“That’s the Vien Forest.” Kellyn pointed at a large forest before him, his family, Ash, and his friends. They had just cut through Pueltown and were now at the main entrance, where the Ranger Depot was. Behind and above them was a bridge-like platform that Kellyn remembered taking to his friend Isaac’s house. He would visit him, but he was on a mission and couldn’t risk detours.

        Ash asked Kellyn, “So, where are we supposed to go if something happens to our Pokémon?” He opened Almia’s brochure and examined it.

        “The Ranger Depot, Union, and Ranger Bases have services for visiting Trainers,” Kellyn explained. “Operators are trained to help them and Rangers.”

        Now, it was Brock’s turn to look surprised. “You mean—there aren’t any Nurse Joys here?”

        Nurse—? Okay.

        “I’m sorry, Brock,” Kellyn apologized. Almia was so different from other regions.

        “What about cars?” Dawn said, scanning the area.

        Kellyn’s mother stepped up with that question. “Very few, dear.” Her husband wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held Molli’s hand with his free one. “We mostly get around by walking or riding Pokémon.”

        “Speaking of which…” Kellyn’s eyes caught a few Staraptor flying overhead. He turned serious and aimed his Capture Styler. This time, for sure. “Capture…!” Kellyn started.

        “Wait, Kellyn!” a voice yelled from above. One Staraptor flew before the others, revealing a young woman with long green hair and green eyes, sporting a Fine Styler on her right forearm.

        Instantly, Brock blushed, squealed, and shook from where he stood.

        “Wendy!” Kellyn said. What the heck? First, he almost caught Ash; now, Wendy. Why was his head in the clouds so much?

        Wendy and her two other Staraptor landed, and Wendy slid off hers, showing off her tall form, knee-high boots, and uniform, different from Kellyn’s. Hers almost looked like a dress with a Ranger jacket over her torso.

        Wendy was in her early twenties, but that didn’t stop Brock from sprinting to her and taking her gloved hands in his. “The Flying Ranger, here!” he yelled. “My name is Brock, and I’ve heard so much about you!” He lifted Wendy’s hands. “Now that we’re finally meeting—”

        Croagunk popped out of its pokéball, but before it jabbed Brock, Wendy freed her hands and approached Kellyn, placing her palm on her hip.

        Gosh, was she really still taller than he was? Maybe Kellyn was going to be a shorter man. He still wasn’t as tall as his dad.

        For a good minute, there was silence.

        Wendy seemed to glare at Kellyn, and he gulped. His breath hitched when she moved closer, but Kellyn exhaled once she grinned and hugged him.

        “Kellyn! It’s so good to see you!” Wendy freed him. “How long has it been?”

        “A year,” Kellyn murmured. A year since the Shadow Crystal Incident, and since he had been stationed in Sinnoh.

        Blue-Bird soared by Kellyn’s head and flew to Wendy, saying, “Blu here! Blu here!”

        “Aw, you named him?” Wendy said. “It’s good to see you, too, Blue-Bird.” She looked at Kellyn’s family. “And you, too, Kellyn’s family.”

        Wendy was usually a stoic and serious Ranger—Kellyn learned his seriousness from her—so seeing her human was peculiar, especially since she didn’t like Kellyn at first, but now it seemed she idolized him.

        “Oh!” Wendy said, looking at Ash, Brock, and Dawn. “Are these the friends you told Hastings about, Kellyn?”

        “They are,” Kellyn answered. He felt heavier under the sudden pressure, but gestured at Ash, Brock, and Dawn. “Wendy, this is Ash, Brock, and Dawn, Pokémon Trainers from Sinnoh.”

        “Pokémon Trainers, really?” Wendy inquired. Her face brightened further. “We don’t have many here. Welcome, guys.”

        Before Ash and Dawn spoke, Brock returned to Wendy and grabbed her hands again. “Then this must be destiny: the Flying Ranger and the Pokémon Trainer!”

        “Croagunk!” That time, Croagunk jabbed him, and Brock flinched, slumping to the ground.

        “Of course, we could always talk about dinner another time.”

        “Cro, Cro,” Croagunk slowly said in its deep voice.

        Wendy chewed her fingernails, but the others tittered.

        Eventually, Kellyn told Wendy, “They want to see the Union, if that’s okay.” He caught Blu and started for the Vien Forest. “I need to grab a few Staraptor, but I’ll return soon.” With those words, Kellyn sprinted, but Molli chased him.

        “Big Brother!” she called.

        “Molli!” her parents shouted.

***

        Just get them to the Union, and that’s it, Kellyn thought while hiking down the dirt path into Vien Forest. The Union was safe; they would look after Ash, Dawn, Brock, and his family while Kellyn completed his mission. They just had to.

