A/N: Greetings everyone! This story will basically be a retelling of the Pokémon Ranger 2006 game with my own spin on it. I fell in love with the Pokémon Ranger game and to me, it is one of the best spin-offs of the main series, the others being Mystery Dungeon (especially Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky!) and Pokémon Colosseum (perhaps my favorite of all the spin-offs!) + Gale of Darkness (super close second if not tie!). It's one of the pokémon spin-off games I find underappreciated, and even though I do intend to write stories of Shadow of Almia and Guardian Signs as well, right now my focus is on the one that started it all. The Ranger fics I've written have and always will be a passion storytelling of mine. I literally imagine scenarios and scenes every single day, thinking of what I will write in the next chapter! I have such a deep love for this franchise, and it was placed in my heart to just revisit where it all began and tell it from my own experiences playing the game as well as with all the quirks and personalities I've developed/created for them in my previous stories.

Any OCs that appear in the story are most likely in my We've Come This Far sequel to Inevitable Love, such as certain relatives to the main characters. It helps flesh out their characters and explain their motivations and goals in a little more detail than the game does.

So without further ado, let us take a stroll down memory lane and indulge of the nostalgia of Pokémon Ranger and how it all began!

Solana's right knee was shaking rapidly. It felt like someone was sucking the oxygen out of her lungs as she struggled to control her breathing. Her skin felt hot and clammy as sweat trickled down her forehead. Her wide eyes shimmered as her hands gripped tightly to the white envelope sealed with Fiore's Ringtown Ranger Base insignia.

"Well, aren't you gonna open it?" ask her father gently.

Her parents sat on the sofa in her mother's living room with their significant other, waiting expectantly for Solana to read the contents of the letter enclosed inside.

Solana gripped it tighter. "What…What if he doesn't accept me?" she quietly muttered between gasps.

"Solana, you have got to calm down," her mother soothed. "You're nearly about to have a panic attack."

"This is important, Mom!" Solana gushed. "Inside this envelope contains my very future! It solidifies what I will be doing for the rest of my life! My career, my dreams, my reason for living – it is all determined with this one letter!"

"Oh, CC, come now. It's not that serious. You're going on about like it's the end of the world," replied her father.

"But it is important, Daddy! This is my very future! It's my ultimate dream to be a Pokémon Ranger! I've spent so much time at the library studying. I spend hours just observing the pokémon around the village – their habitats, how they communicate, what they like doing, what helps them survive. Helping pokémon is my passion and keeping the region safe is all I can ever think about. It is my reason for living."

Her mother looked pitifully at her youngest child. "Solana, sweetheart. You know how much we support you and want you to succeed. I want you to chase after whatever you want. You're a smart, intelligent, kind girl. You're capable of doing so many things."

"But this the only thing I want to do with my life."

"Yes, dear." Her father added. "And if you don't get accepted this year, you can always reapply next year."

"No, I can't, Daddy!" Solana shouted, shooting up out of the chair she was sitting in and knocking it back on the floor behind her. "I'll be ten tomorrow. At ten years old, I am finally legally able to choose my job class. The sooner I start working, the sooner I can get the experience I need to really start making a difference in the lives of people and pokémon. And that all depends on whether Mr. Spenser accepted my application!"

"Well, go on and read it then." her father replied easily.

Solana continued gasping as she started to hyperventilate. She looked back down at the crisp envelope in her hands, studying it intensely.

"Oh, sweetie –"

"I got this, Celine," said her father as he stood up from the sofa and approached his daughter.

"Please, Byron. She looks like she's about to collapse any moment."

Byron gently wrapped his right arm around Solana's shoulders, pulling her in closer to his chest for a firm comforting fatherly hug.

"Go sit down next to your mother and Monika. I'll read the letter."

"What if he says 'No', Daddy?" Solana squeaked as she looked up at her father who towered over her, tears starting to streak down her cheeks.

He smiled warmly. "Then he's a very foolish man and you're better off not working for him anyway."

"But, Daddy, he's one of the best in all of Fiore! He's on par with Jack Walker, the renowned Elite ranger who can travel globally outside of his home region and take missions all over the world!"

"Now, now. No need to work yourself into a tizzy. I'll read this here letter and we'll see just how much sense this Spenser has."

