A Cinnamon Wind
"Wahoooooo!" Wingull shouted, letting the call travel without holding back. He flapped against a particularly forceful gust of wind, heart fluttering with excitement.
The salty ocean air blew through him and his friends. It battered against the inside of his ear canals. He knew they felt it too.
He inhaled deeply. The sun was at its highest point in the sky, spotting his vision.
Here they were, barreling their way up the mountain to the plateau above. The air seemed to carry their excitement with them as they bolted.
They reached a staircase, notched finely up the mountain. Windows were carved out on either side, and his eyes were immediately drawn to them. They were a vague glimpse into the whole world underneath it.
The great tent was up ahead, along with delicately carved and painted totem-poles of Pokémon before. The grinning, peachy head of the Wigglytuff Guild's guild master loomed down at them from the tent's top. He was said to be fearsome, and able to beat anyone in battle.
"My goodness! I'm trembling!" Gastly hovered below, a wide-eyed cloud of dark gas. He wore a large grin of pure joy. He gasped as his flame-like appearance dispersed with a rough gust of wind, then his form regathered into the weightless ball he was and continued forward. They went through a path of heavy pointed stakes positioned at them from either side.
Buneary bounced beside him, all well-groomed poofy fur and grace. Her rounded feet sprang up high and then extended downward in landing. "Stop saying that word. You've been overusing it."
Wingull dipped down a bit from above with a controlled dive of his wings. "So am I!"
She turned her jaw up, shooting him an annoyed look. He craned his head down at her and grinned, beak to nose, before lifting back up on a current.
Eevee trotted beside her, keeping the same pace. She was letting out ragged breaths. "I'm not used to running this much."
Buneary's look now turned to Eevee. "Seriously?"
Eevee shook her head. "You know I don't really leave Treasure Town much. Hasn't been a need."
They scaled more yards of hardened dirt and grass and then arrived with an abrupt halt. Buneary slammed to a stop with a scrape of the pads of her feet against the ground. Dust was brought up on the wind.
Eevee let out a huff as she caught her breath, flopping down and tucking her back legs beneath her plump weight. She grinned determinedly at the deep hole with lattice over it the guild used to identify the Pokémon who walked in. "Okay, this is it!" she exclaimed. "Who's first?"
"Me!" Buneary said. She bounced again and landed on the lattice. Having been carefully bounded with rope, it bended downward slightly under the impact of her jump.
"Hey! be careful!", A voice scolded from down below. Then it sighed. "Pokémon detected," The voice made the friends jump. "Who's footprint? Who's footprint? The footprint is Buneary's. The footprint is Buneary's." Then there was a pause, followed up by permission to go forward, less than enthusiastically.
She ran forward and pivoted when she reached the tent, giving her friend's an excited wave.
"Okay, who's next?" Eevee prompted.
The friend's all gave each other nervous looks.
Wingull dove down and landed on her back. He then slid off as she stood up and rolled forward over her shoulder, landing feet stuck up in the air. They both giggled. "I'm not." He said, flexing his talons before flipping back over onto them lightly.
Eevee smiled and shook her head. "It's going to have to be me, isn't it?"
"Well, not me," Gastly piped. "I don't even have a footprint. I'm afraid If I sat on that, parts of my body would start sinking into the lattice.
"You still have to do it!' Eevee said, encouraging determination in her expression. "It's not like you can't fly and the gas will trail down and poison the watchman's face."
"That doesn't make me feel any better," Gastly said.
"Okay, okay, I'll go next."' Wingull offered. He folded his wings and hopped on the lattice. Unlike Buneary's jump there was no friction.
Eevee smiled at him. "Thank you Wingull."
"Please," he said, shaking his head.
"Pokémon detected," Wingull's head snapped to below him as his body curled. "Who's footprint? Who's footprint? The footprint is Wingull's. The footprint is Wingull's! Proceed."
With his permission now granted, Eevee stepped up. She fidgeted. The voice called her name and said the same thing.
Lastly, Gastly floated over it. He sank down onto the lattice trying with all his might to hold his form together. He flicked his eyes about.
"Pokémon detected, Pokémon detected. "The footprint is... um, a black cloud?" There was a pause. Gastly looked at his friends, felt his unsolid form starting to sink through. "The footprint is Gastly's, the footprint is Gastly's. Please proceed!"
