Time to see what Sango's response to Petal's decree will be. I'm sure she'll do exactly as she is told and listen to Petal, even if it compromises her own beliefs. That definitely sounds like her, alright.

As for the Best Girl nominations, Marion's joined the fray! Can we get any more?

Currently Nominated: Sango, Cynthia, Elaina, Kate, Dakota, Ayame, Marion

Jay Hayden: It's always a conundrum. Do you save the crying child in front of you, or the many other crying children that you can't see?

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: I'm not sure if you understand the volume of Wooloo wool we're dealing with here. I don't think this was the only farm they went to, they're just the only ones who refused to sell. Besides, it's better to have a nice, already-reared flock of Wooloo than some wild or freshly born ones in need of taming. And if Sango was the kind of person who'd sit back and let villainy occur in front of her, she wouldn't be the girl we all know and love. Sango's never been one for thinking things through, except for when she's worrying. Let's face it, if confessing to Blake would bring a smile to a crying child or stop a villainous organization, she wouldn't even hesitate.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 178

Marion wore a frown on her face as she approached the room where the female rangers normally slept. Sango had locked herself up in there, and hadn't come out yet. Silver also seemed rather worried. Marion glanced at the small Castform, and the two stepped up to the door.

Marion turned the doorknob and stepped into the room, gasping in surprise. Sango was halfway out the window.

"…Oh," Sango said, glancing over her shoulder and seeing Marion standing in the doorway with her mouth wide open.

"What are you doing?!" Marion hissed, pulling Sango back inside.

"Sshhh!" Sango hissed back, running over and closing the door again. "Don't make so much noise! They'll catch me!"

"You're sneaking out!" Marion realized.

"Yes, I'm sneaking out," Sango said. Her expression was serious. "I need to."

"You aren't serious," Marion said, shaking her head in shock. "You're going to find those Team Rocket guys, aren't you?!"

Sango nodded.

"That's insane! Didn't you hear that ranger lady? She said not to do anything!" Marion objected. "And besides, what the heck are you even going to do?! I saw those guns, same as you!"

"I know, but… but I can't just stay here!" Sango said, biting her lip. "If I… if I let something like this happen… if I let them get away…"

Sango let out a sigh.

"I can see Lucy's face… those tears… if I can't help one girl, then how can I ever accomplish anything as a ranger? Maybe… maybe it isn't looking out for the greater good… but I need to do the right thing, no matter what." Sango looked down at the ground. Marion could see how conflicted she was about all this. "If I do this, though… I'll probably be blackballed out of being ranger. But even so… I couldn't keep being a ranger anyway if I looked past this."

Marion frowned.

"I get it, believe me… but still, you're actually going to take on all those guys by yourself?! Not a chance! If you're really serious about this… then I'm coming too."

Sango's eyes opened wide.

"No way! You can't! I can't let you-"

Marion raised her hand and held it over Sango's mouth, shaking her head.

"If you're going to do this, then I'm coming too. Besides, I'm not aiming to be a ranger, so who cares if I get blackballed?" Marion smiled. "Besides, they're going by boat, remember? When it comes to the ocean, you're gonna need all the help you can get. So why not let me and my fishy friends step in and help you?"

Sango blinked, and then shook her head.

"No."

"What, because it's dangerous?! I'm older than you, you know, and I've been through some serious shit!"

"That's not it," Sango said. "Marion, thank you for offering to help me, it really means a lot. But see… I need you here more than I need you there."

"What?"

Sango held up the styler on her wrist.

"Our stylers have an emergency beacon we can turn on whenever we get into trouble. So that's my plan. I'm going to sneak aboard their ship, and then turn the beacon on. Petal said she wasn't going to step in and stop them? Fine. She's responsible for me, though. Which means it's her job to keep me safe. So if she sees that I'm in danger, then she'll have to come save me. And when she does, then she'll have to stop what's going on here. That's my plan. But see, that only works if she doesn't know what's going on until then, you get it? I need you to distract her."

"Distract her?"

