Summerland was a well-known tropical town in Fiore and a popular spot among tourists. Many travelers and Trainers set up their second homes and holiday cottages in Summerland. I mean, who wouldn't want to vacation on a beautiful, warm, luscious island like Summerland? Contrast to the hustle and bustle of Fall City, Summerland was quiet, calm and relaxing – the ideal place to laze around, lounge and unwind after a long period of work.
And that is exactly what Leilani was doing. She had been sent on missions back to back for the past month but she was finally getting time to sit back and melt her stress away. She spent the majority of the day chilling on the beach after getting a couple's massage with Alejandro at the Summerland Resort. The tension between the two of them quickly evaporated when Leilani told him she had the day for just the two of them to hang out. He was all too pleased to take part in a day of R&R with Leilani.
"Damn, Leilani. Most folks spend their entire life savings on a beach house and yah'll just got them here ready to sell?" Alejandro asked as he and Leilani strolled on the sandy path through the many breach homes in Summerland.
Leilani grinned. "Well, that's what it's like to live in Summerland. The town is forty percent beach and sixty percent jungle. You gotta have some place to put the houses."
"But these ain't your regular residential homes."
"Some may be more luxurious than others but that's the case with any place in the world."
Alejandro nodded. "For sure. I'm so down with living here on the beach. Watching the waves roll. Listening to the jungle pokémon. That's dope."
Leilani stopped walking. "How long have you been staying in Fiore anyway?"
"I dunno. Month, month and a half. Why?"
Leilani placed one hand on her hip. "It just seems that you've been here a while and you don't have a stable place to hang your hat."
Alejandro smiled. "I don't wear hats. Messes with the 'do' too much."
Leilani punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"You know what I mean. Staying in a hotel for so long can't be cheap."
"No, but you get what you pay for. The Summerland Resort's a pretty swanky place. I'm down for staying there for as long as I need. But if you have something else in mind?…"
Leilani could tell from his stare what he was implying. She gently shook her head.
"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves. I was only asking about your living arrangements because I was concerned about your finances. But if you enjoy staying at the resort, that's perfectly fine to me."
Alejandro put his hands around Leilani. "Well, I especially enjoyed that couple's massage.
Leilani smiled. "Hm. Well, I told you I'd make it up to you for missing our date before, didn't I?"
"Yeah, but you took a mighty long time to do it. I'm still waiting for my payment for the tickets."
Leilani giggled. When she opened her eyes, she saw the bewildered expression on his face.
"What?"
"What's so funny?" he asked seriously.
Leilani sobered up slightly. She didn't get a chance to answer as her styler started to alarm. She picked it up from its holder and took the call.
"Leilani here…Uh huh…Yes, I am…Yes…Okay, I'm on my way…"
Leilani ended the call and put her styler back on her hip. When she looked up at Alejandro, she saw the irritation building in his eyes.
"I have to go, Alejandro."
"You said this day was all about us."
"I know. But I have to go to work. There's a situation with a Rhyhorn in the mountains –"
"Have someone else do it." He abruptly replied.
Leilani gawked at him.
"Alejandro, my boss called me to do a mission and I'm going to do it."
"I thought Top Rangers were their own bosses? Why do you still listen to the Snorlax?"
Leilani was taken aback by Alejandro's behavior.
"First of all, don't call him that. He is my Area Leader and you will not disrespect him. Secondly, regardless of my rank and status I am still his student. I can designate and assign myself missions on my own but he is still my commanding ranger and my superior. I follow his instructions and his orders, end of discussion."
Leilani could see Alejandro's lips tighten. She sighed and placed a hand on his chest and he quickly held it.
"I know you wanted to just hang out today but my Area Leader assigned me a mission and I must complete it. I'll try to get back as soon as I can and I'll call you when I'm done, okay?"
Alejandro still didn't say anything. Leilani tried to walk away but she couldn't. Alejandro was still holding her hand.
"Alejandro, I have to go." She said tried to pull her hand away, but he did not let up on his grip.
Leilani once again tried to pull away but she couldn't free herself.
"Alejandro, let go."
His glare was unwavering and Leilani felt her knees buckle just a little bit. Why did he suddenly seem so cold? Just momentsago they were laughing and having fun with each other. How could he bounce between emotions so quickly?
Leilani tugged on her arm.
"Alejandro, let go of me. I have to go." She asked a little more forcefully.
When he didn't answer Leilani tried to pry herself free from his grasp but it didn't work. She tugged her arm one final and finally freed her hand from his grasp.
She held her hand and looked back at him. His stare was cold and unwelcoming.
"I'll call you when I get off." She breathed before turning around and walking away.
Lucario glared hard at Alejandro before joining his ranger. He didn't trust this human at all. Not one little bit.
Aria and Šárka sashayed into the Fall City Ranger Base.
"I'm telling you, Aria. You should have so gotten that. A black evening cocktail party, high-waisted jumpsuit with a deep V-neck, halter top design and backless? That had your name written all over it."
Aria scoffed.
"We don't have enough events to host a cocktail party. I'd have no place wear it. At that price, you'd need to be going out networking and socializing damn near every night."
"You don't get it, I bet you Solana will. She definitely has the curves to make that look even more seductive and alluring. Betcha Lunick would be on her trail, tongue and tail wagging and everything before she even worked a sweat in it."
Aria made a rude sound. "As if they aren't already sleeping together. She has him trained so well. I bet he doesn't even have to beg…The little tramp."
Šárka furrowed her brow. This conversation soured rather quickly. She personally didn't have anything against Solana but there was no stopping Aria from going on a long vicious tirade about her.
"My point is you should've got something. 'Bout time you started wearing something other than those white palazzo pants. They're played out."