Now all of them in front of the great tent, they proceeded inside. They looked around with caution. Wingull took in everything with awe-struck oval eyes.
There were tangerine-colored banners hung up, also with the same round eyes. A deep hole was in the center, a crude yet sturdy wooden latter sticking up out of it.
His eyes immediately went to the list of rules painted on a standing wooden sign. He read them over carefully. His heart skipped a beat.
Buneary went forward and stuck her head down the hole before stepping forward with her paws and entering. Eevee followed. Wingull gestured for Gastly to go. Gastly looked down the hole. It was a long decadence of brick and dirt. He zipped into it. Wingull came down last, feed gripping the wood with his nails. When he saw what was at the bottom, his breath left him.
They looked around the massive carved-out center. Buneary gasped. The walls were almost entirely brick, ceiling made of dirt. Plants and vines grew out of the walls. Grass and flowers grew on the floor. Open windows on either side provided view of the ocean cliff-side. It was beautiful.
There were Pokémon heading to them, among them a Bidoof, Sunflora, and Corphish. A Chatot stood in the center. He was very much the authority from the way he stood.
"Four!" He exclaimed.
The group of friends looked at each other again nervously and nodded. Gastly hovered up. "Yes, Sir, we came to join your guild as apprentices. We want to form an exploration team!"
Chatot blinked. "All together?" he asked, brow drawn as he studied them. He then nodded to himself as if he'd made a decision. "That's a large team, but it could work."
Wingull stepped up a bit and lifted his beak. "Really?"
"Oh, my gosh! I love it!" the Sunflora said, large leaves pressed against her pretty face. "Please let me show them around, Chatot!"
He turned to the Sunflora and nodded. Then turned back to the group and smiled, tan eyelids creasing together. "Very well then, follow me."
He pivoted on his lithe bird feet and stepped down forward in a strut. He carried his posture with pride and importance. The tall cluster of feathers on his head swished with his steps, along with the feathers on his tail.
They went down a latter that descending into another hole beside them. It opened into a larger room that was similar. Chatot gestured to them and they turned a curve till they reached an open set of wooden doors leading into a large room.
They followed in tentatively behind Chatot. They knew immediately. The Guildmaster's chamber. Light filtered in through large windows, showing upon the peachy figure himself.
Chatot gestured with his wing, feathers brushing their backs, herding them into the center. They stood in front of him, smaller than they usually were.
The Guildmaster fixed them with his huge round blue orbs, as if staring into them. It was unnerving. Then his face lit up in a huge smile, eyes filled with excitement.
"Hiyyaaaaa! New friends! New friends! Welcome to my guild!" He threw up his tiny arms and the walls shook slightly.
Buneary's jaw dropped. Eevee smiled back awkwardly and Wingull just blinked. Gastly twirled in a circle, genuine joy shining in his eyes. "Were excited to be here!" He cried, pleased by the warm welcome.
"Good." Wigglytuff said, bringing his arms down. He looked between the four of them. "Now you're all going to have to learn to work really well together, even if emotional conflicts arise. It can be a matter of life and death."
They nodded, listening attentively. Chatot grabbed a piece of paper from a shelf, along with a quill. He dipped it in ink, positioning it with the worn, dusty paper, and headed back over.
"Now what would you like me to register as your exploration team name?" Chatot asked.
The group looked at each other. Wingull sat on his feet. Eevee frowned, bringing her brows together. "Team Collectic?" She suggested hesitantly, still half in deep thinking.
"Collectic?" Buneary asked with dismay, crossing her arms. She shook her head. Eevee ignored her and nodded. "Since we're all so different," she spoke a bit more confident. "Since we're all so different, but we're a part of the same thing, it works."
Wingull mulled it over, feathers of his wing brushing over his head in thought. "Not bad."
"Team Cinnamon!" Buneary then exclaimed suddenly, paws pressed together. "Let's choose that! Oh please!"
Wingull opened his beak as he was caught between either liking it or voicing his protest. Eevee shrugged at it, swishing her great plume of a tail to the side.
"What? it's great right?" Buneary insisted. Then she pivoted to Gastly. "It'll make us seem sweet. People will think you're sweet, Gastly."
