Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Bounty
Hello all and welcome now to chapter four! Alright everyone, here we go. The real thing. Less training now, and a sight at Team Bounty in action. Therefore, without further delay, let us begin and please, R&R!
I do not own anything of Pokémon. If I did, then the games would be severely different.
"Speech"=Talking
*Speech*=Thoughts
-Speech-=Telepathy
Speech= Rescue/Outlaw fliers
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Sparky yawned, ear twitching slightly as his eyes opened and snoring rang through his head. He reached up, rubbing a paw at his eyes, snuggling back into the body behind him. An arm rested over his chest, holding him close, and he let out a tired chuckle as breath ran through the fur on the back of his neck, tickling faintly. He rested there for several minutes, before sighing and slipping free. He stood, stretching, and looked back at Shade.
Asleep with his back to the wall, one arm folded up as a pillow and the other resting in front of him where Sparky had previously been, he was sprawled out and snoring faintly. Yawning again, he reached out and shook the Sneasel's shoulder. Shade yawned, also, stretching his arms and legs before sitting up.
"Morning, bro. Did you sleep OK?" Sparky nodded slightly, his stomach growling as he did so.
"Yeah, I guess… I mean, after I woke up and got back to sleep it was OK. Most of my dreams are just fuzzy blurs now." He pulled over the bag, opening the top and fishing out an apple. Shade took it, quickly cutting and coring the apple into two halves, then passed one back to Sparky, who took it and sat down again.
"Thanks. So, where should we head from here?" Shade shrugged, taking a bite from his apple half, taking and unfolding the wonder map from the bag. He tapped a claw to the paper, chewing.
"Well, we're here. If the distance from here to our destination is about, what did we say, three days? Well, if we push ourselves we can cut that to two and a half, at most… We've still got a fair amount of the plains to clear. No doubt there are teams hunting for us now as well, either to apparently rescue or so that Chatot can strip us of badges and kick us out." Sparky sighed, looking at the map, apple piece forgotten.
"I always thought that Wigglytuff was in charge. But it always seems like Chatot is the one who runs the place instead. And he does it with an iron wing…" Shade chuckled, nodding, before taking another bite.
"Alright. If we go this way it's a straighter path, but the terrain is a lot rockier and uneven compared to the longer way around. So we either go as the Murkrow flies and risk being slowed or injured through dangerous terrain, or we take a longer but safer route…" Sparky glanced over the map, before sighing.
"We'll have to go as the Murkrow flies. There's no other way to get there in time, to make sure that we save or assist those idiots who left. I don't like it, though…" Shade sighed, nodding, before folding up the map and placing it back in the wonder bag.
"Alright. We'll finish up our apple, then get going. We should be moving soon if we want to make some good headway. At a guess, going the direct route, we'll end up about halfway. Maybe even within five or so hours if we walk through the night, though it will leave us much more tired…" Sparky stood, reaching up and pushing out the loose section of tree bark, standing on tiptoes to see out.
"Huh… It is the plains. You really carried me all the way through the grasslands to here… You must have hurt your back…" Shade smiled, standing up and stepping beside him.
"Nah, you aren't that heavy. Not after emptying out your guts from seeing the hunting. You must have thrown half your body mass away. …Speaking of which… I suppose you should have this." He reached out, offering Sparky the remains of his apple; no longer a half, but instead a quarter, bite marks on one side. Sparky glanced at it, shivering slightly. The marks were carved in furrows, cleanly made with ragged edging; the bite of a carnivore.
"I, uh, I'm fine. Really. To be honest I don't have much of an appetite this morning… Maybe later, I'll be able to eat properly." He finished his own half, as Shade shrugged, and bit into his own again, patting his shoulder.
"Alright… Just remember, Sparky, if we're gonna be a rescue team we'll have to see this sort of stuff a fair amount of times. If you can't take it, though, then we can try something else…" Sparky glanced up at him, scowling.
"No. We've come this far, we'll keep going. I can do this, Shade. I just… It's hard to explain. I've always known that this stuff happens in feral areas, and that's it, but there's a huge difference between seeing it yourself and just hearing about it. Not to mention, my species is the kind that would end up as a meal if feral, so I suppose it could be considered the same as looking at a reflection." Shade sighed, patting his back again and hugging for a few seconds before letting go.
"Look, I know that you're nervous about this. And I've always told you, I'll keep you safe and off the menu. But you can't keep going around in circles like this, you need to either accept it or forget it and move on. We're on a mission, Sparky, and if you're distracted then you're likely to get hurt…" Sparky nodded, chuckling slightly as the two of them climbed out and onto the plains. Shade reached down, hooking a claw into the strap of the bag and pulling it out, slinging it over his shoulder.
"You know, I can never get how you manage to be so calm at some points, and at others just turn into a berserker. It's weird." Shade nodded, starting to walk as Sparky followed, jogging lightly to keep up with Shade's pace.
