Chapter 1
LiquidMadMan
Bug Catcher
Summary: Eli is a young Riolu who just wants to live life his way. After a chance encounter with a team of Rangers, he discovers a golden opportunity to see the world and make a name for himself while also uncovering the truth about his mysterious family roots. He'll have to put together a motley crew of Pokémon just as crazy as he is to survive the trials ahead. Original PMD setting.
Rated PG-13 for violence, mild blood, strong language, and suggestive themes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Chapter 1: Is This Your Card?
From high in the clear and tranquil skies, the midday sun was beating down upon the rolling waves of the open ocean. The "azure frontier" as some called it, vast and unpredictable in nature. Flocks of white, yellow-footed seagulls swooped and soared above the water, only occasionally dipping low to skim over the waves in search of fish to catch. There was nothing to be seen for miles, except for a solitary island nestled between the paths of two major wind currents; Zephyr Island.
Zephyr Island measured about twenty square miles, appearing as a misshapen blot on just about any map it was charted on. It was most often represented in charts used by ship crews that would ferry goods and tourists alike between the island and mainland, as well as the neighboring islands at all times of the year. The island had a rustic charm to it, with a lush deciduous forest covering most of the land in its center. There was also a sizable port town on the western side of the island, known as Zephyros.
The sails and smokestacks of wood and metal ships crowded the narrow and bustling docks of the port town, brimming with Pokémon of all shapes, sizes, ages and species. Most were dock workers and sailors, but there were quite a few tourists mixed in as well, defined by their casual dress and overall curiosity about their surroundings. All of these Pokémon of varying professions and business had little choice but to press and bump against whomever they were passing while navigating the rickety wood and stone jetties. Groups of seagulls gazed down at all the action from their perches atop numerous masts and wooden beams that lined the docks, making almost as much noise to rival that of the Pokémon down below.
Among the din of laboring and sightseeing Pokémon, a tarp-covered wooden cart drawn by a Mudsdale and guarded by a Bidoof waiting idly near the dock. They patiently waited until a Machop approached them while carrying a wooden crate. They could barely hear each other over the clamor of the docks, but they were able to finish their business in good time, and within a few minutes the crate was loaded into the back of the cart. The Machop waved goodbye as the Bidoof hopped up onto the guard seat of the cart and signaled for the Mudsdale to take off. As they trundled away from the waterfront, it was obvious that the docks weren't the only busy area of town that day.
Away from the water's edge, the rest of the town was brimming with just as much activity. Just east of the docks was Windfall Square, the central hub of Zephyros. The Bidoof's and Mudsdale's cart bumped and rattled over the rough cobblestone streets of the square. The cobblestones embedded within the square resembled a mosaic, arranged in a circular pattern around the center with painted white stones forming dozens of designs that looked like swirling wind gusts. Some of the largest buildings in the entire town circled the square, rising three to five stories above the promenade. They were mostly built from a mishmash of wood, metal, and crudely-fashioned bricks, but the white stone pillars holding up some of their facades managed to give them a somewhat stately charm.
Colorful flags and banners were strung on lines that stretched between the many wrought-iron lampposts that dotted the square, and there were numerous stalls that were being set up in some of the open areas. The Bidoof took an interest in the stalls as he and his partner maneuvered the square, which was quickly becoming crowded with workers and merchants trying to set up for the coming festivities. He was thankful that there was still enough space for carts to move through, because after a few days that would no longer be the case and he'd have to take the long way round to make deliveries. It usually wasn't this busy all year round, only because it was the beginning of spring and by extension, the tourist season. As cumbersome as the annual festivities made things, he knew they were an important part of life on the island. It was really one of the only times throughout the year that the citizens and local businesses of the town were able to interact with so many visitors from abroad, and that was extremely important for commerce.
After leaving the crowded Windfall Square, the cart was pulled down a few more streets towards the eastern ward of Zephyros. This side of town was mostly made up of winding cobblestone streets with brick and wooden buildings lining each side. Plumes of smoke billowed out of brick and stone chimneys from the roofs of every other house. Down on the street level, Pokémon including Scrafty, Linoone, and Glameow wearing a variety of clothing from scarves and belts to tailor-made tunics and hoods passed by boarded-up houses and storefronts using the narrow, cracked sidewalks. The Bidoof had to keep a close eye on the cart he and his partner were pulling due to the notoriously sticky fingers some denizens of the town tended to have.
The cart eventually arrived on a wide street with many other wagons being pulled by different kinds of quadruped Pokémon back and forth across it. The Bidoof quickly pulled out a manifest from the back of the cart, and double-checked the address on it. Sure enough, it looked like he was on the right street, so all there was left to do was to make his delivery…
Meanwhile on the very same street, a certain Pokémon was reclining on the shingled roof of one of the buildings that lined it.
"Is this your card?"
A blue paw held up a glossy playing card in the glaring midday sun, a light spring breeze causing it to flutter in its grasp. It was the black queen of spades. The abstractly depicted human woman on the card frowned disapprovingly, but her mirrored twin below her seemed oddly amused. Perhaps it was because the creature holding her was talking to himself, or maybe she was just drawn that way. No, it was definitely the latter.
The Pokémon was staring up at the card he held aloft between two of his three digits as he was reclining on the roof. He was a blue and black-furred jackal-like Pokémon known as a Riolu. He was a typical example of his species, save for a few defining features. He had a head of fluffy, unkempt blue hair that stuck out and draped down slightly over his eyes in a thick tuft. There were two furry black appendages that hung down from either side of his face, accented by a black fur pattern on his face that ran down his pointed, short snout as well as over his eyes like a bandit's mask. His eyes were quite striking as they were a glamorous, bright shade of magenta and harbored a keen sense of playful mischief.
The Riolu shook his head lightly as he gazed up at the card, returning the queen's judgmental grimace with a sour scowl of his own. "No… No its not!" he huffed exhaustedly. He shut his eyes and let out a long sigh as he smacked his other paw against his forehead. "Ugh! I messed it up again…" he growled as he removed his paw from his forehead and used it to grab a deck of playing cards that was lying next to him on the roof. "Well then, how about this?" he said as he hurriedly shuffled the black queen of spades back into the deck.
