Setting
While most wildings in Kalos know the twisty route through the Winding Woods to get to the Pokemon Village and ultimately the Crimson Guild HQ, those foreign to the region have to take the Dragonite Transportation Service to even find the place. This is because the architecture for the collection of buildings making up the Crimson Guild blend in with the surrounding terrain, making it impossible to notice from a top down perspective or even a semi-close glance. Even then, there are psychic projections set up around the place to add to the veil. This is done to protect their location from being discovered by their enemies.
The HQ is the largest structure in the area, a circular three story building crafted out of wooden planks and green foliage. The exterior looks almost identical to the natural rocky plateaus that adorn the area. From the main entrance, there are some stylistic choices, including circular windows and red banners draped across the front entrance and around the lower levels. Inside is a Main Hall, where Guild Members can accept jobs and learn current events, a library containing a wealth of knowledge, guest rooms for visitors, and offices for Crimson and his staff.
The rest of the area was dotted by smaller, one story buildings, functioning as basic necessities and specialty traders serviced specifically for the Crimson GUild and it's members. These services include a cafeteria, a storage place, specialty combat instructors to enhance skills and abilities, a hospital, and places for the Members to sleep.
Below the surface of the Crimson Guild HQ is where the bigger secrets are kept, to include private meeting chambers, detainment cells for troublesome and villainous Pokemon, and many tunnels and routes leading to nearby locations.

Important Members:
Crimson the Chimchar- Leader of the Crimson Guild.
Tag the Turtwig- Second in command of the Crimson Guild.
Domingo the Samurott and Dobro the Pangoro- Head Trainers of the Crimson Guild.
Pert the Plusle and Meryl the Minun- Job Board Management Team.
Unix the Dragonite- Leader of the Dragonite Transportation System, a network of Flying-Type Pokemon that carry Pokemon to any destination in any region they wish to go.
- 73 posts here • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
"We do get bags, right? It isn't a smart idea to go off without something to carry supplies in. Ako made that mistake once, it's not fun to reconcile that mistake on the fly."
There were a few grunts of effort as he spoke before finally fishing out two bags, "Hoooh man they were packed in there!" He slid the two knapsacks towards the both of them before going into the closet one more time, searching for the cloths. "What color cloth do you both want?"
As they opened their knapsack, they would see the contents within: a travel blanket and pillow, a few days worth of dried fruit and vegetables, a flare gun with matches, several pieces of paper and a pencil to write with, a map, and a headlight to see through the darkness.
"Not a bad kit," Pitch commented as he sifted through the items, "What color should we pick, Ako?"
Shirako slid her badge off her head into her bag and then made sure the bag was tucked nicely around her neck so it rests under her chin.
"Ako is fine with any colour."
"Yellow it is then! We've got quite a few of those, actually!" Pert emerged from the closet, holding two yellow neckerchiefs out in front of them.
"They don't have any designs on them. You can get them engraved later when the tailor comes back with whatever symbol you want to represent yourself. How do you wanna wear it?"
"On my neck, please," Pitch bowed his head and Pert wrapped the cloth snugly around his neck, tying it with a knot.
"And you?" Pert turned to Shirako.
He had a smile on his face as he stood back, examining the two.
"Man, you both look like twins!" he clapped as he laughed, "Alright, so it's off to Sinnoh you both go! When you head out the guild entrance, follow the path out of the Guild HQ area and make a right at the crossroads in between here and the Pokemon Village. Follow that down and you should reach a clearing where a bunch of Dragonites will be hanging out. That's the Unix Dragonite Transportation Service. Flash 'em your badge and they'll take you anywhere you wanna go."
"We've got several teams in that area, so you might run into a couple of them," Meryl added, walking towards them, "Be nice and friendly and they'll be nice and friendly back. Try not to shout at them..." she gave a stern look over to Shirako, "And you'll do just fine. Explain to the wildlife what's going on and to start finding some shelters. Underground is their best bet, but if they can build a sturdy enough shelter, then that'll work. Remember, we're not trying to cause a panic. We're just trying to keep people as safe as possible while we figure out how to deal with this threat."
"And have fun!" Pert gave them a thumbs up, "I know things are serious right now, but that doesn't mean you have to be. That's what Miss Fancy Pants Diancie wants us to be...fearful. And the more smiles we pass around, the less successful she will be in the end."
Ako proceeds to shake a little bit like a dog who just got out of water. The bag and neckchief stayed on tightly. Satisfied with that she turns to look at Pitch.
