(Hiya! I had brainstormed this idea after reading up on some old medieval shit and figured this would make for a good short story. If enough people want more I can turn this into a full story, but this is more meant to cure my writer's block with the other stories in progress lol. All credit for the land in the story known as the "known world", made up materials, and certain themes are owned by 16Doobop13 on although 99% of characters should be created by me, as 90% of this story is mostly me, I'm just borrowing some of the environment and some ideas from Doobop, check him out if you get the chance! His The Last Legend story is pretty good!. FOR WEEKLY UPDATES ON THE STORIES FOR MY PROFILE, GO TO MY POKEAMINO "Meme God Rockruff " That's all I gotta say, read the story already! :D )
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: A Medieval Tale
"Hello there, to whomever reads the contents of this novel. I do not have a name, as names do not exist for Pokemon when I was thrust into the world. That however was nearly a millenium ago. Local Scholars predict that in the far future, many Pokemon will identify not by their species names. If that is the case whenever you read this. You may simply refer to me as The Original One."
"Before I tell this tale traveler, know that this takes place long before the world of law and order that you are most likely accustomed to. In the time when animals acted like animals, when survival was the only thing anyone cared about. Back when there were little laws and the ones that did exist were already corrupted in someone else's favor. You traveler are most likely used to multiple guilds or mercenary bands investigating out numerous cursed or tainted lands which you call in your time 'Mystery Dungeons'."
"How does one survive in this land of no laws, kill or be killed world you might ask? It is simple. When there is no law, only the strong will survive."
Such as the case for a wandering Lucario, who has no name. At this point in time, only a few Pokemon have names thus they are placed to the loyalty of the divided lands. Each ruled by their respective types. For example, Cane the Charizard rules the scorched plains and crumbling chasms of his Fire Province.
Lucario had recently left there after completing a contract, his reward? A sword, forged by the kings finest blacksmiths, known to be the best in the known world. It was crafted from the toughest metal known in the lands, Astralifide. Naturally light, 200 hundred times stronger than steel, yet harder than diamond. No known Pokemon move has ever been able to shatter Astralifide; which is why forging it is extremely difficult, Lucario's is the first ever weapon to be crafted of pure astralifide and not just an alloy.
This blade is the only companion this Lucario has ever had. He even sleeps with it, in it's fine leather scabbard. After one too many restless night he awakens to see a Chatot fly off into the night sky, he soon noticed a scroll near where he slept.
Lucario read the contents of the scroll and sees it is as he was suspecting, another contract. ["Go to Aquas, of the Water Province and wait at the Swamp Suite Inn. I will meet you there. You will eventually see a cult of worshipers passing by through the town with strange robes and garbs on. Ignore them until I contact you, no matter what. -Anonymus.] Lucario accepted the contract, as he gathered his things to embark on his new quest...
The rain pattered upon the damp soil of the Water Province. Perpetually drizzling rain, but not too much as to overflow the soil. It's the perfect for a water type to sustain itself outside of the ocean.
However, for other types it's more of a nuisance. Thus most of the residents that are not water type usually only stay for a day or two at most to gather supplies and head off. Lucario had been there for 5, if I must wait one more day in this wretched town I'll either catch a disease or worse. He thought to himself as stayed at a nearby inn, resting his bones from the long trek here.
As he prepared his items and equipped his armor, he began to think this contract was a lost cause. Until there came a knock on his room door, he opened it to see a small and pudgy look Marshtomp; who was quite surprised to see Lucario already fully equipped.
The fish lipped Pokemon stammered as he began to speak to the intimidating figure. "Uh-uh yes h-hello!" It said as it swallowed some water from a small bottle it kept with it. "A-are you the one I sent the contract to?"
Lucario groaned as it placed a paw to his head. "Oohhhh, are you really the one who hired my services? What do you want? And make it quick, I'm already sick of this town.." Lucario said, as he welcomed the Marshtomp into the room Lucario rented.
There was a small dining table, a tiny bed and two chairs within the small room; Lucario sat down in one chair as Marshtomp did the other, leaving the chair immediately dampened from it's oily and wet skin.
"Alright, talk. Why am I here?" Lucario said in an impatient tone. Marshtomp was carrying a small rucksack when he had entered the room and placed it down on the table. "I-i uh gotta make this quick." he said as he opened up the rucksack to reveal a stone, the size of an american football. Lucario grabbed it and took a closer look, upon closer inspection there appeared to be small glimmers of a calming light blue light within.
