[attr="class","text"]
Leon’s pride made him ignore the warnings from all corners and not just his captors. Even the imprint of her own punch did little to deter him. She begged him to play along. “Leon, please. It's getting angry. Why not save the fight for something that matters?” The lip-smacking was followed by flashing eyelids and the visible narrowing of eyelids. The psychic type’s sneer shifted from curdled milk to rage.
[break][break]

Still, he did not listen. Was this what he felt like?
[break][break]


So, she demanded it with tears in her eyes. “That pride is going to get you hurt. You need to stop.” Even without the paranoia, Aubre would have seen the trainwreck coming. And, yet, her husband was her equal in stubbornness. They just chose different moments to display it. Her when morality was on the line, and him when threatened with indignation.

[break][break]

Again, those warnings fell on deaf ears—ones that had almost been rendered deaf for good. As her husband’s feet left the floor, Aubre rushed toward the two nearest guards with a strangled gasp. “Leon!” One of them wrapped an arm around her chest as the other tugged on her chain like a dog’s leash. “No! He didn’t—” Thwamp! “Punish me instead!” She struggled.

[break][break]

Forgetting the mask, she went so far as to try biting one of the guards.
[break][break]


Up and down he went. Like a child’s ball. Thwap! Crunch! Squelch!. She could feel each snap as he hit the rockhard floor. Every one of those impacts reminded her of a memory that threatened to dribble away. Her daughter’s first strangled cry as Aubre turns to him for reassurance. All the pain and hurt as she finally pieced it together. The cool hand on scorched flesh as he tried to rouse her after the attack.

[break][break]

“Stop! Stop! I’ll—I’ll make you pay for this!” With a final CRACK, the guards release her. With a yelp of his name, she runs to his side. His eyes are blank—stuck staring at a dirty ceiling a million miles from home. “Leon!” She drops to her knees in a pile of crystals. “You—you idiot! Get up. You can’t just leave me here.” The pain is lost beneath her tears as the shards dig into her bare legs. She wraps her bleeding hands around his now limp one. “I’ll—I’ll marry Ezra if you don't!” She didn’t have any paddles, so she had to pray that would be enough.

[break][break]

Tears dripped onto his cracked visor. A few rolled under her mask to her mouth, the cleared vision ignored. In one of these, she spies Azelf.
[break][break]


Then, the chain rears back like a cobra, forcing the dutiful wife back. Suddenly, he gasps and arches his back. Relief runs through Aubre’s body as she goes in for a blood-covered kiss. One that ends with a frustratingly audible clink. “Let’s—let’s get you up.” Hurting more than ever, she tried to do the work for both of them. If he couldn’t swallow his pride, then she’d choke it down for him.
[break][break]


And that pain? All of that frustration? It’d roll down her cheeks onto her waiting tongue.

---

[break][break]



The mysterious Pokemon’s words serve as a beacon. They force her off her knees as she supports her idiotic husband through their work. The voice in her head grows as she reaches for it—like a drowning victim a life preserver. “Do you hear that?” They help keep her warm as she covers his broken form with a blanket.
[break][break]


Her chain grows over her shoulder like a cape. Its tattered strands spread until they hover around her ankles. The purple hue shifts to a deep, vibrant green—the color of springtime grass. A rush of cool air tells her the mask is free. It falls to the ground with a clatter. She wanted these monsters to understand their crimes. To truly understand what cruelty was: forcing a wife to watch her husband (though estranged) be broken on the floor, breaking people’s confidence, and enslaving them.
[break][break]

It was just like she saw in the mask: a world where people truly understood each other. One where she knew why Leon had almost thrown it all away. This vision just reminded her how divided the world was. It wasn't something Aubre could fix.

