Chapter Twenty Seven – Palkia in Haruba Desert!?
Ryder, Kyle and Buizel lay asleep on Alexa's bed. Kyle and Ryder huddled up close, and Buizel used Ryder's back as a makeshift pillow. Alexa, meanwhile, was asleep in Keith's bed, next to Keith. Keith slept peacefully, but Alexa tossed and turned as she slept, occasionally moaning under her breath.
A small Prussian blue Riolu used a small surge of bright yellow-green energy emitted from its right paw to destroy the ropes that bound a young blonde girl to an ancient pillar.
Alexa continued to toss and turn in her sleep, though her tossing became slightly more violent. She was sweating as she tossed.
The young blonde girl pulled a white cloth from her mouth and gasped for air. The little Riolu ran into the girl's arms and they hugged briefly. The girl and her Riolu turned their attention to a dark masculine figure, who had his back turned on them, watching two large vortexes appearing next to one another in front of him. The girl and her Riolu stood up and watched in horror as two large shadows emerged from the vortexes.
Alexa started to whimper in her sleep as she tossed and turned. She was still sweating, but she also had a tear in her eye. She looked frightened.
"Hm. I will forgive you for interfering with my plans, Alexa," the figure scoffed. "After all, there will be nothing of this world left when my world is complete." The figure turned around and faced the girl angrily; only his pale blue eyes were visible, while the rest of his appearance remained in shadow. "All spirit will be ripped away from you! From your Pokémon! From everyone you hold dear!"
"NOOO!"
Alexa screamed as she sharply bolted up from the bed. As she hyperventilated, her withheld tear fell down her face. She wore a white vest. Keith, awoken by Alexa's cry, sat up and looked towards her worriedly. He had a plain white T-shirt on.
"Alex? Hey, what's the matter?" he asked softly. Alexa looked towards Keith; she still looked frightened. "Oh, no…don't tell me…" Alexa nodded.
"I had that nightmare again," she whimpered. Keith moved slightly closer to Alexa and held onto her lightly.
"Alex, are you sure you're okay? You had that same nightmare last night, what's on your mind?" he asked with concern as he held her close to him.
"I don't know," Alexa replied shyly. "I-it's like my past wants to haunt me or something."
"It'll be okay," Keith said quietly. "You're okay." Alexa smiled warmly towards Keith.
"Thanks. And, um…sorry I woke you up," she said sheepishly. Keith laughed quietly as he looked at her directly. He gently wiped her tears away.
"Hey, it's okay; I don't mind you waking me up," he smiled. "But we should get back to sleep. It's still early." Alexa nodded as she lay on her side, with her back turned to Keith. As she laid her head on the pillow, Keith gently moved slightly closer to her and carefully placed his right arm around her, which startled her slightly. She squinted towards Keith in confusion.
"What's up?"
"I just thought this would help you get to sleep," Keith smiled. "You'll be fine, I know it." Alexa smiled warmly.
"Thanks, Keith," she said quietly. She rested her head on her pillow and sighed contentedly as she gently fell asleep. Keith smiled warmly as he watched Alexa falling asleep. He tenderly kissed the top of Alexa's head before he rested his head on his pillow. With a gentle smile on his face, Keith drifted off to sleep.
The next morning…
Alexa and Ryder stood, in the Union's Conference room, before Professor Hastings. Murph stood to one side, overseeing the meeting.
"Alexa, as you may already know, we're investigating if the Incredible Machine had any residual side effects," Hastings explained. "It's a far-flung investigation spanning the whole of the Almia region."
"Does that have anything to do with its former capabilities?" Alexa questioned.
I would imagine so, but what does that have to do with us? Ryder asked in confusion. I mean, I know we stopped the machine and all that, but it's confusing me.
"I've assigned Sven and Wendy to this mission, but the Almia region is vast," Hastings began. "So-"
Wait, wait, wait! I thought they were joining in the hunt for Kincaid! Ryder assumed abruptly.