"This is a normal geode." Lucario said. "A rock that contains either a mineral or gemstone of some sort within." Lucario said as he placed it back into the rucksack.
"B-but the thing is." Marshtomp said, as he leaned towards Lucario. "It's no ordinary geode. Or so this one cult that roams around the town believes. You must have seen them by now. They praise the ancient one like they obsess with it."
Lucario was confused by this. "I've seen the strange Pokemon in their cloaks, but whats this about an 'ancient one'?" Lucario inquired.
Marshtomp seemed confused by this statement. "You don't know about the 'ancient one'?" he asked. "It's a myth passed down among the Water Province, it's based around the legend of the 'first' water type Pokemon to ever exist, Kyogre." Marshtomp explained, as he stretched his flipper-like arms as far as he could.
"A massive undersea goliath that hasn't been seen by any mortal 'mon in centuries! It's supposedly millions of years old, the myth states that it's tears shaped the oceans and lakes of our world. That's why the cult's slogan is 'by kyogre's tears'."
Lucario shifted in his chair and leaned foward onto the table. "Look, thou can stop with thy history listen and get to the point. OR thou can tell me what I must do with this chunk of rock so I can leave this tepid, decrepit excuse for a town."d
Marshtomp pulled at it's damp neck, while water types don't sweat, Marshtomp sure felt like sweating due to Lucario's intimidating approach. "I-I-I uh. The reason I explained all that is because THAT rock you're holding?" Marshtomp said, as he pointed a flipper to the rock that Lucario now held in the palm of his hand.
"That is supposedly is a sacred icon to them." Marshtomp pointed to the small cracks within the rock, which exhued a faint blue light. "T-that light coming from within the geode? That 'blue orb'? That's supposedly what the cult wants to use to supposedly revive or summon Kyogre. I-I heard them discussing their plan and.. and they said terrible things!"
Marshtomp quivered in his chair just remembering catching a glimpse of the cult's true intentions. Lucario stood up as he put the stone within his rucksack. "Okay, thou has provided important information. But you are but a weakling. How did you steal this without them noticing?" Lucario asked, getting to move at a moment's notice when ready.
Marshtomp also stood up, having left a damp stain on the already humid chair. "T-they call that 'blue orb' within the geode the final tear of Kyogre. The final tear supposedly shed before turning to stone and going wherever it went. I overheard some members talking ab-about what they were gonna do with Kyogre when they find it's resting chamber and use the orb on it." Marshtomp stepped closer to Lucario, making sure nobody heard what he was gonna say.
"They're gonna supposedly use thy orb to awaken Kyogre's full power, and reshape the entire earth into a world meant for water types. If what they say is right, Kyogre with his final tear can destroy ALL land. And flood the earth with sea! Thou MUST stop this. Please!"
Lucario nodded, attempting to grasp the danger that this cult represents. "You did not answer my question, how did thou obtain this undetected? You are too clumsy in nature to have stolen it like a thief." Lucario demanded, Marshtomp gulped as he began to tell Lucario the truth before he could however, a loud bang came upon the inn room's door.
"YOU!" The voice behind the door said. "You DARE betray your people? Your type?! By Kyogre's tears there will be nowhere on the planet safe enough to protect you from Kyogre's wrath!" The voice boomed. Whatever Pokemon lay on the other side of the door began to bang and crash upon the door, sending splinters flying with every hit.
The Marshtomp shivered as he turned to face the door. "L-l-look I exactly didn't get away undetected okay?! I'm normally a pacifist but when I heard what terrible things they'll do to the land dwellers... I have family who lives in the sands of the ground province..." Marshtomp said as his words sank into Lucario. Marshtomp readied himself into a fighting position facing the door.
"I c-can't no, I WON'T let them have their ways! Even if the legend is false nobody will hurt the ones I c-c-care about!" the normally timid Marshtomp was now determined to take a stand against what judgement lay upon him.
Lucario gave off the faintest hint of a smile, and opened the nearby window, the opening of which led to the roof of the Inn. "If thou survives all this. Meet me in the Dragon Province in 10 moons. If I am not there presume me dead. Thou are timid in nature yet brave, you have the capabilities to be a strong warrior one day small one."
The Marshtomp blushed a little. Being complimented by one of the strongest known wandering warriors was a praise like no other in these lands!.
