PMD Explorers Event 7: A timely letter (part one)

PMD Explorers Event 7: A letter from the past
Part one: Present Day


Although it had been only a day since Violet had vanished, it already felt like it had been forever since Torak had last seen her. Since then, he had become disheartened, having lost someone precious to him. Since then he had spent most of his time at the café, and at his home. He was preparing for another trip to the café when he heard an awful racket coming from the town square. He quickly put on his scarf and hurried to see what was causing all the commotion.

When he got to the town square, he immediately noticed a large crowd of pokemon, many of which he recognized as fellow guild members. He noticed an Oshawott with a blue bowtie who appeared to be stuck at the back of the pack, and proceeded to talk to him, maybe he knows what’s happening.

He tapped the Oshawott on the shoulder,

“Excuse me, do you know what’s going on?” He asked.
The Oshawott jumped in surprised, then whirled around to face him.

“Oh, it’s just another guild member.” The Oshawott said with some disappointment in his voice, “If you really want to know why everyone’s here, it’s because Shroomsworth has found letters from our team mates trapped in the past”.

Torak’s eyes widened, letters from team mates trapped in the past, that means he would finally know what’s happened to Violet.

“By the way, my name’s Ryan” The Oshawott said, which suddenly interrupted Torak’s train of thought.

“Huh… Oh, my name’s Torak” He replied “Nice to meet you”

“So, lost someone too?” Ryan asked

“Yeah, only she was more than just a team mate” Torak said, with sadness in his voice.

“Girlfriend?” Ryan asked, again as he raised an eyebrow.

“Sister” Torak said, again with sadness in his voice.

“Ooh, it must have hurt to lose her...” Ryan said, with uncertainty in his voice.

Torak shot Ryan an angry glare

“Oops, Touchy subject?” Ryan said as he realized his mistake

“Yes, it is.” Torak said, with undertones of sadness and anger as he looked back at the crowd

“I wonder how long it’ll take Shroomy to get to us…” Ryan said as he gazed at Shroomsworth, who appeared to be trying to calm the irritated crowd

“I don’t know” Torak said with an undercurrent of anxiety, “I just want to know if my sister is ok…

A few minutes later, much of the crowd had dissipated and Shroomsworth had finally reached Ryan and Torak. He handed Ryan a letter, then Ryan scurried off to read it, and was about to walk away when Torak stopped him.

“Excuse me, Mr. Shroomsworth, where is my letter?” He asked.

“Sorry…  Err, what was your name?” Shroomsworth asked.

“Torak” Torak said, anxious to hear what Shroomsworth had to say.

“Sorry Torak, but that’s all the letters. Either someone else has your letter or…” Shroomsworth trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. “Anyway, I don’t have your letter, so I’ll be off now”

Torak watched Shroomsworth walk off, feeling disappointed and let down. After a few minutes, Torak was about to make his way home, then he noticed a letter lying on the ground, he picked it up, thinking it might be from Violet. But he was once again let down, as the letter was for someone named Cinder. He was about to crumple up and throw away the letter in disappointment,  then he realized that Cinder must be having the same problem as he was, so he decided to hold on to it, he decided to get something to eat at the café, he was getting hungry.

As Torak approached the café entrance, he noticed that Pokemon seemed to be panicking, and running from the café. As the Pokemon, one by one, emerged from the café, Torak spotted someone he had met earlier.

“Ryan! What’s going on in there!?” Torak asked, Concern in his voice.

“It’s a Cyndaquil, don’t know his name, but he’s going nuts!”  Ryan said, in a clearly panicked tone.

“What!” Torak said, surprised.

“Yeah, someone was talking to him about his loss, trying to comfort him, but he just lost it!” Ryan said, as he looked at the door to the café, which had been thrown ajar.

“We have to calm him down; otherwise he could destroy the café!” Torak said, in a slightly worried tone.

“But…” Said Ryan, in a fearful tone.

Torak shot Ryan a stern glare.

“Oh, fine… lets go…” said Ryan, upon noticing Torak’s glare.

“Great, ok, here’s how we’ll handle this. You put out any fires he may have started, and I’ll try to calm him down, got it?” Torak said, in a stern tone

“Yes, let’s just get to it!” Ryan said, with a hint of nervousness.

They both charged into the café, the scene that they saw surprised Torak, but not Ryan. The Cyndaquil appeared to be very agitated as he was throwing around chairs and barstools, Hops was just barely avoiding being hit.

“Oi, you two, I could use a little help” Hops said as he avoided being hit by a chair”

“On it! Ryan, handle the fires!” Torak said as he cautiously approached the raging Cyndaquil.
Ryan did as he was told do to in the plan and began putting out the fires with water gun, as Torak began to try to calm the Cyndaquil down; it was no easy process, as the Cyndaquil was clearly quite upset, but he eventually calmed down.

