Hey all, kitsune here, sorry it took so long to get this chapter up my partner took forever writing her half. Anyways, I hope all of you will enjoy this next instalment, not much action, but hey, action isn't everything,

As per usual, I do not own pokemon in any sense of the term, Enishi and the individual pokemon's personality and team make up are mine, but nothing else, trust me, if I did own pokemon, there would be so much changed.

Anyways, onto the story, enjoy the cuteness of a ball of fluff named Boing,

Blame: The Rangers Story chapter two, Home Life.

I grinned softly as I took a deep breath of air. It felt good to breath in the familiar air of my sanctuary. Soramoyou glided over the tops of the trees, and I looked down, seeing many pokemon looking up and waving. I waved back, wincing as I did so, the pokemon of the forest I left did a good job cleaning my wounds and helping them heal, but burns and the like take a while to heal.

I gingerly touch my head where the branch had clipped me, then my shoulder where I had been clipped in my dash from the falling trees, I wasn't even going to touch my ribs or my arm till I got them looked at. For now I looked over the vast terrain that I called my sanctuary.

I was the only human that lived here, and I would love to say I was to only human allowed to touch this land. But sadly, I can't. Every so often, another human will get in, most of the time, it's a fellow ranger. Though occasionally a trainer, that thought they could trespass on private property shows up. I can't stand most trainers; they aim for strong and rare pokemon most of the time, though there are some I like. I caught a pokemon artist traveling through a little while back, and I let him through, in exchange I got free copies of all the art he painted while here, mostly of the pokemon. They are up on my scrap-wall. Yes I don't have a scrapbook, I have an entire scrap-wall.

Soramoyou glided into a clearing and set down gently. The clearing surrounded a medium sized house, one story, painted a mix of greens and blues. The roof of the house was covered in solar panels, and several grass type pokemon. Several small windmills congregated at one end of the open area. My home, Sanctuary, and Base of Operations. I admit that I created the clearing, but I had the permission of the pokemon in the area, and many had helped out, knowing which trees could be cut down, and which would be good to build my house, which is completely sustaining. The clearing itself was large. Not only did it function as my training grounds but also as a landing strip for many of the larger flying types that lived here, case in point Soramoyou.

I slide off of Soramoyou's back and land on the soft grass below. A quick sweep around revealed that there where no pokemon rushing my way, which meant that, I wasn't need for anything at the moment. I reached into my vest and pulled out the four pokeballs containing the rest of my team/family, and released them.

Animus, Tiga, Bullet, and Vensenshi, all looked around, and while most took a moment to stretch Vensenshi, always the loner, ambled off in a random direction. The rest walked, scampered or flew off towards different parts of the sanctuary, not too long after, as happy as I was to be back home. I didn't mind, this was their home just as much as it was any other pokemon's of the sanctuary. In fact, I think a few of them have mates running around here.

I grin at the thought, though I immediately pale at what might happen to me if any of my teammates have kids. Not because I think they would leave me, but because I would become the 'uncle' to all those little terrors, and little terrors they will be Between my missions as a ranger, my current team, and taking care of my sanctuary, I have a hard enough time staying alive, and sane, not to mention what little time I have to do things as it is.

I slowly limped up to my door, pulling out my keys. Yes I know, I live in the middle of nowhere with an entire sanctuary of pokemon all around, but I'm paranoid, give me a break. As I put the key into the lock, my mind wandered back to the town, the forest, and the absol. Questions circled in my mind. What was up with the town? Why were the pokemon so aggressive? So many more filled my thoughts as I went into autopilot. I had just about entered my house when a cry hit my ears. "Spheal!"

I turned towards the cry. A smile appearing on my face as all my negative thoughts vanished with the appearance of the one pokemon I could never stay angry around. "Boing!" I cry before being tackled by a two footish tall ball.

I hit the ground hard, and bit down a cry of pain as my ribs jostleed. I looked up to find a Shpeal balanced on my chest clapping it's flippers chanting, "Spheal, spheal, spheal!" Guess I was gone too long for the little guys taste. I sat up causing the seal pokemon to roll off my chest. I barely had time to get myself up all the way before Boing was back in my lap snuggling against my stomach.

My eyes soften as I start petting the spheal. "Good to see you too kid." I uttered softly.

Boing just tried to snuggle closer to my chest. Uttering a soft "Shpeal." before looking up at me, his eyes large and adorable. A tear is brought to my eye. I know what was said only because so many pokemon across this sanctuary call me by that name. The name of 'father'. After all these years, I still don't know how I earned such an honor. I picked up the spheal as he looked up at me, cuteness at level ten of ten. "eal?" I couldn't help but laugh, despite the pain it caused.

"Ok ok. Ally-oop!" I tossed the little guy up and got to my feet, catching Boing on my head, balancing and spinning the little guy as if I was a Walrein or Sealeo.

With a practiced step I finished unlocking my house and stepped in. Immediately I started towards the back, ignoring everything, even the bed I caught out of the corner of my eye and the only locked door in my house, which lead to my Ranger control center. I pause upon reaching my destination, a door with a needle on it, slightly fearing the two on the other side of it. I reached up and started knocking; within a minute the door opened revealing an audino looking up at me curiously. "Any body more important then me in there?" I asked before literally being grabbed and dragged in by a Chansey that had appeared, and because of said motion, Boing was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground.

I stumbled along catching glances of the other smaller rooms, somewhat surprised to see that only a handful of other pokemon in them.I only have a second before I'm pulled through a set of double doors and into the main treatment area. Yes, I have a fully functional medical area in my house. You see a Nurse Joy from the closest town got sick of me and my pokemon appearing half dead every other week, or whatever it was back then, so she got a Chansey and Audino together, trained them, and sent hem to me. The morning they arrived I almost crapping my pants. I wake up to pokemon in my house all the time, but not to a wall of pink with blue and black eyes. I just about had Tiga unleash reverse world on them till an Audino handed me a note.

They needed a place to work, so with in the space of a week, I got a entirely new area set up for them, to their exact specifications. I never knew chancey and audino could be so nitpicky.

I snap out of my reminiscing to find myself nude. "Gack!" I choke out as I attempt to cover myself up. I barely have time too before I'm thrown onto a, thankfully, warm, padded table. I bit back a pained curse as my ribs screamed at me. But while they were concerned, the Chansey and Audino were already working on my injuries. They got me into a seated position rubbing lotion for the burns on my torso. Once done with that they started wrapping my ribs up. Next was the hole in my arm I got from tripping onto that rock in the fire. A rapid, and not so tender, application of antibiotics and then a bandage, before rubbing more of the lotion for the burns on my arms and hands, add a quick bandaging, and I look like more like a Cofagrigus then a human with bandages covering my legs, head, arms and a portion of my chest.