"T-thank you...Y-you're a kinda of uh inspiration for me really." Marshtomp said as the door finally gave away and a stout, strong looking Feraligator barged into the room, fangs bared directly at the Marshtomp, who responded with a quick mud slap to the eyes and mouth, stunning the very clearly stronger Feraligator. It followed up with a mega kick to the stomach, sending the Feraligator back down to the first floor, crashing down the stairs.
"G-go! I-I-I'll hold them off! Thou needs to head to the Grass Province outskirt's 'Tower of Power'." Marshtomp, showing a surprisingly large amount of courage.
"An old Decidueye alchemist resides there, he can remove whatever magic lay dormant within thy tear of Kyogre! Making the cult of Kyogre's weapon useless. GO now!" Marshtomp said as it fired a mud shot onto the staircase, making the already angry Feraligator slip all the way back down.
That was all Lucario needed to hear as he crawled out of the window-space and out onto the roof. Extremespeed! Lucario thought to himself as he propelled himself across the numerous rooftops at breakneck speeds.
Lucario only got to the edge of the Water Province city before his move ran out as he slipped face first into the damp, dirty mud. He picked himself off and swept the mud off from his face as he decided where to go next.
Getting to the Grass Province alone will take 4 moons of travel Lucario thought to himself as he began to walk towards the direction of the midday sun. Although the nearest Province or known town before the Grass Province is the lowly Dark Province. And that land is not trustworthy.
Lucario sat down on the first piece of dry land he had seen in miles as he pulled out his map, very grateful for the sun baking the humidity and water from off his skin and fur. This map is not accurate to the map Pokemon of modern day use, this one is much older, and despite the Water Province never moving from it's main territory ever since it's founding.
The Dark Province has always been moving, 100 years ago it was near the fire province, but the dungeon that makes up the province slowly creeps throughout the lands like a glacier. Ravaging everything in it's path with nothing that cannot stop it's slow but inevitable destruction.
The land continent simply labeled the 'Known World' lay out on the map in an oblong shape, with numerous divisions and border lines cast about it.
The land was not split up equally into 18th's. Instead, most of the more prominent and powerful types got most of the land. While the more uncommon types got much more meager provinces.
To the Southernmost middle of the land is the Water Province, which Lucario had just departed from. A swampy, permanently humid area, with half of it being on stable land and the other large half being right at sea level.
To the most South-West corner of the land lay the Fairy Province, a very small chunk of the land, it mostly displays regal castles of esteemed quality. But while most citizens live within the castle, most are slaves to the royal fairy types who actually own the castles. The royal bloodline has only the most beautiful of Pokemon as rulers of the province and are allowed any rights, uglier ones like Slurpuff are kitchen slaves, and literally live their entire lives creating delicious meals for their more beautiful Pokemon masters, such as Florgess and Sylveon.
To the southern-most east is where the Grass Province once lay, but after a bloody conflict the Grass Province was forced to move to the more 'upper east coast-middle' grounds instead of the southern most lands.
The Dark Province is the world's largest known mystery dungeon, dark types who thrive off the danger and excitement of having no idea whether you're gonna be mugged, stabbed or raped or all 3 at once if you're that unlucky and weak while within the Dark Province fuels them, all the negative emotions and corruption only makes them stronger and well sustained.
Lucario did not need to look at the locations of the other provinces for the time being, he knew he had to risk the resupply in the Dark Province by going east, and then head north to the Grass Province to meet this Decidueye the Marhstomp spoke of and stop the terroristic and genocidal acts of the Cult of Kyogre before they can summon this destroyer of worlds.
"I only have one day and one night worth of food on me within thy rucksack..." Lucario thought out loud to himself. "I will simply have to conserve my food until I reach the Dark province."
And now, unknown to Lucario, his greatest journey has just begun. All his life will have been to prepare him for what will come to be during this quest...
Lucario slowly but surely made his way to the Dark Province. He slowed his journey towards the Dungeon City of Dark Province to eat what food he had remaining within his rucksack.
By now Lucario has set up a fire in the open plains of the wilderness, to his north lay a dark forest, made even more devoid of light than usual thanks to it being nighttime. He would have to cross through these 'sinister woods' as the locals called them if he were to make his way to the Dark Province outskirts.
He sat comfortably on a patch of grass as he munched down on freshly cooked meat and somewhat fresh fruit, for the first time in many moons Lucario felt somewhat peaceful, his last gig was very difficult even for him.
