Layne and Pyro walked up the road and up a hill. The sun was still in the sky but it seemed to be just about over. Layne was in deep thought as he and Pyro walked up the hill, which had a tent on the top, in the shape of the pokémon, he could only guess was Wigglytuff. Pyro was slowing up some again and stopped to catch his breath. Layne stopped with him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Pyro took a deep breath. "It's just, I'm finally about to become an explorer. I've never had the courage to go much farther than this."

Layne chuckled and shook his head. In Layne's honest opinion, some of this was kind of a joke to Layne. Exploration Teams, treasure. What was so fun about this? He sighed, there was nothing that could be done about it now.

They stopped in front of some grating in the ground. "This is it," Pyro said. "The Wigglytuff Guild."

The guild's gate was closed, which made Layne look in confusion.

"So I guessed," Layne said, crossing his arms. "Closed for the day or something?"

Pyro was a little worried, "They can't be! It was open, not 15 minutes ago, last time I was here."

Layne sighed, as Pyro obviously didn't know that some places closed early because they just felt like it.

"We need to register here, in order to form an Exploration Team. You then train until you become first-class."

"Hmm..." Layne said.

Pyro gave a shudder looking at the grating.

"What's eating you?" Layne asked, looking over.

"That grating, last time I stepped on it, well...perhaps you'll see momentarily. Also...I can't help but feel, there's something weird about this place. Makes me almost..."

Layne gave a look to Pyro. "Pyro, remember, this is your dream."

Pyro nodded. "You're with me, Layne!" He began to walk toward the grating. "I'm going to march onto that grating and-"

"Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!"

Layne literally saw Pyro's soul leave the body as Pyro froze in fear. Layne shrugged. "Perhaps they are still open." he said giving a small smile.

Another voice rang out, "Oh come on, I just shut the gate!"

"You're not supposed to close it early! I told you someone might come!"

"Oh for the love of- Forget it, whose footprint is it?"

Layne chuckled, "They certainly seem welcoming, don't they..."

Pyro froze on the grating in fear. He was about to take a step back when Layne stepped forward and simply prevented him from stepping off the grate.

"Pyro...you're not helping out your situation, here."

"You're right." Pyro said, stepping out onto the grate some more. "I will be strong! I will be-"

"Hey!" The voice rang out. "It's that Charmander from before! It's a Charmander!"

There was a silence when Layne heard the second voice grunt and say, "He can enter! Now then, NO MORE VISITORS! I'm shutting the gate after him!"

"Wait!" the first voice rang out."

"Oh for crying out loud, WHAT?"

"There's someone with the Charmander! I need to identify! Hold the gate!"

"Ohhh...GET IT OVER WITH ALREADY!"

Charmander stepped off the grating, and looked at Layne. "I think you need to step on here now."

Layne didn't move immediately. "I will say, this is a bit strange. I don't get the point of this at all-"

"Oh for crying out loud, I can hear him babbling! WILL YOU JUST GET ON THE GRATE?"

"Shut...up..." Layne said to himself, popping his neck. He stepped forward on the grating and tapped his foot, crossing his arms. "Waiting, waiting, waiting..."

"Pokémon detected!" the first voice rang out. "Pokémon detec-"

"Yeah we already know! Now who is it?"

Layne sighed. "This is rather annoying, isn't it?" he said to Pyro who was looking a bit confused over the whole thing.

"The footprint is...uhhhhh...Hey Loudred...didn't Autumn already check in?"

"What? What does that got to do with anything? Sentry Diglett, who is standing on your grate?"

"Uhh...Did she or not?"

"Yes! She just went into the mess hall! WHERE EVERYONE ELSE IS! NOW WHO IS IT?"

"Umm, looks like a Buizel to me."

"Looks like?"

"Come on, Loudred! I don't see this footprint everyday! It looks like a Buizel's, but different than Autumn!"

"For the love of- This is your job, Sentry Diglett!"

"Loudred! We're wasting time!"

Pyro and Layne just looked annoyed now.

Layne sat down on a rock nearby the grating, keeping his feet on the grating. "This is amusing..." he muttered with sarcasm.