Ominously, the guard announces that the last day has arrived. Aubre hesitates for a moment as the chime signals the escape. It’s now or never.. With a deep breath, she grabs her husband’s arm and tries to pull him to his feet. We need to go! Move! Come on you idiot! The poison in her veins lends her extra strength, the willpower from their united patron steeling her limbs. "You think you can walk?"
[break][break]

Encouraged by Alethea Ivanova’s move, Aubre takes the opening to slide behind Munkidori. “Let’s see how you like this.” A tendril explodes from her cape to wrap around Leon’s hand as two more went toward their attackers. The first jab hits a Megalopan in the gunt as the other aims to draw a line across the simian’s chain. Into that connection, she pumps all of her husband’s pain and hurt.
[break][break]


She throws hers in too.


Guilt at failing him and being his burden. The worry of a mother deprived of her child. A feeling of frustration woven with despair as powerlessness threatened to crush them beneath its feet. The despair as she realized how heavy he was and how far the platform seemed.
[break][break]


Maybe they’d understand that.

NOTES

✦ Tells her husband he's playing with fire (an ironic cautionary statement coming from her)[break]✦ Serves as Leon's crutch throughout the weak. Works without complaint, her rage slowly growing. [break]✦ Encourages Leon to get up and supports him when the time arrives. [break]✦ Tries to give Munkidori and a few other guards a taste of their own medicine.[break]✦ Struggling to carry Leon as he has at least seventy pounds on her[break]
✦ Toxic Chain Ability - Taste Your Own Medicine: Aubre is able to make others feel the emotions or pain of others by touching two people in succession with her chain. Broken ribs? You can now feel what those feel like. Despair? Eat it up. The point of it is sharp, so she can also use it for offensive purposes. These tendrils hang from her back like a shredded cape and wrap around her head in a hood. It offers also offers limited defense abilities. Think Doctor Strange.

[attr="class","text"]

The doctor straightens with a poorly disguised noise of pain. She takes a minute to flex her fingers as she attempts to center herself again. In moments like that, her entire world fades to her job. She is surprised to find the sun as low as it is. Has she truly been at it that long? A squeak from her patient coaxed out a secretive little smile. The treat had helped distract the water-type from his nerves, and it’d go a way to rebuilding the blood he’d lost. And people think we’re so different.

[break][break]
“You did great.” Doctor McKenna is quick to echo. Her Jumpluff murmurs something a few seconds later, likely a translation of her trainer and Reese’s words. Content that her work is done for the moment, Aubre pauses to wash her hands. They come back smelling like Pecha cobbler. His questions are met with a gentle smile. “I believe it is I who should be thanking you.” There’s a brief pause as she wipes her hands dry on the provided paper towel. “A lot of people would have left him there.” And, unable to float and bleeding out, he’d have ended up easy prey for a Barraskewda or, worse yet, a poacher.
[break][break]

At his next question, the doctor is thoughtful. “With help from some of my healers, he should be out of here in five or six days.” They had to make sure he stayed still and didn’t overexert himself. “I’d say a little sooner, but waterways are full of bacteria. I wouldn’t want him to come right back.” That kind of injury coupled with an infection could lead to a tail removal if left alone too long.
[break][break]

She didn’t argue against the young man releasing him. The pair seemed to have built some sort of rapport. “I’ll need a way to contact you—” She paused. “When he’s ready, I mean.”

NOTES

✦ Aubre here to fight

[attr="class","text"]
Aubre is quick to agree. This man had the potential to change her life. The least she could do was save him a few syllables. “Of course!” Had she come off as too formal earlier? "I’m not really a stickler for things like that. I barely tolerate doctor.” She was still new enough that when people called her by title, green eyes would look for somebody else they were talking to. At his double names, there was a confused blink, but she did not press. It was probably a middle name or something.
[break][break]

Ironically, she preferred using titles with other people. It made her feel Still, a request was a request. “John it is.” Just because that was the one he said first. Hopefully, that meant it was the one he preferred. His next words made her want to protest. To tell him that she was not worried. But she was a terrible liar. “I hope my behavior didn’t offend you, John. It’s nothing personal.” Her husband had lied to her their entire marriage. It wasn’t surprising that the experience had tainted her curiosity with doubt. “I can’t trust myself to pick my clothes in the morning.” And, she’d tried a lot of quackery before now.