Gastly's eyes widened. He thought about it. "I want people to think that," He decided.
Eevee slumped her shoulders.
"Yes!" The flame-like gas surrounding his body flared.
Eevee and Wingull looked at each other. he could tell she didn't really care for it, but loved their friend more. Gastly turned to them, eyes shining with a wide grin. "You guys?"
Eevee gave in. She faced Chatot. "We'll choose that one. Team Cinnamon." Wingull nodded.
Buneary bounced. "Yes!" Her fluffy paws flew behind her with the motion.
Chatot nodded scratching it down carefully on the worn parchment. "And team leader?" His eyes looked critically between them.
They all looked at each other again.
"It was Gastly who inspired us to do this. He's always wanted to join an exploration team." Wingull said. A funny feeling swirled in his stomach after he said that. Perhaps, did he want to be leader instead? No way, he was never the leader. Still…
"All in favor?" Chatot asked.
The group nodded. Wingull tried to push the feeling down, but he couldn't stop his heart from skipping a beat. Gastly's eyes were wide as he looked at them. They welded up with small tears. "Thanks guys!" he said, rushing up and swirling around them. It was what he'd always done since they couldn't touch. The gas he consisted of was toxic.
Chatot wrote the name down. Wigglytuff looked over his feathery shoulder, ears perked. He then pivoted over to one of the great treasure chests displayed in the room and started digging through it.
"Well, you're registered." Chatot declared. Wigglytuff walked up and placed an aged wooden box in front of them. They blinked at it.
"Here's your items and your official exploration badges. They signify you belong to our guild, and the Exploration Team Federation. Someone's got to carry the satchel."
"Thank you," Gastly said, voice filled with emotion. "Yes," Wingull agreed, and Eevee nodded with a smile. "This is amazing," Buneary said.
Eevee dipped her head respectfully. "Thank you Guildmaster." She said, before opening the box up with her paws.
Inside lay their badges, just as he'd said, along with a bag, scarves and a heavily-used rolled up map. Wingull's feet were drawn forward immediately with excitement.
Buneary looked through the scarves and took the power band and put it on as a bracelet. She held out her wrist and looked at it. It was yellow.
"I'm surprised you didn't choose the Pecha scarf," Eevee said. Buneary shrugged. "I'm not always in the mood to wear rose."
Eevee chose a white Def. Scarf of her own, and Buneary helped tie it on behind her neck. Wingull smiled and chose a black one which he wasn't sure what it did. She helped him with his as well.
"Well," Chatot brought them back to attention. "You better get to know the guild, as this is your new home, and new companions." He hopped to outsidew the door. "Sunflora!" He shouted.
After a minute the flower walked in, chipper with excitement.
"Now it's your turn." He told her. She jumped, giving an excited squeal of joy. "Come with me, new members! Welcome to the guild!" She gestured with a sweep of her large leafy arm, and they put the box in their satchel before following.
Sunflora guided them around the premises, showing them every part from the mission boards to the crew rooms. She talked at length, and Wingull was starting to get a headache. He felt relief when he saw the Bidoof and a Corphish from before rush up to them.
"Hi! Welcome to our guild!" The Bidoof shouted, genuine joy in his eyes. "Hey, hey," The Corphish said, following behind him. "Welcome!" He threw his heavy pinchers up.
"Thank you," Gastly gushed. Buneary bounced up to them. "Yeah, thanks!"
The Bidoof chuckled. "We're excited to have new apprentices! Golly, it seems so many have joined. "Yeah," Corphish nodded.
"A new team like us?" Eevee's ears perked up.
"Yeah, Team Yonder." Corphish gestured with a pincher at the crew rooms. "The leader's a spunky Wooper, and his partners are Turtwig and Hoothoot. They're an odd trio, kind of like you guys, so you can't miss them."
"Odd," Gastly repeated the word, his gaseous form shrinking into a smaller ball. Eevee's brow pinched as she looked at Gastly. "Odd in a good way," She attempted to comfort.
"Yeah, yeah. You'll become friend's I'm sure! They're good students, will move up fast!" Corphish continued.
"How long have you been here?" Eevee asked, both changing the subject and genuinely curious.
