Across the hot desert we go as this hot summer and hot story heat up! That's hot! Chapter 16 hot!

Chapter 16

A Chasm

The desert was hot. That came as no surprise to anyone.

Likewise, it was borderline unpassable, with any who entered its confines barely able to see even a few feet in front of themselves. When the temperatures plummeted at night, this was made even worse. Reception was spotty at the best of times, and apps hardly worked besides. So, from the moment Juliana and the party entered, it was clear they had only their wits and grit to survive on.

"Don't worry," Kofu had assured them as they rode down Cascarrafa's lifts, "there are markers throughout the desert. We find them, and we shouldn't get lost, even with this sandstorm."

There was no way they were going to argue with the burly man hoisting a just-as-burly backpack to his shoulders. Instead, they saw fit to cloak themselves against the elements and forge into the desert at first light.

That light made very little difference.

The sandstorm all but blotted out the sun, casting the Asado Desert in a blistering, sweltering shadow that refused to lift. For a moment, Juliana thought it would have done the opposite, but when they were a mere thirty minutes out, she was already begging for the water she knew they had to conserve.

"Kofu, what're these markers?" Gloria asked. It sounded more like shouting over the winds, but Juliana supposed that had to be their normal voice if they wanted to get through.

"Some are rock faces. Others are big signposts. Can't miss 'em!" he shouted back. At his description, Juliana looked around, as if she could catch sight of such a thing. There was nothing but sand for miles, though, and Juliana almost despaired of finding a single one.

So caught up in it she was, that she nearly tripped over a Flittle hiding in the sand. She was caught halfway, noticing it was Nemona who caught her. Neither girl said a word, but soon as Juliana was stable, she pushed herself away. The air dropped a few degrees with that.

"How're we supposed to find anything through this storm?" Arven muttered. His steps pounded the sand with some gusto, surpassing even Gloria and Kofu. He nearly disappeared from view due to the pouring sand. "Ack!" The sudden exclamation was heard without issue, Arven becoming sharper through the sand. Beyond him looked like a craggy surface. "Think I found one."

"Ah, the stone arch. We have our path! Follow me!"

Follow him, they did. From here, Kofu appeared far more sure of the path they were taking to get to Porto Marinada, though it made it no less treacherous. More than once, a sudden squall of sand threatened to blow them entirely off the path, or occasionally some Pokémon would scurry out from their hiding place and force them to take a different way around. Signposts came and went, showing they were on target, but all too soon, the sun was setting on the desert, and Kofu directed them to a nook inside a rock face.

"We don't wanna traverse the desert at night." All were too exhausted to agree, save Nemona, who tried to do some squats. Her Naclstack and Floragato were at her side for that, both charging or punching at the sand in the air.

"What are you doing, Nemona?" Juliana finally asked, unable to restrain the vitriol in her voice. The girl didn't look back once.

"Training."

"Looks to me like you're just kinda flailing at sand." The cold remark made the desert near frigid and earned a scoff from Arven. "Why did you come along again?"

"Gotta do something. Besides, I'm sure there'll be a chance to battle."

It was the first time Juliana could swear to hearing hesitation in Nemona's voice regarding battling, or her reason for being in any place. Even the wording struck her as something she had been spouting over a week ago, but forced, like both girls were attempting to find something to hold on to. Something that could give their actions meaning.

Nemona just seemed to hide it better.

"Go to sleep, girls. Tomorrow won't get any easier," Gloria said, curling up against the wall. Juliana was inclined to agree and plopped herself next to a resting Arven. The boy couldn't stop frowning at his phone, but no one bothered to ask him what it was for. Eventually, Nemona retired as well, placing herself on Arven's other side, her head soon drooping on his shoulder.

When the morning arrived, however, Gloria's words proved prophetic.

The desert was still hot. The sandstorm was still going. About the only difference was that this time they had called their Pokémon out. Taking to the sky in his steely glory was Gloria's Corviknight. Gone was his taunting nature, focused only on spying the way forward. Flying alongside him was Wattrel, trying to keep pace with the larger bird, but having difficulties in the unceasing storm.

"Wattrel, if it's too much, just come on down, okay?"

"Trrell!" Juliana wasn't sure if he was saying he was fine or to come and save him.

"Well, I'm just glad we have some scouts," Kofu said. He started to laugh, only to come out choking when sand got in his mouth. "We'll need them. The desert only gets wider from here."