Next thing I know, I'm clothed, hustled out, and Boing had been placed back on top of my head. I blinked bewildered, racking my brain for the unusually gruff treatment. I then remembered tomorrow was the day for their monthly visit to nurse joy. I grin at the thought before glancing towards the locked door, debating on whether or not I should start my research.

A yawn decided that for me, so I bypassed the door and entered my room, a tired, "bed." Escaped my lips as I plopped down. Boing immediately snuggled against my torso, I grinned tiredly as I curled up around the Spheal providing my surrogate son with his much needed comfort. He fell asleep quickly; I had about enough time to smile before I too drifted easily into the land of dreams

I woke the second there isn't a ray of sunshine coming in from the windows in my room. I felt surprisingly rested for only getting a few hours of sleep, though that was normal. I started to uncurl from the blankets when I felt something nuzzle closer to me. I glanced down to find Boing snuggling closer to me, desperately seeking the comfort that he lost when I began to move. I smiled softly, wondering what I had done to deserve to be a surrogate father to one like Boing. I sit up, and quickly wrap the little ball up in a blanket as a substitute for me before I get up.

I slip into my vest, having completely forgotten to get out of the rest of my cloths before I fell asleep, before exiting my house disregarding my shoes. I walk through the woods with a practiced step. Not needing a light source, as I knew exactly where I was going. However, my eyes strayed as I walked. I loved seeing the pokemon in their natural environment. A few of the nocturnal ones looked at me and waved, and I waved back continuing on my way.

As I continued deeper into the trees, something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It didn't really registrar at first so I contiued on, then with a start I realized what I had seen. I backtracked and looked up to the strange sight. I'm a pokemon ranger, strange is usually the order of the day, however, I have never seen a lucario sleeping upside down, with its feet attached to a branch by aura. There Animus was, doing exactly that, paws attached to the branch by aura energy, and arms, tail, and dreadlocks limply pointing towards the ground. I stared at this sight for a minute or two. Trying to decide if the sanest of my team had finally lost it, or if this was a training regiment. Honestly I was tempted to reach up and give one of Animus' arms a good solid yank, just to see what would happen. My ribs twinged at the thought, causing a quick change of mind. I decided I would ask later before continuing on my way.

Not to long after I noticed the ground slopping upwards. I nod as I emerge from the trees into a small clearing around a very tall hill. I ascended quickly to the summit, and gazed around, this hill provided the best view of my sanctuary that one could get with both feet still on the ground. However, the ground wasn't what I was looking at. I turned my attention to the sky, and to the stars that where popping out. I loved looking to the stars, the one place mankind had yet to truly pollute and thus where truly beautiful. I started making out constellations even connecting stars to make my favorite pokemon, the hardest being a furret, hard, but not impossible. I pause, my finger in the middle of drawing a flygon, and glance to the east to see the moon rising. In these parts the moon almost turned night into day. Ok maybe I'm exaggerating, but hey, even one who is not accustomed to just about every inch of this sanctuary could find their way without a flashlight under the full moon. I sat down, and let my thoughts roam.

The absol I came across was the first thing that came to mind. It had to be unique, as normal absols where white, heck even the shiny ones where only red. And after witnessing it in action, I had no doubt that it was the 'demon' that I had been told about. But I didn't think it was evil, as the towns people seamed inclined to believe. If it was, it would have just let me continue into the flames or flat out attacked me when I was weak, but it didn't. Instead it stopped me from going back into the flames, and could have killed me when I was unconscious but it let me live.

I turned my attention to the town, I think I had figured out why the pokemon where so aggressive, if the idiot with the armaldo and stelix was anything to go by, the town literally launched attack after attack on the forest. Somehow I feel like there was a disaster somewhere down the road I'm traveling on.

I turned my gaze back to the stars. "Arceus, what do you have planed for me?" I asked out loud. A yawn distracts me from my thoughts. I stand; cast one look to the stars, and head back to my home and comfortable bed.

I pause once again when I pass Animus, again debateing giving his arm a good yank, and I decide that living was much better for my health.

A new day had dawned, and yet again, pain assaulted me. Not from any injury I might have taken in the fire, though those weren't helping at all, but rather from a pair of shinx cubs attacking my ears. I didn't mind, who could mind when the cubs had a cute factor matching that of Boing? Only someone with out a heart, that's who. However, playtime is playtime, so with a quick shake of my head, I dislodged the two, and lashed out as if attacking. The two cubs dodged and swiped at my arms.

In response, I spread my arms knocking both away. With this breathing room, I looked up and scanned the trees, Checking on Boing. Took a second, but there he was, napping away. A soft grin crossed my face. Ever since Boing had hatched to me, I couldn't do anywhere in this sanctuary with out him following. I should know I tried once, little ball of fluff bounced after me till he managed to perch on my head. I gave up quickly after that.

A sharp pain in my arm caused me to snap my attention back to the cubs. For a moment I stared in disbeleife, before I lifted my arm. Nope, no illusion, there where two Shinx cubs hanging off my arm after having bitten it, bitten my newly bandaged arm. My eye twitched, The Chancey and Audino where going to love this, I'm ruining their bandages quicker than they can bandage me up. I brushed it off, and shook the cubs off my arm, and our roughhousing was underway again.

A few hours later, I had a pair of sleeping cubs in my arms. I grinned at the cute sight before standing up takeing care not to wake the two. I took a quick look around the cubs mother. It took a moment to find her dark fur amongst the shadows. I walked up to the luxray who was lounging in the shade. She didn't get up when I approached, The reason being, her legs, all four, were splinted making walking, or moving difficult, though the splints were reinforced, much like a cast boot on a human, to allow her to walk on her own.

I helped her to her feet, and grin softly. "Two sleeping cubs are ready to rest on their mother." I joke as I rest the cubs on her back. She nuzzles me in thanks, but honestly, I don't think I deserve it, especially as my eyes gaze towards her legs.

"Again, I'm sorry." The luxray, whose name is Tanit looks at me with sad understanding. "I wish I had been able to prevent this. I wish I had been able to save him." Yes, I blame myself for everything that has happened to these three, from the mothers broken legs, to the absence of her mate, I see it all as my fault.

A couple of months ago I got a call, a mountain showing signs of an impending massive rockslide. It was days, if not hours away and a wide scale evacuation effort was underway. I got there as fast as I could, or as fast as a speeding flygon could take me which is surprisingly fast considering Soramoyou can out pace a dragonite on everyday of the week and three times on sunday.

