The night had been plagued with dreams involving hyper beams and screams for help, and contrasted by the constant feeling of a dark presence. He saw dark figures moving through open valleys, and objects in the sky that matched the size of the ship that brought him in from his northern homeland. Monsters twisted around him and grotesque faces warped in and out of existence. All e could do was sit and watch as his body refused to move.

When he finally awoke, Zach couldn't recall any of the specific erratic images, only the intense fear he had felt throughout his slumber. He awoke with a gasp, staring into the plain white ceiling. As he laid there in post-dream contemplation. The same phrase echoed through his mind as the only solid recollection of his nightmare.

"Stop them!"

Zach took a deep breath and glanced around the room as he propped himself up by his elbows. Through the west facing window, he noticed the bleached early morning light shine over the city, and he took a deep breath to calm himself in the soothing light.

He wanted to believe that he would wake up in New Bark, where he would go to work and see Elm safe in his lab, but the fact that he laid in a bed in Cherrygrove told him the contrary. It was one more day, and it was all the same. His friend was injured, his boss taken, and his mentality was in a constant struggle between remaining calm and contemplative, or stressed and brash. He placed a hand over his eyes, as if to shield the world from his vision, and took a deep sigh.

He lowered his hand slowly and looked over to the foot of the bed. Leo and Riley had yet to awaken, and remained in their cuddled position. Despite all the tribulations, Zach took comfort in the idea that those creatures didn't feel the same stress he did. He envied them.

The field assistant leaned back and rested his shoulders on the headrest of the bed. He closed his eyes again and took a deep and heavy sigh, taking a moment to try to conceptualize a plan based on the words he had read. The hand written document laid beside him, the words staring at him as if to urge him forward. Zach knew he needed to preserve the works, but he couldn't leave Cherrygrove until he either found Elm, or undeniable proof that searching the closest bastion of civilization, from where they were ambushed, was not lucrative.

There was a brief moment of comforting ambiance as the silent humming of the ceiling fan accompanied him. He remained in a state of post-nightmare contemplation, absently tapping his finger on the white sheets. He was thrown out of his reverie when there was a knocking on the door. The sound caused Leo to raise his head swiftly, the daze of sudden wakefulness appearing over the fox's face as though he had been drinking.

The trainer himself sighed again as he took great effort to remove the blankets from over him, ensuring to not rock the bed too much so Riley could continue to sleep. He planted his feet on the cold hardwood floor, shaking his head at the fact that he slept in his clothes. He was used to roughing it, but in the middle of a city there were more hygienic alternatives.

"Come in," he called tiredly.

The door opened a crack, and he saw fingers creep over the edge of the door. "Are you decent?" he heard Amy ask, her tone almost hesitant.

Zach confirmed and Amy opened the door fully, earning a threatening thump, on the bed, from Leo's tail. Glancing at the leafeon, she stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind her, leaning against the entrance as to limit her intrusion. A moment of awkward silence filled the room. The two had not spoken much since they had met, and what she had said could have been interpreted as rude. Still he saw her smile and care for her husband, and the care she had shown for pokemon spoke for her character more than some choice words.

"I wanted to thank you..." she said quietly as she stared at the hardwood floor.

Zach nodded and stood, earning the eager look from his pokemon as the leafeon awaited an order. The trainer called for his pokemon to relax, and the fox laid his head on the bed with his large cat-like eyes remaining on the woman.

"I'm not the one to thank," Zach dismissed as he placed his hand behind his back.

Amy nodded and her eyes met with Leo's, who perked his ears in attention. "I already thanked the officer," she informed as she stood up straight and finally made eye contact with Zach.

"Good, she's the one who saved Adrian's life. If she wasn't there I don't know what would have happened to us," he said in a professional tone, as though he was delivering a post incident report.

Amy allowed a smile to cross her features, and her eyes softened. "She told me what you did for him. Zach. You saved my husband's life. Can you please just accept the damn gratitude?" she spoke with a small chuckle.

Zach nodded and returned Amy's smile as a way to mask the dread that loomed over his mind like a blanket of snow. "How is he, by the way?"

Amy's eyes fell to the floor again and she shrugged. "I was on my way to check up on him. Last I heard he was doing well." she said. She looked back up to Zach eagerly. "I was coming by to see if you wanted to come with me."

The professional researcher broke his stance as his arms felt to his side and he stepped towards the end table that hosted Elm's satchel. "Absolutely. Just give be a minute to get some things together and..." He paused as he glanced over to Riley as if he had looked at a loaded gun. "...wake The Chaotic up."

Amy nodded and laughed. "Good luck with that," she said as she and turned and reached for the door knob. She stopped as she looked at Zach from over her shoulder. "Zach. I think I was wrong about you. "

Zach paused his preparation and looked over his shoulder to the woman with a cocked eyebrow. He felt the chagrin warm his face despite his foresight of Amy's demeanor. "Oh?"

Amy nodded. "At first I thought you were a bit of an ass. Flashy vocabulary and mannerism, trying to show off like most of the upper class on the frontier, but I can also see that you care about other people, and your pokemon. I was wrong, and you turned out to be a good guy. So can you do Adrian and I a favour?"

Zach stood up straight, and the surprised and expectant expression on his face spoke for him. He felt the anger in his chest lower, and he mulled over possible responses for a moment. "Sure," he opted to say.