"Yeah, well, you know how I am… I'm a civilised Pokémon, raised from an Egg to be kind and eat berries and fruits and not to hurt others… And I do that. But you know what they say, Sparky. We came from ferals who developed into what we are. Some of us are just more in touch with our origins." Sparky sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"Yeah, but that's not exactly a good thing is it? I mean, sure, it's nice to know what our roots were, but it's dangerous to be too in touch. What it you regress? What if you sleep walk and during your sleep act feral? What if-" Shade placed a hand over Sparky's mouth, chuckling.
"You can't understand how I manage my calm and berserker sides. I can't understand how you can know so much, and yet be so worried all the time. We both have our weaknesses and our strengths, so let's just leave it. I can manage myself, and you can manage yourself. If we try to do that to each other, then it will just get messy." Sparky nodded slightly, pushing the hand away from him muzzle, before looking at him.
"Can you at least slow down a little? I don't mind jogging, but I don't wanna be out of breath by the time we get there." Shade nodded, slowing his walking pace enough for Sparky to walk beside him comfortably.
"Sure. But if we run then I may pull ahead. I'll slow down for you and help, don't get me wrong, but I'm still faster than you. Anyway, apart from that, we should be perfectly fine to walk. What do you think we'll find?" Sparky chuckled slightly.
"Either Pyrah and Sandor walking back, smug as all hell with the Bonsly, or we find the three of them tied up. I just think it's a shame we have to save them, too, but at least they'll know they owe us their lives." Shade nodded, grinning.
"Yeah, that'll be a real blast, won't it?" The two of them laughed together, walking further ahead. A rock, almost entirely buried below ground but for the top of it shook several seconds after they passed. First one arm, then another, punched up through the ground of the plains and set down on the surface. They strained, before a Geodude ruptured out of the earth, spraying clods and finer dirt around. It shook itself, opening its eyes, before turning and following them, keeping low to the ground.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Sparky looked up, staring at the rocky features ahead of them. The plains had begun to slope upwards slightly several minutes ago, and crests of rocks had been jutting from the ground like the spines of large fossils. But what lay ahead now made all previous crests seem like little more than specks of dust.
The mountain was visible in the distance, towering over the area, a focal point that always seemed to draw attention no matter where they stood, as if it were topped by an eye that refused to stop staring. The expanse of area around it was jagged rock, crests and dips, areas of sheet rock and piles of scree. But for several trees within the entire range of vision, bare of leaves and light brown of bark, the area was desolate.
"I still can't get how anything can live out in this place. I mean, come on, look at this. There isn't enough plant life to feed a Rattata here… I doubt that there would be any life if it wasn't for the mountain and for the surrounding plains being full of Pokémon." Shades speech drew the attention of Sparky, who was busy hauling himself up over a shelf in the rock. Shade reached down, pulling him up, before looking round.
"I know you said you were OK with this way, Sparky, but you're going to cut your feet to pieces on these rocks. They're edged, jagged, if you slip you'll slice yourself to pieces. The only reason I can walk safely is because I've been keeping myself on my claws, and digging them in." Sparky shook his head, looking around as well.
"No, I'll make it. As long as I stay on the flats, and off the edges then I'll be OK. Come on, we've got to hurry. It's getting dark, and I don't want to be caught out on this rocky place with little or no light. Now let's go." Shade sighed, nodding slightly before following Sparky as he walked across the rock. Towards the edge of the shelf, a sharp increase littered with scree and rubble terminated in a small gulley, the length of which was also filled with scree.
"OK. If we do this carefully, we'll be fine. All we ned to do is keep going carefully…" Sparky looked around, grinning as he lifted up a chunk of scree. It was roughly half his height, and several thin rock-sheets thick.
"How about this?" He set the sheet of rock down on the scree, holding it in place, and carefully placed a foot on it.
"We can slide down to the base. From the looks of it there are constant collapses and rubble movement, so the sound shouldn't be too out of place. And if you make a heap of snow we can have a soft landing." Shade nodded slightly, before looking down the gully.
"I have a better idea… Pass me that stone." Sparky lifted it up, holding it out as Shade took it. He weighed it in his hands, before dropping it aside.
"Help me find one that's longer and bigger, OK? I want it about your height, and a paws thick while being three paws wide." Sparky nodded slightly, turning and looking around as Shade did so.
"What are you planning then?" Shade chuckled slightly, moving several smaller chunks aside.
"Remember when we were younger, and we'd be taken to the beach? Dad taught us how to ride the driftwood that washed up, by carving the edges and throwing it into the surf we could skim over the damp sand?" Sparky nodded, smiling lightly.
"Yeah… We always had him do it. Your ones dug into the sand and sent us head first into the floor. You plan something similar?" Shade nodded, pulling up a large slab of stone, nearer to his own height then Sparky's.
"Almost. This gully runs down to the base of the mountain; we can follow it for a fast path down. Instead of water, I can shape it and use ice. It can see us down there faster, and if the gully runs out I can use the speed and ice to keep us going." He laid the stone down, digging his claws in between two of the rock layers and prying; with a sharp, cracking sound a large part broke free.
After ten minutes, there was a rough curve in the stone, and the length had been reduced to Sparky's height. Shade stepped up to the edge of the gully, looking down while holding the stone. Sparky stood beside him, before looking at the stone.
