(It's time for another Poke-fic! Think of this as a sequel to Ranger's Trials, written primarily with Cody the Worldwalker. Let's get started!)
It was two weeks after the arrest of Giovanni and defeat of Team Rainbow Rocket, where the rangers were enjoying a nice trouble free day in Alola. Aubrey was training with Isabella, and Finn was currently doing maintenance work. Vanessa was making sure her medical supplies were in order and in her mind all was right with the world.
No more extradimensional Pokemon causing havoc, her and her partner have a whole region they are in charge of safety wise and they have two new recruits who are shaping up to be great Rangers in their own right. Finn would soon join Vanessa in the infirmary.
"Hey Van. How was your trip to Sinnoh with Brey?" He asked.
"Pretty great!" Vanessa answered. "Showed her around, met up with my Sister. We had a good time. Even climbed up Mt. Coronet."
"You have a sister?" This was news to the Unova native.
"Yeah. She works for the Sunyshore power department," Vanessa informed.
"Ah. Well, I'm sure you know by now, but during the time you and Brey were gone, we found our new champion in Alola. Your friend Hau won Kukui's tournament," Finn responded. "Was a pretty tense final match between him and Guzma."
"Huh. Figured it might have been Hau," Vanessa mused.
"He came in here the day he won hoping to tell you two personally. Told him I'd pass on the message." Finn rolled his shoulders, hearing Aubrey and Isabella coming back from training.
"Got ya." Vanessa would turn her attention to the other two.
"Hey partner!" Aubrey waved, sporting a bright smile but the two of them looked a little bruised, evidence of them having a hard fought spar.
"Do I need to look over you two for bruises?" Vanessa asked.
"Nah, we're fine luv," Isabella reassured her.
"You can if you want for me," Aubrey responded. "Since that's what we always do anytime after a fight."
"Okay, let me look you both over then." At Vanessa's request, Aubrey would take a seat with a casual smile.
"Oh, alright." The Galarian wasn't as amused as Aubrey was, but compiled regardless.
So Vanessa would look the both of them over and find them no worse for wear. "Okay good." She sounded relieved.
"You've always told me it's better to be safe than sorry anyway," Aubrey mentioned. When Finn told her the news of Hau being champion, the Summerland native lit up. "Oh man! He and I have to battle someday! Let the two champs of Alola clash!"
"I'd look forward to that battle," Finn mused.
"Should be a good one!" Isabella smiled.
"So wanna see something we picked up in Sinnoh?" Vanessa offered.
"I don't mind at all," Finn agreed. "What do you have for us?"
"This!" Vanessa would pull out a Box and open it up and pull out a Poffin making machine.
"A Poffin maker!" Rotom's voice was heard. "Can you make some for me, zzt? Even I gotzzz to eat!"
"Sure, Rotom!" Vanessa agreed. "What flavor do you like?"
"Spicy, zzt!" Rotom answered.
"Okay then!" Vanessa would head into the living quarters with the other three and get some Cheri Berries and put them into batter she prepared, mixing it up with the help of her Pokemon.
"So what exactly are Poffins?" Finn wondered.
"Oh they are baked goods made in this machine for Pokemon," The Sinnoh native informed. "They love them a lot and it actually changes their contest stats when they eat them."
"...Wha?" Aubrey blinked in confusion. "There's trackers for that?"
"Surprisingly yes," Her partner bluntly answered.
"I don't even know if stuffing your face full of food could make you cooler..." Aubrey rubbed the back of her head. "Or anything like that."
"I think it affects their coat…" Vanessa paused, thinking about it. "Here, why don't you three try?"
The other three would take their attempts at making Poffins. Aubrey would try making some from berries that Vatonage picked out for her, those being Persim Berries, and she'd take it slow in trying to cook Poffins without ruining them. They'd turn out to be of average quality, not that Vatonage minded. He really enjoyed eating the sweet Poffins, doubly so since Aubrey was making them.
Finn on the other hand, settled for Oran Berries in following Vanessa's example for the Poffins she was making for Rotom. Again, average quality, but it was clear this was his first time making something like this in how he was making the Poffins.
Isabella on the other hand…had a less desirable result.
"...Awww…" Isabella frowned, her Poffins currently ablaze.
Vanessa stared in shock. "...How are they on fire!?"
"I've only ever made soup before…" Isabella admitted.
"You wanna Target Clear this one, partner?" Aubrey asked with a puzzled expression.
"You're the Water-type specialist, that's all you," Finn had a serious expression. "And here I thought I'd be the one to botch the cooking."
