Sorry I've been taking so long to do a new chapter for this fan-fiction of mine. Not only have I got a new collaboration FF to work on, but I've got work and other life-matters to worry about. Still, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Patience is a virtue as they say.

Enjoy.

Vines & Briars

Chapter 5: Ideals

The trip to Silver Village was relatively uneventful. Rio led them to a path and they followed it away from Denwood Forest, travelling through some plains until Rick could see some hills more clearly in the distance.

"Silver Village is just ahead, at the foot of those hills." Rio announced to Rick from the front, "Not too much further."

Rick took in this information with only mild interest. His thoughts had been occupied as they walked, trying to remember something more of himself, trying to bring back more of his own memory.

I've been remembering things piece-by-piece, and I'd hope I could remember more, more easily now that a few bits of knowledge have come back.

But his memory seemed to be slow to return. He still hadn't a clue what pokemon he had been turned into. He couldn't distinctly remember his life as a human being… nor could he remember that individual that was still no more than a black space in his memory. Perhaps it was a bit of his memory about them, perhaps it was just the fact the blank stuck out so badly in his memory, but he felt this individual was important somehow. With his lack of knowledge about anything else, he could only suspect that they were possibly the person or thing that had sent him here and maybe turned him into what he was.

"We're here!"

Rick looked up and realized that the village was fully in-view now.

It was a quant-looking settlement with a dirt road going down the middle of it. Many of the structures looked rather peculiar as they had odd shapes, colors, and designs. As far as Rick could tell, everything appeared to be built of cloth and sticks, making the buildings a little like tents. He could also make out something quite large, which appeared to be a creature of some sort that was simply lying on its back next to one of the buildings. It was mostly black with an enormous, cream-colored belly. Judging from how its massive belly was rising and falling, Rick gathered whoever it was, was asleep.

A name arose in Rick's mind though it dangled on the edge, threatening to be lost among the forgotten memories again. In trying to pull the memory forward in his mind, Rick ended up mumbling the name:

"Snorlax…"

Rio overheard him and glanced back.

"Hm? You know Snorlax? You sure you haven't been here before Rick?"

Rick shook his head. He couldn't remember much, but he was pretty sure he had never been to this village before. And he felt like he had only heard the name… never really seen the individual associated with it. How he could remember that, he still wasn't sure but the memory nonetheless felt true.

They entered the village and Rio showed Rick around the settlement. He started with the local bank, which was the building Snorlax was actually sleeping near.

Even before Rio introduced the small pokemon running the establishment, a name arose in Rick's mind once more and he knew the species (and, by extension, the name) of the individual, even as Rio said it: Munchlax.

Munchlax was black and cream-colored like Snorlax and had a couple of pointed ears atop his head, along with a large, fanged mouth and a small patch on his belly of cream-colored fur. It was at this point that Rick also realized that the bank itself was constructed such that it looked like a rough facsimile of Munchlax's head.

"Who's this you brought with you Rio? I haven't seen anyone like him before." Munchlax asked, looking Rick over with a very intrigued expression. The scrutiny made Rick a little uncomfortable as no one had looked at him quite like this before now.

"Er, he's a visitor. He calls himself Rick. He's apparently not from around the island and he's trying to find a home. We're just showing him around the village." Rio explained. It wasn't entirely truthful, as Rick didn't really see himself settling down in the village. The place felt too bizarre for his own comfort.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Rick." Munchlax said cheerily with a polite nod of his head towards him, "If you need any money stored, don't hesitate to stop by. Pops and I will be happy to serve."

Rick could only assume that "Pops" was Snorlax sleeping next to the bank. He nodded back and gave a slightly timid smile.

Didn't Rio and Quil say that this Munchlax here had gotten into an argument with someone else around town?

With how friendly Munchlax seemed at first glance, Rick found it hard to believe he would've gotten into an argument with anyone.