"As if, Šárka. These are a classic. An avant-garde style of fashion. Classy and chic never go out of style, darling."
"You're maybe the only ranger I know who can get away with modifying her uniform. Hell, you're not even wearing the base's colors."
Aria flicked her hair.
"Like I said, classy and chic never go out of style."
Šárka folded her arms. "Whateves."
Aria folded her arms on the front desk. She scowled when she saw Lind's sea green eyes staring questioningly at her from behind the desk.
"Ugh. When is Joel returning back to work? I'm getting tired of seeing your drab face every day."
Lind picked up a stack of papers, straightened them in his hands and neatly stacked them together.
"Don't worry, Aria. He'll be back in tomorrow morning. You only have to work under me for a few more harrowing long hours."
"Oh joy." She rolled her eyes.
He started signing off on papers. "Did you complete your mission?"
"I'm here aren't I?"
"I can do without the sass, Aria."
"Stop giving me these mediocre missions newbies can do and maybe you can re-earn my respect."
"Tch. Like you ever respected me," he muttered under his breath.
Aria arched her eyebrow.
"Somebody's a little sour today, aren't they? What? You're finally not being overlooked in favor of me. You should be grateful you were the one chosen to be Area Leader while Joel was away. Is your idiosyncratic brother giving you flak? Has he finally figured out that you –"
"Aria, if you don't shut up I'm going to write you up for insubordination and have the Union so far up your ass, you'll be buried in paperwork until you turn forty!"
Aria smirked. "Really?…I'm the one with something up my ass?"
Šárka popped Aria hard on her shoulder.
"Ow! Šárka, what the hell?"
"Lay off, Aira," she admonished in a whisper. "He's still in charge."
Aria turned back to Lind. She could see the veins popping out of his neck and a tear that was just starting to well in his right eye.
She sighed heavily.
"Fine. Do you have another assignment for me?"
Lind didn't stop glaring at Aria. He simply picked up a manila folder that was on the table and handed it to her.
Aria opened the folder to see what was inside. Her eyes lit on fire.
"Mrs. Johansson!" she shouted as she slammed the folder holding the sheet of paper on the table. "You're sending me out to get Mrs. Johansson's spoiled Persian out of a tree?!"
"Her Persian is stuck on a rooftop on one of the buildings in the apartment complex and will not come down. You are to retrieve her and bring her back safely to Mrs. Johansson."
"That uppity old bag is the most unpleasant thing on the face of this earth! There is no way I'm going to get that self-entitled, spoon-fed feline for that self-indulgent crone!"
Lind's eyes hardened. "Aria, stop insulting our clients and go rescue Sassy for Mrs. Johansson. You might want to watch your mouth about her Persian. Your little Meowth might one day become a spoiled, self-entitled feline."
Aria's Meowth popped out of Aria's pet purse and hissed at Lind. Aria petted her lightly on the head.
"My Meowphy is a classy pokémon and if she evolved would never become as horrid a thing as that Persian."
"Aria…Go complete your mission…Now."
"Screw you, Lind! You're giving me these crappy missions on purpose!"
Šárka tugged on Aria's shoulder. "Come on, Aria! Let's just go do the mission. Stop giving him a hard time."
Aria slapped her hand away and shrieked in annoyance.
"Fine!" Aria snatched back up the folder and read over the report. "I can't wait until Joel returns so I can get the priorities."
Aria then felt Šárka tapping her on the shoulder again.
"What is it now?"
"Boyfriend. Two o' clock," she whispered as she pointed to the far right side of the base. Murph was sitting at one of the tables, holding a stapler and a stack of papers in his hands while looking dumbfoundedly at Aria.
Aria rolled her eyes and scowled.
"Go over to him," Šárka urged.
Aria gave an irritated sigh and tossed the folder back on the front desk. She then walked over to Murph and put a fake smile on her face.
"Hi, Murph," she said through gritted teeth.
"Hi," Murph replied softly. He was kind of hurt that Aria didn't say anything to him when she entered the base.
"What are you doing here, sweetie?" she asked.
Murph stapled the papers he held in his hands and placed the stapler back down on the table.
"Professor Hastings asked me to come by. His friend Mr. Lamont had some old manuscripts written by the Union he thought might be helpful in my studies. I also came to turn in my report."
He held up the packet in his hands.
Aria's eyes stretched slightly.
"Wow, that is a thick book."
"Oh, that's just my report. This is the manuscript," he said, picking up a heavier and much bigger packet of bound documents.
Aria nodded her head slowly.
"Wow…That is a lot of material…You sure you can get through all of it?"
Murph rested the large manuscript back on the desk.
"I don't have a choice. Professor Hastings is counting on me and I don't want to disappoint him."
Again, Aria nodded.
"Well, he sure has a dependable student. Professor Hastings is getting old. It's nice that you're taking over some of his duties to lighten his workload."
Murph smiled. That was the nicest thing she ever said to him.
"Thanks, Aria…"
Aria gave her first genuine grin with him. She walked a little closer to him and walked her fingers up his arm.
"I can't wait until I'm done with my mission and you wrap this thing up with Professor Hastings…I'm actually looking forward to going to the theatre this evening."
Murph stared at her in confusion.
"Theatre?"
"Mhmm…The comedy show with the Wailmer brothers?"
Murph thumped himself on the head.
"Oh maaannn…Aria, I can't go."
Aria stopped playing with his uniform, side stepped away from him and gasped.
"What?!" she spat out, giving him the most appalled and disgusted expression.
Murph sighed again.
