A/N: Things start to get rather interesting in this chapter! See what might happen in Pueltown!
A/N: I don't own Pokemon!
Ranger School: Going to Pueltown
"Hmmm…since those Pokéballs contain the Pokémon that were on campus, then Kincaid must've released the Pokémon at Pueltown." Wendy asked as Luana sighed.
"I'm surprised that tyrant would do something like that. I always forget…how did he release them from their Pokéball after dropping them off?" Luana asked as Wendy shrugged.
"I know how…one way people can get rid of Pokémon after letting them out of a Pokéball is by destroying the capturing device. It'll make the Pokémon no longer belong to a Trainer once that's done." Kellyn said.
"Wow…Kincaid really went all out to make us miserable. But…no matter, I have an idea…if you guys want, we can all head over to Pueltown after classes are over and retrieve some of the Pokémon that were released!" Wendy said.
"If we were in high school then I'd say that would be a risky idea since we'd most likely get suspended if we got found out. But…we're in Ranger School and we'll be dealing with Pokémon and people daily once we graduate regardless. Getting a head start is the best thing, plus getting back at Kincaid would be good too! I'm in!" Luana said.
"That sounds like a good idea, let's do it!" Kellyn said.
"Alright, we're all on board! I'll see you guys later then, where do we meet up?" Luana asked.
"How about outside the area Kellyn and I have our extracurricular activities to do?" Wendy asked.
"Perfect, sounds like a plan! I can't wait for us to do this together!" Luana said as Wendy gently nudged her friend.
"Say Luana, is your boyfriend coming along?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, he is! Aside from the two classes I got in the morning, Marcus and I spend the rest of the day together! You'll like him Kellyn, he's a really nice guy!" Luana said.
"I'm glad for that, considering how good of a friend you are, it makes sense Marcus would also be nice." Kellyn said as Wendy smiled.
"I'm not, in fact, it'll be nice to spend time with you…or, er…both of you guys! Especially since we'll be trying to get some Pokémon back on campus!" Kellyn said as he blushed.
"Well it'll be nice having you along, especially since we'll need to really use someone reliable! Let's head to class before we end up going late!" Wendy said as the two began walking.
'It's interesting how excited I was to go to Pueltown with Wendy. I mean, now Luana's coming along but at the very least, I'll see the area and help out Pokémon! Just what I need to improve my skills for when I become a Pokémon Ranger!' Kellyn thought.
Soon after, the two reached their next class with a few minutes to spare and soon headed inside, with a few students at their desks talking amongst themselves. The duo took their seats and the professor soon entered carrying a notepad.
"Hello class, nice to see all of you again! Let's go ahead and get started now!" The professor said.
For the first half of the class, the professor showed the five levels of Burn by presenting one of each kind of Pokémon associated with the flames' ferocity. Then, the professor sent out five Water Pokémon to combat each different level of flame.
"Okay, so this is very important, though this is more or less common sense. Let's say you're in a volcano and there's a pillar of flame blocking your way. Depending on the size of the flame, it may require a Pokémon that can use the Field Move Soak, and potentially, that flame can be level three. Now if you have a Feraligatr, which can use a level five Soak as its Field Move, then you can just use that Pokémon to clear the path. You don't need to look elsewhere for a Pokémon meeting the exact requirement of that Field Move. However, if you have a Squirtle, which can use Soak One, and a Croconaw, which uses Soak Two, then you can't combine the two Pokémon to make your Field Move Soak Three." The professor said as he randomly picked a student to do the demonstration.
Afterwards, a student showed the entire class what needed to be done to conduct a Field Move on flames safely. The student also showed that combining two Field Moves into a stronger Field Move wouldn't work at all. Once the demonstration was finished, the class was over and students left the room. Luana, Wendy and Kellyn also left the classroom and walked down the hallway for a short time before Luana tapped Wendy on the shoulder.
"Alright guys, I'll be seeing you two when you're finished with your extracurricular classes! I won't be heading to the library though; I'll hang out with Marcus nearby while we wait for you guys!" Luana said.
"Sounds good to me, see you soon Luana!" Wendy said as the peppy woman ran off.
Kellyn and Wendy continued to walk for some time, while the latter began to talk about plans for when they go to Pueltown.
