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GENEVIEVE CROMWELL, 24

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Twenty years ago, Genny had everything. A bestie from her childhood. A boyfriend. Loving Pokemon who would follow her anywhere. Gifts from her team, and a captain who believed in her. Today, her boyfriend sent her a letter that he'd be staying in Kanto, she had lost four Pokemon back-to-back after Mr. Business, and all she had left was really whatever left she had, and her bestie.[break][break]

But in those twenty years, he wasn't around. Meaning she couldn't lean on him. Meaning, she had to learn to be independent. And that was what today was about.[break][break]

The first thing about Genevieve Cromwell was the hair; she had cleaved off all of the length in the back. It was short now. Much more than it had been. Added to that, her Ranger outfit seemed a little different. She no longer wore the hat she once found cute, and there was a lasso now added to the side of her attire. She looked the part, but perhaps the most different was her facial expression.[break][break]

Hazel eyes absent of innocence, and pouty lips, she had the overall appearance of someone hardened by war. The smile was gone, and though she looked great, she didn't feel great.[break][break]

Most of her heaviest hitters died in Galar, meaning the only Pokemon with her, were a Frosmoth who laid on her shoulder, a Growlithe with a scarf, and a cute little Pumpkaboo who was dancing on the wind.[break][break]

Looking at a small pocket watch on her person, now standing outside the cave of Route 120, she looked around. "Should be here anytime now."[break][break]

Even her voice lacked the energy of the go-getter from the year. What the hell happened to Genny...

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It was after the Galarian Twenty Years, that a short-haired redhead would be in her diving suit, walking out towards the job. The job was simple; take down Rocket pirates down. Some operation to open up the way to the Ultra Sea.[break][break]

She'd been there once a long time ago. Cracking her neck and arriving to the public docks, Genevieve Cromwell stared at Josh with a deadpan expression, face filled with resolve.[break][break]

"Cadet Cromwell here to help." She was more distant, as she would look forwards the trio of other Water-faring Pokemon, eyes on the Dewgong.[break][break]

"Don't have a Water Type that works for this. Mind if I borrow the Dewgong?" It was strictly business, but as she jumped in, she already gravitated towards the beautiful seel. They were cute, and though she didn't have the forces necessary for a water mission, she more than made up the difference.[break][break]

Handcuffs on her person? Check. Mask? Check. Taser? Check.[break][break]

She was ready.

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There's a dialogue. He's a lot less standoffish when it came to the job! It's something that Genny finds herself glowing up. If contained without hurting the natural environment... then perhaps, they can get these Gogoat cured. The only way to figure out what was wrong was by that![break][break]

So, with a nod, as they move on, he mentions of her heroes, and she brightens up. He's spoken to Penny? She perks up, a feat for a four foot eleven tiny girl. But as soon as they get the chance...[break][break]

The stomping Gogoat comes out, and charges at her commanding officer, and Genny's hazel eyes flare up, and her hand goes to her Pokeballs. Dr. Rhythm was chilling, relaxed and hissing, but this required a more definitive touch. With a spin, as she tossed the ball into the air, even as he said stay put, she knew that she could have her cake and eat it too.[break][break]

A tiny little Fennekin appears on her head, landing quietly with a mew, and Genny decides to end this- or attempt to, in the easiest way she could.[break][break]

"Tranquilize with Hypnosis, Akane!"[break][break]

The thing was, poison on what was a poisoning agent likely in their systems would do little to take them down. Genny figures, making them sleepy, or knocking them out through moves would allow them to capture, take, and study. This was painless. She just hoped it would hit the mark.[break][break]

And Akane did just that, firing off her rainbow swirls in an attempt to knock the Gogoat out.

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The battle rages on between the Black Knight and the Skeleton, and even if her hopes were they would both fall, the Knight Necrozma stands tall. Strong. It's frustrating. Absolutely bitter, and as she watches the victor stand tall. Their hunger continues, and it's all Genny can do to not notch two arrows out, readying the Overdrive... but the dog comes.[break][break]

Zamizenta. The hero. Hazel eyes would have once been filled with light at his return, but all they can do now is stare on. They were saved. As she moves to put the bow away, moving to pet both Venus and Wander...[break][break]

And then... they're home.[break][break]

The cracked visage of the world around them comes to an end, and they are back. Genny holds true one thing, something immensely important to her. An arrowhead. Ancient and old, she uses it to cut her longer hair, before turning on a heel. She doesn't forget the time from before. As she slices away the longer, orange hair, and lets it fall into the rain and mud, she looks forward, ready to complete the mission.[break][break]

"Cadet Cromwell. Heading into the cave system. Will retrieve what I can and bring it back for recovery." There's a cold, deadpan voice from her. Hazel eyes just filled with... nothing. No love. Nothing.[break][break]

She walks into the cave.

