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("What do you mean you won't help?!") The blue-moon Absol, Allora, demanded. ("The blue-moon Lunatone called for your aid. CRESSELIA called for your aid. They sent me here to help you, though I don't know why, so you MUST join the others!!")
We had been going back and forth for over than hour since she and the blue-moon Lunatone had appeared in the middle of my shrine shouting about how the "caverns were in danger!" and they needed me to join the fray immediately!
"I thought I made myself perfectly clear. The blue-moon has no sway over me, I have no loyalty to your god!" I snapped, feeling my ire peak as the Absol continued to make demands of me.
If looks could kill I would surely be dead as the Absol's face darkened to a fierce glare. Taking a threatening step toward me she raised herself to her full height and narrowed her eyes, ("You're condemning humanity to a fate worse than death if those Blood-Moon workers get to Darkrai. Can you really live with knowing you did nothing? That you sat back like a coward and let everyone DIE?!") she growled, projecting images of death and destruction into my thoughts.
I could only stare silently, too shaken to speak.
Sensing my wavering resolve Allora pressed on, seizing the chance to push me into action, ("Nicole, don't throw away the lives of so many because you're afraid of leaving this place.") She pleaded, her eyes softening.
Still unsure I opened my mouth to tell her, no, only to feel a hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned to see Haru staring at me with gentle eyes, his expression filled with a mix of worry and grim determination, "Nico, I think you should go..."
"But-" I started.
"Please, you're the only one out of the two of us who can!" He exclaimed, cutting me off, his hand squeezing my shoulder tightly.
The anxiety that had gripped me tightly the moment the blue-moon pokemon had appeared slowly ebbed away as I looked into Haru's scared eyes. He didn't deserve to die. None of them did. Taking a deep breath, I let it out in a long drawn out sigh. Releasing the fear and uncertainty I had tightly wrapped around myself.
"Fine, I'll go," I mumbled, turning back to Allora.
("Thank Arceus. Gather your team and we'll leave at once.") She exclaimed, her expression brightening.
Shit. a team? Who the hell did I take with me? How did I even choose, when any of them could possibly lose their life on this near suicide mission?
("I'm going.")
Looking up in surprise I met the determined stare of LaLuna the Latias as she floated towards us, Yuukito and Yukine following close behind.
"Hell no!" I scoffed. " Your mother would kill me if anything happened to you!"
("My mother is no stranger to dangerous situations, and would not want me to sit idly by when so many are in danger!") LaLuna countered, crossing her arms defiantly.
I could tell by the stubborn flow of her thoughts that I was fighting a losing battle of wills against the Latias so I shrugged helplessly.
"Just promise me you'll be careful, Lu..."
("You have my word.")
Not ones to be left out, Yukine and Yuukito stepped forward with matching looks of fierce loyalty and grim determination. Sighing, I nodded and the two quickly took their usual positions on either side of me.
("Don't forget about me!") Came a sing-song voice as Madeline materialized next to LaLuna.
Haru gave a strangled cry but made no move to stop Madeline from attempting to join me. He knew she was just as stubborn as LaLuna and more than willing to throw herself into a fight to protect others.
"I promise I won't let anything happen to Maddie, Haru," I said fiercely, reaching out to clasp his shaky hands tightly in my own.
Choking back a sob Haru pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly against him before letting me go and stepping back, "I know you won't."
("If you're ready, we'll be going.") Allora said. ("And don't worry, I'll be with you every step of the way.")
Though I didn't feel ready I nodded weakly as I pulled my messy hair up into a ponytail and tied my hoodie tightly around my waist.
At my confirmation, the Blue-Moon Lunatone who had been hovering off to the side zipped between us and in an instant, the quiet somber atmosphere of the shrine was replaced by pure chaos. All around me the sounds of fighting rang out. A dizzying myriad of gunfire, screams of pain, battle cries, and pokemon clashing.
Disoriented from the teleport and immediately overwhelmed I could only watch in horror as Blood-moon workers and terrifying looking mareep and flaafy battered themselves bloody against anyone and anything that stood between them and their objective.
The sight was like something from the night terrors I experienced as a child and I felt myself tremble at the sheer brutality of it all
("Snap out of it, Nico!") LaLuna cried as she blasted a Blood-Moon Mareep baring down on me in the face with Mist Ball.
As it fell three more trampled over it's fallen body, screaming battle cries as they charged LaLuna. The latias's alarmed cry as she dodged their sharp horns and crackling electric tails snapped me from my haze. Placing my hands on the backs of Yuukito and Yukine I bent down and whispered in the twin Alolan Ninetales' ears. "No Quarter. No prisoners. If they're Blood-Moon, they fall."
"That goes for ALL of you. Leave no one standing!" I snarled, and a chorus of agreement from my team rang out loudly amongst the din of the fighting.
