Twilight was ready to befall on the peach pink sky as Genevra and Redley were making their way towards the building that read Pokémon Exploration Team Federation in painted silver letters, the latter leading the both of them. They had arrived at Treasure Town, noise buzzing around with chatter and occasional lighthearted laughter. Fire-lit lampposts scattered around the town were ready to turn on, for the night sky was quickly approaching. It was surprisingly lively for the little town, even if the day was almost over.

To his slight chagrin, Redley wasn't sure if Genevra could trust him as much as he did to her. He knew fully well that he trusted her, for everything she had done at the beach surprised Redley. He gave her a full, uneaten Oran Berry, to which she only ate half, and Redley was positive that the Oran Berry didn't fill her hungry stomach. He was moved at how kind it was for her to only take half, and then who else should arrive at the scene but Weezing and Golbat! Even though they stole the Relic Fragment from him, Genevra went ahead and helped Redley anyways, despite her apparent problem that she couldn't remember anything about herself but her name.

Feeling slightly awkward in the silence that stood between the two Pokémon, he decided to initiate another conversation. If they were going to be partners in an exploration team, they might as well understand each other as Pokémon.

"So you really don't remember where you came from?" Redley started in the most comfortable voice he could ask in.

Genevra looked at Redley with a calm, disbelieving eye. "Do I need to repeat my answers? I've told you before that I can't remember anything about myself except my name. This is, obviously, strange, to say in the least. What more do you expect from me?"

"Well…" Redley smiled gently. "I would like to know more about you. After all, we're going to be partners in an exploration team. We should get to know each other as well as we can. Here, I'll start. I was born as an only child at Treeshround Forest, a long way from Treasure Town. Soon after, my parents and I moved here. My parents aren't with me anymore, since both of them are gone, but you know, I'm still alive and well."

Hearing this story, Genevra looked away, suddenly feeling guilty for speaking rather sharply towards the Gallade. The small detail about his parents no longer with him seemed to be a sensitive issue, and she thought of her own possible parents, wondering if there was a family waiting for her to come back.

"I'm sorry to hear that about your parents," Genevra mumbled quietly, trying not to meet Redley's eyes.

"No, it's fine." Redley smiled in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere between them. "What about yourself?"

"…Myself?"

"Well, I know you don't remember much about yourself, but do you think you could try to remember?"

Genevra looked thoughtful, as Redley could tell by her eyes that she was trying to remember anything about herself to the best of her ability.

"…I remember that I'm twenty years old. At least, I'm sure I'm twenty. That's one thing I remember. But what good does that do?"

"We're not that far off then!" Redley's smile became even more cheerful. "I'm twenty-two!"

"Is age really that important?"

"Maybe not, but it is nice to know. Just in case it might ever come in handy. I mean, small details like age don't matter so much, but still."

A silence passed between the two as they quietly continued walking among the busy commotion of Treasure Town, until Genevra was the one to initiate a conversation this time around.

"Redley." Genevra spoke his name in a tone that meant she had a question to ask.

"Oh, yeah?"

"What do exploration teams do in general?"

Redley smiled at this question. He felt himself relax, as this would be a fun and easy question to answer. "Well, they usually do three things. First, they help other Pokémon accomplish what they need to do, such as finding a missing item for them or helping them find a missing Pokémon. That's usually the easiest of the tasks. The harder task involves fighting outlaws who did things ranging from stealing things to killing others. Exploration teams help capture these thieves and murderers, so it's why it's much more dangerous than just finding a Joy Ribbon for a Pichu. The third task is arguably the hardest, and what they usually do is explore new mystery dungeons and discover treasure. The biggest risk is that Pokémon could lose their lives, since they have to constantly check their supply and make sure they aren't going to die exploring."

"So, how does your goal fit with any of the above?" Genevra remembered the small Relic Fragment sitting snugly in its own pouch that used to hang around Redley's neck, now settled down inside his satchel.

"Well, there has to be something about this Relic Fragment. I don't know where it came from, but it came from somewhere. And I hope that with you, I can discover where this came from. I guess we're gonna be a unique exploration team since we're not really doing what most do."

"It sounds like we're reaching for the stars. Have you tried something called a library?"