Pyro crossed his arms. "Are they- They sound like they're arguing."

That was when the second voice, which seemed to be the loudest, spoke again. "Sorry to make you both wait! Hold on!"

The guild gate opened up.

"You both may enter. You don't seem to be bad pokémon. You may both enter!"

Layne stood up, and popped his neck. "About time."

Pyro on the other hand was jittery. "I'm so nervous! But...we're finally allowed in. My heart's pounding with excitement, Layne! Let's go!"

"Please, after you..." Layne said.

They both entered the tent...to find no one there, except a hatch that lead underground. "Well..." Layne said giving a small smile. "I didn't think the place would be so small."

"The hatch, should we go down?" Pyro asked.

Layne sighed and began to climb down a ladder, and said, "Why else are we here?"

Pyro nodded and followed him down. Layne reached the bottom and turned around. The guild was rather bigger on the inside than it appeared outside. Pokémon were everywhere. Bug types, flying types, grass, water, and all were in constant chatter.

Pyro was in awe. "This is the guild! I wonder if every one of these pokémon are on Exploration Teams."

Layne shrugged. "Excuse me!" a voice rang out. Pyro and Layne turned around. A rather odd looking bird pokémon flew in front of them. "It was you two that just entered the guild, correct?"

"Y-yes." Pyro said, standing up tall. Layne just crossed his arms.

"I'm Chatot." the pokémon said. "I'm the Pokémon in the know-around these parts, and the right-hand pokémon to Guildmaster Wigglytuff."

"Glad to meet you!" Pyro said, "I'm-"

Chatot interrupted. "Now shoo! Please leave the premises! Visiting hours are over. We have no time for salespeople or silly surveys. Off you go."

Layne sighed. "He certainly knows how to welcome people."

Pyro ignored Layne and said, "We're not here because of that! We wish to form an Exploration Team!"

"An Exploration Team?" Chatot squawked.

"Did he stutter?" Layne asked.

Chatot turned away, "But, it's so rare to see kids like you apprentice at the guild, given how hard the training is, and the drop-outs surely proves that..."

Layne's eyes widened at that. "I don't know how old he is, but I will have you know, I am 20 years old!" Layne said, taking great offense to being called a kid.

Pyro on the other hand asked, "Is the training, truly that severe?"

Chatot fluttered in panic, "What? No! No no no, not at all! Not even slightly true! The training program is as easy as can be!"

Layne gave an annoying sigh. Was this really worth his time? He felt like time was wasting here.

Chatot then chirped. "Well, well, well! You want to be an Exploration Team? Why didn't you say so?"

Layne, rather annoyed simply said, "We did say so."

Pyro looked over at Layne with a questioning look. "You okay, Layne?"

Layne sighed. "Fine...just fine." he said. arms crossed, and closing his eyes.

"Well, let's get you two signed up, right away! Please follow me!" Chatot said. Chatot began to walk away.

Pyro wasn't convinced of Layne saying he was fine. "Are you sure you're okay."

Layne sighed, and looked at Pyro. "I don't mean to sound cynical, but it just seems like this is a big joke in some way. Chatot can't dig himself out of a hole that hasn't even been dug yet."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Pyro asked.

Chatot chirped. "Anything wrong? Over here! Follow me!"

Layne sighed. "Nevermind. Let's just get this over with."

They followed Chatot to another hatch and went underground. "Welcome to the Guild's second underground floor. This room is the basis of where our apprentices work. Registration for new teams is over here."

Pyro ran over to a nearby window. "We're two floors underground, yet we can still see outside!"

The ocean was outside the window. Layne chuckled. "Pyro, we're on the side of a cliff. It's probably one of the primary ways of lighting up the room."

Pyro chuckled, "Oh...yeah."

Chatot leaned in to Layne, "Uh, is he always like this?"

Layne looked at Chatot, "I barely know the guy, I just met him."

Chatot sighed, and said louder, "Behind this door, is the chamber to Guildmaster Wigglytuff. Now, I'm only going to say this once. On no account, I repeat, on NO account, should you show the guildmaster any disrespect."