"Must you speak his name?" Alexa asked quietly as she winced.
"Keith has volunteered to carry on searching for Kincaid on his own for the time being," Hastings stated. "So don't fret over that matter."
So I'll fret over this one; what does this Incredible Machine Side Effect hunt have to do with us? Ryder asked.
"Simple; Professor Hastings wants us to help out with that," Alexa sniggered.
"Precisely," Hastings smiled.
RING-RING-RING-RING!
Alexa and Ryder looked at her styler in confusion; it hadn't picked up a voicemail. Hastings took out a small red handheld communication device from his coat pocket and pressed a button.
"Voicemail, voicemail, Sven here," Sven said quickly. "I'm in the Haruba Desert right now, and there's something weird happening. I need back up." Hastings lifted his thumb from the button and faced Alexa.
"A mere mention of his name and we get a voicemail from him," he laughed. "But something seems to have happened in the Haruba Desert. Alexa, can you-"
"I know, meet with Sven at the Haruba Desert and find out what's happening," Alexa smiled as she and Ryder started to walk towards the door.
BUMP!
"Oof!" Alexa bumped into Sven as he entered the room. Alexa looked up at him in astonishment. "Sven?!"
"Alexa?!" Sven questioned in shock. Alexa moved away from Sven, allowing him and Luxray to enter the room. "Murph and Professor Hastings? What's going on here?"
Another man walked into the Conference room. He was a tan-skinned man with a thin black beard, and dressed in light cream and red clothing with a turban on his head. He carried a large dark brown backpack on his back.
"Hold on now! What're you folks doing in my house?!" he asked in astonishment. Alexa and Ryder looked at the man in bewilderment.
"What in the…?!" Alexa gasped.
Hey, I know you! You're that guy who mistook a Gigaremo unit for a cappuccino machine! Ryder exclaimed. The man looked around in horror.
"Wait, this isn't my house!"
Clearly not, Ryder sighed. Sven looked around.
"Isn't this the Union's Conference room?" he asked.
"Sven?! Didn't you just send a voicemail from the Haruba Desert?!" Hastings asked in bewilderment.
"That's right, but…what's all this about…?" Sven pondered. "Oh! That's it!" Sven and Luxray suddenly ran out of the Conference room.
"Stop, Sven! Wait! Wait, I say!" Hastings called abruptly. "Alexa, follow him! Something very odd is decidedly taking place! After him!"
"Gotcha!" Alexa nodded. She and Ryder headed towards the door.
"Sven, w-wait for me!" the man cried as he ran towards the door.
Hey, don't shove! Ryder growled.
BUMP!
"WHOA!" Alexa and Ryder were pushed out of the Conference room.
THUMP!
"OOMPH!" Alexa and Ryder fell into the sand beneath them. Sven and Luxray approached them and helped them up.
"You okay, pet?" Sven asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Alexa nodded.
I think I got sand in my mouth, Ryder complained. Wait…
"Sand?" Alexa asked in confusion. She and Ryder looked around. They looked utterly astonished.
Holy mother of Arceus, how did we get here?! Ryder cried. The man exited the doorway of a stone house.
"I wasn't dreaming just now, was I?" he asked worriedly.
"What about the other houses? Henry, can I get you to visit the house next door?" Sven asked.
"This has got me spooked, but I'll go," Henry nodded as he walked towards the next house.
"Oh, that's his name, huh? We never did ask him his name," Alexa said quietly. Ryder watched Henry entering the house.
"Hey, this isn't a room! Oh, it's just up from my house!" Henry exclaimed. Sven, Luxray, Ryder and Alexa looked up and found Henry on the small hill above them, looking panicky.
Okay, what's going on here?! Ryder exclaimed.
"There's a distortion in space, I reckon," Sven assumed.
"Space distortion…?" Alexa asked quietly. She sounded rather worried.