"Don't beat yourself up over Elm. Just go through the motions. Think of the smaller steps that lead to the big picture. Asking around won't help, since that's how you became a target. Just remember you're not alone in this, and it doesn't all fall on you." She took a step forward, earning a small yip from Leo. "You have friends now. The professor means a lot to my husband, and therefor me. Jennifer seems to care about you guys too, since she stayed here all night watching you two." She looked at the fox, and the small mouse that had since moved from the agitated animal.

"That's..." Zach said softly as he relaxed. "That's actually very kind of you."

Amy smiled as she opened the door. "Just don't be an idiot and think you're alone. Ok?"

Zach simply nodded before Amy closed the door behind her, and he stood in the sparsely furnished room with the conversation playing over in his mind as he continued to stare at the door. He felt almost as if a huge weight had been lifted. There was a tingling sensation of clarity in his mind for the first time in days, and a wash of relief came over him like a surge of electricity. It was only when he saw the spots in his eyes and felt the numbness of his fingers did he realize that the sensation was brought on by Riley's affectionate brand of morning jolts. He was either getting used to it, or Riley had shown him mercy.

He had expected Amy's gratitude, but not her words, nor her friendship.

He began to think about how he could apply her advice as he began to gather the document and his pokeballs. He paused to look out the window in a meditative state, and began to contemplate the implications of brash actions as he saw the distant mark on the road where the acid had corroded the dirt. Even from his long-distance orientation, it appeared as a large dark spot in the sand, and he dreaded to think about what Adrian might have looked like had he not sprung into action. He felt responsible, like an anchor dragging down a ship.

A few minutes later Zach emerged from his room with Elm's satchel hung over his shoulder and Leo at his feet. He opened the flap of the satchel to allow Riley to poke his head out. The trainer looked both ways down the hallway before finding Amy leaning against the wall. On her waist was a single pokeball, which Zach assumed to be Adrian's quilava.

Riley squeaked with delight upon seeing his saviour, and jumped out of the satchel, much to his trainer's protest. As he scampered towards the nurse, his trainer maintained a strict vigil. The little mouse met the distracted woman with a pat on her shoe, and stood upon his haunches to look up at her.

Amy's attention snapped to the pichu with a blink of surprise. The little rodent looked up at her with a twitching tail, and leaned on her shin as if to ask to be held. She leaned over to pet him on the head, pulling a piece of her hair behind her ear as she did so. As Zach began his approach, Riley attempted to jump into Amy's hand, causing the nurse to jump and recoil her hand in surprise. Zach stifled a laugh.

"Looks like he remembers the forest," Zach said as he and Leo approached to two.

"Looks like it," she replied as she allowed Riley into her hand. She held the mouse against her chest as the two began to make their way down the hallway. She began to gently rub Riley on the stomach, eliciting a squeak of approval from the mouse.

"I wouldn't recommend that," Zach warned. "He's apparently close to evolving."

"Oh," Amy said quietly as she opted to rub his head instead. "Pre-evolutionary discharges. Has he hit you with them at all?"

"He shocked me last night. On the bright side it was the most powerful one he's given me so far. I think he's getting stronger by natural growth."

As they began to make their way down the stairs. The only sound to accompany them as they descended being the creaking of the wooden staircase. At the foot of the stairs, the wood gave way to ceramic flooring, nailing the theory that the buildings were connected after their construction.

They both took a moment of perusal, taking extra care to study the faces of the people around them. Only a few people occupied the booths that sat perpendicular to the large windows, lethargically eating their breakfast. This sluggishness satisfied Zach, as he knew that there were no threats in the nonhazardous Pokemon Center.

"Looks like your husband is healthy, Miss Mutsugi," the nurse at the front desk said. "If you want you can go and see him before he's released."

With a word of thanks, they parted and moved for the back doors that Amy had become familiar with. The moment they passed through the doors, Zach's mind wandered to the smells of Rowan's lab. He was intimately familiar with the scent of a sterile, but populated environment. A part of him longed to be back in Eterna City.

He returned Riley and Leo to their pokeballs at the recommendation of Amy. It wasn't illegal to have them out in the medical bay, but it would avoid any scrutiny from over worked and short tempered staff.

They navigated the hallways, passing windows that peered into rooms which hosted pokemon and humans alike, each room being of wildly varying set ups. In Sinnoh, Pokemon Centers were for pokemon, and humans had their own hospital. He assumed the lower population meant there was little need to separate the two facilities in Johto, as well as to relieve the strain of higher demand of staff for separate facilities.

They stopped at a cross road of hallways, peering up at the sign which hosted varying types and body shapes of pokemon, each undoubtedly requiring someone of specialized training. It appeared, to Zach, that the specializations also allowed for doctors to treat humans who had been injured by these specific types. It was an efficient system.

Amy pointed out the Indigo Leagues designated symbol for the Poison-Type, a classic skull crossed by two bones. Once they had their barrings, Amy moved through the section of the small hospital as though she had worked there for years, but Zach knew better. She simply knew exactly where her husband was being kept.

They found the door, a basic wooden design signifying a room meant for humans, as many types of pokemon could easily break down the shoddy frame. The nurse only knocked twice before opening the door slowly.

The room was dark since it was not against any of the Pokemon Center's outer walls. No windows allowed the early morning sun to soak the room, only the dim florescent lights and the illumination of various machines. Despite the depressing aura of the hospital room, Adrian met them with a grin.

