First, I'd like thank SytheRider for reviewing my story. The 'tingling sensation' was something I came up with when I wondered how Pokémon know they're entering a dungeon-especially 'outside dungeons', such as Tiny Woods. Also, about the guild being underneath a rock: It was revealed in chapter three that the guild was formally a hideout during times of war. The reasoning behind the password to get in will be explained in a later chapter.
Also, Pokémon is not mine. I do own several games, as well as at least a hundred anime episodes, but I didn't make them. Thank you and now on to chapter four!
If Charcoal had ears, they would be in great pain. For at that very moment, an extremely loud, booming voice echoed through the guild, shouting "Up and at 'em apprentices! You don't want to sleep in on your first day, now do you?!" And if being loud wasn't enough, the voice also had a throaty, scratchy tone to it, akin to a Persian sharpening its claws on a chalkboard-slowly.
"Oh man…do I have to listen to that every morning?" the young Charmander complained, as he slipped on his red vest, and then wrapped his crimson bandanna 'round his neck. He shot a glance at Timber. The grass-type was still snoring away, oblivious to what was going on outside of his own personal dream world.
In an attempt to rouse him, Charcoal gently shook the Treecko's shoulders. "Hey Timber, wake up. Rise 'n shine! Come on, we've gotta go!"
"Snork….snungle…just five more snikle………The half asleep Timber mumbled.
"You can't sleep in! We're supposed to start apprenticing today! You don't want to be late for the briefing, do ya?"
"Apprenticing………..? Apprenticing!" Timber was suddenly filled with renewed energy. The wood gecko Pokémon leaped to his feet, snatched up his vest and sunglasses, and dashed out the door.
Charcoal sprinted over to the Treecko. "Wait up, Timber!" He called out.
Already the day was starting off very interesting…..and only time would tell what lay ahead for the newest guild recruits on the block.
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Charcoal and Timber walked into a room with a sign marked 'Beginner's Class', written in Unownscribe. Here was where the two Pokémon would begin their journey toward becoming great explorers.
Team Comet sat in the second and third chairs of the second row. Charcoal took the time to look around the room. It was a plain space. The rocky walls had been painted a basic white color, and the seats were simple flat grey stones.
Meanwhile, Timber looked around at the Pokémon he and Charcoal would have the honor of being classmates with. Some were just filled to the brim with excitement, practically jumping out of their seats. Others looked completely bored as they slumped down into their chairs.
It wasn't long before another Pokémon walked in. He was an older Manectric and had a professional vibe about him. Charcoal guessed he was the professor of the Beginner's Class.
The Manectric took a seat behind a desk in the front of the room. The Electric-type Pokémon grabbed a sheet of paper and looked it over. Every few seconds he would glance up at the class, nod, and use a quill-tip pen to mark something on the white parchment.
Finally, the Manectric set the paper aside, and stood up to address the apprentices. "Good, it looks like everyone is here" The blue and yellow Pokémon cleared his throat before continuing. "Now class, I am Professor Rod, and I will be your instructor for this year. This is how things are going to work around here. I will call Team names one at a time, and lead them into the Mission Chamber. To start out, I will pick your missions, but once you gain enough experience, I'll give you the choice. I will also help you pack for your journeys and give you some advice.
"Now then, let us see who is first on the list….Team Comet."
Timber and Charcoal couldn't believe their good fortunes. They were fist! They would go on the first mission this year! Spirits high, the two Pokémon followed Rod out the door. They came to a large chamber just a hallway later. Nailed on the rocky walls were several wooden bulletin boards. Tacked on to said boards were numerous sheets of paper.
Rod stopped in front of the closet board, on the western side of the room. Up above, the letter 'E' had been etched into the rock.
"This is the Mission Chamber. Here is where we post our assignments." The Electric Pokémon said.
"So this is where we get our missions." Charcoal noted.
Rod nodded. "That's right. But it's not just expeditions we go on. Sometimes we get rescue missions, or even requests to find a lost item.
"Wow, I didn't realize the missions were that diverse," Timber stated.
"Do you see these letters carved above the bulletin boards? " the Manectric asked.
"Yes," Team Comet answered with nods.
