PMD: The Starlit Forest - Ch.2


Author's Note


Back with yet another chapter! I'm currently writing my fanfiction stuff on my lunch break at work, so these last few weeks have been the most productive I've been with this material in years. You can expect to see much more from me in the coming months, though which project I decide to focus on will wholly depend on what ideas I have flowing around in my brain while at work. Sorry to any Imagine fans. It might be a while still, as I've yet to come up with a suitable plot for the fanfic to progress with. There's only so much I can do with imagination powers without compromising Dream's character development, so more brainstorming is in order.

As for this chapter and the fanfic at large, I've finally decided on the direction I want this thing to go. You'll notice some familiar elements as things progress (including some unusual twists on events from the games), but in general, I'm aiming for a unique approach to building a PMD world, starting with the guild. Happy reading!

-EMG


Starglow Guild – Entrance


Herra didn't hesitate in taking us to the guild. Not that I could complain, much less wanted to, but Verdant seemed particularly miffed. The meowstic's mere presence seemed to bring life to the former empty streets of the market, which meant a loss of profits for the proper seamstress. Nonetheless, I couldn't help but feel excited. I was going to meet the guildmaster!

"Watch your step! The stairs are steeper than you think," warned Herra as we approached the guild, an ancient, castle-like structure with a massive tree growing out of its roof. The surrounding architecture was unlike that of Starglow itself, featuring regal, stone walls that towered above the city streets like giants. At the center of the structure was a dome with a glass ceiling, through which the massive tree stretched far beyond the clouds. "Evelyn's attempting to update them, but she's in a fierce battle with the city council at the moment." Despite the apparent setback, Herra seemed oddly elated.

"Isn't that bad?" I huffed, heaving myself up the first few steps. They weren't as steep as they were huge. "You'd think this place was built for large pokemon only." Rather than continue the struggle, I clambered onto the staircase's sloped, stone railing and began to scale it. "Much better!"

"Eve! What if you fall?" lectured Ally. "Haven't you had enough danger after that zorua attack?"

"I'll bet this railing's safer than those stairs." I shrugged. A fall from any of those steps would surely cause a concussion. No wonder the guildmaster wanted them replaced. "Stop worrying so much or you'll end up shiny." I snickered.

Ally frowned, unamused. "I'll worry as much as I need to with you."

Herra's tails flicked sharply. "Girls, please stop the bickering. I'd hate to send the two of you home." She cast a strict glance backward as we reached the entrance. A grand hall opened up before us, not unlike a fancy palace. The explorer's counterpart to the request board stood off to the right of the door alongside a set of benches meant for relaxing. "All right then." She clapped her paws together and whirled on us. "You'll find Guildmaster Evelyn in her chambers on the second floor. Just take the staircase up to the loft and make a right. She'll be at the end of the hall!"

"And what about you?" I hopped down from the railing and landed in a roll, flopping messily onto my belly. "Oww…"

Herra giggled, breaking her professional façade. "I have to take this one to the infirmary, but I'll catch up. Hopefully, Aloe knows how to properly treat a mew." She nudged my side with one of her tails. "Make sure I don't have to do the same with you." The meowstic offered little more than a grin before retreating into the castle and disappearing into the bustling crowd.

Verdant was the first to move, strutting ahead with her back turned, a curious gaze trained on me and Ally. "You heard her." The sprigatito whirled around and pushed through the crowd towards the entrance, leaving the two of us to scramble after her.

"Wait up!" I charged ahead, stumbling into a mix of startled and angry explorers as I passed. Ally, it seemed, took the slow approach. "We're supposed to go as a team."

"Team?" Verdant let loose a chuckle. "You and Ally, maybe. I'm not fit for travel or fighting."

I stumbled over her words. "You're not interested in joining? Then why are you here?" I scowled. "You said you'd help out."

"And that I will. There are more roles to exploration teams than you've considered." A proud expression adorned her whiskered cheeks. "Successful teams need a good image. Something iconic. Lucky for you, I'm skilled at building just that!"

"I…guess I don't have a problem with that." I shrugged. "You can handle all of that confusing business. I'm not sure if Evelyn will let you get by without participating in the other guild functions though."

The seamstress sighed. "Then I'll do what I must. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." We bounded up the stairs and gazed down from the top of the loft. Ally had yet to catch up, but that alone wasn't the reason for our pause. The loft's height gave us a perfect view of the entry, which was more of a ballroom than an ordinary entrance. A fancy, crystal chandelier hung down mere feet from the top of the loft. It wasn't just for show; however. Glowing forest leaves had been stuffed into glass spheres at the tips of the furnishing, bathing the floor below in an aurora of color.

