Pokémon Mystery Dungeon A New Era
Season 1 Episode 22: A Disturbing Truth
Note: Several music I will mention do not belong to me. They belong to their respective owners, composers, and franchises. Please support them. Other than that, hope you enjoy this episode.
(Final Fantasy V – Magna Insomnia Phase II theme plays)
On our way to go visit an old friend and caregiver of mines, we have noticed that there was a fire further in the forest. This wasn't just a regular house fire because there has been reports about several areas have been scorched by fires from an unknown source. Along the way, Scrafty and I had noticed a shadow that have been watching us for quite some time. (Scrafty yells "Hold up!" to Mienshao) Although, I do not know if Scrafty will ever trust me from what I'm going to tell him, about my truth before we met.
Scrafty: Mienshao, slow down! Where exactly are we going?!
Mienshao: We're almost here!
Scrafty: Where damnit?!
Mienshao: (Sees the village) I see it!
Scrafty: (Shocked) Mienshao, what is this place?
Mienshao: (Devastated from the town being destroyed) The flames are bright, this was earlier, but who had done it? (Sees the chief) Chief!
Chief: *Coughs coughs* Mienshao, is… that you?
Mienshao: Chief, it's going to be okay.
Chief: No… my lungs have already been scorched by that wretched demon. Mienshao, listen to me, I don't care about the path you and Mienfoo chose a long time ago, Marie and I have always cared for you both. Stay strong Mienshao… and (Stops breathing)
Mienshao: Chief… Chief. (Shrugs his body) No, don't die on me! Chief!
Scrafty: (Holds onto Mienshao) Mienshao, he's gone.
Mienshao: (Devastated by the loss of Chief and shuts his eyes) I'm sorry Chief. Scrafty, I will not hesitate to take out whoever have done this.
Scrafty: Mienshao, don't let your feelings of aggression cloud your thinking.
?: (Hiding in plain sight) Surprised to see me, Mienshao?
Mienshao: (Angered by his presence) Arcanine.
Arcanine: Persian is slowly losing his mind to think that his beliefs of world domination and putting an end to the exploration team organization would go according to plan, but you guys just keep showing up. Slowly taking away everything you have cherished through all those years. And look where this had led you. (Scoffs) It is no coincidence that fate has brought us both together knowing we'd both show up at the same place.
(Theme ends)
Scrafty: Mienshao, what the actual hell is he saying?
Mienshao: It means that he was also raised in the same town as I was.
(Explorers of Time/Darkness/Time In the Future theme plays)
Scrafty: You can't be serious? Hold on a minute, I thought you and Mienfoo grew up with your family?
Mienshao: My real family and I got separated since Mienfoo was born, and the wife of my mentor who is the chief raised us both. Before I met you during our thieving days, I never exactly told them about what I did, except someone in the town knew about our secret and told him. He was in disbelief that it was us both committing our petty ways. Arcanine was once a friend of mines and a partner before turned against each other after what he has done.
Arcanine: Indeed, he is right, my perplexed hoodlum friend. Interestingly, I know exactly why you showed up here. To go meet the old man before his lungs fail on him. The journal he has kept for ages just like his old self, contains secrets and mysteries that is beyond both humans and Pokémon. I can see why he has hidden this away from others. (Reveals the journal) He was foolish trying to trick me thinking that it was well hidden inside the chamber beneath the stool.
Mienshao: Give me the book Arcanine!
Arcanine: Or what, planning to take me out? Oh please, he made a mistake for not handing the book to me. (Scrafty secretly prepares a Dragon Dance) Nuh-uh-uh, cannot let you use an attack on me or else you will shred the book in pieces.
Mienshao: He's right Scrafty, we cannot damage the book. What do you want Arcanine?
Arcanine: Not much really. The book uncovers a map that was drawn by the old man to a chamber, which contains something I needed. As I mentioned earlier, the chamber under his cottage collapsed, but I knew from the beginning that he wouldn't keep the book there. So, in the end I scorched the entire village into ashes and finishing this old fool with third-degree burns by my Incinerate. Now that I think about it, you two are wanted outlaws in several continents. So are everyone else you have befriended on your journeys. And the ones who do not know, I wonder how they will feel when they all realized that are uniting with several outlaws and petty thieves who share no goal of making this world peaceful. In fact, we are not only putting an end to exploration teams but eliminating those who long have a history of wrongdoing. Every Pokémon that exists in this world are gullible enough to be easily persuaded, even if we must raise their ego just a bit. Maybe I should start by getting rid of both Scraggy and Mienfoo.
