Chapter 9

Introductions

Ruby and Tide arrived at class and saw Vine and Wave waiting next to them. After introducing their names, Vine stepped up and said, "My name is Vine, and this is Wave; we are members of Team Go-Getters."

The entire class gasped, except for Ruby and Tide, who gave a confused look and were bursting at the seams trying to avoid shouting out his excitement, respectively. Team Go-Getters was world-famous, and Principle Ellen had called in favor with Lively Town's guildmaster to get them here.

After they left the mine, Vine and Wave explained that a drilbur had noticed them heading into the mine, and after a stern talk with John, Vine and Wave escorted them home.

Wave then began with "the Exploration Team Federation was formed around 15 years ago, but then it was just called the Rescue Team Federation. Then about 10 years ago, the name was changed. While the exploration Team Federation is technically located here on the Water Continent, they only really meet there every five years for the Exploration Federation Summit and use expedition orbs. Exploration Teams rescue pokemon in need, explore uncharted areas, and capture outlaws."

VIne then finished with, "since then, the exploration Team Federation has set the rules for Exploration Teams, provided supplies for them, set up guilds for training, and evaluate Teams for Graduation and post-graduation rank ups, now we will take questions."

Anna raised her paw immediately and asked, "you mentioned graduation? What is that?"

"To become an exploration team, you need to either join a guild or pass a challenging acceptance test. My two teammates and I got into the job before the Rescue Team Federation changed the rules. This change was to make sure no one could start up an exploration team without passing muster. Teams founded before the rules were allowed to transition without much more than some questions and papers," Vine admitted.

Wave then answered the question further with, "once you join a guild, you get training and level up your exploration team rank until you reach the super rank, then after a gradation exam you obtain ultra rank and can work independently."

Max raised his antenna and questioned, "what rank are your badges?"

"It's the highest rank possible, Guildmaster Rank," Wave stated proudly.

Vine shook her head and said, "ok, I think that we have time for one more ques…."

The Meganium was cut off by Tide jumping up and down saying, "ME ME ME!"

Wave chuckled and replied, "what is it?" amused by Tide's enthusiasm.

"Is it true that you're the top-ranked exploration Team in the world, and who's your third team member!" Tide pleaded to know.

Vine and Wave gave each other an odd look and replied, "Our third team member and leader is a Charizard named Paul, and we're only the 2nd best exploration team."

Everyone gasped as Vine explained, "the number one ranked team is Team Outriders on the Grass Continent."

Ruby was in awe of all she learned, and deep down, something felt right as she thought to herself, "I am going to be on an exploration team"

Blake was doing her best to keep her head down as Alex and Blaze talked to the guild members. She was too nervous to even get up and leave.

Alex and Blaze then stood up to leave, and Belle immediately whispered in their ear. Blake saw Belle glance towards her as the brief conversation began.

Team Outriders followed Belle back to the kitchen; Blake subbed in a shadow clone to sit at the table and sneaked up to the swinging doors to the kitchen. Her clones were like second nature to her now, despite getting none of her memories back.

"What's with the cloak and dagger stuff, Belle? Don't trust someone?" Blaze questioned.

Belle sighed and said, "our newest recruit Blake, she seemed...different the moment she arrived and…."

A ringing sound cut off Belle from within Team Outrider's treasure bag, Alex pulled out the expedition orb, and it clicked as he picked up the call, causing a small hologram of a Charizard to appear in his hand.

"What is it, Paul?" Alex questioned.

The Charizard, now identified as Paul, said, "Koh sent me a psychic message; he wants you, me, and Guise to come to his place as soon as possible."

Alex looked around briefly before saying, "he wants to see all three former humans as soon as possible...why?"

Blaze and Belle gave a surprised look, they knew Alex's secret along with Paul and Guise. Still, Koh calling them to a meeting was very abnormal, especially since the old psychic type tended to keep to himself and only interacted when he left his home.

"He didn't say; maybe it's serious, maybe it's not, you know how hard it is to tell with him," Paul admitted.

Alex nodded and said, "ok, let me finish things up here; I meet you at the pokemon square cafe connection tomorrow at sunrise."

Paul nodded, and his hologram vanished, leaving Alex to say, "we'll talk after I get back; just in case it turns into something more, I'm gonna hit up the deposit box at Sharpedo Bluff."

Blaze noticed the serious shift in his partner's voice and said, "ok, just be sure to check in before I leave for the Mist Continent in a few weeks."

"I doubt it will take that long," Alex assured his partner.

By the time Alex left the kitchen, Blake had already returned to her seat, so fast that no one noticed, that is except for a certain Chatot, whose eyes were filled with curiosity after witnessing her clone evaporate. It was so fast that you had to have noticed the slight ripple in the air around her to figure it out, but as the head of guild intelligence, Cleft had a keen eye.

Blake went to bed without another word to anyone, her mind racing with questions, Belle must have found out, somehow, and a voice in her head was screaming at her to run, get away from the guild, but her lack of memories prevented her from acting on that impulse, for now...

Author's note- this was a fun chapter to write!

1. Ruby and Tide's stuff may be a little boring, but i've tried to spice it up with new elements.

2. It's so good to be writing Alex and Blaze again, seeing how they are down the line is fun!

3. Koh is the Xatu from Red Rescue Team, Guise is Gengar, though he has a human name...

Next time- Alex has a tense meeting with the other former humans while Ruby makes a startling reval to her class!