Sorry for not updating for a whole half a year. *Begs for forgiveness* Writers block was an annoying, and I sorta got addicted to Kingdom Hearts, along with RokuShi. Furthermore, I only got back my muse on the plane ride back from a trip overseas. :P If I lost any readers, I totally deserved it.

Anyway, back to the story, excuses aside.

Disclaimer: I do not Pokemon, only the storyline and my OCs. Bo belongs to Yami no Paladin. (I actually needed a pokemon for that role.)

-Somewhere west of the Ridge-

Sound bite

"You have failed."

"I apologize,General. An intruder stepped in before I could reach the Fragments,and-"

"DID I ASK YOU FOR THEEVENTS? Pay attention fool. Failures do not last long – the army always requires feeding."

"Yes, of course… Please give me a second chance."

"Asecond...CHANCE!? *whoosh*

"Release me! Please!"

*thump* "Very well. But this time, YOU shall not lead. Step forward, Blackburn."

*Tmp, tmp, tmp.* "Yes General?"

"Follow this fool back to find the Fragments.Prove to me that you are worthy of your rank. Fail, and your fate shall be as bad, if not WORSE than his."

"Very well, General. Your will shall be carried out accordingly."

-Enigma Valley, Storm Guild-

Azura's POV

I barely managed to carry Ray back to my room, bring him to my room and dump him (gently) onto the typical hay pallet which most Guild members slept on. Shao the Mienfoo patched up Ray as much as was possible, then started lecturing me about not staying out so late and other things besides. I kind of switched off a few minutes into the talk, somewhere after the word 'responsible'. The gist of it was that we were the lucky ones. More often than not those who cross paths with a Shade just got their soul sucked right out, and without a soul, they died. Some say that instead of actually dying, they became Shades themselves. But either way, they were never heard from again.

But after she left, I couldn't just climb into my hammock and sleep, so I found myself nodding off beside Ray when Flare came back to the Guild sometime after midnight, maybe an hour or so after Ray and me. He was in a surprisingly better condition than me, with only some of his feathers singed.

"How's your friend?" Flare brushed aside the vine curtain and entered my room, kneeling beside me so as not to look over me. Technically, it was the Guild's storeroom, but Flare figured that since the other chambers were already taken, and I desperately needed a room after what happened to my last one, the storeroom would do.

I glanced up, blinking away the sleep in my eyes. "He'll live. How 'bout you? What happened up there anyway? You almost woke up the whole village with your fireworks."

Flare looked away, something glinting in his eyes. "I'm… fine. Once the kid wakes up, bring him over to the study. Anytime would be fine." he straightened and turned, then continued, "Get some sleep. You may skip your chores later; some of the other members can do them." I smiled. Flare was the Guild Master, and his word was law inside the hollowed out mountain which was the Guild. He could be strict, but there was also a kind heart inside for those who managed to break through the rocky exterior. He was like a father to me after… that.

I looked outside through my bleary eyes. The sky was still dark and wisps of clouds hung motionless in the air. The Charmander rolled over onto his side and moaned in pain, shivering in the cold night air. Sighing, I awkwardly pulled a piece of cloth which doubled as a blanket over him.

Clambering into the hammock which hung from two pieces of metal, I sleepily mumbled a half-hearted "Good night Ray." After tossing and turning for a long time, I finally felt myself nodding off.

Ray's POV

I felt something warm fall onto my scales. Shielding my eyes, I opened them. Sunlight streamed in from a window, illuminating dust motes in the air before it landed on me. I looked around, and found myself in a rocky chamber. A faint rustle made me look up. Azura stood at the entrance, a curtain of vines billowing around her.

"Time to wake up kid. Practically the whole Guild is waiting for you." Azura walked over and propped me up.

"Waiting for me? And what do you mean 'kid'! I'm as old as you are!" But I accepted her hand anyway.

