Chapter 30 – A Secret Kept By Three

Professor Hastings and Chairperson Erma were in the Operations Room. Linda and Rhythmi were too busy working to notice Professor Hastings pacing around. Erma sighed as she watched him.
"Would you please stop pacing?"
"I want to find out why Alexa's so terrified of Dialga and Palkia," Hastings said as he continued to pace.
"I wish you didn't; that would be invasion of privacy, first off. Just let it be and dedicate your concerns to other matters."
"But it's baffling that a Pokémon Ranger – a Top Ranger, no less – would cower before a Pokémon without reason," Hastings argued. "There must be a reason for this mystery."
"Professor, it's over. Dialga and Palkia are gone, there's no need to explore the matter any further," said Erma. "I think you're better off leaving the poor dear alone, she's been through enough. And her accident didn't exactly help." Rhythmi turned around, in her Operator's chair, and looked towards Professor Hastings.
"Professor, I don't think you should look too far into this," she said with concern. "What's the real point behind it?"
"Rhythmi, don't get involved," Linda sighed. Rhythmi huffed towards Linda as she resumed her work.

Ryder ascended from the escalator below and looked towards it. Hastings and Erma spotted Ryder and smiled.
"Oh, hello, Ryder, dear. How's Alexa?" Erma asked.
See for yourself, Ryder said simply. Erma and Hastings looked towards the escalator. They soon saw Keith ascending from the escalator, closely followed by Alexa. Keith held out his hand and helped Alexa off of the escalator. While Keith was dressed in his uniform, Alexa's attire was more casual; she wore her teal single-sleeve shirt, her black leggings, white Velcro trainers and her emerald collar necklace around her neck. She also held a deep dark brown cane in her left hand, and her right knee looked marginally thicker than her left, as she continued to wear the bandages over her right knee. Rhythmi and Linda smiled towards Alexa, as did Hastings and Erma.
"Hi, Alexa! How're you feeling?" Rhythmi asked. Alexa smiled towards Rhythmi.
"Better, thank you. My knee still hurts, though; that's why I've got this cane," she replied.
"So you're still out of action then?" Linda questioned. "Your clothes give that away."
"Then why ask?" Alexa laughed. "Hopefully I'll be 100% by tomorrow or the day after." Erma noticed the diamond shaped emerald around Alexa's neck.
"That's a very pretty necklace, dear," she smiled. "I've not seen anything like it before." Alexa smiled as she glanced down at her pendant and lightly touched the jewel with her right hand.
"Thanks; it belonged to my grandmother. It was given to me when I turned 16." She lowered her arm and looked towards Erma. "Although it was my mother who originally inherited it." Erma looked mildly sympathetic towards Alexa.
"I'm sure your grandmother was a kind person," she said sensitively.
"I didn't know her personally; she died before I was even born," Alexa said plainly. "My father's said to me that I'm a lot like her, though." Ryder looked towards Hastings with frustration.

I'm getting tired of this! When can I get back to doing Ranger things again?! he complained. Hastings sighed.
"You can work again when Alexa's able to work again," he said bluntly. "Have a little patience, Ryder, at least."
Says the man whose name derives from 'hasty', Ryder muttered quietly to himself.
"Is anything happening at the moment?" Keith asked. Hastings looked towards Keith.
"No, there's nothing urgent going on. For the moment, you can just patrol and not worry about any urgent missions," he replied.
"Okay," Keith nodded. He looked towards Alexa. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked. Alexa smiled up at him.
"I'll be fine, I can still walk," she answered. "Don't let me stop you from doing your job."
"Alex, you're my responsibility, I just want to make sure you're going to be okay while I'm out on patrol," Keith said worriedly.
"I'm fine," Alexa laughed. "If it'll set your mind at ease, I'll let you know if I need anything, okay?" Keith smiled warmly and nodded.
"Okay." He then looked towards Ryder with a simple smile. "Will you take care of her?"
I usually do when you're elsewhere, Ryder smirked. Don't let us keep you, though, mate. Keith looked towards Alexa again.
"Take care, Alex," he said softly. His eyes closed as he drew himself closer to Alexa, and he planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. Alexa blushed slightly as Keith smiled towards her once more. "See you later." He then walked past Alexa and went down the escalator again. Alexa watched him with a warm smile.

