Lost in Reality [pokémon Ranger Fanfiction]

Chapter 7

The sun scorched the sky and burned all that lived below it. All that's left was the shifting desert sands racing against sheer cliffs.

Kate squinted through the blistering sand and light, wondering if there were actually cactus's below them-- or pokémon. Her steps were awkward, the shoes just slightly too big as she made her way across the trail. leaning over to see what crawled across the desert, Kate teetered closer to the edge.

Without warning, a rock shifts beneath her foot. Kate's stomach plummeted when her body turned to a loose doll. 

"No ya' don't," Kieth's husk voice laughed. His head shot out and pulled Kate back from the edge. She found herself nestled against Kieth's chest. His chin set on the top of her head while she stared out across Haruba desert. A fearow dashed just inches away as it swooped up towards the endless sky. "Can't back out of this adventure that easily," he said.

Kate breathed a couple of times before letting a smile rise, "Like I'd want to." She turned to look at her husband, "Maybe I just wanted an excuse for you to hold me?"

The two began to laugh as Kieth rolled into a dramatic spin, dipping Kate as if they had been dancing, "You know you don't have to nearly die to get that." Kieth gave a small smooch to her forehead, "Just gotta ask."

She chucked. Kate gave a spin to dance out of Kieth's arms as she has him twirling on her finger, "Of course, my darling." A strong gust tossed the rangers off balance and they broke onto the ground together. The two were broken into fits of giggles as the grains of stands rubbed their arms raw.

Kieth was the first up, extending a hand to Kate, "Well, you wanted to join me on this adventure. Let's keep moving."

Their hands locked and with a strong heft, the two were back on their feet. Starly swirled above to keep watch. Her shadow occasionally rolling over the rangers in her patrol. Floatzle trudged beside Kieth. The pokémon's floating ring expanded with water to keep the orange-furred creature cool in the sweltering heat.

Sweat was like a coat of plastic building on Kate's forehead. The mirages the desert gave blurred her vision with each tired step she took further and on. Occasionally, she'd turn to see Kieth burning through it all. Not even the terrain could knock the smile from his face.

For a moment, the two caught eyes, and his smile only grew wider. Like small children, Kate turned her head away. Her cheeks turning even more red than the desert could make her.

"You know," Kieth spoke, "I know I was against this but... It's really nice to be going out on a mission again with you. It brings back memories."

Kate turned back with her eyebrows rose, but a meowth's smirk pulled at her lips. Words pulled out before she could stop, "Yeah. Me too. Like the memory of when I saved your sorry ass in this very desert."

"Hey! I would've gotten out of that!" Kieth shrieked, a blush burning him up even more.

His wife nodded, "Oh yeah, of course. You looked completely ready to escape at any moment while Blake's goons had you tied up in their helicopter. With a gun at your temple. Perfect."

Kieth waved his arms around, "it would've been fine. You shouldn't have traded me for the Yellow Gem."

"They were going to kill you, Kieth."

"And I'm willing to die proudly for the Rangers."

Kate froze in her steps. Eyes locked on Kieth's inferno of hair as he continued on. Her breath was hitched in her throat as every nightmare she ever had overwhelmed her. Cracking like the dehydrated stone beneath her feet, she spoke, "Please. Don't say that."