"Yes. I'm going to sneak out of here. But if Petal knows I'm gone and comes to stop me before I can get to their ship, then all of this will be for nothing. So tell her… tell her that I'm sleeping in my room, that I got exhausted from lack of sleep for the last few nights, and the turmoil of what happened today. And that I'm trying to get a good night's sleep for the mission to Hulbury tomorrow. She'll probably believe that if you can sell it well. Just don't let on about what I'm doing until my alarm starts going off. Then give her the full story, and we'll be golden. Sound good?"

"I'll do the best I can!" Marion smiled, pumping her fist in excitement. "I'm a great liar!"

…

"Stop looking at me like that, I am!"

Sango sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Thanks for your support, Marion. Hopefully, everything will go fine… but even if it doesn't… I don't want to feel the way I felt today. Like I was powerless to do anything. A ranger who can't soothe the tears of a single little girl… I don't want to be a ranger like that."

"Good luck, Sango," Marion said, nodding.

"Cast!" Silver floated up to Sango and hovered between her and the window. He glared at her.

"What?" Sango asked. "No, you're not coming."

"Cast!" Silver said.

"It's dangerous! I don't want you getting hurt! This is my responsibility, so-"

"Cast! Castform!" Silver shouted, shaking his head (well, his whole body) side to side.

"…" Sango looked at her partner for a few seconds, and sighed.

"You're really stubborn, you know that?"

"Cast!" Silver said, nodding and smiling smugly.

"Okay, fine, let's go and save those Wooloo together, partner," Sango smiled. She turned back to Marion one last time, climbing up onto the window. "Marion, thanks. See you soon."

"Hope so," Marion said, nodding. "Don't forget. You promised we'll go fishing when we get back."

"That's a huge fucking death flag, so thanks," Sango muttered, rolling her eyes, not realizing that her promise to herself to tell Blake the truth was even more severe of a death flag.

Sango quietly jumped down from the window and began running through the farm town. The train stations were closed at this hour, so she'd have to go by foot. But… would she even make it in time?

If the boat is leaving soon… I won't be able to get there. But if they're busy loading up… if they have other stuff to wait for, more stolen pokemon… well, all I can do is run. Even if I can't get there in time… if I don't do everything I possibly can, then I won't be able to call myself a pokemon ranger.

"Sango."

Sango heard a voice behind her that made her blood run cold, and she pulled to a stop. She turned back to look at her father in utter shock.

"Dad, what… what are you doing here?"

"I would ask the same," Uboss Akana coldly replied. "Here I was planning to visit the ranger base in Turffield to come see you, but here you are, running through town at sunset."

"Sorry, dad, but I don't have the time!" Sango shouted, turning back to start running. "This is important."

"Oi." Sango's father grabbed her by the collar, pulling her back.

"Let me go!" Sango snarled.

"Whatever you're doing, are you really doing it with that clouded expression?" Uboss demanded, narrowing his eyes. "I know you better than that. You're strung out, Sango. I haven't seen you as frantic as I am now."

"You haven't seen a lot of things about me," Sango tried to hurt him with that one, but he didn't seem to flinch at it.

"Maybe so. But I can still tell you're throwing yourself into something dangerous, and like hell I'm gonna let that stand!"

"Stop it!" Sango exclaimed, breaking free of her father's grip. "Stop treating me like a child! You're just afraid, because you couldn't save mom! Well, sorry, dad, but I'm not interested in staying nice and safe just because you're scared!"

"That's…"

"This is important!" Sango shouted. "It's something I need to do! I want to be a ranger like mom, one who puts a smile on the faces of others! A pokemon ranger… would never stand by and let a child cry like that! So even if it's dangerous, I'm going to have to do it! I'm leaving, whether you want me to or not!"

"You are a child," Uboss said, frowning. "You're behaving immaturely, just like a child would. I don't know what exactly it is you're getting yourself involved in, but it's clear that it's something that's dangerous. And what's also clear, is that whoever's responsible for you, I don't believe for a minute that they would allow you to throw yourself into it. Which means you're sneaking out without telling them, is that right? If you want to be seen as an adult, then you need to start acting like one. So go on, run off and prove just how much of a child you still are."