"Alexa, may I have a word with you?" Hastings asked. Alexa looked towards him in confusion.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she approached him, using her cane to help her walk painlessly. Hastings, however, smiled.
"Nothing's wrong. I've received a contact from Principal Lamont of the Ranger School," he explained.
Really? Haven't seen him since graduation, Ryder said in bewilderment.
"Actually, it's been since Barlow drove Kincaid's cargo ship into the school's pier," Alexa sighed.
Oh yeah. I wonder if they've done anything about that yet? Ryder mused. Alexa sighed as she looked back at Hastings.
"How is he?" she asked.
"You and Ryder can see for yourselves; he's asked to see you," Hastings replied. Alexa and Ryder faced Hastings with astonishment.
"How come he wants to see us?" Alexa asked.
"I think it's better if you find out for yourself," Hastings answered, still with a smile on his face. Ryder shrugged.
Well, let's go see this head Honchkrow then, he suggested. Alexa nodded towards Ryder.
"Oh, you will take care going up the school's steps, won't you, dear? I don't want you falling down them," Erma said with concern.
"That makes two of us," Alexa agreed.
Four if you include myself and Keith, Ryder added.
"Yes, all right, Ryder, I get the point, nobody wants me to fall down the steps," Alexa sighed as she made her way towards the escalator. Ryder ran on ahead and descended on the escalator before Alexa.

"Professor, do you think she'll be all right getting to the school on her own?" Erma asked with concern. "It's quite a distance from here, and she's off duty, so she won't be using her styler."
"I believe she'll be all right," Hastings smiled. "Knowing that Ryder's with her is enough reassurance."

Alexa and Ryder exit the Ranger Union and walk past Wendy and Staraptor. Wendy and Staraptor approach Alexa.
"Alexa!" Wendy called. Alexa and Ryder looked towards Wendy and Staraptor. "How're you feeling?"
"Better, thanks. Knee still hurts, though," Alexa replied.
"Where're you going?" asked Wendy curiously.
"Ranger School. We've been summoned, apparently, by Principal Lamont," Alexa answered.
"That's a bit of a walk for your knee. Maybe Staraptor and I can give you guys a lift," Wendy suggested.
"There's no need, really," Alexa said quickly.
"Oh come on, Alexa, you can't seriously get to the Ranger School with that knee of yours."
"If Professor Hastings can make it to Vientown from here at his age, I don't see why I can't with this knee," Alexa argued.
And he got to Vientown pretty quickly, if I remember correctly; he arrived in town before we could even leave town to meet up with him, Ryder added.
"At least let me capture a Doduo for you to ride on," Wendy said with concern.
"I personally prefer to ride on Ellie-May-Jan's back than a Doduo's back, but I don't want to trouble my Dodrio over a trivial matter," Alexa said, sounding rather annoyed.
Let the Happiny have her Oval Stone, Alex, Ryder sighed. Alexa also sighed and looked towards Wendy with reluctance about her.
"Okay, you can give us a lift if you want to give us one. I don't know why you're so keen on giving us a lift anyway," Alexa shrugged.
"I'm just trying to help out. Okay, this shouldn't take too long." Staraptor moved over to Wendy and braced himself for Alexa to mount onto his back. Wendy helped Alexa onto Staraptor's back, and she sat down carefully; her legs were both on the same side of Staraptor. Wendy mounted onto his back next, sitting behind Alexa. Staraptor took flight and picked up Ryder with his talons before he flew away from the Union.

