"CONGRATULATIONS!"

…The entire base shouted as Kate blushed, Keith grinned and Rhythmi laughed. "I—I still can't believe we're going to be Top Rangers from now on…" Kate smiled uncertainly.

"Believe it, kid!" Elaine crowed happily. "You all are going to be working directly for Chairperson Erma and Professor Hastings! What's more, you're going to be doing it all at the ages of thirteen!"

"Twelve," Kate corrected. "I don't turn thirteen for another three weeks."

The entire Vientown base was holding a party for Kate, Keith and Rhythmi's promotion. The three were still trying to figure out how they got promoted after driving a military ship into a school, but after a while they decided it didn't matter all that much. Everyone from the Vientown Rangers to Kate's family to even Brook and Alex had attended. Kate had been curious as to why Keith and Rhythmi's family hadn't come, so she asked them.

"My dad's been working on a big case with the other policemen back in Jubilife," Keith had explained, "and my brother's been overloaded with finals at college. I told you that he was training to become a doctor, right? Anyways, they're probably going to get a few days' vacation in a few weeks, so you'll be able to meet them then."

Rhythmi's family had also had their reasons for not coming, although perhaps they hadn't been as straightforward as Keith's. "My mom lives in Hoenn," she'd justified, "and that's pretty much on the other side of the world. I don't have a phone that can reach that long distance, so I sent a letter explaining everything that happened. It'll take about a week to reach her at the least, though."

"What about your dad?" Kate had questioned. "And do you have any siblings?"

"Nonexistent." Rhythmi had answered flatly. "All I know about him is that he went and left me and my mother when I was a few months old. Mom and I don't talk about him. Oh, I don't have any siblings either. It's just me and my mom… I don't even know my dad's last name, come to think of it. My mom kept her maiden name."

So now the three were enduring endless congratulations from everyone at the party. Rhythmi handled most of the talking for the group whilst Keith mostly tried to stay back and keep people from noticing Kate behind him, talking briefly to people if need be. Kate just either hid behind Keith or the other Vientown Rangers, being as it was she wasn't much of a people person.

Eventually, while the three had managed to sneak away to the snack bar, they were approached by Kate's family. They were given a little warning in advance, though.

"KATHERINE CYMBELINE LOVETT!"

Kate flinched as her mother, Monique, stormed up to the three with Alistair and Gracidea trailing behind.

"Did you even think to tell me about your promotion?" Monique screeched. "I just got the letter explaining about it yesterday. YESTERDAY!"

"Hi, Mom," Kate muttered as she moved to hide partially behind Keith. "Don't you go hiding from me, Katherine!" Monique yelled as she pulled Kate towards her. Rhythmi stared at this scene, worrying a little, and Keith tried to restrain the oncoming fit of laughter he was having over discovering the fact that Kate's full name was "Katherine Cymbeline Lovett".

"I'm sorry!" Kate apologized. "Everything just happened so fast and it slipped my mind to tell you!"

"Slipped your mind? Slipped your mind? Oh, my baby, I'm so proud of you!" Monique's personality then did a 180 as she choked Kate in a hug. Kate looked over at Alistair.

"Dad… is she…" She started, but Alistair shook his head. "No, Kate, she's not pregnant, but she has been a little all over in terms of emotions since she got the news." He sighed. "Come on, Monique, let's go talk to Mr. Barlow and the other Rangers…" Kate's parents then went off as Kate tried to regain her ability to breathe.

Keith sidled up to her with a grin on his face. "Your middle name," he snickered, "is Cymbeline?"

"Shut up, Keith," Kate muttered, "it means 'sun lord', and I used to live in Summerland."

"Besides, Keith," Rhythmi chimed in as she smiled evilly, "isn't your middle name—"

"Rhythmi, don't you dare—"

"Damian?"

Keith immediately deflated. "You said it. I can't believe you actually said it." He muttered as he turned back to the dessert table. "How do you even know my middle name?"

