Empire of Nishiki, Nitta Territory, Town of Yakakumo, 23rd of Year's Harvest, Lunar Year 414

Ariuji the Lurantis looked over as a Wimpod slowly shuffled up, joining a Scorbunny, a Cyndaquil, and a Sewaddle all at his side.

"Speak." He announced as he continued to practice his strikes against a training dummy.

"Um...I'm here for the, uh, the mission?" The Wimpod managed to get out.

"That's four." Arijui stopped practicing, and turned to the pokemon.

"You're young."

"So?" The Scorbunny asked. "Doesn't mean we won't kick some massive butt!"

"Mister Ariuji, we were selected from our applications by you, so what does our age matter?" The Sewaddle sighed. "If you thought we were worthy, then we are, I think."

Ariuji pointed his right floral scythe at the Sewaddle. "No. Worth comes from the self."

He stayed silent for another minute, before adding. "A patriotic youth is good."

"Seeing Ariuji in person like this…" the Wimpod whispered to the Cyndaquil. "He's kind of creepy with how silent he's being."

"Then wait until he finally speaks." The Cyndaquil replied back.

"Ahem." Ariuji cleared his throat as he took out a scroll and unfurled it. "You two, the fire types."

"Yes?" Both the Cyndaquil and the Scorbunny asked.

"Light those braziers by the steps to the temple." Ariuji nodded his head across the courtyard where they had all gathered. A grand staircase to a traditional temple lay before them, two braziers on either side.

The Cyndaquil quickly Flame Wheeled into two braziers, while the Scorbunny Flame Charged into the other two.

"Now put them out." He ordered.

"What?" The Cyndaquil asked as the Scorbunny tried and failed over and over again to smother the fires. "Even if we could do that, why would we-?"

"You cannot undo that which has already been done." Ariuji shook his head. "That is your group's first, and most important lesson. Remember that. Now, onto names."

"Oh, uh, I'm Bushi!" The Wimpod smiled. "I'm from an unmapped village in Horio province I think, and uh...I'm excited to go and see new places with you guys, can't wait!"

"My name is Brair." The Sewaddle introduced herself next. "I live nearby, over in the farming village of Kikimoto here in Nitta territory. I am devoted to our cause of revealing the truth of this rumor for all to see, and reunifying our nation with a long lost city."

"The name's Blake." The Scorbunny rubbed below his nose before giving a giant grin. "I'm gonna be helming the lead, especially in terms of damage, so hopefully you three can keep up! I was gonna join the guards of my local town, but they thought I wasn't strong enough. The joke is going to be on them when we all come back from this expedition as famous heroes!"

"I doubt you'll be helming much of any lead considering you pretty much failed his brazier test by trying to undo your action over and over again." Brair sighed.

"Hey, I just needed a few more minutes, I'd have figured something out!" Blake stepped up.

The two stared each other down for a little while.

When the Cyndaquil was sure neither of them were going to talk, he spoke up.

"Name's Wile E." He announced. "I'm not from anywhere. I have no family. But I do have this nation, and I know this job will pay well."

"You don't have any family?" Bushi asked. "H-how have you survived all these years without-?"

Wile E. looked at him, and Bushi immediately backed off. "N-never mind."

"In any case." Brair coughed to get their attention. "I think perhaps now that we've shared our names and general stories, we should discuss provisioning."

"No." Ariuji shook his head. "First we discuss these."

He dropped six items on the ground.

Two pieces of charcoal.

One mystic water.

One miracle seed.

And two pinches of silver powder.

"These items will increase the power of certain types of moves, but think carefully before you choose to take one along with you. Our supplies are being procured by an ally, and we will not have access to any sort of convoy before we reach our rendezvous point across the border into Zavror."

"I thought we were going to Fortune?" Brair asked.

"We are." Ariuji nodded.

"But Zavror is north, and also super out in the open!"

"We're probably hooking through it to get to the city." Wile E. suggested.

"We should just go straight." Blake patted his bicep. "Run at them head-on and hit them before they know what's going on!"

"No." Ariuji shook his head, but rather than elaborate further, he curled up his scroll and put it away.

He motioned towards the items on the ground and waited.

Blake immediately went for a charcoal.

Bushi looked around. He approached the mystic water, but after looking at how both Wile E. and Brair were remaining motionless, and at Ariuji staring him down, he slowly joined the other two.

"Really? It's only me?" Blake asked with crossed arms. "You guys are cowards."
"No, we just aren't stupid." Brair argued. "You can't take back any actions you make, and now you're stuck holding that on our entire trek to the rendezvous point in Zavror."

"Whatever." Blake shrugged. "It can't be that bad. Let's head out on the road and get there."

"The road?" Wile E. stifled a laugh. "We're not taking a public road into another nation."

"Well, h-how are we getting there then?" Bushi asked, confused.

"Through Virizion's Pass." Ariuji motioned to a gap between two plateaus in the distance. "I will travel ahead and clear out the bigger threats. You are to meet me at the end of it. This is an order. Dismissed."

And Ariuji turned around and walked into the temple. As he passed through the doors, the brazier fires went out, and the doors shut behind him with a boom.

"How's he going to get there ahead of us if he just locks himself inside a building?" Bushi wondered.

"He might not." Brair suggested. "It might be some other lesson."

"Or it might be because of that." Wile E. pointed as a Tropius rose from the building carrying Ariuji on their back.

"Well, standing around won't do us any good." Blake decided. "Let's clear out Virizion's Pass!"

And he rushed off towards the mystery dungeon, followed by an angry Brair, a nervous Bushi, and a relatively relaxed Wile E.

*Ariuji's Expedition Team (Team Soldier)*

1: Wile E.: Male Cyndaquil Fighter (Healthy)

Ability: Flash Fire

Move Tree 1: Tackle → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: Leer → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Defense Curl→ ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Flame Wheel → ? → ? → ?

2: Brair: Female Sewaddle Paladin (Healthy)

Ability: Overcoat

Move Tree 1: Tackle → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: String Shot → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Bug Bite → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Razor Leaf → ? → ? → ?

3: Blake: Male Scorbunny Fighter (Healthy)

Ability: Libero

Move Tree 1: Tackle → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: Growl → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Double-Kick → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Flame Charge → ? → ? → ?

4: Bushi: Male Wimpod Ronin (Healthy)

Ability: Wimp Out

Move Tree 1: Aqua Jet → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: Taunt → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Spikes → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Leech Life → ? → ? → ?