The Unknown Spark: A New Perspective on a Famous Story

I sifted through the goods at the Kecleon brothers' shops in pursuit of apples, heal seeds, and emergency supplies such as reviver seeds and oran berries as usual.

"So, Flare, my fiery friend, what'll ya have today?" the green kecleon brother asked in his usual cheerful way.

I laughed, "I'll buy three apples, one heal seed, and one reviver seed, please."

"Alrighty!" he smiled, turning away from the counter. "We need three apples, one heal seed, and one reviver seed for the charmander!"

"Is that you, Flare?" his purple younger brother called. "You still workin' on that fence across the street?"

"Heh, I just finished. You gotta do what you gotta do to get money, right?"

"You betcha. See ya!"

Accepting my items, I strolled across the street only to collide with a flustered pikachu.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry," I apologized to the mouse pokemon. I'd never seen her around before, and it's not very often that I run into someone other than the regulars around Pokemon Square. "Are you alright?"

Seeing the bag in my hand, one identical to those rescue teams have, drooped ears lifting slightly, she half-asked, half-begged, "Are you on a rescue team?"

"No, I'm not, at least, not yet. Why, do you need help with something?" I couldn't help feeling bad for her as her black-tipped yellow ears fell once more.

Tears welled up in her brown eyes. "I borrowed something from my sister, and I lost it, and now she's gonna kill me!"

Suddenly, a huge brainstorm hit me, striking me with inspiration. Eager to help this distraught electric-type, I declared, "I'm gonna be a world-famous rescue and explorer team leader one day! Let's go look for it, uh… what's your name?"

Laughter tore through the torrential tears. "My name's Chu, thanks!"

"No problem! Let me tell my client that I finished her fence, and we can get going," I grinned before calling out, "Auntie Kangaskhan, I wrapped up my work on your fence!"

"Thank you, Flare. Here's your 100," she paid me, stepping out of her storage facility. "Take care now!"

"Gotcha!"

"So, Chu," I began, "what did ya lose and where?"

Her eyes sank slightly at the reminder. "I lost my big sister's volt charm in Mt. Steel."

"Oh, wow. That is a tough situation, but we'll get it back no matter what!" I cheered despite the growing apprehension in my gut.

Entering the dungeon, elation, excitement, anxiety, and alarm muddled up my mind so much I began trembling.

My new companion looked at me, a worried expression on her face. "Flare, what's wrong? Are you sure you're gonna be able to handle this mission?"

I shook my head from side to side in an attempt to clear my thoughts. "Yeah, I'll be fine. No problem!"

Mere seconds later, a spearow and an aron approached us. Chu took on the spearow and launched a super-effective thunderbolt. I defeated the aron with another super-effective attack, flamethrower.

"Wow," I commented on her thunderbolt. "You're level 26?"

Chu laughed modestly, "No, I learned that from a TM. I'm only level 12. What about your flamethrower? A level 36 pokemon should've been accepted on a rescue team by now."

"Makes sense. I learned flamethrower the say way you learned thunderbolt. My level is only 12, too." Cool, we've got something in common!

As we continued climbing and taking down foes, I recalled rumors that recently floated around Pokemon Square. The fear flowing through my body welled up again.

"Chu, this is the same dungeon where that malicious skarmory is rumored to reside, right?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I lost the volt charm on the same floor it supposedly lives. I never saw it, though."

I sighed, relieved at the news until we reached floor 10, where skarmory made its home. It walked up to us normally, but my heart rate accelerated nonetheless.

"What are you doing here?" Skarmory asked us.

Chu spoke up, "Uh, we're sorry for intruding, but I lost a volt charm here recently. Would you happen to have found it?"

The armor bird pokemon nodded. "I have it in my possession, but if you truly wish to have it back, I require you both to fight me."

Thus, the battle began. My pikachu partner unleashed thunder wave to paralyze the opponent and thunderbolt to deal damage in quick succession. I followed up with an ember-flamethrower combo to instantaneously take Skarmory down for the count.

"Here," she said, presenting Chu with her sibling's treasured colt charm. "That's a rare item indeed. Truth be told, I planned to return it to you regardless of the battle's outcome. I become lonely up here with so few visitors and longed for someone to break the boredom. In actuality, I enjoy helping others."

Chu and I turned towards each other, exchanged a silent message through knowing smiles, and returned our attention to the defeated skarmory.

"Maybe you should join a rescue team," I suggested. "You get to help pokemon and see new places! I'm going to lead a world-famous rescue team one day myself."

"Judging by the results of our battle, I am not yet as strong as I wish to be. Return when you've made a name for yourself, and perhaps I shall consider joining your team," smiled Skarmory.

With that we departed from the dungeon.

"Flare?"

"What's up?"

"Thanks for helping me get my sister's volt charm back. Seeing your determination to achieve your dream really inspired me," declared Chu. "Let's start a rescue and exploration team!"

I gaped in delighted surprise. "Chu, are you serious?!"

She nodded vigorously. "All we need is a base, team name, and permission."

"I live alone, so let's use my house as our base. We should talk to Whiscash about creating a team, and I have the perfect idea for a name!" I cried over-excitedly, feeling like a young child with a sugar rush. I'm getting closer and closer to my dream! "What about 'Team Spark?' Sparks are associated with electricity and fire."

Chu's smile widened. "It's perfect! Tomorrow, we'll go register Team Spark."

"It'll be the first step towards the future. We need a motto!"

We discussed the matter for a minute before deciding on one.

"Chu and Flare assisting and adventuring as Team Spark!" we shouted in unison, ignoring the confused looks we earned from others in the square.