"You look healthy," Zach said heartily as he watched Amy move to check the machines that were attached to her husband's arm.

Adrian met Amy with a warm kiss on the cheek, and looked back to Zach. "It's going to take more than a little poison to kill this son of a bitch," he said as he threw a thumb against his chest.

"What exactly happened?" Amy inquired as she scanned over the many numbers that displayed on the small computer's screen.

Adrian shrugged. "No idea. I could hear everything, but I was too busy... being distracted," he said, diverting the sentence as to not raise more concern for himself. He cleared his throat and looked to the field assistant. "Zach..." he said, his tone immediately darkening. "Those were Elm's glasses. Just in the middle of the street."

Moving from the door to the foot of the bed, Zach leaned against the foot board. His face had turned from lighthearted to straight, showing no emotion as he ran through theories and concepts. "They knew one of us would go for them. It was the perfect bait."

Adrian nodded. "What could that mean?"

Zach closed his eyes, the gears in his mind turning as he sorted his aforementioned theories. "Two things. Elm's in Cherrygrove, or they're trying to throw us off," he said as his grip tightened on the wood of the foot board. "Maybe they thought it wouldn't matter since it was an attempt on our lives." His eyes opened, and peered at Adrian through cold and calculative hazel. "We were lucky Jennifer was with us."

Adrian smiled and sat up on the bed, hanging his elbows over his knees. "What I said last night, Zach. About us trainin'? I meant that. We won't be that lucky all the time, and when that time comes we need to be prepared. Right now I fell as good as a meganium on a sunny day, and I feel like trainin'."

Zach sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I really have no idea about how to train a pichu, Adrian. I was going to do that when Elm and I were finished our expedition on route twenty nine. He had a textbook on the subject, if I recall."

Adrian shifted to the edge of the bed, planting his bare feet on the cold floor. He glanced up to his wife, who met his gaze with a comforting hand on his shoulder. "What do you recommend, babe?" he asked.

Amy's eyes dropped to the floor in contemplation, blinking slowly as she silently recalled and mentally rehearsed what she had learned of electric-types during her apprenticeship. In the silent moments of conceptualization, Zach did the same, although their knowledge varied greatly.

Finally, the well trained nurse looked up at Zach. "If he's undergoing pre-evolutionary discharges, I recommend you have him expel short, but frequent bursts. That way he can get used to his own voltage, while naturally learning to maintain the amps at a survivable level."

Zach met Amy's gaze, inspiration clearly defined in his features. "Of course. I can simultaneously tune his aim and focus on harnessing the electricity. He'd subconsciously learn how to use those stored volts to boost his muscle twitches. I can have him dancing around enemies before he even evolves."

Amy cocked an eyebrow. "Would he?"

Zach nodded. "I read a few papers that state most pokemon learn their abilities naturally, while being boosted by the teachings of others. That's why you'd never see a pokemon who taught itself its abilities survive long against the more powerful ones who grew up with stronger tutors. Certain exceptions apply, of course."

Adrian snorted a laugh as he slowly pushed himself to his feet, eyeing the IV that stuck out of his arm. "You guys make a helluva team," he said as his eyes met with his vital signs displayed on the screen. He frowned. "Wow. I thought my blood pressure would be higher given the circumstances."

Zach too glanced at the display, cocking an eyebrow when he saw the healthy numbers. "I don't know how you do it," he said somberly. "How do you stay so positive despite the tribulations?"

Adrian turned and looked behind him to his stressed friend, cocking another grin. "Zach. I have a father protecting his home town from hill tribes in the Orange Isles, I grew up in a town where a single gyarados could end everything, and I came close to death more times than I can count. I learned well that staying on the lighter side of things makes any problem seem small in the big picture, and the solution is always on the horizon."

"You solve your problems one step at a time," Zach concluded through his breath, looking at Amy, who confirmed his deduction with a nod.

"Exactly. Now, where the hell is the doctor so we can get out of here? I know of a small field where we could train."

Amy squeezed Adrian's shoulder again before silently dismissing herself from the room. Once she left, Adrian let out a hefty sigh, sitting back onto the bed and running his hand through his hair.

"What the hell are we gonna do?" he asked in an almost pleading tone.

Zach was taken back by Adrian's sudden shift in mood. There was a different inclination about him. "I read something last night that might make a good next move," he said, blinking in discomfort as he shifted his gaze to the wall behind the ranger.

With an expression on disbelief and incredulity, Adrian looked over to the field assistant. "What's that?"

"What do you know about Mr. Pokemon? Elm has a large assortment of research stating that it is to be delivered to him if he's unable to continue the work."

"I've heard the name," Adrian muttered. "Apparently he's the correspondence between Elm and the researchers in Goldenrod." He stood again. "All things considered, it's better than that Dark Cave theory."

Zach shook his head. "I was only told that by some bitchy bartender. Like it held any merit in the first place."

Adrian nodded and the corner of his mouth stretched into a weary smile. Both men stood in deep contemplation, the previous nights events lingered in their mind like a candle in a dark room, illuminating the possibilities that the incident had provoked. It didn't seem like an intelligent idea to leave the comfort and safety of the Pokemon Center when death could be at any corner. Still, the strife of the trainer is to constantly improve, because if they didn't, death was their only consequence. They almost unanimously came to the conclusion that an answer would come in time. Time better utilized as a method to garner strength. At that moment of realization, they locked eyes, a mutual sense of the need to push forward wordlessly communicated.

