A/N: Sorry for the late update. I had been busy in school and now that it is our semester break, I can finally continue to update my stories. Anyway, please read and review. Reviews are appreciated.


Ch. 4: Partners

After a fruitless search, Wilfred and Jason said their goodbyes to Elaine and Cindy. Then, the Snivy and Oshawott went back into the latter's home. Sunset came by and went and Jason witnessed the beautiful scene that unfolded on the mountain at the west.

"Dusk sure came by quickly, just like memories," Jason said. "But still, I can't remember much yet."

"Hey! Are you a poet or what?" Wilfred said. "Anyway, your room is ready."

Both of them went inside the cave and into another naturally built room. The room was quite spacious. At the corner of the room, there's a bed covered in leaves. A carved window is on the wall parallel to the entrance of the room. An empty shelf is beneath the said window and the moonlight, which came through the window, was just enough to light the room.

"I did my best," Wilfred said while he scratched his head.

"It's nice," Jason complemented.

"Thanks," Wilfred said with a smile.

Jason tested the bed and it was just perfectly soft.

"If you need anything, I'll be in my room," Wilfred said and left the room. Jason checked the details of the bed, where he saw three layers of big leaves and a hefty amount of hay piled beneath the leaves. Then, he laid himself down on his bed and tried to sleep but things ran through his mind. Questions like who he really is and many other things are on his mind. He also remembered the events that happened earlier and he had a flashback.

"Hey, is he your friend? Wait! Is he going to be your teammate, huh?" Mark the Pansage asked.

Then he had another.

"Exploration teams do exploration and rescue missions but majorly do the former one. There are also rescue teams, who focus on rescue missions," Wilfred explained.

Jason thought about it for a while and fell asleep in the process. The next day, Wilfred woke up from his bed. He groggily walked out of his room and quickly saw a figure at the beach. He went to the mouth of the cave and he noticed that it was Jason, who was staring at the sunrise. Wilfred approached Jason slowly and snapped him out of his thoughts.

"You seem to be up so early in the morning," Wilfred said.

Jason just quietly watched the sunrise and Wilfred followed Jason's example. They watched the sun and the sea with reflected rays coming from the sun. Then, Jason asked a question.

"Wilfred, what is a teammate?" Jason asked.

"Well, a teammate is your partner in your team," Wilfred said.

"Partner?" Jason asked.

"A partner is like the Pokémon that you trust the most," Wilfred explained. "Since your partner is the one who you'll work with on missions, it's important that you have a strong trust."

"I see," Jason said. "I wonder how it works."

"Why don't we eat first?" Wilfred said. "Then, I'd like to introduce a place to you."

Jason gave Wilfred a nod and both of them went back to eat breakfast. After that, they went into Central Town and into a large building.

"This is one of the many guilds in town. This is Samurott's guild," Wilfred said.

"Samurott?" Jason said.

"Yes," Wilfred said. "Let's go inside."

Both of them went through the building's entrance and they met two familiar faces.

"Wilfred!" Cindy greeted the Oshawott.

"Cindy! So you're on guard duty today?" Wilfred asked.

"Yeah! Elaine and I are on morning shift today," Cindy said with a smile.

"Anyway, where's Elaine?" Wilfred said and he suddenly felt a chill ran down his spine. He looked at his left and saw the Vulpix with an angry stare fixed on him.

"I was just here when you entered and you didn't notice me one bit?" Elaine angrily shouted in a fired-up state.

"I'm really sorry!" Wilfred apologized.

"You should be!" Elaine shouted.

"Sis, remember that we're on guard duty," Cindy said. "Anyway, how are you Jason? Remember anything more about yourself?"

Jason gave a negative response and looked around a bit. The lobby was quite large but there are only a few pokémon inside.

"Say, are you here to register as a team?" Cindy asked.

"No!" Wilfred quickly denied. "I'm just introducing the place."

"Yeah right," Elaine said.

