This is a oneshot requested by

Kellyn x Kate

Game: Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

He had no idea how Keith managed this. It blew Kellyn's mind, but yet here he was, walking along the sidewalk in Altru Park next to the single most popular girl in Almia. He could still hear Keith's voice:

"Kate? I mean she's cool, but isn't she a little out of your league now?" Keith sat next to Kellyn on the ground at his father's ranch. Kellyn sighed, his eyes staring after Buizel who was chasing after Kriketot playfully, "I know man, I meant to ask her out at Ranger School, but I didn't think she'd reach top ranger this quickly! That just makes her that much cooler though."

Keith facepalmed, "Dude, you've gotta live in the moment, you actually had a chance in Ranger School, now she probably doesn't even remember you." Kellyn groaned burying his face in his knees, "I know, don't remind me."

"How about this, from one friend to another, I'll set up a date. Only cause your my bro and cause she's my co-worker." Keith gave in. Kellyn's head shot up in shock, his eyes sparkling. Keith cut him off before he spoke, "I can't guarantee it." Kellyn threw his arms around him, "You're the best bro!" Keith held his hands away from Kellyn awkwardly, "For one, of course I'm awesome, I tell you that all the time. For two, can you, you know, not hug me. It's weird man."

Kellyn laughed and grabbed him tighter, "Nope, you decided to be nice for a change and now you're paying for it." he chuckled.

Walking next to Kate now felt like a dream. He glanced over at her while they walked and his heart skipped a beat. He thought he had under-dressed in a hoodie and khakis, but Kate had shown up in a open jacket and a skirt that went to the top of her knees, he felt reassured that this was a casual occasion, but he was still stiff with nervousness.

It wasn't as if he hadn't looked at her the entire time, but what was sad was that every time he looked at her his heart raced. He led her to a bench in the park and they sat down. Munchlax and Pachirisu scurried into the field to play.

"So..." Kate started, "What's the plan?" she asked in a soft voice that melted Kellyn even further. "Umm, well I was thinking that we could talk on the bench for a little while and then get some ice cream. Whatever you want to do though." he stammered, rubbing the back of his head. He heard her chuckle.

Kellyn sighed, "Sorry, I'm no good at this whole date thing."

"That's okay. It's kinda cute. We can do what you suggested, that sounds nice." she leaned forward and looked him in the eyes, rocking her legs back and forth in front of her. He felt his face heat up and there was no doubt in his mind that he was as red as a Crawdaunt.

She called him cute. He would sort of prefer if she had called him cool or awesome, but it was a start. Kellyn was pulled from his thoughts when Kate spoke, "You were in Mr. Kincaid's class right?" she questioned leaning back again. His mind needed a minute to process before he flew back into reality, "O-oh yeah, and you were in Ms. April's class right? I'm surprised you remember me." he laughed nervously.

"Kellyn." he looked over to the stern voice that had suddenly arisen next to him. Kate was looking at him with a scowl, "Stop being so tense. This is a date. You can relax. Just be you, that's the best thing you can do. And don't put yourself down, of course I remember you, I'm fairly surprised that you remember me." she finished, relaxing her face in favor of a nicer smile. He thought about it. What was he doing? This was the same new girl from his Ranger School. The same girl he passed in the halls. The same girl he celebrated with on graduation. He needed to stop all this nonsense.

His shoulders loosened up and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, "Yeah, I've sort of been an idiot so far haven't I? Let's try this again." he said. "Much better." she smiled and laughed. Her laugh was contagious, he started to laugh too.

"So, where are you these days?" she asked, thoroughly intrigued. Munchlax and Pachirisu chirped happily together as they ran up to their friends. Pachirisu ran up Kellyn's arm to rest on his shoulder and nuzzle his face, while Munchlax jumped up onto Kate's lap making her grunt. Kellyn snickered trying to hide his smirk behind his hand. She pushed him playfully and he answered, "Well a position opened up at the Veintown Ranger Base, it was a good opportunity so I took it." he started, "I heard some really awesome ranger was promoted and that's how the spot opened." he looked over with a grin.

Recognition flooded her face as he spoke of Veintown, "Oh wow! How's Barlow and the gang doing?" she asked starry eyed. "They're doing good, since I'm a newbie though Barlow keeps loading me up with work." he sighed leaning forward. She pat his back and smiled sympathetically, "That sounds like him." He looked up to see her eyes bright and beautiful. Munchlax and Pachirisu had scurried off to play again, but Kellyn didn't even notice. Talking about the past with her like this was amazing. Suddenly everything about her seemed enhanced. Her hair blew gently in the wind and her eyes sparkled. Her lips moved softly as she spoke of her past encounters during her ranger career, hard hands moving gracefully to match her words. Her soft skin shining in the sunlight.

