A test of might in the greenland [Event]

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The undying forests were a strange site on the eastern lands. From Grassveil to the eastern coast one would expect to see a transition from greenery to barren wastelands. Instead, amidst the journey, one may encounter the Everspring Vale. Still, if one was to get to the Eastern Desert, they would have to get through this Vale or find a way around it... Or so a young Sandshrew thought, approaching the limits of this unexpected overflowing garden. That would be the only way he could describe it, garden, as every single tree looked youthful and the leaves didn't even have another colour outside of green despite winter coming close. Someone... Or something, probably the Forest Keeper, was making sure these woods remained healthy forever.

The Sandshrew took a deep breath and looked at himself. An average two feet tall rodent with the usual pointy ears, pattern and tail yet unusually barbed claws, a scarred eye and nose, standing on all fours. Around his neck would be a pink Trap Scarf bestowed upon him by a lost mentor while a belt traveled from his shoulder to his hip, where it wrapped around it and was held tight by a buckle. Hanging from the sides where two bags, one small on his left containing a few berries he could use to recover as well as a Revival Seed and some other seed and orb with which to get around the issue of powerful feral Pokémon, too strong to face head on.

On his right, he carried the few Poké he could spare, some reliable 20 coins with a 'P' engraved, and a crystal with which he could unleash great power if it was ever needed. Having checked that everything was in place, the Sandshrew, named Yigo, decided to venture in, ready to test his strength and endurance with a wish to return to the land and family that watched him grow. And so, with steady steps and into the corridors formed by carefully grown and tended to trees and brushes, another adventure began.

What a lovely and heartwarming encounter this little group had. Two adorable vulpix, an eager Growlithe, and a determined sandshrew. It was pleasant and friendly. It surely would have been a shame if anything at all were to happen to it-

"RE-RE-REGIIIIIGIIIIIGAAAASSSS" a stuttering boom from the north shook the land. The ground began to shake with a much fiercer power far greater than the little sandshrew's stomp. All around the innocent participants, various spots in the earth seemed to almost bubble upward. The ground took on a red hue as it heated up from seemingly nothing. In a matter of seconds, the bubbling bits of earth suddenly exploded upward like an overdue geyser. The earth around them ripped apart as the quakes grew stronger.

Snaps, crackles, and thuds accompanied the sound of heavy footsteps, until a tree just to the north of the group suddenly quivered and rained pines. A loud crack cut through the air before the tree began to fall towards the group-threatening to crush every single one of them if they simply allowed it to happen. Whether they avoided it successfully or not, Regigigas stood with one foot atop of the massive uprooted trunk triumphantly with another loud and boisterous cry at nothing in particular.

ooc:// I was contacted to join by @PrimordialPrim, if all thread participants haven't consented then please notify me so that I can remove my post and rejoin when they have-otherwise continue as normal. Only post 1 time between each regi post per person. The order of who is up to the participants of the thread. If Regi does not post within seven days of the last person's post, poke @Lazarus Rex for a response.

[Energy => 15 + 1 (Page Regen) = 16]

Seeing the more fearful fire type hide behind their kin was saddening to say the least, especially when it was due to Yigo's excitement. That caused him to step back from his move and instinctively shrink into himself to look less threatening. They were having a good time and hopefully he hadn't ruined it too much. The braver of the Vulpix spoke up and seemed not to take the reaction of too seriously and even responded to Yigo's question! His body relaxed upon hearing the chatter return to normal, lying back down on his belly as he listened.

That was until the ground started shaking, alarmingly so. This wasn't something he alone should be noticing as the earth was not only agitated, but it was quaking and splitting too! Yigo immediately hopped onto all fours and rushed out if the way of some of the to-be-affected area. Now that he was safe, he gave a quick glance at Opal before focusing on the source of all of the destruction. A white and yellow figure, as tall as the houses of Grassveil and as wide too, with black striped covering its white frame while each step caused the dirt to tear.