A little later…

Staraptor flew down towards the large metal gates of the Ranger School. He first dropped Ryder before he landed on the ground. Ryder then helped Alexa off of Staraptor's back. Staraptor then took flight once more. Wendy and Alexa waved to one another as Staraptor rose into the air and flew out of sight.
"I guess that did save us some time," Alexa said quietly.
And strain too; it spared your knee to be sure, Ryder added as he opened the gates. He and Alexa walked through the gates, and he closed them behind him. He ran over to Alexa, who steadily made her way to the large steps ahead, and he helped her walk up the steps.

A short walk later…

Principal Lamont stood at the far end of the school staff room. There was a large flag nearby that hung on the wall, with the symbol of the Ranger School printed on it, and there was also a series of tables neatly placed together in the middle of the room. These tables had several personal computers on the top of them, and the wires were tidily lying on the floor underneath the tables; there was no risk of tripping up on the wires. Lamont looked over at the staff room door when he heard someone knocking from outside.
"Come in!" he called. Ryder opened the door as he and Alexa entered the room. Alexa waited until Ryder had closed the door behind him before she made her way towards Lamont, who smiled at her as she and Ryder approached him.
It's been a while, Principal, Ryder smiled.
"Indeed it has," Lamont laughed. "It's good to see you both." He soon noticed Alexa's cane. "Alexa, why do you have a cane?"
"This," Alexa used her cane to point at her slightly bulky right knee. "I had a little accident while I was on a mission recently, and my knee still hurts. I'm actually out of commission for a few days."
"It wasn't a fracture, was it?" Lamont asked.
"No, but it was dislocated for a while; I had the accident while we were fairly high up in Almia Castle," Alexa explained shyly. "I can't skate for the life of me, and I kept slipping…"
"I hope you'll recover well," Lamont smiled. "Anyway, I assume you're wondering why I wanted to see you."
Yeah, it seemed kind of…out of the blue, you know? Ryder commented, raising an eyebrow.
"Is everything all right?" Alexa asked with concern.
"Everything's fine," Lamont answered as he approached Alexa. "There's just something that I would like to share with you."
"Huh?"
"Here." Lamont gently took Alexa's right hand and placed a small grey key in her palm. He then closed Alexa's hand and kept a hold of it as he looked at her with a gentle smile. "Take this."
"A key?" Alexa asked.
"I'll give you a hint; the Pledge Stone in the Ascension Square. You'll find your answers there."
And the cargo ship that crashed there? Ryder queried.
"Yes, we ought to think about moving that," Lamont laughed nervously. "Anyway, that's all I'm going to say; the rest is for you to figure out."

Outside…

Alexa and Ryder, carefully walking down another set of steps, arrived at the Ascension Square; the old Dim Sun cargo ship was still wrecked at where the pier once was. Alexa began to blush as she looked around at the square. Ryder, however, looked in confusion.
So what the heck is that key supposed to open? he asked openly. Alexa managed to get over her infatuation and looked towards the Pledge Stone.
"Lamont said the Pledge Stone was the clue. Do you think it's hiding something?" she asked.
Maybe. I'll find out. Ryder's aura sensors lifted as he shut his eyes lightly. He was silent and motionless for a few seconds when he opened his eyes.That's odd; there's a room of sorts underneath the Pledge Stone.
"Really?"
Yeah. I think the entrance is underneath the monument itself. I'll move it. Ryder ran towards the monument and began to push it. It took most of his strength, but the monument finally began to move backwards. Got it!
"Ryder, be careful, don't do your back in," Alexa cautioned.
Noted, Ryder nodded as he continued to push. A hole started to appear as the monument was pushed away. WHOA! OOMPH! OW! Ryder's foot fell into the hole, causing him to fall into it, crashing into the statue on the way down. Worried, Alexa approached him.
"Ryder?! Are you all right?!" she asked anxiously. Ryder climbed out of the hole and rubbed his head.
Ow…I didn't see that one coming… he moaned. He looked down at the hole with disgust. What, not even a trap door or something?!
"Push the monument with Psychic; I don't want you hurting yourself again," Alexa suggested.
Good call. Ryder held out both of his paws as they, and his eyes, shone in a bright cyan light. The monument then shone in the same light as it began to move backwards. The light faded away as Ryder lowered his arms, and the hole was completely exposed. Ryder and Alexa looked at the hole.
"Okay..? Should we go down them?" Alexa questioned.
Let's just hope we haven't unleashed an apocalypse, Ryder said quietly as he assisted Alexa in walking down the once-secret staircase.