Casting a glance at her brother, Yukine bared her fangs in what could only be a look of pure unbridled excitement which Yuukito eagerly mirrored. The two foxes nuzzled me affectionately before yipping wildly and charging toward the thick of the fighting. As they ran Yukine tossed her head back and let out a loud battle cry, a hail storm immediately beginning to brew as her Snow Warning ability triggered. Thick clouds heavy with snow and ice began pelting the battleground with chunks of hail, striking friend, and foe alike.
"Arceus help whoever stands in their way..." I mumbled as I watched the two ninetales blast anything within range with their ice beams before jumping a couple of Blood-moon workers distracted by the sudden storm, ripping into them with sharp claws and even sharper fangs.
Turning away from the gore I focused my attention on Madeline who had darted from my side almost immediately after arriving and was currently holding a horde of Blood-moon Mareep back with Fire Spin. Jumping in amongst the trapped Pokemon Maddie began slamming her staff into the disoriented and frightened mon in a fierce display of strength. The hard crack of her staff against bone accompanied bleets of pain as the pokemon were sent flying in every direction, crashing into anyone unlucky enough to be in their flight path.
("IS THAT A CHILD?!") Came LaLuna's horrified cry sending a Blood-moon worker flying with Psychic.
Spinning around wildly I followed her line of sight to a Blood-moon Flaafy was bearing down on a tiny cloaked figure. Sucking in a shocked breath I took off across the cave toward the two.
'Allora, I don't know if I can get over there in time!! Can you make it to her?!'
("Sorry, I'm a little tied up at the moment.") She cried projecting images of her fending off a several Mareep with Night Slash.
Growling in frustration and putting as much speed as I could muster into my run I slammed my body into the pokemon's side sending us both toppling over. Recovering quickly I reached out and snatched the tiny child, a young girl no more than ten, up by her cloak and took off running.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" I demanded as she looked up at me with big shocked pale eyes.
"I-I was just trying to help Koya and Ava! We got separated a-a-almost immediately, and I c-c-can't find them!" she wailed.
Groaning I lifted her above my head as we ran. "WHO'S FREAKIN KID IS THIS?!?!?!"
("That's our's.") A gruff male voice rang out fiercely through my thoughts causing me to start and stumble, taking both me and the kid to the ground.
The girl struggled out from under my arm and pointed somewhere over my shoulder her expression bright and filled with awe. "There they are!" She exclaimed jubilantly.
The "they" she spoke of were two pokemon circling back to back completely surrounded by Blood-moon pokemon, one male, and one female. The female a Lopunny as white as snow and the male 4-trait with metal limbs and a sharp fangs he bared at his enemies. Their opponents bleeted their challenge and leaped at them only to be torn into by the male's Ice Fang and sent reeling back by the female's Dizzy Punch. The two made a fierce and unstoppable pair, working in perfect tandem until every mon around them was either ripped to pieces or lying in an unconscious heap at their feet.
Distracted by bloodbath I'd just witnessed I didn't notice the Blood-moon worker training their gun on the kid until I heard the shot fire. Reacting quickly I threw myself over her without thinking in time to feel a sharp sting and then an explosion of pain go through my shoulder.
("NICO!") I heard LaLuna scream as she felt a white-hot pain lance through our bond, distracting her enough for a Flaafy to ram her right in the chest. Crying out in pain but still upright she reeled back and bright psychic energy swirled around the top of her head before she slammed the Flaafy with a Zen Headbutt.
As her pain seared through our connection I doubled over clutching my wounded shoulder and my chest, unable to believe that someone had just tried to kill a child right in front of me. That same child could only stare up at my bloody shoulder in horror still pinned safely under me, her lower lip trembling as frightened tears welled up in her enormous eyes. Struggling to stay upright so I didn't crush her under my weight I breathed a sigh of relief when the male 4-trait hurried over and scooped the child out from under me before helping me to my feet.
'LaLuna, are you ok?!' I demanded as I steadied myself against the mon the girl called Koya.
("I'm fine.") came her immediate reply.
Relieved, I turned my attention back toward the main part of the fighting where dozens of trainers some aligned with the Blue-moon messengers and others the Blood-moon workers fought fiercely against one another. I recognized a few trainers on the Blue-moon from their trips to my shrine, but it was the familiar face siding with the Blood-moon workers that fully drew my gaze.
"Oh no..." I murmured as I stared across the carnage before me at the woman who had brought not only her heavy guilt and grief but also destruction on her visit to my shrine. She was a Blood-moon worker, and a high-ranking one at that if her uniform was any indication of her status. She stood closely next to a man I didn't recognize. Their posture implying they knew each other intimately.

