Chapter Eight - New Developments! A Mini Gigaremo?!
"Aaaaaaaaaagh!" Alexa continued to fall down the side of the mountainous Peril Cliffs. However, she managed to grab hold of a rock platform and held onto it for dear life until she managed to climb onto it. She breathed heavily, relieved that she no longer had to fear death.
"Alexa! Are you okay down there?!" Barlow shouted. Alexa looked up at him and Ryder.
"I think so!" she shouted back. She saw Barlow throwing some rope down to her. He and Ryder held onto their end tightly.
"Here, use that to climb back up! Ryder and I can hold it!" Barlow yelled. Alexa took the rope and prepared to climb back up.
"Okay, I'll be as quick as I can!" she yelled back, starting to climb up the rope. She has her feet walked along the wall, which made it easier for her.
"Almost there, Alexa! You're doing great!" Barlow encouraged.
There's no need to rush, Alex, Barlow and I can hold on! Ryder added.
"Yeah, well, I'm still going to be as fast as I can!" Alexa replied, almost laughing. A Gligar charged towards her. Barlow noticed and tightened his grip.
"Alexa, look out!" he shouted. However…
CRASH!
"Whaaa!" Alexa's feet slipped off of the wall as the Gligar flew passed her, and struck her across the face with the spike sticking out of its wing. Alexa's left cheek was exposed, which created an injury similar to the one she sustained at the Ranger School, but slightly worse; the cut was slightly deeper.
"Alexa! You okay?!" Barlow asked, horrified at what he witnessed. Alexa looked up at him; blood was flowing out of her cut and down her face.
"I will be!" she answered. She continued climbing up the rope, no longer using her feet to assist her. Gligar attempted to attack again; it seemed to be enjoying itself.
"Watch out!" Barlow warned. Ryder was about to prepare an Aura Sphere, but stopped himself; he noticed Alexa turning – whilst holding the rope – to face Gligar. She took her Milotic keychain and twisted it at an angle to reflect the sun's light into Gligar's eyes.
"GLIIIIII!" Gligar could no longer see its target, and thus struggled to maintain flight. The Gligar retreated, much to Alexa's relief. She then looked at her keychain; who knew that a gift from a friend would end up saving her from a delinquent Gligar? Alexa suddenly felt the rope being hoisted up the cliff side.
Afterwards…
Alexa took several deep breaths to calm her nerves. Her cut – on closer inspection – appeared to be bigger than it was before when compared to the cut she received when Ms April's classroom door slammed into her face. Using a clean rag, Barlow wiped the blood away from Alexa's cheek, occasionally causing her to flinch.
"That Gligar did a number on that old cut of yours," he commented. "You sure you're going to be alright?"
"I'll have to be if we want to get this investigation resolved," Alexa answered. Barlow – using medical tape and a folded up sheet of bandage – covered up the wound on Alexa's cheek.
"Sorry, Alexa; this is the best I can do," he said apologetically. Alexa felt around her cheek. "I think you should head back to the Ranger Union for proper treatment after this is over. But until then, that's all I can do."
"No, it's okay, Barlow," Alexa began. "I think this will hold until I get to the Union, no sweat. Thanks, Barlow." Barlow helped Alexa back onto her feet.
"By the way, what did you do to get Gligar off your back?" he asked curiously. Alexa looked down at her keychain with a warm smile.
"I used this to reflect the sunlight into Gligar's eyes," she answered. "I knew it could reflect light, so I made it so."
"Ironic, isn't it?" Barlow asked rhetorically. Alexa faced him in confusion. "Even when he's not here, Keith's helping you out."
"Yeah…" Alexa looked at her keychain again, smiling warmly once more. 'Keith…you sent me a holographic keychain on purpose, didn't you?'
Later…
Alexa, Ryder, Barlow and a befriended Mawile entered a new area of Peril Cliffs. They found a yellow Gigaremo unit in operation, hypnotising the nearby Pokémon.
NIRRRRRRRRR!
"Oh, God, that noise will haunt me for a long time!" Alexa complained. "I guess we'll have to destroy that one too."
"Any ideas on how to destroy it?" Barlow asked.
"Based on what I've hypothesised," Alexa began. "The Gigaremo's colours represent an element, i.e. Red represent Fire, which is weak to water, which is what the red Gigaremo units are vulnerable to," she explained. "I think that one can be destroyed by a physical crushing attack."
