She wasn't being taken seriously. Her attacks weren't doing any damage. Worst of all, this criminal just wouldn't shut up! It really, really, REALLY was not a good day to be Valerie Katraz. No, this was one of those days that made you want to go home and curl up in the corner and never leave the house ever again.

Still, even if it was very bad, it wasn't all bad. Another Pyro Ball came out, and this time, Ferrothorn was far better prepared for it, ducking out of the way as it soared overhead, crashing into the wall behind her. Already, the shop was looking like a complete and utter mess, torn to shreds by Pin Missiles and charred black by flames. She really hoped that the shopkeeper had some kind of insurance, because otherwise, this was going to be a heck of a shock for him...

...But now wasn't the time to think about that! Not when there was an active criminal trying to make a getaway!

"H-hey! Stop it! Stop!"

There wasn't much time to think nor act. The Seraphim sprinted out the door, trying to make a quick escape, and Valerie was quick to run after him. Of course, that proved a problem, given that him and his Cinderace were much faster than her and her Ferrothorn, especially with the bustling crowd among them. But, unlike an old dog, there were still plenty of new tricks she had up her sleeve!

"Quick! Snag his leg!"

Letting out a metallic grunt of response, Ferrothorn would stretch out one of its vines, reaching not for Amor, but instead lashing upwards to try and catch Cinderace mid-leap!

---

Amor Rose

Today had been a very productive day, and it showed in the sky. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky was bathed in shades of orange and gold. It would have been a beautiful sight, had the view not been blocked by buildings and billboards and other such urban thoroughfare. Still, after sunset would come nightfall, so it seemed that it was time to wrap things up. Still, they had just enough time to squeeze in another catch. An opportunity to end things on a high note.

And luckily, it would end on an easy note, too. Compared to the likes of Bastiodon and Bronzong, the prospect of catching a Klink seemed far, far easier. So, she didn't linger on it long. While she wasn't sure that her skills had much improved, if nothing else, Valerie's confidence had been raised by a few inches or so. That had to count for something.

"Boop."

With all the drama and suspense that sound entailed, Valerie nonchalantly walked up to the floating gear and tapped a Pokeball upon its face, making one last catch to get across the finish line.

---

Shalin Nariya

Catching Klefki really is as effortless as it seems. It's even easier than Bastiodon, and considering the size disparity between that pair, it's really saying something. Though, as easy as it might be, some part of Valerie is aware that she's getting lucky. She's getting big and small targets, but they're all slow, borderline lethargic. Against quicker targets, her odds of success were far less likely...

However, the opportunity to learn would soon present itself. Faced with the challenge of catching the oversized Boltund, her partner on this mission would proceed to tackle it head-on. There was a lot of grappling and a lot of struggle, and Valerie would watch it all intently, as though it was all going to be on some kind of test at the end. Grab the neck tightly, saddle its back, tilt right when it swerves left, tilt left when it jumps right, and when it charges straight ahead, you--

”--EEEEEEEP!!!”

Fortunately, the wild dog would stop just short of crashing into her, and sure enough, Shalin would succeed in her endeavour. Overall, it was a second set of successful captures, and a second unsuccessful attempt at being brave.

”G-Good! Very good! Now, let’s keep going…”

So, Valerie would quickly regain her composure and move on, scurrying onward to the next pair of stray Pokemon - A Ferrothorn and a Bronzong, two very familiar faces for her. Obviously, she had no need for another Ferrothorn, but a Bronzong? It would certainly be a good idea. After all, it would save her the effort of evolving her Bronzor…

…No. That was silly to think. But, still…

”I’ve got the Bronzong!”

Thus, she moved to catch it. Its metallic body would ring out as the Pokeball bounced off it, and then it would be bathed in that most familiar red glow.

---

Shalin Nariya

The feeling of losing a battle was a sinking one, especially when the stakes were so high.

It was a conflict lit by flickering streetlights. On one side stood Valerie Katraz, the prospective victim in this theft, guarded by her Bisharp. On the other, a nameless, faceless grunt of the Team Rocket organisation, assisted by their Salazzle. It was not a battle of philosophy, not a lofty conflict of ideaologies. No, one sought to take Pokemon, while the other wished to keep them, and that was all the reason that was needed for this battle.

And no matter how one looked at the situation, no matter which perspective someone took, there was only one conclusion they could draw - Valerie was losing, and losing badly.

"Keheheh!" The grunt jeered, their grin was about as wide as it could be. "This is like taking candy from a Pichu! Hope you're ready to lose your Pokemon, lady, because I'll be taking every last one of them!"