Corphish straightened up, chest puffed out. "I could get my exam any day now." Wingull looked to Bidoof. He grinned sheepishly. "I still have a bit of ways to go."
"Well, I got a mission to do, I do!" Corphish said. Bidoof nodded. "Gosh, I better get ready, I also have one. Bye you guys!" He gave them a wave with his plump paw before heading off. "Good luck with whatever Chatot assigns!" Corphish shouted.
Gastly nodded vigorously, and they headed off.
Sunflora gestured for them to continue. They'd covered pretty much everything. "So why did you join our guild?" She asked.
"We've always wanted to since we were kids." Buneary explained. Eevee smiled in agreement. Sunflora nodded thoughtfully. "Why now though?" She asked.
"We heard a few months ago about how the world just almost ended! And how Team Chasm saved it by putting the Time Gears in Temporal Tower. We decided we better make the most of our lives."
Sunflora smiled. "I feel the same way."
They headed back and approached Chatot again. He was talking to a Crogunk, then after a few more words, turned when he saw them.
"All acquainted?" He asked. They nodded. The Crogunk stared at them. Wingull instantly felt creeped out by him.
"Excellent. Now for your daily duties!" Chatot said with cheer.
They smiled. "What are we going to do?" Wingull asked.
"The guild has much work that needs attention! I expect you all to pitch in with the many chores around the base."
Buneary's face fell into a scowl. Wingull glanced at her. He'd been expecting as much, they were brand new.
"Someone has to help Chimecho in the kitchen," Chatot continued. "As our guild grows in popularity, she's been asking for an assistant." He looked among the apprentices.
"I will," Eevee said. "Sounds like fun."
"Good, good." Chatot nodded. "As for the others, you, Wingull," Wingull raised his beak. "Sentry duty for you today. Help out Loudred. Diglett's overworked as it is."
Now it was his turn to feel disappointment. He didn't show it.
"And Gastly," He looked at him, thinking. "Go down to the market and restock us on berries." Gastly bobbed up and down in a weightless nod.
"Lastly, Buneary will aid in construction today. We're expanding the guild, digging out another crew member room."
"Ah, yeah!" Buneary threw up her arms. "I got something that doesn't suck!" Chatot blinked at her critically. she shrank into herself. "Yes, sir." She said instead.
"Well, I'll be off now. I trust you'll work hard and pull your weight." He turned again and resumed talking to the Crogunk.
Eevee stepped tentatively into the kitchen, the aroma of cooking vegetables and insects wafting around her.
A Chimecho's back was turned to her as she cooked, physically pouring water into a heavy pot and then cleaning vegetables.
She turned as she heard Eevee come in, smiling quietly. "Hello," She greeted, her voice a soft chime. She smiled back. "You're a new face. All the hustle and bustle outside right now must be about a new rescue team!
"Yeah," Eevee said shyly with perked ears. "I just joined with my friends, and formed Team Cinnamon. I'm here as the new assistant you've been requesting."
"Wonderful!" Chimecho said. "Team Cinnamon… how lovely. It's suits a future cook I am to train. It's nice to meet you! Do you go by Eevee?"
Eevee nodded. "I'm Chimecho," She introduced. She then gracefully turned in a twirl and went over to the fire. She used her psychic abilities to lift a heavy monster-of-a-pot down on the bent wire stand above the fire. "I started the stew already," She said. Eevee walked over, eyes wide. "Whoa, I don't know if I can lift that."
Chimecho chuckled softly. "You don't need to, to be a good cook. I just use it because I'm able to."
Eevee went over to the pot and looked inside. It was filled with many vegetables. "It smells delicious!" She said, looking up.
"Thank you, sweetie," Chimecho said, taking various dried herbs and spices down from the shelves. She broke them apart, then came over and slipped them into the stew. She stirred with a metal spoon.
"Wash your paws in that basin." She gestured with a flick of her elegant tail. Eevee went over and scrubbed her paws with soap plant and a rag in the water.
She went back over, ready to help.
"This is aside for the meat-eaters." Chimecho gestured to a pile of dead insects on the counter. "I have flint and steel there. Can you light that oven and crisp them over the fire? "Sure," Eevee said.
