After roaming the town for a bit, they realized they have no idea where they were even going.
"You don't know where we're going do you?" Hannah asked
"Shh! Don't speak." Ava hissed.
"Why not?" Hannah asked, quieter this time.
"If anyone thinks I'm talking to myself things will get more difficult." Ava quickly replied. "So shhhhh! I'll find Hopi soon enough." Hannah visibly sulked. She had a feeling Ava was embarrassed of her already.
"Excuse me?" Ava's voice cut into her train of thought.
"What can I help you with?" Asked the green chameleon.
"I'm looking for a friend, her name is Hopi? Heard of her?"
"Oh! Yes she comes by all the time! She's always pacing by the guild hall, or laying by the Elder Tree." The Chameleon replied, Ava beamed.
"Oh gotcha! Thank you Mr. Kecleon!" She exclaimed as she headed towards the Elder Tree.
And low and behold, a pink Mareep is laying there, watching two small Pokémon running around the Elder Tree, she looks melancholy under the shade of the tree. Ava approaches with a smile.
"Hey Hopi!" She exclaims upon arrival at her friend's destination.
The named Mareep shoots her head up in the direction of her name.
"Ava?! Oh my gosh what are you doing in town!?" Hopi hops up in a flash and practically bounces over to her friend, filled with a rush of glee.
"I um...needed to talk to you." She replied with a smile.
"Oh? What's up?" Hopi asked.
"Well, you know how much you've been wanting in that guild here?" The fluffy Pokémon nodded.
"Well...I've been thinking...and I decided I...want to get into rescue work." Ava struggled to say. No she didn't, but the human stuck to her needs information. Hopi however, fortunately didn't notice her struggle as stars shown in her eyes as she bounced around Ava in excitement, squealing in delight.
"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh! This is so exciting!" Hopi tried her best to calm herself down enough to form sentences.
"Ok, when would you like to go sign up?" She finally asked Ava. Ava cringed a little at the thought of fighting other Pokémon, she let out a small sigh, hopefully too small to be noticed, Hannah noticed it though.
As the two Pokémon talked Hannah went into thinking mode. Just how much was Ava actually wanting to do this? From the emotions Ava was channeling through her, she'd conclude it was zero percent. Why would she go through this trouble then? Hannah realized it must be because of her, a human, stuck to her butt. Tears were trying to escape, she did her best not to let them. This complete stranger was forcing herself into something she doesn't want to do to help her. Hannah'll have to think of something to thank her.
"Ok! Come on, my place is this way!" She could hear Hopi say as their hooves trotted behind her, Hannah looked round to get a good look at Hopi, she seemed far enough away.
"Ava?" Hannah started.
"I told you to stay quiet." She whisper shouted back.
"Please.." Hannah begged, another sigh was formed.
"What is it, Hannah?"
"Are...are you mad at me?" Ava went stiff for a moment, was that a confirmation or a shock from the question?
"No. I'm sorry, I didn't mean you to think that. I'm...I'm just frustrated, that's all." Ava replied.
"Do you want to talk about it..?"
"Just...why did it have to be me? It might've been anyone but you got stuck with me."
"...Do I really bother you that much?" Ava stiffened again, turn her head around to see her tail, eyes filled with tears.
"This isn't easy for me either you know." Hannah continued. "I used to have arms and legs...not to mention, no one has ever helped me as much as you have right now. You're being forced into my problems and I can't do anything to apologize..." Ava pondered her for a moment, she didn't even think about how Hannah was feeling, something she'll be quick to change from now on.
"There is something you can do." Ava finally replied, Hannah looked at her in anticipation.
"Hopi is pretty fascinated with the thought of helping a Human turned Pokémon. I'm sure she'd love to know she's doing just that, once we get to her place of course." Hannah's eyes lit up.
"It'll be my pleasure!"
"Good, let's catch up." Ava finally walked beside Hopi.
"Oh there you are! You seemed distracted so I let you zone out." Hopi greeted.
