Removing the tab insulator he sat the bug drone down, his attention turning to his wrist computer. The command entered, the drone's mechanical wings fluttered to life. It hovered only a second before rocketing straight towards the sky. "Don't mean to be interloping," he directed towards his partner, "but we are assigned to confirm this legendary's condition. Pokemon in need, you know the motto." Bonzon hovered closer, a soft humming increasing in volume for a few seconds. A screen popped up, the camera coming online. "Too bad this thing can't sense things like you, Bronzon." His partner nodded. "We could find it quicker."
"Excuse me, what are you doing?"
Both Bronzon and Kite immediately straightened. Kite quickly flickered off the screen before turning sharply. "Um," his eyes closed as he cleared his throat, "nothing to worry about citizen. I-"
"Oh, Ranger Kite! I didn't recognize you hunched over in the bushes like that."
He faltered. "Wha?"
"Professor Sycamore [a/n: Not the normal Professor Sycamore. A different one. This fic was started before I knew there was an actual .]," the young professor reached out with his hand, "your headquarters sent me to accompany you to study the odd behavior of the legendary pokemon, Darkrai. Few legendaries inhabit areas this close to humans and it only started about seventy years ago. I'm to try to identify what had happened to its previous environment. Ones like Celebi and Shayman are known to wander into populated cities. Latios and Latias are rumored to as well. Usually legendries that have been caught and release return without much trouble but it returned here instead. Oh, I . . . assume you received the message."
"I did." He glanced at Bronzon trying to melt the awkwardness. (He had received a message, right?)
"You know," he smiled, "I almost mistook you for a pokemon this deep into the municipal garden. Or some burglar or madman going to jump me."
"Joy," he slurred out the "-oy." You can't describe that face.
He isn't shaking my hand. Dreadful thoughts entered the Professor's mind as to why.
"Well, that was uneventful." Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the aging sun. Alice shifted the paper bag enclosed by her wrapped arms trying to get a better grip. People passed by her without any trouble, not even glancing at the woman (a woman who previously dealt with rumors of being associated with an evil dark pokemon.) Gallade who strolled beside her voiced an agreement. Craning her head forward she looked at Leafeon below her trotting a bit behind. Leafeon looked more interested in the bakery they were passing, her noise twitching rhythmically, then the rest of their surroundings. Today had been a slow day. Alice looked over to Gallade. "Hey, Gallade."
"Gal?"
"Please, don't . . . fight in my kitchen. K?" Gallade cocked its head. "With Darkrai? Please don't start with this rivalry thing." Gallade's features scrunched up and twisted its gaze to follow a passing flower pot, apparently finding it much more interesting.
They neared the steps now. Miriam sat close to the door on the stoop drawing with chalk, the house and some local pokemon helping her. Pup was trying to draw with a stick of chalk in his mouth only to keep stopping to lick vigorously at his lips but the strange taste lingered. "Miriam?"
"Hey Mommy!" She didn't look up from her drawings. "We're drawing flowers. I made one up, see! It's polka dotted."
"Where is everyone else?" She ever so slightly looked around. A weight that was eased by the slow day settled quickly on her shoulders.
"Daddy's in the study. Grandma's in the garden. With Chingling," she quickly added. Her mommy hopped up the front steps.
"I'll put the groceries away and after I talk to your father how about I come join you?"
"K!" She was still lost in her doodles.
Alice's smile didn't droop until she had the edge of the door nearly touch its frame. She walked away with Miriam's humming coming clearly through the gap.
Tonio leaned back deep into his comfy chair. A hand left the keyboard to stroke its patchy thread. He, Drifblim, and Swift unanimously decided to suspend their research that would mean Drifblim and Swift going out on their own far from their care until further notice. After Miriam had fallen asleep again for a needed nap Darkrai had gone into greater detail about these people and they fit the profile of a crime syndicate to the letter. For one they seemed to have no regard for the well being of the pokemon in their employ and captivity. There were some blurry spots in his explanation. Even though Alice had been working with him he still couldn't pass some language barriers. He seemed almost stubborn to. Tonio glanced towards the dark-type pokemon standing in the corner by his bookshelves seemingly lost in a book the way he was holding it. I wonder if he can read?
"Tonio, why is Miriam out front?" Her husband twirled around in that old chair quickly to face her.
"Oh, Honey! You're back!" He shifted side to side in the chair trying to see behind her, ignoring her stare. "You didn't find what you were looking for at the store?"
"Tonio."
"Uh, she's fine. See?" He gestured towards one of the computer screens that showed Miriam from an aerial view. His voice softened and consciously made sure he faced away from the windows, "I've been monitoring her from here and I've already hinted to the pokemon that something maybe wrong and to look out for danger. They wouldn't allow her to come to harm whether I hadn't implied to look out for her or not."
"I . . . well, I'll go put these away first. I'm going back out there with her."
"Okay. We got to make it seem nothing has changed."
Alice didn't have to think much to find the cabinet, not even a moment and she found herself staring at the dull white of the cabinet door. Her hand rested loosely on the cool metal of the knob. She stood there, mostly dwelling on her husband's words, Darkrai's words, everything. She paused at the closet's door. Its soft white needed to be repainted soon. Some areas on the door's corners were chipping. Inside she stopped above the case. That weight had brought friends for revenge. She wanted to let her shoulders drop to the floor, let her worries slip off. Her little girl was growing up just hopefully not too soon.
