Chapter #7Try to join the guild by: nobody495   Ray decided right now his best chance of getting some food was by working with this guild. Maybe they offered benefits after all? Guess there's only one way to find out. So, he decided to check out the oceanic guild, down at the southern edge of Juniper Town. These guys traveled by water, word has it that they rode in on the backs of a wailmers, multiple being used so that the guild can travel the waters to multiple locations at once. The crowd seemed to be thick here, but Ray needed to get through.
He immediately began shoving through the crowd, dragging his face past several butts and squeezing past several stomping legs. He got several nasty barks and snarls, but he didn't care to listen to them, right now, he just wanted a chance to come back home. He was soon at the front of the crowd, where he could see the guild leader himself, Slowking. He seemed to pose regally and waved to the shouting crowd, which only barely formed a line to a duo of Smeargles, them using their tails to jot down requests of whoever was at the front of the, by some definition, line.
But, Ray didn't need to deal with those guys. No, he kept charging in through the crowd, shuffling past several legs, and soon before one of the smeargles. But, before one of the angry Pokémon waiting their turn could bark at him, Ray ran past the smeargles and over to the waving Slowking. He ran and ran, his face soon close to the crowned, pink Pokémon's gut. He seemed surprised at the riolu's approach, and looked down at him curiously.
"Uh, hey kid," he said with a dopey voice. "You know there's a line, right?" There wasn't a trace of venom in the guild master's voice, more like genuine wonderment, like he actually wasn't sure if Ray knew he had to wait his turn. He heard the crowd of Pokémon shouting, each having waited to speak with the guild to get some work done. This made Ray feel uneasy about speaking with this guy, but he needed to speak to him.
"M-Mr. Guild master, I-" Ray started, kneeling down to him. But the Slowking gently placed a hand on the riolu's shoulder and guided him upwards.
"Please, call me Earl," the Slowking said as he stood the boy up. He rubbed the back of his head nervously, but continued his speak.
"Earl, I... I want to join your guild," he said.
"What?"
"My parents are in need of food. We've struggled to get meals, I haven't eaten since noon yesterday, my parents even kicked me out so they could get more food for themselves!"
"O-oh my!"
"Please, I need to get food so I can get home! I-I'll work with you guys if that's what it takes! I'll travel with you to get some of it! Just please, give me the chance to bring it home!" At that, Earl seemed kind of slow on the uptake, shuffling to the side so Ray was now facing his right side. Earl placed a hand on his chin in contemplation, considering the pros and cons of potentially hiring this boy. He let out a "hmmmm" of deep thought.
"You seem awfully young to be out in the field... And we do encounter some dangerous stuff out there..." He stroked his chin, "hmmmmm"-ing louder. "Then again, we could always use more hands, especially with how many people need help right now..." He gave a few more strokes, before turning towards Ray and speaking. "Alright, kid, how'd you like to be an honrouary member?" At hearing that, Ray's tail began wagging and he nodded his head.
"Yes! Yes please!" he said, clasping his hands together excitedly. Earl smiled at that, and gently patted his head. At the same time, another Pokemon approached Earl from behind him. It was a weavile, a lady with a cold demeanor and a scowl seemingly plastered on her face.
"I'll make sure this town thanks you for your services to this town." Earl then turned towards the Weavile. "Meg, why don't you show this boy to the Normal Rankers." The Weavile, apparently named Meg, nodded, and approached, holding out her hand to Ray. He nervously brought up her own hand, and placed it in hers. With that, she turned around and led Ray, the Pokemon crowd now back to focusing on the Sneasels before them.
Meg and Ray didn't speak. Meg didn't seem like the kind of lady to speak normally, and Ray felt too nervous to say anything to her. She eventually led him to a small inn the guild procured for their members. She opened up the door, and headed inside, where the smell of drunkeness instantly made Ray's nose crinkle up. He covered up his nose as Meg led him to one of the upper floors, where there'd be a few doors one'd use to sleep at. The rooms in this inn are notably more spacious than most, supposedly to accomodate some of the bigger Pokemon that show up.
As she guided him, he saw some of the doors had signs on them, each bearing a symbol. They each seemed to be a white ball, bisected by a black line, with a pair of gold wings on the sides, and a big circle in the middle of those balls. He only had the chance to really look at a few doors, there were more with other signs. However, the circle seemed to be of a different color on each door. He passed a door with a diamond-blue circle, a door with a gold-yellow circle, a circle with a gray-silver circle, and a circle with a bronze-green circle. Meg led him to a door with a lavendar circle.
"These rooms are divided by ranks," Meg said. "As a beginner, you'll be assigned to the Normal Rank room, where you'll find a medal shaped just like this door's symbol. Hold onto it, and the mission director will assign you accordingly. You'll also be able to bunk with likwise Normal Rank Pokemon. You can visit some of the higher rank rooms, though currently guildmembers are being chaperoned to make sure too many people aren't in one room, so make sure you sleep in your assigned room. The more work you do for the guild, the quicker you'll rise up the ranks. If you have any questions, leave it to your fellow Normal Rankers."
With that, she let go of Ray's hand and stepped away, heading towards the stairs and going down it, likely to meet up with Earl again. Ray looked around at the currently empty tavern, and then back at that "Normal Rank" door. He guessed he'd have to get used to this. Though he was appreciative of the temporary home, he kept in mind that this wouldn't be permanent. He just has to do this long enough to get food to his family. With a breath in, followed by a breath out, he grabbed the handle, and opened it up.
Past the door, the first Pokemon he sees is...
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