"Shield. Shield, don."

"Mmmph…"

Keith stirred a little from the deep sleep he'd just been in and opened his eyes groggily. He looked up at his new partner, Treble, who was impatiently trying to get Keith up and awake.

"Jeez, Treble, what's the deal…?" Keith mumbled blearily, looking at his alarm clock. "I've still got ten minutes."

Treble squealed quietly, shaking her head, and then pointed off towards the general direction where Kate and Rhythmi shared a bunk bed. Keith looked over to see Kate sleeping quietly in her bottom bunk.

He hadn't really taken the time to fully appreciate it before (seeing as the girl usually woke up several minutes before him), but Kate really was pretty when she was sleeping. Especially when she was sleeping. Her pale ivory skin stood in sharp contrast with her intense brown hair that fell in fine spiky strands around her face, and her cheeks were colored a dull shade of pink. Keith breathed a sharp intake of oxygen as his chest tightened, and he forgot to breathe out for awhile until the pain in his lungs alerted him to reality. He exhaled slowly, and then took a few more careful breaths before calming himself and turning to Treble.

"I… is Kate sleeping all you wanted to show me?" He muttered, now wide awake from that small episode of his.

Treble blinked, then looked at him like he was crazy before shaking her head again and pointing more accurately to the top bunk where Rhythmi slept—except, Keith realized, she wasn't there.

Keith's face went a deep red in embarrassment, but he managed to stand up and stride quickly across the room to Kate's bed, where he knelt down and shook her slightly, murmuring, "Kate. Yo, Kate. It's time to get up."

Kate stirred and moaned a little behind her mouth, which didn't help Keith's current state of mind. He shook her more. "Ka-ate. Wake up." He said more clearly.

Kate's faded blue eyes opened slowly, her vivid black pupils quickly locking onto Keith's. She pouted, muttering, "Five more minutes…"

Keith's eyes narrowed. "No, get up." He commanded, pulling her out of bed. "Where's Rhyth?"

Kate blinked, then looked up at the top bunk behind her. "I dunno… Oh, hey, there's a note." She commented, taking the small piece of paper from the pillow. She opened it up and Keith peeked over her shoulder as they read silently;

Kate and Keith—

I'm sorry for leaving so early, but Barlow woke me up at about three AM saying I had to go with him to Boyle Island. Apparently all the Pokémon have disappeared, isn't that weird? He said he needed an Operator to go with him to pull up maps and recharge his Styler in the field and all that stuff, and since he can't take Yumiko (she's in charge of all the machines at the Vientown Base), he's taking me. Anyways, I packed your lunches for you before I left, so you can take them with you when you go out patrolling or on a Mission or whatever else it is you two have planned for today. Just don't go slacking off without me, OK?

~Your Beloved Rhythmi

Keith rolled his eyes at the signature the blonde had finished with, but Kate smiled in happiness. "Oh, wow, Rhythmi's going to Boyle Island! That's a lot like Summerland, isn't it? I hope she and Barlow do well there…"

"Yeah, but what's the deal with all the Pokémon disappearing?" Keith remarked. "That's really odd. I mean, did they all go off to some Poke-party or something?" Kate looked at him weird and the boy held his hands up in defense. "I'm just saying!"

Kate looked at the letter again and said, "It says she packed our lunches for us, they're probably downstairs."

Keith nodded. "Well then, let's get changed." He said, and with that he suddenly pulled off his shirt.

Kate's face went a dark crimson as she squeaked, "K-K-Keith, what are you doing?"

Keith looked at her perplexedly, picking up his Ranger uniform from the end of the bed. "Getting changed. I'll meet you downstairs." He answered, walking into his bathroom.

Kate gaped after him before allowing her weight to fall and be supported by the bedpost. She took a few deep breaths before calming down.

The girl laughed at how ridiculous she was being. After all, it was just Keith! Besides, she'd seen him shirtless before when they'd dived into the Puel Sea.

She grabbed her uniform and ran into her and Rhythmi's bathroom.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

A few minutes later, the two Rangers were downstairs fully dressed. Kate walked over to the Operator counter to see that, yes, there were two packed lunches for them—and Rhythmi had even gone the lengths to pack an extra cookie for Kate. The female Ranger's heart swelled at the added effort.

"Rhythmi does a lot for us, doesn't she?" Kate smiled at Keith. Keith looked up and grinned, commenting, "Yeah, we'd pretty much be screwed without her."

