(Time to continue on in the Crimson Mirelands!
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After departing from the ruins, Aubrey's first destination was to head back to base camp. She needed to check on Key and fill her friends in on the development with Calaba. Vanessa would see Aubrey and wave over. "Hey Brey!"
"What's the word on Key, doc?" Aubrey asked, seeing Rei and Laventon in the area.
"Well, once we got her here, we got the reaction under control with some help from the professor and Rei," Vanessa explained.
Key would sit up in the cot she was laying down on. "And I for one am feeling a lot better now," She mused.
"That's good...any idea what caused it?" Aubrey wondered.
"Well, from what Laventon theorized, it was something called Softfoot Root? When dried and ground up it makes a fine powder that the smoke bombs use," The merchant informed. "That's likely what caused my reaction."
"Yeah." Vanessa nodded.
"Well alright then...now how do we prevent this in the future? No shot that'll be the last we see of the Miss Fortunes," Aubrey had a bit of a stern expression, not too happy with a simple smoke bomb being enough to put one of them out of commission.
"Well the best way would be to get something to put over her face when they show up again. If we can block most of it, the reaction will be much more manageable," The younger ranger answered.
"Why not get a face covering to wear around in general?" Key suggested. "I may not have time to put it on at the moment should they catch on."
"You're giving them too much credit," Aubrey frowned. "But...I suppose it couldn't hurt."
"Hmm, true," Vanessa agreed. "And yeah, you are giving them too much credit."
"Eh, heh heh...my apologies," Key sheepishly told Vanessa.
"Alright. Guess we know what we're getting when we head back into town," Aubrey remarked. "Anyway...that Calaba lady is willing to let us help her with Ursaluna. She wants us to go to someplace called the Sludge Mound, which is where it usually hangs out."
Before they could head out there, they'd hear a voice calling out to them - Arezu's.
"Heyyyyyyyyy!" She called, running up to base camp. "Whew...glad I caught up to you. Adaman wanted me to give you something, Vanessa."
"Oh? What is it?" Vanessa seemed curious that Adaman wanted to give it to her specifically.
"This thing right here." She'd put a white flute-like tube in Vanessa's palm. "Your very own Celestica Flute."
"Celeste...what?" Aubrey blinked.
"Eh, see, after you had curried Wyrdeer's favor, we were going to give you one," Arezu explained. "With all the craziness that happened with Kleavor, we just had it slip our mind."
"Oooooh…so I can play it and Wyrdeer will show up?" Vanessa asked.
"Well, if the dirt is made of dirt, then yes!" Arezu answered with a chuckle. "I'll show you how." With a flute of her own, she'd teach Vanessa the song to play if she wanted to summon Wyrdeer.
"Okay. Let me try…" Vanessa would get it after a few attempts, and sure enough, the great Wyrdeer would show up after a moment.
"Oh my!" Key mused. "It's like a precursor to Ride Pokemon!" This would catch Rei and Laventon's attention.
"Oh, hello there Arezu! And Wyrdeer too!" Laventon greeted. "What brings you here?"
"Adaman wanted the one familiar with almighty Sinnoh to have one of these after they curried Wyrdeer's favor," Arezu informed. "Heck, if you can curry the favor of any of the other chosen ones, they might be willing to give you a ride, Vanessa."
"Did Adaman want me to have anything?" Aubrey then asked.
"Um...maybe? I don't have anything on me since I'm kind of in a hurry. Gotta run now! See ya later!" Without much elaboration, Arezu would head off into the Mirelands.
"...She coulda just said no..." Aubrey frowned.
"Don't let it get you down, Aubrey," Rei assured her. "Vanessa's more at home with Hisui, so I think her using these tools is probably for the best. You just stick to what you do best!"
"Certainly! We all know you two have your own strengths!" Key chimed.
"Exactly Brey," Vanessa added, giving her partner a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Though it's mostly fighting," Aubrey mused.
"Really? I thought Vanessa was quite the fighter against the Miss Fortunes," Key sounded a little surprised there.
"Eh…pretty sure Brey and Izzy could take me down by themselves if they actually tried," Vanessa admitted.
"Why's that?" Now Rei was curious.
"Well I'm the team's medic. So I try my best to not cause undue harm...unless said person really deserves it…" She grumbled about Rainbow Rocket under her breath.
"And Aubrey has no qualms with hurting people?" Rei blinked. "But...wouldn't being the medic make you more capable?"
