Author's Note

nibbles end of pen. Okay... Check...check... Keith finally gets a cutie mark... R&R

grad heroes

chapter 5 - Grad heroes.

Heart, you're going to be graduating soon! Did you hear our news? The three of us are very close to you now because we all moved to Chicole village yesterday.

Oh, mama got yon a dress for your graduation party.

Silver wing

the days after the 1-day internship past so quickly. Our lessons and our life at the eager school was coming to a swift close. On our last day, Ms. April looked at us from the front of the class.

"Well, class, this is it." She said "This will be the last time I speak to you like this in our classroom...Yes, today is the ranger school's graduation day. I imagine you all have lots to talk about before the ceremony, so this is free time. Feel free to visit other rooms and say your goodbyes. But remember, when you hear the bell be sure to gather in the main hall."

"We will" we answered, we all got up.

"Hey, we finally made it to graduation." Keith said "You've been assigned to Vientown. I'm off to the faraway Fiore region."

"You'll love it there." I gave a sad smiled

"I guess we won't be seeing each other for a while..." He gave a weak smiled

"Yeah, but let's stay friends." I said, I was overcome with sadness. I headed outside for some air. As soon as I hgot outside the bell rang "Already?" I muttered, Keith came out.

"Heart! That's the bell!" Keith said "The graduation ceremony's about to begin!"

"Yeah..." I followed I him inside.

Soon, everypony, including the teachers, stood in the main hall.

"The ranger school graduation ceremony will now commence." Mr. Kincaid said "First our principal's congratulatory remarks. Principal Lamont, if you please." Principal Lamont stepped forward.

"Congratulations, graduates. I am truely delighted that I can be here to greet this day with all of you. Rangers, Operators and Mechanics. Though these paths may take you in different directions , What I hope fore all of you is but the same." Principal Lamont smiled "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask something impossibly diffcultmor challenging. Please, don't forget to smile. That's all I wish of you. With these simple words, I wish you the ever best in all your endeavours."

"Thank you Principal Lamont." Mr. Kincaid said "Next let me call upon the graduating class's valedictorian. That will be our best student, Isaac." Isaac trotted up and faced us.

"Today, we leave the shelter of this place of learning and nurturing. It's a giant step for us in our pursuits of our long-held dreams." Isaac said "To our teachers who inspired us...To Janice, who was mother to us all...To all the Pokémon that loved us...And to all the books of the library! We will never forget. Thank you also very, very much from all of us." We stomped our hooves as Isaac returned to his place.

"Next, the conferring of the graduation certificates."

"I would like to call upon one student as the representative of the graduating class." Ms. April smiled, Keith looked hopeful. "Lighting Heart, step forward please." Me!

"Whoa! You're the representative!" Keith judged me "That's wicked cool Heart!" I smiles and trotted up, but the ground began to shake. I shot up, flapping my wings as the rest of the class had to steady themselves on their hooves. "What was that? An explosion?!"

"That noise came from the basement!" Rythmi said

"Everypony, keep calm!" Ms. April said. I flew over to her, I kept off the ground.

"I have a bad feeling Ms. April..." I muttered

"I...I'll go see what that was!" Mr. Kincaid galloped down. We waited. "Wash!" We heard a cry "Stop! Stop that!" Suddenly two Tanglegrowth came up, everypony screamed and galloped away. The Pokémon jumped, causeping the building to shake. Keith and I stood in front of the students, we watched the Pokémon through narrowed eyes.

"Heart, let's capture those things!" Keith said

"They're Pokémon Kieth. It looks like something, or someponh angered them!" I got out my styler

"I guess you're ready then?" He got out his own styler. I nodded and took off over the heads of the Tanglegrowth. Capture on! Keith and I released our capture disks at the same time.

I captured mine with ease, Keith had no problems with his either. I put my styler away.

"Yes! Capture successful!" Keith turned to me as I landed. "Heart, we did it." We released the Pokémon. Rythmi and Shield galloped over.

"You two are awesome!" She cheered

"Best style work ever... Oh, Keith..." Shield pointed at Keith's once blank flank. There was a brand new cutie mark.

"Wow, Awesome!" It was the Ranger symbol with a Capture styler. "I said I was the best at captures!" We laughed, I looked sadly at my blank flank, Rythmi placed a hoof on my shoulder, she didn't have her cutie mark either, nor did Shield.

"Alright!" I smiled, Keith and I did our ranger poses!

A while later, after everypony had calmed down and stopled admiring Keith's new cutie mark, We stood in our previous places.

"Mr. Kincaid! You're not hurt are you?" Principal Lamont asked

"I...I think. Yes, yes. I'm fine." Mr. Kincaid replied "I must admit, even I couldn't tell why on earth was happening..."

"Ah, so even Mr. Kincaid is at a lost to why those Tanglegrowth rampaged. That's a shame..." Principal Lamont sighed "Still, everypony seems safe. That certainly is a great relief. Well, Shall we continue with our graduation ceremony?_ Mr. Kincaid returned to his place.

"I would like to call upon one student as the representative of the graduating class." Ms. April repeated herself "Lighting Heart, step forward please?" I did, I trotted over the principal. He smiled at me.

"Heart and Keith. Thank you for coming to the protection of everypony." He said "It was very impressive to see you calmly go about your captures with no panic. You've provided Everypony with a good example of taking charge in a crisis. Now, as representative of the graduating class I confer you this certificate." I had to take to my wings, just to take the Certificate, the Principal smiled .

"Thank you sir." I smiled, I flew back to my place, I landed on three hooves, holding the certificate with the finally hoof, but I took the certificate under my wing so I could say and on all four hooves.

"And finally...the time has come for all of you to set sail into the vast horizon that is your future." Principal Lamont said "In closing, I will say this once again. Please, don't forget to smile. Congratulation, Grads!"

"Wow, neat dress Heart!" Magic grinned, as I spun, the girls helped with my mane.

"Thanks, everypony ready to strut our stuff?" I laughed, we all headed down to the graduation ball in the main hall. It was past midnight when it ended. I looked down at my certificate. I felt tears well up.

"Heart?" Rythmi asked, She and Keith had been talking nearby, Shield had left early.

"Uh...uh..." I wiped my eyes

"Are you okay?" Keith asked

"I'm going to miss you guys so much!" I said "Who knows if we'll ever meet again..."

" We will! I pledge it on our friendship!" Rythmi hugged me

"Me too!" Keith wrapped a hoof around me too.

"Me three..."I chuckled weakily, having the last group hug...