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Finally.[break][break]

The opposition falls, and Genevieve looks to the horizon of their duel. Venus returns to her smaller state, shrinking and landing in Genny's arms. Wander merely watches on as well, as the duo look towards the duel happening within the skies. Zamizenta runs, and leaves them all here.[break][break]

Genny pulls back another arrow, hazel eyes focused primarily upon the fight, looking between the Skeleton and the Black Knight. The arrow is notched, pulled back and readied to fire.[break][break]

Venus was too tired to keep going. She was just a Ralts. Wander was just a little Rockruff. So it falls to her to fire it. With deadly focus, she looks at the duel of the titans before them. And she takes a breath in.[break][break]

"Disappear."[break][break]

The lightning overdrive arrow fires out, spreading out into its volley, intending to bury both the Skeleton and the Black Knight in one fell swoop, a volley meant to bury them both. How many people had to die, illusory or not? How many Pokemon had to fall for them? Others fire to aid one, or the other. Both the conflict they have here, so many died.[break][break]

Maybe it was nihilism. She just wanted them both gone.[break][break]

With that, as she sits down with her Pokemon, her last two with her, she begins to pet and ruffle their heads.[break][break]

It's a fairy tale. Maybe, they could finally have their happy ending.

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The bow is ready. The bowstrings are readied. She strums once, twice. The music they play is a cute melody. Her lips turn upwards, as she enters back into Circhester from her visit to the dead. With the skies turning red, she takes a breath, and runs a hand through Wander and Venus' heads. She had nothing left to give.[break][break]

With Zamizenta, the dog's spirit guiding the way, Genny would find herself racing to follow. Wander and Venus on her shoulders, she had no time to waste.[break][break]

She likely wasn't going home. She found comfort in that. With the Dynamax Band on her wrist, she moves to join those on the field already, speeding along, taking a ride if given.[break][break]

Into war.[break][break]

---[break][break]

The opposition looked to be three massive Pokemon, and poisonous sludge as their fighters. Slowkings and Slowbros sat as their generals. Perfect. She exudes her own confidence now.[break][break]

Now or never.[break][break]

Staring them all down, she pulls every harpstring back on the Sunlight Yellow Overdrive bow, as she triggers the Dynamax Band with her other hand, returning Venus home. Her plan was simply put, a means to strike everything whilst the kings and queens knocked out the heavy hitters.[break][break]

"The gecko."[break][break]

Pulling the bow back further, it starts to discharge static electricity onto her hands, hazel eyes staring forward holding the energy of the OVERDRIVE at the ready. The electricity burned at her fingers, her heart beats harder.[break][break]

"Harmonize."[break][break]

She flings the arrow up into the sky, it moving to the air with energy, as she does the same, throwing her Ralts upwards in a massive ball to release it in size. With her release, the massive Ralts conjures up MAX MINDSTORM onto the max'd out Inteleon, with Genny's charged OVERDRIVE breaks off from above, an arrow volley of electricity raining down hell upon the Slowking the Inteleon held within its ranks, intent to use the new Psychic Terrain by the mindstorm to find its targets, decimating all around it.[break][break]

She was an archer, after all. But a little auto-aim couldn't hurt with so many targets. With the royalty, with all the G-Max'd Pokemon on the field, they could handle the generals.

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SOMETIME IN HER EARLY FORTIES...[break][break]

A woman who once had the naivety of a child sits down by the gravestones of four Pokemon she once considered invaluable. She's hardened much since her mid-twenties. To some degree, she wonders if paxton concordas would be proud of who she became? Would she be proud of the woman that she had become?[break][break]

It's been a long, long time since that worry every crossed her mind.[break][break]

"Hey everyone. It's been awhile. I don't visit you often... that's not because I want to forget you. But I just don't have a lot of time these days." Her short, orange hair just moves gently over her eyes, as she tucks a strand behind her ears. The woman smiles, poutier lips curve up beautifully.[break][break]

