Considering how Sven was acting toward Kellyn lately, he probably wouldn't apologize for pushing and yelling at him, but Kellyn wouldn't force it. Sven had always been a tough Ranger, but he seemed tougher now than a year ago. Not that it was Kellyn's business; if Sven didn't want to be friends, fine. At least he had Ash, Brock, Dawn, and Wendy. There was always one outlier.
Kellyn took Ash, Brock, and Dawn back down to Peace Tower's lobby, where he gave them a tour, starting with the three portraits on the back wall. "These are the presidents of Altru Inc. over time: Doyle M. Hall, the founder, his son Brighton Hall, the second president, and his son, Blake Hall."
"He doesn't look shady at all," Dawn admitted, examining Blake Hall's shades, ponytail, and black suit.
"Piplup," Piplup agreed.
"He's not a bad man," Kellyn recalled (Kincaid was worse), "but he gave into darkness last year, threatening Almia with the Shadow Crystal. I think he learned his lesson, though." Now Kellyn had to learn his.
An image of Wendy falling from the sky because of Kellyn's mistake passed through his mind, but he shook it away and next took the Sinnoh trio to an exhibit that displayed the "Tears of Princes" legend. It included a replica of Almia Castle, the three gemstones, and the Crystal.
Kellyn inhaled. "The legend is that there was once an ancient king, the King of Olde, who lived in Almia Castle. He had three sons, two of whom he sent away. Each Tear represents a prince, but the king became overwhelmed with darkness and ended up creating the Shadow Crystal."
"Oh," Ash and his friends said.
"Darkrai has looked over the Crystal for a long time," Kellyn continued, gesturing at the replica, "but Team Dim Sun disrupted it last year when they dug it out of Chroma Highlands to the east of here."
"Darkrai?" Ash stood tall. "We saw one in Alamos Town not so long ago."
Kellyn gave him a funny look.
"It's in Sinnoh," Brock elucidated. "Darkrai was trying to protect the town from Palkia and Dialga."
Shut up! Ash and his friends had seen Palkia and Dialga, the deities of Time and Space?
They giggled, seeing Kellyn's face, and Dawn gloated, "So, you see, Mr. Big Shot, this isn't our first rodeo with Legendary Pokémon."
Which was why they wanted to help, but a piece of Kellyn still felt conflicted.
He snapped out of his trance when his Styler's voicemail button beeped. Kellyn opened the screen, saying, "Kellyn here."
Sven appeared on the screen, not Wendy. Oh, no! However, Kellyn relaxed when he saw that Sven was no longer angry.
"Wendy made me call you," he explained. "I didn't want to, but… Anyway, the Depot checked her out, and"—Sven stumbled over his words but quickly recovered—"they're fine… Aw, shoot! You guys can come to the Depot now."
It was strange. Sven appeared flustered and hung up the second he gave his order. What was with him?
"Was that Sven?" Ash faced Kellyn, irritated.
"Yeah," Kellyn answered, trying to shake off Sven's behavior. "Wendy's fine, so we can head to the Depot now."
"Yay! Let's go!" Blu soared around Kellyn and the others, heading for the exit. The little bird was desperate but still cheerful. Kellyn wondered how he did it.
He and the Sinnoh trio returned to the Ranger Depot, where they reunited with Wendy and Sven outside. Wendy sat in a chair, and Sven paced.
"There you are!" Wendy stood and waved.
The guilt returned, and Kellyn said, "Wendy!" He almost reached her, but Sven came between her and him. He held one hand up to Wendy, his other to Kellyn, to stop him.
"Stay back, Kellyn."
Kellyn flinched, stopping in his tracks. Luckily, Wendy rescued him.
"Sven, stop. He's not going to hurt me. What happened with the Crystal was an accident." She and her Staraptor approached Kellyn and his friends. "It's nice to see you guys. Don't worry—we're fine." Wendy placed her hands behind her and playfully swayed in her spot. "It looks like you've got a plan, Kellyn. I'm eager to hear it. But before we do…" She stepped aside, revealing Sven. "Do you have something to say to Kellyn, Sven?"
