[attr="class","therivtop1"]

[attr="class","therivlyric2"]

If I can't evade my fate

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The caverns of Mt. Suribachi stretched out before her.[break][break]

Turning on the switch to one of her high-powered flashlights, Jenna was ready. While she lacked some of the advanced equipment used for recovery missions, she knew her pokemon could compensate. Her Nidiorino flanked her left. Her Houndoom flanked her right. Between the two of them, they had the enhanced senses necessary for finding someone lost in the maze that awaited them.[break][break]

“Alright. Let's move.” She illuminated one of the tunnels, recalling what Ava had said in her short text message. While Jenna did not have the layout of the mountain memorized, she at least had a map that could chart out the main passages that trainers used. “We gotta hurry,” because Ava hadn't texted her back. Maybe the fighter was attempting to save her battery life... or maybe something had happened.[break][break]

Wild pokemon could be a problem, down here in the dark.[break][break]

The further they moved, the more and more narrow the passage became. The foyer of the cavern had been as wide and as tall as an amphitheater. Now, as Jenna traveled, she knew that the walls were ready to rub against both of her shoulders. It forced her pokemon to break their position. Jenever, the Houndoom, lead the party as Prick trailed behind. The hellhound kept her nose to the ground, trying to discern any unfamiliar scents... and Prick's ears twitched, ready to detect any noise as if he were supporting a radar system.[break][break]

While her pokemon were familiar with battle, that was never their true purpose. As a Ranger, Jenna had raised her pokemon to adapt to the demands of her job. They were rescuers, first and foremost.[break][break]

Moving out of the narrow tunnel, Prick nudged himself close to Jenna, his teeth gently pinching the material of her pant leg. “Hear something?” She had whispered down to the Poison-type. He nodded. “Think it's her–?” The girl couldn't finish her question. Prick was shaking his head viciously in disagreement.[break][break]

Then that meant it was something else.[break][break]

Gently, the girl glanced down both passages that branched out from her. One to her left, one to her right... and that was when she could hear the heavy drumming. One thud, then another. Footsteps that made the ground quake beneath the sheer weight of whatever was coming.[break][break]

She raised her flashlight toward the noise, letting the light of the plastic torch define the surroundings in front of her. “...Fuck.” A Graveller. They were the reason cave rescues were so prevalent in most regions. One self-destruct from those walking time bombs was all it took. They could collapse entire networks of tunnels.[break][break]

They made eye contact. There was no time to hesitate.[break][break]

As Prick and Jenever retreated behind Jenna, she retrieved one of her capsules from her waist. With one snap of the wrist, the tunnel was engulfed with a red light. Her Lapras appeared, and Jenna had to wince knowing it was a tight fit for her sea-fairing pokemon. “Water gun!” There was no time for conversation. They had to finish up this encounter.[break][break]

The Graveller took the full force of the attack, unable to dodge in the narrow passage it had taken. It could, however, retaliate. The Ranger can barely see over her Lapras' shell, but she can see the rock pokemon duck down. That meant one thing. Rollout.[break][break]

“Wait for it.” She ordered her Lapras. “Just like last time.” This wasn't the first time they had been faced with this move. The moment it launched, spinning forward with its boulder-like mass, Jenna started a mental count-down.[break][break]

When it was close enough, when they could feel the ground tremble, when there was only a split second before the attack–Lapis used Ice Shard. Tall pillars of ice shot up from underneath the creature, interrupting its move while quickly pinning it to the ceiling of the cavern. It tried to spin, tried to break the ice, but there wasn't enough time.[break][break]

Because Lapis used the final water gun, dealing enough damage to the Graveller to knock it out cold.[break][break]

“Shit...” Jenna released the breath she had been holding. “Okay, come on. That took up enough of our time.”[break][break][break]

[attr="class","therivtop1"]

[attr="class","therivlyric2"]

If I can't evade my fate

[attr="class","therivmid1"]

Ava managed to stand up. The Ranger joined her side, offering support if it was necessary. The glow from her flashlight illuminated the older woman, granting Jenna the chance to look for any obvious injuries. “We're getting you out of here.” She said as reassurance. Now that the Fighter was found, they could try to make their way back towards the exit–[break][break]

“What was that?”[break][break]

Jenna shook her flashlight as it flickered, wondering what had caused the brief shortage. “Shit.” Then came the noise. Jenna was not convinced when the thud was followed by silence. Something was wrong. “Get over here.” She said under her breath, snapped her fingers rapidly to draw her Houndoom and Lapras back to her side... but where was Prick?[break][break]