Mienshao: (Takes a step forward but Scrafty holds him back) Arcanine, I swear to my grave that I will break every bone inside of you.
(Theme ends)
(Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky Planet Paralysis theme plays)
Arcanine: Even if I did, I'd be wasting my time battling you both right now. Besides, I have a schedule to follow. (Closes his eyes and laughs) I'll surprise you with some familiar guests of ours, Mienshao. (Group of Heatmor appear behind the trees surrounding the two heroes) I know you will try to put an end to my schemes, but as soon you get past these Heatmor, you both will already be too late. Gentlemen put an end to their wrongdoing. I bid you both farewell! Bwahaha!
Scrafty: (Notices Mienshao's expression of shock) You seem shocked by these Heatmor, Mienshao.
Mienshao: These Pokémon also live from the town, why would they be working for Arcanine? (Speaks to the Heatmor) Please, I wish not to fight you all! I grew up from this village!
Heatmor: Time for you both to pay for your crimes, Fire Lash!
Mienshao: (Jumps to dodge the Fire Lash) I don't want to hurt you! Argh! (Gets hit by a Fire Lash attack)
Scrafty: (Gets hit by a Flamethrower) Feint Attack! (Hits a Heatmor)
Mienshao: Scrafty!?
Scrafty: Hey, if you want to grab their attention, then you must fight them until they can no longer have the energy to fight! (Hi Jump Kicks a Heatmor but gets hit by a Slash attack) C'mon Mienshao, I know I don't want to hurt them either, but I must if you are willing to reconcile with them.
(Theme ends)
(Mystery Dungeon DX Boss Battle theme plays)
Mienshao: (Takes a deep breath) I'm sorry, Fake Out follow up with Poison Jab! (Strikes a Heatmor and gets Poisoned)
Heatmor: Stockpile! (Digs underground)
Heatmor: Bug Bite! (Hits Scrafty)
Mienshao: Scrafty, stay alerted. One went underground!
Scrafty: Got it. (Looks where Heatmor will strike; sees the ground rumbling where Scrafty's standing) There!
Heatmor: Dig!
Scrafty: Brick Break! (Hits the Heatmor and faints)
Mienshao: Bounce! (Strikes a Heatmor) That's all the Heatmor. I cannot believe that I had to fight against my own friends.
(Theme ends)
Heatmor: (Tries to speak but still suffering from the poison)
Scrafty: (Takes out a Pecha Berry from his bag) Here, eat this Pecha Berry.
Heatmor: (Stares at the Pecha Berry, but is refusing to accept it. However, he still feels the pain from the poison, so he takes it) Why… did you show up?
Mienshao: We heard about the chief's life being in danger, so my partner Scrafty and I came to visit him. The Chief raised me when I was little, and I remember delivering supplies to you and your families. Nevertheless, we arrived too late. Now I want to know something, why were you all aiding Arcanine?
Heatmor: (Takes a hard look at Mienshao, and suddenly recognizes him) (Shocked) You are the adopted Mienfoo he raised. I'm sorry Mienshao, we were deceived by his words that the enemies who did this were approaching. The fools we all were in believing him thinking the intruders were you both. (Struggles to get up)
Mienshao: Stay down, you are too injured to get up. Scrafty, I'll try to extinguish the flames, see if there is any help nearby.
Scrafty: Alright then. (He runs off to find some help)
Mienshao: (Looks inside the collapsed chamber in search of any clues, but finds nothing) Damn you, Arcanine. (Heads outside and sees Scrafty back)
Scrafty: Looking for clues, weren't you?
Mienshao: Yes, but I have found nothing.
Scrafty: We'll have to do this another time. Look on the bright side, I did manage to find a couple of Comfey that are willing to help the Heatmor. Also found a couple other Pokémon around the area to help put out the flames.
Heatmor: Mienshao, ever since you left, the Chief feared about losing you. He never despised you by the mistakes you made, he had come to realization that it was time for you to explore the world and beyond. Also, he wanted you to have what's inside the terracotta vase in case you ever returned.
Mienshao: (Enters the cottage and sees the vase; reaches out a sachet of ash) Is this—?