"The ground is about to break!" At that moment, he could hear the creaking of wood as he looked up and saw a tree about to squish him. Narrowly, he threw himself forward and avoided being squashed by the trunk, his eyes now focusing on the creature now standing on the trunk, his heart now racing and building up heat inside the small shrew. With his expression grimacing and entering into a panic, not even could he squeak in fear as the loud cry of the titan drowned any noise of the rodent beneath its own. What to do but to run away?

Getting back onto his paws, he tried rushing to the protection of the bushes outside of the clearing, opposite of where the monster was yet the destruction had struck the escape route as the terrain around them had also been badly damaged without much cover to return to "Opal! What do we do?!" He asked, a burning sensation inside of him, squirming in place and unable to act without direction. All this time convincing himself that he was strong and capable, that he could survive on his own with all of what he had lived on. But what if it was true? What if this was a test like that Torkoal from the desert? All of these thoughts rushed through Yigo's head, making him stand still, lowering his snout and trying to get his tail off of in between his hind legs and get into a battle stance as the heat inside started to become pleasant. There may be a chance to pull through.

It was then when he decided to look past the tree and back into the creature. No... it was impossible, he reminded himself. There was nothing that could be as powerful as that, destroying the ground at each step of its way. The sight forced him to shiver again and squeak in fear again, trying to avert his gaze but know that he'd have to be vigilant for any incoming attacks. Out of desperation, he shouted at Opal, which would hopefully hear him even if the creature screamed again "OPAL! W-WHAT DO WE DO?!!" He demanded to know, his morale plumitting without his gear at his hand.

[Energy: 2]

A pinecone that had been shaken loose due to this most unconventional landscaping project began a downward journey toward the now-terrified group of youngsters, which ended in a conking on the head of the more timid of the vulpix. This vegetational assault was too much for the poor creature, who was already traumatised by the quaking earth. The fox began to cry and dashed away from the locale with all the speed their little legs could muster. Even the more confident of the duo was having doubts about remaining in the clearing.

"H-Hey! Come back! Wait for me!"

Opal heard the warning shouted by Yigo. The growlithe knew full well that solid ground wasn't supposed to act like this, but a ground type calling out so urgently drove home just how serious things were getting. Conversing with the vulpix friends would have to wait-she looked around and noticed the rather obvious threat of a large tree falling in their direction. The pup had to move away right now!

After vacating the immediate premises, Opal looked around for any sign of the vulpix, but found none. She could tell they'd also dodged the tree, but rather than stay, they'd chosen the rather tempting option of flight. Things had become rather scary, the fire type could't lie. Maybe she should join-

"OPAL! W-WHAT DO WE DO?!!"

The growlithe quickly dismissed that train of thought. She couldn't leave without Yigo. He was relying on her. Opal didn't know what to do, how to answer, yet the had to come up with something. What in this sweet world could they do against that tree-wrecking behemoth? This was not the ideal moment to be suddenly forced into the role of leader. Now more than ever, her skills and ability to remain composed would be put to the test. Could Opal make it through this ultimate challenge? She had no choice but to try.

What was around her? What had survived that Opal could use? A frantic scan of the area revealed little, but a glinting did catch her eye... Oh no! It was the fire stones belonging to those two vulpix! They must have dropped the precious objects as they ran away! Opal longed to recover the fire stones and return them to their rightful owners, but it was simply too dangerous. It broke her heart that they might be destroyed.

Opal looked dejectedly downward, where she found that some of the contents of her bag had escaped, including two orbs she didn't recognise. Huh, when had she acquired those? Maybe they were the key to making everything okay, but the growlithe had to know what they did first. If she had no idea, maybe Yigo did.

"Yigo. These orbs. What are they, do you know?"

"Yigo. These orbs. What are they, do you know?"