"You aren't going to toss us into that mess, are you? Sand is bad enough in the face, but those sharp stones will rip us apart…" Shade chuckled, placing the stone so half of it hung over the edge, curved edge at the front underside of the stone, one foot at the back keeping it in place.
"Climb onto my back." He helped Sparky up onto his back, so he was holding onto his shoulders, and took a breath.
"Ready?" He looked back, checking that Sparky was holding on tight.
"Not really, but-Ahhh!" Sparky shouted out, as Shade ignored him and kicked the floor, knocking the stone forwards. As it fell onto the scree, he placed both feet on the surface and leaned backwards. There was a consistent loud rattle, as the stone rolled the scree below it and loose stones bounced alongside.
"Whoo! We gotta do this more often!" He laughed, as Sparky tightened his grip and called out.
"I thought you said you would use ice to slide on..!" Shade shrugged, crouching down low to the stone he was upon.
"Yeah, well, I didn't think it would be this fast. I won't be able to keep the ice up with the speed of this stone, especially since with ice it would be even faster than this." There was a jink in the gully ahead, and he leaned away from the nearing wall, gripping the side of the stone that lifted up.
"Keep calm, this will be a little risky…" The stone reached the curve, banking around and tilting against the curve. A sharp rock jutted out of the side, as Sparky shouted out. The stone beneath them hit the projecting shard, digging in and flipping. The force of impact knocked the two of them off and into the air, just as fast as they had been when going down the gully.
"Shade! Do something, before we end up in ribbons!" Shade grabbed Sparky, pulling him around and wrapping his arms round him. Looking ahead, he took a deep breath and blew hard, clumps of snow and ice rapidly forming in an Icy Wind attack. The cold, white mass quickly piled up on the stones, dampening their impact as they hit. There was a loud 'thwump', as the two of them punched into the snow and ice, coming to a stop. Sparky looked up, shaking slightly.
"I changed my mind. I think we should keep walking, and never go into the gully for a shortcut." Shade chuckled, gripping him in a hug before letting go and clawing away the snow around them, expanding the impact tunnel into a wider crater. He stood, looking around, before grinning.
"Yeah, well, it worked. Look at this, the gully took us all the way to the base of the outcrops. I suppose it's a good thing it wasn't more angled and jagged." Sparky shivered, nodding and stepping forwards. He took a couple of steps, before crying out and falling through the surface of the snow. Shade laughed, reaching down and pulling him out, the little 'chu covered in patches of clinging, fluffy white snow.
"Let's just get out of here and keep going…" Shade nodded, blowing a wave of icy air again as the snow around them cracked and shone, small shards of ice forming and quickly spreading over the top of the snow.
"Alright, let's go." He put Sparky down, brushing off his fur and walking away. Sparky shook himself, shivering again before following Shade. The two of them walked down the last section of the gully, occasional snapping sounds tearing through the air as a shard of scree broke beneath Shade's claws. In a few minutes, the two of them left the gully and stepped onto another section of cresting rocks. Rather than being sharp, jagged chunks of jutting stone these ones were smoother, and yet all the more angular in edging and corners as a result.
"It's getting really late. We need to hurry up…" Shade nodded, as Sparky looked up at the sky. He turned, looking around before sighing.
"I can't see anything that would make a good shelter. We need to find the pathway around here, make sure we can follow it to a safer place. Besides, we're nearer to the mountain now, these rocks are similar to what I'd expect for that." Shade looked at Sparky curiously.
"How do you know that?" He started walking, Sparky hurrying along beside him.
"Because rocks have rules for formation. Those other ones we crossed were made from lots and lots of thin sheets pressed together enough to make them combine, but keep individual edges. That type of rock comes from underwater most of the time, sand and mud form layers that turn to stone and then that sort of thing. These rocks are smoother, worn by weather and contact. If this place storms a lot, then the wind and weather can wear away the roughness. Given enough time the edges and corners will be worn off, leaving rounded and smooth stone."
"You really do know a lot about stones. I thought you would be more interested in learning about electricity." Sparky shrugged, jumping up and scrabbling on top of one of the stones, looking around.
"Maybe. But it's good to learn about weaknesses. Besides, at home the shelves are covered in scrolls about the world. Maybe you should read one or two." Shade smirked, shaking his head and climbing beside Sparky.
"With my hands? I'd tear those things apart trying to unroll them. I'm happy to let you be all knowledgeable and stuff while I'm the brute force. Find me some carvings, though, and I'd be happy to read them. My claws can't damage those so easily."
"Why not retract them? You'd be able to use your hands more." Shade sighed, looking down at his hands, flexing his claws.
"I do have them retracted. I'm from a species that's natively at home in desolate, arctic places. Snow, ice, stone and the rare grouping of trees. Claws are far more useful than paws and that's it. I have something of a finger, although that's really my claw-tips when retracted. When it comes down to movement, fighting and stuff, I can extend the full length." He held out his held, watching as the claws slid out to the full length, doubling in size.
"I keep the flexibility they had when short, but they're also a lot more clumsy now because of the length. Enough talking. We need to get moving." There was a nod from Sparky, followed by a faint rumbling.
"Did you hear that?" Shade nodded, turning and looking around.