Scrafty: Sacred Ash. Known to restore health, heal conditions, and revive all Pokémon. Though, what I have read, Ho-oh usually gives someone a Sacred Ash if he/she shares a strong bond with them. You guys did meet Ho-oh.
Heatmor: Ho-oh was a friend of the Chief and a common guest in our village for centuries and began bringing life to our village. Ho-oh also enjoyed resting here. We worship him as if he were our God, though we would never express greed for what is given to us.
Mienshao: He is speaking the truth.
Scrafty: You have been keeping way too many secrets Mienshao.
Mienshao: I'll tell you on the way back home. One more thing, I wish to speak to Ho-Oh for something that I wanted to know. Where can I find him?
Heatmor: Ho-Oh's usually around at the Autumn Shrine Garden*, located up in the northern hemisphere of the Alps Continent*. You can search up there if you wish to speak to him.
Mienshao: I will, thank you so much Heatmor. I hope you all recover, and I promise to return to help.
Heatmor: Just remember that the Chief will always be there for you.
Mienshao: Let's go back home. (Further away from here) Scrafty, this shortcut you said earlier, are we going the right way? Scrafty? (Gets hit from behind by several Brick Break attacks)
(Black 2/White 2 Frozen City theme plays)
Scrafty: What the actual literal fuck Mienshao?! You kept this as a secret from me and you didn't have the fucking audacity to tell me that you and Arcanine used to work together?! Do you fucking realized what you have done not only our friendship but the future of everyone else's dreams?!
Mienshao: (Slowly stands up) I wanted to tell you Scrafty, but—.
Scrafty: (Interrupts Mienshao) But what? You had all this time to tell me and you didn't. Arcanine knows everything about everyone's dark past including ours! Worst of yet, this puts Scraggy and Mienfoo in grave danger! (Suddenly realizes something) Does Mienfoo knows about this? (Mienshao stays silent but Scrafty grabs him) DOES MIENFOO KNOWS ABOUT THIS?!
Mienshao: NO! He was too young to know any about this! I had to do all this including my time with you for our damn survival! Every excruciating burns and scars I have gotten just to take care of him. Our situation was similar as ours (Cuts Scrafty from interrupting him again) and you can't to leave both you and Scraggy out of this because we both had a reason to leave. Time after time, we didn't have answers to why other Pokémon infiltrated our village until today. I wanted to go meet Ho-oh so I can get answers but when I have the opportunity, he would never show up. To this day, we finally understood why we have been chasing Arcanine for so long. From corrupting the police department back where we were to be a member of the tribes, no one other than the both of us knows more about Arcanine.
Scrafty: … I have one question to ask you. Where do we stand… us both?
Mienshao: … Friends. I don't want to create any sense of betrayal, but you already know why I despise him. He took out… what seemed like my only family.
Scrafty: (Sees his eyes and looks at Mienshao's hatred burning) After everything you have done, from the lies and secrets you have kept for so long and what you will reveal to me now and later, I feel like I am being betrayed by the one Pokémon I look up to as a brother. (Reaches his hand to pick up Mienshao) I can tell by the look on your eyes that you have a desire to kill Arcanine, but no one wants to see you become insane based on your actions, especially me. So, get your pathetic-ass up and rise.
Mienshao: I'm sorry Scrafty.
Scrafty: Feeling apologetic is not enough Mienshao. At this moment, I would have beat you down and left you here to rot, for not telling me all this. Yet, I decided to spare you from your injuries from the battle we had earlier and from my Brick Break. First thing your doing is telling Mienfoo and Scraggy the truth. Next, you are dealing with Arcanine on your own. (Speaks in his conscious) [There was something different about Mienshao today. Not only did it seem like he lost his own identity, but his sole purpose as inspirator amongst all. Not just our group, but everyone who decided to be a part of our community and team. Mienshao is putting his own fate at risk, but everyone else now that Arcanine knows our location and our secrets.
Even though Scrafty and I couldn't rescue the Chief in time, we still managed to get some information that I need about that chamber Arcanine mentioned. I have a feeling on what his next plan might be, but we will do everything we can to put an end on his schemes. I really did fuck up today, jeopardizing our friendship and everyone's lives. This was the one reason why we all left from the beginning. All I want to do is just rest, but first, we need to go see Alakazam. So, Scrafty, Scraggy, Mienfoo, and I went to see Alakazam and I explained everyone about our secret including the everyone else.
