Solana's breathing was heavy as she ran on the treadmill. She had been running for about two hours, slowly and steadily nursing her water bottle, only taking sips when she felt like she was about to faint. Her muscles were already feeling like jelly from her reps earlier that morning and she was barely able to lift her arms up afterwards or even move the resistance bars on the treadmill. Her heart rate monitor was reading 203 beats per minute, which was only slightly higher than her maximum heart rate during cardio exercise. Her whole body was sore and burning.

But she had to keep pushing herself. She just had to. She had only lost ten pounds in the month following the photoshoot, and that included a major dietary overhaul and extra time spent exercising. It was possible that she was gaining muscle, but she needed to lose weight, so that extra muscle build-up was unwanted. She obviously wasn't doing enough. Every time Solana looked in the mirror, all she could see was the chunky fat Raúl was telling her about. The disgusting folds in her skin, the fleshy bulges – she could see it all. And she had to do something about it.

Maybe she wasn't pushing herself enough. Maybe she had to build up more of her mileage. Cut back more on her food intake. You could only burn calories when the amount consumed is less than what you spend, right? Whatever the issue was, Solana was determined to find it. She never met a problem she couldn't solve yet. She would not be defeated by this.

A sharp pain suddenly shot up Solana's leg and she fell backwards off the treadmill.

"Plah Pla!" Plusle cried as she ran to her side.

"Solana," Lunick breathed as he ran into her living room.

Solana gripped her ankle tightly. "I'm cramping, I'm cramping!"

Lunick quickly ran to her and held her foot. He flexed foot and leg back and forth, stretching the muscle and gently massaging it. Solana slowly began to relax.

"How many miles did you run?"

"Fifty."

"Fifty?!" Lunick said incredulously, "That's more than twice the length of a marathon!"

Solana pulled her foot away from Lunick and tried to stand to her feet, lightly limping on her affected leg.

"I upped my exercise routine. It's no biggie."

Lunick stood up. "It's a major biggie. Solana's that a big change in routine. You can't just go from 27 to 50 miles. You gotta work your way up."

"I know what I'm capable of, Lunick," she said as the room started spinning around her.

"What's changed why you're going so hard?"

Solana closed her eyes as her head started to hurt her. "Nothing has changed. I'm just not satisfied with my current regimen is all."

Lunick saw her beginning to lose her balance and he quickly held her around her waist and shoulders and guided her to her sofa.

"You need to rest. I'll go get you a heating pack."

Lunick ran out of the room. Plusle hopped on the sofa next to Solana and looked worriedly at her ranger.

"Plah Pla?"

"No, Plusle. I'm fine. I just didn't drink enough water."

"Pla Pla Plah!"

"The workout wasn't the problem. My water intake was."

"Plah."

"Plusle –"

Lunick returned to the room with an Ace bandage and a heating pack. He broke the ampoule inside the pack and held it to her ankle as he started wrapping it around her ankle.

"Thank you, Lunick."

"I know you like to push yourself but I think you're going a little hard for a morning workout," he said as he finished wrapping the bandage.

"You may be right. I just had a goal in mind for today."

Lunick looked back up to face her.

"This isn't like you, Solana. You're usually really in tune with your body and know your limits. I think your yoga sessions are more appropriate first thing in the morning."

Solana straightened up slightly. "You jog every morning here?"

"But I'm used to that kind of exercise. You aren't."

Solana caressed Lunick's face. "Lunick, believe me. I'm fine. I'm just a little dehydrated."

He took her hand in his and kissed it gently. "Let me go get you some water."

He started to get up but Solana pulled him back. "Lunick, I don't want you waiting on me."

"You hurt your leg."

"It's just a cramp. I need to stretch it out anyway."

"Okay. Let me get you something to eat."

"Didn't you say you were stopping by your folks on your way to the base this morning?"

"Yeah, but –"

"No buts. I'll be fine, Lunick. You go on ahead so you can arrive in time for Spenser's briefing."

"Will you be able to make it?"

Solana's eyes hardened. "Of course."

"Okay. I have to ask."

He leaned forward and kissed her lovingly on the lips. Solana didn't want to part.

"I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay. Love you, Baby."

"Love you too. Keep an eye on her, Plusle."

Plusle's eyes shifted from Solana, to Lunick, back to Solana. She nodded slowly.

Lunick stood up and took up his pack from beside the sofa.

"Minun," he called.

Minun ran from upstairs to Lunick's side and promptly perched himself on Lunick's shoulder.

Solana watched him until he closed the door behind him. Grimacing, she weakly stood to her feet and tried to make her way to her stairway. She slumped down on the railing, trying to steady and even her breathing.

"Plah Plah?" Plusle ran beside her.

Solana glanced down at her Partner Pokémon before slowly and steadily making her way upstairs to her bathroom to take shower.

Plusle's ears flopped downwards as she sadly followed behind her ranger.


