Chapter One:
Quest! The Drowzee Man!

In the region of Almia, Rangers are diligent, hard workers, but even they have to let loose every once in a while. Today, the three operators at the Ranger Union were throwing a party by the Tree of Harmony with the usual guests; Chairperson Erma, Prof. Hastings, Almia's four Top Rangers and the rest of the staff of the Ranger Union. Marcus, one of the operators who arranged this shindig brought up a laptop in the unlikely case that something big and alarming were to happen in Fiore or Almia while his colleges Rythmi and Linda stood by the door waiting for the remainder of the guests, refusing any who came in their uniform. The two had thought up of an "only casual wear" rule to help the employees relax, no one wanted to think about work while celebrating the achievements of Top Ranger number eleven.

This rule was why Top Ranger Keith had to rush back and change out of his uniform into a t-shirt and jeans just so he could get past Rythmi and Linda. However he didn't expect to see his rival and former classmate to be in skirt and blouse. Even her hair was different, tame and in an elegant ponytail rather than its usual spiky pigtails.

"Keith, you're here," Kate called out, noticing the boy noticing her, "I could hardly recognize you without your uniform!"

"Eh-heh, yeah, same here," he said, his face heating up with a sudden realization that Kate was indeed a girl. Who knew?

Kate smiled she noticed that even in casual clothes Keith looked exactly as a Ranger should, Styler on hand, placid partner pokemon by his side, and bright eyes ready for whatever life threw at him. She idly wondered if she once had the same look, sure, she had the Styler ready to go and two, not one, partner pokemon ready to spring into action at her command. However after Operation Brightion she became absorbed with completing the Browser and conquering the Capture Arena. After accomplishing both however she became bored , even after being allowed two partner pokemon (who of course were her first pokemon Pachirisu and that adorable little tyke, Chimchar). Many avoided talking with her, seeing as she had become quite bitter and dull since her famous triumphs. The only person she brightened up for was Keith and Rythmi.

"Some party, eh?" Keith asked after a moment of silence. Kate must have spaced out, she seemed to do so quite often, "Congrats, by the way."

"Hm? Oh yeah…the party. I'm sorry, I just drifted for a sec ," she said, chuckling. Pachirisu jumped up to her skirt and climbed up her clothes to get to his rightful spot sitting on her shoulder.

Keith laughed, "Seems he tore at your skirt a little," he said, pointing out the tiny tears left from the nutty pokemon's claws.

"Damn! This is new too."

"Didn't know you cared."

"Never said I did."

"Is that—" Keith said before being interrupted by a loud alert coming from Marcus' personal computer.

Kate ran over towards Marcus, Chimchar and Keith following closely after. "What is it?" she asked, hope lighting her blue eyes.

"Nothing, just another quest coming in, something about the Drowzee Man acting odd, almost violent," Marcus said, as he closed the window with the quest's information, "Funny, we've been getting a lot of those lately."

"Then someone should check him out, I know the Drowzee guy and the worst he can do is…is bring up the past," Kate said, her arms crossed and the hope in her eyes dimmed, but still shined, "If he's been acting violently or odd then we need to see what's wrong."

"Aw, don't worry about it too much Kate. It can wait till tomorrow can't it?" Rythmi asked, removing herself from her post at the door.

"No way. You guys can stay here but I'm going to go see what's up," Kate said stubbornly. She headed towards the exit, ignoring the various protests from the party goers.

She was just about to run down to the first floor when Keith called out to her.

"This is your party, y'know!" he said, walking up to meet her.

"Yeah, well, this is now my quest, and I plan to take care of it," she told him, stepping on the escalator. Keith followed.

"Why is it so important to you? I didn't even know you were friends with the Drowzee guy,"

Kate didn't continue walking after she stepped off the escalator, she looked at Keith and waited for him to hit the first floor as well before explaining. "Because it's exciting! It's been so boring around here, haven't you noticed?" she asked him, her trust in him getting in the way of her desire to keep her secrets hidden, "So excuse me for being eager to do my job," she said as she ran out the door, in her casual clothes and Styler ready, to head out to Altru Inc.'s Peace Tower.

