Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Stardust

Chapter 1: Rebirth

Darkness. That was all the human saw when he opened his eyes.

"Where am I?" said the human. "How did I get here?"

Then all of a sudden a bright light engulfed the human. The human winced at the sudden bright light. When his eyes finally adjusted he realized that he was floating in an empty space. He looked around, but in every direction there was nothing but more empty space.

"I guess this is just a dream," said the human.

"... This is no dream human," said a disembodied voice.

The human turned around, frantically looking for whoever spoke, but he saw no one.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!"

There was silence until the same disembodied voice said, "Be calm, I mean you no harm."

The voice, oddly, soothed the human and made him relax a little.

"Who are you?" said the human.

"Who I am is not important right now," said the voice. "But like I said I mean you no harm. What is your name human?"

"... My name is DJ," said the human, now identified as DJ. "Where exactly are we?"

"That is a difficult question to answer," said the voice. "We are not anywhere, however we are not nowhere."

"That's a little cryptic, don't you think?"

The voice chuckled then said, "Yes I suppose you are right. Now, let's get down to business. I am going to ask you several questions, and I want you to answer them as truthfully as possible. OK?"

"OK."

"Good, now first question: Have you ever said something without thinking of the consequences?"

"... Yes..."

"There is no reason to be embarrassed we're the only ones here. Now second question: How are you with meeting new people?"

"Well I'm not very good at meeting new people. Honestly I'm a little shy when I am around people I don't know."

"OK. Third question: You see one of your friends getting bullied, what do you do?"

"I would defend my friend and tell the bullies to back off!"

"What would you do if you did not know the person?"

"I would still help. No one deserves to be bullied, I should know. I was bullied when I was little and no one tried to help me. So I refuse to stand by while someone is being bullied!"

"Interesting. Next question: Do you have a temper?"

"... Well, I do, but it takes a lot for me to snap."

"OK then, fifth question-"

"Why are you asking these questions?" DJ interrupted.

"All will be revealed soon. Now fifth question: Say that you are supposed to meet someone and they are late. How do you react?"

"I become annoyed, but I would still wait."

"Sixth question: You are doing homework when someone tells you that you are doing it wrong. How do you react?"

"Honesty, I would ignore the person and continue with my work."

"I see. Now my final question: Are you a boy or a girl?"

"... Really?" said DJ in an annoyed tone."

"Just making sure," said the voice in an amused tone. "Now I shall describe your character. You seem to benevolent individual. You clearly care for others, even if you are shy around new people. You also have a strong since of justice. That is not to say that you don't have your faults. You are clearly impatient and, as you said before, tend to act without thinking. You should really learn to thin before you act."

The voice paused as the human looked down ashamed.

"There is no reason to beat yourself up over it though, everyone has faults, you just need to learn how to overcome those faults. Speaking of which. You are also a little stubborn. You don't like taking advice and you constantly want to do things your way. Your friends probably find that part of you infuriating."

"Hey!" shouted DJ indigently

"I did not mean to offend," stated the voice calmly. "Sometimes being stubborn is a good thing. It means that you do not back down from your beliefs and your ideals are not easily swayed. Anyway as I said you are a good person with a kind heart that is why I chose you."

"Chose me for what?" asked DJ curiously.

"Chose you to-" started the voice but was cut of by an inhuman roar. Suddenly DJ clutched his head in pain at the sound. He felt like someone screaming in his ear.

"What's happening?!" screamed DJ as he tried, unsuccessfully, to block out the sound.

"No!" cried the voice. "This shouldn't be happening. DJ you must remember you are meant to..." The rest of the voices response was cut off as the roaring intensified. DJ screamed in pain one last time as he felt himself falling before everything thing went black.

"Where is it?" said an irritated feminine voice. "Whatever that thing the fell from the sky landed somewhere in this cave."

Said cave was dark with a few beams of light shining through a few holes in the ceiling. There were also clear crystals all over the cave that reflected the light from the holes in the ceiling. It also had two entrance, one of which the speaker entered from and one on the other side that lead deeper into the cave. The speaker stepped into one of the beams of light, and it was clear that the speaker was not human. The creature looked like an overly large frog with light blue skin. It's big eyes were yellow with black irises and white pupils. It had a dark blue stripe running from between its eyes to its back. It also had what seemed like white frothy bubbles around its neck. It was a Froakie.

