Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Stardust
Chapter 21: Rematch
As the week went on, Gallade's guild made capturing all the escaped outlaws their top priority. Since Gallade's announcement, several outlaws were successfully caught and detained. However, there were still many more outlaws on the run. On top of all that, Officer Magnezone was still investigating the cause of the break out.
Currently, Asura was in the process of distributing the day's missions.
"Okay everyone," said Asura. "We have been tasked with going after four outlaws that were spotted in the area."
"It's about time we get some action," Bertha said while cracking her knuckles.
"So who are we going after?" Blitz asked eagerly.
"The first on is a Rhydon," said Asura. "Grace and I will go after him. Blade and Drake will be going after a Drowzee. Bertha, Blitz, and Jackson, you three are going after a Pignite. And Jackson, please make sure those two don't kill each other."
"I'll try my best," Jackson said with a smile.
"What about us?" DJ asked, indicating to Katara, Leaf, and himself.
"I was actually going to give this outlaw to Jackson's group, but I think that you would want to go after this guy," said Asura, handing DJ the mission sheet.
DJ gave Asura a curious look before reading over the paper. As he read, a smile began to form on his face. After he had finished reading the sheet, DJ began to laugh.
Curious, Katara and Leaf peered over his shoulder to see what was funny. Katara saw the picture of the outlaw that they were supposed to capture and nodded in understanding, while Leaf gave DJ a confused look.
"I am confused Alpha," said Leaf. "What is so funny about an Elekid."
"Well you see there's some... 'bad blood' between DJ and this particular Elekid," Katara explained.
"What do you mean by 'bad blood'?" Leaf asked.
"Let's just say that I'm getting some sweet, sweet payback," said DJ, his smile never leaving his face.
"What's the name of the dungeon Elekid's hiding out in?" Katara asked as the trio of DJ, Leaf, and herself exited Miracle Town.
"It's a place called Electrified Ruins," DJ replied, his smile from earlier still intact.
"I have heard of that place," said Leaf. "Apparently, the whole area is electrically charged and the electric types that reside there can feed off that electricity and make themselves stronger."
Katara gave DJ a concerned look. she knew how Elekid had defeated and embarrassed DJ and he understood that he wanted revenge, but she was worried that he would make crucial errors in his quest for revenge.
"DJ..."
"I know what you're going to say Leaf," DJ interrupted. "And believe me, I'm aware of the danger and I will be cautious. I'm not out for revenge, I just want to see how strong I've become since I last fought Elekid."
Katara wanted to argue, but felt that she should trust her friend.
The trio walked in silence for few more minutes until they came upon an ancient looking structure.
"Looks like this is the place," Katara said nervously. "How many floors until we reach Elekid?"
"The sheet says that he is in the bottom of the ruins, which is located on floor twelve," DJ said noting Katara's nervousness. "Don't worry Katara. We'll make sure that you don't have to deal with the electric types."
Katara gave DJ a look of gratitude before following her teammates into the ruins.
The trio entered the dungeon and saw that the walls were all glowing blue. DJ walked up to the walls and lightly touched it only to jerk his paw back when he was shocked.
"I see what you meant by 'electrically charged'," said DJ, looking at his paw.
The trio continued to explore the dungeon in search of the stairs. They got through the first four floors without encountering any wild Pokémon, but when they reached the fifth floor, they had their first encounter.
"Katara, duck!" DJ shouted.
Katara heeded DJ's warning and ducked, narrowly avoiding a thunder punch sent by a wild Flaaffy. Shortly after that they had reached the fifth floor, the trio was attacked by a large group of electric types.
"Why are there so many of them?!" DJ asked as he lashed out at an Electrike with a shadow claw, slashing it across the face.
Leaf shot out a volley of seeds at an Eelektrik knocking it out. "I've heard of this happening in dungeons occasionally. It's called a monster house."
Katara smacked a Minun over the head with a pound attack. "Just our luck,"
"Screw this!" DJ shouted as he rummaged through the pack and pulled out an orb and activated it.
