The Noivern from above had caught Gwendolyn off guard. Its piercing eyes followed her every move until Freya had called to it. She had only seen descriptions inside of the publications that she had put out. Up close an personal like this? It was a whole other story.

"Your words don't do it enough justice, Ms. Morningstar. Seeing even a Noivern like this up close..." The circular ears that moved at any little step, the white scruff around its neck. It was closer than any aspiring novice Ranger had any right to be. Her genuine awe at seeing such a beautiful Pokémon like this up close was just as visible as the light sources above.

The answer of what they were doing down here made snese, though it was shocking how many Pokemon one person could keep, let alone an entire family. "I've never seen so many different species in one place before. Aren't some of them territorial? What keeps them from fighting with one another? Does your family go out and find your dragon types or were they all hand raised here?"

The cave structure made a bit more sense now, with this being most of the Pokemon's preferred nesting locations. Her head was swimming with questions, but her mortal coil could only allow so many out without standing here for days.

Nevy's distrust of her aside, she wasn't being attacked just yet. That was as good as a sign as any that she was on the right track. Not that Freya would allow that to happen anyway. She asked one of the workers about the Garchomps here, two more names to the pile that there likely were inside of this sanctuary. The hesitation was noted, but not something that Gwen hadn't been anticipating. She must have looked like a Snorlax inside of a fine china shop. Somebody who had no business being here. But being so close to her goal was what pushing her further and further.

Freya led Gwen outside out of the entrance to an open air dome that held some Pokémon flying around or others that remained on the ground, being tended to by the workers here. It was refreshing to see them able to get some fresh air every now and again. Across the view were two Goodra who were busy amongst themselves. Goomy picked up on them while they passed by. The gooey creature wiggled its ears at the two and let out a series of chirps in greeting.

Their journey led them away from the grassy portion of the field and into a more rocky and mountain-like area of the open space. The sounds coming from nearby had been a little disconcerting for poor Gwen. Whatever was making these noises was not in the best of moods. She waited alongside the councilwoman for the Pokemon being brought out to face them. Much like before, Gwen was staring directly in front of one of the most well known and feared types of dragon types.

An additional hiss by the Gabite sunning on the rocks started to make her body tense up. She felt her heart pounding in her chest. The body's reaction to seeing something beyond its scope. Gwen wanted to jump for joy at seeing something up close like this, but wanted to take no chances on whether or not she could be deemed a threat to the Garchomp.

"Hi, Minos..." She greeted the Garchamp as calm as she could manage. Freya explained a bit about the two that were currently taken out for them. Gwen did find the Gabite rather cute, in its own way. It looked like a smaller version of its final evolution. It was humorous, even for Pokémon standards.

"How long have you had Minos and Ghishath for? Are they both new here?" Gwen asked her guide before watching her reach into a nearby container and pull out...crystals of some kind. She graciously took a few in her hand and looked at them in curiosity. The councilwoman's words did connect the dots in her head and made Gwen a little bit more confused. "R-Right. So we're feeding Ghishath these crystals?"

She moved beside Freya and held her hands out in a similar fashion for the Garchomp to feed from. She was a maelstrom of emotion. Excited, terrified, upset, and a billion other ones. But if this is what it took, she'd remain as still as possible.

They walked along uninterrupted on their journey to wherever it was that Freya was taking her. Gwendolyn carried her Goomy with her, pushing the thing back inside of her back as it wobbled along inside. The youth's bangs wafted back and forth with each step she took. They moved across the way while leaving the council building behind. The further it seemed to grow in the distance, the more Gwen began to grow more nosy. Freya did entertain her some and fill her in some some details. She was happy to have the chance at trying her hand at taming. Even if it turned out she failed, it was still going to be quite the privilege.

The sidewalk gave way to a dirt path eventually. She was back out into the wild yonder, far away from the respite of her computer and enough electronic tools to open a repair shop. Gwen willed herself to continue forward. There was some anxiety over what could happen but she had grown tired of relying on others to do things for her.

"I appreciate taking time out of your day for this, Ms. Morningstar." Gwen began. Her fingers reached to press her glasses back up her nose. "And I'd rather lose something and know a limit than to never know. I'm kind of too stubborn that way. That's what the recruiter said, anyway."

Freya and Gwen soon came into a tunnel as the sunlight was vanquished. In its place is a facsimile, a placebo made of electric currents to simulate something close to its properties. The hum of watts running in the wires overhead remind Gwen of her father's server room back home. How the hum was audible from their bedroom. It's not until they continue farther in that Gwen's eyes widen at the sight shown before her. A cave meant for a recovering legendary turned into a miniature sanctuary for dragons. Brief silhouettes bounce around the air above them as Gwen spun around to see every detail here.

