Hello, everyone! Ta-NI here once again, bringing another update to this story. We're entering a bit of a filler arc since the next big dungeon isn't for a few days, but I'm bringing you three chapters this time instead of two! The first two will be out today, and the third about a week later, since I want to build a little tension. Here's the first; enjoy!
Things quickly settled back to normal for our rescue team. All the team members welcome Sparky and me back, as well as greet Kira. Since I'm allowing myself to leave the base again, I help Sparky with training the other recruits, along with Sally and Mag. We'd run through a couple of lower-ranked dungeons to get their levels up, then take each team on a mid-level mission. Turns out each of the dungeons we visited during our exile were already registered, so we can return to them at any time. However, the paths leading to the deeper regions are blocked off, so we cannot reach the Birds or Ninetales at the moment. Speaking of Ninetales, during one of our runs up Mt. Freeze, I find an odd ice rock, which feels familiar…and yet, not. Before I can touch it, Sparky stops me and pockets the shard of rock with a smile, but refuses to elaborate on why.
We've had small tremors every morning, which is worrying. We also haven't heard any news about Team ACT. I know Sparky wants to go after them, but I caution him to wait a bit longer. "We don't know how big the dungeon is where Groudon lives," I remind him for the third time. "Trust in your favorite team for now."
"Fine," he sighs good-naturedly. "So, what's the plan for today?"
"Well…" I start before I'm interrupted.
"Excuse me?" I turn to see a small blue creature with her eyes closed, standing next to a much larger version of them. They both have the incense smell, so I guess they're psychic type. "My name's Wynaut, and my younger brother's Wobbuffet."
"WOBBUFFET!" he shouts in response.
Sparky leans closer and whispers, "Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he has a speech impediment; can't say anything but his species," she answers calmly.
"WOBBUFFET!"
There's a pause, then I choose to speak up. "Anyway, do you need our help?"
"Oh yes," she nods. "We left the notice on the Board; please read it."
"WOBBUFFET!"
The two run off after that, leaving us staring in silence. We look at each other, and then I chuckle. "Not the most awkward interaction we've had; that award still goes to Dugtrio."
Sparky smiles and shakes his head in return, and we finish our morning routine before heading for the Bulletin Board. Sure enough, the two psychic types were standing next to the Board, watching each Pokémon in hopes they pick their mission. Obligingly, we spot the notice in the bottom corner, titled in big letters, 'Punish Bad Mankey!'
"Punish bad mankey?" I ask aloud.
"Yes!" Wynaut speaks up right next to me, giving me a slight scare. "They've been making such a ruckus next to our home; please teach them a lesson so they'll calm down."
"WOBBUFFET!" her brother chimes in.
"Why do you live next to Uproar Forest?" Sparky asks, having read the notice over my shoulder. "Aren't you at risk of being swallowed by the mystery dungeon?"
"Nope!" she replies. "Our parents are extremely powerful psychics and erected a wall next to the dungeon; it can't spread in that direction."
"And yet it doesn't block sound?" I ask.
"Different psychic walls do different things," Sparky explains.
"Right!" she agrees. "Anyway, can you help us?"
"Of course we'll help," I reply. "I know it's a new dungeon, but-"
Sparky cuts me off. "Uproar Forest is a low-rank dungeon; with only like three floors. No need to kit out in preparation; we can leave immediately if you want."
"Cool, let's go!" I cheer, running back toward the edge of town. Sparky follows suit, giving me directions as we run.
Sure enough, Uproar Forest is located close by and near quite a few homes. We dive right into the dungeon, and I put my nose to work finding a path. As a result of our exile, my ability to avoid encounters has risen drastically. Along the way, we find the odd chestnut, as well as an odd rock that pulls at my attention. Once again, Sparky stops me from touching it and pockets a shard of the rock with a smile, but doesn't elaborate yet again. Soon, we reach the third and final floor relatively unscathed. In a small room near the back are three mankey, squabbling about something or another.
"Hey, knock it off!" I shout to get their attention. "You're disturbing the neighbors."
"Knock what off?" one of them yells back. "Can't you see we're too busy fighting?"
"Fighting about what?" Sparky inquires, though he probably knows the answer.
"ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!" they shout; apparently, mankey and their bigger cousins have so much energy that they constantly get into fights just to burn energy.
We brace for battle and leap at them. Despite being outnumbered, we have an easy time of it; after fighting legendary birds, a few weaker fighting types don't pose much of a challenge. I did spend more time dodging instead of attacking since their attacks would hurt me more than Sparky. Once we knock all three flat, we make them promise to behave for a few days; long enough for Wynaut's parents to erect a privacy wall. Then we head back to base to announce the job complete.
"Thank you!" Wynaut exclaims. "Unfortunately, we don't have much to offer as a reward…except this." He holds out a peeled chestnut.
"Oh…thanks," Sparky says, a little nonplussed; I guess even he's getting tired of mediocre rewards. However, suddenly we're interrupted again.
"HEY, YOU TWO!" A shout rings across the area, and we turn to see the three mankey again; they must have followed us from the dungeon! "We want a rematch!"
"Really?" I scoff, annoyed. "Fine; I'll take you on solo, then!"
They suddenly charge, and I brace for battle. But, then they skid to a stop, and the leader speaks up with a tremble in his voice. "W-wait! Is…is that a peeled chestnut you have there?"
"We love chestnuts," another explains. "However, we're bad at peeling them; the spikes hurt our hands, and we fly into a rage and crush them."
"If you give us that peeled chestnut, we'll call it even," the third begs. "Heck, we'll do anything you want instead."
"Anything?" Sparky muses, then beckons me over to one side. "You know, since we're making a name for ourselves now, we should think about making our base more…appropriate. But it's also your home, so…"
I shrug. "Sure, I don't mind."
He grins and turns back to the mankey. "Can you guys do hard labor? Like building and stuff?"
"Sure, we like hard stuff… but we don't really like work," the leader replies. "But, for that peeled chestnut, we can certainly try."
"We want to renovate our team base here, to make it look more like a proper base," Sparky explains. "If you'll help us, then we'll give you the chestnut."
"Oh, we can help too," Wynaut chimes in. "I feel bad that we had such a poor reward, so we'll do what we can also."
"Me too," a small voice also speaks. I turn to see Caterpie crawl up. "I can spit silk for curtains or bindings with my string shot."
"WOBBUFFET!" Wobbuffet agrees.
With a cheer, we all set to work however we can. However, the mankey trio quickly tire out, and demand more chestnuts to keep working. Thankfully, we got plenty during our first foray into Uproar Forest, and Sally is skilled enough to peel them for us. Within a couple of days, the base is complete!
Just before we put the finishing touches on the building, Sparky asks me to step away and hang out in town for some reason. When I get the signal to return, I quickly realize why: they made the base look like me! With a brown exterior, pointed ears, and windows where the eyes should be and the door in the mouth, the entire thing looks just like an eevee head.
I stare at Sparky curiously, and he states, "Well, you are the leader, and it's also your home, so…"
I shake my head but smile good-naturedly. "Fine, I'll allow it."
We congratulate each other on a job well done, but the mankey trio seems nonplussed. "Does this mean we don't get peeled chestnuts anymore?" the leader asks.
Sparky opens his mouth to agree, but I hold up a paw. "While we don't have more work for you, we'll can still bring you peeled chestnuts back in Uproar Forest…as long as you promise to keep your fighting to a minimum."
They readily agree and head back to the dungeon. Now it's Sparky's turn to regard me curiously. I explain, "If we refused them, they might have tried to undo their work in order to force us to pay them. This way, we save the base and keep them in line."
He looks down sheepishly, realizing the truth in my logic. We bid Wynaut, Wobbuffet, and Caterpie goodbye, and retire for the night. However, the next morning, shortly after I step outside at dawn, I notice an odd tail sticking out of one of my front bushes. Peering inside, I find a sleeping Pokémon with a paintbrush tail and spots on his back. His scent is similar to mine, so I figure he's the same type.
I give him a nudge with my paw, and he jolts awake. "S-sorry! I-I didn't mean to intrude…"
"No, it's fine; my partner does it all the time," I joke in an attempt to calm the Pokémon down. "Are you a client?"
"N-no," he replies. "Or…maybe. You see, in my tribe, we smeargle receive a pawprint on our back when we come of age. It's meant to signify that we will become great artists and bring honor to our family. However, I think it looks ugly and don't want to have it, so I ran away."
