Prompt #11

Horizon and Amber met in a very strange way and one that both they wish to forget about. Going as far to denounce that's the way they met. Let's find out what irks them of their meeting. A short story of twists and turns, that lead to one outcome, the start of an amazing team.

It had been a relatively long trip, just over a few days. throughout Blitz was trying is hardest to teach the Vulpix what he could before arriving at the Onyx Guild.

Blitz's stride was much longer than Horizon's, as Horizon jogged to keep up. The Zangoose led Horizon to a large building seemingly half in and half out of the ground. The doorway was down a flight of stairs, that were seemingly carved from stone. The building the rest of the way up was imposing. It was built into the hill, meaning that there was more that met the eye, and it still towered over everything around it.

In the distance, however, stood the massive skyscrapers? Extremely tall buildings? of... What was it again? Arcadian? Blitz called it. Either way those skyscrapers would make this large guild look small by comparison.

Blitz seemed to notice my glance back at the city in the distance and read my mind. He piped up dragging my attention back to him and the guild ahead, "The headquarters of the HAPPI guild association is in that city, it's damn near in the center of it," Blitz explained stopping in front of the staircase. He glanced back at me before continuing, "HAPPI is the major association that helps small teams and guilds grow, they exist on every continent and have several factions on each. I won't bore you with the details." Blitz finished turning back around to head down the stairs.

I didn't reply, I wasn't sure exactly how. A guild... association? Don't guilds get money from their members? Was the point of HAPPI to uphold basic principles and protect the explorer?

"Follow me and stay close and quiet." He ordered, his voice reverted to a serious tone as he turned back to the guild entrance.

I nodded slowly as Blitz held his badge into a small crook next to the door. There was a strange *Ding* and the door opened almost immediately.

There was a small room on the other side two holes in the wall on either side and a door leading into the small room in the other side. The holes were large enough for us to peek through.

"Hey Trapinch, hey Salandit," Blitz greeted with a wave, glancing into each hole, "Sentry duty?"

"Sentry duty," Salandit muttered pitifully, glaring at the ground. Her little head fell as she glared, after a moment her eyes glanced up. She noticed me and glanced at Trapinch.

"Who's the Vulpix?" Trapinch asked glancing at me from the other side of the hole, as Salandit shuffled aside, "We cannot let you in if he doesn't tell us who he is."

"I'm-er H-Horizon… I hopefully will join the guild." I say slowly, trying to remember what Blitz told me to say and what he instructed me to rehearse, which I didn't.

"Why?" Trapinch asked his voice simply curious. The ground type pushed open a section of the wall, on the far side. He and Salandit walked out and approached us.

"I-I um..." I stuttered failing to remember what Blitz told me. I looked up at the ceiling and fumbled out the first excuse that came to mind, "I w-want to explore the world and help others..." My eyes fell to Trapinch, "Does it really matter?"

Trapinch's gaze somewhat faltered, "Uh... I mean. No I guess." He shuffled aside awkwardly trying to avoid my stare.

"Great!!" Salandit chirped her eyes lighting up, interrupting my stare at Trapinch. She hopped over to me gleefully and pat my back, "Trapinch, I will show this new member around... with Blitz if that's fine."

Trapinch's eye twitched, "Why am I always stuck with you?" He muttered irritated, he scuffed at the floor. I blinked surprised, neither Blitz nor Salandit bat an eye as if neither heard him.

Alas Trapinch continued slight annoyance evident in his voice, "Ug fine, just send Diglett over he'll take your place." Trapinch sighed shaking his head.

"Yes!" Salandit cheered rushing back inside the room to grab something, she exited bag on her back. skipping the whole way. She smiled at him, "Thanks Trapinch, see you!"

Trapinch frowned with a sigh, "Yeah see you…" the ground type barely glanced up.

Salandit smiled skipping to the door, I glanced at Blitz expecting him to follow me. Instead he stopped by Trapinch, probably noticing the Trampinch's mood shift.

"Follow Salandit, I'll catch up." He called noticing my stare. Blitz gave me the "shoo" with his hands and I rushed after the poison fire type.

I didn't know how to feel I hadn't known Blitz for long yet, only a few days at most he… was the only Pokemon I knew that didn't try to kill or sell me, he saved me from them, so he was the one I felt comfortable trusting. Was it selfish of me to want him to ignore Trampinch and follow me? Just because of comfort?

