Chapter 1

A Simple Request

The world was beautiful, teeming with life. The land, the skies, and the seas. Its beauty stretched to as far as one could see. Creatures of wonder and mystery abounded, walking across green fields, soaring unrestrained through the vast skies, and swimming through the deepest abyss within the seas. Each one was unique. Important. Irreplaceable.

They were called Pokémon.

Such was the world made by the being known as Arceus, that who was revered. And from him came more of his creations, his emissaries whom he sent into the world to govern and uphold the balance within the new world. They who were tasked by their master fulfilled his wish.

Xerneas, whose grand horns emanated and flowed with the very essence of life, and Yveltal, who grants a peaceful eternal slumber to those who have fulfilled their lives. Dialga, whose power is the absolute adamancy of time and its ever flowing stream, Palkia, whose power is the fabric of space and the existence of reality, and Giratina, who protects time and space from the lanes between. Reshiram, who seeks the truth above all else in the powerful flames, and Zekrom, who places ideals upon the pedestal even in the face of storms. Groudon, who cares for the great land upon which a portion of life thrives, Kyogre, who guards the very seas, oceans, and the life within its deepest abyss, and Rayquaza, who soars through the very skies to protect the heavens.

Many more of these emissaries were born, each different and unique from the last, and they lived answering to Arceus's will.

These emissaries were fragments of their master, each a facet of his power and personality and yet remain a completely different creature altogether. Their power overflowed unto the world. At first they ruled justly and used their power to please their master, but gradually it altered the world into something unrecognizable in Arceus's eyes.

That was when evil was born. It lurked within the hearts of his creations, afflicting sadness, anger, and envy. Evil made his creations destroy themselves and turned them cold and unforgiving. It brought about a great war, and death seeped into their hearts. And so Arceus had cast Judgment upon his own creations. Its power washed over the lands, removing the evil from existence.

Arceus then righted the wrongs of his creations. Careful not to cause another disruption within the peace, these emissaries kept their powers within the state of balance. He left his emissaries to their duties which they continue to fulfill to this day.

The world became beautiful once again.


"And that ends the story. Well, Sir Soran? Wasn't it fascinating listening to The Tale of Creation?"

Soran blinked once. Then twice more. He tried to stifle a yawn but he couldn't keep his muzzle shut. It was nearing noon and the sweltering sun hung brightly above them, and yet the quiet Luxray still found himself drowsy nearing the middle of the day. He turned a bored expression to the source of the voice walking beside him, a young and vibrant looking Gardevoir with a heartwarming and expectant smile on her face, as he walked through the bustling streets of Treasure Town.

The Gardevoir looked simple, only having a small chain bracelet around her left wrist and her new explorer's bag around her shoulder. But however simple she looked she walked surrounded in a veil of grace, talked in a polite and modest manner, and kept herself elegant-looking in her pristine white dress. She was without a doubt a lady in many aspects. Her name was Annalise, a Gardevoir who came from a wealthy family to the northeast, in a small town near the Treeshroud Forest. She had traveled all the way to Treasure Town in search of an adventurous life and an abundance of knowledge to discover in the form of books.

But it was mostly for an adventurous life. Having arrived two days back, she had joined an exploration team on a whim, which just so happened to be the very same team Soran and his partner Arux led. The following days were spent on filling out her registration forms and performing an aptitude test.

And today came. It was the day she was going to go on her first official adventure as an explorer… of course with the guidance of the team leaders.

"I don't know, Annalise," came the skeptical reply of Soran. "All I got out of that was some children's story about a god who I rarely hear about." The lady's smile faltered a bit upon hearing his response. "But it was quite refreshing hearing you talk about something so passionately."

The young Gardevoir jumped in joy at the compliment, forgetting about his previous comment as quickly as it came. "I love to read about the many wondrous excerpts, anything at all, about the history and geography of the world, the Frontier, and great myths and legends surrounding it. It is something I find rather enjoyable. It is just as exciting as going on explorations with you and Sir Arux," she said as she beamed at her black and blue furred companion.

"Myths and legends, huh?" He turned back to the road in front of him. The pair continued walking to their destination. "You and Arux have a lot in common. You're both fond of reading and you both enjoy a good adventure. I think you two would make a good couple."

