The Quest to Reunite With You

Chapter 1: The Journey Begins!

The follow up/sequel to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Return!

There will be laughs, fights, and more in this journey!

And remember...Pokemon doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Game Freak!

Oh, and if there ever was an anime theme for this fic, I'd pick Masayume Chasing by Boa.

STORY AND CHAPTER BEGIN!

(In some unknown location...)

In a dark place that sort of looks like a chamber, the Pikachu with the scar walks in, a scowl on his face. "Hmph. A waste of my time. That was humiliating to say the least. Oh well. I hope those criminals will be useful to us."

"Yet you got arrested. Spending too much time there was slightly hazardous." Says a figure with piercing red eyes that lurks in the darkness. "You spent too much time bragging to those two that it almost cost you dearly. You let yourself get hit pretty much. You brought it on yourself."

"Pfft. Don't lecture me. Typical bad guy, you do the same thing. And look at how "you" got defeated by those two. I guess we're two of a kind."

Right at that moment, the Pikachu keels over, holding his head and groaning in pain.

"You compare yourself to me? You don't know what I'm actually capable of. Just be grateful I'm helping you. Be grateful I'm sparing you."

"You...you aren't helping me! Whatever you've done to me is making me attack...it's making me do things I normally wouldn't have done before. Know that I'm only helping you because you're helping me get things back to the way they were before-AAAH!"

"Try as you want, you rodent. Things won't completely go back to normal for you. Your partner was killed 9 years ago, and I need not remind you what happened to your so called "brother" and his partner. Now are you going to continue to defy me? Or do you want me to continue helping you get this world back to normal? You'd better choose your words wisely, or I'll end you here and now!"

"Nnnggh..." His fist crackles in an odd black electricity. "I...I...I apologise. Now stop this freakin' pain in my head you psycho!"

A few seconds later, the Pikachu drops to the floor, catching his breath, and shaking his head. "O-ow..."

"Better make sure it stays that way. You wouldn't like it if I resorted to doing things myself.."

(The next morning, outside Beach Cave)

Flarea wakes up with a satisfying yawn. She cracks her neck to see that the sun is rising up into the sky. She smiles warmly at the sight. (A.N. No pun intended...because...y'know, fire type?)

"The sunrise...I haven't really seen it lately because I'm always sleeping in our room. It's been ages since the last guild expedition. Glad the master's let us do this now. I mean, not that I won't be happy seeing that little electric type's little mug again...it's just I've been craving this type of adventure for so long. All work and no play make this fire type a very cranky fox."

Just then, she feels something fidgeting close to her. She turns her head to see Gracie curled up close to her, a small smile on her face, as her chest rises and falls gently, signifying she's sound asleep.

"Awwww...like the little sister I never had."

She then looks around to notice something. Something that frightens her. Something that makes her fur stand on edge.

"Wattson isn't here." She sharply turns her head towards Beach Cave. "Oh, crap." She gets to her feet instantly, which ends up waking Gracie up with a start, and runs over to the entrance of Beach Cave. "WATTSON!" She bellows into Beach Cave, which echoes off the walls. "WHEN YOU GET BACK OUT HERE, I SWEAR I'M GOING TO BURN YOU!"

She gets no reply, which makes her even madder.

"DO YOU HEAR ME, THUNDER-NUT?!"

"Yeah, I hear you, loud and clear. And for the record, I'm not in Beach Cave you crazy hot headed fire type."

Flarea freezes where she is, and slowly looks back. She sees Wattson walking onto the beach, with the treasure bag hooked over his shoulder. "Wha...What..."

"I went to go grab some last minute supplies for the journey. Is there a problem or somethin'? Thought I'd gone in there again?"

She takes a few steps back, looking back and forth between the Heliolisk and the cave in front of her, and a few seconds later, a horde of water type Pokemon, backed by an angry Golduck and Samurott roll up to the entrance.

"Ah..." She quietly squeaks out, as the water types all launch their most powerful water attacks at her. "Welp...!"

Help is at the ready, as Wattson jumps in front of her, and launches a Parabolic Charge attack, countering the water attacks. This puts the frights into the water types, as they instantly back off.

"Get lost water scrubs! If you don't wanna be fried today, you'll leave my friend alone!"

"S-she disturbed our peace!" The Golduck defends.

"You're the ones that kick up a fuss when some Pokemon just wanna explore!"

"You're the one that always picks a fight with us!"

"You have the choice to decline."

The water types go quiet after this reasoning, and with a collective grumble, they retreat back into the cave. "Lousy Diamond Rank exploration teams, thinking they can boss us about..."

After they've retreated, there's a pregnant pause right up until Wattson swivels around, a neutral look on his face.

"Well! Times'a wastin'! We got a lost team mate to find!" He saunters past an ironically yet metaphorically frozen Flarea. "Oh wait, make that two..."

"D-did that seriously just happen?! Wattson's the most...backwards Pokemon I've ever worked with...calls me crazy...while being crazy himself...and then saves me and acts like it was nothing...?!"