While most rangers started at the bottom of the mountain, I worked from the top down, utilizing my flying friend, and for the most part it worked out well without any trouble other than the occasional aggravated pokemon and lose boulder. In fact in a short time we had most of the pokemon that where in danger off the mountain.

I was doing one last aerial sweep just in case. And came across six pokemon, a pair of Mawile and a pair of luxray with their two cubs. It was easy to get the mawhile down, I stuck them on Soramoyous back with Animus to keep them safe. That left me and Tiga in charge of leading the luxrays and their cubs down. At first it easy going, no problems what so ever, Heck Tiga had even struck up a conversation of sorts with the parents as I kept the two cubs in line. We had just gotten half way down the mountain and where making good time when it all went to the reverse world.

One of the charges that we where planning on using to create a controlled slide went off. Seemed like the whole, Arceus forsaken, mountain was coming down on us. Tiga and I managed to hold the slide off untill Soramoyou got up to us. Sadly she wasn't big enough to carry the family to safety. The two luxray moved their cubs to Soramoyou's back and she and Animus got them to safety. Tiga was my eyes, as I guided the two luxray through the falling rocks. Everything was about as perfect in a situation as we were in could be. I could even see Soramoyou on her way back up.

Things went from difficult to horrible. A boulder bounced where it shouldn't have, and narrowly missed me, but while I was unharmed a pained yowl drew my attention to my side. Tanit had been hit instead of me, and her mate was standing over her, already unleashing all the lightning fury he had stored in his body. Tiga and I joined him, Tiga still perched on my shoulders unleashing an attack from just about every type in existence in under ten seconds and my styler was flying smashing through the smaller boulders and knocking the bigger ones off course. Together the three of us put up a defense that would have impressed a bastiodon using iron defense. Sadly Tiga and the Luxray where tiring and the shielding on the styler was running low on energy, my entire upper body was sore from supporting Tiga through all her attacks and it seemed like the slide would never stop, it was time for something drastic.

"Tiga!" I called over the roar of the slide "Hyper beam! Full power, destroy everything in your path!" I commanded getting a nod and a confirmation chirp in my ear before Tiga jumped down, knowing that I can't support a hyperbeam, especially with that amount of power put into it. However, with out the furrets attack support, the load on the Luxray and me increased drastically.

The two of us managed to keep holding off the slide, I started kicking and body rushing some of the boulders that came to close. That's when it happened, my styler gave a warning beep and exploded, the strain on it too much, causing an overload. I barely had time to dodge a boulder before I found myself hit by something. At first I thought I had been hit by a boulder till I found myself under something warm and furry. I opened my eyes to find Tanit's limp body covering my own. I carefully moved her off of me and got up to see her mate dodging boulders, but anyone, a trainer fresh out out of a professors lab, or someone with little experience with pokemon could see how tired the lion like pokemon was. I dashed forward, leaving the mother luxray behind Tiga, knowing the furret would protect her. I however had to get her mate out of the slide. I get there a second too late, I spun around a boulder just in time to find the luxray get hit and launched into the air.

"NO!" I screamed as I dove forward catching his paw, bringing his fall to an abrupt end. My muscles bulged as I fought to hold on to the luxray one handed. I tried to pull him up with boulders raining down around me. For whatever reason it appeared that Arceus had finally decided for a moment to give me luck, since not one of the boulders hit me while I was lying there.

I tried to flash a confident grin to him as I managed to pull him closer to the ledge, our eyes meet and my heart seized up. The look on his face, in his eyes was a sad almost pitying expression, one I have never seen on one of the proud Luxray before, and the look was directed at me. I tried to shrug it off, that is until a mournful roar erupted from his mouth, Tanit returned one, I knew then that those were their cries of good bye.

Once his mate had finished her roar, the luxray I was holding onto lashed out and sank his claws into my arm. I let out a scream so loud I was sure Giritina in the reverse world would have heard me, but even then I held on. It took a thunder attack to knock me back and let go. I think I blacked out for a second, when I came to; Tiga was unleashing the hyperbeam, utterly annihilating every boulder that was still crashing down. It took less then a second before I was back at the edge of the cliff, enough time for the luxray to pass out of my reach. I still reached out, as if my arms could extend out to catch him. I saw his eyes close as if not wanting to see his fall.

I laid there in shock for I don't know how long, before Tiga's tail tapped me hard on the back bringing me back to my senses. I looked over my shoulder and spotted the furret tending to the one luxray left, I shake away the tears that had formed and pushed to my feet. I waved down Soramoyou with my good arm, and with a little help from Tiga got Tanit on the flygons back and down to the nearest pokemon center. I walked down with Tiga and Venenshi who I released just incase something happening. The two where the only witnesses to the tears that I cried on that walk.

An official investigation was launched into the cause of the slide, after about a month of investigating they did find that it was an accident not an intentional act. It didn't matter to me; I wanted someone to blame for the loss of the life. In the end I blamed myself, I was the one that wasn't good enough, skilled enough strong enough, what ever it was, I was the one that couldn't save the luxray.

I got patched up fairly quickly, and checked on Tanit and her cubs, finding them but in need of a safe place to stay and someone to care for them. I immediately volunteered my sanctuary. It was a way in effect for redemption. I could never bring the male back but I could look after the three and make sure the rest of there lives were as good as they could be

While Tanit was in surgery I went back to the mountain and started digging, I didn't take too long to find the bod. I sent a soft prayer hoping that Giritina didn't judge the pokemon to harshly before I picked up his broken body and had Soramoyou fly me straight back to my sanctuary. I buried the body at the top of a hill, overlooking an off shot of the river that ran through my sanctuary to the lake. I figured he would have liked the view. As I stood looking down at the grave, I made a promise, no a vow, I would never let a single pokemon that needed my help, slip through my fingers, ever again.

After that, it's straight forward, I went back and moved both mother and cubs to my sanctuary, and I stood in as the Shinx's uncle. No not their father, I could never replace him.

I manage to snap out of my pained memory and smile to the luxray in front of me. "Take care now." I say softly as I stood and walked away, knowing that they're always at least six pokemon near her that would help if Tanit needed it.

I picked up Boing and set him on my head before setting a brisk pace back to my house, I needed to look into that town, and I had a feeling that I wouldn't like what I find.

