I was glad to know that the lapras we were riding on was well-tempered about the long trip. It had made the same voyage several times before and the weather was mild—perfect for swimming. Now all I had to do was talk to Solana for the four-plus hour-long trip. She was agreeable, but you get sick of anyone after long hours without separation. I hoped this trip wasn't going to mean the end of our friendship.

"There's really no reason Spenser hates you so much?"

"No. I just figure that everyone needs a scapegoat, and that unfortunate position fell to me. It wasn't always that way, though. I used to be like you—new, and eager to learn. I guess he just lost interest or something. It's not like there was some big turning point, I guess I just… faded away."

"That's awful," Solana said softly. I turned so she couldn't see me blush. "It's not fair."

"Life's not fair," I sighed.

"See, that there- I know you're not depressed and angsty. I heard you and Murph banter about your unfortunate lives. You have a good nature about all of this, so why the sighing and slouching?"

"I guess it's just good to vent," I replied with a smile, though it took great effort. "Murph and I always joke around, so I don't really have anyone to talk to about serious things."

With that, Solana leaned up against me. I could feel her warm arm pressed against mine. I turned away to hide the blushing again.

"I'm here is you want to talk."

I took advantage of Solana's willingness to listen in order to open up to her. I told her everything about me. Although, having been raised in Ringtown, there wasn't much to tell. Murph and I did have our fair share of adventures, most of which made her laugh and smile. Seeing her happy made me feel happy, and lapras even seemed to be enjoying our laughter.

Solana also took the opportunity to open up to me. She told me about her home country, Johto, and the relationships with Pokémon there. I could barley wrap my wind around how cruel their customs seemed to be. To capture Pokémon—and own them! Then force them to fight against one another as a sport? Solana assured me that there were measures taken to prevent abuse, but the whole concept still seemed foreign and brutal.

When we ran out of things to talk about, we sat together in silence and watched the sun set. Solana's plusle impatiently ran around on the small area, climbing up and down the poor lapras' neck and hopping from ridge to ridge on its shell. We dipped our feet off of the edge of the shell to feel the cool water. The only sounds were the lapping of the waves against lapras' shell and the occasional screech of a wingull. A couple of rare lumenion leapt out of the water and sparkled in the sun like butterfree. We even saw a pod of wailord, and they came right up next to us to say hello. It was peaceful and beautiful- and I got to spend time with Solana. I couldn't have asked for a better end to an awful day.

We both went straight to bed as soon as we arrived at the Summerland ranger base. It's not that we were too tired; we just both knew that we had a long day ahead of us, and we needed our rest. The next morning was not so great. The other rangers kept their distance from us in the cafeteria again.

"What? Do I still smell?" I whispered to Solana.

"They probably heard about what happened in Fall City," she answered. My shoulders sagged a little. Even here, I was rejected. At least I had Solana for support this time.

"So, you must be Solana and Lunick." We looked up to see Cameron, the Summerland leader, approaching us. He seemed much more laid back than any of the other leaders and didn't even call for us to stand at attention. He was a little chubby, and seemed to always have a smile on his face. He reminded me a lot of Murph. "You're here for the challenge, right?"

"Yes, sir!" Solana cheerfully put in. "We're eager to go!"

Cameron chuckled. "Well, just let me say a few things first. When you get to the temple, you'll find four challenges. These challenges are going to test your skill, strength, endurance, blah blah blah I really don't remember. But it's really, really important—promise me you'll remember this—do not complete the fourth challenge. There's some prophesy thing that the world will end or something like that—we really just don't want to risk it. You got that?"

"Do not complete the fourth challenge," Solana and I replied in unison.

"Great! I think you've got it! Just follow the first path out of town through the jungle, and you'll get to the temple eventually. Good luck!"

Once again, Solana and I found ourselves immersed in nature with only each other for company. I had never strayed much further than the forest around Ringtown, so the jungle was a new experience for me. Some of the path was difficult to walk on because of how overgrown the forest was. When we weren't fighting through a massive thicket of hedges and vines, the path was actually wide and well-kept. Trees towered hundreds of feet in the air, covered with flowering vines and various jungle Pokémon. Solana seemed just as awestruck as I was. A ways down the trail, I received a call on my styler.

