Fossils in Mistra? Now that sounded like a Big Bee adventure. He already had Jeweler and Basilisk unlocked. Now much rockier could he get? Big Bee rubbed his hands together as Bunya continued her worrying introduction.

"Nekonyamicon! Ritual! Corruptnyan!"

A feeling of unease spread through the room like cold butter.

Hands gripped shovels and picks a little tighter. Trainers huddled closer together. Someone picked up their Pokemon for comfort. "It's probably fine, right?" Bee asked Jaws.

The Granbull shrugged. He'd never had to face Mistra.

"I mean. It's fine! I'm right!" As the trainer it was his job to put on a brave face and help set a jovial mood for the event. Excitement despite dangers. Digging despite horrors.

But there was a creeping dread in the back of his skull. An afterimage of a monstrous head dripping with slime, its salt-reddened eyes glaring at him hungrily.

"I've been to Mistra before once of twice," he said to Jaws. "Don't you worry! I know how to keep us safe."

He looked around for Orion but the sudden flash of teleportation blinded him.

Big Bee pushed back his bandana and looked up towards the distant skyline. They were in a crater of enormous size. Where in Mistra were they? Was this the site of an ancient asteroid strike? Was there a volcano here in the distant past? Had there been a previous digging event here that had gotten out of hand?

The sound of bells shivered across the dirt, carrying far through the empty air. Players were chatting, forming little digging groups, but those discordant bells managed to slip into the cracks in the conversation, poisoning the lighthearted chatter like auditory mercury.

"Nyahaha! This is the Nyatherload! What are you waiting for– let's get digging!”

Big Bee checked he had everything needed for physical labor. Bandana? Check. Shovel? He banged it against the dirt to make sure it was working. Check check! Now he just needed muscle. "Hey orioncayge!" Bee called, looking around for the flash of a stylish bandana.

"Jaws!"

The Granbull was milling nearby, kicking at a piece of exposed bone in the sand. "Boss?"

"Let's go find some friends. Many hands make light shovels!"

770/770 HP

Lucille was expecting a lighthearted and fun digging experience, instead what she got was being whisked away by some strange Unovr magic into what she assumed was the very heart of Mistra, the crater that spread darkness that blotted out even the brightest of stars above with its vastness. The very area was very unfamiliar to her, she had heard bits and pieces of things during prior events, but not enough to piece things together entirely.

An uneasy shudder rippled through her spine as an eerie jingling tone broke through into the conversations of others, the tone ever persistent in its ringing, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Swallowing thickly, pale ashen-blue eyes flittered around; a few familiar faces here and there, but none that she had interacted with after the Thunderfall Raid, which admittedly was a shame. Inwardly cursing her social awkwardness, she chewed her lip and tightened the grip around the pickaxe in her grasp so hard that she swore her knuckles would turn white. Breathe, it'll be fine. Or at least that was what she tried to tell herself. Her gut was filled with knots of unease while her chest heaved, trying to fight off a verging panic attack.

Without a moment's notice, one of the spheres began rattling in place against her belt before bursting open. A large ghostly lizard emerging to stare at her trainer with wide amber irises ❝ Hey, hey, easy. Breathe...nice and slow. I'm here, and I won't let anything happen to you, mama. I promise, okay?❞ Byleth the Dragapult was a calming factor, something Lucille was eternally grateful for. Putting things at ease whenever things got too overstimulating in this world for her. Byleth placed both her little hand-appendages against Lucille's shoulders, forcing her trainer to look at her big goofy triangular face and focus on nothing but her. Lucille let out a shuddering, slow breath, letting out a hoarse ❝... Okay.❞ before taking in another slow breath and repeating for a few moments till her shoulders eased up, and her body wasn't so tense.

Once Byleth was sure her mother figure was going to be okay, she slowly took her arms away and moved behind the tall woman, settling against her head, a habit that she had since being a small Dreepy ❝ Thank you, Byleth... let's try and do some digging, hm?❞

Byleth || 500/500 HP

A regular had bought a couple rounds of shots for the bar crew after closing, and Jen was now feeling social. Social enough to boot up Russell's WorldScreen, which had been steadily collecting dust next to the sofa bed ever since she'd gotten working AC.

