Summerland Rescue Duo

SUMMARY: After defeating the Go-Rock Squad, Cameron gives Solana some vacation time with Lunick in Summerland. All seemed well, but when Lunick goes missing and the temperature steeps, it’s up to Solana to take up one last mission! Romance. Adventure. A solo squad? One thing’s for certain… It’s all Cameron’s fault!

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Summerland Rescue Duo</u>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Lunick's sorta POV)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A vacation?” questioned Lunick.

Spencer nodded. “Yes! Anyone would deserve it after what you went through.” Lunick gave his best “aw, shucks” look.

“Lunick, Cameron’s prepared the perfect gift for someone in your shoes,” Spencer paused. “He’s arranged a vacation stay for you and Solana in Summerland.”

Me and Solana!? thought Lunick in surprise. Why would he send him with her? Of course, there’s nothing wrong with Solana…

“For a change, Cameron’s gift is just what the doctor ordered,” he continued, snapping the ranger out of his thoughts. “I know it’s for a private vacation-”

Private vacation!?

“-but I’ll authorize the use of the Dragonite Bus.”

“O-oh! Thanks!”

“I’ll call Solana up now. Good luck!”

“With what!?” sputtered Lunick, paranoid.

“Vacation! Vacation!” hollered Murph, tending his partner Pokemon, Slowpoke. “Ooh, it’s a holiday getaway! It’s a reward, Lunick! Don’t worry about Ringtown, we’ll take good care of it while you’re gone.”

The boy sighed in relief.

“That’s right,” added Spencer, “Murph knows what I’m talking about. Don’t worry about us. Go on and have a good, relaxing time.”

Unconsciously, Lunick’s face was evidently nervous.

“Say hi to Cameron for me when you get there. That’s all I ask.” He nodded.

A vacation in Summerland! Naps on the beach in the shade of trees…It’s going to be great! the eager Pokemon ranger told himself.

“Take care, now!” sounded Murph, and he quickly flew off to Summerland.

Minutes after, Ranger Lunick and his partner Pokemon, Minun, arrived in front of Ranger Base. But something was off.

It’s incredibly hot! he pointed out. Even for Summerland, this heat wave feels abnormal. With the quick temperature change of air pressure against a zooming Dragonite to the blazing beach of Summerland, Lunick could feel his legs beginning to buckle. But he pushed away the will to do that and entered the base.

Lunick saw Cameron; he was wiping off sweat as usual.

“Good to see you, Lunick!” sounded the energetic ranger leader of Summerland. “Are you all fired up for your vacation with the beautiful Solana?”

“Um, yeah!” the boy began hesitantly. “Quite literally actually…”

“Yes, the weather is broiling!” agreed Cameron after which was a long awkward silence. “So…where’s Solana?”

“Huh? Oh, Spencer is calling her up to ask if she wants to go,” responded Lunick, trying to remember why he came here if he didn’t get her answer yet.

“Hm? So if you don’t know if she’s coming or not, then why are you here?” Talk about reading your mind…

“Oh! That’s right!” he said, finally remembering, “I have one last mission to take care of. I need to go to the Jungle Relic to investigate the underground volcano.”

“You have to do it now? What about Solana?” questioned Cameron passionately.

“I’ll have to get done with this mission and get back to Ranger Base before she shows up, I guess,” and that shot the leader down. “Heh. It’d be great to see her again, but if I get this mission finished, I won’t have a flustered mind when spending my vacation,” Lunick added to make the action sweeter.

“Ah, right. So you can focus on her…” Cameron trailed off when he saw the look on Lunick’s face.

“Hn. I’ll be off then.”

“Be sure to keep contact with base!”

“I’ll be fine!” and he walked out the sliding door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Solana's sorta POV)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Solana, what’s up?” asked Spencer after witnessing her release some Pokemon back into their far-away habitat. “It’s been one huge mission after another since the whole Go-Rock Squad case. Are you a little tired?”

Solana didn’t like to show weakness, but she was very much indeed tired. She nodded her yes.