Layne crossed his arms, "Well, if he is as nice as you seem to show he is, that shouldn't be a problem."

Chatot turned to the door. "Guildmaster. We've got a couple new recruits! I'm coming in!"

They all entered. In the center of a red carpet, stood a pink pokémon, resembling the tent outside, with it's back turned to them. Chatot spoke up, "Guildmaster, I present to you, two new recruits who wish to join as apprentices."

The pokémon paid no attention, and continued to look away.

Chatot grumbled, "Uhh, Guildmaster...Guildmaster?"

As Chatot tried to get the guildmaster's attention, Layne leaned toward Pyro. "Now I know this has got to be a joke. Are you sure being an explorer is what you thought it was?"

At that moment, the Guildmaster turned around so sudden, that it caught Layne by surprise. "Hiya!" the guildmaster said, in a rather friendly mood.

Layne didn't know if the guy was serious or not, but the guy was certainly friendly...perhaps a bit over-friendly. "I'm Wigglytuff! I'm the Guildmaster here! I understand you want to form an Exploration Team! Let's do it then!"

Layne was speechless at the Guildmaster's behavior, but said nothing.

"First we need a team name for your team!" Wigglytuff said. "What's your team's name then?"

Layne looked at Pyro. "A team name?"

This was sounding more and more like a child's game, more than anything else.

Pyro looked to Layne. "I didn't think of it! I forgot completely about it! Do you have any ideas?"

Layne simply looked at Pyro. "Uhhhh...'The...Explorers?'"

Pyro looked at Layne with a rather questioning look.

Layne sighed and gave it another go. "'The Avengers.' 'Guardians of Light.' 'The Dark Hand.' 'Fists of Steel!' 'The Jedi Order!' Look I don't know any names!"

Pyro said, "well, let's try to think of something that defines us."

"I barely know you, Pyro." Layne said, "And I think we both know a good name won't be something along the lines of confidence. As far as I can see, the only name that even comes close to us as a team is something along the lines of fire and whatever I am."

"Water?"

"I'm water? Well I don't know any names that balance that out either. Might as well call ourselves 'Fire of the Depths' or Hydro Pyro and be done with it." Layne said in sarcasm.

On the other hand, Pyro actually lit up on one of those names. "Hydro Pyro..."

Layne looked over, "Wait, what?"

"I like it!" Pyro said. "Hydro Pyro! It's catchy and well you have both fire and water in the name, which defines us both!"

Layne shrugged, "The name was a complete joke name, Pyro, but if it floats your boat, I have no objections."

Pyro looked at Wigglytuff, and said, "We're Team Hydro Pyro!"

Okay!" Wigglytuff said. "It's settled. From here on out, you are Team Hydro Pyro." He chanted something a little, and before Layne could ask what he was doing, he cried out in a loud voice, "YOOM...TAH!" Layne and Pyro both cringed at how loud the voice was, but got back up. "You're all registered." Wigglytuff said. "You are now an official Exploration Team."

"Wow." Layne said. "That simple, huh?"

Wigglytuff nodded, "Yup. To celebrate this moment, please accept this."

He set down a small box in front of Layne and Pyro. "Umm, what exactly is that?" Layne asked.

"That's an Exploration Team Kit." Pyro said.

"It's what each team needs." Wigglytuff said. Hurry up! Open it!" he said in joy.

Pyro approached the box, and opened the kit up. Inside was a bag, a badge, and a map.

"That badge," Wigglytuff said, "Is your official Team Identification. And that Wonder Map, it's a wonder of convenience! "

"Catchy." Layne said.

"Finally your treasure bag. Keep items which will help you in that bag. Very wonderful, and very useful. Go ahead and take a peak inside."

Layne shrugged and grabbed it. "You're the Guildmaster."

Layne opened it up.

...

The bag was empty.

"Uhh, it's empty." Layne said.

"What?" Wigglytuff asked in shock. "Empty?"

Layne held it up for Wigglytuff to see. "Uhh, yeah. Empty."

