The next morning, Team Ultra-Stars were once again startled awake by the sound of the loud bell.

"Ugh, why does it have to be so loud?" Zora whined.

"I suppose that's one way to make sure no one wakes up tired." Rowlet mumbled.

Oshawott shoved his face into his bed. "I don't wanna get up!" His muffled voice delcared.

Rowlet went over and pulled Oshawott from his bed. "Let's go or Commander Aegislash will get mad."

Oshawott let out a large groan, but he walked out of the baracks with Rowlet and Zora following him.

"What happened to that enthusiasm you had yesterday?" Zora playfully asked.

"Yesterday's training drained it all out of me." Oshawott replied, getting a laugh out of Zora and Rowlet.

The moment they stepped into the Guild's common room, Aegislash confronted them.

"Good morning, Team Ultra-Stars." He greeted.

"Good morning, Commander." The team greeted back.

"There is something I want you three to do today." Aegislash declared. "I want you three to patrol Echo Forest today."

"A patrol?!" Oshawott exclaimed in excitement. "An actual patrol?!"

Zora tilted her head. "Echo Forest?"

"That's the place where we met." Rowlet explained. "That's also where we met Prince Litleo."

"Things have been calm yesterday, but I want you three to patrol to make sure things really are as peaceful as they seem." Aegislash instructed. "Report back if you see anything suspicious, but if you are unable, can I trust you to handle whatever happens?"

"Yes, Sir!" The team answered.

"Good." Aegislash stated. "Head to the Marketplace and go the Kecleon Shop. I've ordered a bit of supplies to help you during your patrol. Then once you're ready, head to the city gates and start your patrol."

Team Ultra-Stars nodded. "Yes, Sir!"

"Finally! Our first patrol! Oshawott exclaimed. "I thought we'd never get to do this."

Rowlet rolled his eyes. "We've only been at the Warriors' Guild for about three days. Yesterday was literally our first day of training."

Then Zora spoke up. "Doesn't this seem kind of weird? Like Rowlet said, we've only been training for a few days and the commander is already letting us go on patrol."

"Probably thinks we're ready for the job." Oshawott guessed. "Maybe he was impressed with how we did during training."

"Or like Aegislash mentioned, things have been calm in Echo Forest." Rowlet suggested. "And we did help Prince Litleo in there, so he probably thinks we should be able to handle to task."

"I guess so." Zora replied. What Rowlet said made sense, but something about the situation still seemed off, but she couldn't figure out how.

Before she could contemplate more, the trio arrive at the Marketplace. Then Oshawott spoke up. "Zora, allow me to introduce you to the Marketplace!"

Zora looked around, taking in the sights of the shops and different facilities. "Woah, there are so many shops."

"We'll give you a proper tour when we have the chance." Rowlet promised. "But to give you the basics, we have a cafe owned by Alcremie, Sableye's Bank, a storage facility Ms. Kangashan runs, and of course, the Kecleon Shop."

"Speaking of which, let's get our supplies!" Oshawott insists, already running to the shop.

Rowlet let out an exasperated shout. "Wait for us, Oshawott!" Then he quickly followed after him. Zora rushed to follow them so she wouldn't be seperated.

Fortunately, she was able to catch up with her teammates. They were in front of what Zora assumed was the Kecleon shop, based on the two Kecleon, one green and one purple.

"Welcome to our shop!" They both greeted. "What do you need?"

"Need an apple?" The green one asked. "A berry or a seed?"

Then the purple one spoke up. "Or would you like to check out one of our fine TMs?"

"TMs?!" Oshawott asked in joy. "Ooh, I've always wanted to get one! Do you guys have-?"

"Oshawott." Rowlet gently scolded. "Not today. We're just here to pick up some supplies. Commander Aegislash said you had some ready for us."

"Oh, you must be the new warrior team!" The purple Kecleon realized. "Team Ultra-Stars, correct?"

"Yep, that's us!" Oshawott confirmed with a grin.

"Yes, yes. Aegislash told us about you, three" The green Kecleon mentioned. Then he gave the team a satchel. "This is filled with a few berries and apples, enough to help you during your patrol."

"And we gave added a map!" They both said.

"Thank you." Team Utlra-Stars said to the pair.

"Was there anything else we needed?" Rowlet asks.

The Kecleon pair shook their heads.

"Then I guess we have everything we need." Rowlet decided.