The tour of Silver Village continued and Rick was introduced to the local Kecleon market, and Khangaskhan storage. Like Munchlax, Khangaskhan and the child she ran the shop with both seemed quite friendly and Rick found it hard to believe there was any feuding going on between the shops.

"How are things between you and Munchlax's bank?" Rio asked as he put up some items to be stored away, "I hope things have been improving."

"Things are going fine, Rio." She answered with a sincere smile, "Honestly, I'm not sure why we had that argument the other day. I really thought we had determined who would be providing what services a long time ago." She commented, and then looked a little perplexed as she thought on it, "Why we're fighting about that now… I just can't imagine what's brought it up."

Rick was puzzled as well.

They were arguing over who provides what services around the village? If they supposedly settled it a long time ago, it is odd indeed that it's brought up now.

It was on the way out of the village that Rick saw evidence of the unrest settling over the village.

As they passed by a blue pokemon that had white balls of fluff on its hands and on its head (something about its appearance told Rick it was grass-type like himself), the pokemon turned, glowering at Quil.

"Hey! We don't need fire-types around here! This town would be a lot more ideal without hot-heads like you."

Quil stopped and looked back, looking just as confused as Rick.

"But… I've lived here for, how many years now? I haven't done anything wrong."

"Well, you'll be a problem, just give it time." The pokemon said testily, "Making things too hot and being a threat of combustion just being around us grass-types."

Rick shook his head and stepped in on the conversation.

"Alright, you're not making any sense." Rick said tersely, "I've been travelling with Quil all day now and I haven't seen any problems even remotely like what you're talking about. I haven't seen so much as a spark out of him since coming here. He is no threat to you or myself outside of a fight so back off."

The grass-type blinked. He was surprised to see someone who was clearly another grass-type, stepping up to defend Quil. After a few moments wherein Rick could tell it was trying to think of a counter-argument, it finally gave up and turned back around, its mood sour.

"Who does that stranger think he is anyways?" it muttered as it walked off.

Ignoring the grumbling from the local, Rick turned back to the others.

"Thanks Rick. Really seems like I tend to attract trouble nowadays… and I don't even do anything to warrant those kinds of reactions." Quil said gratefully.

"I just don't like bullies. Never have. And I'll stand up for anyone who is getting bullied if I can." Rick said calmly, glancing back again to make sure the stranger wasn't turning around.

"That's the sort of trouble we've been seeing lately, by the way." Rio remarked, "People just pass each other in the street, and we're lucky if they don't stop and find a reason to start berating each other."

"Nevermind that," Quil said ominously, "We're just lucky so far that no one's started beating each other up. Or else the village would be turned into a mess by the chaos that could result."

I can certainly see what the trouble is around here. I just helped to avert one argument. But I doubt I can do that with everyone around the village… and didn't Rio say there were arguments springing up at the guild too? Where is the guild anyways?

Rick looked around for the signs of a guild, and then decided to ask Rio.

"The Guild? That's outside the village. It's not that far, but it still a bit of walk to get there." Rio explained, "Want to go there now?"

Not much else to see here and I'm curious anyways.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go."

Rick and his two companions headed out of the village and followed a path that led up to the top of a cliff. There, at the peak, Rick was met with yet another building that was likely built to resemble the head of the owner.

It roughly resembled a vast white rose with an eye-mask over the front.

Rio and Quil stepped up to the gate and someone inside called out to them.

"Ho there, Team Aura. Who's that with you?"
"We found someone lost out at Prickle Ravine and well, it seems he's lost his memory so we brought him here."

"Alright. Since he's with you I suppose we can trust him. Opening up."

Rick heard Rio mumble afterwards,

"What does he mean 'I suppose'? The fact that we're speaking up for Rick should be evidence enough that he can be trusted, right?"

Quil just mutely shook his head in response.

"It doesn't matter. Sentret's opening the gate and that's good enough for me."

Rio still looked a little troubled but anything further he might've said on the subject was interrupted by the gate before them rising to admit them inside, and they stepped into the guild.