"Sven, do you want me to try the other houses too? This is kind of fun!" Henry called happily. Sven and Alexa looked up at Henry; he stood in front of the house next to the one he exited from.
"Whoa, Henry, take it slow and easy!" Sven cautioned. Henry happily wandered into the house.
"Aaaaaiieee! Sven! Help!" Henry cried.
Slow and easy does not mean wander in aimlessly! Ryder snarled.
"Come on, Alexa, let's get after him!" Sven exclaimed. With a nod from Alexa, she, Sven, Luxray and Ryder ran up the steps next to the second house and ran into the house Henry ran into.
Inside…
Sven, Alexa, Ryder and Luxray found Henry at the start of the Hippowdon Temple, much to Alexa and Ryder's mutual disgust.
"Rangers? Is this…?"
"Yep, this is the Hippowdon Temple," Sven nodded. "But somehow it's not."
"How do you mean, somehow it's not?" Alexa asked.
"It's just not the way it ought to be," Sven answered. He sighed. "Something's been gnawing at me."
Not a Bibarel, I hope, Ryder joked.
"No, it's about this Pokémon…it's said to be capable of distorting space," Sven said quietly. "I'm talking about Palkia." Alexa and Ryder suddenly winced.
"Palkia…?!" Alexa whimpered.
RING-RING-RING-RING!
Alexa, Ryder, Sven, Luxray and Henry looked towards Alexa's styler in confusion. Alexa lifted her arm and picked up the voicemail.
"Voicemail, voicemail, Alexa, it's me, Rhythmi! You and Sven are in the Hippowdon Temple, right? We're getting indications of a Pokémon more powerful than anything before! It's in your vicinity, please be careful" Rhythmi said worriedly. The voicemail ended.
"More powerful than anything before…my guess about Palkia might be spot on," Sven pondered. Alexa and Ryder faced one another worriedly. Sven looked towards Henry. "By the way, Henry, thanks for coming with us, but from here on, we Rangers will-"
"Oh, come on, you can't give me the brush-off now," Henry said quickly. "I've been along for the ride, don't leave me by the wayside. I'm here for the whole trip!"
You must be kidding me! Palkia's a very dangerous Pokémon! Ryder growled angrily.
"And, because of that, there's no guarantee Henry can get out safely on his own," Sven agreed. "Okay, we'll stick together."
B-but! Ryder looked up at Alexa, looking panicky. Alexa looked mildly frightened. A-Alex! W-we can't put him at risk, can we?!
"If we stick together, we can look after him. If we don't, nobody can protect him if he's in danger," Alexa said quietly. Ryder looked at her worriedly.
"That's how it is. Slower and steadier than usual, pet," Sven smiled as he looked towards Alexa. He looked confused. "Alexa? You okay?"
"Hm?" Alexa looked towards Sven in confusion.
"Worried about meeting Palkia?" Sven asked.
"You have absolutely no idea," Alexa whispered; she looked intimidated.
"Don't worry about it, it's my first time too," Sven smiled as he, Henry and Luxray walked towards the other side of the room. Alexa and Ryder watched them leave.
"That's not what I meant," Alexa whispered as she and Ryder ran after Sven. The group walked through the doorway.
"Huh? This is near the Ranger Union!" Sven exclaimed as he, Alexa, Henry, Ryder and Luxray approached a set of steps leading to the Union building.
"Oh my goodness and good gosh! There's a place with this much green and free-flowing water?!" Henry exclaimed in awe. Ryder looked around.
I don't see any running water around here, he commented.
"Is this what you call travelling?" Henry asked.
"You've been protecting the Haruba village all your life, yeah? This is your first visit to the outside world, I take it," Sven assumed.
Um…that guy protects the Haruba Village? This guy who mistook a Gigaremo unit for a cappuccino machine? Ryder asked rudely.
