//------------------------------// // Chapter 26 // Story: A New World, a New Ranger // by ed2481 //------------------------------// “So, you mentioned that you’d be leaving at some point?” Scarlet asked Abby with a small frown on her serpentine face. “So that you could visit Gene and Belle.” “Yes, that’s right,” Abby said, nodding her head before she gobbled up a few more meatballs. They were currently eating spaghetti in a griffin owned restaurant. The owner had been surprisingly welcoming to the two canines and the snake who had walked hungrily into his restaurant. Then she blinked and looked over at her mother. “They’re on the level mom,” the Ninetales added quickly. “Oh, I’m sure they are, the fact that they were going to get married by a pair of champions proves that much,” Scarlet replied as her long tongue coiled around the spaghetti before carrying into her mouth, chomping down on a meatball as well. Kasai was too enamoured with the singular fish dish that the place had been serving to say much, butter coating his face up to the end of his muzzle. He licked his lips a few times and burped once before he dove back in, jaws snapping up all the fish he could as his long powerful tongue slurped up all the succulent juices. It was enough to distract Abby long enough for Scarlet to glance at her with a raised eyebrow. “You know it’s not really polite to watch others eat,” she teased as she used vines to help the last bite of the meatball into her mouth. Abby blushed and looked away from Kasai. “Eheheh... yeah,” she said, still blushing. “Sorry.” Scarlet chuckled as she shook her head and swallowed. “Don’t be, I’m just poking a bit of fun at you,” she said in a light hearted tone, twirling some spaghetti onto a vine and began munching on the wad of pasta. The Ninetales smiled softly and snapped up a meatball of her own before leaning over to give her mother a loving nuzzle. “Thanks mom,” she said softly, still... incredibly happy that things had turned out the way they had. “And sorry... I’ve been soaking up the fact that I can do that sort of thing without anyone trying to arrest me.” “I understand, but just make sure you don’t make it too awkward for others to see,” the Serperior stated with a smirk. “Right.” Abby nodded her head. “Hey, at least we’re not going overboard with the affection showing,” Kasai stated as he finished chewing part of his meal. “Yeah,” Abby agreed, leaning over to lick a bit of butter off of his cheek. “We’re not going overboard,” she added, nuzzling him. “True, but you could always lose your balance at any moment, so keep on eye on the rocking of the boat,” Scarlet said once she finished her current wad of paste and worked on rolling another. “She has a point,” Kasai added, glancing down at Abby, though he was smiling. “We might rock the boat a bit too much.” “We’re not that bad...” Abby replied, looking down at her nearly empty plate of food and leaning down to bite up a meatball and some sauce, accidentally smearing it all over her muzzle. “Whoops... eating this kind of thing without hands is still a pain.” “I’m sure you’ll figure out something to make it easy later on,” Scarlet assured her daughter before smiling slightly. “Like I did with my vines... it’s like having very long flexible fingers.” Abby didn’t answer, too busy trying to get the sauce off of her face with her tongue, a mostly unsuccessful effort. “I don’t think either of us can do that,” Kasai observed with a small chuckle before he came to Abby’s rescue and licked her muzzle clean. “Yeah, I can use my tails for some stuff but I don’t want to get them all messy with this kind of stuff,” Abby pointed out with a small huff as she brought her tails out in front of her and gave one of them a lick. “They’re far too lovely.” “That they are,” Scarlet agreed with a small nod. “But, I don’t really know how to help you in that regard. My only guess is to find some way to use your tail to hold the utensils you need to eat.” “I’ll practice,” Abby agreed before she pushed her plate away with her nose. “But I think that was enough to fill me up... once I meet up with Ace I’m going to have to track down Justice out on the plains and then... I think I’ll need your help mom.” Scarlet raised an inquiring eye ridge at her. “Help in what?” “Well, I’m a Pokemon Ranger, that’s all I’ve ever been,” Abby stated clearly. “The fact that I’m not a human anymore doesn’t change that, and neither does the fact there there isn’t a pre-created organization