Orbs? What Orbs? Yigocouldn't remember any orb? As the time for the creature's follow-up came near, the adrenaline started to make Yigo focus. Of course! He had brought an Orb with him! Maybe that was the one she was talking about? Yigo turned his gaze to the voice, the only beacon of hope at the moment. His ears peaked and gasped when he saw Opal in reach of two items. The shape was undoubtedly the one of an orb but the color and pattern implied that it wasn't the one Yigo was thinking. Those were Mug Orbs! They were useless in this situation.

"Opal! Those Orbs turn into an item you remember! This monster has no items!" He screamed back, looking around as he was sure that he had brought a useful item himself. A quick reconnaissance sweep left and right as the colossus began winding up for the next attack revealed the location of some of his content, including the orb he was looking for, on the ground after being scattered due to the force blasts. Yigo rushed to get it in between his paws but it was all too late. The earth now suffered a pulse of force that threatened to decimate everything in its path and it so happened that the young shrew was in the path.

Feeling the force coming, he threw himself at the Orb he recognized as a Slumber orb, the only thing he could think of that could help in this situation but the shockwave was such that repelled the last effort and pushed the shrew away as if he had been hurled by a Machamp at full speed in the opposite direction, Orb included.

Both were slammed against the trees that were still standing from the starting rampage. While the orb was crushed and shattered against the bark, now glimmer in the air further carried by the remnant of the pulse, as it failed to activate, Yigo had bounced off when his back crashed against the branches and fell down with a last squeak before his eyes went dull and swirly. Sandshrew's backs were made for bouncing, allowing them to fall off of great heights and absorbing the fall without any repercussions. If Yigo happened to be any other pokemon, that impact may have been fatal instead of causing him to faint.

PrimordialPrim carried out 10 launched of one Everspring Vale :

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Those orbs could retrieve items for her? This was just what she needed! The fire stones would be saved!

Or so had been Opal's immediate thought. She heard the scuff of Yigo's paws against the ground as he pursued one of his items, and it was not lost on her that he'd been sent flying by the latest set of quakes as he attempted to do so. With that, the pup's priority shifted from saving stones to saving the sandshrew. She had to be careful, though. If Yigo had been knocked clean out, how would she fare against a direct hit?

Opal decided she'd much rather not think about that, and instead set her mind to figuring out how to escape this predicament. She couldn't carry Yigo. Even if she could, the growlithe's little legs wouldn't move them fast enough. Items were out, too. There was no time to sort through the mess and find something that would work on this behemoth. What options did that leave? The fire type sighed. Was there really no way for both of them to make it out of there? The situation looked hopeless.

Unless...

It was preposterous, but it was the only plan Opal could think of. It felt wrong, but she had to do it if she wanted to ensure the safety of both of them. The pup picked up one of the mug orbs and hurled it toward the fire stones with all her strength. She hastily repeated this manoeuvre with the other orb, deciding that she would recover both stones since she was even doing this. With the precious objects now at her paws and no longer in danger of being shattered under the foot of that monster, she took a deep breath. Should she really do what she was about to do?

No, this was no time to hesitate! Lives were at stake! The growlithe slammed a paw onto one of the fire stones and allowed its energy to course through her. She felt an intense heat, along with a strange sensation as her body began to glow and morph, undergoing the process of evolution. It was an incredible thing to experience, one this pokemon couldn't put into words. In mere moments, she was a growlithe no more.

With her newfound strength, Opal was quick to act. The arcanine picked Yigo up in her jaws and held him firm, though she tried her best not to inflict any more harm than had already been done. With sandshrew in hand, so to speak, she began the desperate charge toward the still-undamaged part of the clearing, heading for the forest path the pair had originally emerged from.

The speed with which Opal reached the forest's edge was legendary. If she'd had the time to enjoy it, she would have done so very much. As things were, however, there remained more urgent matters to attend. The beast didn't appear to have pursued them, but there was still great danger as long as it was around. Opal burst through the foliage to find a kangaskhan looking at her in surprise and a poochyena and pineco cowering behind them in fear.