"Oh I'm already on that." Vanessa would call out her own Partner Pokemon, Gastrodon. "Gastrodon, please put that out." The Sea Slug Pokemon would douse the burning Poffins, just in time for Rotom to appear, ready for his non-burnt Poffins. "There there." She patted Isabella's back as Rotom ate his Poffins.
"Mmm...zzt zzt zzt! We have a winner!" Rotom beamed at Vanessa's cooking.
"If Van and I are ever out camping, I just let her handle the food," Aubrey mentioned. "I handle setting up camp with the tent and all that."
"I can tell…" Isabella was crying anime tears at Rotom's indifference to her culinary plight.
"You've really only made soup before?" Aubrey wondered. "I don't really have a whole menu like Van does, I just make whatever comes to mind."
"Well, I never really did any cooking at the Isle of Armor. I kinda just watched Mistress Honey make the Max Soup…" Isabella admitted with a sweatdrop.
"The way you say that Brey makes me think you just wish for ingredients and they fall out of the sky," Finn snarked.
"Well obviously not, as cool as that'd be. I just use whatever we have on hand that's edible and go from there," Aubrey responded. "Van can tell you it's led to...well, it's led to unique combinations before."
"Oh yes." Vanessa shuddered. "Remember that time you got Stun Spore'd by those Foongus?"
"Uh...it's been a while?" The Summerland native responded. "Don't exactly remember everything from that..."
"This oughta be good." Finn took a seat, wondering how this happened.
"Hmm let's see. It was on that island when we were dealing with Stormshock. We found this forest and we were looking around for vegetables to eat. This one," She points at Aubrey. "gets a whole bunch of Mushrooms and does not realize she grabbed a Foongus."
"...Oh...right..." Aubrey looked down with a sigh.
"Oh, it's fine. It looked sheepish after it Stun Spore'd ya," Vanessa reassured her.
"Felt like a truck hit me afterwards. Laid me out for a while," Aubrey told the other two.
"I'm trying to wonder how you could make that mistake since Voltorbs can be mistaken for Poke Balls," Finn mentioned.
"Aubrey here has not really seen a lot of Pokemon outside of her home region," Vanessa explained.
"Yeah. Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. Everything else I'm not too well versed on," Aubrey confided. "But it was cool to see all the Pokemon that were here in Alola. I've learned a lot."
"That's good to hear. So what happened afterwards?" Finn wondered. "Being laid out like that in unfriendly territory sounds like risky business."
"Oh, we took the rest of that day off and I had to nurse Brey back to health in our cave hideout…" Vanessa frowned. "I do not miss that cave one bit."
"I don't either, it was cold and boring!" Aubrey exclaimed.
"Yup. It was either me and her hugging each other for warmth or we were working on evil plans for the bad guys," Vanessa confirmed.
"Least you kept me from going crazy," Aubrey softly smiled.
"Got anything else from Sinnoh you could do?" Finn wondered. "We could chill today with that."
"Hmm…let's see…" The Sinnoh native put a hand to her chin. "Well, other than the Contests and Amity Park, our biggest claim to Fame is the Grand Underground."
"Oh yeah, I've heard about that," Finn mused. "Mining is a big industry in the Sinnoh region."
"Yup, and get this. Pokemon are showing up in droves down there," Vanessa added.
"We were gonna make plans...eh, since there's been a lull in action, how about we plan a trek to the Grand Underground together?" Aubrey suggested.
"Ooh that sounds good," Vanessa agreed.
"We can probably find some good mons to help us out, Izzy and I," Finn mused. "Alright. Count me in."
"You know what? This sounds fun!" Isabella grinned, then paused. "...Now how do we get to Sinnoh quick from Alola?"
"Uh...I dunno. I didn't make the travel plans," Aubrey sheepishly confided.
"No offense, but how do you function without your partner?" Finn wondered more out of curiosity than any sort of malice.
"Next time you see Jake, ask him," The older Area Ranger answered plainly. "As long as I have someone with me to keep me on track, I can do anything."
"Yeah. I'll see if I can call in a favor…" Vanessa sweatdropped. For the remainder of the day, the quartet would spend their time preparing for a Sinnoh excursion to the Grand Underground. They'd settle in for bed without much incident, Aubrey being the last to go to bed as she made sure Skarmory was comfortable and Vatonage was sound asleep in his bed next to hers.
Neither Aubrey nor Vanessa could've planned for what would've happened as a voice was calling out to them in the middle of their beauty sleep.
"Welcome to my realm, located beyond time and space." A voice called out to them.
