Lianna,

Thank you for writing! And I'm so happy that you got into the Ranger School! I'm also pleased to know that you've already been to the Pledge Stone. One day, you'll get to engrave your dream on there, which will most certainly come true. I also have some news for you. Mom and Dad are talking about moving over there. Reyna was excited to hear from you. You should have seen her face when I read your letter to her. She had the biggest smile on her face. She hasn't been that happy since her last birthday.

Elita

"Okay, I have a question for everyone. What day is it today?" Ms. April asked.

"Outdoor Class!"

"Oh, come on, we wouldn't forget about Outdoor Class!" Keith yelled.

"Ms. April! Keith told me he thought up 38 questions to ask the Ranger." Rhythmi said.

"Well, how enthusiastic! Okay, class, let's go outside. We'll gather in Ascension Square."

Everyone left the room except for Keith, Lianna, and Rhythmi.

"Yahoo! I've waited so long for Outdoor Class!"

Keith ran out of the class and out to Ascension Square. Rhythmi walked over to Lianna and sighed with a smile on her face.

"Did he really say 'Yahoo'? Keith's too pumped up for this. You remember where Ascension Square is, don't you?"

"Yeah, I remember, Rhyth."

Rhythmi smiled and left the room. Lianna left the room soon after Rhythmi and walked to Ascension Square. She saw Rhythmi and Keith there waiting for her.

"Hey, Lianna! What kept you? Outdoor Class is about to get started!"

"I think the Ranger's here already."

"Yeah! There's a gangly Ranger with a giant afro!"

The three friends ran the rest of the way to Ascension Square. They stopped when they came upon the circle of students. Keith was practically bouncing with excitement. He didn't notice it, but he grabbed Lianna's hand in a tight grip.

"Well, it appears as if everyone's with us. Let's get this Outdoor Class started. This is Crawford. He's a graduate of this Ranger School. And now he's a Pokemon Ranger in Vientown." Principal Lamont told the students.

"I'm Crawford! Nice to meet you, everyone!"

"Thank you for coming!"

A Budew popped out from behind Crawford, making several of the girls, including Rhythmi, coo at its cuteness.

"This here's my Partner Pokemon, Budew."

A Cherubi, Bellossom, Combee, and a Swellow popped out next.

"And these are my friend Pokemon!"

"Wow, so cool!"

Ms. April stepped forward and smiled at Crawford.

"Hi, Crawford! It's been a long time! But that giant explosion of an afro… I think I liked your hairstyle the way it was before. It makes me nervous to see that kind of jumbled-up outgrowth of anything. But that's enough of that. We're all here, so let's begin! Let's get to Outdoor Class's main event: The Question-&-Answer Session of Terror! Let the questioning begin!"

"Crawford, why did you decide to become a Ranger?" a boy asked.

"Well, it's because I love Pokemon. I wanted to become friends with them. You know, to bond with them. Besides, it's a cool job!"

"That's the same way I feel! I'm glad I asked you!"

"I have a question! What kinds of Pokemon are difficult to capture?" a girl asked.

"Well, speaking only for myself…Psychic and Ghost-group Pokemon, yeah. They have this habit of going poof and disappearing during captures."

"Ghost Pokemon do that?"

"Me! I'm next! My name is Rhythmi! There isn't anything I'd rather do than become an Operator. Do you think I can become one? You can tell I will become one, can't you?"

"I'm only seeing you for the first time ever, so it's not like I know, but… Sure thing! No problemo! You'll be an Operator all right!"

"That's right! Those are the words I wanted to hear! Yes!"

"Rhythmi… Are you maybe confusing our Ranger with a fortune-teller or something? Excuse me, Ranger. How about me? Will I become a Ranger?" Keith asked.

Rhythmi looked over at Keith and Lianna and saw their interlocked hands. She grinned at Lianna, who blushed darkly. Rhythmi crept over and stood next to Lianna. Crawford and Keith were talking still and Rhythmi began quietly whispering to Lianna.

"So, you and Keith, huh?"

