Ink's Notes:

Uh-oh, it would appear that I've had an idea for a new story. Um... sort of, anyway. I've actually written out everything in regards to the framework for this one... it just needs to have how we get from point A to point B to point Q written.

(For those who don't understand what that means - Story's written. Content isn't.)

This one probably won't be as long as Sakura's Phoenix, both in chapter length and in chapter amount, but I've pulled fast ones on myself before, so we'll see how it goes.

As a note, while some characters will be the same as in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games (IE - Wigglytuff and Chatot), others will not. And the story is way different.

So without further ado, let's begin Perhaps, My Desire!

Day 1

Blue had always been a stubborn Squirtle. He was the headstrong sort, always tackling his problems head on and never asking anyone for help in solving them. It was the same with his desire to form an Exploration Team - Blue believed he was strong, more than strong enough to handle himself, and so he'd gone to Wigglytuff's Guild by himself and told Chatot that he would be forming an Exploration Team so he could explore new places and rescue other Pokémon with the power of his awesomeness.

Chatot had stared him in the eyes, told him that it was called an Exploration Team for a reason, as in there had to be more than one Pokémon per team, and promptly kicked him out of the guild.

Blue thought it was a stupid policy, and had wandered off to go sulk (and maybe bribe someone into joining him just so he could form a team). He wandered away from the guild, into a nearby forest clearing with a small spring that he idly noted he often came to when he wanted some time to himself, before noticing that he wouldn't be able to have some time to himself. Blue stared blankly at the Clefairy who stood a short distance away from the water, jabbing at the air with attacks that wouldn't be out of place in a fighting Pokémon's arsenal. He approached her from behind, reaching out to her with an 'Excuse me-'

-And wound up pinned to the ground, one arm behind his shell and the other pinned by the Clefairy's foot for his trouble.

"What's the big idea?!" he yelped, still somewhat shocked due to the sheer speed at which the entire thing had happened.

The Clefairy removed herself from his back, and he pushed himself up, dusting himself off and turning to face her. He noted her bewildered expression, and was only further confused when she lifted a hand and measured the height difference between the two.

"That's weird," she frowned, and Blue quickly picked up on the fact that, despite her ease in speaking them, the words seemed somehow foreign in her mouth, "I don't remember Squirtles being so tall. Or being able to talk."

Blue stared blankly at her, before gently flicking her on the forehead. "That's par for the course, Clefairy," he pointed out, and was about to say something else when he saw her expression change from one of mild annoyance from being flicked to one of complete shock.

"Wh... What did you call me?" she asked, and when Blue repeated her species name, she began freaking out and asking for a mirror. While Blue wasn't really sure what a 'mirror' was, aside from perhaps part of the name of an attack, he figured it was something reflective based on what exactly those attacks did and pointed her in the direction of the small spring. The Clefairy dashed past him, stopping at the edge and staring down at her reflection in the water.

When she fell backwards onto her butt, he figured that something was wrong and approached her, waving a hand in front of her face. When she didn't respond, he dipped his tail into the spring and splashed her in the face with some water.

That earned him a trip into the spring courtesy of a shoulder throw from the Clefairy.

Blue sputtered as he surfaced, and stared right at the Clefairy, who seemed equal parts enraged and in shock. He finally decided using his words might be a better idea and asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"

It took her a moment to respond. "I... this isn't right," she muttered, looking at her hands. "I... I'm not... I should be..." Blue waited for her to get her bearings, and when she realized he wasn't going to say anything, she continued. "I... I'm a human... or at least, I think I am... I don't remember anything else..."

Blue frowned. "That can't be right," he said, and she met his gaze. "Humans went extinct a long time ago."

Her eyes widened in shock, and he realized that he maybe shouldn't have said that. His suspicions were confirmed when she began slapping herself, and he had to scramble out of the spring and grab her arms to keep her from doing it more. Blue vaguely noticed that she was surprisingly strong and he had to exert a lot of force to keep her from moving, and by the time she calmed down, he was rubbing his arms from all the strain that he'd put them through.

"P... Please..." the Clefairy muttered, and he found himself looking at her as tears began to form in her eyes. "Please believe me... That... It's all that I have... If I can't even believe that..." She hiccuped through sobs, and Blue found himself panicking. How was he even meant to begin dealing with this situation?! He'd come out here to calm himself down after being told he needed to recruit someone in order to form an Exploration Team, and now he had to comfort this crying Clefairy that thought she was a human that he barely even knew, and-

An idea began forming in his mind, a way to help this girl and get what he wanted. He took her hand, using it to wipe away her tears. "Hey, it's okay. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset." She slowly nodded, calming herself with a quick hiccup. "Actually, I think I might be able to help you." Her gaze shot up to meet his own, expression reading something between hope and shock. "See, there's something called an Exploration Team, which is basically two or more Pokémon who go around exploring places and rescuing Pokémon who need help. I've always wanted to form one, but I'm not allowed to make one with only myself, and I don't know anyone reliable enough to watch my back..." The Clefairy nodded, taking all of this information in. "But you're strong, so I wouldn't mind forming one with you, and we might even be able to find some ruins or some structures or something that explain why you were turned into a Clefairy."

"You... You really think so?" she asked, and he nodded. "Then... I'd be happy to form a team with you. It's better than sitting around and sulking, anyway..."

"That's the spirit!" Blue grinned, then clapped his hand onto his chest. "Name's Blue. What should I call you?"

The Clefairy's eyes grew hazy, and she seemed to stare into space for a moment. Blue blinked, waving his hand in front of her face, then crossed his arms and waited for her to snap out of her trance.

"Ah-!" she suddenly gasped, and Blue almost jumped from the sudden break in silence. "I... I'm sorry. I just... I think I remembered something... no images, but..." She brought her hand up to her head. "I think... people used to call me Pink."

"Hah! Talk about a weird coincidence," Blue smirked, clapping his hand onto her shoulder. "Well, Pink, let's go get registered! The sooner we do, the sooner we can figure out why you're like this!"

Pink nodded, and allowed Blue to lead her to Wigglytuff's Guild. She found herself watching as Blue attempted to get a word in while Chatot scolded him, only for the bird to become very embarrassed when she cleared her throat and made her presence known. He quickly ushered them in to see the easily excited and friend-happy pink blob that was Wigglytuff, who began yammering about how their power as friendly friends would surely be able to do great things. Neither Blue nor Pink really paid much attention until he asked, "So what do you want your team name to be, friends?"

Both blanked and looked to the other for some sort of idea. "Um-" Blue stammered, quickly realizing he hadn't actually thought about that. "Maybe- um-" He began listing a few ideas like Team Awesome or Team Epic or-

Pink cut him off when she voiced her idea. "Team Rangers," she said, and all eyes in the room went to her.

"...Team Rangers?" Blue repeated, and she nodded.

"I mean... we'd be like rangers, going places and helping people, and it just seems to fit with our names, and..." Blue grinned his approval.

"Got it!" Wigglytuff cut in, bringing their eyes to him. "From now on, you'll be Team Rangers!" he smiled, then inhaled. Both Blue and Pink brought their hands to their ears in anticipation. "YOM... TAH!"