A.N. Hey everybody, just so y'all know I'm back from the dead. *looks over at missing appendages* Well…for the most part. I'm starting 2 new stories, one is called "Daddy Rogers" which is based in the Avenger's universe and the other is this lovely little collection of one-shots that YOU, the reader (Yes, I mean you!) decide what y'all want to read. I'll be taking suggestions through reviews and PMs. Well…I guess all that's left to say is that I don't own Pokemon or Disney and don't forget to review! :)

A Dark Day for Bright Angel

Pueltown, Almia

Kate's POV

(A.N. Quick thing about Kate, I changed her uniform since in my last story she was made into a free-lance Ranger. So on the parts of the uniform where it was red, now it's blue, not including the styler.) I had just gotten back from a 3 hour meeting in the Union that started at 7 a.m. and then went immediately into a 7 hour-long technology conference followed by a 2-hour follow up on the Mechanics school. I tiredly dug into my pocket for my apartment key, only to find I left inside. Muttering multiple curses, I knocked on the door.

Thankfully, my favorite red head opened the door holding my keys in his hand with that crooked grin of his, "Lose something, Alley Cat?"

I rolled my eyes my eyes and grabbed my keys. I laughed at Keith's "pout" as I walked into the kitchen to grab some leftovers, only to find there was none. I was about to go grab the phone to order pizza when Keith came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"You're amazing and wonderful husband already called in your favorite pizza." He whispered in my ear.

I giggled, he was the only man who could make me do that, "Have I told you I love you today, Fuzz Ball?"

He smiled, "Yes, but you could say it again."

I turned around in his arms, "I love you, you big goof ball."

Then I gave him a kiss and turned around to put the phone back when the phone started to ring.

I was confused, who would call me now? I pushed the green button, silencing the annoying tones.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Katie." My father said.

I smiled warmly, of course he would call my phone, "Hey, Dad, you okay? You sound concerned and worried. Is everything alright?"

I heard him sigh over the phone, "Kate…it's your sister. I told her about Christine, what really happened."

I internally groaned, why would you tell Jamie that when she's only 10?!

"Okay," I sighed, "How'd she take it?"

"She seemed okay with it at first, but then she just went up to her room and hasn't come out since."

I nodded, "How long ago did you tell her?"

"About 2 days ago."

"Arceus, Dad!" I nearly shouted, "Has she eaten anything?"

"Yeah, but she just takes it and goes back up to her room without a word. I'm starting to worry."

"I'd be too, Dad. I'll be there first thing tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I'll see you then. I love you."

"I love you too, Dad."

I hung up the phone and walked over to the couch in the living room. I sat down and put my face in my hands. I hoped Jamie would be okay for the night, and Dad too. I shook my head and rubbed my temples with my fingers.

Keith sat down next to me and wrapped his arms around me, "Is everything okay?"

I shook my head and leaned my head against his chest, "Dad told Jamie about her mom, what really happened, and she's not taking it well. She's locking herself up in her room and is barely eating."

He kissed the top of my head, "I'm so sorry, Alley Cat. You are going to see her tomorrow, right?"

I nodded, "I'd leave tonight, but it's too late and I'd arrive there at 3 a.m."

"I'll tell Hastings you had a family emergency and you won't be in tomorrow."

Tears began to build up in my eyes, "Thanks, Fuzz Ball. It's just…she's too young to be doing this."

He just held me and rocked me back and forth saying, "I know, Alley Cat, I know."

The Next Day

I woke up at 5 a.m., had grabbed Rapidash from the Union at 5:45, and was down by the docks by 6. I wanted to make sure I was on the first ferry for Fiore which departed at 6:10. I was literally shaking with nerves. What if she…, no, I refused to allow myself to finish that thought. Jamie's a sensible girl who wouldn't solve such a small problem with a permanent solution.

Thankfully the ferry departed on time which meant I would be in Wintown by at least 10, if not earlier. Still, that did not help me pull myself from the railing wishing that the boat would go faster. Keith had mentioned that he would come with me if he wanted, but I told him no because this was a sister-bonding moment.

Sisters…some sister I was. I haven't called her in a while. Was she really 10 years old already? Seems like just yesterday she was in her little sundresses and Fioran braids. Now she's donning some of my old clothes and learned how to braid her own hair. I exhaled deeply, she's been growing up before my own eyes all the time.

