Pruned Trees Re-Sprout!! ~ Ragazza Volpe Magica ~

Miro's report of the hospital didn't bring Shouri confidence. He had hoped (perhaps foolishly so) there would be some Natural defenders to aid in the upcoming battle. Scott had more belief in their ragtag group than the guildmaster did. Then again, it seemed all but impossible to snuff out Scott's positivity; even the ocean itself didn't seem up to the task. He was a bright light in a sea of dark.

"These tents are wild," Rebecca commented, as she appreciated the tiny village that had sprung up in a matter of hours.

"How so?" questioned Pacifica.

"Here, try to sense my rhythm."

The fire fox walked into their tent and zipped it up. As soon as the door was properly sealed, Pacifica gasped. "You're completely gone!"

"Yeah, these things have some intense vatonium built into them," Rebecca said, from inside the tent.

Emily walked over to see what Shouri's girls were up to, and overheard the conversation. "Probably the same material as my riding suit. Can't exactly stay out in the woods at night or ride down a country road without some way to dissuade the Scherzando," commented the princess.

"That makes sense, yeah," Pacifica agreed. Rebecca emerged from the tent and stepped back out into the rapidly cooling twilight.

"What are they up to?" Emily wondered, her attention shifted to the cluster of tents set up by the Resonators from the town below.

In the short time since their arrival, a small tent city had spawned from where there was barren rock before. The five Resonators who were sent from the Natural settlement idly conversed with one another while they prepared a meal over a small fire.

Shouri joined the trio of girls who watched the scene.

"Did you tell them to do that?" Emily asked.

"No, they just did it on their own. I guess there were some instructions left in the shipping container," Shouri replied.

"Huh."

Scott, Philina, and Miro arrived back after not too long. Miro joined his fellow guild members, while Scott and his ever watchful griffin intermingled with the group of five Resonators.

"How was it down there?" Shouri asked their Natural companion.

"Bad," replied the fox. He made no effort to hide his concern. "Many people hurt."

Pacifica furrowed her brows. "What else?" she asked.

"Ah, signora Pacifica, you're always so--uhh sharp," Miro chuckled nervously. "There is a human girl with her Resonator down there."

"A Maestro?" Shouri blinked, exchanging perplexed glances with his Resonators and Emily.

"Si, she is at the hospital helping the injured," Miro revealed. "Tortoise boy, he is very strange. Non ci metto la zampa sul fuoco."

Pacifica and Rebecca looked to one another. "He wouldn't put his paw on it?" Pacifica mumbled.

"Must be the Natural equivalent of 'I can't put my finger on it'," Rebecca reasoned out.

Shouri looked out to the fading oranges of the twilight on the horizon. He didn't like the way this bothered Miro--the fox must have sensed something strange about this Maestro or her Resonator. "If those two are fighting capable, we'll probably see them in an hour or two when the Scherzando show up."

"Alllllrighty troops!" Scott's voice echoed through the canyon.

Before the conductor stood PTRS, the town's Resonators, a group of Naturals, and the mysterious Maestro and Resonator pair Miro met.

Upon initial inspection, the mystery couple did seem just like a normal Resonator and Maestro. Granted, Rebecca had never seen a tortoise or turtle Resonator with such a luxurious shell before. The geode on his back must have cost a fortune to craft, but that may have spoken to his Maestro's wealth. She had no doubt that if Elijah had a turtle instead of a dinosaur, he'd spare no expense to ensure his shelled friend had only the best.

"Oh wow, you're them, the guild!" the Maestro exclaimed.

"Yes, this is them--Pruned Trees Re-Sprout. They flew in all the way from Lybertera to help," Scott informed the gathered defenders.

Those not in the know muttered among one another.

Rebecca's ears flicked as she unintentionally eavesdropped on their conversations. Much to her relief, it was all positive.

Pacifica sensed the relief that infected the crowd. A lot was expected of them; she only hoped they wouldn't be a let down.

Shouri didn't aim to disappoint, his eyes glowed a vibrant yellow as be began to dole out commands. "Here's the plan. Scott, you take the center of town and watch for any fliers, since you're used to juggling your attention between multiple Resonators, I figure your multi-tasking capabilities will be best."

"Vince, you're with Scott. Just in case something happens to him I want a strong Maestro to back him up."

Vince shirked a bit, his face flushed. He was thankful night hid the warmth in his cheeks. In the same respect, a pride welled up in him--Shouri specifically asked him to do something. He wouldn't let his guildmaster down.