The orb glowed bright blue and sent out a pulse throughout the dungeon, causing every Pokémon in a one hundred foot radius to freeze.
"Foe-hold orb," said DJ, tossing the orb. "Never leave home without one."
"Ugh," Katara groaned. "That was ridiculous!"
"From what I have heard, those are common occurrences in mystery dungeons that have more than ten floors," said Leaf.
"Well that's just great," DJ said sarcastically as he handed out oran berries to Katara and Leaf. "So there's a chance that we'll run into another one of those?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Leaf answered, accepting a berry.
"I guess we're just going to have to be careful," said Katara, eating her berry.
Once the trio had finished their berries, they set off down a random hallway.
They managed to get through five more floors with only a few encounters and thankfully no monster houses. On the tenth floor...
"This is by far the longest dungeon I've ever been in," said DJ, shifting the pack on his shoulders.
"I know," Katara agreed. "But at least we're almost there."
"We've been on this floor for a few minutes, so the stairs should be close," said Leaf.
"I think I can see them!" Katara exclaimed, pointing down the hall.
DJ and Leaf looked in the direction that she was pointing to and saw tat she was right.
"Wow," DJ said as they walked down the hallway to the room with the stairs. "That was fast."
"Be cautious Alpha," Leaf warned. "There might still be enemies nearby."
"The stairs are right there," said DJ, taking a step in the room. "What's the worst that could happen?"
No sooner had he uttered these words multiple Pokémon fell from the ceiling and surrounded the stairs.
"You just had to say something, didn't you DJ," said Katara.
"My bad..." DJ mumbled.
"That...was...brutal," Katara gasped as she tried to regain her breath.
"Note to self," said DJ. "Bring more than one foe-hold orb when entering a dungeon with more than ten floors."
"At least this is the last floor before we face Elekid," said Leaf.
"And this time, when we see the stairs, we enter the room cautiously," Katara said while shooting DJ a half glare.
"I said I was sorry!" DJ whined. "How was I supposed to know that twenty Pokémon would appear?!"
"Not counting the ten that entered while we were fighting," Leaf added.
"Thank you Leaf," said DJ. "What more do you want from me?"
"Another apology would be nice," Katara said slyly.
DJ rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Fine. I'm sorry. Happy?"
"No," Katara said with a smile. "But it's a start."
"You're impossible," DJ grumbled, though the corner of his mouth began to twitch upwards.
"You know it," Katara said happily. "Now let's get going!"
With that Katara leapt to her feet and made her way down a hallway. DJ gave Katara an incredulous look before he and Leaf ran after her.
After a short five minutes of walking the trio made it to the final set of stairs.
"Wow," said Katara. "That was fast
"I know," DJ replied. "And we didn't run into a single Pokémon on this flo-"
Katara covered DJ's mouth with her hand before he could say anything else. "SHHH! Don't jinx it!"
DJ rolled his eyes, but nodded. Satisfied Katara removed her hand from his mouth. Without another word, the trio descended the final staircase.
The entire bottom floor was a large chamber filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The trio looked around and saw that the walls all had ancient paintings of Pokémon.
"Wow!" Katara exclaimed, taking a closer look at the paintings. "All these paintings are of the legendary Pokémon!"
"Legendary Pokémon?" DJ asked. "Who are they?"
"They are basically gods among Pokémon," Leaf answered.
"Wow," DJ said in amazement. "Where are they now?"
"No one knows," Katara answered. "They used to live near cities and actually interact with other Pokémon, but then they just disappeared."
"Disappeared?" DJ asked, looking at Katara.
"Yeah, they just up and vanished," Katara responded. "People looked for them, but they didn't find anything."
DJ turned back to the wall and gazed at a painting of a large white quadruped with some kind of golden ring around its midsection. He continued to stare until Leaf spoke up.
"Don't forget what we are here for."
"Right," said DJ, tearing his eyes off the painting and looking around. "Where is he anyway."
"I take it you're looking for me," came a voice off to the trio's left. They all turned in that direction and saw Elekid step out from behind a stalagmite. "So, your here to take me back to that prison? HA! Don't make me laugh!"
