Michael bolted across the white sand as rapidly as his legs could carry him. Eimyrja rushed on all fours right alongside the Cadet. Plumes of the coast kicked up behind them in their rush to get to the injured Pokemon. The pair skidded to a stop but remained careful to not let any of the sand launch toward the ones they wished to aid.

Great minds think alike, of course, as Michael’s Captain took the initiative in cutting the net. The Cadet ensued to do the same with the help of his Charmander partner. He snatched the survival knife from his belt while issuing a command.

“Eimyrja, let’s cut them free with Slash!”

“Char-mander!” the fire salamander barked!

A white energy coated Eimyrja’s claws! She committed to making quick, precise strikes as her human worked on his own section of net!

“Don’t worry guys, you’re gonna be fine! We’re here to help!”

Though the eyes of the trapped Pokemon showed an initial haze of fear, they soon realized that they were indeed being rescued. Weakened groans of gratitude emitted from their tired bodies.

Slice after slice, cut after cut, more and more of the netting frayed and snapped. It was a tough material to be sure! Though, thanks to the efforts of all, the poor Pokemon were soon freed from their confines!

Michael would help his superior in rolling up the abandoned fishing net to prevent it from harming anymore of the wildlife. Exhausted and sweating from the laborious venture, the Ranger fell hard against the dampened sand. He panted while trying to wipe the salted perspiration from his brow. After reaching into his backpack, he pulled out his 32 oz stainless steel water bottle to offer the rescued Pokemon a revitalizing drink.

---

Shalin Nariya
[PC: 4]

"Nice to meet you, Captain!" Michael chimed. "And you as well, Queen Zing and Sandy!"

The Sygna Suit came back to the forefront of the Cadet's mind.

"Sygna Suit, huh? I've heard of those. They're suits that increase the bond between yourself and your Pokemon, right?"

The Ranger Cadet idly scratched his chin. The beginnings of stubble brushed along the skin of his exposed fingers. A distracted thought brought attention to how he would need to shave soon.

Michael had an interest in making a conversation of the philosophical variety. Genuine curiosity filled his mind, and he wished to potentially learn more about Sygna Suits. Maybe he'd even have his theories proven wrong!

"They're interesting, I'll give you that. Although, I'm not sure how I feel about them. More than anything, I wish to share an incredible bond with my Pokemon. I know Sygna Suits are supposed to help you do that, but it just feels...Manufactured? The concept relies on manmade technology. Is there a more natural way of achieving that?"

Distressed cries of Pokemon brought the conversation to a screeching halt. Michael and Eimyrja both locked their eyes toward the trouble. In an instant, their cheerful demeanor shattered. Now, both the Ranger and the Charmander experienced remorse and sorrow. Michael brought a hand to his mouth in disgust and disbelief. His stomach turned the color drained from his face.

"Arceus, no..."

Down the beach, just barely moistened by the damp sand and caressing sea foam, laid two Pokemon caught in a discarded fishing net; The Seahorse Pokemon, Kingdra, and the tusked Pokemon, Walrein. Both laid motionless besides the occasional struggle to free themselves from the netting that dug into their bodies. But, from Michael's observation, he could see that they almost had no fight left in them.

"Captain, we need to free those Pokemon, now!"

---

Shalin Nariya
[PC: 3]

"Lovely to meet you, Mana," Michael greeted with a light bow of his head.

Hearing of the Princess's mother pulled at the Cadet's heartstrings. His empathy poured forth like an endless wellspring.

“I’m...I’m sorry,” he managed to say, his voice choked with remorse. "I couldn't bear to think of losing either of my parents. She must have been an incredible, rare gem to have a daughter like you."

Michael drew a slow breath through his nostrils to recenter his thoughts. Putting on a smile, he looked toward Eimyrja, who was now at the outpost’s water container.