Glossy, ebony wood sprawled out beneath the paws of citizens and explorers alike as they moved about the entrance hall. The polished wood was interrupted only by a small, circular garden at the center of the room which housed the base of the tree from earlier. Near the garden was a hollowed-out burrow that functioned as an office, and the domed skylight provided a perfect view of the sky as the tree grew beyond the building.

"Are you sure this is a guild? It feels like a king could live here." I posed, marveling at the glimmer of sunlight from the glass overhead.

"It used to be." Ally collapsed in a sweaty heap upon reaching the loft. "This place used to be where the royals lived before they moved down to central Veralos. Queen Celosia thought it would be more useful as a public facility."

"Celosia, huh? Why do royal people always have elaborate names like that?" I frowned. "It's a nice name, but I don't get it."

"Your name's Evening." Ally teased. "I don't see you having complaints about that." She giggled.

My cheeks burned as I turned away. "D-don't call me that."

"You walked right into it, I'm afraid." Verdant bumped my side and trotted ahead. "Come on, then! Let's not keep Evelyn waiting."


Starglow Guild - Guildmaster's Chamber


A plain, ebony door with a golden plaque was all that greeted us as we reached the end of the hall. Evelyn's office was surprisingly…simple. The plaque lacked any form of last name or pleasantry, simply stating 'Evelyn'. The outside looked more like the entrance to a healer's office than the dwelling of a high-profile guildmaster. Nonetheless, the inside at least had some furnishings. Several bookshelves lined the back wall, stuffed well beyond what should've been full capacity. An overflow of loose papers and file folders slipped down from one side, ending in a disorganized mess atop a nearby filing cabinet. The only thing keeping the spill at bay was a pot of pink, star-shaped lilies that, supposedly, served as a distraction.

A large, ebony desk separated the disorganized half of the room from the entrance, at which sat an occupied espeon. She didn't notice us enter, but the 'Kits are our future' doormat in the entry gave a clear indication of her side gig. "Umm… Hello? Miss Evelyn?"

Pinkish-purple ears perked at the sound of my voice, and the espeon raised her head. "Oh! You must be the recruits Herra alerted me about." She flashed a warm smile. Her sapphire gaze lingered curiously on me before switching to the others. "Well then, it's good to meet you three. I'll have to admit, I cannot condone your actions in accepting that request." She paused, then adjusted the frame of her thin, metal reading glasses. "Rescue missions of any kind are to be carried out strictly by guild personnel. What you three did was incredibly irresponsible." Her expression hardened. "Of course, I can't ignore the request's placement on the civilian board. I'll have to speak with our staff regarding that blunder." She sighed and rubbed her temple. "Nonetheless I acknowledge it wasn't your fault. Additionally, it was a success. Barring your run-in with that outlaw, you saved that kit. How a mew ended up in our neck of the woods is beyond me, but that's a matter for another time." Her smile returned as stacks of papers began to rearrange themselves around her desk. They were…worryingly thick. "Now then, our first order of business. The boring stuff. You don't all have to complete the paperwork. Just one copy will do, but we'll need info on all of you regardless of your position."

Ally raised her paw as if to be called on by a teacher. "I'll take care of that. I think Eve would rather get to something exciting." She cast a teasing glance my way.

I stuck my tongue out in response. "Hey, umm! If Ally's going to handle the boring stuff, can Verdant and I skip to the next part?"

Evelyn's tail twitched with amusement. "Eager are we?" Her eyes shone briefly as the stack of papers levitated neatly into Ally's paws. "Typically we have new recruits wait until their paperwork is settled, but very well. We'll have you two start with orientation." She slid from her seat and padded for the door. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you where you need to go. Our orientation is rather special compared to other guilds. It requires a certain venue." Without so much of an explanation, she flipped around and trotted out the door. Not wanting to be left behind, we followed suit, leaving Ally to fill out papers alone.


Starglow Guild - Crystal Chamber


Evelyn led us the full way across the loft until we reached the opposing hallway, at the end of which was yet another ordinary door. This one, however, featured a far more elaborate plaque adorned with fashionable crystals of various shapes and colors, along with the phrase 'Crystal Chamber'. "Now, please be aware that this room is off-limits to recruits beyond orientation." She eyed us closely. "We've dismissed teams in the past for violating this rule, so I suggest you heed my warning." She produced a key from her treasure bag and unlocked the door.

Padding forward, we set foot on something far smoother than waxed ebony. Clear, crystal-layered flooring stretched out from beneath our paws, twinkling under the bioluminescent glow of a Starglow forest canopy. At the center of the room was a glass pedestal, on top of which sat a peculiar, opalescent crystal.

"What is that?" I gasped in awe. My eyes were practically glued to the peculiar stone. It was almost mesmerizing. "What's it have to do with orientation?" I tore my eyes away, aware that the others were beginning to stare.

