CHAPTER 2

The Sun was slowly setting in the sky and the Moon began to rise. Vulpix had walked a good distance into a nearby forest before she finally stopped. "We're here," she said. "Take a look."

Rylan opened his eyes to behold an amazing sight. Before them stood an enormous fortress-like structure made from stone and steel. The rough exterior suggested that someone made it by hand. It was the work of a Pokémon, no doubt. The exterior appeared to have been painted various natural hues of green and brown, likely to camouflage the structure in the forest setting. Several torches lit the stairway leading to the entrance.

"Wow," Rylan remarked.

"Yeah, it's an awesome place," Vulpix said, "but you'll like it better on the inside."

He'll like it better on the inside? Rylan gulped nervously. An image of hundreds of happy-go-lucky Pokémon crowding around him and asking him questions swam through his mind, making him shudder.

Vulpix carried Rylan up the stairs and then approached a grating on the ground near the front entrance.

"What's that for?" Rylan asked, looking down at it.

"Oh, this?" Vulpix asked. "Members of the guild who are placed on sentry duty stand down there and identify visiting Pokémon by examining their footprints."

Must be a Pokémon thing, Rylan thought.

Vulpix slowly walked onto the grating and stopped.

"Visitor!" yelped a voice from below.

"Who is it?" asked another voice.

"Vulpix!" squeaked the first voice. "Repeat, Vulpix!"

"Come on inside!" the second voice called out. The stone door of the guild opened slowly.

"Simple enough, eh?" Vulpix laughed. She then looked down the hole past the grating. "Hold on, I've brought a guest with me, Sandshrew!" she called.

"Who is it?" the first voice asked. "Walk on the grating, please!"

"He can't!" Vulpix responded. "His leg is hurt! He's a Riolu, though!"

"Did you hear that?" yelped the first voice. "Second visitor! Riolu!"

"Alright, then!" the second voice said. A few seconds later, the doors opened up.

Rylan glanced down into the hole. "Who was that?"

"Sandshrew and Trapinch," Vulpix replied. "They're on sentry duty today. Heck, they love the job so much, they're almost always on sentry duty. Those two are best friends, pretty much inseparable."

"Friends, huh?" Rylan thought for a moment, trying to remember any friends he may have had before, but none came to mind.

Vulpix walked into the open entryway and let Rylan slide off her back. Rylan examined the interior of the fortress. It was very clean and tidy, and everything was organized neatly. There were several staircases and rooms, and one wall was adorned with medals.

"Welcome back, Vulpix," said a familiar voice. "You made it back in time. Dinner is-"

Rylan stared at the figure who had approached Vulpix. It was the Buizel he had met back in Floral Meadow.

"You," Buizel said. "You're the Riolu who ran away from me."

"Hmm?" Vulpix asked. "You two know each other?"

Rylan remained quiet. Buizel shook his head. "Not really. He found the Wanted poster that had blown away, and when I asked for it back, he dropped it and ran off."

"Huh?" Vulpix asked.

"I was scared… I just…" Rylan started. "I've never heard Pokémon speak like that before."

Buizel tilted his head. "I beg your pardon?"

Vulpix sat down and looked at Buizel. "His name is Rylan. He used to be human."

"What?" Buizel asked. "Really? I've never heard of anything like that before. A human turning into a Pokémon? That's impossible. Really, the very idea-"

"It's the truth," Rylan said. "I don't know how or why, but I somehow ended up here as a Riolu, and I don't remember anything before that."

"Hmmm… Well, I'd be careful about mentioning stuff like that around here if I were you," Buizel said. "Some of us don't like humans at all."

"He needs our help," said Vulpix. "His leg's hurt and he needs a place to stay tonight."

"Fine," said Buizel. "Just make sure he doesn't break anything while he's here."

"DINNER'S READY!" yelled a loud voice, prompting Rylan to cover his ears. "GET YA' TAILS IN HERE AND EAT!"

"What the heck was that?" Rylan asked, utterly flabbergasted.

"Electrode," Buizel said. "Don't want to keep him waiting. He's got a nasty temper when he's mad."

"Okay, but I want to have a word with the Guildmaster first," said Vulpix.

"Sure thing," Buizel said, turning to leave in the direction of the mess hall. As he walked off, he looked back and gave Rylan a rather disapproving glance.

"Um… Could you wait here for a minute, please?" Vulpix asked Rylan.

"Okay," replied Rylan, lying down on his back.

Vulpix trotted off towards a door labeled 'Guildmaster's Quarters' and opened it, then entered the room. Rylan idled quietly, waiting for Vulpix to return.

"I SAID GET YA' TAILS IN HERE AND GET YA' CHOW!" yelled the Electrode. "VULPIX! GUILDMASTER! WE CAN'T EAT 'TIL EVERYONE IS PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR!"

"Owww…." Rylan rubbed his aching ears.

Vulpix returned a few minutes later, though she didn't look as cheerful as usual.

"What happened?" Rylan asked.

"Well… Why don't we talk after dinner?" Vulpix suggested. "The Guildmaster has arranged for our nurse, Chansey, to tend to your leg. I'll be bringing you some food while you're there."

"Sure," Rylan replied.

Vulpix headed into the mess hall for dinner. A Chansey entered the central room from upstairs and spotted Rylan.

"Ah, so you must be the Riolu. Here, let me fix you right up."

Rylan allowed Chansey to wrap his leg and escort him to the infirmary. After a bit of rest, Vulpix entered to bring Rylan his dinner—a large apple and several smaller fruits and berries.

"Eat up," said Vulpix. "It's very good."

Rylan picked up a berry and examined it. It didn't appear to be anything familiar to him, but he slipped it into his mouth and started chewing. Immediately, his taste buds were overwhelmed with the sensational flavor of the berry. He couldn't help but smile at the taste.

"It's… It's good," he commented.

Vulpix beamed delightedly. "Your face!" she giggled.

"What about my face?" Rylan asked.

"That look on your face after you tried that berry!" Vulpix explained. "You should smile like that more often!"

Rylan groaned and looked away.

After Rylan had finished eating his meal, Vulpix carefully led him back downstairs.

"My leg is feeling a bit better now," he told her. "Um…. Thank you."

"You're welcome…" Vulpix replied. She just remembered her conversation with the Guildmaster, and something was troubling her.

"What's the problem?" Rylan asked, noticing her expression.

"Well," Vulpix began, "you see… How can I put this… The Guildmaster holds no reservations toward helping an injured Pokémon, but…"

"What is it?" Rylan asked impatiently.

"…but he doesn't offer anymore meals or shelter for outsiders," Vulpix finished. "I'm really sorry."

"Are you saying he expects me to make it on my own?" Rylan asked.

"All Pokémon make it somehow," Vulpix replied solemnly, knowing Rylan's situation.

"Fine, then I will," Rylan said. He sighed and headed for the entrance door.

"Wait!" Vulpix said. "He will let you have all the resources you need on one condition."

Rylan turned around. "What condition?"

Vulpix shifted her paws nervously, not sure how Rylan would react to the news. "You would have to join his guild and become an explorer."

The image of Pokémon surrounding him once again came into his mind. The thought made him start to feel queasy.

Without so much as taking a moment to consider, Rylan turned to leave. "No thanks."