Mossy Town 8F

Keep running. Don't stop. Don't let them find you. Don't let them know what you have become.

I buffeted the Sigilyph with an Ancient Power, knocking it out of the sky. I ran past it, through the alleyway between two abandoned houses. Keep running.

I exited the alleyway-like corridor, coming to a clearing. A horde of dungeon mon dropped down, and yet I felt nothing but fear and anger as I threw a one-shot orb at the Thwackey in front of me.

Once the smoke cleared, I was the only survivor.

There was no time to waste, and I fled through a corridor. Still haven't found the stairs. I plucked a pure seed from my bag and plopped it in my mouth. I ran up the stairs, yet I felt no sense of accomplishment.

Mossy Town 9F

I kept running, throwing a Foongus in my way into a wall. I didn't bother to check which kind of dungeon mon it was. I had to keep running. I had to.

Or my clan will find me, and discover what I had become.

Down a corridor. I sent a Timburr flying. I kept running into the next room. A Carnivine stood in my path. An aura of shadow surrounded me, as I rushed it, sending it across the room. I ignored the recoil. Keep running.

I passed by a fresh apple. I felt no desire to sell it, so I ate it then and there as I ran.

I ignored the emera dust coating the ground of the corridor, as I entered the next room.

In there, in the middle of the room, was a gold ribbon. One of those could net us thousands of Poke if sold.

It served no use for me anymore. It would only take up space. I ignored it, and ran down another corridor.

I had to keep running. I couldn't let my clan find me.

Why couldn't I feel anything for them, my family? Why did I only feel this fear and sadness towards them? Why couldn't I feel any sort of fondness for when I ran the Kecleon Shop with my brother? Why was it so uncomfortable to even think of returning to them?

Why why why why why?

Brother, I'm sorry.

Saltriv's Home

Light shined onto my face, as I opened my eyes, the round orange room revealing itself to me. This didn't look anything like-

Oh. Right.

I brought a furry, stubby arm in front of my face, and sighed.

It must not have been a dream after all.

I pushed the blanket off of me, and stood up, wobbling on my tiny legs. I was still in that Chikorita's house. I think their name was Saltriv?

"You're finally awake!" I heard a familiar voice yell, as a Chikorita with a red leaf ran into the room. That must have been them. I waved awkwardly at them.

"So what do you think of my home? Pretty cool place!" they said, a bright smile on their face.

"Uh, yeah. Pretty neat," I told them, not sure what else to say.

Their smile lessened a bit, "So, what do you remember?"

I was about to ask what they meant, then I remembered. I had lied about having amnesia. I had to keep up that lie, or else nobody here would trust me.

"Just my name, and a few other things," I lied.

"Like what?" they asked.

"Types, berries, stuff like that."

"Oh," they said, disappointment permeating their voice, before they perked right back up. "Come on! Let's go!"

"Go where?" I asked, confused.

"Outside! I want to see what's changed in the village, and mom won't let me go outside without a companion now!"

I hesitated to agree. Would this be a good idea? I barely knew anyone here! What if they started asking me questions? Then again, I could learn more about this village, and maybe even why I'm here.

After a few moments, I said, "Sure," to Saltriv's cheers.

"This way!" they told me, running through the doorway. I stumbled after them, coming to the room with the table and radio. The Meganium and Torterra were in there, discussing something, but before I could find out what, the latter noticed us enter.

"Going outside?" the Torterra asked us, to which Saltriv nodded in response.

"Stay safe, stay with each other, and don't stray outside the village!" the Meganium told us.

"We will!" Saltriv said, as we exited the house.

Overcast Village

The place was somehow still covered in fog. That was odd, but not the weirdest thing I've seen here.

I didn't have much time to ponder that, as Saltriv ran down the road. I ran after them. As we ran, we passed by a Tyrogue, as well as a Pokemon I didn't recognize that looked like a cracked teapot. I managed to hear a bit of what they were talking about.

"Did you hear about that monster that attacked PNS-NT?" the teapot Pokemon asked the Tyrogue. A monster!?

"Of course! It was all over the news!" the Tyrogue replied.

"Can you believe it? A creature that's half Arctoar, half Ruzolt…"

"And attacking that Porygon-Z like a wild dungeon mon!"

"Greetings! I haven't seen you around town before! Are you new here?" the teapot Pokemon said, turning towards me.

"I am," I answered. In more ways than one.

"Be careful around here. Lots of Pokemon have been going missing lately," the Tyrogue said.

"Noted," I replied.

"Gen! Hurry up!" Saltriv yelled from down the road.

"Sorry!" I yelled back, as I ran towards them, giving the two Pokemon I was talking to a small wave.

Soon, I caught back up to Saltriv. "What took you so long?" they asked.

"I was talking to those two Pokemon back there," I explained motioning to their figures disappearing into the fog.

"Oh, Tyrogue and Polteageist! They run the cafe in the Tree Plaza!" Saltriv said.

"Tree Plaza?" I questioned.

"There's three town plazas in Overcast Village! The Top Plaza, which is the highest one, and where the road out of the village is. The Tree Plaza, which is centered around one big tree. And the Riverside Plaza, which is where we're going!" they explained.

Why were there three plazas?

Soon, the sound of a flowing river reached my ears, as we entered a wide, circular area.

"Here we are!" Saltriv announced.