“So, what’s your name?” Asked Torak

“Cinder” The Cyndaquil said. “But it doesn't matter to you”

Upon hearing the Cyndaquil’s name, Torak made the connection.

“I think I have something of yours” Torak said as he pulled out the old letter he had found, “this”

Torak handed the letter to Cinder, who seemed to be surprised as he read the first few lines of the letter. He stopped, looked around, got up and left the café, saying “I need to be alone” as he left.

Afterwards, Torak helped Hops clean up the café, and as a reward for his services, Hops decided to let Torak have a drink on the house, Torak accepted the offer and ordered a mago-pecha shake, which he quickly downed afterward. Torak left for home, still saddened about the fact that he had not received a letter.
 
He opened the door, and then slammed it shut once he was inside. The frustrated Riolu sat down and began to wonder what had really happened to Violet, or even if she was still alive…

Torak drifted off into a daydream about adventures he had with Violet in the past, lots of good memories flowed through his mind, and a smile spread across his face…

The daydream Torak was having was interrupted by a loud knocking on the door of his house; he got up and stretched, the loud knocking increased.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming, don’t break my door!’ Torak said as he hurried to the door, and opened it.

Waiting for him was an Excadrill wearing an orange scarf.

“Your name is Torak, correct?” He asked.

“Yes”

“Good, I've been looking for you; I've got something of yours” The Excadrill said as he pulled out an old letter.

Torak’s eyes widened as he eyed the letter. This could be what he was hoping for, the letter from Violet.

“Thank you!” Torak said as he accepted the letter.

“No prob! My name is Tardos, by the way.” As he offered a hand shake.

“Nice to meet you” Torak said, “Mind if we skip the hand shake?”

“Oh, alright then, what do you say we meet at the café later?” Tardos asked

“Sure, now if you don’t mind, I have a letter to read,” Said Torak as he began to close the door.

“Alrighty then, see you at the café,” Tardos said as he left.

Torak eyed the envelope of the old letter, and read the label; it had his name on it. He opened the letter and read it…

“Dear Torak

I hope you are alright, and that you’ve found some comfort with friends while I’ve been gone. I know it’s been hard for both of us, but things will turn out okay. I know you worry about me, but I’m fine! Other than being trapped in the past and what not, but the important thing is I am okay. I know you also worry about me being all alone, but I’m not! There are others like me here, who have been separated from their teammates as well, and we have found strength and support in one another, and I even made some new friends! Their names are Avery, Katsuo, Kim, and Alex. I’ll be sure to introduce them to you when we get back! I miss you so much, and I know you feel the same, just know that I am perfectly fine and in good hands, and I will be okay until we get back. I hope you've met some new friends to keep you company, and to help you through these tough times. If so, I’d like to meet them when I return. Until then, take care brother. I hope to see you soon!

-Violet”

By the time he had finished reading the letter Torak was tearing up, but they tears were of joy, not sorrow. He was overwhelmed with waves of relief, and collapsed to his knees. He sobbed into the carpet for about a minute before he regained his composure, and dried his tears. He smiled, knowing his sister was okay had brought him great relief, and calmed his mind. He could finally breathe easy. Then he remembered he had some friends to meet at the café. On that thought, he placed the letter on his bed, and left to go meet his new friends.

Along the way to the café, he met another Riolu, who was wearing a blue headband and black cape, and was leaning on the trunk that supported the Rescuer’s tree house.

“Hello?” Torak asked

“Hey” The riolu replied, casually.

“What’s your-”

“Name? It’s Spike,” said the traveler, but with a bit more energy this time.

“Are you aware that-”

“Letters from the past were delivered to us by Shroomsworth? Yeah I was, and yes, I got mine.” Spike said, Torak noting the happiness in his voice.

“Okay, but would you stop interrupting me, it’s kind of annoying” Torak said.

“Okay, okay, sorry about cutting you off. I’m guessing you got your letter?” Spike asked

“Yeah I did, I was just on my way to the café” Torak said.

“Oh, mind if I join you then?”

“Sure, why not” Torak said as he started walking, “Let’s go”

With that, Torak and Spike both headed to the café, chatting with each other along the way. They quickly found their way to the entrance, and proceeded inside and met Tardos, Ryan, and even Cinder! They shared stories of the many adventures they had throughout their time in Tao village, and adventures throughout the world beyond. The Storytelling went on into the evening until they all grew too tired and decided to head home.  Torak, exhausted from the day’s events, crawled in his bed and fell asleep and he dreamed of Violet, and the good times they had together.

However, things were different for Violet, who might have never written the letter if she hadn't found friends that gave her help and support…

(End of Part One)