Scotland: the Cave.

Right, I'll finally get round to telling you about Scotland. You know how I told you about the odd report coming in from further and further away, and how the cracks were spreading from our base because it's the weakest/most active point? Well, we got an alert that there'd been a major outbreak up in Scotland, so Kirlia took us all up there, as 'Dragon' had offered to look after the eevees.
I don't like teleporting, it turns out. It's a very weird feeling. Doom's getting used to it, and Sammy loves it, but it just feels wrong to me. Rag says you get used to it, but I'm not sure I will.....
'So where exactly are we?' asked Doom as I was skimming the details on the DSDex's screen.
'Let's see' said Don, looking round in all four directions. 'We have mountains, mountains, mountains, and ooh, cliffs.'
'It's the cliffs we want' I called as the wind started to pick up. 'There should be a cave under them.'
We passed a large information board, and Jonny stopped to read it. 'We're in Durness, near a place called smoo-Aha!-cave! Smoo CAVE.'
I grinned at him. 'Durness? Wow, we're really far up then. Those cliffs are the top of Scotland. Only part further north than us is John O Groats.'
Rag was reading a smaller sign at the entrance to a long winding footpath down to the beach.
'Says here that Smoo means cave. They called it Cave cave?'
'Maybe it's particularly cavey?' Doom sighed and set off down the footpath. 'You people are slowing me down. I'm off to fight monsters!'
We raced after her, and found her peering into a huge opening in the cliff face. Further in, we could see several passages leading into darkness.
'So, which do we go for?'
'Well, the only one on the map is the big one on the right, it leads to the waterfall chamber. All the others are new....'
'Aha! new and spooky it is! Divide and conquer seems best. Coming Sammy?'
'Sounds good.'
Doom and Sammy strode off down the left passage, and Ragnarok and Jonny took the next one along, which left me and Don with the rightmost unknown passage. We started to head into the cave, but stopped at a call from behind us.
'Excuse me, I think you'll find that passage is mine.'
We turned round to see a guy standing the flat top of a silver Metang with golden spikes. It was floating towards us with a menacing look in it's eyes. The guy's face was hidden in shadow under a wide brimmed hat, and he had his hands tucked into the pockets of a large grey coat.
'Sorry guys, but I need you to back off that passageway. It's treasures are mine.'
Don started to laugh. 'So, you want to claim something we're about to explore as yours, and that's the attitude you take? Sorry, I don't exactly feel helpful just now.'
I was more interested in more mysterious elements. 'Treasures? Are you guessing, or do you know for a fact? And who the hell are you anyway?'
'Call me Blackmage. Yes, I know for a fact there are treasures in there. To be specific, a treasure. One I want very much. Which means you'll have to move.'
He pulled out both hands and released a Scyther and a Snorunt. Snorunt shot past us, and Blackmage glided gently towards the cave entrance, calling out lazily 'Keep them busy.'
Scyther raised a (What ARE they, anyway? Blades? Sickles?) ...implement and charged at us. I extended my right arm, pointing Joltik at it. 'Spider web!'
Joltik sprayed a large web of sticky threads at Scyther, who waved his sickle? at it, reducing it to tatters in the air.
'Huh, should have seen that coming.'
'Yup.'
We dodged as it swiped at us, and Glaceon shot ice in it's face. I shouted for Rattata to do a Flame Wheel, and a direct hit in the back knocked Scyther to the floor. We ran on, Don releasing Hitmonchan as he went, but we stopped short at the sight before us.
Blackmage had just called out 'Double team!' and his Snorunt was multiplying, over and over again, forming a row. The next set of Snorunt flipped themselves upside down, tessalating perfectly with the first lot, this kept going at a phenominal rate, and Blackmage laughed, still visible through a gap. 'Nice try, but I'm afraid I've won. I doubt very much you'll get past....The Wall of Snorunt!'
He was obscured from view by the replicating Snorunt still laughing triumphantly.
We had no idea who this guy was, but we had a job to do, and he was fighting us. If it was a battle he wanted, a battle he'd get!

Turns out, he's already level 12.

I know I've been slow finishing off what happened at the chilli fiesta, but we had a bit of trouble up in Scotland, so I haven't had time. I'll try and get this out of the way quickly, so we can move on.

Right, a summary of the situation. Rag had just fallen from a tree that had suddenly come through from the other universe, I was still recovering from the most recent surge of power from my shoulder, Doom had run off to help Sammy fight the latest wave of crazed wild creatures, a Heracross was about to divebomb me and Rag, and a Joltik had just attached itself to my wrist.