"I did, but I didn't get anything that would help me. Still..." Redley looked at Genevra with a heartwarming smile. He was getting used to Genevra's contemptuous tone. "I can't wait to start exploring with you."

Genevra wanted to reply, I'm only joining you because I have nowhere else to go. I don't remember anything about myself. She wanted to reply that she didn't share his desire to discover the secret of his Relic Fragment. Nevertheless, she realized how rude she would sound if she said her true thoughts to Redley, so she kept her mouth closed.

By now, both Pokémon had reached the entrance of the Pokémon Exploration Team Federation, the wooden double doors standing face front of them. Instinctively, Redley took the handle of one door and opened it for Genevra, wanting to be polite. Genevra nodded in thanks, and head inside the building with Redley following not far behind.

The building wasn't very extravagant. The walls were made of granite stone, with windows casually decorating the walls so that daylight could enter in the room. The temperature in the room was rather mild, warm enough for the winter weather, but cool enough from the blazing summer heat. The simple foyer had an array of chairs neatly lined against one side of a wall while a jubilant Simipour sat at the wooden receptionist desk opposite of the chairs. She greeted both Genevra and Redley as amiably as any Treasure Town citizen could be.

"Hello there, and welcome to the Pokémon Exploration Team Federation! What can I help you with?"

"Um, hi." Redley smiled to match the Simipour's mood. "We'd like to form an exploration team."

"Okey-doke." The Simipour pulled out a few papers from a nearby file cabinet and took out a pen from her desk. "All you'll have to do is come with a team name and fill out some things about yourself. Then I'll get you sent over to the head of the federation, Blastoise. He'll have your levels evaluated over at the Wigglytuff Guild."

Redley took the papers and the pen. "Thank you."

"No problem, just tell me when you're done."

Both Pokémon looked at the form curiously as they sat down at the nearby chairs.

"We need to think of a team name." Redley looked at Genevra. "Do you think you have an idea on what to call our team name?"

Genevra began thinking, a thoughtful expression spreading slowly like a butterfly's wings fragilely lifting into the air. Redley couldn't help but think how angelic she looked, her face in a contemplative mood. So far, it seemed that Genevra was very resolute character, firm and quickly decisive in everything she spoke and in the way she moved. At the same time, she had a certain grace that matched very peacefully with her solid personality. Something about this attracted Redley. And here she was, pondering on a potential team name for their exploration team, which only made the elegant Gardevoir all the more attractive to him.

"How about the Seekers?" Genevra suggested, and gave her reasoning after suggesting the name. "We'll be seeking the truth behind your Relic Fragment, and since we won't be doing what most exploration teams are doing, it seems plausible."

Redley smiled happily in response. "That sounds like a good team name!" He quickly jot down the name on the forms.

There wasn't very much else to fill out, that being their birthdates, their current age, their names, their known moves, and the Pokémon they were. They finished this with ease and told Simipour, who then lead the two Pokémon to meet Blastoise.

"What we'll first do is submit this form, and then we'll send you over to the Wigglytuff Guild to do some tasks to evaluate your current levels as well as see what explorer rank you are," the Simipour explained helpfully. "Blastoise will ask what kind of training you've done in the past. Since it's almost late today, you'll have to wait to go to Wigglytuff's Guild until tomorrow."

Simipour knocked on the door to Blastoise's office. "Blastoise, there are two new Pokémon who'd like to form an exploration team!"

"Come in," an attentive voice replied from behind the door.

Simipour opened the door as the Gallade and the Gardevoir walked into Blastoise's office, a small room with everything that was expected to be in an office: lined bookshelves, a desk, piles of papers, a cup of writing utensils, and a chair. Blastoise sat at his chair, a book open at his desk, and looked up to see the Pokémon entering his room. Genevra and Redley said a quick goodbye to Simipour before closing the door and leaving them alone in the room.

"So," Blastoise greeted with a friendly smile, "you want to form an exploration team?"

Redley nodded. "Yeah."

"May I see the form you filled out?"

Without any hesitation, Redley handed the form to Blastoise. He studied the form for a bit before nodding approvingly and turned to look back at the two.

"Well, you two certainly are allowed to form an exploration team. I'll have you evaluated at the Wigglytuff Guild tomorrow first thing in the morning so that we know what level you two are at. Have either of you trained at the Marowak Dojo?"