Evelyn chuckled and padded forward. "This is our soul crystal." She placed a forepaw on its slick surface. It began to glow on contact and…so did she? "These are exceptionally rare. Only a few guilds in the world have one at the moment, though there are plans to rectify that."

Verdant rubbed the tip of her muzzle, a pensive expression adorning her grassy cheeks. "That's all well and good, but the way you're glowing can't be normal."

"Some would say the same about the plants surrounding our city." She gestured to the foliage-covered ceiling. "It's perfectly natural I assure you. These crystals are composed of a mineral mined from deep in the earth known as zionutrite. When fashioned into crystals like this one, zionutrite is capable of synchronizing with the souls of pokemon. I'd have our specialist give you a briefing, but they're away for a conference at the moment."

"So it just makes you glow?" I frowned. "It's cool, but I'd rather have a badge or something. Like all the famous teams. Oh! And a treasure bag! I've heard those are really useful!"

"That's precisely what this part of orientation is for." She paused. "Allow me to demonstrate." The espeon's glowing form intensified, then as quickly as it began, the light shrunk down to a single point in the center of her chest. "At my guild, I prefer something a bit more verifiable than the typical explorer badge. You'll still have one of course, but in the center…" She pressed her paw to her chest and, as she pulled it away, a smaller, ethereal crystal emerged from her body, floating delicately above her upheld paw. "You'll have a replica of this."

The crystal's ghostly luster had me at a loss for words. It was like a smaller version of the soul crystal; however, it lacked the opalescent quality that the larger stone possessed. Instead, most of its surface was dotted with hexagonal faces that shone the same color as Evelyn's eyes. There didn't seem to be an end to the number of faces the crystal had, yet each one had its own color. "What is that?" I blinked. Not even the gemstone Herra recovered shone with the same spectral sheen.

Evelyn's tail fluttered about, seemingly thrilled at the prospect of teaching. "You're looking at my soul." It flashed brighter when she acknowledged its presence. "Not many know about the existence of soul crystals." She draped her twin tails across the surface of said crystal. "Those who do use them as a method of identification. As you can imagine, it's rather difficult to falsify a soul. Quite impossible actually. For this reason, we fashion replicas for use on the guild badges of our recruits. These badges share similar functionality to the soul stone as well; however, their utility is limited to emergency teleportation. Your souls serve as a unique way to identify you in case you run into trouble."

"Curious how something so useful hasn't been exploited for profit." Verdant frowned. "Then again, I suppose the idea of a gemstone that can reveal a pokemon's soul is preposterous enough to raise a few eyebrows."

"That's rather observant of you." The studious guildmaster nodded. "In any case, while we wait for your companion, it'd be wise to get started." Her steady gaze fell upon me. "It's Evening, correct? I've seen you wandering about near the guild from time to time. It's good to see you finally decided to enter." She chuckled. "Would you care to go first?" She stepped aside, letting her soul return to its rightful place.

"I…don't see why not." I padded forward hesitantly and pressed my paw against the soul crystal. The same glow that enveloped Evelyn earlier now coated my form.

Evelyn nodded in approval. "Now…" She began. "Guide the light inward toward your chest and let it out." She brought her paw up and gently guided it downward, as if the visual aid would make the act of releasing my own soul any easier.

"Like this?" I mimicked her movements, and just as it'd done with Evelyn, the light slowly converged on the center of my chest until it was nothing but a small, glowing dot. "T-this isn't dangerous, is it?" I asked, my paw trembling as I brought it to my chest. Just the idea that I could hold something as important as my own soul gave me chills. What if I dropped it?

"It's perfectly safe, I assure you," Evelyn reassured. "All of our recruits have been through the same process in the past."

I nodded, then hesitantly pulled my paw forward. Along with it emerged a small, pink crystal, followed by a brief wave of exhaustion. "All right, uhh… What do I do with it?"

"Nothing." Evelyn circled around the crystal as it hovered above my paw. Much like Evelyn's soul, the majority of the crystal's surface was covered in pink polygonal faces; however, there were several smaller, multicolored faces sprinkled throughout, some too small to see. The core of the crystal, made visible by the transparency of its surface, was a comfy, royal purple. "That's enough, put it back." Her voice wavered.

"What do you mean?" I frowned. It felt pointless to put it back right as I finished. I wanted to look it over more, especially if this were my only opportunity. "Is something wrong?" The espeon's eyes flicked to the soul and then back to me. On closer inspection, one of the faces, a large one, was a faded, transparent gray.

"It's nothing." She averted her gaze, then her expression softened. "You just looked exhausted is all. We've had more than a few recruits faint over the years during this phase of orientation. I thought you looked unwell, but it seems I was mistaken." Even as the guildmaster repeated the same process with Verdant, I couldn't help but wonder what she meant. I don't get it. What made me so different?


