[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Dragonstrike]

"Melissa can heal up to 6 pokemon at once, yeah.  It takes a lot out of her, though, so I try to avoid asking her to do so more than once every few days unless it's absolutely necessary.  I was mostly waiting for you guys to wake up so we could make sure we have our priorities straight regarding who needs the healing the most."

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Kogeki's question to Byron about his memory slightly offends him, actually.  "Why the hell are you acting like I'm some sort of amnesiac or something?  I remember everything perfectly clear, and I know how I ended up here.  Got an emergency call from the Oreburgh Mine about a black Onix causing havoc.  Called for everyone to drop what they were doing and get out while I dealt with it.  Found more than I was bargaining for, though, as you saw."

Understandably, Byron looks rather confused at Randolph's response to his questions at first, but he patiently listens as the former foreman explains everything that's happened to the Gym Leader.

By the end of it, Byron certainly has more questions than answers.  He brings a hand up to his forehead to try and stave off a headache as he processes the information he's been given.  Lucas, meanwhile, looks surprised himself when Randolph presents the Azure Flute as proof.  The Champ doesn't say anything about it right away, though, as there's more pressing issues currently.  Like past Byron finally responding to that massive info dump.  "...so you're telling me that something is wrong at Spear Pillar, it's twisting Time and Space, people caught up in it have no idea how they got there, and you're all from the future?  By the Steel Titan, what in the blazes have I gotten involved in...?"

He sighs, then stands up, leaning on his shovel for support on the side with his injured leg.  "Well, no use crying over dented Steel.  If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer to get out of here before I end up somewhere I shouldn't be, or something else out of the ordinary occurs.  I did what I came here to do, thanks to all of you, and I don't see any reason to stick around longer than necessary.  I honestly haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with the mine beyond those Onix and Steelix, so I doubt the layout of the mine has changed all that much.  I should be able to find my own way out, I reckon."

"As for our next move, I did some scouting around, and as far as I can tell, we're in the Oreburgh Mine, just like Byron says.  Layout doesn't look that different to me either, aside from where we entered.  We should probably keep looking for the stairs, though I doubt they'll be in these coal mines, honestly.  It all looks like familiar territory."

"Bah.  Guess I'll have to close the mine for a week or so while we 'clear out the rubble' and 'ensure it's safe for further operations'.  Perfect.  At least I can probably get the hell out of here to do just that."

"That would probably be for the best, yeah.  Maybe don't mention the Diamond Steelix and us, either."

"Wasn't planning on it.  Don't want to bring any attention to this little crisis before it's even begun, or get any hotshot trainers like that hotheaded Cynthia I faced the other day visiting thinking they can capture that gem of a Steelix.  I'll just fudge the truth a little, say there was only one Onix and that I drove it off.  Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to be taking my leave so I can run damage control."

Byron turns to walk off, but he doesn't get very far before the ground begins to tremble!  He stumbles and catches himself on his shovel before he falls over!  "What in the blazes of Heatran...?!"

Emerging from the ground in an unoccupied corner of the room is an all too familiar shape to Randolph.  The dark black hide, the large, chipped horn...there's no mistaking it.  It's the Coal Onix that Randolph has been seeking vengeance against all these years.  It's clearly still hurt badly from the earlier battle, though, so why is it here?

It stares long and hard at Randolph and company for what feels like an eternity.  Lucas silently motions to Turk to be on guard.  Paula and Heracross tense up as they prepare for Round 2 with the snake, no matter how short lived that fight may be.  Byron reaches for a pokeball on his belt...

But then the Coal Onix does something unexpected.  The end of its tail pops out of the ground, curled around something.  It deposits whatever it is it in front of itself, gives Randolph and Kogeki a thankful nod of respect...

...then it burrows underground and out of sight, leaving behind two items.

The first, a blue, rectangular slab that Randolph can identify as a Splash Plate.  Kogeki's gaze is immediately drawn to it.



The second, a pitch black, egg shaped item decorated with what looks like sparkling diamond dust.

The mine becomes completely silent once again as those two items lay there on the ground, left as gifts by the Coal Onix...