Clearing his throat, he closed his eyes and drew one card from the top of the deck before opening his eyes again to look at it. "The red seven of hearts— that's my card," he said to himself as he shuffled it back into the deck. As he shuffled, he furrowed his brow in concentration as he did his best to keep track of the card as it was mixed in with the others. He took a deep breath and fanned out the entire deck in one paw, hoping that the card he was looking for would be smack dab in the center. He focused his gaze on the card in the center, and gave the fanned-out cards a quick flick as he held them, causing the center card to pop up. A bead of sweat dropped down the side of his face, and his stare intensified as he grabbed the card with his free paw. "This is it… This is the one!" he thought as he could feel confidence and conviction welling up inside of him.
"Now tell me… Is this your card?!" he yelled dramatically as if he wasn't just talking to himself while he held the card up and turned it over.
The Riolu's eyes narrowed and his jaw dropped in disbelief once he saw what card it was. To his utter shock, it wasn't the red seven of hearts, but instead the black queen of spades! Although what he had just pulled off could be considered nothing less than the world's greatest coincidence, the woman on the card still looked as nonplussed as ever. Her expression certainly didn't help. After staring for a good long minute at the card in confusion with his frozen expression, the Riolu growled and began to noisily grind his sharp teeth.
"You… you… YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! What kinda joke is this?!" he shouted furiously while hints of indignant anger burned through the blue fur on his face. "I mean honestly! I couldn't have done that even if I tried!" he seethed, closing his eyes as he shook his head in disbelief. He then opened his eyes and glared at the queen of spades, who was still blankly staring back at him. He brought the card closer to his face and squinted at it. "Okay, what's your deal? Do you just enjoy mocking me?" he grumbled in annoyance. After having a staring contest with the card for a few more moments, the young Pokémon cracked a smirk and chuckled.
"Yeesh, trying to figure out this stupid card trick has been driving me crazy for the past few days," he said. He sighed in defeat and shuffled the card back into the deck before swiftly tucking it away behind him. He put his hands behind his head and rested it against them as he relaxed on the rooftop. "It seemed simple enough when I saw that one guy do it, so I didn't think it'd be that hard to pull off. Guess I was wrong…" he grumbled.
The young Riolu put his arms to the side and sat up on the rooftop, looking over the scene in front of him. From his perch atop the four-story building, he could see a fair bit of Zephyros, as well as the sparkling ocean just beyond. The smoke from the nearby chimneys didn't block his view too much, thanks to the light breeze that was blowing in from the west. His eyes were filled with an opportunistic zeal as he saw the throngs of foreigners beginning to arrive from the docks before they poured into the town square and spread out from there.
"I seriously need some new material. I can't expect to keep fooling tourists with the same few tricks over and over again," he mused as he scratched his cheek. He then looked behind him and towards the lush forest on the outskirts of town. He gazed at a silver spire that was poking out of the trees, sighing as he pinched one of the black appendages on the side of his face and lazily twirled it around like a lock of hair. "Not to mention her Egg Day's today, and I wanted to surprise her with a new trick."
He turned his head back towards the town, propping it up with his paw as he closed his eyes. "Oh well, I'll try it anyways and if I mess up again, at least I'll have something else," he added with a soft smile. "If anything, I just hope she doesn't hate me after all this time…"
His eyes soon opened and his ears perked up as he began to hear the creaking of wooden wheels on the stone street below. He quickly crawled down the sloped roof face on his paws and knees and slowly peered over the edge. He saw a covered wooden cart drawn by a Mudsdale pulling up to the building, as a Bidoof promptly hopped off the front seat and waddled over to the storefront. Within moments a Sawk came out to greet the pair of couriers. He was wearing a soil-stained white apron as well as a pair of thin, round spectacles. He looked quite pleased to see them, swinging his arms wide as a jovial smile spread across his ovular face. They shot the breeze for a bit as the Sawk florist signed for the crate, and once he was done the Bidoof and Mudsdale both nodded cordially towards him. They then made off as quickly as they had arrived, trundling down the street as the florist was left to inspect his shipment.
The Riolu watched with great interest from his rooftop perch as the Sawk hummed a simple tune to himself and pried open the wooden crate. Even from high up on the roof he could notice an elated spark within the florist's eyes as he lifted the top off of the crate. Heavenly light and a chorus of angels might as well have been pouring out of the crate as what was inside was revealed to both the florist and his rooftop observer. Even the teen's heart skipped a beat as he beheld what was inside.
"Gracideas~! Oh thank the heavens, they're finally here~!" the old florist practically sang as he clasped his hands together and took a good look at the contents of the box. Inside was a carton of twelve stunningly gorgeous pink flowers with six petals and two dark green leaves each, all immaculately pruned and preserved.
"Well well! I guess that tip I got awhile back was correct!" the Riolu thought as a wide grin spread across his face. "That does it then. Those should be perfect!"
The young Pokémon wasted no time jumping to his feet and running over to the side of the roof, taking a quick look down as he saw a gauntlet of numerous balconies beneath him. He jumped off the side of the building, landing on a metal balcony on the fourth floor. He then leaped over its railing and onto the next balcony on the third floor. He then turned and jumped off again, grabbing onto a nearby drainpipe as he slid down it in style. He was getting more and more excited by the second as he realized that a rare and beautiful Gracidea flower was almost in his grasp! He was so happy in fact, that he kept his eyes closed and leaped from the drainpipe and onto the lowest balcony on the second floor, which was made of brittle wood. His happy thoughts were immediately halted as he felt the wooden boards bowing underneath his weight, accompanied by a loud creak and a few violent snaps the moment his foot landed on the flimsy balcony.