'OK,' thought the female Froakie looking around. 'Whatever fell from the sky should have landed somewhere around here.'

The little Froakie looked around and sighed seeing nothing at first glance. Her eyes widened when she heard a sound. She turned towards the sound and saw a small crater off to her right side, near the far wall. She quickly ran to the edge of the crater and gasped at what she saw. In the center of the crater, face down, laid a small dog like creature. It was almost completely covered in blue fur, minus it's legs, which had black fur. It had an overly large blue tail, that looked like it would make the dog creature top-heavy. It also had black fur on its chest that made it look like it was wearing a black vest. It had two ears on the to of it's head and it also had two black appendages on either side of it's head. On further inspection it had what looked like a gold collar around its neck. The young Froakie recognized the creature from the books that she had read. It was called a Riolu. Cautiously, she approached the downed Riolu checking to see if it was OK. She jumped back when she heard a groan come from the downed Pokemon, recognizing it as the sound that she had heard earlier.

'Oh my Arceus!' thought the Froakie. 'It's alive!'

She quickly ran over to the Riolu and flipped it onto it's back. She noted that the fur around its eyes was black, resembling a mask. She also noted that it had what appeared to be bones protruding from it's paws.

"Hey can you hear me!" the Froakie shouted.

All she got in response was another groan. She shouted again and this time the Riolu shifted and slowly opened it's eyes. The Froakie backed up giving the Riolu space to gain it's bearings, and encase it proved hostile. It groaned again and rubbed it eyes and looked around.

"Where am I?" asked the Riolu, in a clearly male voice.

"Your in Crystal Cave," said the Froakie. "I found you here passed out. My name is Katara. What"s yours?"

The Riolu looked at her and just stared at her. As the Riolu continued to stare Katara began to feel uneasy.

"What are you looking at?" asked Katara nervously. "Is there something on my face?"

At that moment the Riolu's eyes widened and it screamed. Katara was startled by the Riolu's sudden outburst and jumped back. The Riolu scrambled to its feat and backed up looking at her in horror before it finally spoke.

"You can talk?" the clearly male Riolu asked fearfully.

Katara felt a little annoyed by this question.

"Of course I can talk," Katara said angrily. "I'm not some wild Pokemon. I'm civilized."

"B-B-But Pokemon can't talk!" exclaimed the startled Riolu. "Pokemon aren't even real!"

"I can assure you I am very real," said the annoyed Froakie. "Besides you're a Pokemon, and you're talking."

"What are you talking about? I'm not a Pokemon I'm a human!"

"Really?" Katara asked skeptically. "You look like a regular Riolu to me."

At this the Riolu looked at its paws, then its feet, and finally turned partially around and saw its overly large tail swishing back and forth. A moment passed, then another, then another, until the little Riolu screamed again.

"OH MY GOD!" screamed the Riolu. "IT"S TRUE! I AM A POKEMON!"

Katara sweat-dropped at the panicking Riolu wondering if he was crazy. Finally the Riolu seemed to calm down.

"That's OK," said the Riolu in an eerily calm voice. He then walked over to the side of the cave. He then said, "This is just a dream. I just gotta wake myself up." He then presided to bash his head against the cave wall.

Katara was shocked at the Riolu's actions and was beginning to believe that this Riolu was actually crazy. She then sweat-dropped as the Riolu howled in pain clutching his head.

"OWW!" cried the Riolu. "That hurt!"

"What did you expect it to tickle?" Katara asked sarcastically. "Sheesh you're weird. Are all Riolu as crazy as you?"

"I told you I'm a human!" yelled the Riolu.

"Then why do you look like a Riolu?"

"... I don't know." said the Riolu quietly.

"Anyway, if you are human then where are you from?

The Riolu then scrunched up his face as if he smelled something foul. His eyes soon widened as he clutched his head exclaiming, "Oh my God. I can't remember!"

"Really you can't remember anything?"

"No. I just keep drawing a blank!"

"Alright, alright just calm down," said Katara calmly, not wanting the Riolu to freak out again. When she saw the Riolu visibly calm down she said, "Good now just try to remember something simple, like you're name."

The Riolu scrunched up his face again before saying, "I can remember my name, but everything else is gone. It's like when I try to remember all I get is static!"

"OK, well that''s a start," Katara said calmly. "What is your name anyway."

"I think it's DJ," said the now named Riolu.

"Really? You're name is only two letter? That's just weird."