The bond between the Charmander and the Ranger had made significant progress, even though they had only been acquainted for a short period. And as intelligent as she was, she didn’t need to await specific commands. Eimyrja felt a fiery warmth building up in her core as she took a deep breath. Then, she loosed a stream of flames directed at the base of the metal container!

“Good job using Flamethrower, Eimyrja!” Michael cheered on! “I’m proud of you!”

---

Elise Calcifet
[PC: 4]

Michael's head twisted in Absaolom's direction before his body pivoted as well. A big smile was the first thing to greet the fellow Ranger.

"Hello! No, I haven't waited long," the Cadet explained. "Maybe I'm a minute or two early, but that's about it."

Michael soon felt the Butterfrees in his stomach tickling his core with nervous energy. He groaned internally and wished that the stupid emotion would just go away.

Michael held some importance with making a good impression. Especially when younger colleagues were involved. The sliver of anxiety wasn't enough to send Michael's mind into panic mode, thankfully. At least, for now, the man's enthusiasm could drown the residual feeling out. Michael was just happy that the anxiety wasn't an everyday occurrence.

Maintaining a cheerful demeanor, the man eagerly grasped Absalom's extended hand for the handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Axel! I'm Michael. Close friends call me Mike, so maybe you'll get to do that some day!"

The older Ranger Cadet took a moment to admire the Hisuian Zoroark. His eyes shimmered like a kid's in a candy store.

"Well, well! That's an interesting Zoroark if I've ever seen one!" he enthused. "So hey, I actually have a plan on how we can show off what we do as Rangers to the youngsters. I'm thinking we can act out a scene where one of us pretends to be a Poacher. This way we explain what our job is, and we throw in a Pokemon Battle to give that extra flair. If you have ideas, though, I'm all ears!"

---

absalom steel
[PC: 2]

Reports of Bug Pokemon terrorizing the local fauna and new Trainers at Route 101 resulted in the Cadet and his Charmander coming to pay a visit. First Ariados. And now Spidops. The man was on the brink of noticing a theme. He thought that, perhaps, arachnids were more prone to dangerous behavior when influenced by outside sources.

Michael and Eimyrja were careful to traverse the Route with the different trip wires and strings laid about. The man carried the salamander on his shoulders as an extra precaution. As a Ranger he wanted to ensure not to disturb the local wildlife /too/ much. His goal was to maintain safety for the new Trainers going on their journeys' first steps. The inexperienced were prone to being hurt before they could even step outside of Littleroot.

The day mainly comprised a battle here, and a coercion of spiders there. Now, there was a moment of respite that the two would take full advantage of. Michael, sighing, slid his back along the hard bark of a tree while he slumped onto the grass to rest. Eimyrja joined him, flopping onto her belly alongside his legs.

"Whew, what a day," Michael groaned. "No one ever said being a Ranger was easy."

"Charrr," Eimyrja huffed, nuzzling against her human's right leg while plopping her chin onto it in a nuzzle.

Just above the pair, a purple-hued Spidops with a gem on their forehead surveyed their next targets. Surely, they thought, they were more than a match for a measly Charmander! The Spidops recognized it as a Pokemon that attended some humans who were just beginning their adventures.

With quick movements, the arachnid created a silk line and attached it to their wooden support. Then, they leaped off, using their web line to encroach on the unsuspecting Cadet! Slowly, carefully, the Spidops grew closer and closer, just waiting to strike!

Huffing again, Eimyrja opened her eyes to look up at her human. A gentle smile quickly shifted into a look of shock as she spotted the incoming threat!

"Charmander, Char!" she yelled, swiftly getting to her feet!

"Huh?" Michael murmured, opening his left eye.

Both eyes were now opened as Eimyrja's body language worried him. IT didn't take him long to put two and two together. He saw the Charmander's gaze remained locked on the treetop. Michael craned his neck to look up as well.

"Ah!" he yelped, taken by surprise by the large Bug-type Pokemon!