"Hush, children," the kangaskhan spoke to soothe the whimpering pokemon behind her, "There's no need to be afraid. Mama Kanga will keep you safe like she always does."

The little ones quieted down, but they were still very concerned by the massive canine who had suddenly appeared in front of them, and kept staring. Deciding that was the best she could do for now, Mama then turned to Opal to address her. "Oh, honey, you just saved that sandshrew? What a dear! Come, let's find somewhere safe for the poor thing." she fussed. Opal gingerly nodded her head and followed along.

A short while later, Mama decided they were far enough out of harm's way and gathered some leaves suitable for fashioning into a small bed. When Opal placed Yigo into it, she turned to Mama and asked, "How did you know I wasn't meaning to eat him?" "I've been around for a long time, honey," the older mon chuckled, "Long enough to know what's dangerous and what isn't. You must have been running from those earthquakes."

"That's right! Yigo and I-I'm Opal, by the way-were in that clearing when a big monster of a pokemon appeared and started stomping and ripping up trees! It was huge, bigger than anything I've ever seen!" Opal exclaimed. The children looked like they were about to cry again, so Mama took a moment to calm them before replying, "I was coming to see what was going on in my forest, and deal with it personally. I will not have ruffians harming my children. Even against a monster, I will protect them. We'll have to wait for Yigo to recover first, but this beast will be dealt with."

Unconscious as he was, the Sandshrew could barely tell between the hard cracked floor from the maw of the fiery canine or the bed of leaves arranged for him. He fell onto the bed the same way Opal put him in there, his mouth still open and eyes dull and in a spiral. If it wasn't for that last detail one would mistake his state as one of sleep due to a general lack of wounds.

The talk from the Kangaskhan didn't go unnoticed by another newcomer. A Bibarel with a Sentret resting on her tail. "You have also heard what I've heard, didn't you?"

The Sentret was holding to the tail. Its ears were low and eyes watery, the expression shaky and in the verge of breaking "I've heard that you are planning on doing something, Mama" she walked closer and sat by their side, making sure that the tail landed without disturbing the little Sentret much "I would help you fight the monster but I want to make sure my dear friend is safe and under my eye..." she turned back to the one she called friend with a soft expression, worried and only wishing for the protection of the normal type "I'm going to stay here but I will make sure the rest of the kids remain safe as well. You two can go fend them off without worry" she assured, freeing Mama from taking care of the Pineco and the Poochiena herself.

Meanwhile, the Sandshrew on the bed moved slightly, his arm digging a little into the leaves and his tail brushing some aside. He kept acting unconsciously but the movements indicated that he may be back into a conscious state with a bit more time. All the beatings he has taken during the last months must have improved his endurance.

[Energy: 2+8 (Morning Sun)=10]

Opal found herself lying down as she waited for friend to recover. As she did so, she couldn't help but notice that even in this position, she was still much taller than she was standing up as a growlithe. She was practically all grown up. It was a strange thing for the fire type to ponder. Did evolving mean others would consider her an adult? She would have to ask some evolved pokemon about their experience when she got back to Grassveil. Maybe that nice jolteon who helped her when she was new to the place, or the archeops she'd seen who looked like he could use some company. It was going to be a while before Opal got back to Grassveil, though, so she decided she'd use Morning Sun to freshen up.

The rustling of Yigo's leaf bed instantly drew Opal's attention. She was disappointed to see he hadn't woken up yet, but excited that he was stirring. She paid close attention to the sandshrew and his surroundings, no longer listening so intently to the band of forest pokemon. Opal and Yigo could catch up on whatever they'd missed when the ground type came round.

The rustling of the bed started to become more active. Consciousness flared up as the eyes of the previously defeated rodent began to open and recognize the environment around him. He was in a bed of leaves, soft and cracky, quite different from the one he had of grass and hay back in his burrow. the light from above gave away the fact that he was out in the open and chit-chat from the surrounding denizens made it clear that he wasn't alone.

