(ACE) The SHIPWRECK Team

Aqua's body glowed faintly as she activated a move that helped her move more quickly through the churning waters. With Bell in tow, she darted past him and into the winding caverns. Even though he wasn't as fast as Aqua, he followed the bright spot of orange in the dark. Every now and then, he could see Saferi as she breached the surface. Then he could feel the cavern collapsing behind him. His thought process devolved to swearing and trying to get the hell out. FUCK! SHIT! DAMN!

He was getting pelted with even bigger rocks, and the ones hitting him further down his body were a lot heavier than the ones near his head. With his sense of direction utterly fucked in the darkness, he had to rely on Aqua and Saferi to lead him out. For a heart-stopping few seconds, the darkness felt so complete that he wondered if they were even heading the right way. Was this always his fate? To die in the dark where no one would ever find him?

The despair didn't last for long. They went around a turn, and there was light. He could taste a difference in the water, and with one last push, he followed Saferi into the open ocean.

Huffing with each stroke Sanngetall made it way forward but made little to no progress before the others started to charge in from behind him. The water sloshed, churning and throwing him side to side as he continued at his nearly lethargic pace. "Keep going," Saferi urged him, going as far as giving him a shove to 'hurry up' before continuing on herself. What was he, some charity case? What did it look like he was doing. Fuming, the Dragalge beat his tail as hard as he could and only winced as he started to pick up speed. His head was spinning, aching, and all he wanted was to lie down and forget this shitty adventure.

The cavern roared, reminding him that was not an option. Falling stones were splashing dangerously close to him but he kept going until smashed into his skull. With a groan of pain Sanngetall threw his head around, a cloud of toxins erupting from his snout as he valiantly continued his struggle outside.
How long was the cavern system, how far had they traveled? It seemed to go on forever, a constantly building urgency with an unending journey until finally bright light sparkled brightly at the end of the stretch. The sloshing water from inside kept pushing out in waves, and finally the Dragalge could hold back and let the water do most the work. It pushed them out, and the light of day nearly blinded him as it did so.

Looking back at the cave's maw he couldn't see any lingering Barboach; the undead had taken care of themselves. So it was over. Great. Sparing just a few seconds to catch his breath irritation made the seahorse's wounds sting furiously. "What the fuck was all that about?" He seethed, maroon eyes looking at each Pokemon in search of answers. "I thought we were looking at some dinky boat, not dying in the back of some worthless ass cave in a glorified waste of time."

Rushes of water kept gushing out of cavern, bringing a medley of sediment, chewed up bits of plants, and stones along with it. Letting her body fall the eel dropped below the current so it wouldn't carry her further out to sea and took the opportunity to catch her breath. They had made it, somehow, and without critical injury. While it was by no means a battle to be proud of, it was a victory nonetheless. Gulping in fresh sea water Saferi stared blankly ahead as the others emerged one by one. Bell was nestled in Aqua's arms and though she was tense and terrified looking she had remained whole throughout what transpired. The eel did not smile, but her cold gaze softened as she acknowledged the tenacity the child held. She was starting to understand how one so young, with a outwardly dim demeanor, had managed to survive this world so long.

"What the fuck was all that about?" ...And that the resilience others was not always a benefit. "We were retrieving Bell." She said simply between deep breaths. At the sound of her name Bell peaked shyly out from Aqua's hold, but quickly hid her face again as the seahorse fumed. "I thought we were looking at some dinky boat, not dying in the back of some worthless ass cave in a glorified waste of time." In an instant Saferi's visage hardened back to its usual state, but a new feeling of being insulting boiled in her aching body. "Collecting Bell and removing another fin-full of undead from this world is no waste of time." It was odd to use the child's name, a second time at that, but Saferi was not about to reminiscence on such a trivial thing."Every undead that's killed is another step closer to reviving our environment. It was a great feet for her to brave those undead and, if anything, you should her applaud bravery."

Turning in Aqua's arms Bell gawked at the eel. She had defended her from the rude creature before, but praise? She thinks I did something good? She nearly got them all killed! Everyone was hurt because of her, but Saferi was commending the act? Swallowing roughly the youth couldn't find any words for her own behalf. I didn't.. it was all a mistake, an accident. Was it really good when she had hurt, angered, and worried them? "Furthermore, in case you've forgotten, you are to do the same thing in that 'dinky boat,' as you put it. So get used to it." With a dismissing huff the eel looked away from the tattered seahorse for her other, more competent and compliant, companions. "Were either of you hurt?" She had taken a fair amount of damage herself, accompanied with her earlier injuries, and was not in the best shape. But I can handle it. Both seemed better off than Sanngetall, but that could easily be a guise with the delicate child present.

They had finally made it. Sunlight streams down from above and everything silent except for everyone's panting from the race out. The caverns, now fully collapsed, sit as another solid addition to the cliffside. It's a miracle that none of the undead were able to make it out as well...though they were probably too focused on trying to collapse the tunnel to think ahead. Aqua feels Bell nestling into her hold to shield herself from the other members...well, more like Sanngetall. "I thought we were looking at some dinky boat, not dying in the back of some worthless ass cave in a glorified waste of time."

He was here to help them fight undead wasn't he? Why does it matter where he fights them? Probably was hoping they'd never come back for the child..."Collecting Bell and removing another fin-full of undead from this world is no waste of time." It was strange to hear Bell's name coming from Saferi's mouth...had she ever used the child's name before? "Every undead that's killed is another step closer to reviving our environment. It was a great feet for her to brave those undead and, if anything, you should her applaud bravery." Now that made Aqua's mouth hang open. Defending their decision to come back was one thing, but calling Bell brave??

The floatzel look down at an equally bewildered Bell and smiles. "She's right, you did really well Ms. Bell. You couldn't have avoided those there fish, but you didn't give up. I'm proud of you." She says,  hugging the child one last time before slowly relaxing her hold.