Just as Kate caught a wild Staraptor and was ready to fly off towards her destination, Keith came out of the Union building still in his party clothes and Styler aglow, ready to do its job.

"You're not going without me!" he said, climbing up on the Satraptor, "I'm up for a little action too."

Kate smiled and nodded as she sent the Staraptor towards the east, Peace Tower in sight.

Not long after they took flight, they landed on the very top of Peace tower, where the man in question could usually be found. On the way, Kate had put her hair back into her usual pigtails and her grin was wide with anticipation the whole ride. Thanking the Staraptor as if fled back to its home, Kate grabbed hold of the flashlight she wore around her neck, the flashlight that was her security blanket since Operation Brighton and her sudden phobia of the dark.

The tower was dark with night and the only light that shone was from the stones further up, which were know emitting an eerie glow that only cast long and unnatural shadows. As Keith advanced towards the stones, Kate stood shaken and turned on her flashlight and pointed it in front of Keith's path. The light immediately showcased a balding man slumped down, his chin resting on his chest in a lifeless manor.

Both Keith and Kate screamed at the top of their lungs, Keith jumping five feet into the air and to Kate's side. Their hearts beating and their breathing hitched, the man's head moved and his head lifted. His eyes were still closed and his expression emotionless. He looked like a zombie, and the haunting looks the two Drowzee beside him were nightmarish.

"What…do you…want?" asked the man, his tone slow and listless.

"Drowzee Man? We're here to ask why you've been acting so weird," Keith said, stepping forward, be mad sure to stay clear of the light, lest they lose sight of the sleepy man.

"Are you…two rangers?" he asked.

Keith and Kate nodded vigorously, both proud of their jobs. They had no idea what the title would bring them this time.

The Drowzee Man smiled, his grin clownish but evil as he stood and opened his eyes. His pupils were glowing red and his stance was like that of a puppet being forced to dance. "Very good then," he said, his sluggish tone gone.

As he spoke, the Drowzees' eyes began to glow purple just as the doors to either side of the rangers slammed shut.

Keith and Kate jumped with surprise and ran towards each door, struggling to open them.

"It's no use! It's locked!" Kate called out.

"Same here!" Keith reported. Both ran back in front of the Drowzee man and attempted to capture the Drowzee. But the Drowzee were able to dodge and break the rangers' Fine Stylers, avoiding their sorry attempts.

"What the hell? Drowzee man what's going on?" Kate asked the man as she pulled her Styler back where it would be safe. Chimchar and Pachirisu cried in distress and worry while Keith's Buizel crossed his arms and clenched its teeth, it seemed ready to fight for his master.

"Can't you see? I'm not the Drowzee man…not anymore anyway," said the man with a sinister smirk.

"Then why are you doing this?" Keith asked, as his last attempt at napping the Drowzee failed and his Styler came close to breaking.

"Why? It's simple. Almia's best ranger is allowing darkness into her heart, the one who sent the king of dark himself with her own heart of light has forgotten her origins, and she has awoken this personality of mine," the crazed Drowzee man blamed, pointing at Kate with knowing eyes. "Now I must teach you a lesson."

Keith looked towards Kate in confusion; was it truly her fault that the Drowzee man was acting insane? Or was that just a load of lies so he wouldn't be blamed? He would rather believe the latter.

"You shouldn't blame Kate for your problems, man!" Keith shouted.

"Oh, but I should, and shall. Besides, little Katie knows exactly what I'm talking about. Don't you?"

Kate didn't look at either of the men, but at her partner pokemon, who seemed to be curious as to whether or not the man's accusations were true or not. She grinded her teeth and a loop out towards the Drowzees in a moment of anger and stupidity and her Styler was hit by another one of their psychic attacks, and shattered her line. Her Styler sparked in malfunction and she dropped it out of shock. "No!"

Keith widened his eyes at the sight. Kate, lose? No, no, impossible. And yet, there she sat, her Styler smoking and Kate on her knees on the verge of tears. He had to pry his eyes away from her to see the two Drowzees coming to attack her.