He stood still for just a moment as the inevitable soon followed. "Shit…" he whimpered before the balcony collapsed and he plummeted two stories into the alleyway below, crashing into a pile of old wooden crates and metal garbage cans. In the aftermath, the stunned Riolu lay sprawled out on a pile of debris, bruised and dazed but thankful that none of his bones were broken. His fall made quite the ruckus, inevitably drawing the attention of the flower-ogling Sawk just around the corner.
"What the hydrangeas?!" he gasped, looking towards the alley as dust and debris began to billow out from it. He was about to go over to investigate until the dizzy Riolu came stumbling out onto the sidewalk, covered in dust and bruises as he struggled to keep his balance. He held his head between his paws and let out a painful moan as he quickly shook his head, leaving his fluffy hair in an even worse state of disarray than it was before.
He stood upright and froze for a moment before looking over at the Sawk, who was inquisitively squinting at him through his glasses, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. The Riolu confidently smiled at the florist and put one hand to his hip while flipping the other back casually.
"Uh… Goooooood day, sir! Ow…" he greeted with the brightest grin he could muster. Internally, he was gutted that he had foolishly lost the element of surprise. Now that the Sawk knew of his presence, obtaining one of the flowers was going to be much more difficult than he had initially expected. However, he didn't have much time left and he needed to get one as soon as possible. He would have to come up with a new plan, and fast.
"Good heavens, are you okay, kid?" the florist asked him, sounding both concerned and cautious.
The Riolu blinked his magenta eyes and he glanced over his shoulder and to his side as if to check if anyone else was around. "Huh? Who, me? Of course, never been better!"
"Do you need any help? Looks like you got a bit banged up back there."
"No thanks, I'm fine! I really am!"
"Hmm… Right then, I'll believe you. I hear Riolu are pretty resilient folk anyway," he said before leaning forward and taking a closer look at the younger Fighting-type. "By the way, what were you even doing in that alley? This is private property you know…" he asked him.
"Oh, nothing too terribly interesting! And not to worry, I have the utmost respect for private property!"
"Well, that's good then! There's a history of hooligans getting up to no good on this street, so I was a little worried when I saw you fooling around back there," the Sawk laughed in relief.
"Yeah, don't worry about me," the Riolu replied as he walked closer and took a quick peek inside the open box. "Say, I couldn't help but notice these flowers you've got here. They look amazing! What are they called?" he asked, acting as innocent as he could.
"Hmm? Oh those are what are called Gracidea flowers! They only grow in select regions of the world, and they're highly sought after. You see, the species of Pokémon known as Shaymin are known to use these in order to change their form! Furthermore, these flowers are said to represent gratitude and—," the florist rambled, until he was interrupted.
"Hey, flower guy? Slow down there, I just wanted to know what they were called…"
"R-right, fair enough!" the Sawk chuckled sheepishly. "I apologize, its just that I've been passionate about flowers my entire life. You know, sometimes I wish I was hatched as a Grass-type!"
"Ummmm… Gotcha," the Riolu replied while tilting his head to the side. "Hmm… I wonder what kind of Pokémon he would be if he was actually like… hatched as a Grass-type," he thought as visions of a green Sawk with a Gracidea flower growing out of his head came to mind. He shook his head and snapped back to reality as he saw the florist fawning over the flowers once again.
"I spent a good amount of Poké to get these shipped here in good condition, you know. They'll be going on sale during the Springtide Festival, and I'm certain they're going to be in high demand! Hehehe!" he chuckled as he tugged at the straps of his apron.
"I don't doubt that for a second, flower guy! In fact, I have a high demand for one right now," the Riolu replied as he took a step forward and began to reach towards the open crate.
However, he had to recoil his paw as the lid was slammed shut. He was surprised at the speed at which the geezer was able to cut him off, but in all honesty he didn't blame him for being so protective of the rare flowers. The Sawk glowered at the young Riolu for a moment before clearing his throat. "Ahem. First of all, the title of my profession is 'florist', not 'flower guy'… Secondly, these flowers aren't on sale yet. As I said before, they'll only be on sale during the festival. You'll have to come back then if you want one," he explained sternly as he reached down and pulled the crate closer towards him. "And thirdly, they also cost money, my boy. I don't happen to see any wallet on you so I gather you don't even have the necessary funds. Unless you're stashing coins where the sun doesn't shine, but in that case I wouldn't want them anyway."
The Riolu simply chuckled and folded his arms. "You got me, mister florist. It's true; I don't have a single Poké to my name right now…"
"Ah, I see. That's quite unfortunate, but I'm sure there are ways you can remedy that! Like eh… getting a job, for instance," the florist replied rather smarmily.
"Aw come on, that's a total fusspot thing to say! You've been in business long enough in this town, you know how things are. I'm no stranger to business, work with me here! I'm sure we can cut some sort of deal," the Riolu protested before giving the florist a sly wink and pointing a digit back and forth between them. "C'mon, one fighting-type to another!"
The Sawk only sighed and shook his head. "Kids these days… How about this then? You work in my shop from today until the first day of the Springtide Festival, and I'll give you one Gracidea as payment. Does that sound fair?" he asked. The tone of his voice suggested that his patience was wearing thin.
The Riolu couldn't deny that the deal wasn't exactly a bad one, at least on the surface. However, he wasn't keen on the idea of laboring for four whole days in some dumpy flower shop, not to mention with an anal-retentive flowermonger breathing down his neck and watching his every move. The very thought of it made his skin crawl beneath his fur. He was well aware that the florist was going to take full advantage of his desperation and would most likely overwork him in order to make the most out of their deal. Personally, the Riolu just wasn't willing to be chained down in any way, especially in service to this guy of all Pokémon.
"Sorry, but I just can't take that deal," he grumbled as he folded his arms again and looked away from the florist.
"Hmph. I guess that settles it then. They'll be on sale during the festival if you want one."
"But mister, I need one today! Like right now very soon today! Its for a very special someone…"
"Well tough luck kiddo. I run a business, not a charity! If you want one you can buy one or you can work for it. Your choice."