I entered my house and once again pulled out my keys, heading towards the locked room across from my bedroom. I unlocked it and entered a whole different world. The rest of the house was homey with some technology, such as a television and general kitchen appliances but in here, in here was a mini command center, ceiling to floor with tech of all kinds. This room is my ranger headquarters, it held every thing I needed to be the lone ranger I am; from the tools to repair and recharge my styler, to the hi-tech computer I used to get informationIt also served as my window to the world outside my sanctuary, and way for me to learn how to be a better 'father' to the pokemon I fostered. Such as spheals are often used like balls by walren and sealeo. Though nothing I've found in that regard comes close to expressing how adorably cute a pokemon like Boing and the Shinx cubs can be.

I glanced to the right, as I always seem to do when walking into this room. The wall covered in stylers, yes, I have kept every styler I have ever been given. A badge of achievement, I guess, a scrap-wall of sorts documenting my path through the rangers. Though now they mostly just collected dust, I kept all of them in perfect condition.

I paused, as I looked down at my most recent one, the one that accompanied me into that fire, now useless because it no longer held it's discus. I balanced Boing back on my head and undid the straps. I pulled it off and set it on the wall, I would be forced to wait till I got a new one to get back into the field.

I walked to the back, and took a seat in one of the few luxuries I have, a very nice and comfortable CEO chair completely made from recycled materials. I reached down and hit the power button for my computer. I settled Boing into my lap as I came back up, letting him cuddle against me as the monitor flickered to life.

I pulled out the keyboard and let my fingers fly across it as I sought information. I paused as I tried to remember the name of that accursed town.

"Perfection." I mutter as I typed in the name, I accessed both the ranger database and the official records the town kept on file looking.

Apparently about 50 years ago, the mountain was called Arrgon's keep and the town was Minrel. It was close to the sea and had been a thriving port, mostly shipping out raw materials. The town was known for its mining company. The company, its name last due to time, mined the mountain for minerals, its highest output was a type of crystal that had been necessary to make pokeballs of that day and age.

I blanched at the images, the way they where mining was about as close to strip mining as one could get without actually strip-mining. The land was lifeless, not an ounce of the greenery I had seen on my trip there. A wasteland.

Then around that time the mountain had been renamed 'black' mountain and the town became 'Perfection', and it seemed all shipping and mining stopped. I had to do a little hacking to get the next portion of information I wanted, though it was far easier then I expected. I happen to have a few proygon in this machine, don't know how they got there, but hey, I'm not complaining, as long as they don't destroy it. But I found that their records showed that a demon appeared causing all mining, and any other activity on the mountain to grind to a halt as the workers found themselves under constant attack.

After some time the town started calling in help from various rangers, none succeeded and none ever went back to the town or mountain. That caught my attention, more then the life returning and the town becoming far poorer then it ever had been. In every thing I can remember reading in the history of rangers, it was that just about every ranger in existence had a stubborn streak that seemed to be gained when they became a ranger. I turned my attention to the rangers database trying to find any record of the supposed 'failed' missions I found one report, just one. It stated that the town was blaming all it's problems on a pokemon that did not exist. And that after that investigation the mountain seamed to have been striped of all its minerals. I checked for any record of missions after that report, nothing.

That disturbed me, not only had rangers never been able to go into the area, and do what they had been assigned to do. But they had been chased out, overpowered whatever, and were so scared that they would never go back and only one report had ever been made. That left me with one question, How in the name of Arceus was I able to walk in there, obviously chasing a pokemon, and clearly a ranger, and walk out with out being forced out? In fact, now that I thought of it with the exception of the pokemon attacking me, the only time I was in any real danger was when I was in the fire. I answered a few of my questions, only to get far more in response. I groaned in annoyance.

"What have I got myself into?" I asked out loud of no one in particular, then quieted as Boing snuggled closer disturbed by my speaking. I sigh softly, my annoyance driven away by the ball of fluff. I gathered him into my arms as I stood initiating the shut down before walking out and locking the door behind me.

I glanced outside finding that there was still a few hours left of light, and while I could not join him until I was fully healed, Boing could still enjoy a good swim. I left the house taking a deep breath of fresh air and walked towards the nearest stream, intent on letting boing splash about as much as he wanted before the sun set.

Upon reaching the stream I tickled Boing awake and set him into the water. He splashed and rolled around the waters surface as I leaned back against a tree. My gaze turned to the sky. I occasionally dodged a splash of water, watching with a grin as more water pokemon joined boing in the attempt to get me wet and overall fun.

Another day, another headache, and I thought I had learned these rules ages ago. Remember those shinx cubs? Well today was their day to actually start practicing using attacks in combat instead of just play, and with their mom still down, that left me. Not that I was complaining, okay maybe I was a little, but being used as a living target was not how I planed to spend my day.

I braced my self as both bounced off of me, no not my chest, I still can't take any kind if focused impact there for a while. Instead they bounced off my now bruised forearms as they practiced tackle. All I did was give a light grunt and braced again as they flew at me using tackle yet again.

I had done some research as I do with all the pokemon that I've adopted, and found that shinxs practice their attacks on their parents generally starting with their dad, then moving on to their mother continuing until they get tired. This admittedly was mostly learned from Tanit. Well I'm the uncle, taking dads spot, and mom can't take the attacks, so, I can't take a single break in this.

"I'm going to need to take some extra pain pills after this." I thought semi-darkly to myself as the next tackle made me visibly wince. I already knew I had some rather large bruises across my arms, and they would only get worse until this was over. "Why can't I make Animus do this?" I wondered before I glanced over to the lucario in question, to find him, of all my family members, asleep. "Traitor. It's the middle of the flipping day!" I thought angrily, though on the outside, it was nigh impossible to tell, I was still a cheery uncle who was being tackled by his nephews, over and over and over and over and over and over again.

A rustling in the bushes nearby turned my attention from them for a brief moment. I had to grab and pin the two Shinx cubs to get them to stop, like their father would have. I stood; rubbing my arms to ease the pain just a little, chansey and audino were going to have words for me later. I had been expecting the normal routine, pokemon emerge, give a greeting, report in, and then leave, no. Flying out of the bushes came a breloom zipping right past me his sights set for Animus. I cast my gaze to Animus, who still appeared to be asleep, as the breloom slammed into him. Dust kicked up from the scuffle, and within the blink of an eye it's over. Animus was sitting upon the breloom, who's face was in the dirt. The lucario was chuckling at the antics of the breloom who struggled beneath him, calling out what I can only assume to be curses. I laughed softly; if that breloom was here then the others were to. I shot a glance over my shoulder to see a heracross and a shiny poliwrath emerge from the trees, in a calmer manner then the Breloom.