"Yeah, 'cause that's real encouraging…" Arven said, spitting some sand out of his own mouth. Some of it hit Gloria's Drednaw, the Rock type turtle leading a trudging path on the ground. She didn't look perturbed, focused on wherever Corviknight was seeming to lead them. At intervals, the birds would fly down to guide them, though it became harder around midday.

Because that was when the first tremor hit.

It had been felt as only a dull ache through the ground the day prior, but around their midday break, there was a sudden cracking sound. Then the ground trembled and rumbled as if it had been split in two. Rocks broke off their faces, and the sand behaved yet more erratically. All nearly tumbled over, but Drednaw held them up.

"Naw," she said. "Drednaw."

"Felt that, huh? Think we might be getting close to those dueling shapes."

"We sure it isn't th-thunder?"

"Might as well be," Arven said. "That wasn't that close, though."

"No, if we were upon them, we'd be feelin' it in our bones!" Kofu said, yet another booming laugh issuing forth. No one shared in it, least of all Koraidon, who had started to whine. However, it marked the end to their break, and they continued on, nothing but them and the sand keeping them company. The tremors continued throughout the day, some feeling heavier than the last.

Their second night in the desert was spent in complete silence, trying to recover; a feat made wholly difficult by the quaking that felt like it consumed the entire desert. No one got a true wink that night, and their steps became as moving through sludge when they set off the next morning; a morning that got worse with the increasing intensity of the quakes.

They were barely an hour out, when one rippled through the desert, a wall of pure, solid sand rising before their eyes.

"Everyone, take cover. Wugtrio, Ice Beam!" Kofu had pulled out a Poké Ball, and with it called a pink, three-headed anemone to the surface. In spite of it being desert rather than beach, the Wugtrio that belonged to the Gym Leader didn't question it. All three heads moved in tandem, sending their scouring Ice Beam over all surface of the sand. Much broke through, but enough was frozen around them that Drednaw punched through it, creating a hole that their group dove through to escape the crushing wall.

That proved to be a mistake. As the sand fell behind them, it broke the air of the sandstorm, as if all of them could be found in the eye of said storm. Sun peaked through cracks in the darkened canopy above, illuminating what was either the most fascinating or frightening sight one could ever witness.

DONA-NA-NAAAAA!

PHUUUUUN!

Two giants were cloaked in the sand, standing tall amidst numerous rock formations. Some looked to have been weathered down, but a great many appeared to have been destroyed by the Titans that now took up presence in the desert. That wasn't the awe-inspiring sight, though. Rather, it was exactly what those Titans were.

"Is that a Donphan?" Gloria shouted, hardly able to get the words out amidst all the shaking. No one had a straight answer for her, too busy trying to take in the sight, even as it made no sense.

The two giants reared back, revealing more of their forms. On the side furthest from them, the pale sun glinted off the Donphan-like creature that was tucking itself into a ball. There were metal treads that ran where the nose of the Donphan should have been. They were lit up an angry red, but none of it matched the digital eyes that glared that same mighty red. There were thin horns as well, black in color, but no less set in goring its opponent. All too quickly, the metal Donphan turned itself into a metal projectile and shot across the sand with ease, right for its opponent.

"PHUUUUUNA!" The other creature angled its head, its gigantic tusks protruding. It whipped its head, and with a single cleave, swiped at the metal Donphan, bringing it off course. As it did, its fuller form was revealed. This one was much closer to an actual Donphan, yet as if through old age or more rugged terrain had become spiky. On its snout were red spikes and its tusks had grown to gargantuan lengths, even without taking its titanic size into account.

"Korrraaai…" Koraidon's whimper caught Juliana off-guard, causing her to pull her attention away from the Titans.

"Koraidon?" she asked softly, though it wasn't heard in the loud crashes. The two Donphan were running at each other, locking their tusks in a clash that sent another sandstorm rolling through the area. "Hey, you okay?"

"Kor…kor…" He was practically shaking, staring at the two unfamiliar Pokémon before him. Arven, too, patted him in concern, though it did little good.

"What's wrong with him?" Nemona asked, pushing up from the sand. No one had an answer, especially in light of what happened next.