The Luxray's last statement made the Gardevoir, Annalise, blush a bright Cheri Berry red. "W-wait, Sir Soran! Such jests are unpleasant," she scolded her companion. "And besides, I do not think Sir Arux thinks of me in such manner. Although, I do not think such a situation would be so bad…" her voice trailed off. However, much to anyone's chagrin, Soran had a talent for picking up the softest of words.

"Spoken like a true maiden in love," he teased with a smile. "So tell me, was it love at first sight?" The Luxray ceased his playful teasing there, not wanting to anger a lady. Arceus knows what they'll do to you if you do. Annalise grew even more flustered at his gestures but kept quiet, her face lighting up even more as she thought of what her black and blue furred companion had said. She decided that the ground appeared to be more interesting. They continued walking quietly until they reached the busy central plaza of Treasure Town.

"We're here, Annalise." At this, the young lady looked up and around her.

The Gardevoir knew that Treasure Town was a large prospering town, being the center of trade and the capital of the Frontier. However that was an understatement. Pokémon manning stalls and booths with various expendable goods and products up for display to draw in customers, crowds and crowds of the local Pokémon chatting and strolling around the circular plaza, even several explorers either making idle chat with one another or replenishing their supplies for an exploration. Everywhere she turned and looked, left and right, there were different kinds of Pokémon all around. The very fact that she found herself in the heart of Treasure Town was more than enough to set off fireworks in her head.

"I'm finally here!" she squealed her heart out in excitement. "I cannot believe I'm finally here!" Her overly zealous squealing earned her a few scrutinizing glances from the passers-by. She immediately apologized for the distraction and turned towards her escort.

"So you feeling excited or what?" The Luxray chuckled in amusement upon seeing her face glowing with a heartwarming smile. No need to ask, huh? She looks just like Arux when we went on our first adventure, albeit a bit less doleful.

"I do not think excited would be enough to describe the way I'm feeling, Sir Soran," came her hearty response.

"Alright. Though, there's no need to rush into things. First we gotta go find Arux, wherever he is…" He scanned the surrounding plaza in search of their companion. Though Soran's eyesight was sharp, it was more difficult due to the number of other Pokémon preventing him from spotting his partner. "No good. I can't find him through this thick crowd. Can you wait right here? I'm going to go onto the roofs to get a better view."

Soran was about to leave but the Luxray stopped when he heard a familiar voice call out to him. "Yo! Sorry to keep you guys waiting." He turned to his partner. A Lucario, tall for his species, walked up to them in a leisurely gait, a small smirk on his face. He sported a worn-out deep blue scarf tied loosely around his neck and a similar chain pendant as well. He also wore a pair of leather gloves strapped to his forepaws with a round hole for the small spikes jutting from the back of each paw. However, his most notable feature was the broken spike on his chest.

"Sir Arux! It is good to see you again," Annalise greeted with a cheery smile. "Where have you been?"

"I had to get a little contraption I had made from a local tools smith." Arux pointed towards a long tube strapped to his back spanning about four-and-a-half feet in length, nearly his height. Soran didn't know much about smithing and forging, but just from the look of it he could tell it was made of crystalline materials. There were also about four small vials tied to it with a rope. Even though it was faint, the vials seemed to swirl with a mesmerizing energy.

"What exactly is that?" the Luxray inquired. "And where did you get the money for it? It looks really… costly."

The question imposed by his partner left the Lucario smiling sheepishly and he gave a nervous chuckle. "Er… It's a weapon in its testing stage… which I got… with our funds?" His answer turned into a question when he looked to see the reaction of his partner.

"You bought that with our money?" He could only stare in disbelief at his friend. He didn't get mad at him and he kept a cool head. "We were supposed to use those to get a hold of supplies and berries for the month," Soran explained. "What was the exact cost?"

Arux took a moment to remember the details of his purchase, putting a paw under his muzzle. "I only remember withdrawing around five hundred thousand Poké from old Duskull's bank. It cost me around that much." Soran continued to stare at him with disbelief and glowered a bit. "Hey. No matter how you look at it, with something like this in my hands we'll be able to fight a whole lot easier. I can show you guys how it works later when we're out in the fields."

