This is really a filler chapter compared to the last one. However, the next chapter will be the big meeting at the Ranger Union and pretty much the whole plot will be laid out there. Super-duper. Okay, moving on, I had a question for all you Pokemon Ranger fans out there.

I've been kicking around this idea to make a full-fledged Pokemon Ranger role-play site. For those of you who are unfamiliar with such sites, a role-play is kind of like fanfiction, but where there's a big main plot and each person controls certain characters and we all kind of write the story together. I was thinking it could be Fiore and Almia. You could play as characters from the original Pokemon Ranger and Shadows and Almia or make your own OC characters.

However, I'm not going to create this site if I'm going to be wasting my time, so if it sounds interesting to you and you'd want to do it, just PM me or include it in your review. Honestly, only about four or five people would do it for me because I want to do this so bad. :) Besides, I only need enough to get started and then we can advertise on other sites and get more people. If this is a big no-no, I'll just forget about it and we'll just act like the majority of this author's note never happened. x]

On the other hand, if anyone knows of a site like this, also let me know. I want in on the action! :)

Back to the… I'd like to say action, but it's more like filler chapter.

Spenser

I blinked several times in a row, unable to believe that I was somehow still alive. The pain let me know that I was. Arceus, Darkrai hurt. And I didn't even really fight it. I heard footsteps coming up the steps and I lifted my head slightly to see Joel enter the room, looking concerned. When he saw me outstretched on the floor looking up at him, he grinned.

"You must have a pretty bad headache."

"It's worse than the hangover I got after Cameron's bachelor party," I groaned, holding my head gingerly.

Wendy came up beside him and let out a sigh of relief when she saw I was conscious. However, she immediately shifted her attention to Solana, who I could see was still unconscious on the floor.

"Is she okay?" I asked immediately, sitting up to see better. Wendy was silent for a moment checking Solana over. I swear that it was one of the longest goddamn moments of my life. A Slowpoke could've checked for Solana's vital signs quicker than the time Wendy was taking.

"She'll be okay," she finally said and I realized that I'd been holding my breath. I looked down to see my hands were shaking. What the heck was going on with me? Was this thing with Solana really that serious?

"Let's get you guys back to base," Joel grinned at me knowingly. He knew exactly what was going on between Solana and me. Or at least he thought he did. I didn't even have the energy to make a face at him. I would like to say that I just didn't care about trying to figure out my relationship with Solana, but I'd be lying. I'd couldn't remember the last time I'd cared this much.

Lunick

Solana was out for four hours after Spenser brought her to Ringtown. Apparently the Summerland base was crowded and he wanted her to really get some rest. Ringtown was the closest and quietest place.

Spenser carried Solana into his own quarters, placing her in his bed and arranging the covers. I guess he really didn't want her to be disturbed. I waited until he came out to attack him about what was going on.

"What happened?" I asked anxiously, not at all encouraged by the sight of an unconscious Solana. Let's just say that it took something pretty big and powerful to take down Solana. I'd been worrying like crazy back here at base and I had never been more frustrated in my life. Looks like I was worrying with good reason.

"I have to get back to Summerland and help with the clean-up," Spenser answered, evading my question, "but can you make sure no one bothers her? She'll be fine, but she really needs to get some rest."

"Yeah, of course, Leader," I replied, confused a bit with his dodge.

"How's Melody?"

"The doctor gave her a cast for the next three weeks or so, but she's fine," I responded, nodding my head in the direction of the kitchen, "She's eating lunch."

"I'll be back by tonight," he answered, "Just watch the base for me."

I nodded in reply and he rushed out with his Fearow, heading back to Summerland. I spent the next four hours alternately checking in on Melody, Solana, and the town, which got exhausting after a while. I was coming back from one of my quick ten minute patrols to find Solana awake and laughing with Melody as she signed Melody's cast. Plusle, who had been watching over Solana the whole time while she slept, was playing with Melody's Pachurisu.

"You keep that cast and you could probably sell it for a lot of money in a few years," Solana laughed, "You know, with me becoming a super-famous area leader and all." I immediately realized that although she might have a different future now, she was exactly the same as she had always been. I grinned as she noticed me and her face seemed to light up.

"Lunick!" she grinned, actually getting up to hug me, "I was waiting for you to get back."

"So I actually get a hug?" I replied in mock-surprise. It was just because Solana wasn't much of a touchy-feely person, so I was pretty honored that she considered me worthy of a hug. "I thought you saved those for Spenser?"

I was answered by a punch in the shoulder. "Jeez, you've gotten more violent since you've been gone," I protested, nursing my probably bruised shoulder.