"So I'm sure as you know, Pueltown is a rather large area, and you haven't been there before, so to make things simple, we'll travel as a group to gather as much Pokémon as we can!" Wendy said.
"Oh? Since we're Student Rangers, how many Pokémon can we have with us?" Kellyn asked.
"The most Pokémon one of us can have is two. We can always have me, Luana or Marcus drop off the Pokémon at the Ranger School two at a time. The reason I'm wary of you going by yourself is because Pueltown is a bit confusing and you could get lost, then I'd just end up worrying about you." Wendy said.
"You'd be worried about…me? Well…thank you…" Kellyn said as a blush formed on his face.
"You're welcome, in all honesty, the place is a little daunting for me as well, but since we're going as a group, it'll be more manageable!" Wendy said as the two reached their respective classes.
"That's true, I'm glad to be coming along with you Wendy, and everyone else of course! If I finish before you, then I'll just wait outside!" Kellyn said as Wendy grinned.
"Sounds good to me, see you soon!" Wendy said.
The two of them headed into their respective classrooms as Kellyn looked around, noticing Keith had reached the classroom prior to him. Kellyn eagerly said hello to Keith while the latter responded back as Kellyn went up to him.
"Hi Kellyn, ready for some rock climbing?" Keith asked.
"Hi there Keith, sure, I'm ready!" Kellyn said as the two got hooked up to their harnesses.
After spending around half an hour rock climbing, Kellyn and Keith took a bit of a breather as they wiped sweat from their foreheads.
'This guy doesn't give up…he'll be a tough one to beat.' Keith thought.
"Not too bad on the rock climbing! Want to head back up again?" Keith asked.
"Sure, we'll keep up the pace!" Kellyn said.
As the two continued their rock climbing, a thought crossed Keith's mind.
'He's been close with Wendy recently…in fact, they get along rather well. I'm surprised someone as cowardly looking as him could even get anyone to be his friend. I should ask Kellyn how they got to know each other; I have to know!' Keith thought.
"Hey Kellyn, I got a question…how did you and Wendy get to know one another?" Keith asked as Kellyn gave a sheepish grin.
"It's funny you mention that, Wendy spoke to me first and to be honest…I was surprised…" Kellyn said.
"Oh really? Why is that?" Keith asked.
"It's because most people never really would give me a second glance…so when she did, I was happy. Still…I was hesitant because in the past, some people would pretend to be nice and then end up taking advantage of me later." Kellyn said.
"That's really horrible, sorry you went through something like that." Keith said as Kellyn blushed.
"I'm really lucky to have someone as amazing as her be my friend." Kellyn said.
"Good, sounds like you found yourself someone who really cares about you." Keith said as the two continued their rock climbing.
'So that's why I always see the two of them together. In that case, having Linda flirt with Kellyn anytime Wendy is around or not would be perfect! The fact that Wendy genuinely wants to be his friend means I can exploit that…' Keith thought.
Eventually, the two were exhausted and finished up with their activity, with some of the students already being gone. Keith said goodbye to Kellyn and left the classroom, with the latter cooling off as he caught his breath.
'Phew…good thing I always wear deodorant…I know Luana wouldn't really care how I smelled, but I wouldn't want Wendy thinking that I don't care about my appearance or anything. I really do care about her, and even though I've known her for such a short time, she's really come through for me.' Kellyn thought as he exited the classroom.
Kellyn walked down the hallway for a bit and came across Wendy's classroom. Luckily for both of them, Wendy came out of the classroom and Kellyn hurriedly went up to her as they began to walk side by side.
"Yes, we're all done for the day! Are you ready to go over to Pueltown?" Wendy asked.
"Sure, let's get Luana and Marcus, then we can get going!" Kellyn said as the aforementioned people came down the hallway, hurrying up once they saw Wendy and Kellyn.
"Hi there guys, we're here! Kellyn, meet Marcus!" Luana said as Kellyn shyly waved hello.
"Hello Kellyn, pleasure to meet you!" Marcus said.
"U-um…hi there Marcus, it's nice to meet you too." Kellyn said as Wendy smiled.
"Well now that we're acquainted, let's head over to Pueltown since it's starting to get dark already! Lead the way, Wendy!" Luana said.
