Here's another chapter. Again, things are a little easy here, we're still taking a look at Sango's daily ranger activities. But don't worry, I think things will get heated up pretty soon, I promise!

Aakareo Kokokuhikari: Well, we're about to find out.

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Oh no is right.

TREBOR.E: Japanese names are phonetic. So you're seeing the phonetic pronunciation of their names in Japanese.

JoshGamerV: Looks like that might be the case.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 168

Caelia looked down at the sleeping girl, and the stuffed animal she was squeezing tightly. It wasn't fair. She'd overheard Blake and Ayame's conversations. Blake had bought Ayame that stuffed toy. But he hadn't ever bought one for Caelia. Not fair.

Not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair not fair.

Blake never bought one for Caelia. Not fair. If she didn't get one, why did Ayame get one? She wouldn't. Caelia needed to get rid of it.

Caelia lifted her arm and swung it to stab the small white Wooloo. But the knife never entered her field of view. Odd. She lowered her arm again, but still she did not see it drop and pierce the stuffed animal. Where did her arm go?

Caelia turned her head to see her arm suspended in the air, its arc stopped by a small hand holding it in place. The hand was attached to a small girl in a white and red dress, with long lavender colored hair with a large red ribbon tied in a bow in the back. She had clear golden eyes that were looking at Caelia worriedly.

"Stop." The young girl's tone was insistent, but carried a tone of remorse.

"It isn't fair," Caelia replied. "Blake gave that to her. Not me. Why not me?"

"You are Caelia, right?"

"Yes."

"I know you are feeling desperate, but you cannot-"

"Blake visited her six times," Caelia replied. "He only visited me once. Not fair. Not fair not fair not fair not fair!"

Ryoko frowned.

"I am sorry to hear that… but that doesn't mean you can just lash out at other people."

"Blake understands me. Blake is the only one. I need him. But he only cares about her. It's not fair. He left me and ran to her. He only visited me once and spent all his time with her. Not fair. I… I…!"

Ryoko pinched her lips together in a tight line.

"Sorry. This might hurt for a little."

What was this girl saying? Nothing would hurt at-

Caelia's eye widened. This… this was-!

"AAAGHERHH!" Suddenly it all came rushing back. The memory of the flames that had scarred her, they flooded into her brain. Pain that she had never forgotten… it was burning her, even now. Staring at her arm, she could feel the flames searing her flesh. It was an agony she thought she had known… but to feel it again, after an eternity of emptiness… Caelia shrieked in agony and slapped at her arm helplessly. Ryoko sadly looked on, dropping her hand, Caelia hobbling out of the room on her bad leg as tears fell from her eye.

"I am sorry," Ryoko whispered. She hadn't been able to stop Caelia normally, so she'd used some of the power she'd borrowed from her partner to temporarily send Caelia's senses back in time, so that she'd re-experience the pain inflicted upon her. It was a horrid, cruel thing to do, but it was the only course of action to stop the damaged girl from doing something violent. If possible, Ryoko would have liked to fix Caelia's body entirely… but even Celebi's powers could only effect things temporarily. Caelia would be back to "normal" in a few minutes, however normal that damaged body of hers could be considered. Ryoko frowned. The poor girl…

"Hrrm? Wha…"

Ayame was blearily roused from her morphine-induced sleep by the sounds going on around her. Ryoko turned to look down at her, putting on a smile that was hard to see in the near-blackness of the room, but seemed to almost shine.

"Who're you…?"

"I heard you were resting here, and I was just stopping by," Ryoko replied. "I am glad you are doing okay."

"Are… are you an angel?" Ayame asked, yawning, the strange halo of light around the girl's body looking rather odd to her drugged-up mind.

"Something like that," Ryoko nodded. Ayame smiled.

"'Ats coollll… nighty-night, angel…" Ayame yawned, turning over in bed and hugging her Wooloo tighter to her chest.

"Sleep tight," Ryoko smiled, leaning down and kissing Ayame on the forehead. She stretched, and reached into her dress to withdraw her golden pocket watch.

"I see… so this time is…" Ryoko smiled, and closed her watch. "So I suppose the past me must be arriving shortly."

Ryoko turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Ayame to her rest.

Meanwhile, across the world, Sango was hard at work. Well, hard at playing.

"Look! Want to see if Mary can knock over three hay bales stacked together this time?" Sango asked excitedly. She had lifted three bales of hay up into a small pile at the bottom of a hill, ready for Lucy to send the Wooloo down the hill to knock it over.

"Cast!" Silver, floating above Sango's head, called up to Lucy.

"Yeah! She can totally do it!" Lucy said, nodding. "Go, Mary!"

"Woo!" The Wooloo, named Mary, nodded. She curled up into a ball and went barreling down the hill towards the hay bales.

"Yamp!" Lucy's Yamper, Rex, yipped excitedly, running next to the Wooloo as it rolled towards the hay, knocking all three bales over in a single blow.

"Yay! She did it!" Lucy cheered.

"Way to go!" Sango said, running up the hill to Lucy. She knelt down and held her hands up, Lucy slapping them in victory.

"Lucy!" A voice called back from the house.

