"T-thank you!"

...Those words resonated with me as I continued walking, thinking to myself about my sudden new found strength. How did I get it? Was it through sheer determination? That reminiscence of the past? Or was it... something more? I didn't know but I wanted to focus on the overall picture.

I recalled what happened up until now. I woke up, after hearing voices about me saving the world, looking around me seeing a distant mountain range with a vast landscape that could be seen as far as the eye could see. There was my reaction to me now being... a Froakie... the same exact Pokémon I had as my starter... and that cry for help from Bulbasaur...

Then there was that weird forest... There wasn't too much to it other than those troublemakers, Arbok and Grumpig, or Team Crushers, and that so called "thing" that Bulbasaur had or a "dream"... but what was that dream? And why did that forest seem so out of place?

I was feeling a mixture of bravery, confusion and sadness as everything that transpired until now wasn't giving me any answers. I sighed loudly as Bulbasaur was humming along to himself as we made our way to his supposed hometown, Cherish Town. A name I find ironic since I had the feeling that the word "cherish" would apply to me in another way...

Bulbasaur caught on to my loud, exasperated sigh and stopped walking to show some concern.

"H-hey... are you alright Mudd?" he asked me, a genuine worried look on his face.

I hadn't noticed he was looking at me until he shook me, blasting me out of my thoughts and back into the real world.

"H-huh? Oh..." I gave a nervous laugh, "hehe, yeah, I'm fine, w-what are you talking about?" I tried to pretend I was alright, but the nervous-now-turned-concerned Bulbasaur thought differently.

"Mudd... you don't need to pretend you're okay, I know you're lying just so I can feel better," he answered back, shaking his head with sadness, "I'm here for you if you need me you know."

"Thanks..." I said, "but haven't we only just met in the forest? I hardly really know anything about you, let alone why I'm in this world."

"Yeah, I guess... wait... This world...?" he asked, turning to me with confusion.

"Yeah, about that..." I began.

"I guess I better tell him about what I really am..." I thought to myself.

Mudd's Journey: Part 2

"...W-WHAAAATTTTT?!" Bulbasaur loudly shouted, nearly falling over in surprise. "You-you're a... you're a..."

"...Human." I finished for him, "...and I thought you m-might react that way..."

"B-but..." he stuttered, "that's impossible, there's no way you c-could be a human..."

"It's true..." I answered, "I'm not from this world, and I have no idea how on earth I even got here. Something about some voices in a dream going on about the world being saved and how I will meet a true partner..."

"W-world being saved? A t-true partner?" Bulbasaur said and then proceeded to look like on going on a full on brainstorm about everything I just explained to him. Around five or so minutes later, Bulbasaur came on back up to me and gave me another hug.

"W-what? Why are you... hugging me?" I stood with widened eyeballs, confused by his action, but he smiled.

"I think me and you... have got quite a lot in common. I assume you have nowhere to go after all this, right?" he replied, this time with more confidence.

Then the realisation hit me. Where was I going to stay? I had no home here in this new world, only a home back in my own world, where my... my family...

"Guys..." I began to shake. Now I understood why he was hugging me... He wanted to give me additional support as he knew that I had nowhere to go to. But I began to wonder...

"H-how did you know that I...?" I asked, but he smirked.

"It's alright, I know how you feel," he said, but then frowned, "I've been in the position of you before."

"Y-you have?"

"Yeah, but... I'll tell you later."

"O-okay..." I said as Bulbasaur let go of me. I took a deep breath. "Now's what this about a dream of yours?"

"Oh, um..." he blushed with embarrassment, "I forgot about that. See, after you saving me, I got inspired by you. And I know this is selfish and all but... I wanted to know if you would help me form a rescue team."

"A rescue team?" I questioned. "Wait, don't tell me you want to form a team like..."

"N-nothing like that!" Bulbasaur quickly interjected, "This is nothing to do with Team Crushers. They're a bunch of meanies who only care about ruining the chances of other rescue teams' rescues and causing havoc wherever they go. They've always picked on me as I'm one of their main targets. With you rescuing me, that'll make you on their 'bully' list as well."

I gulped. "Uh oh... I've really gone and done it this time..." I thought.

"But they don't matter to me. As I have a dream and a hope. I hope to help the other Pokémon around here who need my help and I can save others as I've wanted to do it since I was a younger kid. With you saving me..." he gave me puppy eyes, "will you help me fulfill my dream?"

I stood, frozen in shock. I didn't even know what to reply to him. "I-I think I..." I began. That's when I started to take in what he was telling me. As a human, I recall I had to pay a lot of attention to what I was being told so I could become a better trainer. Which reminds me... Although I battled a lot of trainers, why didn't I recognise Bulbasaur, Arbok or Grumpig? It's weird... One minute I know the Pokémon I battled, the next I forget. I don't understand... Maybe I was too lost in thought? Or...

"M-Mudd?" Bulbasaur looked at me, still waiting for an answer.