The place was just as large as the plaza at the entrance to the village. The first thing I noticed was a tent of vibrant reds and blues and pale yellows and blacks, reminiscent of the Porygon-Z I met yesterday. Was that where they lived? It didn't seem to be, it looked too small to live in. Beside it was a large, hollowed out tree stump with a sign above the entrance, depicting various scarves, capes, and other apparel. On the opposite side of the plaza was a large, dome-shaped building covered with the markings of the Togepi line. Next to it was another tent fashioned after the head of a Sirfetch'd, one of which was inside the tent, wielding their leek as they talked to a Leafeon. Beyond the far side of the plaza, I could see a river running through the forest, almost touching the plaza itself. That must be why it's called the Riverside Plaza. Next to the river, there was a blue, black and yellow building with an intricate yellow design of some sort above the entrance, and a large blue dome topping it.

"I see Grapploct finally got her dojo running again!" Saltriv said, looking towards that last building.

I didn't get a chance to ask what they meant, as a familiar Charmander emerged from the entrance to the Togepi-like structure. Saltriv immediately ran towards him with a cry of, "Burhalla!" I hurried after them.

"Saltriv!" Burhalla yelled in delight. "Just who I was looking for!"

"Huh?" Saltriv responded.

"Has everything been ok since yesterday? Since, you know…" Burhalla asked.

"Everything's been great! Dad was really happy to see me, and Gen's staying with us for now!" Saltriv answered.

Burhalla smiled in return. "Great! Anyways, I was wondering if-" he began, before noticing me. "Hi Gen! Sorry I couldn't bring you to the mayor yesterday. We can do that now if you want."

"It's...I can wait," I told him. I wasn't looking forward to what that conversation would entail.

He gave me a confused look, before nodding and turning back to Saltriv. "Anyways, Saltriv, I was wondering if you'd like to form a search party with me?"

Saltriv's eyes widened, "Really? Why?"

"So many Pokemon have been going missing lately, and not enough are being found. I want to help. I've already helped find you and Patrat, but I want to do more," Burhalla said. "I want to be like the exploration team that helped me."

A few moments passed, until Saltriv announced, "I'll join!"

Burhalla smiled brightly, and said, "Saltriv, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!"

Saltriv smiled in return, before tilting their head to the side. "Don't you need three members to start a search party? Who's our third member?" They asked.

"I was going to ask Aron and Rockruff if they'd like to join, too. If they don't…I'll think of something," Burhalla explained.

A search party? I wondered what that entailed. From the looks of it, they'd be looking for Pokemon that had gone missing. How often would that happen? I probably wouldn't be able to see them very much. What would I do then? I would be without my guides to this world. I'd be alone.

I didn't want to be alone.

"Let's ask them now!" Saltriv suggested, beginning to walk away.

"WAIT!" I yelled reflexively. Both of them stared at me.

I had just yelled that on reflex, but now I had their attention. Maybe I could convince them not to do this? No, Burhalla seemed really adamant about doing this, and that might turn him against me.

Maybe...

"Could I join?" I asked the two, hoping that I wasn't making a mistake.

Both of them seemed taken aback.

"You're serious? You don't even know any moves!" Burhalla said. "You couldn't do a thing to that Pikipek!"

Right. I still had no idea how to do moves. That could be an issue. But I had to try to convince them, or I'd be lost in this world.

"I can learn them!" I replied.

Neither of them spoke a word.

"Please? I...I don't want to be alone," I pleaded.

A few moments passed, then Burhalla spoke up.

"Are you willing to work out in the Grapploct Dojo and learn moves there?" he questioned.

I barely had any idea what that entailed, though I didn't have much of a choice. I nodded.

"Are you willing to head into danger with us?" he asked.

I hesitated. How dangerous was this going to be? What if I died out there? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

No. I couldn't back down now.

Besides, Burhalla and Saltriv would hopefully have my back.

I nodded.

Burhalla smiled. "You can join," he answered.

I was filled with joy. I managed to convince them!

Hopefully this wouldn't be too dangerous.

"Welcome to the team!" Saltriv cheered.

"On that note, what should our team be named?" Burhalla asked.

So we needed a name for our group? Hm...

"How about Team Adventure?" I suggested.

"Too boring," Burhalla replied. "I say we go with Team Light."

Drat. "Doesn't that sound a bit pretentious?" I critiqued. "Team Search, maybe?"

"That'd get confusing quickly," Burhalla told me. "What if we combine them? Team Adventure Light Search!"

I was about to shut that idea down, before Saltriv spoke up. "That might work!" Quietly, they muttered, "Team Adventure Light, Team Light Search, Team Search Light…," before suggesting, "Team Searchlights!"

"I like it!" Burhalla said. "What do you think, Gen?"

That actually sounded pretty good. Even better than Team Adventure! And it even combined me and Burhalla's ideas!

"Sounds great!" I told them. A wide smile appeared on Saltriv's face.

"Hooray!" they cheered.

"From now on, we're Team Searchlights!" Burhalla declared. "I'll mail in everything and tell my dad. We should be registered before midday. Meet me in the Top Plaza by then, and we'll decide what to do from there. Sounds good?"

Saltriv nodded, as did I.

"Great!" Burhalla said, before walking away. "I'll see you then!"

"Come on! I need to tell mom and dad!" Saltriv spoke, and we ran back the way we came.

I didn't truly know what this would entail, but at least I wouldn't be alone.

Now, we were a team!