His recovery finally ended a few days later, days during which he had his reunion with his feathered beast. And by Arceus, she gave him a hell of an earful! Well deserved that's for sure.

Since then, the Flying-Type showered him with affection, both physically and mentally. It was not uncommon for her to serve as both a pillow and a blanket, by the way. And that didn't bother her at all, on the contrary, she was happy to be able to pamper her partner who badly needed affection. Especially after nearly dying a second time.

Besides, this led to a kind of mini-war between Fischl and Keith, the two fighting to dote on the brunet. A war that was won with flying colors by Wendy. Indeed, the latter took her role as "mother" very seriously and spent most of her time watching over her new baby bird. Whether it's pampering him or lecturing him when he needed it.

All that to say that when he finally recovered, he had never felt so alive in his entire short life!

And now he had to go back to the Missions. Professor Hastings was waiting for our duo and Fiore's, to give them the details of their next quest.

- Kell, are you okay? Is your leg holding up?

The redhead, who had invited himself into his friend's room, stared at the black kneepad that enveloped the previously frozen flesh. The younger one gave him a nice reassuring smile.

- Yeah. This kneepad is made of a special heating band, and will prevent me from having a relapse.

- Oh....But, isn't this kind of thing rare?

- Yes and no. You just have to look in the right place.

- If you say so.

The two Rangers rubbed their heads together gently.

- Come on Scarlet, we'd better go join the professor before he gets impatient.

- Anything but his reprimands! I always feel like my head is going to explode each time he screams...!

The brunet laughed at the half-terrorized, half-jaded face of his friend, who stuck his tongue out in return. This greatly amused their Partner Pokemons.

- { And they're supposed to be the crème de la crème of Rangers, huh?}

- (Let them be kids. They deserve it.)

- { Not wrong, not wrong...~}

Sapphire, who was lying on the raptor's head, chuckled mischievously. Alala... These idiots were adorable!~

Anyway, the foursome finally went to the research room without further delay. As soon as they entered the room, they were greeted by Hastings' strong voice.

- Here you are! I was starting to get impatient!

- S-Sorry Professor! We were-

The oldest of the 2 was interrupted by his friend who was writing at high speed.

- "I had some trouble putting on my kneepad and Keith had to help me. That's why we're late. Please excuse my incompetence."

The redhead observed his neighbor, flabbergasted. The latter gave him a small smile before mouthing:

- "Consider this my way of thanking you for taking care of me."

The one with crimson pupils tried to reply but the old man didn't give him the time to.

- Ah yes, it's true...Wendy had already mentioned this accessory...Try not to lose it then.

- "Promise."

The man sighed before clearing his throat, regaining his seriousness.

- Well, let's move on. Thanks to Kellyn's report we were able to decipher part of Brighton's diary. In addition to the Blue Gem, it informed us of the existence of two others which are said to be in Boyleland and Haruba Desert.

He began pacing in front of the two Top Rangers who were listening to him in a religious silence.

- During your coma Kellyn, we placed the one you brought back to us at the risk of your life in a machine at the foot of the Harmony Tree... If at first, the Pokemons started to come back to their senses, very quickly they fell back into hypnosis....

The adult turned around, and stared at a screen.

- However, by the greatest chance, two of our Operators, Rhythmi and Linda had approached the fragment in order to check some data....And that's when the pendants they were wearing suddenly started to glow. Their brilliance, combined with Murph's, annihilated the energy of the crystal, turning it from absolute black to luminous transparent...

Abruptly, Hastings spun around, causing the teens to flinch.

- I think you understand what that means, their pendants are made from other "Tears of Prince". That's why I'm asking you both to find their original stones...The Red Gem and the Yellow Gem. Kellyn, you're going to Boyleland and you, Keith, to Haruba Desert. I count on you!

- Roger/"Roger"!

The foursome therefore greeted the professor before hurriedly leaving the room. They headed outside and went in a corner to talk in peace.