"I can't go, Aria. Not tonight. The Professor –"
"Let me get this straight. You buy tickets to book the most horrid, juvenile, brainless comedy show in Fall City's Sugimori Center for the Performing Arts, bugged me for weeks that this was going to be something I would enjoy even though you know I absolutely despise callow buffoonery. I finally agree to go…and now you are ditching me?"
Murph shook his head animatedly.
"No, no! Gosh, Aria. I don't mean to cancel. Honest! It's just the Professor has me doing so much –"
Aria held out her hands. "I cannot believe I actually managed to convince myself that there was even the slightest chance that we could have fun together and enjoy each other's company. Let me tell you something, Murph, you don't kill our dates. I kill our dates. We don't go out, it's because I say we don't. The nerve of you trying to cancel on me…Your fat ass should be groveling at my feet, thankful that I even gave you the time of day. Cancel on me? Please!"
She shoved Murph's papers at his stomach and they fell to the floor. She about-faced and walked towards the base's exit.
"I'm going to have fun tonight, with or without you."
And with that, she exited the base. Šárka and Lind both gave Murph a sympathetic look.
Šárka sighed softly and slowly walked outside the base to join Aria.
Murph sniffled slightly as he knelt on the floor to pick up his scattered papers. He saw a hand hold out a few of them to him, looked up, and smiled.
"Thanks, Lind."
Lind nodded slightly before standing up and returning to his post behind the front desk.
Standing up, Murph placed the papers back on the table.
"Slowking?" his Partner Pokémon asked.
Murph shook his head.
"No, pal…I'm not."
"Mai Mai?"
"No, buddy. She already has earrings. Unless they're the exact same as the ones her grandmother gave her, it's not gonna work."
"Mai Mai?"
"She doesn't wear bracelets."
"Mai?"
"No. It's not good enough. It's gotta be bigger, Minun. Bigger."
Minun sighed in annoyance.
"Is something troubling you Lunick-sama?" a voice called.
Lunick looked up from his laptop and saw Iyori standing in front of him at one of the tables inside the base's lobby.
He shook his head. "Nah. Just trying to find the best birthday gift for Solana. Nothing I get her is going to top the birthstone necklaces I gave her earlier this year. I should have just saved those for her birthday like I initially planned."
"I'm sure Solana-san will appreciate anything you give to her."
Lunick chuckled.
"Yeah, I know she will. But I still want to get her something great, you know? I think I might've outdone myself with this last gift. I'm all out of ideas."
"Mai Mai! Mai Mai!" Minun jumped up and down on the table and pointed to the monitor.
Lunick leaned forward to see what Minun was pointing at then leaned back and shook his head.
"No. No way, Minun."
"Mai Mai Mai? Mai Mai!"
"N. O. No. I'll find something else."
Minun gave a little squeal that was probably the cutest little sound Iyori had ever heard. He hopped off the table and scurried away.
Lunick tapped on chin with his finger.
"What else does Solana like? Flowers? Plushies? It can't all be jewelry. Iyori, you're a girl. What are some extravagant things you like?"
Iyori blushed slightly. "What? Me?…I-I don't very much care for extravagant things?"
"Well, it doesn't necessarily have to be lavish. Just something that says, 'Babe, I love yah! These last three years have been sheer bliss. Thank you for making me the luckiest and happiest guy in world and staying by my side through all my shenanigans!'"
"Well…why not just say that?"
"Actions speak volumes louder than words, Iyori. I'm more of a show and don't tell kind of guy, unless I have a mushy speel to go along with it."
Iyori frowned.
"Then…I am not sure I can be much help to you, Lunick-sama. I am sorry."
Lunick shook his head.
"No, don't apologize. It's cool. I'll figure out something. I've got some time before her B-Day still."
Just then, Solana and Plusle entered the Ringtown Ranger Base.
"Hey, Lunick." She greeted cheerily.
Lunick quickly closed down his laptop.
"Hey, Babe. How was the mish?"
Solana walked up to him and sat down in the chair beside him.
"Oh, no biggie. The Poliwag were just a little unnerved because of the Vileplume spreading their Stun Spore. I had them back in their nesting grounds and they were eating Salveyo weeds in no time."
"Salveyo weeds?" Iyori asked.
"It's a medicinal herb that helps counteract the Stun Spore's paralysis. An effective antidote can be made by boiling the leaves of the Salveyo weeds. They're only found in the clear lake bottoms near the Vileplume habitat. A tricky situation for the Poliwag line but fortunately these weeds are nearby to help them survive."
"Oh." She said quietly. "I hope the other pokémon are okay."
"They're fine, Iyori." Solana answered. "Most pokémon are friendly to each other so long as their family and territory are not threatened."
"Oh. Well, that is good."
Spenser then exited from the elevator and entered the lobby. He smiled when he saw Solana and Lunick.
"Mission clear, Solana?"
"Yes, Leader."
"Good." He walked around to his desk and sat down. "Nice to see you again, Lunick. You've been taking on quite a lot recently, haven't you?"
Lunick chuckled. "Yeah, well, you can't help what you can't control, right? You can only do your best to improve the situation."
"Yes. And you've been doing even above that. You've made the Union proud with your rescue of that Rapidash and the newborn Ponyta. They are even integrating a new program to teach rangers how to deliver pokémon in complicated deliveries because of your heroism."
Lunick smiled. "That's great!"
"You've inspired a lot of people, Lunick. And you've saved a lot of lives."
"Well, that's what I'm paid to do, Leader. We save lives. We don't settle for causalities."
Spenser nodded and grinned.
Suddenly, a tall blond-haired man with a goatee busted into the Ringtown Ranger Base.
"Disaster! It's a disaster! Trouble! Oh, trouble!" he cried.
Spenser turned back to face him.