Inside…

Alexa and Ryder ventured into the secret room and looked around. Everything inside the room looked old, and dust was settled on the various cardboard boxes around the room and on the bookshelves nearby. Alexa spotted an old table with a dust-covered book resting in the centre of it. As she approached the book, Ryder had his eyes on an old photograph framed on the wall between two of the bookshelves.
"What is this place?" Alexa asked openly.
Dunno, but here're three familiar faces for you, Ryder said as he pointed at the portrait. Alexa approached the photograph and noticed the three young people it depicted; a boy wearing glasses, an impatient-looking boy in a lab coat, and a girl with pig-tails.
"Lamont, Hastings and Erma?"
Well…when they were younger anyway, Ryder said. What does it mean?
"Maybe that book has some answers," Alexa assumed as she returned to the old book on the table. She carefully placed her cane and the small key down on the table and picked the book up with both hands. She took a moderately deep breath and blew most of the settled dust away. She spotted a small keyhole while she wiped the remaining dust away from the cover.
Alex?
"This has a keyhole. I guess the key Lamont gave me opens this book."
Worth a try.
Alexa took the key from the table and placed it inside the keyhole. She carefully twisted, and the lock on the book opened. She took the key out of the keyhole and placed it back on the table before she opened it.

"Hey, this is a diary!" Alexa stated. "Huh…that's strange…" Ryder approached Alexa.
What is it?
"It looks like this was shared between different people," Alexa replied. "Listen to this; 'X Month, XX Day. I am twitching with excitement. I'm very close to figuring out how we could communicate our feelings to Pokémon! I'm in the verge of a breakthrough! Hasting'."
Hasting?
"There's more. 'That is wonderful to hear, Hastings. But you should slow down. You don't want to be too hasty. Why, you've even misspelled your own name! Erma'."
Erma and Hastings had this book? Ryder questioned. Alexa smiled and gave off a small laugh.
"Oh, you'll like this one, Ryder! 'So I did! I did misspell my own name! Hasting…Sounds like an odd fellow! Who could this mysterious Hasting be? Perhaps Erma's boyfriend?! Hastings'." Ryder laughed upon hearing the entry.
Who knew Professor Hastings had such a classic sense of humour?! He sighed to calm himself down. Hilarious.
"Ah, here's person number 3. 'You two get along famously. I'm thinking of education systems that can teach kids properly about Pokémon. My dream is to build a school for that one day. Yes, a school about Pokémon. Lamont'."
Lamont? Ryder looked back at the photograph on the wall. I'm starting to figure this whole thing out.
"Really?"
Yeah. But keep reading, I wanna know how many other hilarious entries there are in that thing, Ryder smirked. Alexa sighed.
"Oh, you…!" Alexa leaned against the table as she continued reading the book. "Anyway… 'That's a wonderful dream to have. I hope you will make that dream come true. It's a dream worth keeping. Erma'."
A bit short, isn't it?
"I guess you could say this is how they communicated for a while. 'I'm counting on your support too. I've finally worked out the concept of capturing Pokémon! The next step is-'"
Concept of capturing Pokémon? It's called the Poké Ball! Ryder said sarcastically.
"Ryder, please. 'The next step is to develop the actual tool for performing captures. This could be a challenge, however. Hastings'."
Like I said, it's called the Poké Ball, Ryder sighed.
"He's not talking about the Poké Balls, okay? 'Capture? I have no idea what that is, but I would like to hear about it when you have the time. I may be able to offer you help. Lamont'."
What does Erma say?
"This. 'I'm glad to hear of your dreams. I have a dream too. It also has to do with Pokémon. I want to actively protect Pokémon and the natural environment. To do so, I suppose I should form an official organization…I wouldn't know where to begin. Erma'."
Organization, huh? Why does that sound familiar…?