"Still no way to get home. @elio and lam logan must be worried sick about me, huh? Mom and Dad too. There's some prophecy to the end here... wish I could have at least seen you all again. But maybe we will see each other again one day. Miss you all." She takes a breath in, and begins to go over it all.[break][break]

"A lot's happened since you've been gone. I got to see Isaac Merlo again! He has a beautiful wife. Blondie too. Her name is ana fell, and they have these two kids. Then you have that one guy who helped me years ago. Caleb Harcourt. He's really handsome. Apparently, friends with him? I almost feel like a young girl if I ever get to speak with him. Oh, and the Lieutenant John Sullivan keeps tabs on me on occasion. He came not too long ago. Maybe he's just worried. This other one, they're a little younger. El Sunderland, I think. They've grown well." She thinks about it. And one thing she wants is for those left to be able to see those who are gone.[break][break]

She releases Wander and Venus. The Rockruff, old and fluffy, and the Ralts, tired and mourning. They holds onto their trainer tightly.[break][break]

"The royalty of Circhester are all sweet. King Tempest Quinn is... I was narrow-minded in youth. Eva Morales is royalty too. I guess I just... I follow what they need of me. I try to, anyways. I'm a really good shot now." He runs a hand through her hair, a band jiggles quietly from her wrist. The Dynamax band. Hazel eyes look over it. Another weapon to fight with.[break][break]

Reminds her.[break][break]

"I haven't really slowed down. I haven't visited you, because I was scared maybe I would slide back into helplessness... I wish I came sooner. I was so silly to think that." She closes her eyes in a solemn, graceful moment. A small prayer to her heart. "I got you something."[break][break]

She pulls from a satchel, four flowers. One for each grave. Lady Bloom. Ms. Clean. Dr. Rhythm. Cardi B.[break][break]

"Thank you for showing me the way."[break][break]

She stretches moving towards her bow, doubling as a harp. And she begins to play a song. A requiem for those gone. She took time to practice. Enough that Genevieve was now, these days, known as a bard.[break][break]

---[break][break]

TIME FLIES BY[break][break]

Genevieve Cromwell practices a lot to aim her targets more, year to year. Bullseyes constantly, across the boards. She can't afford to miss. She can't afford to falter. She has two Pokemon left. She won't let the chance go to waste. The path that's been forged by the heroes of this age.[break][break]

She's gotten really good with her aim. Each arrow, strummed like a requiem for the fallen rhythm, to harmonize what is left.[break][break]

She practices with the Dynamax Band, specifically with Venus and Wander when she can, but it's always a last resort. She doesn't do much with it, because she doesn't want to endanger Wander and Venus. They are all she has left of Hoenn.[break][break]

But even if she did return, she'd never be the same. Not anymore.[break][break]

Running a hand through her hair, she saw all her old friends have kids, but she didn't care to. She used to, way back when, want to be a mother, but... she didn't have time to be a mother to a kid. It makes her quite a bit colder, but she does try to teach. Sometimes she lets them fire her Sunlight Yellow Overdrive Bow. Sometimes, she played the kids. The minstral's ballad.[break][break]

Her songs were always so sad. She'd often come to Motostoke to play for the royalty when allowed. She found it fitting for her, on occasion. Since King Isaac would welcome her there.[break][break]

She'd play for them often, when requested. This bow truly was her pride and joy that she made. When she finished, Wander always howled in the courts, the old Rockruff happy to entertain too.[break][break]

---[break][break]

SONG ENDS, RETURN TO PRESENT[break][break]

It's after her song is finished, that she looks to the sky above. Magenta. It's coming.[break][break]

"Time to go." She looks to Wander and Venus, who both find her shoulder, as she smiles one more time to the graves, lost to time. She can't help but wipe a tear from her hazel eyes, as she turns to walk away.[break][break]

"Hope to see you all again."[break][break]

Each Pokemon watches on. Even a long forgotten one, lost from a time before the mission even began. She can feel them looking over her, and that was enough. Even the faces of those she hadn't seen in a long time flash in her mind.[break][break]

Were they proud of her? Would her heroes be proud of her?[break][break]

That was the wrong question. She could hope to achieve that, but there was something far more important. Was she proud of herself?[break][break]

She smiles.[break][break]

Yeah. She figured she was.