"Hmmm, we do look alike, but Ako's ears are not that short... and your ruffle is a little puffier on the right than Ako's. You said you were eight, right? Ako is fourteen. We'll be spending a lot of time with each other so if you have questions, feel free to ask~"
Pitch nodded in understanding in response to Ako's request.
"Well, you both must be off then!" Meryl said, walking back towards the counter, "Be careful! It is the wild after all!"
"Have fun!" Pert encouraged giving the two a wink, "We're rootin' for ya!"
As they walked outside, ready to head out in the direction Pert had told them about, Pitch turned around, "Hold on! I have to grab some things."
He turned towards the side of the building, where another knapsack lay. Unlike the one they now had, this one was fairly old and ragged, having seen a lot of wear and tear. He opened the pack and started picking up items, placing them into his knapsack. After a few seconds, he stopped, turning back around to face Shirako.
"I...guess I should share, huh?" he said with a sheepish smile on his face.
With that, he began separating the items he had collected, which included several Oran berries, a couple Sitrus berries, a Rawst berry, a Quick Seed, and two days worth of food. He split the Oran Berries evenly, six for each of them, and a Sitrus berry to complement.
"I'll take the Quick Seed if you want the Rawst Berry," he offered.
As she deliberated, he pulled out one more thing...a rather shiny stone that glimmered brightly in the sunshine. He slid it into his own knapsack, intending to keep it.
Shirako pulls out a piece of human candy from her ruffle, which was inside a tiny hidden sack inside the ruffle. After putting it in her mouth, she took another one out and put it on the ground, offering it to Pitch. It was a Jolly Rancher, it seems she had a stash with her.
He glanced over towards Ako, reflecting for the first time. She was definitely a bit weird, he decided. He hadn't commented on her lack of using the word "I", though he had come close a couple times. Still, it wasn't like he was too weirded out or anything. He had come across a strange group of friends at one point, so things like this weren't anything new. She seemed to care for his well-being, at least. But he was worried that would come to a head and she would start looking after him, trying to protect him. He was capable of taking care of himself. He didn't need a baby sitter.
But all in all, she seemed like a nice Pokemon...good company to be around. She was no Glow, but then again...no one was.
After putting everything that was his into his backpack, he turned to see the small candy she had placed in front of him. Speaking of Glow...
That took him back to the days of Nimbasa City, where he ran around the busy tourist-filled streets where the only instinct was to survive. He had to scavenge for every bit of food he could get, even causing a little girl to drop her ice cream cone so that he could eat it. He had to survive out there, after all.
"Thanks," he gave a small smile and accepted her offering, putting the candy in his mouth Green Apple...he noted as he began sucking on it. One of his favorites.
"Pitch. We're partners in this, alright? Equal standing. You have just as much say as Ako does so don't go pulling the babysitter card. Unlike them, Ako can see that you've been around the block, probably more times than Ako has. Don't take what Ako says wrong, she will jump in to protect you at times. It's a team of 2, not 1+1, ok? I...Ako doesn't need to see another loss. So back up your story of being able to handle yourself with some conviction and physical proof, alright? Ako just wanted to let you know how things stand and that she's not trying to baby you like Meryl was. That's all... Excuse Ako's inability to explain properly."
Shirako finishes packing and hope she sent the right message with that jumble of words. She hated being treated like a little kid when she was his age, no reason for her to do that to him, not on purpose anyway.
"Previous subject matter aside... Those inside Coronet should be fine, as well as those underground in the various caves. Where do you think we should start then? Snowpoint and work downwards?"
He didn't fault Meryl over her hesitation in telling him the dangerous stuff. He understood his age and what that meant for others. And the Minun seemed like a worrywart, more so that what she was probably used to. The situation was dire, to an extent. Times of crisis tended to change people. But when his life could go from easy to frantic in a split second, those times shaped who he was as a person. He grew accustomed to it...adaptable. There was no way Meryl could possibly know that.
So he turned to Shirako and smiled, not a polite smile, not a small smile, but a genuinely warm and inviting smile. "We are a team. You can count on that."
They started walking together, looking for the path Pert had indicated, "Well, we've got to reckon some of the teams are already out there. Many of them will probably go to the warm climate areas first, unless they're a team of Ice-Types. So yeah...we can start at Snowpoint City. I'm a familiar face around there, I think. I haven't talked with anyone, but I'm sure a couple people have seen me around."