"Zzz..." Aubrey was still fast asleep, currently in a black tank top and white and gray flannel pajama pants.
Vanessa would let out a yawn, waking up and looking around, dressed in a shirt and lounging pants with Piplup patterns. She was taken aback by their surroundings, and Aubrey was still asleep. "Wha…Brey…wake up." Vanessa was alert as she was shaking Aubrey awake.
"Mmph...Vatonage, is everything okaaaaaaaaaay- where are we?" Aubrey took a moment to wake up and realize - they were not in Alola, not by a longshot. "Wha...where...where is everyone?"
"I have…no idea." Vanessa was just as confused as her partner, wondering where that voice they heard was coming from.
"It is well that thou both art here," The voice spoke, noting them both awake and for the most part, alert. "You may remember me as Arceus."
"...What." Aubrey flatly responded, blinking and rubbing her eyes. "I swear, if this is some prank Rotom is pulling..."
"L-Lord Arceus!? The Creator Himself!?" Vanessa went wide-eyed. Arceus pulled them in his realm? This was unbelievable.
"Indeed. This is no prank, rangers," The voice, identifying itself as Arceus, responded. "I have called upon you for something of great urgency."
"Sorry, hold on hold on...am I dreaming?" Aubrey was still in disbelief over what was happening. "Cuz like, I'm sure I'll wake up if I just pinch myself." She'd try just that, and find that she wasn't dreaming, much to her shock. "...Hueh!?"
"Forgive her," Vanessa spoke to Arceus. "This is a bit unbelievable from our perspective."
"As would it be for any other soul," Arceus responded, deciding to ditch the 'thous' and 'arts' in his speech. "Something has happened that threatens to rip the bond of people and Pokemon apart. Something that I do not wish to have happen. I am sending you two to the land of Hisui, which you, Vanessa, may recognize as your homeland."
"Hisui?" Aubrey looked to Vanessa for an answer. "What's he going on about? I've never heard of a Hisui region."
"Sinnoh used to be called that if I remember right…" Vanessa then paused in realization of what Arceus was doing. "Wait a second, you're sending us back in time? Won't Lord Dialga get mad at that?"
"Dialga is going to have to get over it considering the circumstances," Arceus deadpanned.
"I'm guessing time is, ironically, of the essence here?" Aubrey wondered.
"Indeed," Arceus answered. "Hence the drastic measures I'm taking here."
"Well, you are his father, so I will take your word for it," Vanessa responded. "So something is threatening the bond between people and Pokemon, eh? That does sound right up our alley."
"I take it you will seek out the source of this disturbance and see to its resolution, is that right?" The Alpha Pokemon wondered.
"Uh...one question. Won't everyone we know freak out if we just vanished without a trace?" Aubrey brought up.
"Worry not, Aubrey. I will take care of that," Arceus reassured. "If there is anything else you need, let me know. Otherwise, I shall send you both on your way."
"Hmm. Very well…mind if we have our uniforms first?" Vanessa requested. "Not exactly going to save the world in our pajamas."
"And uh...where's our Stylers? I think we're gonna need those," Aubrey added.
"Very well." There was a moment of silence before a bright light enveloped both rangers, the two of them being changed out of their pajamas and into their ranger uniforms.
As for their Stylers, the models would be the same as they used save for a few differences. The Stylers would take on a white coloration with gold trim, and the Capture Disc sported a small ring similar to the one that Arceus had. The main difference between the two, aside from the two different models, was on Aubrey's controller for the Capture Disc, the Z-Crystal that Tapu Koko had gifted her was embedded on the device.
"Here, these are your Arc Stylers," Arceus spoke. "There will be Pokemon that otherwise cannot be calmed by your Stylers as they were. You will know them when you see them. These will help you calm their frenzies. The one Vanessa wields has a few other helpful features as well."
"So I still have this old model while she gets the fancy tech stuff?" Aubrey frowned, but then noticed her Z-Crystal.
"Not exactly. In times of great urgency, try striking a Z-Pose. It will take a lot of your stamina to do, but could very well turn the tides if used properly," Arceus responded.
"Well, not like the Keystone is going to be helping me here unless I can find a Pokemon and a matching Mega Stone to use it with," Vanessa mentioned.
"Oh...right..." Aubrey rubbed the back of her head.
"I cannot send you back until you set things right." A golden set of rings would be forming below them as the two felt the feeling of solid ground not being below them anymore. "Now go. May you both find success on this mission. DEUS VULT."