[break][break]
Alastor followed behind with a guarded expression.

[break][break]
Doug’s easy manner, however, soon soothed Aubre’s raised feathers. Her smile was soft. “I’m pretty sure walking counts.” A glance was thrown at a passing Wingull as it bobbed overhead. She nodded. After a few minutes of companionable silence, the redhead turned to face him. “I really appreciate you taking the time to see me. I know you probably have people lined up out the door.” She’d read up on him before coming, but that didn’t stop her from being doubtful. The stories made him sound like magic.
[break][break]
And what makes you deserve that?

[break][break]
Alastor raced to draw even with them, acting as a buffer between Aubre and the casanova beside her. A scarred hand moved to tuck a stray lock behind an ear. Her heart pounded in her chest as the hospital drew into view. She swallowed. A hand trembled. She tightened the free one into a fist in her pocket. [break][break]

Suddenly, she had the urge to run. Her breathing quickened as the sign became legible. Images of hellish hounds flashed as her feet slowed to a stop. "I'm sorry. I'm--I'm not sure I can do this." [break][break]

What if it didn't work?
What if it did?

It'd been ten years like this. Pain and sizzling a constant companion. The unsightly scars dictating what she could do, what she wore, and how she felt about herself. Her whole life had been built on that last night, a long, winding reminder of the worst thing she'd ever encountered. And now, with a potential cure in view, she balked. Her scars lit up like wildfire, as if their potential end drove them into a frenzy. [break][break]
"I'm such an idiot!" Tears threatened as she laughed, the sound bitter. That peek of madness slides into view as she lifts a hand to stop the hyperventilating laughter.

[break][break]

Alastor peered up at her and moved to take her hand. You got this, sis.

NOTES

✦ Let's see how her hope goes

[attr="class","text"]

That wrecked ship was out of sight, and the doctor would wish it wasn’t. It turned out that using the speed of human boats to track the God of the Sea was a fool’s endeavor. It was the wind and the waves. It was not restrained by typical sea routes.
[break][break]

Suddenly, the Dewgong froze beneath her fingers. Its panicked mewls faded into silence. The redhead found herself relieved. “See? It’s not so bad.” Aubre typically would have seen the sudden shift in demeanor for the panic it was. But her eyes were too fixated on the strand in front of her to see the fishing net. “We’ll have you back in the water soon.” A drop of rain hit her on the forehead as the sky above darkened.
[break][break]

Behind them, the outline of the water titan moved closer. Red glows lit up the water like wartime wounds. Angry golden eyes peered up at the human.
[break][break]

Green eyes lifted up to the ominous clouds. “Huh?” That was strange. The news said they were due for three days of sunshine and eighties. And there hadn’t been any clods when she got up here. This momentary confusion causes her hands to loosen. She felt the Dewgong tense. “Wait! I’m not—” With a panicked slap of its tail, the Dewgong threw itself from the rock. Half of the wires were still wrapped around its neck, but that didn’t matter with that thing barreling at it.
[break][break]

“Ow!” The snapping strands left Aubre with cuts across her palms. With a hiss, the doctor reeled backward, slipping into the water. “Serena, can you grab—” As she moved to right herself, she finally caught sight of Kyogre’s form. The knife dropped into the water with a series of bubbles as she pedaled backward onto the outcropping. It felt like clambering on a table leg to survive the Titanic.
[break][break]

Aubre finds her Swampert frozen in a similar state to the seal.
[break][break]

She swallowed as she beckoned the axolotl onto the rock beside her. “Serena! Get up here! Hurry.” The hushed whisper is barely audible above the crashing waves. “We just need to stay quiet and hope it doesn’t—” The legendary’s maddened eyes lock on them from below. Its cry shook the waves as the isolated cloud turned into a deluge. “So much for that.” A sigh shook her entire frame as she threw a glance toward the shore.
[break][break]

What once seemed a stone’s throw away suddenly seems a world apart. Like a freight chain, Kyogre charges the rock they balance on.
[break][break]

“Leon is going to kill me.” Unless Kyogre does it first. This is the last thing she says as her and Serena dive into the water.

