A few made up words below, but I think you'll get the general meaning through context.
"Are you heading back east right after this trip?" Sol asked, adjusting the straps of her pack to sit more comfortably on her shoulders.
"Yes," Espeon said. "I've been away for a long time now. I'll have quite the story to tell everyone back home."
"If they'd even believe you."
"I don't know, we have quite the stories back home almost as amazing as yours, and people believe them."
"Really? Like what?"
"Rescue teams blowing up asteroids, a cursed spirit being brought back to life, that sort of thing."
Sol rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."
"But it's true!" Eevee said and walked next to them on the path. "I love that story! And the Team Horizon base is still standing outside Pokémon Square. I used to go there all the time!"
"And annoy the tour guides to no end," Espeon added.
Sol laughed. "Is that why you were so eager to form and exploration team? Dreaming of blowing up asteroids?"
"Team Horizon didn't blow up the asteroid. Rayquaza did."
"Right. 'Cause it would have been silly to happen any other way."
"Sol, you're a human from the future. Why is this so hard to believe?"
"You got me there."
"Hey! Look!" Espeon ran ahead to a snow covered signpost beside the road. "This says Shaymin Village isn't too far away! We should be there before sundown. This is going to be so great! We can go hiking part way up the mountain, go tobogganing, take part in the giant snowball fight..."
"Then let's get moving!" Sol said and clapped her hands together. "The sooner we get there the better."
"Ok, but... are you really going to walk in there wearing that?"
"My outfit is awesome!"
"Not to mention a little intimidating. Could you at least take off that scarf? They're going to think you're there to rob them."
"Then my face would get cold," Sol said, tugging at the scarf to make sure it was securely wrapped around her head and wouldn't slip off.
"Really, weren't not even on the mountain yet! Just what kind of Riolu are you?"
"The human kind."
Espeon rolled her eyes and shook her head. Sol didn't care. She loved her new winter ensemble. She was warm and her feet were dry. Not to mention she thought she looked pretty cool. It was perfect for climbing Sky Peak.
Sol couldn't wait to get to Shaymin village. She had thought the days of preparing and planning back at Treasure Town had been bad, but now that they were actually on the road each second seemed to drag on and on. Eevee and Espeon shared her excitement while Jak and Ren didn't seem affected by the wait.
It wouldn't be long now, at least. Just a few more hours of walking and they would finally be there.
...
"That's... That's really big," Eevee said.
"I think that's why they call it Sky Peak Mountain," Espeon giggled.
"Yeah, but... We're really going to climb all the way to the top? In the middle of winter?"
"Of course not," Espeon said. "The path to the top is only open during the summer, at least to tourists like us. It's too dangerous. We'll have to stick to the lower ones, though they still go up pretty high."
Staring up at the colossal barrier of rock and ice that was Sky Peak mountain, outlined by the setting sun behind it, Sol didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved. She wasn't one to shy away from a challenge but this was unlike anything she had faced before.
"Come on, we're almost there," Sol said and started down the path to the village nestled at the mountain's base. Pokémon milled about in the streets, most of them small white creatures with green, grass like fur covering its fur and pink flowers pinned on either side of their heads. When she got closer, Sol realized that it was actual grass growing out of their backs and living flowers growing on the sides of their heads.
"What are they?" Sol whispered to Eevee.
"They're Shaymin."
"And why are they covered in plants?"
"They're grass types. They're pretty special, too. People say that Shaymin can instantly purify toxic air."
"Huh."
"You guys, hurry up!" Espeon said. "I heard of this great little inn where we can stay! Then we need to find out if there's anything going on tomorrow. We're probably going to need to find guides for the trails..."
Espeon continued on, checking off a verbal to-do list. They wandered through the village, having no clear idea where the inn actually was but not minding the excuse to see a bit more of the village before they turned in for the night. It was small, peaceful, and when Sol ignored the odd looks she was getting it was a pretty pleasant place. A good spot for a vacation, though not anywhere Sol would want to live permanently.
Eventually they found the inn, a relatively large building with a sign reading "Seed Flare Inn", or so Espeon told Sol. There were a few Pokémon inside though not many. Espeon went up to the counter were a Shaymin stood perched on an elevated floor to rent rooms. Espeon, Sol and Jak would share one and Ren and Eevee another.
