Hey! Remember me? My name is Mae, but people who read this fic probably remember the name 'Momo' more (I was twelve years old and a weeb).

Twelve years ago, I wrote a Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia fanfiction. It was my pride and joy, and even if it wasn't very good (read: horribly cringeworthy, clearly written by a preteen), I loved writing it. One day though, when I was 14, I got a 'mean comment'- basically some stranger telling me that the fic was terrible- and in a moment of true puberty-fueled shame and embarrassment, I deleted the whole thing. I've regretted it ever since.

I'm 24 years old now, currently living my best adult life, and lately I've been really nostalgic for Pokemon Ranger and that silly old fanfic. Though it was a long shot, I put a post out on Reddit with as much info as I could asking if anyone had any backups of the fic- and y'all, SOMEONE DID. They did some detective work on the Wayback Machine, and found EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER. I was so blown away, I could have cried.

I thought about just copying the fic to my hard drive to reminisce and laugh about my middle school shame in the future, but ultimately, I've decided to put it back here on Fanfiction where it belongs. Even if one mean comment got this fic taken down, there were HUNDREDS of kind, cheerful, wonderful readers that enjoyed this fic, no matter horribly written it was. They were saddened and disappointed when I nuked the entire story. So I'm putting it back up here for them to look back on and enjoy.

Every finished chapter of the fic will be posted here in its entirety, without any changes or edits to the main text (no matter how badly I may want to make them). The only things that have been omitted are the 'author's notes'- mainly because they were all just anime joke disclaimers and my self-insert talking to the characters, and that's too shameful to show to the world, even for me. Go track the original down on the Wayback Machine if you're so dedicated to preservation.

This story is unfinished, and it's going to remain that way, on permanent hiatus. It's been over a decade, my writing style has changed drastically, and I wouldn't be able to pick up this fic again if I tried. But, even as an adult, I do still want to write about these silly Pokemon characters and their adventures again- so I am going to be rewriting the story entirely! That's right! A rewrite of a rewrite! Will I finish that story? Or will it remain unfinished, just like this one was? Who knows! But I know I'm going to have fun writing it, just like I had fun writing this story as a middle schooler. The new story will be published on AO3, and you'll be able to find a link to my profile through my account.

Last but not least, I want to thank everyone who read this fic over a decade ago. You were all the light of my life when I was a kid, and no matter how rough life was at the time, every single review and bookmark you gave me back then made me happier than you can imagine. I don't know how many of you will see this- but if you do, I hope you enjoy reading this again. If not, then I hope you at least laugh at how silly it was.

Hope you enjoy!

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Three.

Two.

One.

Zero.

"CAPTURE ON!"

A hand pulled the trigger on a sort of machine. A top spun out. It left a white light trailing behind it. The top moved around and around a little yellow creature. It circled it again and again, and a little bar on the screen of the green device filled up. As soon as it was full, the machine shut off automatically, and the top darted back inside.

A young girl with light brown hair styled in two spiky pigtails and wearing a blue shirt, jean shorts, a green jacket and a yellow tie let out a whoop of triumph. Then a voice wafted out of the shadows.

"Yes… Very good, very good…"

The girl turned around confusedly. A man in a turquoise cap and jacket revealed himself. "Yes… It seems that you have the talent to join the inscrutably evil Team School… Muahahahaha…"

"Eh?" The girl sweatdropped uncertainly. Suddenly the doors slammed open.

"OH, REALLY MR. KAPLAN!" A feminine voice ran out. A red haired woman wearing a light green shirt and a white skirt stepped into the Training Gym.

"I would much appreciate it if you refrained from pretending this is an evil organization and not a school in front of my students!" Ms. April's voice had risen to a yell. The man sweatdropped.

"Ha, ha, I'm just kidding, Ms. April…!" The man squeaked. Ms. April sighed helplessly and turned to the confused girl.

"Well, congratulations Kate Lovett." She said. You passed the entrance exam into Ranger Academy with flying colors! Welcome!"

