[ti]location[/ti] THUNDERFALL SHRINE

When Shalin reached the THUNDERFALL SHRINE, she dropped to her knees in pain, the adrenaline rush from having been in survival mode so much finally having worn off. This one looked so much different than the Noonlight Shrine. More primitive... and certainly more electric, as the name suggested. Its recovery properties were all the same.

As she pressed her hand against the metal spire, she drew it away rapidly at first, flinching upon being badly shocked. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, she touched it again, this time a tingling current making her arms shake as the complete restoration took place.

That was more painful than it needed to be; in her mind, the healing process at Noonlight Shrine sure was a lot less invasive than this!

Waking at the THUNDERFALL SHRINE, Shalin frantically checked her Pokémon once she had touched the shrine's electric spire to recover her team. To her relief, all of her remaining Pokémon appeared to be intact and completely healed from their awful encounter with the dunes' foreign wildlife.

Remembering that Josh was on the way to the derelict hotel, Shalin took off toward it, expecting that Josh wouldn't stand a chance on his own. Even with the power of his more advanced team, she doubted he would survive long. She had saved his life once. Now, it was time for her to save his.

Josh caught a glimpse of Shalin Nariya as he, too, was on his way to Thunderfall Shrine. Had she gone there to top off her team's HP before fighting another Ultra Beast, like they had agreed? It was certainly a good idea, and this time, he could come prepared with fire-type and flying-type Pokémon for the oversized bug.

Seated on Braver the Growlithe, he thought about how much danger Shalin was putting herself in despite the loss of her Onix. It showed how important this capture was to her. "We'll keep her safe, Braver," he gently pat the fire-type with one hand as he raised his other toward the current-coated spire. It even recharged his own abilities, thanks to being a BOLTER. The Shrine itself almost felt like a second home since he had mastered the electric-type class.

With his team in top shape, Josh reined Braver around and rode the giant Growlithe to the Forgotten Nexus, ready to come to his friend's aid.

Laguna was silent as she respawned. She was curled up on herself, barely present as she was last in all her thoughts.

She was reckless. Stupid. She got people she cared about hurt, all because she stopped thinking. She allowed her wounded heart to overpower her mind, and they all suffered because of it. It was the first she had Whited Out, without being in some quest or dungeon. It was just one single dangerous foe, and she got careless. She allowed her anger to-

No, it was Guilt. It was anger at herself, yes, but it was guilt that pushed her to that point. And now because of her, Omnia was gone. A quick glance at her UI saw them faded out. Tears began to drip freely down her cheeks, silently sobbing. This time, when she heard Orion's words, in French no less, she couldn't possibly ignore him this time. Her heart was broken, just glimpsing up at Orion alone was another to cause another round of tears. She didn't stand, but she did open her own arms, hoping he'd kneel down to hug her instead.

"Orion, I-" She began, only for her words to fail her. She had to force past her sobs, only managing to say a few simple words.

"They took my baby."

They both would likely be here a while, until they were ready to finally to move on.

They were getting close, weren’t they?

The longer he spun the tale, he knew that the closer they would be to acquiring their own Celesteela. (Look, in his defense he was enamored from the moment he saw one in the Asper Cup!)

What was even more insane was the fact that he already had a name picked out for them! Her? He had no idea if they followed the perceived notion of ‘gender’, but here they were.

“I already know what to name mine, it’s so perfect,” he hummed as he brushed the back of his hand against the cold metallic surface of the shrine.

“Kaguya.”

another quick visit

This particular trip out to the Thunderfall Shrine was… special.

He’d been torn no either the one at Beta Island, or the one all the way out here—however, fact of the matter was that there was a certain decision that made him choose this location over the other.

(Why did Alolan Persian have to look like that?! Honestly…)

He was accompanied by his Meowth, idling around his feet and looking up at the gigantic slab of metal.

“Scary, isn’t it? Don’t be,” he would hum quietly, crouching down as he looked between the shrine, and the Meowth who was now sniffing the electrified air around the place.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, since you haven’t spoken a single word… maybe, after you transform, you’ll find your voice,” he added, guiding the Meowth’s paws to touch the cold slab of metal.

As the feline Pokémon’s tiny little paws made contact with said cold slab of metal; a burst of light began emanating from the metal, enveloping the Meowth at the same time—

Was it true? That this strange, alien structure had the power to change how one looked?!

He would shield his eyes against the sudden explosion of light that poured out of the Meowth—and as sudden s the light had appeared, it would fade away, revealing…

A completely-different-looking… huh. Oh, wait, this was the…

‘Really?’ the unfamiliar voice would catch at him; before he realized—

‘…actually, I like this forme better.’

---

changing k!meowth into g!meowth!

a surprise transformation?!