"Were either of you hurt?"

No seriously, who was this eel? "Er, as good as I can be I guess." She answers, thrown off by the sudden interest in well-being, but not unappreciative of it. "How about you Mr. Thorn? And Saferi--you threw yourself right in there. Are you gonna be able to make it through the boat too...?" Aqua trails off, worried about offending the eel's strength knowing she'd pick up on her meaning.

The fresh but salty water and sunlight were almost unreal to the Gyarados. Thorn could hear and feel the cavern collapse behind him, and the mud, silt, and other debris blocked his vision. He let his body sink beneath the current created by the collapsing cave; the adrenaline was wearing off, and his body demanded a break. He was so relieved when he could see Saferi, and the relief was magnified as the others appeared out of the mess. Thorn started to laugh as the terror faded.

The moment of elation was dampened when Sanngetall snapped, "What the fuck was all that about?" The sea dragon's maroon eyes looked at them as if demanding answers. Thorn was shocked at the surprisingly dumb question. Wasn't it obvious why they had gone in there? They hadn't expected the damn undead to bring the place down.

Saferi answered before anyone else could with a curt response, "We were retrieving Bell."

The poor kid had lifted her head up to look around at the mention of her name, but buried it back into Aqua's fur when Sanngetall wouldn't back off. "I thought we were looking at some dinky boat, not dying in the back of some worthless ass cave in a glorified waste of time." What was this guy's problem?

The next few things that Saferi said shocked the Gyarados into silence. Thorn nearly forgot his anger with Sanngetall. "Collecting Bell and removing another fin-full of undead from this world is no waste of time. Every undead that's killed is another step closer to reviving our environment. It was a great feet for her to brave those undead and, if anything, you should her applaud bravery." This was Saferi, right? They hadn't lost Saferi in the caverns and had a doppelganger pop up, did they?

Aqua was quick to join Saferi's side as she said, "She's right, you did really well Ms. Bell. You couldn't have avoided those there fish, but you didn't give up. I'm proud of you."

"You did good, kid," he said with a smile. She survived. That was the important part. Not... Not every kid got to say that.

Saferi continued with a huff, "Furthermore, in case you've forgotten, you are to do the same thing in that 'dinky boat,' as you put it. So get used to it." She then turned her attention to the rest of them and asked, "Were either of you hurt?"

Aqua seemed like she had been just as caught off guard as he had been. However, she managed to get an answer out. "Er, as good as I can be I guess." She finally asked them, "How about you Mr. Thorn? And Saferi--you threw yourself right in there. Are you gonna be able to make it through the boat too...?"

As he was finally able to focus on things other than immediate survival, bruises from getting pelted with stones started to make themselves known. He shook his whole body to get a better feel for where was hurting and just how much. The good news was that, while sore, nothing screamed in pain. "Think I'm fine. Nothing that should get in the way."

"We were retrieving Bell." Sanngetall narrowed his eyes. That was it? It was that simple? "And?" He pressed, not satisfied in the slightest. "What about that made it worth it?" She gave some bullshit about undead, as if they really mattered in this situation, and ended with, "-if anything, you should her applaud bravery." How insulting. Was this even the same Pokemon? Sense when did Saferi give even a single shit about children, or the good of the world, or, or, "Yeah, right." This bullshit was not worth it.

Without a single shred of surprise the others backed her up. "She's right, you did really well Ms. Bell. You couldn't have avoided those there fish, but you didn't give up. I'm proud of you." "You did good, kid." Did she though? All he saw was the brat crying in the back of a cave. Yeah, real brave. Saferi brought up the boat again to which he could only groan. Fine, whatever, at least they were getting back on task.

"Were either of you hurt?"

Seriously? She asked them while he was in non-exaggerated agony? Genuine concern passed amongst the rest of them while Sanngetall was still and nearly shaking with anger. Heat boiled throughout his scales, making them stand on end as his maroon eyes blazed. "Well I'm just peachy, thanks for asking. Ya know, after being stabbed with ice and rammed into the wall of that fucking cave by some fatass fucker." Bubbles streamed him his snout as he spoke, furious, and he started to swim away from the others. "But you know, whatever. Everythings great so lets get this show on the fucking road."

"She's right, you did really well Ms. Bell. You couldn't have avoided those there fish, but you didn't give up. I'm proud of you." Bell peaked her eyes up meekly at Aqua's kind words. She thought she did something miraculous as well? It was strange to hear praise from Saferi at all, but to have the others agree? "You did good, kid," Thorn concurred, turning the Poliwag's head around to look at him. A warm bubbly feeling filled her belly where horror and dread had ate it raw. It was an accident, a terrible series of events, but, "I tried my best." The words came out as just a small whimper, but they made the child feel just a bit bigger and braver than she had been.

Her tears slowed as Saferi asked about everyone's conditions, and luckily her friends seemed to be alright. They were whole and healthy, something she never thought would be possible when the ceiling started to shake. "How about you Mr. Thorn? And Saferi--you threw yourself right in there. Are you gonna be able to make it through the boat too...?" The eel shook her head and spoke without emotion. "I'll survive. It'll take a lot more than that to bring me down." Even if Saferi looked beat up and bruised the child could see a hardy creature within her. In truth she was in a bad way, but life didn't offer rest for the wicked. She would live, and she would fight until the breath left her body. That's all she could do.

But any relief was short lived as Sanngetall continued to fume, his poor condition even more noticeable as he flailed in his rant. Bell felt herself stiffen fearfully, but she let the bubbling brave filling empower her enough to say, "Thank you for saving me." It was directed at the seahorse, but meant for everyone. It was a team effort after all. Saferi have a tiny grunt, a thin grin appearing at the edge of her jaw. "Don't mention it, kid." Bell smiled back, and though the eels words were not 'warm' a heat tickled its way through her.

