My first Pokemon story. After reading a couple (Okay, literally 2) stories told from the POV of a Pokemon, I decided I wanted to get in on the action. The idea popped into my head kind of out of the blue, though. I created both teams at one point, Team Alpha, when I started with a Charmander, and Team Omega, in RRT, when you could still start with my dearest Cubone.

This story is based around two teams, Alpha and Omega. Together, they must combat the most ruthless team of rogues in this area, Team Ragnarok (consisting of Death the Honchkrow, War the Houndoom, Pestilence the Shiftry, and Famine the Crawdaunt).

I don't own Pokemon. I only own the storyline and... well, technically the OC's used thus far are only half mine, aren't they?

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Eternal Nightmare

Chapter 1: Kahrik's Promise

Kahrik's POV

It was an abnormally cold day for winter, even in the Southern Wastes. The peninsula was wracked with frosty blizzards, tearing away at the snow-peaked mountains. Most Pokemon dared not to brave the storm, hiding instead in their dens as they waited for the storms to pass.

Of course, we're not most Pokemon. My name is Kahrik. I'm the leader exploration team named Team Alpha. My team includes myself, a black Charmander, my best friend Spirit, a Dratini, and Victor, a Trapinch. We're very well known around these parts, and our name certainly does us justice. We're the best.

You're probably wondering what we were doing in the Southern Wastes in the middle of winter, especially during a storm the likes of this. We were there because we received a distress call from a fellow team, Team Omega. They were trapped in this mess, somewhere in Rime Forest. Unfortunately, the only way to get to Rime Forest was to battle our way through the blizzard and find the entrance.

I was glad we had enough rope to tie ourselves together, or we would've been separated ages ago. My tail was the only source of light in this quandary, and even that was dim. On top of that, we could barely hear each other over the roar of the winds. If we, for whatever reason, lost each other, I don't think we could have found each other in time to prevent hypothermia from setting in. I felt bad for my partners. Ground and Dragon Pokemon don't do well in the cold. Either way, we needed to find a shelter where we could warm up and rest, or we'd be about as useful as Hoppip in a volcano.

Actually, I suppose Hoppip could be useful in a volcano. The suckers almost never land, so maybe they could get to the top, assuming they had a strong enough Water or Rock Pokemon to defend them. Maybe a better comparison would be Magikarp in a thunderstorm. Yeah, that sounds about right.

Spirit's voice was numb and shaky as he shouted as best he could so I could hear him. "K-K-Kahrik, we need to g-g-g-get the hell out of th-th-th-th-th-this st-storm!" The blistering cold didn't help his usual stutter. I squinted through the storm and turned my head away from the wind, trying desperately to see a cave, or an abandoned den, anything to get out of this wind.

Victor stumbled forward, dragging Spirit with him thanks to the rope around their waists. "Kahrik, this mess is forming ice on my jaws. It's not easy for even you or Spirit to make your way through this, but I've got short legs! We need to get out of this snow, or I'm going to evolve into a Mud-type Pokemon!"

"Victor, will you keep your mouth shut!" My low, powerful voice rang out easily, even with the howling zephyr. "I know damn good and well how hard it is for you to make your way through the snow, but you're not the only one in danger here! Spirit is more likely to get hypothermia than either you or me. Our body temperatures are customized to deal with hot environments, so our temperature matches volcanos and deserts. Spirit is used to warm ocean waters, and he's sliding around on the snow. At least you and I can walk." I looked over him and smirked. "Besides, there's somewhere for us to seek shelter right there." With that, I dragged my companions in the opposite direction Victor was facing, towards a hidden cave in the snow. Only the very top of the cave entrance was visible above the snow. If I had looked up maybe five minutes later, I would have never seen it. However, thanks to Victor's giant mouth, we found sanctuary from the storm.

Once inside, I removed some throwing sticks from the satchel Victor carried and arranged them in a pile, as neatly as possible. Then, I took a few stones from the back of the cave and placed them in a circle around the pile of sticks.

Spirit made his way over and looked down at the sticks. "Th-Th-Those are th-the only wea-wea-weapons we h-have, K-Kahrik. A-A-A-Are you s-s-s-sure we should b-b-b-b-b-b-b-burn them?"

"It's either that or no fire tonight," I replied evenly, finishing my work and examining the pile. "We need to keep warm, and my tail won't be enough to do that." With that, I used a short burst of Flamethrower to light the sticks ablaze. Soon, we had a full fire going, and I tossed more sticks on the pile to keep the fire going.