"Shush up, Rhythm! Me and Keith aren't anything like that! He doesn't like me that way!"

"Really? Because that grip he has on your hand says something different."

Rhythmi giggled and Lianna put her hand over Rhythmi's mouth. The two turned to Crawford just as he was finishing talking to Keith.

"Uh… Is that right? I'll do the best I can! Um, okay, here's my second question…"

"No fair, Keith! One question each! Ranger Crawford's busy, too! So, on to my question. Have you ever made any mistakes?"

"Mistakes, you ask? That's all there was when I started. Like the time I dumped juice all over my Styler. That was nasty. Or the time I tried to capture a stuffed doll. Oh, and another time, I put on my Ranger uniform on top of my pajamas. Hold up, don't make me say these things!"

The students laughed at Crawford's distressed face. A boy held up his hand and then proceeded with his question.

"What makes you glad that you became a Ranger?"

"I'd have to say the big smiles we get to see after helping people or Pokemon in need."

"I hope I get to see smiles like that soon!"

"That's the spirit! Keep that spirit burning, and you'll be sure to succeed. You know, I'm looking forward to the chance of working with you folks some day. Keep a positive attitude and work hard!"

Crawford looked around and his eyes stopped on Lianna.

"Excuse me, miss."

Lianna looked away from Rhythmi and over to Crawford.

"You look very familiar. Have we met before?"

"Uh, I don't think so…"

"Do you have any older siblings who went here?"

"Yeah, my older sister did."

"And who's your sister?"

"Elita."

Everyone in the group gasped and turned their heads to Lianna.

"You're Elita's sister?"

She nodded and Crawford's face lit up in a smile.

"I remember being in Elita's class. She was the smartest person I've ever met."

Crawford's Styler beeped and he pulled it out.

"Voicemail! Voicemail! Crawford, do you hear me? It's me, Barlow! There's a Mantine hurt off the eastern shore of School Island. The Mantine apparently ran into a cargo ship. Luana's headed to the School by boat for you. Join up with her, Crawford, and head to the site immediately. We're going to need your help on this one!"

"Roger, Leader! Principal Lamont! Since the students are so worried, I'll report back on how the mission went. I'm sorry I have to cut the Outdoor Class short like this!"

"There's no need to apologize. Besides, listen. Isn't that your boat?"

A boat pulled up to the dock of School Island. A voice called out to Crawford from the boat.

"Crawford, get on, quickly! We're heading to the site!"

"All right, students keep working at it! Let's meet again somewhere sometime!"

Crawford jumped on to the boat and it sped away from the dock.

"Well, everyone! That was the shortest Outdoor Class ever. But it certainly was the most gripping and realistic of all Outdoor Classes, too. Okay, everyone. Let's return to our classrooms."

All of the students and teachers left Ascension Square except for Keith, Lianna, and Rhythmi. Keith released his hold on Lianna's hand without ever realizing he was holding it.

"You know, I'm getting even more pumped up about becoming a Ranger. I still have 37 questions left, but I think I'm going to find those answers myself!"

"A real Ranger guaranteed that I would become an Operator!"

"There are no guarantees anywhere. You have to grab hold of your dreams and make them come true!"

"You think I don't know that? I'm going to do it. I'll make my dream come true!"

Lianna was ignoring the two of them. She was too busy staring at the Pledge Stone. She knew her sister had stood at that exact spot during her own Outdoor Class.

"I'm not going to lose, either! Not when I have a rival like Lianna! Hey, why don't the three of us make a pledge right now by the Pledge Stone? Let's pledge to each other that we'll make our dreams come true!"

"You bet! I'll pledge to that! What about you, Lianna?"

"Of course! I have to surpass Elita!"

"That's the spirit! Let's get back to class!"

The three ran back to Ms. April's class, laughing the whole way.

Elita,

We had Outdoor Class today! The teacher was a Ranger named Crawford, he said he knows you. Do you remember him? It was a very exciting Outdoor Class. Crawford got called out in the middle to save an injured Mantine and it really showed me how spastic a Ranger's life can be.

Lianna