"It's more than Vanessa here knows where to avoid hitting someone with that training," Laventon wagered. "Is that right, Vanessa?"
"Correct, like as an example…" Vanessa would briefly press down on a pressure point on Rei's hand, holding it there before the pain got too much for him to bear. " I have a good knowledge of places like that on the human body."
Rei shook his hand off with a wince. "I see..."
"So why do you think Izzy or I could lay you out?" Aubrey then asked.
"Well first off, you two are waay better fighters than me. You lasted how long against Lusamine when she took me down in 30 seconds?" Vanessa responded with a question of her own.
"...Uhhh...I wasn't keeping track..." Aubrey rubbed the back of her head.
"Yeah me neither if only because I was trying to take care of her Pokemon…" She shuddered remembering that room where they fought Lusamine. "I am so glad we saved everything in that room."
To Rei and Laventon, Aubrey would add, "You do NOT wanna know."
"Wasn't planning on asking," Rei responded.
"I'll respectfully decline following up on what this Lusamine person did as well," The professor added.
"And second off?" Key decided to get back on topic.
"They have way more fighting experience and endurance than me. I'm good at countering attacks but those two would outlast me," Vanessa gave the second off.
"Ahhh, I see, I see," Key responded. "Though Miss Ranger always did have the style of a streetfighter from what I know of her."
"Self taught, actually," Aubrey confided. "It was all part of how I wanted to become a ranger when my original dreams of being a trainer were dashed."
"Self taught...and rumor has it you were able to match strength with Commander Kamado," Rei sounded impressed. "Jeez..."
"Meanwhile Isabella, or Izzy as we call her, is from Galar and was trained in the art of Galarian Karate," Vanessa added.
"Galarian Karate, eh? Capital!" Laventon complimented. "It's nice to see some things stuck around in your time, ladies."
"I had guessed you might be Galarian," Vanessa smiled. "She studied under a Master on the Isle of Armor. The place she studied at is called the Master Dojo."
"I suppose that could be a story for another day..." Laventon mused. "But for now, I suggest you get on over to the Sludge Mound."
"We can continue this conversation later, partner," Aubrey added, looking like she had something on her mind regarding the topic they were on about.
"Right. We will see you two later!" Vanessa waved goodbye to Rei and Laventon for now as she, Aubrey, and Key all set off. Once they set off, Aubrey would wrap an arm around Vanessa.
"So like...when we get home and everything, I could help you with the whole endurance thing if you need it," Aubrey offered. "Like how when you wanted to blow off some steam regarding Rainbow Rocket, who was the one that offered to be a sparring partner for ya?"
"Hmm, true." Vanessa had a warm smile at Aubrey's offer. "Thanks Brey."
"Hey, I gotta help you like you help me, right?" Aubrey gave Vanessa a playful noogie.
"Wonder what the story with that is," Key giggled, interested in the conversation. Vanessa laughed at Aubrey's antics.
"Oh you," She chuckled.
"Alright, so Vanessa was dealing with Rainbow Rocket in Kanto, yeah?" Aubrey began. "Kicked the crap out of them, thought that was the end of it, but uh...you remember what happened at Alola. There's some details in there I'm kinda missing out on between that time, all I know is I let her punch out some frustration with me after the fact. Right?"
"Yup. That was a good spar," Vanessa confirmed.
"Made you feel a lot better, huh?" Key mused. "So this endurance thing is only for fighting, right?"
"Yeah. For pretty much any other athletic thing, Van and I are basically dead even...except in swimming, she's like a speeding bullet," Aubrey confirmed. "But fighting, well...how do I explain this in a way anyone can easily understand?"
"Hmm…" Vanessa was visibly thinking on that one. "Well I think part of it is that I am not nearly as muscular as Brey is."
"Hoh...well, I can certainly see the difference," Key mentioned after a moment of silence from her.
"Yeah. I'm more well toned while Brey has a six pack," Vanessa added.
"Oh my..." Key sounded pleasantly surprised about that, not that Aubrey would notice why. "And Izzy?"
"She's more like...in the middle," Aubrey guessed off her own memory.
"Yeah. While more muscular than me," Vanessa confirmed. "Izzy is a more lithe build I would say. Which makes sense, her style is about switching between rapid fast strikes and a blow of pure power…heck, Brey here ate one of her Single Strike punches and got winded from it."
