From Trainer to Beast Tamer Pokémon Trainer! Reader x Twisted Wonderland

Chapter 55: Ambush

After two years, we are finally done with Book 7, meaning we can finally get back to it and the Lost in Briar AU. I own nothing.
Chapter 55: A Trap and Horrific Implications

As per usual, (Y/N) was proven right as their continued march to the east fortress was proving to be a slog to say the least.
"We'll need to pass the Howling Canyon in order to reach their fortress..." Lilia stated as Baul frowned.
"There have been reports of Silver Owl activities near the Dragon's Peak as well as the villages near the coast. It may be wise to sweep the area once more before we pass through the ravine."
Lilia clicked his tongue. "Tch... There's no end to those fiends."
"I swear on my name as a Royal Guard that I will chase those fiends back to the Howling Canyon, nay– I will chase them to the ends of the Coral Sea if I have to!"
"Don't be so rash." The general retorted, giving him a side eye. "The lands west of here are still under our control. The problem starts at the Crimson Wetlands."
"Roger! Pardon me for losing my composure."
"Vern!"
Both fae turned to see Noivern, a terrified Silver Owl dangling from his jaws. The Soundwave Pokémon dropped the intruder at Lilia's feet, like a dog with a stick.
"Human!" Baul called as Lilia glared down the spy.
"Noivern!" (Y/N) called. "Bad! We do not play fetch with people!"
Noivern whimpered, making Lilia sigh as he scratched behind his ears.
"Good beastie."
The dragon type's tail thumped like a puppy as the Silver Owl whimpered.

(Timeskip)

With Noivern to scout out spies and hidden camps, the platoon made decent work clearing their path to the canyon.
"Wha–~~! The wind– The wind's gonna blow me away!" Grim screamed as he clung to Swampert for dear life.
(Y/N) trusted her partner not to let him get blown away as she grimaced. "Arceus, I can barely hear anything over this wind. How do you guys tolerate it?"
"They're just strong winds passing through the narrow rocks." Lilia explained as Crobat clung to his shoulder, Sebek trailing after them with great difficulty.
"Ack– Walking is an ordeal."
"Flying arrows and catapults won't work against these winds." The general ignored him, scratching Crobat's chin. "Magic isn't bound by such restrictions, so this canyon is advantageous for us fae."
Suddenly, Absol stopped, dropping to a crouch as he growled. Swampert grunted to his trainer, who motioned to everyone to freeze as she placed her hand to the ground.
"Something's coming."
Grim's ears flicked. "I think I hear it. It's...rumbling?"
Scouts Lilia had sent ahead suddenly came racing over the horizon, screeching in distress.
"Something big's headed this way!" Baul shouted as a drilling machine of all thing came chasing after them. "What in the world–!? Is that a rock golem!?"
"No, not quite... It reeks of iron and oil..." Lilia as (Y/N) blinked.
"A machine?! They exist here!?"
"GET READY TO FIGHT!!" The general ordered as Crobat took off from his perch.
The knights descended upon the machine, but their magic bounced off the steely hide as its excavation tools knocked them to the side. Crobat and Noivern flew about, distracting the Silver Owls as the other pulled the downed knights to safety.
"What manner of monstrosity is this!?" Baul shouted. "Our attacks are useless!"
Silver gritted his teeth. "I definitely wasn't expecting this. How are we supposed to beat it!"
"We don't need to beat it." (Y/N) said. "We just need to stop it!"
"And how are we supposed to do that?!" Grim asked
"Absol! Swampert! Hydreigon! Go for the wheels!"
Swampert and Hydreigon fired off Earthquake and Dark Pulse, attempting to slow the vehicle down as Absol charged it. With a precise Night Slash, he tore through the protective layer, giving Lilia the opening he was searching for.
"Eat dust, you iron monster! HAAAAHHHH!"
With a swish, his weapon cleaved through the treads, leaving the machine immobilized as the Silver Owls scrambled out.
"Our armored excavator's down!
"Impossible! They sliced through steel so easily like that!"
"We don't stand a chance against them. Retreat! RETREAT~~!"
The humans ran for the hill, letting everyone catch their breath after such a devastating battle.
"Wh-what in the world was that iron golem!?"
(Y/N) helped Silver stand as he looked over the tank. "Hah... Hah... Their tank was equipped with a shovel."
"I heard them call it an "excavator"." Sebek noted. "It must be used for public works."
Grim sighed. "Phew... I think I saw something similar at a construction site once."
"You mean to say it's some kind of machinery made to excavate earth?" Baul repeated. "How absurd!"
"What concerns me is that it was also capable of combat." (Y/N) said, kicking a piece of scrap metal. "We outlawed those types of machines years ago in my world. They completely wrecked whatever environment they went into."
"When did they develop such a thing...?" Lilia asked. "All they had twenty years ago were wooden spades."
"What humans lack in lifespan, we make up for in creativity." (Y/N) spat as Crobat landed on her shoulder to comfort her. "Destructive creativity."
"It won't take them long to strip our mountains of her resources with machinery like that. We need to inform Her Highness right away. Report to her immediately!"
The other guards screeched in agreement as Noivern landed and sniffed Lilia, blanching as he did so. Lilia followed suit, getting the same reaction.
"My whole body reeks of iron. I need to get clean ASAP... Yuck...There's a small pond beyond the canyon. We'll set up camp there for the night."