The second floor of the Ranger Union was the size of the lobby, but Ash noticed a conference room, the Rangers’ sleeping quarters, a kitchen, and a medical bay for people and Pokémon. The Rangers had a lot of room there, enough for Ash and the others to wait in with their Pokémon while the Union examined Kellyn. The stubborn boy had knocked himself out, but that wasn’t all bad. Maybe he would be back to normal after a nap.

        Kellyn’s parents comforted one another and watched Molli, who colored for a bit before playing with Blu and Piplup. She still had a few years before understanding what was happening to Kellyn, so distracting her was best for her.

        After playing with Blu and Piplup, she and Dawn styled each other’s hair.

        Dawn brushed her bangs like a professional, and Molli copied her.

        She had just finished styling her hair with beads when Hastings, Erma, and the Top Ranger from before exited the Ranger quarters.

        “Hastings! Erma!” Kellyn’s parents stood and rushed to them. “How’s our little boy?”

        Seeing their love for their son reminded Ash of his mother. She chased him down in the Orange Islands when the Legendary Kanto Birds and Lugia pitted against one another because she was worried about him and his friends. Now, he was witnessing that same love with Kellyn’s family.

        “Oh, don’t worry,” Erma sweetly said with a gentle smile. “He’s fine—no injuries—just exhausted. We’re going to let him sleep for right now.”

        Hastings paced and twirled his white mustache around his finger. “We’ve sent his Styler to the Operator for a diagnostic test. What happened outside wasn’t normal.”

        Was anything about Kellyn’s behavior right now normal? Ash had seen a few identity crises during his journey, but none like Kellyn’s. He had been so confident and friendly with Riolu, so what was happening?

        “Oh.” Hastings gestured at Ash, Brock, and Dawn. “Are you three the friends Kellyn told us about?”

        “They sure are!” Ash turned and saw Wendy coming up the escalator from the party downstairs. She approached Hastings and said, “They’re Pokémon Trainers from Sinnoh—a rare treat in Almia. I think they may be helpful for the mission after what happened in Vien Forest.”

        “Whoa! Whoa!” Hastings held up his hand. “What happened in Vien Forest?”

        Molli ran Dawn’s brush through her hair and unintentionally answered, “Big Brother made Pokémon mean.”

        “Wait, what?” Hastings checked on Molli and paced again.

        Wendy gripped her chin and lifted an eyebrow. “He was holding his head, and the Pokémon were nearby, Hastings. They ran like they were under Gigaremo influence, but we didn’t see one.”

        “Then it’s settled,” Hastings said (he was a little impatient, wasn’t he?). “As soon as Kellyn wakes up, we’ll hold an emergency meeting and make our way to the Peace Tower.”

        Peace Tower? Were there two towers in Almia? Also, wasn’t Hastings pushing it by immediately calling a meeting after Kellyn woke, or was that Ash? He almost asked, but it came out as, “What’s the Peace Tower?”

        Wendy answered, “It’s the name we gave Altru Tower after Kellyn purified the Luminous Crystal.”

        That was when the final Top Ranger spoke up for the first time. “And it’s not something Pokémon Trainers should get involved with.”

        Well, excuse him! Ash and his friends hadn’t saved the world more than once.

        Wendy slightly glared at the Ranger. “Hold your high horses, Sven. These Trainers snapped the Pokémon out of their trances by weakening them, so I think it’s necessary to involve them.”

        Silence, and then Hastings looked at Ash and his friends. “Pokémon Trainers, we Rangers need to discuss something privately. Why don’t you enjoy the party downstairs, and we’ll get you when Kellyn wakes up?”

        “But...!” Ash and his friends fought, but Hastings focused on Erma. “Erma, if you may. Just until Kellyn wakes.”

        That was the first time Ash really felt like an outsider.

        On their way down the escalator to the Union’s first floor, Erma said, “I’m sorry, dears.” At least she was kind. “Hastings and Sven can be stubborn when they’re worried. Wendy will convince them, though. She used to be cold, too, until Kellyn showed her true kindness.”

        “It’s okay, Erma,” Brock said. “We know you guys aren’t used to Trainers.”

        “But we really want to help,” Dawn nearly begged, stepping off the escalator. “We’ve helped Kellyn once before.”

        “That’s why we followed him here,” Ash elucidated. “We’re no Top Rangers, but we worked as a team to save a kidnapped Riolu.”

        “Oh, it was you three?” Erma inquired. “Kellyn said he had help but didn’t mention you were Trainers.”

