As horrible as the circumstances were, today was special. It was Amelia’s first proper mission as a full fledged cadet. Not as a simple Rookie, but as a real Ranger!

Maybe, now, wasn’t the best time to celebrate that fact, though. Thanks to recent events that Amelia had not been briefed on, but had gathered some information through the news. Something about infinite energy? She wasn’t fully sure.

But, as always, in crisis situations. Certain people rise up in the worst possible way. To take advantage and to cause trouble for things they thought noble or truthful. While Amelia admired following your dreams, just not when it was to cause trouble for everyone else or the planet around us.

As such, Amelia found herself on Route 123. The mountainous heights of Mount Pyre visible behind them. She was dressed as usual in her R-Suit. The special suit built for her adventures as a Ranger, providing her small advantages and assistance in her missions.

She had been partnered with an older and more experienced ranger, a girl named Adriana and her Vaporeon, who was providing light mists of water, protecting them from the overwhelming sun.

Oh, right. I hadn’t finished my thought. There was a load of lunatics using their Pokemon’s Sunny Day move to dry up the land for some reason. This overuse had caused mass drought and the rising heat of the sun.

“Phew. I’ll be fine, for now.” Amelia said, smiling at her partner. “Rotom, give me a heat update?”

“Current Heat. Current Heat. 36° Celsius, or 96.8° and rising.” The robotic voice of her Rotom said, as the emoticon-like face appeared across the visor, which had begun to steam up in the high temperature.

"That's just great. Well, I’m ready whenever you are!” Amelia said, standing up and readying herself for whatever came next.

Adriana Delmar

☉

Amelia nodded, pressing a finger to her own lips as she followed behind Adriana. Soon enough, they reached a series of wild bushes. The pair pressed their heads through the undergrowth to peer down at the many people gathered beneath them. It was clear that the effect of their mission was damning not only the land around them, which looked dead and lost in drought. But, also the cultist themselves, as they seemed to be covered in sweat.

The young ranger pulled her head back out of the bush. As she did so, a poor Linoone stumped its way out of the bush and collapsed at their feet. Fortunately, Adriana’s Vaporeon was able to help the poor creature with a mix of Aqua Ring and its cooling water effect. Amelia’s hand contracted into a tight fist as what she saw, really struck the poor girl. “How can they do this. So selfish. So cruel,” she whispered, so only Adriana would hear her. “We need to stop them, as soon as possible.”

“Rotom, scan,” she whispered, as she pressed her head back through the bush. Her face was protected by the thick glass visor, which once more lit up with an emoticon-style face. A wistful sort of look crossed the spiked features of the Rotom’s form. “Scanning! Scanning! There is ten cultists, in sight. Unknown number in the distance! Many unidentified Pokemon also. Deep scan?”

“Not yet,” Amelia said, thinking hard. “I have a better idea.” She pulled a Pokeball from her belt and place it onto her flattened palm. “Let’s thin the crowd a little bit. You trust me right?”

The ball burst open to reveal a wild-looking, bright blue ball of feathers, sticking up at wild angles. Large wings outstretched and its head tilted to one side, ending with a long yellow beak. “Cramorant. Wanna help out?” Amelia bent down and whispered into the side of the bird's floof, where the ears might be.

The bird’s head tilted from one side to the other as it considered Amelia, and then it nodded twice, approving of her idea. Without another word, the Cramorant jumped up, flapping its wings wildly as it ran into the camp. It let out a raucous, screeching squawk, causing many of the cultists to turn their heads and the Pokemon to look quizzically at the mad bird. Not sure if to attack or to merely watch its antics.

Two of the cultists attempted to grab it, but it proved too slippery. Its movements are too wild and unpredictable. It let out another loud squawk and then ran in the other direction towards a large knot of trees. The sweating cultists, already worn out from the overwhelming heat, followed it. Their Pokemon followed behind as it vanished into the darkness.

“Well, that’s two down,” Amelia said, smirking. “Don’t worry about Cramorant. It’s perfectly capable of dealing with those smucks. Let’s deal with the rest. Any ideas?” She turned to Adriana and smiled brightly.

Adriana Delmar

☉

Stricken by her mistake, which may have cost them the mission. Amelia bent down to face her partner, her face having turned red from embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.” Amelia said, a little tear in her eye. “I’m so sorry.”

Just as she said it, her Cramorant jumped out of the bush. Dragging with some difficulty, two unconscious bodies. Their faces and arms were covered in what appeared to be peck marks. The floofy blue head moved from side to side as it walked. Amelia said nothing, only patting the soft plumed head as it moved in closer to the girl, but lifted up its Poke Ball, and recalled it.

However, it appeared as if Adriana had her own plan. Hopefully, one that proved better than Amelia’s last. She threw a Pokeball, revealing a large, crouched turtle Pokemon that she didn’t know. “Scanning! Scanning!” Rotom said, automatically. The emoticon face appeared across the visor and then vanished. “Carracosta! The Prototurtle Pokemon. Water/Rock Type! Carracosta completely devours its prey—bones, shells, and all. Because of this, Carracosta's own shell grows thick and sturdy. Carracosta was once, considered an extinct Pokemon.”

As Amelia listened to Rotom’s explanation, Adriana was making hand signals at them. Giving them silent instructions, so it seemed. After a short time, she turned to Amelia to explain. “Oh okay, I’ll back you up,” Amelia said, trying to look more confident.

“No, but I have plenty of zip ties, should keep them restrained until we can get them to the authorities.” She made a silent mental note to add this ability in the future, however. “Eevee, Palpitoad. I need your help.” Amelia threw down two of her own Poke Balls. A small floofy Eevee appeared at her feet, it’s tails wagging excitedly as it looked up at Amelia. Then, the frog appeared, who looked stoic but confident. She had decided to leave the Cramorant where it was for now.

Adriana Delmar

☉