With a deep breath Saferi steeled herself for yet more strain, more bitching, and more tribulations. "But you'll need that bravery for the ship as well. Who knows what we'll find in there." Bell's eyes grew wide at the thought, and though she wanted to stay nestled in the safety of Aqua's arms her confidence had risen enough for her to swim freely on her own. "I'm brave!" She squeaked, excitement overpowering fear at the thought of adventure. With another hrumpf the eel kicked her battered body off toward the Anne and hummed, "Then let's get to it."

"What about that made it worth it?" Aqua couldn't compute what Sanngetall was saying. They saved Bell! How could that not be worth what they just went through? He didn't really think they were going to actually leave the child alone for good, did he? She ignores him, as do the others as they continue to confirm their condition. Thankfully, they all seem bruised, but functioning.

"Well I'm just peachy, thanks for asking. Ya know, after being stabbed with ice and rammed into the wall of that fucking cave by some fatass fucker." Now back out in the light, the damage to the seahorse was much more obvious. He'd taken a nasty blow back at the boat too, but it was hard to tell what was happening underwater in the cave from where she had been. "But you know, whatever. Everythings great so lets get this show on the fucking road." Hordes of bubbles welled from his snout as he spoke and for the first time Aqua felt a shred of sympathy for him.

He looked bad. However...he was also generally unpleasant and probably wouldn't think twice about eating Bell if he could get away with it. She looks to Saferi for her reaction. "Thank you for saving me." The closest she's ever seen on the eel..! "Don't mention it, kid." The poliwag was beaming and the grinning was infectious. "But you'll need that bravery for the ship as well. Who knows what we'll find in there." Now that got Bell excited.

Aqua laughs as she squeaks, brimming once again with curiosity. Ready for an adventure. "There's no telling what we'll find inside. Could be treasure." She says, lowering her voice like she's sharing a secret. "But you gotta make sure you can always see one of us in there. Think you can do that explorer? The floatzel adds with a wink, taking time to build up momentum with her tails before propelling herself off after Saferi.

As everyone made their status known, Sanngetall sniped, "Well I'm just peachy, thanks for asking. Ya know, after being stabbed with ice and rammed into the wall of that fucking cave by some fatass fucker." Bubbles streaming from his snout as he fumed and swam away from them. "But you know, whatever. Everythings great so lets get this show on the fucking road." Thorn winced a little. He hadn't meant to leave the other dragon out.

Bell said a general thanks, and it seemed like she was even trying to include the seahorse. "Thank you for saving me."

It was surprising to see that caused the Huntail to smile a little. "Don't mention it, kid." She then took a deep breath before saying, "But you'll need that bravery for the ship as well. Who knows what we'll find in there." Yeah... They didn't know for sure what was in there now that they cleaned out a lot of the Phione.

"I'm brave!" Bell replied in excitement. She started swimming on her own as if to prove it.

With that, Saferi took the lead and swam towards the Anne. "Then let's get to it."

Thorn could barely hear what Aqua said to the Poliwag, but it brought a smile to his face. "There's no telling what we'll find inside. Could be treasure. But you gotta make sure you can always see one of us in there. Think you can do that explorer?" She started swimming towards Saferi after giving Bell a conspiratory wink.

Following the others but staying close to Bell in case she needed a lift, Thorn added, "Not gonna lie, I'm kind of excited to see what's in there."

The brat thanked him. What a great reward for all that bullshit. Sanngetall huffed but said nothing more on the matter. Not because he knew it would get him nowhere, hell he'd love to hear himself talk, but because he did not have the energy to complain about it. Maybe Saferi picked up on it, though more than likely she just didn't care as she started to move the group onward. Pushing his fins the seahorse followed along to the best of his ability. Everything still hurt like a bitch but being able to move at his own pace was much better than outrunning death. His tail ached and protested the effort, but hey, at least he still had his tail.

The prospect of heading into the ship seemed to perk the group up collectively, which was odd seeing what their job was. At first the dual type thought the others were just playing along for the Poliwag's sake, faking a fun time with a little encouragement. You know, for the kid who just made them all skirt along the edge of the abyss. With each voice that spoke up, however, he realized they really were ready to explore this sunken hunk of metal and not just irradiating pests. Wasn't that the plan? Saferi told him she had a pest problem, and to end the hive they had to dethrone the queen, but none of these Pokemon sounded like those ready to commit regicide.

"Not gonna lie, I'm kind of excited to see what's in there." What was in there? "Are we expecting to find something other than Phione?" He asked with just a hint of curiosity. Had Saferi told any of them, or told them more than she did him? It didn't matter- he was on board for the kill- but if there was something interesting he might just have to have a look at it.

Bell paddled her tail fiercely to keep up. She was tired, and emotionally drained, but she had been waiting so long to go explore that nothing would stop her. "There's no telling what we'll find inside. Could be treasure." Aqua said in a near whisper. Bell batted her eyes, her breath quickening as she ran over the possibilities. Did she know something? Had she been there before? Was she not a cowboy but a pirate?! "But you gotta make sure you can always see one of us in there. Think you can do that explorer?" Nodding vigorously Bell kicked her little feet as she chuckled, "Course, of course!" Was that a good rule for exploring? She would have to remember that.

Bell was buzzing, every fiber of her being ready to dive deep into the metal shell, but, still.. Her excitement to go exploring had not waned but the whole trauma she had just gone through could not be ignored. Even as she chuckled and tried to think of all the cool things they could find Bell couldn't help but think of finding more Barboach in the boat. Phione were scary, but the Barboach... the child's eyes leaned as far as they could to peer over her shoulder. They weren't being followed, that was good. Had they really gotten them all though? "Not gonna lie, I'm kind of excited to see what's in there." Thorn said, drawing her eyes forward again. "Y-yeah!" She squeaked while trying to ignore all the bad feelings within her. "We're gonna find all the cool stuff before anyone else!"