She took the dead insects and washed them in a bucket of water beside them. She then started the adobe oven with the flint and steel. The wood inside caught fire. She blew on the ember.
She then put the insects on metal trays, placing them inside the oven. "She turned her head to look, as she saw the smoke traveling up all the way through a hole leading to the surface.
She took a metal stick and turned the insects over as they quickly started to crisp.
"You're used to cooking with ovens!" Chimecho realized.
Eevee nodded. I have one at my old place. Saved up a great deal to have it built."
Chimecho nodded. "Excellent." She threw pepper into the pot before turning back to Eevee with a grin.
"What do you think? Honey or salt?"
Eevee tipped her head, thinking. "The taste of honeyed insects won't go well with the soup."
Chimecho giggled. "Indeed. Salt them when they're done."
Buneary had no problems finding the construction zone, the noise was so apparent. There was a Dugtrio drilling vigorously into the side of the dirt wall with its body. The Dugtrio let out a tough cry as dirt showed behind him into clouds and large piles. Ugh, she'd have dirt in her eyes the whole time!
She walked up and there was the Turtwig she'd heard about earlier, off to the side. She wore a black and white silk scarf around her neck. Another girl like her! She bounced over through the flying dirt and and grinned. "You're from Team Yonder!" The Turtwig's eyes widened as she was taken back with surprise. "Yeah," she shouted over the sound of the loud drilling. "I've never seen you around before, are you new?"
"I'm from Team Cinnamon, we just joined today!" Buneary said back. "Neat," The Turtwig smiled. She sized her up. "You take good care of your fur. Are you a fashion kind of girl?"
"You bet!" Buneary said. "I can tell you are too!" Turtwig smirked. "We're going to get along."
Suddenly, the loud drilling sound stopped. "There's a rock!" the Dugtrio cried out all at once. "We need help with it!"
Buneary and Turtwig sprang over. "Maybe I can break i-," The Turtwig said, but her words were cut off.
"Here we go!" The Dugtrio cried. They slammed themselves against the rock, splitting it, and not taking a second of hesitance before they resumed drilling.
The Turtwig and Buneary looked at each other, eyes wide.
"Well, when he needs us he'll ask again. Help me clear out the dirt as we move. It's best if we shove it out of the windows. That way it'll go straight into the ocean." The Turtwig suggested. She grabbed a broom leaning against the wall with her mouth.
Buneary nodded. She grabbed the other one beside it.
Wingull look around for his post until he was waved over by a large Loudred. "Are you the guy Chatot said was assisting me with Sentry Duty?" He asked. Wingull nodded. "I am, Sir."
"Good. Well, crawl on down that hole then, and fly up to the station. We're going to be identifying footprints. But, MY GOODNESS! YOU CALLED ME SIR!" Wingull groaned, putting his wings over his delicate eardrums.
"Oh, I did that again." Loudred blinked. "I need to remember to stop doing that."
"You have voice-boxes that resonate out of ears on your head." Wingull grumbled. "I don't want to go deaf early."
"Hey now, show respect." Loudred scolded. "Anyways, how good are you with footprints?"
"Pretty good, at least around here." Wingull responded. He'd grown up in Treasure Town his whole life. His head was still pounding.
"That's what I needed to hear. Now hop on down." He crossed his arms, gesturing to the latter sticking out of the hole.
Wingull sighed and nodded. The Loudred looked stupid with his four large teeth and gigantic mouth. He could already tell they wouldn't get along.
He hopped to the hole and gripped the ladder with his talons, going down it. As he proceeds along the hallway he had to feel his way through at one point in pitch blackness, but once he reached the end he had no problems finding the sentry point. He flapped up to the carved dirt niche to look out of the lattice from below. How do non-flying Pokémon get up here?
The light blinded him for a second and he blinked.
He plopped down on his feet. Now all that was left to do was wait.
He stayed that way for a while until he saw large feet step heavy weight down onto the wooden lattice. The wood bowed. He had trouble identifying the shape at first until it clicked. Goodness, it was an Aggron! How on earth did the weight of that wood hold? It sent a shiver through him, as he knew how heavy the large hunk of metal was above him.
"Pokémon detected! The footprint is Aggron's!" He shouted, as quickly as he could.