“I bet you would be,” Spencer agreed, laughing a bit. “Everyone would be tired after what you went through.” She nodded needlessly. Saving Fiorre, defeating the Go-Rock Squad, and rescuing so many Pokemon really took their toll on her. But she’d never quit for the sake of them and their welfare.

“Solana,” Spencer began, prepared to copy his exact words from Lunick. “Cameron’s prepared the perfect gift for someone in your shoes. He’s arranged a vacation stay for you and Lunick in Summerland.”

Me and Lunick!? thought Solana in surprise. Why would Spencer let Lunick go with her? Of course, it’s not like I don’t want him near me, or anything…

“For a change, Cameron’s gift is just what the doctor ordered,” he continued, snapping the ranger out of her thoughts. “I know it’s for a private vacation-”

Private vacation!?

“-but I’ll authorize the use of the Dragonite Bus.”

“O-oh! Thanks!”

“Lunick is already in Summerland, so you should meet up with him there.”

“Vacation! Vacation!” hollered Murph, tending his Slowpoke. “Ooh, it’s a holiday getaway! It’s a reward, Solana! Don’t worry about Ringtown, we’ll take good care of it while you’re gone.”

The girl sighed in relief.

“That’s right,” added Spencer, “Murph knows what I’m talking about. Don’t worry about us. Go on and have a good, relaxing time.”

Unconsciously, Solana’s face showed nervousness.

“Say hi to Cameron for me when you get there. That’s all I ask.” She nodded in understanding.

A vacation in Summerland! Naps on the beach in the shade of trees…It’s going to be great! the eager Pokemon ranger told herself, dancing around a bit.

“Take care, now!” sounded Murph, and she quickly flew off to Summerland.

Minutes after, Ranger Solana and her partner Pokemon, Plusle, arrived in front of Ranger Base. But something was off.

It’s incredibly hot! she noticed. Even for Summerland, this heat wave feels abnormal. With the fast temperature change of air pressure against an energetic Dragonite to the flaming beach of Summerland, Solana could feel her clothes sticking to her skin. But she wiped her brow and entered the base regardless.

Solana saw Cameron; he was wiping off sweat…as usual. He walked up to her with a saddened look.

“Hey there, Solana…Of all the rotten times to invite you out on a vacation…” Summerland’s leader was sad? Something must be REALLY wrong. “What with this abnormal heat wave and all these earthquakes…So much for getting some rest and relaxation…”

Solana sighed. She knew a worry free day with Lunick wasn’t on the schedule of a Pokemon Ranger.

“But there’s something else,” began Cameron as he turned around in seriousness. “It’s got me worried even more.” Concern in her expression, Solana looked up at the admin. “It’s Lunick…” Her eyes widened and she let out a small gasp.

“What happened to-“

“He went to the Jungle Relic to investigate the underground volcano. We’ve lost contact with him.” He confronted her again.

“Lunick’d been looking forward to meeting up with you right here in Summerland. He said he’d have to get done with his mission and get back to the Ranger Base before you showed up.” She knew what he was inquiring, no matter how small the hint. “Yup, he sure seemed eager to meet up with you again, but…”

Cameron was cut off by a sudden short earthquake that lasted no more than 3 seconds.

“Yikes! It’s shaking again!” shouted Percy, his Pokemon, Politoad, beside him with worry.

“Oh, oh!” warned Leilani as Solana turned to her. “Watch for fires!”

“That quake just now…Do you reckon it’s the underground volcano again?”

Perhaps…

“Solana, sorry, but I’m going to have to pull rank here and be a heartless taskmaster. I hereby cancel your vacation leave!” She sighed inwardly. It was obvious…

“First, I need you to find Lunick, who’s supposed to be at the Jungle Relic.” Solana beamed with determination. “Second, I want you to team up with Lunick. Then, the both of you together should uncover what’s causing all the trouble.” Even in times of crisis, Cameron still found ways to treat the two like an item…

“That, my friend, is the mission from this heartless taskmaster!”

