A poisonous shuriken clipped my left arm as I dived to the ground, my sword tumbling out of my hands. I reached out and grabbed it, bringing it up just as one of the Toxified Greninjas leaped towards me. On instinct, I raised my sword higher to intercept the enemy, but the Pokemon twisted midair and prepared to strike me. A gust of wind knocked him away and I shouted, "Thanks, Yanmega!"

"Liam!" Xera called my name and I looked up to see her some ten feet in front of me, holding back two Toxicroaks. "Run for it! I'll hold these two back!"

I didn't waste time for a response, I just ran for it, past the Toxicroaks and Xera and out of the narrow area between the two Islands of Poison and into open grasslands. I looked back to see Xera running after me, Yanmega having blasted the Toxicroaks away. Once they caught up with me, we watched as the Toxicroaks and Greninjas began to give chase.

"Oh come on!" Xera shouted angrily as we began running again. "Can't they just stick to where they live!?"

"We have other issues," I warned, my feelings of hope diminishing rapidly. "There's more Liepards ahead!"

Xera's eyes lit up. "Perfect!"

She yelled and charged forwards, outpacing me. The Liepards stalking around in the grass ahead of us took notice and began racing towards her. Only when they noticed the other chasers behind us did they think better of running in our direction.

"Yanmega!" Xera shouted back. "Stop their escape!"

Yanmega flew ahead of all of us, leaving me running alone, both Xera and Yanmega having left me behind. I risked a glance and saw that several Toxicroaks were only around ten feet away. My legs hurt and lungs ached, yet I managed to push myself harder. An explosion of dirt and grass erupted ahead, causing some of the Liepards to trip over the ground or come to a stop.

I ran past them and nearly got killed. Xera was there to save me, stabbing one in the chest and pulling me towards her. She pushed me forwards and we continued running. The sounds of strangled cries and screeches could be heard behind us, but at least we were no longer being chased. 

Now no longer entirely focused on staying alive, I took in the view ahead. A forest of poison spread across the landscape, tall trees dripping venom and an eerier poisonous fog drifting between the shrubs. The Central Mountains were so much closer now, but this miasma forest stood in our path, spanning at least a couple kilometers on each side.

I stopped and placed my hands on my knees, my breathing ragged. "I-"

I began coughing, hoarse and rough. I fell on the ground, breathing hard. "I can't go on much longer."

Xera didn't say anything as she kept watch behind us, her breathing sounding more ragged than mine. We didn't say anything for a couple minutes, which hopefully meant we weren't being pursued. I remembered Luna mentioning this forest as a cluster of graves and that we should go around it.

Movement caught my eye. I saw a Pokemon staggering out of the treeline and collapsing onto the grass. It was Leavanny.

"Xera," I rasped, nearly falling over myself when trying to stand. I stumbled forwards, limping slightly. I didn't know if Xera was following me, but I saw Yanmega fly ahead of me towards Leavanny. Now that I was closer, I could see that she held Dewpider in her arms, both looking exhausted. I fell to my knees and rolled them over as Yanmega landed and kept his gaze on the forest.

"Poisoned," Xera said, her voice hoarse behind her mask. 

She was right. Both Pokemon had their eyes screwed shut tight, a sickly purple tinge coloring their bodies. Dewpider's bubble was a somewhat murky purple color now.

"This isn't good," Xera held Dewpider close to her. "I don't know ho-!"

She began coughing, her body shaking.

A thought struck me. "If those two were in there, what about Luna? And Z?"

"I don't know," Xera said when she could speak again. "They might already be dead."

"Don't say that," I said, my chest still burning slightly. "We need to find them."

"In there?" Xera sounded like she would be yelling if not for being in pain. "Do you want to die!?"

"They could be in danger," I staggered to my feet, lifting Leavanny in my arms.

"What are you doing!?" Xera gripped my wrist, which wasn't as tight as it normally would have been. "She'll die if she's in there any longer."

I found I couldn't take another step.

"It's the only way," my own voice sounded broken. "We can't just leave them out here."

Xera didn't say anything as she dropped her hand. With a grunt, she pushed herself to her feet. "They better be in there. Or we're gonna die."

"We're going to die anyway," I rasped, feeling sweat dripping down my face. I felt warm, probably had a fever. Xera looked worse than I felt, caked in sweat and her face slightly red. Whether it be the air or getting attacked, I had a feeling we were poisoned somehow. Our time was limited, I could feel it.

Together we headed into the miasma forest, our makeshift masks doing little to protect us from the stench. Yanmega flew above us and he began to look a little weary not long later. We tried to avoid heavy shrubbery as they had sharp thorns and poisoned tips. The poisoned trees blocked most sunlight, a heavy smog in the air. I could hear the sounds of Pokemon and the watchful eyes of some on us.

With each passing step, Xera looked more and more like she was about to just collapse. However, I was beginning to feel better. The burning in my chest had let up and I found I could move easier. Looking at Xera, I figured she was the only one poisoned. But seeing how being in this miasma was affecting both her and the Pokemon, I couldn't see how I was feeling this good.

A flapping sound from overhead, blowing apart the smog, somehow making it thicker. Crobats settled in trees, hanging upside down, their glaring eyes on us. I heard a slithering sound at one point and I looked to see an Arbok coiled around a branch, only it skin seemed to be folded inwards to make it slimmer. Its tongue flickered as we passed, but it didn't attack.

"Liam," Xera said off to my side. I stopped and looked. She was pointing at a spot on the violet forest floor, where it looked liked something big had been dragged.

"Let's follow it," I said and moved to catch Xera as she was about to fall. Her legs shook as she trembled. 