Zach took Leo's pokeball in his hand, and began to roll it between his fingers with an evidently practiced grace. Images of his time with the leafeon gave him the source material required to conceptualize a proper training regiment for Riley.

Amy entered the room, disturbing the thoughtful silence. Behind her was a large man, with weathered eyes that could have projected his experiences. Long nights standing over a dying pokemon, or even a man. Likely he had many experiences similar to last night, where he spent the better part of his early evening filling Adrian with antidotes.

He crossed his arms, his white lab coat flowing forward as he did so. "Well, Ranger Mitsugi. Your wife has expressed her concern, and your lack of time. Since I am satisfied with your current condition you're free to go," he said with a slight nod. Then he raised his head. "Take it easy for a while. You might find your lungs won't be as efficient as your used to for a few days."

Adrian returned the nod. "Thanks, doc. Any idea how many days that might be?"

The doctor shook his head. "The pokemon that hit you isn't native to Johto. We have no idea how the bacteria works. You're lucky that our medicine could work with the strain."

'Luck. It's always luck. We can't rely on that,' Zach thought as he stood back from the bed and into a dark corner of the room, reducing his presence as he listened with crossed arms.

The doctor gave Adrian further advice, to which Amy corrected or otherwise agreed to. They pulled the IV's out of his arm, and they found themselves in the Pokemon Center's lobby in a matter of minutes.

They ate their breakfast, a simple assortment of food produced locally. Regardless of their rush to get to the next step, humans and pokemon required food.

Their pokemon sat beside them on the floor, eating their own food. Their trainers noticed the glances the animals gave each other, mostly between Leo and Quen. Mutual respect was seen but the tension in their muscles showed that they would need to still become properly acquainted. Riley regarded the quilava with curiosity. Inching closer to the weasel before he received a threatening snort. Zach was impressed with the speed in which he retreated behind Leo. Of all the pokemon Elm could have given him, he seemed to pick the perfect compliment to his leafeon.

"Should we stop by the barracks first?" Amy suggested as she did up the final strap on her body armour.

Adrian shook his head. "I'd really like to get this out of the way. Training is priority," he said as the group walked for the front doors.

They stepped into the early morning sun, staying vigilant as they walked towards the field Adrian had mentioned. They walked in the center of the road, keeping away from the alleys and focusing on the actions of those around them.

SC

Zach stood with his hands on his waste, scanning the bouldered field. He saw a single tree, and many rocks that made urban development on the terrain difficult. On the other end was a section of the towering wall that surrounded the modest city, and to their west was the distant sapphire glow of Beurama Bay. Both hosted threats, both in nature and technology.

Adrian thought the same as he stared out into the salty bay, a sense of trepidation building in his gut. "Zach?" he addressed, his gaze still fixed on the water. "Before he start, please tell me Cianwood isn't being directed by your country's military." His tone was dark, but hopeful.

Zach too had pondered that notion, but he dismissed the concept. "No, Sinnoh would never attack Indigo. It's antithetical to the prosperity of the country. I think we're dealing with small groups," he ensured as he walked onto the field, reaching for Riley's pokeball. The rodent coalesced and scanned the rocks and the grass. He looked back to Zach, his ears perking. His trainer took him in his hands, and gave Adrian a reassuring smile. "I doubt this is a full scale thing. Simply irritated separatists who want to be under the sovereignty of Sinnoh."

Adrian responded with a grin, reaching for his skarmory's pokeball. "You sure?"

Zach nodded. "If Sinnoh tried to take over Johto by force, it would disrupt trade to Hoenn, Orre, and The Orange Isles. I can imagine all three countries combined wouldn't be worth the economic strain that war would put on Sinnoh."

Adrian sighed in modest relief, his troubled gaze still watching over the bay. He could see them, the ships appeared as specs against the distant coast of route thirty two. They would have shone if the sun had hit them right, displaying their location like a beacon. That was the intention, to be seen.

The ranger stroked his chin thoughtfully as he looked down to Quen then to Amy. "Watch her," he ordered as he walked further into the field. He opened the pokeball taken from his belt, and the small skarmory formed. His head rose slowly, blankly taking in his surroundings. When his eyes fell on Adrian, his muscles tensed, but he remained still.

The hours passed, and the shadows grew shorter as the sun peaked in the sky. Zach and Riley had spent the better part of the past hour learning how to read each other. Zach had decided on a series of hand gestures and positions for the pichu to become familiar with. In the two hours they had trained, Riley had come no closer in understanding any of them. Throughout Zach had made sure to allow the pokemon small, but frequent discharges as recommended by Amy. For this he threw a rock, and it was up to Riley to hit it. They had no luck, as the lightening would arc towards the branches of the near-by tree.

Adrian sat on the ground, his chin on his knees and his dark eyes scanning his skarmory. The bird stood in front of him, observing the surrounding area. Adrian had focused on becoming acquainted with his new addition, and as a result left the two in their silent position. He had observed his wings, although the metal had yet to harden, he knew the feathers would be like knives. They were large and developed otherwise, he assumed that the bird was capable of flight, but knew returning to the wild would be death for the chick.

The skarmory's attention snapped to Amy, who slowly approached behind her husband, Quen in toe. She knelt behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Have you thought of a name for him?"

