"Su..."
Frosmoth struggled to its feet. While it had led with Blizzard to exploit Altaria's weakness, its true strength lay in Bug Buzz—a shrill, piercing cry that now echoed across the mountain.
"Su!!"
The soundwaves hit like a physical force. Su Feng clapped his hands over his ears, wincing.
Altaria barely flinched. Bug-type moves barely scratched it, but the noise offended its musical sensibilities. With a disdainful flick of its cottony wings, it retaliated with Round—a melodic counterattack meant to drown out Frosmoth's screeching.
What began as a battle had devolved into a discordant duet.
"...Are they singing now?" Su Feng muttered, edging backward.
[Why are they screaming???]
[My ears are bleeding. Make it stop!]
[Altaria's voice is angelic, but Frosmoth's ruining it!]
[Quick, Feng! Judge this talent show!]
"You go judge them," Su Feng hissed. "Unless you want to be their next duet partner—permanently."
Abandoning the summit, he retreated downhill, the cacophony fading behind him. Halfway to the fissure, a final, ear-splitting Bug Buzz shattered the relative quiet—followed by an ominous crack.
Su Feng froze.
The sound wasn't from the battling Pokémon. It was the mountain itself.
He turned just in time to see a slab of snow break loose, triggering a cascading collapse. Within seconds, a wall of white roared toward him.
"MOVE!"
Combusken reached the fissure's ledge in a blur. Haunter's eyes glowed violet, lightening Su Feng's steps with Psychic.
Yet as safety loomed, Su Feng's gaze snagged on the hollow tree—its camouflage dislodged, the Egg exposed.
"Damn it—!"
He pivoted, sprinting back as the avalanche closed in.
[NO! WHAT IS HE DOING?!]
[IT'S JUST AN EGG!]
[FENG, YOU IDIOT—!]
Fingers closed around the Egg. Snowflakes stung his face. With no time left, Su Feng leaped into the fissure—
—only for four sets of claws to snag his jacket midair. Combusken and Haunter hauled him onto the narrow path as the avalanche thundered overhead.
Gasping, Su Feng pressed against the cliffside, cradling the unharmed Egg. Above, debris and snow plummeted into the abyss.
He met his Pokémon's eyes and grinned.
"Knew you'd catch me."