"Yeah… What was it-Whoa!" The rock they stood on shook in accompaniment to another louder rumble, as Sparky fell over from the movement. He slowly slid down the edge, before Shade grabbed his hand and pulled him back up.
"Thanks…" Shade nodded, looking around again. Abruptly, a third rumble, louder again filled the air before the rock beneath them cracked, yawning open like a jagged-edged mouth. Shade pushed Sparky away from the edge, and onto the surface of the stone, before he slipped and fell into the gap. He hit the base with a grunt, wedged in the 'V' shape of the split rock as Sparky looked down on him.
"Are you OK?!" Shade nodded, grabbing the edges and pulling himself up, balancing on his foot claws and shuffling sideways, moving to the edge.
"Yeah… Get down, I'll meet you at the edge." Sparky nodded, turning away and jumping down. Shade shuffled along, before stepping out of the rock. Several cuts marked his back, as he looked over to Sparky. He grinned, before a loud cracking sound filled the air. There was a faint, rustling sound before the ground beneath Sparky collapsed into a round tunnel. At the same time, something emerged and grabbed him, diving back underground. It happened so fast, Sparky had no time to cry out, leaving behind a gaping hole into a tunnel.
"Sparky!" Shade knelt by the edge of the hole, leaning over and looking in. The tunnel extended deep into the ground, turning black with shadow far too soon. Something was just visible moving at the bottom, a flash of yellow showing.
"Hey! Let him go!" There was a muffled thump, before something rushed up the tunnel. There was a slap of mud, before he was knocked back by a glob of thick mud. He cried out, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hands. There was the same faint rustling, before the ground collapsed beneath him as well. There was a rush of sensation; the rough, powdery feeling of dry soil and stone chips falling over him, the ticklish brushing of fine hair-like roots and the solid, tight grip of something grabbing his legs and tugging.
He slipped down, as much as with gravity than being pulled and hit the floor of the tunnel with a groan. He slowly lifted his head, blinking sore and mud-filled eyes open just in time to see a fist approaching his face. There was an intense pain and a crunch, before blackness.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Shade groaned, slowly opening his eyes and regretting it as a starburst of pain erupted in his head. He blinked weakly, lowering his head to see a Sandshrew standing on the ceiling. Between them was a row of bars, horizontal and vertical, cut from thick branches and bound together by rope.
"…Uhh… How are you doing that..?" The Sandshrew blinked, before turning and hurrying away. Shade groaned again, looking to his left and seeing Sparky hanging there. Rope was tied around his torso, pinning his arms to his back, the end of the rope taut between a large knot on his back and the floor of the cage. Several centimetres separated his feet and the wood, as his ears and tail hung straight in the air. A small amount of drool ran over his upper lip, dripping down to the ceiling.
"Ah, I see you're awake." Before he could think it over much more, Shade looked towards the voice. Upside down, again, the Sandshrew stood watching. Beside it was a Graveler, from whom the voice came. It was deep, rough, rugged.
"Uhhh… How are you upside down..?" The Graveler chuckled loudly, before slapping the bars.
"Oh, you're still shook up. Not surprising, I must admit. You took quite the hit. No, Sneasel, you are upside down." The Graveler reached through the bars, grabbing his ear and yanking. Shade cried out as he was slammed into the bars, before being released. He swung backwards, into another set of bars, before continuing to swing, slowly coming to a halt. He was panting, eyes unsteady before the Graveler stepped backwards with the Sandshrew.
Shade gagged, turning away from Sparky before a rush of vomit spouted forth. Rather than arc to the floor, it hit something beside him, splashing back onto him and the floor. He coughed, spitting weakly and snorting his nose clear, looking at what he hit.
Glaring at him with enough hatred that he was surprised no Ghost-types were around feeding on it, Pyrah hung upside down with a large gag in her muzzle. Despite that, she snorted a cloud of smog at him and shouted muffled and unintelligible curses at him, her side soaked through with his vomit.
"Well, I'm glad that you didn't hit us with that, but you know that we have to clean her now… It won't do to have goods that are foul-tasting." Shade slowly looked back at the Graveler, as Pyrah snarled angrily.
"Just stay there, OK? I need to go get something to rinse her down." The Graveler turned, walking away as the Sandshrew followed it. Shade let his head slump free, looking at the floor. There was a throbbing headache forming behind his eyes. He glanced to his side as there was a muffled growl.
Pyrah was staring at him angrily, her fur dripping slightly, before snorting. Shade looked to his other side, seeing Sparky still unconscious in the rope. Wiggling his arms slightly nothing seemed loose enough to move, and his claws were unable to scratch the rope itself. He sighed, spitting to the floor and closing his eyes.
"So, why are you gagged and we aren't..?" Pyrah snorted again, a rush of soot and ash boiling out into the air. Shade coughed, blowing some of the cloud away from his face.
"Oh, OK. Who did you try and set fire to then?" Pyrah lifted her head, clearing the view to a burnt and scorched part of the cage around them. The wood was blackened and flaking, the ground heavily charred.
"Right. Why not breath fire and burn out that gag?" Pyrah rolled her eyes, letting her head down again, before looking at him. She wiggled her paws, extending her claws as she did so.
