Time for a couple of familiar faces. I think I've got everything planned out from here. But you never know.

Enjoy!

Vines & Briars

Chapter 4: Questions & Problems

Rick awoke from unconsciousness for the third time in so many days. He was on cool ground and he could hear the gentle crackle of fire.

The sound registered in his brain more than anything and his eyes quickly snapped open and he looked around, alarmed and a little frantic as he looked for the fire as he had no desire to re-experience the same pain that had rendered him unconscious.

The source was a simple campfire, which he had been laid out a comfortable distance from. Close enough to enjoy the warmth, far enough away that he wasn't at-risk of combusting. Obviously someone had set-up the fire so Rick looked around for signs of anyone else present, his heart racing with mild panic.

His eyes fell on the black mouse from before, simply resting on the ground near the fire (closer than normal for most). Naturally, Rick's most recent memories came back to him, prompting him to immediately tense up and get ready to defend himself.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy! Easy, relax!" Someone else spoke up quickly. Rick's eyes darted over to the speaker and he was facing what looked like a dog that was standing on two legs (or rather kneeling).

"Please, relax. We're sorry about attacking you earlier. We won't hurt you now." The pokemon continued, his paws raised in a typical "don't shoot" type of position in front.

Rick's mind was racing and he was anything but calm. It only took a few seconds for him to recognize both pokemon as the last ones he'd seen before falling unconscious, the black mouse from before being the biggest source of his distress.

"Please… please calm down. We don't mean you any harm." The canine continued.

It took a minute, but Rick finally did get ahold of himself and relax a bit. When he was calm enough to look around a bit more closely, he realized that the vines he used for attacks had been raised and ready to lash out. It was little wonder the one trying to calm him down was keeping his distance.

The dog in-question was primarily black and blue in color with a black mask-like design over his golden eyes, giving him an appearance a little like a bandit. Rick's gaze automatically shifted downwards, looking over the rest of the body, which was rather slender in build, yet Rick could see immense strength in the pokemon's muscles. It was likely stronger than it's thin-frame implied.

Somehow, the memory about this species of pokemon came to Rick and he knew he was looking at a Riolu. Why he could remember that and no other pokemon, he didn't know… but he still couldn't identify the black mouse near the fire, nor himself.

"Alright… you've calmed down, right?" the Riolu continued, speaking calmly and trying to avoid doing anything to alarm Rick again.

"Why'd you attack me?" Rick said tensely. He may have been calmer, but he was still ready to defend himself.

"We've never seen a pokemon like you before and we thought you were going to attack us. It was hasty judgment and an honest mistake on our part. We're sorry, please believe me." the Riolu explained with mild pleading.

What was it about how I was acting that told them I was going to attack them? Is that why every pokemon I've encountered until now has been attacking me? I've just simply been looking like I'm going to strike first?

"Just… please relax. We just want to talk now and make sure you're alright. We don't want to hurt you." The Riolu said, his eyes still switching rapidly between Rick's eyes and the vines ready to protect the former human.

Well, I suppose he's telling the truth, since one of them would've harmed me long since if they had wanted to.

The fact that he was alive and they weren't beating on him now certainly indicated that.

With a little force of will, Rick finally relaxed his guard entirely and the vines retracted into his body. The Riolu breathed out a sigh of relief at this point.

"Alright. My name's Rio. My partner is Quil. What's your name?" he said politely, giving Rick a kind smile.

"My name's Rick… and if you could tell me… where am I?" he responded.

Rio blinked and looked a touch surprised, but Rick wasn't taken aback by his reaction. No doubt he thought Rick was from just somewhere local.

"We're just outside of Denwood Forest right now. We carried you out of Prickle Ravine after knocking you out in there. Again, sorry about that. We acted too fast." Rio explained.

So these places do have names, but…

"Alright, that's good to know but what is this… land called?" Rick asked, unsure if he was on an island, a continent, or some other mainland.

"Oh, this is Veil Island. You're not from around here?" Rio asked. Rick shook his head mutely.

Finally though, some answers.

Rio tilted his head as he looked at Rick… and finally asked,

"Er… what species of pokemon are you anyways? I really never have seen a pokemon like you before, honest."

Rick shrugged in response.

"Your guess is as good as mine. I can't remember much of anything. In fact, I was hoping you might be able to tell me, but I guess neither of you know either." He said, a little glumly.

"You're clearly grass-type though," the black mouse, Quil spoke up, "I hope I didn't scorch you too badly."

Rick glanced down at himself. Rio and Quil had evidently patched him up while he was unconscious as there were some bandages wrapped around his slim body. The burns underneath were uncomfortably warm and thinking on them prompted them to sear slightly with pain, making Rick wince, which the Riolu noticed.

"Er, if those burns are bothering you, why don't you eat some of the Rawst berries I provided?" Rio asked, pointing out a couple of small berries near Rick that looked like shriveled up strawberries.

Picking them up, Rick took up Rio's offer and ate the pair of berries… and almost immediately shuddered at the bitter taste that hit his mouth.

Bleck… those could've tasted better…

But soon after eating them, Rick felt the burns cool and they didn't feel quite so bad anymore.

"So uh… can you remember where you're from?" Rio asked. Rick shook his head again.

"Like I said, I don't remember much of anything. I think someone sent me here for some reason… but, I don't know what. I've just been trying to get my bearings for the past few days… and it hasn't been easy on me." Rick said.