The Kanekos took great pride in their humble home. There were pretty paper flowers decorating the pictures of their parents and a large brown and gold Bible rested on the dining room table. Little lace dollies were on the arms and backs of the chairs, in the center of the large dining room table, and on the supporting side tables. A portrait painting of Jesus Christ hung on the wall with the prettiest paper flowers fastened on the frame. Various brightly colored potted plants and flowers were on every windowsill. A green-and-gold-based lamp with a sheer white shade rested on the front room table. And the floor was carpeted with bright red and golden flowers.

Elvera was meticulous about every aspect of the aesthetic of their home. She worked hard in keeping up with maintaining the house, doing her chores, and making sure her home was aesthetically pleasing and welcoming to her visitors. She was not only good at housekeeping, she enjoyed it. She was a hardworking woman who did not smoke, drink, or swear and always smelled of vanilla and coconut milk. She was patient, had high morals, and good manners.

Her rigidness and serious disposition complemented Lou's joking and even keel personality.

While Elvera had to have things organized and planned ahead of time, Lou was fine going with the flow and taking things on as they came to him. That isn't to say he wasn't structured or didn't understand the importance of knowing when to be serious. He just didn't worry about things on the same level as his wife. In fact, you could even say he was the calm to her storm. It didn't matter how worked up Elvera was at that moment – all Lou had to do was gently rest his hand on her shoulder and calmly utter her name, instantly she would melt.

While Elvera was focused with the upkeep of their home, Lou was more akin to gardening and home improvement. He kept the fence in repair, pulling the pointed stakes erect, and secured them with wire. Just as Elvera enjoyed her housework, Lou took great pleasure in installing, repairing and painting their fence, building the shed and porch, and planting pretty roses, azaleas, hibiscuses, chrysanthemums, daffodils, daisies, and daylilies. His plant garden was his artform, and his vegetable garden was his joy. Elvera loved having fresh produce to use for cooking. It saved quite the dollar at the grocery store as well. As different as they seemed to be, they each provided exactly what the other needed.

Lou knew that Elvera would have his work clothes mended, washed, and ironed, and that his Sunday shirts were billowing on hangers neatly separated in the closet. He could smell the coffee, fried eggs and honey ham; the smoky grits with a dollop of butter from upstairs in their bedroom, and inhaled deeply as he walked down the stairs.

"Breakfast smells heavenly, dear," he said as he entered the kitchen and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek.

"We're gonna need to run to the market today. Running low on cream and cheese. I barely have enough to fix our morning meal."

Lou picked up a newspaper from the mail sorter on the kitchen counter and sat down in his usual chair at the kitchen table.

"I'll go see the farmer on my way to work. We could use some more of that delicious Moomoo Milk as well."

"You know that stuff's got in more fat than anything else."

"That's what makes it so damn good."

Elvera shook her head. "Man, you are gonna run yourself into an early grave eating all those macronutrients. What am I gonna do without you here?"

"Listen, until they tell me I gotta stop eatin' and put me on a dietary meal plan, I will keep on enjoying my fats and sugar, woman," he said smartly as he flipped through the newspaper.

The security system beeped to let them know that their front door had opened. Within a couple moments, Lunick and Minun could be seen walking into the kitchen.

"Good Morning, Mom. Dad."

"Lunick!" his mother exclaimed as she rested her husband's breakfast plate on the table in front of him. She quickly ran over to him and embraced him tightly, "Oh, my baby boy! It's so good to see you."

Lunick chuckled lightly, "Mom, you smell like ham and grease. You're gonna make me smell like a diner when I go to the base.

She pulled back, "Oh, you should visit more often, not just occasionally when you get a chance before work."

"Depends on my work schedule, Mom. You know my missions are important."

Elvera walked back over to the stove and poured some grits in a small bowl before going back over to the table and resting it in front of Lou.

"Those missions. Do you really have to do such a dangerous job?"

"You know the answer to that, Mom."

She shook her head knowingly. "I'm afraid I do. Come sit, Lunick. Let me fix you a plate. You want any coffee?"

Lunick sat down at the kitchen table across from his father.

"No thanks. I'll take a cup of Moomoo Milk though. Strawberry if you got any."

"I'll take a cup of roast, dear, if you'd please?"

Elvera shook her head. "Of all the things you had to pass to our son, it had to be your poor eating habits," she grumbled as she poured her husband a cup of coffee.

"Now 'Vera, don't you start again. You'll get wrinkles in your face with all that worry."

She popped him lightly on his shoulder. "Oh, hush you."

Again, Lunick chuckled.

"I got something for you too, Minun," Elvera said as she put a plate of eggs and ham in front of Lunick and a small bowl of homemade Pokémon food with bits of ham in it for Minun.

"Mai Mai!" the electric mouse pokémon cried excitedly as he hopped on the table beside Lunick and immediately began chowing down on his meal.

