(2,400 words)
Chapter 4
Thunderwave Cave


A strange feeling comes over Thorn. An otherworldly presence. One they've felt once before, somewhere... Thorn can't feel their body. Are they... dreaming? They're sleepy, but still lucid.

Someone is here. Here? Inside a dream? Thorn is too confused and sleepy to be afraid. They hear... whispering? Something like muffled speech. They can't make out a single word.

As Thorn tries to understand the voice, suddenly everything starts shaking! Fear takes hold, and the voice is muffled even further-

*THUD*

What happened?! Thorn thrashes about, but they're restrained by something soft and warm- Wait. Those are blankets. They untangle themself from the bedding to find themself on the floor.

Compass shoves open the door. "Thorn, are you okay?!"

"Yeah, I'm fine. So was that an earthquake, or did I dream that?"

"Yeah, it was another quake. They've been... Wait, did you wear your, uh, helmet to bed?"

"Yeah?"

"Why? That can't be very comfortable."

Thorn shrugs. "Safety first? I mean, it did just save me from falling on my head."

"... Yeah that makes sense. Anyway, we should get going; we've got our Official Rescue Team Registration Mission today!" Compass drags Thorn to the kitchen for breakfast.

After eating, Beacon briefs them on the registration mission. "You'll head to the bulletin board and pick any E-rank job. Complete it successfully, and you'll be a full-fledged rescue team. Fail, and you'll need to do some training before you try again."

"We already rescued Caterpie," Thorn says. "Doesn't that count?"

"You'll need to do a job properly, Cubone. This isn't only a test of your abilities, but also to make sure you can work within the system. Compass, I have faith in you; I'm certain your training will pay off. Good luck out there, novice team!" Beacon gives a salute.

Compass returns the salute. "Yes ma'am!"

The team heads north to the bulletin board, where a few teams are picking out jobs. Compass rushes over and scans the board, looking over job after job before snatching one off and rushing back to Thorn. "Alright, what do you think of this one?"

Thorn takes the paper and looks closely at it. They nod and 'hmm' at the paper, their eyes scanning over each line, before they finally lower it and look at Compass. "I can't read."

"You... you can't?"

"That's what I said. So, what's this thing say?"

"A pair of magnemite need rescuing from a place called Thunderwave Cave. Something about an electromagnetic wave that got them stuck? Anyway , with all that electricity , I thought it'd be a perfect place for you!"

"Huh? Oh, right, ground-type. What's the reward?"

"100 coins and a Power Band."

"100? I thought you said 300 per job."

"It's an E-rank job, so the reward isn't much. Besides, a Power Band is one of those special scarves I told you about. It's a way better reward than just money!"

"Sure. Alright, lead the way."

The team starts heading toward Thunderwave Cave. The walk is silent for a while, until Compass speaks up. "So Thorn, you can't read?"

"Yup. Hell, I don't think I've even seen writing like that in my life."

"Please stop swearing. Also, is it just the writing that's unfamiliar? Maybe you came from somewhere with a different writing system. We should look over an atlas when we get back."

A few minutes later, they arrive at the cave. The air feels a bit tingly, and when Compass touches the wall, their fur stands on end. The team delves into the cave. "Magnemite!" Compass calls. "Hello?"

"Stop right there, intruders!"

Thorn and Compass snap to attention at the voice from behind a rock. They stand tense and ready for combat, until the voice leaps out and reveals itself: A small nidoran.

"You're walking on our turf! Turn back, or face our wrath!"

Thorn looks around for any other foes, finding nothing. "... Are you picking a fight with us?"

"Yes!" Nidoran begins walking toward Thorn. "So you'd better get going, or else face the might of my masterful-"

*BONK*

Nidoran stands still for a few seconds, before falling onto their side, out cold.

"Thorn!" Compass scolds.

"What? They were attacking us."

"No they weren't, they were hardly a threat! And they're clearly a child! I know these are wild pokemon, but we don't have to be uncivilized brutes like them."

"So you want to negotiate with the enemy?"

"Yes! If we can avoid fighting, then we should. We don't have to sink to their level."

"Okay, fine, I won't attack unless I have to-"

"SURPRISE ATTACK!!" A rattata leaps out from behind the rock, claws ready, and Thorn whips around and smacks them out of the air with their club. They land on top of the nidoran, unconscious.

"... Okay that one was fair, right?"

"No, yeah, that was definitely self-defense."

"God, that was just, like, an impulse, you know? D idn't even have time to think."

"Yeah, can't blame you for that one."