"I...didn't know this was even back here." Gwen looked to their left to see a small pack of Noibats who had been nesting upside in a special mode roost for them. Surrounding it was a large and alert Noivern whose eyes locked onto the two entering. The biggest smile was on her face. Even if it wasn't just being with dragons, there was a certain air here that just seemed to be one of intrigue.

"I can't imagine how big Rayquaza was to fit in here. But being so close to the scales of an actual legendary... This is amazing. But why keep these dragons here and not in the wild? Are they being observed?"

Freya then asked the question that Gwen was hoping for. The point of no return. She had a chance to back out now and maybe escape with her life. She considered shaking her head and asking Freya about every detail here. That much was plain as day to see in her eyes. But no, Gwen had come too far.

"I'd love to meet them."

"She doesn't respect me?" Gwendolyn asked Freya as she set forth on the voyage of tearing her down, piece by piece. The news had come as a surprise to her especially after the time the two of them had spent together. The Goomy, meanwhile, had been busy playing along with Freya during its trainer's explanation for why she wanted the Garchomp in general. She wondered what she had meant by that. Goomy had never battled since she had heard about how fragile they were and wanted to keep her safe. Was that the reason why? "But I try and keep her safe. I don't want her to get hurt if she doesn't need to."

The second pin launched at her was more direct. Gwen did see this coming a mile away though. "I'm not trying to say I was wanting to catch one expecting it to listen. I'll put in the time and if it takes me a lifetime I'll give it two. I'll read my ass off on what they like and don't like. I'll get scars, lose a finger, anything if it means that I can protect somebody I l-" She caught herself and cleared her throat. Her emotions must have gotten the best of her, but Gwen did mean all of it. "I'm sorry if it came out that way. It's just your work just inspired me. Made me feel like I knew what I could do to help others."

Her response was to pick up her keys and order Gwen to follow her. Was she going to be thrown out of the building? Taken to the police for trying something suicidal? Or worse, she was calling the Head Ranger and told to be placed under arrest! "Y-Yes, Miss Morningstar!" Gwen walked beside her. Some small part would be honored to walk alongside somebody of such high importance but her thoughts were detrimental to her socialization. Some employees passed by with a wave from the budding ranger before she looked over to Freya.

"Where are we going, if I can ask?"

Her eyes went down at the familiar chirping of her Goomy. At spotting the slimy mucus Pokémon, Gwendolyn could feel her panic skyrocket all the way to the ceiling. Why now?! You couldn't just stay in the ball like a good little Goomy? She opened her mouth to apologize profusely to Freya but her reaction wasn't what gwen was expecting. She smiled and took some water into a cap and splashed it on the girl. At the hydration, it let out a pleased cry and helped it spread around its form.

Gwen could see it clearly. The posture adjustment and everything at showing her work to her followed by this display with her Goomy. This woman was the real deal, no somebody who wrote about books from a spectator's view. The respect Gwen had for her was only rising more and more. "Sorry about her. She's got a tendency to break out of her ball every now and again." Should she tell the councilwoman that she had found the Goomy stuck inside one of her fast food cups that had been left out in her room for a month back before she left Sinnoh? Probably best kept to herself.

But Freya did mirror the sentiment that Gwen had gotten time and time again. Her frustration was visible. She drummed her fingers on the bag as she plotted a defense against being told to not go through with this option. Gwen took a moment to collect her thoughts before a rebuttal. "Isn't there some other advice that you could give me?" she asked. A free hand pushed her thick rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose as they came dangerously close to falling off completely. "I know it's dangerous, but I need something strong quickly, and I don't think I could catch a Gible without getting close to a nest."

Her Goomy remained happy to receive the gift of water as it let out a purr like sound. Its horns traced against the tips of Freya's fingers as it tried to retain as much hydration as it could. It squirmed around while Gwen's eyes kept on top of the most fragile of her team. The councilwoman's next question did cause Gwen to sit down and let out a sigh. "It's complicated." The ranger began.

"There's somebody in the Rangers that I've known since childhood." Gwen thought back to that first orientation with robin coello and how the two had been together ever since childhood. She always seemed to stick around the daughter of famous psychic. "They...mean a lot to me, and recently, they got back from a patrol with a broken nose and barely escaped with their life. So I need to step out of the lab and get a team that can protect her."

Of course, she left out the part where she wanted to find whoever was responsible for breaking Robin's nose.