Adrian simply shook his head, his features straight as he focused mainly on the pokemon's behaviour. Timid, but allowing. "No," he replied.

Amy smiled, admiring the elegance of the small bird. "It'll come. Just be patient."

Adrian scoffed. "I'm never good with names," he replied, feeling the gentle tightening of her hands on his shoulders.

Another hour passed, and Adrian had made little progress in getting the skarmory to approach him. He settled for what he had accomplished today, and returned the bird to his pokeball. He looked across the field, to find Zach and Leo by a tree. As he approached, he noticed Riley on a nearby rock, laying flat and watching the two with curiosity.

Zach waved an open palm vertically at the tree, and Leo bounded for it. The fox jumped at the trunk, and dug his claws into the bark before kicking off and landing a back flip. A low lying branch landed next to the leafeon, cut cleanly by his sharp tail. This was repeated before Adrian and Amy had crossed the field. They watched silently.

"Again," Zach ordered. "Higher this time." He cut his hand through the air again, this time raising his hand over his head. Leo repeated the maneuver, this time landing a hit on a higher branch.

Adrian cleared his throat. "As much as this interests me," Adrian said with genuine wonder. "We should get to the barracks before we attract too much attention here."

Zach simply nodded and recalled Riley, leaving Leo to stand silently with a heaving chest. "Good idea," he said before looking between the two with concern crossing his features. "Have either of you thought of any..." he asked, trailing off to leave the sentence open.

They both shook their heads, their disappointed expressions matching Zach's as they walked back towards the street.

"We shouldn't take the same route back," Adrian advised as he scanned the faces of the few people who passed. "I know another way. It takes us passed the barracks, and I'd like the thank Jennifer myself."

With that they left, Adrian returning Quen to her pokeball as obligated by law. He kept her ready, though. holding the capsule inside the sleeve of his jacket. They walked down the road, the western waters exposed to them as they walked adjacent to the docks. Zach watched with interest as the wingull flew over the boats. Some sitting in place in the air as their wings caught the wind, appearing to be attached to string. He had always admired the calm and nonthreatening species.

"Hey, Adrian. Wingull are invasive from Hoenn, right?" he inquired.

Adrian shot a glance at the birds before returning his attention to the rooftops and making sure Amy walked between the two trainers. "You want to talk about invasive species, Sinnoean? I'll take wingull over a houndoom any day," he said with a coy smile.

Zach turned from the birds with lightening speed, jumping at the opportunity to stand up for his native country. "Houndour came with the boats, which brought the settlers. Saying houndour are invasive is also putting your ancestors in that same light."

Adrian winked and scoffed amiably. "My parent's are from The Isles. I'm an exception thanks to my celtic heritage."

"Ah. So let's talk about snorlax then, shall we? I'd take a houndour over a snorlax, Islander." Zach returned with a smile.

Zach scoffed playfully, turning his head down the street before he felt a tug on his shoulder from Amy as she rushed him down the street. When he turned his head he found that Adrian had hurried forward, being unable to see his target through a group of passing people. His heart jumped into his throat at the concept of them running into another cultist in the middle of the day, and he feared what the ranger would do if they came across one that was unaware of them. He had only met the man two days ago, and didn't now what he was capable of.

He ordered Leo to run forward and watch Adrian, who would not have enough time for his quilava to coalesce if he was attacked. He grabbed Riley's pokeball as well, opting to keep him inside since the flash would draw unwanted attention like moths to a flame. The field assistant peered through the crowd, spotting the top of Adrian's head as Amy continued to pull Zach forward. For this, he didn't protest.

The crowd dispersed, and Amy stopped in her tracks. Zach as well stopped, tightening his grip on Riley's pokeball as be prepared to throw it. He would aim directly for the attacker's face, a trick he learned when he realized a pokeball weighed enough to break someone's jaw. Not to mention the animal that would form next to the stunned attacker.

Then he saw the face of Jennifer as she stood in front of the barracks and he relaxed. Leo wagged his tail and sniffed at the officer's feet. She looked happy, if exhausted. From their distance, they couldn't make out the exchange between Adrian and the officer over the droning of the populace, but when they shook hands he could get a fine idea of what they were talking about.

He smiled, but it faded when he noticed a particular urgency about her. She periodically glanced over the ranger's shoulder towards him as the two spoke. With this in mind, Zach felt no guilt in shortening their one-on-one time as he walked towards the two.

"You're serious?" Zach heard Adrian say over the crowd. The ranger turned to find his companions, and fully turned when he saw Zach's approach.

"I wouldn't joke about this," Jennifer replied with a tone of relief. She turned to Zach, folding her arms over her chest. Behind her, he noticed her large arcanine basking in the sun on a patch of grass, panting as she watched the many people pass by. "Zach, I made an arrest last night," she said, her eyes flaring with urgency. "It took all night to get the info out of him, but he let something slip about Violet City."

The field assistant stopped beside Adrian, shooting glances between the two law enforcement trainers. "You're kidding," he said in a tone of disbelief that matched Adrian's expression. "How did you get that?"

She cracked a smile, looking at Adrian, who had given her the exact same response. "A few minutes in the room alone with Lon made him spill."

"You didn't use your golduck?" Zach asked.

She shook her head. "The gym member was too busy keeping an eye on some Cianwood civilians. I couldn't get the clearance."

