Chapter 2 - The Early Days at the Ranger Base[/align]
When the girl and the Charizard landed at the ranger base, the senior rangers swarmed around them and welcomed them. The other ranger's smaller partner pokemon seemed timid of the large, scarred Charizard until it plopped down and picked one up and began to toss it into the air. The Pidgey spun and flew up, before landing on one of the Charizard's horns. After that, all of the Pokemon were playing together.
"That's a big fella you got there. Evenin', young lady. 'name is Brent, and I'm the leader of this base. I once dated your mama, but don't worry." The muscular man in a tall brown cowboy hat laughed. "I won't hold it against you, she and I broke on even terms." The girl laughed nervously, and looked around. The rest of the group were all dressed in matching uniforms, and she gave a strange expression.
"What is wrong, dear?" Asked one of the women rangers. "I don't really like the clothes, I don't think they fit me really..." She looked down modestly at her plain teeshirt and jeans. "I'd rather keep these, actually." The rangers looked at her in disbelief. No one here had ever seen someone refuse a ranger uniform except Brent; after all, they were symbols of your status as a ranger. The leader handed her the clothes. "I'll use the belt, sir, but I'd much rather keep my normal clothes. Those shorts are much too short for me, and the top looks much too hot for the climate."
He smiled, despite the dumbfounded looks on the other's faces. "Just like your mother. Alright, you can keep your normal clothes. However, they better show as much wear and tear as any ranger uniform oughta, deal?" She nodded quickly. "You lot tuck in, I'm gonna show our new tenants the ropes, huh?" Brent sent the rest off on their way. "Ah, now that's better isn't it?"
The Charizard put the last small pokemon down, a Pikachu, before following after them. "Now that is the biggest partner Pokemon I've ever seen a ranger have. That being said, we're gonna have to give you two your own room so he can fit in it. What do you call him?"
The girl smiled and scratched the Charizard behind his horns. "Naythan, after my brother. They're a lot alike." Her eyes dimmed as she thought of her brother, she seemed to miss him very much. The charizard leaned forward and rubbed his face against hers, and it cheered her up.
"This is the Ranger base, as you well know. The facilities are over there, the mess is there, and the bunks are up there. You can charge your styler at this nice lady's desk, and since the Union is so clingy, they like to know what you've been up to, so you can save your progress on that computer there."
He lead the two back outside, and walked the town. "You have your basic houses, store, and a nice pizza place we go to every Friday. Newbies buy!" She laughed, and continued to follow him. "Now, this is the entrance to our forest. It goes pretty deep, so it's nice you have a flying Pokemon as a partner. Will make your life a lot easier, I tell you. Me 'n slowbro have the hardest time going anywhere, which is why I'm a leader instead of a runner." He laughed heartily, patting her on the shoulder. "Anyway, we're all glad you're here."
"Help help!" A boy ran out of the forest. "A bunch of wild bulbasaur have my sister wrapped up like a cocoon!" Brent sighed. "Again, James?" The blue haired boy nodded, pointing behind him. "Help!" "Well, this is a good experience for you, newbie. You and your Charizard can go for your first quest." She nodded, and looked at him.
"Where?" "About fivehundred yards in. A left left left, right, left, and uhm... middle... Uhm..." His voice trailed off and she smiled. "What does she look like?" "She has brown hair an-"
Already the girl ran off, running beside the Charizard as it began to run and flap its wings. She bent her knees and jumped as high as she could, landing on Naythan's back and flying up into the air.
Brent looked up and stared. "They weren't kidding, she's fearless, and already well trained... I think she might be giving us some lessons in ranging. Anyway.." He looked over. "I'm going to go on in and keep an eye on how she does." The elder ranger took off after her, at a rather relaxed jog. If something bad happened, he would catch up eventually.
The girl flew across the skies, peering down through the nook where the wing met shoulder blades. "There, I see the trees moving.. Listen!"
"Mmmmmmmhhhppp!"
The two took of in a sharp dive. Brent watched the flame flash straight down, and he was worried something had happened, until suddenly wings spread back up across the sky. The two landed with a soft thump right behind the troubling bulbasaur.
The leader turned around, and withdrew its vines from the girl. It took steps towards her, and she stood firm. Her expression was that of a mother looking at a misbehaving child; not anger, but disappointment. "Bul...?" She folded her arms across her chest and waited.
Brent was doing the same in the bushes, watching.
The bulbasaur barked at the others, and they dropped the girl rather hard. "Bulba..a...saur?" Their eyes drifted up the large dragon, and they looked rather scared, as most did. She smiled and knelt down. "Hello there, little ones, what are you doing?" She pulled a few small treats from her pocket and gave each of them one. "It would be nice if you would leave this poor girl alone, after all, she does look very sorry for disturbing your nests."
Brent had not even noticed that they were in fact in nesting grounds, and only saw the small divots in the ground once she had pointed them out. He was very impressed.
The bulbasaur all nodded quietly, and allowed her to pet them. She nodded at the girl. "Come with me." "Who are you? You don't look like anyone I know!" She smiled, and held out her wrist. "You're... A ranger?" She stared at the styler. "But... But.. You don't have the clothes..." The girl laughed. "What's your name?" The girl sighed. "Ella." The girl smiled. "Come here, Ella."
The girl timidly walked up to her. "Now, I want you to hook your knees in here..." Naythan stood patiently as the girl was put into place. "Nay isn't strong enough to carry more than one at a time, so you'll have to go by yourself. Just hold on there." She patted Naythan on the haunches and he took off with the girl screaming on his back.
"You did well, girl." Brent came from the bushes. "We never figured this was the Venasaur's nesting grounds, makes sense now. Ella comes here to pick flowers, and they must belong to the Pokemon. It only makes sense that they tried to protect themselves against her." The two walked back to the base together.
When they arrived, the boy thanked them very much and led his jet lagged sister to their home.
Brent in turn lead the girl and Charizard to the base.
The two were put to a bedroom, yet neither could sleep well. She had grown accustomed to sleeping against him, and not in a bed, and he was used to her being there; similar to a teddy bear.
The next morning they awoke with sores all over.
"Is there any chance we can move to a different place? We didn't sleep well..."
The leader stared at them. "You didn't sleep well on the bed?" She shook her head. Suddenly, she got an idea. "What if we slept in the woods? We could keep in contact through voice-mail, and we can just fly in and out when we need to!"
The leader stared at them again. "And you'd come over for meals, right?"
"Those that we couldn't forage, if you'd like."
"And keep in touch?"
She nodded.
"Fine. There is an abandoned tree-house in the middle of the forest. It's a bit decrepit, but a little tough love will get it fixed up. I'm sure you could find a few pokemon willing to help get it repaired. There is a landing pad for flying pokemon there, too, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find."
The girl thanked him, and the two took off. "I'll send Nay around to get you when we get it fixed up!"
Over the next year, the girl and the Charizard got the tree house fixed up beautifully. It was covered in flowers and they got their water from willing Pokemon. Over time the two became known as the Nocturnal duo, due to the fact they preferred to do their ranger work at night.
Over time, all across the region, their names began to spread; all the way to the Ranger Union...