"I think I've just about perfected my recipe. What do you think, Minun?"

"Mai Mai Mai!" he replied happily with a mouth full of food.

Elvera walked over to the fridge and poured her son a small glass of strawberry Moomoo milk. She placed glass in front of him before wiping her hands off on her apron.

"That's it?" Lunick cried.

"Yes. You both need to watch your sugar intake before you get diabetes. You know you're predisposed."

"Goodness, 'Vera. Let the boy live. He's got many more years before he has to worry about his glucose level."

"No thanks to you. I'm gonna go run my bath now, lest you need anything else?"

"I'm fine, dear, thank you."

Nodding, Elvera gently ran her hand through Lunick's hair before kissing him on the cheek. She took off her apron and made her way upstairs to her bedroom.

"She's never gonna stop babying me," Lunick commented as he took a swig of his strawberry flavored Moomoo Milk and ate a forkful of eggs.

Lou opened up one of the containers on the kitchen table and scooped out several tablespoons of sugar into his coffee.

"Well, you are her baby, son. Doesn't matter how old you get. A mother's job is to worry about her own."

"Dad, are you sure you should be taking that much out? Mom is gonna kill you."

"Nonsense. By her claims, I'm more likely to drop dead from sugar intake than a stampede of Rhyhorn," he said as he covered the container.

"She worries for you too, Dad."

"She does. She can't help it. She's waiting for the day I stop smelting iron and steel from ore at the ironworks the same way she's waiting for you to stop being a ranger."

"That's not gonna happen," Lunick said as he ate another forkful of eggs.

"But she will worry until you do. You have been on a lot of high-profiled risky recuse missions, Lunick. It's not like her concerns are without merit."

"I know. But she's gonna make herself sick with all her worrying. I'm pretty good at my job, Dad."

"You can be a veteran and still wound up killed and dead. Being exceptional at your work doesn't necessarily keep you safe from all the dangers."

"No, but I love my job. I took an oath when I became a ranger. My job is no less dangerous than Officer Jenny's and Henry's."

"And how many of them have been killed in the line of duty? I'm not saying you need to stop. I know how important the work that you do is. I'm just saying you're our only child, and your mother is not going to stop fretting over you because of the nature of your work."

Lunick sighed. "I guess so."

Lou took a long draw of his coffee before resting it back down on the table.

"How are things between you and Solana?"

"Things are great. We couldn't be happier the way things are, though Solana has been pushing herself an awful lot recently, I've noticed. I'm not exactly sure why."

"Is that so?"

"I mean it's not unusual behavior from her. I haven't said anything to her about it. She's just really buffed up her training regimen."

"Solana is a tough girl. You know she likes to…What is it you kids say?…'Keep her head in the game?' I'm sure it's nothing to worry yourself about."

"I suppose not." Lunick replied as her finished off the last of his eggs.

Lou watched him quietly and patiently waited before closing his newspaper and resting it down on the table.

"Lunick, how are you and Solana intimately?"

Lunick choked and coughed repeatedly as the egg was caught going down the wrong pipe in his throat.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me. How are you and Solana doing intimately?"

Lunick was uneasy. "Dad, I don't think this is an appropriate conversation to be having."

"Why not?"

"Because…you're…you're my dad."

"So? You think your mother and I don't know about sex? You're here aren't you?"

Liunick's eyes stretched wide. "DAD! TMI! Oh my God!"

"You are not a foolish man, Lunick. Your mother and I have had our suspicions about it for quite some time. While it's ruffling her feathers at the idea that you both may be more sexually intimate, it's something I've expected ever since you two became serious. You're both near young adulthood and you've been dating for quite some time. I just want to make sure you are both being safe."

Lunick could feel his heart racing as his eyes were locked with his father's. This was not the conversation he wanted to be having with his father.

"Are you using protection?"

"We're not having sex, Dad!" he blurted out embarrassingly.

"Lunick, are you using protection?"

Lunick looked away and was quiet for a moment before answering.

"She's on birth control pills. She's taking contraceptives."

Lou nodded slowly.

Lunick looked back up at his father. "Dad, we haven't gotten there yet. Honest! We came pretty close a couple of times but we've always stopped ourselves."

Lou looked hard at his son. "I understand that you have self-control, Lunick. I know you're smart. But you still got to be careful. When you're in lust, just about nothing can stop you until you release."

"Dad!"

"Just hear me out, son. When you and Solana are kissing and touching and whatever, you are going to get aroused. And when you do, you've got to think. Because once you reach a certain level of euphoric pleasure, there's no turning back. Common sense and logic goes right on out the window and smacks down on the pavement. I'm not saying you two can't be intimate like your mother is. If you kids feel you're ready and believe you can handle sex and all the psychological and emotional implications that goes along with it, then by all means express that love however you want. But be smart about it. Cover the Tarous before he leaves the corral to go out into field. Or make sure Solana is taking those pills religiously. Okay?"