Just then, Crawford walked up. "Yo, Kate? Keith?" He said. Keith turned to the afro-ed Ranger. "What's up?" The boy asked.

"Well, you know how the boss and Curly went off to Boyle Island?" Crawford said. Kate and Keith nodded.

"Y'see, the boss was scheduled to teach the Outdoor Class at the Ranger School today, but he had to go off on that mission." Crawford went on to explain. "So now we need some teachers to go in their place. Could you two handle it? I have to patrol."

Kate blinked. "…I thought today was Luana's turn to patrol." She said unsteadily. Keith, however, leered at Crawford gleefully. Crawford's Budew was copying this expression. The afro Ranger flushed scarlet as he put his hands up in defense and stammered, "I-I-I just thought I should go with her to m-make sure she doesn't get… uh… distracted! Look, can you do it or not?"

Kate, still blissfully oblivious to this whole scene, smiled and nodded. "It sounds like fun, I'd be happy to go. Keith?"

Keith looked as if he had to think about it for a few seconds, then sighed as if it were all a great bother. "Sure, I guess I could tag along…" He consented.

Crawford's eye twitched. "Somehow that tone of voice ticks me off…" He muttered, but then said loudly, "OK, I'll leave you to it! Outdoor Class is being held in the same place as before, so you know what to do!" And with that he ran out the front door, calling, "Hey, Luana, wait up!"

Kate turned to Keith, saying, "This'll be fun. Right, Keith?"

Keith rolled his eyes, obviously trying to keep a cool façade, and muttered, "Yeah, it'll be OK…"

Kate's pale blue eyes flickered in slight sadness. "Y… you're not excited about this." She affirmed.

Keith jumped slightly. "No, it'll be fun!" He said, deserting his charade. "Now c'mon, let's go!"

Kate's happy expression returned and she nodded. "OK!"

A half hour later, the two had left Partner Farm where Kate had traded out Metro for Lyrical and Keith exchanging Treble for Tempo. They walked out of Chicole Village and through Vientown, and they were just crossing the bridge to the Ranger School when—

Keith blinked. "…Are those…?" He muttered.

In front of the pair there was a familiar duo of Team Dim Sun goons who were standing in front of the same laptop they'd seen in Peril Cliffs. Closer inspection revealed that the two were indeed the same people from the aforementioned area. In front of them was a Croagunk, which was dancing around and around until the poor thing looked like it was going to be sick.

"HEY!" Keith yelled angrily. "YOU TWO ARE THE IDIOTS FROM EARLIER!" Kate jumped and instantly tried to calm Keith.

The goons jumped with her and whirled around to see them. The more nervous grunt (Goon One) said nervously, "I-it's the guys from earlier…!" The more aggressive one (Goon Two) shouted, "Aaaah! You kids! You foiled our plans and we got chewed out by the Commander!"

'Commander?' Kate thought, but was quickly snapped out of it when Goon Two shouted, "I'll make you eat your words from last time! Croagunk, attack!" The grunt then typed in a quick code in his laptop, and the Croagunk lunged for Kate.

Kate instantly took out her Styler and pointed at the Croagunk, shouting, "CAPTURE ON!" The Capture Disc flew out, and she began circling it. It wasn't too hard, like the Toxicroak from before, but it still wasn't a walk in the park. Eventually, the Croagunk was captured.

"HAH! TAKE THAT, DORKS!" Keith yelled in triumph. Kate sweatdropped at her partner, saying, "You weren't the one that captured it, you know…"

Meanwhile, Goon One was getting more nervous by the second. "H-hey man, we need to retreat!" He stuttered, packing up the laptop. Goon Two scowled, but then bellowed, "WE WON'T FORGET THIS!"

Then they jumped into the river.

"What a couple of idiots," Keith commented bluntly. Kate laughed nervously in answer.

Just then, the Croagunk Kate had just captured waddled up to her. "…" It was silent.

Kate looked into its yellow eyes and slit pupils. After a few moments she remarked, "…He's kinda cute, isn't he?"

Keith did a double take. "Hah? That thing?" He exclaimed in disbelief. At that second, the Croagunk's hand glowed purple and it hit Keith hard in the gut.

"OW!" Keith howled, writhing around on the ground. Kate giggled. "AND DON'T YOU LAUGH EITHER!" Keith yelled.

