Note: Do I honestly look like I own Pokemon? On another note, I did skip a lot of floors for the dungeon in this chapter. Why? Didn't feel like repeating myself over and over, as this dungeon is longer than the last one. Don't expect this to change any time soon.

Chapter 4: Dreams and Tunnels.

A seemingly endless void...

...Am I...am I dreaming?

There's a figure standing not far off...

Is it speaking to me?

What do you want?

I have honestly no idea what you're trying to say...

A sword? Yeah, I saw one. What of it?

Come again?

Hey! Where're you going? Come back!

WAHHH!

"Aeolus, WAKE UP!" Aile cried, "Everyone else is getting antsy!" Aeolus' red eyes snapped open and she stared at the Charmander for a brief second. "Not my fault they're impatient." she retaliated once she had her thoughts together. Aile sighed, handing her the bag. "Sharon says the next dungeon is a tunnel through the mountain that separates the desert from a forest..." he informed her. "Sounds like fun." she responded, swinging the bag around her neck.

"Quite." Drift piped in. Aeolus looked at him, but decided to say nothing. Sharon walked up to them. "Is everyone ready?" she inquired, as the other 'teams' watched impatiently.

"Yeah, we're ready."

"Good."

The other Pokemon promptly bolted down the pathway towards the entrance of the Mystery Dungeon. Sharon blinked, rubbing her head while grinning sheepishly. "Heh..." she muttered. Aeolus then walked in front, a smug grin on her face which for some reason Drift wanted to wipe clean off. Aile and Sharon took no notice. Aeolus then walked towards the entrance, the other three following.

Bronze Tunnel, Basement Floor 1...

Aeolus looked to the left, then to the right, seeing only a sleeping Bronzor in the room. Deciding that it would be best to just leave it alone, she walked into the room, keeping her distance from it, before stepping on a trap, which for some reason did nothing. Aeolus blinked for a moment, wondering why it didn't work. As she stood there stupidly, Chestnuts suddenly fell from somewhere, braining her on the head. "Ouch." Drift said bluntly, as Aeolus was too busy rubbing her head to say anything of the sort.

After a few seconds, Aeolus recovered and continued walking, promptly stepping on a Pitfall Trap. She let out a scream which woke up the Bronzor as she fell to the next floor. Aile blinked, then walked off to blast the angry Bronzor with Ember while Drift and Sharon called out to the team leader, asking if she was okay, only to get this response:

"DO YOU THINK I'M OKAY?"

"I'm going down there," Drift said bluntly, "I don't trust her alone." He then jumped down through the hole. "Look out below!" he cried, and Aeolus was more than happy to oblige, getting as far away from his landing spot as possible. Drift then looked back up at Sharon. "Come on you guys!" he cried, "The weather's great!" Sharon sighed as Aile ran to her, having defeated the Bronzor. The two then jumped down the hole.

Bronze Tunnel, Basement Floor 2...

Aeolus blinked at the three. "What an entrance." she scoffed, before walking out of the room and into a hallway, the other three following. Turns out, a Geodude was also traveling down that hallway. Aeolus managed to bring it down with Vine Whip before it got a chance to Tackle her, however. She then continued onward, making it to another room, which another Bronzor and a Hippopotas were also walking into. The wild Pokemon took notice of the intruders, watching them carefully. The 'intruders' chose to approach.

Aile went in to strike the Bronzor with Ember, but was hit with Sand Attack, courtesy of the Hippopotas. He stopped his attack, trying to rub the sand out of his eyes. The Bronzor readied an attack as Drift fired Water Gun at it, while Aeolus attacked the hippo Pokemon with Vine Whip, Sharon readying Double Chop for a moment. Once Aeolus retracted the vines, she finished it off. Aeolus at this point had run off to lower the Bronzor's defenses with Leer, as there wasn't much else she could really do to help. Drift then finished it off with Bite, as Aile managed to get the sand out of his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Sharon inquired. "Yeah, I'm fine..." Aile replied, as they started walking into another hallway. Aeolus looked at Aile worriedly for a second, but looked away before anyone could see. They then reached the Staircase, and went down it.

Bronze Tunnel, Basement Floor 5...

The four Pokemon stood back-to-back as the large group of wild Pokemon approached them menacingly, having been lying in wait for any intruders. In other words, this was what you and I would know as a Monster House, or better yet, the 'Torture Chamber'.

Aeolus attacked a Geodude with Vine Whip, and managed to throw it at an Onix, though it didn't do much against the rock snake. Aile slashed another Geodude with Metal Claw, and it Tackled him back. Drift sprayed and knocked out another Geodude with Water Gun, as well damaging a Bronzor. Sharon attacked the Bronzor with Double Chop, managing to knock it out before it could ready an attack. The fight didn't really stay orderly for long, as the wild Pokemon decided to go for the kill, very enraged.