"Alright, this is an unofficial mission…but we're Student Rangers! We'll make this a good one, so let's work as a team!" Wendy said as the quartet headed out of the building as a cloaked figure lurked nearby.
'…Leaving campus isn't a concern…but…an unofficial mission huh? Interesting…let me follow them.' The person thought as they vanished into the shadows.
Later, the group of four had left the campus and were soon on their way into Pueltown, chatting along the way. Kellyn and Marcus were a little bit behind Wendy and Luana, just out of earshot as they continued to travel.
"So Kellyn, I know you haven't heard too much about me from Luana aside from me being her boyfriend and all, but I hope to become friends with you. Our schedules might be different from each other, but if you're okay with it then I don't think there's anything wrong with us getting to know one another, right?" Marcus asked.
"I…I agree, we can be friends…" Kellyn said as Marcus smiled.
"Great, it'll be nice getting to know you!" Marcus said as Luana nudged Wendy.
"Sounds like the two of them are getting along, huh?" Luana asked as Wendy grinned.
"They do, and I'm happy to see them chatting considering they just met. I remember that Marcus was the exact opposite of Kellyn when you guys first met, wasn't he?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, he came up to us when we were doing a tour of the Ranger School before we managed to enroll; you gave me some space so we could chat, but you still stayed within earshot in case anything happened. I was worried he'd be one of those guys who likes to show off or act all tough, but I'm glad he wasn't like that at all! He's such a sweetheart…plus I'm glad I got to come to this school of course!" Luana said.
"I'm happy you found yourself such a nice guy! As for Kellyn, I really enjoy being around him, he's a great listener and is more soft-spoken. I enjoy having conversations with him." Wendy said.
"Oooh, interesting! You two are getting to know one another really well huh?" Luana asked.
"We are, and I'm glad for that! Still, what I'll do is take it nice and easy; you know? I don't want to rush anything in case Kellyn ends up getting a crush on me, then we'd both be hurt." Wendy said.
"Exactly, that's the smart approach! Once you're certain Kellyn's developed some feelings for you, then that'll be when you ask him out! He might be more reserved, but…everyone's got their telltale signs, so don't you worry." Luana said.
"You're right, I'm going to focus on strengthening our friendship first. Slow and steady is the best approach, I'll just make sure not to take too long on making a move!" Wendy said as Luana giggled, while Kellyn and Marcus continued to acquaint themselves with each other.
"By the way Kellyn, if you ever need any advice or help with anything, you can feel free to let me know." Marcus said.
"Well…there is one thing I'm curious about. Maybe you can help me with it?" Kellyn asked.
"Sure, what is it?" Marcus asked.
"I…have a crush on someone." Kellyn said as Marcus moved a bit closer.
"Ohh? A crush hm? Who's the lucky lady?" Marcus asked as Kellyn blushed.
"W-well she's someone who I came to know very recently…she's very friendly and caring, so I really appreciate her. We haven't been friends for long but…I'd be lying if I said I didn't get some romantic feelings for her already." Kellyn said.
"There's nothing wrong with that, after all, you'll be able to form a closer friendship with Wendy and possibly start a romantic bond! Of course, getting to know her a little better would be good, so take it slow with her…I'm sure you've noticed how interested she is in you!" Marcus said.
"I have…but I'm much too shy. I mean, I'd love to get into a relationship with Wendy once I know her better. I'm just worried she wouldn't want to take it slow with me…" Kellyn said as Marcus chuckled.
"I see…so that's your concern, hm? Well, I've mainly interacted with Luana, but from what I could tell when I did hangout with both of them, is that Wendy isn't the type to go after any guy. She's interested in the more reserved and quiet types, rather than loud showoffs. From what Luana told me, Wendy's been rejected quite a few times before Ranger School, which really dampened her spirits; so when she saw you appreciate her company with open arms, even as you two spent the past few days with one another…well, you could imagine how overjoyed she was." Marcus said.
"So I really am Wendy's type…that's reassuring, I can't wait to know her better!" Kellyn said as Marcus smiled.
"It's nice to see someone so happy…hah, Kellyn, look up ahead, we're at Pueltown!" Marcus said.
