The first hints of dawn emerged in the starry sky, preluding the rising of the sun for another day.  In humble Nockwood Town, the Pokémon who called the land home were just beginning to stir, waking from restful slumber to greet a new day.  The few but faithful merchants were preparing for another day of shoppers and service-seekers, while the townspeople sleepily turned their thoughts to their own day's plans.  And as the first light of the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, more than one pair of eyes turned to the grand estate at the very edge of town.  This estate was the Alakazam Explorers' Guild.

Founded in his "youth", such as it was, the building eschewed the odd but endearing tradition of being modeled after the founder.  Depending on who one asked, Alakazam's choice to keep the design simple and functional was either "very responsible" or "terribly boring".  Even so, the three-story manor more than served the needs of its inhabitants.  And displayed proudly out front, on a banner that hung bright and bold and a flag that even now fluttered in the morning breeze, was the guild's own emblem: a stark white globe beneath a path of undefined brown footprints, all splayed on a background as orange as the sunrise itself.  And it was in this very manor that certain events were about to take shape.  Events that would forever change the world...

"[i]WAKE UP, YOU LOT![/i]" came the impatient shout.  In the door of each room, one after the other, stood a lone Sylveon.  "[i]IT'S TIME FOR MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS!  UP AND AT 'EM!  [b]NOW![/b][/i]"  Sylveon, as the Guildmaster's assistant, took it upon herself each morning to ensure all members of the guild (except those out on adventures) were up and ready for morning announcements, whether they wanted to be or not.  Though her voice could doubtless be heard across the entire manor, she made a point to visit every single room, just as she did each and every morning.  First-time members were often surprised that one who took so much care in maintaining her graceful, delicate appearance could reach a volume to match a Hyper Voice attack.

She began, as always, on the first floor of the manor, wherein those fresh faces ranked Beginner took bunk.  The few extra minutes of sleep that those on the second and third floor were afforded were a precious and invaluable prize that only the upper ranks would enjoy.  Yet one more reason for the newbies to ascend.  In the halls opposite the bunkroom, there was an impressive kitchen and dining room, one which "Taskmaster" Sylveon made sure was always clean.  Many a meal had been shared here by the members of the guild, and with good fortune and wisdom, many more would come.

The second floor, in continuing fashion, housed the second rank: the Elites.  Unlike the floor below, where all Beginners shared a single grand bunkroom, the Elites were granted their own rooms - another perk of their advanced service and risk-taking.  Though the rooms were small, they were furnished with comfortable straw nestbeds and had space remaining for small furnishings and decor, both left up to the whims of the current occupant.  Of course, the only downside was that Elites suffered the dread of hearing [i]multiple[/i] doors kicked open by Sylveon's unforgiving hinds.

Across from the hall of the Elites' rooms were two doors marked with signs.  On the one, "Apricoatl's Swap Shop" was displayed, the sign of the Pachirisu's own make and design.  The other door read "Storage Area".  Legends said that the mess and clutter within that room was so terrible and thick that former guild members had once entered the room to look for items and were never seen again.  It was a silly legend with no basis in truth... but by Arceus, that room was a mess.

Finally, the third floor.  At the very top of this grand guild hall were the suites reserved exclusively for the guild's Aces.  Though there was currently only one, none in the guild could claim that Lady Rosalinda had not earned her place there.  The suites were few in number, but each was easily the size of two Elite rooms put together.  And out of respect for her contributions, Lady Rosalinda was awoken not by kicks and shouts, but by a polite yet firm knocking.

And of course, opposite the suites stood the grandest and most important room in the guild: Alakazam's office.  It was an office, a library, a map room, and a bed chamber all at once, covered wall to wall in the Guildmaster's "organized mess".  Even the walls themselves were covered in maps and posters of various events and Pokémon.  And it was there, behind the double oak doors, that Alakazam himself sat, awaiting the coming of a new day and all that it would bring with it.

After making her morning rounds, Sylveon took post by the Guildmaster's office and awaited the arrival of the guild's members.  If they valued their hides, they would not be late.