Great, just what I needed.
An evil power couple.

("There has to be something more we can do. That protect isn't going to last much longer...") Koya growls, drawing my attention.

"M-Maybe this can help?" the little girl whimpers, parting her cloak to reveal a perfectly round and glittering stone that fits perfectly in the palm of her tiny hand.

Raising my eyebrows in surprise as I recognize exactly what she has in her grasp I feel a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"Kid, you might just be on to something..."

Description
("What do you mean you won't help?!") The blue-moon Absol, Allora, demanded. ("The blue-moon Lunatone called for your aid. CRESSELIA called for your aid. They sent me here to help you, though I don't know why, so you MUST join the others!!")
We had been going back and forth for over than hour since she and the blue-moon Lunatone had appeared in the middle of my shrine shouting about how the "caverns were in danger!" and they needed me to join the fray immediately!
"I thought I made myself perfectly clear. The blue-moon has no sway over me, I have no loyalty to your god!" I snapped, feeling my ire peak as the Absol continued to make demands of me.
If looks could kill I would surely be dead as the Absol's face darkened to a fierce glare. Taking a threatening step toward me she raised herself to her full height and narrowed her eyes, ("You're condemning humanity to a fate worse than death if those Blood-Moon workers get to Darkrai. Can you really live with knowing you did nothing? That you sat back like a coward and let everyone DIE?!") she growled, projecting images of death and destruction into my thoughts.
I could only stare silently, too shaken to speak.
Sensing my wavering resolve Allora pressed on, seizing the chance to push me into action, ("Nicole, don't throw away the lives of so many because you're afraid of leaving this place.") She pleaded, her eyes softening.
Still unsure I opened my mouth to tell her, no, only to feel a hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned to see Haru staring at me with gentle eyes, his expression filled with a mix of worry and grim determination, "Nico, I think you should go..."
"But-" I started.
"Please, you're the only one out of the two of us who can!" He exclaimed, cutting me off, his hand squeezing my shoulder tightly.
The anxiety that had gripped me tightly the moment the blue-moon pokemon had appeared slowly ebbed away as I looked into Haru's scared eyes. He didn't deserve to die. None of them did. Taking a deep breath, I let it out in a long drawn out sigh. Releasing the fear and uncertainty I had tightly wrapped around myself.
"Fine, I'll go," I mumbled, turning back to Allora.
("Thank Arceus. Gather your team and we'll leave at once.") She exclaimed, her expression brightening.
Shit. a team? Who the hell did I take with me? How did I even choose, when any of them could possibly lose their life on this near suicide mission?
("I'm going.")
Looking up in surprise I met the determined stare of LaLuna the Latias as she floated towards us, Yuukito and Yukine following close behind.
"Hell no!" I scoffed. " Your mother would kill me if anything happened to you!"
("My mother is no stranger to dangerous situations, and would not want me to sit idly by when so many are in danger!") LaLuna countered, crossing her arms defiantly.
I could tell by the stubborn flow of her thoughts that I was fighting a losing battle of wills against the Latias so I shrugged helplessly.
"Just promise me you'll be careful, Lu..."
("You have my word.")
Not ones to be left out, Yukine and Yuukito stepped forward with matching looks of fierce loyalty and grim determination. Sighing, I nodded and the two quickly took their usual positions on either side of me.
("Don't forget about me!") Came a sing-song voice as Madeline materialized next to LaLuna.