"What's the problem, Larry?"
"Oh, it's a crisis! A catastrophe! A great tragedy!"
"Is it Swellow?"
Larry huffed at Spenser with great indignation.
"How can you remain so calm? My precious darling is lost out there! Cold, hungry, scared of this terrifying world! Oh, trouble! Trouble!"
Spenser turned to Lunick.
"Lunick?"
Lunick sighed.
"Where did you lose it this time, Larry?"
"How dare you?! I did not lose my darling Swellow! We were attacked by a vicious Slakoth!"
Iyori gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.
"Oh my!"
Solana stood up and held her by her shoulders.
"It's okay, Iyori. He's just embellishing a bit."
"Embellishing?!"
Lunick rolled his eyes. "Larry, Slakoth loll around and sleep more than twenty hours a day. They barely move."
"Well, maybe they seem like weak drowsy pokémon to you. But I'm no dummy! That Slakoth could've evolved into an overzealous Vigoroth, and then into a raging Slaking! Oh, the mere thought must've had my precious Swellow so scared it flew away before it could maul its delicate wings!"
"Or it needed to get some space from its unduly mollycoddle owner." Lunick muttered under his breath.
Larry slammed his hands on Spenser's desk, startling Iyori.
"Are you going to send someone out to rescue my darling Swellow or not?!"
Lunick stood up. "Alright, Larry. Relax. I got this. I'll have Swellow –"
Before Lunick could answer, an older woman came bolting through the Ringtown Ranger Base doors.
"Oh please! You must help me!" she cried. "My little Smoochum and I were taking a stroll in the Lyra Forest when we got separated by a swarm of Beedril. I'm worried something terrible might happen to it. Please, you must find it and bring it back safely to me!"
"Hey! I was here first sister!" Larry argued.
"Excuse me?"
"These rangers are going to rescue my darling Swellow first! After they return it back safely to me, I'm sure they'll happily look for your pokémon."
Spenser tried to interject.
"Now Larry, there's no –"
"Well, I never!" The woman huffed. "You rude young man! I have a real emergency!"
"So do I!"
"Really? You have a full grown pokémon wanting to escape your squeamish hold on it. I have a baby pokémon wandering around lost in a forest filled with aggressive pokémon! I think it's clear who has the bigger problem!"
Larry gawked at the woman.
"How dare you?!"
Spenser stood up. "Now, there is no need to argue. We have plenty of rangers here who can –"
Before Spenser could finish, a couple ran into the Ringtown Ranger Base.
"Please help us!" the young woman cried.
"Our kids were playing in the lake when they were surrounded by a family of territorial Krabby and Kingler. My brother is watching them but you must send someone out to rescue them before they get hurt!" the man followed.
"Excuse me, but I was here first!"
"No, I was here first old woman! These rangers are going to find my darling Swellow!"
"Our kids' lives are in danger!"
"Oof! Young people today have no respect for their elders!"
The situation in the base was escalating and Solana could see how uneasy and afraid Iyori was getting. She was starting to dig her nails into her skin again and tear up. Murph may have been right in his concerns with Iyori being at the base on a busy day.
"Iyori, deep breaths. Everything is going to be okay."
Iyori gasped for air, she was starting to hyperventilate.
"They're all upset. They're gonna attack," she cried.
Solana held her hands. "No, no. They're not gonna attack. Everything is going to be fine."
Lunick could see Solana struggling with Iyori. He walked over to them.
"Iyori?"
"They're going to attack!" she shrieked.
"Iyori, how about we go into a different room? Where you can't see them or hear the excitement?" Lunick suggested.
Iyori shook her head fervently. "They're going to kill me!"
"Everyone calm down!" Spenser shouted. "We can address all of your concerns if you just –"
It was then that a camera crew entered the base.
"Where is he?" the anchorwoman asked.
"There he is!" the cameraman yelled, pointing to Lunick on the other side of the base.
"Oh no." Lunick uttered.
A swarm of people then flooded the base, the majority running towards Lunick and Solana.
"This is Channel 2 News. We've finally been able to track down the heroic ranger who saved the two pokémon in last week's horrendous accident."
"Lunick, how were you able to save that injured Rapidash?" one of anchors asked.
"Is it true that the driver hit the pokémon with the intention of killing it?"
"Mr. Kaneko, how does this affect pokémon and human relations regarding traveling routes?"
"Our children!"
"My Smoochum!"
"MY SWELLOW!"
The clamor in the lobby filled the entire base. Rangers came out from the elevator door and the kichenette trying to figure out what was going on.
"What in tarnation?" Tara cried out as she stepped into the lobby.
"What the heck is going on?" Lindsey followed.
Spenser banged on his desk. "Crowd control! Crowd control! Now!" he shouted.
All rangers knew what that meant. In order to prevent a human crush, they had to get the crowd out now. All the Ringtown rangers worked to calm the situation…all but Solana and Lunick, who were nearly pinned against the wall from the swarm of reporters.
Iyori's eyes dilated and she let out a shrill scream thoroughly alarming Solana and Lunick.
"Kare wa watashi o korosudarou!" He will kill me!
She then started banging her head against the wall, further frightening Solana.
"Oh my God, Iyori, stop it!"
"Iya! Iya! IYA!" No! No! NO!
Lunick grabbed Iyori from behind and held her tightly as he turned his back to the wall to keep her from bashing her head in while also pinning her arms down at her sides.
"Iyori, yamete! Kega o shinaide kudasai!" Iyori, stop it! Do not hurt yourself!
Iyori kept on screaming in fear.
Solana's eyes wavered. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes.
She couldn't stand to look at this anymore and turned around and fought her way through the crowd until she reached the entrance.
