Pokémon Ranger Union:

  Trainee Orientation Manual (Trainee license) – Rules, Conduct, and Operational Expectations.

  Section 1: Purpose and Role

  The Pokémon Ranger serves as an intermediary between human populations and wild ecosystems. Trainees are obligated to uphold a multifaceted role encompassing protection, mediation, environmental preservation, and intervention to restore equilibrium where ecological or social harmony is disrupted. This mandate requires a steadfast commitment to impartiality ensuring neither human nor Pokémon interests supersede the collective balance.

  Section 2: Code of Conduct

  Trainees shall adhere to the following standards:

  Engagement in unauthorized Pokémon battles while in official uniform is strictly prohibited.

  Use of Pokémon moves in public areas without prior authorization constitutes grounds for suspension.

  The preservation of life, whether human or Pokémon, shall take precedence over all mission objectives.

  Any display of emotional bias toward involved parties is deemed misconduct and subject to disciplinary review.

  Collaboration with Pokémon League authorities is mandatory when operating within their jurisdictions.

  Section 3: Operational Protocols

  Field assignments may include, but are not limited to, the recovery of lost trainers, containment of aggressive wild Pokémon, and response to natural disasters or Pokémon population surges. Trainees are required to maintain composure and exercise sound judgment under high-pressure conditions.

  Section 4: Field Ethics and Judgment

  Ranger operations are governed by the principle of minimum interference, prioritizing ecological balance over control. The wild is to be preserved, not subdued. During rescue operations, trainees must maintain emotional detachment, allowing compassion to guide decisions while preserving objective judgment.

  Non-compliance with these ethical standards may result in demerits, probationary status, or permanent disqualification from owning a Pokemon, subject to review by the Ranger Union Oversight Committee.

  My finger scrolled the trackpad, navigating the dense, precisely formatted text of the document, each part carrying the weight of rules.

  The words permanent disqualification ran in my head.

  I leaned back, rubbing a hand over my face. The chair creaked under me, the hum of the computer fan filling the quiet. My eyes drifted to the corner of the screen 3:18 p.m. Two hours until I needed to leave for the Ranger Headquarters in Vermilion.

  My gaze lingered there a moment longer and I thought back to the evening I'd returned from Saffron.

  My duffel hung heavy over one shoulder, the faint ache of travel settling into my back as I walked the familiar road back home.

  By the time I reached the porch, it was already dark, The lights inside the house was warm and inviting. I stood there for half a second, before pushing the door open.

  "I'm home," I called out.

  "Welcome back!"

  Hailey's voice floated from the living room. When I stepped in, she was exactly as I expected her to be, curled up on the couch in an oversized sweatshirt, hair in a loose ponytail, a half-eaten bowl of chips beside her. Some late-night show flickered on the TV, the glow washing her face in soft light.

  She looked up, her smile easy and bright. "Hey, stranger. How was the trip?"

  "Fine," I said, setting my bag down and rolling my shoulders. "Just… long."

  Her grin tilted. "And the big birthday party? How was the birthday girl?" She wagged her eyebrows in that teasing way that always made her look a decade younger.

  I paused mid-step, the memory; glittering ballroom, crystal chandeliers so bright they made the walls gleam, the sound of laughter over the live orchestra. It hadn't been a party so much as a showcase of wealth, polished, grand, and just a little unreal.

  "It was good," I said finally, easing onto the arm of the couch. "Pretty fancy. Ballroom, dinner, the whole deal. There was even an after-party by the pool."

  Hailey's eyes glinted. "Ah, an afterparty ?" she said, stretching the words, amusement slipping into her tone. "You and Rin have fun?"

  I exhaled quietly through my nose, not quite a sigh but close. "Yeah," I said, voice even. "It was good."

  Something in my tone must've caught her, because the teasing faded. Her expression softened, concern edging in. "You okay?"

  I looked at her; at the faint crease between her brows, the way her body leaned forward just a bit and felt that small warmth in my chest, Concern the kind that only came from someone who actually cared.

  "I'm fine," I said, smiling this time. "Really. Just tired."

  She held my gaze for a second longer before relaxing, nodding. "Alright. I'll take your word for it."

  We settled into easy conversation after that. I told her about Saffron, the streets, the markets, About the gym match I'd caught before leaving,the precision, the power,

  Hailey listened quietly, eyes bright, the TV forgotten.

