Heading towards the Rescue Team Registration building, they all began chatting. Eventually, the subject of their pasts was brought up.
"Well," Jet said, looking down, "My family tree is filled with pokemon wrestlers and warriors. We've been bred to fight, and we did it well. However…" he paused, "The last couplde generations of my family have acted less than honorable. In fact, they were downright vicious. They cheated in matches, lied, and some have even murdered. I want to prove I'm not like them so… I guess that's why I came here, and eventually joined your rescue team. To prove I'm different then they are. What about you guys?" he asked, addressing Scorpia and Paprika. "Why'd you want to form a team in the first place?"
"Because our parents were in a rescue team together," Scorpia explained.
"But they were killed in Zero Isle," Paprika added bitterly. "I suggested to Scorpia we form a team together, and she agreed. I just don't want our parents work to be forgotten."
Scorpia patted her friend's back with a claw, before saying, "In addition to that, I want my name to be known. Not because I'm selfish, and want glory, but because to be someone people can look up to. I want to be the best leader the world's ever seen…" Her eyes glazed over briefly, before she turned to Drago. "What about you?"
Drago gulped, and looked down sadly. "Ever since I was little, I've been obsessed with learning all that I could about the world. While other kids played and practice battled, I listened to the elders' stories, and read what books I could find. The other pokemon made fun of me, and often beat on me. I tried fighting back, mind you, but there were always so many…" He gulped sadly before continuing. "I wanted it to stop. So I left my village, and came here. When Paprika offered me to join the team, I was hesitant, but I figured this would earn me some respect from my old village. To prove I'm more than just smart."
They walked along in silence for a while, before Paprika walked along beside him, and nuzzled his side with her leaf. "I think you're more than just smart, Drago."
Jet smiled back at him. "Yeah, you seem like a decent guy. And if anyone gives you trouble, tell me. I'll pummel them for ya."
The group finally arrived at the Rescue Team Registration building. Walking inside, they found a bored looking Chansey.
"No one ever comes in here, why do I have to show up?" he grumbled to himself.
"Excuse me. We're hear to sign up to become a rescue team," Scorpia said proudly.
"Oh, are you now? Well, let me give you a word of advise. No one really cares about rescue teams around here. They just leave everything up to the police. Why don't you make your life, and mine, simpler by just going home?"
Paprika shook her head and stepped forward. "No! I refuse to! We're forming a rescue team right now, or so help me, I'm going to jump over this counter and beat the registration forms out of you!"
The Chansey gulped, and quickly sat up straight. "Of- of course, miss! I'll just need your designated leader to sign these papers here…" He pulled out some official looking documents, and had Scorpia sign them all, as Chikorita stepped back behind her, and winked at Drago, who blushed and smirked.
"Now then, one last piece of business… what's your team's name?"
Scorpia's face fell. "…Our what?"
The Chansey face palmed. "Oh, you guys are going to be star explorers, I can tell. Your team name! What people will refer to your little group as!"
Scorpia turned towards the others. "What do you guys think our name should be?"
Jet spoke up and said, "Team Hammer! Because we'll crush any outlaws we meet!"
Paprika cocked her head at Jet. "Isn't that just a tad violent? We don't want to seem too rough, do we?"
Jet shot her a confused glance. "We don't?"
Paprika shook her head. "How about Team All-Stars? Or Team Dynamite! Or Team-"
"Destiny?" Drago said softly. Everyone looked at him. He shuffled his feet, and said slowly, "We could be Rescue Team Destiny, because I believe it is our destiny we all met. In addition, we are all trying to follow our own destiny. Scorpia, you want to lead a first class rescue team, and have your name spoken around the world as the greatest explorer of all time. Paprika, you want to carry on your parents legacy. Jet, you want to prove you aren't like your family, and that you have a sense of honor. And I…I want to prove I'm more than just a braniac."
Drago's speech was followed by silence. Everyone was thinking about what he said. Eventually, Paprika spoke.
"Well I like it. What he said makes sense. I vote to make our name Team Destiny!"
Jet spoke after her, and said, "I second that! It's a pretty epic name!"
Scorpia smiled, and turned back to the Chansey, who was eyeing them all with interest. "Our name will be Team Destiny."
The Chansey wrote on a piece of paper, and marked it with a stamp. He looked up at the group, and said, "All right. You are now officially Rescue Team Destiny. Here are your badges, and bandannas. Sorry, the only color we have is red."