'Why is there a Joltik on your wrist?'
'I honestly have no ideAH!'
I dived out of the way as Heracross streaked past, right through the space I'd been occupying moments before.
We ran for cover under the pillared section, yelling instructions to Charmeleon and Butterfree as we went. With Ember and Gust chasing after Heracross, I risked a look at my wrist. The Joltik seemed to be trembling, casting frightened looks at our attacker.
'Oh, I see, he's scared. He must think I can protect him.'
It was at this point that Joltik's mother chose to attack us. I assume she thought we were trying to steal her child. Whatever her motives, we found ourselves assaulted by electricity and a hailstorm of needles. Joltik was hissing at her frantically, but we fled, with arms over our heads. I couldn't attack Galvantula, she wasn't to blame, she was just being a mum.
We made our way to the girls, and saw that they were in engaged in a battle with a swarm of Beedrill, a Tangela and a group of Sunflora.
'Typical' I groaned. 'There are ALWAYS Wasps here.'
'Get over here!' yelled Sammy. 'We don't exactly have a type advantage!'
'Pfft, advantages are for wimps.' Doom smiled. 'Vine Whip!'
Bulbasaur's vine lashed out at alarming speed, striking Beedrill in the head, leaving them dazed.
'You DO have an advantage! Sunflora and Tangela are pure Grass type!'
Sammy broke into a smaile 'Duh! Oddish! Acid!'
She laughed as Tangela was sent reeling, but Sunflora's head was beginning to glow gold.
'Oh hell, we do NOT want a solarbeam! Glaceon!''
Glaceon nodded, sending a blast of Ice at Sunflora, partially encasing it.
Rag dodged another dive from Heracross, while calling commands to his team. Pichu looked a little scared, then put on a frown and strode forwards. Admittingly, he mostly still just looked adorable, but it was clear he meant business. He strode forwards, and grinned sweetly, with a blush in his cheeks and a spark in his tail. He swayed from side to side, smiling up at the bugs. As soon as they were distracted, Snover hit them with icy wind, blowing them towards the ground, where Charmeleon assaulted them with fire based attacks.
I looked at the Heracross. He was too high, there's no way Rattata could get him from here. I held up a hand, and Rattat shot to the end of it, as high as he could get. Butterfree swooped past, scooping him up, and taking him way above us, into the sky. 'Drop down with Flamewheel!'
'Butterfree let go, and with a cry of 'Rataaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!' A tiny ball of fiery destruction hurtled towards Heracross, striking him hard. Angered, he charged, horn down. I glanced round, checking everyone else was alright, I led it away from them as fast as I could, back towards the pillars, and turned to put my arms up to protect myself.
'Tiii!'
I'd almost forgotten about Joltik. I couldn't put him in danger. I quickly turned my back to sheild him, and waited for the hit to land.
Instead I heard a yell and a thump. I turned, cautiously, and saw Heracross on the ground, with Galvantula standing on it. She and Joltik exchanged hurried words, and then she jerked her head, signaling for us to move.
'Really? You're ok with me now?'
She nodded.
'Thank you.'
We ran back to the others, narrowly missing a stray poison sting from a beedrill. One was coming for us, and everyone was busy. We were on our own.
'Jolti!'
'You want to fight?'
'Jolti!'
'Ok! Let's do this!'
I thought quickly. What helpful moves might Joltik know, no matter what his level something low down his list. Think! Off in the distance, I saw Doom smack away a Beedrill coming at her from the side, and Rag grabbing one by it's leg and slamming it into another.
I pointed my wrist at the Beedrill. 'Joltik! Thunderwave!'
A ripple of electricity shot from Joltik, paralyzing our attacker. I knocked it to the ground, and moved on to another.
So, pretty soon we all dealt with everyone, and we'd managed to keep the whole thing far enough away from the fiesta for it to be noticed too much, and Kirlia dealt with anyone who had.
Joltik has decided to join me, so say hello to our newest member!
Right, scotland asap!

Sort of an Anniversary.

It was around a year ago that I introduced Mum and Dad to everyone. Wow, have they really been here over a year already? At the same time, it feels like they've always been here, and yet time with them seems to have flown by. The spaces between the ripples have been getting longer, Moira hasn't been in touch, Kirlia doesn't know anymore about what happened in the future, and it's becoming a normal really. Cambridge is getting used to the weird splicing of worlds, and we're currently at 11% collision. I'd have expected it to be more by now. Hey, maybe we're just doing REALLY well at containing it? That said, there was a sighting of a Starly in peterborough a couple of days ago, and a Zigzagoon was seen in Ely last week, so it looks like the effect is starting to spread. The media isn't very interested yet, they think the sightings are pranks, and most of Cambridge thinks it's better if we don't draw too much attention to it, although that may have something to do with Porygon and Kirlia sending a hypnotic message to every TV and computer in the area.

