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Chapter Text

Alex Russet, the human turned Snivy and Thunder the Pikachu are the well renowned heroes of Pokemar and the founders of Team New Hope. For years the duo has fought side by side, battling outlaws, rescuing pokemon in distress, and saving the world twice. The second time, however, threatened to end their partnership.

In the aftermath of the Planetary Paralysis Crisis, Alex and Thunder were now from separate timelines, remembering different versions of their loyal friend. Doubt crept into their minds and the fear that the two of them, once joined at the hip, would drift apart. But fortune would ensure that such a fate would not befall them. An unexpected adventure to another world would see to that.

This world, known as Terranor, was one where pokemon and humans coexisted. Not all was peaceful, however, as the infamous Team Rocket, a far reaching organized crime syndicate, had been working on a sinister plot known as Project Mewtwo. This project would see the creation of a living weapon, totally subservient and without remorse or empathy. Or so they thought.

After a desperate escape Alex and Thunder found refuge in the home of a man named Jackson Pine. Jackson had claimed to have visited Pokemar before and was willing to assist them in their mission to bring Project Mewtwo down. Not long after, Mewtwo themselves joined the group, feeling that their odds of success were better with allies.

As time passed it became increasingly clear that Mewtwo was capable of far more than they were made for. Their new allies did their best to nurture these new emotions and feelings in an attempt to give them the chance to choose their own path in life rather than the one they were made for.

It all culminated in a massive fight at the warehouse containing Project Mewtwo's assets. In the end, our heroes were successful and the project was shut down. Not only that, but the harrowing experience had brought Alex and Thunder closer together; they realized that they would move past the differences and remain close friends.

At the behest of Jackson, Alex brought him and his son, Josh, back with them to Pokemar so he can visit his old friend. But first, they are making a stopover at Pokemon Paradise, where the rest of Team New Hope awaits their long overdue arrival...

Chapter Text

Jackson

While Alex had warned them to close their eyes during the Magnagate trip, he had failed to mention how his other senses would be affected. It felt like falling for those few seconds traveling between locations. It was a surreal, vertigo inducing experience that was, thankfully, very brief. 

"Alright, everyone. Step out of the gate." Alex says, prompting Jackson to open his eyes. In the distance was a large town; large by Pokemar standards at least. He steps forward onto the path ahead followed by his son just as the Magnagate closes with a woosh and a vortex of wind. The only trace of the gate left is an ornate circular pattern burned into the dirt where it once stood.

"How is that even possible?" He says in confusion.

"I'm sure Umbeon and Espeon would be more than happy to explain it to you, so long as you don't mind long winded descriptions."

"I have a question as well." Thunder adds. "Why have the exit so far from town? Certainly it would be easier to have us exit in, say, the town square."

"Safety reasons. Umbreon and Espeon have made it abundantly clear that standing near an opening Magnagate could be fatal. Emolga once decided to test that with a Tamato berry..." Alex pauses and shudders. "Let's just say it was messy. And the berry having red juice certainly didn't help matters. So we make sure we use the gates far enough away from people so that no one will accidentally become a stain on the ground."

"Point taken."

"Anyways, let's get going. No doubt the rest of New Hope is eager to see us." Alexs says as he leads them towards town.

It isn’t long before they reach the town’s outskirts. As they pass by the houses and shops a sense of deja vu sweeps over Jackson. He is reminded of the many times he strolled through Pokemon Square with Cyn. It feels almost like a dream, as if it’s nothing but an illusion. But it’s not. He can feel the gentle breeze on his face and the dirt under his feet. The sights and the smells feel too real to be illusory. It’s a surreal feeling, being back here after well over a decade. Pleasant, but definitely surreal.

A group of pokemon approach them,. A Virizion, Keldeo, Umbreon, and Espeon, all wearing badges identical to Alex’s and Thunder’s. This must be the rest of New Hope.

“Hey guys!” Alex calls out with a wave. “So good to see your faces again.”

“The feeling is mutual, Alex. We were worried sick about the two of you.” The Virizion says.

“Yeah! We feared you got dumped out into the Voidlands!” The Keldeo adds, quickly earning disapproving glances from the two eeveelutions.

“The what?” Alex asks warily.

“I thought we were going to break it to him gently.” The Umbreon sighs.

“Guys, I’m standing right here. Do I need to know what these ‘Voidlands’ are?”

“Yeah…” The Espeon starts. “So shortly after you and Thunder left for Sinnoh Minor, Umbreon and Keldeo made a troubling discovery.”

“The new generation of Entercards we’ve been using?” Umbreon adds. “We looked over the math and discovered something. It would seem that using them runs the risk of depositing you in a realm that we’ve started calling the Voidlands. In essence, it’s the reality that exists between universes.”

“Are these Voidlands dangerous?” Alex asks fearfully.

“We don’t know for sure. Right now all we have are equations and theory. But I can’t imagine an entirely different realm of reality to be safe for anyone.”

“Wait, so we were risking being stranded in some world between worlds that may or may not kill us?!” Jackson exclaims.

“I mean, I wouldn’t phrase it like that, but… Yeah.” Keldeo responds.

“How likely is it to happen?” Alex asks.

“We’re guessing around a five percent chance, give or take a percentile. Too high for our liking.”

“Mine too…” Jackson adds.

“Well…” Thunder says. “Guess we’re not using the Entercards.”

“Agreed.” Alex adds. “I’ll see about getting us a ride on a Wailord ferry.”

“Before you do,” Virizion says. “Would you mind introducing the Eevee and Machop?”

“The name’s Jackson Pine. This is my son, Josh.”

“Hi.” Josh says with a wave of his paw.

“Call me Virizion. This is my good friend Keldeo, and the brains of our team, Umbreon and Espeon. How’d you come to meet Alex and Thunder?”

“That there is a long story.” Alex says. “Are Dunsparce and Emolga out on a mission?”

“Yeah, but they should be back soon. Why?”

“I’d say we wait until they get back before saying what we’ve been up to. No reason to end up repeating myself. In the meantime, how about a tour of Paradise?”

“That can be arranged.” Espeon says.

Jackson had feared that they wouldn’t believe Alex’s outlandish story. But it would seem that the team took the recounted events in stride. What offered more trepidation was the time travel snafu that nearly drove a wedge between Alex and Thunder. Not that much of a surprise. If friends that close needed time to deal with it, those around them probably would too.

Meanwhile Alex had quickly gotten the tickets for the ferry to Hoenn Minor. By the afternoon they’d all be on their way to visit Team Guardians. Something he had long accepted as impossible. It’s so hard to imagine that it is actually happening.

After an agonizingly slow day filled to bursting with anticipation, the time has finally come. The Wailord ferry had just come into harbor not long ago and was accepting passengers. Several long lines of pokemon converge on the massive float whale pokemon. Jackson, Josh, Alex and Thunder among them. 

The Wailord in question was gently bobbing up and down in the harbor wearing a large wood and metal structure that mimicked the upper decks of a ship, albeit with a sloped front. Makes sense they’d do it like this. The alternative would be riding in the pokemon’s mouth the whole way. Likely a very unpleasant experience.

“This is so cool!” Josh cheers, practically vibrating with excitement. “I’ve never rode a Wailord!”

“It should be quite the experience.” Alex says. “I read that the interiors are watertight so that the Wailord can dive beneath the water for faster speeds.”

“Underwater too?! That is cool!”

“How exactly did they manage to make wood watertight?” Jackson asks.

“It’s all coated in a layer of resin. From what I’ve read, finding a mixture that was both safe and effective was a bit of a challenge.” Eventually they reach the front of the line. Alex takes the tickets out of his bag and hands them off to a Shinx, who quickly checks them over before signaling for them to board.

“ATTENTION PASSENGERS! WE ARE DEPARTING IN TWENTY MINUTES.” An Exploud yells from the murcrow’s nest as they step aboard. “I REPEAT! DEPARTURE IN TWENTY MINUTES!” The words encourage those behind them to speed up, in turn causing the ramps to crowd up.