"I'm an Operator, which gives me full access to all Vientown Ranger basic profiles," Rhythmi said cheerfully. "And by the way, my middle name is Cecilia. Rhythmi Cecilia Song… has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"Damian, Cecilia," Kate mumbled under her breath. "at least you guys have normal middle names. I mean, Cymbeline? What was my mother thinking?"

Keith laughed. "Oh, don't be so stiff about it. Have a cookie!" He said happily, holding out a cookie to the girl. Kate didn't use her hands but simply took it into her mouth directly from his hand.

SNAP!

"Huh?" Kate and Keith turned to see Crawford and Luana standing in front of them. Crawford was holding a large camera in his hands and looking happily onto the screen at the picture he'd just taken.

"The young man feeding his lovely girlfriend a cookie," sighed Crawford dramatically, "I believe this one's a keeper, don't you, Luana?"

"For sure!" Luana giggled.

"CRAWFORD! YOU DELETE THAT PICTURE RIGHT NOW!" Keith yelled; his face a fine red. Kate, her face turning more scarlet by the second, probably would have yelled too, if not for the fact that she had a cookie in her mouth now.

"Hm… No. I think this'll make a great framed photo to keep around the lobby for everyone to see!" Crawford grinned as he ran off with Luana.

"Get back here right now, Crawford! And you too, Luana!" Keith shouted as he chased after the two.

Kate, after her face's temperature had gone down, watched the scene with slight humor. Rhythmi walked up next to her and looked at the chase scene in amusement.

"Things aren't going to be the same after this, huh?" Kate sighed.

"No," Rhythmi agreed, "But who knows? Maybe the people at the Union will be even crazier than the people here… If that's possible."

The next day, after the party, the three got ready to leave for the Union. The Vientown staff was there to see them off.

"Be safe, you three." Barlow nodded. "Top Rangers are usually put in some big danger. Stay on your guard. And Rhythmi, just because you're going to be a Top Operator now doesn't mean you can go snooping around everyone's profiles for gossip information."

"Dammit," Rhythmi muttered under her breath.

"You may all be at the highest level now, but that doesn't mean I'm not still responsible for you. I look after everyone who's been under my wing even once. So if I get any news about one of you goofing off or getting hurt," Barlow glared, "you'll be hearing from me!"

"Yes, sir!" the three teenagers recited as if it was their first day all over again.

"Make sure to visit whenever you can!" Luana smiled.

"We'll look at that photo I took every day and think of you guys," Crawford grinned happily.

"I thought you deleted that off the camera!" Keith yelled embarrassedly.

"I did. After copying it onto the computer and printing sixty copies, all of which are being sent to our close friends, family, and random strangers."

"DAMMIT, CRAWFORD!" screamed Keith.

"We'll see you guys later!" said Elaine.

"Bye!" Ollie said, and with that the three left the base.

After a few minutes, Kate jumped. "Oh!" She gasped.

"What's up?" Keith asked, still seething over Crawford's prank.

Kate smiled guiltily. "Can we stop by Partner Farm?" She asked. "I want to pick someone up."

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

"I cannot believe you decided to take that… that evil toad with us."

"Oh, don't be so mean! Falsetto's adorable. Aren't you, Falsetto?"

"…"

The 'someone' that the group had gone to pick up before heading out for the Union was Kate's newest Partner and Keith's newest enemy, Falsetto the Croagunk. Keith groaned. "This sucks."

At that moment, an unexpected noise filled the air.

"Mime! Mime-mime-mime mime-mime!"

Kate and Keith jolted, and then looked slowly at Rhythmi, who seemed to be the source. Rhythmi sweatdropped.

"Oh, yeah," She laughed nervously, "I forgot to tell you! Meet my new friend!"

She reached into her large messenger bag and showed them the Mime Jr. they'd met at the Dim Sun ship incident.

"Rhythmi!" Kate screamed. "You took the Mime Jr. with you?"