Heartless taskmaster?

“Well, I guess a mission is a mission,” she said aloud, unsheathing her capture styler and flexing it about.

“I know I’m being heartless…” Solana wanted to disagree, but she was needed somewhere and she wasn’t about to let him down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Lunick's sorta POV)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Mai! Mai!” warned Minun as Lunick approached the cave.

“Calm down, now. I’ll be fine. Just wait outside. I need to check on this small lake in here, okay?” Lunick said, trying to convince his Pokemon. Minun still quivered, but it obeyed.

Entering the cave, Lunick turned to his right and saw 2 Poliwrath. Their home, a small body of water, was set behind them.

“They seem to be aggravated,” he whispered.

All of a sudden, the Poliwrath jumped into the water with a splash. After that, a short sudden earthquake occurred. Lunick trembled, but was alright. …Until he heard loud rumblings from behind him. Turning around he saw that he was sealed in by rocks caused from the quake.

“No!” Lunick ran to the barrier and started pounding on it. His hands ached, but he kept pounding.

“Mai! Mai mai! Maai!” cried his Pokemon partner, Minun.

“Minun!” he answered back. “Can you hear me?”

“Mai!”

“See if you can break the rocks!” Lunick back away a bit, but all he saw was a flash of light. He guessed Minun used Thunderbolt.

“No…”

“Mai! Mai!”

Lunick then tried to move the rocks on his own. They were too big and too heavy.

“Or maybe I’m just too weak…” Lunick reached for his styler and tried to contact Ranger Base. No dice. He sighed, hanging his head in defeat.

“Mai!” yelled Minun angrily.

“You’re right, I’ve got to try.” He started pounding the rocks again. “Someone! Anyone! Help! Help!! Cameron! Spencer!... Percy!... Murph!... Solana…”

It wasn’t long till Lunick was brought to his knees. He shut his eyes tight in frustration.

“What am I thinking?! I’m in the Jungle Relic! It’s forbidden for any ranger to enter here.” He sighed again, sitting down and leaning his back against the cave walls. “I can try to dive through that underwater tunnel,” Lunick reasoned, turning towards the body of water. “But Poliwrath are guarding it and I doubt I could hold my breath that long.” He buried his face in his hands.

“I ruined Solana’s vacation,” he muttered. A wry smile suddenly appeared on his face. “I wonder if she was looking forward to seeing me again…” His smile quickly disappeared as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. “I never… I’ll never…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Solana's to Lunick's sorta POV)~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who knows how Lunick is in that relic…, Solana thought as she speeded past the woods and entered the underground inferno. There was no turning back. She carefully avoided the uninterested eyes of a Numel and continued up. She spotted a lava pool up ahead, so she turned left and past the Entei statue, or more lack thereof.

Solana snuck past another Numel, but was hammered by a Rhydon. She rested a bit to recover from the hit and ran up the nearest stairs to avoid the angered creature’s eyes.

The ranger then heard the cry of an all too familiar Minun.

“Mai! Maai!” it sounded, panicking by a rock fall. Looking behind her, she spotted the Rhydon that attacked her a moment ago. The girl smirked and approached the Pokemon.

There, the battle ensued. She was at the highest rank of Pokemon Rangers, so the Rhydon was no match for her. The capture took only 6 seconds.

Solana headed up the steps again and analyzed the fallen boulders. She turned to Rhydon and pointed at the rocks. Immediately, Rhydon called forth its powers and shattered the rock fall into tiny pieces. The Rhydon was released automatically. Dust covered Solana, but dissipated quickly. Emerging from the cave that the rock fall blocked was none other than Lunick. Like the Pokedex described, Minun cheered in its partner’s safety.

“Solana?!” sounded the boy. “You came to rescue me?!” She didn’t understand why he was surprised. He was a fellow ranger, a friend.