Even as the florist began to turn away with the crate at his side, the Riolu stood firm. He was a self-admitted stubborn little bastard, and he wanted to make sure they did things his way. On the other hand, the Sawk believed that he was the one in control of the situation, and he wasn't completely wrong in thinking so. Conventional wisdom would say that he was the one with all the cards, as he held an item of great importance to the Riolu, who in turn had nothing of equal or greater value he could exchange. It no doubt made him feel high and mighty, as evidenced by that subtle yet condescending smirk. He had seen that same pompous, know-it-all sneer from countless adults, probably thinking that they were better than him just because of their age and supposed morals. The bigger they felt, the bigger they'd fall. That was the way the Riolu liked things.
"Hold on!" the Riolu barked as he held his paw out, which successfully made the florist stop in his tracks.
"Oh? Have you reconsidered my offer already?" the Sawk chuckled as he turned around to face him again.
"Well, not exactly. I have a proposal of my own…" he told the Sawk as he reached behind his back. The older Pokémon wore a confused look on his face, which only deepened as the Riolu pulled out a full deck of playing cards from seemingly out of nowhere.
"Hrm? Where did you get those cards all of a sudden?" he asked as he pointed to the cards.
"Eh, don't worry about it," the Riolu laughed nonchalantly.
"So is this a magic trick or what? I don't have the time for this, kid. Just make your decision and go," the Sawk groaned as he scratched his head.
"Just hear me out. If I can truly impress you with one card trick, you let me have the Gracidea free of charge. How about that?" the Riolu explained, his voice sounding genuine enough.
"Pfft! That's seriously your plan?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he pondered the young Pokémon's proposal. His cynical grimace quickly turned into a smirk and he chuckled in amusement. "Well if you're confident that you can really wow me, then I say sure! Go for it! I'm telling you right now though; I'm expecting to be blown off my feet by your trick. Anything less and you're not getting the flower," he responded as he crossed his arms.
"Well well, looks like I've got a tough crowd today! You must be a fellow that likes his magic tricks…" the Riolu mused with a bright smile as he began to shuffle the deck.
The blue humanoid simply stood there with an expression so vacant he could pass for a Xatu.
"Well maybe not, but I'm sure you'll like what I've got up my sleeves!" he said confidently.
"I don't know. I think your approach might work better if you pulled out a wallet and some money with that trick instead…" the Sawk mumbled.
"Sheesh. Its all about money with you, isn't it? What, have you forgotten how to have a little fun?" the Riolu sighed.
"Its how the world works, sonny. I'm sure you'll understand eventually… when you grow up, that is," the florist replied.
As he said those last few words, a vicious glint sparked in the Riolu's eyes. He continued shuffling the cards until they were sufficiently mixed, and then presented the deck face-down in his left paw to the Sawk. "Now mister, I'm not saying you're wrong about that, but… I honestly don't care," he stated casually, catching the older Pokémon off-guard. "The world can be however you want it to be. I prefer doing things my way," he added with a sly smirk before nodding to the deck in his paw. "Now look alive and draw one card."
The Sawk silently took a card from the top of the deck and looked at it. "It's the—," he started to say, but was cut off by the Riolu.
"Ah-ah-ah! Don't tell me! Just memorize it and then place it back on the deck face-down," he instructed. The Sawk did what he was told and placed the card back on the deck. The Riolu took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He pressed his middle digit onto the card as if he was trying to read which one it was simply through touch. He then began to shuffle the deck one more time before standing completely straight as he held the deck out with both paws. "Now, for the final step… concentrate on the deck. Whatever you do, don't move your eyes off the cards!" he said slowly. The Sawk did as he was asked, leaning in a bit as he concentrated on the deck. A few seconds ticked by in awkward silence, and nothing was happening.
Suddenly, the Riolu bent down and threw the entire deck into the air, causing a flurry of cards to flutter about and fall erratically all over the sidewalk. The Sawk was completely caught off guard by the sudden motion and was so baffled that he was still trying to keep his eyes on the cards.
"H-Hey! What's the big idea?! Why did you—?" he asked, but shut his mouth once he couldn't see the Riolu anywhere. "Wh-where did you…?" he gasped as he frantically looked around for the other Pokémon, but he was nowhere to be seen. As he looked, his eyes drifted across the crate of Gracideas. His heart nearly leaped out of his chest as he realized that the crate's lid had just been pried open! "Y-Y-YOU!" he seethed as he leaned over the crate and opened the lid. Sure enough, there was one Gracidea out of twelve missing. "YOU TWO-TIMING LITTLE PUNK! I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THAT!" the Sawk hollered to the skies, shaking his fists in rage as cards were picked up in the breeze and whisked all over the sidewalk and street.
The Riolu was already on the next street over, running towards an open alley while clutching the Gracidea to his chest. He grinned wide as he ran, trying hard to contain his laughter as he made off with his prize. He occasionally looked over his shoulder to make sure that the florist hadn't followed him, but he was sure that the old codger lacked the stamina to keep up with him anyway. He ducked into the alley and bent over with his paws on his knees, panting and chuckling to himself as he held the flower in his grasp.
He held up the Gracidea in his paw and took a closer look at it. There were few flowers in the world that held its unique beauty. "I just know she'll love it!"
The Riolu lowered the flower and took a deep breath. He looked to the east and towards the top of the shining silver spire that rose from deep inside the island's forest. His magenta eyes sparkled with happiness as he knew that he was about to visit someone he had been thinking a lot about lately and hadn't seen in a long while. An errant gust of wind suddenly blew through the alley, whipping his fur as a single card from his abandoned deck found its way back to him and fluttered past him in the breeze, tumbling along through the air and into the distance…
"Time for me to make things right!"
End of Chapter 1…
Author's Note:
Well, here it is… What the hell have I gotten myself into?
I thank each and every one of you that took the time out of your day to read to the end of this first chapter of my story. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it! If you did, awesome! Feel free to stick around because this is just the beginning!
I enthusiastically welcome comments and reviews of all kinds, be they positive or negative. All I ask is for you to be polite and constructive in your criticism. I'm always listening!