NOTES

✦ Time to run from a giant sea monster! She could use a hand here.

[attr="class","text"]

Aubre bobbed her head as she shifted the laptop from one arm to the other. She was quite fond of the bat-dragon Pokemon. They were graceful creatures with a very unique set of biological characteristics—an interesting hybrid of reptiles and mammals. “Let’s have a look.” Fortunately, it seemed the late night wasn’t for naught. She’d actually remembered to bring the patient. Something that was neglected more than some people might think.
[break][break]

As the Noivern emerged, Doctor McKenna could not fight back a gasp of concern. “Oh!” Her hand rose to her mouth as she started forward. “I’m so sorry. That has to hurt.” She paused, her gaze lifting to the Noivern’s despairing ones. In her reflection was nothing but empathy. “May I?” Only after receiving confirmation would she gently pull up the bat’s wing to give it a second look. Though gentle, her movements were methodical and skilled.
[break][break]


She found no broken bones in her examination. Just a few rips in the membrane, reminiscent of dry-rotted cloth. However, even as she felt some relief, guilt threatened. It wasn’t her torn to pieces, now, was it? Acting like an injury like this was just anything was positively boorish.
[break][break]


“I can.” It’s the first time in the conversation that confidence shines through. “Bat wings are vascular enough to repair an injury like this unassisted, but we can speed things up.” She doubted the woman wanted to wait months for her friend to take flight again. And, honestly, it was even more cruel to the Noivern. They were designed to fly. To lose that ability would be devastating. "I will need an x-ray to confirm nothing is fractured."
[break][break]

“But you have to take it easy.” Aubre says this first to the Noivern. She turned to face Lulu fully. It was obvious that something terrible had happened. Aubre doubted she wanted to know exactly what. It looked like a battle for sure, but it wasn't an accident. Something with claws had tried to rip this Pokemon apart. Again, she turned back to the belabored dragon. "Your wing might look healed, but it will take months to reach its former strength."
[break][break]

“I'd advise against repeating whatever caused this.” Her voice is surprisingly forward. “She might not be so lucky next time.” And, with an injury like this, that patch would always be a weak point.

NOTES

✦ Aubre here to fight

[attr="class","text"]


The redhead nods. “If that’s what you want to call it, yes.” It wasn’t the medically correct term, but it wasn’t like she was lecturing him.
[break][break]
This man was helping her after all. She smiled softly. A lot of people spent years hunting things like Maggie. They wanted something different. But it wasn’t usually a boon for the Pokemon. “A farmer ran into her with his weedwhacker. He thought she was a weed.” Which made sense with Hoppip’s coloration. They looked like grass. “She did her recovery in Dad’s greenhouse.”
[break][break]


At the talk of her standing out, Aubre sighs. “You’d think so. But this place isn’t really conducive for sky gazing. There is a lot to look at.” Take your eyes off the path for a moment and you’d run into someone. That was probably how she lost sight of her in the first place. That or she’d been too close to a balloon stand when it happened. At his offer, her hand lifts to her chest. “I’d hate to be a bother, but I really could use an extra set of eyes.” This place was pretty big. “Lunch’s on me.”
[break][break]

His assertion draws the curious woman forward. Doe green eyes peer into his bag as a brow rises. “Have something specific in mind?”
[break][break]

She rolled the grass type’s Pokeball in her cardigan’s pocket. A twitch depressed the button, but her friend remained at large. They were still not near enough.