"Alright then, let's see if Mawile can get its jaws into that thing," Barlow suggested.
"Alright! Mawile, use Crunch on that Gigaremo unit!" Alexa exclaimed.
"Ma-wi-LE!" Mawile runs over to the Gigaremo unit, quickly turned around and used its head-jaws to bite into the base of the Gigaremo, completely obliterating it. The noise ceased, the Pokémon regained their senses and they scattered. Mawile then left the vicinity. Barlow ran over to the debris, closely followed by Alexa and Ryder. Barlow checked out the broken pieces of the former Gigaremo.
"No wonder why it was destroyed so easily," he began, holding one of the yellow pieces in his hand. "It's made of plastic."
"I guess Team Dim Sun had to make budget cuts when making that model," Alexa assumed jokingly. "And I suppose we can now get to those Rampardos that are causing a stir."
"You're right. Let's get a move on!"
Later still…
Alexa, Ryder, Barlow and Makuhita arrived at the same area where the Dim Sun goon was controlling the rampaging Rampardos. The trio moved in to confront the man.
"Hey! What're you doing?" Barlow asked loudly. Startled, the man turned to face him and Alexa.
"Aagh! Ranger! Two of them even?!" he panicked. "Uh…I'm a geologist! Yes! I'm checking the soil around here! That's what this computer's for!"
"A geologist, right," Barlow pondered quietly. He squinted towards Alexa, looking sneaky. "Say, Alex, do you believe this guy?" he whispered. Alex scoffed and folded her arms.
"When a Starly can use Hydro Cannon," she quietly answered with sarcasm. "His alibi is epic fail."
"I think so too," Barlow indistinctly agreed. "Say, Mr Geologist, what's the soil compound like around here?" he asked teasingly.
"The s-soil compound?" the man asked. "W-well, it's uh…gritty, has water in it, um…Oh, you guessed it, I'm with Team Dim Sun!"
"You could've said that from the start," Alexa sighed. "How is it you're controlling those Rampardos?"
"With this Miniremo unit, of course," the Dim Sun grunt answered. "It's a lot lighter than the Gigaremo, but has a ton more commands to it! Like this, for instance!" He typed something on the computer. The two hypnotised Rampardos faced Alexa and Barlow and prepared to attack. The two Rangers readied their stylers.
"This is what you get for almost killing me," Alexa hissed.
"CAPTURE ON!"
Barlow and Alexa both released their capture discs from their stylers, each one surrounding one of the two Rampardos.
"Ryder!"
"Makuhita!"
"POKÉMON ASSIST!"
Ryder charged up an Aura Sphere and fired it at Alexa's styler, which caused her capture line to turn red. Makuhita's fist glowed light blue. It punched Barlow's capture disc towards its target Rampardos, leaving a red capture line in its path. Because the capture discs were now doubled in power, the Rampardos were befriended in no time.
"Capture complete!" Barlow exclaimed.
"Oh, crap! The experiment is a failure!" the Dim Sun man panicked, fleeing from the vicinity.
"Okay, let's report back to the couple outside the cliffs," Barlow suggested.
Later on…again…
"Well, my companion and I have found and stopped the cause of the tremors," Barlow began. "There shouldn't be any more problems now. However, if you do find a disturbance, please report it to the Ranger Union as soon as possible, try not to intervene."
"Thank goodness for you Rangers," the woman sighed with relief. "And thank you for sorting the problem out."
"You two take care returning to your base," the man said wishfully. He and the woman returned to their cabin.
"Well, Alexa, another job well done. That's mission clear," Barlow praised. "Also, I'm promoting you to Ranger Rank 4."
"Yay, promotio- Wait a minute! Rank 4? What happened to Rank 3?" Alexa pondered in sudden confusion.
"I forgot to promote you the other day for Pueltown's events," Barlow replied, with mild embarrassment. "Anyway, let me give you a bit of advice. If you capture a Doduo, you can ride on it in case you're exhausted from walking so much. But don't go indoors while on a Doduo; it's dangerous and just plain rude."
"Thanks for the advice, Barlow," Alexa thanked.
"Now, get yourself over to the Ranger Union for proper treatment," Barlow advised. "I'll see you back at base," he said, leaving the area. Alex and Ryder ran towards the Ranger Union.
At the Ranger Union…
"Ow!" Alexa flinched with pain as her cut was examined by one of the male scientists.