They followed the path down to the exit of the Guild HQ. From there, they saw the branching paths and took the one leading right.
"So...are you good at talking to people?" he asked, "Cause if not, we might be in trouble..."
As she asked him what he knew, Pitch started to recall times he had used each move. "Well, I know Baby-Doll Eyes..." That time I had to escape Dim and joining his Family... "...Tackle..." Fending off Castol from taking my home... "...Tail Whip..." A scrum in an alley for a rare fresh batch of cookies... "...Sand Attack..." The second time I had to stop Castol... "...and I recently learned Bite and Double Kick! What about you?"
A moment later, the two were walking into the clearing. There was a small group of Dragonite gathered around, talking about general stuff and their duties and what not. Two of them whipped around, spotting the newly made Crimson Guild Members approaching. One of them peeled off from the group and stepped towards them. This one was a little bigger than the other Dragonites in the area, which meant from Pitch's and Shirako's perspectives, she was massive.
"Well you two don't look familiar," she said, giving them a once over, "But you look like Guildies. Can I see your badges?"
Pitch fumbled around in his pack, searching for the item he'd just been given. Finally finding it, he pulled it out with his mouth and held it up so that she could see.
"We're heading for Snowpoint City in the Sinnoh region as directed by Pert and Meryl. We were told you could help us get there?"
Shirako moved the candy around in her mouth after she finished speaking.
One of the Dragonites stepped forward, "I can take 'em there. I haven't had much action today."
Unix turned around, seeing who had volunteered before pointing in his direction, "Agave over there will take ya where you need to go. When you're ready, hop on."
Agave lied down on the ground, revealing the traveler's saddle on his back. It was a large, circular seating area for them to ride on while he was in the skies. There were several sections of rope, each rope with a clasp on the end.
"Hook two clasps to your knapsacks when you board, one on each side," Agave explained, "That way, you don't go flying off when I take off."
"Ako would like to make a request... When we get to Jubilife, Ako would like to visit a certain house... Is that alright? A-Ako...I made a promise to somebody special to at least show up when possible..."
His words were interrupted by the sudden lurch in his stomach and the wicked force that sent him flying backwards. Fortunately, the harnesses were there to keep him from flying off the back of Agave as he lifted off and suddenly beelined for the sky. The Eevee's eyes were wide, his teeth gritted, and his fear prevented him from speaking as he glanced over to Ako to see how she was holding up.
"Almost there, you two!" Agave called to them.
Indeed, the rapid ascent was slowing down as their perspective began to go flat again. Little by little, the harness relieved pressure while the Dragonite began to decline from their original trajectory. It went from the only thing keeping the two from flying off to almost no resistance against gravity at all. Pitch tested his footing on the ground. It was stable.
"Keep the harnesses on," the Dragonite warned, "Less chance you'll fall that way. And enjoy the view!"
Pitch glanced around at the atmosphere and couldn't help but gape in awe. He'd seen many cool perspectives in his lifetime, but none from the air. The land beneath them looked minuscule. Even the tower in the center of Lumiose City looked like a small toy model from their altitude. The clouds whipped past, flowing with the breeze. The wind was catching and blowing against Pitch's fur, making him feel exhilarated. He couldn't help but smile.
"Ako! This is amazing!" he cried out in joy, "I've never been so high up!"
Agave snorted in amusement, but said nothing.
After everything was stable she let go and spit some hairs out of her mouth.
"Careful Pitch."
"This is amazing! I've never been so high up!"
"Haha. It really is amazing. Ako has done this before but that doesn't make it less cool to be this high in the sky. The view is always great. It's why Ako used to make the trek up to Spear Pillar every now and then. Agave here is much faster than the Charizard Ako rode on before though, so this speed is a new feeling entirely!"
And Pitch whooped in splendor and triumph, "WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
But he knew deep down what he was accepting, what he was truly going to take on. For all the cool moments and opportunities being in this guild provided, skipping the introductory process along the way, there was a burden to bear. He'd been ready to accept it for some time now, but he had yet to feel the weight on his shoulders. Right now, the moment was sweet. But when the going got tough, would he get going? That feeling was there, albeit hidden behind the exhilaration. Even then, the importance of the task was ever present in the back of his mind...as were the consequences of failure. Living beings would now be impacted by his actions. Was he ready to handle that?
He would find out, as the Dragonite named Agave flapped his wings...carrying Pitch and Shirako forward headlong into their first adventure together.
- 73 posts here • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3