And thus we come up on one of the more famous scenes! Had a lot of fun writing this towards the end!

Read, review, enjoy!

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Another sunshine filled day came to Almia. Kate was asleep in bed, dreaming wonderful things. Chia decided to spend the night with Wave; the two cuddled at the foot of the bed happily. Everything was calm and quiet. Such a nice morning.

"KATE! KATE WAKE UP!"

Well…it was, anyway. Kate rubbed her eyes as she tried to wake up. Chia and Wave flinched before rising to the rude awakening.

"Congrats kiddo! It happened! It finally happened!" Feather flew in the open window, onto Kate's bed. "I am so proud of you!"

"So what's the idiot blabbering on about now?" Wave yawned.

"Oh as if you didn't know!...wait…do you know?" Feather asked.

"Um, mutant trees are attacking downtown?" Chia joked. "Some guy's stuck in a well? Barn on fire?"

"No silly! It's buzzing through the ranger base and starting to spread through town!" Feather said. "Keith's got himself a new girlfriend! Aw man, I just wanted to wish you best of luck, Kate!"

The wingull dashed out the window in a frenzy. Kate sat up, trying to think over the news. Keith had a new girlfriend? Then maybe….YES! YES YES YES! Kate gasped and broke into a big smile. She grabbed the pokemon and hugged them tight in pure joy. The girl raced towards the mirror hanging over the dresser. No hair bands? Oh well. Kate smoothed her hair and tussled it to make herself at least a tiny bit appealing.

Not even changing out of pajamas, Kate rushed out of her room and down the hall. A quick run down the stairs and about to yank open the door to the main room of the base…

"Er, um, congrats Keith. I guess we were wrong about that mystery maiden. She does exist."

"She looks…nice."

Wait, what? Kate stopped. She peeked through the crack. The rangers and mechanic were there. Keith stood tall amongst them, focused and with a neutral look to his usually cheerful face. Next to him was a girl with blond, somewhat puffed hair wearing a pink & black dress. Her dark green eyes and smile were directed at Keith as the girl wrapped her arm around the redhaired ranger's.

No…no this couldn't be. Kate could hardly breathe. The room was spinning, causing Kate to lean against the wall. Wave and Chia appeared, looking through the door with confusion and worry.

"Well it's nice to meet you…er…" Crawford stumbled over his words.

"Rhythmi." Keith said in an odd tone. "Her name is Rhythmi."

"Ok Rhythmi, it's…wonderful to meet you." Barlow cleared his throat, unsure what to make of this.

"I was hoping we'd take her boating this evening." Keith told him. "Since you got that new boat in Pueltown now."

"Why not?" Luana shrugged, awkwardly confused as everyone else. "I guess we can, er, get to know your new girlfriend a little more."

GIRLFRIEND? Kate choked on air. That girl in there was Keith's girlfriend? So Kate was….she wasn't….it couldn't be….

Kate buried her head into her hands and ran off crying. Wave, concerned, was tempted to go run after Kate but Chia stopped him.

"Wait. Something's not right." Chia said, suspicious.

"We ought to thank you for saving Keith's life." Barlow spoke up. "It would be terrible to lose another ranger. And such a talented one like Keith."

Save Keith's life? The pokemon listened in.

"Going into a storm and helping Keith out of that ship crash was brave!" Elaine commented.

Hold on a darn second. That Rhythmi girl had nothing to do with the ship crash! It was Kate who rescued Keith! The blond jerk was taking all the credit! Now Keith was going for her cause he thinks he's been saved by that…that…

"That skank!" Chia hissed.

"Oh she's going down." Wave growled.

"I'll get some information." Chia said. "You go check on Kate."

Wave nodded and slipped away. Perfect opportunity came up right after. Elaine came back, passing Chia to her way to the kitchen. The rangers went out to handle patrols or any other potential quests needing to be done. Keith and Rhythmi remained in the room. The pokemon ran from the door and walked in.

