Mysteries Of Life
Chapter 1: Start Of A Rescue Team!
It was a beautiful day in the Ecco region. There were hardly any clouds, and it was a very sunny day, perfect for any grass type. The Ecco region is a giant island with all sorts of different Pokemon inhabiting it. And speaking of which, a Pikachu was exiting the forest. He carried a backpack painted red and black. This Pikachu's name is Zachary, and he was currently traveling the Ecco region.
Zachary has always had a rough life. Back in his youth, he got picked on by all the other Pokemon when he was a Pichu. See, Pichu are known for damaging themselves via their own electric attacks. And everyone made fun of him for it, all because he seemed weak. But soon, the bullying did him in. He started to train up solo, without interaction from anyone else.
Zachary did have a mom and dad, but his dad left him at a very early age. He remembered him fondly despite it being a long time ago. He is a Sawsbuck and was part of a rescue team. But what Zachary loved as a kid was when he always returned home with gifts. Zachary's most prized possession is a golden wing that has a rainbow glow to it. All his dad knew about it was that it belonged to a legendary Pokemon. But, after Zachary received this gift, he never saw his dad again.
His mom was always a caring Raichu, and always put others before herself. This included Zachary and it concerned her that he always was outside honing his skills. It was one thing to be strong, but it's another to burn yourself out from exhaustion.
After a solid 6 months, his mother decided to fully check in on him to see how he's feeling. She walked up the steps of her house and made her way to Zachary's room. She gave three hard but slow knocks. "Zachary? Are you okay?" There was no reply. "Zachary? I'm coming in." She jiggled the doorknob and was shocked by the sight. Zachary had his backpack out and was loading his belongings into it. This consisted of some berries, a few potions and the wing that his dad got him.
"Zachary!? Where do you think you are going?" His mom said with high concern and a hint of sadness.
"I'm moving out. I need to find my place in this world. My training here is complete." Zachary said.
"But you didn't even talk to me about this…" She said with her eyes starting to water.
Zachary stopped packing his bag as he locked eyes with his mother. "I know it's hard for you to understand, and I should have consulted you." He went to his bookshelf and pulled a piece of paper out of his book. "But I have a plan. There is a guild named 'Politoed guild.' "People can form rescue teams, where they save other Pokemon's lives. I put in too much training to work at some low-level mart or some so-called battle café. I've made up my mind."
His mom rubbed off her tears as she embraced him with a hug. "I always want what's best for you. If you feel this is best…"
"I do." He retracted from the hug as he opened the window. "I'll visit you eventually. Just don't let people be jerks to you."
She nodded. "Yes, and please don't get killed out there. If you start to feel burned out, please visit me."
Without looking back, Zachary jumped off the windowsill and used quick attack to gain speed across the roof. He followed the map to the best of his ability. It was through a forest, the beach, and then a small climb upwards. And nothing would stop him…
He exited the forest as he saw a beach. The sunset was reflecting on the water, giving it a very orange look to it. "I need to hurry to the guild. But I suppose a little bit of a breather wouldn't hurt." He eyed some pebbles and started to skip them across the water. While trying to break his record of 6 skipped, he never noticed the unconscious body next to him…
Ugh… my head hurts. It hurts to think. It hurts to move. I can even feel blood pumping into it. And all I can see is an abyss of color. The waviness of the colors is changing to red, to orange, to yellow. It appears to make a rainbow. I would feel more relaxed if I knew where I was. Or how I even ended up here.
…
Huh? Is that… someone…?
"Hello. Are you okay?"
Someone is… calling my name. And these wavy colors are now solidifying in white. And it's getting brighter and brighter and…
"Hello!"
"Ah!" A Buneary shot awake on a sandy beach with Zachary looking over her. She rubbed the sand out of eyes and then looked at her surroundings. It appeared she was on a beach.
"Good. You're alive." He began walking in the direction of a hill when she called out to the Pikachu.
"Hey! Sir." Zachary turned back to the Buneary. "Do you know where I am?"
