Over the next few years, the little adopted Eevee was taught into the ways of the world, as she was taught alongside her new close friend and the new technical sister Lucy, now that she was adopted by the Fennekin’s mother Felicity. Within those years, Sophia had learnt quite a few things, and within those things are some basic lessons, basic hunting and gathering, as well as even some lessons on speech and print skills.
One of the more important things that Sophia had learnt was a week after she had been adopted, and she was more used to her family, and the guild life itself, as she Was introduced to each guild member that was living at this guild. On top of the guilds apprentice Flare, and his mentors Reginald and Sheela, there were two more explorers who called this base home, A male Sealeo named Samson and a female Bayleef named Peach. Along with the guilds leader Perceus, a male Braviary, and his deputy which was a male Eevee named Lance.
Samson seemed quite easy going and ready to have fun with the others in the guild, even once juggling Flare on his nose, much to the fire foxes’ distress, though got a laugh out of everyone else. As for Peach, she was gentle and sweet, even sweeter than Felicity, as she was around to help others out when they felt down, and even consulted Sophia on her loss, and it seemed every breath that the Eevee took near her calmed her down more and more. She also even prepared each meal that the guild ate it seemed, which when the little Eevee met her, she thanked Peach quite a bit for what she prepared.
Then there were the couple of a Flygon and Tropius, Sheela and Reginald, they worked off each other quite well, they both seemed strong and even sure of themselves with how they told their stories, that was also probably why they were given the task to mentor Flare. They were also the guilds only other gold rank explorers that the guild had, so they held that fact proudly. Flare was also charming, and sure headed, as he seemed to be telling his adventures with pride, though sometimes a little inflated on his own partaking. Though even with his bold headedness, he seemed kind at heart, as while eating together that night, he told Sophia of a tale of him saving a Caterpie from a fire, letting it stay protected in his tails.
Then there were the two in charge, starting with Lance, who she was guided to first when heading to see the guild master, and in which when Sophia saw one of her own species, she stared at him with awe, looking over the darker furred Eevee as he proudly stood there for the child and answered a few questions about their kind, mostly their form. Though even though the female Eevee could go for a week talking him up, Felicity and Lance talked her into calming down, and stepped into the guild master’s office.
Once she entered the decorated room, she looked up and at the big and powerful looking bird, his feathers preened and with him perched on his perch near his table, flipping through papers. Though while she wanted to talk for a while, he was busy, and got to just introduce himself, and even though his power seemed foreboding at first, she calmed down and even saw him as a protective and stern old bird, and one who wouldn’t let the Eevee in the guild fully yet, no matter how much she begged.
The next few years as she learnt what she needed from Felicity, and at part on times when he wasn’t busy, also Lance for the stuff that the Braixen couldn’t teach thanks to her form, the Eevee also heart tales from the other guild members, though she was more glued to Flares stories, even helping him out with some tasks around the guild to hear some, and one of them she would remember quite well.
The story started on a day that seemed nice and windy, and he was exploring an area with lots of valleys and mountains, ones that Flare happily hopped over, being watched by one of his mentors who flew over him to keep watch that he didn’t hurt himself and stayed on track. And that he did, jumping carefully between gaps in the floor thanks to a few mountains, careful of loose gravel as he looked around for his target, a shiny silver band that a Staravia dropped from flying around here, while also being careful since this place had a lot of rock types resting.
Though when he finally saw a sparkle of light down a slope, he decided to happily slide down the slope, all the way into a big, and what felt as lighter than it looked boulder, in which he knocked over with a grunt. When he recovered from his collide, not expecting to move the rock, he looked over to see a big and angry Graveler who glared at the small fox in front of him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were there.” Flare said, looking apologetic, and was trying to flash his badge that he put on one of his hind tails before he squeaked and jumped out of the way of a flung boulder that the rock type threw.
“I don’t care if you are sorry, I was having a good nap!” The Graveler shouted, getting ready to throw another boulder at the fire type, who tried his best to communicate that he was sorry, though after a few throws, he gets nicked by some of the shrapnel of one of the boulders shattering and huffed, then stopped dodging and when the next one was thrown, he jumped up and bounced off of the top of the rock, then pushed off the flying rock and came down hard on the big living rock with dark energy around him, hitting hard and knocking the rock type back into the wall.
Then with a growl, holding the badge up high when the Graveler looked back, he shouted out to the rock. “Stop now! I am an explorer on a hunt for an item and will not hold back if you continue to fight.” When he said that, the Graveler finally saw what he was against, and even though Flare showed off a normal badge, from the fact that he hit hard before, and the thought that there might be other explorers nearby, the Graveler scrabbled up and ran away. “I-I am sorry sir, I’ll find somewhere else to sleep.” He shouted as he ran off, leaving the Vulpix alone to relax with a huff, and smile over the fact he intimidated an enemy.