It was working! Robin was calmed down enough and talked down out of giving up on what she wanted to do. Gwen breathed a sigh of relief at the declaration from her friend and gave her another hug. This one was with one arm, as she was busy cradling the baby Toxel while listening to her start to think logically again. She was right though. They would need some way to train her Pokémon up to evolve before things got too bad. "We'll figure out a way, Robin. I promise. Just give me some time and I'll get us through this."

She did blush a little at being called dangerous, making the teen scoff playfully at Robin. "It's not like they were the top of the line models. Besides, Dad always helped me get a new one, provided I told Mom that I lost it." Those were fairly stressful times in the Conway house. But Gwen did appreciate the opportunities her parents had given her and wanted to make them proud. Although hadn't really contacted them since technically running away. Was it running away at this point? Maybe...

"If you ever need a plus one to any missions or outings, you know I'll drop everything for you. So don't be a stranger. And I'll find that guy who did this to you."

The sudden correct had blown Gwen's mind. She made a mistake right off the bat! This whole excursion was a disaster already. She should just apologize and leave this building and never come back. She looked back outside to the halls to consider this option, but her ambitions were far too great to allow her to leave empty handed. "Sorry! I just...You're just so beautiful and- I mean, uh...Nevermind. Sorry."

The novice ranger slowly made her way to come closer to the councilwoman's desk. She looked intimidating in the eyes of Gwen. A shark looking down on the creature that was no more important to her day than a paper in the wind. But still, she was giving her the time of day. The only real upside was that her topic lied within her personal interest, rather than just letters from the adoring public. Once at a proper distance, the bespectacled nerd offered her hand for a shake.

"My name is Gwendolyn Conway. I'm a Ranger Technician. Gwen is fine though." her eyes went down to look at her open bag at a certain Pokeball that she had in mind before noticing that it had come open. A certain dragon type that she had came to Hoenn with that in no place belonged in an official office space. "Crap, why'd you have to sneak out of your ball, Goomy? Please be back at base. Please don't be anywhere causing trouble." She thought to herself. There wasn't any more time to devote to this though. Miss Morningstar's time was valuable.

"A-Anyway. I've been reading through your published volumes of dragon-type Pokemon and I came to ask for your help on something." She took out a tablet that had the most recent edition of Dragonology: A Compendium of Dragon-Type Pokemon. She flipped the virtual pages along to get to the one she wanted. Once at the section that had been booked marked for this meeting, Gwen set the tablet down and flipped the case opposite to act as a small rest to prop up the electronic. The screen showed one part of Page 21, focused on the blurb about Garchomp. Her eyebrows came together in thought. Should she try and pass off that lie that had been said so many times to other people? It was possible, but something in her wanted to keep things civil and friendly. Something that could let her know she meant no harm.

"I've been saying that I've been studying them for a mission, but the other Rangers are so..." Her hands spun around in the air, as if to collect the words but none came to her. "Limiting, in a way. Even with all my gadgets and stuff I've shown them I can handle myself with, they still won't let me go to one of those habitats where I can get the best dragon-types. So I was hoping you could offer your expertise on how to catch a Garchomp or a Tyrantrum. I've just been interested in the typing since reading your work."

Behind the case of the tablet, two gooey horns perked up from behind the case. They flicked around as Gwen leaned down and was blind to her slimy friend's location. After ensuring it was safe, the Goomy slithered up onto the front of the tablet and let out a pleasant chirp at the woman staring up at it.

Gwendolyn's heart was ready to leap out of her chest as she walked into the epitome of "rich people workplace" in Evergrande City. The marble and decorations inside of the lobby cost more than what she would likely ever made in her lifetime. This place looks about as official as they come. Could I ever work at a place like this one day? Some doubts floated inside of her head about whether or not this was an entirely good idea. The councilwoman was probably super busy and didn't have much time nor interest for somebody like her. Gwen hesitated to enter the building as her anxiety was physically choking her. But her own ambitions had forced her to take the first step inside. It took two steps more before she came face to face with the receptionist. She was a fair haired woman and had that sort of "cute office worker" look that Gwen knew from her comics.

"Good afternoon! How can I help you?" she asked.

Gwen tensed up as she had been looking at her for a moment, then spoke up. "I-I'm looking for Mrs. Morningstar's office, please!"

A set of directions later, Gwen once again was on the precipice of her goal for the day. It was Freya Morningstar's open office hours and the perfect time to ask her about a topic that she was very knowledgeable in that could help her. Of course, that was also assuming that she would have the time or patience for her. Gwen worried her little orange head about possibilities before she willed herself forward.