"Solana!" Lunick called out. "Solana!"
Solana didn't listen. She stepped outside and ran home as fast as she could.
"Plah Pla!" Plusle cried as she strained to follow behind her.
As much as Lunick didn't like reporters shoving their microphones in his face or seeing Iyori in a hysterical state, it was seeing Solana break down and cry that ached his heart the most.
Lunick knocked on Solana's front door, hoping that she would answer. It took nearly all of the rest of the day until the whole situation at the base finally calmed down. Spenser had to call practically every base to recruit rangers to help push the frenzied crowd out. As soon as Lunick got off work, he headed straight for Solana's house, not even stopping to change out of his uniform first. She had not come back to the base since the hysteria and he was really getting concerned about her.
When she didn't come to answer, he knocked again and called out.
"Solana, it's me. Please open up, Babe. I'm worried about you."
There was the sound of movement on the other side of the door and it crack opened. But it wasn't Solana who was on the other side.
"Pla Plah?"
Lunick held the door open.
"Where is she, Plusle?"
Turning around, Plusle ran to Solana's living room and pointed.
"Pla Plah."
Lunick and Minun stepped inside and he closed the door behind him. He followed Plusle to Solana's living room. He saw her curled up on her sofa, holding a pillow against her chest.
"Thank you, Plusle." He said as he walked into her living room.
He sat down on the edge of the sofa and turned to her.
"Solana?"
She didn't respond but he knew she was awake. He gently lifted her legs and sat down underneath, resting her legs back down on his lap afterwards. He then lightly rubbed her legs.
"Solana…" he called again.
Solana slightly turned her face to look at him. He could see the tearstains on her face.
"Is Iyori okay?"
Lunick nodded.
"Iyori is fine. She is staying with Leilani tonight. And all the pokémon were located and safely returned to their owners."
"Did she hurt herself?"
"She's bleeding a little but nothing serious. Very superficial head injury thankfully."
Solana rested her head back down on the puffy arm of the sofa.
"I'm a bad person." She said softly
"What?"
"I'm a bad person," she repeated a little louder.
"Solana, what are you talking about? You are not a bad person."
"Yes, I am." She lifted her head once more. "Iyori hurt herself because of me. She could have killed herself."
Lunick shook his head.
"No, Solana. Iyori hurt herself because she does not know how to cope when she's stressed. That has nothing to do with you. And she would not have killed herself. I would not have let that happen."
Solana suddenly sat up.
"Lunick, I put her in that situation. I endangered her life."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did!" she cried out, "I'm the one who suggested she work at the base, even though she's not stable right now. I put her in a highly stressful situation knowing it may very well be too much for her to handle. You and Murph were right. This was not a good idea. It was a horrible idea!"
"Hey," Lunick put his right arm around Solana, "We all knew Iyori was very fragile. We all agreed to have her work at the base. This isn't your responsibility alone."
"No, Lunick," Solana breathed, "When I initially suggested that Iyori work there, it was to get her away from you."
Lunick furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"
Solana gave an exasperated sigh. "She was clinging to you, Lunick. She was following you around everywhere and staying at your house. I know she's been through a lot but I just was not comfortable with her hanging around all the time. I was distrustful and suspicious of her. I didn't want her falling into your arms all the time…Depending on you…So, I planned to have her stay in the Ringtown Ranger Base. But then…I got to know her a little better and I realized she wasn't trying to steal you from me and I just wanted to help her get over her fears and anxieties…but I still put her in this situation…All because I was jealous and insecure…And now…I don't know if Iyori is going to be able to recover after all this…God, I'm such an awful person…"
Lunick was silent as he continued to listen to Solana.
Solana sniffled. "I left the base because I couldn't bear to see Iyori suffer…She tried to kill herself because I put her in a position she was not ready for…"
There was silence for a couple moments. Solana was expecting Lunick to shout…to yell at her. To stare at her with pure hatred at her selfishness…
…She was not expecting him to wrap his arms around her and embrace her.
"You're not a bad person, Solana," he finally said. "You're a human being. I know I've been giving Iyori a lot of attention. That I've been trying to take care of her…But you were right. You were right from the start…Taking care of Iyori is not my responsibility."
He sat back up and looked her in her eyes as he wiped the tears from her face.
"I want to help her, Solana. I do…But if helping Iyori is going to make you feel this bad about yourself…then, I can't do that anymore."
"Lunick, she trusts you."
"She does. But you need to be able to trust me too."
Solana fell silent.
Lunick stopped wiping her face.
"I've been inconveniencing myself but I've also been inconveniencing you. I was so focused on helping Iyori through this hard time in her life, I didn't even consider how this might have been affecting you. And that is selfish. I can't just make decisions on my own without giving thought to your feelings and needs as well. I'm gonna keep my promise to Iyori to keep her safe. But I'm not gonna break my promise to you in order to do it. I am committed fully to you, Solana. And if my actions have made you uncomfortable and feel insignificant in anyway, then I've made a great mistake. Please forgive me."
Solana's eyes shimmered. Lunick, in the span of ten minutes, took her from her lowest point where she felt like the most worthless and despicable piece of crap in the world, to making her feel like the most loved and desirable person in the world. He was honestly the only person she knew who knows exactly what to say not just to make her feel better but was also genuine and sincere with every word that came out of his mouth in endeavoring to make her feel better. God she loved him so much it hurt.
Solana shook her head slightly.
"Does this mean you don't forgive me?"
Solana's eyes stretched wide and she shook her head firmly.
"No, no! That's not what I meant! I forgive you!…I mean…There's nothing to forgive. You don't need to be forgiven. I need to be forgiven."