Zachary had a very quizzical look on his face. "You don't know where you're at? You're on the Ecco region. A region known for being capable of supporting all Pokemon life. You live here, right?"
She shook her head. "No. I live in the Johto region. And I don't even remember how I got wiped out here."
"You're a strange Buneary? You know that?"
Her eyes shrunk. "Buneary…" She muttered as she turned to the ocean. She eyed her reflection, and it would appear she was a Buneary. "I'm a Buneary!" She screamed so loud it shook a few trees, scaring the Starly. "I swear I was a human before. How could this happen!?"
Zachary started to back away. "Sorry, but I have a thing I need to do."
The Buneary ran up to Zachary. "Please. You must help me. I know it's such a sudden request, but I need to go back to being a human. I cannot take being a Pokemon!"
Zachary shrugged. "Sorry gal. I have some business to take care of." He started to walk in the direction of the trail that will lead him to the guild when he saw the Buneary starting to form tears. Now, normally he would continue and not look back, but part of being in a rescue team meant helping others. So because he now has to stick with this moral, he decided to backtrack.
"Alright, fine. I'll help you. It is what I am soon sworn to do."
The Buneary wiped the tears from her eyes. "Cool! Thanks! What's your name by the way?
"The Name's Zachary. Yours?"
"My name is Bridget." She looked down and kicked some sand with her feet. "So what are you doing down at the beach?"
Zachary points up at the Politoed guild. I'm headed towards that building. People in there can form rescue teams. And I've always wanted to join one. Or start one on my own."
"Well, because it's a 'team' effort you need at least another Pokemon."
Zachery looked out towards the sunset. "That's the problem. I don't really have any friends. I've been picked on way too much."
"That's sad…" Bridget said looking downwards.
Zachary gave a solemn nod when an idea popped in his head. "Hey Bridget? You don't have anywhere to go after this, right?"
Bridget thought for a moment. "No, I don't. I don't even know where I will eat, or sleep."
"Then why don't you be a member to my rescue team? I know it's such a sudden request, but that guild will provide us with food and water, and we might be able to find out why you are now a Pokemon."
"You know Zachary, that's not a bad idea. Let's do it!"
Zachary started to walk down the beach. "Follow me, Bridget. Today is the day that will not only mark our friendship but mark our first day being as a rescue team." IF they allow us in that is.
Zachary and Bridget climbed up a long staircase that led to the guild. The guild itself was a structure sitting on top of a cliff next to the ocean. The structure was in the shape of a Politoed's mouth, with pink carpet leading up to the entrance, which had a ladder on the inside. Before the pink carpet was a wooden grate.
"See that grate?" Zachary said to Bridget while pointing. "I heard that serves as security here. I read about it in a book when I was living in my home town."
"So, we need to get past security? Easy." Bridget said looking smug.
"Don't be so cocky. You never know how these security things go. I'll go first." Zachary said. He walked to the grate and stepped on it.
"POKEMON DETECTED! POKEMON DETECTED! WHO'S FOOTPRINT? WHO'S FOOTPRINT? THE FOOTPRINT IS PIKACHU. THE FOOTPRINT IS PIKACHU."
"Alright then. Bridget, your turn." Bridget hopped onto the grate.
POKEMON DETECTED! POKEMON DETECTED! WHO'S FOOTPRINT? WHO'S FOOTPRINT? THE FOOTPRINT IS UH… THE FOOTPRINT IS UH…
"What's the problem over here!?" Zachary and Bridget could hear voices coming from the grate. "We leave you in charge of checking footprints to detect Pokemon. What's the issue!?"
"I don't know what Pokemon that is sir. Maybe Buneary? Maybe Buneary? Buneary's are not native to this region sir."
"Just send them in…"
The Diglett under the grate gave the okay. "Alright you two above. You may enter to speak business." Zachary and Bridget looked at each other and then entered the guild.