I guess all my thinking and zoning out helped pass the time because at 8 o'clock, there we were in Fall City Harbor. I hopped on Rapidash and spurred him to go as fast as he could, leaving little flame trails that I knew Joel would give me hell for. Each passing second felt like an hour as we surged toward the Winter City.

After what felt like an eternity, I reached my house. I just jumped off of Rapidash, having faith that he knew where to go, and ran inside to find my father drinking coffee with a smile.

"G'Morning, Kate. You weren't kidding when you said you'd be here early."

I glanced over at the clock on the coffee pot, 9:03 it read. Huh, I thought, must've rode faster than I thought.

"I rarely ever kid, Dad. So where's Jamie?"

"Out by the stables," he said with a jerk of his head, "Maybe you could bring her out of this funk that I got her into."

I ran up and kissed him on the cheek, "This wasn't your fault and I'll do the best I can."

I sprinted out of the house and to the stables where I saw Jamie in a plaid red and white shirt with faded blue jeans and boots feeding Rapidash oats.

"Hey there, Squirt." I said with a grin, hoping she's get mad at me for using her nickname.

She just turned around and with a melancholy voice said, "Oh…hey, Kate."

I put my hands on my hips, "That's all I get, 'hey, Kate'?"

She shrugged, "Did you want me to perform a dance routine or something?"

"If it would get you to smile, then yeah! Listen, Dad told about what you and he talked about and…"

She tensed up and said through clenched teeth, "I'm fine, Kate."

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, because locking yourself up in your room for 2 days totally signifies that your fine."

Tears of anger streaked down her cheeks, "If you just came here to make me angry, then you can show yourself out."

I squatted down to her level and wiped away her tears with the pad of my thumb, "Squirt, I came here to make you feel anything except sadness and if that involves getting you angry, then so be it."

"It's just…" She choked out, "I never got to meet her. I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what she was like."

I smiled warmly and took her hand when I stood up, "C'mon, I want to show you something."

I led her out of the barn and to a nearby river that was so clear you could see you reflection in it, somewhat. I kneeled down in the bank and had her do the same thing.

"C'mon, lean over the river." I told her.

"You're not going to push me in, right?" She asked cautiously.

I rolled my eyes, "Of course not, now lean."

She leaned over and saw her distorted reflection in the river. She stared for a few seconds, the leaned back and faced me.

"What was the point of that?" She asked, tossing her blonde-brown hair over her shoulder.

I smirked, "Well, you said you wanted to know what Christine looked like, and now you do.

"You could've just told me that, you know."

I chuckled, "I could've, but it wouldn't have the same effect as it did now."

She stayed silent for a few minutes, taking it all in. Then she said, "I guess you're right."

I grinned, "As always. Now there's another place I want to show you."

I took her hand and led her to a small field of flowers a quarter mile from our house. In the center of that small field lay a polished granite tombstone. I led her in front of the stone and wiped off some of the dust and dirt. Jamie gasped as she read the words "Christine Matthews-O'Malley. A loving mother, wife, and friend to all."

"Oh my Arceus," she gasped, "Mom's coffin is…"

I kneeled down next to her and shook her head, "Christine never liked confined spaces, so she wanted to be cremated and scattered around in this field in order to bring some beauty into this world. As if the woman hadn't already done so."

"What do you mean, Kate?" Jamie asked.

I chuckled, "Well, for starters she loved Dad like he was her life and she treated, and disciplined me, like her own daughter. But the greatest beauty she ever created was that she gave birth to you."

She crinkled her nose at me and I laughed, "I know it's cheesy, Squirt, but it's the truth."

She started crying again, "But how will I ever get to know her?"

I gave her a gentle hug and gestured towards the stone, "Talk to her. If there was anything your mom loved, it was a good conversation every once in a while. Especially with the people she loved."

She looked at me doubtfully, "Yeah, and talking to a gravestone will definitely make me Queen of the Loony Bin."

I rolled my eyes and exhaled sharply, "Squirt, you're not talking to the stone, you're talking to the person who that stone represents."

Jamie was still doubtful, bet relented her comments as she kneeled in the grass.