"But Daddy –"

"Ah-ah! Go on, baby girl. Squish your tail right between your mama and Monika. Or else no one is knowing the outcome of this decision."

Sniffling, Solana meekly shuffled to the sofa and sat down between her mother and her father's wife. Her mother wrapped her arms around her daughter's shoulders and rubbed her arms while Monika held her hands in hers. All eyes rested on her father standing in the center of the living room.

Sighing, Byron placed his index finger underneath the crevice of where the flap of the envelope was folded and pulled his finger across, tearing it open from the top.

"Be gentle, Daddy!"

"Easy, honey," comforted Celine as she continued rubbing her shoulders.

Opening the envelope, Byron pulled out a golden uncoated bond sheet of paper that had a faded watermark behind the text which he presumed was the ranger facility's insignia.

"Here we go," he announced as he cleared his throat.

All eyes were on him. Solana bit in her lowered lip and balled her hands together. This was it.

"Dear Solana,

Thank you for reaching out to me and sending in your application for Student Pokémon Field Ranger Position in District 7 in Ringtown, Fiore. Your desire to help people in need and your strong motivation to become a Pokémon Ranger moved me. You have the qualifications to become a Pokémon Ranger. Your life in Agate sounds like perfect conditions for learning and understanding the deep connection pokémon have to nature. You are certainly given a lot of opportunity to examine and observe the behaviors and social relationships among the many kinds of pokémon that live in and surround you. Your village also seems ideal for fostering open relationships and understanding between its denizens and pokémon. I was impressed from what you have described at how amicable its citizens and the pokémon, both domesticated and wild, are with one another. It is very important that rangers are able to effectively maintain relationships with the community, which comprises of both mankind and pokémon and continue to work to nurture goodwill, friendliness, and peace among all of us.

How you live in harmony with Pokémon and strive to protect nature every day is essential as a ranger and it is remarkable that you have managed to achieve so at such a young age. Most times it takes kids and even adults becoming Pokémon Trainers first before they are able to fully comprehend a bond between man and pokémon and start to grasp the necessity.

It is also noteworthy for me to mention how you selflessly go to the help of those in need in your village. As a pokémon ranger, we serve to protect and dedicate our lives to maintaining the safety and relationships of those in our region in a concerted effort to sustain balance and order. We work to preserve and cultivate healthy human-pokémon, human-human, and pokémon-pokémon relationships and interactions. From your letters, I can see that you have endeavored hard to create that environment in Orre and among your community, which is commendable, especially again, given your young age. Even some adults have difficulty understanding the importance of altruism, humanitarianism, self-effacement, and being neighborly. Your experiences that you have described show me that you truly live by the adage 'Love Thy Neighbor' and strive to encourage others to do the same.

I was also exceedingly impressed in how you've trained and built your body to become a Ranger. As a Pokémon Ranger, there are many times you will have to throw yourself into precarious situations or even have to travel long distances on foot, and for either of those you have to have exceptional stamina and fast reflexes. It is imperative as a field ranger to be nimble and quick-thinking as the safety of the citizens and the pokémon we are sworn to protect mandates it. The training regimen you have described seems respectable for allowing the mobility necessary for being an efficient Pokémon Ranger.

All this I have come to understand and appreciate from the seven letters you have sent me. The dedication and enthusiasm you exude to achieve your goals and your passion for the Pokémon Ranger profession. Taking all this into consideration, I am offering you an invitation to Fiore so that we may discuss the next stages of your application.

"YES!" Solana shouted as she shot to her feet.

"Let your father finish, dear," Celine chuckled gleefully, finally seeing her daughter come to life again.

Solana bounced up and down and held her fist to her lips, waiting in anticipation for her father to reveal more details.

Byron continued.

I would like to meet you. I want to see for myself if you really are worthy of becoming a Pokémon Ranger. I will be waiting for you in Fall City next Sunday. You will find enclosed a ticket for the ferry to Fall City and an official Pokémon Ranger uniform in the accompanying package. Wear it and wait for me in the harbor. With that uniform on, I will not have any trouble spotting you.

I look forward to seeing you.

Best regards,

Spenser Hayate

Ringtown Ranger Leader

"I got in!" Solana squealed. "He wants to meet me! He didn't reject me!"