"Hey! Leave her alone!" he yelled as he drew a line to protect her and hopefully catch the vicious pokemon. No such luck, for his line was hit by another attack and his Styler broke down in a similar fashion as Kate's. He dropped it and looked fiercely at the Drowzee man.

"Ohoho, no need to look so angry m'boy," he said, his grin as devilish as ever. "Now that you can't fight back, let me take you two back, back to a much, much different time."

With his words spoken the Drowzee man's eyes closed and he lifted his hands into a position much like the Drowzees'. His two companions returned to his side and all three began to chant.

"Drowz. Drowz. Drowz."

Keith and Kate stood motionless as he did so, afraid of the spinning scenery that was beginning to melt away at their feet. Soon, the Drowzee man began to disappear as well, in which both rangers called out in protest.

Slowly, the colored mess that was the top of Peace Tower slowly changed and rewrote itself into a tiny town, a town that Kate could immediately name.

The two landed with a thud to the grassy ground that was awkward to feel after just coming from a concrete floor. Keith stood up first, lending Kate and hand. The two dusted off the dirt that got on their clothes and looked around. It defiantly was Chicole Village, but it seemed so empty.

"We're in…" Keith trailed off.

"Yup."

"But we were…"

"Yup."

"How?"

"I don't know, but my family lives here, we should go see them and get some rest, then we need to go to the Union and explain what's going on," Kate said, leading the way towards her home. Keith followed silently, until something occurred to him.

"Kate…" he said, stopping in his tracks.

"What?" she asked, turning around and slightly annoyed.

"He said he was taking us to a different time,"

"Yeah, no kidding. At least we know you can listen," she said, walking towards her house again.

"No!" he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around, "He sent us to the past!"

"What makes you say that?"

"Look," he said, pointing towards a for sale sign on her house. She blinked in disbelief and walked towards it.

"What in the world?" she murmured to herself. Something about this scene was familiar, as if she'd gone through it once before.

"Hey! Excuse me!" Keith and Kate turned towards the new voice, a man apporached them ready to chase off a couple of lovebirds from the house. "I'm sorry, but if you're not looking to buy then you should leave, I have a nice family coming by and I don't want a couple of teenagers hanging around planning who knows what!" he said. Before either of them could respond, he entered the house once more, slamming the door, making Kate wince.

"I hate it when you're right," Kate said backing away from the sign.

"Then what do we do?" Keith asked, "Our Styler's are gone, probably still on top of Peace Tower, we're back in time when we were in school so no one knows who we are!"

"Simple, we find the Drowzee man and force him to get us back. Same thing happened once with Wendy and mr. We had to catch Dialga to get back."

"So, how are we going to find the Drowzee man?"

"Simple. We go back to Peace Tower and confront him again, he's bound to be up there," Kate said, she was ready to move so she started to walk towards the village's exit.

"But Kate…!" Keith said as he ran after her, "Peace Tower isn't even completed yet! How're we going to get to him?"'

Kate opened her mouth as if she knew the answer, but snapped it shut once she realized she didn't. "No clue," she told him.

Keith grabbed his hair and made out as if he were trying to pull it out. "How're we going to get home?!" he asked frantic.

"I don't know!"

"Then figure it out!"

"If you're so smart you do it!"

As the two rangers argued, they didn't notice the card that came floating down. It had to smack Keith in the face before either would pay attention to the note.

"What's that?" Kate asked.

"I dunno…trash?" he answered while looking it over, "No wait! It's a note from…the Drowzee Man!"

"What? Give it here!" Kate said as she took the note from Keith's grasp and read it aloud.

"'You won't find a solution just standing around, rangers. Try going back to the beginning. Signed, Drowzee Man.' I can't believe it," Kate said as she shook her head.

"I know. Who knew that the Drowzee Man's name was actually 'Drowzee Man'!" Keith laughed.

"What? No you idiot!" she said, socking his arm, "We have to go back to the Ranger School!"

Keith and Kate wandered around town seeing people they knew but they didn't dare acknowledge them, knowing full well they didn't know who they were yet. They made it to the Ranger's school with little trouble, although they felt vulnerable every time a wild pokemon jumped out, them being without their trusted Stylers. Their only defense were their partner pokemon who faithfully followed them. Once on school grounds they immediately entered the gates and passed a couple of students in the front yard practicing with their student Stylers.

