"And then I walk into Booker's ship shop and the minute he looks at me, the geezer drops his hammer right onto his toes!" An old trio of laughter crackled through the air. It lifted the dark haze from Kate's vision as she walked from the therapist's office.

There before her stood the most respected people in the Ranger Union.

Kate's shoulders peeled back and puffed out her chest, "Erma, Hastings, Lamont." Boots clacked as she stood with her hand against her forehead in salute. Her eyes just skimmed above the forest of gray hairs. Kate kept her breath tightly locked away in her chest as she waited to be told: "at ease."

But none came as the three turned to her. A sweet smile dripping onto each of their faces as their eyebrows knit in unison.

Erma was the first to shuffle forward. Her wooden cane pecking at the tiles as she tilted her head, "My darling, there is no need for such formalities."

Kate's muscles didn't twitch out of place as she held still like a statue. A stagnant air drifted between them all before the former ranger finally spoke, "I'm sorry for abandoning my post."

Professor Hastings surged forward but his quick tongue was caught by an old friend. Dean Lamont of the Ranger Academy reached his arm out against the scientist's chest. Hastings whipped his head around, ready to let it all out, but Lamont just shook his head. The man gave a nod towards Erma.

The leader in charge of the Ranger Union hobbled further. As Kate looked, it seemed as if the woman became even older. Erma's eyes sunk back and left dark rings hanging. The elder's stature was smaller, and her bones thinner.

Time was at a standstill for Kate.

But the world still went on.

"By the Legendaries, I don't mind, dear Kate." Her coarse voice scratched with sandpaper as she continued to close in on the postured Kate. "I too was a young and outgoing ranger, taking care of pokémon, seeing smiles worth more than anything in this world, saving lives. And I watched as mine fell apart."

Static ran through Kate's veins, but still remained ridged. Her eyes saw far out of this small building, and it seemed as if Kate wasn't even there. However, Erma still continued.

First, the elder placed a hand on Kate's shoulder as a bittersweet song laced into Erma's voice, "This is a draining life you've chosen, darling. You give and you give so much that you don't have anything left. Kindness for miles, pulling every drop of life from you to reach everyone. I've been there. I lost the one I loved doing so, Kate." Two men from behind perked their attention, but a sadness was painted on both of their expressions.

Suddenly, the former ranger was pulled into a tight hug. Erma pulled the saluting Kate down to her height. It forced Kate looser, but she still stayed with her hand held above.

Erma brushed close, "Please Kate, don't repeat what I've done. I know I can't take your pain away, darling, but I would if I could and give you all the happiness in the world. But I can't do that, Kate. I don't know if anyone can just walk into our lives a fix all our broken pieces. But, what I want for all the rangers under my command, is to have a good life." As she pulled away, she met Kate's empty eyes, "At ease, Ranger."

Her arm fell limb beside her side as Kate split away. Erma stared with a hope up to Kate. A hope that she at least made it to the ranger's ears.

Kate nodded in silence. Her body pulling itself away from the trio. 

"You know, you'll always have a job here when you want to return," Hastings piped, hoping to steal one last bit of Kate back.

She just nodded again.

Lamont and Kate's eyes met, and it broke the Dean's heart. Graduation flickered back to his mind, as he stared out at all of his students. Each was clad with bright smiles and brighter futures. And he couldn't help but wonder if he could've done more for her to prevent this present. He was a teacher for her. A sense of responsibility lugged itself against Lamont's shoulders as he carefully said, "I hope you remember how to smile once more."

and the trio was finished as Kate slipped away. She and Starly took a leisurely walk through the wooded trail. pokémon dashed across, playing and laughing in their own worlds between the old oaks. Life sang in the vibrant green world that she had saved from darkness. But it was nothing but a hazed dream for Kate as she floated through the way. 

She barely remembered making it to Pueltown, stopping by the grocery store. She gathered a few things here and there, referring to a text Keith sent with what they needed. She vaguely remembers seeing a pack of barbecue chips and thinking of her fiery husband. She casually tossed it into her cart but soon, all of that left. She found herself taking the keys from her pocket, and unlocking the apartment door with five white bags hanging at the crease of her elbows.

She quickly gave a glance to the sky. The sun melted against the horizon, dyeing the world a smoldering orange. Kate didn't process the cotton candy clouds of the magic night as she turned back to her door with a flat face of disinterest. 

As she shouldered her way in, Kate was met with Keith on their couch. "hey hun," he gave a quick wave before returning with scrunched eyes to his computer screen. Kate quickly walked in to put the groceries away.

"Much work today?" She brought herself to ask.

Keith scoffed, "Not really. Saved a Skitty from a tree. And I guess I calmed down those Beedrill guarding the south entrance of Pueltown. But it was pretty much all low profile. Got home maybe an hour ago."

"Nice..." Kate continued to place a few stray Aspear berries into their staple fruit bowl. She danced around the kitchen like a ghost as she put it all in place.

Keys clacked in the distance as Kate slid their milk into the fridge, "How was your first day of therapy? Good?"

"It was fine." Kate held the barbeque chips in her shaking hands, just on the border between the two rooms. "Lots of talking. My throat hurts."

Keith cracked a smile as he turned to look at her, "hey, it's something. It's starting, and I'm proud of you." Kate shrugged just as her husband locked eyes with the bag in her hand. "Are--- those for me?" 

Kate stepped into his room and softly patted against their fluffy carpet, "Yep. I can't remember the last time you had these, but you were obsessed with them during our days at the Academy." As she handed the chips over to Keith, Kate stole a look at what he searched. illustrations of a green and yellow feather filled his screen with words and tabs of mythology sites.

'Lunar wing.'

She winced, eyes sinking closed. Keith, why.

"You know, I saw our old Dean of the Academy, Principal Lamont, at the Union today."

"Yeah?" 

Kate pulled her pigtails out as she recounted her day, "Yeah. He was hanging out with Erma and Hastings. What a strong trio..." She began to trail away as she remembered how they all laughed. As she really thought about it, there was little freedom in their voices. The past is their last tether to one another. Erma spoke about losing the one she loved. Perhaps when she let them go, whoever it was, it hurt them all? "Reminds me of Rhythmi and us back from school."

Keith nodded, "I can see that. Sometimes I look at them and hope that we'll still be as tight as them when we are human raisins."

I hope not. "Yeah, that would be pretty sweet."

Silence stretched on as Kate continued to watch Keith scour the internet for every clue to something that didn't even exist. "Have you called Rhythmi recently?" Keith inquired as he scrolled.

"Hm. I can't remember."

"You should call her, you know that blonde will worry her hair out."

Kate ticked her head in half belief. Her mouth stretched into a pulling yawn, "I'm getting pretty tired. I'm gonna take a nap. I'll call her tomorrow."

Her husband called out the time, knowing it was only about six, "Aren't you going to eat dinner, sweetie?"

She fluttered her fingers through Keith's hair, "knock on the bedroom door when it's ready. I'll come out to eat with you."

Red eyebrows pulled down in sadness as Keith looked at his wife, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

She didn't look back as Kate made her way down the hall. Starly had already left to snuggle with Floatzle, leaving the ranger all alone in the shadows. The door gave a muted click as it closed behind Kate. Her head hung low with hair stealing what vision she had left in the dark room.

Kate slipped into bed without changing, her eyes unfocused as her world ebbed away. The darkness from all around beginning to seep into her mind as a tear rolled down.

"I know I'm not the only one, Erma... But right now, I just feel so alone."