Michael instinctively grabbed a spare Pokeball on his belt. With a quick toss, he aimed to capture the purple Spidops then and there!

---

4yUu4CBV

The Cadet of the Pokemon Rangers stared in horror at the twisted scene laid out before him. Once a vibrant path leading into Mauville City's embrace, the Seaside Cycling Road now laid strewn with chaos at every turn. Rescue personnel, panicked pedestrians, and crazed Ariados covered the road. Bicycles, humans, and pokemon alike remained trapped in the maze of webs. If Michael didn't know better, he would believe he was trapped in an arachnophobe's nightmare.

The Ranger was at least thankful to not be the only responder at the wicked webbing disaster. He held concern for everyone involved, including the swarming Ariados. This wasn't normal behavior for them. Fighting them and pushing them back was one option that some on the scene took upon themselves. Others focused efforts on freeing the frightened victims.

"Here's the plan, Eimyrja," Michael began, his eyes affixing on the intricate webs before them. "Using fire is too risky. Webbing can be flammable, and we don't want to hurt those who are trapped! Let's free as many as we can with Slash!"

"Char Char!" the Charmander called, baring her claws before charging at the nearest entanglement!

With a quick movement, her claws sliced through the webbing. All the while, Michael kept an eye out in case any encroaching Ariados thought to make them into their next prey.

---

Notes: Eimyrja used Slash to cut down the webbing!

---

=CAREER DAY=
Pokemon Pedogagy

---

Hoenn was no stranger to the world of Pokemon and all of which it encapsulated. The school of Odale Town, along with many others, called on help from the professionals who worked with Pokemon in their daily lives. And so the school announced a Career Day the week prior! As expected, the children excitedly murmured among themselves while awaiting the grand event. Some did their best to not watch the clocks as the seconds passed by during important lessons!

Michael arrived at the Rangers' Booth in the Schoolyard. The first thing he sought to do was introduce himself to his fellow volunteer before children attended the big event. Since waking up, he imagined how he would make the work of a Ranger seem glamorous to the minds of the youth!

Michael realized he had arrived a bit early as he noticed he was the only one at the booth so far. So, while waiting, Michael idly rolled the miniaturized Pokeball in his right hand.

"Just a bit longer, Eimyrja," he spoke to it with a gentle smile. "We want to put on a good show for the kids. I'll let you out when it's time. I promise."

---

absalom steel
[PC: 1]

Michael's enthusiasm stoked the fires within Eimyrja. Her Cadet partner brought up excellent points! She would be useful after all!

"A King, you say?" Michael inquired, his smiling features blessing the crowned Pokemon.

To the King and the Princess, the Cadet and his Charmander offered a polite bow. It was the right thing to do when in the presence of Royalty.

"I was ecstatic to be partnered up with Eimyrja here," Michael expressed with a softer smile. "I was born in Kanto. Naturally, when I got to pick my partner when I signed up to be a Ranger, I had to choose Charmander. She may not be a Queen from a distant land, but she's special to me all the same."

Michael smiled at Eimyrja with a glint in his eye.

"Alright, let's get to boiling some water, Eimyrja!" he cheered!

"Char-mander!" Eimyrja responded with a swift nod!

---

Elise Calcifet
[PC: 3]

Like the plumes in the sky and the ash falling like snow, the dire atmosphere of these events threatened to weigh Michael down and choke him. It was perfectly normal for anyone to feel overwhelmed. The wellbeing of all remained at stake. However, the Ranger's resolve remained resolute. He adamantly refused to be engulfed by the storm of chaos. People needed him. Pokemon needed him.

The Cadet's mind hanged onto every word that passed from Elise's lips. Her voice, a melody, had the power to keep spirits high. And as Michael listened, one piece of information embedded itself deep in his core.

The Cadet was unsure if he heard Elise correctly. Michael's thoughts slowed as emotions of whimsy and excitement swelled. Did Elise say that she was royalty? Or was the hot air already beginning to take its toll on the man's mind?