As much as she wished she could protest, she was in no position to do so. For all intents and purposes, they were right: The steel body of Bisharp was worn down by Salazzle's poison, weakened and burnt by the naturally Corrosive venom of the lizard. Perhaps a better trainer might have circumvented the toxins entirely, or at the very least, they might have been able to make the best of a bad situation. Valerie, however, could do neither. No, much the opposite, all she had the strength to do was stand there, trembling in fear, trying not to panic as the Poisonous Pokemon picked apart her stalwart bodyguard.

"I... I..." She stuttered over and over, trying to think of something to say, to do, anything that would turn the situation around in her favour. Yet, no such answer came to here. Fear, of both the Salazzle in front of her, and of what might happen to her beloved allies if she were defeated, dominated her mind and stalled all thought.

For a moment, it really did seem like she was about to lose everything.

---

athena oswald

The first round of catches went off without a hitch. As its Pokeball fell down to the ground, Valerie would quickly retrieve her Bastiodon. For such a large and heavy Pokemon, its Pokeball felt surprisingly light. She supposed that was simply the magic of Pokeballs, that they could not only house such creatures, but do so effortlessly. They truly were wonders of modern technology. She couldn't even begin to fathom how people back in the past made do without them.

Ah, but now was hardly time to ponder such silly things! Even if they had caught two Pokemon without much trouble, there was still a veritable plague of stray Pokemon that they had barely put a dent in! So, hooking her new ally's Pokeball to her belt, she would turn back to Shalin.

"Captures completed successfully. Now, we just have to do that again!"

Of course, that was easier said than done. Unlike last time, there were no Pokemon rushing to get caught. So, they would have to patrol to find more Pokemon to catch, but that wouldn't take too long. All they had to walk was a few blocks to find more strays about, such as the tiny Klefki idly floating along the wind, without a care in the world.

It was a much smaller target to hit with a Pokeball, but luckily, that wouldn't be much of a problem. In fact, the keyring Pokemon seemed so absent-minded that Valerie could slowly walk up to it, produce an empty Pokeball, and after a moment of hesitation, press it against the fairy, and attempt to catch it.

---

Shalin Nariya

Finally, after what felt like far too long, their instructor finally arrived, riding atop the back of a Lycanroc. Clad entirely in bulky survival gear from head to toe, they cut quite the imposing figure, especially among the bright sunlight and sweeping dunes. Their mere presence made the other League volunteers seem underdressed and underqualified by comparison. That sense of authority was dampened when she removed her helmet to reveal the human face underneath, but it nevertheless remained.

Immediately, Valerie straightened up and stood to attention, fully listening to every word that Lydia said. Her words were harsh, but that was hardly surprising. This wasn't some kind of weekend camping trip, it was a boot camp. Even from her limited understanding of such places, Valerie was aware of just how gruelling they could be.

Though, that didn't mean she was looking forward to it...

...Still, as the lieutenant finished their warnings and gave the gathered recruits the opportuntiy to back out, Valerie's feet remained planted firmly in place, standing still.

"Sir, yes sir!"

---

Lydia Magnusson

Mawile...

Valerie watched one of their number wandering along, a carefree smile on its face as its gigantic pair of jaws gnashed against one another. It had all the elegance of a princess, yet all the viciousness of a raging beast. It was a harsh juxtaposition, a strange mixture of elegance and brutality. In truth, she found it more than a little off-putting. Yet, more than anything else, it was strong, and Valerie couldn't deny that kind of power.

Though, just because she couldn't deny it, that didn't mean she had to like it. Just looking at that giant mouth full of jagged teeth was enough to make her feel nauseous. Still, as long as it was fighting for her, she wouldn't have to worry about it, right...?

"Alright, h-here goes..."

So, with her mind made up, she would wait for one of the curious creatures to wander far enough away from the swarm, before she would seize the opportunity and throw her Pokeball.

---

ZvwpWtxf

Of all the responses she was expecting from the dangerous criminal she was attempting to apprehend, that wasn't one of them.

"Whuh...?" Was all that Valerie could offer up in kind. Tied up? Pretty girl? Date? That combination of words was like an infohazard to her. It felt like a stun grenade had just detonated inches away from her face. All she could do was stand there, mouth slightly agape, staring blankly towards "Seraphim". What was she meant to do here? How was she supposed to react? How was she supposed to reply to this kind of thing? What was she even supposed to say?

It was as though her brain was a computer, a delicate but powerful machine, and faced with data that it couldn't handle, the system had no choice but to crash entirely.