here already.” The Ninetales glanced at the Arcanine for a moment before looking back at her mother. “In other words... I want to start a new Ranger Union. This time without the stupid sides of the Pokephilia laws.” Scarlet blinked expressionlessly at her. “That’s a big task you know.” “Yes, I know,” Abby replied, nodding her head. “But my theory is that there are probably a lot of Pokemon Rangers here in Equestria spread out all over the place and they’re probably looking to keep being Rangers right? So, we set up a strong base for them to gather around and we start a new Union full of experienced Rangers and probably some ponies too.” “Makes sense...” Scarlet said while slowly nodding her head. “Right, so I need you because I’m about as good at bureaucracy and organization as a Muk is at being a ballerina,” Abby continued, smirking slightly. “That you are,” the Serperior agreed with a small chuckle and a smile. She closed her eyes to ponder a bit before she gave a reply. “I will help... but not that moment. I still have to find Vivi and Claire as well keep an eye on a friend for a while.” Abby’s face fell but Kasai nuzzled her. “Hey, she said yes and it’s not like you can’t understand wanting to find the rest of your team,” he reasoned before he gave her a lick on the cheek. “Yeah, yeah I know,” Abby said, frowning faintly. “Do you think you can layout some general plans for what we’ll need? I’m going to go to Canterlot after I catch up with Gene and Belle to get money from the Princesses and I’d like to have some idea of what I’ll actually be asking for ahead of time.” “Sure, I can do that,” Scarlet answered with a nod of her head. “You just need something of rules, regulations and such?” “That would be nice, but mostly I need the costs mom, we’re going to need our own building, even if it’s a small one along with a charter from Celestia to do this. Add to that money for bills and stuff... I mean, I’m sure that Celestia will add us to part of the Guard... but I really want to make sure that we’re fairly independent from them. That way we Rangers won’t have to be reporting to non-rangers unless it’s something big. We don’t want people chaffing when the ‘new rules’ that I’m going to be putting out are going to put enough of them off as it is.” “That was a mouthful,” Kasai observed with a small chuckle. “I forgot how much you can think of for things like this when given the time.” Abby rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to Scarlet. A vine was slowly ‘scratching’ her chin. “Hmmm... that will take a bit of research to do. I really don’t know how much a ‘bit’ is worth. And for something like this you need more of an retail salesperson you know?” Abby sighed and nodded. “Yeah, but good luck finding that here at random. I mostly just want to present her with a list of things we need and I’ll ask her to provide us with someone who’s an expert.” “Oh I can come up with a list of things we might need... I just don’t know if they will have the exact equipment or even tech we used back on Earth,” Scarlet stated. “Eh, we can improvise I bet,” Kasai said with a small shrug before he leaned over and licked a bit of sauce he’d missed off of Abby’s cheek. “Who knows, we might even be able to get Professor Hastings to help us out, I mean, I know that he hates Pokephilia but maybe we can change his mind?” Scarlet gave the two a skeptical look. “He’s stubborn and set in his way of thought like a Snorlax is when it finds a spot to sleep in.” “But we’ll be trying to help Pokemon... I mean, that’s what the Ranger Union was founded for right?” Abby protested, though it was weak and she knew it. “I mean, that has to count for something.” “Maybe... but maybe not to him, it won’t be the right ‘notes’ to play on the Pokeflute,” Scarlet said with a small shake of her head. “Hey, it might be,” Kasai said before letting out a sigh and getting up from where he’d sat down beside the table. “I’m going to head back to the station and let Ace know that everything’s alright with you Abby, goodbye Scarlet.” The golden Arcanine gave Abby a lick on the muzzle and Scarlet a regal bow before he walked off, thanking the fact that they’d paid in advance. “My mate, always the forward thinker,” Abby said with a small chuckle as she too rose from where she’d been sitting. “Must’ve got it from you,” Scarlet said with a small chuckle as she moved away from the table and over to Abby. She leaned her head down to give her a soft nuzzle on