Okami: Thanks for reviewing my story, everyone!

Kate: Is it time for the Disclaimer?

Okami: Not yet.

Okami & Kate: *Wait for a few minutes.*

Okami: Okay, now it is.

Kate: Okami does not own Pokemon.

Okami: Otherwise, the girls would all be Trainers rather than Coordinators.

Kate: Go girlpower!

Kellyn: *Runs in* Am I too late to say, 'Thank God Okami does not own Pokemon'?

Kate: Yes, now shut up and sit down.

A few Months later...

"Kate!"

Kate blinked her eyes open. "Huh?"

"Hurry, get up! We can't be late for Outdoor Class!" Rhythmi sounded frantic.

"Aww crap!" Kate launched herself out of bed and landed lightly.

Rhythmi stepped aside as Kate ran passed her. "We've got five minutes!"

"I can be ready in two!" Kate responded, stepping into the bathroom. A moment later, she emerged wearing her uniform and struggling to get her hair up.

Rhythmi blinked. "That was fast."

"I told you so!" Kate finally managed to get her hair up into two spiky brown pigtails and ran for the door. "Let's go!"

Rhythmi followed her friend. Kate's been acting wierd lately...

Once the two girls were outside, they broke into a run.

"Thirty seconds!" Rhythmi called.

Meanwhile in Ascension Square...

"Where are Kate and Rhythmi?" Ms. April asked.

"No doubt running in the hallways." Mr. Kincaid sneered.

"WE'RE HERE!" Kate called from the top of the stairs, pausing momentarily.

Rhythmi couldn't stop in time. "Kate, look out!"

She collided with Kate.

The group watched in horror as Kate and Rhythmi fell down the stairs, and a moment of sheer silence passed.

Kate poked her head out from under Rhythmi and moaned, "Crap, that's gonna hurt in the morning..."

Rhythmi groaned and rolled off of Kate. "Yeah..."

The class erupted in laughter.

Rhythmi was on her feet quickly and joined the group, her face flushed, while Kate followed silently, her mind elsewhere.

"That was quite an entrance." remarked a tall boy with brown hair in an afro.

Rhythmi giggled, looking deeply into his eyes.

The boy sweatdropped.

Ms. April giggled. "Kate, Rhythmi, this is Ranger Crawford. He used to go to school here."

Crawford stepped aside to reveal a little green bud-like Pokemon. "This is my partner, Budew!"

"Bud!"

"And these are my friend Pokemon." Crawford gestured to a few Pokemon surrounding the Pledge Stone.

Keith was staring with wide eyes.

Ms. April's eyes got an evil glint to them. "Alright, now for the best part. The Question and Answer Session of Terror!"

Immedietly, a couple of hands shot up.

"You." Crawford pointed to a girl with short brown hair.

"What's it like being a ranger?"

Crawford thought for a moment. "Well, to put it simply, it's awesome!"

The girl smiled. "I knew it!"

A boy raised his hand. Crawford nodded in his direction. "Yes?"

"Is it hard being a ranger?"

Crawford nodded slightly. "Sometimes. But the smiles people and Pokemon have after you help them makes it all worth it."

Rhythmi's hand shot up. "I want to become an Operator. There's nothing I'd rather do. You do think I'll become one, don't you?"

Crawford chuckled. "Well, this is my first time meeting you, but...Sure! Work towards your dreams and they will come true."

Keith rolled his eyes at Rhythmi. "Hey Rhythmi. Aren't you confusing Crawford with a fortune teller or something?" he then turned to Crawford. "Well, what about me? Do you think I'll become a ranger?"

"Aren't you confusing me with a fortune teller also?" Crawford asked, causing Keith to scowl. "But you strong will shines through loud and proud. You might even become a better ranger than me! That is, of course, if you can avoid spinning your wheels."

Keith looked stunned.

"Next question."

The questions continued for a while, until no one raised their hand.

"Is that it?" Crawford asked.

Keith's hand shot up again. Ms. April and Rhythmi exchanged a glance. Uh-oh.

"Yes?"

