The Tale of Team Longshot - A Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Fanfiction

by flareon71

With nothing but memories of what seemed to be a human life and a name, a Riolu finds himself in the Pokémon world and is taken in by a Nuzleaf. Little does he know, he is in for much more than just him waking up with amnesia, especially since he isn't the only one with lost memories linked to an incoming apocalypse. (The Story of Team Fate sequel, rated T for the same reasons)

3. 3: Warming Up

The Tale of Team Longshot - A Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Fanfiction

Chapter 3 - Warming Up

The next morning, Principal's Office, Indigo's POV

I wonder… I wonder what school here is like…

Is it… just about mystery dungeon exploring, or…

"Indigo, these two here are Vice Principal Watchog and Principal Simipour," Nuzleaf introduces. "Now, go on, show your manners and say hello!"

"Oh… uh…" I suddenly snap out of my trance upon the mention of my name, suddenly becoming aware of my presence in a neatly kept little office-looking area. I meekly lower my head in an attempt to bow. "Hello… I'm Indigo…"

"Hmph! Hopefully you won't be a troublesome newcomer!" The Watchog says, slowly walking up to me from the room's desk and giving me a stern glare.

His tone strikes a quivering nerve, causing me to lower my head further.

"Uh… sorry… in advance… just in case something happens…" I say quietly.

"Oh, please don't mind Mr. Watchog. He's usually like this with first impressions," Simipour says to me from behind the desk with a tone matching his smile. He then breaks into a whisper and leans closer to me. "Don't worry… he's softer than he seems… He just likes to make the most out of his authority."

"You bet I appreciate my authority!" Watchog responds, this time standing up proudly. "I can't wait until I become the principal! All I need to do is wait four more years until I can nominate myself again!"

"Uh…" I speak up, trying to sound formal. "I don't think that's how principals work…"

"Shh…" Simipour whispers to me with a slight chuckle. "He's happy the way he is…"

Adding with a chuckle of his own, Nuzleaf turns around and heads for the room's exit. "Well, I reckon I've stayed here long enough, so I'll be seein' myself out then." He gives me a wave. "Take care, Indigo!"

I silently wave Nuzleaf off before he heads out of sight. The familiar feeling of awkward silence comes back to me as I turn around to see Watchog and Simipour giving me intent stares.

I muster my voice. "Oh… uh… so… am I also excused now?"

"Ho ho ho! You don't have to be so nervous, Indigo!" Simipour says with a warm tone. "I'm positive you'll make for a fun addition to our class! It'll be delightful for all of us! It's a good thing you came early too, so you'll have some time to get used to being he-"

"Good morning, class!" I hear someone say from outside the room.

"Good morning, Mr. Farfetch'd!" Several other voices respond.

"Oh! Never mind then!" Simipour says, his smile still there. "All the other students have arrived! It's time to introduce you to them!"

"Well… okay, Mr. Simipour… if I have to…" I clutch my bag's strap.

"That's the spirit!" Simipour gets up from his desk, gently pushing me out of the room. "It could do with more enthusiasm, but still! It's something! Come on, off you go!"

The Class Area, Author's POV

After being brought out of the small hut-like structure that is Simipour's office, Indigo finds himself greeted by a sunlight to see more little structures near the Principal's office, probably other smaller rooms of importance. Down the path to a grassy opening, a Farfetch'd stands next to some sort of writing board hanging from a low reaching branch. Goomy, Pancham, Shelmet, Deerling, and an Espurr all stand nearby, nine short wooden desks in front of each of them in rows of three.

With Indigo in tow, Simipour walks down to Farfetch'd and in front of everyone else. "Everyone, this is Indigo the Riolu. He's going to be learning here with all of us. He's new here, so please do treat him well."

Indigo pauses at the realization of how many eyes are staring at him, some of them familiar. He slowly lowers his head. "Hi… everyone…"

The Pancham in the back takes some slow blinks as well, but in surprise. "Wait… aren't you the one who…"

"You're the one who helped us yesterday!" Deerling cries out, just as surprised.