"Are we expecting to find something other than Phione?" Saferi did not answer immediately. No. If all they found were straggler Phione they should count themselves lucky, but luck had never been in the eel's favor. If it was a hive they would be in for yet another rough ride, and a vault would surely have sentries. "Perhaps," she breathed inward, choosing her words carefully. "Humans could shove all sorts of things into a luxury liner." Both good and bad.

The shadow of the cruise ship blotted the water as the group got closer. It still tasted of fowl blood and death, but while the area remained a battleground the foreboding sense had left. The presence of the undead was gone, or at least cut down to a fragment of its former glory. She had lived here long enough to grow accustomed to it, but now it was just... quiet. "..Who knows what we'll find."

"Not gonna lie, I'm kind of excited to see what's in there." Aqua nods in agreement. Whatever was in that boat that had THAT many phione guarding it had to be amazing. "Y-yeah!" Bell squeaks with stutter. "We're gonna find all the cool stuff before anyone else!" Aqua thinks for a moment she heard something in her voice, but lets sleeping dogs lie for now. Of course she would still be shaken up after everything that's happened today...one treasure hunt can't fix all that.

"Are we expecting to find something other than Phione?" She looks towards the shipwreck waiting for them in the distance as she replies. "I don't know, what would get a whole swarm of phione together? I doubt it was the room service." The scent of stale blood causes her to wrinkle her nose as they enter the battlefield. Nothing seemed to be lingering behind moving. That was reassuring if nothing else was. "..Who knows what we'll find." The floatzel is silent as they swim past the fallen undead. The water seemed colder here. Whether that was before of left over ice from their attacks or her own nerve getting to her she couldn't tell. Last time they were here, the fight had almost gotten deadly. Everything now was just so...quiet.

Thorn carefully watched Bell as she responded to him and Aqua. After what she had been through, he wouldn't be surprised if there were some... lingering effects. He almost felt bad that they didn't stop to make sure she was okay mentally, but they didn't have the luxury of time. She squeaked, "Y-yeah! We're gonna find all the cool stuff before anyone else!" If she was actually okay was debatable, but she was hiding those feelings fairly well for now.

"Are we expecting to find something other than Phione?" Sangetall asked. The curious tone was vastly different from the aggravated one he possessed earlier, and while Thorn was still wary of the seahorse, it was a bit relieving that the anger had temporarily cooled. Hopefully, it would last.

Aqua was the first to respond, "I don't know, what would get a whole swarm of phione together? I doubt it was the room service." The last sentence drew a quick laugh from the Gyarados.

"They were probably disappointed if that was what they wanted," he brought up jokingly.

Saferi properly answered the question, "Perhaps. Humans could shove all sorts of things into a luxury liner... Who knows what we'll find." That was a carefully neutral answer. There wasn't any guarantee there was something useful in there, and it was entirely possible that there were even more Phione. Hopefully with the numbers thinned out, that wouldn't be a problem.

As they swam towards the ship, the leftovers of the fight that had occurred there came into view. He could still taste the blood in the water, and even though it was quiet, it still sent a chill up his spine. The quiet probably wasn't helping the sense of unease now that he thought about it. He glanced around himself as they moved, nerves not letting him stay at ease.

"Perhaps," was all she said before pausing. "Perhaps?" He repeated, not finding it humorous at all. "What is that supposed to mean?" Did she know or not? Fuck, didn't she live here? "Humans could shove all sorts of things into a luxury liner." ...How very vague. The other Pokemon said much of the same thing, joking about how the ship was out of order despite having 'customers' in its halls. "So.. basically you're saying-" but Saferi finished his sentence for him as they approached their destination. "..Who knows what we'll find."

Even she didn't know. Wonderful.

Grumbling to himself the seahorse said no more on the matter. As the group got closer to the hull of the ship Sanngetall was overtaken by a most unpleasant, vaguely familiar sensation. It was weird, like a mix of trauma and reminiscing, and every one of this nerves fired with that sense. His deep red eyes scanned the area apprehensively. The water here was still tainted and dark with the signs of battle, the taste of blood and bits of the undead floating around them. It was a disaster, a battlefield, a ruined environment, and he realized why it was so off putting for him.

It wasn't quite like the place he had been born but for some unsavory reason those memories were brought up from the similar results. Alone and wounded in what was left of his kelp bed, his siblings dying, the devastation coming from no where.. They had done that to the Phione, with the only difference being they had already died once. His snout wrinkled as he 'clenched his jaw' so to speak. Did that make it any better? The stupid things lived here too, and they clearly had sense left in them for the beating they gave. Yet they just went ahead and wiped them out anyway. Damn.. Was that irony? What a sick joke.

The revolting feeling was overwhelming, and the dual type made a quick motion for the hull to ignore it. "What's the plan for entry?" He asked, making eye contact with no one. The thing had plenty of holes and gaps the lot of them could go in, but they'd need a little work first to allow Thorn to join. "Got a big gap already or do I get to burn a sweet hole through this wreck?"

"I don't know, what would get a whole swarm of Phione together? I doubt it was the room service." "They were probably disappointed if that was what they wanted." Bell chuckled at both jokes though she didn't quite understand them. "Maybe they were having a party and we weren't invited!" That would make anyone grumpy, right? And why no one could go close to them. Giving another giggle at her own joke the child continued to paddle forward before suddenly slowing her roll. Like everyone else, she felt it. The unnatural quiet of the area, the haze that remained in the water, the taste of blood. Bell had not witnessed the battle, her eyes had been saved the sight of the genocide, but her body could feel it. Something very bad had happened here with her friends.

