Rosa peered at him.What tune is that, Serknight?

Robin blushed a little.Our playdate at Ranger Haytch Kyuu's still on, right?

Ray jumped a little, and then calmed down.Marie chuckled."Ah, yeah, I remember that stage in your life." "You were an adorably naughty little monkey. Ray teased. Not as much as Salsa, but still...

Rosa frowned, and then brightened."Ah, yes! I remember that, Locke used to have it on his.... she stopped before she could finish, her face growing morose.

Ray giggled....Mutually experimental accidents. She then turns to Marie, frowning."Assignment?"

Marie turns pale."Um..could we talk?"

Bedroom

Ray shuts the door, and turns to Marie. Marie opens her mouth to speak, but Ray holds up her hand."Let me guess...this is a Ranger thing?"

Marie nodded, and then lowered her head."It's...it's..." "In Hia Valley?" Ray asked, her voice but a whisper. Marie sadly nodded.

"And..and the reason we're in this room right now." Ray continued. her voice starting to break."Was because you..wanted to tell me before hand in case...." she didn't need to finish, as like her head was made of stone, Marie nodded...tears dripping of her lowered head,  her whole frame shaking as she moved forward into Ray's arms.

"I..I just don't wanna leave you guys..." Marie sputtered out..but Ray shushed her, putting on a smile."Hey, Mar, we've been together 17 years now. I trust you and love you, more than anything except our child, you both hold equal place in my heart. You know that, right?" Marie nodded, smiling despite the tears.

"Then go out there, with the knowledge that you've got a beautiful family waiting for you at home.." Ray wiped away some of her tears..."and Arceus won't let you die while we're here." She looked up to the skies, defiantly. Marie laughed, and kissed her, wrapping her arms around her. Ray did the same, and they held that position, their love shining from them.

Rosa nodded, sadly.It's been months, but no word..Maray won't admit it, but they're scared that he's.. she didn't finish, and instead hugged Senshi tightly.

Robin is currently hiding behind the head of the  Cresselia, snickering, thinking that Jason can't find him.

Marie finally breaks the kiss and laughs again."Arceus, Ray, not gonna lie, that was seriously goofy." Ray rapped her on the arm but giggled."Yep, and I meant every word."

"Aww.." Marie moved to hug her again, but Ray pushed her outside"Oooh no, stop slacking, missy, you have work to do."

She then looks up and frowns."You'd better take good care of her." There came a rumbling outside, and she brightened."Glad we have an understanding" before leaving the room herself.

Robin looks down at Jason, snickering a bit loudly. Marie walks outside of the room, and looks around, spots Robin up on Cresselia, and smiles. She closes ehr eyes, and starts wondering around:"Where did Robin go?"

Rosa tightly grasped on to Senshi, and started humming the tune with him."Yes, yes, he's probably all right.

!Somewhere distant and hidden
A bearded, scarred and blonde man in ratty clothes lay against the wall, panting. A man in a mask and black clothes, hefting a baton. The man looked up at him with clear, cold steely eyes."Get on with it."

Robin yelps as he jumps back, falling off the statue and into Balthazar's arms.

Woah, buddy! Be careful next time, got it? He let Robin down, who then proceeded to clutch at his leg.

Rosa nuzzled Senshi.Heh, your boss approves.

Rosa turns to Jason and asks Permission to cuddle you, sir?

Ray emerges from the room and smiles at Robin, before hearing "Um..Ray? and turning her head.

Kuroro the Empoleon stood still as Picasso draw her on a canvas."How long do I have'ta stay like this?

Ray smiled."Until he's done.

Rosa hugged Jason tightly, and then brought Senshi into the hug.C'mere, you!

Nodoka! Kuroro huggled the Pachirisu close, at which Picasso groaned, and then started painting again.

Marie coughed. So..should we be off?

Robin waved."See ya, Momma and Uncle Jason!" Ray waved."Stay safe!" Balthazar rushed to join them before they ported away.

!Hia Valley
Marie breathed in deeply, and looked down. She saw the mist morph into shapes, people, walking the valley, before vanishing again. Some of them had faces; her parents, Mr and Mrs.Elroy, Locke..

Her voice rang hollow as she said:"I dunno about you, but I see nothing but ghosts down there."

Marie nodded."Rosa, could you scan for Celebi, please?"

Rosalina, who was scared and had cuddled up next to Senshi for comfort, said"O-o-on it." After a few seconds, she declared"Big cloud of temporal energy in there. She pointed to a nearby cave.

Marie started moving, Balthazar behind her in a battle stance. She was silent, pondering. Had she really seen those ghosts, or just imagined them? She was especially worried upon seeing Locke. She hoped that he was safe...

!Somewhere dark and hidden

SMACK! The baton flashed, and Locke's head flew to one side, panting. The woman hefted the baton again."You know, this'd be a whole lot faster and less painful if you told us what you know, already."

Locke said nothing, his head downcast. His arms and legs were tied to a chair, he was bare and scarred, as well as bruised.

SMACK! The baton hit him again. His head flew to the right this time. The woman sneered at him."No one's coming to get you, y'know? You're trapped here, all alone, and at some point, you WILL talk." He remained silent,so she shrugged."Suit yourself. Shame, you were pretty handsome, I almost feel bad for this." She hit him again, hard, and his head flew to the right.

Locke spat blood, his head still downcast, and smirked to himself.

!Maray's House

There was a battering at the door, and Ray rushed to open it. When she did, Axel the Swampert fell through.

Rosa kept her chin up.You better keep close tome,Sen!

Marie looked around."Neither did I...musta've been made after we were here." Balthazar flares up his wrists a little and holds it in front, so as to provide light. In the shadows made by the fire, Marie thought she saw movement.

She slowly walked forward, hand held up, and turned the corner, and immediately turned back, her face pale.

Maray's House

"Oh my Arceus!" She pulled him in, and Robin tried coming in to see him, but Ray waved him away."Sweetie, get me some potions!" Robin ran into the pantry, and while he did, Ray held him close, as Axel gasped, and whispered.

Canalave..he's...Locke's in... before passing out.

If Senshi were to look to the side, he would see an unconscious Golbat that was about to bite into Senshi's arm, held against the wall through a Psychic. Rosa smiled sweetly at Sen.

Marie looked back again, and whispered."Why is Lane back there?"