Pokemon Ranger: The Hero of Oblivia

Doubts

Celebi reached up to cover my mouth to stop my useless babbles. "My Lady, you are fine. I am fine. Let's not dwell on this, okay? I was protecting you because you are far more important than I."

"That's not true! You're a Legendary Pokemon, a beacon of hope for people and Pokemon alike!" I argued.

"And the same applies to you!" Celebi blurted.

I wiped away tears with a balled up fist. "I'm not a Legendary Pokemon."

"No, but you give hope to the people in the past and present." She said. "Whether or not you believe it, you give us hope, Summer. And we can't lose this hope again. We can't afford it."

I decided now wasn't the time to ask Celebi about what she meant by 'again'. I had already wasted a lot of time talking when I should've been tending to her. I pulled out the bottle of peroxide that was in my first-aid kit and uncapped it.

I gave her a serious look. "This is going to hurt like a bitch."

Celebi laughed, which was something I most certainly wouldn't do in a situation like this. "You don't even try to sugar coat it, do you?"

I shrugged. I started pouring the peroxide in her wounds, catching the excess liquid in a piece of gauze, which I then tied around Celebi's abdomen as she tried really hard not to scream.

Then a little thought edged its way into my mind: Kate could've done it. Kate could've protected Celebi. Kate could've saved the past. Kate could've saved Oblivia by now instead of waiting idly by as precious days pass us by.

"I'm not going back there. I can't." I told her.

She gave me a confused look.

"The past, I mean." I said. "I failed the past, Celebi. I can't do it. Especially not if it's at the expense of others."

Celebi gave me a long, searching look. "You're blaming yourself for something you couldn't control." She stated.

I shrugged.

"Don't worry! We'll go back and you can try again!"

"I just... I can't." I said, feeling as if my mind was dividing itself. The right thing to do would be to help the past and not care what happened as long as I saved it, but I also didn't ever want to go back to the past because I was a failure. And just look at me... Celebi was the one that was injured, but it looks like I had to turn this situation to be all about me again. I'm so goddamn self-centered. Why do I do this to the people I care about?

I can't. I can't do it. Not anymore. I thought I could do it, but I just can't. What am I doing? What am I fighting for? Arceus, I'll never be like Kate! Why do I even try? I'm not a Ranger, a Ranger is always sure of themselves. I'm... Not.

What's going on with me? Everything I thought I stood for is just... Falling apart. I couldn't even help Celebi.

Pent up thoughts and insecurities started popping up and clouding up my thoughts and now I can only focus on how many lies I've told myself.

I'm not a Ranger. I'm just a little girl who wants to be like her big sister. But I'm not. Kate's a hero. She's shy and meek, but she was always confident and sure whenever it came to being a Ranger. I'm not Kate, I'm just stuck in her shadow.

I placed Celebi on the ground. "I'm not strong enough to go back, Celebi. I'm so sorry." I said, feeling more tears prick at my eyes. Godammit, I'm not a crybaby. Stop crying, Summer! Stop crying right fucking now! "I just really, really can't."

"Summer, as a Ranger—"

"I don't know what I am right now, but I'm certainly not a fucking Ranger." I started, angrily wiping the tears from my face with my fist. "If you need a Ranger, Ben is more than capable. Right now, I just need to be alone."

I gathered my first-aid kit and placed it in my bag. I swung my backpack onto my back and headed towards the Wireless Tower. I'm very tired and I just want to collapse and cry, but I don't want to be around Celebi right now because she's just going to try and change my mind. I was thankful that Celebi decided not to follow me. She needed to rest herself, but also because I need to be alone.

I just need time to think. I didn't care what would happen when people woke up and couldn't find me. The concern was drowned out by the pounding thoughts of 'Why is this happening'?

It certainly was more than just Celebi's injury now. It was the catalyst to releasing all of the doubts I held for myself. Why was all of this emotion rushing through me so suddenly? The Pinchers were out there and I have to stop them— No, Ben has to stop them. I don't know what to consider a Ranger that doesn't know how to properly do her job.

I sprinted off on my tired legs, trying to block out these thoughts by putting distance between me and Celebi. If I called upon Raikou or Entei, I would probably get to the Tower faster, but I didn't want to use my Styler. Not when I was still confused about everything.

In short, something has happened to me...

And I don't know if I'm a Ranger anymore.

A/N: Long story short, I'm posting this for the people who really, really wanted it, but my writing style has changed so drastically that I'll be revising this story. It's just something new for 2020 and to warn you that new stuff will be added and old plotlines that I forgot about will be removed.

I'm posting this for all of you, but just be warned that I'm going to be rewriting a good portion of this and hopefully making it better and more enjoyable for you to read.

Thank you for following this story for so long, you're all amazing.