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  By the time the story wound down, the evening had deepened, shadows stretching long across the floor. I leaned back, rubbing at the back of my neck. "I think I'm gonna try for the Ranger trainee license," I said.

  Her head snapped up, eyes lighting instantly. "Really?"

  "Yeah," I said, half-smiling. "I dont know if its the right step, but… I want to try it anyway"

  Hailey's grin widened, all traces of tiredness gone. "Then we'll make sure you're ready. I'll send over the exam material tonight."

  "Thanks," I said.

  "Don't thank me," she replied, standing to stretch, "thank yourself when you the license."

  I blinked and glanced at the clock, 3:21 p.m.

  Time to move.

  I stood at the edge of the plaza, backpack slung over one shoulder, eyes on the building in front of me.

  It wasn't much to look at, seven stories of beige concrete, clean windows, no flashy signage. Just a dark metal plaque by the glass doors that read Ranger Corps – Vermilion Division. For all its lack of grandeur, it still felt important.

  I adjusted the strap on my shoulder, checked my belt for my pokeballs, exhaled once, and walked in.

  The lobby was simple bright lighting, smooth tile floors, a few benches by the wall, and a display screen showing recent Ranger operations: rescue missions, fire containment, evacuation drills. A pair of uniformed officers chatted near a coffee machine, their jackets bearing the crimson Ranger insignia.

  I approached the main desk a long counter of reinforced glass and metal. Behind it sat a woman in a uniform, her hair tied neatly in a bun. A Ranger badge gleamed on her chest.

  "Hi," I said, clearing my throat slightly. "I registered for the trainee license examination?"

  She looked up with a practiced smile, typing quickly into her terminal. "Name?"

  "Arata. Arata Ishida."

  Her fingers paused mid-keystroke, and after a second, she nodded. "Found you. You're in the 1700-hour evaluation group." Her smile widened slightly. "Good timing. They're gathering now. Take the elevator down to B2, I'll escort you."

  "Thanks."

  She rose from her chair and led the way. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and I followed her in. The descent was smooth, but halfway down, I felt something,

  A strange weight in the air. Something… dark.

  It wasn't overwhelming, but familiar, the way the surroundings feels when Caesar unleashes his Dark Pulse. A low thrum.

  The doors opened with a hiss.

  The basement floor was nothing like the lobby. Sleek metal corridors replaced the tiled walls, the lighting softer, cooler the kind used in labs or operations centers. The faint hum of machines filled the space.

  She led me down a short hall and stopped by a reinforced door. "You'll wait inside with the others," she said. "Good luck."

  "Right."

  I stepped in.

  The room was about the size of a small classroom, plain, functional, with a long table in the center and several chairs around it. Six others were already seated.

  I took a seat near the end, setting my bag beside me. The chair was cold against my palms. For a few moments, no one spoke; only the hum of the ventilation filled the air. I glanced at the others one kid maybe younger than me, tapping his foot nonstop; another with the kind of posture that screamed military upbringing.

  The door opened again.

  An older Ranger stepped in, A scar cutting across one cheek. He moved like someone who'd lived through shit and had no patience left for nonsense.

  He stopped near the head of the table, hands behind his back. "Alright," he said, voice low but firm. "Listen up. I'm Captain Marcus. You're all here because someone believes you have the potential to serve. For some of you, that's family connections. For others, maybe merit. Either way, it doesn't matter."

  His gaze swept the room, sharp and unreadable. "What matters is what you do here. This is a responsibility, not a privilege. If you can't handle that, you're done."

  No one dared to move.

  He continued, tone hardening. "And understand this, once you're licensed, you'll operate under federal and League authority. That means if you screw up, negligence, misconduct, anything that puts lives at risk, you'll be tried in Ranger court.."

  A chill rippled through the room.

  After a long pause, he nodded once to someone by the door. Another Ranger stepped in, arms full of thin folders. She began placing them down in front of each of us.

  "Your first evaluation consists of three parts," Marcus said, his voice calm but commanding attention. "An IQ test to assess your critical thinking, a physical exam to gauge your endurance, and a battle to demonstrate your command over your Pokémon and your competence as a trainer." He gestured to the folders. "The written portion is fifty questions. You have forty minutes. Begin when you're ready."

  The folder hit the table in front of me with a soft thud.

  I looked down, the Ranger Corps insignia printed across the top, the words Trainee License Evaluation – Vermilion Division beneath it.

  I exhaled slowly and picked up the pen.