"Trrell! Trrell!" Wattrel's call was barely audible, but was enough that Juliana looked up. The metal Donphan was cloaked in electricity, as if siphoning power to itself. That electricity turned blue, powering its metal treads as it started to spin. Once it reached a humming zenith, it shot at its fellow Titan. That ancient Donphan was prepared, however, and with a single swipe of its snout, sent the metal one careening towards them.

"Dodge it!" Juliana shouted. She hooked herself around Koraidon's neck, attempting to drag him off to the side. With Arven's help, she was successful, while Gloria and Kofu dove in the opposite direction. In the skies, Corviknight dove, catching the tiny Wattrel with his talons and soaring down to meet them.

Only Nemona didn't move.

"Hey, Nemona. Move out of the way, already!" Arven shouted.

"No way, amigo," Nemona said. She was tightening her armbrace, grinning as she said it. With a Poké Ball tossed, Pawmot and Floragato appeared, each already readying the attacks they knew their trainer would call. "These things are in the way, so we're gonna have to blast through what they threw at us."

"Are you mad?!" Juliana and Gloria managed to shout at the same time. The former pushed against Koraidon, ready to tackle the idiot girl out of the way, but it was Corviknight who was the faster. Wattrel's chirp went higher in intensity, as if warning the bigger bird he seemed to look up to. "Those things are massive and we don't even know what they are."

"Only a better challenge! Vamos! Magical Leaf! Electro Ball!" Floragato was nimble, summoning the rainbow of leaves and sending them flying. They mixed and mingled with Pawmot's more deliberate orb of electricity, flying for the metal Donphan. They crashed upon its figure soon as it got close to them, and the creature whirled to a stop. Its hooves beat at the sand, its treads lighting up, and its body was cloaked in a telltale yellow.

"That's a Giga Impact!" Juliana shouted. Not that it was the only Donphan moving. The older one was on the move, too, cloaked in a murky, brown light as it charged headlong for its foe. Unperturbed by Nemona's attempted assault, the iron Donphan spat sand in their direction and made to clash with its opposite. They met, and the resultant blast tore rock away, what little was left, and sent it flying in all directions. Most notably, one chunk sailed right for Nemona.

"Corna!" The girl snapped to at Corviknight's cry. It was as if the ineffectiveness of her attack had put her off her game, just long enough to make her prone to danger. Thankfully, Corviknight didn't listen to Wattrel's warnings, instead diving in and grabbing Nemona and her Pokémon to safety. It just wasn't to his own.

Crack! The boulder struck Corviknight's steel feathers, the weight too much for the bird already in motion. He wavered and then crashed into the sand at Gloria's feet. The only consolation was that Nemona and her Pokémon were unharmed, but clearly shaken. So shaken, it was up to the sole, unoccupied adult to take action, Kofu standing tall alongside Wugtrio.

"Ice Beam wall. Buy us a few seconds against that debris."

"Wug wug!" Kofu's partner nodded all three heads, and like before, they joined to create an ice beam that wove together like a web. It quickly created a translucent wall, one that was already beginning to melt from the heat. Given the Titans clashing just beyond it, Juliana knew it wouldn't make a difference. Kofu looked to know it, too.

"We won't get by just with battling. There needs to be a way around," Juliana said, flinching as sand rolled over them.

"That's not easy unless we pull way back," Arven admitted. Koraidon whimpered into him. "We don't even know what those things are. Though…they look familiar. Like something out of a fairy tale."

"Can't believe I'm saying this, but theory later. Wattrel, it's up to you."

"Watt?"

"You're the only one left that can fly. Get us a vantage point!" Juliana ordered. Wattrel nodded, his usual dopey expression fading to be replaced with determination. All he needed was one more look at the downed Corviknight and he was off, flitting high into the sandstorm. She prayed he was quick about it.

Her prayer was put to the test as the two Titans began to roll around the sand at high speeds. They each cut deep trenches in the sand, pouring more of it into the air. Every time they came together in a clash, it sent the entire desert shaking, including the very wind. Arven dove to cover Juliana and Koraidon, receiving some stones in his hair for his trouble.

"Damn it. Where did those things even come from?" he shouted. Across the way, Gloria and Kofu were recovering while Nemona appeared shut down, staring every way she could for something, likely anything, to do. "They look like Donphan, act like Donphan, but one of them looks like metal and the other looks like…"

Arven appeared to see something that either enlightened or disturbed him. He reached out, towards the still whimpering Koraidon. Juliana's own eyes widened, seeing the similarities between their scaly companion and the giant, tusked beast battling it out with its counterpart. Yet in spite of that, she couldn't arrive at an answer.

