A/N: So it's been a year and four months since I last updated this story. I've been struggling a lot with depression guys, and it's really been impacting my writing. I've had major depression and anxiety for 10+ years now and the struggle has been immense. But I am happy to say that I am finally starting to get back engrossed in my writing and have finally been able to update this story, one day before my 25th birthday! Granted, the chapter doesn't contain all that I wanted it to, but I really want to stop with so many fillers and cover all that I want to cover in this story. There are so many character arcs and developments that I am trying to compress into this story, I have to map it all out to make sure it even makes sense with the progression and direction. As I said before, this story will be a long one. Still not sure how long, but get ready for many, many, many chapters. Hopefully I'm able to get the ball rolling on my other stories as well such as The Story of a True Hero and The More Things Change, as they gravely need updating as well.
Nevertheless, I will quit my rambling and let you get to this fic. I thank you all so very much for your patience with me and support with this story.
Leilani found herself staring at her house with absolute dread.
"Are you sure you don't want to go back and crash at the base or something?" Percy asked as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel of his Jeep Wrangler pickup truck.
Leilani sighed.
"No, Percy. I'm not sleeping outside my own house. Besides, the beds and cots at the base are only to be used in cases of emergencies."
"I think this is an emergency," Percy muttered.
Leilani shot him a sharp glance.
"Percy –"
"I'm sorry, Leilani, but I'm telling you, this guy is bad news. I felt it from the moment we first met him at the concert. Not only that, you're obviously not getting along. How do you explain the fact that you're being put out of your own house? You don't even want to go home to deal with him."
"That's not true. I just don't want to have another argument. Alejandro's been really steamed about the amount of hours I've been working."
"That can't be helped. And I'm pretty sure any respectable man would understand the work that you do and what it entails."
"Percy, I didn't ask you to drive me home so you could unload more of your hateful biases on me about Alejandro. I asked you because I was too tired from our last mission to walk home."
Percy folded his arms.
"It's not hateful biases. It's a gut-feeling and my own desire to keep you safe."
"I don't need you looking out for me. I can take care of myself."
"Tough nuts, partner."
Again, Leilani sighed. "Just get Lucario to the stadium and I'll see you tomorrow."
"I still say this is a bad idea."
"So was your haircut but neither of us listened to the other, did they?"
Leilani turned around to face her pokémon.
"I'll see you in the morning, Lucario."
"Loo Loo." He still didn't like leaving Leilani on her own, but he also had an obligation as a rental pokémon at the stadium. Any extra money coming in helped his human and he couldn't let the arena staff and trainers down.
Opening the passenger side door, Leilani stepped outside and slung her backpack over her right shoulder.
"Call me in the morning, please, so that I know you're alright?" Percy asked.
"Sure." Leilani answered plainly.
Percy watched her walk up her driveway and insert her key into the lock. When he saw her open the door slightly, she waved him off and he waved back before turning around and driving away on the dirt road.
As Leilani stepped inside she didn't have to look up to know Alejandro was sitting in her living room. Not only was the TV blasting but she could feel his baneful stare burrowing into her.
"Look who finally decided to show up," he said coolly.
Leilani tried her hardest to fight the sigh that demanded to be released from her lips as she set her pack down on the side table by the door and slipped out of her shoes.
"You're not gonna say anything? I'm talking to you."
"I don't have anything to say," Leilani replied tiredly.
"Is that so?" he replied as he got up from the sofa, "Then just listen, Lani. I've about had enough of you coming in so late these days. I ain't gonna stand for it much longer."
Leilani pinched her nose between her eyes.
"Please Alejandro…Let's not do this tonight. I am so tired."
"I'm tired too. Tired of your lying ass coming in late every night."
Leilani dropped her hand and opened her eyes.
"Excuse me?"
"Did I stutter?"
"I think my exhausted state caused me to mishear you. Because I know you did not just call me a liar and curse at me."