It took the girl a few minutes to fully register what had just happened. Finally, color flooded into her cheeks and her brown eyes sparkled with delight.

"YES!"

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"Good morning class!" Ms April greeted.

"Good morning Ms. April." The students chanted. It was a small class, there were only five students. For now, at least.

"As I mentioned yesterday, we have a new student today!" Ms. April announced.

The class was instantly eager. "Is it a boy or a girl?" One said. "I wonder if it's some kind of child model!" Said another. "Come to think of it, I heard a yell a few minutes ago from the Training Gym…"

Ms. April turned towards the door. "Come in!"

Kate Lovett stumbled nervously into the classroom. Her cheeks were flushed, but she seemed happy to be there.

"Our new friend, Kate Lovett, came here alone from Fiore to the Almia Region." Ms. April continued. "I understand she scored quite well on her entrance exam, so let's… What is it Keith?"

A boy with spiky red hair was grinning widely. "Why the big grin?" Ms. April asked, although she looked as if she didn't want to know. "Never mind. Anyways, Kate, you may have the seat next to Keith." Kate walked over to her seat and sat down, fidgeting nervously.

"Ok, that will do." Ms. April smiled. "You're not the special transfer student anymore. From now on you are all my students, people I can take pride in teaching! So," She stepped forward.

"Let's all work toward our dreams of being Operators, Mechanics and Pokemon Rangers!"

A roar of approval erupted from the class.

"Ok, it's study hall all day today. Rangers, please go over chapter 4 in Advanced Styler Movements. Operators, review on how instruct a Ranger on treating a Fire Type Pokemon. And Mechanics, today you will be reading about the delicate structure of a Capture Styler.

"But before that, someone needs to show Kate around… Ah, Rhythmi, why don't you give it a shot?" A girl with curly blond hair nodded happily. "Well then…" Ms. April left the room.

There was a scraping of chairs and quick footsteps, and in less than two seconds Kate found herself surrounded by her five classmates.

"Hey, new kid!" The red haired youth named Keith said. "I forgot your name, but how long did it take you to capture Mr. Kaplan's Pikachu? Like, an hour?" Kate looked over at him.

"It wasn't hard," She shrugged shyly. "Only around a few minutes." Keith raised an eyebrow and looked as if he was going to say something more, but was cut of quickly by the blonde girl named Rhythmi.

"Keith's just a big show-off." She huffed. "You're better off ignoring him." Kate laughed nervously. Rhythmi went on.

Instead, you should be paying attention to me." She continued importantly. "I'm not here to be a Ranger. I want to become an Operator who helps the Rangers out." She grinned.

"So that when Keith becomes a Ranger, I can order him around." Keith grimaced.

"HEY!" Rhythmi ignored him and continued. "Well, I should probably show you around. As you know, this is our classroom. It's where we learn stuff, obviously." She then led Kate out of the room and then across the hall to a different room.

"And this is Mr. Kincaid's room," She said. Mr. Kincaid's expression looked strict, but is hair was styled in a goofy curl. Kate stared at it and then whispered, "Um, how does he get his hair…" Rhythmi rolled her eyes.

"Don't ask, but I'm guessing it involves lots of hairspray." She muttered back. "By the way, his credo is 'don't run in the halls!', Watch," She called, "Hi, Mr. Kincaid! Just showing the new kid around!"

Mr. Kincaid looked up and said, "Don't run in the halls!" The girls left the room, closed the door, and burst out laughing. "See?" Rhythmi giggled.

They then went into the library, where Rhythmi introduced Kate to the insanely intelligent 'mushroom-top', otherwise known as Isaac. As they left, Rhythmi sighed, "Ah, the library. Also known as Keith's nap room," She added smartly, as the two burst into giggles again.

Then there was the staff room, the common room, the basement (which they didn't go into), the Training Gym where Kate met up again with Mr. Kaplan and his partner, Ms. Claire. ("Muahaha… It seems you have discovered Team School's secret hideout… Ow.")