- One gem each, huh? Let's do our best to get them back!

The redhead looked both excited and nervous, not that the teal-eyed one blamed him for it.

- Humhum...~ But be careful, okay?

The brunet had embraced his friend, wanting as much to wish him good luck as to reassure himself. The older boy hadn't even hesitated to hug him back, causing the other one to purr.

- Promise, Kell. Try to be careful too. I...I don't ever want to see you in THAT state again....

The younger one flinched at the mention, making him hug his comrade even more.

-...It's an oath.

The two stayed like that for a long time, Keith occasionally playing with his friend's hair. Then, they separated, because they still had a mission to accomplish.

- I'll see you later then?

- Yeah, see you later. Come back safe and sound, please....!

- I promise Kell, I promise.

The redhead gave him a gentle headbutt before placing his partner on his shoulders. The boys greeted each other one last time, then Fiore's duo left for the desert, leaving Almia's alone.

-...*sigh*....Well, we'd better go, right?

- (Yeah. At least we don't have to worry about transport! Come on, climb on little Amethyst.)

The Staraptor then presented her back to Kellyn who immediately climbed on it. They adjusted their positions and then the bird took flight.

As the surrounding buildings visibly shrunk, the young Ranger took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. Now that he was no longer in critical condition, the trip would be much more pleasant.

- (Boyleland here we come!)

So Fischl took off at full speed, flying with an elegance of her own.

The trip didn't last long, thanks to the bird's speed, because they quickly saw the silhouette of the volcanic island. The bird landed near the Ranger reserve, allowing her partner to return to dry land.

The latter gave her tickles in return, a pretty tender smile on his lips.

- /Yosh...~ Now let's go find that Gem. Do you have any idea where we could start?/

- (Hmm....Do you remember the sealed cave near the entrance of the volcano?)

- / Oh, yeah good idea! It's true that I hadn't paid too much attention to it the last time..../

- (In your defense you had other fish to fry!)

- / Not wrong./

The duo laughed at their stupidity before launching headlong into their new mission.

As they expected, the entrance was still sealed. They therefore had to go and see the village elder in order to gain access to it....

The negotiation was somewhat...Laborious, because the man confused our poor Ranger with a henchman of Team Dim Sun. Fortunately, his granddaughter quickly set him straight. May Arceus bless her!

Sssssooooooooo....After this little interruption, the two friends were finally able to go inside the second volcanic cave.

- (I didn't miss the heat at all...)

- Haha...I know my dear, I know. But it's for a noble goal.

- (I know....Alright, let's get that damn gem and get the hell out of here!)

The brunet chuckled softly while lightly scratching his feathered beast's neck in comfort.

The duo then began their exploration, deciding to go into pro mode. Because after all, it was a mission of the utmost importance.

Luckily for them, the second cave wasn't that big. On the other hand, there was a slight difference with the first: balls of magma flying everywhere.

- (For the love of Mew! Why is this so aggressive compared to our first visit?!)

- I guess the Guardian doesn't want us to come close...But that means we're on the right track!

- (...I envy your optimism.)

Anyway, all that to say that indeed they were gradually approaching their goal. Unsurprisingly, they came across minions, except this time they belonged to a special unit: the Crimson Unit, a team made up entirely of women.

Although they seemed more resourceful than their basic counterparts, they too had a reduced brain size....

Seriously, what's their problem? When we send you to a volcano, you avoid wearing makeup! It's common sense!

Not for the Crimson Unit it would seem. And that made the Almia duo somewhat depressed.

- (I swear on Arceus almighty that pea-sized brains must be part of the qualifications for the job, seriously!!!)

- Calm down Fifi...~ You'll lose your feathers if you continue.

The Staraptor was this close to banging her head against the wall, and frankly; Kellyn wasn't far from it himself, either.

...They had at least learned the name of the Boss of their team: Lavana. For now they still hadn't met her, but it wouldn't be long before they did.

