Shy looked sheepishly at the door. He was nervous about what the others were talking about. He wondered what they would say. He wondered what Guardian would say. He hadn't seen her yet. He knew she would be furious with him. In the little time he had known her, he seemed to have found out a lot about her personality, her history. How she was a remover. How she left the Demon King for the one she loved. How he died. How she ran away. How Cain took her in and how she became part of Team Fugitives. And he also knew how reasonable she could be, and how short tempered. She reminded him of his mother.
Serena had told him to wait in the hallway while the others discussed his fate at the base. He had come to develop an attachment to the place his father had called home. He had no idea until now how much he had wanted to stay here. He longed for it. He waited impatiently while they decided what would become of him. Regardless of how much he wanted to stay here, he knew he had nowhere else to go anyway. This was his only option. He could only survive on his own for so long.
The door opened with Cain standing at the entrance. He ushered Shy inside, motioning with his paw. Shy walked slowly through the doorway. He saw everyone sitting around the stone table with the wonder map on it. He sat down between Ren and Luna, sitting opposite Guardian. She averted her gaze when he looked at her. It was Serena who spoke up first.
"We have discussed your future here with us. It has been some time since we have taken in an outsider, and in that instance it was quite a benefit to our team. However there is no way to know if the outcome now will be the same. We have also considered each other's opinions, and the fact that it was your father's wish for you to stay with us. Considering these factors, we have all made our own decisions."
"As I had stated previously," Cain began. "All of us must agree to let you stay and join us. The verdict was four to two on you joining us." The words hit Shy like a tonne of bricks. He knew he had wanted to stay, but now that he knew he couldn't he had no idea what he would do. Where would he go? He was alone in the world and this was the only place he had left that he felt a connection to.
"However," Cain continued. "We all agree, myself included, that it would not be right to simply make you leave. Instead we have made the decision to allow you to stay until we find a suitable residence for you." Shy waited for Cain to continue but he just stood there staring at him. He noticed all the others were as well, except for Guardian.
She kept her eyes on the centre of the map, an area of yellow bordering on a forest and on the ocean on the other side. Shy assumed it was the desert where the base was. Near the forest border was a red spot, representing it. There were a number of red spots in several locations on the map, one just north of the forest. There were many more black spots as well.
"So what now?" Shy questioned.
"For now we'll take care of you, like your father would have wanted," said Fly.
"You may continue to reside in your father's old dwelling, and use the few facilities we have here. If you are to leave the base then you must be accompanied at all times by at least one of us." After Cain had finished speaking he addressed the entire group, telling them to follow their missions for the day. Guardian and Ren were to go out on another scouting mission, Fly was to accompany Cain and Luna on a rescue mission. They had received information that some of the Demon King's dark forces were invading Silver City in search of a group of resistance members south-west of the desert. They were going there to try and lead them away from the city because the truth was that there was a large group called Team Seawater who were hiding out there after attacking an army base. A member of their team had escaped and asked Team Fugitives for help. Shy was told to go with Serena to pay a visit to the pokemon resistance base at the other side of the forest to get some supplies. Despite their capabilities, Team Fugitives was smaller than most of the other resistance forces around the region and lacked many of the facilities other bases had. The base they were heading to was large and had a market. They departed as soon as the meeting was ended.
Shy pondered at the thought of what he would say to Guardian. He had been thinking about it ever since he got back the previous evening and was yet unsure of what he would say. He knew an apology was not enough and he realised that he had no excuse. It was for this reason that he had not spoken to her yet. That and the fact that she hadn't even looked at him.
He followed Serena through the overgrown forest and tried his best to keep up. For a water type pokemon, she was very capable at manoeuvring herself on land. This brought Shy onto other thoughts. He remembered his mother. Her golden fur was the most beautiful pelt he had ever laid his eyes upon. She had told him several times the story of her and his father. She had originally chosen to evolve using a water stone, in the hopes of become a vaporeon. She had admired their ability to swim so fast that they became invisible to those not capable of embracing the ocean. However when she met his father, she evolved into a jolteon along with him. She told Shy that her love for his father was stronger than her desire to be one with the waves. This story had inspired Shy's little sister to one day become a vaporeon. Shy had decided he would be a jolteon, like his parents. Lately however, he had mixed feelings about the idea.