Victor set the satchel down next to me and laid down near the fire as Spirit curled up. "What's for dinner? I'm starving!"

In response, I dug through the satchel until I found an apple. I removed it solemnly and set it down near the fire, removing another stick from our supplies and driving it through the core of the apple. Then, I held it over the fire to roast. "Roast apple."

"You do mean apples, right Kahrik? We do have more than one apple, right?" Victor pressed.

I shook my head. "We have to be careful how much we eat," I muttered, turning the apple around. "We have no idea how long we're going to be trapped here, and there aren't any places we can get more food between here and our destination. What we have must last until we can leave the peninsula."

Spirit nodded. "M-M-Makes sense t-t-to me," he stammered, laying his head down, using the satchel as a pillow.

The Trapinch, instead, groaned. "I'm going to starve."

"You're not the only one. Now stop complaining." I removed the roasted apple from the flames and used a Slash to slice it into three parts, handing my partners the largest of the three.

Victor wolfed his down immediately, but Spirit stared at his own piece and then at mine. "B-B-But you g-g-got the sma-smallest p-p-p-piece, K-Kahrik."

Without responding, I took a bite of my own apple slice. "Eat your dinner, Spirit."

He bowed his head in understanding, then ate his apple and curled up to sleep. "Good night, my friend."

"Until tomorrow, partner." With that, I finished my food and laid down, curling my tail around me and falling into a deep slumber.

I awakened slowly, but I wasn't where I fell asleep. I glanced at my surroundings. That's when I realized this was all a dream. I was back home in the Scorched Valley, in my room at my parent's house. My home. The home that burned to the ground after the evil Team Ragnarok came and ravaged the valley, leaving only death and suffering in its wake. Team Ragnarok consisted of War, a Houndoom, Pestilence, a Shiftry, and Famine, a Crawdaunt, led by Death, a Honchkrow.

The only reason I survived was because Death thought I was the strange-colored Charmander from the prophecy. They kidnapped me, and tortured me, trying to get me to swear loyalty to Death. They forced me to fight against other Pokemon, weak Pokemon, all innocent children they tore from their homes. They tried to make me kill them and taint my clean hands with the blood of the demure babes. When I refused, they made me watch as they tortured them to death, all the while making me listen to their shrieks, their screams for help. They gave me a tattoo, Honchkrow's symbol inked into my right shoulder. It was the skull of a Murkrow with his special crest carved into the cheek. It was that night that I made my escape, aided by Spirit and Victor, two fellow prisoners. We formed an exploration team so we could grow strong enough to one day face Team Ragnarok and get revenge for the innocent lives they took.

An omniscient voice called out from my right. "Over here, Kahrik," it whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear. "Come here."

It was like I had no control over my legs. I shuffled over to the door and pulled it open. I nearly screamed at the sight I saw. There was some sort of black hole-type thing just outside my bedroom, sucking each plank of wood that built the house in one by one. I grasped the door jam as tightly as I could and fought the urge to squeal for help.

The voice rang out again. "Let go, Kahrik." It grew darker and more villainous, turning into a voice I knew all too well. "Embrace your dark fate!" I felt talons rake my arms and I looked behind me, grunting in pain. Death was flying behind me, trying to tear me away from the door. "Fulfill the dark side of the prophecy, or burn in the hell that comes after!"

"Never!" I shouted, digging my claws into the floor and lunging at him, ready to rake my claws through his wings and thrust him into the black hole. "I'll never do it!"

"THEN PERISH!" he roared, dodging my attack before digging his talons into my back and throwing my bloodied body into the black hole.

But the dream didn't end there. As I passed through the black hole, I was plunged into a bright, white nothingness. I glanced to my left and right, looking for anyone or anything I could recognize. "Are you alright?" a voice, both calm and serene, questioned from behind me.

I spun around and laid my sight on an light ice blue Pokemon with a flowing blue tail, a jagged blue crest, a fluffy white chest, and broad wings. "You're Articuno," I gasped in awe.

"Yes, I am Articuno, the Legendary Arctic Bird Pokemon." he replied, tucking in his wings as he walked over to me, his black feet clacking against the ground. "My brothers and I have been watching you and your companions through their adventures."

"Wait, you're an Ice/Flying Pokemon," I answered, narrowing my eyes more in confusion than anger. "How can you talk to me in my dreams?"

The bird smiled and chuckled. "Have you forgotten Lugia?"