"Oh? So it seems some of you are already acquainted with Indigo here," Simipour says. "Well, that should make this introduction much easier. So in case none of you knew, Indigo here moved in with Mr. Nuzleaf, who I assume you all know. So Indigo, how about you tell us how you ended up in Serene Village?"

"Well…" Indigo hesitates, carefully choosing his words. "He just happened to be there during my time of need…"

The Espurr in the middle row next to Deerling speaks up with a tone as straight as her stare, raising a paw. "Excuse me for interrupting, but I have a question. I know this might sound redundant, but do you happen to be Nuzleaf's son? He has been quite secretive lately, so I wouldn't be too surprised either way."

"Well… I'm not actually," Indigo responds, sheepishly chuckling. "He's just my… guardian, I guess… I… don't know if I have the privilege to call him a father, but… even then, I am not related to him in any way. Funny you should mention a question like that, I was actually asked a similar question by… uh…"

Indigo trails off, taking a second to eye all the desks.

'That's… weird… I would've expected a Pokémon like her to be here…'

A familiar voice accompanied by the sound of running reaches Indigo's ears. "I'm going to be la-a-a-ate! Again!"

'Speak of the devil…'

Indigo directs his stare to the wooden archway of the school's entrance to see a Snivy dart past it, dashing right towards the path to the class area. Running to right to where he is.

The realization of the Snivy's blind dash strikes Indigo at the last second, leading him to pull off a spontaneous sidestep away.

'Whoa… that… was close…' Indigo sighs in relief, reaching for his shoulder. 'I guess that answers my question… wait… where'd my bag go?'

The Riolu glances at his shoulder, only to see the purple leafed object in question in the face of a still-blindly dashing Snivy.

As Fia's blind dash brings her in repeated circles around the class area (to the amusement of some), a sudden turn into a vacant desk causes her to trip. She cries out, the bag covering her face falling off. It lands to the ground with an impact that causes a bright orb-shaped projectile to fly out of its open flap. Right towards Indigo.

Before he can even utter the thought to dodge, Indigo is struck by the projectile and collapses on the spot, already snoring.

Meanwhile, the Snivy picks herself up from the ground, still as cheerful as can be, even as she looks around at the shocked eyes directed at her.

"Well, that was exciting!" Taking note of the desk's position in front of her, she stares ahead to see Farfetch'd and Simipour with concerned expressions. "So… Mr. Farfetch'd, Mr. Simipour, what'd I miss?" It's only when Fia notices that the eyes of concern are directed to the figure on the ground instead of her does she realize. "Oh."

Indigo's POV

Urgh… what… what happened? Where… am I?

…

Wait… I already thought this… again…

I regain control of my senses and stir, immediately feeling the straw bed beneath me.

Am I… in Nuzleaf's house?

Lifting my heavy eyelids, I take a second to yawn. Slowly propping myself back on my feet, I look around myself to see a familiar circular room, but with details that aren't in my room in Nuzleaf's house. Not only is the window larger, letting in more sunlight, but there are some noticeably grown potted plants, as well as the presence of several other straw beds nearby.

All of a sudden, a throbbing pain strikes, immediately causing me to clutch at my head with my paws as I let out a mix of a groan and a cry of pain.

"Oh goodness, you've awoken! Stay calm, here, drink this."

Taking a second to breathe, I follow the sound of the gentle voice to see an Audino holding out her paw to me, offering a cup of some light blue juice. I look up at the Audino's soft smile. With how non-oppressive her voice sounded, questioning this drink's credibility would seem like insulting her, so I take the drink and down it without a second thought.

Shortly after I swallow, the pain in my head gives way to a soothing wave washing itself over my body, a familiar feeling of rejuvenation following.

I take a deep breath and let out a relieved sigh, handing the glass back to Audino. "Thanks… what's in this, anyway?"

"Crushed Heal Seed mixed with Oran Berry. It helps with the headaches Slumber Wands give you after you wake up."

Wait… Slumber Wand? The details slowly resurface.

I look up at the Audino with a distraught look. "W-What happened after I passed out?"