Naturally, as Genevra had never been to or heard of Marowak Dojo, she shook her head and remained quiet, for her silence was clear that she had no connection with the dojo. Redley raised his hand, indicating that he had trained there plenty of times. "I have."

"Alright then, Redley. I'll have Simipour check with Marowak to see your training records. It could significantly help boost up your explorer rank." Blastoise took a sheet of paper and took a small pencil. "I will write a letter to Wigglytuff saying that he must assign you an evaluation. If you can complete Wigglytuff's evaluation, you must come back here and inform me."

Both Genevra and Redley nodded, understanding everything Blastoise had said. With that, Redley was handed back the form and Blastoise's letter, now put in an envelope with the federation's signature seal of its silver letters, PETF. Both Pokémon were given a Treasure Bag of their own, a normal, beige messenger bag like any other, while one copy of the Explorer's Map was given to both Pokémon. It was agreed that Redley would hold onto the map.

When Genevra and Redley had said their final goodbyes to both Blastoise and Simipour, they stepped back out into Treasure Town. By now, it was evening, and the lampposts were turned on, giving an idyllic look to the town itself. There weren't many Pokémon out, and those that were out had no malicious atmosphere about them. Genevra wondered where she would be sleeping tonight, especially since she felt suddenly weary of the events of the day.

Redley noticed Genevra's exhaustion, and realized that they would have to go back to his home at Sharpedo Bluff. "Genevra, are you okay?"

With a self-sustaining nod, Genevra replied, "I'll be fine."

"Here, we'll go back to my home, Sharpedo Bluff."

"I don't want to mooch off of you, Redley."

"But we're an exploration team, so I would think that we would at least have to live together one way or another."

Genevra sighed, an expression of defeat on her face. Does he really trust me this much? I've only met him today, and not only does he ask me to join me in this exploration team, but now he also wants to share with me his own home! How can he trust me so much? …Still, he seems like a genuinely kind Pokémon. He wouldn't mislead you, Genevra…

"Alright, then." Genevra looked back at Redley. "Where is your home?"

"It's at the edge of Treasure Town on a small cliff, and there's a beautiful view of the ocean from there. I promise you, you'll like it." Redley gave a friendly smile to her.

"…You won't do anything to me while I'm sleeping, I hope?"

Redley turned red and started stammering, as if he had accidentally landed in the girls' bathroom. "No! O-Of course not! I'd never do anything like that!"

Sensing that Redley was honest, Genevra looked away with a satisfied look on her face, showing no smile. "Just wanted to make that clear. That's all."

With that said, the two Pokémon made their way back to Redley's home. Genevra took in the environment around her, becoming even accustomed to the sights and smells of Treasure Town, which now surely felt like her new home. She knew that she wouldn't be retaining her memory anytime promptly, and defeated by this fact, she hesitantly agreed in her mind to get used to the new town. Of course, it went without saying that she would still be on a search to remember everything she could about before she was washed up on the beach unconscious.

"Ah, here we are." Redley's voice grabbed Genevra's attention. At first, she found herself staring at a rather large bush, but was surprised to that when Redley pulled away the bush, there revealed a moderate hole with small stairs led down to a room. Redley faced Genevra, and in his polite manner, he said, "After you."

Genevra looked at the entrance in amazement, looked back at Redley, and then went down the stairs without another word. Redley followed behind after he pushed the green bush back over the top of the hole.

In the small room was a clean, dirt floor with a cozy-looking nest in the center, presumably Redley's. Piles of hay were stacked against the wall, and next to it stood two wooden barrels. Near the opposite end of the room stood a small waterfall fountain trickling with fresh water, and next to that was a pile of firewood bundled up nonchalantly against one another. The ceiling was neither grand nor petite, and it was comfortable enough to fully stand up without hitting one's head against the ceiling.

Though the room itself was quite snug, the most beautiful part of Redley's home was the magnificent view of the ocean it gave. Genevra could see the vast ocean, glittering a midnight blue that reflected the color of the night sky. The moon was shining brilliantly in the sky, its light shyly twinkling within the ocean waves as if they were delicate white pebbles ready to disperse into pale dust. There were deep blue-black clouds moving lazily across the sky, a sharp contrast from the clouds the previous night where a furious storm had raged all over Treasure Town with its own violent clouds.