Kate then turned to the Croagunk. "OK, I've decided. Do you want to be my new Partner?" She asked. The Croagunk nodded eagerly. "WHAT?" Keith yelled, still on the ground. Kate ignored him and said, "A name… Um, let's see. How about Falsetto?"

Keith simply gaped more at the odd name in addition to the fact that she was taking this evil toad as her newest Partner. Kate smiled more at Falsetto and said, "I just got Lyrical back, so for now could you please wait at Partner Farm?"

Falsetto nodded and ran off. Keith blinked. "How does it know where Partner Farm is?" He asked curiously, standing up.

Kate beamed at him. "He just knows." She said, running ahead to the Ranger School.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

"Kate? Keith? Is that you?"

Kate and Keith entered the familiar gates of the Ranger School to see Ms. April running towards them. "What are you two doing here? You should be at Ascension Square waiting for the Vientown Ranger to—" She started, but then cut herself off as she quickly recovered, "Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot that you're not students here anymore! You two must be here instead of Barlow…"

Kate nodded happily. "Yeah, Barlow had to go to Boyle Island to investigate something. Rhythmi went with him." She explained cheerfully. "So shall we go to Ascension Square? I can't wait to see all the new students!"

Ms. April then led them to Ascension Square, where a large group of students were promptly waiting for the two. As soon as the pair stepped into the fray, several whispers floated up from the kids.

"Look! Real Rangers!"

"Why are there two of them?"

"Their uniforms are so cool…"

"Hey, hey, check out the cute Ranger in the pigtails!"

Keith immediately initiated a glare-off with the boy who had spoken the last comment, whilst Kate nervously said, "U-um, I'm Kate, and this is my friend Keith. Keith, say hi."

"…Hi." Keith muttered out of the side of his mouth, refusing to break eye contact with the impudent student. Kate sweatdropped and continued. "W-well, we'll be answering any questions you guys may have, so does anyone want to ask anything?"

This proved to be a mistake, as immediately the group exploded in raised hands and yells of "pick me, pick me". Kate quickly recovered from the shock and stammered, "U-um, yes! You there, with the, um, light brown hair!"

Everyone went silent as the chosen boy asked, "Did you get good grades in school?"

Keith, still not wanting to lose his glare-fest with the male student, didn't look up as he said, "Kate was awesome with anything having to do with books. I, on the other hand, wasn't so awesome." A laugh rose from the students.

More hands rose, and Kate called on one girl with short dark brown hair who inquired, "Is your job busy?"

Kate answered, "Yes, every day there's either patrols in town to go on, Missions to take care of, or just making sure everything's alright in nature. We're usually given days off every so often, though." The girl nodded in understanding.

"OK, next!" Kate called, getting into the rhythm of things now, and the next speaker was the boy whom Keith was having his glaring contest with, who without breaking eye contact with Keith, asked, "Have you ever seen a real Gigaremo?"

"Whaddya mean, kid? Kate and I were the first to see a real live Gigaremo in the metal flesh." Keith answered haughtily, putting a little emphasis on 'Kate and I'. The boy flushed slightly pink, but kept glowering at Keith, who didn't back down either.

Kate sweatdropped. "N-next?" She laughed uneasily, and the next inquirer was a boy with grayish-brown hair who asked, "Have you captured more than 100 Pokémon?"

Kate looked confused at this and answered, "I… I don't really keep track, really. Keith?" Keith shook his head in response. The boy huffed angrily.

Next was a girl with black hair who demanded, "Is there something bad going on in the Almia Region right now?"

Kate wavered a little, not sure how to respond. Finally she said, "I honestly don't know, but if anything goes wrong you guys can be sure us Rangers will handle it." The girl nodded in response, calming down visibly a little.

A redhead boy asked, "Is it true Rangers can't go home very often?" Kate shook her head. "No, as long as your family lives in Almia that should never be a problem, and even if they live in another region you can go visit every so often." The boy relaxed at this.

A short-haired blonde girl asked nervously, "M-may I touch your awesome Styler?"

Kate sweatdropped. "Um, sure?" She said, taking it out of her belt, but the girl recoiled and cried, "No, I can't do it! I'm too nervous!" Kate laughed nervously and put it back in its holder.

One boy inquired, "Is being a Ranger fun?"

"Duh." Keith answered bluntly.