He cringed and clenched his teeth before sighing and approaching Kellyn like a little kid in trouble with their parents. He had some growing up to do, too, but at least he didn't insult him for once.
"I'm sorry, Kellyn. I was just so worried about Wendy." Sven's flustered face returned. "Let's forget the whole thing and start over."
Okay, Sven was tough, but he had a heart.
Kellyn gave him a small smile and offered him his hand. "Deal, Sven."
Sven took a deep breath (Kellyn saw him fighting a smile himself) and shook Kellyn's hand. "Deal. However"—he pulled away—"that doesn't excuse the fact that you gave into darkness again."
"I know," Kellyn said, "but I know how we can save Parity and the Crystal now." He looked at Ash, Brock, and Dawn, who encouraged him, and focused on Wendy and Sven. "We need to help the Gem Guardians first."
"The Gem Guardians?" Sven said, returning to his stern self. "What gave you a crazy idea like that, kid?"
"Because everything up there is corrupted, even the Tears of Princes." Kellyn gripped his chin. "The Tears are acting like a barrier around Parity. We save the Guardians—we reach her. Which means…" He beamed at the Sinnoh trio. "Congratulations, Ash, Brock, and Dawn. We're going to Almia Castle."
***
"Wake up, nincompoops!" Meowth scratched Jessie and James's faces, and they snapped awake, lying on top of one another in the forest, their pitfall still untouched.
"Why, you little—!" Jessie threatened Meowth, bopping him on the head.
"Hey!" Meowth said, rubbing his crown. "Not my crown!" He scratched Jessie again. "We fell asleep and still don't have any twerps!"
"Huh?" Jessie and James exchanged looks before yelling.
"Eee!" James said. "J will be here at any moment!"
"Wait, what's that?" Rustling came from the thicket, and Jessie turned, hearing voices. "I think that's twerp voices." She grabbed James and Meowth and dragged them into another bush, giving her a clear view of where they put the trap.
"Please, please," Team Rocket begged, putting their hands together.
Wobbuffet popped out of its pokéball, announcing, "Wobbu-Wobbuffet!"
"Shh!" Team Rocket said, covering its mouth.
Ash and the others soon appeared on the road, Kellyn, Sven, and Wendy leading the way.
Kellyn, studying Hastings and Erma in his Capture Styler's screen, said, "We're heading to Almia Castle now to free the first Gem Guardian."
"Ooh," James whispered from where he, Jessie, and Meowth hid. "Gem Guardian?"
"That sounds rare… and shiny," Meowth said.
"Hush!" Jessie snapped. "No distractions!" She lifted her fist. "We need that Ranger and Pokémon before J gets here."
"But how are we supposed to get him alone?" James asked. "They're having a whole powwow there."
"Like J, but the Team Rocket way," Jessie answered. She waited for a second, until Kellyn was a little further from the group, then pressed the button on her remote.
The ground under Ash, his friends, and the other Rangers rumbled.
"Whoa, what's that?" Ash inquired.
Sven and Wendy glanced down. At once, they snatched the trio and pulled them back.
Right when they did, Team Rocket's trap triggered, dumping dirt into a deep hole.
The group tripped over each other's feet, and Ash's shoe snagged a vine, releasing a net that scooped him and the others up.
"Guys!" Kellyn shut his Styler's screen and hurried to them.
Staraptor and Luxray squirmed at the bottom of the net, followed by the Sinnoh trio, Sven, and Wendy on top of them.
"What's a trap doing here?" Sven said before knocking himself on his head. "Oh, heck, who am I kidding? Who else wants us?"
"Ha, ha!" Team Rocket leaped out of their bush.
Jessie, keeping her thumb on the button, said, "Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!" James included.
Ash crawled past Sven and Wendy and gripped the net, glaring. "Team Rocket!"