"Hope there's a party."

There was no party, just a midnight story event, but hell, beggars couldn't be choosers. Jade listened to the intro, biting the inside of her cheek when Bunya told them to pick a Pokémon to bring along. Shit. Who do I got on hand? She patted down her pockets and hit the catch on the first capsule she managed to fumble her fingers around.

Goose the Monferno materialized, hanging off of her neck like a particularly clingy, long-armed baby. "Hiya! Long time no see! What're we doing?"

"Ngh!" Jade said, trying not to choke. She pried at the monkey's fingers. "Looking for fossils, sounds like. You any good at digging?"

The words twigged some reminder in the back of her mind. Last summer at UNOVRCon- hadn't that Bryan Nautilus guy teased some digging minigame as part of their Christmas event? She thought she'd missed out, but lucky her, Hydance was evidently as late to the holiday parade as she was.

The magic circle activated, and their surroundings changed. One would think going from one dark place to another would have made next to no difference, but Jade sensed the change the way a rabbit sensed a bird of prey’s shadow before it struck.

"Where the hell are we," Jade said, feeling dread creeping up from the soles of her feet. It tingled in her fingertips. "Aw, never mind. Goose, don't tell me. I changed my mind. I don't wanna know."

She knew where they were. It was somewhere a half-alert Jade, or at least a fully sober one, wouldn't have set foot in if you'd paid her a thousand bucks.

"It's not on Beta Island, that's for sure." Goose hung from her bicep, tail brushing the indeterminately black soil. "The air feels weird. Like I can't breathe right. Do you feel that? Oh, and there's like a weird… pressure? Like we’re waiting for something.”

"Yeah. Kinda. Y'know, let's not think about it," Jade said, squeezing her eyes shut to block out the terrifying pop-up that had just appeared in front of her. "Hang on, what's that sound?"

The pair stilled as the rhythmic chime of sleigh bells echoed through the ashen crater.

“...Don't like that,” Jade said instantly.

“Why? I think it's cheerful.”

“Sure, at a department store– not the damn Corruption Zone. I'm gonna go make an alliance,” Jade said, trying and failing to shake Goose off her arm and looking around for people who looked as vulnerable as she felt. The secret to survival was increasing your numbers– maybe that was why Bunya had brought them along.

“I’m interesting!” She waved too-desperately at Emery V.’s Popplio. “...Don’t leave, I swear I am. Look, I got…” She patted down her empty pockets, then her shoulders. “...bug wings. No, for real.”

The droning, buzzing sound as Jade’s transparent dragonfly wings powered up made the eerie atmosphere just that much more tense. It sounded like a giant hornet’s nest humming to life.

“Stop it!” Goose hissed, climbing up onto her back to swat the wings back down into place. “You’re freaking everyone out.”

MONFERNO: 250/250 HP

"Eughg, this place stinks." Yanyan exclaimed as he squinched his face, both his paws held up over his nose.

"Yeah, no kidding. Well, I guess the sooner we find a fossil, the sooner we can get out of here, huh." Jian said, rubbing a finger under his own nose as well. Even if that's not exactly how this quest went. For once, he thought, he might be a little well over his head for this one. The man was too used to being a little too overpowered for story quest since he has the tendency to run into every other side story and quest before going back to the main plot at hand.

But he's barely played this game for a week and he's already jumping in on this one.

Well, who could really blame him, it looked interesting. And who knew there was a pokemon version of the Necronomicon? Also the fact that Dr Bunya is able to keep such a 'light' tone in what looks to be a certifiable 'wasteland' of sorts is close to convincing Jian that the Doctor's more of a mad scientist than anything.

He hits the ground a couple of times with the head of his pickaxe, "Well, no point standing around then. Let's go find a nice 'cozy' spot to start digging." The man grinned as he trudged through the ash. Yanyan, not wanting to get too much of it on his fur, leapt up onto Jian's shoulder as he started walking.