The journey continues smoothly for a while, except for one timid yet territorial elekid that Compass talks down. They keep walking, deeper into the cave. "Magnemite! Where are you? Magne-"

"Wait." Thorn holds out an arm to block them. Something's off about the ground in front of them... Thorn spits onto the discolored ground. When it lands, it sparks and sizzles, evaporating. "This floor is electrified. We'll have to go another way."

"But what if those two magnemite are this way? They got stuck because of an electromagnetic wave, so if the electricity is stronger here, it might be the place."

"Well unless you've got some rubber boots, we can't go here."

"I don't... but you do."

"What? Oh, right. Ground-type." Thorn creeps forward and pokes the floor. Nothing. They step onto it. Nothing. "Huh. Neat."

"Awesome! Go scout it out, and tell me what you find."

"I'd love to, but I don't think splitting up in such a dangerous place is a good idea."

"Oh, you're absolutely right. But what to do- GAH!"

Thorn lifts Compass and throws them over their shoulder in a fireman's carry.

"T-Thorn, hey, put me down!"

"Chill out." Thorn walks over the electric floor. "We're supposed to stick together, right?" Thorn walks until the floor changes color again. They spit to test it, then set Compass down. "There. Easy-peasy."

"Please don't do that again."

"I mean... we're gonna have to come back out. So."

Compass sighs. "At least warn me next time."

Suddenly, a robotic voice comes from deeper in the cave. "IS SOMEONE THERE? WE REQUIRE ASSISTANCE. PLEASE HELP."

"The magnemite!" Compass says.

"Hold up, I'll check it out." Thorn walks around the corner. For a moment, the cave is silent. Then Thorn bursts into laughter. "Oh my god, Compass, you gotta see this!"

Compass approaches the room. "Thorn, don't laugh at people's misfortune."

"Sorry, but when the job said they got stuck..."

Compass enters the room and finds the pair of magnemite, stuck to each other. Their attempts at flying lead them to repeatedly crash into the walls. "PLEASE HELP. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE SIMULTANEOUS FLIGHT."

"Don't worry, we're a rescue team!" Compass flashes their badge. "So, um, should we just... pull you apart?"

"NOT POSSIBLE. THE ELECTRICITY OF THE CAVE IS INCREASING OUR MAGNETIC FORCE. WE REQUEST THAT YOU CARRY US TO THE EXIT."

And so, Thorn ends up carrying Compass and both magnemite across the electric floor, nearly collapsing after reaching the end.

"You could've just taken two trips," Compass says as Thorn gasps for breath.

"my momma... didn't raise... no quitter..." Thorn says, despite not remembering their mother.

Compass carries the magnemite pair the rest of the way. The trip goes by without incident, up until an incident happens. The team turns a corner to find their path blocked by a group of wild pokemon: A plusle, a voltorb, and a mightyena.

"You've got a lot of nerve." The mightyena steps forward. "Barging into our turf, acting like you own the place."

"W-wait!" Compass says. "We're not here to cause trouble, we were just on our way out-"

"Not before we teach you a lesson, intruders!"

Thorn looks into Mightyena's eyes. Their not just angry, but... vengeful. It reminds them of Beacon. Before Mightyena can pounce, Thorn steps forward and bows their head. "I'm sorry for hurting Nidoran!"

Mightyena pauses.

"When they threatened me, I acted rashly, without thinking. It was heartless of me."

"You were intruding on our territory. They had every right to threaten you."

"I understand. I had to pass through to rescue my friends, but I should've just explained the situation, and asked for permission. I'm truly sorry." Thorn places a pair of apples on the ground and steps back. "I hope this can compensate for the harm I've caused."

Mightyena gives the apples a sniff. "... You're lucky Nidoran wasn't injured, or we wouldn't be so lenient." They step to the side, and signal their allies to do the same. "Get out."

The team walks past the wild pokemon, giving them a wide berth.

"Oh, and about Rattata..." Mightyena says.

"Oh, shit, right, sorry, they just came flying at me-"

"No no, it's fine, I understand."

"-it was just like, reflex, you know?"

"Totally, happens all the time. They really need to stop doing that."

With that, the groups part. Once the team is comfortably out of earshot, Thorn groans. "Oh my god that was the worst thing ever!"

"What do you mean? You totally got us out of that fight! How did you know they were mad about that nidoran? There weren't any nidorina or anything."

"Well they were obviously mad about something bigger than just trespassing. Their group was made up of a variety of species, so adding one more made sense. Plus, they were near the place where we encountered nidoran."

"They were?"

"... Yeah?"

"It's so hard to tell, everything is just cave."

"You're hopeless."

"But wow, I've never seen you be so respectful! You've really changed!"

"What? No, Compass, that's called acting."

"You were... acting?"

