A/N: Welcome back, reader! So, in case you haven't noticed, the title of this story has been changed to include the "Pokémon Mystery Dungeon" in it. Because, like I said last time, this is a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon story. And it was actually my sister's idea to change it. Well, explanation aside, this chapter, MORE EXPOSITION! And a new character is introduced! Well, we learn their name, at least...you know what? I'll just let you figure it out. Read on!
Also, quick shout-out to Imagination is king for being the first Author to favorite me! You know what that means? CONFETTI CANNONS! *fires confetti in all directions while cheering is heard*
Chapter 2: Meet Clay
Soprano's Café was probably Dune's favorite place in the town. Located in the northern half of town, the café was popular for its great food Soprano's great music. He liked it because he go there to just relax and have a drink or two. He had even once taken a nap there. Dune passed the market and the first-aid center and walked in through the curtains at the entrance.
The building itself was built like the others in town- based on whoever owned it, which in this case was a Kricketune. The head made up the roof, and the walls were made of different shades of red and had tan stripes circling the room, with black ovals dotting the walls. Dune entered and, as always, was packed with Pokémon. Dune strolled over to a table near the upper-left corner of the room. There was somebody else there waiting for him.
Duke wasn't like the other Pokémon in town. The old Houndoom had known Dune for a long time, and he was the one Pokémon that treated the Krokorok like a normal being- not some godlike hero.
"Good morning, Dune," Duke greeted with a nod.
"Mornin'" Dune replied, nodding back. "Hey listen. I just ran into somebody outside here. I'm thinkin' he's new around here."
"Hm? We never get any new citizens around here," Duke stated. "How do you know he was new?"
Dune stared. "That a trick question or what? I bet ya 500 Poké that I can name every Pokémon that lives here, and that Excadrill ain't one of them."
Duke nodded and turned to the entrance just as somebody else walked in. He flicked his pointed tail to get Dune's attention, then gestured to the curtains. "Well, speak of the devil."
Standing there at the doorway was the Excadrill.
Dune shrank back and stared. Would he recognize him? He hoped not. Dune wasn't much of a socialist to begin with, so he really didn't want to have to make conversation with somebody who had just showed up out of nowhere.
The Excadrill turned in his direction. Dune turned away. Don't draw attention, don't draw attention, don't draw attention...
Too late.
"Hey, it's you again!" the Subterrene Pokémon called enthusiastically. Dune groaned. It was bad enough this kid was probably going to bother him all day, but did he really have to get the attention of everybody in the café? It didn't matter now, as the dark brown Pokémon was now heading towards their table.
"Hello there, young one," Duke said. Dune huffed. The Houndoom had better social skills than he did, and had more patience to boot. "I see you've already met my friend here."
Excadrill turned to Dune. "Kind of. We ran into each other outside, and I mean literally ran into each other! I was so excited to finally be here, I didn't even see a Krokorok walking to this building!"
"Well, Alpha Town is pleased to have you," Duke replied. "I am Duke, and you've already met Dune."
"Hi Duke! Hi Dune!" Excadrill replied with a wave. "My name's Clay!"
"Clay, huh?" Dune replied, now knowing the stranger's name. "If ya don't mind me asking, what in the world made ya come to Alpha Town in the first place?"
"Oh that's easy," Clay replied. "I'm an explorer, you see, and I'm itching for an adventure! I also wanted to leave home for a little while, and I heard Pokéa is a great place to have an adventure!"
Dune almost laughed. Where did this kid get his information from? "Do you even know what you're talkin' about, boy? Ya think exploring just all fun and games?"
"Um, no I just..." Clay replied, confused by Dune's response.
"Lemme tell ya'll something- out there in the Mystery Dungeons, unless you're really, truly prepared, them Pokémon out there will tear you apart so fast, it'll make your head spin," Dune stated dryly. "Especially now, with all them being even more hostile than usual."
Duke frowned and was about to respond when Clay replied, "Well, I appreciate the concern, but where I lived, the Pokémon there were also pretty hostile. I managed fine, and I'm confident I can survive out here too."
Dune sighed. Clearly, Clay couldn't get that "managing it" wasn't enough to survive in the Mystery Dungeons of Pokéa. Still, part of him couldn't help but respect his confidence. Just then, Dune heard somebody talking near him.
"...just walked right out there! I told her it was suicide, but she didn't listen to me!"
"No way! Just, like, up and left?"
"Yeah! Man, doesn't she know how dangerous it is to go out there alone?"
This got Dune's attention. Somebody had actually left? By themselves? Whoever this girl was, she must be an idiot to just go right out to the Mystery Dungeons, alone no less! Dune turned to see who was talking, and saw a Hawlucha (Thoreus) and a Lairon (Skull) sitting nearby, deep in their conversation. Apparently, Clay heard it too, and walked up to them.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about? Who went out alone?" he asked. Thoreus seemed surprised that somebody had been listening in on their conversation, but explained anyways. "If you must know, a Sandslash went out to Southern Savanna earlier today. Nobody to help her, she just walked down those stairs and into that Mystery Dungeon."
"How come?" Clay asked. Thoreus frowned in annoyance and replied, "How should I know? She didn't day anything to anybody, just walked out there with her pack and stuff."
As the duo turned to enjoy their drinks, Clay headed towards the entrance.
"What're ya doing?" Dune asked, approaching the Excadrill.
"If what you said about the Mystery Dungeons is true, then that Sandslash might need help! I can't just stand by and do nothing!" Clay shouted.
"Kid, you can't just go out there and expect to come back in one piece, let alone go out and look for somebody!" Dune replied. "Mind your own business, and that's how you survive."
Clay stared at Dune for another minute before racing out the curtains. Dune scowled. Fine- if the kid wanted to go kill himself trying to save somebody who was probably already dead, then he'd let him.
"You know, I used to know an explorer who would go out of his way to help those who needed it," Duke stated, padding up to stand beside Dune.
"Don't you go playing that card again- that was long ago, a time long passed," Dune replied angrily.
"I understand some things are best left in the past," Duke said. "but maybe some things should be. Brought back to the present."
Dune narrowed his black eyes. "What're you sayin'?"
"Think about this," Duke said, turning back to the table. "Do you really not care about Clay's fate?"
Dune thought about this as Duke returned to his table. Did he not care? No, of course he didn't. Even after all he had said, Clay still insisted on going out to Southern Savanna to find this Sandslash girl. He had whatever was coming to him...
And yet, even as these thoughts spun in his head, Dune couldn't help but feel as though he were wrong. Wrong to just leave Clay to get torn apart by feral Pokémon, wrong to do nothing about the Sandslash's possible dilemma, and wrong to just...stand by in general. When Dune looked at Clay, he had this passionate fire in his eyes, passion for finding adventure, passion for helping others, passion in himself.
Sorta like me at one point. Dune thought. He turned back to the curtains and sighed.
He could not believe he was about to do this.
Dune strode forward and exited the building.
A/N: And next time, we'll find out what becomes of Dune, Clay, and this mysterious Sandslash! Don't worry about boringness next chapter. When that comes, there'll be actual fighting! Stay tuned for all that and more! Don't forget to review- your opinions are always welcomed! Just, you know, be mature about it. Anyways, see ya next time!