Chp1

	The sun hung low in the sky, the horizon a deep orange in the evening light. A lone shinx sat on the rocks of the beach just outside of Journey town. Journey town was one of the biggest gathering points for exploration teams on the continent. The town had been formed by rescue teams for rescue teams. Over time, normal people seeking the protection of powerful pokemon and eager young adventurers alike congregated to the town, making it one of the largest around. This shinx was neither of the two. The shinx, named Phantom, was a relatively normal shinx, though his fur was dark blue instead of light. 

	Phantom had came to the town originally to join a rescue team, but... He really had no idea why he hadn't. His desires seemed to wane when he arrived. Ever since he had lived in a little cave along the beach. It was high enough in the rocks that it never flooded during storms and tides. His home was well hidden too, giving him plenty of privacy even in a public place like this. At this time, most people were in town instead of on the beach, though sometimes people wondered down here. Tonight it was empty, allowing him to relax without worry of anyone barging in and making a ruckus. He just sat there, taking in the sights of the sunset, hearing the gentle roar of the waves hitting the rocks, the calm breeze carrying the salty smell of the sea...

	"Hey, kid." A gruff voice said. Phantom briefly panicked, almost falling off from the rocks into the water. He managed to catch his balance and turned around to find a massive typhlosion looking right at him with a grim expression. "You seen anybody around here?"

	"Yea... there's people here all the time..." Phantom squeaked out, terrified by the large pokemon staring him down. 

	"That's not what I meant!" The fire type growled. "Have you seen anyone... odd around here, like someone acting weird, or someone that didn't belong?" 

	"N-n-no, j-just the u-usual p-people." 

	Without a word, the typhosion turned around and walked away. The cowering feline watched him go, slowly recovering from the scare. *What just happened...* He wondered. He went back to watching the sunset, but keep his ears up and alert. Everything was fine, the sunset like normal and the stars came out. Like normal, the shinx could not help but stare at their magical glimmers. He was entranced until his ears flicked at a sound. He tried to figure out what it was, until it happened again. A faint whimper happened again. 

	Phantom leaped from his rock, tracking the quiet whimpering further down the beach. He found his way to the secluded section of the beach, a place where young couples would often come for dates. Laying on the sand, just in the path of the rising tide, was a vulpix. It was shivering as the water came rolling into it, causing a whimper with every splash. The injured fox seemed to not have the strength to move. 

	Phantom rushed over to it, "Are you okay?!" He asked urgently. All the vulpix did was whimper again, its eyes shut tight. Phantom crawled behind the vulpix and began pushing it away from the water. Once he got them away from the approaching tide, he tried to rouse them again. "Get up." He urged, poking them with a paw. When only answered with another whimper and shivering, he was confronted with a decision. He was generally shy and was essentially a recluse, only going to town to get food. As much as he hated to admit it, this vulpix needed help, he couldn't just leave them here. Town was too far away to carry a pokemon of equal size. The only option remaining... was his den. 

	Phantom took hold of the nape of the vulpix's neck and started dragging it towards his den. The vulpix did not struggle, but the whimpering did intensify. He slowly and as gently as possible dragged the quivering fox to his cave and put them inside. He piled up some of his spare tinder and, with a careful spark, started a fire. He put the soaked fire type next to it to dry off and went to gather up some berries and apples from his storage for dinner. 

	He returned dragging a leaf with the food on it. He sat down in front of it, on the other side of the fire. The vulpix was still out cold. As worried as he was, his stomach was winning out so he began to eat. As he was eating, the vulpix shifted, its six tails moving around. Through the storm of tails, he caught a glimpse of her crotch. A blush ran through him as he realized what he saw. This was the closest he had ever been to a female of his age. Just that lone thought caused his blush to intensify several shades. 

	He turned away, facing the wall of the cave as he ate, though his appetite seemed to vanish. The shinx took a few nibbling bites at his apple before he got up. He pulled the leaf over to the vulpix and left it in front of her incase she woke up. With that he went into the other room of the cave where his bedding was and laid down. He tried to fall asleep but his thoughts were in a jumble. He had been so okay with trying to help her before he knew she was a girl, so why did that suddenly change so much. Why was he so nervous now?! 

	Phantom was tossing and turning in frustration. When he finally started to feel tired, he was awoken by a nudge to his side. "Excuse me?" A quiet voice said. He rolled over to find the vulpix standing next to him, her fur still wet. "Where am I?" She asked.

	"Oh-um- yea... I found you unconscious on the beach. I brought you here to warm up."

	"But where are we?"

	"Oh, we're just outside of Journey town. If you head on up the road you'll reach it in no time."

	"That's not what I meant." She whined. "Where... who am I?"

	"What? You... don't remember who you are?" Phantom asked, tilting his head in confusion. 

	"I don't remember anything... Not to be rude, but why do you have different fur than me?" 

	"Well, I'm a shinx and you're a vulpix. Do you not even remember pokemon species?"

	"Shinx, vulpix, pokemon... none of that means anything to me..." She said, her eyes shimmering with the beginnings of tears. "I'm so confused!" She nearly screamed. 

	Phantom had no idea what to do. He wanted to help her somehow, but a situation like this... "Listen, how about this. In the morning we'll go to town and try to figure something out. You're still dripping so you should sleep by the fire."

	"But the rocks are hard. Why can't I just sleep in here?"

	Phantom blushed hard, though his fur hid it well. "B-b-because you need to stay warm..."