“There was a tremor that caused a rock fall. I was trapped down there,” Lunick began to explain. “I started thinking what might happen to me if no one came,” he looked down, disappointed in himself. Lunick failed to see the look of disagreement in Solana. “I felt so lost and discouraged…

Lunick lift his head up just to catch that expression. “Solana, thanks.” He smiled sincerely. “Thanks for coming.” She smiled in return with a firm nod. “I’ll be okay now.”

A roar cut through their tender moment from behind Lunick; both turned reflexively towards the sound.

“What was that roar?” Lunick asked the girl. She merely shrugged. “It sounded like a quake.”

They just stood there for a moment, thinking of what to do. “Hey, Lunick.” He looked up at the mentioning of his name. “There’s water Pokemon in that cave you were trapped in, right?” He nodded; she smirked.

The female ranger entered the cave, the other not to far behind. There, she spotted 2 Poliwrath.

Perfect.

Solana approached the Pokemon, Lunick following suit cautiously. There, the challenge began as Solana had to try to capture both Poliwrath at the same time. However, activating Plusle’s Discharge ability at the beginning made the battle much easier. The Poliwrath fired their water attacks, but were cut short by the small electric Pokemon. Solana drew ten big circles around both of them, and they were hers to control.

They all exited the cave. Solana wasted no time and raced down the steps, passed the Numel and Rhydon, and ran down the road to where she saw the lava pool. It was then Lunick realized her plan and smirked.

“Poliwrath, cool down that lava!” As it was told, it fired a Water Gun attack at it until the lava pool was completely eliminated. She said her thanks and the Poliwrath returned home. She headed up ahead, avoiding the eyes of 2 more Numel and a somewhat dormant Graveler.

The couple entered the cave and spotted another Graveler, but it quickly hid itself as a rugged rock. She smirked and continued onwards. Then, the last person they expected appeared.

“Hey, hey, sweethearts! Having a little date alongside this scenic magma pond?” It was a Go-Rock grunt with 2 Metang beside him.

And an annoying one at that, thought Lunick as the peon continued his monologue.

“I’ve been here dreaming about the return of the Go-Rock Squad.” Both tensed at the thought of such a troublesome group ever returning to power.

“I’m working my way up to the big capers from petty crimes--it's a start, right?” the grunt paused. “You know who I am? I’m the Solo Go-Rock Squad!” The two couldn’t help it and laughed a bit. A solo squad? Who wouldn’t laugh at how that sounded?

“…You snickered? You’ll pay for that!” and he sent those Metang on the rangers. Poliwrath, Minun, Plusle, and even Lunick himself edged closer to Solana to brace themselves for battle.

The Metang hammered and charged at Solana’s styler. Damage was caused. It was not going to be easy, but she devised a plan. The ranger noticed that every time SHE stopped the styler in mid-circle instead of a Metang, they were trapped temporarily. However, instantly after they were set free, they head butted in reflex. So, she kept drawing circles around both of them and stopping before they could fire another head butt, all the while charging up her Plusle. It took a while, but Plusle was finally ready to shock those scraps of metal.

Plusle paralyzed them both and Solana spun circles around them. But even when there were enough rotations she still spun them for a loop. She spun and spun and spun until the Metang were free from the shock and cried out in attack. Lunick realized she was charging up her Plusle again for any future battles. Smart.

The Metang floated away to their home as the false owner panicked in defeat.

“Huh? So Solo Go-Rock Squad is a silly name after all…” Solana and Lunick grinned a bit. “I mean, it would take more than one to make a squad. I guess it’d work for you two.” None could stop the blush from rising to the faces of those two rangers. They looked down in embarrassment.

“Look at you--all friendly and all. It makes me jealous!” Solana scowled at the nimrod, ‘hmph’ed, and walked on up a flight of stairs. There, she saw a Manectric, just what she needed. She captured it in record time and used its electricity to restore energy to her styler. It ran off afterwards.

Solana and company walked further, only to find a dead end, along with another Rhydon. They quickly leapt down the stairs and tried the other set beside the grunt. He just stood there and blew wolf whistles at the couple, to which their faces grew warmer.