Keith cleared his throat, a mischevious look in his bright green eyes. "Are you a...prankster, by any chance?"

Crawford straightened up. "Yes. Yes I am."

Keith snickered. "What was the best prank you ever pulled?"

Crawford tapped his chin. "Well, there was the time I hid Barlow's-that's our Leader-ranger uniform when he was in the shower." he paused.

Keith nodded, taking mental notes.

"And the time I switched Luana's-that's our newest ranger-shampoo with glue."

Ms. April gulped nervously.

"And the time I-"

"STOP, YOU'RE GIVING HIM IDEAS!" the young teacher and Rhythmi exclaimed at the same time.

Crawford looked on puzzled as Keith grinned smugly.

Kellyn snickered. "Nicely done, Crawford."

Crawford opened his mouth to reply when his styler went off. "This is Crawford." he said into it, turning away.

"Crawford, a Mantine has been hit by a Cargo ship. I'm sending Luana by boat to pick you up." a gruff voice answered.

As if by magic, a boat suddenly appeared on the pier. "Crawford, let's go!" a feminine voice called from inside.

Crawford glanced at Mr. Lamont. "Sorry to cut class short, but I have to go!"

"Please save that Mantine!" a girl wailed.

Crawford nodded. "Hey, after we rescue it, I'll send a report since the students look so worried."

Everyone watched as Crawford leaped onto the boat and sped away.

"It was like seeing a scene from a real action movie." a boy remarked.

"Wow, the boat's already tiny on the horizon..." a girl murmured.

Ms. April clapped her hands. "Well, we should all get back to class."

As the group headed inside, Kate walked with her head down. I wonder what that dream was about...

Keith, Kellyn, and Rhythmi waited for her to catch up.

"What's wrong?" Rhythmi asked, concern thick in her voice. "You've been acting pretty wierd lately."

"Yeah." Kellyn added. "You haven't said anything funny in...days!"

Kate shrugged. "Nothing's wrong."

Keith elbowed her. "C'mon, we know you better than that."

"Yeah, tell us!" Rhythmi's azure eyes fixed on Kate.

Kate sighed. "I've just been having nightmares, okay? That's all."

"Nightmares?" Rhythmi sounded puzzled.

"What're they about?" Kellyn sounded concerned too.

"Nothing. Look, can we just drop it?" Without waiting for an answer, she took off runnind until she reached the school.

"No wonder she hasn't been her goofy, idiotic self." Kellyn remarked.

Rhythmi slapped him. "Could you be a little more sensitive?"

"Owww." Kellyn complained.

Keith sighed. "Well, we have to get our 'goofy, idiotic' Kate back, as Kellyn put it."

Rhythmi nodded. "I just wish she would've told us what they're about..."

Later that night...

Kate stared up at the ceiling, too nervous to fall asleep. I sleep, I have nightmares. I don't sleep, and I get irritable and tired. It's a lose-lose situation. She closed her eyes. Maybe I can find out what the dreams are all about...

Kate found herself in the mist-filled clearing again. But, for some reason, it was...clearer now.

"Kate..."

Who's voice was that? Kate still didn't know, and was beginning to get frustrated.

"Who are you?" Kate's voice echoed in the empty space.

By now, she should've woken up. Her heart was pounding faster now.

"Kate..." the voice was closer...

"H-Hello?"

"Kate."

For a moment, Kate's heart literally stopped. The voice-no, the person-was right behind her.

Kate wanted to scream. She wanted to run. But, her voice had been muted, and her feet were frozen to the earth.

A dark shape moved from behind her.

"W-Who are you?" her voice came as a whisper.

"I am..."

Before the shadow could reply, the world turned black again. Near tears, Kate choked out, "Don't go!"

But she had already been enveloped by darkness.

Okami: The idea for the dreams actually came to me...In a dream.

Kellyn: Then you must have some scary dreams.

Okami: Oh yes. In one of them, Kellyn gets eaten by Godzilla.

Kellyn: *Runs off screaming like a little girl*

Okami: Just kidding. Anyway, as always, thanks for reading and please review! :)