With those two emerging I knew something was up. They where part of the border guard. The border guard was very large group of pokemon divided into teams of three or four that I helped set-up and trained to keep this sanctuary free of trainers and their pokemon, though the hardest thing to teach them was how to recognize hostile humans and the ones that would cause no harm, like the painter. To his credit though, having a tryranitar and ursuring by his side certainly helped make the guards leave him alone and get me ASAP. Not that any of them knew that the two where pacifists and learning to paint.

The breloom, I looked over as he tried to get Animus off his back, was amongst the best of all the fighting types in the forest. The title of the best, I can quite proudly say falls to Animus, who single-handedly beat them all as a riolu and still defends the title, despite the cheap shots by the Breloom.

I turned my attention back to the poliwrath and heracross, the fighting bug type stopped in front of me, the poliwrath proceeded to walk past me, and glare down at the Breloom who looked back up with a frightened face. I didn't need to speak pokemon to know what was about to happen, Animus got off the Breloom who tried to scamper away before he found himself grabbed around the neck by the poliwrath. Aniums made his way to my side to act as my translator as I chuckled, listening to the Poliwrath beret her teammate loudly. This went on for a few minutes as Animus and I held a much more civil conversation. Finally she walked over dragging the Breloom over by his tail. After that, they stood at an informal attention in front of me.

"Okay, what's up?" I asked. "Did something happen at your post?" The Poliwrath nodded as she started reporting, I glanced at animus, who immediately started translating

"We where at our post by the river, when we spotted an absol running it, now aside from the fact that in this area Absol are rare, the one that truly brought our attention to her was the fact her fur was black."

My eyes widened as I heard this. "The Absol from the forest what she doing here?' I wondered I'll admit I was mildly surprised to hear the absol was a female, not that I'm sexist or any thing, I know females can be every bit as powerful as males, but it's hard to tell a male absol from a female one. "Are you sure the absols fur was black?" I questioned.

The Heracross nodded. "We made sure of it, at first we thought she was a trainers pokemon, so we intercepted her, all three of us struck her hard. Honestly after throwing her back to the other side we thought she was down, A hydro pump, brick break, and close combat combination from the three of us would down just about any normal dark type.

I nodded, the three did what they where trained too, they probably wouldn't have minded a normal absol, but a black one, normally that just screamed trainer intervention in some way. "Any idea why she's here?" I asked.

All three looked sheepish. Finally the breloom spoke up. "No it slipped past us with us thinking she was a trainers pokemon and concern over the fact we thought she had been dyed the second she hatched. Heck we struck her with a full powered hydro pump to make sure her fur as natural and not dyed. All we can truly tell you is that she's making a beeline towards you."

Now that surprised me, From what I had gathered, that absol hated anything and everything to do with humans, and seemed to be extremely territorial, explaining why the pokemon attacked me as well, probably trying to keep the absol appeased. Why would she be coming to my sanctuary, more importantly, intentionally coming towards me? I decided I would find out when she got here, in the mean time I raised a hand upwards and waited a second. A Ninjask landed on my hand and buzzed his wings. "Gather up the other messengers, and get a report out to all patrols, there is a black absol in the forest, she is not to be harmed." The Ninjask gave a nod, though I could tell he was puzzled. He buzzed his wings before taking to the sky, and soon I spotted dozens of flying and bug type pokemon take to the air to spread my message.

I turned back to the three that had reported in "Thank you, this will definitely help ….." A yowl cut through my sentence, I whipped around to find Tanit looking around frantically. I took a quick sweep myself, and found the reason she was in such a state, the cubs where missing. I immediately turn to animus. "Can you find them?"

The lucario's aura receptors where up, for a good three minutes I could tell he was looking before he turned to look at me his receptors falling back down. "No there is to much aura in the area, it's interfering."

I cursed my luck before I started rounding off orders. "Everyone the cubs are missing, I don't know when they slipped off, but split up into groups and search, I will be with their mother, move!" Every pokemon with in hearing distance immediately started moving into groups I even saw the three fighting types that had reported in moving out with speed.

I set my gaze to Tanit, "We'll find them." I comforted as we followed the other pokemon in the search though slower, her nose trying to pick up their scent and my eyes following the ground trying to pick up any tracks.

We stopped near the lake, Tanit simply unable to move any farther until she rested. I once again felt a stab of pain in a part of my heart I had grown accustomed to feeling in the vicinity of the Luxray mother and her cubs. I couldn't leave her, but the search had to be continued. I paused thinking this dilemma over. The solution came to me quickly, I stood, and moved to the center of the clearing, and raised both of my hands, with in moments dozens of bug and flying types fluttered around me at my silent call.

I started issuing instructions, giving directions to go, groups to find, all with the same purpose, finding the cubs, I didn't care what was to be put on hold, aside from family matters or something truly important, everyone was to help look. I looked over at the Luxray, who was clearly getting more worried by the second and I couldn't blame her, I was worried as well. Images flashing through my head, of a trainer taking the cubs, having some how got past the guards and carrying them away, intending to using them as slaves, or to blackmail me; A wild pokemon, kidnapping them, for food, or something I don't want to think about.

I walked over to Tanit, taking a moment from my mission mode, to comfort her. I ran a hand through her mane doing my damnedest to hide my own worry, I had to be strong, for both our sakes.

I snapped my head to my shoulder as a swellow perched there. Waiting for more instructions. I stood, my vest swaying slightly as I walked. I took my previous position instructions flying out of my mouth, this continued on, each report back telling me nothing I wanted to hear, and what I hoped to hear at the same time. Each report, said no one had found them yet. While I wanted someone to find the cubs each negative told me of an area that the two little trouble makers were not, thus narrowing down the search.

As this went on, I noticed two things, one was movement of some sort nearby, I couldn't identify it's source, but I sensed no hostilely from it, if detecting that sort of thing from a distance where I could barely see it was possible, call it a gut thing or something. And the sounds of an argument from the trees above, one that was getting rather loud, and possibly violent.

I shot a glance around, only to get hit, in the face by a passing beedrill. Good arceus that hurt. However, it turned my gaze back to Tanit, and I walked back over to her, voicing the last set of instructions, before kneeling next to her. The luxray turned to look at me worry in her eyes, along with pain and sadness. My heart caught, as I found myself looking into eyes so similar to that day. I felt the pain, more powerful than usual, try and grip me. It took all my will not to become over whelmed. I mentally punched my self, and refocused.

"Don't worry," I whispered soothingly "we'll find them, even if I have to trek to the ends of the planet with you on my back." This seemed to calm her down a little, and I got a sad but somewhat cheerful smile in return. "Rest a little longer, than we'll move on." At the Luxray's nod I stood back up and waited for the reports that would either say they found the cubs or the search was still on going.