        Returning to Vien Forest—memories of Kellyn’s early Ranger days flashed through his mind. Only three days in—he fought a forest fire with Crawford and Luana from Vientown and used his first Field Move. However, Blastoise was aggressive at first.

        Kellyn’s eyes landed on the river that cut through Vien Forest, up to Crysta Cave, and into Hia Valley.

        Pokémon scampered about, and three Staraptor drank from the river.

        Kellyn nodded and took a deep breath. Group Capture time—he could do it.

        Kellyn cleared his head the best he could and aimed his Styler at the Staraptor. “Capture on!” Out spun his Capture Disc, and it circled all three Staraptor.

        Kellyn’s Capture Line appeared between his fingers, and he spun it as fast as he could, even though his eyes drooped slightly. “Vatonage! Ha! Ha! Ha!” He wasn’t falling asleep today; he would remain active, and it worked!

        The white light washed over the Staraptor, and they cried out.

        “Capture complete!” Kellyn announced. Maybe he still had it in him, but he still wanted to complete his mission himself.

        Beside him, Blu squawked, “Little sister! Little sister!”

        “So cool, Big Brother!”

        Kellyn glanced over his shoulder and saw Molli sprinting for him. “Molli! Why aren’t you with Mom and Dad?”

        “Because I have the coolest big brother!” Molli answered, reaching him. She ran in a few circles around Kellyn and stopped before him, placing her hands behind her.

        That was sweet, but Kellyn didn’t feel like an idol. If Molli saw him as one, though, he needed to prove himself to her, too. He was still that Rank 10 Top Pokémon Ranger. He was still that Rank 10 Top Pokémon Ranger.

        No! The negative thoughts!

        Kellyn closed his eyes and clutched his head. All he saw in his mind was an endless swirl of darkness.

        Molli’s smile vanished, and she gripped Kellyn’s shorts. “What’s wrong, Big Brother?”

        Out of nowhere, the Staraptor Kellyn had captured cried out again, and they began flying in circles repeatedly.

        A few other Pokémon in the area, Shinx and Bonsly, also moved in circles.

        “Kellyn!” Molli tried again, but Kellyn still saw darkness.

        It wasn’t long before the others hurried onto the scene, and they froze at the sight of Kellyn and the Pokémon.

        Kellyn’s parents started for their children, but Wendy stopped them. “Hold on.” Now she was serious.

        “What’s wrong with our little boy?” Kellyn’s mother whimpered.

        “What’s wrong with the Pokémon?” Ash asked right after.

        “We need to snap them out of it,” Wendy stated, glancing at Ash and his friends. “Ash, you and your friends are Pokémon Trainers. Try weakening the Pokémon running in circles. See if it helps.”

        “But…” Ash protested, looking guilty.

        “It’s for their own good,” Wendy elucidated. “Trust me.”

        “Uh…” Ash lowered his head, but soon lifted it and nodded at Pikachu. “All right, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on the Staraptor.”

        Dawn faced a group of Shinx and tossed a pokéball forward. “Piplup, use Bubble Beam!”

        Finally, Brock threw a pokéball toward a few Bonsly, Rock Pokémon who resembled plants. “Croagunk, Brick Break on the Bonsly!”

        All three Pokémon dove for their targets and unleashed their attacks.

        Pikachu shocked the Staraptor with an enormous lightning bolt, Piplup spat a line of powerful bubbles at the Shinx, and Croagunk smacked each Bonsly on the head, yelling, “Croagunk!”

        “Blu help, too!” Blu said. He flew before Kellyn and Molli and flapped his wings so quickly—it was hard to see them. A blast of wind knocked the Pokémon back.

        Once the wind died, the affected Pokémon shook their heads and surveyed the forest.

        “It worked!” Wendy said, cheering. “Mission complete!”

        “Pi-Pikachu!” Pikachu agreed, holding up two fingers.

        Piplup, Croagunk, and Blue-Bird straightened themselves, appearing like a rescue team.

        What happened?

        The darkness left Kellyn’s mind, and he opened his eyes, releasing his head. Why were the Staraptor and Pokémon bewildered?

        Kellyn soon noticed the others studying him and peered down at Molli.

        She stood on her tiptoes and opened her arms for a hug.

        Kellyn bent his knees and picked her up. He held Molli close and felt her heart pounding against his chest. “I’m okay, Molli. I’m okay,” he encouraged.

        But was he?

        Molli wrapped her arms around Kellyn’s neck and rested her head on his shoulder.

        Kellyn placed his hand on Molli’s head, whispering, “Shh, shh,” before facing the others. “Please… What’s happening to me?”

        While she was still firm, Wendy gave him a subtle smile. “That’s part of the mission, Kellyn. Come…” She turned and gestured toward Pueltown. “Let’s make way for the Ranger Union.”

End of Act I: Return to Almia!

Current Word Count: 12,088