"…Uh, I tried that. I can't reach any rope with my claws… I guess I could try ice at some point, but… I have a headache coming on, really bad. It's hard to focus, using an ice attack always makes my headaches worse. I can't always control the attacks…" Pyrah let out a muffled growl, looking up as the Graveler approached. Held in its hands was two clay buckets, filled with water.
"Alright, time to clean up. Close your eyes, Houndour." The Graveler tossed the water from one bucket into and over Pyrah, before the Sandshrew climbed up onto the top of the cage. Graveler passed up the second bucket, and the Sandshrew tipped it over, spilling water down onto Pyrah.
She shook her head, entire body dripping wet before it flashed into steam. Graveler scowled.
"She's warming up again. Sandshrew, you know what to do." The Sandshrew nodded, jumping down and facing Pyrah. It dug its claws into the ground, prying up chunks of dry mud and hefting them at Pyrah. She flinched at the attacks as mud broke on impact, scattering dust and bits everywhere. The Sandshrew stopped after several attacks, turning to the Graveler.
"Good. It would be nice if the ground here was wetter, but even this baked surface is usable for a Mud Slap. Just keep her down, and make sure she doesn't burn anything or anyone. I need to get back to the client, I've almost sealed the deal." The Graveler turned, walking away as the Sandshrew sat down, staring into the cage.
"Hey… What does he mean, the deal..?" The Sandshrew stared at Shade, unblinking and silent. It scratched itself behind one ear, before looking at Sparky.
"Hey, can you speak at all?" Sandshrew glanced back, before walking over to the cage and staring up. It picked up a small stone, flicking it with a claw into the cage and off Sparky's head. It picked up another, this time throwing it hard enough for a dull 'thwak' to sound.
"Stop it, you little runt!" The Sandshrew paused, arm back with another stone, and looked at Shade again. Abruptly Sparky groaned, ears twitching lightly.
"What happened-… Oww, my head…" He squirmed lightly, before the Sandshrew threw the rock, smacking Sparky in the cheek.
"Ow! Quit it-… What on… Why am I tied up!? Why are we upside down?!" Shade sighed, lifting up his torso and head before letting himself fall back down. He leaned backwards, slowly rocking himself. Each time he swung a little further out, until he bit into Sparky's ropes.
Twisting around he managed to extend and hook a claw into the knot in the rope, before a larger stone smashed into his cheek. Shade cried out, digging his claw in and pulling more before another stone hit him. The Sandshrew was gathering and lobbing stones as fast as it could, and using the biggest ones possible.
"Shade! Let go!" Sparky called out, wiggling more. Shade slipped a claw from his other hand into the knot, growling as a third stone whistled past his nose, and wrenched himself around, twisting his shoulders and forcing his body to turn with it. There was a ragged, ripping sound as rope frayed and split. He slipped free, swinging into Pyrah as rope snapped and rapidly unwound from him, dumping Sparky in a ragged pile upon the floor covered in rope.
"Sparky, hurry up!" The Sandshrew turned, dropping the rock it held and dashed away. Sparky shook his head slightly, before untangling himself and running to the cage. He jumped up, climbing the bars to the roof and paused, looking at Shade. He shuffled slightly, squatting against the bars, before darting forwards in a Quick Attack. He grabbed the rope suspending Shade, standing on his legs.
"Hurry up! We haven't got long!" Sparky nodded, holding the rope and gnawing at it, tilting his head to get a better grip. There was a slight snapping sound as it started to fray, Sparky spitting several bits aside. He worked through half of the rope in several more seconds, before the rope snapped. Sparky clung onto the rope, gripping it, as the gnawed part fell away, unravelling from Shade. He hit the floor, rolling slightly before looking up.
"Pyrah-…Hey, Sandor isn't here. Where is he?" Pyrah growled, before Shade cut through the gag. She spat out a large stone, caked in dry mud-the cloth had simply been holding it in place.
"That Graveler jumped us… He's taken Sandor and the Bonsly to this client of his. He deals in selling on Pokémon for whatever the client wants. From what we can tell, this one wants to purchase those two for slaves." Sparky jumped over to her, gnawing the ropes at her side while Shade turned and slashed his claws over the wood, shattering it as Pyrah fell to the floor.
"I'm going to help you two. I want my partner back. But I will so pay you back for puking over me." Pyrah looked away, howling, before running through the gap in the cage. Shade ran after her, Sparky beside him.
"We'll deal with anything outside! You get in there and free the other two!" Pyrah growled slightly, turning to run at an angle to Shade, heading towards a drab, brown and grey tent in a clearing. Sparky called out as the Sandshrew ran around from behind a rock, diving into the floor.
"It's digging!" Shade nodded, grabbing Sparky and jumping aside with him as the ground where he had stood collapsed. He looked down, blowing an Icy Wind into the tunnel, the ground around it icing over, as did the inside of the tunnel.
"Did you get it?" Shade shrugged, putting Sparky down. He walked over, looking down the hole.