It took a second, but Kellyn recognized the trio and quickly searched the area for J or a Pokémon he could catch. He wouldn't risk Blu that time. He would fight for him, Vatonage or not.
Dawn joined Ash and asked Team Rocket, "Can't you three be dumb somewhere else?"
"Dumb?" Jessie yelled. "Mind you!" She stepped forward. "I mean—we were supposed to catch the Ranger in the net, but this works, too."
"Who are they?" Wendy asked Ash, Brock, and Dawn.
"Team Rocket," Brock said. "They're nothing but trouble, and they're working for J."
"Not on my watch." Sven shook the net, but almost kicked Ash. He stopped when his eyes landed on a skunk-like Pokémon stepping out of a few of the thicket's plants. It was purple and white, and its tail covered its head like an umbrella.
Sven smirked and called to Kellyn. "Kellyn, behind you! Remember the Chroma Highlands and oil rig?"
"Hm?" Kellyn turned, noticing the Pokémon. "Skuntank! Perfect! Thanks, Sven." He aimed his Capture Styler at the Pokémon, flinching, but still yelled, "Capture on!"
Skuntank growled. It lowered its head and charged for Kellyn, but stopped when the Capture Disc surrounded it.
Okay, Kellyn could do this. Darkrai didn't visit him in his dreams overnight for nothing.
"Practice, practice," it had said. "Start with weaker targets. And remember… balance."
Kellyn inhaled, cleared his head, and nodded. "Vatonage!"
It took a few seconds, but while he drew his loops, his Line pulsed like the Luminous Crystal and changed from blue to a bright, divine light that blinded Team Rocket.
The halo around Skuntank transformed into the same divine energy and expanded, unleashing a burst of golden sparkles that quickly faded.
Once the halo vanished, Skuntank hopped back on its hind legs, outlined by the divine energy.
From the net, Ash and his friends' jaws dropped. Even Sven looked impressed.
"Kellyn, your power!" Wendy said, grinning. "You controlled it!"
How, though? Only a few hours ago, Kellyn had hurt her.
Beside him, Blu cheered and circled him. "Go, Kellyn! Go, Kellyn!"
"And capture complete," Kellyn said, remaining calm, even though he cheered on the inside. "Skuntank, get rid of those nincompoops with a good spray!"
"Skun!" Still outlined by the golden light, Skuntank dove for Team Rocket and pointed its backside at them.
"Eee!" they screamed, hugging one another, but it was too late.
"Eeeewww!"
Jessie and James grabbed their noses and ran in circles with Meowth, soaked with Skuntank's spray.
Jessie smashed into James and Meowth, and they yelled when they fell right into their pit hole, shouting, "Team Rocket's falling down again!"
Crash!
"Skuntank!" Skuntank landed before Kellyn and bent its body. The light around it vanished.
By then, Kellyn couldn't help himself. He laughed, as did his friends. "Now, that's how you get rid of villains!" He pinched his own nose. "Thank you, Skuntank!"
"Skuntank!" Skuntank high-fived Kellyn with its back foot.
"That was amazing, Kellyn!" Wendy cheered, coughing through the smell. "Almost as amazing as—!" She cut off when Sven gave her a quick look. "As this mission," Wendy corrected. "Anyway, do you think you could cut us down?"
"Got it!" Kellyn glimpsed at Skuntank. "Skuntank, Fury Swipes."
"Skuntank!" Skuntank's claws glowed, and it sliced the net.
"Yikes!" Ash and the others cried. They plummeted and hit Union Road.
"Oops, sorry." Still giggling, Kellyn helped them to their feet.
Further down Union Road, hidden in the shadows, a striking blue eye watched Kellyn.
Cold air surrounded the figure, and it said, "Well done, my friend." The Pokémon closed its eye and opened it again. "Keep finding balance, and I'll see you at Almia Castle." With those words, it sank into the shadows, and the cold air left the atmosphere, replaced by Almia's familiar warmth.