Thankfully, Wattrel arrived with one. "Watt! Watt!"

"You found something?" Juliana pushed to her feet, quick to follow Wattrel. The Titans flung attacks at each other once again, causing the sand to rise at her feet. It pushed her and her two companions forward, the sand clearing for all of a second to reveal what Wattrel had found: a tall spire of climbing rock, with a perch at the top that could give them the perfect vantage point. "Excellent! Arven, give me a boost!"

"That'll hurt your hands, Juli. Koraidon, can't you-"

"Kor. Kor." The snorting shake of his head communicated everything. Juliana patted him on the head; she had no time to waste. They needed out of the situation now. With a relenting sigh, Arven moved over and cupped his hands, giving her enough of a vault that her hand slapped on the rock.

Juliana dangled a moment before wrapping her other hand around, each of her fingers finding the purchase she needed. Her feet quickly found it, too, and with a grunt, she started to climb. It was rough going, the tremors threatening to dislodge her hands from the stone, but she refused to let that happen. Groaning, her hand reached the next level and heaved her body upwards. Thankfully, a shelf of rock was soon apparent, allowing her to rest her feet and take a breather about a third of the way up. Wattrel flew past her, keeping an eye on the Titans. Juliana sucked in a harsh breath.

"Juli, below!" The ground shook again, stirring the sands that covered the desert floor. At Arven's shout, Juliana looked down, her eyes widening once again. Many things were emerging from the sands in a multi-colored array. Juliana's chest tightened, and she internally cursed upon realizing what was there: a whole group of Scovillain. The prehistoric looking Pokémon crawled out of their hole, both of their green and red heads snapping, chattering and looking utterly perturbed. Worse yet, they were turning their heads on her. "Climb!"

"Scol!"

"Vil! Vil!"

Juliana leapt, launching from the small plinth so her hand could catch the next level. No sooner had she launched than a spit of fire struck the stone where she'd stood. A second later and it was an Energy Ball. She took not a moment to breathe, using what she could to continually launch herself upwards, fingers digging into the stone to the point it bruised her.

"Scolvilla!" Juliana looked down, in time to see a few of the Scovillain attempting to climb the rocks. They angled their heads upward and fired.

"Intercept, Wattrel!"

"Trrel!" Wattrel dove, his body cloaked in electricity. With an outstretched wing, he sliced through the projectiles. Below, Arven was kicking sand at them, but another rumbling tremor caused him to fall on his behind, unable to get traction. Juliana was on her own, the top of the rock still quite the distance.

Like we don't have enough problems, she spat. Screwing her face into one of determination, she leapt upwards, trying to close the gap in a short amount of time. As she did so, a Scovillain snapped both of its heads up, nipping at her heel and barely missing her. That all but took the breath away and her foot slipped, leaving her dangling.

"Magical Leaf! Knock 'em down!" Juliana turned her head, a different sort of fear flooding her. The multicolored leaves sliced at sand, right for the Scovillain…and for her. Juliana swung herself at the rock, banging her body against it, but giving her enough purchase to fling herself upward to avoid the attack. "All right, come on! I'll take you all on!"

"Nemona, shut it!" Juliana shouted, the words coming out more as a wheeze. A couple of the Scovillain had been knocked over, but many more remained, some even converging on Arven. With a grin, Nemona raised her hand, as if to give another command. Juliana made to jump once more, the energy sapping her body.

"Stop!" Gloria's voice interceded on the storm. Her hand shot out, catching Nemona's arm and pushing her back. "You'll hurt Juliana."

"They'll hurt her first! If I can draw them away then-"

"Then what?" Gloria yelled. Her voice was harsh, instructive, and something Juliana had little time for. Ignoring the Scovillain below, she kept climbing, trusting in Wattrel to keep her safe. The words on the sands were unavoidable, though. Especially when Nemona had none to give. "Then you battle them to your heart's content? What will that prove, Nemona? If your first instinct is to throw yourself into battle you have no reason or purpose.

"If you battle the whole world like that, you'll never be satisfied!"

"I…" Nemona's stammer was an unusual occurrence. Juliana believed she'd never seen her do it even once. Yet now, her body appeared to slump from Juliana's bird's eye view. "I don't…"

"Right now, battling straight will get you killed. Will get us all killed."