Rhythmi pouted. "Don't be so accusing. She apparently doesn't have an owner, so I took her in. Isn't she precious? Since you two are going with this whole music thing, I'm naming her Da Capo."

"Da what?" said the two Rangers flatly. Rhythmi scowled.

"Da Capo." She corrected. "It means 'from the beginning' in musical terms. Like, to repeat from the beginning of the music piece. It suits her, doesn't it?"

"Whatever," Keith muttered, refusing to tear his gaze away from Falsetto until Treble, his Shieldon who he'd decided to pick up too, nudged his ankle irritably. Keith smiled slightly down at her.

After a few minutes, Kate spoke up again. "Oh, look! It's Lookout Ridge!"

The three looked out off the cliff at the view of Puel City. They appreciated the view for a bit before Keith commented, "Doesn't Altru Tower seem a little… I dunno… taller?"

Kate and Rhythmi looked at the tower in question and saw that it indeed did look much taller than it had been since they'd last seen it. What was more, it looked as if construction still wasn't stopping on it.

"I wonder how tall it'd look up close and in person…" Kate mumbled. Rhythmi visibly brightened.

"Altru Inc. is on our way to the Union," she suggested, "we could drop by and see it!"

Keith grinned and threw an arm around Rhythmi's shoulders playfully. "And see your boyfriend Isaac too, huh?" He laughed evilly.

Rhythmi blushed and pushed him off. "He is not my boyfriend!" She said angrily. "He's not even my type!"

Kate blinked. "Then what is your type of guy, Rhythmi?" She inquired curiously.

Rhythmi looked out off Lookout ridge again and smiled. "A smart guy. Someone nice and kind who would always put up with and understand me. I guess he'd basically be described as quiet, gentle, and intelligent…" She trailed off as she saw Kate, Keith, and even Da Capo staring at her.

"Rhyth," Keith said slowly, "that sounds exactly like Isaac."

Rhythmi's face went scarlet red in under two seconds. "I… that's… both of you just shut up!" She screeched embarrassedly.

Kate giggled. "Alright, alright, if you say so. Either way, we can't keep Chairperson Erma waiting, so we'll have to take a rain check on Altru Incorporated… I hope we can get there before sunset, though. Isn't there any faster way to get there?"

"How about by air?" A familiar voice suddenly rang out from above them.

"What?" The three looked up to see two Staraptor circling above them. When they landed, they saw someone they knew on one of the bird Pokémon.

"M—miss Wendy!" Kate stammered.

Keith, Rhythmi, and the aquamarine-haired Top Ranger all sweatdropped at her. "No need to call me 'miss'. Wendy laughed awkwardly. "I came to pick you guys up under Grandma—err, Chairperson Erma's orders. So everyone climb on! Two people per Staraptor!"

"Kate, you come with me. Rhyth, go with Wendy." Keith stated immediately, grabbing Kate's wrist and leading her to the empty Staraptor.

Kate was confused. "Wha… why me?" She asked.

"Rhythmi's annoying and I don't feel like going with Wendy." Keith answered simply as he helped Kate onto the bird Pokémon.

Rhythmi and Wendy watched this scene in interest. Wendy then spoke up, saying, "So the red-headed kid is in love with the brown-haired girl but he's too shy to say it and the girl's too dense to figure it out?

Rhythmi blinked in surprise. "Uh, yeah. That's exactly it." She confirmed.

Wendy snorted. "Boys."

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

The group touched down at the Union within ten minutes. Wendy grinned as they all got off.

"Welcome to your new home," she said happily.

Kate was nervous. "I can't believe we're going to be living here from now on…" she mumbled. Keith grinned. "Well, let's go in!" He said excitedly.

Once inside, Wendy led the group upstairs and into the conference room where they met up with Professor Hastings and Chairperson Erma. A number of people were behind them.

Erma didn't hesitate in getting straight to the point. "Are you finding the Union suitable?" She asked.