"That'll need stitching, Alexa; that Gligar scratched your old wound open," he commented.
"I thought it did, the little punk," Alexa jeered.
"The stitching won't take long, don't worry," the scientist reassured.
"Thanks Nage," Alexa thanked. Professor Hastings and an elderly-looking woman with pigtails entered the room.
"I thought you came back, Alexa," Hastings commented. "We received a voicemail expecting you."
"From Barlow, no doubt?" Alex guessed. "OW!" Nage started stitching Alexa's wound up.
"You poor dear. Once Nage is done, you'll feel better again," the elder woman reassured.
"Alexa, this is Chairperson Erma," Hastings introduced. "She founded and runs this Ranger Union. Erma, this is Alexa."
"Ah, so you're the prized rookie Barlow told us about," Erma commented. "It's a pleasure to meet you, dear."
"Same to y-OW!" Alexa sharply flinched with pain. Nage had just finished stitching up Alexa's wound, and had just cleaned the excess blood from the general area. "Same to you, ma'am," Alexa continued.
Later on…
At the Vientown Ranger base, Alexa and Ryder were ready for bed. Alex had received another letter. She and Ryder lay down on the bed and read it by the bedside light.
Alex,
I have no idea how you managed to write a letter and get it to me in one day; I suppose you've got fast Pokémon back where you live, huh?
Anyway, I was shocked to hear that your old door injury had become fresh again, but at least I'm glad my souvenir helped you avoid further injuries. And, yes, I kind of did send you a holographic keychain on purpose; you never know when you need to blind someone to escape. I knew you'd use it like that because I've heard Pokémon trainers tend to be resourceful, and I figured you'd be resourceful as well. But I thought of you more when I picked Milotic.
By the way, I've got your souvenir; it's fitting that I have a keychain from you, now that I look at it. But I doubt mine will shine a light in someone's eye, though. Maybe I can pick a lock or two with it; I should do with at least one of the tools! Thanks for the souvenir; I'm sure it'll help me out in the future just like mine helped you.
Being serious now, Alex, I'm actually starting to become more depressed. It's subtle, but I can tell I'm starting to lose my Ranger mojo. I keep asking myself why that is, and I now know the answer; I miss my best friend. Buizel keeps reminding me that I'll see you again like we promised, but I know the wait will be painful. Are you feeling the same way? Is that why you sent me this souvenir? If you are feeling what I'm feeling as I write this, don't worry; I'll make sure to fulfil our promise soon. In the meantime, Ryder, you had better be looking after her. I know you are, I just thought I'd remind you, that's all, ha ha ha.
I hope I can get over my depression. No doubt seeing you again will make me happy. See you soon, Alex. See you soon.
Keith
The next day…
Alexa and Ryder entered the main reception area of the base. Alexa's stitching on her cheek was barely noticeable, since Nage used light-coloured stitching. Neither of them saw Barlow anywhere.
"Morning, Alex!" Crawford greeted. "Barlow's off on an emergency mission in the Boyleland."
"What's happening there?" Alexa asked.
"The Pokémon there have all disappeared," Luana answered. "Barlow's investigating the matter."
"However," Crawford continued, getting a memo out of his pocket. "There's one small problem; the Ranger School is having an Outdoor Class today, and Barlow was supposed to be the one making the guest appearance."
"And what does that have to do with me?" Alexa asked nervously. Crawford looked at the memo.
"Barlow says to let Alexa teach the Outdoor Class," he answered, reading from the memo. "And treat it as a mission, he added."
"So basically I have to do the Interrogative Q & A," Alexa sarcastically translated. "Doesn't sound too hard."
Across the bridge…
"Going back to Ranger School," Alexa sighed. "Haven't been there since graduation. Hey, what the-?!"
"Aagh, a Ranger!" a Dim Sun grunt panicked. "What should we do?! There's a Ranger School on the other end!"
"So what?! Let's get her!" the second Dim Sun grunt fumed. Alexa and Ryder had a 'heard a bad pun' demeanour on their faces. Alexa sighed as Ryder stepped between the two oncoming grunts and shoved them, sending them both flying into the lake on opposite sides of the bridge.
"You really don't know your own strength," she sighed. "Let's get to the school." She and Ryder continued on their way to the school.
At the school…
Alexa and Ryder walked through the school gates just in time to see Ms April walking down the steps to greet them.