Aeolus let out a shriek and fired Vine Whip at the Onix as it tried to Tackle her. She managed to stop it, but wasn't strong enough to hold it in place for long. Before it got free, however, Aile slashed it with Metal Claw, and Sharon finished it off with Sand Tomb. Drift continued to spray every Pokemon but his allies with Water Gun, knocking every single Geodude close to him, and severely damaging others that got too close.

Another Onix promptly Wrapped itself around Aile, squeezing him. Aile let out a cry of pain as his tiny body was crushed between the hard stone body of his captor. "A-Aile!" Aeolus cried in horror, attacking the Onix with Vine Whip, "Let him go!" It didn't wish to oblige, giving a quick swing with its neck, sending Aeolus flying into the wall. "Go help those kids!" Drift cried to Sharon, as he Scratched a Hippopotas to finish it off. Sharon nodded and jumped at the Onix with Double Chop readied, then slashed it across the face with the attack. It roared in pain and uncoiled enough for Aile to slip out, then it attempted to slam Sharon into the ground with its tail.

"OH YEAH!"

"What...?" Sharon muttered, looking upward as a Pitfall Trap had been activated above them, Fred falling through it and landing smack on the Onix's head. Storm, Tory, and Topaz jumped after him, also landing on the Onix. Fred then randomly blasted it with Ember, knocking it out. "Mind if we drop in?" Topaz asked with a grin. The Manectric then proceeded to use Spark on a Bronzor, her team-mates also joining in on the fight.

Aeolus let out a groan as she got up, her body aching all over. Aile had walked over to her, clutching his side. The only wild Pokemon facing them was a Cranidos. It didn't last very long against the combined attacks of Vine Whip and Metal Claw, however. Eventually, both teams had defeated the wild Pokemon and were on their merry ( separate) way.

Bronze Tunnel, Basement Floor 9...

"I take back what I said about the desert..." Aeolus panted as she continued walking down the hallway, "This place is worse. I don't think I can survive another ambush like that..." Aile only nodded in agreement. "If you say so," Drift spoke up, "Three Monster Houses is nothing compared to other Mystery Dungeons, or so I've heard. Sharon told me some have way more than that."

"...You sure know how to brighten my day."

"Always here to help."

"Don't get scared, but we're being followed by a Cranidos," Sharon butted in, "It looks mad, as always." It then charged towards her with Take Down, and she countered with Sand Tomb, and Drift finished it with Water Gun. With that, the four Pokemon walked to the Staircase and went down it, finally leaving the dungeon.

Later...

"I never thought I'd see a forest again..." the Grovyle said to himself, "Or anything other than endless desert, for that matter." He smiled as he took in his surroundings, feeling at home. "Yes, indeed Ranger!" the Pikachu added, a huge grin on her face. The other Pokemon seemed very happy as well. Especially Fred, but I'm sure you guys already knew that.

"Are you hungry, Aeolus?" Aile inquired, offering an apple, "You didn't eat anything yesterday..." The green dragon looked at him quizzically. "Why would you care?" she asked, almost harshly.

"I don't need any special reason to care about about anyone... I just do."

Aile continued to hold the apple up. "Can you answer 'Yes' or 'No'?" he inquired. Aeolus let out a sigh. "...Yes..." she said quietly, taking the apple, "...Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Aile then opted to look at the clouds in the sky with admiration, while Aeolus slowly ate the sweet fruit. After a few seconds, Aile reached into their bag, pulling out a berry. He then popped it into his mouth and chewed slowly as he searched for the necklace. Eventually, he found it and pulled it out, admiring it for awhile.

"You seem obsessed with that pendant..." Aeolus spoke up, after swallowing some of the apple. "It was given to me by my parents before they..." Aile started, pausing for a moment, "...passed on. They told me this pendant was special..."

"I...see... I'm sorry..."

"There's nothing for you to be sorry about... If you want, you can see the pendant."

Aile held the pendant out for Aeolus to see, much to her surprise. It was pure gold and was shaped like a Luxray standing on its hind-legs, its teeth and front claws barred, ready to attack. Its only visible eye was made from a small ruby that glittered.

"That's very pretty," Aeolus complimented, which was slightly odd, "Whoever made it must've been really good..." Aile nodded in agreement, putting the necklace away. "Anyway, we should be getting to sleep now..." he told her.

"Agreed..."

Both Pokemon then laid down, quickly falling asleep.

Note: I hope this didn't bore you... If it did, please tell me how I can improve it, and I promise the story will get better. I'm doing my best. Now, since this page on my word document just looks way too blank... Picture this: Aeolus, Aile, Drift, and Sharon doing the Caramelldansen dance...thing...

...O.O' Okay...maybe that's too weird... Uh...see you next chapter?