As the group opened the door, Plasma saw a medium-sized room, with torches on the walls for light. There was some sort of throne-like chair atop a raised plain. Sitting in the chair, there was a female Serperior who had a blue color where most Serperiors had a darker shade of green. She must be shiny, Plasma thought. He assumed this was Masuta, the guild master Sosharu mentioned.
Everyone around him looked nervous and doubtful, but Plasma kept a face of determination.
Masuta rose slightly from her throne and studied each of the group. She exhaled heavily, and lowered back down into the chair.
"What do you want?" Masuta said with a powerful voice.
Plasma stepped forward. There was no turning back now. "We want to form an exploration team!" he yelled.
Masuta shifted around in her throne. "And why should I let you? Exploration is hard work. And you're all low-leveled. Not to mention basic Pokémon."
Plasma gulped. "We're hard workers! We'll make up for our weakness in loyalty, and effort. You'll see if you give us the chance to show you."
"Hm. Yes. And why do you want to form an exploration team?"
Patona stepped forward with Plasma. "I've always dreamed of exploring unknown places," she said with hope in her voice. "I always see explorers venturing off to find new places, or to explore mystery dungeons... And I want to do that too. I know how hard and dangerous it must be, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to become a true explorer."
Magby stepped forward. "I'd be a great explorer!" he said. "I've been training hard to be stronger. I can fight pretty well, if I say so myself. I know a bunch of different battle techniques, and I'd have no problem taking out enemies we encounter!"
Sosharu finally joined them. "I don't know too much about fighting," he said, "but I can climb, run, and travel just about anywhere. I have great stamina, and can venture to far-off places if you need me to. I like to think I'm pretty useful for exploration, but bigger teams don't accept me. So I think this is my chance to prove to them I'm just as capable as any of them."
"And I..." Plasma looked straight into Masuta's eyes, "I need to find out why I'm here. All I know is my name, Plasma. I don't know who I am, or where I came from, but I will find out. We will be the ones to solve the case of appearing Pokémon. And after that's done, we'll continue exploring this region, and find whatever hasn't been found by anyone yet. So please..." He took a deep breath. "Let us form an exploration team!"
Masuta seemed surprised for a second, then closed her eyes as if she were in deep thought. "You four are very determined. You have that. And a group of four weak Pokémon is a bit better than one strong Pokémon. So, I suppose..." She paused. "Let me get something."
Masuta went into a back room behind the throne. Plasma could hear shuffling, like she was going through storage. After about a minute, she came out with 4 bags and 4 pink bandanas. Throwing them in front of the group, she went back to her seat.
"What is your team name?" She asked.
"Name?" Plasma said. "I hadn't thought about-"
"Everlast!" Patona exclaimed, interrupting Plasma. "Team Everlast!"
"Okay," Masuta said. "Everlast. Team Everlast, these bags and bandanas are yours; symbols of exploration and determination. I trust you will do well, and hope to see you accomplish great things. Now, go out there and explore."
The new Team Everlast but their bandanas on and picked up their bags.
"Thank you!" Plasma and Patona said at the same time. They smiled at each other and left the room with Magby and Sosharu.
As they opened the door to exit, the few Pokémon standing on the other side saw their bags and bandanas. They began clapping and congratulating Team Everlast.
An Electabuzz shook hands with Plasma, a Grotle playfully bumped into Sosharu, and a Charmeleon hugged Magby. Patona sat smiling, and watched her new teammates. She saw how happy everyone was.
Just earlier today we thought we'd never be an exploration team, she thought. She looked at Plasma, who was smiling and laughing. It's because of him. This strange Pokémon who appeared out of nowhere. His boldness and leadership is what we needed. And we got it from a total stranger.
After around ten minutes, a Riachu brought Team Everlast to their new room. The team rooms were down the hall that Plasma hadn't been down yet, and there were several rooms already decorated to the team's liking. In their room, there were four small beds, but no furniture or decorations, other than a lantern hanging from the ceiling. They entered the room, and Raichu left them to themselves.
"A brand new room!" Magby exclaimed, claiming a bed as his own. Sosharu chose the bed to the right of Magby's, Patona choosing the one in front of Magby's, which left Plasma with the bed to the right of Patona.
"This is a brand new beginning for us," Sosharu announced. "As Team Everlast. All thanks to this guy!" He punched Plasma's shoulder.
They laughed together, and talked about different things going on in the guild. Sosharu filled Plasma in on the region and relations between guilds. All the guilds were neutral toward each other, excluding the north guild. They were hostile toward all except the western guild. Sosharu wasn't sure why, but he said it was most likely some sort of history with past guild masters.
"I'm beat," Plasma said, yawning. "I think I'm ready to try out this bed." He went to lie down on his bed. "Can somebody get the lantern?" Magby put the lantern out, and soon everyone was laying in their bed.
As he closed his eyes, Plasma felt someone hug his back. They were warm and soft, and slightly smaller than him.
"Thank you," Patona whispered in his ear. "You have no idea how much this means to me." She let go of him and went back to her bed.
Thank you, Patona, Plasma thought, as he drifted to sleep.
Tomorrow would be Team Everlast's first day on the job.