Sango scowled. Uboss stared at her with a judgmental look, waiting for her to prove him right.

"…That being said… part of growing up is making mistakes and questioning those around you," Uboss admitted. He reached into his pocket, and withdrew a pokeball. "Like I said, I don't know what's going on. But I can see that you're serious about this. So if you're that adamant to be your own woman, then fine. I suppose I can lend a hand to my wild rover of a daughter."

Uboss pressed the button on the pokeball, and from it came out a large Skarmory. Its metallic wings glistened in the sunlight and it landed on the ground, rubbing its rough feathers against Sango kindly.

"Crest! Hey!" Sango smiled.

"Wherever it is you're going, he'll get you there faster," Uboss replied. "So get moving."

"…Thanks, dad," Sango said, smiling. She climbed onto the Skarmory's back, and nodded to him. Silver floated up as well, and she cradled him to her chest. Crest flapped his wings and took to the sky, flying off with sun to their backs.

Uboss watched Sango fly off, and sighed.

"If you were still here, you'd tell her to go do what she's gotta do without hesitation, right Maya?" Uboss sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You always knew her better than me. Watch out for her, okay? Keep her safe."

After only a few minutes of flying, Sango and Crest reached the harbor of Hulbury, Sango scanning the dusk-lit docks with a watchful eye, scanning each boat to see which one might be holding the Wooloos. If only she had gotten the harbor registry from Petal, then she might be able to find which ship it was… maybe it had even left already? No, she couldn't let herself think that. It was out here, somewhere, it just… it just had to be!

There! Sango saw it. Three trucks, like the ones that had taken the Wooloo from the farm, lined up next to a large freighter, steam billowing out of its smokestacks. It was preparing to leave!

Sango looked closely. The people on the deck… they were in dark clothes. Was it them? She desperately looked at the other ships. Nothing similar to that… no, it just had to be! This was the right boat, alright.

Sango tugged on Crest, gesturing to the large freighter.

"Skarm," Crest nodded, circling around the boat. Luckily, the people still on the deck were looking every way except up. Sango found a portion of the ship that seemed to not have anyone in sight, near the back. There was decent enough cover with all the metal storage containers piled up. Crest landed in a patch of shadowed boat, letting Sango off.

"Thanks, Crest. Go back to dad now, okay? You might need to help find the ship again." She hugged the pokemon she'd known since childhood one last time, and the Skarmory took to the sky.

"Now then, since we're here, Silver, let's keep it down, okay?" Silver nodded. Sango reached and pressed the underside of her styler, turning on the emergency signal. Now she just had to remain hidden, and the cavalry would come to the rescue. As tough as she was… no way Petal would just leave her like this. And Marion certainly wouldn't let her. There was nothing to worry about, nothing…

"Well, well…"

A bright line blinded Sango, and she raised her hands in front of her face, taking a defensive posture as her blood went cold. The harsh-sounding man stomped towards her and grabbed her roughly by the wrist, pulling her to her feet. Silver moved to fight him off, but Sango held him back. No sense in her partner getting hurt. She could already hear the alarms sounding off.

Well… I hoped I'd last more than a minute without being found… I guess I'm not as stealthy as I thought… Sango told herself, shaking her head.

"Well now, little miss ranger, you have got to be, bar none, the world's worst stowaway."

Sango had been taken to the captain's office, where she found a sight she hadn't been expecting to see. It was an understatement to say that things were not going exactly as she had planned. Her arms were being held by two Team Rocket grunts, and Silver had been taken from her, much to her frustration and worry. And now here she was, staring at the last face she had wanted to see, the suited bastard from before, the one who had stolen those Wooloo in the first place.

"I thought you had learned a healthy respect for the power of violence, but it seems not." The man sighed and rose from his seat, walking around the desk. He grabbed her chin and roughly jerked her head up to look her in the eye, Sango matching his stare with a glare of defiance.

"I'm quite stupid, in fact," Sango smirked. "I have a hard time learning lessons."

"It would appear. Here you are, a lone girl sneaking aboard one of Team Rocket's freighters, and for what? A herd of Wooloo?"