Kate sweatdropped more. Another brown-haired boy asked, "Ranger, do you sleep in pajamas at night?"

"What do you think she sleeps in?" Keith yelled angrily, trying and failing to extend his glare-reach to both the current glowering boy and the boy who had just asked the invading question of privacy. Kate, face slightly red now, called on one last student.

The final speaker, a long-haired brunette girl with a pink ribbon in her hair asked joyfully, "Are you two going out?"

"WHAT?" Both Kate and Keith yelled, Keith tearing his gaze from the glare-fest boy in the process. Both Rangers' eyes were wide and their faces a fine red.

"Wha… that's… no! We're not like that, OK?" Keith answered hotly, looking away determinedly at a random blade of grass. Kate, equally embarrassed, said, "H-he's right, we're just friends!"

"I don't believe you!" The girl who had popped the question said stubbornly.

"Look, it's not like that, OK?" Keith retorted angrily.

"You've gotta be going out!"

"Well, we're not!"

"I'm just saying that you look like a couple!"

"I can't hear you, lalalalala—"

"You guys must be going out, you look great together!"

"No we don't, and we're not going out!"

"LIAR!"

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

After the entire fracas was over, Kate and Keith had decided to take a quick trip to the library before heading back to base. They were the only ones in there, as all the other students were in class.

Kate looked through a crafts book in interest. "Look, it says how to make paper flowers!" She commented.

"Really?" Keith asked, looking over her shoulder. The book did indeed have complete instructions on how to carry out the procedure within only a few moments.

"Paper flowers like this are apparently a tradition in Almia. They signify… something called 'Vatonage'." Kate read smoothly. Keith blinked.

"What's that?" He inquired curiously. Kate shook her head. "I don't know… Maybe there's another book here that says?" She suggested. Keith grabbed a book entitled 'Almian Dictionary: Version III' and flipped through to the V's.

"'Vatonage'," He finally announced. "It means 'the light within'. Apparently it's a symbol of purity and goodness. It's involved in a lot of old legends, too, according to this…" Keith then put the book back on the shelf and took another one labeled 'Ancient Almian Fairytales and Myths'. Kate smiled. "I'm going to borrow this and make a flower for Rhythmi when she comes back as thanks for the lunch, and everything she's done, really."

Keith nodded. "Maybe I will too. It sounds like a cool idea, anyways." He commented, flipping through the mythology book but only looking at the pictures. Kate beamed happily. "Yeah." She said. Then she looked at Keith, sweatdropped and asked, "Do you plan on keeping that book?"

The boy actually shrugged. "It's got good pictures. I could look at it more for when I'm stuck on what to draw…" He mused. He looked up at Kate. "Principal Lamont won't notice one book, will he?"

Kate sighed. "A fine example you're setting for these kids." She muttered.

The two kept reading in silence, but then Kate spoke up, saying, "Hey, Keith." Keith didn't look up, but hummed in response; "Hmm?"

"Do you think all those kids will grow to be great Rangers?" The girl asked. Keith looked up now. He wanted badly to say yes, but something kept him from doing so. Finally he said, "Well… not everyone can be great. I mean, it's usually the hardest working and most ambitious that make it to the top, and sometimes the fainthearted ones turn criminal or just give up—because it's not an easy job, y'know, and—Kate?

Kate was staring at him in surprise, but then quickly looked down, bangs shading her face. "Ah—yeah. Sorry, it was a stupid question. Not everything can end like a fairytale, after all." She laughed dryly.

Keith jumped, knowing he'd gone about that wrong. "Wha—no! I mean, that is, I just—I'm just being realistic, you know? And the hard workers always make it to the top, and even if you don't go all the way, you're still doing something you love, right? Everyone gets their, y'know, 'fairytale ending' in some way or another. So—I—that is—"

Kate still looked down in silent thought, but then she heard the rip of paper and some crinkling noises. Finally, she sensed something being held out. She looked up.

It was a paper flower.

She looked up a little more to see Keith holding it out to her, his amber eyes regretful for what he'd said. Her eyes flickered for a split second to two open books: One random one pulled off the shelves with one page torn out, and the craft book open to the page where it showed how to make the paper flowers. The pale blue orbs turned back to Keith.