Right... Rather than focusing on a brief development of amnesia, I need to give Bulbasaur an answer. I looked at him to face his shivering body and suddenly, the words that formed just... spoke from the heart without me thinking...

"Yes, of course I will."

"You... You... Y-y-you..." he became teary-eyed and hugged me. "You and me will m-make a great team!" He shouted in glee, smiling vividly.

I smiled, surprised by what I said, but being happy all the same. Bulbasaur currently is the only thing I have in this world, and seemingly is the only one willing to support me so far. It seems only right I go with him.

"Of course buddy."

"B-buddy? You first said you hardly knew me and now you consider m-me as a f-f-friend?" he stood shaking, still grasping on me.

"Bulbasaur... You made me open my eyes about a few things, and I respect you for it." I smiled, "besides, aren't we making our way to Cherish Town? We're going there for a reason, like you previously mentioned on the way."

"R-right... Well then, l-let's go!" he exclaimed happily, letting go of me and leading the way to the next chapter in my journey.

Now with getting to meet Bulbasaur, I'm going to be able to see what this town is like for myself, and a safe heaven from those meanies. Let's see what this part of my supposed journey has for me now...

The town approached as me and Bulbasaur walked to the entrance, and from the looks of it, it felt and seemed like a Pokémon metropolis, with many different Pokémon interacting with each other in their daily lives.

"Mudd, welcome to my home, Cherish Town!" Bulbasaur proclaimed cheerfully, jumping up and down in excitement, "there's a lot here to see and do, and oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, I can't wait to show you the guild! That's where we can get to become a rescue team!"

"Cherish Town, huh..." I said quietly, taking in this new place to myself. Houses were similar to how in the human world they were built, but also had natural parts of the world such as leaves and wood to make from the looks of it... furniture?

"This sure is... quite the place alright. Hehe, wow, I'm at a loss for words. I never expected Pokémon to build this kind of place," I chuckled while smiling, looking up at the sky.

"How else do you think we live then?" Bulbasaur laughed, "but anyway, look up at that building there! That's the guild!"

A large building stood in the centre of the town, with the face of a Pokémon looking upon the mouth of the entrance, standing above it to emphasise its presence in the town.

"Wow! So that's the guild? Who runs it?" I asked Bulbasaur.

"You mean you don't know their leader?! He's one of only one of the most greatest explorers to have ever lived! He's Master Magcargo! You seriously haven't heard of-?"

"Bulbasaur, have you already forgotten I'm a human?" I stated bluntly.

"Oh, right..." He said and laughed nervously. "Sorry about that Mudd. Anyway, he's a really wise leader and has gone on to conquer a whole bunch of adventures! Even when he's at a disadvantage, and his 4 times weakness to your typing, he somehow manages to come out on top. I wish I were like him."

"Magcargo..." I said, thinking out loud.

"I wonder if he knows why I turned into a Pokémon and these weird 'voices' telling me to save the world are..." I thought, this time without deliberately trying to speak out loud, a tendency of mine to do so.

Magcargo's face was greeting as his statuesque face stood upon the Explorers Guild - I assumed it was its name - as me and Bulbasaur entered inside.

"...Bulbasaur eh? What on earth are you doing here again?" A gruff voice could be heard as we made it through the entrance. "I thought you already had enough of trying to join us repeatedly several times. You're certainly resilient, I'll give you that."

"Oh come on Mr Ursaring! I'm really, really wanting to form a rescue team!" Bulbasaur energetically iterated, wanting his voice to be heard. I can definitely tell this was his dream alright. "You know how much I want to form one!"

"Yes, yes, I know that, but Bulbasaur, you have to realise that you cannot just form one alone. It requires at least two Pokémon to be in one-" Ursaring said but cut himself off as he noticed me looking right back at him.

"Oh! Excuse me! Where are my manners? Hello there. You look new around these parts. Can't say I've ever seen a Froakie before." He smiled, wanting to give me a warm introduction. This was sudden, first annoyed and stern, now welcoming and smiling at me. This version of the Pokémon world really is too baffling for me to comprehend.

"Uh... hello." I began. "I take it you're Mr Ursaring, right?"

"Ursaring is fine by me sonny," he chuckled, "no need to panic, I'm not hostile. Say, now that I mention it, who is this Froakie?" He turned to face Bulbasaur.

"Oh, his name is Mudd, and I found him when he saved me from Team Crushers in the nearby forest. Those meanies... Always wanting to pick on me..." He sighed.

"Mudd eh? Just as well he saved you." He looked stern again. "That was incredibly reckless of you Bulbasaur! You do realise that the forest is a Mystery Dungeon?! And you do realise not to go anywhere near those fiends?!"

Mystery Dungeon? What in the world is that? Why were Bulbasaur and Team Crushers together? I was very confused about the whole scenario I was in. Bulbasaur flinched and sighed again.

"Yes, Mr Ursaring..." his face droopy with sadness and pain.

"Good." He sighed, but smiled. "I'm glad you're safe though. But why are you here?"