The two went deeper and deeper into the volcano, sensing that their goal was near. The brunet was hearing his heartbeat increase in both speed and force, causing him to bite his lips.

- /...Someone is here./

- (...Sixth Sense?)

- / Sixth Sense./

The boy's instinct proved correct when suddenly, a woman with long pink hair stood in front of them. Despite her lovely appearance, there was a hostile but deeply passionate aura around her.

- I was wondering why my dear sisters were coming crying to me...I see that it's your fault, Ranger.

She moved with a feline gait towards the duo, her gaze ablaze with anger. Fischl instantly positioned herself in front of her Partner before straightening up to her full height. Her bloody pupils met the cerise's ones of the SinisTrio's member.

The two stared at each other, silently challenging each other until the adult laughed.

- What a fighting spirit! I recognize the look of an Amazon when I see one! Very well, I accept your challenge.

- ( Bring it on.)

/ W-W-W-Wait!! W-What's going on?! What challenge are you talking about?!/

Kellyn was freaking out, wondering what he had done to Arceus to deserve such punishment.

His feathered beast then spread her immense wings, ready to fight the Infernape sent by Lavana. The teenager, upon seeing this, completely forgot his inner panic, and went into battle mode. It seems that being a Ranger had become his second nature.

The woman chuckled mischievously, while she passed a hand through her hair in an elegant but confident gesture.

- Let's see which of our fires burn brighter than the other! En garde, Ranger!

This signal was all the fire monkey needed to start attacking her opponents. Immediately, she started figures embellished with explosions and dancing flames, forcing the duo to retreat.

- /Ready to make her bite the dust?/

- (I can't be more ready! Let's show her what we're made of!)

The two then engaged in battle, thus accepting the challenge of the member of the SinisTrio. It looked more like a frenzied waltz than a fight, because the one with pink hair had a fighting style very close to the Ranger's.

She moved, twirled, and imposed a powerful rhythm, guiding the Pokemon under her control just as Kellyn was doing with Fischl. This was confirmed by her Miniremo which was currently on her arm, in a form strongly reminiscent of a Fine Styler.

For more than 20 minutes the foursome fought with all their heart and soul, not giving each other a break, until finally the Infernape was captured in an explosion of flames. The machine the woman was carrying shattered instantly, making her defenseless. But that didn't bother her since she just applauded her opponent.

- Bravo! You showed us a very good fight, Ranger! It's been a while since I've been all fired up like this. In fact, since my fight against this Ranger from Fiore... But let's move on, I admit my defeat, the Red Gem is yours.

The two admins at her side began to panic.

- B-But Lavana...!

- Silence. He won by the rules, and I lost. Remember, he's just as much of a warrior as we are, and he deserves to be treated as such.

The one with the cerise pupils then advanced towards her former adversary, offering a handshake which the boy accepted without much hesitation.

- Once again, I congratulate you. Your fighting spirit is worthy of that of the greatest Amazons! Aw, I wish you could have been part of my unit....Someone as cute and talented as you belongs among us!

The brunet's face ignited because of the compliment, slightly forgetting that he was conversing with his enemy... Although she had a good head on her shoulders and a huge sense of honor, unlike some people.

The Staraptor rumbled a little, bringing her partner back to reality. This made Lavana laugh.

- Don't worry, I'm not going to steal your Ranger. I'm not that deceitful. Anyway, let's move on. Girls, let's go!

The woman's voice carried away before she started to walk away, her unit closely behind. Moments later, only Almia's duo remained.

-...Well, she's different from Ice, that's for sure!

- (I admit being surprised that the members of the SinisTrio seem to act according to their own will. It doesn't seem that they completely obey their leader.)

- Those are his favorites, right? Maybe that's why?

- (Ah, not wrong.)

Still, the two now had to go to the Guardian in order to recover what they had come to seek in the first place: the Red Gem.

-...Hey, do you think we'll end up with a being as powerful as Lucario?

- (100% sure. Let's hope it doesn't end so badly though!)