"Hey, listen to this! 'I have an idea, and it's brilliant! I will develop a device for capturing Pokémon. Lamont will make a school that teaches about capturing Pokémon. And Erma can make an organization for protecting Pokémon and people using captures in a peaceful manner. The organization would be a gathering of the like-minded. A union, if you will. Maybe our dreams could actually be one seen three different ways. Maybe our dreams are the same. Hastings'."
Now THAT sounds extremely familiar! So those three came up with the idea of Pokémon Rangers together? Ryder questioned.
"This next entry answers that one. 'Pokémon Ranger! How do you like the sound of it? It's a name I just thought up! It's the name for someone that uses the capture technique for peace. A Ranger uses capture for protecting Pokémon, nature and people. If the name works for you two, it would set the name for my organization-to-be. It would be the Ranger Union. Erma'."
Holy…Alex, that book of yours is a piece of groundbreaking history! Ryder exclaimed. And I don't mean the Fissure kind of groundbreaking either.
"I know you were being metaphorical, Ryder. There's more to this. 'Pokémon Ranger sounds good! If that name works for Hastings, it would also set the name for my school-to-be. It would be the Ranger School, naturally. Lamont'."
As I said…groundbreaking…
"Yeah… 'I concur with Pokémon Ranger! The Ranger Union and Ranger School sound excellent as well. Also, I spent all last night drawing up the blueprints for my capturing device! I shall name it…' The Capture Loopy-Looper?!" Ryder instantly broke out in hysterical laughter.
The Capture Loopy-Looper?! What the hell is that?! Oh my Arceus, that's hilarious!
"And he signed off as…Hatagnits?!" Alexa looked at the entry in bewilderment as Ryder continued to laugh hysterically. He ended up on the floor, on his back, holding onto his stomach because he was laughing so hard. Tears also formed in his eyes from his laughing. Alexa watched Ryder in confusion as he laughed.
Hatagnits…!? He wasn't kidding when he said he spent all of that night…! Ryder was laughing so hard he was steadily getting more and more breathless. He didn't listen to Erma at all…!
"Are you going to be okay, Ryder?" Alexa asked, looking slightly concerned. Ryder slowly stood up onto his feet and faced Alexa, trying not to laugh again.
I-I think so… he replied. Any more entries? Alexa looked at the diary again.
"Just one. 'The Capture Loopy-Looper…? One hopes there would be a better name than that. You also signed off as Hatagnits'." Alexa noticed Ryder struggling to contain his laughter again. "Cool it, Ryder." She turned her attention back to the diary. "As I was saying… 'You should get some sleep. Also, exchanging a journal like this is too slow! We need to get together and really talk, the three of us. We should meet at that spot. On that small island east of Vientown. In the secret underground room that Hastings dug. That's where we'll meet! Erma'." Alexa closed the book and looked around the room. "So Professor Hastings dug this place…" Ryder looked around.
Quite impressive, really…

