Macbeth

The mines became darker and more treacherous as the party continued. What should have been a leisurely stroll became arduous climbing, double checking, and digging. Eventually, both trainers had three Pokemon out to help them; Quirk, Joy, Tixe, Espeon, Gallade, and Claydol worked in tandem to safely clear the tunnels. Macy's Rotom flitted about, shining his flashlight where needed and running an uncertain commentary.

"Oh, guys, a fork. Not the kind you eat with." He hovered near a large pile of rocks while the other Pokemon sat back to rest.

He had an older map of the mines pulled up on his screen. They had come across other splits in the tunnels, but their choices hadn't mattered much at the time, seeing as how all of those paths circled back into the same direction. Now, However, Macy studied the map with a scowl. She bit the pad of her thumb.

"We'll just pick the shortest path, right?" Brooke suggested brightly. "And if it's blocked too bad, we go around. Like before."

Macy took Rotom in one hand, using the other to make selections on the menu. She ignored Brooke in favor of marking on the map with several different colors, tracing out pathways and end points. This tunnel split into four different paths, leading to three separate caverns.

"...Mace?"

"Don't call me that." She responded automatically. She released the Rotom and flicked her fingers towards the other trainer. Once Brooke had him in hand, Macy continued. "We'll have to split up. I haven't been this way in a very long time; I'm not certain the information I wrote there will be correct. I'll allow you to select your destination, and Rotom and I will take the other two."

Rotom squeaked. "What? I'm not- I can't- Macy!"

"We don't have a choice. There are three different places Agnes could be, and I don't want to waste time she might not have." Macy watched the expression on Brooke's face as the trainer calculated the odds of success at getting through each individual tunnel.

Finally, the fighting and psychic trainer shook her head. "No, it's more likely the middle one." Brook scooted closer to Macy in order to show her what she had been working on. The map was zoomed out, and Brooke had outlined a pathway in bright purple. It connected all of the most damaged tunnels in a neat line. "Look, the explosion would have traveled best through the path of least resistance. That means straight down the middle. We had to keep taking the left and right forks, right? So it makes the most sense that the middle area is where the 'man in a black' is set up."

Macy couldn't argue with the simple logic. She nodded. "Okay. That means we need to start digging... Since we didn't see any signs that anyone has been through, he either had an escape route already planned..."

"Or he's still there." Brooke's eyes set in determination. "As much as I want to pummel him for this..."

"Your talents are best used to keep Agnes safe." Macy agreed, already making selections on Rotom's menu. Neither Weis or Reseda would be very useful here, but she didn't have many other Pokemon she felt would be safe to call on. "I'll handle the 'man in a black'."

Tixe giggled darkly, trying to hide his anticipation and glee behind his hands. He didn't get to battle as often as some of Macy's other Pokemon; typically being used to train them. It was obvious that he would be her choice in this area. This was where she had captured him five years ago, after all, and he had a natural advantage in the dark, moist caves.

Quirk lounged with Espeon. The two quadrupedal Pokemon whimpered and chuffed to each other, both exhausted from digging and psychic power use. Occasionally, their tails brushed gently, and one or the other would glance away.