"Keith! What the heck are you doing?" Chia questioned. "You're even stupider than I thought if you're seriously falling for this…this floozy!"

Rhythmi's look hardened into a stone cold glare at the pachirisu. Keith didn't react in any way, staring straight ahead.

"DUDE! LISTEN TO ME!" Chia snapped. "She didn't rescue you! Kate did!"

Nothing. Not even a blink.

"Fine." Chia sighed. "Didn't want it to come to this but you give me no choice. THUNDERBOLT!"

Chia unleashed a thunderbolt attack from her body. Rhythmi jumped back to avoid the hit that was placed on Keith. There was extra juice in the thunder, to make Keith jolt his brains back where they should be. But when Chia was finished, Keith remained as he was. Not even affected.

"What…?" Chia was taken aback. "B-but my thunderbolts always…."

Rhythmi snickered. "Nice try, you little rat. Seems as though I've got the upper hand."

"You…" Chia growled, hair prickling up. "Who are you and what have you done to Keith?"

"Keith, darling." Rhythmi purred. "Be a dear and control your pachirisu, kay?"

"Yes, Rhythmi." Keith said.

Keith reached down and picked up Chia. Chia, shocked by this, started to thrash and squirm about.

"Put me down! Hey! Keith! Come on, man!" Chia protested. "Put me back down!"

Chia tried to fire off more electricity but Keith was completely unaffected. The ranger slowly walked over to the mechanic's station, bringing out some chains. Chia yelped as Keith wrapped the chains around her and locked it tight.

"WAVE!" Chia cried out, panicking. "Wave please he-…!"

A gag was placed over the pachirisu's mouth. Nearby, Rhythmi smirked.

"Things are going to go my way." She said with a devious tone. "And a little electric rat won't be getting in my way."

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That evening, the ship set sail from Pueltown. Kate was offered to come with but she declined, pretending to be afraid of going on a ship. The rangers understood. They asked her to watch over the base till they came back. So Kate agreed but got changed into yesterdays clothes and went with to send them off. It crushed her to see Rhythmi cozying up to Keith. They were in a relationship; boyfriend and girlfriend. Keith loved someone else. He didn't love, or even like, Kate at all.

Once the boat was a good distance away, Kate fell to the quiet pier and started to cry once more. She huddled into a ball as the tears kept coming and coming. Wave listened to these shaky gasps and saw some of the stray tears slip by. He laid down next to her, stroking her leg. The buizel was depressed as well. Not only did his best friend lose her love, but Wave did as well. Ever since that fateful morning, Wave hadn't been able to find Chia anywhere. She was gone. Vanished. Disappeared without a single trace. What happened to his sweetheart? Where could she be?

The two friends mourned their losses on the pier. As they did, Feather was swimming high above the ocean. He hummed as he soared near the boat, feeling particularly happy after hearing the good news from this morning. Why not go congratulate Kate now? Feather swooped down to the deck. No Kate in sight. Weird. Not even Wave, Keith or Chia too. Maybe they were inside one of the cabins…?

"Mmmpth!"

Feather perched on the railing, hearing a noise from the stack of crates. Behind a crate was a steel cage and inside was Chia.

"Chia! Whatcha doin all chained up?" Feather asked. "A bit too inexperienced to play Houdini."

Chia tried to tell him but the gag was preventing her from doing so.

"I'm a bit lost here buddy." Feather scratched his head with his wing. "You mind repeating it?"

The pachirisu, annoyed, stomped up and down. She then used her tail to point down, signaling below the deck.

"Ohhhh. So you're playing hide and seek? And they're looking for ya?" Feather guessed. "I'll keep your secret safe!"

Chia would've smacked the bird if she could. Feather got up and flew a bit lower, hopefully able to catch a glance at the game under the deck.

"Don't I look beautiful? So glamorous with shine?"

Someone was signing? Kinda sounded like a familiar voice. Feather poked his head to an open window. Inside was a simple room with a bed, dresser and mirror. There was a blond girl who finished changing into a black dress with pink jewels on the straps.

