[ChainReaction01]

(OOC: That's cool. Yay for horrific ending posts >_>)

The little Smoochum blew its nose into the doll before toddling off, seemingly none the worse for wear. I was glad of it - I didn't want any young Pokemon traumatised by the events on this mountain. It looked like there weren't going to be any though - for that Smoochum, at the very least.

“Did you ever notice that all the weird stuff seems to happen when we go on runs together?” Ivy asked me.

"Yeah, it had occurred to me," I said dryly. "Next time we'll end up fighting off Genesect in some hot springs or something."

I took the required couple of seconds to contemplate the sight of Ivy in nothing but a towel. The Ranger didn't seem to notice that I'd stopped, though, so it was easy for me to catch back up with her. We passed back through the caves and corridors - the Cobalion didn't reappear, so we presumably had performed our task well. The Articuno also wasn't in its nest - probably out hunting or stretching its wings.

Just before we could leave the final cave, near where the Meditite from before had been, a Machop stepped out. It didn't really seem interested in fighting me, and yet it obviously knew Park rules enough to not bother fleeing.

“Looks like one last Pokémon showed up before we're out of here. What's the plan?” Ivy asked me.

I yawned. It had been a long Expedition. "Just move on, I'm ready to go home," I said. "Besides, this guy doesn't really seem like he wants to battle anyway."

I was ready to go home and just rest. I knew which Pokemon I was taking out - the Riolu and the Vanillite would be good breeding exercises for Jathan. The Froslass... that was another story, but I knew it was my job to make sure it had a good home.