Scorpia took the items, and passed them out to her team. She tied her bandanna around her tail. Paprika was wearing it in typical bandanna form, with the triangle on her back. Drago wore it similar to Paprika, except the triangle was on his chest. Jet tied it around his right fin. Scorpia thanked the Chansey, who waved at her dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah, it's my job. Good luck, and try and prove me wrong about rescue teams here."
The group went outside, and pondered their next move.
"So what's our next move?" Jet asked Scorpia.
"Well, it's evening… I suppose we find some place to set up our base of operations, and get some sleep."
"Aw, come on! I've still got energy. I know! Let's have a little sparring match. There's a pond near here that's usually devoid of pokemon. We can go there, and then afterwards, we can crash at my place. It's pretty big."
"I dunno guys…"
"Ah come one Scorpia. Don't be a stick in the mud. We just became a rescue team, how can we sleep now?" Paprika asked, nudging her friend.
"Well, all right. We'll spar for a little bit," Scorpia said, lightening up.
"Cool! Follow me. And I got dibs on Paprika. Somethin tells me you're not as easy to knock around d as you look."
"Gee, thanks Jet." She said goodheartedly, following him.
After a few minutes of walking through the woods on what looked like a scarcely used trail, they arrived at a small pond.
"Here we are. No use standing around, might as well get down to it!" Jet turned to Paprika, and put up his fins in a stance similar to a Hitmonchan.
"All right, all right. Let's do this!" Paprika took a stance to similar to that of a Purrloin, before it pounces. She eyed Jet, and then lashed out with her leaf, sending out a flurry of smaller leaves. Jet watched the incoming leaves, then dove aside at the last second. He landed on his stomach, and shot a Bubble attack behind him, propelling himself forward. He slid at Paprika, and then jumped and punched her twice with a Double Hit. Paprika blocked with her leaf, and launched some smaller rocks outward in an Ancient Power attack. Jet took the hit easily, and rushed at her again.
Scorpia and Drago watched for a moment, before Drago said, "Well, we'd better get started too, eh? It looks like their having fun. You can see Paprika smili-" he was cut off as Scorpia rammed into him in a Faint Attack.
"Oh, so that's how it gonna be?" He chuckled, and used Sand Attack. Scorpia wiped her eyes clear, but she was Bit down on by Drago. She was about to strike back, when she heard laughter.
"Wow, would you look at that. The new rescue team is having some battle practice. It looks like they'll need a lot of it." The voice belonged to a Scyther, and following his words was laughter by a small group behind him. Immediately on his right was a Cubone, who was twirling his bone as he was laughing. Behind him was a Pawniardwho had a high pitched giggle. Next to her was a Seviper, who was laughing like the rest, but with a cold, menacing look in his eye.
"Who are you punks?" Jet asked angrily, turning towards them.
The Scyther's face turned hateful. "We're Team Blade. I'm Katana. This is Claymore, Rapier, and Machete." He pointed to the Cubone, Pawniard, and Seviper respectively. "We're Team Blade, Greenleaf's original rescue team."
"What do you mean 'original'?" Scorpia asked, stepping forward and narrowing her eyes.
"It means we don't need any other rescue teams hanging around stealing jobs and glory we could be having."
"Why does it matter, as long as pokemon are being helped?" Scorpia asked.
Katana mocked her in a high, annoying voice. "Why does it matter as long as pokemon are being helped. Ugh, not only does a new rescue team come to steal our thunder, but they are a bunch of pansies as well."
Jet snapped. "Who are you calling Pansies?" He growled angrily, and rushed at Katana. Claymore stepped forward, and hit Jet square in the stomach with his bone. Jet doubled over, and spat out a Bubble attack. The Cubone twirled his bone, deflecting the shot, and swung at Jet once again. Jet caught the bone with one fin, and punched Claymore under the jaw, sending him to the ground. At this point, the two teams converged on each other.
Scorpia and Katana started slashing at each other, parrying and thrusting, but not actually getting any hits. Katana backed off, and moved his scythes in a circular mnotion, and a wave of air sent Scorpia flying. She recovered from the Vacuum Wave, rushed forwards in a Night Slash.