When they exited the Training Gym into the sunny courtyard, however, they heard a shriek of terror.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" They saw a plump woman in an apron surrounded by Bidoof, which were spreading out quickly.

"Janice?" The girls ran over to the woman. "Oh, thank goodness… All the Bidoof are running about everywhere!"

Rhythmi whispered to Kate, "That's Janice, the caretaker. She's like a mom to us all, though." Suddenly they heard a voice.

"Ha, ha, I was wondering what all the ruckus out here was. Looks like a good time!" Keith came running up to them and before Rhythmi could say anything to his presence, he said, "Hey, new kid! I for got your name, but let's have a contest! You against me, person to catch most Bidoof wins!"

"Are you crazy?" Rhythmi objected. "This isn't a game, its serious-" But she was cut off by Kate.

"It's ok." She smiled. "It sounds like fun!" Keith grinned. "Good! So…"

They clicked their School Stylers. Numbers showed up on the screens.

Three.

Two.

One.

Zero.

"CAPTURE ON!" They shouted, and they were off, their Styler tops spinning behind them.

The battle was on, and the courtyard seemed to be filled with Bidoof and light from the Stylers. At last, the fight was over.

The two met up next to Rhythmi and counted their Bidoof.

"3, 4, 5… I got five Bidoof!" Keith announced. He turned to Kate. "You?"

"…3, 4. I got four." Kate said gloomily. Keith's face lit up. "WHICH MEANS I WIN! Oh yeah, who's the man, who's the man?" Rhythmi sighed.

"Ignore him, he's an idiot." She said. "HEY!" Keith shouted. Kate grinned and held out a hand.

"That was a good game." She said, smiling. Keith stared at the hand uncertainly for a few minutes, but then took it and shook hands with her briefly. "Yeah." He smiled back. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "You're actually really good, I thought I was going to lose, Kate." Kate's eyes widened.

"Did you just call me Kate?" She asked. Rhythmi grinned slyly. "Oh, you, Keith!" She said. "You actually made a point to remember Kate's name!" A pink tinge appeared on Keith's face.

"Shut up," He mumbled. Rhythmi suddenly remembered something.

"Oh! I forgot!" She said. "There's one place I haven't shown you yet!" Keith looked up. "What, you mean Ascension Square?" Rhythmi nodded. "Yes!"

"Then I'll tag along too." Keith announced.

They led Kate up some stairs, around a bend and then back down some stairs, and then they came to a huge statue of the Ranger Symbol, a disc.

"This is Ascension Square." Rhythmi announced. "It's said that if you make a firm pledge with your friends here, it will definitely come true!" She nodded.

"And that concludes Rhythmi's School Tour of Wonder and Excitement!" Rhythmi turned to Kate. "Kate, let's be good friends!" Keith rolled his eyes.

"Hey hold it there! Don't worry about Rhythmi." He said. He turned to Kate. "Be friends with me, ok?"

Kate looked at them both nervously. Then she took a deep breath and said,

"Can't I be friends with both of you?"

The two were struck dumb. "It's just that I really like you both a lot," Kate hurried on. "You've both been so nice and great to me! So, I would," She shrunk back a little. "Like to be friends."

There was an embarrassed pause, but finally Keith said, "Fine." Rhythmi smiled and said, "That would be good, but I don't know about redhead here…"

Kate's eyes lit up, and then she said, "Then let's promise." Rhythmi stared. "Promise what?"

"That we'll always be friends no matter what, and that we'll definitely fulfill our dreams of becoming Top Rangers and Operators." Kate said. She held out a hand.

"Promise?" Rhythmi grinned and put her hand on top of Kate's. "Promise." They then both looked expectantly at Keith, who was blushing and looking away. Finally he sighed and put his hand on the top.

"Promise."

From that point on, Kate Lovett was the new kid at Ranger Academy, and had two new friends, Rhythmi and Keith.

No-one knows how exactly the three ended up being friends, but there are some things you just can't go through without liking each other, and meeting Kate Lovett is one of them.

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