Ch. 5: Going out Exploring!

"Sorry about earlier," the feminine voice said.

'Was it the same Absol?' Electricity crackled around her, answering my question.

"I ask to repay you by joining your team. Is that reasonable?"

…

Meanwhile, inside the dojo…

"…and that's what happened! Kate is awful upset about today."

"Speaking of her, where is she?" –Blaze asked, noticing I wasn't there.

"I'm sure she's here somewhere." After a while, they saw me outside.

I couldn't believe my ears. Not only was Absol sorry, she looked regretful. Also, paralyzation must hurt. I mean, she had fewer injuries then I had but she showed more pain than I did. Maybe, the reason was that mine were treated.

"What's going on?" –Bolt.

"First off, I can't see you like this." I gave her a Cheri Berry. "Secondly, I have to discuss this with Bolt." Everyone was in shock as I ran to the others.

"What's with the Absol?" –Bolt.

"She wants to join our team."

"Why, so it can attack us from behind?" –Joker. A lot a whisper began.

"You know I'm right here and I heard everything you guys said."

…everyone froze.

"Well, we could use another member. (It's not like we are at our limit.)"

"True, we could go out Exploring. (It could just stay at base.)"

"Then it's settled?"

"I," Bolt paused, "guess."

"I should introduce myself then, my name is Razor."

"I'm Kate, and this is Bolt." After that, I introduced everyone else.

The next morning

"Kate, Bolt, come out here!" –Blaze said, as hyper as ever.

"What is it?" We came out of the base and we noticed a Farfetch'd and a Dunsparce were behind Kay and Blaze.

"Who are they," asked Razor as she walked up behind us.

"This is Carrier the Farfetch'd." –Kay.

"It's nice to meet yoo-oo-uu." Carrier slipped and tripped.

"Are you all right," Bolt asked, giving her a hand.

"Thanks, and, yes, I do that a lot." Somehow, I don't doubt that.

"Right next to her is Dune the Dunsparce, he's a little shy." –Blaze. Dune just simply nodded.

"We are Team Hopeful!" –Carrier.

"What a-uh-colorful pair," I said, trying to pick out the right words.

"Oh, and before I forget, take these." Blaze threw new badges at us.

"You guys just ranked up for your hard work yesterday." –Kay.

"Lucky, we haven't gotten to Bronze Rank yet." –Carrier.

"How long have you guys been a rescue team?" I didn't expect the answer.

"Close to five years." –Dune. Ouch, they're that bad.

"Back to the point, we are going out Exploring and we were wondering if you guys would come." –Kay.

"Sure, it would be good experience for Razor." –Bolt.

"Agreed." –Razor.

"Count me in."

"Then let's prepare to travel."

The Kecleon Brothers' Stand

"Welcome to our shop!"

"Hey Kecleon Brothers." –Bolt.

"I don't believe we've met your friends."

"Mine name is Kate."

"I am Razor."

"Well, it is nice too meet you two."

"Can we a have an attack scarf?" –Bolt.

"What color?"

"I want it to be sky blue."

"Coming right up."

We met up with Team Element and Team Hopeful on the path exiting north of the city, the same one we took to complete Sketchy's mission. Before we left, Kay and Blaze pulled out their map.

"Now let's review our route. We are heading towards the Stone Mountains. To be able to cross them, we need to walk along Mist River. There is uncharted land here and we may discover something." –Kay.

"What's that?"

"That, Kate, is Thunder Pass." -Blaze

"Wouldn't it be quicker to take the pass?"

"Well, there is a Mystery Dungeon there. It's about forty floors long and you must go through it if you decide to take Thunder Pass. If you look closely, each place has a recommended rank, level, an even the type of Pokémon that's best to go there. Thunder Pass is recommended for Gold Rank teams." –Kay.

"Let's get going, we want to reach the river before dark."

That night, along the banks of Mist River…

The journey so far wasn't too bad, we had gone through a couple of mystery dungeons but there weren't more than a few floors. Kay had left to scout the area for unwanted trouble; the rest of us curled 'round the fire.

"You want to know the real reason we are going out Exploring?" –Blaze, she had broken the silence.

"Sure." –Bolt.

"You see, there is this Flareon named Flame. He had disappeared a year ago and Kay is searching every nook and cranny for him. He is her older brother and she worries about him."

"How did he go missing?" –Carrier.

"He had gone to their parents but he never showed."

Yet another update! The story should be picking up next chapter! Oh yeah, I not going to be doing the 'on the next chapter' on cliff hangers.

Phycro4, there is actually a reason why I put nearly instead of barely. Nearly can be pronounced NAIR-E-LY, I believe it's an older way of saying it; I just didn't want to put the pronunciation. I am trying to portray Yukio as the explorer/defender type.

Anyway, I did put Team Hopeful in this. Reason being is that I needed another team to go with Team Legend and Team Element that were struggling as a team and were a low rank, Team Hopeful fit the bill. Plus, I like them. After developing their personalities, they are just perfect. =D

Also, the Kecleon Brothers made their debut in this chapter! On the next chapter of Mystery Dungeon: "It looks like we have some unwanted pests."

Disclaimer: I…own..NOTHING! I forgot to put it last chapter.

R&R!