"Such a thing sounds intriguing, Sir Arux. Judging by the barrel-like shape of the contraption, it is meant for channeling and releasing projectiles. However, what use are those vials for?" the Gardevoir asked with an inquisitive stare.

"You'll see," Arux said casually with a wave of his hand. He turned to Soran. "So what's on the team agenda today? Are we taking any requests from Wigglytuff's Guild or from one of the locals?"

"It'll probably be from one of the locals…" The Luxray pondered something for but a moment. His silence unnerved Annalise and glanced at Arux to ask what was wrong with the electric type but the Lucario simply shrugged. "Arux." His voice sounded a bit perplexed. "Um, if I remember correctly, didn't 'Rosy' accompany you when you left us a while back at the base?"

The Lucario had to think his hardest, trying to remember events that had passed. "Now that you mention it… Ah! I remember now," he exclaimed as he put a paw upon the other in realization. "I had probably left Braise somewhere around the town after having run off to get this baby right here. She's probably pissed at both of us, eh partner?" He chuckled at the thought of "Rosy" coming up to them and chiding them for various reasons. "Perhaps we should leave before she finds us." Annalise blinked at this but simply nodded in agreement.

They turned to head off to the Pokémon Exploration Team Federation office south of the plaza.


The office was not as busy as the group thought it was going to be. Even from outside the Pelipper-looking building, the group of three could tell it was a slow day for business. Soran, Arux, and Annalise entered the office and into the lounge. As expected, they found the spacious room mostly empty of the clients who would file for requests. Annalise was saddened at this.

It was the day she was going to take her first steps into the life of an actual explorer. She dreamed of accomplishing great feats, rescuing lost Pokémon from a dungeon where many scary and vicious wild Pokémon lurk and wait for easy prey to fall into their clutches, taking down bad guys and outlaws for the safety and peace of the town, and the most thrilling of all, discovering and exploring new places. The Gardevoir wished these amazing things could happen right off the bat, but for now she had to start from the very bottom.

"I say that we'll take the search mission from a local Vigoroth. He wants us to find him a Golden Apple from the Mystifying Forest. It's a good mission for her to get started with, and it'll test her skills in searching. What do you think, Arux?" the Luxray asked as he looked at the different posts on the request board.

"I don't know, partner," the Lucario answered skeptically. "Wouldn't taking down an outlaw be better? I know we had the aptitude test for her powers, but I want to see Annalise actually fight on the field in continuously changing situations. I want to find out how well she can adapt to the fight."

"You have a point there."

The two continued giving each other suggestions on what Annalise would take on first. She decided to look around and explore a bit while she waited for them to sort out the request. It was only now that she realized how large the interior of the two-floor office was. The request boards where Arux and Soran were conveniently placed near the entrance of the lounge for exploration teams to be able to easily find it. Sturdy oak wood tables with chairs of the same material stood across the lounge opposite of the request boards. Shelves filled to the brim with books and reference materials were also stationed near the tables. She made a mental note to check them out later.

At the back of the room were the reception desks manned by Pelipper and Delibird, some of whom were sorting through papers and providing assistance to the few residents who were here. A flight of stairs leading to the second floor was beside the reception desk. Annalise couldn't see much from where she was standing but she assumed the second floor was for the Pelipper and Delibird to take off for flight when performing deliveries and receiving them from other branches.

"U-um, excuse me."

A timid feminine voice brought her back from her observations. She turned towards a messy looking Absol. She looked rather worn and there was quite an amount dirt on her white fur. "By any chance, miss, are you an explorer?" Annalise simply nodded and looked at the Absol with concern. "Please! You have to help me. On my way back to Treasure Town a group of outlaws attacked me and stole something precious to me. I barely escaped with my life." The Absol's crimson eyes looked at hers, pleading for help. "Miss, please. Please help me."

Annalise couldn't refuse. And it just so happened to be her big day. "Don't worry. I'll help you."


"Sir Arux! Sir Soran!" The pair turned towards the voice of the Gardevoir. She walked up to them with an expression of worry and they noticed a rather beat-up looking Absol trailing behind her. "I heard from this young lady that she was robbed by a group of bandits on her way back to Treasure Town. She had lost something dear to her and I wish to help her." She gave them an expectant look.