"Are you coming up to check out the rooms?" Eevee asked.
"In a sec," Sol said. "I just need to take all this off first."
Eevee raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes, really," Sol said and began to unwrap the scarf from around her head. "I'd like to keep the snow out of my room. I'll be right up."
Eevee shrugged and walked over to the stairs to the second floor. Sol undid her belt and took off the cloak, then took a seat at the room's edge and started on the wrappings on her feet. Those were what took the longest, though it was well worth the inconvenience to Sol. Having warm, dry feet was a novelty she was never going to get tired of.
Sol heard the front door of the inn open and looked over to see two Pokémon enter. Sol didn't know why, but she was surprised when she recognized one as a Riolu, partly concealed behind the other Pokémon and tightly holding a small metal box to his chest. While she had known she was far from the only Riolu out there, it was still odd to see one.
The other Pokémon was taller, though similar in appearance to Sol and the other Riolu. She had black and blue fur on her face and limbs, yellow fur on her covering her torso like a vest. Spikes protruded from the back of her hands and from the center of her chest, making Sol hope she would never get backhanded by this Pokémon. Or hugged, for that matter. It took a moment for it to click in Sol's head that this must be a Lucario, the evolved form of Riolu.
The Lucario scanned the room with critical eye, the Riolu peeking out from behind her. The Lucario's eyes landed on Sol, still removing her leg wraps, and she nodded slightly. Sol wasn't quite sure what she was supposed to do, so she just nodded back. The Lucario seemed satisfied with that and strode confidently up to the counter. The Riolu followed closely behind, casting Sol curious glances but looking quickly away whenever Sol looked at him.
While Sol had no interest in evolution, switching bodies once had been more than enough, she had to admit the Lucario looked really cool. She wondered where they were from. Certainly not from around Treasure Town.
Maybe they're from the clans, here to kidnap me, Sol smirked, thinking back to Raichu's warning.
Sol finished removing the bindings from around her legs and gathered up her winter wear in a large bundle. She stood up from her seat and walked towards the stairs on the other side of the room. She was stopped half way there when a hand grabbed her upper arm.
"Walk correctly, Cheynin," the Lucario told her sternly.
"What?"
"Walk correctly," she repeated and pulled upwards on Sol's arm, forcing her to stand on her toes.
"What the Hell is your problem?!" Sol demanded and tried to yank her arm back, but the Lucario tightened her grip.
The other Riolu, standing to the side of the Lucario, gasped at the words and stared at Sol with wide eyes.
"You will show respect to your elders, Cheynin," the Lucario said. "Did your Theynil never teach you that?"
"I don't have to do anything! Now let. Me. Go!"
Sol kicked at the Lucario's legs, but it had little effect. The clothes bundle was dropped to the floor as the Lucario grabbed Sol's other arm and twisted her around so that her arms were pinned across her chest, then lifted her an inch off the ground.
"Your Theynil failed in properly instructing you, Cheynin," the Lucario calmly said, despite Sol's struggling. "We must return you to the clan for proper training."
WHAT?! Raichu had been telling the truth? And no one else in the inn was doing anything about it, instead simply watching as Sol was being carried away against her will. The Riolu was more than fine with what was going on as well.
"Come peacefully, Aeylin," he said. "There is no shame in admitting you were sent on your trial too soon. I'm sure you'll be allowed to try again once you are ready."
Sol couldn't believe this was happening. He actually thought he was helping her! With no other options, Sol did the only thing she could.
"JAK!"
It took mere moments for her to hear thundering footsteps come running down the stairs, answering the panicked shout. The Charmander saw Sol being dragged away and didn't waste any time to ask questions. She roared and charged, fire building up in her mouth.
"BURN!" Jak yelled and jumped at the Lucario.
Even with her arms occupied with a struggling Riolu, she managed to shift her weight to the side and swing a foot up to kick Jak midair in the stomach. The Charmander fell back, but the stream of flames carried onwards and splattered across the Lucario's side, making her drop Sol.
"You almost hit me!" Sol said as she put some distance between herself and the Lucario.
"But Jak didn't."
"Theynin!" the Riolu cried out. He held his hands out in front of him and a ball of blue light appeared between his palms. The ball suddenly shot out towards Jak and exploded violently on contact. Jak was thrown back against the wall then slumped down on the floor.