"..Oh, thank you Hopi." Ava felt a little embarrassed, Hopi let out a laugh.
"Nothing to be ashamed of! Anyway we're here!"
Ava and Hannah look at the beautifully sculpted hill, the leaves placed upon the top shining in the sunlight, the window attached to the hill shows a room inside, to the right of it was a door, rounded on the top of it.
The trio head inside, the room looked cosy despite the floor and ceiling being made of dirt. Vines growing on every wall to bring some flair into the space.
"Make yourself at home! I'll start preparing some lunch!" Hopi chimed in with joy as she hopped into the kitchen space of the room.
"So uh..." Hannah whispered. "When are we signing up?"
"Thought you'd be listening?"
"Got a little distracted at that point." Hannah let out a nervous laugh.
"Ok...um, we're signing up after lunch, or going to try to." Ava answered quietly.
"Ah, ok." Hannah looked around the room, she then saw a tiny bookshelf in the corner with a cushion nearby. "There's a bookshelf over there, think she has any history books on humans turned Pokémon?" Hannah asked.
"I don't know, let's go check." Ava walked over to the shelf and looked at the books.
The entire shelf was full of books on the subject in question, just as Hannah suspected.
"I'd like to read...that one." She pointed her head towards the one titled 'The Auto-Biography of the Shocking Rescue Team.' Ava got the book down as quietly as she could, opened it up, and scooted it behind her, within Hannah's reach, while she grabbed another book to pass the time.
The book shared a human's experience turned into an Eevee. She had weird dreams of a Gardevoir that was betrayed by a human. With her memory loss as a human she thought it was her fault for awhile, but thanks to her partners trust in her, they found the truth that she wasn't the human at fault.
"Memory loss?" Hannah questioned aloud.
"The humans tend to lose their memories as humans when they're turned into Pokémon? Do you not know that?" Ava responded.
"I...I remember my human life, for the most part."
"Wha-" quickly went quiet to not bring attention to them. "You remember your human life?"
"Yeah, I can talk about it later once Hopi knows about me." Hannah replied quietly.
As if on cue, Hopi trotted over with a tray on her back, a tray made of rubber, with fruit and hay on top.
"Lunch is ready~!" Hopi declared, as she masterfully slipped the tray off her back and onto the low table nearby.
"Let's go eat real quick Hannah, I'll tell her about you afterwards." Ava said as she got up and walked over to the food. Hannah was a little salty she had to leave the book halfway through, but remembered she'd have all night tonight to read it once they've gone to sleep, so she quickly recovered. Ava and Hopi began eating, Hannah's mouth mimicking Ava's, just like the voice said happened to the tail of a Girafarig, can't really talk even if she wanted to.
"So, was helping me into the guild your only reason for coming into town?" Hopi asked.
"Well...the feeling of being alone is finally getting to me, so I was hoping I'd move in." Hopi's eyes lit up.
"Move in?! Oh my gosh that's so exciting! Do you have a place?"
"No, actually...I was kind of hoping...that um, you'd let me stay with you..?" Hopi began vibrating in place, static sparking off her body.
"Of course you can stay with me! It'll be my pleasure!" Hopi practically yelled. "It'll be easier to link up for quests if we live together anyway, so it works out!" Hopi sounded super excited by the decision.
After their meal Ava gave a quick sigh.
"Hopi, there's one more thing..." Ava started
"Oh?"
"But I need you to promise me something first."
"Of course!"
"Promise not to tell a soul about this until I am ready." Ava fidgeting in her spot.
"I promise, Ava." Ava let out a breath she was holding.
"Ok...here it goes." Ava turns her back to Hopi, Hopi looking at her confused.
"What are you..?" Looks down, sees Ava's tail staring at her.
"Something's different about your tail!" Hopi stared at it.
"'Different' is an understatement." Hannah started. Hopi hopped back in surprise.
"What are you?" Hopi asked coming closer once more.
"I'm...a human." Hannah replied, Hopi's eyes looked like they were going to shoot out of her skull.
