Keiths' P.O.V
Kate's request. I knew I wouldn't be able to carry it out. I don't want to lose someone close to me, someone I love. Yes, I admit it; I love Kate, and not like a best friend or a sister. I want to be with her, for her to be with me.
I want to make her happy, make her smile, make her laugh, hold her when she cries, whether it be tears of joy or sadness. I want to be the one she can count on.
But she has counted on me many times. I've lost track of how many times I've been there to save her, to laugh with her, seen her cry, watched her almost die. I've been there through it all.
Sure at the beginning I may have been a jerk and a pervert to her, I still am, but we've both matured since then. Well, maybe Kate has, I can't say that about myself with a straight face.
I droned Hastings out as he went on and on about Operation Brighton. He showed us the Tears of Princes and how they reduced the dark shards power.
I didn't want to do any of this, especially if it meant losing Kate. I sighed as I shook my head. I could remember when Kate first walked into Ms April's class in the Ranger School, how she was the one who got me to have Buizel as my Partner Pokemon. I remembered how she didn't freak when she knew who my dad was, how she stood up to me that one time in Summerland. I could remember everything clearly.
But the one thing I couldn't determine, was when I fell for her along the lines of all this. The day she walked into Ms April's class, I felt my heart skip a beat at how pretty she was. Sure at that time she was hardly anything. Always smiling, bubbly, stood up to me, and flat chested.
Now, she was serious, but still tried to lighten the mood. Her bubbly attitude had been replaced with a not so bubbly attitude, but could always brighten up your day. Now, instead of standing up to me, she stood by me, as friends should. And I must admit she has developed around the chest area.
Adir would kill me if I said that to him though. But hey, I'm a guy and it's true.
"How would Dim Sun thinking I'm dead link with this?" Kate's voice dragged me from my thoughts as she spoke. They would think she was dead because they left her for dead. Though I'm pretty sure once they see her, they won't be shocked she's alive.
"An excellent question Kate, now," I zoned Hastings out again. I didn't want to listen to how I would benefit us, if it could benefit us should I say.
I didn't want to do this; I didn't want to lose my friends. I looked around, Sven, Wendy, Raisha, Solana, Lunick, Rythmi, Kellyn, Seren, Isaac; I didn't want to lose any of them.
My eyes went to the brunette at the side of me; I especially didn't want to lose her. I had to tell her how I felt before we left; otherwise I may not get the chance.
Not all of us are coming back from this, there's a very slim chance we'll all survive. My father and brother of merciless, we've established that many times before.
"Does everyone understand their role in Operation Brighton?" I snapped back to reality as Hastings spoke. He must have seen me snap out of it because he went with brief summary of the plan. "Kate, Keith and Seren, you three will infiltrate Altru Inc. and find the Yellow Gem. Once done, you will regroup with Kellyn half way up the tower and hand the Gem over to him. You will then proceed to the top of the tower to face Max, Kai, Phantom and Blake. Kellyn, Sven and Wendy will be circling around the top of the tower on Staraptor, trying to get as close to the Gem as possible. Raisha, you will help the Area Rangers keep peace below the tower. Rythmi, you will stand by as an Operator keeping everyone updated on the progress. Isaac, you shall stay here with us and give us any more information needed, should Kate, Keith and Seren run into any obstacles along the way. Everyone's part in this is needed. Some of you may not return form this mission alive; some of you may be seriously injured. Are you ready for this?" Hastings asked.
"We're ready," Kellyn answered.
"Let's do this," Sven and Wendy said together.
"I'm in," Raisha smirked as she stepped forwards.
"We'll take down Dim Sun," Seren, Rythmi and Isaac stated.
I turned to Kate, who smiled at me before holding her hand out to me. I took it in mine after a moment's hesitation before we stepped forwards.
"We were born ready," we both said as we smirked. Seren, Kellyn, Isaac and Rythmi held their hands in the middle of everyone. Sven and Wendy held there's on top; Raisha put her in after, followed by Kate's and eventually mine.
"For the pokemon," Kellyn smiled.
"For the people," Seren added.
"For the future," Raisha smiled.
"For family," Sven said as he nodded to us all.
"For friends," Wendy gave a warm smile.
"For future Rangers, Operators and Mechanics," Rythmi added.
"For us," Isaac smiled.
"For Almia," Kate stated.
"For the world," I finished.
"FOR THE WORLD!" we all called as we threw our hands up into the air.
"Remember, Operation Brighton needs to be followed in this order, should anything go wrong it could prove dangerous," Erma stated as she looked at us all.
"When you all came here, you were Top Rangers, the best of the best, you still are. But now we face our most dangerous challenge since the Go Rock Squad. Please, I beg you, stay safe on this mission and try your hardest. The fate of the world now rests on your shoulders," Erma smiled as her eyes filled with tears. We all nodded our heads as everyone left to get ready for the mission.
I stayed, just staring at Harmony Tree. At the Union it would always be called that, there's always peace here, but outside the Union, in the world, it's a different story.
Erma left the top floor shortly after, while Hastings collected the Yellow and Blue Gems up.
"Professor Hastings, may I speak with you?" I asked as I looked out of the window, overlooking Almia. Hastings stopped what he was doing before coming to my side.
"What is it Keith?" he asked, I bit my lip; he needed to know what Kate made me promise.
"Professor, it's about Kate, she made me promise her something," I answered as I seriously debated this in my mind.
"Go on," Hastings urged, I sighed, finally giving in.