The Lucario, flames successfully extinguished, advanced on Sol. Sol scrambled to focus her power and yellow light flashed in her eyes and collected around her hands. This made the Lucario stop abruptly and simply stared. The Riolu gasped and his eyes widened.
"You're... You're like me," he said in a voice full of amazement.
Like a miniature sun, the Focus Blast shot out to its target, but the Lucario jumped to the side. The yellow ball kept going and destroyed the inn's front door, letting in a chilly blast of air. The Lucario sprinted up to Sol. She tired to fight back but was no match for the hardened Lucario and Sol quickly ended up on the floor with a knee on her back.
"You should not broadcast your intentions like that, Cheynin," she said. "It is a poor battle strategy."
"What is going on here?!"
Sol twisted her head to see Eevee, Espeon and Ren coming down the stairs.
"Help! They're trying to kidnap me! I don't want to be indoctrinated into some clan!"
They didn't seem to know how to react. Eyes went from Sol to the Lucario, and, surprisingly, it was Espeon who stepped out first.
"Lucario," she said, "what is going on? Sol is not part of the clans. She is a member of the exploration team Wanderers."
The Lucario processed this information, then nodded.
"I apologize. It seems there has been a misunderstanding. It is a rare thing to see a Riolu who is not a member of a clan."
"That's it!?" Sol said when the Lucario let her up. "You beat up my friend and try to kidnap me and all you have to say is it was a 'misunderstanding'?"
The Lucario looked at her without a trace of remorse or guilt.
"Sol, calm down," Espeon said, then turned back to the Lucario. "Are you from the clan near Pokémon square?" She nodded. "What brings you here, so far away?"
"The time has come for Riley's trial. We thought climbing to the mountain's top would be a suitable place to start."
"I thought Riolu went on their trial alone." Espeon said, to which the Lucario remained silent. "Though I suppose climbing to the top in winter would be nearly impossible to do on your own. I don't we'd be able to do it."
"Well I am," Sol growled. That Espeon was making small talk with the Pokémon who had just attacked her was really making Sol mad. And that Lucario thought she could order Sol around, giving Sol orders like she was some child and now was talking about how she was going to climb to the top of Sky Peak. The Lucario thought she was so much better than Sol, but she'd show her.
"Hey!" yelled the Shaymin at the desk. "Someone's going to have to take care of that door!"
"I will pay for it," the Lucario said and walked over to the small Pokémon. "The confrontation was my fault."
She is just so self righteous, Sol thought, seething with rage.
"Sol!" Espeon said. "You can't climb Sky Peak! Not in the winter!"
"Why not?"
"Because it's dangerous!"
"So is half the things we do."
"Sol, I really think this is a bad idea," Eevee said.
"I'm still doing it."
It was then the Riolu, Riley, walked over.
"What was that?" he asked.
"What was what?"
"I thought it was Aura Sphere at first..."
"You mean my Focus Blast?"
Riley shook his head. "It wasn't Focus Blast either, at least not completely." He looked away for a moment. "You should not attempt to climb the mountain."
"Why not?" Sol hissed angrily. "Do you think I can't do it? Do you thing you're better than me?"
"No! I just- It's dangerous and-... I need to get back to my Theynin." Riley hurried away.
"Sol, they didn't mean to hurt you," Espeon said. "Things work differently in the clan. They thought you were one of theirs."
"That doesn't change anything!"
Sol glared daggers at the Lucario as she finished up at the desk and walked over to them once more.
"Walk correctly, Cheynin, on your toes. If you continue to stand on your feet as you do, you will deform your legs, which may not bother you now but will leave you crippled as a Lucario."
With that the two left the inn, Riley once more holding his metal box close to his chest and sending quick glances back at Sol.
I hate you so much right now, Sol thought.
Mister L: Sorry to say but you're going to have to keep asking for a while longer.
ckrier.3000: I wouldn't be the first time Sol has faced an evil stone. Hopefully this one won't posses anyone.
Darkrai6543: And good luck to you too when yours come along.
Darknesslayer: I do plan on talking about Red/Blue, put the actual rescue team itself won't make an appearance.
Unnamed Generic Guest: Kind of, I suppose, though in this fic the events of Red/Blue happened a long time in the past, long enough for details to become twisted.