"A HUMAN?!" Hannah nodded, having been through this before.
"How did you end up like this?" Hopi questioned.
Hannah proceeded to tell Hopi what transpired before reaching Maple Stone.
"Yep, a voice, the humans always have a voice talking to them, so it was that voice's fault this happened to you?" Hannah nodded again. "I get to help a human save the world..." Hopi was in total awe and bliss, before hopping in place. "This is so exciting!"
"But remember what Ava said, you can't tell anyone about me." Hannah reminded, Hopi nodded.
"Yes, you're right. Now." She calmed herself down. "It is time to go sign up! But one more thing before we do." She walked over to a chest at the end of the room, and rummaged in it, before popping out. "Aha!" She walked back over to Ava and Hannah, and placed her find around Hannah's 'neck.'
It was a blue bowtie, practically glowing in the sunlight from the window.
"Hope that makes you feel a little more human!" Hopi smiled at Hannah.
"It does! Thank you so much!" Hannah felt much better not being 'naked.'
After preparing themselves, the set off for the guild, Ava being more nervous than Hopi ever could be. The exterior was extravagant looking, with well sculpted stone walls, and chiseled pillars on each side of the double doors, with maple trees carved into the wood. They made it up to the double doors of the guild when a splash of water came their way, Ava flinched but Hopi pushed them out of the way just in time.
"Excellent reflexes!" The culprit exclaimed as they came into view, a small orange weasel-like creature was smiling away.
"I've been practicing!" Hopi replied, as she had been expecting the attack.
"Oh, it's you again." The Pokémon said trying not to show their frustration. "What brings you back?"
"This time I have a partner!" Hopi exclaimed, moving to show Ava, who smiled awkwardly and waved. The weasel's body language changed to be more welcoming.
"Ah see that's much better! You've already passed the first test, you may now continue inside for part two!" The Pokémon picked up their board and paper and headed back inside.
"Who was that Pokémon?" Hannah asked.
"That was Buizel, she's second in command here at the guild, and we just passed test number one!" Hopi explained with a grin.
"Why didn't you warn us of the first attack?" Ava asked.
"Because I also needed to see if we were ready for the next step, can't just accept your invite and you not be also ready for it!" Hopi replied, as if she was ready for the question.
"That's some good reasoning." Hannah added in, caused Hopi to smile at her.
"Why thank you! Anyway we should keep up with her, this way!" Hopi made her way through the now open double doors.
The interior was just as magnificent as the exterior, yellow vines lined the stone walls, a golden carpet with red trim and a leaf pattern spread onto the floor beneath them, reaching all the way to the Master's office in the center of the room, doors wide open, which has the same design as the door outside. The team walked on the soft carpet and headed towards the end of the room. Hannah looked around with awe as she enjoyed the visuals.
"This town sure loves leaves." Hannah whispered.
"That's because of the Elder Tree, it has the most beautiful leaves in the area, no matter the season." Hopi whispered back.
"We're at the office now." Ava also whispered.
"Right! Back to business!" Hopi said aloud.
"Good afternoon, children." The calm yet stern tone bounced off the walls, a glorious large green goat stood upon them, a presence that made you feel safe and a little afraid at the same time.
"Good afternoon, Master Gogoat!" Hopi greeted back.
"I have been informed that you wish to join the guild."
"That's correct, Master." Master Gogoat nodded in understanding.
"Very well, a test is to be issued for your approval." Master Gogoat put a hoof to her chin in thought. Master then nodded with an idea.
"My nephew, Skiddo, hasn't been in touch with me for about eight hours now. He went to get some berries in the Tiny Maple Wood. I'm very worried about him, but I am unable to leave my post to search for him. This will be your first mission, and hopefully not your last." The team nodded their heads in understanding.
"Off you go then, I wish you both the best of luck."
"We won't let you down, Master!" Hopi exclaimed, as she led Ava out of the Guild Hall.
Chapter 2 End