YANYAN: 300/300 HP

Lacrimosa said:

And where exactly are you?

Lacrimosa said:

What part of "research Mistra" did you fail to understand?

Lacrimosa said:

Get over here.

Alistair groaned as he saw the messages come in, drawing a querulous look from Falas. Last time he had answered one of Sarthor's summons, the man hadn't even BEEN there. And yet, a tone like that brooked no argument. Undoubtedly, if he defied Sarthor, he'd hear about it constantly for the next several weeks- or worse, the man would vindictively bring it up on a brick wall of a guilt trip for some future, even worse task.

The trio made their way to Bunya's lab. At the doorway, Falas dug his heels in, whale eyed, tears welling. He latched onto the hem of Alistair's robe and, when the man looked down, shook his head vehemently. "You don't want to go in?" He mused. Falas sniffed.

<"He'll just slow us down anyways."> The Pidove said vehemently. He'd yet to find a suitable name for the abrasive and haughty bird.

"It's less that, and more that he doesn't like Dr. Bunya. Or Mom," Or most anyone, but at least he didn't run away from everyone like he was doing now, "Alright then. Do you want to wait here outside, or do you want to go back into the pokeball?" Sometimes he asked questions in the vain hope the shy pokemon would answer in more than a headshake, nod or blank-eyed stare. Sobble blinked at him and then reached up, toward his belt. If he were more stubborn or petty, he might feign to not understand, but... "Alright," He said, dismissing the Sobble.

And god, if it wasn't good that he had. Necronomicon? Magical feline rituals? Fossils in a corruption zone? The pidove's amber eyes gleamed eagerly, but Alistair felt a twist of unease. He really didn't like the corruption...

Upon arriving, the menu broke, giving him a lurch of fear. What if it behaved strangely as it had in the desert? He hesitated, waiting for the menu to totally vanish or ignore his gestures. Even Pidove had fallen still, her angular head tilting as she surveyed the bleak, dark landscape that rose above them like an ominous cauldron. When it only flickered, text warping, Alistair carefully read over the text. "This place is going to sap your health, are you good with that?" He asked the Pidove uneasily. She started, her head jerking to look at him from her perch on his shoulder. Realizing she'd been caught in a moment of fear, she mantled her wings.

<It's not that big of a deal. Just make all your actions count!> She snapped back, looking away huffily.

He just nodded, now stretching up a bit to look over the expanse for a more familiar trainer. Would Sarthor lure him into danger again? Thankfully, not this time, he noted with a tinge of relief, and then headed over, feeling the sand and bone crunch beneath his soft boots.

"At least you're actually here this time," He said snidely to Lacrimosa as he got into hearing range, as though he weren't disturbed by their new setting. But the longer he was hear, the more the hair on the back of his neck rose with a foreboding sense. Was he really supposed to be here so early in his playthrough? Alistair leaned thoughtfully on his pickaxe after using it to poke at something ivory gleaming from dark soil. He pulled up his friend list, sending a few short messages-

Alistair said:

hey sae is it okay for me to be in Mistra again yet

Alistair said:

my boss wants me to help with some fossil event from bunya

Alistair said:

but its creeping me the fuck out

Lord Darien Blackthorne

Pidove's HP 700/700

It's one of Tuesday's favourite times. Say it with me, folks: ✨ unhinged event time ✨ Almost as good as 'beat up big bad Pokémon for fun and drip time'!

In she comes, armoured and ready for anything, dagger at her belt and spear in hand, and yet... AND YET... Our adored and beloved Dr Bunya is quick to stay one word that strikes as if thunder to leave behind only the smithereens of Tuesday's fun. Mistra. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...

"Nyanya~ Cool spellbook!" She smiles, and for a second there, there's a twitch at the corner of her eye — almost imperceptible unless one is paying close attention to this oh so very tall catgirl's expressions. It's the kind of gesture that might signal to the fact that it's taking everything within her not to aim and throw that sharp spear in her hands, but of course, the gesture comes and goes, and left behind is only a bright and confident smile. "How about we trade pages later, hm?"