Lunick nodded his head. "Yes, Sir."

Lou got up from his chair and rested his hand on his son's shoulder. An uncomfortable silence passed between the two of them for a few moments before Lunick's mother reentered the room in her bathrobe.

"Lou, where's my bath balms? I cannot find them anywhere. Why must you always move my things?" she huffed.

"Did you check under the sink?

"No! Because that is not where I left them!"

Lunick stood up from her chair.

"I'm gonna head out now, Mom. Thanks for breakfast. It was delicious. C'mon, Minun."

Minun finished licking his food bowl clean before cheerily jumping onto Lunick's shoulder.

"Mai Mai."

"Do be careful, Lunick."

"Yes, Mom. Always."

He kissed her on the cheek and started for the front door.

"Remember what I said, Lunick," his father reiterated.

Lunick, paused before answering. "I'll keep an eye on the Tauros, Dad. He won't get to the Miltank."

Lou nodded assuredly as he watched his son leave out the front door.

"Tauros? Miltank?" his mother questioned.

"Nothing to worry about, dear. How about I go help you find those bath salts?"

"Balms."

"Would you like some company in there?"

She popped him on his shoulder again. "My goodness, is that all you think about?"

"When a woman looks and smells as good as you, it's hard not to," he said as he leaned in close.

She smiled slightly. "You flatterer. Trying to score yourself some points," she turned and sashayed away.

"I'll take that as a yes," he growled as he chased behind her.


Iyori attentively analyzed the test tube that held within it a green substance and a microorganism. She amplified the magnifying glass to get a better assessment. She watched the microbe split into two, then four, then eight sub particles. She amplified the electron microscope even more to observe the subatomic particles, then recorded her findings in her notebook.

She heard the door to the study open as Professor Hastings entered the lab.

"Hoho, hard at work are you, my dear?" he said as he walked over towards her, using his cane to support himself.

Iyori finished what she was writing and lifted her goggles above on her forehead.

"Good Morning, Hastings-hakase. I was just observing this bacterium received from the forensics team yesterday. It's is unlike any I've ever seen before. It is multiplying at an alarming rate, dividing every few seconds and producing more daughter cells. And it keeps changing forms, from rods to spheres, to spirals. It is changing from one life form to another, even though it is simply dividing among itself to reproduce."

"That is quite strange, indeed," Professor Hastings replied as he characteristically pulled on his beard.

"That isn't all. I've also been analyzing the DNA sample Lunick-sama asked to have retested, and I've been able to identify two more pokémon – a Haunter and Stunfisk."

"That is most unusual. A single DNA strand containing the makeup of four greatly different pokémon that we are aware of and three unknowns. So, the DNA profile is still incomplete."

"Hai, Hastings-hakase. Until we are able to identify the other remaining pokémon. I will continue the PCR and STR analyses. I may try the amplified fragment length polymorphism technique if they yield the same results. I am still trying to decipher the DNA family relationship."

Professor Hastings walked over to his file cabinet. "Iyori, lass, you have done wonderfully since you came aboard as my assistant. I would be so behind without your help. Truly, I am grateful for all that you do."

"It really is no problem at all, Hastings-hakase. I am grateful for the opportunity."

"Now, I was certain I put my designs in here,"

"I have them here, hakase," Iyori replied as she held out the folder of styler and equipment sketches and dummies to the professor.

"Oh," he said as he took the folder.

"I reorganized a few of your files for you so that you can better locate them. You can find what you need by the labels. They are color coordinated and highlighted as well."

Professor Hastings scratched his forehead. "Oh, why…thank you, lass…But there was no need to go through all of that trouble."

"No trouble at all, Hastings-hakase. I am just happy to help," she replied as she walked back over to the electron microscope and started recording notes again.

"I think what the Professor means is that he doesn't want you touching his things," a voice said from afar.

Iyori looked up from her notebook and saw Lunick, Solana, and Murph walking down the staircase to the study.

"Well now, I wouldn't put it that way. I've just gotten used to the way things are mind you," Professor Hastings grumbled.

Iyori stopped writing. "Lunick-sama. Solana-san. Murph-kun. What are you all doing here?"

"I've asked them to accompany you back to Ringtown, Iyori," Professor Hastings said as he walked up beside her. "I know traveling between cities and in the forest by yourself can be stressful. Lunick and Solana had a gap in their schedule to swing by and escort you. Murph is just picking up some files from me, is all."

"B-But I'm still researching, hakase?" Iyori stuttered.

"You've worked hard, lass. Take a few hours for yourself. Eyeing these experiments too much will put a strain on your brain. Don't want you having an aneurysm now?"

"But, sir?"

"No buts, Iyori. I want you to take a break. You've been at this for days. While you are away, I'll have some time to work on my upgraded designs for the stylers." He said as he passed Murph a binder. "Call Erma for me when you arrive. We have some things to schedule and organize in Almia."