They slid down the seemingly massive ladder as they scoped their surroundings. There were 3 floors to the building. The top floor just was the exit, the second floor they went by without giving much of a glance. Instead, they went to the basement level. The floor was very grassy, yet it felt fake. Almost like it is AstroTurf. The walls were all dirt but there were reinforced pillars of wood to keep the underground sturdy. To their right was a sign that was labeled 'Kitchen/Dining room' and to their left was a sign labeled 'sleeping quarters.' But dead straight of them was an office labeled 'Politoed's Office.'
Zachary had a smirk grow on his face. "This is it, Bridget. Let's go inside."
"Right." Bridget said following slowly behind.
Zachary knocked on the wooden door of the office. After a few seconds, a Marshtomp appeared. "You two must be visitors. How may I be of assistance?"
"We would like to talk to Ms. Politoed about forming a rescue team." Zachary said.
"Right. Follow me inside and close the door behind you." Bridget followed after Zachary and closed the door. They both took a seat inside said office.
The Politoed was faced away, and with no time to lose he spun around quickly, facing Zachary and Bridget. "Welcome to the Politoed guild. You two want to form a rescue team?"
Zachary nodded. "Yes Ms. We are forming one for two reasons. For one, I've always wanted to help out others in a time of need."
Bridget decided to speak up. "And I'm joining him because he's helping me figure out why I've been transformed into a Pokemon. Maybe the adventures we go on will give me answers."
"Transformed?" The Politoed said very confused. "Are you a Ditto that doesn't know what transforming is?"
Bridget shook her head. "I was a human but was transformed into a Pokemon. I have no idea how this happened but hopefully I can figure this out."
The Politoed grinned at her. "It sounds like you're determined. Determined enough to figure out… The Mysteries of Life…" There was a awkward pause after that. "Anyways… No need to keep things formal. You can call me Shelly. And my assistant over there is Marco. He's basically the guard of this place. Anyone who tries to rob this place of its goods shall be met with him.
Zachary eyed the giant safe carved into the wall behind Shelly. "Does that safe contain the goodies?"
Shelly nodded. "Yes. Nobody has tried to rob us but if that ever did happen, we have Marco here as protection."
Zachary nodded. "Anyways, are we now part of this guild?"
Shelly shook her head. "Not quite. You must have a team name so we can address who you are. And when I say 'we' I mean in terms of filling paperwork. Marco also does that.
"Team name?" Zachary said thinking for a minute. "What do you think Bridget? What should we call ourselves?"
"Hm… We need a name that has to involve both of what we can do."
"Something like… Team Thunderbounce!" They both said. They both nervously laughed at that, while Shelly was snickering behind her hand.
"Good name." Shelly said. "Always happy to have another team with us. We only have two teams training here cause this location is kinda isolated. Speaking of which, we should introduce you to everyone else living here. Follow me."
Shelly, Zachary and Bridget walked out of the office and noticed two Pokemon approach them. One of them was a Monferno with a scar mark in his eye, and the other was a Manectric with a spikey deep blue collar.
"Hey Shelly? Who are those two Pokemon?" The Monferno asked.
"Zachary, Bridget, meet Team Blazerod. That Monferno is named Malcolm, and he is a excellent fighter. And that Manectric is Ruby. Her speed is unmatched."
Zachery smirked. "We'll see about that. I've been training for a while. I love a good competition."
Ruby howled a laughter. "Even though you're a Pikachu, we Manectric are plenty fast."
"Pleasure to have you aboard guys." Malcolm said. "You will love it here. The beds are comfy, and Benny's cooking is spot on."
"Who's Benny?" Bridget asked.
"He is the chef of the guild and he knows how to make a good meal." Malcolm said confidently. "Trust me you'll like him."
Shelly walked towards the ladder. "So, you've got a glimpse of the kitchen and bedrooms. The last part of the tour is upstairs. Follow along now." Shelly, Zachary and Bridget climbed the ladder up to the second floor. "To your right is the message boards. A lot of jobs are posted there whether its about a thief of someone who is lost. You could also get paid…"
When Zachary heard that, his pupils transformed into dollar signs. "You can get paid? I had no idea!"
Shelly laughed for a bit at his response. "Right, well most of the proceeds go to me but your team will get a cut."