"Not knocked out!" Aubrey clarified.
"Oh, I knew that already, silly," Key smiled. "That's so cool!"
"Yeah, if you got knocked out, I think you would have not left the gym for two weeks," The younger ranger added.
"Mhm...wait, run that by me again?" Aubrey paused in realization. From her memory, she was able to get back to her feet after eating Isabella's single strike attack fine, but definitely had the wind knocked out of her sails.
"Oh, I'm just teasing." Vanessa chuckled at this. "I'm saying you would have trained yourself for a while to try and get back at Izzy for the knockout blow."
"...I wouldn't be opposed to training there." Aubrey folded her arms with a bit of a smirk.
"As I know you would." Vanessa would see Calaba a stone's throw away. "Oh, I think we are here!"
"Over here, young'uns," Calaba instructed, gesturing for them to step on over. Once they did, she would speak on what to do. "Ursaluna is enraged, but...he must still recall his long relationship with the Pearl Clan. He never fails to show up when I play my Celestica Flute."
"Oh hey, Van got one of those," Aubrey mused.
"Did she now? That would explain why I could hear Wyrdeer's hooves in the Mirelands," Calaba commented, getting out her own and playing a song on it to summon Ursaluna. It was then the three heard a rumbling.
"Get ready..." Aubrey had her Arc Styler ready.
"Right." Vanessa too had her Arc Styler at the ready. Key on the other hand, had a hand on one of her Poke Balls when a large, four-legged Pokemon appearing before them with gray pelt on its back, paws, and round tail, brown fur on its face and rest of its body, with a light yellow circle on the center of its forehead, and two eyebrows looking like clouds in front of a full moon.
"Rrragh!" It roared, standing on its hind legs.
"Now, show your mettle to Ursaluna, rangers!" Calaba instructed. "But remember that Ursaluna is a Pokemon very dear to the Pearl Clan. I will not permit you to stuff him in those ball capsules of yours!"
"And our Stylers are fine?" Aubrey mentioned.
"Yes, those will do just fine," Calaba agreed, stepping back with Bibarel.
"Very well." Vanessa gave a curt nod to Calaba before addressing Aubrey. "Now they said he was a Ground-type.. so Otzawott will do well here."
"Otzawott, stand by for Poke Assist!" Aubrey called out her Dewott, twirling his scalchops like nothing important was happening until he snapped back to reality.
"I do believe that you two should have this under control, no?" Key asked the rangers. "Do tell me when to step in if you need my assistance."
"Will do!" Vanessa responded.
With another roar from Ursaluna, who was more than ready to go on the attack, Aubrey and Vanessa would shout together, "Capture...ON!" Flicking out their Capture Discs to get to work on taming Ursaluna. It tried swiping away at their discs, prompting Aubrey to call out to Otzawott for help.
"Otzawott, Razor Shell and keep his paws busy!" She ordered, her Water-type clashing with Ursaluna's claws in a tense struggle.
Vanessa felt obligated to send in her own Pokemon. "Okay…Scyther! Help out Otzawott!" She sent out Scyther, who went in to try and land some hits on Ursaluna while it was distracted with Aubrey's Dewott and the Capture Discs. While they were certainly landing, Ursaluna was still standing strong against their combined attacks.
"Man, what is that fur made of?" Aubrey breathed, noting Ursaluna was swinging at them with Slash. "Crap!" Her disc and Vanessa's had to take evasive maneuvers.
"Miss Ranger! Physical attacks don't seem to do much to this Pokemon!" Key called out.
"Ooh, I see whatcha mean! Otzawott, use Water Pulse!" Aubrey instructed, her Dewott finding this attack was easily more effective than what it was trying earlier.
"Scyther, do what you can to help out!" Vanessa ordered. Scyther would lock blades with Ursaluna while the capture was ongoing, meanwhile, Vanessa's Teddiursa would come out of its ball on his own, looking on with interest at what the rangers were doing. They wouldn't notice this in the heat of the fight, where after avoiding a few more attacks from Ursaluna, they would finally get the Peat Pokemon under control.
"Whew…" Vanessa sighed with relief. "I think we got it." Her suspicions would be confirmed when Ursaluna fell on his stomach in exhaustion, calmed down from the encounter.
"Capture complete!" Aubrey pumped a fist in the air.