"Yes, Professor," Murph answered.

"Don't worry, Iyori," said Lunick, "We'll make sure you get back safely."

"That is not what I am concerned about," she replied worriedly.


Freddie arrived at the Pokémon Breeding Center thoroughly disgruntled. He had another late start that morning looking out for Anya. Ever since the night he was almost gunned down in his home beside Niema, he hadn't been able to sleep well. He became ever cautious and overprotective of her and had Weavile scouting everywhere they went to make sure it was safe. No headway or gains were made in his case against her and he was certain the police were going to drop the charges. Detective Henry Gato was not only so apathetic and unmotivated to pursue the case, he flat out told Freddie there wasn't one. There wasn't anything he could do. Once again, Anya had manipulated the system in her favor. The woman Freddie once adored now he couldn't stand. She showed up again at his house that morning.

Freddie was beginning to feel that old intense anger well up in his gut that seeped from his very own core every time he saw Anya.

"Thank you oh so much for your hospitality, Freddie-Bear," she snipped, rolling her eyes. "Where's my daughter?"

Freddie tried to slam the door, but Anya quickly hopped inside.

"It's about time I take a protective order out against you."

"Then why haven't you done it yet?"

"Because I'm a damn fool who won't make the time. I know you were the one who shot at me."

"Oh dear, were you almost killed? That's par for the course in our line of work."

"I want you out of my house."

"I have a right to see my daughter."

"No you don't!" Freddie snapped back, "You were told by the judge to make an appointment at least two weeks in advance, and like always, you do whatever the hell you want. You have no respect for anyone or anything, least of all me and my daughter. I have the tiebreaking decision anyway and so long as I am living and breathing, you will never get close to my daughter."

"Am I supposed to let Niema think I forgot about her? A girl needs her mother."

"Too bad she doesn't have one."

Anya gasped. "You've gotten so cruel."

"You've made me this way." A vein made itself visible on Freddie's neck. "I used to love you. I would've given anything in the world to make you happy. But you didn't care about any of that. All you could think of was where to get your next fix."

"You didn't love me," Anya countered. "You loved the idea of me, the idea of having and becoming a family. That's why you didn't put on the damn condom. You're the one who made us teenage parents at fourteen. You brought this burden on us."

"My daughter is a blessing. Shows how much you really care about her. You always hated yourself. Parenthood is stressful, especially at our age, but I didn't let the stress stop me from being a great father to my baby girl. You on the other hand resorted to drugs to cope and never sought to get better. You haven't changed a bit. Now I suggest you get out of my house right now before this turns real ugly. I have to get my baby ready for daycare."

Anya put her hands on her small hips and smirked, "Humph. Are you scared I'll seduce you? I was always good at getting you to drop your pants. There was a time I had you wrapped around my itty-bitty finger."

"You turn my stomach. We had sex once and it gave me my daughter. I will never lay up with you again, bitch."

"Bitch!" Anya was livid. "Oh no! You did not just call me a bitch!"

"Shut your mouth before you wake Niema!" he shouted back.

"You self-righteous, asshole! You demand respect but you don't give it yourself!"

"Respect is something you earn, not given to freely. And you don't deserve any of it. Now, you get your junkie ass out of my house, right now!" He opened his front door, "And mark my words, as long as I've got breath in my body, it'll be a cold day in Hell before I ever let you get your hands on Niema!"

"I ain't afraid of you, Freddie," she growled. "You can't stop me from seeing my daughter. I'm getting clean and I will take her."

"You've been nothing but trouble ever since you chose drugs over Niema and me. You say you're 'getting clean?' The number of times I've heard that and the number of times I see you shooting up days later with your pimp…Personally, I don't care whether you truly are getting better or not. I don't give a good goddamn about you or anything to do with you anymore! Our lives could've been a whole lot better if you weren't so much damn trouble and selfish! But since you keep making these damn terrible decisions and life choices, and making our lives miserable, you've lost the right to play mother to our child!"

Pulling the door opened wider, Freddie grabbed Anya's upper arm and started pulling her backward, firmly. He pushed her across the threshold out onto the stoop. Then he slammed the door in her face and double-bolted it. With his back up against the door, Freddie puffed up his cheeks and filled his lungs with air, then let the air ooze out between his lips.

"Daddy?" a young voice called quietly.

"You bastard!" Anya yelled outside. She banged on the door with her fists. "I can't believe I can hate you so much! You will pay, Freddie! I swear it!"

Niema grabbed the railing at the top of the stairs tightly.

"Daddy?" she uttered timidly.

"It's okay, baby," he replied softly. "Go in the bathroom, I'll be there in a minute."

Quietly and timidly, Niema crawled across the upper level to the bathroom. Freddie watch her go as he felt the vibrations from Anya's ponding until it suddenly stopped.