Once again, thank you to everyone who gave my story a chance! Feel free to leave your thoughts in a comment, review, or even a PM if you'd prefer.
-L.M.M.
Rated PG-13 for violence, mild blood, strong language, and suggestive themes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Chapter 1: Is This Your Card?
From high in the clear and tranquil skies, the midday sun was beating down upon the rolling waves of the open ocean. The "azure frontier" as some called it, vast and unpredictable in nature. Flocks of white, yellow-footed seagulls swooped and soared above the water, only occasionally dipping low to skim over the waves in search of fish to catch. There was nothing to be seen for miles, except for a solitary island nestled between the paths of two major wind currents; Zephyr Island.
Zephyr Island measured about twenty square miles, appearing as a misshapen blot on just about any map it was charted on. It was most often represented in charts used by ship crews that would ferry goods and tourists alike between the island and mainland, as well as the neighboring islands at all times of the year. The island had a rustic charm to it, with a lush deciduous forest covering most of the land in its center. There was also a sizable port town on the western side of the island, known as Zephyros.
The sails and smokestacks of wood and metal ships crowded the narrow and bustling docks of the port town, brimming with Pokémon of all shapes, sizes, ages and species. Most were dock workers and sailors, but there were quite a few tourists mixed in as well, defined by their casual dress and overall curiosity about their surroundings. All of these Pokémon of varying professions and business had little choice but to press and bump against whomever they were passing while navigating the rickety wood and stone jetties. Groups of seagulls gazed down at all the action from their perches atop numerous masts and wooden beams that lined the docks, making almost as much noise to rival that of the Pokémon down below.
Among the din of laboring and sightseeing Pokémon, a tarp-covered wooden cart drawn by a Mudsdale and guarded by a Bidoof waiting idly near the dock. They patiently waited until a Machop approached them while carrying a wooden crate. They could barely hear each other over the clamor of the docks, but they were able to finish their business in good time, and within a few minutes the crate was loaded into the back of the cart. The Machop waved goodbye as the Bidoof hopped up onto the guard seat of the cart and signaled for the Mudsdale to take off. As they trundled away from the waterfront, it was obvious that the docks weren't the only busy area of town that day.
Away from the water's edge, the rest of the town was brimming with just as much activity. Just east of the docks was Windfall Square, the central hub of Zephyros. The Bidoof's and Mudsdale's cart bumped and rattled over the rough cobblestone streets of the square. The cobblestones embedded within the square resembled a mosaic, arranged in a circular pattern around the center with painted white stones forming dozens of designs that looked like swirling wind gusts. Some of the largest buildings in the entire town circled the square, rising three to five stories above the promenade. They were mostly built from a mishmash of wood, metal, and crudely-fashioned bricks, but the white stone pillars holding up some of their facades managed to give them a somewhat stately charm.
Colorful flags and banners were strung on lines that stretched between the many wrought-iron lampposts that dotted the square, and there were numerous stalls that were being set up in some of the open areas. The Bidoof took an interest in the stalls as he and his partner maneuvered the square, which was quickly becoming crowded with workers and merchants trying to set up for the coming festivities. He was thankful that there was still enough space for carts to move through, because after a few days that would no longer be the case and he'd have to take the long way round to make deliveries. It usually wasn't this busy all year round, only because it was the beginning of spring and by extension, the tourist season. As cumbersome as the annual festivities made things, he knew they were an important part of life on the island. It was really one of the only times throughout the year that the citizens and local businesses of the town were able to interact with so many visitors from abroad, and that was extremely important for commerce.
After leaving the crowded Windfall Square, the cart was pulled down a few more streets towards the eastern ward of Zephyros. This side of town was mostly made up of winding cobblestone streets with brick and wooden buildings lining each side. Plumes of smoke billowed out of brick and stone chimneys from the roofs of every other house. Down on the street level, Pokémon including Scrafty, Linoone, and Glameow wearing a variety of clothing from scarves and belts to tailor-made tunics and hoods passed by boarded-up houses and storefronts using the narrow, cracked sidewalks. The Bidoof had to keep a close eye on the cart he and his partner were pulling due to the notoriously sticky fingers some denizens of the town tended to have.
The cart eventually arrived on a wide street with many other wagons being pulled by different kinds of quadruped Pokémon back and forth across it. The Bidoof quickly pulled out a manifest from the back of the cart, and double-checked the address on it. Sure enough, it looked like he was on the right street, so all there was left to do was to make his delivery…
Meanwhile on the very same street, a certain Pokémon was reclining on the shingled roof of one of the buildings that lined it.
"Is this your card?"
A blue paw held up a glossy playing card in the glaring midday sun, a light spring breeze causing it to flutter in its grasp. It was the black queen of spades. The abstractly depicted human woman on the card frowned disapprovingly, but her mirrored twin below her seemed oddly amused. Perhaps it was because the creature holding her was talking to himself, or maybe she was just drawn that way. No, it was definitely the latter.
The Pokémon was staring up at the card he held aloft between two of his three digits as he was reclining on the roof. He was a blue and black-furred jackal-like Pokémon known as a Riolu. He was a typical example of his species, save for a few defining features. He had a head of fluffy, unkempt blue hair that stuck out and draped down slightly over his eyes in a thick tuft. There were two furry black appendages that hung down from either side of his face, accented by a black fur pattern on his face that ran down his pointed, short snout as well as over his eyes like a bandit's mask. His eyes were quite striking as they were a glamorous, bright shade of magenta and harbored a keen sense of playful mischief.
The Riolu shook his head lightly as he gazed up at the card, returning the queen's judgmental grimace with a sour scowl of his own. "No… No its not!" he huffed exhaustedly. He shut his eyes and let out a long sigh as he smacked his other paw against his forehead. "Ugh! I messed it up again…" he growled as he removed his paw from his forehead and used it to grab a deck of playing cards that was lying next to him on the roof. "Well then, how about this?" he said as he hurriedly shuffled the black queen of spades back into the deck.