"You think I'm stupid, Lani?" Alejandro asked as he placed his left hand on the wall. "Even a blind man can see you're sleeping around with that blubbery redhead."
Leilani's eyes flared.
"I know you are not disrespecting me and my partner with your outlandish claims and insecurities."
"What the hell do you take me for?"
"A very insecure man overcompensating for something lacking in his life."
Alejandro lowered his hand from the wall and balled his hands into a fist.
"What the hell did you just say?"
"Percy is my partner. I have to work Alejandro, and yes, I work with a partner. And for you to accuse me of sleeping with him when I am in a relationship with you just because he is a man is so out there, I have to wonder if you need a radiograph to determine what sort of brain injury you sustained to so embellish and inflate your thinking."
"Are you giving me attitude?" he growled as he approached her, "Because I don't like attitude."
"I don't like attitude either, buster. And I don't appreciate you disrespecting me. Keep going the way you are going and you will end up alone on the road again."
"You bitch."
Leilani didn't even get a chance to react as she felt a closed fist connect with her left cheek. She stumbled back and fell to the floor, reaching her hand up to her jaw soon afterwards.
"Did you just…?" Leilani asked as she stared at Alejandro in disbelief. His eyes were ablaze.
Leilani quickly got to her feet. "I know you did not just put your hands on me!"
"You still running that mouth of yours, bitch?"
"Oh hell no! You –"
Leilani found herself cut off again as Alejandro's left hand slapped her hard across her right cheek. His large hands nearly covered the entire right side of her face.
She fell to the floor on her stomach, where she immediately felt a blow to the right side of her body. As Alejandro brought his foot down again to kick her, Leilani rolled out of the way, narrowly missing his boot. She wobbled to her feet but wasn't quick enough as Alejandro slammed her into the wall and clenched his hands around her neck.
Leilani felt herself struggling for air as she clawed feverishly at his hands, trying to loosen his hold on her throat.
Alejandro snarled.
"Listen here, Leilani…I'm only going to say this one more time. Your ass is mine and you will not talk to me any ole way you want. Got it, bitch? You will respect me!"
Leilani could feel her head getting heavy. She stopped clawing at his hands.
"Please…please…!" she gasped.
"Do you understand me?"
"Yes…" she breathed, "Please –"
"Are you sorry?"
"…Yes…"
"Then apologize."
Leilani could feel herself about to black out from the lack of oxygen.
"S…Sor –"
"I can't hear you."
"…I'm sorry…" she replied hoarsely.
"Say it like you mean it. I don't believe you."
"…I'm sorry…Please…I'm…so…sorrryyy…" her voice cracked.
Alejandro stared at her intensely for a moment before releasing his hold on Leilani. She dropped to the floor, coughing and gasping for air and held her throat with her hands.
"You had better be," he muttered as he grabbed his jacket from the sofa, walked out the front door, and slammed the door behind him.
Tears ran down Leilani's eyes as she tried desperately to breathe in the air around her and fight the burning and throbbing in her throat that made her cough.
Just what did she get herself into?
Lind tapped his pen impatiently on the counter as he read over the logbooks for the past week.
Lunick entered the Fall City Ranger base carrying a medium-sized package. He rested it down on the front desk.
"Here's the shipment of the new stylers from the Union, Lind."
Lind stopped tapping his pen. He rested it down and stood up.
"Great. Thanks, Lunick. Do you have the inventory checklist report as well?"
"Right here in this envelope," Lunick said, passing the large white envelope to Lind.
"Great. Assuming they passed all the requirements on inspection, they should be ready to give to the recruits in the morning."
Lind placed the envelope on the counter beside the box.
"And Lunick, detail is back from the order you gave last week. Five pokémon have been reported as missing from The Cozy Grove Pokémon Sanctuary. Of the five missing pokémon, three of them were a match to the DNA sample Solana and Murph found in the Panula Cave. Macargo, Beartic, and Sableye."