My eyes widened. "Lugia? You mean the Beast of the Sea? How could-" I realized what he meant. Lugia was a legendary Psychic/Flying Pokemon. "He's using his psychic powers to connect you to me."

"Indeed." Articuno replied, lowering his head. "This is my only chance to talk to you in your dreams, so you'll have to seek me out if you have any more questions. You play a very important part in this world. What you do here will have a heavy effect on the future of this world. As you know, there is a vile team of ruffians who wish to bring about the end of the world."

"Team Ragnarok," I growled, clenching my fists.

"Yes. It is up to Team Alpha and Omega to save the world." Articuno explained.

"Team Omega too? What can they do? They-" I began.

"Just started? Yes, I know. But the Pokemon that leads them plays just as important a role in the fate of the world as you do. Her choice and yours will change the outcome of the events to follow. From the time you two meet, your paths will be irreversibly intertwined," the legendary Pokemon told me before turning away. "That is all I can tell you."

"Wait! What do you mean irreversibly intertwined! Articuno!" I shouted. But it was too late. He was gone, and the dream was fading...

"Kahrik. Kahrik, wake up!" I woke to Victor shaking my shoulder. "Come on. The storm let up enough to continue. It's still snowing, but it's not a blizzard anymore. Let's go complete our mission," he urged as I got to my feet.

I was still a little groggy, but I nodded. "Right." I followed him in a zombie-like state out of the cave and toward Rime Forest. Articuno's words still rang in my ears. From the time you two meet, your paths will be irreversibly intertwined. Her choice and yours will change the outcome of the events to follow.

At the time, I didn't know how right he was. I just knew I couldn't let him or Team Omega down. The world depended on me, and whoever Team Omega was, I had to help them. When I took up my badge as an explorer, I promised I would help any and all Pokemon in need, no matter their size, color, or creed.

And I plan to keep that promise, no matter the cost.

End Chapter 1

AN: This literally took me all of an hour to type up. There was a surge of author brilliance and I just couldn't stop typing. I only took a break to have a snack, then back to work I went.

I already have the next chapter formulated, but I'm gonna make you wait a while to read it. I'm mean that way.

Also, if you so desire, I can include some of your own Pokemon in the story. If you want one of your Pokemon Mystery Dungeon OC's included in these shenanigans, please submit them in the following fashion in your review:

Name: (What's your Pokemon's nickname?)

Gender: (Are you a boy or a girl? lol)

Species: (What kind of Pokemon is it?)

Level: (How experienced is your Pokemon?)

Personality: (What is your Pokemon like?)

Goal: (A vendetta is a prolonged, bitter quarrel with someone. Does your Pokemon have a vendetta against another, or maybe a grudge against a Pokemon who wronged them? Or are they just out to explore or have fun?)

Appearance: (Do they have any interesting attributes abnormal to their species? If not, just leave this out)

History: (What's so special about this Pokemon's past that sets them apart from every other Pokemon of its species?)

Moves: (What moves does your Pokemon have?)

Alignment: (Outlaw, Shopkeeper, Team member, Team leader, Solo explorer Guild member, or other)

Team: (Only if they are on a team. If they are, you need to submit at least 1 other Pokemon on the same team or I can't use them)

Here's Kahrik's profile as an example.

Name: Kahrik

Gender: male

Species: Charmander

Level: 25

Personality: Kahrik is a withdrawn, serious Pokemon, which can be fully blamed on what he went through as a child. He doesn't open up often, and rarely smiles.

Vendetta: Fully bent on revenge against Team Ragnarok for what they did to him and his friends Victor and Spirit.

Appearance: Unlike any other Charmander (as Shiny Charmander are yellow), he is a charcoal black Charmander with a snow-white underbelly. He also has a tattoo on his right shoulder of a Murkrow's skull with a strange crest carved into the cheek, a constant reminder of his past.

History: As a young Charmander, he witnessed his village burning to the ground, as well as the torture and murder of his parents, a female Charizard and a male Feraligatr, by Team Ragnarok. The team then kidnapped him, and tried to poison his mind with darkness. They forced him to battle and tried to make him kill other Pokemon, but he resisted, resulting in the tattooed brand on his right shoulder. That night, he and two other Pokemon, Victor the Trapinch and Spirit the Dratini, escaped Team Ragnarok's hideout and found their way to Clefable's Guild. There, they trained, graduated, and started Team Alpha.

Moves: Flamethrower, Slash, Rock Slide, Swords Dance

Alignment: Team Leader

Team: Alpha