"All that matters is that you've given us something. Thank you for everything you've done for us," Adrian added with the largest grin Zach had seen the man host so far.

"Of course, yes," Zach hastily replied. "But how do we know he didn't lie to you, and Elm's in Cherrygrove?"

Jennifer smiled, her eyes softening as she leaned against the brick wall of the barracks. "We knew these guys have a headquarters in this city, and now we know where it is. We'll storm it and make the arrests tomorrow afternoon," she said with only enough volume for the three to hear her. "Send the barracks a telegram when you get to Rosemount, and we'll reply as to whither or not Elm was there. That way you won't have to waste the other three days it takes to get to Violet."

"Four days on the road? In the wilderness?" Zach remarked, a combination of excitement and caution blending with his accent. To the Johtans, his voice could have been enough to trigger laughter had his question not held such gravity. "I'll do it, of course, but if we die out there what good are we?"

"The barracks can spare some body armour for you guys," she said as she eyed Amy's current apparel. "It's not as high of grade as your ranger gear, but it's better than nothing." She pushed herself off the wall, and turned the Hyana, who perked her ears at her trainer's attention. "Oh!" she said as she spun around again. "Adrian. Do you have any weapons on you?"

Adrian shrugged, patting his pokeballs. "I have a baton, but for the most part these guys are my protection."

She lowered her head, her gaze almost scrutinizing the ranger. "I think we can spare a crossbow. You do know how to use one, right?"

The ranger nodded, glancing at his wife, who returned his gaze with a knowing smile. "I was one of the top sharpshooters in the trainer ranger's regiment."

"Good. You're going to be the field assistant's escort. I'll send a telegram to Violet City's gym about your first mission." Her eyes softened then, and she gave a platonic wink to the ranger. "I'll even put a good word in for you," the high ranking officer added.

"How long will this take? Procuring the armour and crossbow?" Zach added, hastily stepping forward. "I'd like to get to Rosemount as soon as possible."

Jennifer nodded, then turned and patted the field assistant on the shoulder as she sighed. "It'll take a while. You're better off leaving tomorrow morning. Unless you want to get caught out in the wilderness at night. Pokemon aren't the only threats out there, you know."

Zach grunted in annoyance. It wasn't preferable, and it would require all of Zach's patience to not leave Cherrygrove that afternoon, but it was a six hour trip to Rosemount, and he had heard of the local wildlife hosting more than pokemon. As many of the weaker species slept at night, other nocturnal creatures prowled the shadows. He knew he had to wait, as having ordinance and armour would improve their odds. He crossed his arms and sighed impatiently.

She smiled and returned Hyata before signaling for the group to follow her into the barracks. "I was just on my way to the Pokemon Center to tell you guys the news," she said.

The room looked different in the light of the day, and held itself to the title of a barracks. Among the chipped tiled floors and cracked drywall where iron bars that sealed off any hallway unless someone had the proper key. The staircase was open, but only because of an armed man who watched the lobby with cold eyes.

"I was on my way to the Pokemon Centre to tell you guys myself, so this saves me a lot of time," she said as she gestured to a wooden bench for the three to sit and wait on. "I need to fill out some forms to give you the armour and crossbow, but it won't take long." She gave the pouting field a assistant a comforting smile as he sat. "Just hang on."

Zach nodded with a grunt as Jennifer turned to leave, his eyes falling on a single long crack in the tiles once she was out of sight.

Amy cocked an eyebrow at Zach. "I thought you'd be happier," she said in an almost scolding tone. "This is the best news we've gotten so far. We have some sort of direction."

Zach slumped in his seat, his arms folded and his absent gaze focused on the floor. "I'm ecstatic, Amy, but I don't want to wait till tomorrow to leave," he mumbled. He rose one of his hands, allowing the nurse to observe how it shook, trembling as though the professor was on the other end of the room, and he was tied to his chair. "This is the worst thing I've ever endured in this line of work, and all I want is for it to be over and him to be safe. A lot rides on me in my career."

Adrian leaned forward, observing the fire in his friend's hazel eyes, and the somber expression on his face. "When we get there you can rush all ya' want, but remember we need a good pace and caution if we're gonna actually live to see the city."

Zach nodded, and he absently continued to stare at the floor.

Half an hour had passed, and Amy had since closed her eyes and fallen asleep on Adrian's shoulder. The ranger himself endured the discomfort of having her armour jab into his arm as he attentively watched the front door. A single car slowly droned passed the barracks, a rare sight in Cherrygrove. As he listened the the loud humming of the electric engine soften as it grew further away, so did he begin to listen to the conversations between the guards, and their superior officers. Many mentioned Jennifer, who had apparently held a higher rank than he thought. She was evidently not a guard, but an officer. Specialized trainers in charge of investigating conflicts within a city.

To Adrian, who had a well defined perspective of what that meant in law enforcement, she was a source of inspiration. A trainer who had decided to become an essential part of a town's security and special task force at the end of her journey.

He wanted to go for the highest honour a ranger can achieve, and he envied her.

The sun reached a new position in the sky, and Adrian had noticed that Zach had too fallen asleep. He was slumped in his chair, and his brow still furrowed in the restful state. He recalled watching him train his pokemon, it was no wonder Elm had wanted him as an employee. The researcher's leafeon seemed to be stronger than even Quen, who had charged through a stampede of dodrio to get to her trainer as a cyndaquil. He'd need to be at Zach and Leo's level if he wanted to steadily progress in his career. He had plenty of envy to hand out. That was his inspiration.