Twas worth it in the end . Lucario thought to himself. This blade be incredible, the finest craftsmanship a 'Mon could ask for. Lucario unsheathed his fine blade to take a closer look at it's finer details.
The handle consisted mostly of soft leather wrapped around old wood, with two curved tips on the side to improve blocking. The blade was not long enough to be considered a sword necessary for two-handed combat, but not a shortsword either. The blade had a smooth finish in the middle and sharp edges, made for cutting clean through 'Mons clean and quick.
He sheathed his sword once more and finished his meal, to his distance he saw the faint flickering of a light in the distance, inside Sinister Woods...
He grumbled as he stood up to investigate. "I really shouldn't head into a forest like that at this late at night." Lucario said to himself as he turned around, knowing he'll need to put out the fire and try to go around the forest.
As Lucario faced the other direction however he could see another faint light, in the direction that he had left the Water Province from! Lucario extended two palms outward, one towards the light following his path, and the other towards the forest. Lucario closed his eyes as they began to emanate a dark blue energy, his hair began to slowly rise towards the sky. Lucario concentrated on the auras of the Pokemon following him and the aura of the Pokemon within the forest.
Hmm, 10 water types, 1 ground and 1 fighting, well trained* He thought to himself about the Pokemon following his trail. I could take them, but if I slaughter them then their entire cult will be after me at once. If I spare their lives after combat they will get reinforcements. Lucario decided it was best to ignore confrontation with the Cult of Kyogre for now.
Lucario growled as he focused on the Pokemon within the forest. Dark types, just my luck. he thought to himself. Fighting types have the advantage over them, but somehow dark types naturally have the ability to completely hide their aura from phsycic or fighting types sensing it. AND since it's practically pitch black. I will have to use the environment to my advantage, despite the dark types of Sinister Woods having ye homefield advantage.
Lucario nodded as the energy around him dissipated and he put his arms back at his side. "Avoid confrontation with the cult, use the forest to cover my trail and make them lose me. Got it." he said to himself as he began to trek towards the Sinister Woods, one hand resting upon the sheath of his sword. Ready at a moment's notice...
The forest seemed to stretch on with no end in sight. Yet Lucario stayed diligent, If I stop to rest within the forest, that cult will catch up to me. Lucario thought to himself . Besides, I have the oddest suspiction that...
"I'm being watched!" Lucario said out loud, unsheathing his sword and aiming it towards the the treeline behind him. A Murkrow gasped in shock as it began to fly away. "Nay, thou does not get to survive!" Lucario said as it blasted an aura sphere at the Murkrow before it could flee, blasting the nocturnal bird to fleshy bits.
Lucario swore that every time he felt like he was near the end of the forest, it was as if he entered another forest in it's entirety. "This must be thine strange phenomenon the alchemists and wizards have been discussing recently" Lucario said to himself. He remembers a time when he was hired to assassinate an alchemist who was crafting a poison to kill the King of the Ice Province.
Yes, I remember hanging from the rooftop of the alchemist's lab, while he murmured to himself whilst I was waiting for his servants to disperse so I could assassinate him and leave with no trace. Lucario thought to himself.
He called this phenomenon, the 'mysterious dungeon' phenomenon as I recall. Where a landscape, such as a forest, cave or abandoned area will fill with some odd magic and expand to a great length from within, far more then what is visible from outside the 'dungeon'.
Lucario focused again on the journey ahead, making sure to remain vigilant. He waded through more of the forest, it's decrepit, dark, and dreary landscape made Lucario feel like the whole forest was alive and waiting for an opportune moment to strike. I feel like I'm a wurmple in an Ariados web. Lucario thought to himself.
Suddenly, a branch snapped behind Lucario, his instincts came into action, as he quickly turned around and placed a paw upon the sheath of his sword. Ready to cut whatever 'Mon would be foolish to fight him. He surveyed the area around him making sure he gave his opponents no opportunities to strike at his vital areas.
Suddenly, six shadowy silhouettes sprang from the shrubbery surrounding Lucario! Each shadow moving with an incredible speed that could match even Lucario's!
Lucario unsheathed his blade and held it within his right arm, as the silhouettes circled him. He prepared an aura sphere attack in his left arm and hurled at where one of the silhouettes was running to.
