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The wilds prove once more to be a wildcard as not only does Lutgarde find themself in them again, but also in familiar company. "So we meet! I hope you have been well as well," they smile at Morrighan and nod, before looking at the train station with curiosity. "I do wonder how they still might work in a place like this ... how any of the machinery functions, really," Lutgarde remarks, looking at the architecture and machinery with marvel.

While generally not bright, the workings of things coming together like this, city-like in their structure, is something they've been a bit more curious about than sports, in fact, and actually studied as far as they've been able.

"With pleasure - let's see where this takes us," they agree with a grin, urging onward to follow Sylv who already hopped into the train, to see where this train ride would take them. It's thrilling to see more of this strange kingdom, explore beyond ... even if it's also scary, a little bit, since ... They need to hope to find an exit again, or the way back. But with the volatile happenings in this realm, maybe it would work out fine.

Morrighan Cahill

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Lutgarde nods at Morrighan's guess, "I wonder where those might reside ... but still, fuel isn't endless, either." But, that's about the extent of thoughts they have for the moment as they get onto the train. It's unfortunately not quite as picturesque as one would like, and like Morrighan, Lutgarde prefers to stand during their ride.

Sylv has no hesitations about loafing on a windowsill like structure, however, but Lutgarde would really prefer their dress to stay as intact as possible. Even if it's also unfortunately rather wide ... maybe they should take out the petticoat later, so it's at least a bit flatter.

"We shall," the ranger agrees with the storyteller, taking the lead automatically as they walk towards the nearest big building - the castle. They don't recognise it from their trips before, wondering if it's just because of the angle or maybe if there's multiple castles, as well ... however, as they step into it, there's something interesting to behold that they forget the castle question for the moment.

"What vibrant colours," they remark, looking at a Magearna in a picture that is actually coloured red and gold with a young girl, perhaps a princess. A surprise in comparison to the faded colours they've seen before on multiple occasion now. It seems like these don't indicate the maker's taste like they first thought, but the actual flow of time. Just what kind of kingdom has been here before, they wonder, and what happened to its people? It's hard to tell if the regality in the picture is also human, or perhaps, even Megalopolan...?

Morrighan Cahill
26 examine worn down paintings of an "original color magearna" held by what appears to be a small, regal and unidentifiable girl in the mechanical kingdom's castle.

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Lutgarde nods as Morrighan reads out the inscription, confirming their prior knowledge about the mechanical princess. But there's still mysteries, what are the exact relations between the people and actors here?, and many more. Still, for now, it remains a mystery as there's other things to deal with first.

At the sound of metal noiselessly approaching, Sylv is already on the move with a Quick Attack, sharpened in senses by Hoenn's many trials and tribulations. "Watch out!" they call out as they pull Morrighan into a safer space, letting Sylv momentarily deal with the mechanical Tsareenas who got blade for legs.

It seems like maybe they also need blades themselves ...

"Epi, it’s blade against blade!" they call for their Iron Valiant who rushes to aid, using its double-bladed weapon to fend of Tsareenas with dizzying speed. However, it also slows down quickly, retreating as the Tsareenas dwindle in numbers. The situation stabilises enough that they recall Epi as quickly as it has been called due to its increased rate of fatigue. They'd have to thank the knight later - but for now, it would need rest as it still is getting used to the world beyond the terastal caverns.

Morrighan Cahill

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The structure is not as sturdy as it seems, and they find themselves falling after too high-pitched an attack. The floor gives in, and they're falling - but instinctively almost, Lutgarde readies themself and is indeed caught by Sylph rushing in with Extreme Speed, who then makes a quick beeline towards Morrighan, too, who'd be additionally secured by Lutgarde so that she doesn't fall off the Togekiss during her stabilising flight.

It just seems to be in luck for more reason than one, too, since the bottom onto which they would’ve fallen is riddled with puddles of oil. Sylv hops onto Lutgarde's shoulder with precision from above.

"I hear it," they confirm, following Morrighan cautiously and ... ... "Oh my god."

That's not what they had in mind when they pondered the perpetual movement going on here. But, it probably also shouldn't surprise as much ... still. Their judgement is almost immediate with barely any hesitation as they look at the beaten Carbinks. "We got to help those Carbinks!" they call out, look over at Morrighan for a brief approval, before Sylv and Sylph already charge onward. They spread Life Dew and a Helping Hand to inspire the tired workers, inspire to maybe see about a life different from here.

Morrighan Cahill
32 either by exploring clockwork tunnels underneath the city or the castle, liberate carbink who have been working in other coal engines for eons.

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Lutgarde busies themself with taking care of the Carbinks, uttering reassuring nonsense as they tend to the wounds with the help of their pokémon partners. The mines are abandoned Carbink by Carbink as Morrighan discovers a passageway out- and Lutgarde worries once more again, always wanting to be the one on the front. But in this instance, they're better with first aid given their ranger training, so they just hope nothing will happen to Morrighan, her pokémon and the Carbinks as they float and walk out of the room.

There's still plenty of work to do here, too, and they do their best to make those crystals shine again. "Follow Morrighan over here, the person that just went through there ... we'll get you somewhere safe," they assure the pokémon, gesturing to the exit hopefully. However, a group of Carbinks seems unmoving from their place, the last remaining ones.

"Hey, what's up?" they ask gently, and after a brief moment, the Carbink seem to nod to one another, urging Lutgarde to follow them. And there ... "Oh, that's ..." Yet another body of Magearna. Maybe they got a knack for finding them, seeing as every excursion here has resulted in at least one being found one way or another. A knight, perhaps, always on the lookout for the princess to save.

"Thanks for sharing this with me. Can't let the princess be here on their lonesome, right?" they smile, before lifting the - frankly heavy - body and carefully navigating the tunnel that Morrighan went through. At least with practice from last time, it's a fairly manageable task. They merely see the glimpses of emerald, ruby and sapphire, as an actual Volcanion, big and towering, as well as Morrighan, pokémon and Carbinks block the rest of the view. They steadily hold the Magearna, and believe to see a glow between the little spaces between people ... are there more soulhearts in the room proper?

Morrighan Cahill