"I brought you here and waited for you to wake up. I really should introduce myself." She gives me a smile. "You may call me Ms. Audino. I work here as the school nurse, but I'm also Serene Village's head doctor. If there's anything happens to anyone in the village, I'm here."

The… village's head doctor? Then… why haven't I met you sooner?

"W-Well… nice to meet you…" I slowly lower my head. "I'm Indigo…"

She lets out a quiet chuckle. "I'm well aware. Class has already started without you, so you better get back there."

"You're… you're right!" I quickly whip my gaze towards the room's exit. "T-Thanks, Ms. Audino…"

"One more thing, Indigo…" Audino walks over to a nearby desk, coming back as she holds up a familiar purple strap. "You'll need this."

"Oh… t-that, thanks…" I accept the bag and lower my head once more. "I'll… be, uh… off now…"

It's a good thing I heard about that bag call at the last second… Hopefully the stuff inside isn't too damaged from when Fia landed on it…

Once I end up outside the nurse's office, I quickly lift my bag's flap and look through the contents.

Wands still here… berries here… Apples here… the few Seeds I got are still here… Wait, come to think of it, how am I so familiar with all these items in the first place?

Wait a second… was this note always in my bag?

Author's POV

"... some good examples of this are all the fully evolved Fire types able to learn Solarbeam, that is, except for Flareon, Incineroar, and Salazzle," Farfetch'd says, pointing his stalk towards some disc-shaped drawings on the writing board. As he does so, he notices Indigo standing outside the nurse's office. "Oh! Indigo! You're okay now! Come now, rejoin the class and find a seat."

The sudden mention of his name surprises the Riolu as he hastily puts a small note back into his bag, barely given any time to glance over it. He quickly runs down the path leading down from the nurse's office hut joins the class area. He looks over all the little wooden desks and takes note of how they're all occupied. That is, except for an empty one next to Fia, an empty one next to Espurr, and an empty one next to Shelmet.

"Go on now, Indigo. Take your seat." Farfetch'd urges.

Indigo takes a second to weigh his decisions. 'Uh… I can either sit next to that overexcited Snivy who put me to sleep… the Espurr who asked me about Nuzleaf… or that Shelmet bully.'

A few more seconds pass as Indigo thinks, everyone else intently staring at him.

'Hmm… you know what, I think I'll just sit next to Espu-'

"Psst! Indigo! Over here!" Fia whispers loudly to the Riolu, motioning to the empty 'seat' next to her. "Come on, sit here! Please? I'd like someone else as a seatmate to talk to other than shy Goomy here…"

'Urgh… I… can't just deny a request like this when she's already spoken this loud for everyone to here…'

"A-Alright…" Indigo slowly takes my place at the empty desk to Fia's left.

"Excellent!" Farfetch'd says. "And now with that over with, now to continue our lesson… where was I? Oh, that's right! Now, back to how versatile Technical Machines are…"

As Farfetch'd continues his discussion, Fia proceeds to lean to Indigo and continue whispering. "Psst… Indigo… I'm sorry about what happened earlier… with the bag and the Slumber Wand and stuff…"

Indigo sighs before whispering back. "Well… it was an accident… so I don't really mind, I guess…" 'I guess the apology helps…'

"Yay! I've actually been forgiven!" Fia suddenly exclaims. "As if yesterday already wasn't enough of a sign, I can tell we're going to be great friends!"

Indigo can't help but smile a bit at the contagious tone. "Well… I'd say you're exaggerating about yesterday… but sure… friends."

"Ahem! Indigo and Fia! I can hear you talking!" Farfetch'd yells, waving his stalk at them. "Now, pay attention! Ahem… back to what I was saying about Hidden Power and Toxic…"

The two spend a second of quiet after Farfetch'd's yell, keeping their eyes glued to the board. A moment of silence passes before Fia breaks it by continuing to whisper.

"Oh… uh… sorry about getting us into that scolding, Indigo…" Fia whispers. "We're… still friends, right?" She quietly giggles.

"I don't really see why not, I guess…" Indigo follows up with a faint smile.

'She's troublesome, sure… But… I guess I can get used to it.'

---

The breeze blows through the area at a slightly stronger rate, stirring a low branch of wind chimes near the class area.

