Location: Serene Village Classroom.

This morning was nice for a couple of reasons. One, Nuzleaf noticed the scarf Lyra gave me and he said it suits me really well! Even said he might have to get one for himself. I'd bet he'd look snazzy, just like us! He could join us on explorations, and we'd be an unstoppable trio!

...Then again, maybe not. Nuzleaf might not approve of some of the stuff I've been getting up to. Plus, I mean...we already have a grass-type leafhead on the team. He wouldn't exactly have a unique gimmick other than being the more experienced traveler.

Two, Lyra and I met a Pokémon named Ampharos who claimed he's known as the Dashing Wanderer...ironic considering his sense of direction is awful. He was bumbling around bumping into just about everything in the village plaza. Silly guy. He dropped something and Lyra and I agreed to return it to him after school.

Speaking of school, Lyra had the same apprehensions as myself. I mean, we HAD ditched class yesterday, so...it was only natural for us to be worried about being chewed out upon our return today. Lyra had suggested we just not go to class at all, but I gave her a look and she knew that wouldn't fly. Part of growing up is accepting responsibility and repercussions, even if you were trying to do the right thing. We made our beds, now we had to lie in them.

At least...that's what I THOUGHT we had to do.

Lyra and I were prepared to take our lumps in the form of Watchog yelling at us, but Espurr used her telepathy to distract him long enough for us to sneak by! Deerling had tried to distract him into starting class without yelling at us, but it hadn't worked. He started lighting into Lyra before Principal Simipour stepped in.

Our. Freaking. HERO!

Simipour vouched for us, saying Roselia came and explained what happened. He said it was indeed wrong of us to leave class without permission, but he understood that we did so because we felt something more important was at stake – Budew's safety. Simipour believed we made the right choice, and so there wouldn't be a punishment doled out this time! Oh, sweet merciful relief!

The class actually erupted into applause and praise on our behalf, surprising both of us. Deerling and Espurr apologized for doubting me yesterday, but honestly, I won't hold it against them. Had I been in their shoes I probably would've done the same.

Then it happened. History books will forever mark this occasion and children of our children's children will whisper about this fantastical tale for years and years to come.

Freaking Pancham and Shelmet, the two biggest thorns in my side since my arrival...apologized. For yesterday.

Eat shit, you stupid panda cub and weird...helmet thing!

Okay, okay...I know they're just kids and I shouldn't be so harsh or let their antics get to me. I should be more mature than...actually, no. Screw that noise, I'm gonna revel in this. Not once had those buffoons considered how foolish and stupid their antics were until now, and it feels amazing.

Ah...but I gotta give credit where credit is due. Not every schoolyard bully has enough guts to admit when they were in the wrong and offer a genuine apology, so...Pancham gets points in that category. Doesn't make him good, but he's not scum either.

Pancham even said that perhaps I'm not a total liar. Then perhaps I CAN convince these kids of me being human...? Not that it matters if I can't. Lyra believes me, and that's enough for me.

Speaking of, she was pretty stoked too! She went to hug Pancham, but he stopped her and called her annoying. He said this doesn't make us friends, and Lyra teased him saying he secretly wants to be friends. They started bickering, and it was…actually, it was nice and lighthearted. A friendly spat as opposed to those two being at each other's throats.

This, I could get used to. This is peaceful. This is nice.

Location: Poliwrath River B1F

After classes ended, we asked around the plaza for Ampharos's whereabouts. Maybe someone had seen him wander somewhere, and eventually Carracosta gave us the information we needed. Apparently, Ampharos had wandered into Poliwrath River – the territory of the Poliwrath Brothers, infamous for their tempers.

Naturally, Carracosta told us to stay away from that river. Lyra's a fire-type, and the place is crawling with water-types. Going there would be an absolutely unthinkable and thoroughly stupid idea. Chances of us going there are about as likely as me entering a volcano where an enraged legendary fire-type resided. How laughable! Of course we weren't gonna go to Poliwrath River!

So after ignoring Carracosta and starting our trek to Poliwrath River, Lyra started talking about how we had to track down Ampharos and return his orb. According to Kecleon, only shop owners like himself and members of Lively Town's Expedition Society own Connection Orbs, so Lyra wanted to track Ampharos down immediately.

