Nox and his pair of pokemon had barely entered the sections of the mines where the issues was concentrated when they encountered what was possibly one of the culprits. Nox had never seen a Mimikyu in person but he had heard quite a bit about them from his former boss. Apparently it was some sort of ghost type but it was also a fairy type, which meant dark type pokemon were at a disadvantage against it. The Mimikyu didn't appear to be trying to cause trouble or doing anything wrong. It was simply moving through the tunnels occasionally stopping and using what appeared to be a shadowy arm to tap along the wall. Was it looking for something? It certainly seemed to be but what it might want Nox had no idea. As far as he was aware, nothing that could be found in the mines would be of use to any of the wild pokemon that dwelled there. He'd heard that evolution stones could sometimes be found there so a wild pokemon might be drawn to areas where 'their' type of stone could be located. But Mimikyu didn't evolve so it wouldn't have any interest in those sorts of stones.

Nox and his two pokemon continued to watch for a moment, none of them certain what the Mimikyu was up to. Eventually, it seemed to find something of interest because it paused by a section of wall and the shadowy 'hand' poked and tapped at the wall. When that didn't get the desired result, the Mimikyu moved back a bit and a large, ghostly hammer was formed in the air between the ghost and the wall. The Woodhammer attack slammed into the wall where the Mimikyu was focused. Something shiny popped free and skittered across the ground toward Nox. The Mimikyu turned to go after it's prize and spotted the human and his pokemon. With a sound that could only be described as an angry hiss, the ghost flung itself forward, clearly preparing to attack. Nox only had a brief moment to figure out what to do. Noire and Sorey had both moved forward to defend him but he held them back. "No. Stay put." He reached for a pokeball at his belt and called on Void. The Zorua appeared from his pokeball though he did not appear as the little black and blue Zorua. Instead, he looked like your average Rockruff.

The Mimikyu, thinking it was facing a rock type, formed another hammer in the air and swung it down at the 'Rockruff'. Void scrambled aside very nearly getting slammed in the head with the attack. While the Mimikyu recovered from missing, the disguised Zorua pranced up and slammed a paw down on the ghost. The Mimikyu's disguise broke and it turned to Void with a second woodhammer attack. This time the Zorua wasn't able to dodge and was knocked aside. His illusion fell away, revealing his true self and he got to his paws with his teeth bared. Though he was breathing heavy and had clearly taken a lot of damage from the attack, he fired off two shadowy orbs of ghostly energy toward the Mimikyu. Both struck the ghost head on and the attacks were immediately followed by a pokeball that hit the head of ghost's disguise and sucked it inside.

---

Battle Recap:
Mimikyu used Woodhammer
Void avoids the attack - No Damage
Void used Feint Attack
Mimikyu's disguise breaks - No damage
Mimikyu used Woodhammer
Void takes damage - Approx. 50% health
Mimikyu takes recoil damage - Approx 80% health
Void used Shadow Ball twice
Mimikyu is defeated
Nox attempts to capture Mimikyu

Evo Points:
+2 to Void (battle + over 350 words)

The ball shook once, twice and then a third time before going still with a soft 'ping'. Nox stepped forward and picked up the ball before turning to look at what the Mimikyu had been after. It was a grey-ish gem unfamiliar to Nox. He picked it up and tucked it away in his bag. He'd have someone look at it later and tell him what it was, if it was valuable and, possibly, why the Mimikyu might have been interested in it. If nothing else, maybe he could give it to the ghost since it seemed to want it so badly. If the gems were what the wild pokemon were after then there was very little he, or any other ranger, could do to stop the wild pokemon and the miners from ending up in conflict. If, however, he could figure out why the pokemon wanted the gems, perhaps something could be worked out. Perhaps the miners could leave the area the pokemon seemed most focused on and mine only other tunnels. He doubted that would be an acceptable compromise but it would be worth considering depending on what else he found.

With the Mimikyu and the gem taken care of, Nox checked Void over for injuries and recalled the Zorua to his ball to rest. Nox, with Noire and Sorey following, headed deeper into the mine. Now that it seemed that the pokemon they encountered were likely to be hostile, the Absol and Sylveon were on high alert. Unfortunately, none of them noticed that a Salandit was stretched out along the tunnel in front of them, mostly hidden in the shadow of a mining cart, until Noire stepped on it's tail. The lizard's reaction was swift but Noire was ready. As the Salandit shot off a jet of flame at the Absol, Noire used Detect and was able to avoid being hit by the flames. Though Nox knew Noire could handle herself in a fight, he decided to call on a pokemon he knew would have an advantage.

