"…ien!"
A groan escapes from my mouth. The bed is nice and warm and fuzzy, and I really don't want to get up. I felt like I've gone to three dungeons and back without any food. All energy seemed to have seeped away from me.
"Lucien…!"
This time, the voice is much clearer, yet it sounds like it's screaming through a blizzard. I can't tell if it's near or far, but the tone sounds familiar intertwined with concern. The voice! I know that voice! I can barely place who spoke, but the name, what's the name? Why can't I remember the name?! The voice repeats. I try to speak or do anything, but I can't. My limbs were disagreeing to move despite my constant urging. Soon, the sound fades away with the eternal darkness that housed it, and I couldn't do anything.
Just like the end of a tunnel, I'm greeted by a golden light even if I haven't caused any form of movement. Then my eyes flutter open, and the scene that beholds my eyes was far from expected. I'm face-to-face with something or someone. My instincts take over. Letting out a shocked yell, I stumble upward to an attacking position, readying myself to fight if needed. Only, the pokemon I was prepared for wasn't an enemy. My eyes finally adjusted to the new amount of light. And there it is, the familiar brown pelt of a fellow apprentice.
"Bidoof…?" There was a second before realization hit. I am the one speaking, but my voice was hoarse, and my throat, dry. Bidoof, my pal, looked like he was in a dozy, probably confused with my outburst. His swaying motion ticks to a stop like a pendulum, then his gaze landed on me. I had one word to explain his expression with him biting his lips and his nose wrinkling slightly. Concern. Was that for me?
"Lucien, I've been looking for you! It's nearly time for dinner!" Bidoof says but not daring to move. His bright and clandestine voice makes me dizzy. It was loud and excruciatingly- wait, dinner? How long have I been out? My head turns to the left. The moon seems to mock my situation by shining down on the vast ocean with its cohorts, the stars. A chill crawls up my spine. This wasn't right…
"It's-" I clear my throat, "It's that late?!" Now I'm the one thrown in a dozy, speechless at the scene. I send glances everywhere, investigating all the nooks and crannies of this beach. The sand was iridescent under the moonlight, but this is odd. Wasn't I on my bed? Did I seriously sleep on the beach? My memories of today are blurry, but there's an edge of indignation that I can't explain when I attempt to recall the happenings. There was a green-and-red pokemon, I went into hiding, and here I am. I'm not even certain if any of these events speak of the truth.
A tense silence passes by, only to be broken by Bidoof's tentative tone. "Golly, Lucien, if I hadn't found you, then you would've missed dinner." That's something I wouldn't blame at all if he didn't call me since it was my fault for sleeping on this Arceus-forsaken beach than my own bed. To further my displeasure, my stomach growled at the most convenient time, almost scripted. "Sounds like your stomach wants you to get back to the guild, yup, yup. Let's go!"
Bidoof is a stubborn pokemon even if looks say otherwise. I would try to shake him off my blue tail, but I'm starving, and my energy seems to be sapped away from that little moment of waking adrenaline. My responses would be weak, Bidoof wouldn't go on without me, and I can't let him not go eat. A fact is known that not letting Bidoof is a recipe for disaster. So I trudge silently, right behind the brown beaver.
We were beside the water, so my figure is dimly being reflected off, and I look nothing I was supposed to be. While Bidoof looks the same as ever, with his two buck teeth and his kept fur; I look like I've just mingled with the ghosts. My blue fur had splotches of sand attached to it, my eyes were bloodshot, and my posture barely looks like the one I've developed through the few years with the guild. I must look like a mess, yet Bidoof doesn't seem to mind. I'm the very model of a wild Riolu, not the promising explorer from Wigglytuff's Guild.
Walking is more than labor. There was a sense of numbness, as if my whole body just wanted to give out and cling to the sand. The wind blew through my unruly fur, feeling neither hot nor cold, but Bidoof seemed to be shivering in his fur. I could afford to care less with my physical state, then where would I be? Not going to the guild. But I am constricted by a contract to stay with the guild until I graduate. I used to be so enthusiastic to go, right? I am training with the most prominent guild in this whole country! However, I feel a sense of emptiness that doesn't want to be filled with the prospect of working for my dream anymore.
Turns out when I was in my self-centered thoughts, I was tuning out Bidoof when he was speaking about something with exaggerated tones. "…you should've seen Loudred, he was very angry. Golly, am I sure glad I didn't anger him that time." Bidoof says. "But he did his job and he saved Sunflora and me, yup, yup."