“We should get moving.” Alex says. “I’d rather we not get caught in the crowd.”

“You know, I just had a thought.” Thunder says, picking up the pace.. “We’re going to have a lot of time to kill, perhaps Jackson could tell us about what happened when he first came to Pokemar.”

“Oh yeah. You never actually got around to telling us, what with all the Rocket stuff happening.”

“Oooh! Yeah Yeah! I want to hear it!” Josh yips eagerly.

“I suppose I could do that.” Jackson says. The three of them look at him expectantly, his son especially. The question is where to start. He could go from the very beginning, but perhaps it’s worth letting them experience what he did back then, fragmented memories and all. 

He takes a seat on one of the tables on the “ship’s” deck, inviting the others to join. “Alright. Here’s where I’ll begin. With me waking up in a strange land with a new body. And before I even have a chance to process anything, there’s a massive quake…”

Chapter Text

Jackson…Pokemar needs you…Find the Gardevoir…She will guide you…

A deep rumble woke Jackson from his slumber. For a split second he tried to remember why he had fallen asleep, but those questions were swiftly brushed aside by something more pressing. An earthquake. 

All around him trees swayed and shook, many snapped and toppled over. And within the din of arboreal destruction he could hear screams. People fleeing for their lives. It quickly dawned on him that he needed to move. He tried to get up on his feet but the ground was too unsteady. All he could do was hunker down and hope to make it out alive.

He lost track of how long he laid there on the ground, clutching the grass beneath him as though it would save him. But eventually the ground settled and the shaking stopped. As he stood up and surveyed his surroundings something caught his eye. A Cyndaquil. A massive Cyndaquil as big as he was rushing towards him. For a moment he froze, unsure of what to do.

“Oh thank goodness.” The Cyndaquil said. It took a moment for him to register the fact that he understood this pokemon. “I saw you lying there and I feared the worst. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“I-I-I” He stammered. “H-How are you so big?”

“...Okay… I wasn’t ready for that response…” The Cyndaquil said before taking a moment to refocus. “Last I checked I’m about average height for my species.”

“No, you’re definitely bigger. Huge even. You’re practically human sized!”

“...What?”

“Look at me. I’m human! And you’re as high as my neck!” As Jackson calmed down another thing became apparent. Not only could he understand the Cyndaquil, but he could communicate with it. But that was overshadowed by the next big revelation. He had gaps in his memory. Big gaps. He could remember who he was, where he came from, what his life was like, but not much else. A welling panic began to bubble in his gut.

“...You slammed your head on the ground, didn’t you? Sorry to break it to you, but you’re a Machop.”

“I’m a-” He stopped himself as he caught sight of his hands. They were a bluish gray. His feet were lacking toes and there were rib-like stripes on his chest. And there was a tail. There was no mistaking it, he was indeed a Machop.

The panic surged over him. His breath quickened as the wave of fear threatened to drown him. That’s the last thing he remembered before everything went dark.

Frigid water brought him back to his senses. The Cyndaquil had taken him to a nearby pond and splashed his face. As awareness and thought returned to him the realizations followed close behind, threatening to overwhelm him once again. No. Not this time. He took deep breaths and forced himself to come to terms with his reality. For now, at least, this was his world. Perhaps that message he heard before waking had something to do with it.

“Are you feeling better? Boy, you gave me one heck of a fright, passing out like that. Come on, we should head to Pokemon Square and get your head looked at.”

Jackson considered his request. Perhaps it would’ve been best to go with him to town. It’d probably give him the chance to get his bearings. 

“Yeah… Probably a good idea. By the way, I don’t think I caught your name.”

“Cyndaquil. But everyone just calls me Cyn. What about you?”

“Jackson. Just call me Jack.”

“Alright then. Follow me, Jack.” Cyn took the lead, making his way towards the main path. They didn’t get very far before the shaking started again. “Aftershock! Quick! To that clearing!”

It wasn't as intense as the quake itself, but it still made walking difficult. By the time they managed to get to the clearing, the movement had subsided. 

“You okay?” Jackson asked.

“Don’t worry about me. Let's focus on getting out of here.”

“Help! Somebody please!” A scream echoed out from behind them. “My son is trapped! Hurry! Please!” 

Jackson looked to Cyn, who was gazing in the direction of the desperate pleas. “Are we going to help them?” He asked.

“Of course we are, assuming you think you're well enough for it.”

“I'm fine. Let's hurry.” Without another word Jackson charged forward with Cyn trailing close behind.

It wasn’t long before they found the source of the screams. A Butterfree lay pinned beneath a fallen tree, her wings torn and mangled by the branches and she was staring at a massive fissure in the ground. She turned to face them as they approached.

“You two! Please help us! My son, Caterpie, fell into the fissure during the quake. If another aftershock happens he might get crushed by a rockfall! Please hurry!”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll get him out of there. Jack, I’m sorry to ask so much of you so soon, but I’m not really built to carry another pokemon. I’ll stay here and tend to her wounds.”

“Yeah. Sounds like a plan.”

“Good luck, Jack.” Cyn replied as Jack stepped to the edge of the fissure. Indeed, far towards the bottom of the scar in the ground was a frightened, vibrantly green caterpie.

“Hey kid!” Jack yelled. “Stay put! I’m coming to rescue you!”

A spark of hope danced in the young pokemon’s eyes. “Oh thank you mister Machop! Please hurry!” Jack surveyed the walls of the crevice. Indeed they looked unstable. If another aftershock happened it seemed very likely that the both of them would be crushed to death by the ensuing landslide. 

“This is insane…” He muttered. He felt tempted to walk away. Get as far from this death trap as he possibly could. No… No, that’s unacceptable. This pokemon needed him. And, he considered, with morbid optimism. If he died, at least he’ll be remembered as someone who risked their life to save someone else. 

With nothing else to do, he started to scale the side of the fissure. The way down was treacherous. Every handhold felt ready to crumble if he so much as looked at it funny. It was slow, tense, and exhausting. But he kept going, thinking of the child in need. Even after several times he lost his grip and nearly plummeted into the abyss.

At long last he reached the ledge the Caterpie was curled up on. With a tentative step, he lowered himself onto it, kneeling down at the shivering worm pokemon.

“It’s okay, I’m here. Let’s get you back on solid ground.”

“Thank you…” He said with tears in his eyes. “I was so scared…”

“Soon we can put this all behind us.” He reached down and carefully hoisted him onto his shoulder. With his passenger secured, he grabbed back onto the wall and prepared to ascend. 

But then the ground began to move again.

“No… Not now!” Jack yelled. And just as he feared, the walls of the chasm started to crumble. They were about to be buried alive. Well… Maybe they didn’t both need to be…

“W-Wait! What are you-” Caterpie screamed as Jack grabbed his tail. Using every ounce of strength his Machop body had he slung the pokemon up into the air, easily clearing the edge of the fissure wall and landing on solid ground above. For a moment he breathed a sigh of relief. The child was safe. 

And then the ground beneath his feet gave way.

Chapter Text

Time seemed to slow as his footing crumbled beneath him. His brain was working in overdrive to find something to save himself as the entire cliff face tumbled around him. His eyes settled on something below him. Something to grab onto. Driven solely by his survival instinct he reached out and took hold.

The impact knocked the wind out of him, but he managed to grab on and avoid falling any further. The landslide rushed past him, leaving him moderately unscathed. Finally things began to slow down. Jack took stock of his situation. The thing he grabbed onto was an exposed tree root dangling over the deep chasm below. For now he was safe so long as he kept his grip.

“Jack!” Cyn’s voice screamed from above. “Jack, are you still alive?! Say something!”

“Still here!” He shouted back. “Mind lending a hand?”

He spotted Cyn’s head peering over the edge of the cliff face above him.

“You’re too far down to reach. Hang tight! I think I have an idea.” Cyn disappeared from view before reemerging a minute or two later. “Okay. Here’s the plan. Caterpie is going to string shot you and we’re going to use that to pull you up.”