It was then Genevra realized why Redley had called it Sharpedo Bluff. The very room she was standing in was the mouth of the Sharpedo Bluff, and the view of the ocean was the opening of the Sharpedo's mouth, allowing such a magnificent view of the blue waters that went on for distances and distances.

"Is everything okay?" Redley asked, making Genevra turn around to face him. She found him lifting a bale of hay, walking towards her. His satchel was sitting quietly next to his own nest.

"I have to say, it's a nice home you have here," Genevra admitted.

The Gallade smiled in response, untying the string that wrapped around a bale of hay. "Thanks. I try not to keep it too occupied so that way it's roomy and comfortable."

Knowing that Redley was prepared to make a bed for Genevra with the hale of bay, Genevra looked at the Gallade and told him, "If you don't mind, I'll make my own nest."

"Of course," Redley replied, wanting Genevra to be comfortable in every way possible. Here, Genevra took the hay, moving a couple of yards away from Redley's nest.

So as the Gardevoir made her own bed with the bale of hay, Redley went over to the barrels and plucked out a few Gummis and two apples for the both of them. It would turn out to be a tolerable dinner for them, though the two Pokémon hadn't talked to one another while they were both eating. It was rather soothing, eating in the quiet atmosphere while the moon shown above in the night sky as if it was a guardian angel. After they had finished eating, Redley tossed a blanket to Genevra for the night and gave himself a blanket as well, for they would both be sleeping soon. They laid down on their beds for some time, and Genevra, being tired, was ready to fall asleep effortlessly. On the other hand, Redley wasn't going to go to sleep as easily as Genevra. He wanted to talk to Genevra just a little bit more before she would go to sleep, and so he gently cleared his throat and began speaking.

"Genevra," Redley said, finally breaking the long silence. "Are you still awake?"

"Hm?" The Gardevoir murmured from her nest, clearly ready to fall into a deep slumber. She was slightly irritated that Redley had begun talking once more, but she knew she couldn't be angry at him after everything he had given her.

"Thank you for everything today. I mean, you helped me with Weezing and Golbat, and more importantly, you formed an exploration team with me today. We'll be experiencing all sorts of things tomorrow, and to be honest, I feel excited about it."

Genevra sleepily opened her eyes, finding that she was looking at the tranquil, night sky. Her back was turned to Redley, so that her face wouldn't meet the Gallade were an awkward eye contact to come in place. She didn't know which side Redley slept on, but whichever side he slept on, she didn't want to find herself facing him.

"I should be the one thanking you," Genevra replied back quietly, her face not meeting Redley's. "If you hadn't found me at the beach earlier today, I don't know where I would be now."

Redley let another silence pass by before replying. "I know you said you don't remember anything about yourself, but… I hope that while we're an exploration team together, we'll find out everything about you. Not just my Relic Fragment. I mean, your past, where you came from, why you were washed up on the beach, and how you lost your memory. You know, things like that."

"… I hope so too."

Redley sighed. He was tempted to look at Genevra one more time before falling asleep, though he kept telling himself, Don't look at her, don't look at her, don't look at her. He wasn't quite entirely sure how Genevra was sleeping, that is, which side she was sleeping on, but like Genevra, he didn't want to awkwardly meet her eyes. To stop his temptations, he said his final few words of the night.

"Well, we should probably get to sleep. Sorry if I woke you up. Goodnight, Genevra."

"Mhm… G'night, Redley."


The next day, early in the morning, both Pokémon had woken up. They quickly ate their breakfast and went through Treasure Town, walking their way to the Wigglytuff Guild. They didn't stop walking until they were in front of the grand, rocky stairs of the Wigglytuff Guild. It was steep, for if someone were to even try to walk up those stairs, they would have to watch themselves with caution lest they fall down and land unpleasantly onto the ground below.

"This is an extravagant entrance to the guild," Genevra pointed out quite rightly.

Redley took his first few steps up the stairs. He looked at the end of the stairs above him, and then looked back down to Genevra. "Do you think you'll be okay walking up?"

Genevra responded as she began walking up the stairs. "More or less."