"What made you want to go on a date with me?" he heard her ask. She looked at him with those eyes that he couldn't refuse. "Well," he hesitated before speaking again, "I liked you back in Ranger School." he admitted, "A lot." he looked over and she blushed making him cover his own face. "I was going to ask you out at graduation, or maybe see if we could go to the same branch, but then everything happened and I never really got the chance. Next thing I knew you were top ranger, and I was still a Veiltown nobody" he finished with a long sigh. "I liked you back then too. You had confidence and determination. You're not a Veiltown nobody, I hear about the deeds you do in the Tribune all the time."

Kellyn felt himself moving forward against his will. His eyes started to close and he saw hers close too. Was he going to kiss her? Maybe. He let himself be pulled by his instinct, this one moment seeming to last forever. Right when he thought their lips would touch he heard a slam and felt the wind ruffle his hair. His eyes widened when he opened them to see a Dim Sun hover craft. The pilot had an unconcious Kate in his arms, a pained expression across her face.

Her expression twisted Kellyn's stomach, he put a hand to his mouth in disgust. It was a look he never wanted to see. The Dim Sun member cackled looking back at Kellyn, "Look at your precious top ranger now. Like a rookie like you could ever score a girl like her anyway." he started to fly away when Munchlax clutched to the back of the hover craft.

"Get off!" the grunt yelled before kicking Munchlax off and flying over towards Veil forest to the south. Distraught Kellyn ran close after them, reaching out for Kate's hand before they sped up leaving him in the dust. "No, no ,no ,no NO!" Kellyn yelled kicking the dirt as he clutched his head. Munchlax and Pachirisu watched with concern. "Think, come one Kellyn, THINK. What would Kate do? What would Kate do?" he chanted to himself pacing in a circle.

He stopped abruptly remembering Kate's words, "Just be you, that's the best thing you can do." her voice rang in his head as clear as if she had just been there. He looked around, "What would I do..." he spotted a Staraptor that had landed next to the fountain for a drink. He pulled his capture stylus out of the holster in his belt, "Capture On!"

His stylus shot off towards Staraptor, he spun his arm in a circle, the stylus copying his actions around Staraptor, being sure to avoid it's gusts.

The ring closed around Staraptor successfully capturing it, "Capture Complete!" Kellyn yelled before jumping on Staraptor's back, "I need your help. Please, take me to Veil forest!" the Staraptor nodded taking flight. "Go as fast as you can!" he told it, hanging on tighter. Staraptor cawed in reply shooting off at sonic speeds, Kellyn had to squint to keep his eyes open in the intense wind.

Soon they came over Veil forest, Kellyn gagged as the forest reeked of smoke. Landing and bidding Staraptor farewell, Kellyn could already feel the smoke infultrating his lungs. Waves of crimson spread before as the forest was engulfed in flames. "Why would they do this again?" he cried as he watched the forest burn, but he knew why. This was a smart move on Dim Sun's part.

The forest was just recovering from the last fire, the Rangers in the area relied on a lot of their captures from here as well as a lot of resources. Hitting hard here would shake the Ranger Union for sure.

He shook the thought from his head and returned his thoughts to Kate. He needed to find her quick. "Kate? KATE!" he started shouting. He ran to the main clearing in the forest, where a team Dim Sun grunt was waiting for him with Kate. "Give her back!" Kellyn shouted running at the grunt. The grunt laughed, "We have what we want, the entrance is blocked so your precious Rangers can't get in, and the smoke keeps building keeping even the Ranger Union from interfering." he cackled.

Kellyn swung at him in pure rage, "You control Pokemon, you burn the forest, you kidnap Kate. What the hell are you after!?" the Dim Sun member dodged but Kellyn swung again and caught him in the arm. "Retreating commander." the member rang in on his device then he flew off.

Kellyn ran to Kate cradling her in his arms, he could see the bruise where the Dim Sun grunt had hit her neck to knock her out, now a purple color. His face twisted with concern as he shook her, "Hey, hey Kate." her body shook limply and Kellyn's heart jumped a little. He bent down and placed an ear on her chest, relieved to feel a pulse. He placed a hand above her face and felt her breathing, making him relax a little.

His felt a buzz and found that Keith was calling him. "Hey man, did you hear about the fire? Are you good?" Keith asked concerned. Kellyn was heaving breaths at this point, covering his mouth to filter some of the smoke. "You could say that I'm having an up close view of it." he said his eyes beginning to water. "What?! Bro you need to hurry up and get out of there! We can see the smoke all the way in Chicole!" Keith was talking frantically. "I know. Meet me in Veiltown when I get out okay?" he hung up before Keith could reply.

In reality Kellyn was terrified. He didn't know what to do and it was pathetic. He was a ranger. He was trained for this, but nothing of this calibur had ever been thrown his way before. He suspected that if it were the other way around Kate would've saved him by now and the fire would already be out.