the forehead. “I’ll join up with you back at the station. I’m going to start searching for information I might need for our building.” “Oh... I thought we could take a walk or something... you know, catch up?” Abby asked, glancing up at her mother. The Serperior smiled. “Sure, we can do that if you want. You can show me around the city while I keep an eye open for a retailer,” she said with a small chuckle. Abby grinned. “Sure, let’s go, mom,” she said with an excited bark. Justice let out an annoyed grunt as he landed on one of the few trees that were scattered across the savannah. For close to two weeks he’d been trying to outfly the giant birds, well, that and other things, but they seemed to have a very strict internal rule. You couldn’t get close unless you could outfly one and even with his massive wingspan, the shiny Braviary wasn’t anywhere close to strong enough to keep up with the twenty to sometimes thirty foot wingspan that the females sported. “Damn...” he grunted to himself, Justice was not the type to give up at anything. Hell, Justice sometimes went without sleeping just so that he could get faster, stronger. That was his goal after all. Constantly getting faster and stronger so that he could protect Abby, so that nothing like what had happened to her father could ever happen to her. He’d been Mathew’s secondary partner, Revva being his first. When he’d been driven off by the Masked Man’s Hydreigon he’d had every intention of coming back for his partner but... his wings had been ripped apart, torn open, feathers everywhere. It had been impossible for him to fly and if it weren’t for a lucky Ranger run in... he’d have been eaten by Houndoom. Of course, all that being said, why was it that he hadn’t left the barren plains in search of Abby, the daughter of the man he’d once called his best friend? He supposed it was a fair question really, at least, if someone didn’t know how these things worked. Justice knew that if he really ‘went’ anywhere then Abby would simply have a harder time finding him. Kasai knew his scent and he didn’t plan on spreading it farther out over this odd world. Still, that meant that he’d been doing nothing for the last several weeks but futilely trying to catch a Roc, at least, that’s what they said they were called. Justice bent his head down and began to clean and straighten his feathers. He did this mostly to hide the embarrassment that was flaring across his face. Justice... well... Justice had only ever been bested in the air by the one Hydreigon and the next time they’d met he’d torn out two of its eyes. The Rocs though... they were just too large, too fast, too powerful. Whenever he’d tried to catch up to them, their wings would beat even faster and send him spiraling out of the air, blown back by their drafts. If he tried to go above them then they flew higher than even he could. It was an incredibly frustrating feeling for him. Nothing worked! Even though he came in at six feet tall, abnormally tall for a Braviary, and had wings large enough to make Articuno blush crimson, at least in his mind, he couldn’t catch the Rocs. Justice let out sigh of disappointment, closing his eyes to catch some good shut eye. He wasn’t the type to quit, but he knew better than to continue trying for the day. “Justice?!” a female voice cried out happily from above. The Bravairy’s head perked up as he recognized the melodic voice and he glanced up to see a Swellow diving straight towards him. In a heartbeat the dark blue and red Pokemon snapped its wings open and landed on the branch he was resting on, looking up at the shiny Braviary with a gleeful expression on her face. “It is you! Ah, finally a face I recognize.” Justice blinked twice as events caught up to him and then he smiled, as much as a bird can smile anyways. “Claire it’s you; and here I was beginning to think that I’d be stuck out here without company for the rest of my life,” he said happily. The Swellow chuckled lightly. “That’s pretty much normal for you isn’t it?” she asked teasingly before shaking her head. “But yeah... I’m very happy to have found you. You don’t know what I’ve been through during the last two weeks.” She let out a large sigh as her wings just hanging open. “Oh yes, very normal,” Justice said very dryly. “And I’m happy you found me... I may not know what you’ve been through during the last two weeks, but I can tell you that I’ve learned a new definition for the word ‘shame’.” Claire tilted her head in confusion