It's good to find some pokemon that I can talk with civilly though. Shiftry was so arrogant he thought he was some sort of king in that cave, where ever it was, and all the pokemon I've met since then have attacked me without reason. Come to think of it…

"Rio… do you know anything about a pokemon calling himself 'Shiftry' on Veil Island somewhere?" Rick asked "I had a run in with someone calling himself that."

Rio considered the question briefly before shaking his head no.

"I've never met anyone by that name. Sorry." Rio answered, then went back to a pensive state. Rick had no way of knowing what he was thinking about, but it looked like Rio was trying to remember something.

It sounds like I'm not even on the same land as Shiftry was… I might have to cross water to return to that place… whatever the reason I need to return is…

Quil spoke up, drawing Rick's attention before he could ask Rio what he was thinking about.

"Hey- you said your name is Rick, right? -since you can't remember anything, why don't you come with us to Silver Village? Maybe we can introduce you to the guild and get you set up with somewhere to live."

At first, Rick was tempted to politely turn down the offer… he didn't want to bother anyone with doing that much for him. And given that he had come this far by himself up until he encountered Rio and Quil, it was clear enough he could take care of himself.

Then again… I had nothing but trouble from my encounter with that guy, Shiftry. I could hardly do anything about him. What if I encounter someone like him again?

And Quil surely wasn't the only fire-type on the island, though he appeared to be among the friendliest. After one round with hot flames, Rick was pretty sure he would be no match for a less-friendly fire-type.

It would be nice to have someone to help me… back me up in a troubling situation. But first…

"What's this guild you're talking about?"

"Roserade's Exploration Guild. It's based near Silver Village. All sorts of pokemon work together there and we do various jobs for others around the island. Help them. Those sorts of activities." Quil explained.

Well, I don't have anywhere else to go… and it wouldn't hurt to at least take a look at this guild. But somehow, I don't think I'll fit in around here. These two don't know what I am… and I've got something I need to do. At the very least though, perhaps someone from that guild could point the way for me: locate where I need to go and help me get there.

This in-mind, Rick looked up at Quil and responded to the offer:

"Yeah, alright. I'll come along. It sounds like an interesting place."

Rio spoke up right about then.

"Before we go anywhere though, let's get some rest. It's dark out as you can see and traveling through the Ravine, and carrying you out of there wasn't easy."

Rick felt he could use a little more rest and so he did not argue with Rio's declaration. He settled himself back down on the ground, half-coiled, and dropped off to sleep again. Rio and Quil were already following suit.

-0-

Morning rolled around and when Rick awoke, Rio and Quil were already up and nearly ready to head out. Rio had a bag strapped over one shoulder and Rick couldn't help noticing a couple of badges on scarves that Rio and Quil were both wearing around their necks. He had failed to notice the badges the previous night in the low light and his waking distress.

When Rick asked about the badges, Rio simply responded:

"These are our exploration team badges. They show we're part of an exploration team."

Exploration, huh? I guess that likely means these two are a part of that guild they mentioned last night.

Requiring no personal preparation to head out, Rick simply stood up and checked himself over as Rio and Quil finished gearing up to head out. He carefully removed the bandages and found his injuries and burns were mostly gone now.

When preparations were complete, the three of them headed out, Rio leading the way with Quil behind him and Rick following in the back. They were headed, judging from the sun's position, south-west.

In the course of the journey, Rick noticed Rio glancing back at them on occasion presumably to make sure they were keeping up… but the Riolu's eyes seemed to mostly focus on him for some reason.

He looks… a little like he's trying to remember something. Perhaps I've met him before and I just can't remember myself? But then… when did I meet him? Was it when I was human? I hope if that's the case, we were friends…

Rick felt he had enough enemies as it was, given all the hostile pokemon he'd beaten on his way and Shiftry at the beginning. When he thought about how many pokemon he had had to fight, it prompted him to ask:

"Is there a reason why I can't seem to go anywhere without other pokemon attacking me?"

Rio glanced back with a glum look.

"Yeah, there have been an unusual number of unfriendly pokemon lately, haven't there? It seems like there are more quarrels in-town too. Just the other day, Munchlax got into an argument with Kangaskhan over something. They've usually been on good terms and get along with one another fine. But… it just seems like something's getting into everyone. It's only 'cause of some of us who break it up first that these disagreements don't get more violent." Rio drifted off from there onto a tangent, mentioning other quarrels that had apparently been happening in the village and how troubled the local conditions were making him.

None of the names Rio mentioned rang any bells with Rick. He was pretty sure he didn't know any of the individuals mentioned on a personal basis.

"It's a troubling state of affair, that's for certain." Quil commented, "Even the guild members have been getting restless lately. I mean… Croc and I usually get along. We have our disagreements, sure, but nothing like the other day. And over something so… pointless." The Quilava looked baffled as well.

The conversation was only making Rick more and more puzzled.

And this is unusual according to these two… but if I'm supposed to do something about this, then what do I do? Is this the problem that voice was talking about? I can't just change how others think though. And if new quarrels keep arising… it's hopeless trying to stop it by myself.

In the end though, Rick decided he would see these conditions for himself and see if he couldn't mend the problem.

I just hope that if other pokemon are getting this restless lately, I don't come under attack in the village for it.

Rick pressed on with Rio and Quil, headed for Silver Village.