It started to rain. The route between New Bark Town and Cherrygrove City, known for its many trees, offered ample shelter, but a hooded figure chose to climb a tree instead. Reaching a sturdy branch, he took out binoculars from his backpack. Rain clattered on his hands as he scanned the area. Finally, he found his mark: a small van driving up to Palm Hills. It was an odd destination. Kaiy, a bold Pokémon Ranger, had started following the van's owners after hearing a rumor at the Pokémon Market. The rumor suggested the van’s occupants were involved in suspicious activities, something the locals found concerning given the recent influx of young trainers to Cherrygrove City.

Kaiy sat in the soaking rain for several minutes. The van stood motionless next to a grand mansion. He needed to get closer. He took a Pokéball from his belt and called for help. Shade, his Decidueye, appeared next to him, shivering from the rain and pulling his hood up.

“Shade, look over there,” Kaiy said, handing over the binoculars. Shade scanned the area but shook his head after a few silent seconds. Despite the rain and the cold, Kaiy remained focused, his eyes narrowing as he tried to devise a plan.

“We need to get closer without attracting attention. Ideas?” Kaiy asked. Shade pointed towards the road leading to Palm Hills, indicating it would take an hour to walk there, maybe more now that dusk had started.

“Mhhhh,” Kaiy mulled over the option. “Let’s keep that as a backup plan.” He put the binoculars back, noting the red rear lights of the van in the distance.

“Listen, inside the van are three people. The driver is a slender woman, blond. Then there's a man with a handlebar mustache, and lastly, a figure I couldn't make out.” Shade made a questioning sound and gesture. “I only noticed there was a third person when the van drove past me, leaving Cherrygrove.”

They both sat silently again, watching the motionless red lights. Kaiy was about to outline a plan when they heard an unfamiliar sound. Shade turned his head towards the road beneath them. A girl's cry echoed through the rain. The pair looked at each other, deciding their next move. Suddenly, the van began to drive away, and the girl's cry grew louder. Kaiy had to think fast. He took a Premier Ball from his belt.

“Talonflame, do you see that white van in the town?” She nodded in agreement. From his RangerGear, he took a silvery, hexagonal disk. Activating it in stealth mode with two clicks, he attached it to Talonflame’s talon. “Follow the van. Shade, find the source of the cries.” Talonflame took off, and Shade glided down soundlessly. Kaiy cautiously descended the tree, following Shade.

The road was slippery, and the approaching darkness made it hard to navigate, but Kaiy saw Shade landing near a streetlamp. The cry was clear now. Kaiy sprinted, ignoring the discomfort of his wet boots. When he arrived, he saw a Pokémon Trainer and her alarming reason: her Cyndaquil lay disturbingly still. Without hesitation, he took out another Pokéball, and Jolteon sprang out.

“Jolteon, take this Pokémon to the Cherrygrove City PokéCenter now. I'll call you in.” Kaiy fixed a harness from his backpack while explaining the mission. Jolteon, familiar with the contraption, ran off as soon as Shade lifted the Cyndaquil into the pouch.

“Do not stop!” Kaiy recalled Shade into his Pokéball again. The girl, crying and in shock, looked at him. Kaiy lifted a finger, signaling her to hold her questions.

“This is Ranger six-o-four. I got a fainted Cyndaquil on the way. The Trainer is in my care, female, approximately 14 years old, and appears to be alone.” Thunder boomed in the dark clouds above. “I will make my way to you with her within the hour.”

“Understood, Ranger six-o-four,” a voice responded through the RangerGear.

“Nurse,” Kaiy said, while walking away from the Trainer, and out of earshot he said: “It doesn't look good.”

“Fifteen,” the girl said when Kaiy helped her from the ground.

Kaiy looked at her. “I'm 15 years old. Who are you?”

“My name is Kaiy. I'm a Pokémon Ranger tasked with the protection of Pokémon and their environment. I just called in an emergency situation, which is a class 2 intervention. Your Pokémon’s well-being was my first priority. My apologies if this was a little intense, but there was urgency. Come, follow me.”

The girl picked up her soaking wet pack and set out with Kaiy to Cherrygrove City. Kaiy noticed her sulking, distracted walk.

“Cyndaquil will get the best care. I made the call to have him delivered by my partner, Jolteon. When a Pokémon is unresponsive like that, we have to handle it quickly. I have medicine, but not something that could be of any help.” Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Is he going to be okay?” she asked. Kaiy wanted to console her but had no idea if Cyndaquil would be fine. He saw the Pokémons droopy snout and the faint smoke from his flame spots. A familiar sight.

“We'd best hurry, eeeh…”

“Graisey,” the girl said. “My name is Graisey.”

Night had truly fallen as they walked. Kaiy learned that it was Graisey’s first day as an official Pokémon Trainer. She embarked from New Bark Town where she picked Cyndaquil as her first partner. Initially, she thought her Fire-starter was just silent and anxious, but when he had trouble walking, she knew something was wrong. In a panic, she lost his Pokéball in the rain and decided to carry him. But fatigue took over, and she cried out for help.