Redley suddenly wondered if he could take Genevra's hand, for the sole purpose of walking up the stairs together. He wanted to hold her hand and take their first steps together as an exploration team. But then he thought of what had happened yesterday when he held her head against his arm at the beach when she was unconscious. She was frightened when she discovered that he was holding her, so Redley immediately knew that she didn't like being touched at all. Flustered from his earlier actions, he kept quiet and decided not to speak.

Genevra had already begun walking a few steps ahead of Redley when she noticed that he wasn't moving. He was simply standing there, watching Genevra, to which she felt relatively stiff and mechanical. "What?"

"Erhm…" Redley shook his head with a flustered face. He realized how awkward he made her feel. For this, he became as stiff and mechanical as Genevra had. "Nothing. Let's go on."

The two Pokémon had finished walking up the stairs and were now standing in front of the sentry gate, its sturdy brown grate giving the air a sense of nightmarish curiosity. As unyielding as the grate looked, the un-seeable darkness below the grate lurked around with a gloomy feel. Genevra couldn't help but think how eerie it looked. It didn't help that the Wigglytuff tent had soulless, empty eyes on top, its arms splayed out towards the sky, as if calling upon some unpleasant disaster. Both Pokémon shuddered slightly at the sight of the pink, bunny-like tent. Of course, Wigglytuff himself had never meant it. Everyone knew that the guild had the nicest of Pokémon anyone could imagine, and some secretly pitied the Pokémon who lived in the guild for having such a weirdly-shaped, ghastly-looking bunny tent.

"Well, this is the Wigglytuff Guild," Redley announced in a voice as triumphantly as he could, trying to make the atmosphere between them cheerful once more. He waved an arm in grand gesture, as if trumpets were ceremoniously blaring in the background.

"Okay. Then what's this?" Genevra frowned, staring at the grate in front of the two.

"It's… their security system."

Genevra looked at Redley with disbelief. "This? This is a security system?"

Redley let out another sheepish laugh. "I-It works like this. You're supposed to stand on top of the grate, and then a Pokémon below will identify your footprint and let you into the guild. I'll go first so you'll see how it works."

Having that said, Redley bravely walked in front of the sturdy grate. Immediately, a boyish voice sounded from below the darkness, calling out his words with military-like stiffness. It was followed by bizarrely ear-piercing yells in response to the boyish voice.

"Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!"

"Whose footprint? Whose footprint?"

"The footprint belongs to Gallade! The footprint belongs to Gallade!"

"You mean… from Team RAIDER?"

"Um… I don't know! The footprint just belongs to a Gallade!"

"WHAT?"

"I'm not supposed to know if that footprint belongs to the same Gallade from Team Raider, Loudred!"

Redley laughed and faced himself into the darkness of the sentry gate. "I'm not the Gallade from Team Raider. I'm Redley, from Treasure Town."

"Oh…" was the response of both Pokémon in the dark below the grate. The tone of their response was a mixture of defeat and embarrassment.

"I have a friend up here with me too," Redley continued saying, and looked at Genevra.

"Well then get that STRANGER up on the GRATE!"

"Shut up Loudred! You're too loud!"

Genevra smirked ever so slightly. "This is the security system?"

Redley laughed lightly, shrugging as he stepped off the grate so that Genevra would step upon it. She was quite reluctant to step on the grate (what if someone down there actually looked up her gown?!), but she managed to get herself on it with the push of her conscious, hoping that her gown would be thick enough to cover what needed to be cover, somehow.

"Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!"

"Whose footprint? Whose footprint?"

"The footprint belongs to… Gardevoir! The footprint belongs—"

"WHAAAT? Is SHE the GARDEVOIR from Team CHARM?"

"Who's that?" Genevra mouthed towards Redley. Before he could respond, the Gallade was interrupted by the boyish voice from below.

"How should I know?"

Genevra faced the darkness behind the grate below her, ready to respond should another argument go off. "My name is Genevra."

"Well, if you're a friend of REDLEY'S, I would say it's OKAY to let you IN the GUILD."

Genevra rolled her eyes in confusion. Did that Loudred have to absurdly screech out random words in his sentences?

Before anyone else could say any word, the gates of the Wigglytuff Guild trembled as if thunder had rumbled threateningly in the sky. Genevra leapt off of the grate, thankful that she wouldn't have to stand on it any longer.