"Don't be so harsh, Ryder. Besides, Professor Hastings mistook them for mailboxes, remember?" Alexa sniggered.
Oh, yeah, I remember that! Ryder chuckled.
"Alexa, get a move on!" Sven called. Alexa and Ryder looked ahead, and found Sven and Henry on the steps leading to the union building. Alexa and Ryder ran after them.
"Given the space distortions, Ryder…what do you think is inside the union?" Alexa asked curiously.
Given the space distortions, Alex, I think whatever is inside the Union isn't the Union, Ryder guessed as he watched Sven opening the door and entering.
Inside…
Sven, Luxray, Henry, Alexa and Ryder walked up a set of stairs and found themselves in a large circular metallic room with an illuminated dome in the middle of the room. Alexa and Ryder looked around while Sven, Luxray and Henry ran on.
"Hey, this is Altru Tower!" Alexa exclaimed.
Yeah, I remember! Back when we came back here with Keith, and Darkrai saved us from a locked room! Ryder stated. We woke up here!
"To be honest, I thought we were goners for sure," Alexa laughed nervously. "I didn't think Darkrai could use Dark Void for teleportation. Even though that's not how it's supposed to work, but I won't question it."
"Alexa, keep up, pet!" Sven called. Alexa and Ryder ran after them. "Whoa, watch out!"
CRASH!
"Aaaagh!" A Carnivine tackled into Alexa. Alexa landed on her back and the Carnivine landed on top of her. Ryder held out his right paw as it and his eyes shone in a cyan aura.
You were from the Chroma Highlands, weren't you, you little swine! Ryder growled as the Carnivine became enveloped in the cyan aura. Ryder swung his right arm across him.
"VIIIUH!" Carnivine yelped as he flew across the room. He tumbled down the steps. Ryder's cyan aura faded and he ran over to Alexa.
"Huh; now that Carnivine's outside the union," Sven joked. "You okay, pet?"
"Ow…" Alexa sat up just as Ryder held out his right paw in front of her. Alexa took hold of Ryder's paw and hoisted herself onto her feet. "Yeah, I think so."
Those Carnivine are nasty little things, Ryder snarled. I suppose we should keep going now.
"Uh huh," Alexa nodded as she followed Ryder towards Sven, Henry and Luxray. The climbed up the stairs.
Outside…
"Yeeeeeh!" Alexa held onto herself instantly and rubbed her arms; she, Sven, Henry, Luxray and Ryder walked out of a rounded cabin and into a snowy environment. "The Shiver Camp?!"
How does one go from climbing up some stairs to walking out of a door? Ryder questioned.
"How does one go from walking into a door to climbing up some stairs?" Sven asked rhetorically.
Touché, Ryder muttered. Henry looked around in awe.
"Ooh! This feels very strange! So this is what being cold is like! It feels like this!" Henry exclaimed.
"It's n-not always a good thing," Alexa shivered.
"And this must be snow! I've heard about this! I'll take some home to Hank in a jar!" Henry added as he took out a small glass jar from his pocket.
Who's Hank? Ryder asked.
"That boy he was with when we met him, I assume," Alexa guessed. Henry stood up and smiled.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe this view! I'd surely like Hank to set his eyes on this!" he said happily.
"Y-yeah, snow is beautiful, but rather dangerous too," Alexa shivered.
"Just like you, eh?" Sven laughed.
I'm sure Keith would agree, Ryder sniggered. Alexa blushed from embarrassment as she watched Ryder running past her.
"Sh-shut up!" she exclaimed nervously. "Speaking of Keith…how is he?" she asked herself worriedly.
You gonna stand there and risk turning into a snowman? Get over here! Ryder called. Alexa ran after Ryder, Luxray, Sven and Henry.
Sven, Henry, Luxray, Alexa and Ryder ran down the steps and through Nabiki Beach. Ryder spotted a Jigglypuff floating around as he ran. The group ran up the steps towards Breeze Hill.