“You’re sure about this?” Caterpie asked. “He’s pretty big. I don’t know if I can carry him up by myself.”

“If I climb while you lift it shouldn’t be that bad.” Jackson said. “But make sure Cyn has got a solid grip on you.”

“Butterfree can help too. She’s well enough to walk.” Cyn added. “Tell us when you’re ready.”

“No time like the present.” A few seconds later a thick, sticky strand of silk splat against his chest with a wet plap and began to pull him upwards. He used the new aid to pull himself up onto the root and up onto the chasm wall. Finding handholds, he grabbed hold and began to scale the wall, a nerve wracking experience; even with the string shot safety net.

Slowly Jack climbed higher and higher, doing his best not to look below him. Little by little he ascended the precarious wall, nearly losing his footing a few times. But eventually, finally, he grabbed the edge of the ravine and pulled himself up to safety. Relief and exhaustion took hold as he lay on the ground, breathing heavily. 

“That was not pleasant…” He muttered quietly before sitting upright. “We should probably get as far away from this fissure as possible.”

“Gladly.” The Butterfree said as she picked up her son. Her wings were torn and plastered with adhesive bandages. Jack wondered idly what it’s like to lose the ability to fly. “Thank you two so much. I don’t want to imagine what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”

“I wasn’t about to abandon a pokemon in need. Especially with everything that’s been happening lately.” Cyn’s statement prompted a thought from Jack. What was it the voice said before he arrived? ‘Pokemar needs you?’ Assuming that this world is named Pokemar, he might have been brought here to resolve something. But then why choose him? Perhaps the answers lay in the gaps in his memory.

His mind returned to the present. First things first, he needed to get a foothold in this world. A place to stay, a job. His eyes drifted to the Caterpie in his mother’s arms. He looked exhausted, sure, but also grateful. And a little starstruck. He looks at Jack as if he’s looking at a brave hero. It feels… good. Maybe he could do this kind of thing for a living? Maybe, maybe not. It’d be dangerous work, no doubt.

“Yeah. Things have been rough, haven’t they? I had thought Tiny Woods was still safe…”

“No one can blame you for that. We should hurry home before we get caught up in another aftershock.”

“Of course. You two take care now.” Butterfree turned and walked away. Catperie watched them as they went, eyes still gleaming in wonder.

“So, Jack.” Cyn said, turning towards him as they too left the fissure behind. “I had thought that you claiming to be a human was because you got concussed or something. But after what you did, I don’t think I can claim that anymore. You were too coordinated to have taken that bad of a hit.”

“I promise you what I said is true. The last thing I remember was waking up during the quake. Everything else is just… missing.”

“Amnesia, eh?”

“Yeah. For now though I need a place to stay. And a job.”

“You know… I have an idea. I’m going to make you an offer.”

“I’m listening.”

“You and I become a Rescue Team and you get a place to sleep. You got muscle, and I know field medicine. And after what we just did, I think we have the capacity to do some good. I’ve been trying to get a team together for a while but no one I’ve talked to has been able to handle it. We could help each other.”

“Rescue Team?”

“Yeah. We’d get funding from the Search and Rescue Association, SARA, to go out and rescue pokemon in need.”

“You mentioned ‘everything that’s been happening lately’ before. Is that what prompted all this?”

“No, Rescue Teams have been around for ages. They just became more important. In the past few years there’s been a rise in the frequency of natural disasters. It started slow, just a couple severe storms, a landslide here or there, dangerous, but not out of the ordinary. But then they got worse. Nowadays there seems to be a major disaster every week.”

Disasters growing worse… Was that what he was brought here to fix? How the heck was he expected to fix something like that? He was just a human, not a miracle worker.

“How bad do you think it will get?” He asked.

“I… try not to think about that… Short answer is nobody knows. Most of us are hoping that it dies down at some point. Maybe it’s a cyclical thing that Pokemar goes through. But in the meantime, we could be of great help to those in need. So how about it? Are we teammates?”

Jack pondered. A job is one of the things he needed, after all. And Cyn was offering a place to stay as well. His only hangup was the danger. Would aiding pokemon in peril be worth the risk of dying himself?

It didn’t take longer than a second for him to answer that question.

“I’m in.” He said, reaching out and shaking his new partner’s hand. “So I’ll be staying at your place then?”

“I don’t have the room for someone else, unfortunately. But I do have a plan. I have a favor or two I could call in…”

Chapter Text

It didn’t take long for them to reach Pokemon Square, a quaint settlement nestled near a cliffside overlooking the sea. There was a distinct charm to it all. Wood and thatch huts, simple stone structures, and dirt roads defined the town’s appearance. It was endearing. A simple place for simple lives.

As they passed through the Square Jack took notice of the wide variety of pokemon going about their lives. Two Kecleon were selling wares at a store. A Snubbull looked to be negotiating something with a Kangaskhan. And a Lombre appeared to be chatting with a Persian at what looked to be a bank. 

Something about this place made Jack feel at home; safe and at peace. Somewhere he could stay while he worked through why he was here and try and fill in the blanks of his memory. He knew that for the foreseeable future, Pokemon Square would be his home.

Cyn led him to the Lombre and waved him down. He addressed the two of them with a polite nod.

“Well hello, Cyn.” The Persian said cheerfully. “Always nice to see you. Who’s your new friend?”

“Good to see you again, Persian.” Cyn replied. “This is Jack. I found him in Tiny Woods during the quake.”

“Glad to see he made it through unharmed.” The Lombre added. “I hear that the quake was particularly bad.”

“It was. He actually helped me rescue a Caterpie.”

“Did he now?” Persian said with a raised eyebrow. “Did you finally find someone who’s rescue team material?”

“I think so. Which means I’d like to put our little agreement into effect.”

“You mean the house? Well…” Persian hesitated. “Honestly I wasn’t sure you’d find someone. But a deal’s a deal. Come on in and we’ll deal with all the paperwork.”

“Sweet! Come on, Jack. Let’s get this set up” Cyn ushered Jack into the building and to a desk where a stack of papers sat. Idly, Jack took the top sheet and looked it over. The language felt unfamiliar. Words were replaced by strings of shapes that looked similar to pokemon footprints. In spite of this, he could still read it as easily as he could his native tongue.

“Alright, let’s go over everything, shall we?” Persian said. Jack had a feeling they’d be here for a while.

Indeed they were there for a while. Paperwork, while mind numbing, was a necessary evil. As they ran over everything and signed their names, the deal Cyn mentioned was made clear. He’d been trying to get possession of an abandoned rescue team base not far from here. Buying it outright would’ve bleed Cyn’s wallet dry, so he came to an agreement with Persian.

If Cyn could find a worthwhile partner to form a team with, she would give them ownership of the base under the condition that a portion of their earnings would go into her pocket until the loan was paid. I tried to look over the fine print for any hidden tricks, but couldn’t find any. It seems that Persian was indeed doing this in good faith.

Eventually the paperwork was done and they were off to see what would become Jack’s home away from home. It wasn’t long before it came into view. The structure was composed almost entirely of crudely cut stone set up in the domed shape of a hut. A flagpole stood at the far end of the yard and a stone wall acted as a fence around the sides.

“It’s a bit more… rocky… than I expected,” Jack commented.

“This used to belong to another rescue team that was mostly ground and rock types. Seems they wanted to stick to the theme.”

“Whatever happened to the previous owners?” Despite asking the question, Jack had a feeling he knew the answer already…

“There was an incident during their final mission from the sounds of it. The leader got a nasty spine injury or something and the team had to retire.”

Jack breathed a relieved sigh. “I was certain you were about to say they got killed on a mission…”

“Oh, thank Arceus no! Last I heard they moved to Baram Town on the coast. Regardless, this will be your home for the time being.”

“It’s a bit rough around the edges, but I could get used to this. It feels sturdy, secure.”