Immediately inside was a ladder going down and Rick followed his two companions down the hole.

Inside, Rick looked around as a wide, oval-shaped room spread out before him.

"Alright Rick. Welcome, to Roserade's Guild." Rio said, smiling warmly and spreading his arms wide to present the area.

The view Rick was presented with fascinated him and he found himself wondering how much work it had taken to set-up the guild.

To Rick's immediate right was a second ladder going up a different hole and as he looked around the room, he could see a couple of doors installed in the rock walls, a window or two that looked out from the cliff-face, and there was one hall going to other areas within the cliff. There was also a bulletin board of some sort secured on the wall opposite the hallway, which was positively plastered with paper notes and pictures that had drawings on them, though of what, Rick couldn't tell without a closer look.

One room with the door ajar showed a pokemon inside who Rick would've guessed was the Guildmaster, since they resembled the entrance to the guild.

Probably an office of sorts, I guess.

Continuing his observations, there was a hallway just to the side of that door, which that led elsewhere.

And finally, almost to Rick's immediate left next to the ladder was yet another door that had a small room within.

"That's the job board over there." Rio said, pointing to the bulletin, "That's the Guildmaster's chambers, and it looks like she's in, so we'll visit her in a second." He continued, confirming Rick's thoughts, "That hall goes to the bedrooms and that room right there is the infirmary." Rio finished, "Now, let's go visit the Guildmaster and introduce you."

Rio then led the way across the room, to the Guildmaster's chambers and knocked on the open door lightly.

"Come in." she gently responded and they entered. The Guildmaster's eyes soon fell on Rick and gazed at him, which was no surprise in itself. Many who had seen him by now got caught up staring at him, usually trying to figure what he was.

"I see you've found someone in your travels, Rio. Is he joining your team?" Roserade asked Rio with a quiet, yet stern politeness. Some vague thought stirred in Rick's memory but he couldn't remember who this pokemon may have reminded him of.

Rio glanced back at him.

"This is Rick, Guildmaster." He then shook his head lightly, "Whether he's joining us or not uncertain for now, but I think he will be staying with us for a while. Could he stay here at the guild for now?"

Roserade switched her gaze to Rick once more and looked him over carefully, making the former human feel uncomfortable yet again as he was scrutinized.

After a moment, she spoke again:

"…I believe I can permit that. Yours and Quil's room should have enough room for one more bed without being overly crowded, yes?" she asked, looking at Rio once more.

"Yeah, we could set up another bed." Rio nodded and then looked back at Rick, his countenance asking Rick if he had any objections.

Rick nodded as well, agreeing.

"I'm alright with that. I washed up on this land… not like I have anywhere I can stay already." He said, a little passively.

"However," Roserade added, "If you are going to stay in the guild for more than a day, I will require that you contribute to guild activities… meaning you will be going with a team on explorations and to help around the island as needed. Understood?" Roserade said, her tone brooking little to no argument, "If you are to stay here, you will pull your own weight like everyone else."

Rick swallowed a bit, feeling a little trepidation now. He didn't know the first thing about what Rio and Quil did around the guild… except that they went out exploring areas. They were experienced in this sort of thing but Rick wasn't sure if he would be able to keep up, and there was no way Rick was going to go anywhere with someone else. He didn't know anyone else.

There was also a deeper reason that Rick himself couldn't comprehend at the time but all he knew was that if he had to go exploring, he would be going with Rio and he would settle for no one else.

After several moments of considering the guildmaster's condition, Rick finally looked at her and nodded.

"Alright… I'll be with Rio and Quil here then."

Neither Rio nor Quil showed any surprise or displeasure at this declaration, though they didn't show any joy either. Their faces remained quite straight.

"Alright then, you are dismissed." Roserade said, her tone unchanging from the calm, curt civility she had started with. All three turned and headed out of Roserade's chamber and Rio headed towards the bedrooms, beckoning Rick to follow.

I just hope I haven't gotten myself into something I'm gonna regret…