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Of course she knew that. That's why she was so excited. After all, it wasn't every day someone like him would train her. Hell, he probably never would again. This was why she'd hold it dear.[break][break]

He asks her as they move through the woods, and Genevieve begins to ponder with Dr. Rhythm behind her, doing similar expressions. His words were easy to follow. She's no dummy, especially on the field, so she has to think of what that means. If the blight is natural, than the blight could maybe be cured. However, if the Gogoat were disease carriers, that would make it a bit awkward.[break][break]

"In the case of the Gogoat being carriers, than either we need to find the natural cause and hopefully make an antibody that could fight the disease to immunize them... or-"[break][break]

Deal with the problem.[break][break]

She didn't like that option, but it was one that she knew was a possibility. Rangers had to make tough decisions.[break][break]

The lighter question could wait, but at least she could smile towards Officer Concordas. He was smart. She... was hoping she could learn much from him. "Would it be a good idea than to capture a Gogoat and study it? That seems to be the best way to define if they are carriers. Might even help find where they come from, right?"[break][break]

She wanted to impress him. Fuck, did she. He must have been a really good pick if he was sent for training on her. Genny would love to keep learning from him.

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Everything gets way too overwhelming, and as Dr. Rhythm's lifeline is about to fade... a savior comes in. Unorthrodox as it is, the last thing Dr. Rhythm sees is Hitoshi Inoue .[break][break]

Speeding to his side now, Genny slides to grab at his hand... and while she cannot forgive the person who saved him, she returns Dr. Rhythm, happy it wasn't a third death tonight. Looking to Hitoshi, she nods quietly.[break][break]

"... thanks."[break][break]

It's weak. There's no energy in her words. She's lost. She can't help, and she doesn't feel like she can anymore... between Gerald Kaiser 's Decidueye, or that Rocket who killed Lady Bloom, or the many who charge the Articuno now like Cillian Quinn or Tempest Quinn , Genevieve grabs at her chest.[break][break]

I'm not like Eva Morales . Or annalise henderson , annalise henderson , or Melody Miro . I can't.[break][break]

The war continues on into its climax, and the battle subsides to its finale. With it, she can relax. She can finally rest. Today, has shaken her confidence greatly. She's no longer feeling capable. She feels so helpless, unable to do anything. She missed @elio , or hell, the girl from the masquerade luka chêne .[break][break]

This loss would humble her greatly for the years to come.[break][break]

. . .[break][break]

ONE MONTH LATER...[break][break]

She still hasn't recovered fully... she's gone to the outskirts to collect the bodies of Ms. Clean and Lady Bloom. She's erected a grave for both outside Circhester in the ice and the snow. Dr. Rhythm can't do much these days, but he's hung on this long for Genny. She needs the stability. She needs to stand strong. It's a lesson that no one is here to teach her, that she has to learn herself.[break][break]

Most nights are spent laying in a bed and crying to sleep. Sometimes both. Usually both. There's a lot of darker thoughts swirling the bowl of her mind. She writes letters to her mother, but she just shakes and shivers. She's failed so much, she isn't okay, she's just not.[break][break]

She's hardly present for the writing on the towns or cities, but even if she reads it, what does it matter?[break][break]

She can't make a difference.[break][break]

And she'll never make it home.[break][break]

. . .[break][break]

ONE YEAR LATER[break][break]

It takes a year before Genny feels herself even remotely able to pull it together. She lost so hard, it was hard to come back from the brink. But at some point, Dr. Rhythm would nudge into her. On his deathbed, the Toxtricity would do what he could to give her confidence back. To help those in need. He went out every time to do what he could each attack, even though she begged him not to leave.[break][break]

Because that's what a hero does. Regardless of the stakes, regardless of the pain. His muscles hurt, his body could hardly take it, and he came home with a new scar each time, but Dr. Rhythm never once stopped believing.[break][break]

One thing that he always did. No matter what, Dr. Rhythm always thought that Genny was enough. Even if she cowardly stayed away from the field, he'd come home and hug her and quietly hum a small tune.[break][break]

She didn't need to be like her heroes. She was good enough for him.[break][break]

The third burial was what snapped Genevieve out of this suffering. She cut her hair short. Hazel eyes looked on with determination.[break][break]

Back to the grind.[break][break]

Daily, she'd have Wander wake her up, where she would get to exercising in every morning. Every afternoon, she would spend time in the mines to mine this Dynite Ore, to give to those in need, like Queen Morales, Queen Morningstar, and both King Quinns. Every night, she would head to the observatory to assist where she could. She learned every constellation she could, she went every mile she could to become the best.[break][break]