- Humhum...~

The teenager then stared apprehensively at the sanctuary's entrance. Despite himself, his body seemed to be somewhat... Uncooperative. He lightly patted his cheeks before taking a deep breath.

- / This is not the time to be afraid. Almia is counting on us. We can't disappoint them...Move, you idiot!/

The brunet then forced himself to move forward, while maintaining a grip on his partner's plumage as if to reassure himself.

This sanctuary, although similar to Almia Castle's, was still quite different. It's atmosphere was much heavier and oppressive, far from the cold and elegant one of the previous one, the heat certainly not helping.

- (Kell, look! There it is!)

The Staraptor pointed toward the altar on which the object of their quest was, floating charismatically. The teal-eyed one smiled for a moment before his expression suddenly hardened.

-...The Guardian too.

Pillars of lava suddenly rose from the ground, confirming the Ranger's prediction. A powerful roar echoed inside the room, making our two friends shiver.

There they were, the Guardian of the Red Gem: Heatran.

The creature stood there, proud and powerful, judging the intruders with their gaze. Their fiery pupils darkened, announcing their impending attack which came quickly.

A small explosion occurred near Kellyn who escaped at the last second. The teenager stared at the Pokemon that was advancing in the arena, ready to fight.

- [YOU WHO DARED ENTER THIS SACRED PLACE. PROVE YOUR VALUE. PROVE TO ME THAT YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO SURVIVE.]

The boy took a deep breath, nervously scratching the bird's neck.

-...Ready Fischl?

- ( Always!)

-...Let's go!

The Staraptor didn't need to be asked twice, launching headlong into their new fight, the Ranger following her immediately. Heatran, meanwhile, snarled, showing that they too, were ready to fight.

During this explosive battle, the duo more or less managed to match the Guardian, who fought with the strength of an erupting volcano, although it took a lot of effort and perseverance.

Heatran, being the type to set traps on the battlefield and use long-range attacks... It was difficult for our two friends to maneuver without getting some damage.

But, it ends up paying off when the capture ended up, surprising the brunet first.

-....We did it...?

- ( We did it!)

The teenager, understanding the implication of this statement, almost jumped in pure joy, his face reflecting huge relief. The bird, although in the same state, contained herself much better, preferring simply to smile like an idiot.

The Guardian was watching them quietly in their corner, their gaze almost tender. They approached the duo slowly, as if to give them time to notice their presence.

- [ IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE FELT SUCH PASSION... RANGERS ARE SAID TO TRANSMIT FEELINGS OF FRIENDSHIP TO POKÉMEONS...]

Heatran stopped in front of the boy, staring at him for a moment before resting their head against his chest.

- [...BUT YOU, IT'S NOT FRIENDSHIP THAT YOU GIVE. BUT LOVE. PURE AND BRIGHT LOVE TOWARD POKEMONS.]

The young Ranger blushed furiously, not really knowing what to do, causing the 2 Pokemons to chuckle.

- (Aw~ Don't be so embarrassed little Amethyst...~ They're right after all.)

- Y-You're not helping....!

- [ LET'S NOT DIGRESS. WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN THIS PLACE IS THE "TEARS OF PRINCE", RIGHT?]

The pair nodded, switching back to serious mode.

- [ VERY WELL. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOUR VALUE IN THIS BATTLE, YOU DESERVE IT.]

The Guardian then walked towards the altar, their blazing aura enveloping the room. The barrier protecting the stone quickly gave up under the power of the Pokemon, leaving it defenseless. Heatran then made it float to the boy who immediately cradled it against him.

- We thank you for your trust, and promise you that we will do everything to protect Almia.

- [ I KNOW. YOUR HEART IS AN OPEN BOOK, SO I ALREADY KNOW YOUR INTENTIONS.]

The brunet flinched, was he really that transparent...?

- [ THIS IS NOT A BAD THING IN ITSELF. BUT YOU DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO WHO YOU OPEN YOUR HEART.]