"This will not do!" Wigglytuff said and ran over to a nearby Treasure Chest. He dug through, "Here we are!" he said in joy. He held two items in his hand. One was a blue scarf, and the other was a pair of goggles of the same color.

He walked over and gave the scarf to Pyro. "This scarf will help you in your flaws of defense." He then gave the goggles to Layne. "And these, will help your ability to see better. You never know what dangers lie in either the dark or the light. These will help."

Layne held the goggles in his hand, and listened. Did these items really possess such power? The Goggles glistened in his hand. He shook the thought away. There was only one way to find out.

Pyro smiled, "Thank you Guildmaster!"

"You're apprentices at the moment, but do your best in training, and you will become great explorers!"

"We will!" Pyro said, "We promise!"

Layne put the goggles in a resting position on his forehead. "No turning back now..." he thought to himself.

Wigglytuff lit up and said, "What are your names?"

"I'm Pyro!" Pyro said, "And this is Layne."

"Wow!" Wigglytuff said. "You both have names! That's so cool! Now we have three pokémon with names here!"

Layne was a bit confused at the number of three, but shook the thought off.

Chatot lead them out of the room. As Pyro and Layne left, Layne accidentally bumped into another pokémon. "Pardon me," Layne said, as he looked to the pokémon...which was another Buizel. The Buizel looked at Layne, then frowned, and said, "Watch where you're going, rookie!" in a rather harsh tone.

Layne's heart skipped a beat. The Buizel...was female! Layne immediately shook that thought away. She certainly had a short fuse of a temper. He had barely just bumped her, and he was already on her bad side.

Layne sighed. Perhaps it had just been a long day for her. Who knew. He forgot about it and caught up with Chatot and Pyro. Chatot lead them down a hall, and to a room. "This room, will be yours."

Pyro walked in as did Layne. Pyro ran to a hay bed and said, "We got beds! Great!"

Layne shrugged, as he went inside as well. Chatot said, "You both will live here while you apprentice for us. I'd get some rest if I were you, the day starts early tomorrow, and we expect excellence from everyone, including rookies. Don't stay up too late. I should say, curfew is in effect for the guild. No one leaves the guild's premises after sundown. Those who do, are severely punished. I bid you, good night."

With that, Chatot walked off. Layne sighed as he bunched up some of the hay in his bed.

"What's wrong Layne?"

"Oh nothing, other than the fact that I've already screwed up here."

Pyro was getting in bed. "How so?"

"I barely bumped into another pokémon as we left Wigglytuff's chamber. And she already doesn't like me."

"She?" Pyro asked.

"Yeah, she. AND, she's the exact same pokémon as I am."

"You mean there's another Buizel here? As an apprentice?"

"Guess so." Layne said trying to get comfortable. He tried to lay down as he normally did as a human, but his tail was uncomfortable, and he hated sleeping on his belly. "Dang, I'm going to have to get used to sleeping in awkward positions." Layne said.

As he tried more positions, Pyro sat and said, "Man, my hearts been racing over everything today. But I'm glad I finally got in."

"I'm glad for you too." Layne said as he finally found a...very comfortable position, which involved him curling his body in an oval.

"I thought Wigglytuff would actually be kind of scary."

"Wigglytuff?" Layne asked raising his head a bit, "I don't see anything that could in the least be scary about him."

"He is a friendly guildmaster." Pyro said.

"You best get some rest, Pyro. We got a big day tomorrow." Layne said.

"Yeah, we're going to experience a lot tomorrow, I guess. And Layne, thanks again. Because you're here, I'm not scared at all about tomorrow, in fact, it's the complete opposite."

Layne with his eyes closed, chuckled, "See? Things are looking up for you already."

"Let's give it our all tomorrow, Layne. Sleep well."

Layne was already asleep, but deep in thought. Here he was, no an apprentice at the guild, but it didn't seem all that bad at all. And to top it off, Pyro was a pretty friendly guy himself. Layne could get used to being partners with him. But the questions returned. Who was he? And why was he a pokémon? How did he end up on that beach?

Layne's mind raced until it tired itself out. Layne was actually grateful for some rest finally. He was still sore from the day. Perhaps some rest would do him well.