[Spruce]

A long walk through the fog revealed no more enemies beyond what we've already fought, and, after listening to Gregory's directions, we finally make it to where the treasure supposedly lies. The fog cleared to reveal a marble altar, on top of which was a strange, grey crystal that seemed to be holding something in place, or, rather didn't seem inactive, at the very least. "Whoa... is that a void crystal?" Gregory asks me, to which I reply by simply shrugging as the fog around the general area dissipates, revealing a strange set of scenery. The floor under us looked as though it was made of the same material as the altar, yet didn't feel as if it was, and there were several strange trees also possibly made from this stuff. The trees came in varying sizes, and, with what they seemed to be made of, it looked as though they were made by a master sculptor rather than nature, heck, even the roots seemed unnatural, as they formed an arc above the crystal in question, which seemed to pulsate an odd, yet somehow familiar energy when I got near it. I edged closed to the crystal before I get stopped by Gregory, who shouts "Hey! You can't take one of those! I mean, yeah, I kinda feel like I should get something from this whole adventure, but you just can't take a void crystal. If you do that, some other universe will seep through where the crystal used to be, killing all who are nearby at the time... yeah, just leave that thing where it is, okay?" Unfortunately, I didn't listen, and continued to edge towards the crystal, drawn to it like a bug-type to a charmander's tail. Fortunately for those around me, I was stopped yet again, this time by a mysterious figure, which was revealed as an absol after she slashed at me, throwing me back towards my teammates. "Ha!" she gloated, later adding "So, you're the one who's supposed to replace Vine, then?" I shake my head, not even knowing what's going on, and she laughs an evil, cackling laugh as she continued "Of course you are. I guess he never told you who I was... pity. I'm Desia, future ruler of this pathetic mud ball, and I'm here to destroy you, and take this crystal." another figure still seemed hidden just outside where the fog cleared, and therefore, in the fog, however, so I was guessing she didn't come alone. I tried to get up from that one simple attack that was thrown at me, but, wow, it wasn't easy. It took a little while, but I finally got back up, only to have her use night slash on me, knocking me out right then and there. "Don't... let her win... don't give up..." I tried to say to the rest of my team as I struggled to maintain consciousness.

---
[Anthony]

The mawile were no longer focusing on me, and one of them was already down for the count. The other didn't seem as though it could take much more, either. [i]Hey, now's my chance! Everyone already thinks I'm KO'd, so maybe I can pull off some sort of stealth attack.[/i] I think as I get up from being a sludgy mess on the floor and start to head over to the mawile, who was about to attack Josh, carefully. The thing didn't even notice me as I tackled the thing, heck, I even had enough time to scope out the thing's weak spot, and I aimed right for it, resulting in a powerful attack, one that seemed to be just enough to finish off that last mawile. "Whew... that was close, huh, guys?" I ask the rest of the team. I then add "We... may want to rest up for a bit, you know, to regain our energy." that fight took a ton out of me, but, for all I know everyone else could be in perfect shape. I just hoped that they would let me rest, I mean, yeesh, I was beaten within an inch of my life back there, and only managed to come out of that fight alive due to sheer dumb luck. Of course, what lies ahead could be even worse... which just means that we should be in peak condition if we want to continue through this beautiful, yet extremely dangerous cave. I then wondered what kinds of shady pokemon would hide in here, and if we're even remotely ready to take them on in a fight. We had to be ready, even if it meant that we had to stay behind to train up our levels, heck, I'll even stay here until I'm fully evolved if that's what it would take, but... my teammates might think differently than me on that regard.