"Yeah. You know, like lying, but with feeling."

"But you seemed so genuine!"

"Seriously? I though you of all people would've clocked how out of character that was."

"So... you're not actually sorry about hurting nidoran?"

"No not really. Every word of that was forced."

"Thorn..."



Soon, the team is out of the cave, and the magnemite separate. They walk back to the bulletin board, where they meet with two more magnemite, the ones who posted the job.

"THANK YOU FOR RESCUING OUR FRIENDS. WE HOPE THIS REWARD ADEQUATELY CONVEYS OUR GRATITUDE." The magnemite hand the team a bag, containing the promised 100 coins and the Power Band. "UNFORTUNATELY, WE MAGNEMITE LACK THE RANGE OF MOTION REQUIRED TO GIVE A PROPER HUG OF GRATITUDE..."

"Oh, that's okay!" Compass says. "We're just happy to help-"

"BUT RECENT EVENTS HAVE TAUGHT US THAT WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE ALONE, MAY YET BE POSSIBLE AS A TEAM. BEHOLD!" The four magnemite line up, attaching to each other and forming a flexible chain of magnemite.

The chain floats toward the team, bending forward to wrap around them. Thorn ducks under them just in time, leaving Compass to be wrapped in a hug.

"THANK YOU, COMPASS THE CYNDAQUIL, FOR CARRYING OUR FRIENDS HOME."

"Y-yeah, you're welcome..."

Thorn snickers at Compass's predicament, until the magnemite chain releases them... and bends backward to wrap around Thorn. "Gah, hey!"

"AND THANK YOU, THORN THE CUBONE, FOR PROTECTING OUR FRIENDS FROM DANGER."

Thorn tries to struggle out, but soon submits to the almighty power of the Magnemite Chain Hug. Despite being made of metal, it's a surprisingly nice hug. "Sure, fine, you're welcome I guess."

Their gratitude sufficiently expressed, the magnemite leave. Compass grabs the Power Band from the bag. "Here's that special scarf I mentioned. Try it on, it'll make you stronger!"

Thorn wraps the band around their arm. "Huh. I actually do feel stronger. I should test it though. I need something to lift..."

"... Thorn? What's with that look? H-hey, wait a sec!"

Fortunately, Compass manages to outrun Thorn long enough to reach home, but in their haste, they run right into Beacon's outstretched arms. "Compass!" she says, wrapping them in a hug. "How did your mission go? No trouble from your partner, I hope?"

Compass extracts themself from the hug. "Oh, you should've seen them! They talked down a whole group of wild pokemon! And I never would've reached the magnemite without them!"

"Really? Quite impressive! And Cubone, what did you think about the mission?"

"I knocked out a child and spit on the floor."

"... Oh. That's-"

"Wait, no, it was two children."

"..."

Compass steps in. "I can explain-"

A *clunk!* sound comes from outside. "Oh, that must be the official review!" Beacon heads outside to the mailbox.

"Thorn, did you have to say it like that?"

"Sorry, I used up all my restraint on Mightyena."

Beacon reenters the house. "Excellent news, novice team. Your mission was completed successfully, and your clients have given you a 5-star rating. You're now approved to be a full-fledged rescue team. Did you come up with a team name?"

Compass gasps. "I didn't come up with a team name! Thorn, did you come up with a team name?"

"I didn't come up with a team name."

"We didn't come up with a team name."

"How about Dust-Fire or something?" Thorn says. "Because ground- and fire-type?"

"No, it needs to be something that's personal, that inspires hope, just like Team Lighthouse! Something like Savior, or, uh, Daybreak, or-

"Rose."

Beacon and Compass turn to look at Thorn. "... Rose?" Compass asks.

"I-I dunno, it has a nice ring to it. I mean, we've already got the rose's 'thorn', so there's that-"

"It's PERFECT! Gosh, imagine it: 'Don't worry, Team Rose is on the way!' It's beautiful, but also strong and sharp!"

"So that's your team name then?" Beacon asks.

"You bet! From now on, we're Team Rose!"



"So they just gave us a house?" Thorn asks.

"A team base, yup! Not really much of a house, feels more like big tent."

"A big tent made with bricks. That's a house."

"I guess." Compass lies down on a pile of hay. "The beds could certainly be better."

"Picky eating and now complaining about a free bed? Would Your Majesty also like a massage?"

"Yeah yeah, hardy-ha-*yawn*, jeez, I'm beat. Goodnight, partner."

Thorn considers sleeping, but they're not tired yet. Their mind swims with thoughts of the future. A rescue team, huh? A well-paying job in a nice, friendly town. How impossibly perfect... Well, let's see how long this lasts.




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