'Oh... Well..." He began, but suddenly bursted out, "me and Mudd want to form a rescue team together! When Mudd rescued me from Team Crushers I talked with him about my dream and he agreed to it, didn't you?" he turned to me and I nodded. "You know how much this means to me to help other Pokémon and since there's now two of us, I can officially form one! Please? Can we, can we, can we?"

Ursaring rolled his eyes and sighed. "You always have been trouble Bulbasaur." He laughed loudly though as he said this. "...Very well, go on and see the Guildmaster, Magcargo. He'll be in his room."

"All right!' he jumped and cheered, "come on Mudd, let's go!"

"Oh, u-um, okay..." I said as I traipsed behind him, Bulbasaur hurrying along in front of me, Ursaring chuckling as he stood back at the entrance.

Bulbasaur led the way and stood in front of a large wooden door. He knocked on it quickly, overjoyed at finally achieving the beginning of his dream.

"Ohhohohoho! Do come in!" a voice beamed with profession but interested delight.

"Should I open the door?" I asked, and Bulbasaur nodded.

Opening the door, me and my buddy looked around, intrigued in looking at the large open interior of the place. I was amazed at the sheer size of the place.

"This is incredible!" I exclaimed.

"Haha, as I'm the leader here, my Cherish Town Hope Explorers Guild aims to please!" a somewhat elderly voice came from the far corner in the room and there stood the same Pokémon as the statue from outside - Magcargo.

"Master Magcargo! Oh my goodness!" Bulbasaur squealed, "it's such a pleasure to meet you!"

"Hohoho, the pleasure is all mine! Nice to meet two aspiring Pokémon! Come to want to join the guild?"

"Yes!" My partner jumped up and down in delight and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Haha, quite an enthusiastic one you are. And oh?" Magcargo turned his attention towards myself. "Hmmmm..." A questioned look on his face came as he observed around me.

"Oh, um, sorry, nice to meet you Magcargo. I'm Mudd." I tried to politely say.

"Nice meeting you Mudd. Very strange to see a Froakie around these parts, I don't normally see any other starters around here other than Bulbasaur. Very... very intriguing. Where did you come from?" He asked me. This shocked me as I didn't know what to say. Here I am, suddenly meeting the leader of the guild, and I've only told Bulbasaur my true origins. I looked at Bulbasaur with a nervous look to try and not get any attention from Magcargo, even though he was encircling me.

He seemed to get the message. "Oh, w-well he's from far away... and he got lost, so I-I decided to volunteer for him to stay with me." He smiled as a way of reassuring any signs of guilt.

Magcargo looked shocked. "Hohoho, my boy, that's an explorer attribute alright!" He cheered, and turned to face me. My face somewhat drooped a bit, both from self-doubt and embarrassment. Both didn't seem to notice.

"I also saved him from Team Crushers in the forest when they were attacking him." I stated, sighing but then pulling a small smile.

"You what?! Goodness me, I thought those two troublemakers were far away enough from here by now. I'm glad you two are safe, but I never expected a Froakie to take on two prominent foes. That is an achievement!" He gleamed happily as he turned to the pair of us. "For that reason, and standing in the face of courage, I grant you two a place in the guild! Your room will be two floors below, next to the other team members bedrooms, so I hope you take it easy from here on out. Here are your official Expedition Guild badges and equipment!" Magcargo cheered and nodded his head to our brand new belongings.

"Wait, we... Oh m-my goodness!" Bulbasaur shot up happily and became teary-eyed again. "We did it Mudd, we were accepted by the Guild!"

I stood there dumbfounded, but then a bright smile encompassed my face. "Nice work Bulbasaur! I'm glad for you!"

"It wasn't just me you know!" We both laughed together, and Magcargo joined in.

"Haha, the joys of youth! Even though you two both seem to be children, I can't help but remind myself of those younger years of mine. Now then, what should be your team name?" Magcargo asked.

"Team name?" I asked.

"Of course, all rescue teams have a team name! Why don't you think of one?"

"Oh, um..." My mind went blank. "Any ideas buddy?"

Bulbasaur chuckled. "Hmm... Well, given I find myself to want to be a hero, and you helped me out, how about we call ourselves Team Hero Helpers?"

Team Hero Helpers. There was the name that would define the both of us as we saved other Pokémon as a rescue team - the human-turned-Pokémon and an extremely excited starter.

"...You know what, I like it! Mr Magcargo, can we name ourselves Team Hero Helpers?" I asked, with hope and gleam in my eyes, inspired by Bulbasaur.

"Hohoho, of course! From now on, you two will be Team Hero Helpers!"

"All right! Mudd, we did it!" Bulbasaur cheered. "This is only just..."

"The beginning..." I joined in.

"...OF OUR JOURNEY!" We shouted in unison.

On this day, Team Hero Helpers was formed, and the beginning of our rescue team's adventure of a lifetime. Who knows what the future will bring... I was about to find out, but first, me and Bulbasaur settled into our new home...

(To be continued in Part 3...)