NOTES

✦ Curious kitty is curious

[attr="class","text"]

The wintertime flush intensified. She wanted to protest that she could do much better than this. To drive home that her current state was nowhere near her standard. But, with compliments already pouring in, it felt braggardly. So, she settled for a simpler response, “Thank you.” A smooth movement turns her so that she faces Eva—she doesn’t want to seem rude. Occasionally, she glances up to make sure the coast is clear. “Half of mom’s coordinating was on skates, so I guess it kind of rubbed off.” Not that learning had ever felt like a chore. It was just spending time with Mom.
[break][break]

Green eyes lifted toward the clear horizon. The uncharacteristic chill seems out of place beneath the blue skies. “There aren’t many opportunities for it here.” Which was both a good and a bad thing. All of that warmth and sunshine really improved her mood. But it also led to summertime sweltering and fewer excuses for her ultra-conservative wardrobe. “And I can’t help but feel it’s wrong to give in to it.” Partially for the grief that froze tears on her cheeks, but also because of the havoc mad gods were wreaking on their region.
[break][break]


Aubre watched the Jynx out of the corner of her eye. She saw the dismissal and fought back a grin. Normally, she encouraged Alastor to not be so quick to anger, but Eva did say the Jynx was in need of a lesson. “Don’t worry about it.” It wasn’t like the electric lizard was any better. He was as brusque as Alastor stared up at the haughty Jynx for a moment. Though he tried to be nonchalant about her brush-off, the little frill around his neck gave him away. With a smirk, he forced himself to rush forward. “Al’s a great teacher.”
[break][break]


When he had enough momentum, the lizard turned sharply to spray the uppity ice type (and her pretty dress) with a wave of ice and slush. Oops! How rude of me! His big, wide ‘innocent’ eyes seemed to say. But inside, his mind had one thing on it. Ignore that, you frigid bitch.
[break][break]


Aubre bit back laughter as she wiped at her eyes again. She couldn’t help but imagine the old Gogoat out next to them—its hooves slipping and sliding like a baby deer's first steps.

NOTES

✦ Al will show the Jynx how being petty is done

[attr="class","text"]
As the days wore on, Aubre’s initial fire petered out. Things settled into a monotonous rhythm. Her fingers bore dozens of stinging cuts. Repeated attempts to befriend Ogerpon—each more ill-fated than the last—left her body bruised. Leon's constant interference stopped her from joining the broken rib brigade. Though it was hard to bite back her frustrations with that.
[break][break]

She wanted to help. If he just leather try, she might be able to make it right. But he was just hurting himself. After the second attack, the beseeching calls were made at a distance.
[break][break]

After a time of holding out, the little pecks of mochi turned into full-on bites. This break seemed a small price to pay to calm the howling banshee in her stomach.[break][break]



The despair vanished in fits. It was replaced by flares of will—like the pop of broken wood in a campfire. When it was her turn to face Munkidori, there was an uncharacteristic anger in her eyes. Instead of pointing, the redhead forced out a single word: “Center.” The simian hesitated for a moment. Its eyes narrowed as it scoffed and reset the cups. This time her tongue betrayed her too.
[break][break]


But the laughter did not bother her. She said things about herself that this deranged monkey couldn’t even dream of,
[break][break]


Only sleep provided a reprieve. Each day being next to Leon again felt more right. Trapped by true psychopaths, the disparity between his crimes and theirs almost made a mobster look angelic.
[break][break]


The despair remained, but it was easier to hide from. It could be shoved in all the empty storefronts and postponed into tomorrow. In the windows, she saw her daughter at play. Each night came with a different outfit. First, her husband’s suit. Then, a doctor’s coat. This evening it was the one she’d worn when her life fell apart.
[break][break]


In her exploration of Ultra Megapolis, Aubre began to compile a map. At this point, the redhead knew where each of her Pokemon dozed. Once or twice, she’d just taken a seat in front of them to watch them sleep. Leon and her had explored a few buildings in almost deafening solitude.
[break][break]