From the other side of the door, she squinted at the mahogany wood as if she could see right through it. Then she about-faced and gripping the handrail, stepped gingerly down the stairs to the walkway. She glanced back and glimpsed Freddie looking at her from the drapes.

Sneering at him she shouted, "You can't keep her from me!" as she stalked off.

It was no surprise to Freddie that a blast of such bitter, cold air would blow from someone as bitter and callous-hearted as Anya. The sheer hell she put him through with her crack and heroin addiction – stealing his money, pawning off his jewelry and every piece of jewelry he bought her, mortgaging her house and going into bankruptcy, thereby losing her house and forcing her to move-in with him at the time, and selling herself right there on his bed just to get a fix – devastated Freddie and ended their relationship. The court declared Anya was an unfit mother and as God as his witness, Freddie wasn't going to allow Anya to slither her way back into their lives.

An older woman with graying light blue hair was sitting behind the front desk at the Pokémon Daycare.

"Oh, Freddie. How do you do?"

"I'm sorry I'm so late, Mrs. Otaka. I had some trouble this morning that pushed me so far behind today."

She scoffed and flipped her hand nonchalantly as she got up and walked around to the front of the desk.

"Oh no worries at all, Freddie dear. Sylvia's still feeding the new boardees." she put her hand out to Niema. "You ready to go, sweetums? Our Vaporeon could use some company. She's a might grumpy being on bedrest until she delivers her eggs."

Niema nodded and reached out her hand to the middle-aged woman.

"I'll be picking her up around six."

"No problem at all, Freddie. You head on out before Miss Elita gets on your tail."

Nodding as well, Freddie knelt down to Niema. "You be a good girl, okay, baby? Don't give the Otakas any trouble, you hear?"

"Oh, Freddie she's no trouble at all."

Niema nodded again. "Daddy? Who was dat at da door? Is a bad guy tryin' tah git you?"

"A bad guy was but don't you worry, baby, Weavile and I will take care of them and keep you safe."

"Weavile!" Weavile saluted.

Kissing her gently on the forehead, Freddie embraced his daughter before waving her goodbye and leaving for the Wintown Ranger base.

Freddie exhaled loudly. She would not have her way. So long as he was here, Freddie was not going to allow Anya to destroy his and Niema's lives like she destroyed hers.


The Lyra Forest was a lush green area dominated by trees and plants of various kinds and a great diversity of flora and fauna. Not as much as the Olive Jungle, but still very impressive for its condensed size. It was one of the dominant terrestrial ecosystems in Fiore. The Taiga boreal coniferous forest was home to many different pokémon. Their cries could be heard at varying times and points during the day and you could always spot one pokémon from every family scurrying around or flying about somewhere in the forest.

Iyori was visibly shaking she trailed behind the Ringtown Pokémon Rangers in the Lyra Forest. A Furret moved quickly between Iyori's legs.

"Ah! What was that?" she shrieked.

"It's just a pokémon, Iyori," Solana commented. "You don't have to be afraid. They're not going to attack you."

"Anything can attack you. All it takes is provocation."

"But we're not provoking them, Iyori," Lunick answered. "We're just passing through. Most of the pokémon of the forest will not confront you unless you are threatening them or if their territorial. But they know us and are familiar with us. They are very friendly."

Iyori shivered. "I am not a Pokémonrenjā. These creatures do not know me. They do not trust me."

"Iyori, pokémon are innately kind-natured beings. They will not attack you unless you give them reason to"

"Me being in their home is enough reason."

"I get it, Iyori," Murph followed. "I used to be afraid of coming out here too. I majorly sucked as a field ranger because I would always get so easily spooked. But having Slowking by my side over the years has given me a little more confidence because I know he will protect me, right buddy?"

"Slowking," he nodded.

Iyori shook her head. "But I do not have a pokémon for protection!"

"Well, no but –"

"Iyori!" Lunick grasped Iyori by her shoulders, "Take some deep breaths. We are not going to let anything hurt you. Everything will be fine."

Murph's shoulders slumped. "I was only trying to be helpful."

"I know you were, Murph," Solana reassured. "It's not your fault. Iyori just needs time to get used to interacting with pokémon."

"Was I this bad when I first went out on a mission with you?"

"Um…well…"

"I was!"

"You dealt with the situation as best as you could at the time, but look at you now, you're not even shaking even a little." Solana tried to save.

Murph crossed his hands and grumbled. "Why must I have such a weak heart all the time."

Just then, the ground started shaking. Several of the avian pokémon flew out of the trees and the ones who were nestled in the trees and ground started to scurry.

Iyori shrieked again.

"What's going on?" Murph cried.

"I'm not sure," Solana followed. "This doesn't feel like an earthquake.