Bridget shrugged. "As long as we save lives and whatnot. That's what being a rescue team is about, right?"
Shelly nodded. "Now to your left is Janet's laboratory." The AstroTurf floor had a cutoff point to it. The Laboratory flooring had a chrome look to it all, in terms of a floor, walls and ceiling. The group saw a Bellossom applying some acid into a beaker. "Hey Janet." Shelly said getting her attention.
"Not now Shelly. I'm close to a scientific breakthrough. I'm applying acid to a bit of this pixie dust from a Sylveon. If my calculations are correct, the modified fairy type should be resistant to a poison attack." She poured the liquid into the beaker with the pixie dust, but the beaker exploded in her face, leaving her dazed for a second. "Eh. Not the first time."
"Janet, I want you to meet Zachary and Bridget. They are known as Team Thunderbounce."
Janet walked over to them and shook their hands. "Nice to mee you two. I'm the lead scientist here. I invent things, destroy things, do all the scientific things!"
Bridget nodded. "That's nice. You are not on any team?"
Janet shook her head. "Nope. I got my place in this guild with my smarts. I love inventing gadgets and gizmos. Being means of giving technological aid… That's me alright.
The group heard some noise above, and then a Galarian Farfetch'd and a Galarian Corsola came scaling down the ladder.
"We're back Shelly!" The Farfetch'd said.
"We stopped the thief and got a pretty good payment from the sheriff." The Corsola said.
Shelly took the bag of money and took out what seemed like 90%. "There's your pay. Dinner will be ready soon." The Farfetch'd and Corsola went down to the basement. "That was Team Phantomslash. They joined the guild for a more personal reason. That Farfetch'd is name William and the Corsola is named Gregory."
Zachary was slightly confused at the fact that Shelly took most of the money. "Is it really in your right to take most of that hard earned money?"
Shelly thought for a moment then nodded. "Yep."
Bridget was indifferent to what she saw. "Well, at least that rescue team seemed nice. Are there any other teams here?"
"Nope. Like I said, this guild is more 'out there' so it doesn't have too much attention." Shelly shivered a bit. "Anyhow, lets- "A bell sound could be heard through out the guild, gathering everyone's attention. "Oh, dinners done! Let's go eat, newbies."
A Tropius came flying by delivering the plates of food on the table. "Dinners done! I made a sitrus berry casserole with pinap juice as the beverage. Very healthy and will help keep our stamina up."
"So that is Benny?" Zachary said taking a bite. "This stuff tastes decent. Not even bad as some would say."
Benny flew by Zachary. "And there's more where that came from."
Shelly banged a spoon against her glass to get all of the guild members attention. "Excuse me, but I would like to propose a toast. To Zachary and Bridget, also known as Team Thunderbounce. Let good fortune happen in their future."
"To Team Thunderbounce!" Everyone said.
Zachary unpacked his bag in his and Bridget's bedroom, the room itself consisted of a bunkbed, a bathroom, and a desk with 2 chairs. There were also some cabinets and drawers for convenience. The room's floor has the same AstroTurf quality as the rest of the guild has.
"Today has been a crazy day, Bridget. Not only did we become quick friends, but we are now registered members of this guild. Life could not get any better. Now, we can start to save fellow Pokemon, and carve our name in the wall of legends.
Bridget nodded. "And cheers to me finding out how I am what I am. At least hoping I can find something."
"The world is a mysterious place. Our answer may be closer than you think Bridget. Let's take life one step at a time."
"I agree!" She pumped her fist in the air. Zachary bumped it with his fist, which lead them both to chuckle a bit.
"And hey, while we are at it, why not document our adventure?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
"Exactly Bridget. And why not have our page of legend update every week or so? I see no reason not too. At least we will be updated, unlike some stories…"
A portal appeared out of nowhere with a Oshawott coming out of it. He sprayed a heavy water gun in Zachary's face and then slashing his knee with a razor shell. He then went back into the portal, leaving a very confused Zachary. "What… Happened?"
"I think you made a reference… To another certain series."
"Eh… Sorry. More to come, stick around." Zachary said, with them both laughing.