Arux and Soran looked at each other and nodded. "Let us hear the details," Soran requested.

The Absol, her name was Eve, explained what had happened to her again. Eve was on her way back from a trip to the Amp Plains. Nearing the road back to Treasure Town she was attacked and robbed. She couldn't remember much due to the pain that seared through her body save for the fact the bandits wore cloaks which hid their face. Eve said that they had numbered four. She said she had to rush back even though she was in a terrible condition. When she had finally arrived, she had gone straight to the Exploration Team Federation office to ask someone for help. And so it lead all of them to the current situation.

"Bandits, huh? You made the right decision in going here directly. As an exploration team, it is our duty to help the citizens in any way possible. We'll accept your request," Soran spoke in a very formal tone. The Luxray turned to Annalise, an apologetic expression on his face. "I'm afraid we'll have to postpone your first mission for now. I cannot allow you to go on such a dangerous mission. Arux and I will go."

"I will not allow for that, Sir Soran!" the Gardevoir protested, her worrisome face replaced by a serious one. "She came to me for help and I agreed to help her. I refuse to take back my word that I have given to this young lady. I ask of you, Sir Soran. Allow me to accompany you." She stared down Soran with eyes blazing with a new courage. The look she gave Soran told her everything he needed to know.

"Well, you certainly pass in having the resolve to do what is right." The Luxray gave a smirk and chuckled. "That resolve is the most powerful tool an explorer has. Never forget that."

Annalise found herself dumbstruck. "So you mean to say… I can go?"

Soran nodded. "Yes."

"We could consider this as your first request," Arux said with a smirk. "And since Eve came to you for help, you're going to be the one calling the shots. That okay with you, partner?" The Luxray simply nodded in approval. "Then it's settled. Miss Eve, can we ask you to accompany us in the search after you've regained a bit more of your strength?"

"I'd appreciate that. I'd like nothing more than to get back what was stolen from me," Eve thanked them fervently.

"Speaking of which," Arux interjected. "This thing stolen from you. What exactly is it?" His inquisitive gaze rested upon the Absol, who tilted her head at the question as if it never crossed her mind. "You told us these bandits stole it from you, but I'm curious as to what it is."

"It is a necklace made of iron, if I recall correctly. But it has a lustrous stone adorning it. It is called Absolite, a unique stone that allows for an Absol to further increase his or her power." Eve looked as though hesitant to reveal any more than that.

Absolite. Sounds interesting. Soran spoke up. "All right team. After Eve has recovered a bit from her wounds we will proceed to head towards the Amp Plains. We'll meet up at the crossroad entrance to the town. Any questions?" No one raised any. "All right. We'll leave in an hour." The Luxray turned to his partner. "Arux. Go with Annalise and get Miss Eve treated," he pointed to the girls with his muzzle. "I'll go back to the base and prepare some supplies for the trip. At most, it'll take a day's walk to the Amp Plains."

With that the group of four split up, Soran towards their base of operations and Arux, Annalise, and Eve towards the local Audino clinic.


An hour passed and just as agreed upon, the group of four met up at the crossroads. Soran had his explorer pack filled with supplies needed for the trip slung over his shoulder. He passed Arux's own explorer pack to which the Lucario gave a "Thanks." The Luxray also brought some extra supplies for Annalise and Eve to share among themselves.

"As of this mission, I'm appointing Annalise leader," he nodded at the Gardevoir and she nodded in reply. "Our goal is to recover our client's belongings and apprehend the outlaws who not only stole but also hurt a lady." Everyone gave him a look of agreement.

"Well then Team Guardian, let's move." With that, they set off.


Author's Note:

This is a rewrite of the fanfic I decided to put on a long hiatus. I've decided to re-post this due to the constant motivation from my friend, Arux. (Thanks buddy.) Anyways, I'll be continuing this fanfic because I decided to get off my ass and stop being a lazy bum. I'll be posting the next few chapters in a few days. Please read and review. Constructive criticism is very much appreciated.

Watching: God Eater, Gate-Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri, Joukamachi no Dandelion

Listening: dJ-Jo remixes