The group exited from one of the lifts in the Hippowdon Temple and ended up on top of the temple.
RING-RING-RING-RING!
Alexa looked towards her styler and picked up the incoming voicemail. Sven, Henry, Luxray and Ryder watched.
"Voicemail, voicemail, it's Rhythmi," Rhythmi said worriedly. "You two seem to be hopping around all over Almia, are you all right?"
"So far so good, yeah," Alexa replied nervously.
"You seem to be taking a really roundabout way, but you're closing in on the Pokémon," Rhythmi stated before she ended the communication.
"Hey, I've been having too much fun! Forget that Pokémon in the Hippowdon Temple!" Sven laughed as he, Henry and Luxray walked over to the other lift.
"I wish we could," Alexa muttered worriedly.
Ditto, Ryder agreed as he and Alexa followed Sven into the lift.
Alexa, Ryder, Sven, Henry and Luxray walked down a staircase and found three people in the room. There was a blue-eyed brunette haired man sitting on one of the black leather sofas dressed in a black business suit reading a newspaper. There was also a hazel-eyed blonde-brunette haired woman by the kitchen sink dressed in a white shirt, a black skirt that exceeded her knees in length and had a white apron tied around her waist. On another sofa was a young blue-eyed orange-brunette haired boy dressed in a red T-shirt, which was worn over a brown long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and white trainers. There was a Gardevoir next to the woman; the Gardevoir wore a sapphire bracelet around its left wrist. There was a Typhlosion lying next to the man, and the young boy had a Vaporeon on his lap; the Vaporeon wore a violet collar around its neck. Alexa and Ryder looked around in astonishment. The three people in the house looked towards her, Ryder, Sven, Luxray and Henry in astonishment.
"Alex?! When did you come home?" the boy asked in confusion. Alexa faced the boy nervously.
"Hi, Keenan," she said feebly. "Hi, Mum, hi, Dad," she added.
"I wish you told me you were bringing company, Alexa, I could've put the kettle on," the woman laughed.
"Sven, this is my family; my mother, Lily, my father, Hayden and my little brother, Keenan," Alexa explained calmly.
The Pokémon are Cheryl the Gardevoir, Tidus the Typhlosion and Iara the Vaporeon, Ryder added.
"Oh, howdy there," Sven greeted politely. "Glad to make your acquaintance. We, uh, didn't mean to barge in on you like this, but-"
"Nonsense, you're perfectly welcome here," Lily smiled. Sven smiled and nodded.
"Okay, shall we move on, pet?" he asked.
"You're the one in charge here, Sven," Alexa laughed. She looked around the house. "Seems like everyone's settled in nicely."
"Yep!" Keenan smiled. Alexa smiled towards Keenan before she, Ryder, Henry and Luxray walked across the room.
"You look troubled, sweetheart," Hayden said abruptly. Alexa looked towards her father in astonishment. "Something on your mind?"
"N-no, not at all," Alexa said nervously. "Just had a nightmare last night, that's all."
"Hm. Oh, and how are you with Keith?" Hayden asked. "I don't want him doing anything to you that you don't want him to."
"Dad!" Alexa scolded quietly as she blushed from humiliation. "He'd never do anything I don't want him to do to me!"
"I'm just making sure," Hayden smiled. "I like to look out for you, Lexie, you've not been the same since you came home from-"
"And on that note, we'll be going now!" Alexa exclaimed abruptly as she pulled Ryder and Sven with her towards the front door. She opened the door and exited with Ryder and Sven, with Henry and Luxray following. The door slammed shut. Hayden sighed.
"Every time I try to ask her about it, she quickly changes the subject," he said with concern.
"Then don't pressure her into telling you what happened to her in Sinnoh," Lily suggested. "But…she's not looked through the Spear Pillar's legend since."
"Really? That used to be her favourite legend," Hayden said in astonishment.
