Deep breaths... here we go. Here's the first official chapter of my PMD-inspired story!!

This is gonna be my main project, along with fanart and comic pages to expand on the characters and the world around them.
I'm probably gonna release around two chapters per month, but that might change depending on many factors.

But I do hope you're as excited as I am! Hope you enjoy!!! ;3

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...splish, splash, pitter, patter, the sound of small but agile paws gliding across a sodden field. The dull sheen of a rain-soaked, hazel fur coat pelting through the ocean of shimmering grass blades. The feeling of fur sticking to the skin as though it were afraid to fall off and water making its way inside every crevice of the body, threatening to flood it, drown it, with its sheer weight. And above all else, the racing of a mind. A single conscience spinning and collapsing onto itself, imploding outward into a nova of thoughts, worries, questions without answer and prayers. Waves of hope and dread come and go, push and pull at each other in the steady but frantic rhythm of a beating heart, weakening the soul but strengthening the body. The figure picks up speed, bolting up the plateau and toward its very peak, where an appointment is waiting. After what feels like an eternity of running they skid to a halt, mud flying from beneath their paws.

Just then, as suddenly as it came, the thick shower of rain dissipates into a soft mist, then into a sky as clear as a Honedge's blade, a majestic double rainbow towering over the mountains. The couple of black eyes which until a moment before had been darting all over their sockets as if in a fever dream now can't help but to stop and look at the scenery; from the edge of the upland the world looks as if it were born anew. The sun shining from the heavens above radiates its familiar warmth and illuminates the water-logged grasslands and woods from a million different angles like a kaleidoscope of multicolored mirrors. It leaves a streak of wavering light along the sea's surface, which has now calmed back down, returning to its proverbial soothing lullaby of crashing waves. Bubbles rise up from the wet sand, making their way up to the skies, shining brightly in a last swansong before being popped by the sun's rays. Families of Wingull and Sentret come out of hiding, prepared to go on with their lives now that the worst has passed. A mosaic of colors clashing and blending with each other, a spectacle of nature that could make anyone fall in love with life all over again, if only for a brief fickle moment.

For another eternity, those small, innocent eyes remain fixated on the beauty before them. Their whole body is shaken by goosebumps, not with cold, not with fear, but with pure, puerile awe. Everything else doesn't matter in that single, infinitesimally small heartbeat that stretches out onto infinity, waves of cozy warmth coursing through their limbs and-

"A beautiful sight, is it not?"

A raucous voice breaks the spell. Startled, the Pokémon turns toward the origin of the sound, instinctively ruffling the fur on their chest. But upon seeing the figure in front of them, they relax their muscles again. It is a Slowking, tall but hunched over with age. The shell on his head is worn out, full of dents and chips and bumps. The look on his face suggests him being anything but a threat.

"Are you... the Guild master?" The smaller Pokémon asks.

The Slowking tilts his head, as if puzzled, then raises his eyebrows ever-so-slightly.

"Oh! So you are the one who put up that hiring request. Excuse my bluntness, but I was not expecting an... Eevee to show up, of all things."

Seeing Eevee's face tense up again, offended, the elder laughs hoarsely.

"Oh, I did not mean to belittle you, young one. Do not get me wrong, I am very glad to see someone as full of potential as you join our Guild after so many long years. The last time an Eevee became part of our family was..." He suddenly trails off, his eyes becoming clouded with the weight of decades of memories. Just glancing at his expression, Eevee can tell that Slowking would rather not remember. "...a long, long time ago."

"But let us not dwell on the past too long, yes? That is the job of the Guild master."

Eevee tips their head to the side, surprised. "I was sure you were gonna be the master..."

The older Pokémon furrows his brow and straightens his back as much as his age permits, pretending to be offended, then erupts into sincere, hearty laughter.

"Being old does not necessarily make me so important, kid!" Eevee opens their mouth to apologize, but Slowking dismisses it with a wave of his hand. "Our leader is younger than me... that is, for the standards of her species. She is also far more powerful and far wiser."

He turns and gestures at Eevee to follow. "But we are talking too much. Your pelt is sopping wet and I do not want you getting sick before your recruitment." They start walking toward the other edge of the plateau. Slowking is right, Eevee realizes, as they start to tremble from the cold fur sticking to their skin now that the rush of adrenaline has subsided. "We will fetch you some food and a warm fire, then you shall speak with the Guild master." The younger Pokémon can hear a smile form on the elder's lips as he talks. "I have a feeling she will take a liking to you."

And as the two walk, silence falls once more. The padded thumps and thuds of the creatures' paws on the muddy ground fill the air like drums, in an almost hypnotic fashion. Then, as a silhouette starts to rise from the horizon, they pick up speed. As it becomes clearer, its bright and inviting colors shining in the sunlight, the world suddenly begins to spin again. Eevee tries to focus on the path ahead of them, on that building they know far too well, to try to avoid passing out. Their whole body is trembling now, shaken by their heart's desperate hammering. Their paws refuse to move on their own, requiring an unbelievable amount of force just to take one step forward, but they press on. Finally, they stop. Slowking turns once again, smiling with encouragement, and he takes a step to the side.

"Here we are. Worry not, you will surely find yourself at home here. Do not be shy... step forward."

Eevee stares up at the Guild's entrance, a massive block of sculpted and painted stone and hanging, draped cloth resembling some sort of gargantuan, hulking Pokémon. It does not look like anything they had ever seen before, or even heard in stories. It is menacing... but at the same time, it is pleasant. Like a mother Luxray's gaze inspiring terror into her enemies, but filling her cubs' hearts with warmth. It feels like…

It feels like home.

Eevee gulps, and steps forth.