Even as he and Sorey retreated, Nox was pulling out the pokeball belonging to his Rockruff. Cadell appeared alongside Noire just as the Salandit belched up a glob of flame that exploded as it hit Noire and embers flew off, striking Cadell as well. The Rockruff growled and stepped forward, summoning large boulders that dropped down onto the lizard before rushing in to hit the lizard with a tackle attack. Noire retreated back to Nox who immediately checked her for burns. Meanwhile, the Salandit was busy shooting another jet of flame at the Rockruff who took the hit with a howl of pain. Once the flames had disappeared, the Rockruff called down another rain of boulders onto the lizard, knocking the mine cart off it's tracks in the process. But, his goal had been achieved. The Salandit was too injured to continue fighting back and Nox tossed another pokeball at the feisty lizard.

---

Battle Recap:
Salandit used flamethrower
Noire used Detect; avoids damage
Nox sends out Cadell
Salandit used Flame Burst
Flame Burst hits Cadell & Noire - Both are approx 75% health
Cadell uses Rock Tomb and Tackle
Salandit is hit - Approx 35% health -1 Speed
Salandit uses Flamethrower
Cadell is hit - Approx 40% health
Cadell uses Rock Tomb
Salandit is defeated
Capture attempt on Salandit

Evo Points:
+2 to Cadell (battle + over 350 words)

The Salandit didn't seem to even try to escape the ball that had trapped it. The ball rocked once and then went still. As Nox stepped forward to retrieve it a rumble from deeper in the mines made him and his pokemon freeze where they were. The ground shook and dust billowed from a tunnel much further ahead, indicating that something had happened and whatever had occurred, it was not something good. For several long minutes, no one moved. Eventually, the dust settled and the ground had stopped shaking. They were safe for the time being and Nox let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He bent to retrieve the pokeball containing the Salandit and noticed that several round stones of varying colors had fallen out of the overturned mine cart. There was something familiar about them but he couldn't quite place it. He picked one up, intent on getting a closer look, when a howl echoed through the tunnels ahead. This was echoed by another and another. Noire, Sorey and Cadell all turned toward the sound. Cadell whined and took a few steps forward pausing and whining again when he realized no one was immediately following him. Noire turned to look at Nox while Sorey wrapped a ribbon firmly around the man's wrist and gave an insistent tug. Whatever had happened and whatever those howl were, his pokemon were distressed by it and wanted him to go with them. "Alright. We'll check it out. But be careful." At his words, the trio of pokemon visibly brightened a bit. Cadell took off down the tunnel at a swift trot with Noire close behind. Nox set off at a jog to keep up with Sorey at his side.

They reached the tunnel where they had seen the dust and rounded a corner to find a pair of relatively young looking Houndour pawing desperately at a wall of rubble. The rumble they had heard had apparently been some manner of collapse in this tunnel. The tracks for the mine carts, though dust covered and damaged by the rocks, looked to have been in disrepair for quite some time. The tunnel had probably not been used and was not being properly maintained. While Nox was taking stock of the situation, his pokemon had already moved forward to help dig at the rubble and he could hear muffled barking coming from beyond the pile or rock and debris. Something had gotten trapped in the collapse! And, judging from the size of the Houndour he could see on this side, the pokemon beyond the rock wall were probably the rest of the family unit. The rocks shifted some and the group of pokemon scattered to avoid any rocks that fell down toward them. "Void, Demi, Eira we need your help too." The Zorua, Umbreon and Amaura appeared in front of him. "We need to shift this pile of rock. Void I want you and Cadell to work from the top since you're the smallest. Eira, Noire, Demi and Sorey help shift the rocks below so the whole thing doesn't collapse." His team gave assorted sounds of acknowledgement and the two smallest of them, Void and Cadell, carefully picked their way toward the top and began pawing down rocks and debris that the other shifted aside under Nox's directions.

The pokemon trapped on the other side seemed to have figure out what was going on and had quieted some. He could hear rocks shifting and the barks and growls coming from all of the pokemon seemed directed at each other, as if they were working together with the trapped pokemon to ensure the whole pile didn't collapse and bury them all. Void and Cadell and made a space wide enough that one shifted rocks to one side and one to the other. Slowly but surely, the space grew wider and wider until a canine head complete with horns and smeared with dust and dirt appeared, hauling a limp fur form with it. The Houndoom struggled some with it's burden but managed to squeeze through to freedom and, with help from Nox's own pokemon, carefully brought the unconcious Houndour down the rock pile to safety. A moment later, a second Houndoom struggled through, though it limped and stumbled until it all but collapsed next to what Nox assumed was it's mate and unconscious pup. The two uninjured Houndour bounded forward to press against their sibling and parents while Nox's own dust covered pokemon stepped back to give them room. Nox stepped forward and a growl from the larger of the two Houndoom made him pause. "I don't want to hurt anyone. I want to help. I have bandages and medicine." Nox spoke carefully and slowly pulled out a bottle of medicine and a roll of bandages.