Shy's thoughts and memories kept him occupied long enough to last the entire walk to the base. It had turned out that Serena had handled four sirens without him noticing. They obviously hadn't come into contact with her or they would have set off their demonic wail. When Serena told him to stop, he looked around for the entrance. He didn't know what to expect really, a door leading to an underground metropolis, or a discreet stairway leading to a building in the trees. His expectations were not that big however. Even though he had not yet seen all of Team Fugitives' base, he knew it was nothing to marvel at. He didn't expect much difference from this one. All he saw in front of him was a small forest clearing.
"Where is it?" queried Shy.
"Be patient young one," Serena replied. "She will show herself soon." Serena kept her gaze and the ground. Shy wondered who she was talking about. Did this base only consist of one pokemon?
His thoughts were interrupted by a dark figure rising from the ground. Shy realised that the base entrance must also be a hidden hatch like that back in the desert, but he could see no opening. Just a purple shape growing out of the decomposing leaves. Shy recognised the figure as a misdreavus.
"Serena my darling! How is the most beautiful serpentine in all of the region?" It's voice squeaked at the end of each sentence, chirping as though it were a bird pokemon. "And who is this little fellow at your side. My, he is the most delicious little fox I had ever laid my eyes on!" Shy feared that the comment was an actual statement, and that the misdreavous actually thought he might taste good. He took a step away from the ghost and stood behind Serena.
"It's nice to see you as well Molly. This is Shy. He is X's pup. He is staying with us until we can find him a more permanent home." Shy cringed at the thought of being left somewhere unknown to him with strangers, especially if they were anything like the figure that floated before him.
"Oh well that's good to hear. I am very sorry about your family my dear, I do wish you all the best." Her loud tone had subsided, and she looked upon Shy with pity. He hated people doing that.
"Molly, we came to get some supplies, and I must speak to Garchomp if that is okay?"
"Oh yes yes yes yes yes my dear. I am sooooooo sorry for the hold up. I'll have you down in no time at all." And with that a dark bubble enveloped the three pokemon and they descended into the ground.
Shy stood in awe at what stood before him. Molly had brought them down through the ground and into an enormous room filled with bustling pokemon. An onix passed by, towering before him but still seeming minute compared to the size of the rock walls surrounding him. A small group of growlith ran past in a hurry, while many more pokemon went about their business, each walking down some hallway and getting lost in the crowd. His eyes fell upon a violet beast with a ruby on its forehead. It was a pokemon he had never seen before but felt a strange connection to it. It stood on a pedestal and created dark bubbles around pokemon, transporting them through the ceiling. He marvelled her ability, the one shared with Molly and several other pokemon that stood on pedestals throughout the room.
Shy followed Serena through the hoards of pokemon, staring at the various species he recognised, and those that were new to him. They left Molly with a brisk farewell and were soon one with the sea of pokemon that hurried around the room. They walked through a hallway and into a quieter room, although there were still many pokemon walking around. They browsed the various items on the shelves along the walls or queued up towards a counter, behind which stood two kecleon dealing with the various customers.
Shy looked at the blue spheres that stood on one of the shelves. He recognised them as orbs, although he didm't know what each of them did. He saw some orans and apples on the counter, and realised how hungry he was. His eyes widened and he began to drool, imaging the sweet taste of the oran on his lips, the juices running down his jaw and soaking into his brown fur. His daze was interrupt by a small giggle from Serena.
"If you want a berry so bad just have it. I'll pay for it after. Don't worry it's fine." She smiled at Shy and nodded her approval. He took a step towards the shelf and sniffed the air. His growling stomach was louder than his conscience and he leaped straight at the berry. A few pokemon stared at him, including the two behind the counter who looked quite displeased at his actions. But after a quick look of reassurance from Serena they went back about their business. "They must have known her," he thought.
Shy devoured the berry. Each time he ate one it tasted better than the last. The juices soaked into his fur as he finished off the last morsel, savouring the sweet taste. He felt energised and happy. He walked back over to Serena who was grinning at him. He smiled back at her and sat by her side, waiting patiently for their turn. Eventually, after most of the other pokemon had left the shop, Serena approached the counter. Shy took a scroll for the satchel around her neck by request, as well as a small bag of what he assumed was money.
