The dawn sky began to show subtle hints of white and pink, gradually bleeding into the deep blue and purple hues of a fading night. A light storm had just passed by the previous evening, leaving glistening raindrops scattered among the canopy of trees that littered the hillside. Their branches beckoned forward, shrouding a long and winding staircase to the top. It was roughly carved, but precisely cut into the bedrock, each step almost the same steep height.
Riolu and I finally climbed to the top of those long series of stairs that led to the top of the hill. Before us, was our destination: the Wigglytuff Guild! There, long stakes were set into the ground, leading up to a large clearing with lit braziers and totem poles, carved with faces of Pokemon, both menacing and proud. Two immense banners stood tall, footprint runes declaring the name of the guild and the slogans it advertised. The tent behind it overlooked the morning-dyed cliff face; low-lying and wispy clouds arching over the silhouette of a giant Wigglytuff in an imposing manner, as if from a majestic artwork.
Looking behind me, I saw my partner's dumbfounded expression. Riolu's jaw stood agape when he saw it, his normally black and blue face turning pale with both features of fright and awe.
"...Wow." I remarked, trying to break the silence . "The guild leader must have been some narcissist to have his own figure as the tent entrance..." My voice trailed off as I craned my neck upwards, taking in the whole setting.
A pause, and then, "H-how imposing!", he stammered. He then proceeded to hide behind my tail, as if menacing shadows would jump out at any minute. His action provoked a sarcastic thought in my mind, because isn't the model Riolu supposed to be sassy and brave natured? Well, at least that's what I heard, but this guy seemed to be defying all my expectations. At least, be a gentleman and lead the way…
I stepped onto the grate right before the tent. A second of complete silence, and then suddenly, ringing alarms went off, flattening my pink ears against my skull. Below, I could hear someone cry, "Pokemon detected! Pokemon detected!", and another reply, "Whose footprint is it? Whose footprint is it?", in a large, booming voice.
Of course, I was thinking things such as: 'Sheesh, can't you be more subtle?', and 'You're yelling my ears off!', all the while.
"The footprint is Skitty's! The footprint is Skitty's!" the first Pokemon answered, and after a few seconds of silence (not counting the blaring sirens blasting in the background), the metal bars of the entrance to the tent began to raise, making grinding and crunching sounds, the ground slightly trembling. I stepped off the grate, with a slight headache, and turned around. Riolu stood shivering several paces behind me where he had stopped, slack-jawed, and I impatiently motioned for him to stand on it.
He kept motionless, and one could see his paws and tail quaking. "Not again!" I groaned. Shaking my head, exasperated, I went around the grate, and pushed him with my head onto it.
"Come on, do we always have to go through this cycle again before you can do something by yourself?!" I half-coaxed him as if he was a stubborn mule.
Stunned, he roused himself from his stupor. "E-e-eh?! Where am I?" And then he jumped, cringing, as the voices underneath him began to shout. His instincts kicked in, and he raised his paws, ready to fight the imaginary enemies. I sighed, waiting by the shady entrance of the tent, wondering why I had to go through with this so early in the morning.
He bounded towards me, still a bit apprehensively, and I looked up. Hey! Why are you smiling like a buffoon! Embarrassed although no one else was here, I shook my head and used my tails to double-slap him.
Entering the tent, we could see sophisticated inner furnishings lining the walls, illuminated by soft light from the morning sun in cut holes on the sides. Well, the furnishings were really just some more decorative banners, and a couple signs pointing to a large hole in the solid floor. Looking more closely, the hole was covered with a deep brown manhole, shiny indents spaced equally around the cover.
And before us, was a small, brown-furred rodent of a Pokemon waiting, with two large buck teeth and round beady eyes. He quivered, as did Riolu- ah, you scaredy-cat-, and kneeled nervously, his teeth clattering as he introduced himself.
"Hallo, i-it's by golly nice to meet new visitors", he stuttered. "B-bidoof's the name, and I'm a rookie apprentice at M-mister Wiggly's!"
Riolu, at that time, suddenly recovered from Bidoof's modest and amiable personality, finally took the lead. He coughed, still a bit jittery, "I'm Riolu, and this is my partner Nayuki! We're here to apply as an exploration team at this guild."
Bidoof seemed genuinely surprised at Riolu's statement. "B-by golly! How great of you two to come see our guild to become adventurers!" I could just see stars dancing in his eyes. He excitedly grabbed our paws while standing on his hind feet, balancing precariously, and shook them vigorously. Turning around, he tackled a wooden lever at the end of the tent, and I and Riolu felt a tremor.
"Wo-oah!", we both exclaimed, as the manhole creaked, sections sliding into one another until the thing disappeared into the side of the floor, revealing a flame-lit staircase, winding downwards into the cliffside. Entering after Bidoof and my partner, his gaze now filled with excitement instead of apprehension, I felt a sense of anxiety well within me.