“I agree. Let’s head inside. We’ve got a few more things to work out before we’re ready to start as a rescue team. Our team name, for example.” Cyn led him into the base where a straw bed sat on the far end of the room along with various other amenities haphazardly scattered about. “Ugh… They could’ve bothered to clean before they left…” Cyn mumbled as he went to try and tidy up. Jack followed suit, trying to decide what his living space should look like.

“A team name you say? Let’s see…” He pondered as he relocated a stone table. “Perhaps Team Guardians? Something that evokes protectors or heroes.”

“Yeah, Guardians. I like that. Once we finish up with the base we can get our request sent in. Could you give me a hand with this cabinet?” Cyn said before gesturing to the cabinet in question.

“On it.” Jack made his way over to him to help.

Jack let out an exhausted sigh. Finally the base had been cleaned up. Everything was where it should be. “What a day.”

“Yeah, I’m beat.” Cyn agreed, finishing up the team request. “I’m going to be sleeping like a Snorlax tonight. Even so, I’m so excited for the morning. By this time tomorrow, we’ll be Team Guardians.”

“And then the real work begins.” Jack sat down next to him, looking over the request before pointing to a blank space. “We sign here, right?”

“Yup, right here.” Cyn quickly writes down his name onto the page before handing the pen over to Jack. He hesitated for a moment before writing his own name down in the same symbol language. A language that he only discovered that day and yet he could read and write it flawlessly. He wondered how long it would take for this to seem normal.

“And done,” He said with a yawn. “I think it’s time to call it a night.”

“Agreed. I’ll get this mailed first thing in the morning.” Cyn took the page and made his way to the door. “Sleep well, Jack. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Cyn.” Jack nodded. Cyn closed the door and headed back home while Jack took a look at his bed. It wasn’t like the beds he was used to. Instead it was soft straw situated atop a short stone plinth. As he lay down, the comfiness surprised him. He expected to be dealing with errant straw poking his back. But no, it was soft and cozy. He could just drift away on it. And without realizing it, that’s exactly what he did.

Chapter Text

The light from the sun peeking through the windows woke Jack from his slumber. Still in this strange world, still in the body of a Machop. This appeared to be his life now. Though he couldn’t complain too much. He already got a friend to guide him, a roof over his head, and income for necessities. All things considered, he was in good shape.

He got out of bed and mimicked his morning routine from back home. He grabbed breakfast from the pantry, that being dried nuts and berries and took a quick bath in his washtub. He instinctively looked for the closet for clothes before he realized he didn’t need any as a pokemon before heading outside.

A cool breeze wafted through the door as he opened it, carrying with it natural scents untainted by human presence. Down the road in the heart of town he could hear the bustling of activity, pokemon. The natural landscape greeted him as he stepped forward. Everything here felt simple. Quiet. Peaceful. There was a serene beauty to it all. If he needed to he could’ve probably settled down here and lived a good life.

As he approached his mailbox he spotted Cyn making his way down the road towards him. Jack waved to him as he arrived.

“Good morning Jack.” He said cheerfully. “Did you sleep well?”

“Oh most certainly. I was out like a light.”

“...Like blowing out a candle? Is that what you mean?” It dawned on Jack that no one on this planet would’ve ever heard human expressions. A number of them would make no sense to anyone.

“Close enough. Sorry, expression from back home.”

Cyn frowned briefly before quickly shaking his head. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Are you ready to apply to SARA?”

“Ready and able. Lead the way, Cyn.”

The short jaunt through town ended at the very edge of the cliff face where a building designed like a Pelipper stood overlooking the sea, the Pelipper Post Office. The ‘mouth’ of the building was open to the element, judging by the fact an airborne Pelipper gently lowered themself inside. Probably meant for ease of transporting mail.

Cyn opened the door to the main lobby where two Pelipper stood behind the counter taking and serving out letters and parcels. Cyn walked over to one of them and shot her a quick smile.

“Good morning, Cyn. What can I do for you today?”

“Morning, Pelipper. We got a request form for the Search and Rescue Association.” Cyn handed over the envelope which Pelipper promptly deposited in her mouth, much to Jack's surprise.

“You two getting together as a team? Glad to hear it. We could use more intrepid rescuers like you two. I’ll get this sent over right away.”

“Thanks, Pelipper! Have a good day.”

“Actually, before you go, can I make a request?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“You know Thunderwave Cave, right? The mystery dungeon northwest from here, up the coast?”

“Mystery dungeon?” Jack inquired.

“Give me a moment.” Cyn replied before turning his attention back to Pelipper. “I’m familiar. What about it?”

“A friend of mine knows a pair of Magnemite that decided to go exploring up there. It's been three days and they've yet to come back.”

“That is worrying… did they pack anything to safely traverse a mystery dungeon?”

“It doesn't sound like it. I know you’re not officially a rescue team yet, but I couldn’t get ahold of one as they’re already on missions elsewhere.”

“Far be it from us to ignore a pokemon in danger, right Jack?”

“Indeed. We’ll see what we can do.” He answered.

“I’m relieved to hear that. You should probably get ready soon. Wouldn’t want you to need to walk back in the dark.”

“Of course. Bye, Pelipper!”

“Be safe, you two!” The two of them departed from the post office and made their way back home. 

“Probably should’ve gotten the answer to this before agreeing, but what’s a mystery dungeon?” Jack asked.

“Mystery dungeons are locations where things get kinda weird. Random objects tend to appear within them, the terrain changes whenever someone enters, there are traps to avoid and feral pokemon to fight.”

“Sounds dangerous…”

“They can be. But if you go in prepared you can usually come out unscathed.”

“I’ll be honest, it makes me nervous. I’ve never really been in a fight before…”

“Because you’re human?”

“...Yeah…” Jack couldn’t tell if Cyn actually believed his claims of being human. He couldn’t really blame them. Back home if someone came up to him and claimed to be a pokemon in a human body, he too would be skeptical about it. Whether he believed it or not, it was the truth. Jack could only hope Cyn was willing to accommodate.

“Okay. I’ll take the lead then. Being a pokemon, you’re going to learn to fight. There’s no avoiding that. But I can at least give you a chance to learn how safely. If things get too rough, I’ll intervene.”

“I appreciate it, Cyn. Sorry to be a bother.”

“We’ll make do. For now, though, we should get our bags filled with essentials. Food, medicinal berries, maybe an orb or two if we can afford them.”

“Alright. Show me how it goes.”

Before long the two of them were ready to go dungeon diving. The trip there was uneventful, which gave Cyn time to give Jack a crash course in pokemon battling. In Jack’s case, it was fairly simple. He didn’t need to worry about spitting fire or summoning thunderstorms. No, as a Machop, it worked a lot like human fighting with the added benefit of greater strength. Of course, the real test would be the mystery dungeon itself.

Soon the rocky entrance to the dungeon was in sight. A tall mound of gray stone stood like a butte in the grassy plane. The walls of the formation funneled straight towards an opening into the stone, a hole leading into the lightless depths of the caverns. 

The closer Jack got to it, the more he noticed a bizarre sensation. His skin began to tingle as though the air itself was electrified. Whether or not that fact should worry him was unclear.

“Alright. Stick close.” Cyn said before igniting his quills. “I’m going to be our light source.”

“I was wondering about that.” Jack replied. “Lets go rescue some Magnemite.” Cyn nodded with a smile before taking the lead into the pitch black cavern. Jack followed, both nervous and excited for the adventure and peril that was to come.

Chapter Text

The warm glow of Cyn’s flame proved surprisingly effective at lighting the dark. It was easily enough to fill the larger open areas within the caves. If something wanted to harm them, they would see them coming. That fact didn’t put Jack any less on edge.

The passages of the cave were maze-like. Had Cyn not thought ahead and brought a map, there was a distinct possibility they’d get lost and never be heard from again. But even with that, the idea that a feral pokemon could strike at any moment had him jumping at shadows.

“You sure you’re alright to do this?” Cyn asked, worry seeping into his tone.

“Yeah. Yeah. I’ve never done anything like this is all.” Jack took a deep breath. “Here’s an idea, tell me more about these mystery dungeons. A small distraction might settle my nerves.”