	The vulpix turned around and returned shortly with a bundle of sticks in her mouth. She dropped them and repeated the process a few times until there was a pile. "Start the fire in here." She urged, motioning to the pile. 

	"It might spread to the bedding..."

	The vulpix walked past it and sat down on the bedding of leaves. She laid her head down and curled up, shivering a bit. Phantom could see that it was intentional but he really he no idea how to continue arguing. He pushed the sticks further away from the bedding and set it alight, filling the small room with a flickering orange glow. He returned to the bed and got as far away from the vulpix as he could before settling down. He was careful to fully hide himself, just in case he got an erection in his sleep. 

+++

	"Well?" The large typhlosion asked. He had a scar along his nose, and a chunk of one ear missing, adding to his intimidating appearance. He turned to face the other pokemon in the shadows. 

	"Nothing. No signs." A voice in the darkness said. 

	"You find her!" He growled. "I didn't go through all this trouble for nothing!" 

	"But how can we find one pokemon on such a big continent?" A machop asked, coming out from hiding. 

	The typhlosion darted forward, holding the fighting types head under his paws. "Any other questions?!" He snarled, scanning the figures still hidden in shadow. He batted the machop aside. "Now get back to work!" 

+++

	"So where are we going?" Vulpix asked while following Phantom. 

	They were on a path, leading up a hill. In the distance, not too far away, was Journey town. 

	"There is this nice old pokemon in town. He always tells the best stories, so I figure maybe he might know something about this." Phantom explained as he led.

	"Stories?! I appreciate you helping me... but that doesn't seem very helpful..." 

	"Well I'm sorry, if you have a better idea, I'm all ears." Phantom said sassily. "Anyways, do you have a name? Most pokemon don't go by their species name around here." 

	"I don't know! If I did, I don't remember it..." She said. Despite her attitude, he could tell she was scared and confused. 

	"That's okay. I... yeah." He wanted to promise her that he would help her, but he didn't want to seem to clingy. He was coming to terms with his shyness from her being female, though he still was awkward around most other pokemon. 

	Soon, they arrived in town. There were pokemon everywhere, though most didn't pay the pair any mind as they busily hurried along. Phantom led the way through the crowded market, making sure to go slow so as not to lose the vulpix. She was amazed, not able to stop gawking at every sight around. This place was huge and full of so many different pokemon. 

	They exited the busy area of town and headed through a park. At the end of the park was a lake. Just beyond the lake was a large mountain, reflected on the crystal clear waters. At the base of the mountain was a cave, where the oldest living pokemon in the town lived. The two pokemon walked along the edge of the lake, Phantom speeding up his pace now without a crowd to worry about. Vulpix on the other hand, could not stop looking at the lake, getting lost in it. Every once in a while, a pokemon would leap from the water, sending ripples along its mirror like surface. She had to keep rushing ahead to catch back up. 

	They then reached the cave. Phantom called out from the entrance, "Hello, Elder? You home?" 

	An aged voice answered. "Yes. Come in Phantom." 

	He looked back to make sure Vulpix was still there before going in, motioning with his head for her to follow. Inside the cave, sat a wrinkled slowking. 

	"Phantom. Good to see you again. Who is your friend?" He said, pointing to the vulpix. 

	She stepped forward, puffing her chest out proudly, though her entire body was shaking. "I am... Never mind that. I need your help. I lost my memories and Phantom thought you could help me." 

	"Your memories? What a precious thing to lose. Come here, young one." He said, motioning with a paw slowly and gently. Vulpix obliged and stood before the water and psychic type. He carefully place a paw on her head and his eyes began to glow blue. She could feel a prickling feeling run through her thoughts but she remained still. "Your memories are gone. Blank. There are none, besides the most recent ones. I have never seen something like this before. With amnesia, they are simply buried and inaccessible, but for you, there are no memories at all, not even evidence of them exists. There's something almost mystical about it." He took his paw off her head and she looked up at him with worry. "I am sorry, but there is nothing more I can do. Maybe the legendary pokemon could do more than I, but it is far too dangerous for pups like you to pursue finding them."

	"It's alright," She said. "I'll manage." She was putting up a tough front, but her body was quivering. She turned away from the slowking and Phantom could see tears begin to wet her fur. "Let's go." She bolted out of the cave. 

	"Poor thing." Elder said, shaking his head, before sitting back down. 

	Phantom hurried out after her, to find her with her face buried in the water. She resurfaced, shaking the liquid from her fur. "Are you okay?" He asked. 

	"Y-y-yeah. I... I'm fine." She said in a pitiful voice. 

	"Don't give up hope! He said the legendary pokemon might be able to help, so we can find them and ask them." 

	"He said it was too dangerous..."

	"For kids like us, but if we join a rescue team, we will have the help of some of the strongest pokemon in the world! We might even learn more along the way!" 

	"And why do care about me so much!? Why do you want to change your life just to help me?!" 

	"I... I... I don't know."

	"Is it because I'm a girl!? Are you just trying to get some tail?!" 

	"No! I guess it's because you're the first person I've felt close to. I've never had any friends before..."

	"Oh... listen, I'm sorry for giving you a hard time. Thank you for trying so hard for me. Let's do it! Besides, it could be fun!" They began to walk back to town, side by side this time. On the way, Vulpix let out a noise. Phantom turned to her. 

	"What is it?" He asked, an ear cocking. 

	"Something that slowking said, something about this whole thing being mystical. How about Mystic?"

	"Mystic what?" 

	"My name. Mystic."