"Okay, Beaky, let him by!" Loudred called. Beaky? Wingull scowled.
"You're allowed inside! Please proceed!" He practically squawked, then shifted himself off the niche, fluttering to the side as the Aggron walked. He let out a breath of relief as it passed.
But seriously, how did that wood not break?
Gastly hummed to himself as he zipped down the dusty path leading to Treasure Town. He twirled with joy in the air, looping in a small circle. His heart was alight with excitement. He still felt like his whole body was trembling. He felt surreally elated that they'd actually done it. They'd formed an exploration team!
He knew he shouldn't be this excited just picking up berries at the market. It was a very small thing. But it was his first mission! I'm not going to downplay how I feel about this. He felt determination swelling within him so much he could burst. Yes, he wouldn't.
Chatot has given him a large sum in a bag. He carried it with him in his mouth. The breeze brushed gently through the soft green grass of the fields against the pointed red rock formations. The sun would start to set soon.
He continued down the trail till he reached the little town. He was surprised to see it bustling and alive, even at this sleepy time of day, when energy was starting to run low for most from a full day's work. He was careful to fly above as to not brush any people as he headed to Kecleon market.
The green Kecleon brother was the only one around, busy scrubbing his stall stand were some tomatoes seemed to have been smashed. He gave him a wave. Gastly grinned back best he could with the money in his mouth.
"Hello ghastly!" Kecleon greeted. "I see you plan to spend a lot today! Is it a party?"
Gastly set the money down on the counter and shook his head. "Nope, I'll tell you in a second." He grabbed one of the cloths in the bucket of water Kecleon was cleaning with and got the rest of the stand wiped up.
"Thank you," Kecleon said with a tired breath. "You've always been a good kid."
Gastly smiled shyly. "Well, I'm far form a child now. My friends and me, we formed Team Cinnamon! We're official members of the Wigglytuff Guild!" Kecleon put his hands on his chest. "That's wonderful! You've been talking about that for a long time."
Gastly grinned wide, his eyes shutting with glee. He then opened them and frowned at the counter. "So, what happened here?"
An Aggron marched through here, swinging his tail drunk off his rear. Must be a traveler because I certainly would have noticed him before."
Gastly looked about. "Hard to miss. I hope he reimburses you."
"Oh, I'll make him if I see him. Other than that, it's not a big deal. He washed off his sticky hands in the bucket, looking up.
"So, what are you here to buy today?"
"Berries, for the guild." Gastly said with pride. "Indeed," Kecleon affirmed. "What kind?"
Gastly's eyes widened, then he frowned. "Chatot didn't specify what kind." His face fell with embarrassment. Kecleon nodded.
"Well, be sure to get a little of everything then. I imagine the guild's stocking up for Chimecho's cooking."
Gastly smiled again, selecting and then buying a bunch of berries. He paid and grabbed the pouch of money again with his mouth, lifting up the large pile psychically. Then with a wave of his flame he returned down the path.
Gastly entered through the base and then into kitchen with the pile of berries floating beside him.
"Wonderful!" Chimecho said, surprised at the mound. "I can make so much with these. I imagine Chatot didn't intend for you to spend this much."
Gastly's eyes went huge and round as shock struck his face. Ugh, he'd flunked his first mission? He plopped the money down on her counter. "He d-didn't specify!" He defended.
"No worries," Chimecho giggled. "He probably forgot to. I'll make Oran Berry Shortcake tonight and he'll be happy enough with it."
Eevee's eyes perked up as she bound up from behind her, where she'd been scrubbing out an oven. "Oran Berry Shortcake? Will you teach me how to cook that?"
"Of course, sweetie! You're going to help me make it." She winked at the Eevee.
Eevee then smiled at Gastly, shaking her head with amusement. "That is a lot of berries."
"Well," Chimecho started. "Let's wash and prepare these."
When the dinner was ready, Chimecho went out front and Chimecho rang the great bell attached to her, letting out a tune.
Pokémon started coming in, tired and hungry. Some looked like they'd definitely come back from exploring.
Eevee had gathered food on their plates from the buffet they'd laid out and set them down on the table. She smiled at Gastly and he took seat beside her. Her fur was covered in sweat from the hot flames of the oven.
