Session 35, VP2

It didn't take long for Lauren's dreamwalk to come to a halt. When they woke, they choked a gasp of pain down. Rather than restoring any energy, it seemed this nap had actually drained the Researcher. Their skin was now a slightly pinker shade, as if lightly sunburnt. On top of that, there was now a burn scar stretching from their right eyebrow into their hairline. The rest of the group rushed over to check on their friend. 

Thankfully, the effects Lauren had suffered were relatively light, given the inherent risk in attempting to force entry into the mind of a Legendary. Lauren explained bits and pieces of the things they had seen and experienced. It seemed they had first stumbled into Solgaleo's mind before finding their way into Heatran's. Deciphering the contents of such a powerful mind was difficult, but our heroes spent some time discussing their interpretations. Eventually, they decided that creating a tunnel back to the surface should be a top priority: regardless of whatever plan they put into action, having an exit couldn't be a bad thing. Given the group's general exhaustion, they were leery of running into Solgaleo again. To that end, the party tried to sleep a bit earlier than usual. They knew that Solgaleo would leave the volcanic caves every day at dawn...keeping a few miles of earth between them and the beast seemed a reasonable safety measure. 

When their alarms woke them, the trainers scoped out the nearby area. Neither Bronze's enhanced vision nor Polly Pocket's senses could detect Solgaleo anywhere nearby. Relieved, the group made their way to the southeasternmost room in the cave system. Reidun released her Pokémon alongside any capable digging Pokémon our heroes had with them. A few of the trainers stood watch, while the rest oversaw the excavation efforts. 

By the time dawn had passed, they had created enough space to hide in if the raging lion should prowl into this room. Not wanting to overwork their Pokémon, they made sure to take breaks as frequently as they felt they could safely. They managed to breach the surface as evening resolved. Feeling a brisk coastal breeze on their faces, our heroes relished their escape from the oppressive heat below. 

Another debate on the best plan of action ensued as they rested on the side of Sol's Bed. More Berries would be needed in almost any of the options they discussed. Herleif was asked to prepare to make some soup from the Berries, in case that might prove of any use. Ariela and Bronze were chosen to stay with him up top, while Lauren, Reidun, Reinhold, and Sylvie would descend. To help them stay safe, Ariela had Polly Pocket enter Lauren's Pokédex, to act as a sensor for Solgaleo's energies. 

During their waiting, the Surface Team had a surprising encounter under the light of the moon. It opened some other avenues to consider, information they were eager to share with their missing friends. 

Meanwhile, the Cave Team made their way towards the cavern they had originally found the Pomeg Berries. Mephistopheles was able to use his Invisibility to sneak several more of the Berries away from the hungry hordes. Weighing the risks, the team sent him back for more. 

When he faded back into sight, the smile almost instantly dropped from his spectral face. Polly Pocket began to make Lauren's Pokédex shake rapidly. Solgaleo was about to come upon them at any moment. With little time to act, the trainers attempted to hide behind small groups of the Gulpin and Swalot. The "sunlight" began to grow intensely as the gleaming feline stalked into the room. Unfortunately, the hiding spaces were too exposed: the beast spotted them. A growl rose in his throat, and Sylvie reacted instinctively by sending calming vibes towards the Legendary. Slowly, it quieted. Sylvie strained from the effort, but it paid off as the now-bored cat moved to the southeasternmost cavern. 

None of the trainers liked the idea of having to continue dodging or hiding as they explored. Peeking into the next room revealed that Solgaleo was standing tall, watching the flow and bubbling of a magma pool nearby. With bated breath, the trainers tried to sneak behind it, towards their escape tunnel. 

Halfway towards their destination, a Gulpin darted in their path without paying attention to its surroundings. As it bumped into Lauren, they couldn't keep themselves from letting out a small gasp- their friends hadn't even heard it, despite being only a few feet away. But Solgaleo, with its feline hearing, whipped around with a vicious snarl. Reinhold quickly darted to the fore, to draw its ire away from his friends. He and Mephistopheles engaged the infuriated monster, as Lauren and Reidun slid into whatever cover they could find. Sylvie disappeared in a brief flash of pink light, suddenly standing in the entrance to the escape tunnel. 

Though it caused a decent amount of damage with its attack, Reinhold was able to stand the beast's onslaught. When he was on the ropes, Mephistopheles out his all into one last Hypnosis attack to protect his trainer. As the hit landed true, the Cave Team experienced a brief moment of hope- very brief. Solgaleo swayed in place on its feet, making sluggish swipes at the air surrounding it. Eyes unable to stay open, it loosed an overwhelming roar that trailed off into a yawn. 

Before his head hit the floor, our heroes could tell what was happening. A familiar static had begun to crackle throughout the area. Tremors- from the roar, or the nascent space time distortion- rattled everything. The quake reached all the way up to the Surface Team. Blue light radiated up the tunnel from below. In seconds, both the shaking and the light ceased simultaneously. Bronze and Ariela rushed to their feet, and towards the tunnel...