"Yes, Chairperson Erma!" the three recited. Erma nodded. "Good. Katherine, Keith, you two will be staying in room 7-C on the fourth floor. Rhythmi, you will be in room 7-D."

"Yes, Chairperson Erma!" Kate and Rhythmi said together (Kate a little more stiffly at the use of her complete first name), but Keith didn't talk, his mouth hanging open.

"I… I have to share a room with… who?" He said slowly.

"Katherine. Katherine Cymbeline Lovett." Erma repeated. "I thought you two knew each other?"

"We do, ma'am." Kate said, looking over at Keith. "Keith, is something wrong?"

Then Keith exploded. "IN A PLACE AS BIG AS THIS, WHY DO I STILL HAVE TO SHARE A ROOM WITH HER? RHYTHMI GETS HER OWN ROOM!"

Erma's eyes narrowed, and Keith quickly caught himself, saying, "If you could explain that to me please, Chairperson Erma."

Erma sighed, and began explaining. "Top Rangers work in teams. Gwendolyn shares a room with her partner, Solana and Lunick share a room, etcetera. Obviously you and Katherine have been assigned to each other. You will handle missions together and share a room. Rhythmi, being one of only three Top Operators, is not assigned any partner and thus gets her own room."

Keith struggled to say something more but eventually went silent, but Kate was confused. "Who's Gwendolyn?" She asked.

Erma looked at the girl odd. "My granddaughter, of course." She said.

Everyone looked at Wendy.

"I told you, Gwendolyn's a stupid name," Wendy muttered under her breath.

"Wendy is a downright idiotic name." retorted Erma.

"'Wendy' sounds like 'windy!' I'm the Flying Ranger! Ergo, WENDY!"

"Ladies!" Hastings interrupted. "Please continue your banter later!"

Erma ceased her arguing and grumbled a bit more before getting back to the subject at hand. "Now I have to introduce you to the rest of the staff. Murph!"

Murph, the three's happy (if not rather stocky) friend stumbled to the front. "Uh, yeah!" He stammered.

"Murph will be your guide for the time being," Erma enlightened. "if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask him. Now then, Linda, John?"

Two other people walked up from the group, a woman with light blue hair and a man with plain short brown hair. "Rhythmi, these are the other two Top Operators. Get along with them."

For once, Rhythmi seemed at a loss for words as she stared at the duo in front of her. Finally she stammered, "Y—yes! It's nice to meet you!"

Erma nodded. "Next up; Solana! Lunick!" She called.

Two other people walked up, these two in Ranger Uniforms. One girl had light blue hair pulled up in a gravity-defying bun, and the other had midnight blue colored hair that stuck out to either side. They both looked to be seventeen, maybe eighteen.

"Kate, Keith, these two are another Top Ranger team." Erma said. "Please learn from them and ask any questions you may have about Top Ranger work."

"Y-yes!" Kate stuttered as she shook hands with the two. "It's great to meet you!"

"You too," Solana smiled gently. Lunick grinned too. "Let's get along." He said happily as he shook hands with Keith, who simply gaped in awe.

Erma coughed. "There are other Top Rangers, but they're all out at other countries working right now. There is one more you should meet, though. Sven!"

Kate's breath caught slightly at the name, but she quickly composed herself. Keith looked at her odd, but then turned to see the person that walked up next.

It was a boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen. He had tanned skin and longish black hair complete with deep brown eyes. His outfit was white with red, yellow and black stripes down a few sides, and he wore a cowboy hat and boots.

Keith looked at the boy in interest, but was distracted by Kate's sudden scream. "Sven?" She gasped.

Sven looked for the person in the group who had called his name, but then his eyes finally rested on Kate. Keith looked from Kate to Sven to Kate again, then slowly asked, "Kate… do you know this guy?" His suspicions were confirmed, though, when he heard the next words that came out of Sven's mouth.

"Kate? Katherine Cymbeline Lovett? Katie?" He said in shock. "Is that you?"