"You okay?" Redley asked the Gardevoir, wanting to make sure she was as comfortable as she could be.

Genevra nodded as the two went inside the guild. Perhaps she would wonder about the Gardevoir from this Team Charm at a later time.

The first thing both Pokémon noticed was an attention-calling board next to the ladder that led below to the guild, screaming in big letters, WIGGLYTUFF'S GUILD, TEN RULES FOR EXPLORATION TEAMS. Below those words were, needless to say, the ten rules for exploration teams. Genevra quickly skimmed the rules, thinking of how ridiculously hokey and nonsensical those so-called rules were. "Don't shirk work!" was an easily ridiculous rule: who would ever want to shirk work in the first place if it was their job? And "Run away and pay!" made absolutely no sense for a rule. Who were you running away from, and if you were running away, what would you need to pay for?

"Need help getting down here?" Redley asked Genevra as he was prepared to climb down the ladder.

Genevra shook her head. "I'll be fine."

With that, the Gallade nodded in return and leapt down onto the first sublevel of the guild. Genevra gingerly held on to the ladder, making sure her gown wouldn't reveal anything too private. She arrived at the first sublevel at a considerably slower pace than Redley.

The two Pokémon stood amidst a crowd of commotion, exploration teams of twos, threes, and even one team of four busily chatting away, holding envelopes and treasure bags. None seemed to notice the Gallade and the Gardevoir standing in the middle, for they were all too absorbed in their own business to even see them.

A hasty pair of wings fluttered impatiently from behind the two. Both Redley and Genevra turned around simultaneously to find a Chatot observing both Pokémon with a careful eye.

"So, a Gallade and a Gardevoir," the Chatot chirped with seemingly bossy disapproval. "I almost thought that you'd be the Gallade from Team Raider and the Gardevoir from Team Charm, but you're too scrawny for a Gallade, and the Gardevoir doesn't look so nice or friendly compared to the Gardevoir from Team Charm."

Redley frowned, purely confused and disappointed at the Chatot's blunt words. Genevra raised an eye, as if ready to question the Chatot's words. They weren't expecting such a judgmental Pokémon to greet them by comparing them to the legendary exploration teams of Team Raider and Team Charm.

"Anyways, what brings you two here? Are you salesman? Get out, we have no use for such Pokémon!"

"Actually, we're an exploration team," Redley began. "We formed a team yesterday at the Pokémon Exploration Team Federation, and Blastoise sent us here."

"Do you mean… you want to join the guild?"

"W-well, not really," Redley continued and held up Blastoise's letter. "We're already a team, it's just that Blastoise told us to come here and have Wigglytuff give us a test for evaluation. That's all."

"How old are you?"

"Oh, well I'm twenty-two, and she's twenty."

"Well then you're much too old to become apprentices of our guild!" Chatot laughed oddly. "Well, if you need to see the Guildmaster, follow me."

Chatot led both Pokémon to the second sublevel of the guild, where the commotion was less busy. They came to a wooden door with a bright red, vaguely-shaped G painted on. Chatot chirped loudly that he was about to enter inside Wigglytuff's room with the mention of Redley and Genevra.

"Guildmaster!" Chatot chirped as the door opened. "We have two Pokémon who are an exploration team and have come to our guild with a letter from Blastoise of the PETF!"

"Blastoise from the PETF, eh?" another giddy voice replied, the door opening fully now. Both Redley and Genevra saw the Wigglytuff holding a couple of papers in one paw, turning his head over to see the newcomers. "That must be important! Who are you two?"

"We're Team Seekers," Redley answered, and introduced his name as Genevra introduced hers. Wigglytuff observed Team Seekers with interest as they were talking. "We have a letter here saying that Blastoise wants an evaluation of us as a team."

"An evaluation?" Wigglytuff leapt off of the chair he sat on. "May I see the letter please?"

Naturally, Redley handed the sealed envelope to Guildmaster Wigglytuff.

"Mhm…" Wigglytuff nodded his head rather solemnly after he had opened the letter. "I see what he wants me to do… Alright! YOOM-TAH!" Here, the ground seemed to shake as if the tectonic plates of the earth were shifting violently. "Team Seekers, I hereby give you Test A!"