Ryder watched Alexa putting the book back onto the table and picking up her cane again.
"Well done on finding this place," Lamont complimented. Alexa and Ryder looked towards the stairs and found Lamont, Erma and Professor Hastings entering the room. "Not that I was expecting anything less from you."
"This was the place where Lamont, Hastings and I met to continue discussing our dreams and started making them a reality," Erma explained. "I must say, it's been a long time since we were in here."
"Indeed. And it's been a long time since that diary was open. I can honestly say, it's…somewhat embarrassing…I mean, 'The Capture Loopy-Looper'? What was I thinking?!" Hastings asked rhetorically, with a slight look of embarrassment about him. Ryder instantly held himself back from laughing.
Don't forget…Hatagnits…!
"Yes, that too," Hastings sighed.
"After the Ranger School was created, the Pledge Stone was built on top of this secret room," Lamont explained. "As a reminder that dreams can come true."
"Hence what everybody says about it… But I don't understand. Why would you show me all of this?" Alexa asked in confusion.
"Do you remember the pledges you, Keith and Rhythmi made while the three of you were still in school?" Lamont asked.
"Yeah, I also decided that we combined them into…one…"
"I see you've figured it out. It reminded me of the dreams Erma, Hastings and I had," Lamont smiled. "One dream, seen in three ways." Alexa smiled.
"To be honest with you, I think Keith and I started to grow closer as friends after we made those pledges," she said shyly.
You two aren't just friends anymore, Ryder smirked as he looked up at Alexa. Lamont looked at Ryder in confusion.
"Meaning…?" Ryder looked up at Lamont.
Oh, yeah, you don't know. Keith confessed to her in front of the Pledge Stone a little while ago! Ryder squinted up at Alexa. Well…after he-
"Nobody needs to know that!" Alexa exclaimed abruptly, blushing from embarrassment. "Nobody needs to know he kissed me before he confessed!"
Thanks for saying it for me, Ryder chuckled.
"What? Oh, dammit!" Alexa buried her face in her right hand, feeling humiliated. Lamont laughed.
"Don't stress yourself about it, Alexa."
"So that's how it happened. I should've known there was a reason he went out so late," Hastings smiled.
"That's very sweet, dear," Erma said sweetly. "I'm sure the two of you will be very happy together."
They already are, Ryder smiled. Alexa glared at Ryder.
"Ryder…!"
"Anyway, I must be leaving; I have a school to run," Lamont said. "I'm happy for you and Keith, Alexa. If you're in the area while on patrol, feel free to stop by."
"Thanks," Alexa smiled. Lamont smiled at her as he made his way out of the room. Hastings and Erma looked at Alexa.
"We ought to be returning to the Ranger Union too, dear," Erma said. "What are you going to do?"
"Um…go back as well, I suppose," Alexa shrugged. "I didn't have any real plans for today anyway. Maybe we can go back together."
"Sounds like a plan," Hastings smiled. He and Erma, one at a time, exited the room. Ryder and Alexa took one last look around the room before they followed Hastings and Erma out of the room.

Later…

In her bedroom, Alexa lay on Keith's bed, with her back against the pillows, looking at her injured knee. Ryder sat on the white bed, continuously tossing a small yellow ball in the air and catching it.
"Ryder, you can use Psychic to do that," Alexa said as she looked over at Ryder.
Nah. I used Psychic to push a statue, I've had enough of using it for today, Ryder said as he watched his ball being tossed into the air.
"Good point," Alexa laughed. Keith suddenly burst into the room, looking extremely livid, and slammed the door behind him. Buizel hopped onto the white bed and sat next to Ryder, who, along with Alexa, looked at Keith in confusion.
"Keith? What's the matter?" Alexa asked worriedly.
"Bloody waste of time!" he fumed. He sighed as he sat down on his bed, near Alexa. He held onto his head with both hands. "Sorry, Kitten…I'm just…I just had a bad day, that's all."
"What happened?" Alexa asked as she moved herself closer to Keith. She then cuddled him from behind him and held him softly. She gently placed her head on Keith's left shoulder.
"I was in the Haruba Desert, right? And I get some guy who was panicky because he heard strange noises coming from inside the temple, claiming them to sound like Gigaremo units," Keith explained. "Buizel and I made our way into the temple, and we found the cause of those noises."
Which were…?
"Claydol! There were only two Claydol, but I captured them with Buizel's help, and the guy came and said 'Oh, they were only Claydol. You have to admit, though, they do look like Gigaremo units'. They look nothing like Gigaremo units…!" Keith started to feel more relaxed as Alexa continued to cuddle him softly.
They don't?
"Gigaremo units don't have arms," Alexa said. "Don't let it get to you, Keith, the important thing is the problem was solved."
"Yeah, you're right…and it doesn't get to me anymore. Thanks, Kitten," Keith smiled as he used his right hand to stroke Alexa's hair.

To be continued…