Saferi had been acting a little different since they got out of the cave. Not different good or bad really, just not her usual completely grouchy self. Now, as they continued to make their way toward the ship Bell could see she had changed yet again. Everyone in fact just got.. kinda quiet, like they were afraid to disturb something. It was... tension? Her own skin seemed to prickle with unease, like something was watching her tread on sacred ground. Almost instantly Bell clammed up as well, her tail strokes whooshing loudly in her eardrums until they finally reached the hull. "It's like a fortress." Bell gasped in awe, though her voice remained hushed. Deep inside she could still feel that excitement from before, that desire to go in, but the apprehension was getting to her. Would they be welcomed? Was this okay, or were they going to get rightfully kicked out?

Bell didn't even realize she had gravitated to Aqua's side until Sanngetall spoke. "What's the plan for entry?" He wasn't looking at them? His voice didn't have that upbeat sass he usually had either. Is this really okay..? She stared up at the Floatzel, doubtful. Nothing felt okay around here now. "Got a big gap already or do I get to burn a sweet hole through this wreck?" The seahorse continued as Saferi swam vertically up the ship's side. "We sheltered in a gap before," she thought allowed, the darkness of the spot easily detectable. On the same plane as it the eel remembered that moment and how long ago it felt now. Where were those Pokemon now? Had they all gotten away or had the Phione claimed more lives before they could deal with them? Bell had been no more than a snack to her then but now... "It's not not big enough as is, but it's a start if you want to work off of that." Looking back at the others the eel tilted her head, her gaze distant. "If the plates don't melt fast enough though they'll need to be broken off and tossed aside."

"They were probably disappointed if that was what they wanted." Thorn added jokingly, getting a chuckle out of Bell who joins in. "Maybe they were having a party and we weren't invited!" Aqua smiles. "We definitely weren't invited." As the last of their laughter dies down all of them go as silent as they progress through the battlefield. The floatzel's smile tightens the further in they go and as she looks to her companions she can tell each of them are feeling a similar tension. Even the seahorse, who she was sure would give some smart comment about having won the fight. "It's like a fortress." Bell says quietly. Aqua subconsciously starts to slow down as she follows their gaze to the shipwreck.

It really was. A huge imposing, jagged, shadowy...Hadn't Saferi thought there might be a queen that the phione could be protecting? If that was true then this really would be a castle. "What's the plan for entry?" Sanngetall said, breaking her out of her thoughts and to the task at hand. "Got a big gap already or do I get to burn a sweet hole through this wreck?" Her eyes instinctively shift to Thorn. How long would it take to cut a piece that size? Feeling eyes on her, she looks down and discovers Bell has swam beside her without her notice.

The kid was watching her with huge doubtful eyes. Of course everything here would make her nervous! She should have thought of that sooner and said something about the battlefield. Oh well..too late now. "Uh, it's alright Ms. Bell." She mentally slaps herself, she had to do better than this.. "We'll find a way for all of us to get inside. All the phione should be gone now. We had a fight outside the ship before and most of them were tricked into moving their party far away from here. We'll be safe as long as you remember my adventuring rule. You remember it don'tcha?"

The whole group had fallen quiet until they approached the hull. Bell's hushed voice was surprisingly loud, "It's like a fortress." There was no small amount of awe in the child's voice, and that prompted a small smile from Thorn. It was amazing the things that humans could make.

Sanngetall had been strangely quiet until then. It was almost concerning... He finally asked, without really looking at anyone, "What's the plan for entry? Got a big gap already or do I get to burn a sweet hole through this wreck?" Oh, he could burn through the metal even under water? Thorn briefly wondered how he would manage that before realizing it was probably something involving acid instead of fire.

"We sheltered in a gap before," Saferi said as she started swimming upwards. Thorn wasn't sure where she was going until he saw her pause near a large hole. "It's not not big enough as is, but it's a start if you want to work off of that." She finally looked back at them as she said, "If the plates don't melt fast enough though they'll need to be broken off and tossed aside." He assumed she was more or less asking them to come help with making the hole, so he nodded.

Before he could join the Huntail near the hole, he heard Aqua say, "Uh, it's alright Ms. Bell. We'll find a way for all of us to get inside. All the phione should be gone now. We had a fight outside the ship before and most of them were tricked into moving their party far away from here. We'll be safe as long as you remember my adventuring rule. You remember it don'tcha?"

He glanced down at the nervous Poliwag, tried to give another smile, and then said, "Yeah, we just have to make this hole a bit bigger, and I'll be able to join you all." He hoped at least. If need be, he would just hang out outside, but he was incredibly nervous about what could be inside the doomed ship. Afterwards, he swam upwards so that he would be nearby for whatever Saferi and Sanngetall needed.

"We sheltered in a gap before," Saferi said as she headed to said gap. While Sanngetall was not expecting anything great, hell he wasn't expecting anything at all, he still found himself disappointed at its sighting. "It's not big enough as is, but it's a start if you want to work off of that." To his standards the hole was pathetic, a mockery of destruction, but it would do. Swimming level with the bottom lip of the hole Sanngetall ran his fin just below its jagged edge. It had the telltale signs of ice damage, with the metal being slightly coarse and discolored. Why the hell was there ice on this? He had no idea where this ship was meant to travel to and from, but luxury boards generally came to mind as a tropical or warm water cruise. Not only that, but it was around a fucking hole, which meant the ice came after the ship went down. Now that was even weirder.

Taking his fin away he recalled the freezing blast he had taken before and decided not think any more on the idea. "I guess," he grumbled, yielding to the fact that the faster he broke through, the sooner they'd be inside. At least he could enjoy himself for a short time and shake this wretched feeling.
Heaving, the vile creature worked at his toxin glands and readied a spray formulated perfectly for corrosion. His job was simple, -make it bigger- but that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun with it. Sucking in a lungful of water Sannge shot the beam of acid along the jagged edge of the hole. It hissed instantly, the water dampening the sound like lips blocking out chewing, but the screaming metal was not quiet. Bubbles ran for the surface as the metal plating became super heated, both melting under and being eaten away by the strong acids. This would do nicely.