"I kn… I…"

Juliana slapped a hand to the top of the rock, pulling herself up until she could stand atop it. The Scovillain were far below, but climbing with impunity. An Ember singed past her ear, but Juliana chose to not worry. Instead, she looked out over the expanse of ruined desert they were in.

The Titans were still whirling around and clashing, each driving the other this way and that. From her height, however, Juliana could see something more than that: they were staying in the same area. As if in some demented wrestling match, the two were battering each other to knock the other out of the ring. And where that ring ended was a shining, golden glow deep in the sand, a rather telltale marking threatening to drag it down.

"It's here…" she whispered, an almost manic grin coming to her face. She cupped her hands, facing downward. "I see it. Arven, there's-"

"Vaultin' Veluza, look out!" Juliana snapped to, just in time to see the ancient Donphan strike another stone structure. With its mighty tusks, it flung the massive stone, as large as a building, right at the metal one. Said metal Donphan whipped its iron trunk around, splitting the stone in two…and sending it right for all of them.

"Drednaw, Stone Edge!" Gloria called. She faced the stone head on, pushing a dazed Nemona behind her. Taking point was her bulky turtle, who roared and sent massive pillars of stone out from the sand. They grew larger and larger until, finally, they hit the debris.

Even that was not strong enough to shatter it, however, instead sending it careening off, right for the rock where Juliana stood. Gloria grimaced at the miscalculation, but in seconds, the damage was done. The debris, half as large as the spire upon which she stood, ripped through it. Many of the Scovillain were struck and thrown off, but Juliana received no such luck. She simply got shaky ground as her footing disappeared, the tower crumbling towards the ground.

"Shit!" she shouted, attempting to regain some footing but failing. The sand, mixed with all the rocks and debris, was quickly looking like an unpleasant end. "Koraidon! Koraidon, help!"

"Big guy, you heard her! Koraidon!" The big lizard couldn't. He shied away, shaking his head and whimpering like he wanted to get as far away as possible. "Koraidon, if you keep running, you'll lose her forever!"

Juliana froze, Arven's purposeful words imparting accidental meaning. There was barely any time to reflect on them, yet they drilled themselves into her mind, her eyes finding Nemona's. They connected for the briefest of moments. Then the rest of the rock gave way, and Juliana plummeted to uncertain doom. Koraidon looked up, his legs starting to move, wings sprouting from his , but his body too sluggish to reach her in his hesitation.

"TRRREELLLL!" Wattrel's cry came from nowhere, the usual dopey bird swooping in with fierce eyes of determination. His claws came out, clutching to the back of her uniform and pulling up. Or he tried to pull up. Far too quickly, gravity overtook both of them, dragging them to their demise, even as the Donphan battled, heedless of the conflict nearby.

"No, Wattrel, let go! I'm not letting you get pulled down, too!'

"Trrell!"

"Wattrel, I said let…GO!" Juliana smacked her hand upwards, striking Wattrel with her palm. It was a vain attempt to get him to let her go, but he refused. His chest puffed, even as they fell. His wings beat with such rapidity, Juliana wondered if they would rip straight off. She worried they would, too, but he kept flapping…and flapping…

…and his body began to glow.

A burst of energy infused the air, a current of electricity running so strong that her hair stood on end. She looked up in awe. Koraidon stopped, staring at the sight, as did the others. Even the Donphan appeared to pause, panting, their eyes drawn to the great light eclipsing the storm around them.

Wattrel's wings grew longer, his body stronger and fuller than ever before. His beak elongated as well, joining the rest of his body in their massive expansion in size. The talons clasped harder, threatening to tear the shirt, but holding so strong that Juliana soon realized she wasn't falling.

No, instead…they flew!

"Kilowaaaaa!" The light shattered, revealing the newly evolved form of Wattrel. One beat of his wings brought him flying straight up, dodging all manner of debris. His strength shown, he spun and vaulted through the air until they rose above all the others, where the Donphan arena was clearest. "KILO!"

Juliana was speechless, yet on the verge of laughter. "Wattrel…you evolved."

"Kilo."

"Save the emotion for later!" Gloria shouted up. "What do you see, Juli?"

"Oh. Right." Juliana reached up and slapped her cheeks. She shared a nod with her evolved avian partner and faced forward. "They're sticking to this area. I think we all know why!"