There appeared to be a silence; neither Genevra or Redley was sure what to make of Wigglytuff's dramatic statement.

"T-T-Test A?" Chatot finally squawked unmusically. "Th-that's…!"

Redley and Genevra looked at each other, perplexed.

"Um… if I may ask, Guildmaster," Redley began with caution, "what exactly is Test A?"

"Nothing too hard!" Wigglytuff replied quite cheerily, clearly ignoring Chatot's squawks. "All you need to do is these four tasks in seven days! If you can complete these four tasks, you'll be allowed to skip the Normal Rank to the Super Rank!"

"So what kinds of tasks are these?" Redley asked another question.

"You just need to do two jobs from each bulletin board up on the floor above us, do a mock-up exploration of Waterfall Cave, and bring back some Perfect Apples from Deep Apple Woods. Oh yeah, and you have to do it all in one week! That's all."

"B-B-But Guildmaster! Test A! Why?!"

"Oh, come on Chatot!" Wigglytuff laughed heartily. "Believe me, these two Pokémon look like they can handle Test A."

Chatot merely sweatdropped, half-nervous and half-crazy at his Guildmaster.

"So, when do we—"

A familiarly unwelcome presence barged the room, followed by an even bigger unwelcome presence. All Pokémon turned to look at who were facing the door. It was none other than the goons from yesterday at the beach, Weezing and Golbat, though this time, they were followed by the boss of their group, Skuntank.

"I SAID you are NOT welcome at this GUILD!" another familiar presence yelled as he entered the room, a rather large cross-popping vein beating angrily at his blue forehead.

"Chaw-haw-haw!" Skuntank laughed. "Doesn't matter. We're in here already. Why should we listen to you?"

"GUILDMASTER Wigglytuff! I'm so SORRY!" Loudred apologized loudly.

"You guys again! Why are you even here?!" Redley stared at the Pokémon wide-eyed in a mixture of horror and shock while Genevra didn't say anything at all. Needless to say, she stared at them very cynically.

"Who are you?" Wigglytuff looked cheerily at the trio of the malevolent Pokémon.

"We," Skuntank paused to purposely create a dramatic effect, "are Team Skull. Guildmaster, if you wouldn't mind, please assign us Test A like you did with them." Skuntank motioned towards Redley and Genevra.

Chatot, meanwhile, had gotten out of his shocked mood from Wigglytuff's earlier decision to give Redley and Genevra Test A. He was now quite furious at the newcomers for barging into the Guildmaster's office, getting by the guild's security system, and now, they were asking for Test A from the Guildmaster himself!

"Who do you think you are?!" Chatot squawked, his wings flapping angrily in the air. "Bursting in to the Guildmaster's office like this is completely inexcusable! Why, were—"

"Now, now!" Wigglytuff interrupted Chatot. "Let's see the situation here. We have an exploration team named Team Seekers who will be taking Test A, and another exploration team who wants to take the Test A as well." Wigglytuff closed his eyes and put a paw to his chin. "Hm. What, to, do…"

A heavily awkward pause took control of the room as Guildmaster Wigglytuff stood extremely motionless. It became so quiet that if one were in the very room, and one dropped a pin onto the ground, it would be loud enough to turn heads to see where it dropped.

"Okay!" Wigglytuff suddenly spoke loudly, making everyone in the room jolt with surprise. "Here is what we'll do! Team Seekers and Team Skull shall both do Test A!"

Hearing this, everyone but Wigglytuff let out a shocked "!"

"Chaw-haw-haw, looks like this is a competition between us!" Skuntank laughed with a snobbish tone in his voice. Weezing and Golbat joined their boss as they laughed as much as a puffy toxic cloud and a bloodsucking bat could laugh.

"No way!" Redley exclaimed with his mouth open in shock. "H-how? Guildmaster, why?"

"We will start the competition tomorrow morning at sunrise at the Crossroads! Test A requires you to finish these four tasks in one week! Whoever comes back the quickest and with all missions completed shall win the competition!" Wigglytuff had heard Redley's complaint, and while he was certainly justified, Wigglytuff would not tell anybody for some time the reason why he allowed Team Skull to do Test A along with Team Seekers. "You've got one day to prepare!"