"Brings back memories huh?" Keith asked.

"For all we know they are memories," Kate said, her eyes shifty and careful.

The two found their way to the Teachers' Lounge and spotted Principal Lamont. They knew that he could help.

"Why hello there! Are you two new students?" he asked them as soon as he noticed their entrance.

"Not exactly…Um, have you had two students by the name Keith and Kate enroll here recently?" Kate asked.

"Hmm, no I'm sorry, why? Are you looking for the two?" the principal asked.

"Oh, no. We're Keith and Kate, we just thought that we had registered already to take the test, I guess that isn't so," she said, making up a story on the spot.

"I see, well, I don't think Mr. Kaplan is busy. Go tell him your there to take the entrance exam. It's in the building to the right of the school, can't miss it."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, thanks," Keith said as the two walked out of the school.

As they came out, Keith stopped Kate and looked at her in confusion.

"Why are we taking the test?" he asked her.

"So we can become students, of course."

"Yeah, I know that, but why?"

"Because, the note said to go back, and we're here and nothing's happened. He said I forgot my origins and I think he wants me to recover that."

"Okay, fine, but I don't know why you're so special," Keith mumbled as the two walked out to take the test.

Of course the test was a breeze! It was being introduced to the class once more that made it awkward.

"Today we have two new students; Keith and Kate," Mr. Kincaid introduced the two to the class, "Please remind them that there is absolutely no running in the hallways."

Keith and Kate didn't know what was going on they were told they were going to the classroom on the left; Ms. April's room, but when they arrived they found Mr. Kincaid lecturing one of the boys about running in the halls.

They dynamic duo took a seat next to each other, Keith next to an empty seat on the right side of the room. It was a relief when the door opened and Ms. April's friendly face popped in.

"Okay Mr. Kincaid, thank you for covering for me, you can go back to your own classroom now.

Mr. Kincaid muttered a goodbye and another reminder not to run in the hallways and left the room, leaving Ms. April in control of the room once more.

"Okay, from what I understand we have new students today, Keith and Kate right?" she said once she reached her desk.

"That's us!" Keith said with his cheeky grin.

"Aren't you loud? Well it's a pleasure to meet you two."

"Same here," Keith and Kate chimed.

Weeks had passed as the two went to the classes they attended before, and soon they became the top of their class, besides Isaac of course. Their partner pokemon stayed close behind, avoiding being captured by other students and sneaking off with some of the Bidoofs' food and treats, which annoyed Janice to no end.

It wasn't until one particular day did things begin to grow interesting.

"Today, we have another new student in out classroom, as well as another in Mr. Kincaid's room. This student comes from the far off region of Fiore," Ms. April announced one day.

The students began to chatter nonstop, asking would it be a girl or a boy, were they cool, and other such nonsense.

Keith and Kate knew very well that it was going to be another girl, another Kate, and that worried them somewhat, but there was nothing they could do but wait for the moment.

"Settle down! Let's just allow the new student to come in and tell you," Ms. April said, looking towards the door. The whole class turned and watched as a young boy stood at the doorway, his brown hair styled so there were spikes on the left of his head and his blue eyes were excited while his face showed little to no emotion.

"Hello, my name is Kellyn."

Author's Note: (EDIT 4/25/10) Hehe, so I'm reserecting this little story of mine, since I've started playing SoA again. Enjoy! This edit comes some corrections in the story.

Hello there fellow authors and readers! This isn't my first fanfic but I'll be honest, it's my first decent one. I hope it makes sense and that it makes you laugh a little. Let's see, this idea came after playing through Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia and I thought that I'd like to write a fanfic that foucses on Keith and Kate's relationship when they're in school and after they become Top Rangers, but writing a piece souly based off the game's story didn't sound like much fun. And then I came across the Drowzee Man, quite possibly the coolest character. Ever. I thought that if he could send you to the past, why not send you to a different reality? Thus, this story resulted. I can only ask that you read, enjoy, and maybe leave a review and help me better my writing.