I think I know what this is about.

Lyra's dream of joining the Expedition Society isn't exactly a secret. Despite kids not being allowed to join, she desperately wants to. And I think she's hoping to convince Ampharos of finding a way of letting us join, but to do that we have to find him and return his orb.

So, here we are. In yet another Mystery Dungeon where some really strong Pokémon who are easy to anger could ambush us at any time. Again.

Honestly, I could just cut my losses and go home. Lyra wants to do this, who am I to stop her? But that doesn't mean I have to be involved.

Well...no, that's not true. Looking down at my scarf, I'm reminded why I'm here. Lyra and I agreed to be friends, and leaving her, a fire-type, to take on this water-type dungeon by her lonesome...that wouldn't be right. Plus, this is extremely important to Lyra. If I side with her Pops on this and tell her we should just go home, she'd be crushed. Even if we can't join the society, we should at least try. And Lyra shouldn't be made to try alone.

If I made her do this by herself, that'd make me as bad as the others who shot down her dream. And we'd agreed that if nobody else believed in us, we'd at least believe in each other. And Lyra was there for me when nobody else was...

It's time I returned the favor.

So, here we go. Into Poliwrath River's depths.

Location: Home

My, what an eventful exploration!

Poliwrath River was a little tough, but we scraped by. Somehow, we managed to defeat the Poliwrath Brothers using 1 Tiny Reviver Seed and a Warp Rod. It was tough, but we managed. And we found Ampharos, to boot!

Ampharos claimed he isn't part of the Expedition Society, but I think he was lying. He had a bunch of "Junior" Expedition Society equipment on him that he gave to Lyra, and he had plenty of knowledge regarding how it all worked. I'm sorry, but someone who carries that much gear for an organization and has the knowledge to use it properly is either a spy looking to ruin the organization...or they're part of the organization. And Ampharos doesn't seem like the spy type – his lack of direction would've ruined that for sure.

So, Ampharos lied about not being part of the society. For what purpose, I'm not sure. Speaking of lies, he claimed a lot of the stuff he gave us is crucial for an Expedition Society member to use, but he kept adding on "...and Junior members, too!" I think he's making up the whole Junior Expedition Society Member crap to try and lessen our involvement with the society since kids aren't allowed. I won't complain – it's a way for us to do what Lyra's always dreamed of while abiding that pesky rule of no kids allowed, but I wish it didn't involve so much secrecy. Maybe Ampharos can't say he's part of the society because he doesn't want us blowing his cover. Is he investigating something here in the village?

Is...is he investigating me?

Well, whatever. He had stuff to give Lyra that made her really happy, so if he is investigating me then he can't be all bad. Maybe he can help Nuzleaf and me with the Beheeyem problem.

Lyra asked me to name our little team, and the only thing I could think of was Evergreens – a type of tree that keeps its foliage year-round and is always green. I guess it fits us...I'm green, and as far as I know I won't lose my leaf, and it represents Lyra in her steadfast positive personality regardless of whatever's thrown at her. Redwood might've been a better name, but redwood trees are deciduous – they shed their leaves throughout the year and grow new ones come spring. That doesn't represent Lyra and I at all, I don't think.

Lyra had also asked me properly if I wanted to join the Evergreens with her but didn't give me a chance to answer for myself. I would've said yes anyway since this was so important to her and I didn't want to make her do this alone, but she was as pushy as always. I can't blame her, she's really enthused. So, starting tomorrow we begin our lives as Junior Expedition Society Members and our first day as the Evergreens.

Ampharos described the work we'd be doing as answering the distressed calls of Pokémon who turn to the society for help, and finding a way to help them. Similar to how I'd rescued Goomy that one day and how Lyra and I rescued Budew. So...work we were already familiar with.

Ohhh...I just realized we'll have to juggle doing that alongside school. Ugh, this is gonna be exhausting. But at least it'll keep me distracted from the fear of encountering those pesky Beheeyem.

And who knows? Maybe this'll be more fun than I anticipate.