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It's her mission to keep safe. To protect the people of Hoenn, and to stop Rocket. Rocket had been over the line. They kept crossing it, of their own volition. And in that moment, as her scowl could easily burn a hole of its own, Genny pondered it. The possibility. To have to fight hand-to-hand against a knife. To have to hope she was fast enough to knock it out and away. Or...[break][break]

Heart pounding in her ear... Genevieve was ready to break her arm, when suddenly came the berry. And in a motion, Genny's scowl dissolved into shock, confusion, and if she was honest, hope.[break][break]

Joker takes a berry to the face, slapped in the face and rubbing the tiny spot it slapped, as his own arms went up to shield himself, as Genny lets go of the Rocket here, watching her swipe the communicator and sprint away. Into the wilderness.[break][break]

And Genny watched on. She didn't move. She just stared.[break][break]

"... why?"[break][break]

There's more confusion and irritation. She could have pulled something out. To fight, but instead, she stunned Genny and Joker both.[break][break]

Not all Rockets are like the ones from the beach she fought against (Tempest Quinn & Victoria Beckett). Not all of them want to kill or hurt. If Genny hadn't come along... would those two Rangers even be alive?[break][break]

What ifs got her nowhere.[break][break]

Letting Joker hop onto her back, the duo made their way back. What else could even be done?

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Breathing hitches finally the moment they enter the scene. A massive, hulking Ursaluna. Its forehead was marked in that of a blood moon. The closer they get, the more terrifying it looks, and Genny can feel her heart pounding in her ear. The look of the bear itself... as it carves arcs into the dirt, it turns around.[break][break]

And Genny, for a moment, holds her breath. Holding Isaac Merlo's arm with a tiny tremble, she watches it huff and run.[break][break]

And then she lets the breath go. "Izzy... I'm gonna check the body, okay?"[break][break]

Letting go and skating by the body, she moves to knees next to Rowan Wrynn , looking over the corpse. "Okay, uh... cause of death." Eris Halla has her Comfey pull out the body, and she moves to look over the body itself, assisting to clean things up.[break][break]

Genny moves to assist in cleaning the corpse, and searches the body for any identifying signifiers. Any name, and trying to discover time of death. Frosty is ready to go the moment he has the chance.[break][break]

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In those short moments, before the conflict really started, she found herself rubbing each arm, the shirt now protecting her from the cold. Her face was still hot, a nigh-permanent hue coloring her face. She could warm a winter night with that heat alone, but as she took the moment to look over Izzy, and just watch him. The cold didn't bother him.[break][break]

His confidence was so electric. Something she loved. But even with Duster moving the bone in its figure-8, and attacking with the BLIZZARD the Valiant spun its own blades, hardly affected by the icy onslaught. In its visage, it stares on, and Genny looks over.[break][break]

His breathing hitched. Was he afraid? Without thinking, Genny did the only move that made sense.[break][break]

Isaac would feel a hand grab his own.[break][break]

"My friend told me. We can do anything, together." Her grip tightens, and she turns her hazel eyes forward. She can feel lam logan's words move into her mind. Her smile grows. "You're not alone-"[break][break]

With a new fire in her chest, she looks to Zagreus and Belladonna. "-so lean on me when you need me." Zagreus made the biggest bark and growl he could, and with a return and a toss out, Genny's hand lights up. Zagreus was running, and atop of him, standing up at the ready...[break][break]

Was the shining power of positive happy energy, dancing joyously on the back and glowing white. Venus the newly formed Gardevoir. Together, one RAGING FURY, and DISARMING VOICE.[break][break]

Genny tightens her grip. Izzy was strong too. She knew it. The cold can't bother him.[break][break]

And neither can whatever he's seeing.[break][break]

As if preying upon the nightmare of Isaac's fears, even as it takes the attacks, it glares Isaac down most of all. In clarity, it uses a gambit all its own. The Iron Valiant uses DESTINY BOND, to ensure and make truth what trauma did lay before him. To watch another Gardevoir die? As it attached to all who hear its call... the bond ensures that if Iron Valiant does die...[break][break]

So will all of them.[break][break]

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Just a friendly teacup ride with Izzy, and as they file in, the pep and the extra step, the singing. It really did feel like waking up from a long, long dream. Genny had a chance to come back.[break][break]

"Thrill-seeker, huh? We'll see about that." There's a goading, teasing voice of her own that comes out. And it almost feels like the Genny that used to be behind those eyes, the one that was there before. The one that was so exuberant, and excitable, and loving, and one even further beyond that was so visible.[break][break]

As the cup starts spinning, she answers him.[break][break]

"Well. After nearly drinking my career away for... some... reason-" A reason that now lost a lot of its meaning. It's hard to remember now. Her mind wants to justify it as stress, but Genny wasn't an alcohol person. She liked wine, but she knew moderation.[break][break]

And college taught her the benefits of puking, and how terrible it felt to go too far beyond.[break][break]

"-I threw myself into work. After our talk, the head ranger paid me a visit. He helped me. And my best friend, Lammy... and you. I've really just been doing paperwork ever since. Turns out, being a senior ranger can be really boring too." She grins, as the ride gets faster, and faster, and faster and faster and faster.[break][break]

She takes a moment and looks at the man in front of him. Really give him a once over. Her grin vanishes.[break][break]

"You don't scream the vain kinda guy to go look at a mirror of yourself for hours... talk to me. You won't really get through it if you don't. Especially to the people around you." Speaking from experience on her end of course. She scoots closer. She was always a willing ear to listen. If he wants to use it.