The four reached Pueltown's entrance, with Kellyn taking in the sights of the bustling metropolis, adorned with skyscrapers. Kellyn marveled at the area, as it was a big comparison to the Fiore region, which didn't have many skyscrapers around. Standing underneath a nearby tree was the same cloaked figure holding a camera, aiming it at the quartet as they stood around discussing what to do.
"Okay, now there we're here, it's time to head into Pueltown and get some Pokémon! Then we'll bring them back to the Ranger School!" Wendy said.
"Good, it'll be no problem since it's not like we're heading somewhere we're not supposed to be. Plus, Stylers in general don't allow us to attempt capture on a Pokémon already owned." Luana said.
"Sounds good to me." Kellyn said.
"Alright, then it's time to go!" Marcus said as they heard someone clear their throat behind them.
"Actually…you guys aren't going anywhere!" The person said as everyone turned around.
"Wait…Mr. Caplan?" Wendy said as they saw their teacher approaching them.
"Hi guys! Nice to see you outside of campus! So, what's this secret plan you've got?" Mr. Caplan asked.
The four students looked at each other, wondering which one would speak up first. Wendy decided to be the one to explain everything, as it was her plan to begin with, and she felt that she would take the brunt of any possible consequences rather than her friends.
'We all trust Mr. Caplan…he's a great instructor who cares about his students. But…is it possible that he would still tell Kincaid about us being around Pueltown? After all, if we're going to be bringing Pokémon from here to the Ranger School as soon as tomorrow, so it'll be obvious we're the main suspects since Mr. Caplan's already spotted us. Hrm…I don't know what to do…let me ask everyone else first.' Wendy thought as Kellyn noticed her anxiety.
"Uh…give us a quick minute Mr. Caplan!" Kellyn said as the quartet headed just out of earshot.
"Okay guys, we need to think of what to say to Mr. Caplan! Should we just be honest and tell him what we're doing? Or should we make up a story?" Wendy asked.
"I can understand why you're hesitant, but I think letting Mr. Caplan know would be the best thing." Luana said as Marcus nodded.
"Yeah, Mr. Caplan is a nice guy, we can trust him!" Marcus said.
"I know, however my concern isn't telling Mr. Caplan what we're doing, but if he'll go and let Kincaid know…then that's a problem." Wendy said.
"Hmm, I don't think that'll happen, Mr. Caplan's a nice guy, he's not a fan of Kincaid." Kellyn said.
"He doesn't like Kincaid…hm, if that's the case then we can let him know!" Wendy said as she waved the instructor over.
Mr. Caplan, curious as to what discussion the students had, was more than eager to come over. Pueltown had a lot of nightlife, so the instructor couldn't help but be puzzled when they needed a minute to converse in private. Aside from that, the instructor also knew none of them were the type to engage in going to rowdy parties or clubs that would happen outside of campus, especially the soft-spoken Kellyn.
"So guys, I have to ask, everything okay?" Mr. Caplan asked.
"Yes, we're okay! We figured we'd just head into Pueltown late tonight!" Marcus said.
"Well that's no problem, and I wasn't meaning to intrude, but I just saw you guys and figured I'd say hi! Though it is odd you're all going into Pueltown…especially as most businesses are closed." Mr. Caplan said.
"That is true…but, since you're here…we were wondering something; did the Ranger School have any Pokémon inside campus around a year ago?" Wendy asked.
"That's a rather odd question to ask, but yes, there were many Pokémon freely wandering campus as the students improved their skills with them. Basically, anything from simple Capture techniques to Field Moves was being used!" Mr. Caplan said as Wendy sighed.
"…We can't lie to you professor…this entire thing was my plan…I was thinking of a way to bring Pokémon back to the Ranger School, since I heard of how the Pokémon were brought to Pueltown around a year ago by Kincaid." Wendy said.
"Ah yes…I remember that. It was the most ridiculous thing Kincaid's done…none of the instructors agreed with it, yet he did it anyways!" Mr. Caplan said.
'Well the good thing is that he's not happy with Kincaid's decision, maybe Mr. Caplan wouldn't be opposed to tagging along with us!' Kellyn thought.
"Say…Mr. Caplan…would you like to accompany us?" Kellyn asked as his instructor smiled.
