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“Huge and long? Are we chasing a snake?” Artec repeats out loud once she hangs up with Arven. The dry landscape before her reminds Artec a little of the area surround Mt. Chimney. She decides to have Flare walk with her, the Crocalor has been extra sassy lately and Artec wonders if her evolution is near.
The mines turn out to be a network of caves, hills and Diglett holes. Artec has to be extra careful not to fall into one of said holes at the risk of twisting her ankle or worse. Flare enjoys shooting flames at any Vroom who zip too close though she knows to keep her distance from the angry Voltorb that also roam the area.
“Where the hell is this thing?” Artec grumbles at she takes a water break at the top of a large dirt mound. Two hours of searching has turned up nothing resembling a titan. She’s considering calling Arven for more clues when Flare tugs on her sleeve.
“Croooooooc,” Her pokemon says and is pointing over at a large dug out area.
Artec scans that area to see a massive red lump sticking out of a hole and it seems to be breathing. “Nice find, Flare, that’s probably the titan,” She says. “Why don’t you take a rest until the battle?” Flare turns her head away with her nose in the air not wanting to return to her ball. Artec runs her partner’s snout. “Ok, but you better hang on tight.” She calls out Koraidon.
The moment Artec gets within a few meters of the red thing it reacts by borrowing underground and popping up close by. Koraidon scales the ledge and the thing darts away again. Five minutes of tag and the titan vanishes completely, but thankfully left behind a lot of upturned dirt to follow.
The titan is waiting in the same position on the other side of a tunnel and seems to be done running. The long red body explodes from the ground and Koraidon is hastily recalled so they won’t become a casualty in the fight about to happen. Flare decides she’ll take this one on and stands at the ready.
“Ok…. So it’s a worm,” She mutters as the titan fully reveals itself. “A worm with……..arms?”
“ORRRRRRRTH!” the titan roars but is silenced by a Flamethrower.
Flare is nimble enough to dodge most of the attacks and soon the Orthworm retreats through yet another tunnel. “Get your big worm butt back here!” Artec roars giving chase on foot this time.
As with all the other titans, Orthworm is snacking on something when she finds it. And just like clockwork, Arven shows up after the first battle.
"Artec! You managed to pin down the Titan?!” He looks at the long red body, “THAT's the Lurking Steel Titan?! It's, uh...well, it sure is long!"
“And it has arms!” Artec exclaims unable to get over that fact.
"I think our little friend might be even feistier now, after eating those herbs! We're gonna need to do this together, Artec!” Arven exclaims and sends out a new pokemon. Artec has some serious questions about the little part.
Her grimace is a bit less when Arven says, “Doesn't matter how big an opponent is! Victory's gonna taste so good seasoned by my Toedscool!" She must be getting use to his terrible puns.
Toedscool plays awesome support as Flare is determined to put as many burn marks on the Orthworm as she can. Eventually the titan roars in defeat and tunnels away, leaving Artec and Arven tired and dirty but victorious.
"We did it, Artec! Way to go, little buddy! Did you get a good look at its face, though? I didn't expect a Titan to be such a li'l cutie!" He exclaims clapping his hands.
“Croc croc!” Flare roars.
“Flare certainly has energy today,” Arven comments as he tends to his mushroom.
“Yeah, I think she’s getting close to evolving,” Artec answers dusting off her partner.
Arven looks towards the cave. "I bet if we go in here, we'll find more of that Herba Mystica it ate before. Let's go find it before that thing can regroup!"
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That night, after a battle with a local trainer, Artec watches with glee as Flare does indeed evolve into Skeledirge. It’s decided the following morning Artec will take all her pokemon home to show off to her mom, and maybe talk to her about leaving Flamigo there. The bird has been sad about being asked to battle so Artec thinks it’s best if her pink friend retires.