Lunick cupped Solana's face.
"You are forgiven," he said gently.
Solana was silent for a long moment before she threw her arms around Lunick and squeezed him tightly.
Plusle and Minun smiled.
"I love you, Lunick…I love you so much…"
"I love you too, Solana."
"…I don't deserve you."
"You deserve so much more than I can give. Don't you ever think of yourself less than what you are. A beautiful, smart, caring girl who is allowed to make mistakes from time to time. Okay?"
Solana just nodded as she felt a tear roll down her cheek. Lunick pulled back just far enough so he could see her face. His face scrunched up when he saw that she was still crying.
"I'm sorry," she sniffled, moving her hand to wipe away the tear.
"Don't be," he took her wrist before she could touch her face.
He leaned down slowly and connected his lips with hers. It was the softest, gentlest kiss she'd ever felt from him…It was as if she were so delicate and frail, and he was trying his best not to break her.
Tenderly, yet enticingly slowly, he reached his tongue out to touch her lips. His tongue gently brushed the outside of her lips before arriving back to the crevice between her upper and lower lip. He gently pushed forward and she willingly opened her mouth so that he could enter. His tongue rubbed against hers, stroking it gently and exploring. She felt herself shudder as a tingle started in her center and flowed all throughout her body.
Gingerly freeing her wrist from his hand, she put both her arms around his neck as her tongue now entered his mouth, dancing with his tongue.
Lunick's hands slowly drifted down to her backside, lightly caressing her. Solana moaned as she felt his fingers work.
Plusle and Minun decided to scurry to Solana's backyard to give their humans some privacy.
Separating his lips from hers, Lunick then started gently kissing her on her jaw line, traveling down to her neck, and then to the hollow space between her collarbone. She tilted her head to the right to give him better access. He stayed at the spot just at the base of her neck that met with her collarbone, probably forcing her to have to wear a high collar or a scarf for a few days afterwards, before traveling back up her neck. His lips found hers once more and they continued their dance.
Pressing her body closer to his, Solana hopped on his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands never left her behind as he stood up and carried her to her bedroom. He set her down on the bed, the two of them never pausing in their advances. He climbed on top of her, kissing her with a passion he hadn't known he had.
Solana pulled down his uniform jacket and started unbuttoning his shirt, tossing them both to the floor once she was able to get them off. Lunick's hands continued to roam. Eventually, his right hand found its way underneath her miniskirt, rubbing a very sensitive spot between her legs.
Solana drew in her breath and gasped before moaning in pleasure. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head as Lunick continued to stroke her, his touch electrifying.
Finding his lips again, Solana's hands undid the buckle on his belt and loosened it out, pulling the belt out of the loops and throwing it where Lunick's shirt rested. She then started pulling his pants down. Lunick then kicked it off once it reached passed his knees, not wanting to take his hands off of Solana.
Their lips parted again as Lunick started kissing her on her chest. He pulled off his fingerless work gloves and pitched them to the side. He undid the knot on the top of her black crepe blouse, kissing the open space beneath the tie before lifting it up over her head, discarding it with the other clothes. He then resumed kissing her chest. His hand caressed her right breast through her Eevee-patterned chiffon bra. Solana again moaned in pleasure.
Lunick then hooked his fingers underneath her bra straps and pulled them down over her arms. Then, he unhooked the clasp and tossed the bra to the floor, leaving her upper torso completely exposed.
This was the first time he'd ever seen Solana this exposed, not counting the time when he accidently walked in on her in the shower three years ago. He was actually a little nervous about going any further.
He felt her hands grasp the back of his head and slowly bring him down to her chest. Slowly, he planted a line of kisses from right to left around her breast, before rubbing his tongue against the apex of the pink mound, playing with it before lightly sucking on it. Solana's head rolled back and she pressed his head further into her as he continued to suckle her. Moving to her left breast, Lunick planted gentle kisses around it before licking the protuberance once again and lightly sucking on it. His left hand once again began massaging her right breast as he continued to play with her left one. Her skin was oh so soft…
All over Solana's body tingled from pleasure. She felt his 'manhood' brush up against her, a clear indication that he was enjoying this just as much as she was.
As he continued to fondle her, Solana's hands traveled down to his boxers. Her right hand slipped down inside, feeling him and caressing him as he was her.
A long moan escaped Lunick's lips as he continued to touch her. His head bent back in pleasure before his lips met with hers again, their tongues engaging in a dance once more. They continued to kiss until the mutual need for air caused them to part.
Breaking the kiss, Lunick's hands found Solana's beige miniskirt. Pushing his fingers inside the back, he pulled the skirt down her legs and threw it to the side. He then started kissing her thighs, starting from the outside moving to the inside. Solana's body shivered.
Lunick then lifted his head, looking his girlfriend in the eyes.
"Are…Are you sure you're ready for this, Solana?"
She nodded her head, 'yes'.
Lunick then hooked his fingers in her teal-colored panties and pulled them down.
Tossing them to the ground, Lunick stared at her. He was seeing all of her now…Every single inch of her…She was so beautiful. So very, very beautiful.
Lunick then started planting kisses on her stomach, traveling up to her chest once again, staying there for a moment, before going back up to meet with her lips. Solana then rested her hands on his behind, squeezing slightly before inching her fingers inside his boxers and pulling them down. It too joined the pile of clothes and undergarments on the floor.
They continued to kiss each other fiercely until the need for air caused them to separate once more. He again started placing kisses on her body, traveling from her jaw line, down her neck, down the middle of her chest, to her stomach, and passed her hips. He stopped when he reached between her legs.
"Solana, are you sure you want to do this?"
She again nodded her head 'yes', but he saw there was hesitancy in her eyes.