"But Guildmaster!" came from the voices of Chatot and Redley.

"Now, if you will excuse us…" Skuntank smirked quite haughtily, waiting for the Guildmaster's response.

"Of course, you're excused. Remember to meet us at the Crossroads tomorrow at sunrise!"

With that, the disagreeable and obnoxious Team Skull stalked rather sinisterly out of the room, casting overly-prideful glances at Redley and Genevra.

Genevra looked all around the room. She found Loudred staring incomprehensively at what had just taken place. Redley had a face of pure surprise and anger, as did Chatot. Wigglytuff was the only one who was smiling brightly, as if he were a perpetually happy stuffed bunny that belonged in the room of a little girl with other pink animals lying on top of a pink bed in a pink bedroom.

"Oh, I almost forgot to add!" Wigglytuff suddenly started once again in his normally cheery voice. "Before you leave, Team Seekers, consider Team Skull an addition to Test A. Just think of them as another obstacle to conquer in Test A. You two look like you can handle it, so it's why I agreed to start a competition. I believe in you guys."

Genevra couldn't help but think how strange the situation was. The three goons had literally barged into the room and declared a competition between the two teams. There was no doubt that they were purposely trolling both Redley and Genevra, and now that Wigglytuff had allowed this competition to take place, it only angered her even more.

Another uncomfortable pause took place. Genevra cleared her throat, and spoke quietly. "Guildmaster, thank you for the evaluation. We'll be at the Crossroads tomorrow by sunrise to begin it." Genevra turned to Redley, and in the same quiet voice, she said, "Let's go, Redley."

Redley looked at Genevra with surprise, and then agreed with some reluctance. "Ah, o-okay."

"We'll take our leave," Genevra said, and goodbyes were exchanged as the Gallade and the Gardevoir walked out of Wigglytuff's office.


After the two Pokémon had gone, Loudred looked at his Guildmaster and Chatot, clearly embarrassed and very unsure of what to do next. He knew he had to go back to sentry duty, but leaving in the middle of an awkward pause like this in Guildmaster Wigglytuff's office seemed disrespectful.

"Guildmaster…" he began, this time, trying hard not to emphasize random words in his speech. "I just wanted to say that—"

"Apologies accepted, Loudred!" Wigglytuff smiled jubilantly. "Don't worry about it. Team Skull would've barged in the guild one way or another."

"B-But Guildmaster!" Chatot exclaimed with a flap of his wings. "Wh-why did you just…?"

Wigglytuff revealed a secretive smile. It was blunt to both Chatot and Loudred that Wigglytuff had a big plan stirring in his mind. Wigglytuff knew things that Chatot and Loudred didn't, and he wouldn't be revealing his plans to anyone for any while.

"Let's just say, my friends…" Wigglytuff began as he picked up a Perfect Apple from a nearby stash. "That something colossal will happen in the future."

Both Loudred and Chatot sweatdropped, not having the faintest idea of what he meant.

"As for Team Skull, Loudred," Wigglytuff continued, "should they enter the guild again, they are allowed to enter. If they should do anything harmful to any one of us, or somehow decide to wreck the guild, they will expect the Surprise from me. That's all. You may go back to work."

Loudred nodded slowly, comprehending what Guildmaster Wigglytuff meant by the "Surprise" from Wigglytuff. Without another word, he walked out of the room, awkward, fidgeting slightly with each step he took. When he was out of the room, Chatot looked incredulously at Guildmaster Wigglytuff.

"G-Guildmaster…"

"Chatot, this is between you and me. Team Seekers is a very special exploration team indeed, and I assure you, this is not an exaggeration. If they truly are the ones to save us in the coming future, they should be able to pass Test A with the Team Skull members standing in their way. That's all."

Wigglytuff spoke these words without his usual humming decorating the end of his sentences, which made his voice sound deeply serious, the no-nonsense overtone ominously embedded in it.

Chatot looked at where Team Seekers had stood previously. The Gallade might have been rather scrawny, and the Gardevoir certainly wasn't as warm or kindly as Gardevoir from Team Charm. And yet, if Guildmaster Wigglytuff was right, Chatot knew he was being ignorant somewhere.

"I-If you say so…"