"Ems, you take command of the northern entrance to the valley. I'm leaving Pacifica with you, there's plenty of standing water for her to not need my spells. If she does I'll have her tuner on me."

"Right!" Emily and Pacifica called in unison.

"Finally, Miro, I'm counting on you to lead the Natural defenders on the west opening of the valley."

Miro nodded in agreement. "Si! Non ti deluderò!"

"What about us?" asked Deandre.

That was a good question. He didn't really know the girl's strengths. Her Resonator seemed strong enough. The more Shouri stared at the tortoise, the more he got a weird feeling about the boy. He wished he had Taika with him to confirm his suspicion, but alas, all he had was her stubborn will to push him forward.

He did have an idea of what to do with her, at least to nudge his theory in the right direction. "Wildcard," was all he said.

"E-eh?" Dee blinked. She deferred to her Resonator, who stroked his chin in thought.

"I think he means we stay mobile and assist where we can," Walter looked to Shouri for confirmation.

"Better to have two groups doing that, I think," Shouri said.

"Two?" questioned Dee.

He patted his vixen's back, who swelled with pride. "Rebby and I will be mobile as well."

Nobody was prepared for what he meant by that, and that was fine. Shouri Tomoshibi was a man who didn't like to show off, and yet he did it anyways.

Everyone wandered off to their assignments, which left Shouri and Rebecca alone with Deandre and Walter.

"Famiglio Incendio, Lento," Shouri called.

With but a snap of her fingers, Rebecca summoned their noble steed. The massive flame fox knelt for its two riders for the evening.

"Did you know they could do that?" Dee asked Walter.

"I had my suspicions," the tortoise chuckled.

As Rebecca and Shouri got up on their mount, Shouri pushed into their connection, and his partner reciprocated. This would make things easier. Trial by fire, as it were. Rebecca wouldn't have it any other way. It was the only way she'd master à deux with the boy she loved. Yes, the heat of battle lit her fire, and she made certain Shouri shared her warmth.

"Ah. That makes sense," Walter smirked. "à deux users."

"Got it in one, how'd you know?" asked Shouri and Rebecca.

"We tortoises live for a very long time. I've seen my fair share of your kind. Just be careful out there," said Walter, waving as he walked off.

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Deandre appraised the two for a moment longer before she joined her Resonator. "Good luck!" she called.

"They're weird," Rebecca and Shouri decided.

Emily and the four Resonators tasked with the northern defense stood at the ready. A combination of Soot's radiant heat and Ritika's sand manipulation kept them dry. Well that wasn't entirely true, Pacifica aided the effort by her maintenance of a ring of water around herself, as well as a small trench she dug with the rest of the water she stole from around town.

"You've gotten good at that," Emily noted.

"Practice daily," Pacifica beamed.

"Sounds about right," Ritika chimed in, patting the sand pouch at her waist.

Their conversation stopped as Albarich motioned for silence. "They're close," he whispered.

A squad of big cat shaped Scherzando approached from the north. Their numbers were vast, and yet, Emily smirked. "Al, Fissare la Ombra, Rubato!" She switched to her red tuner. "Soot, Mine Terrestri, Rubato--keep our defensive line spicy!"

Albarich expanded his wings and took to the skies with sparkles of blue fluttering behind him. Soot stepped forward and began a counter-advance against their adversaries. The golem was unbothered by the horde of shadows his opposite. He took a knee and rested his hands against the ground. Flickers of fire licked the clay, expanding from where he knelt out in a line to the walls of stone on either side of them.

From above, Albarich unleashed a cloud of shadow arrows that descended upon the crowds of shadow beasts like a rain of ink. For those Scherzando not caught up in the sudden pinning, they rushed south, just as planned.

Those who broke for it discovered the trap.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Explosions rocked the valley as the mines detonated, taking out legions of shadowy beasts in rapid succession. Soot continuously replenished his mines and Albarich pinned down those which attempted to avoid the golem's traps.

With numbers so great, it was no surprise some broke through. Pacifica and Ritika ensured Emily's safety. Water and sand cleaved any that set their sights on the Lunar princess.

"Shit!" Ritika cursed as several big cats avoided them entirely and made a break for the city.

"Lanciafiamme, Forte!"

A stream of fire incinerated the beasts, and ended their attempt at a rampage through town.

"Those two are having fun," Pacifica tittered as she refocused on their own defense.

Emily shook her head, smiling as she watched the glow of the massive fire fox depart for deeper in town. "Let's stay focused everyone!" shouted the princess.