Paprika and Rapier, meanwhile were squaring off. "What's the matter," Rapier asked in a high, obnoxious voice, "too scared to get your pretty little self all roughed up?" Paprika grit her teeth, and used Ancient Power. Rapier side stepped the rocks, and laughed. "Aw, you missed! Poor little thing." She cackled, and started sharpening her claws with Hone Claws. Paprika used Ancient Power again, followed by Razor Leaf. Rapier started cackling again as she sidestepped the rocks, but went quiet as the Razor Leaf hit her square in the chest. "Ack! You bitch, I'll kill you!" She rushed forward, and started slashing at Paprika with Fury Cutter.
Drago saw what was happening, and rushed forward to help. But his way was blocked by Machete. "Going sssomewhere, my little morsssel?" he hissed, softly, slowly coiling around Drago.
"Ah, let go!" Drago cried, and then Bit down on Machete. Machete cried out, and tossed Drago up in the air. Drago flew up, and as he started coming down, he was slashed and swatted away by Dragon Tail. He hit a tree, and groaned softly. Machete slithered up, chuckling softly. Before Drago could do anything, Machete struck out and used Bite. Drago cried out, and started flailing, but Machete held fast.
"Time for you to die." He hissed, and bit down harder. Drago almost passed out, but somehow managed to hang onto consciousness.
"I didn't want to have to do this," he said through clenched teeth, "but you've forced my strongest attack."
Machete cocked an eye scale, but didn't loosen his grip. Drago's body started to glow white, and Machete began to get scared. "What are you do-" he was cut off by Drago wriggling out of his open mouth, and dropping to the ground. He then lunged at Machete, and knocked him halfway across the pond. Everyone stopped and looked as they saw the snake go flying by. Machete floated to the surface of the lake, unconscious. Everyone was stunned, and no one moved.
Paprika was the first to come to her senses. While Rapier was still distracted, she shot a Leech Seed at her, binding her claws. "What the…?" Rapier said, looking down at her claws. She was about to cut through the Vines, when she was picked up by an larger vine, and tossed at a tree. Rapier shrieked in terror, but was silenced as the trunk met with her face. Paprika recalled her Vine Whip attack, pleased with herself.
The loud thud brought everyone back into reality, and the fight continued. But not for much longer. Jet and Claymore started swinging at each other again. "Argh, enough of this!" Jet grumbled, and grabbed Claymore's bone mid-swing, and pulled him close. Jet shot a point blank Bubble into Claymore's face, and then punched him twice in the gut with Double Hit. Claymore went down without a sound.
Not having an opponent anymore, Paprika and Drago helped Scorpia fight Katana. Paprika restrained one arm with Vine Whip, while Drago grabbed the other with a bite attack. Scorpia slashed at Katana's chest with Slash repeatedly, until he cried out. Paprika and Drago let him go, and he fell to the ground. Katana looked at his teammates, all beaten.
"Enough of this!" Katana spat, standing up. "We'll go… this time. But know this. The next time Team Blade and Team Destiny cross paths, we will fight. And Team Blade will win." And with that, he stalked off, closely followed by Claymore and Rapier, who had finally gotten up.
Machete had woken up as well, and as he slithered past, he hissed at Drago, "I don't know what technique you usssed, but it sure asss hell won't work next time." Drago stood trembling as he watched the large snake follow his team back towards the town.
Breathing heavily, the members of Team Destiny all looked at each other. They smiled, and burst out cheering. "We beat them!" Paprika exclaimed happily.
"Nah, we destroyed them!" Jet said, pumping a fin into the air. "Especially you, Drago! What move was that?"
"Yes, I'm curious too. That was ridiculous, you tossed Machete almost clear across the lake." Scorpia added, looking at Drago with interest with Jet. Paprika was looking at him with awe.
"We-well… it was nothing more than a Return attack. The smarter pokemon are, the stronger the attack." He shrugged, and half smiled. "I don't like to use that attack because I feel it's unfair to my opponent."
Jet nodded, and clapped him on the back. "Very honorable, Drago. I respect that."
Paprika nuzzled his side, causing Drago to blush. I guess chivalry isn't dead, huh?"
Drago smiled weakly. "Ye-yeah…"
Jet smirked at the two of them, and then yawned. Well, I'm beat. Let's head back to my place and get some sleep, eh?"
Scorpia nodded, and stepped forward. "Lead the way."
They followed Jet back through the forest, and to his place of living. They were all so tired, no one even took in their surroundings when they arrived. They collapsed onto some hay Jet escorted them to, and they fell sound asleep.