He took several sheets of paper out from inside the desk drawer and handed them to Lunick.
"Any unique paw prints found?" Lunick asked as he scanned through the sheets of paper.
Lind shook his head. "Nothing that wasn't already discovered and charted before."
"Well, we're not giving up yet. There has to be a connection somewhere. We just have to find the missing link and piece them together."
"I guess. But we're already doing an extensive search of the region already."
"And we'll continue to expand the search until we find something." Lunick folded the papers and put them in his pack. "It may seem cumbersome, Lind, and I get it. We're using an awful lot of resources to try to nail this thing. But seven pokémon at least have gone through a terrible ordeal. Somehow their individual DNA have intermixed into one. Pokémon are missing and disturbances are arising throughout the region. Those all cannot be coincidences. There is something going on and it's our job to make the connection and protect anymore pokémon from getting seriously hurt. I know it's a lot, but I can't shake this feeling that if we don't figure this out soon, we're in store for something tragic. Given our experience with the Shadow Pokémon a few years ago, we can't afford not to be thorough."
Lind sighed. "Yeah, you're right, Lunick. We don't want history repeating itself. That's for sure."
Just then, the elevator doors to the space slid opened and a young man with medium-length dark chestnut brown hair entered the room.
"Haha! Lind! I got some news for you!"
Lind sighed heavily as the other man swung his arm around him and patted him on the chest.
"Hey, Keith," he mumbled.
"Hey, what's with that tone? Show some love for your older brother from time to time, man."
"We're twins. We're the same age."
"Technically I was born twenty minutes before you, so that makes me older."
Again, Lind gave an exasperated sigh. "Must you always be so extra?"
"You'll change your tune soon enough. Get ready to congratulate me, bro, because I just did you the biggest favor."
"Did you finish your DD-5's from your last mission?"
"Did you even hear what I said? I just did you a huge favor."
"Keith, please. You've been procrastinating on your report for days. It's well overdue for the time you were to submit it."
"Jeez, chill, bro. You're not the Area Leader anymore, I don't need to take orders from you. Besides, I'm the oldest."
Lind turned towards Lunick.
"Lunick, help me out here, please."
"Relax, bro. I'm actually glad you're here, Lunick. Saves me a trip to Ringtown to go looking for yah. You're actually involved in this news I got as well."
"I am?"
"Yep-e-doodle. I just scored Lind and me a night out with some voluptuous babes and I was hoping you and Solana would join us?"
Lind shook his head. "Oh no. Not another date. Why are you always trying to set me up with girls?"
"Hey, what's with the 'tude? You should be thanking me."
"Thanking you?! Who says I even want to go out? I'm so tired of you sending me out on blind dates with you. Stop getting involved in my dating life!"
Keith tussled Lind's hair.
"Calm down, Donald Psyduck. Just looking out for my baby bro. You're about the only guy here who hasn't lost his V-Card yet."
"Keith!" Lind shrieked.
Keith looked up at Lunick.
"You get what I'm saying, right Lunick?"
Lunick raised his eyebrow.
"Keith, Solana and I haven't done anything."
"Oral sex is still sex."
Lunick's eyes stretched wide. "What?"
"You really think it's a secret? Everybody knows you two are doing a lot more than smacking lips."
Lunick folded his arms. "Keith, make whatever assumptions you want about me, but you keep Solana out of your sex-crazed mind. Whatever Solana and I do is our own business."
"Agreed," said Lind. "You're worse than an insatiable Lickitung, Keith."
"I'm a young bachelor playing the field. And I think it's time you step up to the plate too, Lind. You haven't even brought a girl home to meet mom and dad."
"Maybe because I'm more preoccupied with work than finding a love interest right now."
Keith let go of his brother.
"Look, all I'm saying is I met these two girls who'd love nothing more than to go out with a couple of rangers. What's the harm in going out and entertaining them?"