toward him. “Why is that?” she asked, her wings closing back up against her side. Justice gestured with a wing towards the distant dots in the skies, so high up at this point that even with their size they were barely visible. “Those are Rocs, over the last two weeks I’ve tried my damndest to catch one, I’ve failed every single time.” “I see...” the Swellow said slowly as she glanced up and squinted her eyes slightly. “I don’t see why that’s really ‘bad’ or ‘shameful’ per say.” “Because I’m Justice and I’m supposed to be unmatched,” Justice replied sourly. “At least, that’s what I tell myself, but it seems that in this case I was quite mistaken.” Claire rolled her eyes. “You can’t win them all Justice.” The great eagle sighed and glanced down at his smaller compatriot. “I know. Believe me. I know.” He shook his head. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t continue trying.” “Well... if you can’t catch Magikarp in this pond, you can always look somewhere else,” Claire told him thoughtfully. “It will save you from building up more ‘shame’ on yourself.” “I suppose,” Justice said, shaking his head. “If nothing else they’re at least gracious winners and this has given me something to beat at while I wait for Abby to come find me.” He frowned and looked down at her. “And I take it from what you said before that you haven’t been able to find Scarlet?” Claire shook her head. “No... nor Lance or Vivi... heck not even Xerox,” she replied with a small sigh. “And I thought Abby or Kasai was with you...” “Sorry to disappoint you,” Justice said, shaking his head as well. “But unfortunately in this regard, Justice is as blind as you.” The Swellow let out another heavy sigh. “Well... I’m tired of flying around looking for four needles in one giant haystack... mind if I stay with you?” Justice let out a small chuckle. “You’re welcome to stay with me Claire, my branch is your branch, for what it’s worth,” he answered her wryly. “Thanks,” she replied with a pleasant coo. “And who knows, maybe I can make a Roc jealous that you have someone to adore those big wings of yours,” she said with a chuckle before she realized what she’d just said. Justice blinked twice and peered down at her. “Well, that’s rather nice of you to say,” he said with a grin. She blushed a bit under his gaze and her wings fluttering slightly against her side as she straightened her pose. “You’re welcome... they are very... nice. I’m kind-of surprised you didn’t have three Rocs wood from the mere sight of you.” “Their wingspan is twenty feet across, at the least, I don’t have a chance,” Justice answered with a small sigh before he glanced down at her again. “But thank you all the same for the thought Claire.” “Again, you’re welcome,” Claire replied with a light chuckle. “Can’t let you be down in the dumps all the time now can I? It would get old fast,” she added, her chuckle growing a bit, though hint of embarrassment still hid within her tone. Justice frowned faintly, either she was hitting on him or... okay, actually, that was fairly obvious, but he had two real choices. Acknowledge it or back off. Anyone who knew Justice would know what he was going to pick, he didn’t back off from anything unless his wings were in ribbons. With a genial smile he extended one of his long wings and brought it out to wrap around the Swellow and brought her closer beside him on the branch. “I suppose it would get old if I was down all the time wouldn’t it?” Claire’s eyes darted between his wing and his face, a small look of uncertainty running through her eyes. “Yeah... it would... considering that’s not really your kind of normal attitude,” she replied, doing her best to keep the Butterfree she’d eaten earlier from escaping her stomach as it twisted end over end with nervousness. Justice smiled faintly and then withdrew his large wing, tucking it against his side. “It’s getting too late to fly right now so we should get some sleep, tomorrow I’ll give you a grand tour of ‘several trees and a rock on a plain’.” He then placed the wing over her and pulled her against his side, she was hardly resisting. “Best stay close, it gets surprisingly chilly once the sun sets here.” “I’ll take your word for it...” she said as she rested against his large body, closing her eyes as some of her nervousness melted away. Justice smiled to himself and and closed his eyes as well, wing still wrapped around her as he drifted off to sleep, things were finally looking up for Sir Justice.