“Alright. What do you want to know?”

“How much do people know about these? Is it a topic of research?”

“I’d say the mystery part of mystery dungeon still stands. A lot of theories, not a lot of evidence. The fact that they never have the same layout twice makes getting consistent test results difficult. I hear a brother sister eevee duo is making progress. Apparently their goal is to make something that can create them.”

“That’s pretty ambitious. Think they’ll get it to work?”

“Honestly? Not anytime soon. If ever.”

“Is it even a good idea? I mean, creating such a dangerous unpredictable area seems like a very bad idea.”

“Jack.” Cyn interrupted, gesturing ahead. A livid looking Ratatta is blocking their path. “Feral pokemon. Looks like you’re up.”

Jack took a deep breath. The Rattata may have been significantly smaller, but pokemon frequently take down opponents ten times their size. He couldn’t rely on that. Though he was a fighting type. That could give him an edge.

He was given no more time to think. The Ratatta lunged at him with teeth bared. Jack barely managed to duck under them as they went sailing over them with jaws wide open. He turned to face his attacker and charged at them. The Ratatta stood firm as he approached and as Jack threw a punch at their face they simply opened their mouth and clamped down on his fist.

Given how powerful Rattata bites could be it should’ve felt like his hand was getting sliced off. But it didn’t. Oh it hurt. It absolutely hurt. But the fact that he could still feel his hand gave him some momentary comfort.

More out of reflex than anything he swung his arm into the cave wall, prompting the Rattata to let go, dazed and confused. Seeing an opportunity to strike Jack charged and delivered a swift kick to their torso. Maybe it was type advantage or maybe he got lucky and hit them just right, but the hit was enough to send the Rattata reeling and tumbling to the ground in a heap before succumbing to unconsciousness.

For a moment Jack stood over his felled opponent. He had done it. He had won his first fight. It felt… good. Thrilling. Is this how pokemon normally feel after a battle? Maybe that’s part of why they like it so much.

“Not bad, Jack.” Cyn said, a modicum of pride slipping into his voice. “Here, let me look at your hand.” Jack gave him his arm. A distinct bite mark adorned his wrist, bleeding slightly. “Should be able to fix that up pretty quickly. One sec.”

Cyn dived into their supply bag and pulled out an oran berry. “Here. Eat this.” He said. Jack took the berry and bit into it, taking a second to enjoy the distinct flavor. As soon as he swallowed it, his wrist began to tingle. Before his eyes the wound started to shrink. The bleeding stopped and the skin mended itself until he could barely tell that there was ever a wound in the first place.

“Wow…” He said. He knew oran berries were good at healing, but to actually see it in action like this was something else entirely. “Thank you, Cyn. I appreciate it.”

“Wouldn’t be a very good teammate if I didn’t look out for my partner. Anyways, you ready to continue?”

“Should be.” Jack glanced at the downed Rattata. “Suddenly this cave doesn’t feel anywhere near as threatening.”

“Yeah, from what I hear this one isn’t normally too bad. Please don’t get complacent, though. Even the most benign mystery dungeon has a few nasty tricks for the reckless.”

“Noted. Let’s find the Magnemite before one of these feral pokemon do.”

Things continued to go smoothly as the two of them pressed onwards deeper into the dungeon. There were a handful of other feral pokemon that they encountered, but nothing that posed too much of a threat. Especially when Cyn unleashed his flames. The bigger concern was getting lost in the labyrinth of caves. But Cyn had a solution for that, a wonder map.

Through some strange magic or trickery, it mapped out the dungeon as they went, keeping track of their position as well. Tailor made for dungeon delvers, it would seem. 

Suddenly, without warning a wave of… something… rushed down the tunnel they were in and washed over them, filling the air with static. Beyond that, the effects seemed negligible.

“What on Terranor was that?!” Jack exclaimed. 

“I have no clue. Wait, Terranor? What’s that?” Cyn said, turning to face him.

“It’s the world I came from. But back to the point, We should probably pick up the pace. I don’t think we should stick around and see what it was that caused that.”

“Hello?” A monotone, mechanical sounding voice called out from the darkness. “Are you our rescuers? We are over here.”

“That certainly sounds like a Magnemite.” Cyn said. “We are! We’re on our way.” Cyn charges onward, Jack following not far behind. “Keep talking!”

“What shall we discuss?”

“How about how you ended up here?” Jack added as they rounded a corner.

“We were told that this mystery dungeon may have a bizarre natural phenomenon. The walls are said to be filled with magnetic ores that react with something in the dungeon to generate occasional electromagnetic pulses.”

“So that’s what we felt earlier.”

“Yes, there was indeed a pulse around a minute ago. We entered the dungeon and things were going well. However, we encountered problems when one of the pulses went past us. We had neglected to consider that our bodies could be magnetized by the pulse. Thus we became stuck together. Had there been a third one of us then we could have evolved into a Magneton. As it stands currently, we are immobile.”

By the time they were finishing their explanation, the team reached the Magnemite duo, who were indeed magnetized to one another at a rather inconvenient angle with one’s screw “hat” caught in the magnet arm of the other.

“Wow. That does not look comfortable.” Cyn commented.

“That is an understatement.”

“You’ve been stuck like this for three days?” Jack asked.

“We have. We are exhausted and hungry.”

“First things first, we need to separate the two of you. Jack, you grab one, I’ll grab the other.”

Jack nodded and took hold of one of them. On the count of three they both pulled as hard as they could. The Magnemite themselves also pulled, but it was no good. They were stuck like glue.

“That is disappointing.” One of the Magnemites lamented. “Are we stuck like this forever?”

“If I remember correctly from school, you guys were likely turned into temporary magnets.” Jack said. “Once we leave this EMP cave or whatever it is, the effect will slowly dissipate.”

“You two know the way back, correct?” The other Magnemite asked. Cyn replied by pulling out the wonder map and showing them the path we took. “Relieving. Please lead on.”

“Of course. And stay close. Feral pokemon stalk these caves.” Cyn said.

“I would not worry about us in that regard. We are capable of defending ourselves. At least before we got magnetized.”

“Like I said, stay close. We’d hate to lose the two of you.”

Chapter Text

The trip back out of the caves proved far easier than the trek into them. Half from Jackson’s newfound confidence, half from the fact that they’ve been down these specific tunnels already. By the time they saw sunlight again it had become midday. Another hour passed as they returned to Pokemon Square, the sight of the attached Magnemite drawing in several pairs of curious eyes.

“There should be lodging for you to stay at while you wait to separate.” Cyn said. “If you need anything from us, we’ll be on the far edge of town.”

“We owe you two our lives. Allow us to reward you in a show of gratitude.”

“Nah, it was our pleasure.” Jack said “We’re not even an official rescue team yet.”

“Please. We insist. It is not much, but we feel we should give you something, at least.” From a small bag one of them was carrying, the other pulled a gold coin with “50P” imprinted on it. The coin adheres to their magnet arm while they stare at it sheepishly. “Ah… I neglected to consider that the coin would be magnetic. Would you mind?”

“Not at all.” Cyn said with a smile before prying the coin free. “Thank you. We are grateful. Now then, you should probably go check up with family and friends. No doubt they’re all worried sick.”

“We shall do that immediately. Thank you again for your assistance.”

“It was no trouble. Take care!” Jack called to them as they left, waving goodbye. He let out a satisfied sigh. That familiar rush of pride swelled within him. Going into this line of work was the right call.

“Good work out there, Jack. Seems you got the basics of battles down.” Cyn said.

“Yeah. Wasn’t the hardest thing to understand. My biggest problem was getting my fear under control.” I glance at the gold coin. “Getting paid to save lives. Seems living here won’t be so bad.”

“It won’t be. I’m sure you’ll like it here.” 

“I think I agree. Should we head back home?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

By the time they'd reached the team base, someone was already there to greet them. A Pelipper was perched on the mailbox, trying to figure out how best to put a package inside it. Cyn waved to them and called out.