He was thrown out of his reverie when a black mass was thrust into his field of vision, reflexively recoiling as his thoughts returned to the black sludge that almost killed him the previous night. When he finally made sense of the source, fear was replaced with interest as Jennifer stood before him with a matte crossbow in her hands.

"Be smart about how you use this," she said, glancing at Amy as the nurse stirred awake. "I want to take this afternoon to make sure you're proficient with it."

Flashes of memories from his training had come to him as he recalled the technique and components required to work the weapon properly. "Of course," he replied, his ton serious. He looked at his wife, who slowly blinked and cast her gaze around the room after her husband's jolt had awoken her. "Hey, Amy," he addressed. "Can you take Zach to the shops for some pokeballs and food rations?"

"Yeah, sure," she said quietly, clearing her throat and patting Zach on the shoulder. She stood, rolling her shoulders and fidgeting with the collar of her shirt.

The field assistant awoke, his eyes flashing open with instant alertness. When he realized it was time to move, he took a deep breath and stood, garnering the attention of his loyal pokemon. "What's going on?" he asked wearily.

Adrian stood with them. "I'm gonna do some drills with Jennifer. You and Amy get some supplies for the road in the meantime."

Zach nodded and looked to Amy, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Lead the way," he mumbled tiredly.

"Just come back here and ask for Officer Itsuni and Ranger Mitsugi," the officer stated before the two walked out the door.

SC

By the time they returned, the sun had begun to settle over the bay, and the people began to filter out of the streets. The two were directed to a field behind the barracks, where Adrian and Jennifer had spent their time honing the ranger's aim and speed. The crossbow itself was pneumatic, and it held multiple bolts at a time, but it still required him to manually pull the string back before the bolt rose into the closed barrel of the weapon. This was done by a pin on the side of the crossbow, reminding Zach much of the same loading method used by rifles. This was quieter, however, and packed less of a punch than a gun.

Adrian pulled the trigger, and the string flung forward. The bolt flew out of the chamber, and sailed like a small missile into one of the targets. With a satisfying thud, it connected with the wood, protruding from a section not far from the center. He lowered the weapon slowly, observing his work as he pulled back the bolt. The action looked straining and arduous, but the rangers well trained muscles carried out the task with ease. Behind him, his quilava laid on the ground, her red eyes watching Amy and Zach approach.

In order to attract her husband's attention, Amy held up a small paper bag and jingled it. Within it rattled the four pokeballs she had purchased, their metallic clanging catching the attention of Jennifer.

The officer's expression turned from stern to welcoming as she caught sight of the two young professionals, and she looked back down the range. "He's good," she admitted. "His reload speed could use some work, but the first shot should give him enough time."

Adrian chuckled as he aimed down the sights of the weapon, pulling the trigger and sending another bolt into the target. Hitting close to where the latest bolt had struck. "I think my grouping is fine."

Jennifer shook her head. "I never said it wasn't. Just work on your speed," she said as she left his side and approached the other two. She threw her hands out to her side, shrugging as she casually walked. "Considering you both have strong pokemon, body armour, and a crossbow; I think you're more than prepared to defend yourselves."

Zach nodded, and held up his own bag. "I procured some raincoats and a backpack. The satchel can't hold much, and I lost my bag in the attack," he said as he looked over Jennifer's shoulder to the well focused ranger. "I also bought myself a sleeping bag," he added.

Amy nodded. "Sleeping bags, medical supplies, flashlights, and pokeballs," she listed. "I think we're set."

There was a long pause when Adrian fired another bolt. Jennifer half turned to watch the shot, her arms folded over her chest. Her expression became stern again, and she looked back to the two. "I made arrangements for you three to sleep at the barracks tonight. You'll be safer there," she said. "And before you ask it's because I need to keep an eye on the hotel for the next couple of days. That man I arrested was caught trying to burn the building down."

"What?" Amy breathed as she stepped forward, her face in shock with wide eyes and a hung mouth.

"They would go that far?" Zach asked as his voice peaked. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. His eyes flared. "Where's the man you arrested? I'd like a word," he requested as he attempted to regain his briefly lost composure.

Jennifer looked to the ground, then back to Zach. "He's dead," she said coldly.

Zach's eyes widened, and he dropped the bags he held. Amy closed her eyes in response, knowing more abut life on the frontier than the Sinnoean.

"He was executed for his attempted crime."

Zach took a deep, shaking breath, and turned on his heels to leave the scene.

"Zach," Amy called after him, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her pursuance. With surprise, she turned to see Jennifer watching him.

"Just give him a moment."

His steps were hard, and he vied to maintain calm breaths. Through his mind he cast images of fire, and emulated the screams of those who would have perished because of these men. He stopped as he emerged from the alley onto a large empty lot, tears of anger finding their way down his red cheeks as he began to consider that he was to blame. The man wanted him dead, and to go through such lengths to do so was beyond Zach's reasoning. He felt the familiar tug of guilt on his mind as he considered the possibility that no one was safe around him. In his mind, it wasn't the cultists who had almost killed those people, it was him.

He felt a nudge on his knee, and looked down to find Leo looking up at him. The pokemon's large eyes pouted, scanning his features with calculation. The leafeon let out a quiet whimper as he pawed at Zach's boot, his ears falling back.