"I'm fine," she said, her shaking voice not convincing me.

I put her arm around my shoulder and helped her along. We followed the path made and headed deeper into the smog.

Swaying from side-to-side from branches were what looked like Toxified Wormadams and rolling past us were Whirlipedes. Up ahead I could see a lump. It was Luna.

I tried to pick up our pace, but the ground moved beneath me. Giant purple leaves shifted, making me fall onto my back. I watched as several large plants turned towards Xera, Yanmega, and I, menacing eyes on us, mouths agape. Victreebels. I now could see that Luna and Z were wrapped tightly by vines, probably being used as bait.

Xera pushed herself off of me and gripped her spear with one hand and Dewpider clutched under her other arm. "I can fight. I feel better now."

Her face did have a bit more color in it aside from purple, but she still looked very sick.

I set Leavanny down and drew my sword. "Yanmega, protect Leavanny."

He buzzed tiredly, but settled next to the other Bug type. The Victreebels began creeping their vines towards us slowly, but I sliced one off, causing one of the Pokemon to cry out in pain. Several vines shot towards me, one slamming into my chest, sending me crashing into a tree. The branches shook wildly, dousing me in purple liquid. 

As I worked my way to my feet, I saw Yanmega carrying Leavanny and Dewpider away as Xera was knocked to the ground, her spear rolling away. I gripped my sword tighter and hardened my resolve. If I didn't kill these Pokemon, my friends would die.

Several large creatures floated into view from different directions. Dragalges. 

"So many Pokemon," I breathed, coughing on the smog as the new arrivals descended towards Luna and Xera.

"NO!" I shouted, charging forwards, swinging my sword. I sliced through the bottom of one of their tails, purple liquid gushing out. It cried out in pain and turned to me. I quickly dove to the side as a spray of liquid splashed onto the ground, sizzling.

The forest was alive now. Poisonous Pokemon of all kind were gathering around the area, either curious or eager for food. Along with the familiar Toxicroaks and Toxified Greninjas, I spotted Skuntanks, Drapions, Scolipedes, and even a toxified Florges.

"I can't win," I breathed, backing up to stand over Luna to protect her. Yanmega had already dropped Leavanny and Dewpider next to us and was dragging Xera over to us. We were huddled up together now, the Pokemon of Miasma Forest all looking ready to kill.

"Miasma Forest," I said out loud. "Of course I come up with a name for this place in a situation like this."

Suddenly, a Crobat flew from the trees and blasted wind at a line of Pokemon, forcing them to move backwards. It then morphed into a Toxified Greninja, firing shruikens at every other Pokemon.

"Z!" I gasped as she transformed into human form. 

She began coughing. "How the hell are you not unconscious like they are!?"

"I don't know," I said, swinging my sword around to fend off several Skuntanks.

"Never mind," Z growled. "We'll have to try and get all these Pokemon away before we can try and run for it." 

She transformed into a Victreebel and began ripping up the earth with vines, scattering dozens of Pokemon. Yanmega blasted winds at several Dragalges, but his attacks were weakening. I charged forwards to help, swinging my sword. I managed to cut off a bit of one before a blast of energy near me sent me flying. I rolled across the ground, groaning in pain.

Picking myself up, I saw myself face-to-face with a Drapion. It roared and brought down a claw. I raised my sword, my knees getting driven into the ground as I tried to hold back its claw. Then it raised its other arm, claw gleaming purple with poison.

Vines wrapped around the Pokemon's middle and yanked him backwards, relieving the pressure on me. I dropped my arms, panting. Then I saw two Arboks dragging Luna away. I ran for them, only to get body slammed by a Toxicroak. I felt a sharp pain in my side before I was flung backwards. 

A Greninja appeared several feet away from me, a torrent of poisonous water rising up behind him. I tried to scramble backwards, but the liquid crashed into me, sending me away. I saw the Arboks coming up on my right, so I swung my sword with my right hand as I passed, lopping off a head. 

I crashed headfirst into a bush, sharp thorns digging into my skin. As I pulled myself free, I felt them tear at my skin and my blood drip down my face. I screamed in pain as sharp fangs bit into my ankle. The other Arbok. He had abandoned Luna and was now coming at me for revenge.

I was in pain. Blood was escaping me and I didn't entirely know what was going on around me. I didn't know if Z was still fighting, all I could hear were the sounds of Pokemon clashing, an all-out forest brawl over having us as their meal. I didn't know if my friends were safe, let alone alive.

A sudden aroma drifted over me, calming me and lessening the pain. The Arbok released its death grip on me and looked over my head. A storm of leaves blasted it away and a Pokemon landed next to me.

"Roserade," I mumbled, reaching for wherever my sword had landed. I found it, but the Roserade had already leaped away, crashing noises all around me. Several large Pokemon burst from the undergrowth. They looked like they were galloping on air, their blue and purple manes flowing almost magically. 

"Galarian Rapidash," I said in amazement, but it wasn't over. A dreamy pink mist filled the forest, cleansing the air, the smog disappearing.

More aroma settled over me, lulling me into sleep. I tried to resist, tried to find my friends, but my body shut down on me, something tugging me into the darkness, where a peaceful sleep awaited. 

I hope you all realize we're only 4 chapters in at this point and so much has already gone down. I'm trying to put as much detail as I can into this 30 chapter book, but that still won't be half of what is planned. Right now, they're all just trying to get somewhere. The plot isn't really progressing, but it will. I can only do so much action before everyone can just rest. Seriously, I put my characters through so much in just one day XD. Till next time. Toodles