Update: 31/01/2015

After a shamefully long hiatus, this story has finally been revived. I like to think I've improved a lot in two years, so I'm going through old chapters with a critical eye before I release new content. Naturally, Chapter One is the first to be revised. The other chapters will receive similar treatment as soon as possible.

I do hope you enjoy, whether you be a new reader, or an old reader with very admirable loyalty!

It wasn't often that a call flustered Rhythmi, so when she shot up from her chair, beckoning Erma over with flushed cheeks, Kate couldn't help but be intrigued. Things had been far too peaceful lately. Perhaps this would offer the challenge she'd been craving. She joined her blonde friend at the computer monitor in time to hear something about cloaked figures and hostile Pokémon.

"What's up?" She asked, fingers idly drumming a rhythm on her styler.

"There's a disturbance in Boyleland. Code Yellow." Chairperson Erma replied. "A suspicious pair wearing cloaks are active at the volcano in Boyleland. Locals report they're being threatened with hostile Pokémon anytime they the volcano."

Kate wondered if it had ever occurred to the locals to maybe stay away from the obviously dangerous individuals. Almost immediately, she rebuked herself for the snide internal comment. It was only natural that people would be curious and worried about odd strangers with their irritated Pokémon.

"Kate, I want you to go investigate with Keith. He's on patrol at the moment, but we'll message him. Do not engage until you've met with him at the Ranger Base."
"Understood." She nodded, snapped a crisp salute to the elderly woman and left the upper floor of the Union. Capturing a Staraptor was almost instinctive by now, and in what felt like no time at all, the chilly air had warmed considerably. She was above Boyleland. Anticipation of a dangerous mission always made travelling pass quickly.

Her fellow Top Ranger waited impatiently at the entrance to the Ranger Base. Bouncing on his feet with seemingly endless energy, a grin split over his face as Kate landed. "You ready for some fun?"

"Keith. Take this seriously." Yet even as she scolded him, Kate felt a smile of her own grow. This was what she lived for; the chance to protect people and Pokémon and maybe even the opportunity to shine along the way. The pair walked to through the town and towards the volacno in a comfortable silence. It was one of the things she liked about big missions with Keith. The normall chatty ranger grew focused and together, it felt like they were invincible. Looking back, that sense of invulnerability was her first mistake. They'd been hurt on missions before - she still bore the scar across her stomach to tell the tale - why should they ever feel like nothing could touch them?

Predictably, blocking the entrance to the volcano were two people. Their faces were hidden beneath the hoods of the cloaks they had wrapped around themselves. They must be sweltering in this heat. She thought idly as the two Top Rangers jogged to confront the cloaked figures.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Keith, tactless as usual, was the first to speak, or rather, yell.

"Now, now Keith-noob. There's no need for raised voices." The taller of the two spoke with a lazy drawl.

Kate gasped. "Ice. I thought you'd been arrested." An icy feeling, no pun intended, settled in the pit of her stomach.

The man threw back his hood with a sickening chuckle to confirm her worst suspicions. "My dear Katie. You always were the bright one. Unlike your exuberant little friend here. And yes Lavana and I were in prison until a few days ago but thanks to our good behaviour and... friends, we wrangled ourselves an early release.
As though she couldn't bear to be left out, Lavana tossed back her hood, her pink hair as garish as ever. Muttering something about "unfashionable", she fell silent after a withering glare from Ice. "Remember the plan love." He said rather harshly. The woman blushed but said nothing more. Reverting to his grin, as though Lavana had never spoken, Ice continued. "I'm not foolish enough to reveal my plans to a couple of Top Rangers, but what I will tell you is that, Team Dim Sun is no more. A new and more powerful team is on the rise. One who isn't afraid to kill to get what they want." His voice had grown unnervingly soft, and Lavana, Kate and Keith all jumped when he suddenly roared. "Go, Breloom." Unclipping a Pokéball from his belt, he tossed it into the air. Kate and Keith stepped back to avoid being squashed by the furious looking Breloom. "Breloom attack the girl." Ice commanded. His eyes narrowed. "And to keep the boy occupied. Go Electrive!" An equally irate Electrive emerged from the second ball.

The Breloom lunged out at Kate who managed to roll out of the way and unclip her styler. She shot out a disc at the agile pokemon and started the capture. Meanwhile the Electrive was keeping Keith busy by shooting bolts of lightning haphazardly. It was a miracle that they didn't hit Kate who was absorbed in her own capture.

Several minutes later, Kates styler beeped to acknowledge the capture. She stilled and tried to catch her breath. The Breloom had been incredibly stubborn and had been her most difficult capture in some time. "Breloom. Stun spore." Ice barked.

Horror and shock froze her in place as the Breloom made a strangled noise and then started to advance. Keith, who had just finished his own capture made to go to help Kate. Ice shook his head patronizingly. "We can't have that now. Electrive take care of him." The Electrive roared and shot a thunderbolt at Keith. Despite his best efforts to dodge, the bolt struck his body. With a pained moan, he crumpled to the ground, limbs convulsing even as he lost consciousness.

Kate's training kicked in just as Breloom unleashed the move. She scrambled backwards as a yellow mist filled the air around her. The pokemon then turned and ran away. Ice took a step towards Kate, who was already feeling the affects of the paralysing mist. She tripped and landed on the hard ground, desperately trying to fight the feeling of helplessness in her limbs.

She almost didn't see Ice as he stood beside her. There was a flash of something black, then nothing as the item collided with Kate's head, knocking her into unconsciousness.