“Good afternoon, Pelipper!” He said. “Is that what I think it is?”

The Pelipper turned to us with a bright smile. “If by your SARA acceptance letter and your new equipment, then yes. It is. Congratulations, by the way. On both getting accepted and rescuing the Magnemite. Sounds like you two will be doing a whole lot of good in the near future.”

Cyn’s face lit up like a star. “Yes! I can't wait to get started!”

“Same day response?” Jack asked. “I was expecting at least a week.”

“SARA doesn't mess around these days. With recent events they want as many able bodied pokemon as possible out in the field. Good luck out there, you two. I'd love to stick around and chat for a while longer, but I got a route to finish. See y'all next time.” With surprising grace for such a bulky pokemon the Pelipper took off, soaring away to their next destination. Without a moment’s hesitation Cyn snatched up the package and quickly opened it.

“I’ve waited for this day for a long time.” He said as he pulled a sheet of paper out of the box and read it aloud. “Congratulations, Team Guardians. You have been accepted into the ranks of the Search And Rescue Association. Inside this box you will find your attire that will make your Rescue Team status known. A pair of team badges and bandanas to pin them to. Additionally you have been given a supply bag designed to endure the harshest of conditions while keeping its contents safe.

“You will be expected to uphold the tenets of our organization and be there for pokemon in their time of need. So go forth, Team Guardians. Brave the dangers and save lives. We will support you every step of the way.”

Jack couldn’t help but smile as Cyn excitedly unpacked their equipment. The first things he pulled out were the badges. They were pearlescent white egg shaped pins with gold wings and a lower half made from ruby, creating a dazzling display as light reflected off it in aesthetically pleasing ways. 

“Jack, look! Our names are engraved in them!” Sure enough, the badges had their respective names engraved into them in the ubiquitous footprint language of this world.

“Do they do this for all badges they send out? Seems like a lot of work.”

“I’m told the reason is so that if we need rescuing ourselves they can quickly tell who we are.”

Or to identify their bodies… Jack kept that thought to himself. It was an unpleasant, but probably very real reason.

Next were the more mundane bandanas. One yellow and one blue. Cyn hands the yellow one to Jack before taking a moment to examine the blue one. The material felt thick and rugged, but with a surprising softness. Jack helps Cyn put his on before asking for him to do his own. Soon both of them were dressed up and with badges proudly pinned to their fronts.

“Looking good, Jack.” Cyn said with a grin.

“You’re not too shabby yourself.” Jack replied. The last item was a simple rugged satchel bag with easily enough space for their supplies. Simple, but effective. “That seems to be everything. Looks like we’re set for official missions from here on out.”

“I almost can’t believe it. I’ve been looking for a partner for so long I was beginning to think I’d never find someone.”

“I’m glad I could help. It also gives me something to do while I try to sort out the whole missing memory thing.”

“If I find a way to help out I’ll be sure to let you know.” A low grumble from Cyn’s gut interrupted their conversation. “We should find something to eat. I think there’s a cafe in town that we could go to.”

“Sure. Why not? Lead the way.”

By the time the both of them had eaten and gotten back to team base the sun was beginning to set. It seemed about time to go to bed for the night. Cyn had wished him a good night before heading off to his home. Jack tucked in and nodded off shortly thereafter. 

The realm of dreams awaited him. However, tonight’s dream seemed far more lucid than usual. He was floating in a void of colors, constantly shifting shade and tone and intermingling like droplets of ink in water. But beyond that there was a bodiless presence that lingered somewhere in the space, or perhaps even beyond it. Someone reaching for them, but just out of reach. The presence wanted something from him. What it was, he couldn’t tell.

Jack called out to them, but no one responded. Whatever the presence was, it began to fade. The swirl of colors soon followed, slowly dissipating into the black abyss. 

That was the last thing he could remember before he slipped back into the all consuming embrace of deep sleep.

Chapter Text

“ATTENTION PASSENGERS!” The Loudred’s voice booms from above, interrupting Jackson’s story. The gong of a large bell punctuates the statement. “WE ARE DIVING IN TWENTY MINUTES! ALL PASSENGERS GO TO YOUR CABINS AND AWAIT HEADCOUNT! I REPEAT THE WAILORD WILL DIVE IN TWENTY MINUTES! GO TO YOUR CABINS FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY!”

The bell continues to sound off, making sure everyone gets the message loud and clear. Alex gets up from the table. “Well, you heard him. Let’s get to our cabins. We can hear the rest of the story after everything settles down.”

“Aw…” Josh whines. “But it was getting good!”

“We’ll have plenty of time to continue once we’re inside.” Jackson says as he gets up as well.

“Alright…” Josh sighs, following suit. 

Alex pulls out the tickets and reads them over before addressing everyone. “Okay. Deck 2, room A45. Let’s go hunt that down.” Alex leads then below deck and into the network of rooms and hallways within. 

It’s like being inside an actual ship, unsurprisingly. The halls are made from painted wood with lanterns lining the walls. The chatter of pokemon fills the halls as everyone goes in search of their rooms. The flow of people is directed by the crew, keeping everything from devolving into a chaotic mosh pit. Per his suggestion, Alex extends his vines for everyone to hold onto in an effort to keep them from getting separated in the river of bodies.

It took a solid ten minutes before they arrived at their cabin. They quickly pile into the room and shut the door, everyone breathing relieves sighs at having room to move again. Though not much, as the cabin isn’t the most spacious living area. The beds are bunked and several storage closets take up a decent chunk of the space.

“Guess space is at a premium here.” Thunder mumbles.

“That is typically the case with seafaring structures.” Alex says as he peers out the window. “Check it out, I think we’re diving.” Everyone crams themselves in front of the window to watch. Sure enough, the water level is slowly climbing up the glass. It doesn’t take long before their view is entirely submerged beneath the waves. The ringing of the bell above them stops soon after as the entire structure slips under the surface.

The sight is breathtaking. Crystal clear waters extend as far as the eye can see. Shifting beams of light peer through the surface like waves themselves. Aquatic pokemon swim alongside them to get a look, including a chipper Dewgong that waves to their group as they speed past the window.

“Just when I thought I’ve seen all this world has to offer.” Alex says with a smirk. “Now I’m wondering if all these seafaring pokemon have their own society like on the surface.”

“I’ve only ever heard rumors.” Thunder says. “There aren’t many pokemon who can travel both land and sea easily.”

“Someone should try.” Josh says. “There must be so many cool things down there.”

“If the sights down deeper are as breathtaking as they are here near the surface, I agree.” Alex says. “There’s always something new to discover. Sometimes in the least expected places.”

“Speaking of new discoveries, you guys want to hear the rest of the story?” Jackson asks.

“Oh! Yeah! Please do!” Josh yips.

“We’re all ears, Jackson.” Alex says. “I think you left off with a strange presence in a dream.”

“That sounds right.” Jackson agrees. “The next few days after that were fairly slow. Mostly low profile jobs. Most of my down time was spent getting a feel for Pokemon Square. I met Caterpie’s friend Metapod, and spent some time with Old Man Whiscash. Good storyteller, if a bit long winded. 

“Of course, the slow days couldn’t last. And a little over a week later I had an unexpected visitor…”

Chapter Text

Once more the familiar routine began. Awoken by the window sunbeam Jack stirred, got up, and prepared for another day. As he bit into a pecha berry, he stared out the window towards Pokemon Square, reflecting on his life as part of a pokemon rescue team.

Most days were actually quite slow. Both a good and bad thing, considering he needed the income to pay for food and the like. On the really slow days he ended up doing odd jobs around town to fill the deficit. It didn’t bother him too much. It was simply what he had to do.

What did bother him, however, was a recent spat of tremors in the area of Pokemon Square. The idea that the town could be swallowed up by a fissure with no warning kept him up at night on occasion. It was a reminder of why being a rescuer was important. There will always be pokemon in harms way. It was his job to save them.