"Hey my name is awesome!" stated DJ angrily. "Besides what kind name is Katara anyway."

"Hey! My name is better compared to yours!"

"Is not!"

"Is so!"

The two glared at each other until Katara noticed something off about DJ's eyes.

"What's with your eyes?" asked Katara curiously. "They look different then a normal Riolu's."

"Huh?" DJ said confusedly.

Pointed to one of the crystals and said, "Go see for yourself."

DJ cautiously approached the crystal. He gazed into the crystal and saw his reflection. He grimaced as he saw the face of a Riolu. He ignored that for the time being and focused on his eyes and gasped. In the reflection he saw that his eyes were a pale greyish blue instead of blood red like a normal Riolu's.

"That's weird," said DJ. "I thought Riolu eyes were supposed to be red."

"They are," stated Katara as she walked up behind DJ. "There must have been a mutation that occurred while you were in your egg."

DJ looked at her with an annoyed expression and said, "I didn't come from an egg remember? I'm a human."

"Of course you are," said Katara sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

"DJ was about to retort when a loud roar echoed through the cave from the tunnel across from them. The roar was then presided by the sound of stomping that sounded as if it was getting closer.

"What the hell is that?!" cried DJ.

"Damn," said Katara fearfully. "We were to loud. "We attracted a wild Pokemon."

"Wild Pokemon?" asked DJ.

"Yeah. Unlike me, a sentient Pokemon, wild Pokemon are more primal and bloodthirsty. They are also extremely territorial and will attack anyone who enters there territory."

The stomping grew louder and louder until a big dragon like creature entered. This dragon had mainly blue scales except for its head, which was covered in red scales, and its underbelly, which was covered in beige scales. It had what appeared to be wings on its back as well as a long blue tail, that was covered in red spike. It also had the same red spikes on its arms. It glared at them with its piercing amber eyes and roared at them.

"That's a-a-a Druddigon!" shouted DJ.

"Run!" yelled Katara.

The two turned towards the exist, but before they could run towards the cave's exit the Druddigon charged at them and they were forced to jump to the side. The Druddigon now blocked their only exit.

"What do we do now?" DJ asked fearfully.

"We have no choice but to fight." said Katara, but from the sound of her voice, it was clear that she was scared as well.

"What?!" cried DJ. "But I don't know how to fight like a Pokemon!"

"All Pokemon are born with the knowledge to fight."

"What part of I'm not a Pokemon do you not understand?!"

Katara ignored DJ and brought her hands together. DJ watched in awe as a sphere of water formed in between her hands (Water Pulse). She then launched the sphere at the Druddigon. The attack hit the large dragon and pushed it back slightly, however it only seemed to infuriate the Druddigon even more.

"Shit!" cursed Katara. "I forgot that dragon types are resistant to water attacks!" She then turned to DJ and said, "Quick use a fighting type move on it!"

DJ looked at her in an annoyed fashion before saying, "Do you ever listen?! I don't know how!"

Before either of them could say anything else, the Druddigon charged them, it's claws glowing green (Dragon Claw). The two jumped in separate directions as the Druddigon's dragon claw hit where they were standing. Katara cursed and launched another water pulse at the Druddigon, but like before, it had almost no affect. The Druddigon growled and formed a light green orb in it's claws (Dragon Pulse) and launched it at Katara. Katara quickly jumped over the orb, which hit the ground and exploded, and launched bubbles from her mouth at the Druddigon (Bubble). The bubbles popped on the Druddigon's spikes and did no visible damage. The Druddigon then formed another dragon pulse at Katara as she was falling, and this time she could not dodge. As the orb hit her it exploded sending her flying into the opposite wall. DJ quickly ran to her side to see if she was OK. He was relieved when she got back to her feet, though slightly wincing. But before he could reach her the Druddigon charged him, it's tail glowing green (Dragon Tail). It then swung it's tail and nailed DJ's side, sending him flying to the wall. He slammed into the wall so hard that he left a Riolu shaped indent in the wall. He groaned as he managed to get back to his feet, surprised that he was not that injured.

'I guess, as a Pokemon, I'm a lot stronger now,' thought DJ. 'A lot of good that does me, considering I have no idea how to fight.'