"Alright, let's go!" Oshawott exclaimed, then he ran off again.

"Oshawott! Stop running off!" Rowlet scolded. "Zora, grab the satchel and let's go before we lose Oshawott."

Zora nodded and quickly grabbed the satchel, then the pair ran to catch up to their teammate.

Later, the three were at the city gates. Then they saw Watchog on top of the gates.

"What's your business for leaving?" He demanded.

"It's Team Ultra-Stars!" Rowlet replied. "Commander Aegislash ordered us to patrol Echo Forest."

"Ah, yes, he has one of my scouts tell me about that." Watchog commented. "Alright, opening the gates right now." Then he disappears.

Shortly afterwards, the gates open, allowing the team to walk through.

"Alright, let's look over the map and see where we need to go." Rowlet suggested.

"We can do that when we get into the forest." Oshawott argued. "Besides, we already know our way around the forest, so let's just go."

"The commander probably has a specific route he wants us to take." Rowlet suggested. "We need to check the map and see."

"If he wanted us to patrol only a certain part of Echo Forest, he would've said so." Oshawott countered. "We need to check out all the forest and I highly doubt we need a map to do that."

As the pair began to argue again, Zora stood awkwardly as she listened to them. Realizing they wouldn't be stopping anytime soon, she spoke up.

"Why don't we compromise?" Zora suggested. "We walk to the entrance of Echo Forest, and just before we go in, we take a look over the map. How does that sound?"

Her teammates looked at each other for a moment, presumably thinking over what Zora suggested. Then they both nod at her.

"I can work with that." Rowlet decided.

Oshawott nodded. "Better than waiting around here."

Glad that the arguing had finally stopped, Zora walked with the others as they finally went to their destination.

Once the trio finally arrived at the entrance of Echo Forest, they stopped and got out the map from their satchel. Opening the map, the trio looked over it.

"See? There's no certain trail Aegislash wanted us to take." Oshawott pointed out.

Rowlet rolled his eyes. "Still, we should be careful where we walk, so I say we stick to the outer skirts of the area, that way if there is trouble deep inside the forest, we won't be seen, and we'll be able to tell the commander faster."

"No way!" Oshawott argued. "We need to get deep in the forest so we can see if anyone is causing trouble or in need of help."

"The commander said things have been calm." Rowlet pointed out. "And he said that if something is wrong, to report to him. Only engage if we don't have a choice."

Zora internally groaned as the two argued again. "At this point, will never evens start our patrol."

Before she could speak up and end the argument, she heard a faint high-pitched giggle. Curious at the sound, she tried to focus on the giggle. While the sound was faint, something about it sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't place where she heard it before.

"Guys?" Zora spoke up. As Oshawott and Rowlet continued arguing, Zora spoke again, a bit louder this time. "Guys!"

That finally got them to stop arguing. "What?" They both asked, facing her.

"I heard something." Zora explained. "It was like a high-pitched giggle."

"I didn't hear anything." Oshawott commented.

Zora repressed the urge to roll her eyes. "I bet you could with how loud you guys were arguing."

"Did it sound dangerous in some way?" Rowlet questioned.

Zora shook her head. "No, but it sounds familiar, like I heard it somewhere before."

"Do you want to check it out?" Oshawott asked.

"But we need to say on route!" Rowlet said. "In case you forgot, we suspected to be on a patrol."

Not wanting to get into another argument, Zora quickly said. "Let's just start our patrol, and I'll let you guys know if I hear the sound again."

Her teammates nod in agreement. Then Oshawott asks. "Do you want to lead?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Rowlet asks. "She might not know the forest well enough, especially considering how we first found her."

Before Zora could let Oshawott speak, she said. "Rowlet has a point. How about this: Why don't we go in Echo Forest, we follow Rowlet, who will have the map, and we make sure to stop at certain spots so we can take a better look around and see if anything suspicious happens."

"I can work with that." Rowlet agreed.

Oshawott nodded as well. "Me too."

"Great! Then let's go." Zora declares. Then the three finally go into Echo Forest.

But not after they've gone into the forest that they encounter something.

They hear a loud snap echo throughout the forest, sounding like a tree branch snapping off a tree.

"What was that?" Zora asks.

"Not sure, we better check it out." Oshawott decided.

"Alright, but let's be careful about it." Rowlet declares.