Several knocks came on the door with the back of her knuckle. "Mrs. Morningstar, I was wondering if you had time to talk." She looked at the councilwoman at the other side of the room from her position. Standing in Freya's doorway was a younger girl on the cusp of adulthood. She wore a baggy green coat with a fur lining, followed by a white graphic tank top and headphones around her neck alongside her messenger bag that bore the signal of the Rangers on its side.

"Likewise. I was lucky to run into you." Gwen let go of Robin as she pulled away. A part of her was glad that she had been able to meet Robin as a kid. They had been through so much that they were almost inseparable. She had heard of the rest of Robin's family. A well known and respected group of mediums and psychics that could talk with ghosts. It was hard being the black sheep of a family, especially you were the weakest out of a family with a special skill. Although Gwen couldn't say that she knew how it felt, being the only child of her parents, she did try her own little version of a peptalk.

"Your parents and family aren't you, Robin. You can't keep comparing yourselves to them when you've been through way worse. And who knows? Maybe one day, you'll find out that you're not giving yourself enough credit being a psychic. Even if it turns out you won't, nobody's going to think any less of you. And those who do shouldn't even be worth talking to you. So no more worrying, okay?"

Gwen tried to get a smile from her. She kneeled down and cradled the Toxel in her arms. Robin had been insanely lucky to catch something this cool. Gwen was jealous of missing the opportunity to catch one of these cute little guys! She handled it with caution, careful not to let out fall over and gently try to comfort it during its fatigue. Her hands went to carefully dab at the drooling poison by its mouth with her shirt. Her fingers stopped when Robin called herself a nobody. Turning her attention towards the psychic. "No." Was all she said, followed by a-

Boop.

Gwen's free hand had flicked Robin's nose. "You're my best friend and the best Ranger I've ever met. That makes you something to me." Sure she had left out a word there but the message was clear. Her eyes fell on the Munchlax nearby and did her best to try and show that she cared for it. "My calculus teacher always said that "nothing was just something waiting to be placed." And even if you still don't believe me, do you think your Pokémon think that same way? Why would they listen to you, even restless like this, if they thought you were nothing? I'm an aspiring Professor, but even I can see that these little guys care about you. You wouldn't want to let them down, would you?"

"Toxel and Munchlax will evolve and become stronger than you could ever think of. But you can't blame yourself for things you can't control, Robin. You escaped with only a broken nose; that's insanely lucky for a Rocket ambush." Gwen walked closer to Robin again, her thick rimmed glasses on the tip of her nose. Even this way, she tried her best to show empathy. It was so strange to be the one offering support now, when she had grown so used to the opposite. "When I'm working on my computer and trying to upgrade it, sometimes, things don't work out. I break something or misplace a part or completely fuck it up. I want to quit and throw my head against the wall for an hour, but I troubleshoot. What worked, what didn't work. What could I do better next time. Then, I do it again. And if that doesn't work, I troubleshoot again. That's how you learn."

"And maybe break five phones when you're on summer vacation."

She could feel her doubt as Robin squeezed her back. Gwen quietly thanked her position of being unable to show how much she was blushing from the close contact. Gwendolyn's fingers found their way through Robin's hair as she declared that she wasn't fit to be a ranger. A pretty shocking remark from the very person who had led her down this path. It was what Robin had dreamed of doing and now she was going to throw it all away. Her glasses fell down her nose again but Gwen cared little for it right now. She didn't want Robin to make such a harsh decision by herself. Her hands continued to pat the other girl's head. What could even help her? Perhaps some kind of nudge for her to remember her accomplishments?

"Do you remember that time when we first met?" Gwen asked softly. Her hands still hung around Robin's while she could recall it so vividly, after all the time that had passed. "I was stuck near an abandoned house full of ghost Pokémon and was too scared to do anything. Just crying and hoping that somebody would come and save me. And then I looked up to see you. We got chased off in the end, but you protected me. And if you can protect some NEET that barely gets any sunshine, you can protect anybody else."

Gwen pulled away and faced Robin again. She was still conflicted about things and yet, there was little that anybody could do to stop that self doubt. It was something that she could only help and let Robin figured out for herself. She pushed her glasses up again and exhaled. "Let's just give it a while, okay? If you really want to leave the Rangers, we can find someplace else to go to. I'll be with you every step of the way."