I sighed, letting the Zangoose do what he wished, and watched Salandit open the door at the end of the room. The door was massive, and made out of a dark wood, with black metal around the edges.

On the other side there was a hole leading underground more. The way down was a ladder, one I hoped wasn't too tall. And since I was a quadraped with minimal experience with walking… I knew was doomed.

"Oh…" I went as Salandit clambered to the ladder and began her trek downwards, not waiting for me, "A ladder… coooool." I let my brain curse for me as I approached the ladder trying my hardest to resist the urge to look down.

"Come on Vulpix!" Salandit called from the bottom. I hadn't even glanced down it yet. Nor did I plan to. Though her cry made it difficult to ignore the distance below me.

I attempted going down the ladder, the way that felt right, facing the ladder, my back to the empty space. Yet my plan didn't go so well. I couldn't maintain staying leaned forward, after just a handful of rums,

"AAAHHHH!!" I screamed as I tumbled from the ladder and down the rums, smacking the floor with a thud. releasing a groan on the ground I couldn't raise a paw.

"I think i hit everything on the way down," I moaned, my stomach felt as though it was in a whirlwind, everything was still sloshing around. Part of me believed I was about to lose my berry filled breakfast.

"Great fall!" Salandit told me, helping me to my paws by literally picking ne off the ground like a bug stuck on a window, "Try to be a bit quieter next time, we may have company coming now."

"Whose brilliant idea was it to put a ladder instead of stairs!" I burst out angrily I whirled around and glared up at the ladder, "Quadrapeds do not excel at ladder climbing!!"

"Eh," Salandit says after a moment. She shrugged, "You get used to it."

"To hell with that." I groaned shaking myself out. I wiped my forehead with a paw and released a huff of air.

"Is everyone alright!!" A voice cried from one of the halls leading off of our point. The point we landed seemed to be the "splitting point" of the paths for the guild. The main hall of sorts. The meeting place of all the paths, if you went in one direction you would probably have to turn around to get back to this room.

The voice that approached was feminine, and once into light of the room I saw that there were multiple Pokemon. One was an Audino, the first who came into sight as she rushed to us. A Sylveon followed the Audino, with less urgency and behind them a young Riolu about my age who was patched up in bandages.

"Caldera what happened!!?" Audino screeched worriedly before her eyes met mine, "A new guild member!?" She gasped staring at me. She stepped forward and I took one back.

"Don't be shy." Audino said soothingly, kneeling down, "Did you fall?"

"I did when I joined," The Sylveon snorted glaring at the ladder with a look of hatred, "Shows they've changed nothing."

"Yeah I fell," I sighed shaking out my paw, "I'm fine, I just want to sign up-"

"Your gonna need to take an entry exam," The Riolu cut in his voice male. He seemed pretty beat up, which did not aid in my confidence, "It's pretty easy, so you should be fine."

"R-right… easy." Says the Pokémon who has no experience with just about anything.

"Look out below!!" Blitz called from above. I jumped out of the way as the Zangoose landed where i once stood. I glared back at the normal type. Blitz wore a smug grin.

"Blitz, welcome back." The Sylveon greeted with a wave. She seemed happy to see the Zangoose.

"Hey Noelle, this place still a shithole?" Blitz greeted nonchalantly.

Noelle just sighed failing to suppress a smile, "Sure is."

Blitz nodded grinning, before turning back to me, "Alright kid let's get you signed up."

I nodded, unbeknownst to me the looks of surprise coming from the rest of the Pokémon behind me.

"You are enrolling a trainee!" Audino gasped blinking in surprise.

Blitz rolled his eyes and ignored her, "Come on kid." He snorted gesturing with a nod of his head, in the direction of one of his plans.

"A new member?" Another voice sounded from a different hallway. A Gallade, with a battle hardened, and with a grim look in his face, entered through a hall to my right.

"Guildmaster!" Everyone but Blitz and I sounded saluting as he walked up to Blitz. The two glared at each other before they gave a greeting.

"Blitz."

"Strife."

I glanced between them confused, was there bad blood between them? Did I cause Blitz to confront his past bully or something?

"Vulpix your entry exam is to travel to Blaring Jungle and bring a Rockruff who didn't return back," Strife informed me not looking away from Blitz, "Blitz and I will discuss things about your entry." There was a thickness that hung in the air that made me want to shy away from everything going on.

"S-Sure…" I answered after a moment, I'm gonna need a map or something." I glanced around at the others who remained silent.