"Experience wise, I'm older. The members want to hear about the Charmander who dodged death and spat at it in the face."

I snorted, "You can do that as well!"

"Apparently they want to hear it from you. You did take the most damage anyway." I shrugged and stood up. As the blanket fell to the ground, I managed to get a look at myself. Someone had tied my right arm to a cast made from two parallel branches and a roll of bandages, while more bandages found their way all over my scales, especially around sore patches of raw flesh. I stepped out of the room and looked down the empty corridors. "And once you're done with storytelling, Flare wants to see you."

"Who's Flare?" Azura sighed.

"I'll introduce you to him later. Anyway-"

"GET BACK HERE YOU WORTHLESS LUMP OF COAL!" A jet of flame blazed a path of glowing sparks towards me. I ducked while Azura leapt back into the room. Wincing slightly as the fire burnt my back, I flinched when I saw a large hound bound around the corner. He had smooth curved horns on either side of his head and three grey bands on his back and two bands of cartilage on his ankles. A thin arrow-tipped tail flicked behind him menacingly, whipping sparks left in his wake into a frenzy. Oddly enough, a faint jingling sound could be heard between his growls.

I frowned in confusion. Who was that Houndoom talking about? My confusion was swiftly replaced with anger when I saw that the huge Dark Pokemon was actually chasing a small Tepig. The Tepig had the usual orange and black fur, but instead of black eyes, the fleeing Fire Pig had blue ones. A pale "x" shaped scar was etched into his flesh between his unusual blue eyes.

Azura stepped out of the room, stepping over the pile of ashes where the curtain used to be. The Tepig scrambled behind Azura, trembling in fear.

"Hidemehidemehidemehideme!" his words came out in a long string, melded together by terror. He crouched behind her, clinging closer when the Houndoom caught up. Azura's already fierce yellow eyes glowed aggressively, meeting the Houndoom's fiery pits evenly.

"GIVE ME THAT PILE OF GOOD-FOR-NOTHING ASHES!" the Houndoom panted.

I shifted in front protectively, but Azura brushed me aside with her arm. "Get out of the way," she grabbed the Tepig by the scruff of his neck and threw him at the feet of the Houndoom in a show of strength. "He's all yours Garmr."

I looked at her in disbelief. "What are you doing? That Houndoom's gonna kill him!"

Azura opened her mouth to reply, but Garmr beat her to it. "That thing tied these ribbons into my fur while I was asleep! Give me one good reason not to kill him!" he barked. Lowering his head, I saw for the first time multiple pink ribbons tied to the fur between his shoulder blades and up his neck, previously hidden by the standing sleek hairs themselves, while a small bell was tied to his tail, which explained the jingle. Garmr grabbed the Tepig by his scruff a second time and looked up. The fire in his eyes had died somewhat, and was now replaced by fear.

"You're not going to… make me pay for that, are you?" he managed to say past a mouthful of squirming fur. I almost laughed. Apparently the guys here were afraid of Azura as well.

"Depends. I'm going to need some new materials to make one again, and luckily your paws prevent you from tying stuff together…" Despite the *ahem* great height difference, the Houndoom still managed to yelp and bound out of the doorway, his tail lowered and twitching between his hind legs in submission. I edged out behind him, forced out from the room by a well-aimed kick.

"So you passed out huh?" I had started up a conversation with a Houndour. The rest of the Guild had already left for the town square or for various dungeons to complete their daily missions. Only the young Houndour and some senior Guild members were left. We chatted for awhile while I waited for Azura to come out of her 'pissed' state. We traded stories and I gleaned bits of information, mainly that his name was Fenris and that he had already been in the Guild for a few years along with his brother. Others include that the whole of Storm Guild was actually built into the valley wall, and that the all of the Guild members, along with the Guild Master, stayed inside the cliff, but graduated Guild Members could choose whether or not to continue staying in the Guild.

A few minutes later, a large black hound loped over, his tail twitching angrily. Following him was the Tepig, his tail dipped in surrender.

