Chapter 3: First Mission
"It looks like our mission is not too far from here." Vulpix said as as she and her team were on their way to their first mission. "It shouldn't be long now."
"Yeah. They probably try to keep the missions close to Home Base for us preliminaries. We should expect missions to be much further as our ranking improves," Growlithe responded
"Honestly, I'm quite offended. They could give us a little bit more credit than that," Vulpix said.
"They are just trying to protect us. It's not like we can take down a Zangoose or anything at our current level."
"Yeah, Growlithe's right. Although I do admit when we first signed up for this I didn't think we'd be doing anything near as simple as saving a Wurmple from a tree. We just have to work our way up that's all."
"Couldn't the Wurmple just crawl it's way down? This seems a tad bit ridiculous to me. Oh well, I suppose there's no point in arguing with the situation, might as well enjoy the foolishness while it last."
"I'm glad it's an easy mission. This will help our chances of achieving bronze rank," Growlithe said with an excited tone. "The normal rank members definitely are important, but I want to be a real rescue team, and go on official missions. We will truly be able to help pokemon and save them from the dangers of this world."
"Yeah, that's what I want too. Look this must be the place, in the clearing up ahead." Flareon said as they approached a clearing surrounded by trees. On top of one of the taller trees was a Wurmple curled on a branch and against the trunk.
"Hey! We are here to help!" Flareon yelled and called to the wurmple. There was no response.
"Hey! We have come to rescue you! Can you hear me!?" There was still no response.
"He can't hear me. It sure would help if he would cooperate with us."
"Do you remember that advice Diglett gave us? He said to always announce ourselves as Red Rescue Team. Here let me try," Growlithe said as he stepped forward.
"Hey! We are preliminary members of the Red Rescue Team! We are here to rescue you!" he yelled. The wurmple uncurled and nervously crawled toward the edge of the branch and looked down.
"Red Rescue Team? You mean you really are trying to help?"
"That's right. We are a part of an organization of Pokemon dedicated to helping others."
"Thank the stars! Please help me I climbed all the way up here and I'm too scared to get down."
"Understood we will do all we can."
"But Growlithe, that tree is pretty tall, how on earth could we possibly get up there? Let alone bring him down," Flareon said concerned.
"You're right, but we can't give in, this Pokemon needs our help."
The three of them walked around a bit as they tried to think of a way to bring the Wurmple back to the ground. They thought of convincing the Wurmple to come down on his own, but he was too scared, making him unable to cooperate. Their spirits were beginning to weaken, when Vulpix looked around and said, "I don't know about you two, but I would definitely be able to reach the top by jumping from that branch," and Growlithe and Flareon began to notice the branches all around them. "The only problem is, I would need to be able to reach that first branch right there. It's a bit high, but once I get on that one, I could jump from branch to branch to reach the Wurmple, and bring him back safely while carrying him on my back. He is small sticky fella after all."
"Wow Vulpix that's brilliant! But that first branch is a problem. What do you think Growlithe."
Growlithe stared at the branch closely and began to think of a solution. He thought about it for a second when suddenly he nearly jumped out of fur, as if a light bulb went off in his head.
"I got it! Vulpix may not be able to get up that first branch on her own, however with my help she could. If I jump first, Vulpix would be able to jump, push off my head and effectively double jump onto the branch!"
"I get it, by allowing Vulpix to jump, in mid air, off your head, she'd be jumping from a closer distance to the branch." Flareon added.
"Exactly, what do you say Vulpix, are you up for it?"
"Sure, can't see this going terribly wrong," Vulpix said as she and Growlithe got into position under the aforementioned branch.
"Ready Growlithe?" Flareon said. "Jump on three. Vulpix you'll have to time your jump just right if this is going to work."
"Got it."
"Alright all set. One, two, three jump!" Flareon said and Growlithe jumped in the air. Vulpix jumped nearly a second after and while Growlithe's was at the apex of his jump, Vulpix jumped off his head and landed on the branch! She then skillfully jumped from branch to branch and went to get the wurmple. He agreed to ride on her back, after much negotiating, and Vulpix brought him down safely. Shortly after reaching the ground a wild Scyther appeared!
"Ah! That's the Scyther that chased me up the tree!"
"Come here you insolent wurmple! You will learn never to string shot a Scyther again!"
"Wurmple stay back, we'll handle this."
Growlithe used flamethrower, Flareon used ember and Vulpix used fire spin on the Scyther! The Scyther was knocked out by the super effective fire type attacks. They took Wurmple to a safer location and short after said their goodbyes.