Meanwhile…
Alexa, Ryder, Sven, Luxray and Henry entered the Boyleland Cave. Henry stepped forward, astonished.
"Wow, this place is hotter than the desert! Is that pasta sauce bubbling over? What is this place?" he asked.
"One, this is the Boyleland Volcano," Alexa answered.
And two, this is a volcano, where lava runs through, Ryder sighed. This is not a giant pasta dish!
"If it was, the pasta would get burnt," Alexa laughed as she and Ryder walked alongside Sven, Henry and Luxray.
RHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERGH!
"Aagh!" Alexa winced with fright as she, Ryder, Sven, Henry and Luxray heard the ear-piercing screech. Henry shivered.
"Never heard a cry like that before," Sven said calmly. "It's a Pokémon's cry, that's for sure, though. It's coming from further ahead, let's go." Sven, Luxray and Henry ran off, towards the far end of the pathway. Alexa and Ryder trailed after them; they looked rather hesitant.
Alex, that cry…you don't suppose it's…
"I'd like to think it was just my imagination, Ryder…but that's not going to work."
Alexa and Ryder soon caught up with Sven and they proceeded together.
The group wound up in the Chroma Ruins. Ryder and Alexa looked around at the many gems embedded in the walls around them as they progressed towards a hole in the floor.
RHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERGH!
"Aaagh!" Alexa yelped with fright as the loud ear-piercing cry echoed through the cave. Sven, Henry, Luxray and Ryder approached the hole. Ryder gently pulled Alexa with him.
That sounded like an agonised cry, Ryder stated.
"It came from down there, I think," Sven guessed. "Looks like we'll have to jump in. You ready, Henry?"
"A-as a representative of the H-Haruba Village, I will jump in proudly!" Henry stated nervously.
"We'll jump in together," Sven suggested. "Okay?"
"Okay," Alexa nodded nervously.
"Okay," Henry nodded.
"On three," Sven nodded. "One. Two. Three!"
Alexa, Ryder, Luxray, Sven and Henry jumped into the hole at the same time.
Everyone landed on their feet, deep within the Hippowdon Temple. Ryder looked around, but he froze when he looked towards the bridge ahead of the group.
RING-RING-RING-RING!
Alexa, Sven and Henry looked towards Alexa's styler curiously as Alexa picked up the incoming voicemail.
"Voicemail, voicemail, Alexa, I'm getting signals indicating an incredibly strong Pokémon," Rhythmi said worriedly. "It's right in your vicinity! Be alert!" Rhythmi ended the communication just as Sven looked towards the bridge, after noticing Ryder's petrified state.
"We finally meet," Sven said bluntly. Alexa, Henry and Luxray looked towards Sven in confusion before they looked towards the bridge. They were horrified to find Palkia standing on the bridge, with a small portal behind it. Palkia had a large bleeding cut on its left ankle.
"Aaaaagh! I-it's huge!" Henry panicked.
RHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERGH!
Palkia roared in agony from the injury on its ankle. As the roar echoed through the entire room, a look of absolute terror slowly grew on Alexa's face as she beheld Palkia.
A bipedal silhouette emerged from a portal and stood next to a quadruped silhouette. The bipedal silhouette lifted its head, and its figure revealed itself to be a Palkia. It roared furiously.
"Naaaaaaaagh!" Alexa screamed as she held onto her head with both hands and closed her eyes tightly. Ryder, Sven and Henry looked towards Alexa in astonishment upon hearing her petrified scream and saw her collapsing onto her knees. Sven and Ryder approached her.
"Alexa, you okay!?" Sven asked worriedly.
Alex, snap out of it! Ryder cried.
"Palkia! It's out of control!" Alexa screamed. She was extremely close to breaking into a fearful sob as tears slowly escaped her eyes. "It'll keep distorting space until the whole world is messed up! The world will be ruined!"
SLAP!
"Aah!" Sven slapped Alexa across the face with his right hand. Alexa was left with a pink mark on her left cheek.