"Ursaluna, my poor darling, you must be exhausted from running around like that." Calaba would approach the Peat Pokemon, rubbing his head. "Come. Let me make you all better." As she cared for Ursaluna, she looked to the rangers. "So that's how you tamed Lord Kleavor...I had only heard about how it went from Irida, so I hadn't seen it for myself."
"Yeah." Vanessa nodded. "That is what we did…only with way more dodging out of the way and also having a large group of Psyduck raining down water on him."
"You can see why I called it what I did when we first met, yes?" Calaba then asked.
"Eh...I would like it to be known the Psyduck thing was Van's idea," Aubrey admitted.
"Well, sometimes on the job we need help from the local Pokemon," Vanessa defended. "But I can see your point."
"Indeed you do. Now...I was going to use this special medicine of the Pearl Clan that can purge any poison from the body, but it seems that we don't need to," Calaba noted. "We call it Toxi-Gone. But it's so potent we can only use it on resilient Pokemon like Ursaluna."
"Oh that sounds useful. How do you make it?" Vanessa had a curious look on her face.
"I'll write up the recipe for you before your business is done here, Vanessa," Calaba answered. "Maybe you could keep it with you as a way of preserving the Pearl Clan's legacy...it would be wise to do that if future generations need to call upon old remedies."
"That it is Calaba, that it is!" The younger ranger agreed.
"Really? Just like that?" Aubrey seemed surprise.
"Just like that. If the Pearl Clan's discoveries and legacy can impact other lives for years to come, I suppose I can rest easy knowing what I know now," The warden mused. "I may be 'old fashioned' as some would call me, but even I am more than willing to impart knowledge to other members. Just like how I wish to impart onto you how to summon Ursaluna. Look. You've earned his respect."
Vanessa would see Ursaluna had something in his teeth for her - another plate!
"Oh hello." Vanessa took the plate in hand, looking over the inscription. "Now what plate are you…'When the universe was created, its shards became this plate.'"
"This is all very strange, though..." Calaba noted. "When you quelled Lord Kleavor's frenzy, I heard that the strange light was rising into the sky. I saw it all the way from here."
"But there wasn't anything like that with Ursaluna, so he wasn't frenzied, right?" Key deduced.
"Very astute of you, merchant girl," The warden complimented, but then she noticed something. "And what is this powder clinging to Ursaluna's coat?" She looked it over with a frown. "That girl from the Diamond Clan, Arezu...now why did she of all people find the need to tell me about Ursaluna, I wonder?"
"Now that you mention it...Arezu did something funny when we last saw her," Aubrey brought up.
"Oh? What about it was funny?" Calaba raised an eyebrow slowly.
"Hmm...hold on…what was it I'm trying to remember…" Vanessa tapped her foot while she thought.
"Well it wasn't the 'ha ha' funny, but after Arezu gave us the Celestica Flute for Van, she ran off into the Mirelands. Didn't tell us why, but she seemed in a hurry," Aubrey mentioned.
"Hmm, that is strange," Calaba agreed. To Vanessa she added, "Play your Celestica Flute for me, wouldn't you?"
"Okay then." Taking out her own Celestica Flute, Vanessa would play the one song she knew. Ursaluna had a positive reaction to Vanessa's playing, even though that one was for Wyrdeer. Calaba would chuckle at this.
"I shall teach you the song to play for when you need to call Ursaluna, Vanessa," Calaba decided.
"Thank you." Vanessa nodded, but then paused upon realizing something. "...Wait. Hold on. The Diamond Clan is the one who takes care of the Lord here, right?"
"Ah yes, I do remember now..." Calaba noted. "They do. And Lady Lilligant's warden is none other than Arezu herself."
"You don't think with how she acted earlier that Lady Lilligant is in a frenzy and she is trying to take care of it herself, do you?" Vanessa wagered a guess based on what they did know.
"That would explain why she ran off on us earlier...but where is she now?" Key wondered.
"I'm not sure myself," Calaba said, then got an idea. "But I suppose Ursaluna can help you search for her. Ursaluna is very good at finding hidden things in the ground. If you have a scent of Arezu it can track, you will be able to find her."
"Alright!" Aubrey sounded fired up...but then paused. "Wait...how are we supposed to have Ursaluna track her?"
"We might be best off to take Ursaluna back to base camp with us," Key suggested. "Maybe someone back in town saw her? She was coming from that direction, after all."