She wasn't done. Not by a goddamn long shot.[break][break]

. . .[break][break]

TEN YEARS LATER[break][break]

Genevieve Cromwell would be known as a warrior, a woman who would do everything she could. She would deliver messages to the royalty, she would go to the mines to check on the progress of the ore, she would partake in the battles as best she could with her limited arsenal of three; Wander the Rockruff, Cardi B the Tinkatuff, and Venus the Ralts. It was a modest trio, but she would do what she could to save those in need.[break][break]

Cardi B would fall too, unable to continue on as she fought the Necrozma. This time though, Genny did not weep. She laid her to rest, and continued fighting. And once the Necrozma left them... black metals were left behind.[break][break]

She spent days upon days creating it when she had the time. This infinity core, this powerful energy core that surged with power. Like a taser almost to someone who inspired her to be better, to be stronger. Someone who saved her in her life. A song for him. For those lost, who gave her a chance.[break][break]

The SUNLIGHT YELLOW OVERDRIVE BOW. A bow with a number of strings like that of a harp, to play a song that would fire off the electricity with reckless abandon.[break][break]

She would prepare to use it for the coming war. Cadet Cromwell would persevere. Because that's what she did best.[break][break]

She was always enough. She just needed to see that for herself.

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Dr. Rhythm does his best with the Boomburst to get the sludge away, but his body can't take the strain. Right before Genny's eyes, she watches him getting slapped with some of the poison, and her heart enters her throat. That fear was getting to her. It was working. It had to. But here she was, feeling the pressure surmounting. It was staring to break.[break][break]

The peasantry is being inspired. The people are being saved, and with the Hero's Bath, there was a source of water again. A good one. To some degree, it was working.[break][break]

But hell breaks loose when the Galarian Articuno enters the frey, and her hazel eyes couldn't believe it. And doubly bad, there is some gigantamax beast in the stadium. The bird holds an army, and they are coming. They are pincered both ways. Individuals like Tempest Quinn , Cillian Quinn , and Gerald Kaiser rush to the army. Trepidation ensares her back from ordering Dr. Rhythm.[break][break]

The Toxtricity places a hand on her shoulder. He was fine.[break][break]

He wasn't. But he would fight for her smile.[break][break]

With a thumb to him, he gave a wordless declaration; he was going to do what he could to take this army down. He was one tiny Toxtricity, poisoned, battered, bruised. But as he pulls Genny into a hug... he can't promise he'll come back.[break][break]

As soon as he lets go over Genny, the the Low-Key'd lizard runs with everything in his four legs as he can, throwing his weight forward as he he generates every volt of electricity he can, amped by the PUNK ROCK ability, to take as many with him as he could in one hellbent attempt at a OVERDRIVE. Take as many as he could before the timer goes out, and protect his Trainer, no matter what.[break][break]

Light the fuse, bitch.[break][break]

Genny collapses to her knees, and grabs at her heart. Would she lose another today?[break][break]

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Well... this could go better.[break][break]

Don't get it twisted, Genevieve can see the good in everyone, and anything. But Officer Concordas was almost intimidating. Almost. Even if he was an intimidating introvert, it didn't matter! Everyone deserved a little sunshine in their life, right?[break][break]

As he explains the mission, she hopes to help air any awkwardness between them. Everyone loves compliments, right? "I just wanted to say thank you! I haven't gotten much training, but I'll do my best to help calm the Gogoat!" But his mentioning of blight leads to hazel eyes widening, and a orange-brow to raise inquisitively. "Why would they be blighted though?" The question really isn't for Paxton, it's mostly rhetorical. Why indeed. What reason could have caused that? She doesn't know. But Officer Concordas might![break][break]

In any case, she follows on...[break][break]

Maybe small talk will help?[break][break]

... one glance to Dr. Rhythm, and the salamander gives a thumbs-up, so chill and relaxed that yeah, she should go for it. Grinning now ear-to-ear, she asks him plainly "Have you ever ridden a Gogoat?" It's a sweet, friendly gesture, hopefully to get him more friendly. And in a small way, hoping he can act as her mentor, at least for now.[break][break]

annalise henderson stepping down from her head position hit her out of the blue a while back, and maybe she was hoping she could have been that for Genny.

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