Blitz tossed me an orb with a gold thing around it the top. It was decorated with multi-colored lights and other coloured things.

"You'll find a map in there," Blitz snorted still glaring at Strife, this rivalry must've been... quite a big one.

I looked away, "Kay… see ya."

"So… this is a mystery dungeon…" I breathed glancing up at the forest entrance. I had walked a small ways inside and from what I remembered from what Blitz told me, I knew this was the entrance.

The entrance to most dungeons were blacked out, as if a massive shadow was cast over the entranceway. It was somewhat transparent, with me being able to see the outline on some trees on the other side, but that was all.

I breathed deeply, trying to calm my nerves and heart before it decided to play the gong in my chest, before walking inside.

I was immediately greeted with a spider web to the face, "Blech!" I yipped spitting it out shaking my head from side to side. I managed to grab it with a paw and fling most of it aside.

"Gross!!" I wiped the remnants of the web off of my face, sticking my tongue out disgusted. I looked around the area upon clearing my face. First thing i noticed was the near dead trees all around me, locks of webs and dead leaves stuck in those webs adorned the branches, making a canopy of sorts leaving the interior quite dark.

Sunlight still littered through the trees allowing for some light, though not much. Whoever these bugs were made sure everything was to their standard of darkness.

"This does not look safe," I muttered sighing again, "Let's find that Rockruff and get out of here."

I stepped into the tight pathway and walked slowly, listening to anything, so i could hear anyone, "Why would anyone come in here? It doesn't look very... active." I hummed in thought noting the lack of life.

The only thing that pointed to any life was the path. Since it looked worn, no grass grew on the ground where I walked nor moss on the trees... maybe this was a Mystery dungeon thing?

I squinted at a strange mark in the dirt. Not just one mark, multiple, somewhat similar to my paw marks. So maybe they were also paw imprints, and if they were. then he'd find them in no time.

"Follow the paws," I breathed glancing left and right, saying the inner workings of my brain aloud, "It'll lead right to 'em."

The path began to open up after a few minutes of walking, down pathways going in every which way. Walking in pure silence might I add, no sound other than my own steps and breathing.

I approached the large opening warily, looking at the path of paws. I walked to the center and the paws abruptly stopped. After circling for a small while.

The opening was more or less a large room, the webbing was much thicker and more compact, so there was very little light. There was even a small pond with an eerie blue and black coloration that immediately made any wish for a drink fly from my mind.

"Th-They end!" I gasped glancing around frantically, hoping I missed something. I walked to the edge of the water then paced around the room hoping this Rockruff just treaded lightly and their prints appeared elsewhere. Needless to say they didn't.

I glanced around again, only to hear a crackle mixed with a laugh of sorts. Not one from a fire, one from a bug. I whirled around to face the large spider, an Ariados if i was correct.

"You!!" It hissed loudly, clicking its facial fangs menacingly, "What are you doing in our territory!"

"I'm… uhm… looking for a Rockruff, have you happened to see one?" I asked politely, lowering my head, trying to seem as non-threatening as possible, "I'll leave the moment i find them."

I could hear multiple more clicks behind me and I froze up, still looking at the large spider with a pleading look in my eyes. We stared at each other for several seconds in silence, even if I was going to try and fight, I had zero experience. Being outnumbered also didn't help.

"Take em to her boys," The Ariados ordered after a moment of silence. It pointed to me with one of her legs, then up.

I felt little legs, wrap around my legs and back. I could only shudder as the bugs latched on to me.

"Hehe enjoy the ride!" One said happily into my ear.

I gulped before I was propelled into the air. I screamed and flailed my limbs, the wind from my sudden rise blew my fur and ears around, before landing harshly on a bouncy substance.

I huffed and puffed as the bouncing slowed, I had a paw on my chest whilst the bouncing slowed. I managed to breath. Despite the wind leaving my lungs. I stood shakily as I glanced around.

The spiders that propelled me clambered through the webbing below my paws. The little Spinarak waved at me gleefully. The Ariados was next crawling through to my right.

"You didn't die," It said glancing in my direction, "That's good."

I gulped and shuddered where I stood. She almost seemed disappointed that I didn't die.

"That Rockruff you speak of," The Ariados continued slowly, "Showed up and kinda just proclaimed herself queen, i will gladly help you and get her out."

"What did she hit on the way up?" I asked the spider, glancing at her.