"Solana…Baby, I love you. And I would want nothing more than to express that to you in the ultimate form of love…But I don't want us to do this if we're not ready. Not only that, I don't have a condom. We don't have any protection against pregnancy. Are you really sure you want to do this?"
Again, Solana nodded. "I take birth control, Lunick."
He was surprised to hear that. "You do?"
"Yes. After we started going on more…dangerous…high-risk missions. More specifically after we defeated Billy and Team Iniquitous three years ago." She said, closing her eyes.
"What do high-risk dangerous missions have to do with taking birth control?" Lunick asked.
"Lunick," Solana breathed out as she reopened her eyes, "High-risk as in dangerous and bad for me. High-risk as in Billy, Clyde, Garrett, and Gordor…High-risk as in all male villains. As in, eccentric demented obsessed male villains with powerful weapons that could knock me out. As in, demented obsessed male villains that could…do things to me after knocking me out and taking me hostage."
Understanding what she meant, Lunick got up from on top of Solana and crawled over next to her on the bed.
"Has anyone…Has anyone ever tried to…do things to you?…Tried to…you know?…"
Solana turned her head away for a moment, ashamed and hesitant to answer him. She sat up against the headrest, pulling the sheet over her, covering herself and Lunick. She pulled her knees up to her chest and nodded 'yes'.
Lunick's eyes stretched wide.
"They raped you?…They raped you?!" he exclaimed. He felt his anger rising. "Who raped you?!"
"Lunick! No!" Solana said, quickly, "Nobody raped me! None of them raped me!…I've just had few close calls, that's all…"
"What kind of close calls?! Why didn't you tell me this before?!" he gushed out.
Sighing, Solana prepared to tell Lunick the heart-wrenching tale.
"…The first time anything majorly sexual happened on a mission was when we faced Team Iniquitous three years ago. Do you remember?"
Lunick nodded.
"Yes. That was during the whole Shadow Pokémon revival incident, when Billy knocked you out and captured you by the Fiore Temple. I remember finding their underground hideout and freeing you from this dungeon-like place before we purified Ho-Oh and saved all the pokémon."
"Yeah," she nodded in assurance. "When I came to, I was chained to a wall. They must've taken my styler away from me while I was unconscious because I didn't see it on its holder on my hip…Then, Billy walked into the room…"
Solana sighed and fought to hold back her tears as she recalled the terrifying incident, but her lower lip started to quiver. Lunick wrapped his right arm around her, trying to console her and pulled her close to him.
She took a shaky breath before continuing.
"He walked over to me, smirking and laughing that creepy maniacal laugh of his…Then he started saying some stuff to me…About how he and his father were gonna win and conquer the world…And then about how he was going to make my last moments alive…the most pleasurable ones he ever had…That we were going to have some...fun before you arrived...Initially, I thought he called me 'sweetness' to mock me, but as it turns out, it was for other intensions…"
Solana couldn't fight the tears anymore. They flowed down her face like an angry river. Lunick's heart crumbled into pieces as he continued to look at his distraught girlfriend.
"He…He grabbed me…Shoved his tongue down my throat…He…felt me…Rubbed himself against me…All the while whispering very crude, nasty things to me…Are you sure you want to hear this?…It gets worse."
"I want to hear all of it," he said seriously. He could not believe all the turmoil Solana had gone through.
"…He stroked my hair whenever he would talk to me...And he kept on kissing me…I couldn't talk because he kept shoving his nasty tongue in my mouth…He continued to feel me up…Then he started unbuttoning my shirt… The whole time I was screaming at him…begging him to stop…..But he just wouldn't listen."
Solana started sobbing hysterically. Lunick rubbed her shoulders. He felt his jaw tighten as his anger rose.
"He enjoyed humiliating me!…Degrading me…He undid the shackles on my right leg and as soon as it was free I kicked him right in the gut…I was actually aiming lower than that, but the strain on my ankle affected my aim…He stumbled back…Then he started laughing again…He kept laughing!…My God, I wanted to rip that disgusting smirk off of his face and feed it to every carnivorous pokémon I could find!…"
The tears continued to flow down her face, burning her eyes. Lunick gently wiped every one away, stroking her cheek softly after each one.
"He was totally freaking me out!…Then he started undoing the zipper on his pants…"
Solana looked away and covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle her sobs. Lunick pulled her onto his lap, holding her and rocking her in his arms, trying his best to comfort her and remind her that she was now safe. So long as she was with him, she was safe. He would make sure of it.
Solana slowly exhaled as she tried to calm down.
"I saw it, Lunick...I saw the tip of it...But before he could finish undressing and...you know...you busted in…You know what happened after that…"
There was a long stretched out silence.
"Oh my God," Lunick said softly in a voice laden with pain and irritation, "How could I not have known? I mean, I saw that your shirt wasn't buttoned right, but I thought that was because of all the battles we faced before and the struggle in you being captured…I never thought…Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"We were just friends then, Lunick. There was no need for me to tell you that…And after we got together and started dating…I…I don't know…I just didn't know how to bring something like that up…How could I possibly tell you I was sexually assaulted by Billy?…Not only that, but I was trying to forget that it even happened…I didn't want to deal with it…I didn't want to remember it."
Lunick gently brushed her hair out of her tear-stained wet face. He kissed her on her forehead before he rested his chin on top of her head.
"Were there any others?"
Solana barely nodded.
"When I was in that dungeon, that Ardos fellow walked by and saw what he was doing…Billy asked him if he wanted to join in and for a moment, it looked like he was seriously contemplating it…He stepped inside, then he grabbed me roughly by my hair, pulling me close to him…He looked me in my eyes for a long time before slamming my head into the wall and walking away…I was so scared, Lunick…I was so so scared…"
Lunick leaned back.