"Look, I don't intend to form a team without the consult of the other pokémon concerned. Besides, I'm not ready yet," Wilfred said.

"That's what you think," Elaine said.

"Wait a minute! Where's Jason?" Cindy asked.

The other two just also noticed that Jason was not nearby. All of them looked around and they saw Jason, who was staring at a board on the wall. Cindy and Wilfred went near Jason and watched him look at the board. Jason was just simply quiet while he looked at the board.

"Why are you looking at the exploration board?" Cindy finally asked after a couple of minutes.

"Aren't you on guard duty Cindy?" Wilfred said.

"Oh right," Cindy said. "I should return to my post."

Cindy went to her post but stopped after a second.

"Anyway, have you seen Mark?" Cindy asked.

"Saw him yesterday. Why did you ask?" Wilfred said.

"He and Mincy haven't returned to report yet," Cindy said.

"That's weird," Wilfred said. "Maybe they're just tired."

"Hope so," Cindy said. "See you later then."

Cindy went back to her post with Elaine. Then, Wilfred approached the board and faced Jason.

"This is the exploration board!" Wilfred explained while he pointed at the board. "This is where exploration teams get most of their missions."

Then, Jason saw another board some feet away from where he was standing.

"And that's the rescue board, where rescue teams check most of their missions," Wilfred said as soon as he noticed Jason looking at the said board.

"What's the difference between exploration and rescue missions?" Jason suddenly asked.

"The name suggests what they are. Exploration missions involve dungeon exploration. Most of these are to retrieve something or check something. Sometimes, there are tag exploration missions. Tag explorations are categorized into two: partial and full dungeon exploration. There are also puzzles and riddles in some missions. In rescue missions, it usually concern two sides: the outlaw and another pokémon who are in need. When outlaws are involved, the main objective is to capture the outlaw. Of course, one must help the pokémon who needs help," Wilfred explained.

Jason studied the posts on both boards for a while. Then, he looked around and saw more boards at the other side of the lobby. Jason asked about it and Wilfred was happy to explain.

"These boards are request boards. If you want a certain team to do the job, you can put it on the team's request board. It is up to the team though if they will do it or not. It's also up to them when they'll do it," Wilfred explained.

Jason and Wilfred approached the request boards and the former checked the details. Some of the boards have huge plates containing words and all of those starts with the word 'Team'. He noticed one of the boards is full of requests. The plate above it said 'Team Lux'.

"There are lots of requests here," Jason thought aloud.

"That's because they're a famous team. They have achieved lots of things already," Wilfred said.

"They're a great team?" Jason asked.

"You can say that. Both of them are fearless and they helped each other out," Wilfred said. "They are the perfect combination."

The Snivy looked around curiously again, catching the eyes of some pokémon. He saw some stairs connected to the upper floor and he tried to go up but Wilfred stopped him.

"That area is restricted to members unless you have an official business. Don't go there so we'll avoid some trouble," Wilfred said.

The Snivy just stood there while he stared at the stairs.

"Hey! Let's try walking around town. Maybe we can meet someone that might give us a clue," Wilfred said.

Jason gave a nod and both of them left the building. Wilfred led the way and Jason followed. After a while, they stopped by Vanillite's Ice Cream Shop and they bought the very same ice drops they had yesterday. Jason held his with both his arms and vines while he enjoyed eating the ice cream.

"Looks like you are getting used to using your vines," Wilfred commented.

"Yeah. It feels like I have an extra set of arms," Jason said.

"Good for you," Wilfred said and he took a bite out of his ice cream. Jason also did the same and he enjoyed the flavor. They continued eating their ice creams until it is all gone.

"Thanks," Jason suddenly said.

"For what?" Wilfred asked, confused.

"For everything," Jason said.

"O-okay," Wilfred was still confused.

"Wilfred!" someone shouted and both Jason and Wilfred turned around, where they saw a Dewott.

"C-Cath?" Wilfred said.