"A Princess?" Michael asked to confirm whether he was going insane. "Wow, I've never met an actual Princess before! It's a tremendous honor, your Highness. And it's an honor to meet you, Charles. As for medical training, I only know what we learned while becoming Cadets. That, and basic medical knowledge. I'm no Doctor, but I will do anything in my power to help."

Michael glanced toward the smoking mountain in the distance. A grimace dulled the smile that brightened his face.

"If only I had some Water Pokemon," he sighed. "Even a Flying Type might help."

Eimyrja looked up to her partner after acquainting herself with the King of Hares. Her shimmering eyes showed a sadness in them. She knew he was right. As a Fire Pokemon, there was little she could logically do against a volcanic threat.

Like the stir in the winds, a shift in Michael's thinking process occurred! His eyes grew brighter as the smile returned!

"Lightbulb!" he beamed, looking at Eimyrja's fire-tipped tail before fixing his gaze on Elise once more.

"Princess, is there anything that requires a flame? Boiling water? Disinfecting medical equipment?"

---

Elise Calcifet
[PC: 1]

The glorious empyrean oceans above Lavaridge Town remained hidden by plumes of hot smoke and ash. Where once a vibrant sun brought color to Hoenn, which rivaled the feathers of Ho-Oh, only shadows and gloom stained and dulled the landscape. Living so close to a slumbering giant had its risks. However, these risks never seemed to be enough to force those living at its base to move elsewhere. Strange environmental curiosities caused the currents of the heavens to change, and the ashfall became worse than before. Fallabor and surrounding routes had become encased in ashes when previously there was nothing more than a residue. Now the settlement of Lavaridge stood in the path of the ashen misery.

The new environmental change threatened the local ecosystem. It was up to members of the League to step in and lend aid to the people and Pokemon, whose homes were now in danger. Michael Davis took on the task without a second thought, even as a Cadet of the Pokemon Rangers. He had no medical training save for the skills he learned upon becoming a Ranger. Michael would make himself useful despite this setback. The man and his Charmander partner sought their superior, Elise Calcifet, whom the Ranger Station to make a rendezvous. Both were determined to make a difference.

The pair soon spotted Elise and Charles. They made their approach, and Michael spoke up.

"Ms. Elise?" he asked, ensuring he had the right person. "I'm Michael Davis, and this is Eimyrja. We're here to help in any way we can."

---

Elise Calcifet
[PC: 1]

A group of Pokemon beheld Michael's sight. Eimyrja, too, now focused her gaze upon the approaching crowd as she stood from her sandy seat. Her guard remained stoic in the begining, steeling herself for a potential battle. The trio of Pokemon, however, showed no signs of aggression nor intent to harm. Still, Eimyrja remained right by her human's side.

"It's okay, Eimyrja," Michael cooed, kneeling down to offer gentle strokes to his partner's head. "They seem friendly to me. It's an odd pairing of Pokemon, sure. Maybe they're with their person?"

The Ranger stood confidently once the trio came to a halt. And, once the Beedrill landed and ceased the beating of its wings, Michael and Eimyrja grew even more perplexed. There, perched on the wing itself, was a woman! Michael could only grow more curious about the enigma with the fascinating fashion sense and frazzled hair! A nconcoction of excitement and whimsy was already bubbling to the surface!

"A shiny Beedrill! And you're on their wing? How?" Michael enthused! "I've never even heard of anyone sitting on a Beedrill wing, or any wing for that matter!"

The Ranger, conscious of etiquette, suddenly blushed as he realized he forgot his manners. He reached out his hand to aid Shalin in descending to the ground. All the while, Michael's excited glow strained his cheeks.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he introduced. "I'm Michael. This is my partner, Eimyrja. I have to know. How are you even sitting on that wing like that? It's blowing my mind!"

---

[PC: 2]