Upon realizing they were now in freefall, Aubrey took a moment to catch herself before looking down at the golden rings portal like she was skydiving, headfirst and eyebrows furrowed, now feeling ready for this grand quest from Arceus.
"Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Vanessa screamed, having a different, more rational reaction to the feeling of free falling without a parachute.
When the sun rose in Alola, Isabella would be awoken by a pawing on her door, belonging to Vatonage. She could tell he sounded upset about something.
"What's wrong, buddy?" The Galarian asked, answering her door. "Are you hungry and Aubrey still out cold?"
Vatonage shook his head, a panicked look in his eyes. "Umb umbre! Umbre umb umb!" He ran over to Aubrey's door, pushing it open to show a horrifying sight - Aubrey was nowhere to be seen, as well as her Capture Styler missing.
"...What the bloody hell?" Isabella had a look of shock at first before loudly shouting, "...FINN GET YOUR ARSE UP HERE NOW WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY!"
Finn would be quick to respond, showing that he was fully aware of the situation. "You noticed Vanessa was missing too?" He asked.
"Vanessa? Aubrey's missing!" Isabella exclaimed, before paling. "...Wait, SHE is gone too?!"
"When I woke up this morning, I noticed she wasn't in her room," Finn explained. "I assumed she went out for a morning jog or something, but seeing Vatonage in a panic like this...this is troubling."
"Umbre..." Vatonage whimpered, head and tail lowered in concern.
"What the bloody hell is happening…" Isabella shook her head, taking a moment to compose herself. "Okay, we need to look around. Maybe they had to leave in a hurry or something."
"I'll check with Rotom to see if the security footage can't tell us anything," Finn decided. "See if you can get a search started for them. It's not like Aubrey to leave and not bring her 'kid' along."
"Right. I'll see if anyone in town spotted them, and if not, I'll get help from one of those Lillipup nearby and see if they can sniff out a scent," Isabella responded.
Finn knelt down to rub Vatonage's head. "It's gonna be alright. We're going to find where they went."
"Umb umbre..." The Umbreon looked up at them with expectant eyes as they went to work.
Outside, Isabella was looking around outside asking any local who looked like they were not busy if they had spotted Aubrey or Vanessa recently. She would soon run into a very familiar face who was heading to the Ranger Station. Jake Hagguire who had a concerned expression on his face as he made quick paces.
"Oh, hey Jake," Isabella greeted. "What's up? You look worried."
"Oh great to see you Izzy. Um... did you hear from Aubrey today? I was calling to give her a heads up. I was bringing some malasadas over as a treat today but she didn't respond. She always responds at this hour!" He pulled out a box of tasty looking malasadas for reference.
"Ah...crud." Isabella frowned. "Her and Van just vanished…I was about to go and find some local Lillipup to track them down via scent."
"Vanished? What...? Vanessa too? Sheesh, this must be something serious then..." Jake blinked in surprise, looking nervous. "Have you gone to the Ranger's Station yet? I was just about to check that place out."
"Well, we live there sooooooo…yes," The Galarian deadpanned.
"Huh...okay, let's find a Lillipup then." Jake agreed. "Although I don't think it's going to help as far as if they went to another region or something…"
"Yeah…it was what I figured might work if they were still on the island," Isabella responded.
Isabella would soon get a message from Finn. 'Come back to the HQ as soon as you can. I think I have a clue on who might've taken our bosses.' The message read.
"And it looks like we have a lead. Thanks Finn." Isabella's mood picked up.
"That's good to hear. Let's get on it then!" Jake exclaimed. When the two arrived back at HQ, Finn was at the receptionist desk.
"So I was looking over the security footage with Rotom, and I can safely say they were taken around five AM last night..." He would pull up the relevant footage - one moment, the two were sound asleep in bed, but in the course of a couple frames, they were magically whisked away and not visible on the camera anymore.
Isabella stared at the screen silent for a moment. "...So…what? They got kidnapped by a Psychic-type?"
"It's hard to say, since I haven't been able to see anything like that on screen. But it would explain why Rotom didn't sound the alarm on a break-in," Finn responded.
"Huh…now…who could have done this…" The Galarian closed her eyes in thought.
"I think...it must've been something with far greater powers than the average kidnapper," Jake guessed.
"That would explain why their Capture Stylers were missing too. Everyone who knows us rangers knows that once you're assigned a Capture Styler, it only works when you're the one using it," Finn agreed. "There's hardly any worth for them in the hands of a regular thief."
"Right." Isabella nodded.