"Outta line, buddy," she retorted, looking angry. But, of course, she couldn't stay mad at me for long. She grinned and gave me another hug, "I'm just so happy to see you."

"Bipolar much?" I muttered to Melody over Solana's shoulder. Melody grinned. We talked for the next hour or so, catching up on all that Solana had been up to lately. Solana and Melody got in a full-fledged discussion about Alyssa (who seems to be the sister of a Top Ranger) and her new partner Pokemon. Melody seemed to find it hilarious that Alyssa had a Chatot with flying difficulties.

Before long, it was about almost time for dinner. Spenser still wasn't back and we couldn't wait for him for that long, so I decided to let Melody and Solana continue their talk and left the room to cook us all a little something. I was rummaging through the cabinets trying to find the pan for the grilled cheese sandwiches when Solana entered the room.

"What's Melody up to?" I asked, finding the pan and lighting the stove.

"She decided to write a letter to Alyssa," Solana answered. I turned around to look at her for a second. Sometimes, when she wasn't laughing or joking around, I could catch a glimpse of something on her face. I couldn't tell what it was, but for that moment, she seemed sad and tired. Something had happened that had changed her.

"So, what happened?" I held her gaze until she looked away and I saw that tired look on her face again.

"Nothing major," she shrugged, but I could tell she was trying to blow me off.

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, "Nothing major left you unconscious for four, maybe five hours." She was fiddling with a loose string on the sleeve of her uniform, avoiding my eyes. I waited for it.

"I captured a Darkrai," she finally said and I don't think I could've been more stunned, "That's what was going on in Summerland." When I finally gathered my wits together in some semblance of a question, I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind.

"Arceus, what the heck were you thinking?"

She shot me an annoyed look. "That's not what I need right now, Lunick."

"Okay, that's not what I mean," I corrected myself, "What I mean is that why did you do it? Why not Spenser or Joel or Elita? I mean, you're not a leader yet."

"Because," she grinned at me, "I had to pass the final test. And I did. I'm practically a leader right now."

I just looked at her dumbly.

"You know, the final test. Capturing a Darkrai? You knew about that before, right?"

"The test to become a Fiore area leader is to capture a Darkrai?" I asked incredulously.

Solana nodded. "Yeah, you know, there's a specific Darkrai that I'm supposed to go to, but that plan got changed pretty fast." She looked at me nervously for a second, realizing that I wasn't following her. "You… have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" There was a slight uneasiness. "Uh, I'm sure that you just haven't heard about it before. But a lot of Rangers know about it. I think."

"Solana?" I heard Melody's voice call from the other room. "C'mere, I got a question about Alyssa's Chatot."

Solana jumped up, seeming to be glad to leave the awkward moment we were having. "Yeah, I'll be right back."

I shrugged and turned to start putting the bread and cheese on the pan. I had gotten my first sandwich ready to be cooked when who walked in but good old Spenser. "Hey, Leader," I waved a free hand at him as I checked the bottom of the sandwich, "You want a grilled cheese."

"What kind of cheese is it?" Spenser craned his head over my shoulder.

"American," I replied, wondering if Spenser would know anything about this test business that Solana was talking about. The words seemed to come out of my mouth even before I thought about it. "What's up with this test to be leader?" I asked, "Is it something that I just missed? Something about a Darkrai?"

Spenser looked at me for a full second, then turned his head abruptly. "SOLANA!"

Solana came rushing into the kitchen, beaming. "Hey, Spense, how'd the clean-up go in Summerland? Everyone's okay, right?"

"You told him?" Spenser asked incredulously, pointing at me.

"Told him what?"

"You know what I'm talking about," Spenser shot back.

Solana's face turned red. "Oh, well, you didn't tell me it was a secret or anything. I thought it was just some age-old tradition that I missed hearing about. I mean, we've haven't had any new leaders since I came here, so there would be no reason to talk about it."

Spenser's face was turning red too, but his was with fury. "You don't think that you might want to keep it a secret that the Ranger Union has an on-going relationship with and knows the exact location of one of the darkest Pokemon ever? Only area leaders and Top Rangers know about this!"

Melody chose that exact moment to breeze into the kitchen. "You know, most people think that Darkrai are willfully destructive and malicious, but really only about one out of four is that way. I'd think that those were pretty low odds for such a stereotype." She took a slice of American cheese from the counter and took a bite, chewing as we all stared at her.

Spenser was speechless. He turned his glare to Solana.

"Um," Solana tried a smile, "Oops."