"Hey! Where the heck are you? I haven't seen you in like a week!" said Murph from the other end of the line.

"Oh, hey Murph. I'm in Summerland," I answered boastingly, smiling at Solana.

"What?! You lucky bastard- how did you get stationed there?"

"I suck so badly that I got to go on a special training mission with a mentor. Check out who it is." I held the phone out to Solana.

"Hey Murph!"

Murph had a moment of comprehension. "Ohhhhhh, I see. It's just you, and a girl. In a jungle. On a 'mission'. Alone."

"NicetohearfromyoubyeMurph." I quickly shut off the phone. Solana laughed again. I laughed too, though it had to be a bit forced. Once again, I prayed that my awkwardness was endearing instead of pathetic. I really wanted her respect, especially since she seemed to be one of the few people in the world who cared about me. I looked to the back of her head, where her plusle was clinging to her hair. It had been quiet for nearly the whole trip, but now it was winking knowingly at me. I glared playfully back, and it trilled happily. Pokémon were always much more receptive to emotions, and it had obviously picked up on my actions towards its partner.

"Hey, can I see your styler for a minute?" she asked.

"Uh, sure, I guess," I answered, handing it over. She compared my styler to hers. It looked like hers was a newer model, and mine was in need of a few upgrades.

"Whoa! You're level twenty? How did you manage that? I'm only level two and I've been working pretty much non-stop since I got here!"

"Extra loops. Once I've completed the capture, I make a few more loops. It helps the experience meter."

"And you've never gone much further than Lyra forest?"

"Not since recently."

"And I'm the one mentoring you," she said with a low laugh.

After a few hours of walking, we eventually reached the towering pyramid temple. We both plugged into the save machine out front to recharge our stylers.

"Hey- do you hear that?" Solana said.

"Hear what?"

"It sounds like there's someone in the temple." I listened closely, and I could hear voices coming from the entrance. "Let's go check it out."

We crawled up the temple stairs, keeping low to the ground and off to the side of the main path. Some local Pokémon eyes us warily, but kept their distance. I was nervous, shaking slightly as we climbed, but Solana seemed calm and determined. She really was great at her job—perhaps she deserved the preferential treatment.

Upon reaching the entrance of the temple, we hid behind a crumbling wall to watch the strangers. There seemed to be four people, a little bit older than I was, but still kids. All four, three boys and one girl, looked so similar they could have been twins—quadruplets? They all wore flashy outfits, like they were wannabe rock stars. They even carried instruments with them. The Pokémon they had with them seemed unhappy, borderline enraged, but too afraid to lash out at their masters.

"There's something wrong with those Pokémon," Solana whispered to me. "I'm going to check it out." She stood up from our hiding spot and started to walk towards them.

"No! No, Solana, please," I whispered, begging her to stay, but she ignored me. I was never really a nervous wreck, but there was something about this situation that rubbed me the wrong way. You might say that my 'fight or flight' response was perpetually stuck in flight position. I hated confrontation, and if I was backed into a corner I always tried to find a peaceful way out of it.

When the four kids noticed Solana, they seemed amused, if only to be condescending.

"Oh, look! A ranger!" the oldest-looking one laughed.

"What have you done to those Pokémon?" Solana demanded, confident. This only seemed to amuse them more.

"I think this would be a good time to try out that new feature, right guys?" The oldest said again, ignoring Solana. "I've wanted to see if this worked ever since we modified the super styler…"

My stomach plummeted as all of the pieces came together in my mind. They had the super styler. That meant they were somehow associated with the attack of Professor Hastings. That meant they were incredibly dangerous. I wanted nothing more to call out to Solana, to warn her of the danger, but I was paralyzed in fear. I could only watch helplessly as the boy took out his own styler and made a loop around Solana. The line didn't disappear when the loop was completed, no, not only did it remain, but when the boy yanked his styler upwards, the loop tightened around Solana's arms.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Solana snapped, still unaware of the danger. I couldn't breathe. My brain had completely shut down in the face of danger. I could only watch on, helpless.