"These letters represent the difficulty of the missions. 'E' ranked assignments are the easiest, while 'S' ranked ones are far harder." Rod said. "Now, since this is your first mission, we will start you off with an 'E' ranked assignment. Let us see…..hmmm….ah! This looks like a good one."
"What is it?" Timber inquired.
The older Pokémon began to answer the Treecko's question as he read the assignment.
"'We are fellow explorers, from Team Shard. We were exploring Metaneous Cave, when we came across a peculiar cavern. Due to time constraints, we had to leave the dungeon before we could explore it further. However, we have agreed this would be good expedition material for apprentices at the Cobalt Guild. So young explorers, if you'd like to discover the secret of Metaneous Cave, go for it!'"
"And there you have it. Your assignment is to discover the secret of Metaneous Cave."
"That'll be easy for us!" Timber replied. "Right Charcoal?"
"I wouldn't be sure," the Discharge Pokémon responded.
"What do you mean Professor?" Charcoal asked.
"Because Metaneous Cave is…….a Mystery Dungeon," Rod exclaimed.
"A Mystery Dungeon?" the puzzled Charmander repeated. "What's that?"
"Mystery Dungeons are strange places. You'll know when you've entered one because a strange sensation will wash over your body. It will feel like you're enshrouded by fog. Next, you'll feel a little faint. Afterwards, a wave of heat will pass through your body, starting from your head, and ending at your toes. Then a wave of coldness will pass in the opposite direction. Your skin will tingle, and numbness will temporally overtake your body," the Manectric explained.
"That same thing happened to us yesterday!" Charcoal spoke up.
"Really?" Rod questioned.
"Yes," Timber answered. "We were in this cave, and when we found our way out, it happened again. Only this time, everything was reversed."
"It seems like you've both trekked through a Mystery Dungeon," the older Pokémon said.
"Wow. But what makes them so mysterious?" the Charmander wondered.
"What makes a Mystery Dungeon so mystifying is this...for some unexplained reason, the layout of the dungeon changes constantly. It's a different place each time you enter." The electric-type answered.
"Could the legendary Palkia be the reason behind that?" the Lizard Pokémon asked.
"It's possible, but we're not sure about that."
"I have a question," the Treecko responded. "If the arrangement of a Mystery Dungeon keeps changing, how could we do our mission?"
"The layout may change, but other things about the dungeon won't. This includes the terrain, the kinds of items you might find, species of Pokémon you may encounter, and several other factors. And we've had similar missions in the past, most of which have quite successful," Rod replied.
"Wow, a Mystery Dungeon seems like a good place for an expedition," said Charcoal.
The Manectric nodded. "Yes, but just like a normal dungeon, it does have its dangers. For instance, you will find yourself getting hungrier much faster than you usually would. Also, wild Pokémon are much more hostile than normal. And that's not all. If you should faint while in a dungeon, you could lose half your items or more. Therefore, you must always be careful and well prepared. Better safe than sorry."
"That sounds challenging," replied Timber.
"And some of the higher level dungeons are. However, I don't think Metaneous Cave should pose much of a problem for you two, especially if you are well prepared," the Discharge Pokémon said "Come on, I'll show you what to pack."
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"Boy, this thing's heavy!"
"Look on the bright side. It'll help make your arms stronger."
At this moment, Team Comet was in a small, grassy field. It had been a half hour since they left the guild. During that time, Timber had struggled carrying the green canvas bag that housed the team's items and equipment.
"I still don't see why we have to bring so much into a Mystery Dungeon that's easy to get through," the Wood Gecko Pokémon said.
"You know what Professor Rod said. 'Better safe than sorry,'" Charcoal responded with a grin. "And I agree with him. Mystery Dungeons must be unpredictable places. You never know what could happen."
"Well this is the place." The two Pokémon had reached Metaneous Cave. While it seemed like a regular cavern on the outside, Team Comet knew the interior was anything but. Upon entering the dungeon, that odd feeling swept over them, just as it had in the cavern the day before.
"Ready Timber?"
"Ready and willing, Charcoal!"
"Okay, let's do this!" the adolescent fire Pokémon cried out raising a fist in the air. The members of Team Comet both took a deep breath, and took the plunge into their first expedition.
Little did the duo know, however, that a pair of ominous eyes was watching their every move…….