Haru gave a strangled cry but made no move to stop Madeline from attempting to join me. He knew she was just as stubborn as LaLuna and more than willing to throw herself into a fight to protect others.
"I promise I won't let anything happen to Maddie, Haru," I said fiercely, reaching out to clasp his shaky hands tightly in my own.
Choking back a sob Haru pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly against him before letting me go and stepping back, "I know you won't."
("If you're ready, we'll be going.") Allora said. ("And don't worry, I'll be with you every step of the way.")
Though I didn't feel ready I nodded weakly as I pulled my messy hair up into a ponytail and tied my hoodie tightly around my waist.
At my confirmation, the Blue-Moon Lunatone who had been hovering off to the side zipped between us and in an instant, the quiet somber atmosphere of the shrine was replaced by pure chaos. All around me the sounds of fighting rang out. A dizzying myriad of gunfire, screams of pain, battle cries, and pokemon clashing.
Disoriented from the teleport and immediately overwhelmed I could only watch in horror as Blood-moon workers and terrifying looking mareep and flaafy battered themselves bloody against anyone and anything that stood between them and their objective.
The sight was like something from the night terrors I experienced as a child and I felt myself tremble at the sheer brutality of it all
("Snap out of it, Nico!") LaLuna cried as she blasted a Blood-Moon Mareep baring down on me in the face with Mist Ball.
As it fell three more trampled over it's fallen body, screaming battle cries as they charged LaLuna. The latias's alarmed cry as she dodged their sharp horns and crackling electric tails snapped me from my haze. Placing my hands on the backs of Yuukito and Yukine I bent down and whispered in the twin Alolan Ninetales' ears. "No Quarter. No prisoners. If they're Blood-Moon, they fall."
"That goes for ALL of you. Leave no one standing!" I snarled, and a chorus of agreement from my team rang out loudly amongst the din of the fighting.
Casting a glance at her brother, Yukine bared her fangs in what could only be a look of pure unbridled excitement which Yuukito eagerly mirrored. The two foxes nuzzled me affectionately before yipping wildly and charging toward the thick of the fighting. As they ran Yukine tossed her head back and let out a loud battle cry, a hail storm immediately beginning to brew as her Snow Warning ability triggered. Thick clouds heavy with snow and ice began pelting the battleground with chunks of hail, striking friend, and foe alike.
"Arceus help whoever stands in their way..." I mumbled as I watched the two ninetales blast anything within range with their ice beams before jumping a couple of Blood-moon workers distracted by the sudden storm, ripping into them with sharp claws and even sharper fangs.
Turning away from the gore I focused my attention on Madeline who had darted from my side almost immediately after arriving and was currently holding a horde of Blood-moon Mareep back with Fire Spin. Jumping in amongst the trapped Pokemon Maddie began slamming her staff into the disoriented and frightened mon in a fierce display of strength. The hard crack of her staff against bone accompanied bleets of pain as the pokemon were sent flying in every direction, crashing into anyone unlucky enough to be in their flight path.
("IS THAT A CHILD?!") Came LaLuna's horrified cry sending a Blood-moon worker flying with Psychic.
Spinning around wildly I followed her line of sight to a Blood-moon Flaafy was bearing down on a tiny cloaked figure. Sucking in a shocked breath I took off across the cave toward the two.
'Allora, I don't know if I can get over there in time!! Can you make it to her?!'
("Sorry, I'm a little tied up at the moment.") She cried projecting images of her fending off a several Mareep with Night Slash.
