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Red, literal and metaphorical, fills Lutgarde's vision. In contrast, their knuckles turn white as their hands are clenched to fists, as their eyes look upward - a glare that seems to shine red. Even without physical connection, Sylv and Sylph notice a change in their trainer as they are up to fight off the Corviknight. They seem conflicted, but don't hesitate as Lutgarde gives their orders, with a chilling voice, "Extreme Speed, then Air Slash. Aim for its wings. Quick Attack- the key."

Then, they hurry, shaking their hands, arms, everything, to Shalin's side, finally realising there's bleeding to stop. Not only this numbing inferno, not only this feeling of helplessness. This anger, this rage. "Shalin-" they say, taking a deep breath, before tearing apart their many layers of dress fabric to bandage her wounds, while also seeing if she could find the icy horse's pokéball to recall it.

In the meanwhile, their fairies join the fray, with Sylph leading the charge with Extreme Speed, rushing right into the bird to get it off balance after it drops Sandy and goes for a dive on Aubre, pushing it off course to follow up with an Air Slash to wound one of its wings - she keeps at it, and also brings Sylv closer in position to the chest. In one swift motion, Sylv pushes off with a Quick Attack, leaping for the key, severing the chain to which it's attached, before leaping once more back to the Togekiss, who catches him in time.

"Aubre!" Lutgarde shouts, feeling like the waves of their mind calming down, even if they're still shaken by it - they can't let it affect them now, there's things they have to do. Even if their hands are trembling with a whole tornado of emotions. "We've gotta get going now," they say, a slight hint of desperation slipping through a more composed mask. They carefully lift the smaller ranger up, hurrying towards the door that their pokémon were also heading for. To distract from the unconscious Shalin in their arms, they focus back - a mental map of the place. Where's the entrance through which they came ...

Their thoughts there were interrupted also by the automaton in the middle. Now, the glowing ball has been inserted, but- nothing happened yet. "We-" they begin, but exhale then. They're not someone to take the lead in a situation like this, or many other situations. Sylph and Sylv fly by them, standing by the door, but immediately turn around after dropping the key - ready to continue fighting, despite bruises and wounds. "... Maybe for a moment longer, but we've got to go," they call, and Sylph immediately charges forward again, attacking with a combination of attacks, while Sylv occasionally dives in with a Quick Attack or setting up Light Screens for protection.

Shalin Nariya Aubre McKenna-Settentrione

Before Lutgarde Dijkstra and Aubre McKenna-Settentrione could withdraw all of Shalin's Pokémon, the upset Flygon made her last stand. Sandy's wings disappeared into streaks of light as they buzzed faster and faster. Even without her trainer's Sygna Suit augmenting the attack, her wingtips could still reach supersonic speeds, a gigantic shockwave shattering windows close to the top of the building they were in. The whining noise of the wings producing the BOOMBURST was grating, arousing even a weakened Shalin whose head was thumping. "Thank... you..." she gave appreciation for Lutgarde, who carried her away from the disaster.

The trio were able to withdraw all of Shalin's Pokémon not directly helping with the battle or escaping the passage. Though it would not be easy to get to, the dragon's shrill vibrating attack had burst open a weakened part of the building's wall, giving them an opportunity to flee the Corviknight!

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Lutgarde gives Aubre a thumbs-up, hoping that both of them wouldn't regret it - but this seems important, too, somehow, something that they couldn't just leave ... "Of course," Lutgarde replies to Shalin, relieved to see that she's managed to regain consciousness a little bit - part of their tension seems to drop, even if it still reverberates in their bones. Or maybe it's just the aftershocks of Sandy's Boomburst, an explanation they much preferred over the probable truth.

They hold their breath as the final showdown - despite best efforts to keep the Corviknight at bay and, more importantly, focused away from Aubre and the automaton, the mechanical bird turns its head towards her nonetheless. Their mind runs empty, not- they look immediately at the creature as it shouts, and then saves Aubre. Another good chunk of tension drops as they see that, indeed, this creature isn't hostile - even if they can't really tell what it is about, but it seems to have the regal bearing of a princess and the looks to match it, too.

"Yeah, let's," they agree, carefully picking up Shalin to carry her without worsening any of the wounds. "Take care of the worst, and then head back to Hoenn..."

They exhale slowly while they're walking, not noticing that their steps are slightly in sync with the ever-going ticking noise in the background.

"Let's head home."

Shalin Nariya Aubre McKenna-Settentrione ooc. end!