There, they spotted dozens of flashing craters. Solana didn’t take any chances and avoided stepping in any of them. After meandering passed all of the craters, Lunick found a stairway. Solana walked down the steps.

The first thing they saw was an Electrike, but when it saw her, it immediately fled. Making a U-turn, the rangers spotted a Magmar. Solana tried to sneak passed it, but it was a failed attempt. The battle was not so hard though. The line length of Solana’s styler was so great that she was able to draw circles around the Magmar even as it spit fire.

Continuing on, she turned left and saw a saving machine. She didn’t save though and went up a set of stairs beside it. Then she saw a couple of Slugma; they were easy to get around. Further ahead was a Magcargo; it was as easy to pass as the Slugma. Heading into the cave, they saw a legendary Arcanine. She approached it and the battle began.

Even an Arcanine is no match for Solana, thought Lunick brightly. After the fire Pokemon’s data was updated onto her browser, she headed out of the cave, passed the Magcargo and its pre-forms, and down the stairs. Turning right, she saw a hidden Graveler and a frantic Manectric, to which she avoided to climb up the next set of stairs.

She evaded the eyes of a couple of Charmander and turned right. Next, she saw yet another Rhydon. It was a bit more difficult to avoid, and in the process of evasion, accidentally fell down a small hole. Lunick dove in after her. After the ranger removed his figure from the girl, they heard a rumble. Turning towards the source of the sound, they saw a door that opened suddenly.

Solana steadily confronted the opened doorway. Who knew what lay ahead? She paused for a moment though and looked back at her partner. Lunick saw something incredible that day. It was fear in this ranger’s eyes. Fear that was usually hidden by duty and determination. He saw it in Solana’s glistening irises. The sight made him turn away in his own fear. If the great Solana was afraid, he should be too!

“Lunick…”

He turned to face her and spoke before she could continue. “Solana…Your vacation’s ruined.” The fear in her expression disappeared and was replaced with playfulness, and something else he couldn’t name. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head and walked into the unknown, Lunick not too far behind.

Side by side and Plusle to Minun they saw…

“You’re kidding me!” shouted Lunick in shock. “Groudon?!” The creature before them cried as the rangers looked at each other in astonishment. “It’s awesome! I never thought I’d get to see the legendary Groudon up close!” Solana smiled sweetly, glad he was so happy and that they were able to see this amazing Pokemon together.

“But there’s something wrong.” Her smile disappeared. “It seems to be in pain! Maybe we can help…” The ranger nodded, ready to do whatever took. “Solana, do you think you can capture it?” She nodded again. She paused a bit before the creature, and at last approached it.

Groudon’s power was unreal! Its energy blasted Solana’s styler away at the beginning of the match. Even when that attack was done, as soon as she sent out her styler again, it was fired by the hugest Hyper Beam she had ever seen!

No, it’s a Solarbeam, she corrected herself. My styler’s low on energy. I knew I should’ve caught that other Manectric, she thought regretfully as she bit the bottom of her lip. Looking into her arsenal of Pokemon, she decided to give her second Poliwrath a go. It was difficult and heart-pounding, but the legendary Groudon was caught with the help of Poliwrath’s Pokemon Assist. She updated her browser while her Plusle cheered.

“Wow! That was awesome!” sounded her fellow ranger, Lunick. “You were so cool, Solana!” Her face flushed in his flattery while Lunick turned a bit pink thinking about what he had blurted out.

“…Huh?” he said, noticing marks on the newly caught Pokemon. “…What are these wounds?” He drew closer to it without hesitation and ran his hand on the creature’s massive nape. “Hey, check it out! There are four gouges on its neck!” Solana had a hunch on who caused it. “Only one thing could have inflicted wound like that on Groudon. It must have been another legendary Pokemon--Kyogre!” Lunick must’ve read her mind.