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The fact that Genny happened to be at the right place at the right time wasn't lost on her. Melody just happened to be wanting to assist where she could be. It was a matter of time before the two would meet. It was inevitable. The best kind of inevitable.[break][break]

Meeting Melody wasn't anything like what people say about not meeting their heroes.[break][break]

But the redhead deflates at the mention of these Pokemon appearing more and more lately. It might sour the mood for anyone else. "Yeah... that's why it's important we be here every chance we can." It's bittersweet. Sure. Some of these Pokemon whimper in pain. Some never can walk again. Some may never live long past their admittance here.[break][break]

But when Genny sees Melody bend down to the Yamper, little Lucky pulling and making the cutest growls... Genny knows. Melody was a hero worth meeting here. Because she knew the importance of one day to these Pokemon. Where one day they are here. And the next, they're gone.[break][break]

Her question lingers on Genny's mind.[break][break]

"Ranger work keeps me busy, but... I'd love to try my hand at it one day. Ranger work withstanding, of course. Promotions recently have piled paperwork upon paperwork..." She grins ear-to-ear, though rubs the back of her neck as she does so sheepishly. Yeah, she wanted to do it, but she could wait. No self-doubt either, it was just her workload.

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Just a short year ago, Genny had come here to Hoenn her first time. Here, she enrolled into the Slateport Rangers. In that time, she re-invented her whole life. Every morning before six AM, she was awake, jogging a mile. Every meal was carefully calorie-coded, to ensure she stayed in shape. Every day off, was another day of work.[break][break]

Diligence was who she was. It was who she always was. She was hardworking.[break][break]

So when asked by someone like Momo, younger yet full of life, full of sunshine, and full of happiness, Genny didn't just say yes; she let Momo decide where. It was a small escort mission, really, and it was its own reward.[break][break]

"Not a problem, Momo. Any time! Just be careful!" What a big perky smile, beamed back and responded to. So quaint. With Momo searching, all Genny had to do was watch. And if one came up she wanted, she'd fish out a ball. But this was Momo's day. First and foremost.[break][break]

Next to her, floating quietly and making her own noises, Wright was bouncing on her own wings. She hadn't had too many times out and about.[break][break]

But Genny had brought her lucky charm. That is. Wright's SUPER LUCK. Maybe they'd give them something good? Here was hoping.

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Isaac sold himself short far too often, and there was something about the way he blushed now... something that has her heart race just a step faster. Maybe it's because of how earnest he is. He got here from his own eforts. To that point, where he needed to be. And it was right in time to catch her before she fell. His teasing, the way he sees her so highly, and how that feeling is so mutual. He was waiting to see... that... smile. Her smile. Now her cheeks flush further. Had... had he...?[break][break]

...[break][break]

Hearing Izzy continue, Genny now away from him, just a moment, she looked back, and back to Galar. Everything in her wanted to refute. To question why. But there's something wrong. Because Genny knows he isn't lying. He couldn't lie. It was there in all, and her hazel eyes trace along the ice and snow. She shivers a bit more, when-[break][break]

He takes off his shirt for her. Bare-chested. And it takes a moment for her to realize what is happening. Genny's no longer just flushing, she's burning up. It's one thing to see the chest, how fit he was, it was another for him to do it like this. She takes a moment to breathe, to think, to consider and ponder a means to get out of it. But he looks fine. So fine. So damn fine. He wasn't shivering. That was impossible. Oh Arceus, it smells like him, it smells like him and she likes it. Why does she like it?! Izzy was just a friend...[break][break]

Without even the ability to say no, Zagreus places the shirt over her head, and she's much warmer.[break][break]

"A-Anyways!" She turns on her heel, two hands over her cheeks to slap at her face, and she tries to shake it off. Galar. Galar was a place! That's right! She was here! He was here! He was... he was...[break][break]

Gone. For all those years. It weighs down. Like it was always there.[break][break]

She turns her head to the fountain in the center of town, frozen... when standing there, almost hidden and stealthy in its approach, stood a tall force. A robotic being with a blade, held at the ready. Its face reminded her... moments of Lady Bloom in the cave, when... when...[break][break]

Genny's hazel eyes focus. It looks like it has killing intent.[break][break]

Heeeey! Pleasure to meetcha! I love your suit. Can ya do me a favor and die quick? comes a voice in her mind. A memory... before Lady Bloom...[break][break]