I can't tell what motivated Bidoof into rambling about his life with his head held high since he normally doesn't do that. His ramblings often consisted with famous explorers and rumors of uncharted dungeons. There was a slight pang of jealousy in my chest. He was happy, I wasn't. Why? I never got to explore much with partners, no, anyone during my time with the guild, and I wanted to state to him that I really don't want to know what was happening in his life. This wasn't fair! I open my mouth, then close it right after. Whatever caused my irritation, Bidoof does not deserve it. Bidoof wasn't the most experienced one in the guild. Right, maybe that's why Chatot sends him off with partners during his explorations.
"I gotta say, Lucien. You're a bit more detached than before." My friend says.
That phrase stops me in my tracks. I shouldn't feel so affronted, but I do. "What do you mean?" I snarl. I feel a small flame burn within me. Not of passion, but one of anger. What does he know what I feel? He turns to face me, eyes widened, but then his eyes narrow, burning with determination. He doesn't bare his teeth at me, but I keep my ground. Seeing that I wouldn't budge from my position, Bidoof lowers his gaze.
"You're…" Bidoof trails off, unsure whether to keep his thought process going. "You're not at you're best." I let out a scoff at those words. "Golly… I don't know how to say this." He doesn't continue. He turns to his rear towards me and begins urging me back to the guild. I was about to corner him and make him elaborate his words, but I would gain nothing. Though tentative, I follow along.
Our earlier exchange ensures an awkward silence for the rest of the trip. One not knowing what to say and the other fuming. I am the one fuming. Only the sound of the wind, the cackling of flames, and our footsteps are the adversaries to the silence. Bidoof only headed forward, sometimes sending a look to my way to which I responded by turning my head to the side. Bidoof had no idea as to what he was talking about. He can't explain my feelings, and I don't expect him to. I don't want him to.
When we reach the guild, I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings anymore. But I look at my 'home' once again for the thousandth time. The guild was a grand tent build at the side of a cliff. It gives off the aura of confidence and spontaneity. It doesn't look that intimidating either, but in reality, no one messes with the guild unless they have a death wish.
The other is trying the console me now, but I refuse to listen and degrade his voice to a lowly squeak. I wait upon the grate to hear the mantra of the one below identifying footprints. With a confirmation to enter the guild by the sentry, the ground rumbles for a moment before the gate within the pink pokemon-styled tent creaks open.
I rush in, not daring to give another glance at Bidoof.
Down the ladder, I go, passing by many pokemon, both explorers and requesters alike. No one seeks for my help anymore which I am relieved for. I am on 'vacation' and the Guildmaster's right-hand pokemon made it certain.
I head to the bulletin board. While I'm not allowed to get any missions, I can look through for criminals to be cautious of. Like a rogue Mudkip or a questionable invitation. There's still an array of crimes, even if the world is saved.
The world saved. That leaves the tip of my tongue bitter. This is something everyone should be glad for except there's still bad pokemon out in the world. The world isn't saved, just thrown into another cycle before it needs to be 'saved' again. Like that time where a team saved the world from a meteor, or another like Dialga being corrupted and getting time gears to keep him sane. History had even more examples that I can't even begin to comprehend. History repeats and it was like no one wanted to stop the cycle.
Soon enough, the guild was closing to the public for the day with me not even getting a chance to suspend a job. I saw a colorful bird squawking and fluttering around to usher many out of the guild. Sounds of all kinds jumble together, voices of the young and old, chats about rescues and legends, and some more I couldn't make out. No one makes contact with me as if I am a porcelain vase fill of water.
The vicinity where I stand gives a small tremor to signal that the gate was closing once more for the day. The bulletin boards flip back to shield itself from prying eyes. Then that's that. Everything here begins to quiet down and everyone seems to filter down into the second floor. Me included. I could see nearly all my fellow explorers, all probably anticipating the same thing.
Dinner.
The moment when a sharp twinkle of a bell resounded across the room, it was time. Chimecho emerged from the hall to the left and called the beloved name. Everyone flooded the very same hall Chimecho emerged from. The thundering voices and stamping of feet made me feel nauseous for a second. I slowly made my way to the mess hall, trying to keep my balance as steady as possible to reach the table.
Upon entering, the mess hall was a simple place, housing a long table with plates that were filled to the brim with succulent fruits and seeds. This meal would make anyone's mouth water after a long day of adventuring. I wasn't one of those adventurers. I could only stare down the food when I was seated next to Loudred. My stomach seemed to twist, and suddenly, I wasn't hungry.
After seconds of preparation on the apprentices' part, Chatot gives the clear to eat with a gesture with his wings and the room is a cacophony of eating. I barely touch my food, for some reason I can't stomach it. Disgusting bile travels my throat once or twice, but I swallow it. The bile burns. But I couldn't just waste the food, so everything is 'disappearing' into my bag, one-by-one.