“I’m sure that’s what it fought. It just has to be that Kyogre, you captured in the sea, Solana.” She sucked in a bit of air at how he knew that. “After its battle, Groudon must have come here to tend to its wounds.” He looked at it with a sweet sort of pity, the same creature that could destroy the world in only a matter of minutes. “It must have thrashed around in agony and set off the underground volcano. The poor Groudon…” She always admired the way he handled Pokemon; not like animals, but as a living being. “It’s okay now, big guy. Go back to where you came from.” He backed away, and without the capturer’s command, the Groudon leapt away to its home far, far away.

After the legendary creature left them, the rangers turned to each other out of breath.

“Solana,” Lunick being the first to speak, “I guess we’re done. We should head back.” She nodded her yes. “Maybe we can enjoy the trip home…”

His eyes are wandering elsewhere, she noted. Plus, the fieriest Pokemon of all just left the premises. Shouldn’t it be cooler, not hotter?

“Like a vacation?” Surprise was evident on her complexion as his eyes finally met hers. It took a while, but she relaxed enough to give him a small, sincere giggle like the girl she was. Not a ranger, but a girl. And with that, they headed home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~(…What?)~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So you’re saying you were trapped by a rock fall?” asked Cameron when the couple returned to base. “Boy, am I glad to see you two again. Some vacation I invited you on, huh? Talk about the worst possible timing…”

“Cameron, don’t be silly!” comforted Lunick. “We owe you a big thanks!” Solana glanced back at him, wondering how being trapped in a cave was so delightful.

Especially with how damaged his hands got, Solana thought, looking downward at his still-red carpals.

“We got treated to an outing in an exotic location that won’t ever be in any travel guidebook! We enjoyed one hot, exciting vacation, I swear!” Rethinking what he said, he quickly added, “We also got to meet Groudon.” Searching for more excuses, “And we met this Solo Go-Rock Squad…Wahahaha!” His laughing was accompanied with a red face and a giggling Solana. “Thinking about that guy cracks me up!”

“Yeah, I envy you for seeing Groudon,” Cameron sighed. “But that Solo Go-Rock Squad thing…” Solana chuckled. “I don’t know what that’s about.” Then she burst out laughing. “But anyways, thanks to you two, Summerland’s back to normal. So you’ve cleared that hot and exciting mission!” Cameron quoted from Lunick.

Hearing that, they both flexed their styler’s in the traditional commemoration as their partner Pokemon cheered.

Cameron’s expression though broke through the celebration. “You know,” he began, “I just said that Summerland’s back to normal. But what’s going on?” Queue the questioning faces. “It’s still abnormally hot. What’s causing this heat wave?”

The two glanced at each other, still a bit red, their eyes doing the talking.

‘He’s right. It’s still weirdly hot.’

“…Oh, I get it now!” They looked at him with nervousness. His expression was short of pleasant…to them. “This heat…It’s coming from this smiling couple right here!” Assuming they still didn’t get it, he continued further. “Did that vacation under intense heat inflame your passions?”

!?!?!

“Oo-la-la!” The red spread to their ears. “Ahahaha!” laughed Cameron, enjoying the faces of the couple. “Sorry, sorry! I’m just joking!” he followed up, wiping away tears of laughter…or more sweat.

Both of them, secretly wanting to know the other’s opinion on the accusation, turned to each other at the same time. But to someone’s misfortune and another’s fortune, their eyes met in such a heart-pounding way, that they began to freak out, and turned around, sweating nervously like Cameron could never do. Plusle and Minun however could disagree and cheered at how the mission brought them even closer.

And it was on missions like that did the ranger wish that they could tell the other. That they could tell the other how an excited grin would appear on their faces whenever the other was near. How the other admired how they handled Pokemon in their own way. How the other wished that their Pokemon were right to cheer in their embarrassment.

INTERLUDE

I’ve been a Pokemon Ranger for a long time now.

So much has happened since I met Solana.

I thought he was just a friendly guy…at first.

But her personality, once I learned of her…is amazing. She’s amazing.

Even if you forget about the fact that we’re just rangers of the same city.

She’s still a person with a kind heart and desires.

He’s a really great guy.

And I know I shouldn’t’ think about it, but…

…I wonder how…

…she feels about me?

…he feels about me?