I was receiving the latest reports, when the sound of someone running, and running fast reached my ears. I turned to look, when the sound of a thunder attack being unleashed, followed by the ominous sound of wood splintering took my attention. I spun setting my focus on the tree where the mother Luxray lay, to see a branch I think even animus and Soramaru together would have had a hard time lifting, falling on a direct course for Tanit, and, as unable to move as she was, certain death. "NO!" Erupted from my mouth, as I saw flashes back to the mountain, the father of the cubs, falling as I was unable to save him.

I tried to force my body to move. If a life had to be paid, it would be mine. The world seemed to slow down as I tried to force my self to move, but I was trapped by my mind,chains constricting my body, and I didn't have the key. I couldn't move, I couldn't think, all I could do was watch, as my mind overlaid memory with what I was seeing. Then out of nowhere the over lay was interrupted, as a dark aura of some sort, enveloped the tree. Ironically my first thought was "great, now ghosts are possessing the trees," I began cursing my luck and making a note to round up dark and psychic pokemon to get them out, until I noticed something, something important. The branch had stopped moving, and was floating there.

I turned my gaze to my side; there was the black absol, with the cubs rushing to aide their mother. I stared at the absol. My mind was trying to register why she was helping, I just couldn't fathom the reason, if there was one. I spotted two things after the shock dulled, the first, the absol was tiring quickly, not surprising since absol as a species wasn't supposed to learn psychic and the second was the glare sent at me. These two elements combined allowed me to break through the pain of my heart, I regained movement in one arm; it was enough. I reared it back, and slammed a fist into my own cheek. The pain from my face broke the mental chains holding me.

I set my attention back to the mother, and dashed forward as I entered mission mode. I ducked under the branch, discarding any thoughts of danger to myself. I was just quick enough, for just as I got the Luxray out of danger, the branch crashed down. I mentally cursed myself for being so weak.

I relaxed a little. The cubs pounced nuzzling their mother and she nuzzled back. All three clearly glad to be back together. I stood back, and let them have their reunion without my interruption. I turned my gaze to the absol, wanting to thank her.

What I saw made my blood turn cold once again; the absol had collapsed, her eyes slowly closing. I barely noticed the cubs turning to run to the absol, as I too started to run. My hand came up to my face as I put two fingers to my lips and let out a piercing whistle. I knew it could be heard just about anywhere in the forest, and would bring my family running, though right now I needed animus more than the others.

The cubs reached the absol first and were nuzzling her desperately trying to wake her. I dropped to a knee and started looking the absol over, my eyes taking in every injury. At first I was surprised at how hurt the black Absol in front of me was, and wondered briefly how she had managed to get from the border to the lake in the condition she was in. In fact it seemed she had been attacked after the border partrol, there were slash marks that I knew didn't come from the patrol, and none of the pokemon that had reported about her progress had said anything about attacking her or seeing her being attacked.

That thought process was interrupted as a loud thump reached my ears I turned to find Soramoyou had landed, not who I needed right now, but definitely a sight for sore eyes. "Soramoyou I need a hand, can you grab Tanit and her cubs? I need to get this Absol back to the clinic, not only has she been hurt badly, but I think she exhausted herself saving Tanit." I got a nod and looked back to the Absol, and spotted the cubs looking up at me pleadingly.

I reached down to both of them petting them with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry She'll be just fine. I'll make sure of it." With that I carefully scooped the absol, into my arms. Being exceedingly careful of her blade like tail and the blade on her head. I spotted Soramoyou lifting Tanit on to her back, the cubs perched on my shoulders wanting to make sure that their new friend was ok, I smiled softly at them. They would grow up to be like their parents, I grinned at the thought, and for some reason, wasn't pained by it.

I glanced to Soramoyou who gave me a nod as she fluttered into the air slightly, my gaze turned to Tanit, who nodded as well. "Lets move!" and with that, our little rag tag group was on the move.

We speed through the forest, Quickly being joined by Animus and Venishi, I was glad Animus was there, for he quickly set up an aura field to alow me to allow me to understand all that where within it. Bullet took a little longer with catching up, and explained that Tiga was still at the lake, getting every thing cleared up. I nodded and bullet scampered off again, saying something about needing to make sure other pokemon weren't eating his iron.

I nodded, before looking up and sending a simple whistle out, quickly a butterfree fluttered down. "Go to the clinic tell them to set up we've got a badly injured absol who needs medical treatment." The butterfree nodded and shot off, going to get the chancy and audino ready.

I turned my attention to my family as Animus started a conversation. "you sure you should be carrying her with your arms in that state? You probably shouldn't even carry a caterpie." He jibbed at me.

"really now?" I fired back. "I seem to recall you freaking as a caterpie landed on your nose.

"I thought that was you." Soramoyou quipped.

"I'll hurt you all." I grumbled.

"oh I'm so scared, you couldn't hurt us if you wanted to." Animus laughed.

"No shit, you guys hit hard. And I know I hit all of you repeatedly and I know just as well that some of you have gone to the healers to make sure I hadn't broken something or that I hadn't given you a concussion." I fired back

"yet you complain when I hit you at the end of a spar." Soramoyou giggled softly.

"You ever been hit by one of your hyper beams?"

I was brought out of the playful arguing as I felt the absol in my arms shift. In retrospect, I should have stopped and set her down, but at the time, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind. I just kept running determined to get her the help she needed. I barely paid any attention, I really should have though, might have spared me the pain.

A few moments later, the absol twisted in my grip her blade like tail slicing me right across the arm. And in her desperation the blade on her head cut my hand wide open. This stunned me just long enough for one of her hind paws to find my chest. The second I realized this, She pushed off, and her claws dug into my chest. As she managed to get out of my grip I went down to one knee clutching at my arm, hand and chest, or rather, my bleeding hand clutched at my arm, and my good hand clutched at my chest.

Immediately, animus rushed to my side, while Venishi took a defensive position in front and too the left of me. Soramoyou flared her wings, trying to shield Tanit from any sort of danger. Animus, even as he was at my side, brought a paw up clearly ready to attack at a moments notice, I however, found my self trying to figure out what I had done to earn this newest bout of pain.

I looked up to look at the absol, only to find her trying to glare at me, I think. She was obviously fighting to stay awake. I stood, my arms dropping to my sides as I winced at the pain and the feeling of losing blood.

I walked forward, though I knew my family was ready to strike. I knelt down, "peace, I mean no harm, I was only trying to get you medical assistance." I stated calmly, though I'm sure the grinding of my teeth gave away the amount of pain I was in Not the worst I had ever been in, but damn if her claw where not sharp.