Spiraling around the seahorse shot small globs of goopy acid around the hole to increase its diameter. He spaced them evenly around the circle, keeping the shape uniform through small adjustments. He timed the landing of each one to make for a symphony of sorts upon impact. The boiling, the thud, the hissing. It was magical. Swimming inside he slithered the inside of the space with the same treatment. The volume of the space would increase drastically once it ate through, but multiple layers of metal from both angles would make for slow progress. He could make an opening for himself in a matter of minutes, but he'd have to pace himself through this.

Another hit, another batch, acid from one of the front panels slid down the hull and ate away at a joint until the weakened area of the panel fell forward like an opening file folder. The top of it was worn, twisted and globular, and, to someone like him, art. Behind it was space and metal studs before another thick layer of metal. He groaned. His throat would be raw before this was over, but he persisted and watched as the space inside the hole melted and rained small bits of metal.

It was.. elating to watch cause such beautiful destruction. His own form of creation, the birth of a tunnel or shelter. He could do that for the rest of his life, but yet... for the life of him the seahorse could not get into it. The feeling of being a disgusting, vile, corroding monster was one of his true pleasures in life, the dance, the motion, the energy, and the splashes, but they just wouldn't come to him. He should be dashing around, sending massive splashes that got everywhere, and slapping the metal with his tail to see if it would bow beneath him.

Bell's tail was barely kicking, her body hanging limply in the much like all the bits floating around them. It was just so... quiet. Aside from their own fin strokes and breathing there was nothing around them. No voices, no sense of life, just a low woeful moan coming from the ship that the Poliwag knew was only in her heard. It's crying. What a horrible thing... "Uh, it's alright Ms. Bell." Aqua tried to cheer her up, and the familiar voice was much appreciated compared to the mental wail. "We'll find a way for all of us to get inside. All the phione should be gone now. We had a fight outside the ship before and most of them were tricked into moving their party far away from here. We'll be safe as long as you remember my adventuring rule. You remember it don'tcha?"

Giving her big eyes a slow blink the child tried to remember. Know the way back..? No, that wasn't it. Even if she knew the way out of the caverns she was still trapped by the Barboach. Her frown widens as she contemplates the idea. She couldn't even remember the conversation now; the atmosphere of this place had completely fogged up her mind. "Um.." she mumbles aloud, an idea coming up that would have helped her before. "Always stay with your buddy?" That made sense, right? If Aqua or Thorn had been with her they wouldn't have let that situation happen. And, hopefully, even if that wasn't the rule Aqua meant, she would at least get a point for effort.

She cast her gaze between her two friends, grateful again that they had come to rescue her. Without them this place would have been even scarier. "Yeah, we just have to make this hole a bit bigger, and I'll be able to join you all." Thorn said, trying to brighten things further. Looking at the hole Sanngetall was working on the Poliwag wondered what it was like inside the ship. Would it be a big empty space, or lots of passages like the cave? Could Thorn fit through them all? The hole was growing beneath the sludge stuff the seahorse was spraying, and through it made the water taste funny the tadpole really wanted Thorn to join them.  


Saferi watched from a short distance. The metal was dissolving faster than she expected and the hole was growing exponentially. However, the bastard was going a bit overboard as he coated the inside without restraint. Not only was it dripping down the hull as it ate through, but the sloped inside pooled it at the lip of the gap. As he coated the outside splashes came off the ship and spiraled all the way down to the sand below. Ughh... Hopefully that stuff didn't have a long life span, or she would be stuck with it for a while. "Watch it." She growls as a clump flies past her, but her golden gaze spots something more sinister. The entire area beneath the acid was melting and sinking inward. It was now the prey of gravity, and if she let him continue the entire side of the hull would be eaten through.

"That's enough. Move back." She both demanded and warned the seahorse as the metal whined beneath the hissing acid. Her home didn't need to be cut in two, it just needed a new doorway. Watching the slathered areas with a scrutinizing gaze Saferi surmised that all the effected space was large enough for even Thorn to get through. The metal was effectively a fluid now, its structural integrity severally compromised. With enough force they could make the panels come off or even break apart, both finishing the job faster and knocking away the excess acid. "All of that's ready to come off," she explained while sweeping her gaze across her fighters, though she knew that was vague at best if they didn't come to the same conclusion. "Blast it with whatever range you have, but watch out for splash damage." If it came in large chunks or small fragments, she did not care, they just needed to open the way before the enough side of the ship was no more. Letting a rush of water enter her gills the eel mentally prepared herself to damage her own further. Tensing her jaw she let the purple orb form, and shot her Hidden Power right at the corroded siding.

"Um.." Bell mumbles, now on the spot as Aqua waits for an answer.
"Always stay with your buddy?" She finally says, looking unsure. Well, she's not wrong. "That's always good rule of thumb Ms. Bell. We gotta stick together in there." The floatzel concludes, nodding at her own statement. "Yeah, we just have to make this hole a bit bigger, and I'll be able to join you all." Thorn adds before swimming off to assist Saferi. "Y'up, we have to stick together." She agrees, watching the poison drip down the hull from the corner of her eye.

"Looks like they're getting through the hull like a knife through butter. Let's get up there and get ready to explore." Aqua encourages, kicking her feet to push herself several feet forward before looking back to see if Bell follows. "All of that's ready to come off," Saferi calls from the ship. "Blast it with whatever range you have, but watch out for splash damage." The inside of Aqua's throat tingles uncomfortably as she remembers how raw it had been before using scald--her only ranged attack--against the phione. She'd been forced into close-combat near the end of that battle after running out of the boiling liquid and she doubts she could conjure any now.

Leaving enough space between her and the crumbling wall, she waits for the others to make their attacks. It's not long before a purple orb shoots off from Saferi's jaws and collides with the hissing, bubbling metal. Yikes...was the hull always this abstract looking?