"What about the built in poke-assists?" one of the others asked, I didn't notice which. The boy holding the styler smiled cruelly.

"I almost forgot about that. Which one to try first? How about… electric?" He pressed a button on the styler. I watched in horror as Solana convulsed and screamed, the electric current running through her. Her plusle screamed, also helpless to do anything. It tried to attack one of the kids, but they kicked the poor pokemon across the room. It finally remembered me, and decided it was time for action. It ran to my side and gave me a shock. I yelped loudly in surprise and pain.

"There's another one over there!" the girl in the group said, pointing to my hiding spot. I tried to regain my composure and remain hidden, but they were all looking straight at me. My cover blown, I stood to face them. I could feel myself shaking.

"L-let her go!" I demanded loudly, but weakly. This only seemed to amuse them.

"Or you'll do what?" the oldest laughed. He was right. I had neglected to collect any friend Pokémon. Without a partner Pokémon, I was pretty much a helpless weakling.

"Lunick, get help!" Solana cried. They shocked her again in punishment, and her scream echoed throughout the temple.

"Stop!" I cried. One of the other boys sent his styler top out at me, undoubtedly trying to capture me too. Recognizing the danger, I flipped my styler on as well. I rammed my top into his, sending it flying. They may have had a powerful, unstable, jailbroken styler, but I had more skill.

We dueled tops for a while. The adrenaline rush was fueling my panicked defense, and the opponent's top never got anywhere near me. I knew that if he got a single loop around me, it was game over. The only way this confrontation could end was either with me breaking his styler, or me being captured as well. The others took this opportunity to test out more of the built in poke-assists on poor Solana. Her shrieks of pain fuelled my desperate panic.

I flipped my opponent's top one last time, and the light on top flickered out. My charge had seriously decreased, but I was still going. The boy huffed angrily and he picked up the dead top.

"I'll take care of this," the girl in the group said, stepping forward. She took out what looked like a violin, but accented with wires and lights. It looked almost like a custom styler, or maybe a piece of ugly public art. When she played the instrument, all the Pokémon surrounding them cringed in pain. I flinched as well, perhaps sensing the impending attack. Every Pokémon charged me at once. I scrambled to the top of a crumbled wall, styler at the ready.

"Lunick! Go back to base! Get help!" Solana cried, accompanied by another scream in pain. The last thing I wanted to do was leave her, but the four kids started to pull her down into the temple. "Get out of here!"

The Pokémon below me snapped at my ankles, trying to attack. I flipped out my top and sent it behind the group. They didn't notice until I flipped around front, closing a single loop. Rangers are supposed to convey feelings of kindness and love, but the only thing coming across then was fear.

Please, listen to me! A grovyle lashed out at me, giving me a cut on my ankle. My friend is in trouble! If you would please- A Pokémon's attack hit my top, cutting my charge massively. I had barely five units left, and the meter was blinking red. If I had to return to base to get my styler fixed, Solana would be done for.

Out of nowhere, Solana's plusle ran to the center of the Pokémon and let loose a massive jolt of electricity. While all of the Pokémon were paralyzed on the floor, I drew several loops around them. I managed to get enough in by the time they recovered that they had returned to their docile natures. I knelt in exhaustion as the Pokémon lumbered away. Plusle leapt to my side and pulled at my sleeve, begging me to follow.

"Sorry, plusle, I just need a moment to-" my sentence was cut short by another shriek from Solana, echoing from inside the temple. My adrenaline rush was back, and I soon found myself barreling down the stairs after her, plusle clinging to the back of my head.

The first challenge began at the bottom of the stairs. The entrance had a gate covered in unown runes, even a translation put there by the rangers, but I ignored it all. All that mattered was getting to Solana and rescuing her. I leapt hurdles, pressed buttons, opened secret doors—my brain was on overdrive. But I finally had to stop at the final room. A massive kingdra was blocking the door to the next challenge. It glared at me angrily, immediately charging for an attack.