(Theme ends)
Alakazam: I already know about it. (Mienshao seems confused) I overheard the entire conversation during your confrontation with Arcanine as well as your fight with Scrafty. The least I can say to you Mienshao is that this is not enough to prove Arcanine that he is right. (Mienshao begins to feel a little ease) However, Scrafty does have a point, you show vulnerability towards your feelings and your enemies can take full advantage of that. Our secrets are kept with us all, but I'm not sure if everyone else would want to migrate to another area again because of last time.
Mienshao: Hmm… Thanks Alakazam for everything. (Something brought up to mind) I forgot to mention, do you know anything about the Autumn Shrine Garden?
Alakazam: Yes, it's located at the Alps Continent. Is there a purpose for you to go there?
Mienshao: Yes, I wanted to go look for Ho-Oh for something that has been bothering me for a long time.
Alakazam: I can ask Entei if he knows Ho-Oh's whereabouts. He is usually traveling alongside with him.
Scrafty: We are gratitude for your assistance Alakazam. We'll be going now.
Alakazam: Alright then, take care you four and remember to protect the ones you care for.
Around 3 a.m., after Mienshao and Scrafty arrived back home…
Chief Magnezone: (Coughs) Damnit.
Electivire: Oh shoot, Magnezone are you alright?
Chief Magnezone: Yes, someone broke into the department and freed Weavile.
Watchog: What?! That can't be possible! It's only been hours since Alakazam and Lucario have taken him to custody!
Galvantula: (Wakes up from Watchog yelling) Be quiet Watchog, I'm trying to sleep! (Falls back to sleep)
Centiskorch: I was right (Everyone turns to Centiskorch). (Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky Growing Anxiety theme plays) I had a feeling that this was his plan all along before we got inside the Sacred Circle. Originally, it may seem that all Weavile wanted us to showcase what had planned for us, but we all took the bait. Plus, Weavile wouldn't come to the Sacred Circle for the amusement, in fact, there was nothing amusing about the area. So why would Weavile show up there?
Claydol: Something tells me this was another plan of Persian's. I'll find Comfey and Ambipom to help you out Chief. (Exits)
Chief Magnezone: Thanks, but I did tell you to call me by Mag.
Claydol: (Comes back with Ambipom and Comfey and directs Mgnezone to their room) So now what, when can we start planning on stopping Persian?
Electivire: Now isn't the time, though we must be cautious for any situation. We never know when the tribes will strike like last time.
Claydol: You're right. We'll continue discussing this tomorrow morning. I heard there was going to be something big to discuss in the morning. Any clue to what it can be?
Electivire: Sorry, but I have no clue to what's it going to be either.
(Theme ends)
End of Episode 22.
3:30 a.m.…
(Black/White Nacrene City theme plays from the radio)
Sandslash: (Hums through the song for thirty seconds until the radio begins to lose losing signal) Huh? (Theme stops) What's wrong with the radio?
?: (A subliminal message plays from the unstable connection) Calling… all explorers… can anyone hear …? We require assist—. Dark Pulse! I repeat, we require assistance! I do not know… much longer we can hold him off! Please… if anyone can hear me… we need your… no… stay back…leave them alone… ARGH!
(Radio continues to lose signal)
?: I…WILL…FIND…YOU…TRAITORS! (Groans angrily) MEET… AT THE AU— SHR— G—DEN! (AUGH!
(Subliminal message ends and Sandslash turns off the radio; Black 2/White 2 Strange House theme plays)
Ariados: That was the strangest subliminal message I have ever heard.
Sandslash: Yeah, I heard something about a location. Were you able to catch the name of the location, Ariados?
Ariados: If I am correct, they may have referenced the Autumn Shrine Garden. (Crawls to takes out a map from the chest) Located on the Alps Continent, northeast on the other side of the world. I have never gone over there, but I think I may know someone who knows the way.
Sandslash: Ariados, call me crazy, but doesn't that voice sound familiar?
Ariados: I mean it can be anyone's voice if they were to speak in the radio.
Sandslash: (Body begins to shiver) I am shivering in fear right now.
Ariados: Maybe it's the cold affecting you Sandslash. We should get some sleep. We'll continue this in the morning. Goodnight, Sandslash.
Sandslash: …Goodnight Ariados. (Speaks in his conscious) [Why does my body feel heavy? I am trembling with fear, but not from the cold. Maybe he's right, I should get some sleep.]
(Theme ends)