"I say we get some breakfast before we head out. I don't wanna do this on an empty stomach." Wattson states.

Flarea is about to argue back, but she's interrupted by the loud rumbling of her stomach. She lowers her head and sighs, making Gracie giggle.

"Looks like your stomach isn't on your side today. Come on, Flare. May as well eat before heading out. And grab a drink at Spinda's Cafe while we're at it." She gets up and stretches, yawning slightly. "That was the best nap I've had in a long while..." She licks her paw, and wipes it along her head to get the fur there straightened out.

"What're you doing?" Wattson asks, before a sly smirk makes its way onto her face. "Trying to look your best for-"

He can't finish his sentence, as an Ice Beam hits his mouth, freezing it. Gracie walks past him, with an unamused look on her face mixed with a blush.

"Shut it, Wattson."

Wattson sweatdrops and walks on while the sun starts to thaw the ice from his face. "That was cold..."

"She got you good, Wattson." Flarea comments walking alongside him. "Oh, by the way, your lips'll probably be a bit red, once they've thawed. You'll end up looking like a female Wobbuffet." She giggles.

"Aw, crap..."

A little later, after Wattson's mouth has thawed from its icy prison, they walk out of Spinda's Cafe, each clutching a drink of their choice. "Ever wonder if Spinda likes anybody?" Wattson asks.

"Yeah, it's been on my mind a few times. Though I've always wondered what sex Spinda is." Gracie comments. "Myself, I've always thought Spinda's a boy. Never came off as a female to me."

"Wanna know somthin'?" Flarea asks them both, grabbing their attention. "Spinda's actually a girl."

"No way..!" Gracie says in slight shock.

"Way!" Flarea remarks with a laugh.

"Damn, so that's why I've been feeling all weird around her?" Wattson thinks.

"So are we heading out now?" Flarea asks.

"Nah, the guild wanna give us a send off. Hopefully it won't take too long though." Gracie says, her tail wagging.

"You're really impatient to get going, aren't you?" Flarea asks matter-of-factly. "Look, stay calm, alright? Bolt might be out there, but nothing's gonna happen if you go like an hour or two later than you planned."

"...Fine."

"Besides, the guild are our friends as well, don't you want to spend a little bit of time with them before you go?"

"I know, I know...Two hours though. And then we leave." Gracie tells her in defeat. "We should head there now. It's in front of the statue. The whole town is sending us off."

"The whole town?!" Wattson asks in shock. "Why would the whole town send us away?!"

"You seem to forget who exactly we're searching for, Wattson. Which is actually surprising if so." Flarea sternly states.

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" Wattson waves his hands in defence. "I just didn't expect it is all!"

"Good." Flarea bluntly puts and looks where she's walking, making Wattson sigh in relief.

(Meanwhile, at Pokemon Square)

The group are at the lake where Whiscash is, relaxing.

"Um, Whiscash?" Kami asks the elder water Pokemon.

"Yes? What is it, little Pichu?"

"What exactly happens in the Luminous Cave?"

"Well...originally, evolving was something that could only be done by entering special places."

"Special places? Like the cave?" She asks, tilting her head.

"Of course. That and Luminous Spring. For Pokemon to evolve, they had to travel great distances to these places. Bringing along the various items they'd possibly need to do so if necessary. In times of great catastrophe, however, Luminous Cave would seal itself up and Luminous Spring would simply cease to work, depending on exactly where the incident was taking place. For example: when that meteor was heading on a collision course with the planet 13 years ago, it was messing with the systems around the general area, from around here, to places such as Mt. Freeze, Western Cave and Mt. Faraway. Naturally, the forces that made the cave work reacted and sealed it up. Luminous Spring was a much more mysterious place when time was wonky. Sure, Pokemon could reach the place and explore...but it just wouldn't work! The more baffling part is Luminous Cave was still functioning properly!"

"I might know why." Titania says.

"Oh?" Whiscash asks.

"Thing is, the Time Gears kept time rolling, but they were kept in and around places that were near Treasure Town. Any effects of time over there, the spreading isn't very instantaneous. This place was only starting to feel the effects of the time crisis before things went back to normal. I was in Canyon Town at the time. They didn't feel anything at all."

"Very good insight, miss!"

"It helps to be well read." She states with a smile.

"Nerd!"

"Zip it, mutt!"

"As I was saying, there are cases where a Pokemon can naturally invoke the power to evolve! For example times when a friend or loved one is in danger. I heard the hero who defeated Dialga to save time did just that!"

"Atchoo!"

"Gesundheit."

"So...when I evolve, I probably won't need to go to Luminous Cave or Luminous Spring?" Kami asks the elder Whiscash."

"That's precisely right! If you're fighting to protect a close friend or a member of your family, you'll probably be able to pull it off yourself! In fact I managed it myself!" he boasts with a hearty chuckle.

"Whoa. Seriously?" Titania asks in mild shock.