From the messy and thick buffet line, the Pokémon of the guild started sitting down at the table. Gastly waved with his flame-like substance as Buneary got her food, covered from head to toe in dirt. There was a Turtwig beside her. She waved back, bouncing on her feet.
There was a rumble as Dugtrio came up from the ground in a hole at the end of the table. They all turned to look at him, eyes wide. A little Diglett popped up beside him. "Hey, Dad." He said.
"Hello son," Dugtrio greeted.
Buneary took a seat beside them. The Turtwig Joined her, still managing to have an air of elegance despite being covered in soil. "Guys, this is Brindille!" She said. "She's got a great sense of taste. She worked as a scarf merchant before joining her team." Brindille dipped her head with a smile. "My father was a merchant, so I learned the trade very young."
"Hello," Eevee greeted. Gastly dipped his head back.
Brindille looked through the crowd and smiled as a Wooper and a Hoothoot arrived at the table with their plates of food. She gestured them over with a tilt of her head.
The Wooper and Hoothoot looked at each other with surprise as they saw the new team. They came over and sat across form them. "A new team!" Wooper remarked. "Awesome!"
"Hello!" Gastly said. "We are indeed. Team Cinnamon! You're the rest of team Yonder!"
"Yup," Wooper said, smile wide. Hoothoot beside him chuckled quietly. Gastly's eyes widened when he saw her. He felt a flutter in his stomach. "It's nice to have another nocturnal Pokémon now around these parts." She said to him.
"Y-yeah." He stammered, suddenly very self-conscious. She blinked at him then smiled sweetly. Or was it a grin? It was hard to tell with the shape of the way her soft feathers flared up above her eyes.
"So, do any of you go by nicknames?" Wooper asked. Team Cinnamon shook their heads. "Nope," Said Eevee. "We go by our given ones."
"Nice," Wooper said. "Do you?" Gastly asked, looking between Wooper and Hoothoot. He avoided looking in her eyes. They shook their heads.
"How did you get your nickname?' Buneary asked Brindille. Brindille thought about it. "I read it in a book and thought it was very romantic. I wanted to be unique, not just another Turtwig."
Buneary nodded. "I thought about doing that, but in the end, I really like my name, no matter how standard it is."
"Same." Wooper agreed.
"Where's Wingull?" Eevee asked with a frown. They team looked around. "He's definitely not here," Buneary said with disappointment. "You guys will love him," she told Team Yonder. "He always manages to cheer us up!"
Just then Wingull headed in, an irritated Loudred beside him. He seemed to be telling him off. Wingull looked to be ignoring him for the most part. He walked slouched, his face in a scowl and feet dragging.
"I see," Wooper said, chuckling with amusement.
Finally, Chatot and the Guildmaster walked in. The rest of the Pokémon rushed to collect the food and sat at the table. The whole room went quiet.
Wingull quietly took a seat at the other end of the room, the rest being full. He gave them a wave to let them know he saw them.
"Now, before we begin eating," Chatot started. A groan rippled through the crowed as people eyes their Oran Berry Shortcake. Chatot eyed them severely.
"Now, Before we begin, the Guildmaster has an announcement." Wigglytuff smiled, and Chatot stepped aside as he stepped forward. "Hiya, Hiya, friends~ We have a new team amongst us! Team Cinnamon!"
All eyes turned to them. There were cheers.
Gastly dropped the chunk he'd already tried to sneak-bite out of his Oran Berry Shortcake. He blinked, eyes huge and body shrinking in size at the pressure.
"And as a result of us having so many new apprentices, we've decided on a new style of training."
That got everyone's attention off of Gastly. He relaxed, expanding back to normal size.
"Rotation missions."
"What?" Wooper spoke aloud, confusion on his face. "Do you mea-"
"In order to learn to work with many different kinds of Pokémon, once a month, we'll be switching up the teams entirely randomly. It could be anyone in the guild, including Chatot and myself." Wigglytuff explained.
"Us included, Guildmaster?" Chatot said with shock.
"We're not just separate teams. We're a guild!" Wigglytuff threw his arms up in the air. "Yoom-Tah!" He finished.
Chatot looked like he'd been struck with a hammer. He followed the Guildmaster to the head of the table, looking like he really wanted to have a word. Wigglytuff picked up his Perfect Apple already on his plate.