"Alexa? Is that you? Thank you for taking the time for this Outdoor Class," she said with gratitude.
"Yeah, it's me alright," Alexa laughed. "So, when's this Outdoor Class thing going to start? I'm eager to see how well I do."
"You'll do fine, Alexa, I'm sure of it," Ms April said reassuringly. "Will you follow me to the staff room?"
"Sure." Ms April, Alexa and Ryder walked up the steps. Ryder faced Alexa.
Good luck answering those questions, Alex, he said politely. Alexa faced him with a smile on her face.
"Thanks, Ryder. Let's both do well."
Later, in Ascension Square…
"Alright, everyone's present and accounted for," Ms April began. "Thank you for coming all this way for this class."
"No problemo," Alexa responded in a friendly fashion. She faced the general group of students around her. Ryder smiled nervously.
Man, I've never handled crowds well, he timidly said inaudibly.
"Don't pay too much attention to them, Ryder," she whispered to him. "My name is Alex – short for Alexa – and this is my partner Pokémon, Ryder the Lucario."
Um…hello, Ryder waved nervously.
"This Ranger is one of this school's more recent graduates," Ms April stated. "Anyway, it's time for the Q&A session of terror! But please be reasonable with your questions."
"Um, I have a question," a male student began. "Why did you decide to become a Pokémon Ranger?"
"Why? It's because I love being with Pokémon," Alexa answered. "As a Pokémon trainer whose journey ended 3 years prior to her enrolment at the Ranger School, I thought I was doomed to getting into a humdrum profession such as being a Battle Frontier Brain. Still, it makes me wonder which facility I'd be the Brain of…not that I care anyhow, I'm just curious."
"Is it true that a Ranger can't go home often?" another male student asked.
"I wouldn't know that one, mate, my family doesn't live in this region," Alexa began. "However, that doesn't mean you can't pop in to check on them while one is on patrol. We all love our families, so it's only natural to worry about their well being."
"Whew, I'm glad that's the case," the student sighed with relief.
"Is the work of a Ranger always busy?" a female student asked.
"It can be, but that only depends on what's going on for that Ranger," Alexa started. "One might be out on patrol, and another one might be out somewhere putting a stop to a forest fire. You never can tell, but that's what makes the profession an exciting one."
"Good to know," the student said happily.
"I have a question," another female student began. "Is the Lucario a wild one?"
"Nope," Alexa answered bluntly. "He's been by my side since he hatched from an egg in the Sinnoh region, while I was still a Pokémon trainer. He's had plenty of battling experience, therefore it's best to be careful around him; he can pack quite a powerful Aura Sphere."
In other words, make me angry and I fire, Ryder joked.
"Oh, that means he can protect you as well!" the student assumed.
"Uh…y-yeah, I suppose you're right," Alexa said nervously; she remembered what Keith told Ryder after graduation.
"Alex, are you in love with someone?" another female student asked, rather teasingly.
"I don't see how that's relevant, but, no, I'm not," Alexa answered blandly. But at least she didn't ask me if I wear pyjamas at night, she thought to herself.
You sure you're not in love with Keith? Ryder asked teasingly. Alexa looked down at him; she was annoyed, but she appeared to be blushing.
"Yes, I'm sure," she answered in a small snarl. Ryder sniggered.
"What background did you come from?" a male student asked.
"Um…something of a money background," Alexa answered in a sigh. "But I've not been raised into a spoilt brat who cares about nothing other than how she looks and what she wants 24/7."
"Does anyone else have a question?" Ms April asked.
"Yeah, we've got one!" a familiar voice exclaimed angrily. The two Dim Sun grunts from the bridge – now soaked head to toe – approached the class. Alexa and Ryder immediately stepped in front of them while they stepped back. "Why did you have to throw us into the water!?"
"Aaaaaaagh! Bad guys!" the students panicked.
"Who are you? Don't you dare harm my students!" Ms April scolded.
"Who are you, don't you dare harm my students," the first Dim Sun grunt imitated. "Cool it, lady!"
"Keep talking to her like that if you want to go back into the river!" Alexa threatened angrily. Ryder created an Aura Sphere and held it, ready to fire.
"Aw, shut up, Ranger! This is for making us take a dive!" The second Dim Sun grunt took out a 'Miniremo' unit and called fourth two Carnivine who attempted to attack Alexa.
"Capture on!" Alexa fired her capture disc at the Carnivine and it surrounded the two of them. "Ryder, fire at will!"