"Snap out of it, pet! If we can capture Palkia, it'll calm down and we can treat its injury!" Sven exclaimed. "That's why it's distorting space! Come on, we have to capture it!" Alexa kept her eyes tightly shut and looked away from Sven.
"I can't do it! I can't face it, Sven, I just can't!" she wept. Sven and Ryder were astonished to hear Alexa's response. Ryder looked up at Sven.
I think Palkia's in too much pain to attack, he assumed. I'll keep an eye on Alex, you should focus on Palkia.
"If you say so," Sven said reluctantly. "Keep an eye on her." He looked and ran towards Palkia, Luxray running alongside him. Sven released his capture disc from his styler and began attempting to capture Palkia. Henry watched Sven keenly.
Alex, you have to get that incident out of your head, Ryder whispered. I know it's eating you alive, I can sense it! Your nightmare last night was related to it, wasn't it?
Alexa stayed on her knees, restraining herself from breaking into a sob. Ryder looked towards her with pity.
Talk to Keith about it, he advised softly. He might be able to help you get over today's events.
"Hey, that was surprisingly fast!" Sven exclaimed as he recalled his capture disc. Alexa and Ryder looked towards Sven and saw Palkia standing idly. Ryder helped Alexa onto her feet and led her and Henry towards Sven and Luxray.
You captured Palkia? Ryder asked.
"Yeah, you were right; Palkia didn't even attack once," Sven smiled as he took out a bandage roll from his pocket. "Right, let's see what's ailing you. Hold steady, boy," he said gently as he carefully approached Palkia's injured ankle. Henry watched anxiously as Sven began wrapping the bandage around Palkia's ankle.
RHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERGH!
Alexa winced as Palkia roared in agony after the bandage touched the cut on its leg. Ryder held onto her gently. Sven sighed.
"It's for you and the world's sakes. Put up with this much, will you?" he asked as he continued wrapping the bandage around Palkia's ankle. After a few seconds, Sven tied a knot with the bandages and stepped back. "All right, that's all done and good."
Palkia looked down at its ankle and spotted the bandages wrapped around it.
RHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERGH!
Alexa winced again as Palkia roared gratifyingly. Palkia made its way towards the portal. Alexa opened her left eye to watch Palkia's exit, but Palkia stopped and looked back at her. As soon as she noticed Palkia was looking at her, she looked away from it with her eyes shut tightly. Palkia appeared to look concerned as it made its way into the portal. The portal shrunk and disappeared after Palkia walked into it.
"Seems that Palkia's returned to its own place in space," Sven assumed. Alexa opened her eyes and looked ahead of her; she was breathing rather quickly, yet quietly, and looked frightened.
Later…
Sven, Henry, Luxray, Alexa and Ryder arrived in the Haruba Village, having walked from the Hippowdon Temple. Henry looked pleased.
"Rangers, let me thank you! I thank you for that world trip! Oh, my, how splendid it was!" he said gratifyingly.
I wouldn't exactly call it a 'world' trip, since it was only around Almia, Ryder said unenthusiastically.
"Even so, you have given this old man a new dream to go on a world trip with his son," Henry smiled. "I'll save up for it!"
RING-RING-RING-RING!
Sven's styler picked up an incoming voicemail. Alexa and Ryder watched reluctantly as Sven picked up the transmission.
"Voicemail, voicemail, it's Professor Hastings," Hastings said. "Alexa, Sven, what was behind the peculiar state of affairs?"
"Palkia," Sven calmly. The very mention of Palkia's name made Alexa wince with fright again. Ryder looked up at her worriedly as he held her hand.
"P-Palkia, you say?! You've seen the legendary Pokémon Palkia with your own eyes?!" Hastings questioned in shock. Alexa held onto Ryder's paw.
"Not just saw. Treated its injury," Sven added with a smile. Hastings murmured over the styler.