Genny's face is horrified. "Izzy... we have company." Zagreus is already growling, and Belladonna is making tiny growls herself.[break][break]

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Tiny little four foot eleven Genevieve Cromwell hears Howard clear as day, running that direction, not realizing that Guardian had done something so monstrous as scaring the pants off someone, and with that shriek, as he ran, so did she, and right at the corner-[break][break]

DONK.[break][break]

With a loud thud, and a fall backwards, Genny hit the ground with a daze, seeing stars almost immediately as she is flat on her back. Everything is spinning in a double or triple vision... for a moment, the guy in front of her looks like he's Double Team'd.[break][break]

When she clears her vision up, grabbing at what felt like a welt on her head, she looked up bruised.[break][break]

"Sorry! I heard a scream, and-" Guardian was behind Howard, out of place. Wait, wh- oh. "-that makes sense. Sorry about that." With a raise of her brow, Guardian flies back into her chest, and Genny tries to get herself to her feet.[break][break]

And then a hand out to Howard.[break][break]

"Senior Ranger Cromwell. You can call me Genny. That was Guardian. He's very protective." The normal sunny talk is muted, more disarmed. Her eyes are a little puffy and red. A perceptive eye would see she'd been crying until recent.

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It was going so well. Genny was so trusting, so believing in the cause. There's a moment where the redhead grins from ear-to-ear, and with her hand outstretched, and met with Aurelie's own, it seemed that the Rocket would go unaccounted for. Genny would have just never know.[break][break]

And then the communicator, in an act of divine comedy, decided to fall out and turn on in just the right way, at just the wrong time.[break][break]

Genny hears Rocket Survey Squadron One. She hears about Attack Squadron Two, advance... and hazel eyes light up with recognition to what this was. What was really going on. The lie so easily told, so easily believed. Any gentleness, any happiness leaves her face. Flashes of Hazel enter her mind. A scowl burning on her face, cheeks red in embarrassment.[break][break]

"You want to get that? Or should I?"[break][break]

She had done some level of physical training. She jogged every morning. She went to the gym. In her mind, the moment Aurelie moved, one of two things would happen.[break][break]

Either this woman would be put under arrest, or Genny would be wounded, maybe even killed. Seeing a hand slide to the woman's pocket, her eyes narrow.[break][break]

"Go ahead. Flip that coin." The sunshine in her voice was eclipsed, an echo of her older self in Galar came out with a hail of venom and bile. Joker stalked closer and closer, each step the mumblings of the Impidimp and preying upon the negativity that Genny was feeding him so effortlessly. With a wicked grin, it stalks closer, each step that malevolence growing and growing and growing more.[break][break]

Choice was going to need to be made soon. That goblin was baring his fangs, readying to pounce...

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Lavendar and hazel collide, and Genny's lips were curved into their own smirk. A smidge of arrogance in her disposition. She was promoted, she had this. She could impress annalise henderson, ollie morales, and paxton concordas. All three of them. She wasn't going down.[break][break]

The Rocket's snickering like getting bucked in the chest, and the laughter only had Genny's smirk disappear. Pride came before a dizzying fall, and both of them seemed to have it.[break][break]

Wordlessly, Genny could see the Cloyster, beginning to pool the water into a giant vortex. And Genny moved instinctually.[break][break]

The hailstorm meant conditions were perfect. Water would solidify with a perfect success rate. All that mattered- "Vanilla Ice, full Blizzard!" He clapped his moth wings, and with the icy particles and the hailstorm, froze over the entirety of the Whirlpool in a giant statue of ice here on the beach, only to see the rude woman gone. And with another slap of hail down on her, she had to think.[break][break]

"ZAG!" As the ball is thrown upwards, the Arcanine smashes outwards, and immediately, the canine begins to sniff the air.[break][break]

And admittedly, Genny threw him out for a second reason. Cocky woman like her would want to attack an easy type advantage. The moment she did? Genny would give her some comeuppance. She may be a woman Rocket, she may be a powerhouse, she may even be one of the best.[break][break]

But she underestimated Genny. And she'd make sure they'd get proper payback. "Sniff her out, Zag."

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Seeing the Head Ranger in person was a morale boost, and Genny's hazel eyes light up the night, as she feels the gloved hand on her shoulder.[break][break]

"A lot better, actually. Thank you, Ollie." She beams, unaware to the knife in the dark. With it, the order comes in, and unbeknownst to Genny, the AIR SLASH comes in to her back, and the sound of pain echoes from her as she takes the slice. Her back was bleeding, but with it, so long as Ollie was safely on Pet Shop or his own Pidgeot, Pet Shop barrel rolls, damn near throwing Genny off to plummet, but holding on for dear life, Genny gets reoiented. With a look to the sky, she cannot see the opponent.[break][break]

Curses. The night sky wasn't giving them options. But Genny has an ace.[break][break]

"Hundred percent. The enemy is here..." the stinging on her back makes it hard to concentrate. The bird caws again, and flies through the air with an AERIAL ACE to make sure she reaches her target. Failure chance? Zero.

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