When the attack made contact, the shadow went away in a puff of dark smoke. Lucario began preparing another attack, when he was slashed from behind by one of the approaching shadows. "Ack!" he cried out, as he fell to one knee, feeling the blood seeping down the fur of his back, and dripping down onto the forest ground.
With his rage bubbling, he catapulted multiple aura spheres in quick succession, hitting two of the shadows. One dissipated in a puff of smoke, but the other one was flown back into the dense foliage of the forest.
Hmm, I see. Lucario thought to himself, readying his blade with two hands. Only one of the shadows is real, and is commanding the other ones to mimic the original. He slashed at another shadow, but merely struck at it's afterimage.
I already hit the trickster with an aura sphere, and since only dark types dwell within this Sinister Woodland, hmmmm. He focused his vision on the shadows, following each of their movements with his eyes, and parrying any more attacks that came at him.
Then that means the slowest shadow must be the source! he said to himself. All Pokemon tire eventually, I will just have to attack it when thy guard is down. Lucario began to focus intently at the shadows once more, comparing all their speeds to each other. When he noticed a discernible difference between one of the shadows.
"There!" He shouted, and charged at the shadow. With a quick kick, the trickster was flung back into the foliage. The remaining shadows dispersed, as the trickster Pokemon knew that wouldn't work anymore.
Suddenly, a colossal Pokemon erupted from the brushes of the forest. A Pokemon that can only be described as a demon. It's dark skin was so devoid of light, that it felt like whatever light did come into the forest was fading fast.
It roared a terrible roar, that would send the average Pokemon fleeing in terror. It's 4 legs crushed the soil beneath it, and it's putrid breath almost made Lucario want to hurl. It fired a massive shadow ball attack from it's mouth, which Lucario easily cut in half with his blade.
The demon reacted suprisingly quick to this, as it lunged forward and smacked Lucario hard with a powerful dragon rush attack. This sent Lucario flying into a nearby tree, splintering the bark and hurting Lucario's back even more.
"YoU dArE cHALLenGe mE iN mY oWN rEaLM?!" It roared out, near deafening Lucario. "I aM a gOD! YoU HaVE nO ChAnCe In DEfEaTiNg LoRD GiRItIn-" The Demonic Pokemon said before being interrupted.
"You are... No God" Lucario wheezed, leaning on knee as he struggled to get back up on his feet.
"YoU ChALLeNGe mY dIvInITY?!" It roared.
A power began to rise within Lucario, rage of his current predicament began boiling within. "Yeah. Because gods!" Lucario said as he stood up, aura lightly emanating from around his whole body.
He stood defiantly as he pointed his sword at the demonic Pokemon. "Because gods don't bleed!" he yelled, his rage erupted from within as he gave out a terrifyingly loud battle cry. The roar shook the whole forest, and dispersed the leaves and soil around him.
A faint sunlight shone through the forest onto Lucario, he pointed his sword up into the light and welcomed it's warm glow.
"I refuse to die here!" He yelled. "Especially not in the middle of a decrepit, dank forest run by some phony Pokemon who thinks he's tough shit because he can look menacing!" Lucario charged forward, clashing his sword upon it's left paw. A resounding clang came off the contact of both the sword and The demon-like Pokemon.
The Demon Pokemon bellowed, as it knocked Lucario back with it's right paw. "YoU aRe bUT a MoRTaL, I Am A gOd!" It began to prepare another Shadow Ball attack as it continued speaking. "NO mATTeR tHe pOsITioN tHoU aRe, yOu aRe NOTHING tO mE! WhAT Is A kIng To a GOD?!" It asked Lucario.
Lucario gripped his blade tight, focusing on Giritina. It's appearance was foggy, that of a heavy fog. But he could say one part that was solid, the underbelly.
"What is a god." Lucario said, as he charged forward, blade in hand. "To a non believer!" He roared, combining his extreme-speed attack with his sword as he slid underneath the illusion, pointing his sword upwards slicing through it's entire under belly.
It roared out in pain. "NoOOOOoooOOO! HOw? hOw?! h-how..." It said, before it eventually began to shrink. And with a puff a smoke it was gone, in it's place an injured Zoroark.
Lucario faced the Zoroark, putting his blade to the back of it's neck. "It will take more than cheap tricks and shadows to stop me, thou are a powerful illusionist indeed but smoke and mirrors will only take you so far." he said, pushing the tip of his blade more onto his neck.