"You made a little girl cry," Sango replied. In her head that had sounded like a really badass line, but under the current circumstances it seemed a little pathetic.

"…Indeed. And now here you, acting like this is Die Hard. Normally, I should just throw you overboard, but we're quite a distance out at sea, and I imagine you'd be missed by somebody… and judging by everything that's happened with us, it wouldn't be difficult to connect the dots and lead the Ranger Union right to our door… so killing you is out of the question… But what to do with you then, I wonder?"

"Don't suppose you can just let me go?"

"No, I think not." The man turned to one of the other rocket grunts. "Throw her in the brig for now. Getting crowded in there already, what is it with teenage girls and stowing away on ships like this? When we get off in Kanto, we'll have someone take her to a nearby ranger base. Come up with something, say she snuck aboard out of some misplaced vendetta, I don't really care. By the time they trace it back to us, we'll have already unloaded all the cargo, so there won't be any proof."

Sango frowned. Fortunately, she had guessed right. They weren't going to risk killing her, and now all she had to do was play for time. She was worried about Silver, he must be being held somewhere. She couldn't just let them take her to the ranger base… even if she wasn't in danger, she'd probably never see her partner again… he'd be sold to some collector or something, forced to battle… she knew she shouldn't have brought him along! Why did he have to be so insistent?

Whatever, it's fine. It's not like we'll make it to Kanto anyway. My signal is still broadcasting, which means Petal is going to come find us and track us down. I just have to wait for that moment to come…

The two grunts turned and began taking her out of the room.

"Hold on a moment," the man said, and Sango felt a chill run down her spine. He strolled over and grabbed her by the arm, lifting her wrist up to inspect her styler.

"Well, well, not such a fool now, are you?" The man smiled. It was almost a look of respect. "Clever little thing! You've set your styler to send out an emergency broadcast!"

Sango's chest sunk in defeat. She'd been found out.

The man chuckled, and ripped the styler from her wrist, tossing it onto the ground. He jammed his heel down until a crackling sound could be heard, smashing the styler and the emergency beacon with it.

"Now we won't have any… unnecessary interruptions on our trip to Kanto," the man said, smiling. "As you were, gentlemen."

The two grunts escorted Sango out of the room, forcing her down a long hallway. Sango was crestfallen. She had failed completely. She'd wanted to save the Wooloo… but now, Lucy would never see the things again. And even worse, she'd never see Silver again… Sango understood the pain Lucy was no doubt going through. She was resisting the urge to cry herself. The two men took her to a large cell made of reinforced iron, the kind of bars that looked impossible to get through. It was deep and dark, Sango not being able to see all the way inside. One of the grunts opened the door, shoving her through it and slamming it behind her.

"Don't worry, little ranger, getting to Kanto won't take too long. Until then, make yourself comfortable in our luxury suite!" The two grunts walked off, laughing, leaving Sango to stew in her cell.

Damn it… How could I have been so naïve… The more she thought about it, the more holes Sango could see in her plan. Which made sense, considering how little she'd really thought it through. Marion had tried to warn her… and so had her father. And now, here she was. In a prison of her own making.

Tears began to fall from her eyes.

"Oh? Why do you cry so, young ranger?" Sango blinked, her eyes opening in recognition as she caught the sound of a familiar voice carrying from the back of the cell. She turned and stared into the darkness, walking closer to it. It couldn't be… could it?

A calming aroma of lavender, lilac, and mint passed through Sango's nostrils, and she felt herself relaxing in spite of the circumstances.

"It is a pleasure to meet you." As she blinked, the room seemed more clear, and Sango realized they weren't fully in the darkness. Instead, lit in a shadowed veil by the light of the hallway was a young girl, or at least, someone who resembled one, dressed in a very familiar red dress and white shirt. Her lavender hair was framed by a large red bow in the back, and her golden eyes glistened with a maturity that belied her youthful appearance.

"Is there anything I can do for you, to soothe your tears, my dear girl?"

While her desperation might have landed her in hot water, it seems that Sango might have a guardian angel looking out for her after all!