"Kecleon brothers, it is good to see the two of you," said Serena. Shy noticed that Serena always had a kind yet formal attitude towards everyone she spoke to. A quality which is why she was chosen to be second in command of Team Fugitives.
"Serena!" the two said in unison. The two looked at each other with mirrored contempt, followed by a mimic of laughter.
"How can we help you dear?" inquired the green kecleon. His face was plastered with a smile, although he couldn't fully hide his despair.
"Cain has sent myself and our knew acquaintance on a little supply run. We are here to grab a few things." She handed the green kecleon the scroll. He unfurled it and handed it to his brother, who then sped into the back room. The green kecleon stared down at Shy.
"Is he the offspring of X? The resemblance is quite remarkable. He will make a fine jolteon someday." Shy's thoughts sprung to the purple creature he had seen earlier. He didn't know why he associated it with the species jolteon. If anything an image of his father should have appeared in his mind but he couldn't shake the creature he had seen earlier.
"Yes," replied Serena. "Shy here is staying with us until we can find him a more permanent living situation." Her thoughts seemed to go away from her for a moment until she snapped to attention a few seconds later.
"Anyway, Shy would you mind waiting here for the supplies. I must go speak with someone before we leave. I shouldn't be too long. Wait here for me to return, okay?" She turned to the green kecleon before Shy could even nod his head and gave the payment to the green chameleon. She left the shop with Shy facing the kecleon. He too entered the back room and joined his brother in gathering the various supplies on the scroll.
A small group entered the shop. Shy recognised one of them as a pikachu, and another as a vulpix, but he had no idea what the third one was. It was small, with a red helmet and stood on two legs. Its torso only consisted of its bare ribcage which looked to be metallic. It also had blades for hands. It was quite frightening to look at although it spoke to its companions with a cheerful tone. They approached the counter and Shy.
"Hey, haven't seen you around here before," said the pikachu. "Everyone calls me Volt." He was very forward when speaking, and the vulpix pulled him away from Shy.
"Sorry about him," said the vulpix. "He can be a bit overly friendly sometimes. I'm Tails by the way. Y'know, because of the tails." She swished the several tails that sprouted from her behind.
"I'm Rook," spurted the little sword pokemon. "I can tell by your expression that your are clueless as to what I am. Well I'll tell yea. I'm a pawniard. The most talented and the strongest pawniard in all the region. So you better watch out buddy." He quickly raised his blades to Shy's neck and stared into his eyes with a menacing look, pulling away slowly and laughing along with himself. His two companions sighed and looked exasperated. Clearly this macho attitude of their friend was something they were used to and quite irritated by.
Shy was about to introduce himself when the purple kecleon emerged from the back room.
"Okay here we go. Everything on the list except we only had three escape orbs left in stock and we are all out of pure seeds." Shy had no clue what any of that had meant but it was clear that the trio standing next to him were disappointed with the news.
"Are you serious!" exclaimed Rook. "We came here specifically for an escape orb, and now you're telling me that this chump bought the last ones?" He looked quite annoyed and angered by the fact that Serena and Shy had bought the rest of the escape orbs, although Shy had no idea what they actually did. He had heard them mentioned once or twice before but had never seen one being used.
"Why are these escape orbs so important to you anyway?" asked Shy.
"Because you idiot," said Rook. "We need them in case we need a quick way out of the dungeon we are going to today". Shy wondered what he had meant by dungeon, but before he could ask, Serena entered the shop.
"How are things going?" she asked. "Did you get everything on the list?"
"Umm…" Shy mulled. "There are only three escape orbs and no seeds."
"Pure seeds," specified the kecleon brothers.
"Ahh well I see, it's quite understandable. With the increase in the Demon King's forces around it must be very difficult getting certain items without their knowledge." The kecleon nodded and went about their business.
"Excuses me, miss?" said Tails with a humbled look. "Would it be too much trouble to ask you for one of those escape orbs. We really need one for our rescue mission today. We will pay you full price but that's all we can afford." Tails looked at Serena with deep, desperate eyes that made you melt when you looked at them. Serena smiled and tilted her head in reply, passing one of the escape orbs to Tails with her fan-like tail.
"Take it as a token of appreciation for the work you do. Everyone who tries to help against the Demon King is an ally and we should all help each other." Serena smiled at the trio of young pokemon and turned to face Shy.