His vision was getting clear, spotting what it looked like Opal at first but ended up being so much bigger. Cocking his head to the side, one ear flopping and the other straight, he questioned this character, expecting them to be his rescuer while worrying about Opal "...who? Who are you?" He asked, words still a bit weak just before trying to sit up. His back ached, feeling a spike of pain upon straightening up. Managing to do so, he squeaked at the end in a tone that sounded like a cry "Squee!... my back!" He complained, turning his head to the side, unable to take a look directly or even poke it with his set of arms. Luckily, it was just the muscle tension, a bruise forming below the thickness of his sandstone brick pattern and no actual wound or broken bone.

Ears dropping and deciding to get back on all fours, not without another ping of pain, he addressed the large canine. He couldn't see his stuff anywhere either... "Where am I? Where is Opal?" He asked with concern dripping into his words. The stomps of the white colossus still echoed within his memories, haunting him, thinking of the worst possible scenario. Had Opal been...

Opal remained where she was as Yigo came to his senses, though she was in a slight crouch. She wanted to give the sandshrew a bit of support as he complained about his back, but decided that probably wasn't the best idea right now since he had yet to recognise her.

"I'm right here, Yigo. It's me. We're okay," Opal answered her companion as she set herself back down on the grassy forest floor. "You were really hurt. I used a fire stone so I could carry you to safety."

Frebedor carried out 10 launched of one Everspring Vale :

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"...You are... Opal?" Yigo relaxed his stance a little, not feeling that much urgency at the moment and sitting back down. There wasn't that much of a worry about the explorer anymore so he could take time to relax. Looking around, there were a few Pokémon, many of which his age or younger, gathere while a watchful Bibarel made sure they were all okay, comforting them.

Had the worst passed? Maybe those... things left already and it was clear to go back to Grassveil "How much...? Are they gone? Can we leave this place now?" Right after saying that, he thought of what had been left behind. There was no clue of his precious trap scarf or his Z-Crystal, an upsetting conclusion. Looking down for a moment, knowing that he can't just leave that behind, he shook his head. Staring right back forward, behind Opal and back into the wild water pillars and grassy areas of the canyon, he decided that he was not coming back to Grassveil without at least those two items. Poké can be earned, items can be found but a friend's scent and memory or the power to protect what one holds dear can't be taken away!

"No! We have to back!" He shot back, somewhat angry as he hopped back onto all fours from his sitting position. The strain of his back felt nearly incidental compared to the losses "My stuff is back there! I need it back!" He was being driven by emotion, almost rushing ahead himself, stopping just to confirm with Opal that she was of the same mind "Opal, now that you are bigger and have evolved, do you think we can win this time? We have to!" That size, that heat that came out of her, that strength she seemed to have come with this new shape suggested that she'd be at least twice as good of a fighter than before. With Yigo's help, she couldn't fail.

Opal looked thoughtful. Could they win? She wasn't sure, but maybe, just maybe, they could do it with the help of Mama and the small group of pokemon who were with them, including three more who had just walked up; a teddiursa, bibarel and rufflet.

"I... um... think so? the now massive canine answered, not totally confident but also not wanting to disappoint Yigo. Besides, it was true that she was more powerful now. It was also true that the pair needed to recover their possessions. "We don't have much of a choice but to go back, anyway. My stuff's in that clearing, too. You're right that we should go get our things."

"I can fly over there and do a bit of scouting, see what that beast is up to," the rufflet offered, spreading his wings proudly.

"Absolutely not!" Mama objected, "I won't have my children risking themselves! Opal said the beast was huge. There's every chance it could swat you out of the sky."

"Then I'll fly super high! It can't reach me if I fly higher than it is tall!" came the response from the unworried bird. Opal took note of this bravery. Everyone else had faith. Maybe things would turn out alright. Yeah, they would!