"Now, we EAT!"
The Pokémon started eating ravenously.
Gastly's heart was pumping from the concept of rotation teams, but for now, all his focus would be on the food! He sighed as he bit into the Oran Berry Shortcake, euphoria hitting him from the wonderful taste as well as the Oran berries' healing effect.
Buneary giggled as Gastly threw hay at them. He giggled back. "Hey," Eevee scolded, doing her darnedest to brush the mats out of Buneary's fur. She had washed earlier, cleaning herself of the dirt, but the evidence of her hard work remained. "Ouuuch!" Buneary complained. "This is one of those moments I wish I didn't have fur."
"Don't say that!" Brindille shook her head. "You're lucky to have fur! It's always glossy."
"Thanks," She giggled again.
"Not as great as feather's though," Wingull grinned quietly, perched atop his bed of hay. Everyone turned to him. He fluffed them out. "It's true."
"They're so pretty in the wind, I actually agree." Eevee nodded.
"That's because you don't brush yours enough, and you shed a ton!" Buneary said, resulting in a harsh yank. "Ouch!" She cried again.
"Ah-ha!" Eevee said. "I got out that knot!"
"I'm glad I don't have fur," Gastly winced. "I'm like a dark cloud blackened by rain, …covering the moon!"
"That was actually really poetic." Buneary remarked with slight awe. "Yeah," Wingull agreed. "And I've never see you read."
"I read," Gastly protested with embarrassment.
Wooper then arrived with Hoothoot. He was carrying a large orb under his arm. He paused in the dug-out archway. "May I enter?" he asked.
Brindille threw him a look like he was ridiculous. "It's not like you're entering Sunflora's or Bidoof's rooms!" She cried.
"Still." He insisted shyly. Hoothoot's eyes went to Gastly. He tried his best to hold eye contact, but ended up looking-away with an awkward grin.
"Guys, you have to check this out, though." He laid the orb out front of them like it was a treasure form a lost tomb.
"This is a Petrify orb. Top quality too."
Whoa, Gastly said, eye wide as he saw it. He went up to it. His dark form reflected back at him in the crystal-like sphere.
"That is something!" Eevee agreed. "Perfect to use on large groups of bandits."
"That's what we're saving it for." Wooper said with pride. "It's our Escape orb, without really escaping."
Sunflora then popped in. "My gosh!" She cried, large leaves going up. "Get to your own dorm Team Yonder! You need your full sleep!"
Wooper nodded, attempting to mask his disappointment. We'll be on our way then." He picked up the orb.
"Aw," Buneary protested, and Brindille nodded in agreement. Sunflora sighed.
The Turtwig got up to follow him, along with Hoothoot. They turned around. "See you later, guys!" Wooper said.
"Same," Eevee smiled. "Have a good night," Wingull said. Gastly and Buneary also said goodnight.
"I prepared those beds for you," Sunflora said, indicating them. "How do you like them?"
They settled down into the thick rounded nests of hay. "Quite wonderful!" Wingull said.
"Thank you!" Eevee agreed. Gastly let out a big yawn. Sunflora nodded.
"Goodnight to you all, then." She smiled, leaving the room. Gastly listening till her footsteps become without noise in the hall. "She's left." Gastly said.
They erupted in excited giggles, rolling over on their beds in the bright moonlight. Wingull rose from his and looked out the window at the sea below.
"This place is incredible." He said softly. "And it was so close this whole time."
They nodded.
"I feel... Such a flutter in my chest. I'm ecstatic," Wingull continued, breathless.
"I can't wait for our future days to come. We made the right decision," Eevee spoke.
"Definitely!" Buneary agreed. "I love it here, and I'm so happy we met Team Yonder! We're going to go on amazing adventures! We're gonna be rich!"
"It's not about the money though," Eevee said with heart. "I agree," said Gastly. "We're gonna help other Pokémon. Rescue them!"
"Yeah!" They found themselves saying together.
Wingull went back over and sat in Eevees bed. "Hey!" she joked. She yawned heavily and Wingull stretched his wings before he settled beside her.
"Till tomorrow, Team Cinnamon!" Gastly said, closing his eyes.
"Till tomorrow." They agreed.