As DJ was having this discussion with himself he completely forgot about the wild Druddigon until it was right in front of him ready to claw him to pieces with another dragon claw. As the Druddigon brought it's claw down something light blue pushed DJ out of the way and took the attack. DJ turned as he heard a pain filled cry. His eyes widened as He saw the Katara had pushed him out of the way, taking the attack in his place. Katara then launched a water pulse at the Druddigon, surprising it, causing it to stumble backwards. She then took some of the bubbles that were around her neck and threw them at the Druddigon's feet. What ever the bubbles were they appeared to be adhesive, because the Druddigon began to struggle, trying to free itself. Seeing that the Druddigon was occupied, DJ quickly rushed over to Katara, who had three big claw marks running down her side and down across her stomach. Each mark was bleeding profusely.

"Why?" DJ asked. "Why did you save me?"

"Because it's my job," replied Katara. "I'm part of Gallade's Guild and a member of Team Stardust. And we help Pokemon in need no matter what. Now come on. We have to get out of here."

No sooner had she said this the Druddigon freed itself and charged the duo. Katara then expelled a thick black smog from her mouth almost completely filling the cave (Smokescreen).

"Run!" yelled Katara. "While it can't see!"

DJ hesitated for a moment then, blindly, ran towards where the exit as the smoke began to dispel. He could now see the exit, and almost made it before he stopped dead as he heard a surprised scream. He turned quickly and saw that the Druddigon managed to hit Katara sending her to the center of the cave. The Druddigon began to slowly advance on the injured Pokemon, with a feral grin on it's face. DJ was frozen. He was mere feet away from the exit, but he couldn't move.

'She risked her life to save me," he thought. 'I can't leave her. No. I refuse to leave her to the mercy of that beast!'

DJ then felt new energy coursed through his body. He then began to run towards the Druddigon, at insane speeds (Quick Attack).

'I've never moved this fast before,' mused DJ. 'This must be quick attack!'

He smirked as he closed the distance between him and the wild Pokemon. Right as the Druddigon was about to attack Katara, DJ slammed his shoulder into it's side causing it to stumble away. DJ's victory was short lived as the shoulder he used to hit the Druddigon burst in pain.

"What the fuck?!" cried DJ, clutching his shoulder.

"That's Druddigon's rough-skin ability," Katara said weakly. "Why the hell didn't you leave when you had the chance?"

"Because," said DJ. "I don't turn my back on those in need."

"Idiot," said Katara as she slipped into unconsciousness, due to her injuries.

"I've been called worse," said DJ. "I think..."

The Druddigon regained it's balance and charged DJ, roaring.

"I may not be able to fight like a Pokemon," stated DJ. "But I can still fight like a human!"

As he said this, DJ charged the Druddigon, determined to keep it away from Katara. The Druddigon swiped at DJ with a dragon claw, but DJ ducked under it, and presided to kick the Druddigon in the leg with all of his strength. The attack itself seemed to injure to injure the Pokemon a little, but not enough to make it back off. Ignoring the pain in his leg, do to Druddigon's rough-skin ability, DJ continued fighting.

DJ had been fighting for what seemed like hours. He would dodge an attack then counter with a kick or a punch, but he was beginning to tire. He was already cut up in various places, due to Druddigon's ability, and he was slowly losing strength. The opposing Pokemon was far better of, but DJ could tell that it was weakening. Then the Druddigon got a lucky hit with it's dragon tail, which slammed into DJ's gut knocking the wind out of him, and sending him flying next to the still unconscious Katara. DJ groaned as he slowly got to his feet.

'This is hopeless,' thought DJ as he watched the Druddigon slowly approach. 'I've got almost no energy left and that thing just keeps coming. At this rate both of us will be dead.'

DJ then looked down at Katara's prone form. This sight filled DJ with new strength and determination.

'No,' thought DJ. 'I can't give up. She risked her life to save me and I refuse to let her down!'

DJ then turned to the still approaching Pokemon and glared. He felt energy flowing throughout his entire body. On instinct, as if a little voice in his head said so, DJ put his paws together. All of the energy seemed to move to his paws and increase. The a blue orb of pure energy formed between his paws. With his remaining energy he gave a primal cry, and launched the orb at the Druddigon. When said orb hit the dragon Pokemon it exploded and sent the Druddigon into the opposite wall. It hit the wall with so much force that part of the wall collapsed and buried the now unconscious Druddigon.

'I did it,' thought DJ, slowly losing consciousness. He then turned to the unconscious Katara and said, "I told you I would protect you."

He then slumped to the floor, and the last thing he saw before blacking out was a tall human-like silhouette approaching him.