"Shy please help me with the supplies. We must hurry, there is someone in the hallway I would like you to meet." Shy lifted one of the satchels full of supplies and put it around Serena's neck. He then took one himself and left the shop, thanking the kecleon brothers and nodding to the three pokemon he had spoken to.
"Shy," said Serena. "Meet Garchomp. He is head of this base and leader of Team Shockwave, although due to his status as leader of this entire facility, he hasn't done much field work in a while. He was good in his day though." Serena grinned and stifled a chuckle.
"Now Serena, how unladylike of you. I expected better than meagre insults given that you are now the second in command of Team Fugitives." The beast towered over Shy, it's long fin stretching out from the back of its head. It's navy colouring coupled with the odd shape of its head made it slightly similar to a sharpedo, although it's wings suggested it had the ability to fly.
"Young one," he addressed Shy. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Garchomp, leader of Team Shockwave and head of the red base, one of the largest in the region. It is home to many rescue teams as well as resistance forces. We are also one of the few bases to train young pokemon into fine battlers who join rescue teams or start their own. We house resistance forces which is why we must remain hidden from the Demon King's forces. I am sorry to hear about your family's passing. I offer you my condolences." Shy looked away from the dragon.
"Anyway I just wanted to make your acquaintance before you leave." He turned his attention to Serena. "I will have an answer for you soon. Good day old friend." He turned away from the two pokemon and walked away, leaving Shy quite confused. He had heard a lot today and had many questions filling his head. What were Rook and Tails referring to when they said 'dungeon'? Or what was a rescue team? He decided to wait until they returned to their base before asking questions.
They walked back to the main hallway where Molly stood conversing with the purple pokemon he had seen before. They approached the two and Molly stopped speaking mid-sentence to greet them.
"Darlings how are you? I trust you got everything you needed?"
"Unfortunately no," said Serena. "We missed a few items. But no matter. We got all the necessities."
"Well that's good to hear are you ready to go back-" Her gaze fell upon Shy and stopped her speaking. She noticed that he was staring straight at the violet fox that stood next to her.
"Oh my goodness how rude of me!" Molly exclaimed. "Shy my dear, this pokemon is a dear friend of mine. This is Lily, an espeon. You must be curious considering one day you may become and espeon yourself. That is, if you don't decide to become a jolteon like your father." Shy had not heard a word Molly had said, and instead had kept his gaze on the espeon. She too returned the gaze and smiled slightly.
"Hmm, well we are in a hurry Molly but I'm sure Shy can speak with Lily some other time." Serena seemed somewhat agitated and Molly sensed it. They said goodbye to Lily and Molly sent them above the surface. They gave their farewells and headed back to their own base.
About halfway home, Shy could no longer contain his questions. He turned to Serena.
"If that was the red base, then what is your one called?" Serena seemed taken by surprise.
"We don't really have a name. Only official bases have names. The ones that originally housed only rescue teams. And to answer your next question, rescue teams are groups of pokemon who take requests from civilians to do jobs for them. Places like the red base were set up years before the Demon King took power. Pokemon who need help must send requests to places like the red base and then rescue teams part of the red base would accept them. They are still set up all across the region but operate against the Demon King. That is why most bases harbour resistance members as well." Shy gave it a moment to process what he had heard before asking his next question.
"The pokemon in the shop, they were a rescue team. They said they needed the escape orb for a dungeon mission. What is that?"
"A mystery dungeon is a strange place. They are located all over a region. Once you enter one you cannot come out unless you defeat it by traversing all of its floors. What's worse is that they are filled with sirens. However is you get knocked out you don't get taken to the Demon King. Instead you get kick rout of the dungeon with all of your possessions being left inside, never to be seen by you again. Sometimes if you are lucky, while searching a floor for a stairway you may find an item that belonged to a fallen explorer. However each time you enter a dungeon the floor layout changes 's why you cannot map them." Shy was confused by all of the information he had just received and decided to leave it at that.
When they had finally reached the base nobody else had returned. The sun was in the process of setting and all the energy Shy had felt earlier had been drained from him. He couldn't keep himself awake and as collapsed onto his bed, falling asleep as soon as his head touched the warm, cosy straw.