“Excuse me-”

“Augh!” Jack yelped, quickly wheeling around to face the source of the voice. It was a Dugtrio who had burrowed right through his floor. “Dude! I have a door!”

“Sorry, but this is urgent. There’s been a kidnapping! My son, Diglett, was kidnapped by a Skarmory. I was told you could help us.”

Jack took a deep breath. A kidnapping was way more important than a hole in his floor. He needed to let it go for now. “Uh… Yeah. Yeah. Me and Cyn are a rescue team. Team Guardians. We can help. He should be on his way now. Wait outside for a little bit, could you? We can discuss all the details when he gets here.”

“Yes! Yes, thank you! How long until he gets here usually?”

“About half an hour. Let me finish some things up here and I’ll be right out.”

“Of course, of course. You’re a lifesaver!” Dugtrio dipped back into the ground, leaving an ugly hole in the middle of the floor. Jack sighed and went to the storage closet to grab a shovel. He wasn’t gonna keep the Dugtrio waiting long, but he wanted to at least minimize the chance he’d fall in. He’d worry about making it look good later. 

With a grunt he jabbed the shovel into the ground near the wall and went to dump it into the hole.

“Oh! One mo-”

CLANG!

The Dugtrio yelled out in pain. He had popped back up out of the hole and went face first into the shovel.

“Why is there a shovel there!?”

“Sorry, but you were the one who put a hole in my floor! I was just trying to fill it quick!”

“Arceus, that hurts…”

“Okay, look. I’m sorry. I’ll get an oran berry to help with the pain. I’ll worry about the hole later. And word of advice, try and be careful where you surface.”

“Alright… Yeah. Thank you.”

Cyn arrived not long afterwards. He approached with a smile and a wave.

“Good morning, Jackson! Who’s your friend?”

“You must be Cyn then.” Dugtrio said. “The name’s Dugtrio. And I need your help. My son’s been taken.”

“We’re here to help, Dugtrio. Start from the top.”

“It happened so suddenly… We were minding our business when a Skarmory drops in out of nowhere and snatches my son! Then he went on about how our quakes have been destroying everything! And I swear to you, the quakes aren’t us! We’re nowhere near strong enough to do that!”

“So he took your son as revenge? What exactly does he hope to accomplish?” Jack asked.

“It sounds like lashing out.” Cyn said. “They’re angry and they want to find something or someone to blame.”

“But my son is innocent! He would never hurt a soul! Please help me! I’ll pay whatever you want!”

“I think we should focus on bringing them safely home first.” Jack said. “We can discuss payment afterwards. Where’d he take him?”

“Mt. Steel, I think.” 

Jack caught a worried glance from Cyn. “Mt. Steel?” He murmured. “That’s… worrying. That’s a little higher up on the danger level than we’re used to.”

“We both have type advantage against steel types, don’t we?” Jack asked.

“That’s not the only threat. Dungeons like that have traps that can do all sorts of dangerous things. Up to and including exploding in our faces. We haven’t faced anything like that yet.”

“We can’t just abandon Diglett. We’ll manage.”

“I mean…” Cyn paused. “Yeah. I suppose it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve run into unexpected trouble. Let’s head into town and gear up.”

Dugtrio sighed in relief. “Thank Arceus for you two. I don’t know what I’d do without pokemon like you…”

Mt. Steel was certainly more imposing than most other dungeons they’ve been in. It rose from the ground like a titanic obelisk of gray stone. The way the rock seemed made from rectangular pillars felt unnatural. The ominous whistling wind didn’t help either, frankly. This felt like a dangerous place. Jack felt the urge to turn back. To run and flee to save his skin.

“You feel it too, don’t you?” Cyn muttered. “This place feels wrong.”

“Yeah. But we can’t stop now. Diglett needs us.”

“Of course. Honestly, I knew we’d face stuff like this when we formed the team. But knowing and seeing are very different things.”

“You sure you’re able to do this?”

“Yeah. I just… need some time to hype myself up.”

“Cyn! Jack!” A metallic voice shouted from behind them. It was one of the Magnemite they’d saved from Thunderwave.

“What are you doing here?” Jack asked.

“I came to assist you.” They answered.

“Wait, assist us?” Cyn said. “Are you sure?”

“After you rescued me and my friend, I started to think about the kind of work you two do. Rescuing pokemon from peril is exceptionally noble. And I feel it is a worthwhile endeavor that I want to be a part of.”

“Thats… Well…”

“You’re absolutely certain? You’d be putting your life on the line and we can’t guarantee your safety.” Jack said.

“I have spent much of my life seeking purpose. I feel this could be it. I know how to fight. I won’t be a liability. You have my word.”

Cyn and Jack looked at each other warily. An extra ally wouldn’t be unwelcome, but both worried about the safety of their potential companion. Though given the dungeon ahead of them, it’d probably be in their best interest to accept.

Cyn nods in hesitant approval. Jack eventually does the same. 

“Alright. Stick close. Consider this a trial run. If it works out, we’ll consider giving you membership into the team.”

“I understand. Now we should hurry.” Magnemite’s expression was hard to read, but they seemed… giddy, perhaps? If nothing else they’ll likely put their share of the work in. Jack turned back to the maw of the dungeon and, with a deep breath, stepped in.

Chapter Text

Mt. Steel certainly lives up to its name. The air smelled of the distinct metallic tang one would expect. Cyn took the lead into the caves, watching carefully for any sign of trouble. Magnemite kept to the rear, watching their backs to prevent us from getting ambushed. The first few floors passed without incident. Though the fact that there were staircases within a cave still weirded Jack out. A natural fixture in mystery dungeons, sure. That didn’t make it feel any less strange.

“You keeping up, Magnemite?” Jack asked their newest ally.

“I appreciate your concern, Jackson, but I am not helpless.” Came the response.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I suppose I’m just nervous.”

“That is natural. This is an unfamiliar area. One that has dangers, no less. Wariness is to be expected.” At least they were understanding. The last thing any of them needed was to come to blows over something not worth it.

“Hey Cyn.” He turned his attention to his partner. “What do these traps look like?”

“They look like big steel plates in the ground. But they don’t appear until you step on them.”

“Oh, that’s evil.”

“I agree. Sometimes I worry Arceus has a dark sense of humor.” A mechanical click seemed to punctuate his statement, followed by a metal plate materializing below Cyn’s feet. A split second later he collapsed to the floor. Darkness swallowed everything as his flames burned out. 

“Cyn!?” Jack yelled.

“One moment, Jack.” Magnemite said. In a sudden flash of light electricity began to arc from between their magnets, bathing them all in its glow. With his vision back, Jack rushed to Cyn, careful to avoid the trap. Much to his relief, Cyn was still breathing. He seemed to be asleep. Whatever the trap was, it simply knocked him out. A relief, sure, but judging by the sounds of activity beyond Magnemite’s light, it was about to make life very difficult.

“We are about to have company, Jack.” Magnemite said.

“We can’t leave Cyn like this. Guess it’s time to prove yourself. I’m gonna try to wake him up. Can you cover me?”

“Yes. I can do that.”

“Okay…” Jack turned his attention to his slumbering friend. “Cyn! Wake up!” He shook him vigorously to no avail. “Cyn! Come on!”

A bright flash of light overtook the room before dimming back down. “Aron defeated.” Magnemite said. Jack looked up to see them just as they shot out another Thunder Shock at a Pinsir. All it did was make them angry. “Not good.” they said as the Pinsir charged at them. 

“Crap…” Jack muttered. He turned his attention back to Cyn. “Sorry about this.” He sighed before giving him a hard slap across the face. Immediately Cyn stirred, yelping out in pain and glancing around in confusion.

“What just happened!?” He yelled.

“Trap got you, I think.” Jack looked back to Magnemite, who had drawn the Pinsir away from them. Magnemite was now cornered and in desperate need of help. “Come on! Magnemite needs help!” 