When that was over too, he saw a little green behind a peak and remembered he did have others watching over him, then also remembered his task and squeaked, moving over to where he saw the shine, in which when he got to the spot, and having to move fresh rubble, he smiled and picked up the band, shining with a small gem attached to the ring, and some engraving inside it, this was what he came to retrieve. When he had the band, he looked around, and headed out, proud of his successful mission, and one of the first he was to be doing by himself, the hidden Tropius following him home happy with how things went for the trainee.
After hearing that story from Flare, it made her want to join the guild even more now, and still regularly bothered Lance or Perceus whenever she could get away from Felicity and Lucy, though was usually sent back if they were too busy, which was often. Sophia still helped out though, found it like early training at least, and was happy to help where she could, help cook, and cleaning up the guild.
One thing she did was also help Pearl with the guilds shopping out in town, heading out of the guild hall and into a bustling town, with pokemon of all types walking, flying, or even crawling around, which always gave Sophia a new one to see. Also on her outings, she got to learn a little about the place that their guild looked over, from the few different restaurants, several different stores, and even a gym that other Pokemon can go to so they can get fit.
The place that she regularly gets taken too when she is out is a general store, one that holds mainly food, though seems to come with several other household supplies, like stuff for cleaning, and even fresh bedding, and with how many lived at the guild, they needed a lot of food too, so it helps to by bulk, in which the little Eevee was happy to try and take as much as she could back home, Pearl watching over her to make sure she didn’t hurt herself or dropped the stuff she was carrying on her back.
One more thing she did while she was learning was helping Felicity out where she could, Lucy was the one who helped most of the time, but Sophia liked to help from time to time. She got to see what the Braixen sis for the guild, in which involved taking care of the members who went out and got themselves hurt on the job, which ranged from cuts and bruises, to even getting a thorn too deep in their paws or feet to get out themselves. There were more serious cases, in which the little ones weren’t allowed to go in on for several reasons, some that were too messy, others that were in the risk of infection.
Though after everything that she had learnt, it was soon her 17’th birthday, and the night before, she was almost too excited to sleep, as she knew things were gonna change, the entire month prier was listening to Flare talk about his training, in which only lasted 16 months, and he passed his exam easily and became a full-fledged explorer, and while Sophia was about to start, Lucy was already starting her own training, as she was given her mother as a mentor, opting to follow her steps at becoming a healer, and getting her trainee badge a couple months prior.
Then before she knew it, it was her special day, and after getting woken up by an excited Fennekin, she got treated to a lovely breakfast, and the knowledge that she has a very special gift soon, which filled her with anticipation, wondering how it will go, and who would train her, with the thoughts running through her head, she could barely stay still.
Through the day, she got her birthday wishes from the guild members, in which she thanked each and every one of them. She even noticed that everyone was present at the guild today, and wagged her tail, some saying they were excited to see her take the guilds pledge. She had to keep herself busy to not bother the guild master and deputy, the others also helped keep her distracted by giving her some gifts, some being treats and juicy picked berries, though she also got a cute red neck ribbon that she started wearing straight away.
Finally, with a call, the preparations were prepared, and the Braviary called everyone over for an announcement, in which they all knew what it addressed, and Sophia quickly moved to sit with everyone before the guild master, with Lance by his side. When everyone was present, he looked them all over, and to Sophia, then spoke. “I am sure you all know what this meeting is for, and that is to make Sophia finally an apprentice here.” He said with a raise of his wing to the Eevee who was shaking where she sat.
“And ya’ll would be right, it is time for this Eevee to take the pledge we all have and start her training fully, even though she has shown plenty initiative with that as she helped around the guild.” He said with a smile. Then he waved his wing over to Sophia, signalling her over, which she quickly got up and headed over. “Now Sophia, by the explorer’s pledge, do you promise to help others to the best of your ability, whether saving them from trouble, or even just finding something they lost. And also ready to explore new areas that are located, no matter how far, or dangerous.”
When she heard the pledge, Sophia smiled and nodded, wagging her tail fast as she gave her answer. “I do master Perceus.” She said, smiling and saying it with conviction. “Then I hereby appoint you with your trainee badge and let you join this guild under the mentoring gaze of my deputy Lance.” He said, with the male Eevee walking over to the female one, smiling to her. “With him as your mentor, you will learn not only about the world around you, but it will be easier to learn from one of your own kind.”
Sophia stood Infront of Lance as the guild praised her and congratulated her for finally getting to be an apprentice, in which she thanked them back, and looked up to the other Eevee when he got her attention. “We will start your training tomorrow, you can enjoy the rest of today since it is still your birthday, but make sure to get some rest soon too ok.” *He said, and Sophia nodded, taking in all the praise and would happily play with Flare and Lucy, both excited for her, tomorrow was where her future started, and she could have fun today after how long she had waited, and it was definitely worth the wait.