"But you just laughed," said DJ, feigning innocence.
Elekid glared at DJ. "You brat! I outta'-wait. Do I know you?"
"You don't remember me?" DJ asked in mock hurt. "I'm so hurt."
Elekid looked at DJ carefully, trying to remember where he had seen him before. His eyes then widened in realization.
"Wait! You're that Riolu from before!" Elekid exclaimed. "I'm surprised you survived our last encounter."
"Yeah well...you probably should have made sure I was," DJ said, taking off the pack. "'Cause now I'm gonna get some payback."
Elekid just stared at DJ for a second before bursting out in laughter.
"Y-you...are going to fight me? HA!" Elekid said between laughs. "That's rich. You couldn't beat me in a million years! You're not worth my time, so why don't you run along before you get hurt."
"Sounds to me like you're too scared to fight me," DJ said.
"What was that pup?" Elekid asked with a dangerous edge in his voice.
"You heard me you overgrown spark plug."
Elekid growled at this. "Fine. If you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
Elekid ran at DJ and tried to hit him with thunder punch, but DJ sidestepped the attack and tripped him with low sweep. Elekid quickly got to his feet and launched a small bolt of electricity at DJ. Seeing the attack, DJ jumped to the side to avoid it. Elekid then ran at DJ and tried to use low kick to trip him, but DJ countered with a low sweep. The collision of the two attacks caused both fighters to jump back and clutch their legs in pain.
"Damn!" Elekid shouted. "That hurt you little brat!"
"Screw you!" DJ retorted, shaking his leg in an attempt to alleviate the pain. He then created an aura sphere in his paws and launched it at Elekid.
Elekid was completely caught off guard by the attack and could do nothing to avoid it. The glowing sphere hit him square in the chest and was sent airborne into a stalactites, destroying it. Elekid fell back down and landed face first on the ground.
DJ was about to walk over to Elekid to see if he was conscious when Elekid groaned and slowly got to his feet.
"You little brat," Elekid growled, getting to his feet. "You just signed your own death warrant."
DJ's response was the classic "bring it" hand gesture. Elekid roared in anger and ran at DJ, both his fists crackling with electricity. Even with his weights, DJ was able to dodge or block all of Elekid's attacks, which further infuriated him. Elekid then made the mistake of throwing a thunder punch at DJ's face. Seeing the attack, DJ batted Elekid's fist to the side, leaving Elekid completely open. Seizing his opportunity, DJ slashed at Elekid with shadow claw. Just as the attack was about to hit a glowing green energy erupted from Elekid, creating a dome around Elekid and pushing DJ back.
'Damn protect,' thought DJ as he stumbled back.
As DJ tried to regain his balance from being pushed backwards, Elekid quickly dropped his shield and ran at DJ. Before DJ could react, Elekid punched him in the gut with an electrified fist. DJ clutched his stomach, leaving him open to another thunder punch to his jaw. Before Elekid could hit him a third time, DJ slammed his paw into Elekid's stomach and used force palm, sending him flying.
As soon as Elekid landed, DJ was already running at him, both his paws covered in shadowy claws. Elekid was barely able to put up his green shield. DJ slashed at the green shield repeatedly, trying to get through the shield.
Elekid began to sweat due to the energy that it took to keep the shield from breaking. Eventually the shield began to crack under the relentless attacks. Seeing the shield begin to crack, DJ deactivated his shadow claws and used force palm, effectively breaking the protect. DJ then used another force palm, sending Elekid into the wall.
As soon Elekid's body touched the wall, sparks began to fly. DJ leapt back, as to not get electrocuted, and watched in shock as the electricity from the walls engulfed Elekid.
"What the-" DJ started, only to be sent flying back by a bolt of lightning.
DJ hit the ground with a grunt, but managed to get to one knee. He opened his eyes to see what hit him only to have his eyes widen in shock when he saw a rejuvenated Elekid standing there, a cocky smirk on his face.
"So little pup," Elekid sneered. "You ready for round two?"