"Yep. How's my younger brother?" the Dewott asked.

"I'm fine," Wilfred said.

Then, the Dewott noticed Jason.

"Say, who is your new friend?" the Dewott asked.

"Oh! I almost forgot! This is Jason," Wilfred said. "Jason, this is my older sister, Catherine."

"Nice to meet you, Jason," Catherine offered her hand for a handshake. Jason extended his vine and accepted the Dewott's offer for a handshake.

"Wait a minute! You have a team already?" Cath said suddenly.

"Wait! No! I haven't formed a team yet," Wilfred said.

"Oh. I thought you already formed a team with Jason," Catherine said.

"I'm just helping him," Wilfred said.

"That's my brother. I'd better get going," Catherine said and left.

"See you soon, Cath!" Wilfred said.

"Right. See you later," Catherine said.

Catherine went past them and ran towards north. Wilfred noticed Jason, who was looking at the ground, and he snapped the Snivy out of his trance.

"Is she…" Jason said but paused.

"Is she what?" Wilfred asked.

"Never mind," Jason said.

"You sure have a lot of things to think of," Wilfred said.

Jason was silent for a minute and after that, he asked Wilfred something.

"Can we go back to Samurott's guild?" Jason asked.

"Why?" Wilfred said.

"I want to ask Cindy something," Jason said.

"Okay but we'll only stay there for a short while," Wilfred said.

Both of them went back to the guild and they met the fox duo by the entrance.

"You shall not pass!" Elaine said with a smirk to the Oshawott.

"Yeah right," Wilfred said. "Besides, we won't stay for too long."

"What makes you think so?" Elaine asked.

"Well, Jason is just going to ask Cindy something," Wilfred explained.

"Like what?" Elaine asked.

"Go up a floor and enter the room on the left," Cindy said.

"Thanks. Let's go Wilfred," Jason said and he entered the building.

"Shouldn't we go the other way around?" Wilfred said as he followed the Snivy. As Jason reached the stairs, he grabbed the handrail on the topmost step in the stairs with his vine and pulled himself up.

"Hey! Don't go there!" Wilfred shouted and he climbed up the stairs to go after the Snivy. When he reached the top, he saw no sign of Jason. Just then, he remembered what Cindy said.

"Is he really going to the guild master's quarters?" Wilfred thought aloud. Then, he entered the room on his left and he saw Jason talking with Samurott.

"Wilfred? What a surprise," the Samurott said.

"Dad, I'm quite surprised too," Wilfred said.

"Dad?" Jason said.

"Yes, he's my dad," Wilfred said.

"Anyway, let's get back to business," Wilfred's dad said.

"Right. Let's go Jason," Wilfred said.

"Go where? You are registering as a team, right?" the Samurott said.

Wilfred was shocked and he quickly reacted by saying, "What? N-no! I didn't say anything like that!"

"Your friend said so," the Samurott said.

"Jason? No way he'd do that, right?" Wilfred said.

"Why don't you ask him?" Wilfred's dad said.

"Is it true, Jason?" Wilfred asked the Snivy.

"Yes. I just want to thank you," Jason said.

"Thank me for what?" Wilfred asked, confused.

"For everything. You've helped me a lot ever since we met," Jason said. "I thought on how to repay you and joining a team with you is the best idea."

"But you don't have to do that, Jason," Wilfred said.

"But I can tell that you want to join a team. Your knowledge and excitement on these are signs. In addition, the others always mistake me as your teammate. Lastly, Cindy helped me confirm this," Jason said.

"Since when did you…" Wilfred said but paused for a bit and remembered something. Then, he said, "So that's why you talked to Cindy earlier."

"Wilfred, you have my consent on this. Besides, we might discover more about me if we work as a team," Jason said.

Wilfred just stood there and did not say a word. After a while, a tear escaped his eye.

"I don't know what to say," Wilfred said.

Jason went behind Wilfred and pushed him forward.