"What do I say?"

"First off you say hello and introduce yourself. Then state why you're here and go on from there."

"Okay…" she said uneasily, "Here goes nothing." She drew in a deep breath, "Hey…Mom, it's me, Jamie, your daughter whom you've never really met. I guess I'm here because Dad told about you and how you died and I took it the wrong way. I stayed in my room for a couple of days and was very depressed and melancholy. I always wondered what happened to you, and the truth was too much for me. I guess since you died when I was born, I felt like I had killed you and the huge burden of guilt flooded over me, like I was the reason you weren't around. Dad never treated me like that though, he always loved me and he never hurt me. Kate's doing alright, she's back to being a Ranger, a free-lance that is. That means that she gets to travel freely throughout the regions while I'm home on the ranch." She stopped to take a breath and to wipe away the tears.

"Mom, I just…I really miss you and it's hard, but I'll get through it. I…goodbye, Mom, I'll come back soon."

She stood up and walked back to me with tears coming down her face. I smiled as a few tears escaped and I drew her into an embrace.

"It'll get easier, Squirt." I whispered into her hair, "You'll get better."

She didn't say anything as she sobbed into my shirt. Ten years of not knowing was poured out of her as her sobs became sniffles and sniffles became light snores. I picked her up, positioning her head on my shoulder and wrapping her legs around my waist, like how I used to hold her when she was a toddler. I carried her back to the house and tucked her in her own bed. I walked downstairs to see Dad's worried expression.

"How is she?"

I smiled softly, "She's fine, just needs rest and you."

His confused expression was my cue to continue, "She's going to need you to hold her when she cries, to take her out to Christine's grave so she can talk with her mother, and to talk to you about what was she like so she can get an idea of what her mom was really like."

Tears were building up in his tired eyes, "Thank you, Kate, this meant the world to her."

I just shrugged, "Hopefully it'll bring her out of this slump."

I glanced over at the clock, 1:17 p.m. "I better be getting back, I need to make sure that Hastings doesn't have any last minute plans for me."

He smiled and nodded, "You go save the world, Katie."

I laughed, "I'll try, Dad." I gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

After saying my final goodbye, I walked out of the house and whistled for Rapidash and we rode off to Fall City.

Pueltown, Almia: 6:15 p.m.

Exhausted from the day's efforts, I drug myself to the door only to realize I had forgotten my keys AGAIN! I groaned and knocked on the door in hopes that Keith was there. My hopes were abashed since he didn't answer so my only option was to sit against the wall and wait for him to come back. A half-hour past and my eyelids were beginning to droop when I heard the ding from the elevator and the familiar sound of boots against the floor. I smiled as my husband rounded the corner and looked down at me.

"Forgot your key again, Alley Cat?" He said with a laugh.

I nodded, "Yep, and you weren't home to unlock the door." I said with accusation.

He rolled his eyes and helped me up, "Blame Hastings because he wanted me to go on a last minute air patrol with Sven."

Keith unlocked the door and switched on the lights. I immediately kicked off my boots and wiggled my toes inside my socks. I heard him laughing at my antics.

"What?" he asked "innocently".

I rolled my eyes and continued as Keith came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"You know," he said seductively, "We haven't seen each other in a couple of days so…"

"You're right, "I agree flirtatiously, "You know what that calls for?"

He shook his trying, forcing me to say it, "DISNE MOVIE MARATHON!"

I ran off to our bedroom and grabbed all the DVDs that had "Disney" on the label. When I came back with loads of DVDs falling from my arms, Keith just laughed and shook his head.

"Not quite what I was going for, but all right."

I laughed, "Did you expect anything less?"

He took the DVDs and placed "The Aristocats" in the Blu-Ray player. I sat down on the couch while Keith ran to grab a blanket. He came back just as the movie started and we snuggled under the white fleece. My head was on his chest while his arm was wrapped my waist.

"You're a piece of work, you know." He whispered in my ear.

I looked up at him with a smirk, "Again, did you expect anything less?"

His chest rumbled with laughter and he gently tipped up my cheek and kissed me. I pulled away gently and turned my attention back to the movie. Many movies, and kisses, were shared that night before we fell asleep in each other's arms, not giving a damn about tomorrow.