The absol glared at me before speaking, "Peace? I don't need your forged peace human…All humans do harm whether they…mean it or…not." her breathing became more labored and she was blinking more "I do…not…need…your…help."

I noticed her falter as her back leg gave out, and I was sure my worry was broadcast clearly on my face. I even cast aside the fact I had been insulted, or rather humanity as a whole had been, though to be honest, I didn't even care, there are far worse insults out there. I can think of a few legendaries and their choice words for me...

I was about to explain my case, to try and earn her trust, when a purple blur appeared beside the two of us, I shot my gaze to the side, it was Venishi.

"For this I apologize." The crogunk's hand glowed purple.

'poison jab!' flashed across my mind as I tried to intercept. To slow, with a jab, the absol fell the second it hit. I activated my stylers scanning function and winced. All of her previous injuries, and now poison on top of it all. I rounded on Venishi, "Did you seriously have to poison jab her?" Venishi looked at me with that cold look and gave me a shrug before turning to walk away, "Stupid toad!" I called after him, only getting a wave, showing he knew I wasn't serious.

Shaking my head I quickly wrapped my arm and hand up with the last few bandages in my first aide kit, and gathered the Absol back into my arms and started off. And yes, I do have a first aide kit, but I haven't had time to go to the nearest town to restock it, remember, that last mission took a good couple of weeks, and I got hurt, a lot.

"Lets go." I called over my shoulder as Animus and Soramoyou relaxed. The cubs dug their little claws into my vest, both looking at the absol with worried looks, occasionally glaring as well as a cub could off in the direction that Venishi went. With a little bracing I took of running again, Animus right behind and Soramoyou close behind us, flying, or gliding, one of the two.

As we ran, I made a mental checklist, judging by the hatred towards humans as a whole, I had no doubt if she woke in a human dwelling, she would destroy it. Great, the chansey and Audino where going to love this, they preferred their sterile environment to work with. And, now that I thought of it, I would have to haul their equipment outside too. I wanted to hang my head in despair, but the weight of the cubs on my shoulders kept my head up. I couldn't be weak, not in front of the two of them. So I just ran.

I was right, the chansey and the audino looked at me like I was nuts when I said that the absol should be treated outside. At one point threatening to attack me, untill I explained my reasoning, and even so, I still got disgruntled looks, and I did have to haul their equipment out. Right now the absol was on a gurney type thing, being bandaged up and having bones set. Medicine made from the natural herbs that grew in abundance around here was rubbed on everything to speed healing. Soramoyou had laid down curled up in a ball, and fallen asleep. I tended to myself. A few wrappings for my arm and hand, and a good number of bandages for my chest.

I tended to myself. A few wrappings for my arm and hand, and a good number of bandages for my chest had me back to a non-bleeding condition. Finished with that I sat and held a civil conversation with Animus, an ear cocked to the side listening to Tanit scold her cubs for running off. It still amazes me to this very day how quickly things can wine down after an immediate emergency is resolved.

I sighed and glanced at the absol, who showed no signs of wakening. I truly felt bad for the attacks she had suffered, and wished there was something else I could do to help, but, it was better if I stayed away. There was one thing about what the Absol had said that was right, disaster tended to follow me everywhere. It barely showed here in my sanctuary, but I'd rather not take the chance.

Instead I turned on my styler and activated it's computer function. What appeared in front of me was a holographic screen think a normal computer monitor but only projected into the air, it was quickly followed by keyboard. I began accessing my own database, files and data appeared on the semi see through screen.

Glaring slightly I expanded the screen. I needed all the information I had gathered at the same time. My Eyes scanned the information I had been able to gather, ranging from normal trainer accounts to those of the rangers.

Finally something clicked. I brought up information from the pokemon center, and supply inventories. The amount of supplies delivered to the town, and the amount the pokemon center had on record were inconsistent. There was an astoundingly large amount delivered for a town that had a minimal amount of trainers passing through, and the Center only had the normal amount on record. There was another thing, all Pokemon centers where required to have records of all the pokemon they treated for league and contest records. The only problem is, the records for Perfection's pokemon center were nearly blank. It had a few, spaced out to look normal.

I narrowed my eyes. There were none for the past few weeks, indicating that the jerk I fought just before going into the forest wasn't on record. I tapped a few more keys, calling upon a pair of friends of mine. Appearing out of nowhere was a pair of porygon.

"Can you two assess the database of Perfection, and scout to see if there has been data tapering or mass deletion of data?" I got a pair of nods. "Thank you, be careful." With that the two where gone.

I turned my attention to Animus. "If I am right, the records would have to be somewhere right? No one is good enough not to have a set of records as back up it's mandatory, especially to get these supplies." I glanced back at the screen and poked a image I had hidden. It pulled up what the forest had been fifty years ago. I glared at it, "I don't care what happens to the town, No place of nature should look like this. All the pokemon that must have been suffering. Just because of money." I was visibly angry "It's no wonder the pokemon of the forest attacked me. Probably thought I was out to kill their guardian, or destroy the forest."

I deactivated my display, and leaned back against the tree behind me, almost willing myself to relax, not an easy task. The second I closed my eyes the absol let out a loud yelp, the kind that only came from pain. My eyes snapped towards the operating area, instincts yelling at me to get over there and help. I manage to stop those down as I saw it was caused by the chancey looking at the wounds. The two healing pokemon and the absol had a short conversation before the chansey and audino got the classic 'oh crap' look on their faces. The chancey in particular was looking between the absol, audino, and me rapidly with something very akin to worry. After a minute or so, the chancey hurried over to me.

I got to my feet followed quickly by animus. "What's wrong?" I questioned once she had gotten into the aura field.

"we need to get hot water, her injuries need to be cleaned." Was the explanation. I raised an eye brow, I had watched them clean the absols wounds before applying the medicine.

"Can I ask why?"

"No time. We need to hurry!" was the response to my last question. With a questioning glance at animus, who merely shrugged, as I followed chancey into the house to prep the water and carry it out. It only took about five minutes before I walked out carrying the tub. I set it down so the two healing pokemon could get to work.

"Now, will one of you tell me now what's wrong, it looks like the wounds are healing just fine. Why must the medicine be washed off?" I had caught the underlying thing for the fact it was the natural herbs needing to be washed off. Only thing is, it confused me, these herbs should still be in their prime. And completely harmless on human or pokemon. I know because they have been used the pokemon of this forest as well as me. Animus walked up his aura field encompassing us.

"She's having an allergic reaction to the herbs in the ointment" My eyes snapped to the audino. "not too severe yet but if the medicine remains on her it will become a serious problem."

