Chapter 2: Off to Sinnoh
"Wait, wait, wait," Kate recollected her thoughts, "Me… mentor… to him?"
"Look," Rhythmi answered with calmness. "She thought that you could set an example for Kellyn."
You've got to be kidding me, Kate thought. She saved the world a few times, yes, but she always had to put herself in danger to do so, even when it meant hurting herself, and Chairperson Erma wants her to mentor Kellyn, and teach him to be as risky as her? She didn't think so.
"All right," Kate sighed with a slight hint of contempt, "but he should know when and when not to go dangerous."
"Don't worry!" Rhythmi replied with ease. "He's got common sense, but you don't have to take the whole burden. Keith is his mentor, too."
"And you haven't told him yet."
"Well… Yeah…"
"You know what? I tell him when I get back to the Union. Kate over and out."
"Wha?"
"Yes, Keith, you are to help me help Kellyn become a Top Ranger."
Keith was staggering on the Operator's counter for support. Kate was sternly looking at him with her hands at her hips, and Kellyn was off the range of hearing them while flirting with an Operator nearby.
"Look," Kate calmed Keith. "It'll be okay, just don't start teasing him. He's new here."
Keith nodded in agreement, and he walked towards Kellyn to talk to him.
-The next day-
"Keith, here is your mission."
Keith was straight and tall as he faced Chairperson Erma.
"You are to go straightaway to the Sinnoh Region to investigate the activities of a new crime syndicate: Team Galactic. They seem to be abducting Pokemon similar to how Team Dim Sun did. You should stop by Sandgem Town to talk to Professor Rowan. And don't forget to visit your family there, too. Understood?"
"Yes, mam!"
"Excellent, now off you go."
Keith ran out of the room with Buizel tagging along, Kate and Rhythmi were standing by the escalator. As Keith went down the escalator, he looked back at his friends, sneaking a quick wink to Kate so Rhythmi couldn't see it. Kate blushed for a second and then returned to her original color. Piplup was looking up at Kate, giving a look that it knew what was going on.
Kellyn was playing around with Chimchar outside the Ranger Union Building when Keith dashed out of the headquarters to jump upon a Staraptor that he had captured earlier. Kate and Rhythmi rushed outside just in time to see him fly away. As they entered the building again, Rhythmi looked at her best friend and looked confused.
"Kate, Why didn't Erma assign you this mission? After all, you are the best ranger in the Union."
Kate answered, "Keith has been to Sinnoh before, so he should be more experienced around there than I would."
Kate really didn't want to say that she had to be with Kellyn.
"Kate?"
The two turned to see Erma standing before them.
"I would like to go on patrol with Kellyn, so he can get used to Almia."
"Sure, no problem," Kate answered happily, glad to at least be active at the moment. She ran off to Kellyn. He nodded at her and they each hopped on a Staraptor and flew off.
Keith had been sitting on a Staraptor for what seemed like hours already. He was rather happy to see his parents again, along with his cousin Lucas, who was going to start as a Pokemon trainer really soon while researching for Professor Rowan. Lucas had told him that there were two other kids coming with him on his journey. He didn't remember what their names were, but he only caught the part about the "two other people."
The Staraptor cawed in excitement as the island appeared before them. Keith was excited as well as they dropped down to the beach in front of Sandgem Town. Much to his surprise, there were his parents, along with his aunt and uncle and Lucas. Lucas was jumping with joy as Keith dismounted and released the Staraptor. His mom ran to him and smothered him with kisses and hugs. After a little struggle to get away from his mom, he turned to face his dad.
"You look a lot taller now," he chuckled as he patted Keith on the shoulder. "We're glad to have you back."