In my peripheral vision, I could catch Bidoof watching at me. There's that bit of apprehension in his gaze, but he doesn't question my actions. I don't think he could question it at all with his mouth bulging. Then I notice another pair of eyes looking at me. My gaze trails to a yellow flower with the same look of Bidoof. Sunflora. She turns away immediately when my eyes meet her immediately shocked ones. Did she notice too?
Time moved similar to eternity before dinner was over. We end it with a hearty 'goodnight'. Everyone disperses from the mess hall and heads to their respective rooms. Except for Sunflora. Now, I have no clue why she decided it was an excellent time to make her way to my room when the time is not to visit friends. I anticipated one thing though; I would not enjoy this exchange.
Silence pierces through the room, either of us certain to initiate the conversation. Words fail to escape my mouth, leaving me in a rather vulnerable position from the beginning. Yet I wasn't expecting the pokemon's next words.
"So, how was your day?" Sunflora says. I… did not know how to answer that. What did happen today? Other than the Bidoof conversation, I'd say there was nothing much. Yet my throat was too parched to work. She continues without a reply.
"We were getting worried. You would claim that another pokemon other than you has accompanied you on your journey. Yes, I know, I know, you didn't do it alone. B-but you said that someone was with you the whole way. The guild didn't have another pokemon coming with you. It was only you."
The worry was evident in her tone. I was ready to turn her away the moment I heard 'worried', but I couldn't. Sunflora was telling me about something I don't recall. This pokemon she talked about, I've never heard about it in my life. "I don't- I don't know what you're talking about." Those were the words that came out that burst from the storm of questions in my mind. I'm shaking, I don't know why. A feeling of dread envelopes me for I should know what she was talking about. That what her tone suggests.
Sunflora crosses her arms (leaves?), giving me a skeptical look. Then she begins again, her voice rising with every word she spoke as the result of irritation. "You said it before many times! There was this pokemon being your partner, the leader of team Myosotis that was from the future! Then a thief Grovyle and a legendary time traveling pokemon? Oh my gosh, and a 'great explorer' who was a henchman of Primal Dialga. Then there wa-"
She laid her eyes on me, scrutinizing my every reaction. She would have gone on, but I think the expression on my face stopped her. I was dumbfounded by her spiel, blinking constantly to see this event wasn't an illusion.
"Don't… you know?" Her tone was just loud enough for me to hear. My response was a truthful one.
I shook my head.
Her head drooped for minute, and the adjacent moment was her lifting her head, briskly turning herself away from me. "Humph!" She leaves the room. That was uncalled for, but I guess pokemon like hearing what they want to hear.
So, that leaves me in my current predicament, and that is sleeping in my bed. I plummeted unto my bed of yellow straw, but I couldn't find any reprieve with sleep. The straw seemed to poke me at uncomfortable angles which never seemed to bother me before. I should probably request for a new bed when I have the chance.
Other than the discomfort, another thing is that this room seemed too silent. During my time with the guild, I never had a problem with this, but it was profound now. No sound of the wind outside or the crashing waves. No active chatter of the pokemon. Just an unsettling quiet, with only my breath to hear. The only pokemon in this room was me, always. I feel like this silence is choking me. This dark, perpetual, and empty silence.
"Let's give it our all tomorrow." I sigh weakly, gazing to the rocky ceiling. My eyes close, and all I can see is darkness. And darkness. And even more until I couldn't take it anymore, this darkness was choking me too. I shot up from my bed, my eyes adapting to the dim light, and my breaths quick and harsh. Why? Why am I feeling like this? Never before has this ever impeded me from my work and dreams. Time was ticking, but I was paralyzed.
I couldn't count how long I've been awake. I couldn't tell if I was in the right place. I couldn't tell where I am. I am a lost child again. Panic sews itself into my system, and I grip to the nearest thing close to me. A rolled-up piece of yellowing parchment paper. For a moment, I didn't realize what I have grasped, but this is something of importance.
My Wonder Map.
The map that's supposed to be located in my bag isn't something of a rarity. Of course, there are requirements to receive one; the most common one is being an explorer or a rescuer. It just looked average, luckily, that's the reason crooks don't touch them. The Wonder Map I have still isn't completed, clouds gather at the edges of the yellow parchment. How the map works is a complete wonder since the clouds clear to reveal more places when a pokemon goes to a new area, or someone gives a detailed explanation that makes the clouds move.
My breathing was slowing to a safer pace as I meticulously unroll my map. I could see the places I've traveled. All of them had their own history with me… My reality check. I am an explorer. I am supposed to help others and see the world for as it is.
"Are you all right? Don't sacrifice your concentration."
Scooting back from the map, I search frantically around the room. The voice that spoke was different from the one from that dream, it was gruff, but had that sense of youth. It was serious, yet there was a dash of concern. The voice felt familiar too. I lost faith in my search after a few seconds of seeing no living creature in the room. Am I going crazy?