She lovingly pats the tome strapped by a holster to her own belt, one of the PRINCE'S SPELLBOOKS. Can that be done? Trade spellbook pages like trading stocks, or more accurately, Pokémon cards? Tuesday doesn't have the slightest clue, and she honestly doubts its possible, but she still puts the offer on the table all the same, for the hell of it.

Maybe it's an attempt to distract herself.

Her demeanor doesn't change once they reach their destination by way of teleportation. Tall and proud, she stands still while that gaze of molten gold inspects her surroundings, an amused smile playing at her lips despite the fact that she doesn't move until she seems satisfied with what she sees.

A Pokéball is brought out there and then. Click, flash of light, and a jet black Greninja appears before her, his stance making it clear that he's ready to strike.

"Keep watch from nearby, I'm going digging."

The Greninja disappears.

The Immovable Spear is returned to her inventory, replaced in her hands by a pickaxe, and now that she has this new tool, she looks at the group, offering a smile to strangers and familiar faces alike. Those tufted cat ears of hers even perk up adorably.

"Let's get to work! Wonder if we'll find some cool fossil Pokémon..." She muses then, pushing her mind to stay optimistic yet also being prepared for the worst. It's Mistra, after all.

GRENINJA || 700/700 HP

“Let’s go to Mistra!” said Dr. Bunya, synonymous with “Let’s drink nyaundry detergent!”

And yet here Kazuki was, with the rest of the group volunteering to drink the fucking laundry detergent. At least he was wide awake, midnight in San Francisco meant 5PM in Sapporo, around the time he’d come back from training these days. His coach was still wary of granting extensions and kept his evenings free for rest.

No chance for that shit however, as Dr. Bunya quickly establishes her latent witch powers, total lack of breakthroughs with Corruption, and promptly teleports them into the thick of it.

They land.

Kazuki let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding.

It had been long enough since he visited Mistra, and though he’s met with older, deep-rooted forces in Ostellia, nothing quite compares. People were talking, huddling together or putting on brave faces, and all he could do was stare at his feet, shovel in a vice grip as he waited for the dead earth to swallow him whole. When it didn’t, he raised his head, intending to look no further than the horizon. He would not be drawn by whatever stirred in the sky again.

There was no horizon.

They were in a pit.

His instincts screamed against the thought of being cornered in Mistra, silenced only by the sound of the fizzing pop-up and a bastardized holiday jingle telling them to WATCH OUT. Every part of him was watching, actually—watching as if about to pop from the sockets.

He needed a distraction. Looking around, there were plenty of faces, many of them new—many of them very, very familiar.

He froze at the distant silhouettes of Lacrimosa and Domino, both unearthing memories that clawed up his spine—the former a perpetrator, the latter a victim. It was as if the world was asking a question: Do you want to be crushed by your rage, or your guilt?

The correct answer was of course, neither.

(Or perhaps both.)

“You’re looking a little too fucking happy for this,” he grunted as he approached Tuesday, deciding her to be the safest option despite being likely one of the greater evils. This one he had been able to meet in person, at least. “Never toured this part of hell before?”

Still not enough. He tossed out a ball, his Mudsdale landing heavily and crunching the soil under her hooves. In terms of digging, Steelix was superior, but he would also flatten the rest of the excavation into pancakes at the first sign of danger.

<Isn’t this the Mistra that Pansear warned us about? …You never do learn, do you?> Mudsdale drawled, spilling tar and oil from her corrupted mane as she dragged her hoof across the plane of bones and brittle.

“Neither have you, if you’re still yapping.” But she’s taking to this much better than expected, considering this was her first time. Kazuki motioned for a spot near him and Tuesday. “Horse, you’re pulling double duty. Help us dig and carry the fossils we find.”

In truth, she was pulling triple. The giant corrupted horse was the perfect blockade and distraction from people Kazuki should not be allowed to interact with, and anyone with half a brain cell would know better than to breach it.

MUDSDALE || 500/500 HP