"I know," he said looking her in her eyes.
"Did anybody else hurt you?" he asked as he continued to wipe away her tears.
Solana paused for a long while before answering.
"Did I…ever tell you why I wanted to become a ranger?"
Lunick shook his head. "No."
Solana sighed as she recalled the painful events from her past.
"Do you remember before, when you would ask me about my stepfather and I would just not answer you or changed the subject?"
Lunick nodded slowly.
Solana exhaled loudly.
"…He used to touch me…" she said, barely audible enough for him to hear.
Lunick's eyebrows rose slightly at hearing that. Not to say he didn't believe her – of course he believed her…He was just surprised. He never would've thought that something like that would've gone down with Solana. She always talked about how loving and close her family was.
"Ever since he married my mother and moved in with us…He developed this…unnatural obsession with me…It had only been 2 years since meeting my mom that he started…"
Solana started crying again.
Lunick's heart broke in two as he continued to listen to Solana. His jaw tightened even more as he tried to control his anger.
"He would make me sit on his lap…He would whisper sweet nothings to me during the day and at night…And he would touch himself…in front of me…before….before touching me himself…"
Lunick looked down. If he ever met this man….God help him!…
Solana sniffled as she wiped her face.
"After I received those acceptance letters from Spenser, I was so happy. I was excited to become a ranger, but moreso, I was happy to get away from my stepfather. On the evening before my birthday, which was the day I set out on my journey…my stepfather told me he was going to give me something really special for my birthday. Something to commemorate me reaching the legal age to start a journey…I knew he was going to rape me…I just knew…" she whispered, her voice cracked.
"I could not let him have that chance. That night, when my mom and him were both sleeping, I packed up my things and ducked out of the house. I ran away and caught the first ferry I could find. I literally didn't stop shaking until it docked at the port in Fiore six days later…I haven't spoken to him since…"
Again, there was silence for little while.
"Solana…You do know that none of that…none of that stuff was your fault, right?"
When she wouldn't look at him and didn't answer he grew more concerned.
"Solana?"
He put his hand under her chin and brought her up to face him.
"Solana…You know none of it is your fault, right?"
Solana squeaked as her eyes started tearing again.
Lunick shook his head fervidly as he wiped her tears.
"Solana, no. It's not your fault. None of it is your fault! Don't you dare blame yourself!"
She continued to cry. "I…I don't know, Lunick…"
"No. No. Don't say that. It is not your fault that some sick pricks abused you. It is not your fault that your stepfather touched you. Do you hear me? None of it…Absolutely none of it is your fault! Do you understand me?" he nearly barked at her.
Solana nodded slowly as the tears continued to flow. Lunick held her close to him and squeezed her tight as she cried into his shoulder.
After about twenty-something minutes, Solana calmed down. She continued to lay on him and rest her head on his chest as he continued to hold her and brush her hair lovingly.
"You are so strong, Solana…In fact, you are the strongest person I know…To go through all that, all on your own…and then still do your job…I am…so sorry…that I wasn't there to help you when you needed me the most."
Solana started tracing circles on his chest.
"Lunick, you have been there for me more times than I can count. I am so very fortunate to have you…And I'm sorry I never told you any of this before…I guess I was afraid of how you would react…I was afraid that you would be mad or upset about what happened…It's stupid of me to think that, I know."
"No, it's not stupid. To be honest, Solana, I am freakin' pissed off!…Majorly pissed off!…Not at you, of course…I'm pissed off at those sons of bitches who hurt you so much…If I ever see those men–"
"Lunick, no. You can't," she sat back up in his lap. "Please. That would just make things worse."
Her eyes shimmered.
Lunick hated seeing her beautiful eyes laced with so much fear and pain in them.
"I'm not saying I'd do anything crazy…I'm just sayin'…They will never get the opportunity to hurt you ever again. Not so long as I am living and breathing on this earth. I will protect you for the rest of your days. I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you anymore. Never again."
Solana smiled weakly. She leaned down and kissed Lunick on the lips before dropping her head back down on his chest. She thought she'd feel filthy and vile after confessing to Lunick about Billy and her stepfather. But actually, she felt relieved. It felt so good to finally get all of that stuff off her chest. She had never told anyone what happened before, not even Leilani or her mother. She had been way too ashamed. But now, she felt like a ginormous weight was lifted off of her shoulders and she could breathe again.
"I'm just sorry we didn't get to…you know…"
"I'm not," Lunick said as he moved a loose strand of hair out of her face, "To be honest, Solana, as good as it felt in the moment, I don't think either of us were ready to take such a big leap. And especially after hearing about the trauma you've gone through…I don't think it would have been fair to you."
She snuggled in closer to him, resting her head in the crook of his neck and closing her eyes.
"You're probably right."
Lunick looked up at the ceiling.
"Uh, Solana?…Don't you think we should put our clothes back on now?"
"We don't have to…To be honest, I just want to stay here in your arms. I don't ever want to have to let you go."
Lunick lowered his hands down to her waist and wrapped his arms around her. He laid back down on the bed, taking Solana with him.
"Don't worry…I'm not going anywhere."
Their lips met and they shared another tender kiss.
They stayed that way, holding each other and cuddling, bathed in each other's warmth until they both fell asleep.
A/N: I hope you were still able enjoy the chapter despite some unpleasantries involving Solana's past. The conversation is vital and relevant to the story.
With that said, I wish you all a Happy New Year's and that you enjoy the remainder of the holiday season.
Always Do Everything with Love,
And please don't forget to review!
XyKPfan