The first rock fell. “Shit.” Just like Ava, she knew what that meant. In a desperate scramble, the Ranger withdrew Houndoom and Lapras, choosing to send out another member of her team that could protect them from the falling debris. Chesnaught emerged. There wasn't time for her to explain the situation. “Spiky Shield!” She shouted.[break][break]

Crashing both of his arms together, Chesnaught fell to one knee and raised the shield up to stop the rain of incoming rocks. “Prick!” She shouted out, spying her purple pokemon made the mad dash to reach them.[break][break]

She raised her pokeball to try and withdraw him.[break][break]

That was when the Ryhorn appeared. It charged from the dark, side-swiping her Nidiorino back into the depths of the cave. Panic seized her heart. The rocks were starting to come down. Chesnaught was struggling to hold himself upright as he shouldered the onslaught, trying to protect them.[break][break]

And Jenna could only think of one thing to do, realizing that she might be separated from prick by the rock slide.[break][break]

Before the rocks could come down in full force, she took off her backpack and chucked it. “Get down!” She shouted to Ava, praying that she may have a pokemon to help stop the rocky onslaught. Chesnaught wouldn't be able to stop all of it.[break][break][break]

[attr="class","therivtop1"]

[attr="class","therivlyric2"]

If I can't evade my fate

[attr="class","therivmid1"]

Coulter couldn't withstand the stream of rocks. It was too much. Despite his best efforts to hold everything together, he knew it wasn't feasible. It made the pokemon panic. His lackadaisical attitude was forgotten. This was serious. The Chesnaught glanced to her trainer for guidance when he felt he was at his weakest–but then, there was support. Some of the weight was distributed. Another spiky shield, followed by an even greater shield. When the brilliance of the invisible force covered them, the Chesnaught collapsed to his knees, released from the burden.[break][break]

Jenna rested a hand against him, but her eyes were focused toward the back of the cave. Another fight was unfolding. Prick was struggling against the Ryhdon. They were almost equal in strength, but Prick found himself at a disadvantage. His size prevented him from properly combating his foe, forcing him to duck and weave through the attacks. He couldn't square up against a foe that towered over him. His dodging was an attempt to stall for time...[break][break]

But then Jenna had thrown her backpack. Prick realized the significance of the gesture the moment it had hit the ground. There had been something waiting inside that bag–something that he had avoided.[break][break]

He caught a hit from the Rhydon, blowing him away. Prick skidded, tumbled, and rolled. He fell so far back that he felt his body collide against his trainer's bag. Something warm was pressed against him, but he had to ignore the temptation. He prepared to pick himself up to go back into the fray.[break][break]

The Cacturne stepped in, keeping the Ryhdon at bay. Somehow, the humiliation of watching another pokemon take on his battle burned the Nidorino. “Prick!” Jenna shouted out, raising her pokeball to try and withdraw him... but that was when she saw his paw scrap open one of the pouches.[break][break]

He never imagined he'd chose to evolve through spite, but that was exactly what he was doing. In some ways, it was fitting. He wouldn't let this overgrown cactus think that he needed the help. No, better to rise up and finish this himself.[break][break]

“I... I think I'm okay.” Jenna breathed as she watched Prick be enveloped by a bright white glow. Her hand gently raised to fall on Ava's shoulder. “I think I'll be just fine.” Just like with Ava's Doublade turning into Aegislash, the light from the evolution enlightened the cave. It was long enough for the Ranger to watch her first pokemon–her starter–bite the bullet and accept the change he had been trying to deny himself.[break][break]

Nidoking emerged.[break][break]

Clenching his new hands, Prick felt a new power invigorate him... and that power felt good. It felt right. Maybe the Nidoking had feared that he wouldn't fit into his evolution. Maybe he had feared it would have been too soon–but this felt perfect.[break][break]

He charged, running on two legs instead of four. At first, it felt clumsy, but he adapted. He blows past Lugh, caught in the moment as he drew back his claws and raked them against the Ryhorn with such force it blew it away; Chip Away. All of that hide had felt like nothing against his claws.[break][break]

And before the Rock type could retaliate, he had jumped clear across the space of the cave, delivering two hard kicks straight to its head. One foot cracked its horn, the other knocked it senseless. His foe dropped to the ground and Prick could only breathe, taking in what had just happened.[break][break]

The cave was quiet.[break][break][break]