"But Keith –"
"Come on. You work yourself to the bone every gosh darn day. Live a little bit. I'm just asking for one night out."
Lind paused, then finally exhaled loudly.
"Fine."
Keith pumped his fists.
"Yes! You're gonna love it, bro. I'm going with Kasey, you're going with Kadie. They're twins just like us. And they're real cuties. You're gonna have a blast!" Keith looked back up at Lunick. "Whatdayah say, Lunick? You and Sole wanna join and make it a double?"
Lunick shrugged. "I'll have to check with Solana first but I'm pretty sure we have to work late tonight. Maybe some other time."
"No problem. Just me and my bro then. Maybe we'll both get lucky tonight." He said with a wink.
Lind's frown deepened.
"I gotta get on back to the base for my next mission. If you hear anything else, Lind, be sure to hit me up."
"Yeah…sure, Lunick."
With a nod, Lunick waved and headed out of the base.
Keith pursed his lips in thought. "Maybe I should buy some prophylactics to be safe."
Lind pushed him away. "Keith! DD-5's! Now!"
Keith rolled his eyes.
"Jeez-Louise, Lind. Fine. I'm going, I'm going. Date starts at seven. Meet us at the Lance theater."
Lind watched his brother enter the elevator and take it to the upper floor. He pinched his nose between his eyes and shook his head slowly.
Murph sat quietly at a picnic table near the Kisara Plains, stirring the straw in his soda cup.
"Slowking?" his partner asked as he completed a Suduko puzzle, using his Psychic to manipulate the pen.
"Sorry, pal. I was just thinkin'."
"Slowking?"
"Nothing big, I guess…It's just…Every time I try to do something nice for Aria, I just end up disappointing her more and more. It's like no matter what I do, I just continue to let her down…Am I that bad of a boyfriend? I know I'm socially awkward, and I don't have much money to take her to the kind of things she'd like to go…Aria has such high standards but doesn't she deserve to? She's beautiful and hard-working. She deserves to be swept off her feet…Though I guess I'm just dragging her around in the dirt."
"Slowking. Slowking slow."
"No, bud. She's just misunderstood. I know she's high maintenance and snarky a lot…But it's just a shell to cover her vulnerabilities. She can be really caring when she wants to be…I really thought we were making some progress…But somehow I always find a way to screw it up…She deserves so much more than me."
Slowking's frown deepened.
"Ah, Murph, lad. What say you?" a voice called.
Murph lifted his head to see Professor Hastings standing tall and erect in front of him.
"Professor? What're you doing out here? Do you have a meeting with Leader?"
Professor Hastings shook his head. "Just out for a stroll, enjoying the beautiful weather and sights and smells of nature. At my age, you learn it's best to keep moving as much as possible."
"You're not that old, Professor."
"Though I appreciate your politeness, Murph, the truth remains I haven't the energy to indulge myself as I did once upon ago. I've not got much time left here on this earth."
"Don't say things like that, Professor!"
Again, Professor Hastings shook his head. "Lad, it's not something sad to admit. I've lived a full life. I'm not saying I'll be dropping dead to the ground anytime soon. I've still got a lot of fight in me, hoho. But I've realized I need to slow down and enjoy my surroundings while I still can. It's about time I consider retiring in the near future. Which brings me to this."
Professor Hastings lifted his brown briefcase and placed it on the picnic table. Unlatching it, he opened it up and took out a binder overflowing with papers and folders. He went to one section and pulled out a thick packet.
"I've got the results of your latest exam and I'm proud to say you passed."
He handed the packet to Murph.
"Really? I did? No joking? I studied like crazy for this test. I thought my eyes were gonna pop out of my head by the time I was done."
Professor Hastings smiled widely.
"And with that, I present you with this, Murph," Professor Hastings reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a shiny gold and silver badge. "The Officer of the Pokémon Ranger Union badge, bearing the Union's insignia and your home base's colors."