Clearing his throat, he closed his eyes and drew one card from the top of the deck before opening his eyes again to look at it. "The red seven of hearts— that's my card," he said to himself as he shuffled it back into the deck. As he shuffled, he furrowed his brow in concentration as he did his best to keep track of the card as it was mixed in with the others. He took a deep breath and fanned out the entire deck in one paw, hoping that the card he was looking for would be smack dab in the center. He focused his gaze on the card in the center, and gave the fanned-out cards a quick flick as he held them, causing the center card to pop up. A bead of sweat dropped down the side of his face, and his stare intensified as he grabbed the card with his free paw. "This is it… This is the one!" he thought as he could feel confidence and conviction welling up inside of him.
"Now tell me… Is this your card?!" he yelled dramatically as if he wasn't just talking to himself while he held the card up and turned it over.
The Riolu's eyes narrowed and his jaw dropped in disbelief once he saw what card it was. To his utter shock, it wasn't the red seven of hearts, but instead the black queen of spades! Although what he had just pulled off could be considered nothing less than the world's greatest coincidence, the woman on the card still looked as nonplussed as ever. Her expression certainly didn't help. After staring for a good long minute at the card in confusion with his frozen expression, the Riolu growled and began to noisily grind his sharp teeth.
"You… you… YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! What kinda joke is this?!" he shouted furiously while hints of indignant anger burned through the blue fur on his face. "I mean honestly! I couldn't have done that even if I tried!" he seethed, closing his eyes as he shook his head in disbelief. He then opened his eyes and glared at the queen of spades, who was still blankly staring back at him. He brought the card closer to his face and squinted at it. "Okay, what's your deal? Do you just enjoy mocking me?" he grumbled in annoyance. After having a staring contest with the card for a few more moments, the young Pokémon cracked a smirk and chuckled.
"Yeesh, trying to figure out this stupid card trick has been driving me crazy for the past few days," he said. He sighed in defeat and shuffled the card back into the deck before swiftly tucking it away behind him. He put his hands behind his head and rested it against them as he relaxed on the rooftop. "It seemed simple enough when I saw that one guy do it, so I didn't think it'd be that hard to pull off. Guess I was wrong…" he grumbled.
The young Riolu put his arms to the side and sat up on the rooftop, looking over the scene in front of him. From his perch atop the four-story building, he could see a fair bit of Zephyros, as well as the sparkling ocean just beyond. The smoke from the nearby chimneys didn't block his view too much, thanks to the light breeze that was blowing in from the west. His eyes were filled with an opportunistic zeal as he saw the throngs of foreigners beginning to arrive from the docks before they poured into the town square and spread out from there.
"I seriously need some new material. I can't expect to keep fooling tourists with the same few tricks over and over again," he mused as he scratched his cheek. He then looked behind him and towards the lush forest on the outskirts of town. He gazed at a silver spire that was poking out of the trees, sighing as he pinched one of the black appendages on the side of his face and lazily twirled it around like a lock of hair. "Not to mention her Egg Day's today, and I wanted to surprise her with a new trick."
He turned his head back towards the town, propping it up with his paw as he closed his eyes. "Oh well, I'll try it anyways and if I mess up again, at least I'll have something else," he added with a soft smile. "If anything, I just hope she doesn't hate me after all this time…"
His eyes soon opened and his ears perked up as he began to hear the creaking of wooden wheels on the stone street below. He quickly crawled down the sloped roof face on his paws and knees and slowly peered over the edge. He saw a covered wooden cart drawn by a Mudsdale pulling up to the building, as a Bidoof promptly hopped off the front seat and waddled over to the storefront. Within moments a Sawk came out to greet the pair of couriers. He was wearing a soil-stained white apron as well as a pair of thin, round spectacles. He looked quite pleased to see them, swinging his arms wide as a jovial smile spread across his ovular face. They shot the breeze for a bit as the Sawk florist signed for the crate, and once he was done the Bidoof and Mudsdale both nodded cordially towards him. They then made off as quickly as they had arrived, trundling down the street as the florist was left to inspect his shipment.
The Riolu watched with great interest from his rooftop perch as the Sawk hummed a simple tune to himself and pried open the wooden crate. Even from high up on the roof he could notice an elated spark within the florist's eyes as he lifted the top off of the crate. Heavenly light and a chorus of angels might as well have been pouring out of the crate as what was inside was revealed to both the florist and his rooftop observer. Even the teen's heart skipped a beat as he beheld what was inside.
"Gracideas~! Oh thank the heavens, they're finally here~!" the old florist practically sang as he clasped his hands together and took a good look at the contents of the box. Inside was a carton of twelve stunningly gorgeous pink flowers with six petals and two dark green leaves each, all immaculately pruned and preserved.
"Well well! I guess that tip I got awhile back was correct!" the Riolu thought as a wide grin spread across his face. "That does it then. Those should be perfect!"
The young Pokémon wasted no time jumping to his feet and running over to the side of the roof, taking a quick look down as he saw a gauntlet of numerous balconies beneath him. He jumped off the side of the building, landing on a metal balcony on the fourth floor. He then leaped over its railing and onto the next balcony on the third floor. He then turned and jumped off again, grabbing onto a nearby drainpipe as he slid down it in style. He was getting more and more excited by the second as he realized that a rare and beautiful Gracidea flower was almost in his grasp! He was so happy in fact, that he kept his eyes closed and leaped from the drainpipe and onto the lowest balcony on the second floor, which was made of brittle wood. His happy thoughts were immediately halted as he felt the wooden boards bowing underneath his weight, accompanied by a loud creak and a few violent snaps the moment his foot landed on the flimsy balcony.
He stood still for just a moment as the inevitable soon followed. "Shit…" he whimpered before the balcony collapsed and he plummeted two stories into the alleyway below, crashing into a pile of old wooden crates and metal garbage cans. In the aftermath, the stunned Riolu lay sprawled out on a pile of debris, bruised and dazed but thankful that none of his bones were broken. His fall made quite the ruckus, inevitably drawing the attention of the flower-ogling Sawk just around the corner.