Kate's device started buzzing and Kellyn picked it up. "Hello Kate! We have a problem!" a blond woman was displayed, and Kellyn almost didn't recognize her. "Rythmi? Is that you Rhythmi?" he asked frantically, this was someone he could ask for help. "Kellyn? I haven't seen you since Ranger School! Wait, where's Kate?" she asked nervously. His gaze shifted to the unconcious Kate, "She's out cold and I think she's got smoke in her lungs I can't figure out a way to put out the fire. I need your help Rhythmi please!" he was becoming hysterical, and Rhythmi's face became much more serious.

"Look around Kellyn, there should be a Blastoise nearby. If you can capture him he knows rain dance. First get the fire out so she'll stop breathing in smoke. Then you need to get the smoke out of her lungs."

"Okay." he replied, dazed by all that was going on.

"We're counting on you, Rhythmi out!" she hung up, and Kellyn looked around for the Blastoise. It was taking refuge under a rock nearby, hiding from the hot flames. Kellyn stood up weakly, pulling out his capture stylus. He coughed roughly, "Capture On!" he shot the stylus at the Blastoise who shot water cannons in a confused rage. Carefully trying to dodge the water he began to spin his arm, his stylus taking some damage here and there. He thought his stylus was going to break, it couldn't handle this much damage. It had begun to shake as it circled around the Blastoise. With a final exertion, he final captured it, "Capture Complete!" he yelled, picking up Kate and carrying her to the cover of the rock. "Blastoise, please. Use your rain dance." he pleaded coughing more. Blastoise nodded in understanding, walking to the center of the clearing. He let out a huge roar, throwing his arms up towards the smoke filled sky.

It started with a drop, but soon became a drizzle, then a downpour, putting out the flames in their wake. Even under the cover of the rock, Kellyn soon became drenched, but his full attention was on Kate.

This was his fault. He lowered his gaurd. He was more concerned with his impression on Kate than actually protecting her. And what was worse was that he couldn't even do anything when the Dim Sin grunt had taken her. But he was here now, and she needed him.

He felt for her breathing again, it was much more shallow this time and it felt forced. He cradled her head in his arm, putting his mouth on hers. Her lips were cold, and it made Kellyn shudder. It didn't suit her, she was full of life, and he wanted her to be full of life again. He took a deep breath trying to pull the smoke from her lungs. He pulled his face away and coughed before beginning again.

After a couple more attempts, Kate coughed and inhaled deep, her eyes opening to look at Kellyn. "Thank goodness." he whispered, before his exhaustion got the best of him and he felt himself topple over. Kate's concerned face was the last thing he saw before he closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw the tiled ceiling of the Veiltown ranger base. He sat up, a stinging pain filling his bones and his muscles screaming at him to lay back down. He was in the empty infirmary in the back of the base. He rubbed his eyes and he could feel his head pounding. The door opened and Rythmi entered the room. She turned to look at him and jumped. "How are you feeling, Kellyn?" she asked pulling over a chair and sitting next to his bed.

"I'm not dead, so that's a start." he laughed. Realization dawned on him when he remembered what happened yesterday, "What about Kate? Please tell me she's okay!" he grabbed Rythmi by the shoulders shuddering with concern. "Oh she's fine, thanks to you." she chuckled, "In that deep huh? Keith told me." she giggled.

Kellyn pouted, blushing horribly. Rhythm leaned in with a sly grin, "Don't worry, Kate's totally got the hots for you too. I know it!" she winked. He wasn't sure. This date was the thing that started this whole mess. It was a gut wrenching feeling to know that she wouldn't have been in danger if he hadn't asked her out.

He stood up and exited the room, Barlow and Co were waiting for him in the main room. Barlow ran up to him and hugged him, lifting Kellyn onto the air and spinning. Kellyn's eyes spun with him and he was relieved when he heard Keith's voice ask him to stop. When Kellyn regained his balance, he saw Pachirisu sitting on the opposite shoulder of Keith's Starly.

When the small squirrel saw him it leapt up and over to its friend nuzzling his face affectionately. "Can always count on you bro." Kellyn held out his fist and Keith gladly fist-bumped him, "You know it. Cause I'm the best." Keith struck his ranger pose and they all laughed. When the laughter had ceased Kellyn looked around, "Where's Kate guys?"

At that same moment, the Base's door flew open, revealing the top ranger he had just mentioned. The room went silent as Kate stomped over to Kellyn with her head down. When she reached him she looked up, and the teary eyes caught Kellyn off gaurd. Without any warning she reached up grabbing the back of his head, to slam his mouth on hers. He heard some whistles from Barlow and Keith in the background and went a darker shade of red every second.

Her lips were warm, much warmer than they had been the day before, and Kellyn concluded that this was a kiss full of life.

She released him and giggled at the stunned face Kellyn held. Kellyn looked at her dazed when she said, "You're my top ranger." and she poked his shoulder. Kellyn stood there for a second before falling over, unconcious. Kate gasped, but Keith, Rhythmi, Barlow and the rest of them just laughed.

The rest of the day was filled with laughter and celebration.