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“I ran most of the way,” she admitted. “And now my blisters are hurting a lot. I think they are bleeding. My socks are soaking wet.”

“Where is your jacket, Graisey?” She started to cry again, realizing she didn’t have it on.

“Don’t worry. Your journey started on a rough patch. I’ll help you get back on your feet. When we reach the PokéCenter, I’ll get you a room under my code.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, visibly tired.

“Well, as a Ranger, I have access to additional services. Normally, I could hook you up with a room in a Ranger Base, but there isn’t one in Cherrygrove City. If that’s the case, a PokéCenter has to tend to our needs, within limits of course.”

Graisey listened intently. She had heard of Pokémon Rangers but thought of them as police or military. When she asked about it, Kaiy smiled.

“No, we have no military or legal powers in any of the regions.” They reached the outskirts of Cherrygrove City. Kaiy and Graisey saw the small city in the dark, rainy fog.

At the PokéCenter, Kaiy reunited with Jolteon while Graisey struggled to remove her shoes. She grimaced in pain. It was quiet in the PokéCenter. In a dark corner, another trainer was sleeping in his sleeping bag, his Hoothoot standing guard. The nighttime Pokémon tilted its head, its red eyes meeting Graisey’s.

“Hoot?” But Graisey’s attention returned to her shoes and her soaking wet clothes. She began to shiver. A Wigglytuff and a Chansey approached her. Wigglytuff had a white cap with a red cross, while Chansey wore a pastel green apron. They each took one of Graisey’s hands, directing her to a window. Her sore legs carried her through the underlit hall of the PokéCenter. It smelled nice, like berries, but she couldn’t figure out which. Under a heating blanket, she found her Cyndaquil.

“Oh,” she exclaimed. “How is he? Is he going to be okay?”

Chansey wanted to explain, but Wigglytuff interrupted. The pink Pokémon took both her hands and looked her in the eye, making clear they were doing everything they could.

“Can I be with him?”

“No, not yet,” Kaiy said, joining them. “Nurse Joy and her team stabilized him. In the morning, Doctor Petal will examine him.”

Graisey looked alarmed. “What? That’s too late. He needs help now!”

“Cyndaquil is stable and will be monitored through the night by Chansey. There are no other patients at the moment. You are both in safe hands.” Kaiy handed her a key card. “There is only one Ranger room. You can have it. Also, take this.” He handed her a RotomTablet, which flared up when Graisey took it. The Rotom smiled, ready for service.

“Rotom will help you get a Starter Package. Wigglytuff, can someone help Graisey with her wet gear?” Wigglytuff smiled and left. Chansey looked through the window with Graisey. Cyndaquil was in good hands. Now Graisey had to tend to herself. The sliding door opened, and Kirlia stepped out. She excitedly gestured to Graisey, ready to guide her to the Ranger room and help her with everything. A PokéCenter is the best place to be for Pokémon and Trainers when in dire need. As Graisey left with Kirlia, she wanted to thank Kaiy. But he was already walking towards the bench where Jolteon awaited.

“No, she has a tracker.”

“Good, and the Trainer?”

“Graisey? She is fine, Marshal. She has the Ranger room in Cherrygrove.”

“You made a good call, Kaiy. We’ll talk again in the morning. As long as we have no more intel on the van or Talonflame, you are on stand-by.”

“Thank you, Marshal.” Kaiy gestured the Ranger salute towards the videophone mounted on the wall.

Kaiy sighed, feeling the weight of the day finally catching up with him. He looked back into the hall of the PokéCenter, searching for a spot to take a nap. His mind drifted to Talonflame, still on her mission. He worried but knew she was capable and determined.

He walked over to Jolteon, who was waiting patiently by the bench. Kaiy patted Jolteon’s head, appreciating his loyalty and efficiency in the emergency. Jolteon’s fur crackled softly with residual electricity, a comforting reminder of their bond.

As Kaiy settled onto the bench, he noticed the lone trainer sleeping in his sleeping bag, his Hoothoot standing guard. The Hoothoot tilted its head, its red eyes meeting Kaiy’s.

“Hoot?” the nocturnal Pokémon hooted softly.

Kaiy smiled and extended a hand slowly. “Hey there, Hoothoot. Keeping a watchful eye, huh?”

The Hoothoot blinked and hopped closer, seeming to sense Kaiy’s calm demeanor. Jolteon wagged his tail slightly, recognizing the friendly interaction.

“You’re doing a great job,” Kaiy murmured, gently scratching under Hoothoot’s beak. The Pokémon cooed softly in response.

With a final pat on Hoothoot’s head, Kaiy leaned back on the bench. Jolteon curled up at his feet, a warm and reassuring presence. Despite the quiet tension of the night, there was a sense of peace in the companionship of his Pokémon.

He allowed himself a moment of rest. His thoughts lingered on Graisey and her Cyndaquil, hoping that the young trainer’s journey would take a turn for the better. With a final, deep breath, he drifted off to sleep, trusting in the safety of the PokéCenter and the care of its dedicated staff.