"Hey, stop it! I understand what you mean. I know what to do," Wilfred said to Jason, who then stopped pushing the Oshawott. Wilfred stepped forward and Jason did so afterwards.

"We would like to register as a team, guild master," Wilfred said.

The Samurott looked at them for a while before he smiled a bit.

"Son, I know that you are going to form a team someday but I didn't expect it to be with such a twist," Wilfred's dad said. He paused for a while and said, "Anyway, I can see that you two can work as a team. In fact, you already proved that you can do well as a team."

"What do you mean, dad?" Wilfred asked.

"You know the main goal of Pokémon teams, right?" the Samurott said.

"To help Pokémon in need," Wilfred said.

"Right. Both of you already did that," the Samurott said.

"I don't get it," Wilfred said.

"You're helping Jason and he's helping you by forming a team with you. By the way, what are you helping him with?" the Samurott asked.

"Dad, I'll tell you later. It's a long story," Wilfred said.

"Okay. Anyway, I'll accept you into this guild," Wilfred's dad said.

"Alright!" Wilfred shouted aloud in joy.

"So, what kind of team? Exploration Team, Rescue Team or Ranger Squad?" the Samurott asked.

"Ranger Squad?" Jason, who's unfamiliar to the word, said.

"Oh. I almost forgot about that. A Ranger Squad is a special team where they both do exploration and rescue missions. These teams are expected to have high performance skills and they are the kind of team that mostly goes on special missions, most of which are dangerous," Wilfred explained to the Snivy.

"Then, can we be a Ranger Squad?" Jason said.

"What? Why?" Wilfred said in quite a shock.

"I can't decide between Exploration Team and Rescue Team. In addition, the fact that a Ranger Squad is a combination of the two, it'll save us some time from choosing on the other two," Jason said.

"Being a good Ranger Squad is hard, you know," Wilfred said.

"I think you can make a good team as a Ranger Squad," the Samurott commented.

"Are you serious dad?" Wilfred asked.

"Yes I am. Just have the confidence, son," the Samurott said.

"Alright. I'll agree just because you said so, dad," Wilfred said.

"Enough said. The last thing needed is the team name," the Samurott said.

"I totally forgot about the team name!" Wilfred said.

"I thought you already thought of one," Wilfred's dad said.

"None of those where appropriate," Wilfred said.

"Okay. Just take your time," the Samurott said.

"Jason, can you help me think of a good team name?" Wilfred said.

"Sure," Jason said.

"Now, what name will fit us," Wilfred thought aloud.

"Team name…" Jason said.

Just then, Jason's head started to hurt.

"I know! Team Nexus!" Jason heard.

"Team Nexus?" Jason said while he pressed his vines against his head.

"What does 'Nexus' even mean, Jason?" Wilfred said. Then, the Oshawott looked at the Snivy and Wilfred noticed that Jason is not feeling well.

"I'm… fine," Jason said while he paused for a while and removed his vines from his head.

"I think you should go to a medic. You look like you're not feeling well," Wilfred said.

"I'm fine," Jason repeated.

"But you've been acting strange since yesterday," Wilfred said.

"What about the team name? I heard someone say 'Team Nexus'," Jason said.

"Huh? You're the only one who said that," Wilfred said.

Jason was confused after what Wilfred said. Jason thought about it for a while and he said, "I'm sure someone said it before I did."

"Maybe you're just daydreaming. Anyway, what does 'Nexus' means? " Wilfred said.

Jason went silent and thought about what Wilfred said.

'What does 'Nexus' mean? I…' Jason thought. Suddenly, his head started to hurt again. He placed his vines against his head and Wilfred noticed this.

"Jason, are you alright?" Wilfred asked.

"Connections."

"Nexus—is about connections," Jason suddenly said.

Then, Jason starts to sway while looking at the ground.

"Jason? Jason! Can you hear me?" Wilfred said.

Then, the Snivy collapsed into the ground.


A/N: Update: Checked some grammatical errors.