"What the hydrangeas?!" he gasped, looking towards the alley as dust and debris began to billow out from it. He was about to go over to investigate until the dizzy Riolu came stumbling out onto the sidewalk, covered in dust and bruises as he struggled to keep his balance. He held his head between his paws and let out a painful moan as he quickly shook his head, leaving his fluffy hair in an even worse state of disarray than it was before.
He stood upright and froze for a moment before looking over at the Sawk, who was inquisitively squinting at him through his glasses, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. The Riolu confidently smiled at the florist and put one hand to his hip while flipping the other back casually.
"Uh… Goooooood day, sir! Ow…" he greeted with the brightest grin he could muster. Internally, he was gutted that he had foolishly lost the element of surprise. Now that the Sawk knew of his presence, obtaining one of the flowers was going to be much more difficult than he had initially expected. However, he didn't have much time left and he needed to get one as soon as possible. He would have to come up with a new plan, and fast.
"Good heavens, are you okay, kid?" the florist asked him, sounding both concerned and cautious.
The Riolu blinked his magenta eyes and he glanced over his shoulder and to his side as if to check if anyone else was around. "Huh? Who, me? Of course, never been better!"
"Do you need any help? Looks like you got a bit banged up back there."
"No thanks, I'm fine! I really am!"
"Hmm… Right then, I'll believe you. I hear Riolu are pretty resilient folk anyway," he said before leaning forward and taking a closer look at the younger Fighting-type. "By the way, what were you even doing in that alley? This is private property you know…" he asked him.
"Oh, nothing too terribly interesting! And not to worry, I have the utmost respect for private property!"
"Well, that's good then! There's a history of hooligans getting up to no good on this street, so I was a little worried when I saw you fooling around back there," the Sawk laughed in relief.
"Yeah, don't worry about me," the Riolu replied as he walked closer and took a quick peek inside the open box. "Say, I couldn't help but notice these flowers you've got here. They look amazing! What are they called?" he asked, acting as innocent as he could.
"Hmm? Oh those are what are called Gracidea flowers! They only grow in select regions of the world, and they're highly sought after. You see, the species of Pokémon known as Shaymin are known to use these in order to change their form! Furthermore, these flowers are said to represent gratitude and—," the florist rambled, until he was interrupted.
"Hey, flower guy? Slow down there, I just wanted to know what they were called…"
"R-right, fair enough!" the Sawk chuckled sheepishly. "I apologize, its just that I've been passionate about flowers my entire life. You know, sometimes I wish I was hatched as a Grass-type!"
"Ummmm… Gotcha," the Riolu replied while tilting his head to the side. "Hmm… I wonder what kind of Pokémon he would be if he was actually like… hatched as a Grass-type," he thought as visions of a green Sawk with a Gracidea flower growing out of his head came to mind. He shook his head and snapped back to reality as he saw the florist fawning over the flowers once again.
"I spent a good amount of Poké to get these shipped here in good condition, you know. They'll be going on sale during the Springtide Festival, and I'm certain they're going to be in high demand! Hehehe!" he chuckled as he tugged at the straps of his apron.
"I don't doubt that for a second, flower guy! In fact, I have a high demand for one right now," the Riolu replied as he took a step forward and began to reach towards the open crate.
However, he had to recoil his paw as the lid was slammed shut. He was surprised at the speed at which the geezer was able to cut him off, but in all honesty he didn't blame him for being so protective of the rare flowers. The Sawk glowered at the young Riolu for a moment before clearing his throat. "Ahem. First of all, the title of my profession is 'florist', not 'flower guy'… Secondly, these flowers aren't on sale yet. As I said before, they'll only be on sale during the festival. You'll have to come back then if you want one," he explained sternly as he reached down and pulled the crate closer towards him. "And thirdly, they also cost money, my boy. I don't happen to see any wallet on you so I gather you don't even have the necessary funds. Unless you're stashing coins where the sun doesn't shine, but in that case I wouldn't want them anyway."
The Riolu simply chuckled and folded his arms. "You got me, mister florist. It's true; I don't have a single Poké to my name right now…"
"Ah, I see. That's quite unfortunate, but I'm sure there are ways you can remedy that! Like eh… getting a job, for instance," the florist replied rather smarmily.
"Aw come on, that's a total fusspot thing to say! You've been in business long enough in this town, you know how things are. I'm no stranger to business, work with me here! I'm sure we can cut some sort of deal," the Riolu protested before giving the florist a sly wink and pointing a digit back and forth between them. "C'mon, one fighting-type to another!"
The Sawk only sighed and shook his head. "Kids these days… How about this then? You work in my shop from today until the first day of the Springtide Festival, and I'll give you one Gracidea as payment. Does that sound fair?" he asked. The tone of his voice suggested that his patience was wearing thin.
The Riolu couldn't deny that the deal wasn't exactly a bad one, at least on the surface. However, he wasn't keen on the idea of laboring for four whole days in some dumpy flower shop, not to mention with an anal-retentive flowermonger breathing down his neck and watching his every move. The very thought of it made his skin crawl beneath his fur. He was well aware that the florist was going to take full advantage of his desperation and would most likely overwork him in order to make the most out of their deal. Personally, the Riolu just wasn't willing to be chained down in any way, especially in service to this guy of all Pokémon.
"Sorry, but I just can't take that deal," he grumbled as he folded his arms again and looked away from the florist.
"Hmph. I guess that settles it then. They'll be on sale during the festival if you want one."
"But mister, I need one today! Like right now very soon today! Its for a very special someone…"
"Well tough luck kiddo. I run a business, not a charity! If you want one you can buy one or you can work for it. Your choice."