"The Herba Mystica?" Arven shouted. He had regained his own footing on the sand, cuts and knicks visible on his face, but looking whole with Crocalor at his side. "You can see it."

"I can. And I can see the way out of this! It's connected to what looks like a sinkhole! If we can drive them there then we can-"

"I like it! Miss Gloria?" Kofu shouted. He was winding his arm up, Wugtrio skirting the sands at his side. Gloria got the message just fine, cracking her knuckles with a grin.

"All right, team!" she shouted, withdrawing two Poké Balls from her belt. "You kids have the power of Terastallization, yeah? Break it out! We can't stand a chance in straight battle, so make one blast and push 'em straight in. Cinderace, Toxtricity, time to stir up some sand!"

"Right. Kilowattrel, you heard the general! Take us down!" Kilowattrel nodded. He tucked his wings in and shot right for the sand. Despite his extra weight, he was no less nimble, bringing them to the sands and skidding across it. Gloria had already taken off with her two partners, skirting the edge of the battle towards the very spot where the sinkhole was forming. "All right. Arven, you got this."

"Don't have a Tera Orb, personally, but Crocalor has been heating his flames for just this moment. We won't miss the shot!"

"Agreed. We don't need type, either. Just force. Kilowattrel, let's light it up!" Juliana dug into her pocket, pulling forth the Tera Orb, its crystalline energy swirling inside. She held it forward, focusing all her energies upon it. She wasn't alone, with Kofu coming to stand right by her with his usual grin. The only one with hesitation was Nemona, but she quickly stepped up at the sight of them. All three of them held their Tera Orbs out, and as one, they gave their shout.

"TERASTALLIZE!"

The energy flew out, surrounding the air and creating a thin layer of crystal dust. One of the Titans turned, almost enraptured by the sight of the energy in the air. That was enough that the other crashed into it. Their crash bought enough time for the crystals to surround the Pokémon, breaking to reveal their crystal-armored form. Juliana stomped through the sand.

"Keep 'em moving towards the sand! Weather Ball!"

"Magical Leaf!"

"Water Pulse!"

"Flamethrower!"

All four of the attacks shot out, some fully powered, while others joined the mess of attacks aiming for the desert floor. They hit the side of the ancient Donphan, causing it to stumble enough that the mechanical Donphan tackled it. Both were pitched to the side, but with a swipe of the tusks, the mechanical one was caught, carried around until it was nearly at the edge of the ring.

"Fire again!" Juliana clenched her fist. While she gave the order, she tried to keep an eye on Gloria, the woman in position and waiting. The next volley of strikes shot out for the mechanical Donphan, blasting the sand at its feet. It teetered and its hindlegs went down, reflecting the golden glow of the Herba Mystica it was so close to. The continual battle was clearly taking its toll, and was no different for the ancient one. It barely had enough energy to charge it down, trying to give that final push to knock it out of the ring.

"Cinderace, go! Get ready for a Pyro Ball to knock them silly!"

"All right, now fire straight at the sinkhole! Nemona, hit them with Magical Leaf."

"Er…right." Nemona was caught unawares by the sudden strategy, but quickly clasped her fist. Across the way, Cinderace had leapt upwards, carrying Toxtricity with him to launch the lizard at the Donphan's backs He planted himself firmly, waiting, while Cinderace fell. Nemona stepped by Juliana's side. "Magical Leaf!"

"Now, punch it!"

Despite their varying experience and approaches, everyone trusted in the ultimate goal. Floragato shined bright, her Magical Leaf becoming larger in size to match the Titans they were up against. The leaves sliced and diced at the air, cutting at both Donphan, to the point they both started to groan in annoyance. It was enough that they stopped trying to run each other down, keeping still for Cinderace to flip off one of their backs and begin charging a dual Pyro Ball.

As he did that, Kilowattrel's Weather Ball flew forward, becoming a stone wrecking ball. Crocalor's flames hit it, heating it to become like a meteor that was arcing through the air. Wugtrio's three heads came together, emitting a powerful globe of water that caught the meteor and encased it in an aqueous shield. It flew overhead with a powerful gust of Kilowattrel's wings, until it hovered right over the sinkhole.

"Toxtricity, Overdrive!"