"She made me promise, that if Darkrai takes control of her again and she starts destroying things, she wants me to…." I trailed off before taking a deep breath. "She wants to me to kill her," I stated, I turned to Hastings to see his eyes wide, but also understanding. Whether it was at my situation or Kate's request, I had no idea.
"Kate's a strong girl, I trust her to make the right decision, even if the darkness plagues her mind. Keith, you have to promise you won't kill her, but rather try to reason with her, anyway you can, just to stop her. She's an understanding person and loves this world very much; she will be devastated if she knew she was the cause of destroying most of it. Arceus, I know, will help in any way he can, he is the one who turned Kate good before. Just make sure you're there for her, all the way through this mission. Do not, under any circumstances, leave her by herself or argue with her. She's my granddaughter, and I cannot bear to see her leave this world before me," Hastings explained as he looked at me. I smiled slightly as I nodded my head.
"I won't, but I need to find Kate now," I stated as I took off running, leaving Hastings by himself on the top of the Union.
I ran down the escalators towards mine and Kate's room. I rushed in, seeing the bathroom door opened, but nothing running, I walked in.
Kate stood in front of the mirror, her hair was in its normal pigtails, but she was staring at herself.
"Keith," she whispered as she turned to me. I walked over to her; her eyes met mine as she pushed something cold into my hands. I looked down. A gun.
"Kate, where did you-,"
"My dad, I took it from his wardrobe. Promise me, if I do anything bad to anyone because of Darkrai, just kill me," she whispered. I looked at her, shock flowed through my body, I placed the gun down on the side of the sink.
"I'm not shooting you. I promised Hastings I'd do everything in my power to stop you from going under the darkness. And if you do, I will bring you back. I can't shoot you, I can't lose you like I did with my mother and I can't be the cause of it. I'm sorry Kate, I just can't be," I whispered as I avoided her gaze.
"You promised," she whispered.
"I know I did, but I'd rather bring you back from the darkness and have you standing by my side then have you brought back and having to bury you," I replied as I looked at her. She reached out, taking my hand as she pulled herself into my chest.
I could feel my shirt become wet with her tears as she silently cried into my chest. Questions filled my mind of what I would do if I couldn't bring her back, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Five minutes passed before Kate pulled away from me. Her eyes slightly red and puffy, but she still looked beautiful.
I looked into her deep blue eye, unconsciously I began leaning in, and to my surprise, so did she. I bit my lip, this was it, this was the time to tell her how I felt, well, not tell but show her.
As our lips got closer, inches apart there was a loud explosion that shook the building. Kate's eyes shot open in shock as she lost her footing on the floor, causing her to fall on top of me.
My eyes widened when I noticed some of the ceiling coming down. I quickly changed our position, so I was on top of her when the concrete hit.
I groaned and hissed in pain as it crashed onto my back, breaking some skin, but I didn't care, as long as Kate was safe, I didn't care.
I groaned as I lifted myself off of Kate, and from under the weight of the ceiling. Kate, coughed as she waved her hand, clearing some of the dust away.
"What was that?" she asked as I stood up. I looked around, unable to figure out what it was but I had a pretty good feeling. "Are you alright?" Kate asked as she placed her hands on my shoulder, I winced slightly but nodded my head.
"Yeah, just a few scratches," I answered. Kate frowned as she hugged me gently.
"I'm sorry, if I hadn't had tripped then-,"
"Kate, don't, this wasn't your fault, you didn't know the Union would blow up," I interrupted; Kate nodded her head as she sighed.
"Alright, but you're ok right?" she asked again.
"I'm more worried about the others," I answered as I stood up before pulling Kate up with me.
"Let's go find them," she said as she began pulling me out of the bathroom. Our bedroom seemed to be un-damaged. Things had fallen from shelves but nothing had collapse.
I pushed Kate onto the bed, she gave me a shocked look, but I put my hands to my lips, motioning for her to stay quiet.
"Listen Kate, my dad and the others don't know you're alive, you need to stay hidden until we get to Altru Tower," I stated, Kate looked at me before glaring.
"I'm not letting you go out there by yourself, there could be Arceus knows how many people out there," Kate replied as she stood back up.
"Katherine Atreya Jones you listen to me," I ordered as I used her full name, making Kate flinch. "I'm not stupid Kate, I know you changed the past to stop me becoming The Curse of the Son, and I'm grateful for that. But you need to understand that, like you, I can hold my ground. I know how to fight and I won't let Dim Sun win, so stay here," I ordered as I walked to the door. Kate grabbed my hand as she turned me to look at her.
"Be safe," she ordered as she gave me a peck on the cheek. I smiled at her.
"I will be, but do me a favour and watch Buizel. I think he may be a little shaken up," I stated as I pointed under my bed to Buizel and Glaceon, who were hiding from the explosion.
I laughed slightly as I exited the room, she'd be safe in there, at least, I hope she would be.
Now all that was left to do was find out where that explosion came from, and who the hell caused it.
Chapter, erm, er, are we still counting these things?
Kate: I don't think so.
Keith: How'd we get here?
Rythmi: Awww, so cute, Kate kissed Keith.
Kate and Keith: *Blushes*
What the? GET OUT OF HERE! Anyway, erm, I have no idea how that happened. I think Dim Sun are getting fed up of them, so they're sending them over here to annoy me. Anyway, hope you all liked this chapter, like Rythmi said; Kate kissed Keith, so cute. Well, I'm not sure, but maybe in the next chapter we'll be seeing a shirtless Keith. So review if you want to see him shirtless. Haha, REVIEW!