No! Kingdra, wait! I took out my styler and began turning loops around it. This only seemed to infuriate it more. I need to get past quickly! My friend is in danger. It seemed to pause at this, eyeing me warily. I realize that you're part of the challenge and this is your job, but please! I'm desperate!

The kingdra seemed to respond to this, and immediately calmed down. When the capture was complete, it moved to the side and allowed me through. As I ran past, it nodded its approval at me, very clearly giving me support. And somehow, in my head, it gave me a bit of encouragement. Godspeed.

The next two challenges were a blur. Sand being blown into my face by gale-force winds and a whole mess of moving floor panels flew by. The Pokémon guardians, a salamance and a flygon, didn't put up much of a fight at all. They thrashed a little, then allowed me to complete my capture. As I ran past, they also seemed to have very knowing expressions. My only explanation was that either my panic had gotten across to them, or kingdra had somehow communicated to them that they should go easy on me. During the whole journey, the echoes of Solana's pained screams beckoned me on.

I paused at the gate of the fourth challenge. A sign posted on the gate once again reminded me to not, under any circumstances, complete the fourth challenge. It mentioned something about the world ending in fire and brimstone, but I didn't read it all. I was interrupted by another of Solana's screams. I dashed into the fourth challenge, ignoring any warnings of the consequences.

This challenge was made of fire. Geysers of lava spouted across the path. My leg was burned by a cloud of steam, and I paused to inspect it. I only stopped until I remembered that Solana must be in much, much worse pain that I was, and I continued onwards.

When I reached the final room, I finally caught up to the four villains. They stood facing the entrance, as if they were expecting me. Solana was standing, but just barely, looking exhausted and in pain.

"It's about time you got here!" the oldest shouted. I was immediately suspicious. What do they need me for? "You see, there's this pesky Pokémon in the way, and we can't continue our plans. Take care of it, will you?" He strummed a chord on his guitar, which I assumed was another modified styler. I was filled with dread as the ground began to rumble.

The wall behind them collapsed, and a massive charizard burst through. Landing between us, it looked me in the eye. I could see pain and fear, but it was mostly overflowing with rage. It charged me, and I instinctively flipped out my styler.

"No! Lunick, don't!" Solana cried, punished by another shock. Her screaming once again gave me the rush I needed for battle. The charizard had already been weakened—probably by the same people hurting Solana—but it still put up a massive fight. The ground would erupt with lava, fireballs scattering across the ground. I had to be just as concerned with capturing the charizard as I was with my own safety. Solana's plusle stayed by my side, willing to recharge my styler or shock the charizard into paralysis at any time. Whenever I needed an emotional boost, I would glance at Solana. She was giving me a desperate look, as if she wanted to say something she couldn't.

Eventually, with enough successful loops and frantic attempts to calm the charizard down, I managed to subdue it. Free, it flew off into the depths of the temple. The group of four seemed excited and pleased with my work.

"Well, as much as I despise the rangers, that was very impressive," the oldest said. "That's all we needed from you. Here, take you girlfriend back." He released Solana, and before she could fall to the ground, kicked her forward towards me. It was like time stood still as she fell unceremoniously on her face, limp as a rag doll. I ran to her side as the four got away, skipping like giddy schoolchildren.

"Solana! Are you all right?" I cried, pulling her into my arms. The capture line had burned through her uniform, making a scarred ring around her torso. The wound was purple and green-tell-tale signs of poisoning. Her bangs were matted with sweat and she seemed exhausted. She was such a mess—this was supposed to be a light bonding experience for us, but now I was holding her broken body in my arms. She groaned as she stirred.

"Lunick…"

"It's all right, Solana. I'm here, I've got you. I-I'm going to get you out of here, I just-"

"Lunick."

"Don't move, you'll hurt yourself. I just need to get us out-"

"Lunick!" She grabbed my collar with a surprising burst of strength. She pulled our faces closer together—so close, I thought she was going to kiss me. She hissed out five words that made the world stop.

"You completed the fourth challenge!"