Murph placed his exam packet on the table, then gingerly took the badge from Professor Hastings and held it with both of his hands.
"You are officially certified as the Ranger Union's new Pokémon Ranger Representative. Congratulations, lad!"
"I am?" Murph said quizzically.
Professor Hastings' smile widened.
"My heart swells with joy knowing I've passed the PR mantle on to such a capable and worthy successor."
Murph lowered his head and look away from the Professor. He slowly rested his new badge down on the picnic table.
"About that, Professor…I think you've made a grave mistake."
Professor Hastings raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"…I think…You should choose someone else to take over the PR position in your place…Someone more qualified."
Professor Hastings sat down on the bench across the table from Murph. He closed his eyes and started stroking his beard.
"More qualified you say?"
"Yes. Someone who's had more experience. Someone who's not afraid to go out on missions or who can travel from one place to another without feeling winded. Someone who can make consistent captures and who interacts with the citizens more. I'm not worthy of this position. I've done nothing to earn this title. I don't have any credentials to my name. I haven't even moved up my ranks very much. How could I possibly qualify for such an esteemed position in the Pokémon Ranger profession? It's not only outrageous and unfair to my fellow rangers but also an extreme insult to you and everything you've accomplished. I'm sorry Professor but I just think it would be best for everyone if you would please choose someone else."
Professor Hastings continued to stroke his beard for a little while longer before resting both of his hands on his cane and looking up to face Murph.
"Murph, lad. Do you know why I chose you to become the Union's representative?"
Murph shook his head.
"It's because you were the person best suited for the job."
"But how can that be, Professor? Wouldn't Lunick or Lind be more qualified for that position than me?"
"No, Murph. Lunick is a field ranger. He is far too busy. And young Lind is far better suited to be an Operator giving commands than the Union PR."
"But I'm so squeamish, Professor. I'm not even a real ranger. I can't even handle going out on missions. All I do is stay at the base all day changing light bulbs and checking inventory."
"Exactly." Professor Hastings said plainly. "Lad, a PR is not like a field ranger. He does not go out on missions protecting the public but he works behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly. Murph, you do a lot more around here than you give yourself credit for. Yes, you do do some menial work including changing some light fixtures here and there and checking the stock. But do you know what you also do? What being a Union PR requires? You are sociable. You talk to people. You strike up a good conversation and cheer folks up when they are down. You observe people when they come in and out of the base. You know how the stylers and the battle suits work. You know the jobs of a field ranger, an operator, and Area Leader, and the techs and receptionists. You know what it means to be a Pokémon Ranger and what the Pokémon Ranger profession is all about. And though you may be afraid at times, you know how to transverse and travel the land. That, Murph, is why I chose you for the representative position. Not because I pity you. Not because I wanted something for you to do. But because I honestly believe in my heart of hearts that you are the best person for the job. And that is the God honest truth."
Murph was quiet.
Professor Hastings stood to his feet.
"Take from that what you may. I can't make you keep the job and I certainly do not want to force you. You're a good kid, Murph. I have no problem taking my position back. Just let me know."
He latched his briefcase and picked it up.
"Well, I must be on my way now. I've got specimen to analyze and categorize for my latest research endeavor. Take care of yourself lad, and I await your answer."
And with that, the old Professor about-faced and started walking towards the Lyra Forest.
"Slowking?" his pokémon moaned.
Murph glanced at his partner briefly, looked down at the PR badge he was just presented, and gave a heavy sigh.
The sky was a perfect blanket of midnight blue. The calm stars flickered against the velvety night sky. The moon shone brilliantly as it cascaded down its luminescent light, illuminating a grassy path of the suburban Ringtown leading to Solana's residential home.
"Wake up, beautiful. We're here," Lunick uttered softly as he brushed Solana's left cheek gently with his right hand.
Solana opened her eyes slowly as she gazed upon the front door to her house.
