"Now is no time for resting. These people need you. You will come to understand in time, but now you must not wait.
Wake up."
• • •
A lone Shinx in a green forest awoke with a gasp. He felt out of breath, and very weak, but still attempted standing. Once on his feet, he began to survey the landscape. Trees everywhere, berry bushes, leaves on the ground, and a path.
Should I... Follow the path? He thought. He was toward the end of the path, so there was only one way to go (which was very likely toward the nearest civilization. The Shinx started down the trail, hearing Starlies singing and Zigzagoon rustling bushes in the thicker parts of the forest.
First thing's first, he thought. Who am I? He blanked, still walking down the path. After a brief moment, he remembered, that's right. My name is Plasma. I'm a Shinx, from...
However, Plasma didn't remember where he was from. Or even where he was, and why he was there in the first place. This was troubling, but he kept as calm as he could, and kept following the path.
Farther down the trail, Plasma began seeing a light brighter than the sunlight shining through the trees. Picking up speed, his legs began to ache, and his joints were sore. Once he reached the clearing, he fell down from pain, and couldn't get up from exhaustion. At least he was out of the forest. Feeling somewhat relieved, he began to drift back to sleep.
"Are you feeling okay?" a soft voice spoke from the darkness. Plasma woke up quickly and smacked his head against someone else as he jolted up.
"Ah! What the hell?" The voice belonged to a young female Eevee. She was rubbing her head with one of her forepaws, and sitting up on her hind legs. "Nice greeting... Wasn't expecting a headbutt. Jeez."
"Oh, uh, sorry," Plasma said, sitting upright again. "You surprised me."
"Why were you asleep on the ground? Come to think of it, why are you here? Never seen you around before..."
"Uh, I don't know and I don't know."
"Oh..." The Eevee turned around, talking to herself. "So he's one of those Pokémon. But usually they're out away from the central city, not on the outskirts of town..."
"Something wrong?" Plasma asked, reaching out to the Eevee's shoulder.
"Oh, not at all!" She spun back around, batting his paw out of the way. "I'm guessing you need some help getting use to the region. To get your footing, I'd suggest visiting one of the guilds and doing some apprentice work. There's four-"
"Um, you never introduced yourself," Plasma interrupted. The Eevee made a puzzled face then looked as if she realized something.
"Sorry, but I'm not interested," she said with a sigh. Plasma blushed and shook his head vigorously.
"That's not what I meant at all! I just wanted to know your name."
"Oh?" She made the same puzzled look. "Um... My name's..." She thought for a second. "Eh... Elizabeth...?"
"You're not lying, are you?"
"You think I believe you with a name like 'Plasma'?" She scoffed. "Anyway, to the point. You should do some apprentice work at a guild, make a living of some kind. There's four guilds, North, East, South, West. Head wherever you want, doesn't really matter in the long-run. Well, see you around." She began to turn and walk.
Before the Eevee could get too far, Plasma ran up in front of her. "Hey, you're just gonna leave after that?"
"Well..." she thought. "yeah, that's right. Why?"
"Uh... Come with me!" Plasma said sternly, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
"Wh-What? Why?" The Eevee took a step back.
"Because... Well, I need company in this new region. I need someone to help me!"
"Huh?" She blushed slightly. "Uh-... I guess accompanying you for a bit wouldn't hurt..."
"GREAT!" He exclaimed. "Let's go... North!" He faced the direction he believed was north.
"Um..." the Eevee giggled. "First off, that's west. And second, I already belong to the eastern guild. So we're headed this way, big guy." She pointed Plasma the opposite direction he was facing.
"Oh. Uh..." He laughed at his mistake. "Of course! Lead the way, Elizabeth!"
The Eevee laughed as Plasma said 'Elizabeth,' and began walking east. It was going to be an interesting day for her.