Fortunately, she'd soon break through her shock, but unfortunately, that was only because of the Pyro Ball that crashed in Ferrothorn. Her partner was left reeling by the force of the impact, and the fire left behind blackened steel and burnt grass on its body. The Steel-type might've been durable, but it couldn't take many more attacks like that.

"A-ah!" The officer gasped, moving back to the side of her ally. She took a moment to mentally chastise herself for her own weakness. She couldn't afford to let herself get distracted. Not at a time like this, in the middle of combat with an unknown foe. "Sorry, Ferrothorn! Are you okay...?"

A deep metallic groan, blunt but determined, was her answer. Without hesitation, the iron pod dragged itself back up using its vine, ready for round two.

"Okay... The situation has changed. He remains a threat, but our new top priority is to neutralise his Pokemon before it can cause more harm. Continue detainment procedures!"

At that, the many barbs that covered Ferrothorn's body would begin to glow, their points seemingly growing sharper with every second. Then, all of them were launched forward at once, a barrage of Pin Missiles fired throughout the store, hoping to catch Cinderace in the crossfire. Now that they had regained lost momentum, Valerie would turn her attention back to Seraphim, a scowl painted clear across her face.

"S-shut up! You... You have the right to remain silent! Any more of the stupid things you say can and will be used against you in a court of law! Now, just stop resisting arrest and surrender, or... Or else!"

---

Amor Rose

"Ah! Yes, that's me!" At the sound of her name being spoken, Valerie stood to attention, turning to face the source of the call. Of course, there was no need for such formality, but old habits died hard. Still, she outstretched a hand, offering a handshake to her partner on this patrol. "You must be Miss Shalin Nariya. It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

She wasn't familiar with the woman in front of her, but she was familiar with her profession: A Pokemon Ranger, trained specifically to handle wild Pokemon both effectively and humanely. In a way, one could see them as a kind of police officer for Pokemon, though perhaps that comparison wasn't wholly accurate. Either way, she would be the right woman for this kind of job. Having such a skilled trainer to assist her would surely make this much easier. Who knows? She might even learn something from watching an expert at work.

"I'm sure you're already aware of why we're here, but to briefly summarise: Our mission here is to neutralise the threat posed by stray Pokemon currently inhabiting Slateport. To that end, we are to capture as many Pokemon as possible, and then release them outside of the borders of the city. We are expected to continue with the mission until--"

STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!

"--EEP!"

As heavy footsteps fell against the pavement, Valerie's fight or flight response chose in, and her priorities leaned overwhelming towards flight. She practically threw herself behind Shalin, putting the Wyrdeer and the Type: Null between her and whatever threat was approaching them. Sure enough, that threat would soon emerge, from a nearby alleyway, revealing... a Bastiodon. Unbothered. Robust. Happy. In his lane. Focused. Fluorishing. All of that is to say, it was not some rabid rampaging beast, but rather, simply another stray animal that had wandered into the Lower District. Judging by the Pikachu scurrying about beside it, it even seemed to have made a friend.

But, still, it couldn't be allowed to wander freely. Even if it was fairly docile, a Pokemon that large and that heavy would assuredly cause problems if left to its own devices. Now that she realised it was peaceful, Valerie's fight or flight response reversed gear, and she would emerge from behind Shalin.

"I-I mean, engaging catching procedures now!"

With that rather flimsy attempt to preserve her dignity, Valerie grabbed an empty Pokeball from her belt, and proceeded to toss it towards the massive target that was the Bastiodon.

---

Shalin Nariya

The Bronzor continues to float along the way, seemingly unaware of the follower it had gained, or perhaps simply uncaring. It simply carries on with its duty, picking up anything that it deems to be "trash", be that rotting flowers, burnt out candles, or anything else. All of them, regardless of the significance they might've once held, end up compacted into a ball.

And before long, it arrives at it's destination - Just another grave, like any other. The only difference between this one and the hundreds of others is that there's someone else here. A woman, crouched over one of many identitical tombstones, scrubbing away at a particularly resilient patch of grime with a wet rag. Her choice of outfit hardly seems fitting for the job, but given the bucket of water beside her and the trash bag behind her, she's still plenty prepared for the task.

That woman, of course, is Valerie Katraz, though whether or not that is significant is yet to be determined.

As soon as it arrives, Bronzor dutifully deposits its orb of refuse into the nearby garbage bag, and makes its success known with a brief, blunt, emotionless call of "Bronzor."

"Thank you, Bronzor. I appreciate your help."

"Bronzor."

"I know, I know... We'll be finished soon, don't worry."

"Bron."