"Good plan." Vanessa agreed with a curt nod. Once Calaba had taught Vanessa the song to call Ursaluna, she would hand her a scrap of paper for the Toxi-Gone.
"I do wish you three luck in finding Arezu," She said. "And if Lady Lilligant truly is in a frenzy, that you quell her with less brute force than you needed last time."
"I doubt we will," The younger ranger optimistically said.
"Alright partner, hop on!" Aubrey encouraged Vanessa. "We can walk back to base camp just fine."
"Mhm! Long as we're walking alongside you," Key concurred.
"Okay then!" Vanessa would hop up on Ursaluna's back. "Let's go!" Teddiursa would climb up on Ursaluna's back too, sitting on his trainer's lap to ride along with her. The three would head on back to base camp, with Rei looking surprised by their new 'acquisition'.
"Oh hey, you're back!" Rei greeted. "I take it that everything went well."
"Well, I'm glad it did...because we've got a big problem," Rei told the three.
"Does it have anything to do with Arezu?" Key wagered.
"It has everything to do with Arezu," Cyllene's voice was heard as she approached the group, much to their collective shock.
"Oh! Hey Cyllene!" Aubrey greeted. "What're you doing out here?"
"I've come with direct orders from Commander Kamado for your next mission," Cyllene explained.
"Ah. So our guess was right?" Vanessa asked. Her answer would come in the form of Cyllene standing at attention, prompting the group to do the same.
"Adaman of the Diamond Clan has come to Commander Kamado informing us their Lady of the Ridge, Lilligant, has flown into a frenzy, similar to what happened with Kleavor," Cyllene explained. "What makes this case different is that Arezu allegedly kept this from Adaman."
"And she didn't tell us about this either if I remember right..." Aubrey folded her arms. "Why's she gotta be so secretive about it?"
"I do not know her motives. All I can tell you is that she was last seen in Jubilife Village at the Wallflower, eating a platter of potato mochi," Cyllene continued. "Since I was predicting you'd be successful in taming Ursaluna, I have brought a plate of potato mochi so it can follow the scent. We believe this should help us find Arezu and get to the bottom of this."
"Right." Vanessa turned to Ursaluna. "Okay big guy. Can you give that a sniff for us?"
Cyllene would hold out the plate to Ursaluna to allow the Peat Pokemon to get its scent. "Your orders now are simple. Find Arezu, learn of what her motives were for this reckless action, and quell Lilligant's frenzy. Is that clear?"
"Of course, Captain!" Vanessa responded with a salute. "We will get this done!"
"You better believe it! Mission Start!" Aubrey added. While the rangers had their own poses, Key would use one of her mallets as a Styler for her own, tossing it up and catching it after doing a backflip, pointing it forward with her free hand on her hip. By the time they were done with that, Ursaluna had gotten the scent.
"Rei, you are to stay with Professor Laventon and carry on documenting the Pokemon of the Crimson Mirelands." Cyllene would then help herself to the potato mochi.
"Yes, Captain Cyllene!" Rei saluted. "Good luck, ladies!"
"Thank you, Rei!" Vanessa got back on Ursaluna's back, Teddiursa climbing back up with her as Vanessa rode off, her two companions following! As the three trudged on following Ursaluna's scent, they'd be passing through a bog when Aubrey heard a splashing in the mud. When she looked over, she'd see the weirdest thing she's ever seen.
"Um...am I dreaming?" She asked. "Or am I seeing a Hippopotas trying to dance?"
"Nope, you are not dreaming," Vanessa confirmed. Teddiursa hopped off Vanessa's lap and would go on over, looking at the little hippo and waving cheerfully.
While the Hippopotas didn't see Teddiursa there, they could see this girl Ground-type was surprisingly nimble for its species, spinning around on her back, standing on one foot, and trying to flip...only to land on her back with a muddy splash.
"Uhhhh..." Key awkwardly giggled. "I wonder why she's dancing like that."
"Yeah. I'm wondering that myself." Aubrey would call out Empathy, who was bewildered as well to what was happening here.
"On any other day, I would consider this weird..." The Kirlia said to the rangers. "How may I help?"
"Well, figuring out what is happening here would be a good start," Vanessa responded.
"I'll do it." Empathy curtsied for the group as she started to walk over to the Hippopotas, staying out of the mud. "Excuse me, but may I ask what you're doing?"
"Hiiii?" The Hippopotas stopped what she was doing, trudging over to Empathy. "Hippo hippo! Ta tasssss!"