The smaller Houndoom gave a sharp bark and the larger Houndoom and the younger Houndour backed off. Nox moved forward and checked over the Houndour first. It had a nasty gash on it's head and it looked as though it had taken the brunt of the damage from the collapse. It would survive but it would be sore when it woke up. Nox carefully cleaned the gash on its head as best he could before smearing a bit of medicine on the injury and placing a bandage on the area. That done, he tricked a bit of medicine into the puppy's mouth. The pup whimpered and opened its eyes staring at the human in confusion. "You'll be okay, now. Just rest." Nox told it with a gentle pat. The pup shifted and rolled to a more comfortable position, watching the human as he moved to the injured Houndoom. This one had probably rushed in to pull the Houndour to safety. It looked to be in pretty good shape, no breaks and only some small gashes which Nox cleaned and put more medical ointment on. "You're all very lucky." He commented as he packed away his first aid supplies. The group was quiet for a moment as the pack of wild pokemon checked each other over. Nox's own team came to him and he started recalling them back to their pokeballs for some well earned rest. As the first one disappeared, the uninjured Houndour pups fled. He could hear them as their paws carried them away into the mines. The Houndoom watched them go but didn't seem overly concerned. Perhaps there were more of their pack that the pups could return to. Either way, there was nothing Nox could do.

Once he had recalled all but Noire and Sorey, Nox turned to the three wild dog pokemon that still remained. The injured Houndoom was watching him and wagging it's tail. When he moved to step away, it whined and stood to follow him. "Hmm? Not gonna let me leave without you then?" The Houndoom barked again and it's tail whipped through the air. "Well alright. What about you two? You coming along as well then?" The other Houndoom and the Houndour watched him as he bumped the injured Houndoom with a ball. When he approached them, they didn't attempt to run or fight back so he did the same to them. Of course, he knew there was no way he could keep them all but, until he found them suitable homes, he could take care of them.

---

Battle Recap:
N/A

Evo Points:
N/A

After dealing with the cave-in Nox was quite willing to head back out of the mine. But he still had work to do. He still hadn't found the source of the odd behavior of the pokemon that lived in this part of the mine. Of course, if the cave-in was any indication, perhaps they were trying to aid the miners and warn them away from continuing to work there. It was a thought worth investigating further if he didn't come up with any other answers.

Knowing he couldn't head back until he had investigated every possible lead, Nox gathered up his things and continued onward. As he turned, something glinted in the rubble and he moved over to pick it up. It was a smooth stone that gave off a faint glow. "A shiny stone. I won't be able to use it but maybe we can give it to someone who can." He commented, tucking the stone into his pack with the other assorted items he'd picked up so far.

Moving deeper, something skittered across the tunnel ahead of them. It paused long enough for Nox to see that it was a Scraggy but other than staring at them as if is had never seen a human before, the pokemon wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. It stood and watched them approach for a short time before either deciding they weren't interesting anymore or that they were getting to close and it scampered off into the darkness.

---

Battle Recap:
N/A

Evo Points:
N/A

It wouldn't take Nox long to discover the source of the disturbances in the mines. As he walked, a flock of Pidove flew past him, their shrill cries announcing danger as they fled. One, however, struggled to keep up with it's flock. Its feathers were sticking out at odd angles and one wing looked as though the flight feathers had been completely ripped out. As Nox moved forward to do something to help the bird, the culprit came around the corner with a roar that shook dust and small stones from the ceiling. Nox and his pokemon froze as the Pangoro turned toward them. Feathers were clenched in one fist that looked suspiciously like the feathers missing from the Pidove's wing.

It spotted the group and gave another roar, charging forward and banging the walls with its fists as it barreled toward them, leaving dangerous cracks in the stone that surrounded them. This had to be the reason the wild pokemon were so out of sorts. They were trying to protect the miners from collapses caused by this rampaging Pangoro. Both Noire and Sorey leaped forward. Noire was first to attack, rushing forward to slash at the Pangoro with claws cloaked in dark energy. Her attack hit but the enraged beast didn't seem phased and grabbed the Absol as she tried to retreat, tossing her easily to the side where she slammed against the stone wall and collapsed to the floor, bruised and out of breath.

Sorey immediately leaped in to take her place and gathered up what appeared to be moonlight from the darkness which he launched at the charging bear. The Sylveon's natural advantage over the dark and fighting type paired with his rage at seeing Noire hurt lent extra power to his attack. The Moonblast hit the Pangoro head on and the beast collapsed, unable to battle further. Nox, unwilling to leave the creature to continue her rampage later, pulled out an ultra ball and tossed it at the unconscious bear. He also scooped up the Pidove and cradled it in his arms. He'd get the bird to a rehabilitation center until it had regrown it's feathers and then he'd see it returned to the wild. The Pangoro, however, was too dangerous to be released until he could figure out why she had started to rampage in the mines. Once he did, perhaps there was hope that she could be returned to her home but, until then, she was staying with him.

---

Battle Recap:
Noire used Night Slash
Pangoro countered with Circle Throw
Sorey took Noire's place
Sorey used Moonblast
Critical hit
Pangoro was defeated!

Evo Points:
N/A