"Oh, it's grandpa!" Lucy turned to look back at the farmhouse. "Coming, grandpa!" Her Yamper followed on her heels, chirping excitedly.

Sango shrugged and followed after the girl with Silver in tow. The two humans and their pokemon arrived at the farmhouse, but Farmer West did not share in the joy they were feeling. He had a frown on his weathered face, and was glaring at the two girls.

"What've ah told ya 'bout knockin' over that hay?" The old farmer demanded.

"Sorry, grandpa…" Lucy said, looking down shamefully. "We were just playing."

"…It's fine," he sighed. "But make sure ya clean it all up, understood?"

"Yes, grandpa…" Lucy nodded.

"As fer ya," Farmer West said, turning to Sango, "ain't it 'bout time ya head back ta yer other rangers?"

"Already?" Lucy whined.

"I should at least stay and help," Sango said. "I was the one who stacked up the hay in the first place, after all…"

"No need fer that," the farmer refused, shaking his head. "That's part o' Lucy's chores fer the day. We can' keep ya from yer job any longer."

"Okay…" Sango sighed. She turned back to Lucy. "Bye, Lucy."

"Will… will you come back?" Lucy asked. "To play some more?"

"Of course!" Sango smiled, nodding. "If your grandpa says it's okay."

"Okay, then!" Lucy said, her face brightening up. She nodded in agreement, and waved goodbye to Sango, heading off to go clean up the hay that the Wooloo had knocked over.

"Come on in, then," the surly farmer said, gesturing for Sango to follow him. "Might as well rustle up some lunch fer ya 'fore ya head out…"

"No, there's really no need for something like that!" Sango said, shaking her head. "Really!"

"Consider it a sign o' gratitude," the old man replied, heading into the kitchen. "Fer playin' with this old man's precious grandchild."

Sango paused, and nodded her head, sitting down at the dining table set up next to the kitchen. He didn't bring much, just some stew, but Sango still accepted it gratefully.

"Thank you," Sango said.

"It ain't much, but it's all we could spare," the old man said.

"Honestly, it's more than enough," Sango said. It wouldn't be filling, but it was the thought that counted. She dug into it cheerfully.

"Honestly…"

Sango looked up from her food at the pensive expression on the old man's face as he sat down across from her.

"Ah can't thank ya enough," he said. "Lucy's been smilin' a lot more since ya came 'round these parts."

"Really?" Sango asked, confused. "But I haven't really done anything…"

"Ya always say hello on yer patrols, don't ya?" He asked. "And today ya played with 'er fer as long as she wanted."

"Well, I mean, I guess so, but…"

"That's enough," he said, shaking his head. "That girl… she's quite the lonely sort."

Sango frowned. It wasn't really her place to say anything, but…

"I noticed… Lucy's mom and dad… they aren't…"

"Her father died in an accident when she was a wee thing," the farmer nodded. "As fer her mum… she's very ill. She's stayin' in a hospital in the big city fer her treatments. With those bills pilin' up… this farm ain't doin' so hot…"

"I see…" Sango said, looking down. Having lost her mother herself and not being able to see her father often, Sango had a fair feeling of what Lucy must be going through.

"That girl, though… she ain't ever cried in as long as I've known 'er," Farmer West said. "She's a strong one, Lucy…" Farmer West looked past Sango, out the window to where Lucy was working in the distance.

"She must be…" Sango said, glancing behind her. "I remember… when my mom died… I cried every day, for months. I thought my world had come to an end. It didn't help that my dad was never around, either. To be that tough, for such a young girl… I can't even imagine it."

"She misses them, certainly," Farmer West said. "But what got 'er through all of it was them Wooloos."

"Eh?"

"Those little ones… they used ta belong ta her pops, back when he was runnin' things 'round here. He used ta play with 'er from dawn ta dusk, 'fore he passed on. So even if he ain't 'ere anymore, she can still remember him thanks to havin' 'em around."

"I see…" Sango said, nodding.

"That's why we ain't ever sellin'! Not this farm, and not a single one of them!" Farmer West insisted. "Not as long as that girl still needs those Wooloo ta smile!"

Sango understood where he was coming from, and smiled at the abrasive but loving grandfather.

"Now then, I think I should be going," Sango said, finishing her stew. She stood up, and gestured for Silver to come over to her. "I've spent a lot more time here than I planned, and I think the others might be worried about me."

"Well, that's fer the best," the farmer said, nodding. "But if ah could ask ya a favor… would ya mind comin' back sometime soon? An' play with 'er again? It'd mean the world ta her, after all. Don' worry, ah ain't gonna chase ya off with a shotgun this time!"

He gave a hacking laugh that was stronger than she would have expected, and Sango nodded in agreement.

"I'm only in Galar for another week… but I think I can stop by a few more times, whenever I can."

"Thanks fer that. Ah'd appreciate it," he nodded. "An' ah'm sure that Lucy'd love ta see ya again, as well."

"Thank you for the stew," Sango said, bowing her head respectfully to the elderly farmer as she rose from her seat. "I'll be going, now."

She waved goodbye to the farmer and began the long walk back to the ranger base, Silver floating along beside her.

