Ch. 18: A Missing Friend

I made my way to the boards, Kay told me to pick today's job. She needed to go to the shopping stands, saying she had a surprise for me. I eagerly wondered what she's giving me.

"Blaze!" I turned my head toward the direction of the call. I saw Joker running up to me; he seemed to be in a happy mood. The Zorua always seemed to have two personalities; one happy-go-lucky and the other cruel and mean.

"Hello Joker! How have jobs been?"

"They've been great!" The black ball of fur was as energetic as ever. He couldn't sit still, I'm sure he was itching to do some exploring.

"Well Jolt has picked a mission so I better leave!" I seemed happier at the mere mention of his name. Jolt made me feel even bubblier inside but I haven't had a clue why. There was just something about that Jolteon that made me want to dance on water.

"Goodbye." I had to pick the job before she was done. I never liked being late or keeping someone waiting. I was always on time or early, depending on how good of a day I was having.

"Bye!" He ran the short distance back to Hideki. I kept going with a happy grin on my face. Everything seemed so peaceful, even nature was silently saying its approval. Bird Pokémon were singing their song, there was a light breeze in the air, and the leaves on trees danced in the wind.

I carelessly strolled to the Job Request Board and scanned the papers. A sense of dread hit me like a stone when I saw one request. The paper was scribbled on and some parts were faded. It had a particularly strong smell of salt.

I jumped and grabbed it as fast as I could, something told me to do this mission. I didn't know why though, the impression was too great. I couldn't leave it alone and nab something else. I'd feel terrible if I did that.

-N-N-M-

I ran faster than I thought possible toward the park. I reached Kay in what appeared to be minutes after I left the boards. She had a small bag in her mouth that I assumed was for me. She saw how worried I looked the instant I came into her line of sight.

"What's wrong?" She dropped the gift in the exploration bag, knowing giving it to me could wait. It took a minute to sum up my thoughts. There were so many questions running through my mind and I think the smell of salt was getting to me.

"I have a bad feeling about this mission that I couldn't shake." I said it faster than usual so it took a moment for Kay to realize what I said.

"What's wrong with it?"

"I don't know! The request is so faded; I can't tell who it's from, what floor of the dungeon they're on, or the reward."

"Hazy Gorge, we haven't been there in a while." It was clear as crystal that she was trying to figure out what was so important about this task. She reread the letter again to better understand it. The writer seemed to be lost and confused.

"We better go, the Pokémon who wrote this must be seriously hurt!" With that, we headed to the dungeon. It wasn't too far since it the dungeon's at the spot where the Mist River flows out of the stone mountains.

Hazy Gorge B1F

I could hardly see five paw-steps in front of me with the thick fog surrounding us. The place is pretty easy since the majority of wild Pokémon were Surskits and Poliwag.

"Blaze, Kay, that you?" A Surskit appeared before us.

"Hey Honey." She was always helping us out whenever we came here. She also was great company; she told us amazing stories every time while escorting us to the end. One day, I plan on convincing her to join the dojo.

"Want me to lead you to the end?"

'Yes please!" –Kay.

"Don't forget to tell those stories!"

Hazy Gorge B5F

"So this Pidgey completely failed by tripping over its feet. I now know why there is an ability called Tangled Feet, the bird was just so clumsy."

"Not as clumsy as Carrier I bet!" They both laughed at my comment. Only she could trip on nothing; that Farfetch'd couldn't keep on her feet well. Her record steps between trips are two. No one has beaten that record, or even tried to.

"That's not fair, Carrier was born clumsy!" –Kay.

"Let's stop making fun of her, we all have our flaws." –Honey.

"Like Blaze stumbling every five paw-steps."

"Hey, that's not funny." I was laughing too hard to be serious. Somehow, I couldn't help join the laughter at the too true statement.

Hazy Gorge B10F

"Honey, can I ask you something?"

"Yay, go on."

"Why don't you come to Hideki for a visit?" I know the Surskit would love it there. She would make plenty of friends. It would be hard for some Pokémon to not like her.

"Is there any place I could stay?" She seemed interested in seeing what it is like there.

"Tons, any Exploration Team would accept you, the First Aide Center has an extra room, heck, and all businesses will welcome you with open arms!" –Kay.

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Hazy Gorge B15F

The floors were getting smaller as we made our way deeper in the dungeon. We were in water that reached up to Kay's and my belly. Honey didn't have a problem since she jumped from tiny rock to the next one.

Hazy Gorge B20F

We had finally reached the end, there were loads of lost items and treasure before us. This is one of my favorite dungeons because it gives me a chance to stock up on items. I searched through the piles of Poke.

"Wow! It's a Dragon Fang! This will go great on the market!" I then began to shove money and other precious things such as Cleanse Orbs, rare jewelry, and TMs/HMs of all sorts. Kay brought the extra bag we have and put some of our findings in there.

"Let's move on." After taking as much as we could, we set off. Most of the coins were going to the poor, we will keep what we need, and the rest we will sell. A silence overhung us until Kay gasped and I followed her eyes to see what surprised her.

"Is that-" She couldn't finish; Kay was at a loss of words. What lay in front of us was a yellow ball of fur with two brown stripes, a lightning-shaped tail, two long ears, and a brown scarf.

"Bolt!" His body was severely burnt and his left ear was limp against his head. I grabbed an Oran berry and nearly shoved the fruit down his throat. He was barely conscious since he slowly ate and swallowed the berry. He said nothing as I placed him on my shoulders. I looked around the rest of the floor but there was no sign of Kate…

Yay, another Chapter! I know its short but Team Element finding Bolt was all I planned to put in the chapter. I hope I captured Blaze well, I think I did. I'm on a roll!

On the next chapter: "Kate's missing?" (A cookie goes to whoever can guess who says this. *It is not Kay, Blaze, or Bolt but he is in an Exploration Team. He also likes to appear and disappear mysteriously!)

See ya then!

Disclaimer: Me no own Pokémon! (I'm trying to find more ways to say it!)

R&R! =^^=