I had to fight against taking a step back, I had messed up again, My eyes snapped down to the absol, as I realized I had tried to hurt her. Yes it was unintentional. My head knew this, but my heart didn't. It took all my strength of will to maintain a mostly neutral look as I ducked down to drab a cloth and hand it to the chancey. As I straiten back up, I glanced at the absol saying, "it's good to see you awake absol, I have to thank you for saving the cubs and their mother. I now owe you two lives, not only that of my own, but that of Tanit." My head dipped down as I bowed.

I had just came up when she responded. "You oh me nothing human, it is my duty to help." She looked away from me before adding. "even if I don't wish to help."

A sigh escaped my lips, I had expected this, considering what I had dug up, even so, I was still ashamed a little as my hand reached up and scratched the back of my neck. As I responded "I'm sorry you feel that way but if you ever need assistance I will do whatever I can to help you, because it is also my duty to help." I had said, in an attempt to prove that I would do what was needed to repay my debts. I, however, was not prepared for the retort. Should have been though, about as obvious as a snorlax sleeping.

"Humans have lost what it means to have a duty. For you to help is a choice, one you can change at anytime. If I had that choice I'd let all the humans I've had to help and will inevitably help, rot where they stand." The absol responded, effectively taking a pot shot at the human race as a whole, and sadly, I knew far to well that she was right about most of us. Most, but not all. I watched as the absol relaxed as the water ran over her injuries.

A low growl left her throat. I knew it wasn't a challenge or a threat, but it seemed Animus took it as such and got ready for battle. I raised my hand, noticing that it felt heavier. I didn't raise it high but Animus stood down as I started speaking. "For some of us, Absol, its not a choice. Not any more." A sigh escaped my lips, these words, they were hard to say. I have more than one dark shadow from my past following me, and they weighed down my words. For what I was saying was true, at least for me. "Some of us have lost the ability to make such a choice. A call to help, we'll came no matter how big or how small the problem is."

Another sigh, I felt as if a tyranitar was standing on my chest. Even more so when I saw Animus looking at me almost sadly out of the corner of my eye. I focused my attention on the Absol, trying to block that look out, I hated that look, it meant to me that my family as sad, or upset, and in this case, I couldn't do anything about it. "But I doubt I can convince you otherwise, based on what I've learned about what the forest you come from has been through, because of those stupid towns people, you have every right and all the evidence to see the world the way you do." I spat that last part as if I was an arbok spitting a sludge attack.

I watched the absol think for a minute, almost seeing her contemplate my words. Now imagine my shock, when after I've actually had a civil conversation with this absol, or at least civil for this situation, The absol springs off the portable operating table. Amongst the dumbest things I've seen a pokemon do. No, I will not compare that to some of the crap I've done.

Movement at my side caused me to spin, I planted myself between animus and The absol now behind me. Fingers gripped fur, and locked. Something I had found out about myself not to long ago was that I could lockup the joints of my body, I didn't know the extent I could yet, since I wasn't exactly in the mood to test my little ability to it's breaking point, that would hurt, a lot. Now normally locking the joints in my hand wouldn't stop much, but thankfully, Animus respected me and cared too much about me to actually hurt me outside of training, otherwise I would be nursing a broken hand. "Stand down my friend," My voice was cool and neutral, but it carried the full weight of my order. "She hasn't hurt anyone. If she wants to leave then she by all means can. We have no right to hold her here." I glanced over my shoulder at the Absol "Though I think you should let those two finish their job." I nodded toward the Chansey and Audino who looked like they wanted nothing more than to help the Black absol in front of us, but I also knew they wouldn't, not until she told them it was alright.

She sat down, probably to get weight off her back leg before speaking. "I am fine. These wounds are not life threatening."

I nodded though sad, I had been trying to get her fixed up so she could get home safely. But I couldn't stop her. My grip on Animus loosened as I unlocked my hand. "Then that choice is yours Absol, no one here will stop you from leaving." I moved to the side, gently tugging a very reluctant Animus who followed, as we moved to the side. The pokemon who had been gathering around both out of curiosity and on the possibility the absol tried something all parted as well. I turned my gaze away, I had other things I needed to attend to, and the fact that she distrusted, scratch that, hated all humans, showed to me more than I ever wanted to know about what she had been through, though I doubt I would ever truly know.

"I can't." came the response from the absol causing me to stop in my tracks, along with most of the pokemon who had been getting out of the way.

I turned back to the absol, and folded my arms over my chest. "We are not stopping you so why can't you leave?" I was getting suspicious, and with good reason, first she leaves her territory, the one I assume she has been keeping under her control for the last fifty years, and makes a combee line right towards me a member of a species she clearly hates, and now, I tell her I wont stop her leaveing, and she wont.

"Because human I haven't done what I came here to do." I immediately felt the tension in the air thicken, most of the pokemon in the area where prepared for combat. I subtlety twitched my fingers unlocking my stylers launcher. If I didn't defuse this situation there would be an all out riot, the absol at the center, I couldn't let that happen. "You left a metal disk after the fire, I'm here to return it."

I blinked, my hand going to my launcher, She had found my primary capture discuss? I shook myself mentally and walked forward, leaving the relative protection of the pokemon of this sanctuary. "You found my capture discus? Thank you, I wish I could give you more then words, but thank you." I cast a glance over to Animus "Now that I have this back, we can take our normal highly suicidal missions." This got a laugh from the lucario.

"It is duty. You… gave aid during the fire and lost the disk. It was found afterwards, and as guardian of the forest it is my obligation to return it. I do not require your thank you."

"It still means a lot. Thank you for returning it." I responded as turned my full attention back to the Absol, I noticed a bag made of vines that had dropped was now being carried over to me. I knelt down and took it. Reaching in and bringing out the discuss that I locked back into it's proper place in the launcher. It's brother falling to the auxiliary spot. As I kneeled my eyes locked with the Absols, and I got a dull throb in my head. Most would cast it aside as a headache, but for me, that was my version of a gut feeling. Something big was down the road I walked, and this absol was along it.

"You can thank me by never coming into my forest again. I have dealt with Rangers before, and you would end up no differently." The absol growled at me before taking off.

I stood looking after her, "I dare say I disagree with that last part." I muttered even though there was no way the absol could have heard. A beep sounded from my styler and I brought up the holo-screen, revealing the porygon I had sent information digging, along with the data they had managed to find. My eyes narrowed as my mouth thinned to an almost unperceived line. 'and I don't think I can thank you in the way you wanted, but I might just be able to grant a better gift. I hope.'