The meteor plummeted, all of its elements mixing with the sandstorm. As it fell, it picked up speed, the very wind visible around it as it reached a zenith. From atop the metal Donphan, Toxtricity leapt. Already seeing what would happen, Kilowattrel took off, snatching its fellow Electric type from the sky. They flew over the projectile, and with a single strum, Toxtricity sent a bellowing wave of sound out that caught the meteor. Electricity was siphoned from Kilowattrel's crystal bulb, enhancing and amplifying Toxtricity's attack as it screamed out. It picked up even further in speed until it collided with the very sinkhole they were aiming for,

"CINDACE!" Both orbs of flame flew out, searing the already hot air until they struck the legs of each form of Donphan. They stumbled, crashing into each other with an inelegant tumble and leaning towards the precipice of the draining sand. As they did, the Terastallized attacks hit the sinkhole and exploded.

Sand erupted into the air. The very ground rumbled and gave rise to another wave of sand that towered above them. Kofu gathered all the kids close, while Gloria dove out of the wave. Even the Pokémon weren't immune. The crystal around them dissipated as the wave caught them. It swept them out into the destroyed rocks, causing each to knock into each other. Kofu was the first to catch on one of the rocks, and Juliana latched on to him. Nemona and Arven soon grabbed her, while from the air, Kilowattrel plucked everyone else, riding out the wave until, mercifully, it finished.

All they heard were doleful cries of the Donphan, vanishing into the abyss they had fallen into.

"Everyone bueno?" Kofu asked. His fingers slackened when the threat was gone, and every single one of them collapsed on the sand. They didn't have the strength to answer, though Arven coughed out some sand.

"Kwat." Juliana pushed up, shaking her head free from the sand, and looked at her Pokémon. He hopped over a bit, tapping her with his beak. She reached and patted him on the head.

"Thanks, Kilowattrel. You're the best." He flapped his wings, crying out at the praise, and soon began to look around. It was as if he was trying to find Corviknight, but the bird had long since been returned by his trainer. To that end, Juliana looked around in an attempt to locate Gloria, staring straight across the desert to the hazy blue sky. "Blue…sky…?"

"The sandstorm…" Nemona muttered, trying to pick the sand out of her ears. "It's gone."

"Vaultin' Veluza, ain't that a sight!"

"Korra!"

"Hey, wait, Koraidon!" Arven's shout didn't impede Koraidon in the slightest. His feet beat their way across the sand, stirring it up in their faces as he dashed right for the source of impact. All fear was left forgotten, and Juliana could see why now that the air was clear: the golden plant that was more visible. She finished standing and attempted to find traction. The desert proved difficult in that, but soon enough, Juliana found her footing and raced after Koraidon.

Just as they were about to reach the Herba Mystica, she lunged, grabbing hold of Koraidon's tail and pulling with all force. His jaw managed to clasp a vine of the Herba Mystica, but his body fell back to a sit, ripping the plant with its force. They both tumbled backwards, only to be caught by a combined force of Arven, Crocalor and Kilowattrel. Arven was the first to reach forward, snatching the Herba Mystica from Koraidon's mouth and slapping him with it.

"Bad Koraidon. This is for everyone."

"Kor…" Crocalor helped push Juliana up, even as Arven rubbed Koraidon's snout in consolation. She, in turn, patted Crocalor on the head, and turned in the direction of the unearthed golden vines.

Her stomach dropped.

"Arven…" she said, eyes going wide as dinner plates. The sound of footsteps across the sand said they were being joined, and those eyes were joining her in staring at what she saw. "I think there's more than enough for everyone."

Arven was quick to turn and see the reason. His eyes went wide, as well. For before them was nothing less than a gigantic hole, plunging downward unto infinity. Snaking up from it were the vines belonging to the Herba Mystica, but they certainly didn't end there. Each inched closer, joined by Gloria, who uttered a small gasp when they managed to see what was inside.

"Crystal…" she whispered.

Glittering under the surface was indeed a great crystalline chasm. Connected to it were the vines of the Herba Mystica, as though drawing power from what went deep into the earth. The longer they looked, the more Juliana wondered if they could see the mighty Donphan falling, but the sight stole so much of her breath away, she couldn't utter a sound. All she was transfixed upon was the glittering lights that went on and on and on…to only one logical place.

"Is this where they came from?" Arven asked, breathless as well. They all inched closer, peering into the depths that showed not an inkling of what lay within them. "Were those Pokémon from Area Zero?"