"When my home was being threatened by a group of Carnivine, I had to do something. So I evolved from a small and meager Barboach into what I am now."

"What happened?"

"I lost."

And with that, Kami and Titania fall over, anime style.

"But I was saved by a passing Delphox who valiantly fought them off. Lucky she was passing by. I wanted to thank her, but she gave me a Sitrus Berry and ran off soon after. Funnily enough not long after that, Magnezone's police forces came floating by."

"Ah...I see." Titania states, managing to hold in a laugh without Whiscash noticing.

"And the weirdest part is..." Whiscash leans in. "There's a rumour going around that there are Pokemon that can evolve past their final stage."

"Whoa! That sounds awesome!" Kami exclaims.

"It does sound rather exciting doesn't it, young one?" He turns to the Mawile next to her, who looks kind of solemn. "Are you alright, Miss? You seemed to space out just then."

She snaps out of her trance and sweats a little. "I-I'm fine! I'm fine! Perfectly fine...hehe..."

"So Mr. Whiscash, just wondering. Where was your egg hatched?"

"Ah, funny thing about that actually...I hatched in the hu-"

"Hey, Kami! Titania! We're heading out now!" Inferno shouts in, interrupting the water/ground duel type.

"We decided on a team name change!" Bolt adds, making Titania double take.

"What? Oh. Whiscash. Sorry, but we really need to get going. Thank you for the storytelling and your knowledge."

"It's no problem at all, Titania! You four have a safe journey now!" The elder wishes them with a smile on his face.

"We'll give it a shot. No promises." She chuckles before lowering her horn jaws for Kami to hop on to, smiling. However, when she reunites with the two males, her smile drops. "So what did you end up picking? Something over the top I presume?"

"Actually...no." Inferno states calmly. "We went with Team Soul." Titania stops and looks at the two for a moment, Kami happily munching on an Oran Berry atop her horn jaws.

"Why something as simple as "Soul"?" Her look turns to a confused one. "I thought you were into those kind of "awesome" sounding team names."

"Well, I'm gonna be honest. "Unknown" we agreed on because we thought we weren't gonna get well known. And we never really told anybody our team name. But the ironic thing is, we did get quite a few Pokemon who knew us where they saw us, and we weren't exactly "unknown" after that. And so I thought. You know our Exploration Team badges? Well you know how whenever we get separated from each other during a mission? And how if ever one of us completes the mission while we're separated, we all end up leaving? Well I think our badges are connected to our souls, and through that, while we're on a team, our souls become one. I was originally gonna go for "United Souls" but that'd be too long. So Team Soul is what we chose. That's alright, isn't it?...Ti?"

The Mawile just stands there, slack jawed at the Growlithe's explanation. Bolt snickers and leans over to Inferno. "Mate, I think you broke her." This causes the Growlithe to chuckle.

"She probably thought I was gonna go for something overkill. I'm not that bad, am I?" Inferno asks, looking at Bolt with puppy eyes.

This of course makes Bolt look back off a little, sweatdropping. "Ummm...no, no, of course not...then again, I've only just met you so I can't really know for sure...that a good enough answer?" He asks, rubbing the back of his head, hoping for a good reaction.

"Yeah, I'm good." Inferno states nonchalantly.

"Y'know what? We should just get going. If we leave today we could get to Treasure Town in a few weeks." This makes Bolt's ear twitch.

"I'm sorry...did...did you just say-"

"Treasure Town? Yup!" Inferno confirms with a toothy grin.

"We'll be stopping off at a few points before we get there, doing a few jobs to keep our stock of Poke steady. At worst, I think it'll take us two months." Titania says, a knowing smile on her face.

This brings an unholy silence between the four, as Bolt takes time to process this. That's before he grins and throws both arms into the air, crackling with electricity "Alright!" The pressure of the power and the wattage makes the three other Pokemon flinch. "I can NOT wait to see the look on the faces of the guild when I walk through those doors, alive and well!" This statement causes Titania to roll her eyes, Kami to giggle, and Inferno to cackle, his mouth heating up.

"Aw yeah! Now even I can't wait to meet your friends! The Pokemon I can battle, the friends I could make as well! Stuff like that gets me fired up!" He releases a Flamethrower into the sky, which makes all three other Pokemon widen their eyes.

"Calm down, Inferno!" They shout, which he does, with a sheepish look on his face.

"Heh. Sorry guys."

"'Salright, Inferno. Yeah...I'm gonna get right back to that guild, and everybody's gonna be there! Me, you guys, Gracie, Flarea and Karu! And that is a promise! Now let's get going!"

"Aye!" Inferno shouts as they two males walk off towards the old Rescue Team base, where the road out of town is. "Team Soul is a-go!"

Titania shakes her head and chuckles. "Boys." She then runs after them with Kami tailing her. "Wait up!"

CHAPTER END

Now here we go! First chapter of a new adventure! Sorry it's a bit late. And the title is different to what it was originally going to be.

Next chapter will have a few of what Pokemon is famous for! Battles!

Ciao!