Farfetch'd is the first to take notice. "That's the bell! Well, that's class dismissed, everyone! Be sure to remember all I told you about TMs, because tomorrow, there's going to be a test on what we covered today!"

A series of disappointed groans can be heard from the students as Farfetch'd walks up the winding path to the teacher's lounge hut.

"Enjoy your recess!" Farfetch'd calls out.

Fia is the first to speak up once Farfetch'd is out of earshot ."Oh, come on! A test already?! I can barely even remember the exact detailed process of how Pokémon learn moves via Technical Machines!"

"I'm already struggling trying to recall the reason why some moves are available through Technical Machines and why some aren't!" Goomy cries out.

"Uh…" Espurr attempts to speak up from the classroom's middle row. "I didn't think it was that ba-"

"W-Wait… do you guys think this test will cover reusable and non-reusable TMs?" Indigo speaks up. He quickly shakes his head. "A-Actually… I don't want to think about it… I'll just eat…"

Everyone else follows on in agreement when they take out their own snacks from beneath their desks. Meanwhile, Indigo pulls an Apple out of his bag and gets to eating. However, he stops halfway when he notices the Snivy fixating her curious eyes on him.

Indigo pauses to swallow. "Do you… uh… want an Apple too?"

"No, no, not that. I already packed some food under my desk too." She shifts her gaze to stare past his shoulder. "I'm just curious about your bag… I don't remember seeing that in the Kecleon store."

"That's… uh… because I didn't buy it," Indigo responds, proceeding to take a bite out of his Apple. "I… made it. At Foreboding Forest."

"Ooh… You went to Foreboding Forest and made a bag there?" Fia responds excitedly. Her eyes suddenly widen with more intrigue. "Wait, what were you even doing in Foreboding Forest, anyway? How did you even know where it was? And why Foreboding Forest specifically?"

'Back at it again with the questions…' Indigo pauses. "W-Well… I was helping Goomy…"

At the mention of his name, the Dragon type looks up from his spot on Fia's right, catching Indigo and Fia's attention. "I… still need to properly thank you… I don't know what I would've done, really!"

Deerling gets up from her desk and approaches as well, wearing a grateful smile. "He's right about that, Indigo. I didn't expect a complete stranger like you to be willing to help us!"

Espurr joins in. "I'm interested in what happened. Is it okay if I ask?"

Indigo hesitates, taking a second to process the overwhelming amount of attention on him. "W-Well… it can't be that big of a deal… all I did was head into a forest and help someone out…"

'I… didn't think getting locked out of Nuzleaf's house would lead to all this attention on my first day of school… I… I think I can get used to this…'

Meanwhile, Pancham and Shelmet watch from their seats in the far back.

"Look at him…" Pancham glares on, forcefully taking a munch out of his Apple. "Just because he did one thing, he's getting all the attention from everyone else…"

"Just seeing that Riolu kid getting attention from everyone is making me jealous… especially since Deerling is just pouring her all of her attention over him…" Shelmet adds. His eyes narrow into a sneer. "Deerling…"

Pancham notices the malicious hiss in Shelmet's tone. "Oh… uh… don't you think you're being too possessive? It's… just Deerling, you know… She's cool and all, but-"

Shelmet whips his gaze towards Pancham. "I know."

"Well… regardless, we still need to come up with a payback plan…" Pancham says, bringing his disapproving stare back at the commotion. "That Riolu won't seem so hot after dealing with something far worse than Foreboding Forest…"

"Don't worry about it, Pancham…" Shelmet says. "I've already started to come up with a plan…"

The two start whispering amongst themselves for a bit.

"Heh…" Pancham snickers. "This should definitely teach that Riolu that things aren't all fun and games here…"

"And leave a mark. Don't forget that part." Shelmet adds.

Hours later, Indigo's POV

"Okay, everyone! That's the bell!" Watchog says to all of us. "That also concludes our lesson on items found in mystery dungeons! This also means it's time for all of us to go home! So what you waiting for?!"

As I start packing up my items and written notes, I notice everyone else already leaving their desks and heading towards the wooden entrance archway.