The pair quietly follow where the source of the snapping sound came from. Hiding behind the large forest trees, they see a large Pangoro pulling thick lower branches from a few of the trees.

"What's he doing?" Zora whispers to her teammates.

Oshawott shruggs. "I don't know, but I don't like it."

"Let's not jump to conclusions." Rowlet decides. "Maybe we should go up and ask him."

Oshawott shakes his head. "We can't just do that! If he's a bad guy, he could snap us all in half like those branches."

Rowlet's feathers ruffle a bit. "And if he's not, we might be at risk of attacking an innocent Pokémon. We're warriors not barbarians!"

Sensing another argument coming up. "I'll go talk to him. You two stay here. If he's good, you both can come out, if not, I'll try to hold him off while you two go get help."

Before either of them can say anything, Zora walks to the Pangoro. "Um, excuse me, Mr. Pangoro?"

The Pangoro stopped what he was doing and scowled at Zora. Zora felt herself tremble once she saw how sharp the teeth of this large Pokémon was, but she stood her ground.

The Pangoro didn't say anything, but he did swing one of his branches at her, which she was fortunately able to dodge.

"ZORA!" She heard her teammates yell for her. Before Pangoro could swing his branch again, Zora saw his face get hit with a blast of water gun. Then she saw Oshawott charge out of hiding, with Rowlet hesitently following behind.

"Wait, the plan!" Rowlet shouted.

Oshawott growled. "I'm not gonna sit around while my teammate gets hurt!" The he took his scalchop and started striking at Pangoro as much as he could.

But unfortunately, it did little damage as Pangoro was able to push Oshawott away.

"We need a plan!" Rowlet declared, quickly. Then he sits still for a moment, most likely thinking about what to do.

Before he could fomulate a plan, Pangoro takes one of the thinner tree branches from his collection and throws it at the trio. Once again, the three were able to dodge it.

"Uh, I think I thought of something!" Rowlet panicked. "Oshawott, use-"

Before Rowlet could finish what he was saying, Pangoro once again threw Oshawott off of him and tossed him at Rowlet. Both fell to the ground. Rowlet scrambled to get from under Oshawott, while Oshawott seemed too exhausted to move.

"Oshawott, are you okay?!" Zora asked, rushing to his side.

"This isn't working! This isn't working!" Rowlet starts rambling in a panicked frenzy. "I'll get help, I'll go get help!"

Before Zora could stop him, Rowlet is already flying away leaving her and Oshawott alone.

"Rowlet, come back!" Zora begged, fear what this Pangoro could do to her and Oshawott overwhelming her anger at Rowlet seemingly abandoning them.

"Z-Zora!" Oshawott panted, sounding as tired as he looked. Zora saw Oshawott pointing back at the Pangoro, who was now looming over the pair, raising his fist as if ready to hit them.

Afraid and worried, she impulsively shot amber at Pangoro's face, catching the large Pokemon off guard and getting his to back off and rub his slighly burned face. Taking the opportunity Zora howled as loud as she could, hoping to muster enough strength as she could. Then she ran towards Pangoro, hoping to summon a strong flame charge.

Fortuntely, she was, and she managed to hit the Pangoro in the stomach, causing him to fall onto his back. Once she finished her flame charge to started to scratch Pangoro as much as she could. But then she felt a large hand grab her and lift her off him. Soon Pangoro was back on his feet and was holding Zora a good length away from him.

"Now, calm down, little lady." Pangoro's deep voice told her, his voice sounding much more pleasant and jolly than she thought it would. Once she calmed down, she realized he looked much different than how he did earlier.

Instead of that intimidating scowl, a cheerful smile graced Pangoro's face and his eyes seemed to twinkle with amusement.

"Thank you for your assistance Pangoro." A familiar voice said. Soon, Zora saw Commander Aegislash, who was lifting Oshawott off the ground, Rowlet shamefully stood by him.

Pangoro waved his hand. "Happy to help in any way I can, Commander."

"You two...know each other?" Zora asked.

"This is Pangoro." Aegislash introduced. "He runs the local dojo, teaching the locals self-defense classes. He also helps me test out new recruits."

"Speaking of class, I gotta get these branches back to my dojo." Pangoro explained. "Gonna need them for my next class. Maybe I'll see you three around. Let's all walk back together."

Then the five Pokémon left Echo Forest and headed back to Goldstone City.