Zach sniffed before he knelt to meet the fox's gaze, and began to run his shaking hand through the rough fur on the pokemon's head. He found same impression of the comfort he felt when he pet his friend's fur fifteen years ago in Eterna Forest, but it was different this time. He never blamed himself for the loss of his father, and the current situation felt like a new hell. He closed his eyes and placed his chin on the top of the leafeon's head. Allowing a couple of quiet tears to run onto the grass-type's fur. Leo placed his muzzle on Zach's shoulder, quietly comforting his life long partner.

They remained in that position for some time, the evening's twilight casting a warm orange hue over the clouds that drifted in from the southern ocean. "Leo..." he said quietly.. "How can I- we..." He stopped to take a deep breath. "How can we protect if we are the cause of harm?"

Leo removed himself from the hug, and stared at his trainer with a silent dignity. His tailed lifted over his head an uncurled in a show of strength. His eyes were that of a confident and strong companion, one willing to fight till his very last breath.

Zach sniffled, but a small smile crossed his features. "That's the reason we're in this mess, because we tried to fight back," he said in a weak, but genial tone.

"I think he's suggesting that we take the fight to them," he heard Adrian's voice call from the alley.

Zach stood and turned, looking over his shoulder to the ranger, who stood with Quen winding around his legs.

"How about we kick every single one of their asses, and drive them out of Johto? How about we take them out slowly, and get in their way at every turn? Face it, The people aren't safe whither or not you were in their way, and if not the hotel then what would they have done? What it is they want, I don't care. I just want to see them pay," Adrian said in a straight tone, his eyes filled with contempt and his features rugged. "And them takin' Elm is their biggest dept." He began to walk toward Zach, Quen remaining close at his heels, until he stood three feet from the field assistant.

"Me wanting to find Elm is what put them at ri-"

"Does that matter? Like I said the people aren't safe from this cult, Zachary Pine or not. Hell, no one was killed because you put one of the greatest officers in the city on high alert. Shit, I'd call that doing more harm than good," he said as his arms crossed over his chest.

Zach's mouth twisted under a frown, and his red eyes tightened. "The reason she stayed is because you almost died."

"Semantics. Everything you did led up to this single arrest, and now we have something to go on. I'm still here, that hotel is still standing, and what are you doing? Crying because of something that might have happened. Let me tell you this, Pine, death is as much a part of life out here as the events experienced before it. You can't dwell on what you might have lost, and enjoy what you have." He extended his hand out to his friend, a confident smile crossing his features. "We're about to hit them twice, and if Elm is in Violet City, then this is all over." Adrian smiled and nodded his head before extending his hand out to Zach.

"Elm, yeah," Zach replied absently. "Yeah..."

Adrian flicked the wrist of the hand he held out to Zach, raising an eyebrow at the field assistant. "Elm gave me Quen. I owe my career, and lively hood to him. I got your back through this, and I expect the same from you."

Zach blinked. "Yeah," he repeated. "Yes, we'll be their penance." A weak smile showed through his regret, but the vigor with which he slapped his hand into Adrian's was more than enough for the ranger to see heightened morale.

They shook hands. "They won't be seeing us in hell," Adrian said with a grin.

SC

The next day greeted them with endless possibilities, and by the next night the tribulations of Cherrygrove would be over. The people would be rid of the black spot, and their only worry would be a tense political stand off with Cianwood, but the most immediate threat would be gone. On top of this Zach took comfort in the concept that Elm might be found during the raid, and his trip to Violet City would be cut short.

But he took very little stock in that notion.

They stood at the northern gates of the city, a casually dressed Jennifer sending them off with her attentive golduck at her side and psychically searching for threats. The contingent stood equipped and armed, their body armour falling over their clothes like a thick shell.

"We'll send word to you tonight," Jennifer said. "If we find Elm, come back to Cherrygrove the next morning, if not then you can set out for Violet City. Just stay the night in Rosemount, I don't want you guys dying before you get to the city," she said with a smile.

Adjusting the strap of the crossbow, Adrian shrugged. "Me and Amy made this trip a few days ago. It's not that bad."

"Still," Jennifer retorted. "The wildlife isn't your only threat this time. With that said you should get going if you want to get to Rosemount at a good time. I'm sure you're wanting to get a move on, Zach," she said with a wink.

Fidgeting with the straps of his armour, Zach nodded. "With haste if we can."

"I won't keep you then, good luck," Jennifer said with a salute. "I need to get ready for the raid. I'll tell you how it goes. This is the beginning of their downfall." She turned, but stopped. "Oh yeah, once I can get some paperwork done, I'll drive to Violet City to help. Maybe we can get some assistance from the gym, or at the very least Sprout's Tower. Last I heard Elm was in good with them."

Their thanks were exchanged, and the group moved through the gates, passing the guard and setting out into the open wilderness of route thirty. Zach's armour was new to him, and he new he needed to get used to it, but he had more important things on his mind. For the only thing that stood between him and saving his boss was the four day trip to Violet City, where they would only stop for correspondence with Mr. Pokemon, and to build the power of their youngest pokemon.

They walked down the road, the morning sun casting its light over their path, and basking Cherrygrove in a day that would be filled with salvation.


The first arc is finished. I wasn't expecting it to take as many chapters as it did.

Hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. Thank you to those who have followed, reviewed, and favourited