Sanngetall appeared to enjoy himself as he spat out strong toxins that burned through the hull. Maybe a little too much. A clump of... Something floated by that he didn't want to touch with a ten foot pole. The part of the ship that had been enduring the assault looked.. Awful. Finally, Saferi commanded, "That's enough. Move back." As if in protest, the metal, if it could even be called metal at this point, of the ship groaned loudly. She looked over the group as she said, "All of that's ready to come off. Blast it with whatever range you have, but watch out for splash damage."

Thorn winced. He didn't have anything ranged, and he didn't want to get in the way of the other's attacks. All of his attacks except for Earthquake required him to get up close and personal with whatever he was dealing with, and Earthquake... Might cause more problems than it was worth. With a grimace, he pulled back and away from the eel as she launched a purple attack at the melting metal.

The metal whined beneath his abuse, begging for respite and succor, but the seahorse was not a kind master. Slathering it in a new coat of acid the dual type swam swiftly up and down the hull's surface, his tail smashing hard against the metal every so many feet to test its durability. He winced with each stroke, the pain still bright and lively, but did not stop. He would teach the ship a listen. He would make it regret sinking in this harbor! He would bend to his will and-- "That's enough. Move back." Saferi's voice broke through his self-imposed madness moments before another he gave it his hardest strike. The Dragalge huffed, his breath's quickened and prepared for action as he forced himself to calmly drift away from the sheets of corroding metal. Reviewing his work Sanngetall completely disagreed-- though severely compromised the hull was solid enough that a Gyarados would not fit through.

"It's not open yet, princess." He grumbled, frustration clear in his tone as his work was interrupted. "All of that's ready to come off," she followed up as though she knew metal more than he did. Yeah, cause it would just 'come off' like it was nothing. He snorted, and started to move back toward the hull to continue as he groaned, "And how do you expect to do that?" However, the eel was just full of answers as she furthered her explanation. "Blast it with whatever range you have, but watch out for splash damage." Brute force? Great. He loved a good show of strength but his method was working perfectly fine and didn't need the over the top finisher. Whatever. At least he had a chance to beat out his emotions, even if it was cut short.

Heading to a safe range the Dragalge fell in line with the other Pokemon as Saferi launched a solo strike into his work. The dragon-strong attack fizzled and dented the metal, breaking off chunks that had already been damaged and popping small holes through the weakened portions. The hull creaked, whining as its tattered metal bowed inward and popped out at the seams while refusing to let go. It was a good effort, but the only one. Eyeing the other Pokemon Sannge realized neither was in a position to assist. The previous fights had taken so much from them with the recent being too soon. Even he was in a hard spot; while he wouldn't refuse a continuing his acid spray his tail was crying in agony, and his throat was spent from the toxic upheaval. I ain't doing shit. He wasn't about to waste what he had left just because the queen hadn't checked their reserves first. "Your parties spent, princess." He scoffed, waving one fin lightly toward the others as he swam back toward the hull. "Shoulda just let me finish."

Letting her attack rage forward Saferi poured a great deal of her remaining strength into the blast. The acid had done its job flawlessly; beneath her wrath the warped and damaged metal broke off like bits of coral to a parrot fish. Small chunks went flying, then falling down to the ocean floor in a small cloud of sand. The coating of corroding muck did buckle off in some areas but for the most part was too attached and happy with the metal to leave it. Gliding her beam across the hull's surface the eel was pleased to see the path of destruction, but then surprised to find it was alone aside from a thin trail of bubbles that followed in her wake. Letting her blast fizzle away as she took a deep breath to recover herself before looking at the others. Shockingly, she saw that only Bell had joined her, though the contribution of her bubble trail was negligible. It's the thought that counts. But then why didn't the others attack? Were they reconsidering the entire expedition?

"Your parties spent, princess." Sanngetall's voice was like a bell chiming to broken glass, annoying but too crucial to ignore. "I helped!" Bell cried out, her flat tail making little corkscrews as she swam in a vertical loop. "That you did," the eel acknowledged her, but it was what she hadn't considered that swarmed her mind. Both Thorn and Aqua had backed away, but not fled or argued. They had fought every time before with little protest, so this shouldn't have been a big enough issue to cause insubordination or disagreement. "Shoulda just let me finish." The seahorse snorted as he swam back to the hull and continued his spray. Why didn't you do something then? Letting her golden gaze go between the Pokemon Saferi realized something that, to this point, she had simply forgotten to be a factor.

I am a fighter trained to ignore pain. Every fight from the last two days, every wound, injury, bruise, and hit muddled together into a cocktail she had long since learned to swallow and ignore. Pain meant nothing to her other than to keep going, to never stop, go not no. Her throat ached, her humors screamed, the burn she had received the day before when this whole conundrum started was still festering and itchy, but her mind had blocked it out. Fighting the Phione, fleeing from them, running them into a trap, picking off what she could, fighting the Barboach and Whiscash, out running a cave-in... if she had not been conditioned to endure such things it would be a wonder her body had not quit on her.

That being said, always finding a way to rouse up more strength was one of her positive traits. Enough was never enough, and rest was only taken when possible not needed. It was a hard, cruel way to live and exist, but one that Sanngetall lived as well. He did not follow orders. Of course not. Not because he couldn't continue, hell he was right back to spraying, but because he was an asshole. He made a conscious choice not to listen just to be a dick. Understandable to an extent, but for the others? How could she have expected such conditioned behavior out of them when, as far as she knew, they hadn't lived in the same hell hole? They weren't trained to fight to the death, or until they could no longer move. Battle sure, protection totally, but total warfare (pardoning undead) was not a common mindset.

A sick feeling like worms crawled around in her gut and the eel's hard face softened with a strange emotion. Her own capabilities had their limits but they were often far greater than average. Having others around her was a rare occurrence, especially for so long, and she had not even considered that her companions may, just possibly, be exhausted from the hell she kept putting them through. Even Sanngetall was clearly trudging along, though he was not trying to hide the pain that riddled his body. Have I gone too far? These Pokemon did not need to experience her hell, and with the major threat of the Phione removed there was ample time to take things slowly. Which, admittedly, was not something she was used to.