'Shit!' DJ thought as he got to his feet. 'I forgot that electric types could use the electricity of the ruins.'
Elekid charged at DJ with renewed ferocity. DJ tried to defend himself, but he found that his body was slightly numb.
'Shit!' DJ cursed. 'I'm paralyzed!'
Katara and Leaf watched the fight in concern. DJ had told them not to interfere, but they were becoming increasingly worried.
"We have to do something," said Katara.
"Alpha told us not to interfere," Leaf replied.
"But he's paralyzed!" Katara argued. "He needs our help!"
"Alpha told use not to interfere," Leaf repeated.
Katara let out a shout of annoyance, but stayed where she was and continued to watch the fight.
"Argh!" DJ cried out in pain as he was hit by another thunder punch.
"What's wrong pup?" Elekid smirked as he approached DJ. "Can't keep up?"
"Screw you," DJ huffed as he he got up again.
"Just give up," said Elekid. "You can't possibly hope to beat me here."
'He right,' thought DJ. 'He'll just keep touching the walls to regain power if I keep doing damage. What can I do-wait. That's it!'
"You're right. I can't beat you here," Elekid smiled at this, but his smile turned to a look of shock when DJ lashed out and grabbed his arm. "So how about a change of scenery."
Before Elekid could respond, DJ pulled out his badge and teleported them outside of the ruins.
As soon as the two appeared outside, DJ pushed Elekid away from the entrance with force palm.
"Damn you!" Elekid shouted, trying to get by DJ, only to receive another force palm. "That's not fair!"
"Oh, cry me a river," DJ replied. "It wasn't fair fighting you in those ruins."
Elekid growled in response and shot a thundershock attack at DJ. DJ launched an aura sphere at the attack causing a small explosion that blocked both fighter's vision. DJ quickly activated his aura sight and located Elekid. With his target in sight, he charged through the smoke and leapt at Elekid, catching him by surprise. DJ clawed at Elekid with multiple shadow claws, but only landed three hits because Elekid put up his protect.
DJ growled in frustration and began to beat on the glowing shield with multiple force palms. DJ kept attacking the shield until his body went numb for a second, causing him to freeze. Seeing this, Elekid dropped his shield and punched DJ in the gut with a thunder punch.
DJ cried out as more electricity went through his body. He stumbled back slightly, but remained on his feet. He then jumped back to avoid another thunder punch and kicked Elekid in the leg, causing him to fall back. DJ tried to hit Elekid while he was down, but was hit by another thundershock.
Elekid jumped to his feet and ran at DJ. He then used low kick, causing DJ to fall. As he fell DJ he twisted his body and landed on his paws. He then spun on the ground and swept Elekid's feet out from under him. Elekid hit the ground again and before he could do anything, DJ used force palm on him with both of his paws, pushing Elekid into the ground and knocking him out.
"Finally," DJ said with a satisfied grin.
"DJ!" DJ turned and saw Katara and Leaf running towards him. DJ smiled at them, expecting to be congratulated on his win, but soon found himself on the receiving end of Katara's pound attack.
"OW!" DJ cried out, holding his head. "What's the big idea?!"
"That was by far the most reckless thing you've done yet!" Katara shouted.
"I won didn't I?!"
"Well you didn't have to fight him by yourself! Especially in a place like that!"
"That's why I brought him out here!"
"Speaking of which," Leaf interrupted. "That was a smart move Alpha."
"Thanks Leaf," said DJ. He looked at Katara and saw that she was still mad. "Look, Katara. I'm sorry. It was just something that I had to do."
Katara sighed. "I know, but I wish you wouldn't fight by yourself. We're both here for you, so let us help."
DJ was about to argue, but Katara interrupted. "Just promise me that next time you'll let us help."
DJ sighed. "Okay. I promise."
"Good," said Katara. "So how does it feel to get revenge?"
"I told you it wasn't for revenge," said DJ. He was silent for a moment then his face broke out in a grin. "...but it felt amazing."
Katara laughed at this remark and called Officer Magnezone to pick up Elekid while DJ took a much needed nap.