Well, I better go as well…

I quickly pick up my bag and follow their path, ending up running past almost everyone else.

I notice Farfetch'd standing by the archway as I run past him. "Goodbye, everyone!" He calls out. See you tomorrow! Don't forget about the test!"

The… test…

I end up slowing down to a walk as I continue down the path back to Serene Village's plaza area.

"Hey! Indigo! Wait up!" I then turn around to see a familiar running up to me. She takes a few pants before speaking. "I just realized… since we're friends and neighbours, how about we walk home together?"

"Uh… sure…" I reply. "But… uh… I have a question out of curiosity… how close are we as neighbours, anyway? Is your house really that close to mine?"

"You didn't notice?" Fia responds. "You live in the house that for some reason looks like a Nuzleaf, right? Well, I live in a house that for some reason looks like a Carracosta! It's right next to your house, too! I don't know why Pops and Nuzleaf's houses are the only houses in the village to be modeled after them, but that's besides the point…"

Oh… that house with shades of blue…

"So… I'm sorry about not being able to finish showing you around the village yesterday… Had something I needed to deal with, you know," Fia continues, cheery tone and all. "I know! How about I show you someplace really good? Like, really good?"

"Uh… depends…" I respond. "Nuzleaf might not like unscheduled outings like these… How far away is it?"

"Not too far at all, actually! It's just a short ways outside the village! You might've already seen it! But trust me, you'll really like this place!"

"Well… alright… if you say so…"

"Yay! Come on, this way!" Fia exclaims, running ahead. "Follow me!"

"W-Wait, hold up!" I make an attempt to pick up my pace.

As I continue following Fia's trail down the path, I notice two other figures standing ahead, as if waiting for us to pass by. It only takes me a second to realize who they are.

"Hey! Hold it right there!" Pancham yells.

"Yeah!" Shelmet adds.

I'd… rather not…

I don't respond with more than a glance and rush past them, Fia doing so as well.

"Hey! Come on, I took the trouble to run ahead to tell you to hold it and everything!" I hear Pancham cry out.

Fia suddenly reels to a stop, forcing me to do so as well. "Oh? Are you talking to us? Well, we're kinda in the middle of something, so…"

"You. Fia. Stay out of this," Shelmet responds, glaring. "It's Indigo here we want to deal with."

"Me?" I pause, an idea coming to me. "Well, we're kind of in the middle of something, so…"

"Shut up!" Pancham yells. "You know what, smart guy, smirk all you want. We have a challenge for you. One involving a mystery dungeon."

And… why should I-

Fia quickly speaks up with an excited tone. "Ooh, mystery dungeons? I'll go!"

"Stay out of this!" Pancham exclaims, briefly facing Fia before turning back to face me. "Now, Indigo, even if you think you're all special after that incident in Foreboding Forest, there's a specific mystery dungeon we'd like you to go to. Only then will we admit that you have some real guts."

"Wait… you want me to do something for the sake of… my guts?" I pause to process their words. "But… I really don't have anything to lose by not accepting your challenge… It's not like you're holding my dignity hostage…"

"I wanna go I wanna go!" Fia chants, practically hopping up and down with excitement.

"No one is talking to you, you Expedition Society member wannabe!" Pancham yells at Fia, this time sounding even angrier. He then faces me once again. "So… Indigo… suit yourself. Shelmet and I here are going to leave to that mystery dungeon now. If you'd really like to earn our respect, then follow us to prove yourself."

The two of them then walk away down the path, and I sigh with relief as they leave my sight.

"Well… glad that stupid exchange is over with… I thought they'd never leave…" I say. "So… Fia… about that place you were going to show me…"

"I wanna go to that mystery dungeon they were talking about!" Fia exclaims excitedly, apparently unfazed by Pancham's insult earlier. "Come on come on come on! Let's follow them, Indigo!"

"Wait wait wait," I protest. "What about- agh!"

Without a warning, I'm forced to pick my pace up when Fia drags me off, clutching me by the paw.

Oh, for the love of Arceus, not again!

And I was just warming up to you, too!