"But why would they be kidnapped? And for what? Maybe to save an alternate universe...?" As far as Jake knew, there weren't any active enemies of the rangers out there who could do this. For heroics was the only explanation he could think of.
Through an open window, a paper airplane would fly in on the desk, but before they could see who it was, the person responsible zipped away.
"...An anonymous tip? Interesting..." Finn undid the paper airplane to see it was a few sheets of paper in Unown writing.
"Huh…and written in Unown?" Isabella looks out the window, seeing Mesprit flying off. "...Huh...did we do anything to warrant Mesprit being a messenger?"
"I don't think we did, but rather, Brey and Van did," Finn mused, translating the message.
"Oh Finn you kidder, the only thing that can do that is Arceus…" The Galarian's skin paled when she realized what she had said. "Oh my."
"Yeah...it's all making sense now." The Unovan had finished translating the Unown letters, reading out what the message said. "'To Whom it May Concern, do not be alarmed. Aubrey Bradford and Vanessa Parker are not kidnapping victims or anything of the sort. There has been a disturbance in the past of Sinnoh that threatens the very bond of Pokemon and people, and as such, I have recruited Alola's Area Rangers to solve the problem. While I cannot bring them back until this issue is resolved, I write this to assure anyone that they will be safe. -Arceus'"
"ARCEUS!?" Jake shouted in shock. "Really? Well...okay then, but are Aubrey and Vanessa going to be really ok that far back? Who knows what ancient Sinnoh was like."
"I could do some searching to see where they are," Finn offered. "There was a name on the message here that was separate from the meat of what it was saying. Hisui..."
".. Huh...yeah that sounds like a plan, Finn," Isabella responded. "I'll keep an eye on things around here while you do that."
"I think we're going to need more troops for this mission if you ask me. Why not call Key up and let her know what's happened?" Jake suggested.
"I'll get her on a video call right now." The Unovan would send a call out to Key, and she'd respond in a timely manner, the background looking like her home - an upscale apartment in Celadon City.
"Allo there!" Key waved. "Long time no see, Jake. How's Alola been treating you?"
"Pleasant as ever!" Jake responded. "So hey, Key, there's something that's come up that is a bit concerning but we know what's going on with it. I thought maybe you'd like to help us in figuring out what can be done."
"What is that 'something'?" The merchant looked puzzled.
"Aubrey and her partner Vanessa got whisked away to ancient Sinnoh by Arceus on some secret 'protect the bonds of Pokemon' mission," The Hoenn native explained.
Key visibly paused at hearing this, tilting her head to the side. "Eh, heh heh...they were what?"
"Arceus is the one that sent them," Finn bluntly answered.
"Arceus himself!?" Key exclaimed. "And they were sent into the past...okay. Do you need me to go after them for you?"
"I mean.. if you want?" Isabella didn't know how to respond to Key's offer.
"Can you...? I mean that'd be great for a third party to join them but you surely have a life of your own now, right?" Jake wondered.
"I do. But this concerns me just as much as them," Key explained. "Sevii Mercantile got to where it is in the business world with both the cooperation of people and Pokemon. Without them, I wouldn't have this cushy living situation with my folks across the hall. Plus, I really do like my Pokemon. I'd hate to be separated from them..."
"Very true, Key," Jake mused. "Well then, I'm not sure how you'll get to Hisui on your own but you can come to Alola and we can devise something probably."
"Once I inform my employer of where I'm going, I'll be over as soon as I can!" Key smiled.
"You must have a very lenient boss if they allow you to go around as you please," Finn remarked.
"Of course I do! He's respectful of my talents and as such, gives a bit more elbow room to those such as myself," The merchant giggled. "I'll be seeing you all later!" With that, she hung up. Key knew she would have to go into Hisui prepared. She wasn't going to let her friends down, and when Aubrey was concerned…she needed to be honest about something. As for what it is, it is left unsaid as Key prepares for her journey.
(Yeah so, the reason this story exists is because I literally predicted the plot of this game's premise. Sent back in the past on a mission from God - the only thing I didn't predict was Arceus's mission actually being to do the thing the Pokemon professors have been trying to get me to do since I was nine years old and filling out the Pokedex. So yeah, Aubrey and Vanessa are back in the saddle!
BTW, I have a Tropes page for Ranger's Trials, but I…haven't been the best at filling it out. I want to give a shout-out to LogBook for setting that up, and if anyone wants to add to it, feel free to! I welcome any and all helpful contributions to that since I have a lot I want to get done in life. Next time we'll start the adventure in Hisui proper! Bye for now!)