"So we are," she sighed as she lifted her head off of Lunick's left shoulder. "It's a good thing Spenser released us early, huh?"
"I guess we weren't needed tonight after all. That, or someone's trying to get some extra hours in."
Solana stepped in front of him and held his hands. "Whatever the reason, it worked out well for us. I had a really great time tonight, Lunick."
"I'm glad you liked. Dinner and a movie never fail."
"Oh really? Because I definitely think we could've seen something a little more engaging than The Ruins of Alph."
"Excuse you, madam, but learning about one of the most historic sites in all of Johto, the origins of the writing system, and the mysteries uncovered in our modern times since the very first excavation made for a very compelling and insightful story."
Solana crossed his arms. "If you really wanted to see an interesting narrative of our world's history then we could have just as easily seen The Great Pokémon War."
"A depressing reminder of the hard times our regions have gone through? Would you really want to see that?"
"No, I would've preferred a nice romantic comedy or a drama that really makes you think, you know?"
Lunick wrapped his arms around Solana.
"Tell you what, next time you can pick the mushy-gushy chick flick for us to watch and I'll try not to disturb anyone with my Snorlax-sized snores."
"Yes, because that went so well before in the past," she smiled back, "By the way, didn't you say Keith and Lind were going out clubbing tonight?"
"Yeah, but you know how Keith is. I'm sure Lind is out there playing more of a parent role than a double date right now." Lunick said as walked up Solana's front steps.
"I know he definitely had more fun than me."
"Would you stop knocking my movie game? The nerd in me wanted to see it. You at least enjoyed the food didn't you?"
Solana walked up beside him.
"Sure. I do so enjoy watching you scarf down pounds of grilled meat and fried vegetables every time we go out to a restaurant."
"Still food-shaming me?"
"I'm not food-shaming anyone."
"Oh really?" Lunick replied as he raised an eyebrow. "The one who eats like a Buneary constantly reminding me how her gluttonous boyfriend loves to devour food that actually tastes good? But plot twist! She's actually really hankering for a slab of meat and curly fries herself and is just really really jealous."
"Haha," Solana mocked sarcastically, "Honestly, I just much rather would have preferred relaxing at home with you tonight."
Lunick opened her front door. "Next date is all you, Babe."
Solana smiled softly as she and Plusle stepped inside.
Lunick gave her a sweet warm kiss on the lips.
"I'll call you in the morning, okay?"
Solana nodded.
As Lunick turned around and started to walk away, she quickly called out to him.
"You know, I really did enjoy myself tonight. But I don't think I'm done enjoying you," she said sheepishly, "Maybe you can come in and I'll get the pull out bed ready for you?…That is, if you're interested in spending the night?"
Lunick looked back up at her, then smiled and nodded.
"I'd love that, 'Lana."
Solana smiled back. "Great."
"I'll be in in a moment."
Nodding, Solana left the door slightly ajar as she went upstairs to her room to change her clothes.
Minun's ears perked up and he turned around and eyed a family of bushes further down the path.
"MaiMai?"
Lunick reached in his pocket and placed a call on his cell phone.
"Hey, Dad. Good Evening, it's me. Listen, tell mom I won't be able to make it tomorrow morning but I'll definitely talk to her later about visiting. I'm gonna be spending the night by Solana's tonight…Mmhmm…Oh, come on, Dad!...Of course, I will! You don't need to tell me that!"
Minun crept a little closer to the bushes. He saw it rustling slightly. Sparks started the fly off of his cheeks.
"Mai…"
Lunick sighed. "Yes, Dad…I know, I know. You guys have a good night, okay? I love you…Good night. Bye.."
Lunick ended the call and sighed as he put his phone back up.
"Man, Dad never ceases in his quest to embarrass me. Alright, Minun, let's go."
Lunick then noticed the defensive stance that Minin was taking in front of him.
"Minun? Everything okay, buddy?"