Starglow Guild – Infirmary


Once Verdant finished 'summoning' her soul, Evelyn sent us straight back to Herra. Our orientation wasn't even over, yet Evelyn found it necessary to hold a secret conversation with my sister. The green-eyed eevee had yet to finish her paperwork, and admittedly I was a bit grumpy. I wanted to see what my sister's soul looked like, not Verdant's…even though hers was pretty.

Verdant paused at the door to the infirmary. Her stare was so steady that, at least from this distance, she looked like a cyclops. "Try not to touch anything here, Eve. Your paws aren't exactly the steadiest around."

"Not so close!" I pulled away just as her nose touched mine. "Has anyone ever told you that you stare a lot?"

"I'm a cat." She flicked her tail and arched her back for emphasis. "Staring is something we do. Just ask Firethorn. She's a bit more…temperamental, but littens count." She bumped the door open with her rear and slid inside, leaving me to contemplate what she meant.

The infirmary was the most ordinary room we'd been in since entering the guild. It wasn't quite as bland as Evelyn's office, yet it had everything that would be expected from a workplace for healers. Several beds, all far comfier looking than my bundle of hay and grass, were lined up from the door to the far wall, each with a complete set of matching sheets, feather pillows, and comforters. Medical equipment adorned the walls both across from and near the beds, ranging from tasty looking to downright terrifying, and there was a noticeable minty scent in the air. "I hope I don't have to come here often." I shuddered and hid my tail between my legs.

"You will!" spoke a nurse, the leafeon popping up from behind a nearby bed. "Explorers always do. It's how we get paid!" She flicked her tail humorously and began combing through my fur.

"Wha? Hey! Paws off!" I stepped back, prompting a fit of laughter from the perky healer.

"Sorry." She backed away and folded her leafy tail neatly over her paws. "Just a practical joke. All of the healers do it to new recruits on their first visit." She flashed an apologetic grin. "On the bright side, you're clear of ticks."

"As if I'd let those…things invade my fur!" I huffed. "My name's Eve, by the way. And she's Verdant." I flicked my tail toward the sprigatito, who seemed far more interested in the design of a set of curtains than in introducing herself.

"I'm Aloe, the head of the guild's medical staff." She smiled in greeting. "And yes, I know. Herra told me you'd be coming." The teal-eyed leafeon nodded toward a bed near the end of the room where a familiar meowstic sat in waiting.

Herra waved us over. "Glad you finally noticed! I thought I'd have to greet you myself." She shook her head. "How was orientation?"

"Weird… Were those really our souls?" I asked, still unsure about what I'd witnessed in the crystal-floored room. "And if they were, can we do it again?" I pouted. "I want to see what my sister's looks like."

Herra held up her paws for silence. "I'll see what I can do. Evelyn can be strict sometimes, especially regarding that room." She chuckled. "Anyway, your client is stable." She gestured to the sheets, beneath which rested the brown-furred mew from before. "Whatever you decide to do, at least one of you should remain here in case she wakes up. Remember, what comes next is your responsibility. The ability to work with clients of any age is a necessary skill for any explorer." She fixed her gaze on the young mew. "With this one, I'd suggest you keep your tone cheerful. She'll likely be afraid when she wakes up given what happened." She swept a paw lightly over the kit's forehead. "She's a kit, so the authoritative approach won't go over as well as it would with older folk, even if it seems cool."

"I'll do it." I volunteered. As boring as spending hours in the infirmary sounded, a part of me felt responsible for what happened. We couldn't have prevented it, but I couldn't shake the feeling that an actual team would've found her sooner."

"That's settled then." Herra turned to Verdant. "Your paperwork should be finalized by now. If you'd like to discuss your team's appearance before Evelyn assigns your equipment, I'll gladly put in a word with her. You'll have to wait to schedule a meeting otherwise."

Verdant trained her amber eyes on my hat, then shook her head. "I'll need time to come up with designs. A simple fedora won't cut it, even if hers is a quality piece." She clambered onto the edge of the bed. "As much as I'd like to take advantage of the offer, I'd better stay and keep Eve company."

Herra nodded. "If you're sure." She gathered a few belongings and slid from the bed. "If you get a name from her, let Aloe or Evelyn know. If by chance mews have parents, they'll be looking for her." The meowstic said her goodbyes to Aloe, then left the infirmary, leaving us alone with the sleeping kit.

"Any idea how long this could take?" I asked Verdant, joining the sprigatito on the bed. The young mew hadn't made a peep since we'd arrived, and, aside from her soft breathing, it didn't seem likely that she would anytime soon.

"If she's anything like you? All day." The artsy cat laid her head in her paws and fixed her gaze on the legendary. I wasn't sure what I was going to say once the kit woke up, but something told me our orientation wouldn't seem so strange by the end of the day.