever," he added flippantly.