Kellyn stared at the Fire-Type straight in the eye, searching for any lies in their smoldering gaze. His shoulders visibly relaxed when he found none and gave them a grateful smile in return.

-...I'll be careful. Thank you for your concern.

The creature greeted the duo before leaving to plunge back into their lair. Our two friends leaned against each other, exhausted because of the pressure and fatigue.

- (...Let's go home little Amethyst?)

-...Yeah. Good idea. I'm tired...!

- (Haha, me too Kell! Me too...)

The two then set off, getting through the volcanic cave again, but this time they were looking for the exit. Fortunately for them, the Pokemons in the area, upon seeing that they had gained Heatran's trust, left them alone for the rest of their journey.

The brunet sighed in relief when he finally felt the cool air on his face.

- Aaaaaahhhh...It's so nice....!~

- ( Freedom!!!)

The Staraptor seemed far more enthusiastic than her partner about being outside again. Although, maybe it was because she was a Pokemon...and a bird as well. This caused a chuckle from the boy.

- Haha! Calm down my dear. The sky is not going to disappear!

- (With those fools from Dim Sun, you never know!)

- Not wrong, not wrong...~

They both laughed at their stupidity as they prepared for the air trip. After all, they better not lose their precious merchandise along the way!

- ( Let's go then!)

Aaaannnddd off they go, passing through the different air currents in their way without problems. Immediately the one with teal eyes started to lose himself in his thoughts, staring at the sky.

- (You seem very thoughtful Kell. Something is bothering you?)

The teen jumped, nearly falling overboard. Fortunately, Fischl now knew how to anticipate this kind of reaction.

- O-Oh no! I-I...

The teenager's cheeks took a pretty crimson shade, making the bird guess what or rather WHO was the subject.

-...Do you think Keith is already home?

- (Honestly, I don't know....You miss him, do you?)

- A little...

Unfortunately for the boy, his body language betrayed him greatly, although the Flying-Type didn't let him know this time around.

- (Hmmm...~ Why don't you call him if he's not here when we get home?)

- That would mean that he is still on a mission and therefore busy. I can't afford to disturb him, especially on such an important mission.

- (Oh....I know you're right but....)

- Don't worry Fischl. I have already spent several months without seeing him, so 2-3 days? It's a piece of cake.

- (If you say so....I trust you on that.)

- Thanks my dear.

Although the Staraptor was completely unconvinced by her friend's statement, she still decided not to push him. She then focused on her trajectory, more to clear her mind than anything else.

The rest of the trip passed in quiet silence, allowing them to enjoy the many landscapes that Almia offered. Shortly after that, the Union appeared in their sight. At this sight, the brunet muttered with a small smile.

- We are back...

- (Yeah...Hang on, we're gonna land.)

No sooner said than done. While the boy clung to the ebony plumage of the bird, the latter landed masterfully on the grass. The teen scratched his feathered beast's neck in congratulations before carefully descending from her back.

- ( Let's go?)

- Let's go.

The duo then entered the building, ready to report to the chairperson. She was, as usual, in the Operations room, guiding the Operators under her wing. She quickly noticed the presence of our two friends.

- Welcome back my children. I dare to hope that your mission went well?

- "It was the case, don't worry Madam. We have the Red Gem."

The young Ranger then held out the stone which blazed under the light, making the old lady smile.

- This is very good news. However, you must both be exhausted... Go and rest. We'll deal with the Gem tomorrow.

- "Roger."

They greeted the adult respectfully before leaving the room, not forgetting to say hello to Rhythmi as they went off. It was true that they needed a rest...The day had been explosive after all.

--------------------------------

Keith: *being overprotective with Kellyn*

Kellyn: Keith, my dear Keith....Stop protecting me! I'm not made of glass!

Keith: That's not what your last mission told me!

---------------------

Lavana: Such a shame that you're not a part of my unit!...Or maybe I can kidnap you.That way, you can join us!....Why do I hear Boss Music?