His face was bright red, and he refused to meet her eyes as he said clearly, "Look, everyone is happy at some point in their lives, OK? It's impossible to go through a lifetime and not be happy in one way or another. So… I mean… Look, what I'm trying to say is—"

But then Kate quickly stepped forward, taking the messy paper flower made from a torn out book page into her hands, and she rested her head on Keith's chest out of pure impulse. It was as if she'd suddenly been filled with some emotion she couldn't seem to identify. Keith, even redder now than before, quietly took her into his arms and held her there nervously.

"Thanks," She murmured.

"I… that's… s-sure?" Keith stammered awkwardly.

But in that one precious moment, the air was still, and it seemed as if the only three things in the world were Kate, Keith, and that tiny paper flower.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

"Guys! Rhythmi! We're home!"

Kate and Keith, both slightly still red, ran into the Vientown Base quickly. Nighttime was falling, and it was just getting dark as they tumbled into the main room.

Immediately, six heads snapped up in alarm: Barlow, sitting on a stool, Crawford, Luana, Elaine, Ollie, and Yumiko. They all looked sad and confused in some way.

Kate and Keith took no notice of this. "Rhythmi! Hey, Rhyth! Where are you?" They called out Rhythmi's name, walking around.

"I'll check upstairs!" Kate suggested, and she was just about to climb the steps when Barlow said, "No, Kate. You're not going to find her."

Keith blinked. "Not going to… OH! I know! She must've gone grocery shopping for dinner!" He grinned. Elaine looked down painfully, and tears filled Luana's eyes.

"No, you guys. She's not… here." Crawford said, stepping forward. "We… Oh, Arceus, how do I put this? We—we don't know where she is."

"…What?" Kate asked confusedly. Now Barlow spoke, his face angry and regretful. "We were on Boyle Island investigating the disappearances. We saw two Dim Sun freaks controlling Pokémon with some… laptop. I ran out to confront them, but then they manipulated some Drifloon into lifting up Rhythmi and bringing her to them, and they threatened that they would hurt her if I didn't let them go peacefully. I tried, you two. But I couldn't stop them, or else Rhythmi would have been in even more trouble.

Keith's eyes were getting wider by the second. "Rhythmi's been kidnapped?" He yelled. Kate also was frantic. "Barlow! We can't let them do this!" She screamed. "We have to go find her!"

Barlow sighed. "I'm not allowed to let you guys go in until the Union fully assesses the situation." He informed.

"But—" Keith started, but just then Barlow turned his back and began fiddling with some random paperwork and machines. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Keith yelled in exasperation.

"I have my back turned right now and I cannot see what is behind me," Barlow said in a clear monotone. "Gee, it sure would be easy for two Rangers wanting to save their friend to sneak behind me while I stalled the Union in order to help their mission after I noticed they were missing and there was nothing else I could do. Oh well, at least those two unnamed Rangers have no idea that there's a boat in Puel Harbor that will take them to Boyle Island at any time since they're Rangers. Yep. Noooothing to worry about." He then coughed in loud suggestion.

The two blinked. Then they jumped. Barlow had a plan. From what they gathered out of his indirect orders, they were to go to Boyle Island and rescue Rhythmi whilst Barlow and the others stalled the Union with petty details so they wouldn't interfere with the technically-not-illegal Mission. Kate and Keith looked around to see everyone else looking in any direction but theirs.

Immediately, the two ran out of the Base back the way they had come, bolting down the path to Puel City. It was beginning to get quite dark, but that didn't stop them. Once or twice they were stalked by crazy Beedrill, but at the rate they were going they outran the Pokémon easily. After all, Rhythmi was in trouble.

Rhythmi. She'd done so much for them without asking anything in return. She'd kept them both out of constant detention back in school, recharged their Stylers while also juggling breakfast preparations and putting out the fire from Luana's previous breakfast preparations, and reminded them about basic skills all the time, from how to hold their Styler to how to hold their forks. And now Rhythmi was there alone with a bunch of Dim Sun creeps, and they couldn't just leave her there. Friends didn't do that to friends.

When they arrived at the harbor, it was 1 AM and the boathouse was closed and locked up.

"DAMMIT! HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO TO BOYLE ISLAND LIKE THIS?"

"K-Keith, calm down, you'll wake people up…!"

"HOW CAN I CALM DOWN AT A TIME LIKE THIS—OW! THAT HURT!"

"Please don't kick random metal poles when you're mad. It doesn't help them or you."

"JUST SHUT UP, OK? ARCEUS!"