Anyhoo, Stuff happened on Holiday on Saturday.
I was at a Chilli fiesta, eating spicy food and generally having a good time (Glaceon wasn't of course, very interested in the hot food, but, it turns out, loves Chilli Ice cream. Who'd have thought it?) and I felt my shoulder twinge. 'Oh great, now?!'
Glaceon's ear pricked up, and his head whipped round towards a lovely pillared area. Barking at me, he shot off.
'Something wrong?' dad had turned to me. I pointed at Glaceon. 'I've got...I need to.. I've got a thing...'
'Ah, ok. Good luck.'
'Thanks.'
I ran off, looking for Rattata as I went. He seemed to have sensed what was going on, because he darted out from behind a cheese stall, cheeks bulging, and leapt onto my outstretched hand. Butterfree fluttered gently towards me, happily nibbling on a cracker dipped in jam. Dratini, who'd been nervous of the crowds, popped his head out of my bag, peering round, before ducking back inside. As I tried to catch up to Glaceon, a blurry shape made of light shimmered into being just ahead. The light faded, revealing Ragnarok, Sammy, and Doom, all holding onto Kirlia. They all let go rather quickly, and Doom stumbled, looking dizzy. 'Whoah, that is a very weird way to travel.'
Rag smiled at her. 'You get used to it. I felt really weird when we went to the Eden project.'
Sammy looked thoughtful. 'I dunno, it felt ok to me. Sort of....nice.'
Rag turned to me. 'Kirlia sensed the disturbance. Jonny's got to work, and Don's on Holiday. Onix is watching the Eevees.'
'Cool thanks.' I pointed at the blue shape in the distance. He was by a low rectangular pool now, and seemed to be searching. He looked round and barked at me again.
Doom seemed fine, so we all went after Glaceon.
I reached him just as a huge burst of energy was unleashed from the shard.
'Aaaaargh! Why here?!'
Kirlia began to float, scanning the area. 'Glaceon is quite right, this is where it should be. It's out of the way, a lot of it is obscured from view, and once this most recent merge is complete, this is where most of the changes will have occurred. Most of the Pokémon that fell through will gather here, the tree will blend in well-'
'THE WHAT?!'
'Ah, yes. I can sense a tree is coming through. It shouldn't harm you too much.'
'Very comforting!'
I was thrown to the floor as a surge of energy from my shoulder knocked me backwards.
I sat up, rubbing my head with my left hand, my right arm hanging limply, hurting like mad. I could just about feel a dull tingle at my wrist, but I had bigger things to worry about. I saw Rag, who'd been to close when it happened, was on the floor nearby, and Sammy was releasing Oddish. Doom helped me up, looking slightly manic. 'So that's what you meant by 'bad ones'. What the hell?!'
'Welcome to VHS. This is the biggest wave since that weird guy, where you turned up.'
'You going to be ok?'
'Yeah, yeah, it gets better fairly quickly. What's happened, What's changed?'
'Well, Kirlia was right, there is a tree.....'
I looked where she pointed, and burst out laughing. Rag was dangling from a tangle of branches of a big tree that now stood by one of the pillars. One of his Pokéballs fell from his pocket, releasing Charmeleon as it hit the grass. Charmeleon peered up at Rag, and snorted flame from his nostrils, chortling, and the proceeded to climb the tree and start scratching madly at the branches.
'How did that even happen?'
'It's not funny! There wasn't a tree, and then 'Waaagh!' I'm being lifted up by a tree coming out of nowhere! You know technically this is your fault.'
'It's Moiras! Or Dialgas? I'm still not sure...'
There was a noise behind us, and Sammy called 'Hey, some back up please?'
'You alright now?'
'Yeah, I think it's manageable now, thanks.'
Doom flashed a smile. 'No problem. Now, if you'll excuse me...'
She ran after Sammy, yelling 'Bulbasaur, get out here! Unleash Hell!'
I was turning to see what they were fighting, when a large thump caught my attention. Charmeleon had finished cutting through one of the branches, and Rag had fallen to the ground.
'Oooooooow! Where's Happiny when you need her?'
I helped him up. 'Anything broken?'
'No.no. I'll be alright-what on earth is that?'
He was looking at my right wrist, where the tingling was coming from. Getting some of the feeling back in my arm, I lifted it and looked down to see a tiny, yellow, fuzzy shape stuck to my wrist. Blue eyes appeared in it, and it blinked at me. 'Jolti!'
It was at that moment that a Heracross zoomed by overhead, and leered at us, it's horn starting to glow.
That's quite an exciting place to stop, isn't it? This is getting rather long, so I'll finish it later. Bye for now!