"And you came here because…?" I ask, not quite following.
"Well…if you let me join your rescue team, I don't have to get the mark," he says. "But…I'm not much of a fighter…"
"There you are," a voice interrupts and two other smeargle walk up. I notice these two look and smell much older, so they might be his parents. "Come back with us and get your pawprint. It's the only way to bring us honor."
I make a gut reaction and step between the young smeargle and the other two. "He has asked me to join Team Scent, and as its leader, I accept. Your son will do you honor in our rescue team."
They look a little taken aback, and ask, "Is this true?"
The young one nods, and the two older smeargle whisper to each other for a moment. With their backs to me, I notice the pawprint they are talking about and kind of agree it doesn't look appealing. Then, they turn back and say, "If that's your decision, then we wish you well. Do good for your team, and bring us honor." They leave without another word.
"Y-you really want me on your team?" the young smeargle asks. "But…I can't fight…"
"No, but I do know what you can do," I smile, then turn and point up to the flagpole next to the base. "If you can come up with a cool flag for our base, I'll let you stay free of charge."
"D-deal!" he exclaims. "Um…you said you're Team Scent? And you're the leader?"
"Yes, and my partner is co-leader; he's a pikachu," I elaborate. "I'm an eevee, of course."
"Right," he nods. "Give me a moment." He pulls out a scrap of white cloth from somewhere and starts waving his tail over it. Paint-like dye flows from its tip onto the cloth, slowly forming a pattern. After a few minutes (during which Sparky shows up and I fill him in), he stops and holds it up. "How's this?"
Painted on the cloth are two tails, Sparky's and my own, crossed in the center. In the center between them is a flower, with what are probably scent trails coming from it. All on a green background, it actually looks like art.
"Is that our team flag?" Sparky asks.
"Yep," I reply. "Pretty good, huh?"
He nods in thought. "I like it." He turns to the young smeargle. "What's your name, kid?"
"Simon, sir," he replies respectfully.
"Well, if Lauren says it's good enough, then it's fine by me. Welcome to Team Scent, Simon!" he boasts.
"T-thank you!" he cries. "I promise you won't regret this. And when you both evolve, I'll even change it to match your choices." He runs off to the Friend Areas, but something he says triggers a thought.
"By the way, Sparky, what's evolution?" I ask. "A few Pokémon have mentioned it now, but I never got the chance to ask."
"Well, it's kinda hard to explain," he replies. "Basically, when a Pokémon reaches a certain level or some other condition is met, they grow and change into their next form. I mean, Alakazam wasn't always like that; at some point, he evolved from an abra into a kadabra, and then again into Alakazam. However, recently the process has slowed considerably, so now it takes years to reach the point where evolution is possible."
"Then why do you find evolved Pokémon in the dungeons?" I ask.
He shrugs. "The prevailing theory is time is distorted within the dungeons, so the ferals reach the threshold much sooner than we civilized Pokémon do. The difficult part, however, is the choice of what to become. Pikachu like myself have only one option: Raichu, but that's only with a thunderstone, and a bunch of training. However, eevees like you have eight different options as to what they can become."
"WHAT?!" I exclaim.
"Yeah," he consoles. "You remember the odd rock shards you found in Uproar Forest and on Mt. Freeze? They can be used to evolve yourself; that's why I stopped you from touching them. I won't say what, because it's better to have all your options before you first. Besides, like I said, it might be years before you're ready; best not to worry about it now."
"All right," I concede, though I am still curious. We head out on our usual routine, then end the day. That night, though, I dreamed of what I could become. Will I still be the same Pokémon if I evolve? Will evolving make me less of a human?
There, knocked out both the extra sidequests in one chapter. Admittedly, I think it's impossible to find enough chestnuts in the Forest in-game on one go to satisfy the mankey trio, but it didn't make much sense for our heroes to retread the dungeon again mid-chapter, so I fudged a little. Also, any guesses on what Lauren will evolve into? At this point in the story, she has access to about half of her options, so speculate away!
The next chapter will have a bit more story, but no dungeons. However, it will have a prelude to something REALLY interesting! Stay tuned, and please read and review, and may your Ember never fade!