"I'm green with envy! Even if it meant skipping out on the meeting, I should have chased after you," he grumbled.
"Thank goodness you didn't," Alexa muttered.
"Hm? Did you say something, Alexa?" Hastings questioned. Alexa looked away from Sven, just as he looked towards her with concern.
"Professor, we're kind of busy here, I'll report later," he said quietly before he ended the communication. "Are you okay, pet?" he asked as he lowered his arm.
"I hope so," Alexa answered in a low whisper.
"It's okay, everything's back to the way it ought to be," Sven said reassuringly. "Furthermore, we've given Henry a new dream. Mission clear and then some, pet!"
"Papa! Where were you?" asked an approaching young boy, dressed in a red and white T-shirt, blue jeans and a red baseball cap atop his head.
Huh; that must be Hank, Ryder assumed.
"Oh, well, here and there with the Rangers," Henry began. "Oh, that's right, mustn't forget!" He searched his pockets. "It's a souvenir from up north," he smiled as he handed a clear jar to Hank. Hank smiled at the jar.
"Wow! It's so clear! This water must be really tasty, but I won't drink it. I'm going to keep it! Thank you, papa!"
"Though the snow's melted away, the feeling stays unchanged," Sven smiled. "Heh, maybe a distortion in space isn't a bad thing now and then."
"Urk…!" Alexa winced. Sven looked towards her worriedly.
Later…
Alexa ran into the Union and up the first escalator. On the first floor of the Union, she brushed past Murph. Murph looked back at her in confusion.
"Alexa?" he questioned as he watched her bolting towards her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. "What was that all about?"
"What was what all about?" Keith asked as he descended from the escalator leading to the upper floor. Sven and Ryder arrived from the ground floor and approached Murph.
"Hey, you haven't seen Alexa, have you?" Sven asked.
"Alex? When did she get here?" Keith asked with curiosity.
"Uh, about that…she just ran into her room," Murph said in bewilderment. "She didn't even look at me."
"That doesn't really sound like Alex," Keith said worriedly. "Did you see if she was all right?"
"Funny you should mention that; she and I were on a mission together, but…I don't know, she got pretty scared," Sven said with concern. Keith looked towards him worriedly.
"Scared? What happened?"
Can you talk to her? Ryder asked. I think she needs the comfort. Keith looked towards Ryder.
"Of course! I don't like seeing her so distressed," he agreed.
"Good luck. I'm going to report our mission to Professor Hastings," Sven said as he walked past Keith.
"Okay, back to work for me," Murph said as he walked towards and down the escalator, down towards the ground floor. Ryder approached Keith.
Please be gentle; today really scared her, he said worriedly.
"You know I will," Keith nodded. He watched Ryder running up to the Operations room, after Sven.
Keith quietly approached the door to his bedroom. He was about to open the door when he suddenly stopped; he could hear the faint sound of Alexa's sobbing. The longer he waited, to listen to Alexa's crying, the more sadness he felt. He slowly opened the door and looked towards Alexa distraughtly; she was lying on his bed, with her face buried in one of the pillows, weeping sorrowfully. Keith quietly approached the bed, carefully sat himself upon it and looked towards Alexa. He gently stroked the back of her head, and Alexa looked up at him; her eyes were flooded with her anguished tears. As soon as she looked into his eyes, she flung herself at Keith and held onto him as she continued to weep. Keith cradled her in his arms.
"Hey, what's the matter?" he asked delicately, in a gentle whisper.
"P-Palkia…!" Alexa whimpered. "I-in the…Hippowdon Temple…!" Keith was left astonished at Alexa's tearful response. His astonishment subsided quickly, however, as he continued to cradle Alexa in his arms, gently stroking her hair and quietly shushing her.
"It's okay, I've got you," he whispered softly. He gently kissed the top of Alexa's head as he continued to hold her close to him. "It's okay."
To be continued…