"Things are working to my ultimate design!"

Rhythmi, the blond girl, snickered as a dark, evil look crossed her face. She twirled around, approaching the mirror.

"Soon I'll have that lil mermaid and the ocean will be mine!"

The girl stared into the reflection with a sinister laugh. Feather gasped as he saw Rhythmi's reflection was completely different; the pink haired witch.

"Lavana!" Feather whispered, realizing what was happening. "I-…I gotta warn Kate and Wave!"

After a few clumsy, startled wing flaps, Feather took off like a rocket back to Pueltown. He zoomed fast and furious as he began to panic.

"KATE!"

Kate stopped crying and looked to see Feather crash onto the docks. Wave seemed startled, giving the bird a weird look.

"K-Kate! I was flying! Well, no duh I was flying. B-b-but I saws a watch! No, no! I saw a witch! In the watch! No I saw a witch watching the mirror on the ship with a stolen set of voice pipes!" Feather stammered. "ARE YOU HEARING WHAT IM SAYING!"

"No. Can't say that we are." Wave tapped his paw impatiently.

"Keith is marrying the sea witch in disguise!" Feather exclaimed.

Oh no. Kate tensed up. Her mouth was open wide, covered by her hand.

"Are you sure about this?" Wave questioned.

"Absolutely! Have I been wrong before?" Feather asked. "Don't answer that. Have I ever been wrong when it really, truly mattered?"

Kate got onto her feet and stared out at the boat. It was already reaching the horizon. And the sun was too, inching its way slowly.

"Before the sun sets on the third day…"

This was it. Kate didn't have much time. Even if Keith didn't love her, she had to stop him from marrying that wicked witch! Before she the spell wore off! Kate jumped right into the water and tried to swim.

…right. Her legs weren't adjusted to this kind of swimming. Wave jumped in and helped Kate stay afloat.

"I'm getting Kate to that boat!" Wave said to Feather. "Do whatever you can to break those two apart!"

Feather gave a bird's wing salute and flew off. Wave started swimming and soon caught sight of lapras. He called out to the lapras, who quickly swam over.

"Lapras, I need another favor." The buizel said, trudging Kate through water. "Find the messenger horsea. Alert King Poseidon about Lavana and what's going on. Please hurry!"

Lapras agreed and quickly swam off. Wave used his strong tail to charge through the ocean, carrying Kate with him. Not exactly easy to carry her now that she had legs but the pokemon had to try. Time was of the essence.

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Keith came out onto deck, leading the way for Rhythmi. They walked past the others who gave Keith a round of congratulations (some a bit hesitant). Chia growled in her cage but Rhythmi kicked the cage, making the pachirisu silent. Keith was silent when he chose a spot for him and Rhythmi to sit. Rhythmi glanced to see that the sun was starting to touch the horizon line. She gave a small, confident grin.

Wait. There was a sound. Sort of like air planes about to dive.

Rhythmi looked up. Feather was leading a bunch of starly and pidgeys through the air. They charged, aiming straight at Rhythmi. She shrieked and jumped out of the way. They came back again, slashing her arms with their beaks & talons. More pokemon came on board as the rangers snapped to attention. Keith was the only who remained still as everyone went into action. Rangers tried to calm down the pokemon but were unsuccessful, even with stylers. Rhythmi was dodging multiple attacks.

A vaporeon and marill came to deck, spraying Rhythmi with water guns. A corphish pinched her nose causing her to scream but then was silenced by a shellos mud-shot to the mouth. Rhythmi spit out the mud and brushed it off, enraged by the attacks happening to her. Just as she was about to strangle a pokemon or two, spheals climbed on board. They took the blonde and bounced her from nose to nose like a ball.

Wave, after much struggle, managed to catch up with the ship. After Feather started the attacks, it slowed considerably and then stopped. Wave climbed to Kate's shoulders for a short break. Kate grabbed ahold of the ship and started to climb up to the deck.