After a moment to reorient himself, Cyn flared up. “Right! Let’s go!.” With a quick breath he spat out a small fireball at the Pinsir’s back. They recoiled in pain, turning to face Cyn. The both of them braced for the coming attack only for the Pinsir to begin convulsing and collapse on the floor, revealing Magnemite behind them.

“Target incapacitated.” they said. 

“That…” Jack sighed in relief. “...was too close. Bringing you along was the right call, clearly.”

“Well, after this, we should have enough for a pair of Goggle Specs.” Cyn said. ”Then we’ll be able to see and avoid those things.”

“Surprised you didn’t mention those sooner.”

“Had I not stepped on a trap, that would had been my next topic. Come on. Let’s get moving.”

Right. I’ll take point. That way any other unpleasant surprises don’t plunge us into darkness.”

It wasn’t long until the darkness of the caves gave way to sunlight as they reached the mountain peak. After adjusting to the light Jack could see their quarry straight ahead. The Skarmory stood over his captive on the other side of a deep chasm, glaring at them as they approached. The Diglett watched them too, a glint of hope sparking in his eyes. Poor kid was probably fearing for his life. 

“Rescue team…” He muttered. He took flight and soared across the chasm to meet them. Jack took a defensive posture, his teammates following suit soon after. “You took the wrong job. These little creatures must pay for the suffering they caused.”

“What makes you think they’re responsible for the quakes?” Jack asked. Perhaps they could reason with him. It was worth a try, at least.

“They’re tunnelers! The ground is their domain! If enough of them got together they could shake the ground beneath us!”

“The amount of Diglett and Dugtrios needed to accomplish such a task numbers in the thousands.” Magnemite said. “That is in addition to it needing to be a coordinated effort. Such a feat, while not impossible, is highly improbable.”

“Do you have a better explanation, then, ball bearing?”

“I do not. However, condemning a species without sufficient evidence is ill-advised.”

“Don’t talk to me about ill-advised! I lost my home to these pests! Pokemon I know have died to these disasters! It’s only getting worse. And everyone’s doing squat about it! Not me. I’m taking action. I’m doing something.”

“And how does kidnapping a Diglett improve things?” Cyn asked.

“I..I don’t…” Tears welled in Skarmory’s eyes. For a moment he seemed to ponder before his attention turned back to the team. “What, do you expect me to just sit and watch the world crumble to pieces? I can’t do that!” 

With long, sweeping flaps of his wings, he used air cutter, launching arcs of razor-wind at them. One arc nailed Jack straight in the chest, sending him reeling backwards in pain. By the time he’d gotten his bearings and was back on his feet, Skarmory was charging them all down. Running on instinct he dove for cover, narrowly avoiding getting sliced by the razor sharp wings.

“You want the Diglett? You go through me! Come on then! Show me what you can do!”

“So much for a peaceful resolution.” Jack muttered.

“Fine then.” Cyn cried. “You want a fight? You’ve got one! Team Guardians is ready!”

“If you insist.” Skarmory sneered before charging at them once more.

Chapter Text

Skarmory’s charge connected with Jack, sending him flying into the stone wall as the attacker swooped back up into the sky for another pass. Jack grunted as the wind was quite literally knocked out of him before he managed to get some gasping breaths back into his lungs.

“Scatter!” He yelled. “Don’t let him take us all out at once!” His allies quickly complied, putting distance between themselves and watched the oncoming Skarmory like Braviary. Jack soon regained his footing and took a defensive posture. They needed to find a way to ground him or this fight would be over fast. Magnemite seemed to be their best chance at that. 

Skarmory lined up another strafing run, targeting Magnemite. Seems he realized the same thing. 

“Cyn! We need to cover Magnemite!”

“Right. I… Yeah! I got a plan!” Cyn said before leaping into Skarmory’s path. From his mouth he spewed a massive cloud of smoke, completely obscuring their attacker. “Dodge now!”

Magnemite dodged, leaving Skarmory to sail straight past and back up in the air, right into their sights. Magnemite pointed his magnets forward and used thunder shock. Skarmory screeched loudly as the electric current washed over him and banked back towards us.

“Ready for round two?” Cyn asked Magnemite.

“So long as he keeps falling for it.” Indeed, Skarmory dove in for another attack, only to, once again, be blinded by smoke and shocked in the face. As he took off back into the sky they braced for another dive bomb, one that never came. Instead, Skarmory flew towards the cliff face next to them and ran his wing over its edge. Their wing cut through the stone like butter, sending a small landslide careening towards them.

“Look out!” Jack screamed before diving out of the way. A cloud of dust billowed up as chunks of stone pelted the floor he had just been standing on. “You two okay?”

“Never better!” Cyn yelled back. “I lost sight of him! You see anything?”

“Not yet! Wait…” As the dust settled a shape appeared in the sky. Skarmory holding a large rock diving towards them. “He’s gonna drop a rock on us! Move!” His warning came too late, the rock was already on its way down. He wasn’t about to let Cyn get crushed. 

As Jack charged towards them, an idea hit him. A way to save his friends and possibly take their opponent down at the same time. Just as the stone was about to strike Cyn and Magnemite, he swung his arm hard, punching as hard as his Machop body would let him. The hit connected and shattered the rock, sending the shrapnel back towards Skarmory. He had no time to react and took the hit full force, sending him plummeting to the ground.

“That was certainly a flashy display, Jackson.” Magnemite commented

“Yeah, well, we’re pokemon. Flashy is kinda par for the course.” Jack replied before turning his attention back to the Skarmory, who had sat up and done not much else.

“Wait…” Cyn said. “Is he… crying?” A closer look indeed confirmed their opponent had been crying. Jack cautiously approached. Skarmory barely registered his approach, instead quietly sobbing and muttering to himself.

“Hey… Are… you okay?” Jack asked.

“It’s over… it’s all over.” Skarmory said quietly.

“What’s over?” Cyn asked.

“Can’t you see?! The disasters, growing in strength day by day! It’s not gonna stop! Everyone says there’s an upper limit, but there’s not! It’s the end times! I just wanted…” He sobbed deeply. “I want to fight it… To do something. But it’s pointless. We’re all going to die…”

For a moment silence enveloped everyone. That was a bombshell none of them had expected to deal with today. Jack took a moment to collect his thoughts. Just as he was about to speak, Cyn got to it first.

“You’re afraid. I get it. So am I. So is everyone. But none of us know what will happen. Is it possible that things escalate that far? Yeah, but that’s also true for it slowing down. We just don’t know.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Skarmory said.

“All I’m saying is we can’t say for certain that this will be the end. There’s a chance it won’t.”

“And even if it is,” Jack added. “Think about how you want those last days to be spent. Do you really want the last thing you do to be harassing other pokemon?”

Skarmory looked down at the ground. “No… You’re right. I’m… I’m just so afraid. So many people are dying and no one can stop it. I hate feeling so helpless…”

“If I may advise,” Magnemite interjected. “It seems prudent that you focus on what you know you can affect in the moment rather than fretting about potential consequences for events in the future you cannot possibly control.”

“I wish it were as easy as saying that… But fear has a way of forcing itself in.”

“I know.” Jack said. “I think we’re all scared.”

“Whatever comes, we face it together.” Cyn added. “If things do get that bad, we stand a better chance if we’re not looking for a scapegogoat.”

“Yeah… I suppose you’re right. I’m sorry. I suppose I should get Diglett back home, huh?”

“Yeah.” Jack said. “His folks are worried sick.”

Skarmory nodded and glided back over the chasm to where the frightened Diglett sat. Jack watched as the two of them discussed, presumably, what came next before Skarmory took hold of the smaller pokemon to lift him up into the sky. A thought crossed his mind. No one he knows has ever seen the bottom half of a Diglett. It was one of those eternal mysteries that he thought would never be answered. But maybe he’d finally see. Skarmory took flight, soaring with Diglett in tow…

…who in turn was still hiding their lower half in a chunk of rock they refused to let go of. Jack let out a small disappointed sigh.

“Something wrong, Jack?” Cyn asked.

“No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”