He took another step forward and the air started to ring. At first, Juliana wondered if it was Cassiopeia hacking her phone again, but when it grew in intensity, and Arven stopped to dig in his pocket, she knew that guess wasn't anywhere close. He was barely halfway to grab his phone, when the device shot out and floated in front of them.

"STOP!" The echoing word appeared to push them all back, sounding deep and booming. The ringing hadn't ended, and Juliana had to blink more than once before she realized something: the hole had gotten smaller.

"Dad?!" Arven shouted. He tried to grab his phone, but it evaded all of his attempts. "Dad, that's you, right?"

"Professor Turo?" Nemona asked, a hand to her mouth in utter surprise.

"Dad, what are you talking about?"
"You cannot go further," Turo said on the other end. A picture finally flashed on screen, barely visible due to size, but the unmistakable form of both Arven's parents was plastered there. "You cannot intrude."

"What are you talking about? Mom, dad, what were those things?" There was no answer from them. They just stared blankly at Arven, their command and warning final. Arven started to growl, his body shaking with furor. Juliana and Nemona ran up to him, gripping him by the shoulders to calm him down. "Answer me!"

"Stay away." The words felt so cold, an absolute match with everything Arven had said about his parents. Not that it didn't hurt. Arven took a step back, trying to rein in his understandably fluctuating emotions. "STAY AWAY!"

The ringing increased, and everyone covered their ears. Like a piercing scream, Juliana felt her head was ready to split in two. She attempted glancing up, and realized the warning wasn't meant for them or Arven, but instead for Gloria, who trudged through the sand to reach the ever-shrinking chasm. It didn't deter Gloria, who was willing to crawl on her hands and knees to reach it.

"There's…crystal down there…" she groaned, trying to grab fistfuls of sand but failing. Cinderace and Toxtricity were likewise incapacitated. "I need to find it. Break it."

"YOU WILL NOT."

"Mom…?" Arven called out. His hand was reaching for his phone, his body cloaked in a familiar red light. Juliana peered at the closing chasm, realizing what it reminded her of at last: Orthworm's tunnels, and the red light that had appeared to close them off in Segin Squad's base. "What are you hiding down there? What's going on?"

"You cannot break it. Cannot break it. It is the key. K-k-key." The communication was cutting in and out, rendering the message a broken jumble. The ringing had tapered off, the sand almost returning in full to the desert. Gloria tried to reach for it, but her arm slumped in the sand. Kofu ran after her. "Key to past and future both."

The voices of the two professors mingled, sounding like some alien creature, unfeeling and focused. Arven finally found it in himself to grab his phone, staring his parents right in the eyes. "What key? The Herba Mystica? Terastallization? Koraidon's past? What are you hiding in Area Zero? Is this getting close to your research?"

"Stay away."

"Damn it, dad. I'm trying here!"

A small snap was heard over the line, like static popping across the screen. Then, the next thing they knew, both Sada and Turo looked up, staring straight at their son. It was the woman, Sada, that spoke. "Arven. Don't follow. It is…too dangerous…"

"What is? Area Zero? I know that. But we need to-"

"You are not the only…o-o-one…s-s-seeking…" The connection was all but lost and the chasm all but sealed. "M-M-Must keep them ou-ou-ou-ou-out. Arven. Stay…sa…"

The screen glitched out, going black. The phone fell, only a dim light of Rotom's presence saying it was still active. And across from them, the sinkhole sealed itself entirely, leaving nothing but sand and solid ground beneath them. Arven hung his head. Gloria beat the ground. Nemona balled her fists. And Juliana remained staring.

Only Kofu spoke, looking at all of them before turning his gaze skyward to the once more blue sky, the sandstorm gone as if it had never been. He asked the one question left on all their minds, the one growing like a dam about to burst. "Just what is going on in Paldea?"

Not even the sands held the answer.

Author's Note: What is going on in Paldea, indeed? This chapter was always designed as both tackling a game element and then having some fun with it to tie to the larger plot. The fact such creatures could escape from Area Zero and what they represent shows a frightening image for what could come, but forces all of our heroes to work together and perhaps start learning some important lessons along the way.

But in the end we still have more questions than answers. I promise, though, that answers will come very soon! I'd say in a few chapters time, much will become clear.

So, with that said, hope you enjoyed. Either way, please drop a review or comment and, until the next one, Dare to Be Silly.