Ryder fired his Aura Sphere at the capture disc, increasing the power of the capture line. The Carnivine were captured and befriended in a matter of seconds.
"Capture complete," Alexa confirmed, recalling her capture disc. The 'Miniremo' unit gave off a small explosion as the Carnivine fled. The two Dim Sun men panicked.
"Oh, crap! Let's get out of here!" they panicked as they fled from the school. Alexa and Ryder resumed their original positions in front of the pledge stone.
"My, that was a quick capture," Lamont complimented. "Thank you so much for protecting the students."
"Meh, they were all washed up anyway," Alexa laughed. "Anyway, I don't like it when the baddies harm the innocent bystanders."
"Alexa? I have a question," a female student began timidly. "Is it fun to be a Pokémon Ranger?"
"Well…if you really want to know, and I can say this with absolute certainty," Alexa began. "Yes. Yes, it is."
"I knew it! Thank you, Alexa!"
"I'll do the best I can to become a Ranger!"
"We even got to see a Ranger in action! We'll never forget this!"
DING! DING! DING!
"Well, class is over," Ms April stated. "It's time to go back to the school." The students all said their goodbyes to Alexa and Ryder as they left for the school. An unfamiliar brunette haired man approached Alexa.
"I've only just started teaching here," he began. "But I sincerely hope I can teach the students to be excellent Rangers like yourself."
"We can always do our best," Alexa responded. "I'm certain you'll manage successfully."
"Thank you." The teacher made his way to the school. Principal Lamont also approached Alexa.
"May I be allowed a question?" he asked.
"Sure, go ahead," Alex permitted.
"Chairperson Erma is at the Union," Lamont began. "Is she in good health?" he asked.
"Yes, in perfect health," Alexa answered.
"That's good to know. Alexa, you were inspirational today," Lamont complimented. "I doubt the students will ever forget this day."
"Same here. Say, am I allowed a small question?" Alexa asked.
"Of course."
"What happened to Mr Kincaid? I thought he was still teaching here."
"Mr Kincaid has taken a leave of absence," Lamont answered. "Just after you and your friends graduated."
"After we graduated?" Alexa questioned. "How come?"
"That, I'm afraid, we don't know," Lamont replied. "I do hope he is in good health. He seemed stressed at the Tangrowth's ambush. Now, if you will excuse me, I must return to the school. Feel free to stop by and visit." Lamont made his leave towards the school. Alexa and Ryder immediately became suspicious.
"Okay, first the door-slamming thing," Alexa began. "Then the sudden Tangrowth from the basement for some unexplained reason…and now the leave of absence taken after graduation…this can't be a coincidence." Ryder snarled angrily, indicating his suspicion of the whole series of events.
The next day…
Alexa and Ryder, both held a bottle of white milkshake, entered the main reception of the Vientown base. Ryder drank his milkshake as Crawford moved over to Alexa.
"Morning, Alex," he greeted, despite looking somewhat worried.
"What's wrong, Crawford?" Alexa asked.
"Well, uh…can you and Ryder go to the Boyleland?" Crawford asked. "It seems that the Pokémon there aren't the only ones missing. Barlow's gone missing now too." Astonished, Ryder suddenly stopped drinking; this caused him to choke, but he eventually coughed loudly.
"What?! When did that happen!?" Alexa asked in horror.
"The Union raised the alarm when Barlow's signal disappeared," Crawford explained, in a sigh.
"Signal? Is there something in our stylers that lets the Union know where we are?" Alexa pondered.
"Exactly," Elaine confirmed. "And Barlow's signal has disappeared."
"Knowing Barlow, he's probably dropped his styler in lava," Crawford assumed, in an attempted playful tone. Ryder snarled.
"No way! There has to be another explanation!" Alexa exclaimed in defence, on Barlow's behalf. "His styler might've simply ran out of energy, for all we know, and is stuck in the Boyleland somewhere!" Ryder nodded in corroboration. "Either way, we'll look for him."
"Be careful, Alexa," Luana warned. "The Boyleland is a volcanic island. The volcano itself is inactive, but there is still lava in there."
"Don't worry, Ryder and I know how to prepare for something of that magnitude," Alexa stated. She and Ryder both drank their milkshakes in one gulp. They both slammed their bottles on the nearby table, both with determination about their demeanours. "Let's rock…!"
To be continued…