"If you want the proper introduction, we're Team Inferno. I'm Garmr, Fenris here's older brother-"

"By three years!" Fenris yelped in protest, his gruff voice hitting a higher octave.

"By three years," Garmr rolled his eyes and nudged the downcast Tepig with a casual kick to his furry rump, "and this lump here is Bo."

"Hey." Bo waved dejectedly. We stared at each other, a heavy awkwardness hanging in the air, unsure of how to continue. Luckily Azura entered the main chamber then and saved us from the impending silence. Greeting the other team, she half led, half dragged me back into her room.

Azura's POV

Once inside, I threw a pouch attached to a thick piece of string onto the floor in front of Ray.

"Hold still," I flexed my tendons and allowed energy to flow into my claws. Reaching back, I jerked forward and slashed at the bandage around his hand. The Charmander reeled back, and a small stone fell out of his hand. After he checked to ensure that I hadn't amputated his arm, he reached down to pick it up.

"Put the stone into the pouch. It'll be much more convenient, plus I don't want you to attract any unwanted attention. And before you ask, I got it from the market while you were still asleep." He slipped the gem into the pouch and I helped him to tie the strap around his neck. Next I covered the whole pouch with a green scarf.

"Don't tell me. You got that from the market as well." I rolled my eyes.

"Nooo, I found them in one of the boxes inside here." I gestured vaguely at the room, sarcasm heavy in my voice. "It's a storeroom. Members and non-members alike dump stuff here. Why they don't just throw it away is beyond me though. Now if you're done, we can head over to the square."

-Enigma Town Square-

It was noon by the time we reached the Square. Various townsfolk were either chatting with their friends or hanging out in the shade, while the shopkeepers had retreated to the cool interior of the stalls, only the tip of their heads were visible in the dark shadows cast by the harsh light above as they savoured the lull in their business granted by the glowing ball of flames.

The Square was covered with grey slate tiles, emerald grass licking at the edges of the wide paths worn smooth by hundreds of wagon wheels, no doubt laden with goods from all corners of the continent. Ray gawped in wonder a short distance behind me, his tiny fangs visible for all to see.

"Heeey! Azura!" the Kecleon siblings called out, stepping out of the shade in their shop to greet me. "How goes the Guild?" the shiny one, Revol, waved. His sister, Es, dug around in a pile of goods before tossing an apple over her shoulder, turning with a grin on her face, even as she casually tossed another apple around in her hand.

"That'll be 25 poké for one, though I think your friend there might want one too." I caught the fruit easily, and rooted in my pouch for change. "Tell ya what. The other apple goes at half-price since you're such a good customer."

"Why not? Though I have a feeling you want info in return for that missing poké." I casually shined the apple on the countertop, feigning indifference.

"You got that right. But we know enough for now, so we'll just put the rest on credit." the brother said, tapping his head.

I handed the coins to Revol, shining the apple on the countertop before crunching into it. Revol counted the coins with practiced ease, then nodded and held up two fingers. Es replied by throwing the fruit in her hand towards the daydreaming Charmander. Unfortunately for Ray, the well-aimed missile bounced off his reptilian skull and tumbled into the roadside dust. He recoiled from the hit and quite literally 'bit the dust', momentarily stunned.

Es chortled, "Strriiiikke one!" She pumped her fist with an ecstatic yell, earning her a tired glare from her brother. Helping Ray up, I couldn't help letting a grin leak through.

"Remind me to use you as a shield next time someone decides to chuck a missile at me."

"Very funny." Ray shot the Kecloan a death glare, but couldn't help smirking slightly, ruining the point of the glare entirely.

The rest of the trip went smoothly and generally uneventful, though there was a slight squabble when baby Kangaskhan dropped his half of the apple, causing Ray to trip over the damn thing. Point to note: despite their small stature, young Kangaskhans could hit hard. Very hard.