The ground suddenly erupted and a large serpentine pokémon with long spikes and a massive head and wide jaw rose from beneath it. There were several golden and purple markings on its silver body. Elongated red fangs protruded from its upper jaw and it has a blade-like red pointed tail. A long, forked tongue lowered out of its mouth and a large hood with a face-like pattern spread opened as it reared up. Its eyes glowed bright red.

"What the hell is that?!" Murph cried out as its tail glowed and it brought it down.

Solana and Murph dodged the attack while Lunick pulled Iyori and jumped out of the way.

"It looks like some sort of malformed Steelix," Solana said as she stood to her feet. Plusle jumped off of her shoulder beside her.

"It has a hood like an Arbok," Lunick answered.

"And the tail and markings of a Seviper," Murph finished, "Is this some sort of crazy experiment gone horribly wrong?"

The serpentine pokémon roared and hissed as multiple rings of white energy appeared above and around its body, large brown boulders forming out of the ripples of energy moment later. It then sent the boulders flying toward the rangers.

"Slowking, Psychic quickly!" Murph order.

Slowking's eyes glowed purple and his body was outlined in purple energy as he fired a purple wave of psychic energy, abruptly stopping the boulders and crushing them into granules with his psychic energy.

The amalgamated pokémon gathered energy in its mouth and a ball of orange energy then formed in front of the it. Then fired a massive yellow-orange beam.

"Thunderbolt, Plusle!" Solana ordered.

"You too, Minun!" Lunick followed.

"Pla Plah!"

"Mai!"

The electric mouse pokémon leaped in the air, yellow sparks forming around their cheeks and tails, and released a powerful bolt of electricity. It intercepted the attack, causing a huge explosion moments later.

The large unknown pokémon then released a stream of liquid from its mouth. Slowking quickly caught the Toxic attack, dispelling it moments later so that no one was infected.

Iyori continued to scream as the snake-like pokémon jumped in the air and landed hard, sending several white shockwaves throughout the forest, bringing down trees and breaking the ground.

A plethora of pokémon scurried and flew away in a frantic. A group of normal-type pokémon appeared caught in the crossfire.

Lunick's eyes hardened. "Solana, we've got to clear the area and get those pokémon away from here."

"Agreed."

Lunick quickly turned to Iyori, "Iyori, stay here."

"I cannot!"

"Iyori, listen to me, you will be fine. Minun, will protect you."

"Mai Mai."

Her eyes watered. "Please do not leave me!"

Lunick turned back around. "Cover me, Solana. Murph, clear a path."

Again, both rangers nodded.

"Plusle, use Iron Tail!"

"Slowking, Water Pulse!"

Plusle's tail glowed white and she struck the serpentine pokémon with it, causing it to rear up again. Slowking's body became outlined in light blue energy and he released a large water tornado around his body towards the pokémon. It lifted the pokémon in the air and Plusle struck it again, sending it crashing into a few of the forest trees.

Lunick ran across and quickly approached the group of scared pokémon.

"Lunick-sama!" Iyori cried out.

Lunick held out his arms. "Come with me. I will guide you to safety."

The group of pokémon carefully followed behind Lunick. As they reached the end of the area, the large snake-like pokémon reared up once more and sent several boulders their way. Minun covered his ranger with his Thunder attack, bursting the boulders into smaller rocks. One of the pokémon, a baby Miltank much smaller in size with no utter or horns, ran away on all fours from the rest of the group.

"Wait, come back!" Lunick called out. He tried to run after it but was halted by the swish of the attacking pokémon's tail.

The baby Miltank stopped as the tail crashed down. It instantly started to whimper in fear.

Iyori's eyes softened slightly as she watched the pokémon.

"Lunick-sama, hurry. You left one behind!"

Lunick once again tried to run towards the pokémon, but the serpentine-like pokémon kept its onslaught of Rock Slide, forcing Solana and Murph to cover themselves and Lunick in protection.

Seeing that all the rangers were busy protecting themselves, a wave of emotion washed over Iyori. As this unknown feeling continued to well up inside, she soon found her legs moving before she could even think about what she was doing. She ran past Minun and moved as fast as she could to the baby pokémon.

"Mai Mai!"

"Iyori, what are you doing?!" Lunick shouted as Minun struck another boulder heading his way.

Tears ran down Iyori's face uncontrollably as fear and panic ran through her. As she neared the pokémon she dropped down and covered the pokémon with her body.

The tiny Miltank looked up with tearful eyes as well.

"Mihdo?"

"Do not worry. I will not let you get hurt," Iyori cried out with closed, tearful eyes.

The baby Miltank's eyes shimmered slightly and she burrowed herself under Iyori's belly.

"Enough of this!" Lunick yelled. "Murph, does Slowking know Flamethrower?"

He shook is head. "No but I'm sure he can emulate Fire Blast since we saw an Arcanine using it some time ago."

"Okay. Solana, are you ready?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Let's do this then!" he answered. "Minun, get ready. It's time to do you and Pluse's combined team attack."