Even as the florist began to turn away with the crate at his side, the Riolu stood firm. He was a self-admitted stubborn little bastard, and he wanted to make sure they did things his way. On the other hand, the Sawk believed that he was the one in control of the situation, and he wasn't completely wrong in thinking so. Conventional wisdom would say that he was the one with all the cards, as he held an item of great importance to the Riolu, who in turn had nothing of equal or greater value he could exchange. It no doubt made him feel high and mighty, as evidenced by that subtle yet condescending smirk. He had seen that same pompous, know-it-all sneer from countless adults, probably thinking that they were better than him just because of their age and supposed morals. The bigger they felt, the bigger they'd fall. That was the way the Riolu liked things.
"Hold on!" the Riolu barked as he held his paw out, which successfully made the florist stop in his tracks.
"Oh? Have you reconsidered my offer already?" the Sawk chuckled as he turned around to face him again.
"Well, not exactly. I have a proposal of my own…" he told the Sawk as he reached behind his back. The older Pokémon wore a confused look on his face, which only deepened as the Riolu pulled out a full deck of playing cards from seemingly out of nowhere.
"Hrm? Where did you get those cards all of a sudden?" he asked as he pointed to the cards.
"Eh, don't worry about it," the Riolu laughed nonchalantly.
"So is this a magic trick or what? I don't have the time for this, kid. Just make your decision and go," the Sawk groaned as he scratched his head.
"Just hear me out. If I can truly impress you with one card trick, you let me have the Gracidea free of charge. How about that?" the Riolu explained, his voice sounding genuine enough.
"Pfft! That's seriously your plan?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he pondered the young Pokémon's proposal. His cynical grimace quickly turned into a smirk and he chuckled in amusement. "Well if you're confident that you can really wow me, then I say sure! Go for it! I'm telling you right now though; I'm expecting to be blown off my feet by your trick. Anything less and you're not getting the flower," he responded as he crossed his arms.
"Well well, looks like I've got a tough crowd today! You must be a fellow that likes his magic tricks…" the Riolu mused with a bright smile as he began to shuffle the deck.
The blue humanoid simply stood there with an expression so vacant he could pass for a Xatu.
"Well maybe not, but I'm sure you'll like what I've got up my sleeves!" he said confidently.
"I don't know. I think your approach might work better if you pulled out a wallet and some money with that trick instead…" the Sawk mumbled.
"Sheesh. Its all about money with you, isn't it? What, have you forgotten how to have a little fun?" the Riolu sighed.
"Its how the world works, sonny. I'm sure you'll understand eventually… when you grow up, that is," the florist replied.
As he said those last few words, a vicious glint sparked in the Riolu's eyes. He continued shuffling the cards until they were sufficiently mixed, and then presented the deck face-down in his left paw to the Sawk. "Now mister, I'm not saying you're wrong about that, but… I honestly don't care," he stated casually, catching the older Pokémon off-guard. "The world can be however you want it to be. I prefer doing things my way," he added with a sly smirk before nodding to the deck in his paw. "Now look alive and draw one card."
The Sawk silently took a card from the top of the deck and looked at it. "It's the—," he started to say, but was cut off by the Riolu.
"Ah-ah-ah! Don't tell me! Just memorize it and then place it back on the deck face-down," he instructed. The Sawk did what he was told and placed the card back on the deck. The Riolu took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He pressed his middle digit onto the card as if he was trying to read which one it was simply through touch. He then began to shuffle the deck one more time before standing completely straight as he held the deck out with both paws. "Now, for the final step… concentrate on the deck. Whatever you do, don't move your eyes off the cards!" he said slowly. The Sawk did as he was asked, leaning in a bit as he concentrated on the deck. A few seconds ticked by in awkward silence, and nothing was happening.
Suddenly, the Riolu bent down and threw the entire deck into the air, causing a flurry of cards to flutter about and fall erratically all over the sidewalk. The Sawk was completely caught off guard by the sudden motion and was so baffled that he was still trying to keep his eyes on the cards.
"H-Hey! What's the big idea?! Why did you—?" he asked, but shut his mouth once he couldn't see the Riolu anywhere. "Wh-where did you…?" he gasped as he frantically looked around for the other Pokémon, but he was nowhere to be seen. As he looked, his eyes drifted across the crate of Gracideas. His heart nearly leaped out of his chest as he realized that the crate's lid had just been pried open! "Y-Y-YOU!" he seethed as he leaned over the crate and opened the lid. Sure enough, there was one Gracidea out of twelve missing. "YOU TWO-TIMING LITTLE PUNK! I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THAT!" the Sawk hollered to the skies, shaking his fists in rage as cards were picked up in the breeze and whisked all over the sidewalk and street.
The Riolu was already on the next street over, running towards an open alley while clutching the Gracidea to his chest. He grinned wide as he ran, trying hard to contain his laughter as he made off with his prize. He occasionally looked over his shoulder to make sure that the florist hadn't followed him, but he was sure that the old codger lacked the stamina to keep up with him anyway. He ducked into the alley and bent over with his paws on his knees, panting and chuckling to himself as he held the flower in his grasp.
He held up the Gracidea in his paw and took a closer look at it. There were few flowers in the world that held its unique beauty. "I just know she'll love it!"
The Riolu lowered the flower and took a deep breath. He looked to the east and towards the top of the shining silver spire that rose from deep inside the island's forest. His magenta eyes sparkled with happiness as he knew that he was about to visit someone he had been thinking a lot about lately and hadn't seen in a long while. An errant gust of wind suddenly blew through the alley, whipping his fur as a single card from his abandoned deck found its way back to him and fluttered past him in the breeze, tumbling along through the air and into the distance…
"Time for me to make things right!"
LiquidMadMan Presents…
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon – Wildcard
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon – Wildcard
End of Chapter 1…
Author's Note:
Well, here it is… What the hell have I gotten myself into?
I thank each and every one of you that took the time out of your day to read to the end of this first chapter of my story. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it! If you did, awesome! Feel free to stick around because this is just the beginning!
I enthusiastically welcome comments and reviews of all kinds, be they positive or negative. All I ask is for you to be polite and constructive in your criticism. I'm always listening!
Once again, thank you to everyone who gave my story a chance! Feel free to leave your thoughts in a comment, review, or even a PM if you'd prefer.
-L.M.M.
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