I raced back through the flaming camp, looking for Team Raider. They, as suspected, were among the prisoners of the Marauders. And yet, they hadn't followed me as I led the rest of them to safety.

Team Raider's tough… even if they have engaged Wind, they'll be able to hold out. The rest of them will be safe for now… I simply can't leave anyone behind.

My fur crackled with every movement, sparks flying off with every step. I leapt aside as flames swept by, roaring as the prison caught fire.

Drat… That was the only path through! Well, no choice but to push onwards… I've got to rescue Team Raider!

I took a deep breath, and plunged into the inferno. It was surprisingly cozy… Not too hot, and didn't seem to lap at my body. The flames almost seemed to recoil from me… Intriguing. As I made my way through the burning prison, I caught sight of Rhyperior battling.

I deftly dodged a stray Rock Wrecker, and left the prison. I quickly jumped atop a nearby ledge, intending to survey the battlefield before challenging Wind myself. Unfortunately… that also gave me a clear view of Rhyperior getting knocked off his feet… and crushed beneath the weight of Wind's Aura Blades. I looked further to see Azur flinch.

Wait, Azur!? I quickly fired off a unique Thundershock Wave. I followed up with two Thunder Waves, completely immobilizing Wind, and saving Azur.

"Azur, move! My paralysis will not hold him for long!" I shouted. She scrambled away, and leapt up onto my ledge.

"Spark… You…" Azur murmured, clearly relieved to see me okay.

"Just repaying a favour, Azur. Now let's sort this mess out… I want my partner back."

She nodded. "I shall heal you as much as I can. I am not a fighter."

I smirked. "Then just stand back… This isn't the first time I've dealt with him."

Seeing her nod, I leapt off the ledge as Wind broke free of his paralysis. As he turned, growling, I felt a powerful force well up inside me. I suppressed it, as I was not looking to kill my dear partner.

The air changed. It became very stormy… and it poured. The earth rumbled, and the lightning struck. It seemed as though the very planet itself was battling at my side.

So… Here we are again. Wind, I will save you!

I dodged to the side as an Aura Sphere came whizzing by. A few more followed it, but they also missed their target, instead hitting the rubble piles behind me. My fur bushed out as the thunder boomed overhead, and I quickly shook it down.

My paws carried me through the air and over the ground. With the wind at my back, and Wind at my side, I sheathed my claws. Just a knockout… I wasn't looking for anything else. I continued to scrape and dodge attacks with ease, never letting a single one strike me.

Hmm… There is always the chance he gets bored and goes after the helpless Pokemon I led out of camp. I should send Azur out to lead them away from here, to a place they won't be found. That will give me the time and space I need to defeat Wind.

I launched a quick paralyzing bolt at my partner, knowing it wouldn't hold him for long. Then I jumped back to the ledge, where Azur was simply staring off into the distance. A sigh escaped my maw.

"No time to be lost in thought, Azur! I need you to go protect the other Pokemon, I can handle this!" I growled, grabbing her scruff and tossing her out of the way. She scrambled to her paws, and raced out of the area. Watching the last of her tails disappear into the flames, I turned my attention back to Wind. He broke out of the paralysis again, launching a barrage of Aura Spheres.

As the raging Lucario swapped back to Aura Blades to get me at close range, I jumped back into the area, ready to continue my battle. He swung, over and over, getting fiercer each time.

Despite that, I continued to run around the ring, gracefully sliding under Wind's blades. He growled, clearly distressed that he kept missing. The enraged Lucario leapt into the air, and started trying to take me down from above. I smirked.

Another lightning bolt struck the ground. I jumped onto it before it disappeared. Running along bolts, I took the battle to the skies. My fur crackled as the bolts continued to strike. I fired a few Thunderbolts, before jumping across a gap to land on a different bolt. The enraged Lucario was lost trying to follow me, but continued launching attacks anyways.

Much fiercer than last time, I see. Still, I will save him.

I jumped from bolt to bolt, crossing distances at heights that would make most Pokemon faint. The ground stared up, waiting for me to make one miscalculation and plummet to my doom. The winds howled as Aura Sphere after Aura Sphere came flying at me, each missing their target or getting evaporated by lightning.

Soon enough, we both found ourselves in the heart of the thunderstorm. I continued avoiding Wind, countering when I was able. Though his growls got louder and louder, so too did the thunderous skies. Sensing an opening, I jumped at him. My surprise attack forced the Lucario to drop his weapons, and we tussled on the cloudbed for some time.

In an attempt to dislodge me, Wind rolled off the cloud, and we both plunged down to the ground. While I was expecting it, the act was still enough to catch me slightly off guard. I pushed off of him and jumped onto the lightning, using it to descend as we continued fighting.

Alright, enough playing around. I won't go full force on him as I don't want to kill him, but it's time to end our little battle.

I jumped off my bolt, firing a Thunder as I hurtled towards Wind. The combined force of my Volt Tackle and Thunder sent him crashing into the ground. A giant cloud of dust surrounded his impact site, and a rather large crater replaced what had previously been a couple burning buildings.

I gasped, realizing that despite my best effort, I'd tapped into my stored power, and had done more damage than intended. Hitching a ride on the lightning, I returned to the surface safely. My paws carried me over to my partner. I breathed a sigh of relief… Somehow, he was alive.

I worked to get him onto my back -Not the easiest of tasks, given he was stuck in the ground- and made my way out of the ruined camp. His body draped across mine, weighing me down.

I didn't realize Wind was this heavy… He doesn't eat too much. Maybe I'll talk with him about it when he's better.

Leaving the ruins was more difficult with Wind on my back, since I had to maneuver him around the collapsed beams and narrow walkways. It took a couple hours, which was more than enough time for the storm to pass. Wind shivered. Though he was unconscious, it was clear he was cold. That wasn't a good sign. It meant his time was running out.

Picking up my pace, I started making my way to Redcliff Town. I'd surely run into Azur along the way. I'd have to apologize to her for my actions… Even though she's only a healer, she'd shown great courage in, well, not fighting Wind, but standing up to him. A smile crossed my face as I decided then and there to officially extend an invitation to the core team. Yes, she was on the team, but more in the way that Heliolisk was on the team. A recruit… and she proved to be far more than that.