"Yeah... Me too."

---

Slateport had something of a problem with "strays".

Thousands of trainers, each of them with their own teams of Pokemon, passed through the city on any given day, and some left with fewer than when they arrived. As the premier port city of Hoenn, it saw much in the way of Pokemon poaching and trafficking, and it wasn't uncommon for police action and vigilante action to lead to entire warehouses of cages being emptied out onto the streets in a panic. That is to say nothing of the natural wanderlust of Pokemon, stowing away on ships, sneaking in through the sewers, or simply walking in along the busy roads. All of those factors and more meant that often, Slateport had more Pokemon than the wild routes surrounding it.

That was the issue - The numbers. A few Pokemon? Many found that charming. Seeing Swellow perched on rooftops or Magikarp splashing in the pier was pleasant. However, far fewer were as enamoured by the idea of getting bitten by rabid Electrike, or having their shins bashed by overly-territorial Aron. To that end, for the safety of the citizens, the booming Pokemon population had to be curbed.

That was the job Valerie found herself saddled with today: Capture stray Pokemon, and release them out in the wild. Of course, "releasing" them was more of a suggestion than a rule, and if today went well, she might find herself with more than a few new teammates to aid her. But, for now, her focus was on the job. After all, she wasn't even supposed to start before her "volunteer assistant" arrived...

---

Open.

She was not obligated to tend to these graves. It was not her job to burden herself with their care. Yet, if she did not do so, would anyone else think to bother? If it would not be her, then who would it be?

Such was the thought that burdened Valerie with the thankless task of preserving the ever-growing monument. Every week, she would find the time to break away from her busy schedule, to come to this place far away from the hustle and bustle of the life she wished for. Washing headstones and picking up cigarette butts was taxing work, and it was neither respected nor glamorous, but it had to be done. Even the thought of the alternative, a field of crumbling granite and faded memories, was enough to make her feel nauseous.

No, that couldn't be allowed, and she was the only one who would prevent it.

Thus, for Valerie, today was utterly ordinary. There was nothing exceptional about wiping off the ectoplasm left by wandering ghosts, or brushing away the loose feathers left behind by Murkrow. It was little more than a glorified chore, like vacuuming the floors or sorting the laundry, though she would never dare describe it as such. She also wouldn't dare describe it as boring, though she might admit that it was an extremely time-consuming process. That was why she had brought on her Pokemon to assist with her endeavour, at least in part. Of course, not all of them could rightly help, but some could help speed things along, if only slightly.

Pokemon like her Bronzor, for instance. Typically, she would have them using their psychic powers to assist in clean-up. Having them help with picking up litter was a decent timesaver. They were such a good worker, too. An obedient, coordinated, and effective Pokemon. The sort that wouldn't cause any problems on purpose.

Yet, it was not a tactful Pokemon. Given the duty of cleaning, Bronzor drifted along the rows of graves, and seeing flower petals offered in memory of a lost loved one, all they saw was trash to be cleaned.

"Bro-on-on."

And without a second thought, it picked them up with its psychic powers, crushed them into a compact ball, and hovered off to dispose of the perceived garbage.

---

Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki

"..."

Had she arrived just a few minutes earlier or later, today would have been a very different day for Valerie. If she had gotten out of her meeting early, or been held up by heavy traffic, then this encounter would've been avoided entirely. But for better or for worse, that hadn't happened, and she had arrived right on time to get involved. Her stepping through the door was akin to the falling of a domino, the event that led to the shopkeeper screaming, which led to him getting punched by the armoured stranger, which would lead to what Valerie did next. Indeed, it took only a half a second for her to process what she'd just seen, and even less than that to reach her conclusion.

She had just witnessed a case of assault and battery. She didn't know the motive behind the act, and while it was easy to assume it was some manner or robbery or extortion, she couldn't be sure, but that was irrelevant right now. Any additional charges could be worked out after the culprit had been apprehended.

"Ferrothorn, commence detainment procedures!"

Her movements weren't swift, nor were they smooth, but she nevertheless managed to grab the Pokeball from her waist and throw it forward all the same. Sure enough, her Ferrothorn would emerge from the flash of red, a hulking wall of metal barbs that was just as brutal and stalwart as it looked. And sure enough, it would follow the order given to it with minimal hesitation, lashing out with one of its vine-like tendrils in an attempt to catch the armoured criminal in its grasp.

Valerie knew her skills as a Pokemon trainer were lacking. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to win in a straight fight, especially one against a criminal. So, she'd just have to end this quick, before the situation had a chance to turn against her.

---

Amor Rose