The Zoroark raised it's hands up in a gesture of surrender. "N-no, please! Do not take my life. I am but a traveler like I suspect thou are as well? " It began trying to stand up, Lucario responded by moving the tip of his blade even closer to the Zoroark's neck.
"You will answer my questions honestly trickster, or you will perish by my hands!" Lucario said, raising his voice as he said his threat to the grey fox pokemon. Zoroark nodded his head in compliance, knowing that he was already defeated. Even my strongest illusion was defeated by this Lucario, just what is this 'Mon? He asked himself, before turning around to speak to Lucario.
"I promise by my big bushy tail that I will not lie." The Zoroark said, with a sheepish grin on his face.
The Lucario did not seem amused, "I have fell many 'O Zoroark in my day, but never before had I seen the illusion you pulled off. It's presence felt almost completely corporeal, never have I seen a Pokemon that resembles it. Tell me, where did thou find out how to perform this?" Lucario asked, using his free hand to apply pressure to one of the wounds he had suffered in the battle.
The Zoroark scratched it's head with it's claws, trying to remember exactly where he had heard it from. "Ah, to be honest. That is a difficult question to answer, I only remember seeing the form in a recent dream I had. The dream had felt so real, and yet I knew it wasn't, couldn't be!"
Lucario was not one to believe in the superstitious, he felt like these so called "God 'Mons" were just strong kings, who ruled through fear and deceit alone. Although he wasn't lacking a moral code either, if he didn't have any morals, the Zoroark kneeling before him wouldn't have his head attached to his body anymore.
"Oh and I tried going back to sleep by counting Mareep, oh wait where was I? My apologies, the form yes I remember now. It came in my dream, it's very presence felt terrifying." Zoroark said, lifting it's head to look at Lucario. "Which is why even someone as brave as you could not resist to feel even a bit fearful, heh heh.".
Lucario waited for him to continue, as the Zoroark eventually did. "It spoke to me while in my dream, it told me that calamity would fall upon my forest as well as all the lands if I did not stop uhhhh, uhhhhhhh Koi? Kaizer? Ky-" Zoroark said, trying to remember the warning he received.
"Kyogre?" Lucario said, stopping the Zoroark mid-sentence.
Zoroark nodded it's head. "Y-yes! That's what it was called, Kyogre! The apparition called itself Giritina, and it said something about how he can't torture the minds of the living if they're all dead?" the grey fox Pokemon said, clenching his paws together.
He quickly snapped his fingers together as he continued his sentence "Yeah! That Kyogre pokemon is apparently going to be really angry or something 3 moons from now and that it's gonna flood the planet, and make the oceans uninhabitable even for the most powerful of water types!"
Lucario nodded at the Zoroark's confirmation. Lucario sheathed his sword and helped the Zoroark up from the ground. "I too, am trying to stop this so called Kyogre. I ran through this forest because a 'party of interest' wishes to do what you just said Kyogre will do." Lucario said, seeing that the Zoroark was no longer a threat to him.
The Zoroark seemed quite surprised at this. "Many thanks for sparing my life warrior" the Zoroark said. "Also, my apologies for acting like I was a pretentious, almighty god while using that form. It's very strange. But I felt like the illusion was in more control than me! It was my first time ever using that form and while the power felt great, I also had little to no control and felt like I was only tapping into a tenth of the power!"
The Lucario didn't seem to care, as he began wondering away from the Zoroark and towards the exit of the dungeon. "W-W- Wait a moment!" The Zoroark said, making Lucario stop in his tracks. "Here, take this before you go." The Zoroark said, tossing the Lucario a seed. Lucario gave the Zoroark a confused look.
The Zoroark pulled another one out of his bushy tail, showing it off to Lucario. "These are called heal seeds!" he said, as he put it back into his tail. "If you get poisoned, paralyzed, burned or even frozen solid. This seed here can cure you of any ailment in less then a few seconds!" he reached back into his tail and pulled out two oran berries, he ate one and threw the other to Lucario; which Lucario proceeded to dust off before eating.
"There, that won't exactly bring you back to 100% friend, but it should at least speed up the recovery of that nasty looking back wound I gave you. Again, my apologies. I saw you blowing up that Murkrow and had assumed you weren't a friend. But a foe." Zoroark said, stretching it's previously damaged arm.
Lucario was grateful for the berry, but he was still starving. He began to leave for the dungeon as he placed the seed within his knapsack. But Zoroark began walking towards him once more.
