Fifth Glow [Legendary Seekers Video]

[heartofalioness]

[The camera... doesn't pick up much light at first. Looks like someone is underground, possibly in one of those new, definitely unstable tunnels.]

All right, it's fine, Allura. Just keep going with Water Pulse, keep a map, and you can get out. You have plenty of rations for just such a scenario...

[Chumirra the Azumarill takes a second from Water Pulsing with Tirlan the Quaquaval to give Allura a quick nuzzle. Echolocation can wait, it's important to give Trainer emotional support. Allura gives a soft sigh, but also a smile a a light ruffle between the blue ears.]

We'll be all right. Although I have sharp words for Shiro after this... [Another deep breath.] At least we aren't trapped, just... turned around.

[Aaand then she notices the light on the top of her gear is blinking.]

Is this broadcasting? [She'd tried at the start; maybe they have a good enough signal now.] Hello? Can anyone hear us?

Comments

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[heartofalioness]

[WAIT, that wasn't on a separate channel!]

KEITH! [OKAY GOOD, both of her targets are in the same spot!] Oh thank goodness! Are you all right, love?

[Allura, YOU'RE the one who needed help!]

[shiro2hero]

[He jumps, at first. Captain's flames flare up - look how intimidating he is - oh. Oh that's a friend.]

Keith - [His face flops into his hand.] - Why are you down here? You can't walk...

He'll be fine. I've got him.

[tempredmental]

[Keith sighed.]

Yes, I'm fine.

[It wasn't like his leg was broken or something. He could put weight on it.]

But I'm not going to sit around and do nothing when my wife is being trapped in a maze of unstable tunnels by some annoyed Gravelers.

[heartofalioness]

And neither of us were going to sit around and let you waltz into the unstable tunnels with an incapacitated shoulder!

[Why are the three of them like this...?]

I have an Escape Rope. Now that I know that you're safe, Shiro, and going to follow Keith out, I will teleport out.

[tempredmental]

[Oops, sorry. Keith was already moving on. He wasn't going to get held back from what he was doing at this point. He didn't hear that...]

[heartofalioness]

Wha--Keith? Keith, where are you going? Shiro, where is he going?

[It says something that her surprised is tempered with just a hint of resignation.]

[shiro2hero]

He is... and, I quote... probably "not going to sit around and do nothing when his wife is being trapped in a maze of unstable tunnels by some annoyed Gravelers."

[Recited in the most tired, deadpan tone possible. He's mobile! He just has a dislocated sore shoulder.]

[And there he goes, trekking after his brother.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith was mobile, too! Granted, it was slow and with a limp, but he was mobile!

He even managed to not fall when he stumbled, somewhat literally, into some large round tracks from a quadrupedal Pokémon. In one of the tracks was a bit of weird hanging moss that looked like it fell off something, but it was definitely not moss one would normally find inside an underground tunnel that had been bored through rock.]

That's weird.

[heartofalioness]

Mm? What is it?

[tempredmental]

[Oh... was the line on Shiro's Gear still open? Huh... Keith pointed out the tracks so Shiro could show them to Allura.]

That. I've never seen tracks like that before, and that's not moss you'd normally see in a cave.

[He glanced back at Shiro, though his next question was kind of directed at both of them..] Did you at least find anything while you were down there?

[shiro2hero]

[Excuse him if he's going to try and grab Keith's shoulder when he stumbles. Can't help it. This protective urge goes both ways. And deeply. Doesn't stop him from seeing the tracks too, though.]

[And angling the gear.]

Yeah. He's right - this is weird. [And also:] I found a weird feather. And a lecture from Armin.

[heartofalioness]

The last thing doesn't surprise me.

[REAP WHAT YOU SO, SHIROGANE.]

But... those two. Some sort of Pokemon, do you think? One Grass, one Flying?

[Oh don't worry, Allura, you'll find out their types soon enough.]

[tempredmental]

[Thanks, bro. Keith appreciated that bracing grip to keep him upright.]

Maybe...

[But now something that someone had said earlier came back to him.]

Allura, did you say you had an escape rope?

[shiro2hero]

At this point? I wouldn't be surprised if there was an underground tunneling bird with plant roots for feet.

[This world is just weird enough for that.]

[heartofalioness]

There's an image...

[Not a pleasant one, but... he's right, she wouldn't put it past this world to have a Pokemon like that. Still, Keith's question intrigues her.]

Yes, why?

[tempredmental]

[Honestly, Keith wouldn't be surprised, either, Shiro.]

Oh, uh... you said something about it earlier... I've got a couple, too, in case you had needed one.

[Was this Allura's chance to talk Shiro and Keith into using the ropes to get out while she used one of hers? Possibly!!]

[shiro2hero]

... Keith, we're right by the hole entrance. We don't need to use an escape rope.

[BRO why. It's fine, he's fine, everything is fine!!]

[heartofalioness]

[GEE, SHIRO, WE WONDER WHY?!]

I appreciate it, love. And once I find you or you leave yourselves, I'll use mine.

[Because no, she's not leaving until she knows her husband and brother-in-law are going to be safe.]

[tempredmental]

[Said sweetly, but Keith still caught the underlying meaning. He almost pouted a little.]

So, basically, you don't trust us to actually leave.

[shiro2hero]

That's... a low blow.

[Their expressions are almost identical right here.]

[heartofalioness]

No, because all three of us are far too similar when it comes to protecting our loved ones and taking risks. You're more than welcome to prove me wrong, though.

[Hey, at least she acknowledges she's guilty of it too.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat, looking away from Shiro's gear with his arms crossed. He didn't say anything, though, because he knew full well she wasn't wrong.]

[shiro2hero]

... Fine.

All right.

C'mon. Exit's back there.

[heartofalioness]

[A soft sigh of relief and gratitude.]

Good. I am glad you two have stayed safe. I'll be along shortly.

[tempredmental]

[Having pocketed the moss for the Seekers, Keith was grumpy as they started to make their way back to the exit.]

I'll wait for you outside.

[Though, really, with her Escape Rope and his limp, she'd probably get there first...]