Growling in frustration and putting as much speed as I could muster into my run I slammed my body into the pokemon's side sending us both toppling over. Recovering quickly I reached out and snatched the tiny child, a young girl no more than ten, up by her cloak and took off running.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" I demanded as she looked up at me with big shocked pale eyes.
"I-I was just trying to help Koya and Ava! We got separated a-a-almost immediately, and I c-c-can't find them!" she wailed.
Groaning I lifted her above my head as we ran. "WHO'S FREAKIN KID IS THIS?!?!?!"
("That's our's.") A gruff male voice rang out fiercely through my thoughts causing me to start and stumble, taking both me and the kid to the ground.
The girl struggled out from under my arm and pointed somewhere over my shoulder her expression bright and filled with awe. "There they are!" She exclaimed jubilantly.
The "they" she spoke of were two pokemon circling back to back completely surrounded by Blood-moon pokemon, one male, and one female. The female a Lopunny as white as snow and the male 4-trait with metal limbs and a sharp fangs he bared at his enemies. Their opponents bleeted their challenge and leaped at them only to be torn into by the male's Ice Fang and sent reeling back by the female's Dizzy Punch. The two made a fierce and unstoppable pair, working in perfect tandem until every mon around them was either ripped to pieces or lying in an unconscious heap at their feet.
Distracted by bloodbath I'd just witnessed I didn't notice the Blood-moon worker training their gun on the kid until I heard the shot fire. Reacting quickly I threw myself over her without thinking in time to feel a sharp sting and then an explosion of pain go through my shoulder.
("NICO!") I heard LaLuna scream as she felt a white-hot pain lance through our bond, distracting her enough for a Flaafy to ram her right in the chest. Crying out in pain but still upright she reeled back and bright psychic energy swirled around the top of her head before she slammed the Flaafy with a Zen Headbutt.
As her pain seared through our connection I doubled over clutching my wounded shoulder and my chest, unable to believe that someone had just tried to kill a child right in front of me. That same child could only stare up at my bloody shoulder in horror still pinned safely under me, her lower lip trembling as frightened tears welled up in her enormous eyes. Struggling to stay upright so I didn't crush her under my weight I breathed a sigh of relief when the male 4-trait hurried over and scooped the child out from under me before helping me to my feet.
'LaLuna, are you ok?!' I demanded as I steadied myself against the mon the girl called Koya.
("I'm fine.") came her immediate reply.
Relieved, I turned my attention back toward the main part of the fighting where dozens of trainers some aligned with the Blue-moon messengers and others the Blood-moon workers fought fiercely against one another. I recognized a few trainers on the Blue-moon from their trips to my shrine, but it was the familiar face siding with the Blood-moon workers that fully drew my gaze.
"Oh no..." I murmured as I stared across the carnage before me at the woman who had brought not only her heavy guilt and grief but also destruction on her visit to my shrine. She was a Blood-moon worker, and a high-ranking one at that if her uniform was any indication of her status. She stood closely next to a man I didn't recognize. Their posture implying they knew each other intimately.

Great, just what I needed.
An evil power couple.

("There has to be something more we can do. That protect isn't going to last much longer...") Koya growls, drawing my attention.

"M-Maybe this can help?" the little girl whimpers, parting her cloak to reveal a perfectly round and glittering stone that fits perfectly in the palm of her tiny hand.

Raising my eyebrows in surprise as I recognize exactly what she has in her grasp I feel a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"Kid, you might just be on to something..."