"...Ah, I see. Hippopotas here is trying to be a dancer." Empathy reported.
"A dancer? Why?" Aubrey sounded absolutely baffled by this.
Hippopotas would go on to explain to Empathy why - she was always enamored by Lady Lilligant's dances, sometimes trekking all the way from the bog to the arena in the north of the Mirelands to try and see her dance. However, every time she went, she was chased away by other Pokemon during those treks.
"So Lady Lilligant's a dancer, huh?" Aubrey sounded impressed. "I certainly am surprised to see a dancing Hippopotas! Never saw any of these back in our world." The Hippopotas was quite flattered by Aubrey's compliment.
"Yes, and is quite the inspiration to Hippopotas here," Empathy confirmed.
"Hmm, that makes sense," Vanessa nodded.
"However, every time she's tried to go and see Lady Lilligant, other Pokemon from the Mirelands have chased her away," Empathy added.
"Hippo..." Hippopotas lowered her head with a frown.
"Well, we do need to see Lilligant..." Aubrey mentioned, causing Hippopotas to perk up. "Huh? What's up?"
"Hippo hiiiiiippo! Hip hip hiipooooo!" Hippopotas eagerly exclaimed.
"Ah, it seems Hippopotas has a request for you," Empathy giggled. "Since you are going to see Lady Lilligant, she would like to tag along too so she can finally witness her dancing."
"Hmm that's fine with me. And given how the little guy is acting, he is on board too!" Vanessa noted, seeing Teddiursa playing with Hippopotas.
"Hippo hiiiiii!" Hippopotas cheered, waddling out of the mud with Teddiursa and going over to Aubrey. "Hip hippo! Po po hii!"
"Oh, look at that, she likes you," Vanessa smiled.
"You really do have a way with Pokemon, Miss Ranger," Key beamed.
"I sure do, don't I?" Aubrey knelt down with a smile, rubbing Hippopotas's head. "Wanna join my team too?"
"Hippo...hiii, hiippo!" Hippopotas agreed.
"Yes, teaming up with us will make the trek safer. That's what Hippopotas here thinks," Empathy translated.
"Well alright then! Now what to name you..." Aubrey stood up, closing her eyes in thought.
"Hmmm…" Vanessa thought with her.
"So...this little one is a dancer..." Aubrey thought aloud. She paused, opening her eyes. "Okay, so this might sound ridiculous but...I think I've got something. How about...Hip Hop?"
"Ah, why that name?" Key wondered.
"It's a genre of dance music I think?" Aubrey responded. "Plus it's got all letters from Hippopotas, so I thought it was fitting."
"Hiiiiiii...hippo hippo!" Despite not knowing what hip hop was, Hippopotas seemed to like the name!
"Well Hip Hop it is, then!" Vanessa agreed.
"Welcome to the team, Hip Hop. I'm Empathy. I hope we get along," Empathy introduced herself. Hip Hop would try to spin around on her back, trying to bust a few more moves before Aubrey decided it was time to keep moving.
"Alright, we can see the rest of your dance later, we've gotta go find someone." The older ranger would get a ball for Hip Hop, the Hippopotas high-pawing the ball in acceptance. Their search would continue taking them around the bog, with Ursaluna picking back up on the scent and charging towards the source, making noise to signal he found her.
"Hello? Who's there?" Arezu's voice called out before wincing. "Ugh..."
"It's us! Aubrey, Vanessa, and Key!" The older ranger shouted. "We're coming up to get you!"
"We should be able to get up these rocks, right?" Key asked with a smile. "Should be no problem for you two!"
"Yeah, I can get up there no problem," Vanessa answered.
"So can I!" Aubrey agreed, Key opting to stay with Ursaluna to make sure he didn't wander off too far. The rangers climbed up to see Arezu sitting down, one of her legs laying flat.
"Oh, hey rangers..." Arezu greeted. "I take it that everything went well with Ursaluna."
"Yup…" Vanessa would get a closer look at Arezu's leg to see what the problem was. "Looks like you have a busted up ankle. Let me look at that."
Vanessa would find that the damage was from a sprain, Arezu shaking her head. "I would ask how you found me, but seeing as Ursaluna is a descendent of one of the Pokemon blessed by almighty Sinnoh...I'm not surprised."
"That, and potato mochi has a really good smell," Vanessa added.