"Mai Mai!" he replied as his stare hardened.
Lunick looked passed his partner to the rustling bushes in front of them. He slowly started walking towards it. As he neared it, he bent down and squinted his eyes to try to see through partings in the bush.
A scarlet red eye suddenly glowed from behind the bushes.
Lunick eyes quickly stretched wide. Before he had a chance to react, a shadowy quadruped figure suddenly leapt from the center of the bushes and pounced on Lunick, knocking him to the ground.
"Mai Mai!"
It roared as it tried to maul Lunick.
Lunick gritted his teeth as he tried to fend off the savage pokémon. He held it by its neck as he dodged each of its attempts to bite his face.
It was then that it was struck by Minun's Iron Tail and it skidded to the side a few feet away.
Lunick quickly got to his feet.
"Thanks, buddy."
"Mai Mai!"
The enraged pokémon glowered at Lunick, saliva dripping incessantly from its mouth.
"What kind of pokémon is that?" Lunick wondered as he stared the creature down.
The pokémon then charged at Lunick at full force.
"Thunderbolt, Minun!"
Mai!" Minun cried as he released a powerful bolt of electricity from his body.
The pokémon continued to charge forward, seemingly unfazed by the attack.
Lunick and Minun separated as they jumped out the way of the attack.
The pokémon never stopped running as it made a U-turn and struck Lunick in the back. He fell forward on his stomach. The pokémon once again tried to attack Lunick but Minun jumped on its back and delivered a direct contact Thunderbolt. It flailed as it tried to get the tiny mouse pokémon off of its back.
Solana rushed to her front door in her nightgown and swung it opened as she and Plusle raced outside.
"What is going on out here?" she cried.
"Babe, get back in the house!" Lunick shouted as he rolled over and got to his feet.
Once more, the pokémon roared. It ran forward and flipped over on its back, crushing Minun into the ground. It then once again started charging at Lunick. Lunick braced himself as the pokémon rammed him into a nearby tree. It then aggressive chomped down hard on Lunick's left arm. He screamed out in pain.
"Lunick!" Solana cried out one more time.
Plusle and Minun both struck pokémon with their Quick Attack, causing it to lose its hold on Lunick, tearing most of the sleeve of his suit and dress shirt off.
They both then combined their Thunderbolts and struck the beast, this seeming to affect it. It soon shook off the attack and ran away into the Lyra Forest.
Solana quickly ran to Lunick's side and knelt down beside him. Plusle and Minun joined them. He was clutching his left arm which was bleeding profusely.
"Oh God!"
"I'll be fine, Solana." He winced. "I gotta stop that pokémon before it attacks someone else."
"No way! We are dressing this wound right now! Plusle, go get my pack!" she ordered as she started putting direct pressure on Lunick's wound.
Plusle nodded and quickly ran back into her house.
"What even was that pokémon?" Solana asked. "Where did it come from? Why did it attack you?"
Lunick continued to breathe heavily from the pain radiating from his arm.
"…I have no idea…"
A/N: Okay! So this chapter didn't turn out the way I had initially envisioned it, but I suppose that's what happens when you wait over year to update the story. It's not the best quality I had hoped for, and I apologize for that. Still trying to get into the swing of things. I hope to be able to update this story more regularly as well as a few others.
As you can see, and as I explained in my author's note in the first chapter of this story, this fic is going to explore some dark themes, one of which, as you can tell with Leilani's arc, deals with physical and domestic abuse. I have a certain vision of the trials and tribulations I want the characters to face and overcome and further develop. Thus, I am not going to shy away from touching on heavy topics. Despite this being in a fantasy world, I want my characters and the issues they face to be as relatable, real and raw as possible. So, this is just another warning that this story will contain many different kinds of mature themes.
Nevertheless, I hope you were able to appreciate and enjoy this update, and I hope for my future chapters to be better.
Always Do Everything With Love,
XyKPfan