She asked questions of the aliens, trying to understand what and why they were here. What exactly made it so they now just played along. It worried her how sane some of those reasons were becoming.
[break][break]


With no real destination in sight, she allowed herself to wander the city. But it seemed that she had a destination: the tower. In this realm, she’d gleaned information about the Pokemon at the city’s center. It was called Axelf and it was the embodiment of will itself. The power to persevere when the odds were stacked against you, in other words. A rather auspicious symbol of what they needed now.

[break][break]

A hand reached for the glass. It hesitated. A bitter laugh emerged as she tossed her head. What do you have to lose? The trembling stilled as she pushed everything she had into her request. A scream into what was likely an empty void. Just a dream, like Leon said.

[break][break]

Wake up. Her hands tightened until nails scratched against the glass.
[break][break]


This was stupid. They’d never get out of here. What was the point? Tears threatened as her bravado wavered.

[break][break]

Please.

NOTES

✦ Quick summary of her weak[break]
✦ Tries to wake up Azelf with sheer will[break]

[attr="class","text"]
“Thanks!” Aubre shouted down at Lutgarde as they charged into the fray anew. Some part of her wanted to rush to Shalin, but she knew there were dangers to that. Really, this whole thing is stupid. You’re risking your life for a dead Pokemon over a broken piece of tin. It reminded her of the arguments her and Leon often fell into. But, still, drawing attention to Shalin wasn’t helping either.

[break][break]
The five Pokemon and Flygon work together to keep the mechanical thing at bay. Protected by the stone and atmosphere of the church, its feathers shine new. It’s much stronger than the one she’s faced before. Aubre dances back as a few sword-like feathers clatter onto the table beside her. “Shit!” An uncharacteristic piece of profanity slips out as Aubre shakes from her watch of bird and rabbit. “You’re right! I’m coming!”
[break][break]

But she doesn’t, not immediately. She hesitates again. Wake up. Please. With a frustrated shake of her head, Aubre slides from the table to the floor. This movement catches the Corviknight’s mechanical gaze as it fixates on her. Its wings lift as three feathers prepare to launch for the doctor’s heart. Aubre stumbles as it shrieks.
[break][break]

Then, a new, more deafening sound joins the fray.
[break][break]

“MAG!” The Magearna’s Fleur Cannon blasts through the Corviknight’s central gears. The malicious light fades from its eyes as the little rabbit creature lands next to Aubre. It wags its fingers at the bird, who certainly isn’t hearing anything anymore. It turns toward Aubre, one of its arms now on the floor. It tilts his head, its bearing as regal as a princess. “Eana.”
[break][break]

Aubre—unsure what to do—bows. “Thank you. I—I’m glad you woke up. You saved me, and I'm grateful.” The clockwork creature nods. It’s slept for far too long and missed far too much. When she turns to follow the others, she finds the hobbled princess is following right after. It seems as eager to leave this place as they are. This kingdom in fact.
[break][break]

“Let’s get to a safe place.” Then, she would try and patch together Shalin and her Pokemon. At least as best she could with nothing but metal and scrubs. Then, finally, she might be able to go home. And, it seems, she’ll have a new friend to do it with.

Shalin Nariya Lutgarde Dijkstra

NOTES

✦ Let's see how her hope goes

[attr="class","text"]
Alastor stepped back as Lulu stepped in. His frill lay halfway expanded, irritation apparent. For a moment, he tries to catch the lady’s eyes. But he knows he’s lost. Aubre would have come back to see a patient. Such a pushover. As Lulu passed, the sore loser almost stuck his tail out. But that’d just make him look like the bad guy.
[break][break]

Aubre turned as Lulu entered. She offers up a shy smile in greeting.
[break][break]