"W-Wait, one more thing friend!" The Zoroark said. Lucario, now visibly irritated gave the Zoroark a heavy scowl as he waited for what the trickster Pokemon would say next.
"I'm low in currency, but I can provide thee with the wealth of knowledge!" Zoroark said. "Word of advice friend. Whatever thou does, no matter how much your stomach aches and groans for sustenance, do NOT. And I mean do NOT go to the Dark Province to resupply."
Lucario seemed baffled at this advice, surely he would need food if he was gonna make it to the grass province without starving to death. "Why should I heed thy advice? It would seem foolish to avoid the only place with food for the next days worth of travelling. I have no food and must resupply, no matter the risk!"
The Zoroark chuckled at this remark, like he knew an inside joke that Lucario wouldn't get. "Even if the only food they sell to outsiders is grimy food? Highly toxic to any Pokemon besides poison types?" he said, the Zoroark's devilish nature now starting to show once more.
Lucario seemed stunned at this information but refused to show it. "Then where would I get more food to relinquish myself of my hunger?" Lucario asked, curious as to how he would make it to his destination now.
"Well..." The Zoroark said, cocking his head to the right to give Lucario a better view of his devilish grin. "You could gorge yourself on grimy apples and other foodstuffs, but what if you run into this so called 'party of interest?' But you're far too sick to battle, what then hmm? My advice is thou bares through the pain of starvation until you reach the grass province, the closest province to you other than the dark province."
The Zoroark lept back into the shadows, where only it knew where it would be safe from the effects of the dungeon. "I did my part, I helped you hero by making you tougher, giving you an important item in the form of a heal seed, and gave you some potentially time and even life saving advice."
The Zoroark's voice, now but a whisper to Lucario as Zoroark run more and more back into the dark, decrepit mystery dungeon which the wandering trickster Zoroark called home. "I'm just a trickster apparently, you're the hero not me. Now go do what you damn fighting types like to do best and act self righteous and junk. I did my part, and accomplished my role, now it's your turn to do the same."
And with that, Lucario nodded and gave a small thanks before he began trekking towards the end of the forest. "But I'm no hero..." Lucario mumbled to himself as he exited the dungeon. Graciously welcoming the warm sunlight that now enveloped his body like a Sunflora would on a daily basis.
"I'm no hero..." Lucario said again, reminding himself he's just fulfilling yet another contract. His life serving no purpose but to be the world's dirty worker, doing jobs even some of the most ruthless of Pokemon would cringe at accepting.
Lucario has forgotten the number of Pokemon he has slain, all he knows is that the number was higher than what he could count, and in his mind. His paws would always be stained a dark crimson. No matter how hard he cleaned himself, he would always feel his sins. As they crawled down his back like heavy chains, shackling him to a life of death and depravity.
"I'm no hero..." Lucario said, as he walked past the Dark Province, with it's false advertisement of delicious smells and enticing aromas. And braving the pain as his starvation began to take toll...
"I'm no hero..."
Zoroark leaned against his favorite tree in the whole forest, as he flipped a small coin up and down he pondered about what actions he should take next. It was never wise for a Zoroark like himself to travel in the middle of the day, what with no shadows and he had just recovered from his battle with Lucario.
Zoroark put his coin back into his hair as he heard the loud stomping of numerous Pokemon within the forest.
Thomp, Thomp, Thomp, rumble rumble rumble.
Suddenly, before Zoroark could see them coming numerous Pokemon of shapes and sizes began to emerge from the woods. Most of the Pokemon looking tired and exhausted, besides 4 out of the 12 who seemed to be perfectly fine.
So, this is the so called 'party of interest' that was pursuing Lucario. Did my dream want me to stop these people? Zoroark thought. He began to take a better look at the Pokemon which exited the forest.
They all were adorned with decorative robes, however some were tattered and ripped due to their harsh encounters within the woods. One of the pokemon in the center of the group, a Greninja pulled a piece of parchment from it's robes and put it in front of the Zoroark's face.
"Well, thats one way to say hello." The Zoroark said, taking a quick look at the paper and turning his attention to the Greninja. "You smash through my forest like it's your own training ground. And then thee shoves parchment in my face." looking rather annoyed as he said so.
