CHAPTER 17
As the days continued to soar past them, Rylan, Vulpix, and Buizel grew stronger and stronger with each mission they completed. Rylan had become much less concerned with his human past up until his memories had contacted him once more, and now he wasn't sure that he wanted to know what they had to offer.
Team StarStruck had returned from a successful rescue mission in Foggy Forest one day and entered the guild to collect their reward. Again, to the amazement of Gallade, the team had returned earlier than anticipated.
"You three have been working hard lately," he said. "I'm impressed."
"Thanks, Gallade!" Vulpix cheerily replied. "Although, to be completely honest, I don't know if Buizel and I would be as strong as we are now if it weren't for Rylan's help."
Rylan went red in the face and turned away. "Oh, come on, you don't mean that."
Gallade smiled. "It's good to see that you get along so well with each other," he said. "However, Vulpix, you shouldn't think that way. A team is only as good as its individual members. Rylan has not been carrying you, he has been fighting alongside you. You and Buizel have been making yourselves strong."
Buizel nodded his head. "I wholeheartedly agree," he remarked.
Vulpix looked down at the share of the reward that the team was allowed to keep. She divided it up into three portions as usual and gave one each to Rylan and Buizel, keeping one herself. "So, what to do now?" she asked.
"Take it easy," Gallade said. "You've earned the rest of the day off. I hear the breeze is nice in Riverwood Town at the moment. Why not go there and take some time to relax?"
"Great idea!" said an excited Buizel. "I've always wanted to take a dip in the river!"
"So, it's decided?" Vulpix asked.
Rylan nodded his head in approval. "Sure," he said. Vulpix smiled and the three turned to leave.
"Oh, wait a moment!" said Gallade. The three of them turned back around.
"Yes, sir?" Buizel asked.
"I just remembered I have business in Riverwood Town, but I'm due for a meeting with the Guildmaster, and I can't ignore that. Do you think you could run an errand for me while you're in town?"
"Absolutely," replied Vulpix.
Gallade quickly signed a piece of paper and handed it to Buizel. "Show this to either Leafeon or Vaporeon and bring back what they give to you," he instructed.
"Yes, sir," said Vulpix and Buizel.
"Thank you so much," said Gallade. "You're a big help."
Gallade retreated into Aggron's room. Vulpix, Buizel, and Rylan resumed their walk out the door, Gallade's note tucked safely away in Buizel's explorer bag.
The three of them walked past the tree with intertwined branches once again, following the direction in which it pointed to arrive at Riverwood Town.
"Should we rest first or carry out Gallade's errand?" Rylan asked.
"Why don't you two rest at the river?" Vulpix suggested. "I'll take the note to the Item Shop."
"Are you sure?" Buizel asked.
"Yeah. You know me; I'm not too fond of being close to rivers. I'll relax later when we get back to the guild."
Rylan wasn't surprised at this response from Vulpix considering that she was a Fire Pokémon. Buizel retrieved the note from his bag and gave it to Vulpix, who then trotted off into town with it.
Buizel didn't waste any time leaping happily into the crystal clear water of the softly flowing river. He darted back and forth underwater, obviously enjoying himself.
Rylan approached the edge of the river and carefully slipped his tired feet into the water. The water felt perfect; it wasn't too warm or too cold. It would seem Gallade was right about the breeze as well. Everything in that moment felt exquisite. As he relaxed, he continued to watch Buizel swim around. He had never seen his teammate so happy, so content. Buizel was usually uptight and tense. Rylan wanted to say something to Buizel, but he couldn't find the words. He felt it would be best to continue trying to stay on good terms with Buizel, but he didn't know where to start.
Rylan reached for his bag and began to rummage around in it. He pulled out a small blue gummi. Vulpix had once told him that Buizel loves to eat blue gummies.
"Hey…Buizel?" Rylan called out to his teammate.
Buizel poked his head out of the water and looked at Rylan, confused as to what he would want with him, since they didn't chat with each other very often.
"You called?" Buizel asked.
Rylan tossed the blue gummi towards Buizel, who caught it. "Here," Rylan said. "You can have this. I don't need it."
Buizel examined the gummi. "Suit yourself," he said. He shoved the gummi in his mouth and started to chew on it before diving back down underwater.
Rylan wasn't expecting Buizel to express any gratitude, but he decided to be courteous, regardless. "You're welcome," he said to Buizel.
Rylan leaned back to gaze up at the sky. A few seconds later, he felt something flow past his feet, giving them a slight tickle and making him jump. "What was that?" he wondered, staring back at the water.
"Oh, pardon me," said a voice.
A Vaporeon appeared from the water and jumped out onto the river's edge where Rylan was sitting. She sat down next to him and smiled. "I was just on break from my shift at the Item Shop and decided to go for a swim. Leafeon is handling things at the shop right now," she said.
"I see," said Rylan.
Vaporeon took a curious look at him. "Say, aren't you the explorer called Rylan?" she asked.
Rylan turned his attention toward Vaporeon. "I suppose I'm famous in this town as well?" he inquired.
"Well, of course," Vaporeon replied. "Were you aware that some of the criminals you and your teammates helped apprehend were thieves who stole from the shop? You've been really helpful to our business, you know. Words can't express how grateful Leafeon and I are to you three."
"Oh, don't worry about it," said Rylan. "That's what we're here for."
Vaporeon's smile widened a bit, but then quickly turned to a look of surprise. "Oops! I stayed too long! Gotta get back to the shop! Please stop by soon, Rylan!" Vaporeon quickly made her way back to the Item Shop in town, passing right by Vulpix, who was making her way back to others.
Buizel resurfaced, noticing Vaporeon leaving, and then turned to Rylan. "What was that about?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing," Rylan replied.
"Hey, you two!" Vulpix said as she arrived at the river. "Enjoy yourselves?"
"Sure did!" Buizel replied. "Did you get the package for Gallade?"
Vulpix nodded and patted her explorer bag. "It's right in here. Leafeon got it for me as soon as she saw Gallade's letter. Now then, let's get back to the guild."
Rylan and Buizel joined Vulpix at her side, and together, the three of them walked back in the direction of the guild.
Of course, the three of them were not aware that they were being watched from beyond the trees.
"Rylan, what are you doing?!" asked the mysterious Pokémon. "He's lost sight of his priority. If I don't stray him away from the guild, from those teammates of his, he may forget about Houndoom and me…" The concealed figure looked down at his paws. "It's times like this I'm glad I'm this Pokémon…"