-Storm Guild-

Azura's POV

On the surface, Guilds were built to house and train any Pokemon willing to stay to become Explorers or Rescuers. However, typical of the various Guilds, it had numerous defense mechanisms to protect the occupants within. The most basic of which was the very exterior of the Guild - the soaring rock walls had proved their worth many times over.

"Azura! Flare wants ya." a gravelly voice sounded from the aforementioned craggy walls. Poking a head out from behind a couple of boulders, Ocher, sentry of the Guild and resident Gigalith, cried out. He lumbered over with his usual heavy steps, crimson and deep-set eyes scanning us.

"You know me by now Ochre, no need to check me out every single time. And Ray's a friend too. He's the Charmander Flare rescued yesterday." I rolled my eyes, a friendly grin on my face at the same time.

Ocher nodded. He had joined the Guild at around the same time as Tor, another sentry, or so they said. From what I could gather, Ochre was singled out and often tortured by his fellow tribe-mates due to the odd brown streaks in the crystals around his head and chest. Ultimately exiled, he was accepted by the Guild. Personally, I had absolutely no idea why his tribe exiled him. Easily the strongest warrior in the Guild, save for perhaps Flare, his expedition skills were likewise almost unparalleled and his steadfast nature made him a good ally, and a respected member of the Guild.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go in already! Don't wanna keep the damn Blaziken awaitin'!" Ochre gave the lagging Lizard Pokemon a friendly shove in the back with a foot which nearly sent him sprawling, while he dipped his head slightly at me, his version of a wink since he lacked eyelids.

Ray's POV

"Flare Sir!" Azura saluted, before relaxing and leaning against the heavy wooden double doors the Blaziken used for his study. Flare got up and stretched, turning as he did so. His bright blue eye glanced lazily, before focusing on Azura and I.

Coughing slightly, he started "Ahem. Welcome to the Guild, I hope your first day here was not too… tiring." From the corner of my eye, I saw Azura step forward and drum her fingers lightly on his desk.

"Flare, if you don't want your desk covered with rotten berry juice…" Flare eyed the Treecko warily.

"Azura, if you don't want your room incinerated by a careless flame…"

She grinned. "Touché. Why did you really call me over anyway?"

Flare cast a look of annoyance at her, before letting his cold cobalt eyes rest on both of us. "As I was saying before being so rudely interrupted, welcome to Storm Guild. I am Flare, the Guild Master here. Ray, you were found yesterday after being attacked by Shades. As you have no doubt figured out for yourself already, Shades are not to be underestimated, and to be feared at all costs. Since I was the one who rescued you…"

Hearing this, I opened my mouth, attempting to argue with him, but was silenced by a cold glare. "…I am considered to be responsible for you. However, since your life isyour own choice, I shall leave you a few options on what to do now."

Hesitant in case the Guild Master wasn't done yet, I waited awhile, and finally talked after making sure Flare was done. "I'm kind of confused as to what's going on here. All I remember is landing in the middle of a field, Azura standing before me, and…" Ray gasped, "Me turning into a Pokemon!"

Flare looked on with a look on his face somewhere between amusement and disbelief. "Turning into a Pokemon? Which means you were not one before, I presume?"

I lowered my head, a faint blush evident on my snout. I knew that no one would believe me. Wasn't it obvious from Azura's initial reaction that the pure notion of a transformation such as this was not going to be believed?

"A human." I muttered under my breath.

"Come again?" Flare raised an eyebrow, or at least what could be considered as an eyebrow if taken into regard he had feathers. I felt a faint stirring of anger, but repeated myself anyway.

"A human. I was a human before changing." I glared upwards defiantly.

So imagine my surprise when instead of making some sarcastic comment, or straight out laughing in my face (though admittedly both seemed a bit out of his character, or lack of one), the Blaziken simply nodded as if that was what he expected to hear.

