"Mmm," I moaned, stretching my limbs as my team and I exited the communal baths, at the Lily of the Valley Island's Ranger Headquarters, after a long training session. "That felt good!"
"Em-leon!" My Empoleon agreed.
While the rest of my pokemon simply nodded their heads or moaned back. Nothing felt better than a good long hot bath after an arduous training session.
"That's true," even Sarah agreed with me!
Ever since the capture of Hunter J we were moved to the principal Ranger Headquarters in Sinnoh, to form part of the force in charge of the hunt of Galactic Team. Now, there was nothing to do, other than some surveillance work and training. Not that I was expecting anything more, Ace Ranger Ash has only been in Sinnoh for a couple of months.
As good as I know he is, even someone like me knows better than to ask for miracles. Especially, after the information leak.
So, we train. My Empoleon against Sarah's Infernape. My Weavile against her Mr. Mime. Her Medicham against my Machamp. Her Bronzong and Gyarados against my Gengar and Luxray. My Honchkrow against her Togekiss.
Having various fights at the same time, some with type advantage and some with type disadvantage keep our skills fresh for the battlefield. Where you have all your pokemon out fighting multiple enemies, you must be very focused and take note of everything. Not to mention, that your pokemon need to learn to be able to fight and help the team on their own.
That was something Ash's pokemon are notoriously known for. After fighting alongside his Primeape and Sceptile I did not doubt that fact. Especially, after hearing the report from the rangers that worked with the other teams, praising how Ash's pokemon kept cool at every moment and directed their pokemon and navigated the chaos so easily… they are at another level. They can fight and lead on their own, Ash trained them to be self-sufficient. I hope one day I will be able to help my pokemon reach that level.
One normally would be embarrassed at admiring someone, who was five years younger, as much as I do. But no one understands, no one, but Sarah and our pokemon. They don't understand what it is to feel be helpless and feel completely lost, and then find a light of hope at the end of the tunnel.
"Rodrick!" The aghast exclamation, as we entered the communal room, snapped me out of my thoughts. "You can't say that!"
Sarah and I shared a confused look, as we entered the room and found a group of Ace Rangers, seated by the table, in a heated discussion.
"Why can't I?!" Rodrick, a twenty-seven years old Ace Ranger, shouted back, slamming his fist on the table. "Why are we hiding here when we should be taking on Team Galactic! We have The arceusdamn Slayer on our side! You've heard the stories, read the reports, he can stand up to Legendaries and win! He shut down two big criminal organizations and crippled the biggest one in the history of the pokemon world, driving them back into Kanto and Johto. With him, by our side, we can take them on and win easily!" I could see the expression of many other rangers slowly change from apprehension to consideration. "No more pokemon being hurt or poached by them, no more young trainers being hurt or, arceusdamn, killed by those monsters…. Yet, we are here doing nothing because we have a traitor between us!" Rodrick's expression turned from sorrowful hope into one of pure and maddening anger. A sneer taking place into, what normally is, his beautiful and calm face. "So, what is wrong when I say we should find that traitor and teach him a lesson?!"
"This will turn into something ugly very soon if we do nothing," I told Sarah, as many rangers started to agree with Rodrick. If there was something Rodrick has always been good for, other than being an Ace Ranger and trainer, was knowing how to motivate a crowd. "They look ready to start a manhunt!"
"Everyone has been tense and fidgety since the news about Hunter J's capture has been released. With no one from the higher-ups telling us what's going on… I'm not surprised they've reached their limits." Sarah replied. "Especially, since none of them worked next to him. They don't really know Ash, just his legend. They believe that Sinnoh has betrayed Ash and lost his trust. Not to mention the whole politic disaster, I've heard that Champion Lance stormed into Champion Cynthia's office, and they had a screaming match."
"Champion Lance and Champion Cynthia, are you sure?" I asked her shocked, I couldn't relate that behavior with the champions.
"Yeah, I've heard that Champion Lance was furious after Ash's fall." Sarah continued, not noticing that the other rangers had stopped arguing and were eavesdropping. As I was about to warn her, her next words stopped me frozen. "There were even threats of the Indigo League extracting Ash back to Kanto."
"What?!" I exclaimed.
"W-what?" Rodrick who has been practically spitting fire and overflowing with confidence suddenly deflated and looked heartbroken. "What do you mean by that? The Indigo League is taking Ace Ranger Ketchum back?!"
Every other ranger looked sick at the news, even my pokemon looked panicked. Why wouldn't they? Ash was our hope to finally bring down Team Galactic, without him we were screwed!
"Calm down everyone," Sarah tried to get them to back down, not that it worked much. "Ash wouldn't allow that to happen. He is the most loyal and passionate ranger I've ever met. He is staying until he brings down Team Galactic. He promised."
"But if the Indigo League demands him back, what can he do but obey?" Rose, the Ace Ranger that had chastised Rodrick, asked hesitantly.
"The Indigo League wouldn't dare," I cut in, gaining my confidence back. "They owe him big, especially since they've still hadn't dealt with Team Rocket, even after all the help Ash has given them. They even trust solely on him to stop them from trying to expand to other regions."
"So, he isn't only helping us take down Team Galactic but stopping Team Rocket at the same time?" Rose wondered, stunned.