"Haha, of course not!" Her father boasted. "Anyone with any sense knows you're exceptional."

"See, all that worrying for nothing," Celine chimed as she too stood to her feet and held her daughter to her chest, rubbing her head gently.

"Guess that means you'll be heading out and leaving us soon then, huh, Solana?" smiled Monika.

Solana leaned away from her mother. "He wants us to meet next Sunday. I absolutely have to make sure I have everything I need."

"It'll take days to get to Fiore," pondered Monika. "About six maybe if you're boarding one that's making other stops. What's the ticket say, Byron?"

Solana's father reached in the envelope and pulled out a shiny coated yellow ticket.

"It looks like it's a ferry from Lily of the Valley. That seems to be where Sinnoh receives most of its ferries."

Monika crossed her arms as she often did when she was in thought. "Orre is located on the northwest portion of the Kanto-Johto landmass. Fiore is somewhat close to the Sinnoh region. The best ferry to take would probably be the Seagallop Hi-Speed 7 for a direct line to Sinnoh."

"Or she could take the Interregional ferry, so she won't need a connecting ship?" suggested Byron.

"That'll take more than six days, Byron," answered Celine. "It sails through the harbors of each mainland region. Most likely it'll take a minimum of three weeks, if that."

"I can't wait three weeks!" Solana cried.

"Okay, let's all just settle here," quieted Celine with her arms raised. "This Spenser has already booked a ticket with the Lily of the Valley. She can just use that. It looks like it's dated for the 20th, which means it'll travel for two days, which is pretty impressive considering the distance. I'm sure he's paid for an exclusive high-speed ship to lessen the confusion about which routes to take Fiore. He seems to know what he's doing."

"He better, he'll be responsible for my litte girl," Byron chimed as he swopped Solana in his arms and enveloped her in for a fierce Ursaring hug.

"Daddy, stop. You're gonna bend the ticket." Solana giggled.

He rested her back down on the ground and handed her the envelope, letter, and ticket.

"He said there was a package that came with it as well?" ask Celine.

"Must be the white one on the deck outside." Answered Monika.

"I'll go get it," Byron said, tousling Solana's ribbon-tied hair one more time before starting for the front door.

"I've got to call Johnnie and tell him the good news," Celine sing-songed.

"Isn't he in the middle of preparing for Flint's gym challenge?" Monika asked as she followed her into the kitchen.

"Oh, he can take a moment to stop training to hear about his sister's budding adventure."

Solana once again bounced up and down excitedly as her she reread Spenser's letter. She was actually on the fast track to becoming a bonified Pokémon Ranger! From one of the most esteemed rangers in the world at that!

A broad hand rested firmly on Solana's left shoulder. She immediately stilled as her smile quickly faded.

"That's quite the achievement, Solana," said calm baritone voice.

Solana felt her breathing becoming unsteady again but tried her best to mask it. "Y-Yeah…it is."

He then placed his other hand on right shoulder, rubbing them both gently. "You know we're gonna miss you, right, Solana?"

"I'll miss you guys too, Nate," she replied uneasily. "But uh, this is my chance to finally show what I am made of. I'll be helping people."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "More folks are gonna be needing you. A shame we can't have you to ourselves."

A nauseous feeling filled Solana's stomach.

"W-W-Well…I'll be happy t-to go out on my own and help more folks outside of Agate Village. Do all the things Mom and Dad have taught me."

"Of course," he whispered behind her. His hands slithered down from her shoulders, one rubbing the small of her back and the other making its way down to her left hip.

"We are so proud of you, Solana." He said smoothly.

Solana felt as though someone was siphoning the blood from her circulatory system. She could feel her faintness returning.

"Tomorrow's your birthday, you know. You must be excited."

"I-I…" she stammered.

"Since you're almost at the legal age of starting your own journey, I think I ought to give you something really special. Something to commemorate this auspicious moment. And you reaching the age of maturity to go out on your own. What do you say?"

His left hand slowly crept its way across her stomach.

Solana quickly burst out of his hold and ran a few steps in front of her.

"I-I need to go review the list of supplies I'll need to bring with me for my trip. I've also got some more studying to do."

His smile gave off a sly aura as it spread across his lips. "Alright. Tomorrow then."