Robin smacked the fruit out of her hand before the Munchlax could even take a bite. She could see that pained look on its face of being denied nourishment and a chance at rest. Her brows weighed heavy as her fury was reaching a boiling point. Somebody could make her life hell all they wanted but as soon as Pokemon came into the mix, Gwen drew her line in the sand. Robin wasn't thinking straight. Her heart of making Pokemon stronger had driven her off the rails. ”Robin, I know. But not every Pokémon takes the same amount of time-” She was cut off and her closest friend continued. It hurt seeing her like this. Robin was supposed to be the stable one, not her.

Her frustration at what had happened to her only made Gwen's chest feel heavier. She could have went with her and made sure whoever had done this to her would face justice. Gwen's fists were balled, knuckles a white color as she shook. ”I-I get it. There's people out in the world that can just step all over us. And I hate that what happened happened and I couldn't come with you and...But I can't let you do this to yourself. To your Pokémon. These are actual living things that we joined the Rangers to protect.”

She broke down and started to cry. Gwen remained quiet as she broke for air. She was a peaceful person by all definitions: kept to herself, only pushed back when confronted. But this time? She wanted to hurt whoever did this to Robin. Images of everything she could do. use her Magnetite to electrocute them into dust, Goomy to boil them alive, she wanted whoever did this to feel even worse pain for hurting somebody she cared about. Gwen stepped forward and tried to wrap Robin in a hug. Her hands went to pat the back of her shoulder while listening to her vent more and more. Once she was done, the dork spoke up.

”You're right, as usual. I'm not telling you you're not. But look at them. You're pushing them to the point of no return. These aren't machines that you can just do whatever you want with. I get you want to make sure this doesn't happen again, but you're hurting them like this. Please, Robin...” Gwen's hands fell on top of Robin's as her own expression faltered. She was desperate to try and get her to stop this madness. ”I know you're worried about "what if's" and what will happen the next time, but you have me. I've always stuck with you, and I don't intend on stopping anytime soon. Just let me help.”

”I'll do whatever it takes. I'll wake up early and train with you. I'll go on hunts, explore Ultra Space, pick out a good diet for our teams, set up exercises, whatever it takes. I want to get stronger with you and pound the guy who did this to you. Anything you want from me, I'll give it to you. We can be the best Rangers ever. But you need to let me help.”

Gwen had been watching from afar. She had been keeping tabs on Robin ever since she had gotten out of the hospital. Gwendolyn felt shame in what she had been doing. The way she hid herself in her room all day and never came out without outside prompting. That would end today, her steps going across the Hot Springs while the aloof aspiring Ranger walked across the way until she found her. Robin stuck in training her Pokémon in the harshest environment in Hoenn. But even from afar, Gwen could tell they were in no shape to fight. She didn't even think once, just let her feet take her away.

”STOP!”

Robin could tell this wasn't the same, uncertain and cowardly bookworm she knew well. Her tone was deathly serious. Gwen put a hand to rip the other girl's hands off of her Toxel. Once she had her full attention, Gwen would look back at the Pokémon. They were exhausted, tired, every single synonym for those words. ”Robin, they're in no shape to fight. Look at them.” She went to the Munchlax and reached into her bag, offering it one of the berries she tried to keep on hand for her Goomy. The same was offered to the Toxel, along with a water bottle for both. Lucky she had kept her Ranger pouch on her.

Gwen looked at Robin and internally winced. She was hurt. Not that kind where it was a broken nose, but when it hurt inside. A knife embedded in the chest with any stray thought twisting it more and more. But she couldn't let her do this. Not somebody so close to her. ”Just tell me what happened. Please, we can sit down and just...talk.”

Two Pokemon suddenly appeared before the two. Gwen had done some research beforehand, and could tell what exactly the both of them were. ”Two fossil pokemon appearing at once? This must be some kind of luck we're having.” she smiled at Robin, who'd immediately hone in one the Cradily and mistake it for a plant. It was an easy mistake to make given its size and shape. ”That's a good choice for something to look over the garden. I think it'll do great!” Gwendolyn smiled, watching her work her way to capture it in no time flat. Robin had always been a stellar trainer in terms of battles. SO it came as no surprise she made short work of it.

”Awesome job as always!” She said to the psychic. Now all there was to do was for her to- ”Huh? Where'd it go?” The Anorith had just straight up vanished. Gwen looked for it left and right while searching all around her. But with her back to Robin, she wouldn't know that the fossil Pokemon was currently on her back. It skittered up to her head and looked down at her as the ginger looked up to see two eyes looking up at her.

”WAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!”

Gwen screeched, flailing around while trying to get the bug type off of her. She flung the Pokeball away while trying to remove the Anorith from her. ”GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFF!” It soon was thrown off and landed neatly on the Pokeball and vanishing inside of the capture device.