Zoroark could've swore he saw a look of anger underneath the Greninja's cowl, but couldn't get a good look at his face. "Hello." The Greninja said, his voice practically seeping with hatred. "Have you seen a Lucario, any Lucario in particular wander or exit this forest in the past day?" it asked, pitifully attempting to remain neutral in it's tone of voice.
"Hello there." Zoroark retorted. "See, was that so bad? Honestly you people should learn some manners, 'les you wish to be unwelcome at every province now hmm?"
The Greninja was not amused by this tricksters games, in a matter of seconds Greninja had his arm to Zoroark's neck. A blade of clear energy began protruding from Greninja's arm slowly, an Aerial Ace attack.
"I am NOT. In the mood for your games and thine sly manner of speaking." Greninja said, his very presence of anger seemed to strike fear into the other cultists; Zoroark however remained calm in the situation and simply gave Greninja a mischievous grin.
"Would thou like to hear something funny?" Zoroark said as he scratched the back of his neck, as Greninja slowly moved his Aerial Ace attack closer to Zoroark's neck. "This is not the first time someone has put a blade to my neck today. And if thou would be kind enough as to remove thy blade, I would be willing to give up information on the Lucario."
The Greninja pondered Zoroark's offer for a moment, he eventually allowed his blade to dissapte. Which gained a collective sigh from the rest of the fearful cult members. "Explain trickster, where has this Lucario been spotted at?"
The Zoroark walked away from the tree he was cornered by and picked up an apple from another nearby tree and took a big bite out of it. "Mmmm, uhh." Zoroark said, still munching down on the apple. "I remember telling him to head towards the Dark Province, since he was very low on supplies. If thou are fast enough you could catch up to 'em." Zoroark said, swallowing his bite of apple.
He watched as Greninja turned to talk to his fellow Cult of Kyogre members in secret as they huddled together. After a minute of whispered discussion, the Greninja turned back to the Zoroark. "My thanks for this information" The Greninja said, as he turned to face his men.
"Half of you!" He said. "To the Dark Province now! May Kyogre bring you strength from the waters" he turned to the other half of his group. "You are with me, we'll be using Malamar's senses to track Lucario's exact movements." he said, pointing to a Malamar within the group, wearing a large robe around it's body.
Greninja then ushered his groups out of the forest and pointed east, the group that would search the Dark Province went East. Greninja's group then proceeded to head west using Malamar's physcic abilities like a radar as they followed where Lucario's footsteps and aura used to be.
The Zoroark waited until they had all left, and snickered to himself as he pulled his lucky coin from out of his hair once more and began flipping it. "And who says I never done any good huh?" he said to himself, catching his coin in the air as he did. "That's to repay you for the nasty back injury I gave you, you blue fuzzball." Zoroark said, remembering that he gave Lucario a nasty gash on his back that would very much impair him on his journey ahead.
Zoroark wandered back into the forest, wondering if his help would be enough to stop this so called Cult of Kyogre from wrecking havoc upon the world. "Ah well, far as I can tell Mr.'appears in my dreams very rudely'" Zoroark said, looking at his lucky coin. Which was a normal coin the night before his dream, the heads side now had the face of Giritina, while the tails side had the face of Lucario.
"All I can tell is that as long as his bloodline does what it does best, whatever that may be. Even thousands of years from now, hope will remain. Besides, I didn't tell him everything I saw in my dream now did I coin?" Zoroark said, whistling a tune as he sat at his favorite tree once more, flipping his coin again and again just dying to see how things will turn out.
Heya! It's me, PokemonStoryteller yet again. I'm sorry that I cut this short story in half, but it's more of for you, the reader really. To better help you enjoy this story. Because let's be honest here, who really wants to read one reeeeeaaaaallly long chapter? Nobody.
Besides, this way I can get your feedback on this story, and if you want me to conclude it or not! Right now I'd say it's about at the 50-60% completion at the end of this "chapter" but I don't exactly wanna finish a story nobody will or won't read even if it was finished!
So, feedback will be greatly appreciated as always. If you wanna submit your feedback, either leave a review, leave the feedback in a PM for me, or tell me on my PokemonAmino account, which I displayed at the top of the story.
Remember, the world environment is mostly created by 16Doobop13, it's only slightly altered because this takes place many many many many years before the events of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Last Legend, which this story is based off of. (Lore wise).
tl;dr, Feedback is appreciated, not all ideas are mine, check out 16Doobop13. Yeah.
Thanks for reading this far! :D