"So that's how..." Arezu seemed a bit surprised at that, but opted not to question it.
"What happened to you?" Aubrey then asked.
"My luck's run out. I got chased by a wild Pokemon, fell down here and sprained my ankle pretty bad," Arezu informed. "Almost like almighty Sinnoh is out to punish me for doing my job as warden..." Vanessa would start looking over her injured leg.
"Hmm…stay off it and it should be fine after a while," Vanessa advised.
"Stay off it? I can hardly walk around normally out here, Vanessa!" Arezu groaned. "How am I supposed to help Lady Lilligant with a bum leg now?"
"Well, we were actually going to take care of that for ya. As for staying off it." Vanessa would take the Celestica Flute and play the song to summon Wyrdeer, the Big Horn Pokemon showing up rather quickly. "I'm sure Wyrdeer would be willing to help."
"That's it? No brace, nothing?" Aubrey wondered.
"Is she speaking from experience?" Arezu then asked, getting helped onto Wyrdeer's back by Vanessa.
"Well duh we are going to make a brace but uh…look around." Vanessa pointed out. "There is nothing I can fashion something with here. Plus according to the map the Diamond Clan's settlement is not too far away from here."
"...Oh. I thought Key...never mind." Aubrey rubbed the back of her head, looking down in a bit of embarrassment.
"Crap...Adaman's gonna kill me for this, isn't he?" Arezu grimaced.
"Well I'm sure once the situation is explained, it won't be that bad for you. He doesn't seem like that kind of guy," Vanessa reassured her.
"Not only that? But we'll vouch for you," Aubrey promised. "Now c'mon, let's move! Double time, before that ankle gets worse!"
"Corviknight! Some assistance please!" Key would call out her Corviknight to serve as her ride for the trek to the Diamond Clan settlement.
"I'll ride with Arezu to make sure she doesn't fall off," The older ranger told Vanessa. "You ride with Ursaluna and lead us there, okay?"
"Right!" Vanessa agreed with the plan, hopping on Ursaluna and using her Styler's map to figure out where they were. Once she got her bearings, the younger ranger would lead them to the Diamond Clan's settlement.
As they rode along to the Diamond Clan settlement, Aubrey would try asking Arezu what she was planning. "So hey, if Lilligant was in a frenzy, why didn't you just tell us?"
"Well...I came to Jubilife Village to get help for Ursaluna, but when it came to Lady Lilligant...I got the idea that maybe I can try using my own bond with Lady Lilligant to snap it out of its frenzy on my own. I overheard Laventon talking about your Stylers and wanted to try my own way," Arezu admitted. "I know I shoulda just been honest with you girls from the get-go..."
"It's fine, like I get it," Vanessa responded sympathetically. "It's your job to take care of Lady Lilligant and you did not want to try and make it an outside matter. But we are here to help now so let's get this done!"
"Once my ankle gets taken care of I'll tell you everything you need to know about Lady Lilligant. That sound fair?" Arezu offered.
"You already know our answer to that, madam!" Key chimed, coming in for a landing once they were close to the Diamond Settlement.
"Now let's get you patched up." Vanessa pulled Ursaluna in for a stop. Aubrey would hop off Wyrdeer's back first, helping Arezu down and carrying the Diamond Clan warden over her shoulder. A few members of the clan were surprised at seeing this scene - Wyrdeer, Ursaluna, and some weird metal bird with Arezu?
"What's going on here?" One wondered.
"It's okay! They're the rangers Adaman was talking about," Arezu filled in the blanks quickly. "I got a bad ankle, but they're gonna take care of it."
"Yeah, where we found her didn't really have supplies to make a brace for her ankle," The younger ranger informed the Diamond Clan members.
Another clan member would bring out a mat for Arezu to be laid down on, Aubrey gently setting her down.
"Alright partner...do your thing." The older ranger dusted her hands off.
"Right!" Vanessa would get help from some of the Diamond Clan members getting her supplies, leaving the younger ranger to form a brace for Arezu after a short amount of time.
"Thanks..." Arezu smiled as the brace got fitted on her. She looked up and had a surprised expression, mainly from a certain Pearl Clan individual showing up. "Ah! M-Mistress Calaba! I-I-I uh, I didn't-"
"I owe you an apology," Calaba cut her off. "I treated you with disrespect, thinking you were just another whelp from the other clan. I'm terribly sorry for that, I should've treated you better."