"Not sure…" He turned round, before a nearby, sizable stone half-buried in the ground suddenly shot free and into his back. As it bounced away a pair of arms unfolded from it. Shade snarled, pushing himself to his feet and turning round. Sparky stepped towards him, before looking behind as the sound of dry earth breaking and crumbling to see a second Geodude emerging from the ground.
"Shade..?" There was a slight rumble, before another six Geodude burst from the ground, forming a ring around them both. Shade glared, spitting to the side, before patting Sparky's head.
"Only eight of them, bro. I think this will be over fast. Bet you I can split one in two…" Sparky shuddered, before one of the Geodude launched into the air. It slammed down, a shockwave billowing out along with the surface of the mud bursting into a thick cloud of dust and clods, coating everything. Sparky coughed, waving a hand through the air as the dust cleared.
"Mud Sport… Great, as if I wasn't bad enough against these guys…" Shade chuckled, before brushing himself off.
"Hey, look at the bright side. You're less yellow. Harder to see you when we leave with the others after messing up these guys." Shade spun round as a Geodude rushed forwards with a Tackle, grabbing its arm and slamming it into the floor with a loud thud. Another one lunged forwards, before Shade spun around and swung the first Geodude into it, a loud crack sounding as he batted it away, letting go and throwing the first one.
"See? Easy-Gah!" A third Geodude slammed into his back, Shade being knocking onto his front hard enough to slide across the floor somewhat. He groaned, lifting himself up before one of the other Geodude dug its fingers into the floor. It ripped up a chunk of mud a little larger than itself, before hefting it forwards in a Rock Throw.
"Shade!" Sparky turned, running towards him before a blue glow and outline surrounded the rock. It stopped just above Shade, who was laying on his back and staring at it claws extended, fangs bared. As it came to a stop his eyes slid out of focus, arms dropping and eyes rolling shut as he went limp.
"Hey, boulder-brains! Your boss won't be happy to see that you're letting his goods get away!" Sandor staggered out from behind a larger rock, bruised and bleeding slightly from a cut below his ear. The Geodude turned to face him, half of the group chasing him as he limped away. Once they passed the rock a mass of Embers shot over them and the ground. The Geodude covered their eyes, turning towards the source of the fire before Sandor spun round, kicking dust and mud over them. The fine powder flashed into ignition once it contacted the Ember, bursts of hotter, more intense flame blooming into existence.
From the other side of the rock Spoink bounced out into the open, eyes and pearl glowing. The rock in the air shot away, crashing into a Geodude and burying it in a small crater. He rapidly bounced over to them, springing up and down lightly.
"Is he OK?" Sparky knelt beside Shade, laying an ear on his chest before moving up to his head and checking him.
"I think so… When we were in the cage, he freed me but the Sandshrew threw a couple of rocks into his head… He must have worn himself out using the Geodude like that, considering what he did with them. Thanks for stopping that rock." Spoink nodded smiling, before turning around. His eyes glowed brighter, the Geodude he faced turning and attacking the one beside it. The two of them started brawling, the third one quickly heading over to stop them.
"We need to move fast." Sparky nodded, pulling Shade's arm over his shoulders and standing, dragging him along the floor. The sound of running was followed shortly by Sandor and Pyrah running over to them. Pyrah took one look, before turning away.
"He's too beat up. We need to leave him behind. It will slow the others down enough for us to make a break away, and get to the Guild for extra help." She turned to leave, before Sparky grabbed her tail and yanked on it. She spun round, snarling at him as he spoke.
"If we hadn't come here to help you, then Sandor would be sold and who knows what would've happened to you. You owe us." Sandor nudged Pyrah's shoulder, nodding at Shade.
"Help them. Get Shade onto my back. I'm slow enough as it is, but if I carry him then at least we can all move faster than if we dragged him." Pyrah sighed, shaking her head, before taking Shade's arm in her mouth. She pulled him up and over Sandor, so his legs hung over one side and his head and arms the other.
"If he falls of we're not turning back." She turned, running away from the camp area as the others followed, Sparky lagging behind to stay with Shade and Sandor.
"Thank you for this…" Sandor nodded, smiling slightly.
"You're right, Sparky. Our partners may argue, and we get pulled into their scraps, but I agree. We do owe you, no matter what Pyrah says, and I'm glad I can repay that. It's just… a shame I'm not able to run. They beat me pretty well…"
"You're doing great at the moment, Sandor."
"Poochyena are tenacious. I want to get Shade back to the Guild, so I've repaid you and him, and to show Pyrah that we can work together. If I do that, maybe we can stop fighting each other and fight together." Sparky nodded, placing his hands to Sandor's shoulder as he stumbled slightly.
"If you need to rest, say. We left a few safe dens, if we can travel the same distances in one go as coming here. They might need some expanding, or they'll be cramped, but one of them has a natural water source. The other has nothing but it does shelter and keep heat well." Sandor nodded, laughing slightly.
"That… sounds pretty good. I could go for some water…" Sparky nodded, glancing back. They had already put some distance between the group and the camp, even if Pyrah and Spoink were moving ahead to check for dangers. He could see the rough shape of Graveler, smacking Geodude together and throwing then towards the group. They didn't make it even a half of the way, but the Geodude were easily making up ground.
