I started writing this story on a whim, and it just kinda spilled out. This is more of a prologue that an actual story, so I'll call it the Prologue. Also, as my new friend Growlithe would love to point out-

Growlithe: He doesn't own any of the characters in this story so far.

Prologue

The New Team

There is a forest deep in the land of Pokémon, in which there lived a lonely Eevee. But she isn't the star of this story. The star is a Growlithe, living in the Fire Lands, far from the forest. He has no siblings, and his father is training him to be like him. An explorer. Arcanine is one of the best explorers in the world. Growlithe wants to be like him someday.

The fire types have an ancient secret. Many years ago, the first explorer left the Fire Lands to find his living. When he returned, he had a wonderful piece of paper, some might even call magical. When you ran out of room on the paper, it expanded to fit your needs. And when a piece was ripped or cut off, it retained those properties. It made a wonderful map for those with the skills to draw well. Growlithe was a descendant of that first Arcanine, and so he received a part of that paper when he was old enough to explore on his own. So he asked his best friend, Vulpix, to join him on his adventure. She said yes.

The first order of business when he got started was to form a proper team. Two fire types just aren't cut out for a good exploration team. So they went to a small forest, not the one where Eevee is, and searched for a worthy Pokémon to join them. They eventually found a small Bellsprout, who they decided they would let join. They were on their way to being the most well known exploration team in existence.

Their next stop was at a small lake, where they hoped to find a strong water type to join them. They eventually convinced a Poliwag to join them, on the condition that he evolves into Poliwrath, not Politoed. They had their team.

As they started this search, Growlithe kept a very accurate and well drawn map in his bag, which he kept with him at all times. Also in this bag were four stones. Two fire, a leaf and a water. Growlithe was prepared for almost everything. Whether it be fire, drought, flood, or any other life threatening situation, He was prepared.

When Growlithe got his team together, he had an image in his head of a medium sized building, where rescue teams and exploration teams could work together. At the time he was building his team, the Eevee in the far away forest was building her own team. She gathered together the Pokémon of the forest, and built a small building, where her rescue teams worked. She led them well, and they prospered. Growlithe, haring of this success, went to meet the great Eevee.

"Hello, Eevee. I'm Growlithe. I have heard so much about you. My team and I, we come across your rescue teams every once in a while and we chat. It really is great fun."

"If you are who I think you are, you are even more widely known than me! Everyone has heard of the great exploits of your team. You are the greatest explorer ever!"

"And you are an amazing leader! However, what you say is not true. My ancestor was the greatest explorer ever. He discovered the true size of this land. He mapped it all out. He was better than I am now."

"But you will soon surpass him."

These words of flattery continued until Vulpix interrupted, reminding Growlithe that they had not yet set up camp, and that it was almost dark. At this point, Eevee made an offer that would change Growlithe life forever. She asked him to stay for a few days with the Pokémon to train them. He accepted, and his team became a new part of life at the Pokémon rescue center. They ended up staying more than just a few days.