Even through the door, she could hear the television. He was playing deaf to annoy her patient. "I’m sorry about Alastor.” Not that she would ever make him change or actually fire him. His personality was as much part of who he was as the electricity. “He hates it when I work late.” Which was pretty understandable. He hated letting her go home alone. So, when she worked over time, he did too.
[break][break]
“The last time I checked.” That joke fell flat. You really need to stop trying to break the ice. It’s just awkward. She turns the laptop toward her. Lulu’s apology is met with a small nod. "Don't worry about it." The redhead is quick to reassure. “You did come a long way.” That last word inches up in pitch, an almost inquiry.
[break][break]



“I don’t miss the traffic. I’m relieved—” The talk of commuting made her glad to be flying again. Just as she was about to say as much, the doctor froze. Teeth pressed gently on her tongue. She had almost forgotten why they were here.
[break][break]


Let’s not bring that up right now, shall we? Talk about being clueless. But now she was just standing there awkwardly. She tried to turn that hesitation into a period with another smile. She was just relieved. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just in general. Totally. Move on. Just focus on work, shall we?
[break][break]


Around the doorframe, a little pink blob floats into view. The Jumpluff proceeds to float idly around the room before coming to a stop atop the IV stand. The boisterous creature grinned at the lady with the funny hair.
[break][break]


If she wanted to get home before dinner, it was time to get down to business. She gave her mouse two resolute clicks as she gave Lulu her full attention. “Your file said something about a Noivern.”

NOTES

✦ Please leave Al a review on Yelp.

[attr="class","text"]
The redhead stares at the automaton at the table’s center. It reminds her of a patient’s last pose on the hospital gurney. The teeth of its gears around its eyes almost look sad. Lutgarde’s question draws out a nod. “I think so.” As if confirming, the glowing orb pulses warmly in her hand. You don’t have to do this. She could just leave the thing here and scamper away like a skittish Emolga. She should do that.
[break][break]

Her hands tighten around it.
[break][break]


“Thank you.” Her heart pounds until it blocks out everything else. Alastor shakes his head at her. Serena, meanwhile, knows protesting is futile. Aubre might think of herself as a coward, but those scars wrapped around a spine of steel. “Help push it back!!” Alastor hesitates for a moment, torn between defending strangers and his sister. The water type follows as it swoops toward Shalin and her Spectrier.
[break][break]


Aubre turns at the sound of steel on ice. Blood splatters as the pair collapse. “No! Shalin!” The redhead’s voice is shrill with panic. But there’s a moment of clarity as the other woman’s dragon takes to the air. As the Flygon attacked, Serena joined in. A Hydro Pump aimed to muffle its shrieks behind a gurgle of water. “Alastor!” The Flygon was immune to what happened next. With a snarl of frustration, the Heliolisk launches a Parabolic Charge its way.
[break][break]

The Corviknight shrieks as it thrashes against its attackers. Its wings make mincemeat of a nearby column.
[break][break]


The redhead’s ears rang as the vibrations set her teeth on edge. Something in her told her to keep going. Her hands looped around the edge of the dais as she pulled herself onto the stone table. “!?” A noise of alarm escapes as the device pulls her up in the air for a moment. Her fingers grasp desperately at the fluttering ball as it strains to be free.

[break][break]

POP! With an almost painful tug, the thing bursts free of her fingers. It hovers in the air for a moment before settling into its setting. Clink! The redhead’s heart pounds as light spreads through the strange Pokemon before her. Hopefully, she hadn’t just awakened a cute death machine. For a moment the world stops, hanging on the precipice of her choice.
[break][break]


Time passes as the Corviknight turns toward Aubre. The bird rockets upward to try and smash Sandy to atoms on the ceiling.
Aubre waits a little longer as those whirring eyes flick to her. Wake up! Please! The bird dives with open claws.
[break][break]


Nothing.

Shalin Nariya Lutgarde Dijkstra

NOTES

✦ Let's see how her hope goes