"Thank you Red Rescue Team for all your help! I'll never forget this not as long as I live."
"No problem it's our responsibility to help." (Growlithe)
"Yeah, be safe now you hear?" (Flareon)
"Watch out for those trees young one." (Vulpix)
They walked away excited about the success from their first mission. They couldn't wait to tell Captain Charmander all the details in their report.
MEANWHILE
"Munchlax where are you!" Mawile yelled as Skarmory and Lairon relentlessly searched the area for the Munchlax in question."The coordinates led us straight here, but I don't see anything but rocks."
"Well maybe if you looked around a bit instead of standing there doing nothing."
"Oh Lairon you simple minded Pokemon. Good things come to those who wait."
"And since when do you wait!?"
"You're right, Mawile waits for no Pokemon! If this Pokemon doesn't want to be found we might as well leave. So much for the rescuing."
"Did someone say rescuing?" an unknown voice called. They all looked around to try to determine the source of this mysterious response. Skarmory ascended into the sky.
"Hello, is anyone there? We are looking for a Munchlax in need of rescuing. We mean no harm."
"Why didn't you say so? I'm down here, at the bottom of this hole, behind the bolder."
Skarmory surveyed the land, and spotted the boulder as well as the hole. They gathered around and examined it only to find a Munchlax sitting at the bottom. Mawile realized the hole was not too far and that the Munchlax should have been able to hear her yelling. Her eyes turned red.
"Just who do you think you are anyway!? Here I am causing an uproar and you were right here listening the whole time! Just you wait till we get you up here. I'll bite you faster than a Pikachu using quick attack!"
"I'm sorry! I thought you were here to hurt me. You see I found these delicious berries in the bushes not to far from here. As soon as I finished, I heard noises and figured some Pokemon must have left those berries and were going to attack me for stealing them. I ran into this hole for protection, but I had no idea I would get stuck down here! Please help me!"
"Well I don't know, if you did steal those berries that puts me in a very weird position. You see we are suppose to be helping Pokemon, but if you are a thief, we would be doing all Pokemon a great justice by leaving you."
"What!? Mawile you can't be serious!" Lairon exclaimed.
"Mawile we aren't helping anyone by leaving a defenceless hungry Munchlax down here. Besides, we don't know if Munchlax really did steal those berries. It sounds to me like they were as good as anyones."
"Well I don't know. What do you have to say for yourself Mr. Berry Snatcher."
"Please help me! I promise I'll never steal ever again! No matter how delicious the berry, I'll make sure it's not the delectable treat of another you have to believe me!" Munchlax said as he bowed down to Mawile from the bottom of the hole.
"Perfect, now that that's all cleared up let's get you out of there! Any ideas?"
"What!? You mean you don't even know how to save me?"
"Patience my hungry juvenile, we'll figure this out in no time at all!" Mawile said as Lairon and Skarmory gave eachother a look.
After much time had passed, our heroes still found themselves at a loss. Mawile had suggested a series of dangerous plans, including using their attacks to blow Munchlax out of the hole, but Skarmory was strongly against it. It seemed as if the answer to this mission would never reveal itself, until finally Mawile jumped up with another idea.
"What if we dig another hole!?"
"Another hole? Mawile the last thing we need is another hole. We are trying to get Munchlax out remember?"
"Don't be such a skeptic Lairon. Just listen, if we had another hole that burrowed into the hole Munchlax was in at an incline, he would be able to walk his way up no problem."
"That actually sounds… decent."
"Good thinking Mawile. You're a regular Alakazam."
"Let's not go too far…"
"It's brilliant! Don't you go anywhere Munchlax help is on the way!"
"Just where do you expect me to go?"
"Hurry now Lairon start digging! Remember you have leave a ramp for Munchlax to escape."
"Yeah yeah I got it." Lairon said as he began to dig. The plan was a complete success and Munchlax was finally able to reach ground level.
"Remember, this has been a service of the greatest team ever to join the Red Rescue Team!"
With first missions complete, Growlithe Mawile and friends edged ever closer towards their goals. Both the challenges they faced and the discomfort they felt in trying to overcome them would be shape them into the best possible team they could be. In the face of uncertainty, they showed faith, a key factor in their endeavors for peace. This first mission was yet another stepping stone, but their journey was still ahead of them. Only viewing a small fraction of the struggles of Pokemon living in this world, they had a lot to discover, and even more to learn about what it means to sacrifice, what it means to protect and what it means to be a rescue team.