"Huh? Wait, but..." Arezu had Key rub her shoulder.
"She's not here to yell at you, madam," She said. "You were only trying to help Ursaluna and Lilligant, right?"
"Yeah..." This would cause a few murmurs among the Diamond Clan members, but the conversation would continue on.
"It's not your fault that Lilligant became frenzied, nor that my Ursaluna was so enraged. I know now you were only trying to help both," Calaba continued. "I didn't even have the courtesy to listen to you. Quite ironic, considering how one so old like myself would be expected to be patient and willing to listen." Vanessa would show a small smile at this attitude from the old warden.
"It's okay...I didn't do a good job explaining myself either," Arezu responded. "Ursaluna only started to act weird when he got too close and caught a whiff of her perfume."
"And since she was already frenzied by that point..." Aubrey realized. "That's what caused Ursaluna to go crazy."
"It would also explain why there was powder on Ursaluna's snout too!" Key added.
"Yes, that would do it," Calaba agreed.
And finally, Adaman's voice could be heard. "Well rangers, we better take care of our lady and get this mess resolved!"
Vanessa of course, was the only one who wasn't a little bit surprised by Adaman's appearance. "Oh hey Adaman, I was wondering when you would show up."
"I was looking all over Jubilife Village for you two, but couldn't find you and came back here," Adaman explained. "And I see you've already brought back Arezu. What were you thinking?"
"Thinking I could do what these two do and quell Lady Lilligant's frenzy myself..." Arezu sighed. Adaman shook his head.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset at all for what you're trying to do. I'm more upset by the fact you didn't tell me what you were doing," The clan leader clarified. "And since you're in no shape to lead the way to Brava Arena..." He turned to the trio. "If you would like, I'll take over for Arezu here. Let her rest that ankle."
"Sounds fine by me, man," Aubrey was on board with this.
"Yeah, that is fine with me as well," Vanessa seconded.
"Count me in!" Key thirded.
"By the way, I don't think we've met..." Adaman told Key.
"Oh, she is a friend of ours," Vanessa explained.
"Kiara Dermott. I answer to Key," The merchant introduced herself.
"Well met, Key. If you're here to help too, then by all means help out," Adaman responded.
"The only thing I can think to tell you is how Lady Lilligant fights," Arezu told the rangers. "She is like a dancer - always in motion, always darting about. You'll wanna watch her real close and learn how to dodge her moves."
"So get smacked around until we figure out how to avoid her dance moves?" Aubrey bluntly asked for confirmation.
"I mean...well...yes..." Arezu frowned. "But if you stay strong and watch out for her, she'll eventually tire. That'll be your chance to strike!"
"Hmm…seems simple enough. Anything else we should know?" Vanessa followed-up. "Like what type of Pokemon we are dealing with? I know Lilligant are normally Grass-types."
"Grass/Fighting," Arezu answered by heart.
"And one other thing...I would be wary of Lilligant's perfume if I were you," Calaba cautioned. "If that perfume caused Ursaluna to act the way he did, I can only imagine what it would do to you."
"Duly noted..." Aubrey sweatdropped.
"Right." Vanessa was already trying to figure out how to proceed on this one. "Hmm…this might be more on me this time, Brey."
"Why's that?" The older ranger asked.
"Well, I think Quilava and Scyther would be our best shots," Vanessa clarified.
"For a second I thought you were gonna say this kind of fight is more your thing," Aubrey mentioned. "And besides, I've got Pokemon who can help in this fight - Soren, Axel, Empathy..."
"Hmm…well okay, let's see what we are dealing with when we get there," The younger ranger decided.
"Ah, Warden Calaba, was it? I can take it from here," Adaman told the old warden.
"I'm aware. I thought I'd stay here with Arezu a little while, make sure she'll be okay," Calaba responded.
"Suit yourself. C'mon, you three. We've got our lady's frenzy to quell!" Adaman spoke with the voice of a leader.
"Right behind you, Adaman!" Aubrey would be quick to follow after him. Key would go along with the rangers and Adaman too, nodding her head to the side in thought on how to best handle this situation herself.
(Alright, that should be a good enough chapter ender. Next time, we'll have a showdown at Brava Arena! And don't worry, I've already got something in mind I patented in the Super RWBY Sisters series. I do believe I called it…Chaos Difficulty. Might as well use it to make Noble Lilligant harder since it was pretty damn easy to fight in my gameplay.)