"Mai Mai!"

"Plusle!"

"Minun!"

"Volt Storm!" they said in unison.

Plusle and Minun then took off with their Quick Attack, running at very fast speeds. A spark of electricity formed underneath their paws and their speed greatly increased as they activated their Helping Hand. Long electrical sparks flew off of their cheeks. A gigantic pulsing ball of light blue electricity surrounded the two pokémon and a trail of yellow electricity followed behind them. As they neared the serpentine pokémon, they shot off into the air and circled around each other. White, yellow, and blue shockwaves layered the outside of the blue electrical orb. The sparks surrounding the orb intensified. Together, the two pokémon unleashed their pent up energy and created an electrical explosion. Their eyes glowed light blue as the orb lit up and created a blast of electricity. The blast was concentrated into one large intense electrical beam that struck the huge unknown pokémon. It cried out in agonizing pain.

"Go Murph!" Lunick ordered.

"Yessir! Slowking, project Fire Blast and back it up with Psychic."

"Slowking Slow."

Once again, Slowking's eyes glowed purple and his body was outlined in purple energy. The red gem in the center of the Shellder on his head glowed brilliantly as he released a powerful stream of red-orange fire. As it traveled, the flame transformed to an 大-shaped blast. A purple wave of psychic energy followed behind the Fire Blast, giving it an extra boost in power.

As the Psychic-powered Fire Blast hit, the large unknown was engulfed in flames. After a minute of the attack, the massive pokémon fell crashing down to the forest floor, clearly knocked out.

Plusle and Minun landed on the ground, panting heavily.

Solana sighed. "Oh my goodness, that took a lot to take it down."

"What in the world even is this thing?" asked Murph.

Lunick quietly walked over to the cowering Iyori.

"Iyori," he called softly.

Iyori uncovered her head and glanced up at Lunick. He extended his hand.

"Lunick-sama," she whispered as she took his hand and he pulled her up to her feet. "I am sorry. I know you said to stay still beside Minun…But I could not control my movements. It was like my legs moved on their own without me telling them to."

Lunick shook his head gently. "It's okay, Iyori. I said that for your own protection. You're not hurt and you ended up saving this little one as well."

Iyori blinked and looked down. The baby Miltank was cowering beside Iyori, her front paws and legs wrapped tightly around her ankle.

"It's so small," she commented.

"It's a baby," said Solana as she walked up beside them. "Why don't you try picking it up? Looks like it could use some comfort."

"Uh…um…" Iyori stammered. She looked back down at the shivering pokémon. She warily bent down and lifted the baby bovine pokémon from the ground. It nestled itself into Iyori's arms and armpit, still shivering greatly.

Iyori held it tight and cradled it in her arms. "It's so scared.

"Kind of like how you were, right?" replied Lunick. "Why don't we head back to the base and have it checked out? Something tells me it'll be a lot better with you right there with it."

Iyori looked back down at the shaking pokémon and nodded her head.

"Okay." She said quietly.

Nodding, Lunick and Solana smiled knowingly at one another before turning their attention back to the grandiose unknown pokémon lying unconscious on the ground. Murph's Slowking had formed a protective lavender-tinted shield around it.

"Now we just need to figure out what to do with this big guy," Solana said as she walked a little closer to it.

"I'll call Tobi and Jenna and ask if they can bring it to the Kisara Pokémon Sanctuary. Maybe the team there can figure out what's going on with it."

"You guys go on ahead to the base. Slowking and I will make sure it doesn't go rampaging until they get here."

"Are you sure, Murph?"

"Of course. If I'm PR now, I gotta learn to get more comfortable traveling through here on my own more often. I'll be okay. It gives me some time to look over the Professor's files as well," he replied cheerily.

Lunick smiled and nodded. "Okay then. Let's go."

He noticed Solana crouching on the ground beside the unknown pokémon, her eyes closed. Plusle was rubbing her ankle.

"Solana?" he asked as he walked over to her. He crouched down beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Babe, are you okay?"

"Just getting my bearings, Lunick," she replied slowly standing to her feet.

Lunick stood up as well. "You're not usually so winded after a mission. Is your leg still hurting you from earlier?"

"Just a little. I'm a little tired. I don't think I slept very well last night. It's messing with my head a little."

Plusle's ear flopped downward.

Lunick wrapped his arm around her. "Let's get you back to the base so you can rest a bit then before we have to go out on another mission."

"Mhmm. Sounds good."

Together, Lunick, Solana, and Iyori continued their way to Ringtown while Murph stayed behind to monitor the pokémon. Iyori continued to carry the baby Miltank in her arms while Minun and Plusle followed behind their ranger. Minun could see Plusle's worry-laden face and her slower-pace.

"Mai Mai Mai?" he asked.

Plusle's ears drooped lower. She merely shook her head sadly, telling her friend she couldn't talk about it right now, creating worry of its own inside Minun.