"Indigo isn't even giving him a team?!" Rodrick's fire returned this time, furious about the injustice.
"They didn't while he was in Hoenn, but now that he is officially a member of the rangers, he has been giving his own squad to lead." The calm voice of Head Ranger Jared startled us all.
We rapidly turned towards the door, where the ranger with the highest position in Sinnoh stood. The ones at the Ranger Commission didn't count, as they worked under the Pokemon League, not under any region in specific. Like Ash… well, Ash was a special case, he worked for the Ranger Commission but under the special protection of the Indigo League.
"Though, he mostly just sends them to various missions and has special training sessions with them. He says that he'll participate in the hardest missions." Head Ranger Jared continued.
"I was not aware of that; Dawn didn't tell me anything about that," Sarah commented, surprised.
"That's because she doesn't know. No one is supposed to know about that. Team Rocket leave him mostly alone, seeing him as a threat but one too bothersome to deal with. So, they mostly just try to block his way in various forms. However, if they realized he possesses a squad under his instruction… they'll be forced to try and get rid of him." Head Ranger Jared explained, the 'don't tell anyone about it was left unsaid but heard loud and clear.
"Then, why tell us?" Rose asked him.
"Because from now on, you guys are part of the squad. At least, the one Sinnoh is giving him." His words stunned us all.
Shock, pride, giddiness, fear, were some of the few emotions that went through me. But of one thing I was sure, it was quite the emotional rollercoaster I went through. One that the rest of the rangers and pokemon in the room happened to go through as well. But for some reason I felt apprehension as well, this was my dream come true, I was finally going to be on the frontlines against Team Galactic. Alongside Ace Ranger Ash Ketchum! What else could I ask for?! It's my dream come true… yet the fear in me almost possessed me.
After all, everyone heard the stories and read the reports. We know what he's been through. What his missions entail. Being a ranger has always been a dangerous profession, but now missions will entail putting your life and your pokemon's life in the line every time. Maybe, most likely, going against Legendaries.
"This is something that all of you need to keep quiet about, and I don't mean like with Hunter J. I really mean it this time; you'll be a ghost team. Only a couple of people will know about the existence of this team: Ace Ranger Ash Ketchum, of course, me, Champion Cynthia, Champion Lance, the Elite Four of both Leagues, and Head Ranger Charles, from the Ranger Commission. You will report directly under Ace Ranger Ash Ketchum, who'll report only to the champions. There will be things even Head Ranger Charles and I will not be aware of. Reports will be blacked out." We were stunned further by this. "If any of you desires to back off at any moment, you will be giving consent to having a psychic pokemon enter your mind and erase your memories about this team and any mission. This is not only done for the success of the mission but also your and your family's safety."
"If there was never a team that brought down Team Galactic, then there will be no one for the remaining members to get their revenge on," Sarah commented, profoundly. "You are nervous, sir, why is that?"
"Because for four years the rangers had only had to keep the existence of one person a secret. However, now we have two teams to keep quiet about." He replied.
"And the person that we had to keep safe and, in the shadows, has turned into a celebrity," Rodrick commented, grumpily. "Though I have to admit is good that he is finally getting the credit for his accomplishments, even if only for the less important ones."
"There's more," I said. I might not be as smart as Sarah, but I know people, and Head Ranger Jared looked as if he was not over yet.
"I know you've heard the stories and read the reports… but you did not read the real ones, the official paperwork about Ace Ranger Ketchum's missions is mostly blacked out and only the President of the Ranger Commission, Elite Four, Champions, and President of the Pokemon League, have access to them. I, myself, am going to forget everything about them as soon as I leave this room." Many gasped and looked at our Head Ranger shocked. "You will be given access to them, so you'll truly know what you are getting yourself into. But if you decide not to join the squad you'll forget as well." The tension could be cut with a Razor Wind. "Understood?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" We all exclaimed in synchrony.
I thought I was prepared… but no amount of preparation could have aided me. If the fake reports were legendary and painted Ash like a hero, the real ones were a thing of myths. Filled with horror, chaos, and disaster, not something anyone should go through. Shock and horror painted my expression and everyone's faces. I've never seen Sarah so pale before, not even after our first encounter against Team Galactic.
"Now you know," Head Ranger Jared said solemnly. "Do you still wish to join the special squad?"
No one answered for a while, our minds still in chaos after everything we've just read. It was only when Empoleon pushed me slightly that I snapped out. I looked at my pokemon, all lined up and fired up. They were ready, they wanted to fulfill the promise we made that fateful day. I was not going to back on my word now that we've made it this far.
"Ash… he died and came back. Yet, he keeps on fighting. Why shouldn't I as well?" I exclaimed, gaining stunning looks from everyone. "I have a promise to keep, and I will fulfill it. I promise you that!"
Sarah looked at me shocked, with tears in her eyes, before straightening her back and turning towards Head Ranger Jared: "You can count me in. There's no way I am leaving this idiot on his own. He'll find a way to screw it up, for sure."
"Hey!" I exclaimed, a little bit hurt, but knowing she didn't mean it… mostly… at least, I hope she didn't.
But I didn't linger much into that, as our exclamations had everyone regaining their confidence and passion. Soon everyone was accepting and joining the special squad.
Just wait for us Ash, we'll finish Team Galactic together. I promise you that!