High Society: The tales from Victory

Pines [Part I] (Ch.12)

**A year ago **

The Storm was devastating. People couldn't recall what had truly happened except that an entire island was lost to the maelstrom. An effort was made to see what could be salvaged and re-established. Most of the other islands were fine, but the one holding the Lugia statue, looking North East, took the brunt of it.

The President and The Professor both made a trip to the wreckage, landing and surveying. They brought their three kids; for the president it was a public necessity, for the professor it was a time to survey.

The President talked to the natives, giving grief and delivering emergency packages. The other four were on the wrecked island. Most of it had been basically washed away with the island being submerged.

The Professor went with a few older sages to scout above and examine the aftermath of the storm, see if he could help pinpoint the exact causes.

The Pine children all sat on a canoe with a Floatzel pushing them along, having only left the temporary Ranger Base Camp for the incident at hand a few moments ago. The whole flight getting to the Champion Islands was full of Preachy and Pompous talking about the Ranger's manuel and the protocols within. Ponder mostly slept.

Pompous was clad in, not his usual military garb, but instead his ranger gear. This was more suited to the elements. Ponder was in camo pants, a tanktop and an open flannel shirt, a vigilant Snivy on his head. Preachy was dressed in shorts, a tank top, and a red vest with the 'Emergency Response' on it, her hands fidgets on her pokeball, nervous.

The group eyed the sky, the sun beating down on them. The trip was mostly silent, the exception of Preachy and Pompous casually referring to the ranger's manuel over protocol when Preachy couldn't remember all the regulations, surprising to Ponder. Looking around, the area seemed to lack life, but then the occasional appearance of a wild pokemon would ease the nerves of Preachy, dreading the emptiness .

Pompous voiced, "Give me a paddle we're close."

"Remember the most efficient angles for a smooth docking in this scenario are-"

"I know! I know... just let me." His hands moved frantically as to articulate his frustrations.

Once they land, Pompous took a knee. He thanked the Floatzel, which he named Bubbles, and broke his tie with it. Once it dove away, Pompous called to his siblings, "Alright, I better see some progress. And I don't want to hear any survival rates, unless they're positive!"

Preachy bit her bottom lip, stopping herself immediately. She thought about it. "We've arrived within the first 24 hours, so chances of finding life is decent, but after that mark survival drops significantly."

"Then we best be looking out for any noise. Remember to keep the ranger manual and radio by your side at all times, please refer to page 348 for the volunteer information if you somehow forget how it works or which frequency contacts whom. Every question has an answer and I know that book back and forth."

Preachy nodded, then placed a finger on her chin. "Not to undermine the situation... but why are you so attentive to this situation. Not to imply anything."

He hesitated. "We're here to save lives, first and foremost."

"I see it in your face, you're trying to impress the other rangers, or at least make them less mad you're in their territory."

Pompous froze. Preachy giggled to Ponder, "I got it in one!"

Ponder muttered to himself, not paying attention.

"Ponder?"

Ponder's voice wavered softly, lips quivering.

Preachy shouted, "Hello Ponder?! Are you there? Am I speaking to my brother?" Her hands waved in front his face.