"Ms Saferi, are you alright?" Bell asked apprehensively. The eel was staring blankly with wide eyes, like she was looking at something in the far distance. Had that attack taken too much out of her? Despite living beneath the sea the eel's throat felt dry and clenched as she spoke hoarsely, "I'm fine." The words were simple and the youth had no reason not to believe them, but yet something didn't feel right. A lot of things didn't feel right. "Are you sure? This place feels weird so if you..--" At that the Huntail turned her head and let her gaze return to the Pokemon in the immediate area. "I'm sure." She assured Bell before saying in a voice that was much too soft, "But, perhaps we should continue tomorrow."

Bell stilled herself in the water. They had to wait longer? Sure the ominous sensation had dulled her excitement but a little spookiness wasn't bad! They almost had the thing open, and even though she only noticed just then the sun was too far in the sky waning sunlight was nothing an adventurer was opposed to. Heck, it would be pretty dark in the places windows didn't reach anyway.
Bell gave the deepest frown. This wasn't what she had wanted. "What? But we're so close.." she starts to protest, her voice falling flat with how odd Saferi had been acting. She really mustn't be feeling well if she wanted to stop.. Still, they were so close! Sooo close! Another complaint hung fiercely on her lips but was silenced as her belly rumbled with empty longing. Her hunger was something she had hoped spelunking would fix, and she was also tired, something she also hoped spelunking would help her ignore. If Saferi wouldn't let them in how she'd just be hungry, tired, and sad. With a tiny whine the child sighs, "Can we at least get something to eat then?"

Aqua watches as Saferi's beam strikes across the damaged hull, snapping loose metal free and warping the pieces that still cling on stubbornly. Neither Thorn nor Sanngetall join in the assault leaving her beam, with a trail of bubbles, the only beam striking. Even with the significant damage done, it still looks small for a gyarados to fit through...The floatzel scratches her aching throat nervously as the eel falls silent. Bell cheers, but zeal could only get through so far...She didn't have any ranged attacks left and from the look on Thorn's face, he didn't have any attacks either. As time ticks on, Saferi's gaze turns blank, lost in thought...Should they say something...?

"Ms Saferi, are you alright?" Bell is first to break the silence. Her 'I'm fine' is fast and definite, but it just didn't sit right. "Are you sure? This place feels weird so if you..--" To her surprise, the huntail answers back softly "But, perhaps we should continue tomorrow." Had they not traveled all the way here to explore today? She looks between her other companions before looking back at Saferi.

None of them looked particularly well now that she was really taking the time to notice. She herself had completely blown through her uses of scald fighting the phione earlier and if they got into a fight inside the ship, it would be difficult with only her melee attacks. She could only imagine the injuries the others were feeling now with their adrenline running low. "I don't like having to put this adventure on the back-burner, but it's probably for the best. I don't think I'll be able to muster another scald without a rest." "Can we at least get something to eat then?" "That sounds like an excellent idea too. None of us had had a bite to eat since this mornin' and I'd rather not be making our way back for the night in the dark. What do y'all think? There's probably still some cans from earlier hidden in the estuary."

Saferi's attack definitely took off bits and pieces of the hull, but she was only one Pokemon with one attack. Thorn almost missed Bell's contribution. A small stream of bubbles that didn't really do much, but... she tried. He felt really bad that he couldn't contribute to this, but there was nothing he could do about it. Everything he had would involve getting in the way or touching the corroding metal with his mouth. He glanced over at Aqua, and he wondered if she was doing alright. He knew she had ranged attacks from earlier fights, and if she wasn't attacking now... did that mean she was running out of steam? They might should take a break soon...

Sanngetall was the first to comment on it, "Your parties spent, princess." Still had energy for snark, it looked like.

"I helped!" Bell's enthusiasm was contagious, however, and Thorn couldn't help smiling a little at her.

"That you did," Saferi acknowledged.

"Shoulda just let me finish," Sanngetall quipped before starting back with his own attacks. Why hadn't he helped earlier if he could do that now?

Almost ignoring him, Saferi looked back over at Aqua and himself, and the look on her face was... strange. She was silent as she contemplated them, and he wondered what was going on in her head. Then her gaze looked far away... He knew that his old trainer did that sometimes, but that didn't seem to be the same thing as whatever was going on here. And he was just as clueless as to how to deal with it.

"Ms. Saferi, are you alright?" Bell asked first.

Quietly, he asked, "You okay?" His question slipped out before he could catch it. Magenta eyes looked over her in concern. She probably wouldn't appreciate too many people asking, but he was worried.

"I'm fine." The response was quick, but something wasn't sitting right with him.

"Are you sure? This place feels weird so if you..--" Bell continued her questions.

In a voice much softer than he expected, she said, "I'm sure." Her attention seemed to finally return to the Pokemon of the present. The next sentence was a little surprising. "But, perhaps we should continue tomorrow." Looked like they were getting that break after all. He wasn't sure what just happened with her, but he wasn't going to argue...

Bell, however, had her own questions. "What? But we're so close.." But she stopped them herself, as if feeling the strangeness herself.

"I don't like having to put this adventure on the back-burner, but it's probably for the best. I don't think I'll be able to muster another scald without a rest," Aqua said. Ahhh, so she had been running low on attacks to use.

"Yeah... It's been a long day, and we've burnt through a lot already," he agreed.

With a small whine, Bell asked, "Can we at least get something to eat then?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea too. None of us had had a bite to eat since this mornin' and I'd rather not be making our way back for the night in the dark. What do y'all think? There's probably still some cans from earlier hidden in the estuary," Aqua suggested. It made a lot of sense.

"That should work. And it should still be a safe place to rest."