At the same exact moment, Rhythmi was hurled into the crates, smashing them to pieces and revealing Chia in a cage. Kate and Wave made it to the top to gasp at the sight. Wave immediately took notice of Chia and raced over. Nothing like an iron tail to break the cage and slash through those chains.

"Wave!" Chia rubbed up against him, purring. "Thank goodness…"

"Chia, are you alright? Did she hurt you?" Wave asked, worried.

"I'm fine but we have to stop Rhythmi! She's hurting Keith!" Chia told him.

"That's not Rhythmi." Wave frowned towards 'Rhythmi'. "That's Lavana the sea witch. She's trying to stop Kate from getting that kiss."

"Then let's fight back." Chia said with determination.

Kate hopped over the railing and onto deck. She saw Feather peck at Rhythmi's head and pull on her hair. Wave jumped up and gave the witch a full out tackle attack. Chia then launched a thunder which fried Rhythmi right up.

"You brats!" Rhythmi snarled.

She lunged for pachirisu, only to be bitten by Wave. Rhythmi fell back as Feather grabbed a hold of a necklace. A necklace with a crystal shell.

"That shell! It has Kate's voice!" Wave exclaimed. "Feather! Grab it!"

"I'm trying!" Feather said with a mouthful of string.

"Let go you twit!" Rhythmi tugged on the necklace, trying to fend off the wingull. "It's mine!"

Rangers distracted with the swarms of pokemon needing to be settled down. They didn't see the real struggle take place. Kate watched, unsure what to do. But Wave and Chia seemed to. They snuck up behind Rhythmi and exchanged grins.

"WATER GUN!"

"CHARGE BEAM!"

With the combined power of water and electricity, the pokemon pair attacked Rhythmi from behind. Rhythmi screeched as she was hit. She let go of the shell which Feather snapped off. The shell was sent flying into the air, crashing at Kate's feet.

A gold glow was what remained. It slowly swirled up and around Kate; the sound of a singing note was getting stronger as it did. Keith's pupils went from gold to their regular color. He scrunched his eyes and grasped his head, feeling achy and disoriented. After a moment, he opened his eyes again. Keith watched as the glow rose up to Kate and was absorbed into her mouth. And from her mouth sang the note.

"K-Kate?" Keith gasped.

"Keith!" Kate exclaimed.

Keith dashed over, his heart aflutter and emotions sparking.

"Keith! Stay away from her!" Rhythmi snapped but in Lavana's voice.

The ranger took Kate's hands and looked into her eyes, finally grasping the truth.

"Y-you talk…that was your voice! You're the one I've been looking for…" Keith murmured.

"Keith…" Kate's eyes grew teary. "I wanted to tell you but I…I…"

She didn't finish. They were pulled into an embrace and leaned in close, foreheads touching. Their lips were just about to touch….

ZAP!

Lightning struck from the sky. As it did, the sun disappeared as night began. Kate felt her breath caught as something pained her legs. They were pulling towards each other like magnets and melting into a single shape. Kate slunk to the floor, with a mermaid tail under her dress. Keith stared with wide eyes, shocked beyond belief.

"WAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU'RE TOO LATE!"

Before all who saw, Rhythmi transformed in a pink and red puffs of smoke. She ripped through the old human disguise, revealing herself to be Lavana the sea witch. Lavana slithered over, laughing manically. She shoved Keith aside, grabbing Kate and Wave.

"So long, ranger." Lavana huffed, smirking. "Too bad our little fling didn't last."

With another fit of laughter, Lavana took her hostages and plunged into the ocean.

"KATE!"

"WAVE!"

Keith and Chia leaned over the railing, staring into the water where their loves disappeared.

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Wave: Why the heck do I get captured?

Find out soon enough! I've got the next chapter coming up very very very quickly!

Wave: *pouts*

Oh and a note? I do refer to Lavana as Rhythmi while in disguise. Just seemed less confusing to me personally. Can't go switching back and forth all the time.