Nodding uncomfortably, Solana bolted up the stairs to her bedroom and immediately locked the door and started packing.

Spenser gathered several documents that were sprawled across his work desk. They have had an influx of missions these past few weeks and were terribly flooded. They were understaffed as it was without the increase in emergencies they had been called out for.

The double doors to the Ringtown Ranger base separated and a young boy with Prussian blue hair walked inside.

"Just finished my patrol of the city, Leader. Everyone's either safely in their homes for the evening or chatting outside the shops. The diurnal pokémon are tucking in for the night and the nocturnals are just starting to stir."

"Good job, Lunick." Spenser replied. "That completes your shift for tonight. You may go on home."

Lunick glanced over to his boss's desk and noticed an open envelope containing what he recognized as the Ranger Union's Student Ranger Application Form.

"We're getting a new recruit, Leader?" he asked inquisitively.

"Possibly a new recruit." Spenser replied as he placed the handful of documents he held into a separate file in a drawer in his desk and took up the folder that contained the application.

"That's a lot of papers for one application."

Spenser chuckled. "That's because she wrote in seven letters in addition to the application."

"Seven letters?!" Lunick exclaimed. "Overkill much?"

"I take it as a sign that she's serious about joining the team." He walked over to his metal filing cabinet behind his work desk and placed the folder inside the drawer that contained other reviewed applications.

"So what's she like?" asked Lunick impatiently. "Overdoing it with all those essays makes me think she's some Type A obsessive neatfreak."

"To be honest, she seems to be quite a lot like you, Lunick."

His hand flew to his chest in astonishment. "Moi? As if. There is only one Lunick Kaneko and it's this guy right here. Right, Minun?"

"Mai Mai!" cheered his partner pokémon from below who soon hopped on his ranger's right shoulder.

"Perhaps. But she has a zest and passion for pokémon that reminds me quite a lot of you. I'm meeting her next Sunday to see what she's capable of. She's studied a lot for sure but none of that means anything if she isn't able to act."

"So, you're considering accepting her on the team?"

"Possibly."

Lunick pumped his fist in the air. "Yeah, alright! One more for Team Ringtown!"

"Possibly, Lunick. Possibly."

"Which is practically definitely if she's as much like me as you claim. I mean, if she loves nature and pokémon as much as I do, she can't be that bad?" He said as he petted his partner pokémon on the head. "We can use a go-getter egghead on the team. Long as she's not too stuck-up."

Spenser sat down behind his desk and folded his hands. "Look, how about you let me worry about our new applicant. Didn't I hear you telling Freddie earlier you were going to the Capture Arena for practice?"

"Oh yeah! He raised the bar by 56 points yesterday so I so gotta reclaim my title as Arena champ. I'm not giving up my throne for anybody. Right, Minun?"

"Mai Mai!" his pokémon cheered again, raising his tiny paw in the air before jumping back down by his human's feet.

"Well, you better hurry. It's fifteen minutes to. Arena closes at ten."

Lunick's face suddenly dropped. "Oh my gosh! You're right! I gotta hurry. See you tomorrow, Leader!"

And with that, he dashed out of the base's double doors.

Shaking his head knowingly, Spenser signed as he took up reports his students submitted from their missions for the day and began the tedious process of documenting them for the Union's records.

A/N: And so it begins! Thank you all who are tuning in. As I stated before this will basically be a retelling of the Pokémon Ranger 2006 game with my own spin on it. All major events will happen in the story, it'll just have some added fluff, fillers, and character arcs based off the personalities and traits I have assigned each main character and NPC in the game. They're pretty much beta versions of my established Pokémon Ranger characters' personalities, basically showing how they developed their friendships and having more character analysis for why they may act the way they do in the game. This is explored more in my fic Inevitable Love and explored much further and deeper in We've Come Thus Far (which is still in progress!) So, I will be working on two origin stories and one sequel for the next several months, likely years! Either way, I hope you enjoy this little nostalgia fic with my own personal take on the ranger characters. And yes, since this will be based on my playthrough of the game, Solana is the primary protagonist, but there will be a lot of Lunick as well. There must be for the fluff, right?

Please Don't Forget to Review! Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Always Do Everything With Love

XyKPfan