"Damnit… Pyrah! Spoink! Behind us!" The two of them turned around, hurrying back to the other three. Spoink bounced along, backwards, watching for Geodude while Pyrah grabbed Shades leg and pulled him off of Sandor.
"He's weighing you down. We've got one shot in a defense. Let them come and get beat down. We'll have to fight here." The group formed a half-circle around shade, facing towards the approaching Geodude. Pyrah glanced at Sparky, before snorting in annoyance.
"You're useless. You know Quick Attack. Use it, get to the Guild as fast as possible. Bring help." Sparky nodded, stepping backwards slightly.
"Good luck…" He turned around, crouching, ready to run before a large quake knocked him over. The others stumbled slightly, Sandor collapsing, before a large section of ground collapsed ahead of them. Within seconds, before the dust even settled, three figures emerged. First out, and standing to the left of the hole was a Sandslash. It shook its head, glancing back angrily. To the right was a Vaporeon, sat on a stone and grooming a paw, whilst in the middle stood a Banette.
"Get in that tunnel. Now. We'll hold these off, and make sure none follow. Hurry up." The Sandslash spoke, before turning back to the fore. Vaporeon looked up, yawning and stretching out before stepping forwards. A Geodude rushed up, swinging a fist at the Vaporeon who melted into water, splashing over the floor. The Geodude looked down, confused, before the Vaporeon reformed behind it, hitting it with a Water Gun.
"I said move!" The Banette turned around, chuckling loudly before floating over and settling on the floor.
"Are you afraid of the dark..?" Its voice was cheery, calm, utterly unfazed by the approach of the Geodude. It could as much have been sat in the Guild discussing the weather than a phobia with battle behind it. Pyrah scowled, shaking her head.
"Nope." The Banette chuckled again, a gleeful sound backed by violence of battle as Sandslash and Vaporeon fought.
"Good. Because of you don't leave, right now, I'll suck out your soul and feast on it. Can you picture yourself, trapped in my body forever? Never dying, never seeing, only surrounded by the pain, and anguish, and torment as I stab pins into every exposed bit of flesh… So, what are doing still sitting here after being told to leave?" Its voice dropped the cheery tone, dark and menacing. The teeth of the zip for a mouth clicked lightly as it spoke, a completely patternless beating of metal on metal. The zip itself jangled merrily as the mouth contorted. Pyrah swallowed nervously, stepping back slightly.
"Oh, but you think I must be joking? Well, I could be… Or, not." As it finished, the mouth gaped open, stretching far larger than should ever be possible. Even with the sun in front of it, nothing was lit up within the mouth; past that zip was pure, utter blackness, darker than anything possible. It lunged forwards, snapping shut in front of Pyrah, teeth scraping over the bone-like extrusion on her chest. She yelped, starting backwards, falling into the tunnel. Sandor turned, jumping after her, followed by Spoink as Sparky grabbed Shade and started dragging. He cried out as the Banette grasped them both, lifting them up.
"You tried to help him, even though I was attacking? How selfless. I admire that. Let me help you." The Banette's eyes glowed, before dropping Shade into the hole. When he passed into the shadow, he disappeared completely.
"He's with Chimecho, in the healing area. You can't carry him, sorry. Now, off you go. Hurry along like a good little mouse." The Banette put him down, lightly petting his head with a hand. A stone hit it in the back and it turned round, frowning.
"Excuse me while I help my team. Jump please." Sparky nodded slightly, jumping into the tunnel as the Banette rushed towards the Geodude. He landed at the bottom, the tunnel lit with a blue as Spoink levitated a stone, the glow of psychic power lighting the area.
"Where's Shade?" Sparky looked at him, before looking up at the tunnel exit.
"The… Banette did something. It… I-I think… He used some sort of Shadow Sneak… Shade's back with Chimecho, in healing area. We should move." Pyrah nodded, shaking herself slightly.
"That ghost is out of whack. He threatens us, then helps you for no reason?" Sparky shook his head as they started to walk down the tunnel.
"No, no… He said we couldn't drag Shade all the way back to the Guild, where this tunnel ends, so he Shadow Sneaked him. It's… I guess that as it's a ghost, it thinks differently to us…" Pyrah snorted, shaking her head.
"Whatever. Let's just get back. I'm starving. That Graveler took our Wonder Bags and items." Sparky started slightly, grabbing his neck.
"You… You're right. I never noticed… Oh, but our scarves were gifts from mum…" Pyrah scowled at him.
"You can get another one. Deal with it." Sparky sighed, looking away as Sandor nudged his shoulder slightly.
"Ignore her, she's just sore that we had to leave. You might get it back, those guys will probably reclaim any bags and items they find…" Sparky nodded slightly, glancing back as the sound of fighting faded.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"I'm disgusted in you all! How ~DARE YOU leave without telling anyone, and on such a foolhardy mission!" Chatot's anger, despite his abrupt lilting speech and sing-song shouting, wasn't any less serious, or terrifying, because of it. He stood in the main area of the Guild, bulletin boards and ladder behind him. Pyrah, Sandor, Sparky and Shade were in front of him. Chimecho had laid Shade down on his back, head bandaged up and several wrapped round his torso and back, but Chatot had dragged him to his feet. It was a show of his exhaustion that Shade didn't argue or talk back.