"Today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, Silver," Sango said, smiling at her partner. "I'm still not sure about how to face Blake or Ayame… but I'll do the best I can. That girl, Lucy, if she can be so strong, then how can I be any different? She looks up to me for being a ranger, and a real ranger wouldn't let her worries get the better of her like this, isn't that right?"

"Castform!" Silver smiled at her, nodding his head.

"But I have to say, it's getting pretty hot," Sango said, wiping her brow. "Mind lowering the heat of the sunlight, a little?"

"Cast!" Silver laughed, nodding his head. The sun's rays weakened slightly, returning to a normal level of brightness as the sunny day turned partially cloudy. In turn, Silver's body reverted to his normal greyish-white coloring.

Sango took one last look at the farmhouse, and smiled.

Don't worry, Lucy, I'll come back to play with you real soon!

When Sango returned to the ranger base, Petal was already back. And she didn't look happy.

"How long does it take you to repair a fence?" She snapped.

"Sorry, it… I was doing something else, essential for my ranger duties," Sango said, frowning. Petal glared at her, and then her face softened. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, at least you're back," she sighed. "If you were a few minutes later, I'd have had to leave without you."

"Leave?" Sango asked, surprised. "Leave for where?"

"New orders," Petal said, holding up a ticket. "Straight from the Ranger Union. I'm supposed to take the train to Hulbury Station. And you're coming with me."

"Are… are you sure? But what about my duties here?" Sango asked. Petal rolled her eyes.

"I'm your guardian during this practicum, remember? That means I have to look out for you, and make sure you don't get wound up into something dangerous. I'm not just going to leave you here unsupervised, even if you'd have Haley and Scott here. You're my responsibility."

"Right, thank you, ma'am!" Sango said, nodding.

"Grab whatever luggage you've got, and let's head out. You still got your bags packed, ain't that right?"

Sango nodded, and turned toward her room, before pausing. Lucy's face passed through her mind.

"Um… how long are we going to be staying in Hulbury?" Sango asked.

"Why?"

"Well, just… I made a promise with a friend of mine…" Sango said, looking down. "That I would play with her again, while I was still here. So if it's going to take the rest of my practicum time, then…"

"Well, it's nice to hear that you're getting along nice and fine with the locals," Petal said, nodding, "but as for how long we'll spend there… I still can't say for certain. It might only be a day or two. It might be even longer. I can't say right now."

"I see…" Sango said, nodding, looking down.

"Are you coming or not?" Petal asked, narrowing her eyes. "I need another skilled set of eyes and ears while I'm up there. Someone who I will be able to count on. And right now, that's gotta be you. So are you in? Or not?"

Sango winced, but nodded her head. Although she might not be able to keep her promise, she knew that some things were more important than others, and it was essential for her to work with Petal to help find these Children of the Oracles. She wasn't sure what they were planning to do, or how she'd be able to help, but Petal said that Sango was needed, and that was enough for her. As a pokemon ranger, it was her duty to help the citizens. And that was exactly the kind of ranger that Sango wanted to be, someone who would extend her hand to humans and pokemon alike.

"I'll go," Sango said, nodding.

"Good. Then get your stuff. It's not too far a walk to the station. We should be in Hulbury in a couple of hours."

Sango nodded, and headed to her room to get her stuff. The two headed out, alongside their partner pokemon, and before long they arrived at the newly installed train station in the small farming town.

They boarded the train, sitting down in a simple seating compartment, other passengers sitting ahead and behind them. It was a crowded trip. While the Ranger Union could have paid to put them up in private rooms on the train, they were keeping things inconspicuous so as not to draw attention. Their identities as rangers were concealed as well, the two dressed in civilian clothes. Sango's outfit was rather simple, a sleeveless neon green top and a pair of faded jeans. Petal, on the other hand, was wearing an unexpected outfit. She was actually in, of all things, a dress?

Sango hadn't believed it either, but it was true. She was dressed in a plain white sundress (though still wearing her combat boots) and a wide-brimmed sunhat over her pigtailed brown hair. Her sword was wrapped up in a carrying case strapped over her shoulder so as not to look suspicious. It was rather odd to see her like

"Hey, uh, Petal, do they have any food on this train?" Sango asked, her stomach rumbling. Her fatigue from the morning had worn off by this point, but there was no way she had the energy to keep up for very long. The only thing she'd had to eat today was a piece of toast, and the stew she'd had earlier. It wasn't even close to being enough.

"Nope, sorry," Petal said, shaking her head. "This is a quick trip, so they won't be serving food. We'll have to get dinner in Hulbury. Luckily, I've heard of a great restaurant in the area!"

Sango groaned, the acid in her stomach beginning to eat through the lining. This trip was going to be agony…

"In the meantime, let's discuss what we'll be doing in Hulbury," Petal said, oblivious to her subordinate's condition. "This is important, so you better pay attention!"

Sango nodded, slumping her head, pressing her hand against her stomach. They were going to be in Hulbury in about an hour and a half, but it felt like it would be an eternity before they got there.

Well, what awaits Sango in Hulbury? Will she make it back to Turffield to play with Lucy again? Or did she trigger a death flag?