CHAPTER 20
Gallade, Aggron, and Team Tranquility were helping the inexperienced recruits pitch their tents.
"Oh, so that's how it goes," Vulpix laughed. "I can never get those right."
Aggron laughed in turn as he straightened Vulpix's tent. "Well, now you know. Maybe you can start teaching others once you've mastered the art of pitching your tent." Once he finished, he walked off toward the spot the group had picked out to set up the campfire.
Buizel chuckled and sat down next to the tent. "Doing all right there, Vulpix?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "I'm just a little concerned about Rylan and the others. They haven't shown up yet.
"I'm sure they're fine," Buizel said. "Rylan has really learned how to fight lately. He can handle a little danger. Nidoran and Wingull aren't pushovers, either."
Gallade walked around the campsite. "Looks like we're short one team at the moment."
Slowking gave a nod to Gallade. "Yes, but that team is Rylan's team. Don't ever count that young fighter out. I've been watching his progress as everyone else has, and that boy has shown that he's got the spark. When he's pushed to the limit, he can really ignite his inner flame."
Jynx grinned. "Rylan is something else, isn't he? Adorable little thing! Don't you worry, Gallade. If he and his teammates aren't back by sundown, we will bring them here immediately."
Gallade smiled in relief. "Thank you."
"E-Everyone…" a voice murmured.
All the recruits turned their heads. Rylan had arrived at the campsite, wobbling feebly before falling to the ground.
"Rylan!" shouted several of them. They all rushed over to him. Aggron lifted him up carefully.
"Rylan, please say something! What happened?" Aggron asked.
Rylan looked around. Everyone else was here. A wave of relief rushed over him.
"Barely managed to get here by myself…" Rylan explained. "I was travelling with Nidoran and Wingull, but something happened… It's hard to describe. One minute they were by my side, and the next, they were gone."
Several pairs of eyes widened.
"This…thing emerged from the shadows… I don't know what it was, but I think it made them disappear. Boss Raticate showed up and tried to attack me but the same thing happened to him soon after. There was no trace of him or his underlings left."
"You saw the mysterious culprit, in other words?" Gallade asked. "I think we may be on to something, friends."
"I continued following the route," Rylan went on, "but I was all alone and had few supplies. I had a hard time overcoming the aggressive Pokémon."
"What did the strange thing look like?" Aggron asked.
"I can't describe it very well," said Rylan. "I was the only one who could see it and feel its presence, but it looked like a large mass of black mist with eyes that just pierce right through you."
Gallade looked at Aggron, and Aggron nodded to him.
"What is it, Guildmaster?" Buizel asked.
"What Rylan saw..." Aggron explained, "is the legendary Pokémon, Giratina."
"Giratina?" asked the confused recruits.
"A beastly Pokémon that resides in the Distortion World," Aggron continued. "Here's the problem, though: Giratina is not a widely known Pokémon, and the only time it leaves the Distortion World is when it is provoked. It doesn't just go snatching innocents up of its own accord. I think someone is manipulating Giratina. That someone is our real culprit."
Aggron looked at everyone. "It is vital that we reach the top of this mountain as soon as possible," he said. "If this is indeed the work of Giratina, we have to reinforce the border between the Pokémon World and the Distortion World, or things will become chaotic here."
Everyone nodded their heads in acknowledgement.
"Rylan needs his sleep as soon as possible, so we will eat dinner right now," said Aggron.
The recruits gathered around the completed campfire and passed around the fruits and berries. They ate quietly, and nobody spoke to each other. Vulpix and Buizel were turning what Rylan and Aggron had said over and over again in their heads, trying to comprehend the situation. With a powerful Pokémon such as Giratina involved with this, things were going to be quite difficult.
After they finished, Rylan entered Team StarStruck's tent and laid down to sleep. Vulpix followed him and sat down next to him, watching over him protectively. Buizel later poked his head into the tent to see what Vulpix was doing.
"You're keeping an eye on him?" Buizel asked.
"Yeah," Vulpix replied. "He's been through a lot today and I want to make sure he stays safe. Wanna come in and sit down?"
"I'm not tired," said Buizel.
"Not much you can do outside at the moment," said Vulpix. "Besides, curfew is coming up. Come on inside and relax with me."
Buizel sighed and entered the tent, sitting next to Vulpix. "So…Giratina," he said. "Ever heard about him before?"
"Mother once mentioned the Distortion World to me," said Vulpix. "I can't remember the full conversation we had, but she joked around about it, saying that naughty little Pokémon are sent there when they don't behave themselves. She was always making up little stories to get me and my siblings to behave." Vulpix smiled and laughed.
"I think I remember you telling me about that, actually," Buizel said. "I liked your mother; she was really nice and really funny."
"Shame she didn't get along with your dad," said Vulpix. "Our families could have done a lot of neat things together."
Rylan opened his eyes a little bit. He had woken up and heard his teammates by his side, talking. He decided to listen.
He listened closely as Vulpix and Buizel talked about their own lives. Vulpix would often bring up her mother's sense of humor, and Buizel would frequently talk about how boastful and proud his father was. Not once during their conversation did Buizel bring up the incident with the humans, and it made him comfortable with listening to their stories.
"Curfew time!" Gallade warned from outside. "Nobody is allowed to leave their tent unless it's urgent! Goodnight, Pokémon!"
Vulpix peeked out of the tent. "It's been a while since I've seen a Full Moon," she said. "Take a look, Buizel."
Buizel peeked out and looked at the Moon. "Yeah, it's beautiful."
Vulpix laid back and stretched. "Buizel?" she asked.
Buizel laid down next to Vulpix. "Yeah?"
"Rylan… How do you feel about him lately? I'm curious," said Vulpix.
Rylan perked his ears.
"He's… Well, I can't say I like him, but… I don't dislike him, either. Truth be told, I think I'm getting a little jealous of him," Buizel replied.
"Jealous?" asked Vulpix. "How come?"
"Well, he's been advancing much faster than we have lately, and I also feel that he's been-"
Vulpix tilted her head. "He's been what?" she asked.
Buizel looked at Vulpix, then turned away, blushing slightly.
"You honestly don't think Rylan is trying to replace you, do you?" Vulpix inquired.
"I… Well, yeah," Buizel admitted outright. "I do."
Vulpix shook her head. "Buizel, you and I have been through so much together, and I love you dearly as a friend. Nobody could ever come between our friendship. Rylan is a new friend, yes, but friends don't replace other friends."
Rylan never felt like he was replacing Buizel. He did like Vulpix, but he did not feel as strongly about her as Buizel did, and he was happy that the two shared such a genuine bond with each other.
On the other hand, he was now starting to feel a little out of place. Did he really belong with these two? He did not know.