"You were specifically told to ~NOT rescue Spoink because we had a Tracker Team coming! And you did it! You're a disgrace to yourselves! You look horrendous, not to mention that you're all kicked out! You disobeyed an order, and not only did you nearly get killed, but you were almost SOLD!" Shade slumped against Sparky, groaning slightly as he placed a hand to his back. Sparky lifted his hands, helping support him before Chatot flapped his wings at them.
"Stand up! I'm talking to you!" Sandor limped forwards, coughing slightly.
"Chatot, he's badly hurt… You can't just make him stand…" Chatot rounded on him, pointing with a wing.
"Be silent! I'll get to you in time!" Sandor flinched, stepping back. Chatot turned round, beak opening to resume chewing the group out, before the door to Wigglytuff's room slammed open. The Guild Master walked over, smiling happily at them all.
"Hi, ~hi! What's all the noise Chatot?" Chatot looked at Wigglytuff, frowning slightly.
"Guild Master, these four left the Guild to go do something they were specifically told ~not to do. They almost lost their lives, either from death or being sold as ~property. They're not fit to train here, I'm busy remonstrating them before taking away their trainee status. Wigglytuff frowned, tapping a hand against his chin before stepping over to the four. Sparky looked at his feet, and Sandor looked away, but Pyrah stared up defiantly. Shades eyes were closed, his breathing slow and short before Wigglytuff took him by an arm.
He gently laid him on his back, patting his shoulder lightly.
"How did he get hurt..? A friend shouldn't be hurt…" Sparky blinked, looking up as Wigglytuff sat beside Shade, looking at him with concern and sadness.
"He… We were all tied up, apart from Sandor, Guild Master-"
"Wigglytuff! You're all my friends, and friends call me Wigglytuff!" Sparky blinked again, glancing at Pyrah and Sandor before speaking.
"OK, uh… Wigglytuff… We were all tied up, hanging upside down. Sandor was missing with Spoink, as they were being sold… Shade managed to free me by swinging and clawing at my ropes, but when he was cutting at them with his claws a Sandshrew threw three or four rocks into his head. Later he was fighting off some Geodude, before one hit him in the back with a Tackle…" Wigglytuff nodded slightly, before walking over to Sandor and sitting beside him.
Sandor looked up. He too had some bandages, although not as many as Shade, and a small leaf was pressed to the cut on his head.
"How were you hurt, friend?" Sandor cleared his throat slightly.
"We… We were ambushed, me and Pyrah. A group of Geodude used Rock Throw. I pushed her out the way, and took the hits. We fought them, but got overwhelmed." Wigglytuff nodded, before gently petting him. He stood, walking around to stand in front of Chatot.
"You all went to save Spoink, didn't you?" Sparky nodded, as did Pyrah and Sandor. Wigglytuff grinned then, before raising his arms up.
"Then you're not in trouble! You went to help a friend, friends! That's not a reason to be punished at all! You all did a good, brave thing together! You two!" He pointed at Sandor and Pyrah happily.
"Went to help! And then you two!" Here, he pointed at Shade and Sparky.
"Went to help because you knew that these two would need it! And you all did good, because Spoink made it back!" You're not in trouble! You're the opposite if in trouble! You're in… Hey, Chatot, what's the opposite of trouble?" Chatot glanced up at Wigglytuff, his eye twitching slightly.
"Guild Master, they-… The opposite of trouble is, I suppose… Peace? Yes, I suppose peace is the best way to say that…" Wigglytuff nodded, clapping happily.
"There! You aren't in trouble! You're in peace! We'll have a big party in a week, when you friends are healed and able to stand easily, and celebrate your selflessness! Chatot, with me! I want you to help me make a list of food! And colourful things like balloons and Perfect Apples with colourful coatings, and food for everyone too! Come on!" He turned, hurrying away into his chamber again as Chatot sighed.
"Does this mean we can go to our rooms and sleep now?" Chatot turned to Pyrah, his eye twitching once more and grinding his beak.
"Just… Go. You win this time. Get to your rooms, after returning those two to Chimecho." He turned, leaving and entering the Guild Master's chamber. Pyrah looked at Sparky.
"Don't think this changes anything. We aren't friends because the big guy says so." Sparky sighed, nodding, before turning and walking to the ladder.
"I know, I know… If you'll excuse me, I need to get Chimecho's help taking Shade down to the healing rooms." He started climbing down, as Pyrah growled and turned to leave the chamber, heading to the rooms. Sandor watched her leave, before sighing and heading to the ladder, slowly climbing down it and following Sparky.
Once in the healing room he laid on a bed, curling up slightly and closing his eyes as Sparky talked to Chimecho. The two of them left, and Sandor yawned slightly.
"…It would have been nice if Pyrah had at least thanked me for saving her from the Rock Throws…" He mumbled, before slowly falling asleep. As he slept, Chimecho and Sparky carried Shade to another bed, laying him down. Sparky thanked Chimecho, before turning and leaving the room as well. It was late, and they all needed as much sleep as possible.