A huff of annoyance escapes my mouth. I need to get out for a while, thus beginning my hasty preparation. My Explorer's Bag lay on my shoulder, sliding down to my hip. The map is rolled up and in my hand. All set to depart! At least for a sojourn.
Leaving my room was the easiest part out of the entire journey since no one other than me is supposed to rest there. Everything else is ranging from intermediate to difficult. I know some pokemon were light sleepers and others weren't, but if Loudred's snores could mask my presence I would be set. Except a sleeping Loudred is not going to be with me the whole time.
Guildmaster sleeps with his eyes open, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. When I pass his chambers, the doors are shut tight. That's a good thing? Wigglytuff is a spontaneous pokemon… He's a lot more than meets the eye… I hope he doesn't catch me.
After passing by the sleeping quarters, every noise I make induces more paranoia. I might have already been caught and they're watching me from the back, or someone else is here and I might need to fight. I want to say those are farfetched conclusions, but I can't ascertain that right now when I was just nearing the gate.
If I try hard enough, I could squirm through the bars of the gate. That thought did not prepare me from seeing a pokemon sleeping on the first rung of the final ladder to the entrance. Logically, a pokemon should not sleep on a ladder, but this pokemon would do something drastic like that.
The sleeping monster was a bird that had a black music note as a head with a pink beak. It had a petite figure, but I knew so much better from just the appearance. He had razor sharp talons, and an array of colors that coated his feathers. I knew from that moment I was doomed if I got caught.
I have half the mind to pass Chatot or run back to my room. Both of which had their own plethora of consequences. I needed something to clear my mind, anything. There should be no harm done. This area was well away from the sleeping quarters.
I did stupid things, getting angry at a rock or deciding it would be fine to click on a giant gem that flushed me out of a dungeon, but the fact that I'm trying to avoid the second-highest member of the guild, who is in front of me, takes the berry.
I didn't notice I was holding in my breath until I had to release it. All I have to do is not step on Chatot or wake him in any sort of way. Simple as that. Not really.
Avoid the first rung of the ladder. That was my mission. I took tentative steps on the ladder, keeping the noises created to a minimum. Then reaching the second rung, I jumped to the side, skipping the first rung. I almost didn't make it, but I was put in a precarious position. Only one hand was gripping the next floor; however, I was my only support. I had to be the one to pull myself up. That was a pain. All my earlier actions took a toll on me. I was exhausted, dizzy, and all my limbs were heavy, but I was almost there.
I grit my teeth and began to drag myself towards the next floor. Slowly but surely, I was getting to my goal. One, two, and three! I brought myself up. Then my gaze flittered over to Chatot. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the feathers on his body ruffle.
After tense seconds, it seemed as if it was only to adjust his position. I let out a gasp of air, only to blink and see Chatot appearing in front of me within no time. I should not have underestimated him. Explorers like Chaot should not be messed with.
His eyes gleaming a hostile way make me stop in my tracks. I fear he might have mistaken me for an enemy pokemon when his beak was poised to attack. His wings spread as if they were to take. Amplified by the shadows, Chatot was a dark silhouette, threatening my own freedom to get away for a moment.
Chatot attacked. I knew I was toasted. Yet, his attacks weren't not of the ones of Brine Cave. These were weaker. I guess this is to frighten me away since I am still an apprentice under Wigglytuff and I really am not follow protocol. And Chatot did his job well. His beak is sharp when it came to contact with my body, not enough to make me bleed, but enough to bruise. My thoughts are sluggish and I couldn't come up with a better idea as more attacks were a flurry. Most were dull. Fortunately.
The reasonable solution is to run. Run back to my room and sleep. I do not want to deal with Chatot in the morning, but I will have to. I brought my arms to block any attack and I rushed to the ladder and jumped. Now I was on the lower floor.
I glance towards the first rung of the ladder. A pair of eyes leers at me, unwilling to take their gaze off of me. I get the message. I turn my back and proceed to run out of there. I was on my toes as I passed by the sleeping crew members, keeping my speeding steps to a minimum. There. I am safe.
That could've gone a lot better.
I plopped onto my bed, feeling extraordinarily exhausted and trapped than before. I slip my bag off and placed my map in front of me. Impulsively opening the map out of habit, I could see something different. No, not see, but feel. An instinct is telling me that this location was important. But I haven't visited it in forever.
It was the place where I first found a time gear.
It was the place where I saw time frozen.
It was a place insignificant to me. It held no sentimental value, but I wanted to go. Something tells me. I don't care what Chatot says. I need to go there. That's what my instinct as a pokemon is telling me.
I need to go to Treeshroud Forest.