        Ash hoped that was merely a mistake on Kellyn’s part. “Please,” he tried, “just let us help.”

        Erma gave him a warm smile and winked. “I’ll see what I can do, dear.” With those words, she turned and headed back up the escalator.

        That was an excellent start for Almia—Ash and his friends getting kicked out by the Ranger Union. These Top Rangers and higher-ups meant business, so they had to try a little harder to convince them to let them help.

        Ash knew his friends, though. They would come up with something. They always did.

***

One year earlier

        Standing on the roof of Altru Tower (now Peace Tower), Kellyn remembered the Shadow Crystal Incident only a week and a half ago. Team Dim Sun had activated the Incredible Machine, nearly plunging Almia into darkness. Then, Kellyn caught Darkrai with his newly acquired Vatonage Styler and purified the Shadow Crystal into the Luminous Crystal, saving Almia. Now, he was back because Darkrai wanted to speak with him.

        The Luminous Crystal, an enormous, shimmering crystal, floated above Altru Tower (Kellyn wasn’t used to the new name yet) with the Tears of Princes, three gemstones that powered Kellyn’s Vatonage Styler. It was a mesmerizing sight—nothing like the Shadow Crystal.

        A chill passed through the area, and Kellyn turned, mouth dropping open.

        Darkrai, a black, shadowy Pokémon with striking blue eyes and a fog-like plume, hovered before him. At first glance, it seemed like a terrifying Pokémon, but Kellyn remembered its kindness when it spoke to him telepathically.

        “Kellyn.”

        “Darkrai.” Kellyn smiled. “What did you want to see me for? Hastings said you’re good to go.”

        Two leg-like features emerged from Darkrai’s underbody, and it stood like a human, arms dangling. “I wanted to see you because I can’t be here anymore, and my Crystal—and Almia—need a new Guardian.”

        A new—? Kellyn checked behind him before turning back to Darkrai and pointing at himself. “Me?”

        “Yes,” Darkrai said. “You saved Almia and me. There’s no one I trust more.”

        This... was... huge. Kellyn, a Guardian? However, he was a Top Ranger, meaning the Union could station him anywhere. “What if the Union stations me somewhere else, though?” he asked Darkrai.

        “I know two Pokémon, Rainbow Birds, who’d be willing to stand in for you temporarily,” Darkrai answered.

        Really? Rainbow Birds? The only “Rainbow Bird” Kellyn knew was Ho-Oh. He wanted to ask, but it seemed Darkrai was trying to keep them in the dark for now.

        “You purified the Shadow Crystal,” it continued, “which means you’re already connected to it through Vatonage—not just your Styler, but inside you, too. You may not realize it, Kellyn, but you have a power: the power of Vatonage.”

        Kellyn shakily lifted his arm and studied his Styler. “Vatonage: to reawaken light that has been submerged in darkness,” he repeated.

        “So, please, Kellyn,” Darkrai said. “As long as you keep Vatonage inside you, you will be a great Guardian, just as you are a Ranger. I know you will continue to do amazing things.”

        Kellyn examined his Styler a little longer, then lowered his arm and inhaled. A power. “I promise I won’t let you down, Darkrai,” he finally said. It was his duty as a Ranger—no, as a Guardian.

        Darkrai’s blue eyes sparkled (Kellyn guessed that was a smile), and it said, “Thank you, Kellyn. I will watch over you and send the Rainbow Birds if you are temporarily stationed elsewhere. You have my word.”

        Again, what were the Rainbow Birds? Perhaps Kellyn would discover that one day.

        He watched as Darkrai created a shadow in Altru Tower’s roof and sank into it, leaving Kellyn alone with the Crystal, the gems, and Vatonage.

***

One year later

        “Vatonage!” Kellyn jolted awake with the memory and found himself in the Ranger quarters of the Union. Each Top Ranger had their own bed and section, but they shared a room like a dormitory—although part of that had to do with the Union’s size.

        Kellyn threw off his covers and sat in bed. He snatched his jacket from his dresser beside him and felt himself up and down. Where was his Styler? He needed it to use Vatonage to find Parity and check the Luminous Crystal. He told Darkrai he wouldn’t let it down.

        Why was Kellyn sleeping? He had a mission: prove that he was still Top Ranger Kellyn and the Guardian of the Luminous Crystal. Ash, his friends, and the Union could try all they wanted, but at the end of the day, Almia’s fate rested in Kellyn’s hands—and his hands only.