"Sure, I'd be delighted to! Now, you guys are on a dangerous mission of sorts since you'll be bringing Pokémon from Pueltown to the Ranger School. Kincaid's going to be furious once he discovers Pokémon wandering around…but you guys are doing this for everyone!" Mr. Caplan said.
"Exactly; what's a Ranger School without being able to bond and connect with Pokémon? Now, let's get going before it gets darker out!" Marcus said as the group of five made their way past Pueltown's gate.
Hidden in some bushes where they couldn't be seen lurked a figure, holding up a camera and quickly snapping a photo, making sure the flash was off beforehand.
'I'm glad I was smart enough to follow these clowns…however, I'm surprised a teacher is here as well. No matter, I'll keep a close eye on them throughout Pueltown, hidden in the shadows.' Linda thought as she began to follow them into the sprawling metropolis.
The group of five scoured through Pueltown in hopes of finding Pokémon that could be transferred from the metropolis to Ranger School. However, the whole city seemed to be desolate and quiet, with there being no people out in the center of town. Some parts of Pueltown that had dance clubs though, were extremely lively, and the team decided to avoid any of those areas since Pokémon wouldn't be around there. As Kellyn sat down to take a brief rest at one of Pueltown's parks, he noticed something making movements on the top of a spruce tree.
"Hm? Guys, I see something! It looks like a Staravia!" Kellyn said as the majestic Pokémon came swooping down towards them.
Luana didn't waste any time in getting her Styler out to make loops around the Pokémon, working quickly to capture it. The Staravia unleashed a few whirlwinds at the group, which they managed to dodge as Luana paused in her encircling. Eventually, the Student Ranger captured the Staravia and it flew close to the group before landing on the ground.
"Alright, Capture complete! What other Pokémon should we capture?" Luana asked.
"I think getting a few Bidoof, Starly and other Pokémon that are simple to capture would be good. After all, Student Rangers certainly need practice!" Mr. Caplan said.
"Good point, should we split up and find Pokémon on our own, or go in groups?" Marcus asked.
"Groups may not be as fast, but it's safer doing it that way!" Wendy said.
"Very true…how about we do this…Luana, Marcus and I will be one group, while Wendy and Kellyn is the second group? Does that work for everyone?" Mr. Caplan asked as both Kellyn and Wendy became flustered, while Luana tried to hold back her laughter.
"That's a great idea professor! Let's get rolling out before it gets more late!" Luana said.
Afterwards, the five of them split up into two groups, with Luana, Marcus and Mr. Caplan going one direction, while Kellyn and Wendy went another direction. After some time of the two walking in silence, Kellyn and Wendy encountered a trio of Bidoof wandering around and eating grass.
"Bidoof…they're pretty adorable looking Pokémon, let's go ahead and try capturing them quickly! You ready?" Wendy asked as Kellyn nodded.
"I'm ready, let's do this!" Kellyn said.
Kellyn went ahead and started making loops around two of the Bidoof while Wendy handled the third one. Upon noticing the Student Rangers, the Bidoof approached them and attempted to tackle the duo, with Kellyn and Wendy dodging out of the way. The two continued to dodge attacks as they continued encircling the Pokémon, and soon enough, the three Bidoof were captured. The Pokémon were registered in both of their Stylers and walked over to Kellyn and Wendy, receiving pats on their heads from the Student Rangers.
"Alright, good going Kellyn! These guys were a bit feisty, but that's to be expected since any Pokémon we capture enjoys giving us a challenge." Wendy said.
"Oh? So you mean even Pokémon that're docile like Bidoof might be more aggressive with us so we're always on our toes?" Kellyn asked.
"Well…that's what I gather. After all, there's very few Pokémon that are naturally aggressive, such as Beedrill or Magcargo; compared to Bidoof and Pichu for instance, who would actively play with people. Now…I notice that if I try to capture the latter two, then they would attack without fail." Wendy said as Kellyn nodded while they continued walking through Pueltown.
"I see, that makes sense…I think it's rather nice that the Pokémon we capture are giving their all so that we're always capable of doing our best." Kellyn said.
"Exactly. Now then, let's round up a few more Pokémon and see how the others are doing when we're done!" Wendy said.