It was amazing, really. Miro knew he had grown in his magical capabilities. He had no idea the gap that had formed between himself and his countrymen. He wondered if this was what Shouri and the others looked like to their fellow Maestros.

"Buco Trappola, Lento," he chanted. With a stamp of his paw against the ground, some sand jumped.

The Scherzando approached. Large beasts wearing shadowy fur and wielding deadly claws--bears.

"Sciame di Gioielli, Fortissimo," came Miro's next chant. His paw extended out towards the beasts as they lumbered towards their goal. Gems formed around the fox's pointed fore paw. Like a machine gun, the crystals launched out, tearing into the ranks of Scherzando. Miro let his paw lazily drift down the line, replenishing his stock of crystals as soon as they left him. He pumped his paw back, and temporarily ceased his assault. He had to pace himself.

Fire and Earth magic surrounded him as the native Naturals took a turn with their own volleys of magic. Where Miro's shots had stopping power behind each one, the same couldn't be said of his fellow Naturals. It took four, maybe five spells to even stagger the bears with their weaker magic.

It was fine, that's why he started with a trap.

The first bear reached the disturbed ground. As soon as the burly, shadowy foot reached it, the ground caved in underneath it and it tumbled in. Several more fell in alongside the first one.

Unfortunately, the remainder of the beasts witnessed the carnage and halted their immediate advance. A brave few tried to go around, but discovered their path was impassible. Therefore, they began to make a bridge across the hazard via bodies.

Miro expected this, and flicked a wrist towards the canyon wall.

"Segno Lasciato dalla Frana, Forte."

For this one he needed intense concentration. The rocky wall groaned and a single segment cracked free, crumbling over itself as it slid down to fill the trench he made in one destructive go. The other Naturals by his side screamed from the sudden destruction wrought against the Scherzando.

Miro's eyes glowed an intense yellow as he gritted his maw. He knew it wasn't that easy. He was a hunter, an experienced one. Scherzando never made it that easy.

"Resta concentrato!" Miro barked--he didn't need them to break ranks now, they had to hold the line. At the speed of thought, he mentally re-cast Sciame di Gioielli, and fired into the dust and debris kicked up by the intense attack. Thankfully, following by example was something the rest of the Naturals subscribed to and fired off their own attacks.

"Lanciafiamme, Forte!"

Miro smirked and lowered his paw just as his guildmaster flew overhead on his great flaming fox. The rhythm construct swept its maw over the battle line, unleashing fire against the Scherzando that attempted to regroup.

"È l'uomo sempre così?" asked one of the other Naturals. It was a fair question, to an outsider it looked like Shouri was showing off.

Miro knew better than that, however. "Non, quella è speciale," replied the Earth fox with pride.

"I'm thinking we've been had!" Scott grunted as he dove out of the way of a rock dropped by a Scherzando.

Vince didn't have time to consider the conductor's words as he had to focus on Zephyr and Mila. "Zephs, Aria Crepia, Rubato! Mils, L'Ordine di Gabriele, Rubato--keep everyone's defenses topped off!"

Zephyr fluttered about, snaps of popping air struck the flying Scherzando that surrounded them. Various bird and bat shapes descended from the night sky in a never-ending parade. Mila ran around the battlefield, a tap of each Resonator granted them the boons of her spell, and ensured they had more protection than normal.

Even with that, it seemed like they were still being overwhelmed. They had too large of a space to protect.

"Alright, no more Mr. Nice Conductor!" Scott flicked his baton out and began to chant.

"Tempesta di Sabbia, a Piacere!"

"Colpito da una Roccia, a Piacere!"

"Ghiacciolo, a Piacere!"

"Luce del Sole, a Piacere!"

"Foglie a Lame, a Piacere!"

Finally, he released the side button of his tuner, and the baton dropped back into the device. "Flusso del Vento, Rubato!" he cast for Philina.

In an instant, six Resonators all unleashed their attacks in various directions. Scott grinned and repeated the process, casting five spells for the Resonators who fought on his behalf. He spun and flicked his baton, tapping the air as he called each spell of the five Resonators he was borrowing. He never wavered, he never hesitated. Every cast was made with conviction and confidence.

Vince could only stare in awe at the conductor, awe-struck. Each flick of the baton, each spell cast, it felt so warm. He wasn't sure why he was so moved by the act, but he wanted to see more. In the heat of battle, the young Maestro counted his blessings that he was able to watch this performance by the skilled conductor.