"Back to my original question. You can either choose to stay here, or leave. If you choose to stay, you have to form a team with someone. If you leave, all I can say is that you would not last very long in this world. The land is dying, and Shades are the dreaded sickness which plagues the land. Venture far and all you will do will be to fall into the grasp of an everlasting nightmare."

I felt a curious sense of déjà vu. 'The land is dying'. Somehow that sentence struck me more than anything else that Flare had said. Out of the blue, I knew that I needed to stay here, in the Guild. It wasn't by chance that I landed so close to the town, or that the first person/ pokemon I met just had to be a member of the Guild, or that she saved me from Shades, despite their reputation as being practically invincible.

"I'm staying." My eyes hardened, and I knew without a doubt this was what I had to do. Just as I said those words, I felt a splitting headache coming on. I could still hear what was going on around me, and I could still react, but everything seemed, faded.

"Hmm. The next logical step would be to find a team for you. Inferno is already full, I doubt Scythe would want an extra member so much weaker than them…" I twitched at the comment, but stayed silent. The Blaze pokemon's gaze fell casually on Azura.

"Hey Flare! Tell you what!" I turned, shocked by the sudden outburst from the Tree Gecko beside me, and momentarily distracted from the pain. She stepped forward, eyes blazing. "I'll form a team with Ray here. I've always needed a team, and like you said, the others are already full." I nearly fell from shock. Azura wanted to form a team with me? Would wonders never cease? I chuckled softly, earning an elbow from Azura.

…lp…

Who said that?

Pl…n…ed…nce…

"Alright then. Azura, Ray, decide on your team name, and inform me tomorrow. The letter to the Rescue Team Federation will be sent, and a reply will be received soon. As team members, you will be sleeping together. Dinner will be served in an hour at the mess hall."

I really can't hear you clearly!

…ron…Mt…lp…

I heard a soft groaning from beside me, but my mind had already stopped functioning. "I guess it's to be expected… But thank you Flare Sir. Oh, and Ray Hey Ray. Uh, Ray?" I flinched as a cool hand touched my shoulder. Nodding slightly at nothing in particular, I allowed myself to be shoved out of the study.

I had barely stepped out fully, before I crumpled to the ground, half grateful that I would no longer feel the pain, half regretful that I did not understand what the voice was saying.

"FLARE! TOR! It's Ray! Something's wrong!"

… …

-Somewhere in the sky-

Thunder rumbled among the dark shroud of clouds, grumbling the dissatisfaction of the Sky Lord. Lightning shredded the space between the double layers of clouds, illuminating the dark air. Both sound and light came so fast that it was hard to tell which chased which.

Flash!

Rain drops cold as ice fell from them, showering the ground beneath. But between the clouds, it seemed time had already stood still, and the suffocating blanket did not let even a glimpse of the earth beneath slip through, giving the denizens of the sky no way to check the pace of the clouds, nor the impatient speed of the gales.

Rumble…

A lone figure could be seen in the heavy downpour, sleek feathers clinging to its skin, while rain drops rolled off the shining surface. In the brief moments of light, the feathers shone, almost as if they were made of steel, but the bright reflections would always fade into the shadows, only to be picked out again by another fork of white fire.

Flash! Rumble…

The figure flew on, heedless of the storm. In its mind, it had only space for a single message, repeated over and over. To it, if time stood still, it would be a blessing, for it would mean that whatever message it had to convey would never arrive too late. Pity that the cold deluge counted out the seconds like a never ending clock, hammering at its heart.

Rumble…

Alright! Fillers, I hate, so I chucked in a slight intro on the next chapter's contents!

Originally I wanted to add in the descriptions of each character, but I don't really have the format out. :P Instead, I'll give the character intros next time.

I still need OCs, mainly for the shopkeepers. Names, species and gender will suffice, unless you want to include other stuff. (personality etc.)

Uh, the ending was a bit awkward, but the next chappie will be much better. I swear.