"Nothing, we think she's being controlled by something," Ariados concluded, looking away from me as she began to walk forward.

"Controlled?" I asked confused, "That's certainly a theory." I trotted alongside the spider glancing around.

Believe it or not, it was quite beautiful up here. The sun shined through the webbing above my head, light the area up quite well. I could actually see greenery above me. The webs were supported by wooden planks and the walkways leading around a village of treehouses above the mystery dungeon.

Speaking of mystery dungeons… "Is this inside the dungeon?" I asked curiously still glaring around the area.

"No we are above it," Ariados replied, "it be too dangerous to live in one, we'd all go feral."

I nodded. To me this was probably the smart thing to do, nonchalantly learning of the world around while not letting them know i was human.

"Where exactly is this Rockruff?" I asked, "Are they in one of these homes or…"

"Here we are," Ariados interrupted me stopping in the middle of a walkway. Webbing was underneath my paws when she stopped. I looked around.

"There's no treehouse here." I tell her, "where would she be?"

"Underneath you." Ariados replied motioning with one of her arms.

Suddenly the webbing underneath me seemed to give out and i fell.

And immediately got stuck.

"Hey!" I yelled up to the spiders, "What is this? What are ya doing!?"

"We don't want you in our trees, guild member." The Ariados called down to me as i struggled to my paws.

"Im trying to help ya!!" I called scowling up at the spiders.

"It's no use," A feminine voice interrupted me. A paw was placed on my back, I glanced back to see a Rockruff, most likely the one I was looking for, she looked tired and bored, "They won't listen, we'll be stuck until a rescue team shows up."

"Oh great," I snorted frowning sitting back on my haunches, "Cannot wait."

The spiders cackled above us before the light dimmed as the covered the hole where i had fallen back up.

After that silence and two quadraped Pokemon standing next to each other.

"So…" The Rockruff started hesitantly glancing at me, "I'm Amber."

More silence, I didn't respond. I was too stuck in thought.

"Ehehe not much to talk about when your stuck huh?" Amber giggled sitting in front of me.

"No, not really." I replied unmoving.

"Erm… um" Amber stammered glancing around our "cell."

I simply sat there silent, glaring darkly up at the webbing and wood above us.

"Look," Amber said after a moment, "Now that theres two of us, we may be able to get out together!"

Amber frowned at my unmoving stare. I was consumed with annoyance and anger, I felt like I could trust Blitz then he sent me away, knowing I gad no clue what I was doing, I felt like I could trust the Ariados yet here I was in a prison. Apparently I could trust neither.

"Are you new to the guild?" Amber asked curiously matching my stare up, "I've never seen you before."

After a moment I hesitantly replied, "This was supposed to be my entry exam."

"Oh. W-Well, I also failed my first time if that counts…" She stammered as if trying to assure me that failing was normal and that I should be fine with it.

"Cool."

More silence.

My stare soon fell from the roof to her, her eyes were an Amber brown, probably why she was called Amber to begin with, light brown fur and a dull grey collar and tail, She had an orange scarf around her neck with a dull silver badge on it.

Once she realized I was staring at her she stared at me. We just shared stares, i was looking at her, she was looking at me. Reluctantly I held my paw out.

"My name's Horizon, Nice to meet ya Amber."

She took my paw slowly with her own and we shook.

"It's a uh pleasure." She replied.

We shook paws for a bit longer than we were supposed to before we let go. Amber spoke up after a moment of silence

"So… can you use fire?"

"Can you throw rocks?"

"Not what I meant..."

"How unexpected," The Gallade said monotonously staring between the two of us.

"I didn't expect the Spiders to imprison you two." Gallade continued. Blitz was leaning on a wall nearby, almost the entirety of the guild was there. Amber had informed me of that before Gallade started talking.

He turned to me, "Horizon congratulations for passing the guilds entry exam, despite the circumstances." He glared sideways at Blitz.

He glanced between Amber and I, "Amber take him to your room, that's where you'll stay."

He turned to Blitz, "Hope you are happy," he snapped before turning back to us. He uttered a very sarcatic "Congratulations," before explaining what he wanted done, "You two are now a team, i expect a team name and the registration filled out and on my desk by morning." And with that he was gone casting one last glare at Blitz before leaving Amber and I in a stunned silence.

"So…" Amber started after a moment as all the guild members began to dissipate. No one bothered to give any sort of congratulations "Got any team name ideas?"