Dungeon 12 - Highway to Hell

"A mission? Right when we're in the middle of another? Where did you get this?" Brian asked, sitting on the couch in his apartment. Next to him was the boy's brother with a pamphlet in his hand.

"It was that Swalot. Well, I also thought it was suspicious, but... we'd better go, if it's true and we don't go, someone will remain missing..." Sighing, he read the paper. "Missing Pokémon named Harold."

In the document was the drawing of a Snover. Placing the paper on the sofa, Lance got up, analyzing the situation.

"Man, you have to admit this is kind of weird... where was he last seen?" the fox Pokémon asked, staring at the drawing. He was still unsure of what to do.

"In a dungeon outside this city, it's a cave, just like that Luxray's. Specifically, a magma cave." The Riolu tapped his feet on the ground while talking

"Look, we have to make a quick decision, if it's true at all." Frowning, he jumped down from the couch.

"Come on, if it's a trap we'll be ready," he said putting his backpack on.

The duo then decided to take a chance and go after the cry for help. After leaving the building, the two explorers went to the exit of the city, south of the condominium where they lived. Walking along the road, Lance took the map, looking at the locations.

"In a few meters there is a divide, according to the map, we have to go east when we get there..." the boy put the paper in his bag, walking faster.

Contrasting the technologically advanced city of Bright Dawn, the road where the duo was located was more rural. Having only a few signs to indicate the nearby dungeons, the road was surrounded by trees and some Pokémon walking in the background. The boys could see some fields on the right with some farms.

After walking for a few minutes, the team arrived on a path that was separated in four directions.

"The Magma Cave. That's what this dungeon is known as." Lance looked at a sign indicating the directions and then turned his face to the left. He went on the eastern path.

"I should have bought a Rawst Berry..." Brian said as he lowered his ears and followed his partner.

Entering the cave, they realized that it was illuminated by lava wells. The soil was composed of magmatic rocks and extended even beyond the vision of the two Pokémon. Feeling the sweat dripping down their bodies, they decided to advance.

"I'll tell you if this Snover is here, he was unlucky enough to come to such a hot cave."

"Yes. With his fourfold weakness against fire-type moves, he made a bad… decision... but we don't have time for that. I can see the hallway in front of us," the Riolu stated as they went ahead.

As they crossed the passage, they found a wide corridor, next to another gallery in the background. The temperature kept rising and they were sweating even more. Stopping to analyze, Lance sighed.

"Something's wrong." Looking around, he growled. The feelers around his head were moving.

"What are you talking about?" Moving his ears, Brian tried to identify the enemy.

Lance concentrated, his eyes and his left paw shining in a blue tone, he moved his arms, trying to locate any Pokémon using his aura. Raising his eyes, the boy jumped back and, in front of them, coming down the corridor, were three Pokémon similar to black haired dogs. The biggest of them had horns and their muzzle and belly had an orange coat. He let out a howl, looking at his enemies while showing his teeth.

"One Houndoom and two Houndour," the Zorua said, analyzing and putting himself in a combat position.

"Brian, if you don't want to get hit, get out of my way!" Snarling, Lance began to charge energy in his paw.

Before he could even hear the fox's answer, the blue canine ran, clashing against the dogs while rage filled the Riolu's body. He jumped and started to spin, releasing an energy beam from his hand all around that area.

"Force Palm!" he declared as he landed on his feet.

The other Pokémon that were in the place barely had time to dodge. The enemy leader jumped back, narrowly avoiding being hit. One Houndour, on the other hand, after being hit by Lance's attack, hit the wall and fainted. The other one advanced against Brian, dodging Lance's shot and with his mouth on fire, tried to hit the Zorua.

"Urgh!" Feeling his fur burning, Brian created an illusion that he was invisible, distancing himself from the dog.

The little one sniffed the air, searching for the smell of burned flesh that came from Zorua. Suddenly, he took a full blow, losing his balance. Undoing the illusion behind the Houndour, the boy's claws seemed to extend with white light, and then the dog was struck repeatedly by the little fox.

"Fury Swipes!" After finishing the blow, the dog was thrown away. Brian panted, trying to stay on his feet.

On the other side, Lance was with his arms in an X shape, advancing against the Houndoom. His enemy was growling, his body being wrapped in an aura of flames. Riolu advanced without caring as if he only wanted to finish the enemy in front of him, his eyes were focused on the black canine. The Houndoom howled, shooting a stream of flames at the boy.

"Argh. Endure!" With a white aura, he cried out in pain but kept holding on without fainting.

"Lance!" Brian ran to rescue his brother, just as the same Houndour from before appeared, his prey with an electric charge. Thinking fast, the Zorua turned invisible again.

Falling to the ground, the Riolu coughed. His body was in immense pain, he felt the burns all over the place and trembled with pain. Even so, he got up, staggering and standing up with all the strength he had.

Meanwhile, Brian planned how to knock out the Houndour. Attacks of the dark type would not be very effective, much less the ghost. In this case, he would have to improvise.

"I can just buy more Orbs in that store..." Pondering, he took a sphere from his backpack, getting ready to shoot.

The cub was looking for the smell once more, his mouth was covered with a purple liquid and he advanced to where he had tracked Brian. Undoing his illusion, Zorua jumped, throwing the sphere against the Houndour.

"Blowback Orb! Do your job!" Shouting in his head, the sphere shone, throwing the dog against the wall and knocking him out.

Falling to his feet, Brian saw his brother facing the Houndoom again and soon he ran to help him. Lance, struggling to stand, carried energy in his hand to shoot the big dog again.

"That's enough, man! I'll take care of him, you can barely stand! We are very lucky that our backpacks are fireproof... but you can't keep up like this!" Complaining, Brian took a step forward.

"Shut up." Taking an Oran Berry from his bag, he ate it, heading towards Houndoom. "I have to finish this guy..." He was talking with a raspy voice and blurred vision.

"I won't let you die here, I swore I would protect you..." Brian was looking at the enemy, who was getting ready to throw another blast of flame.

"So be it..." Looking at the Houndoom, Riolu was about to shoot.

"Two can play this game... Copycat!" The boy opened his mouth, which was also filled with energy.

The enemy's shot hit the blow the brothers threw, generating an explosion that threw everyone against the walls. Feeling the snap of the bones, the dog fainted. On the other side, the boys fell, feeling great pain in their backs, but they remained awake. Panting, Lance walked slowly to the Houndoom.

"Force Palm," he said, giving another shot.

"Lance, what are you doing?! He already fainted, we have to move on!" Staggering, Zorua went after his friend.

"Quiet..." he was charging another shot. "Force Palm! Force Palm! Force Palm!" every time he said the name of the attack, he shot Houndoom, looking desperate and sweating.

Brian bit Lance's arm, pulling it back with all the strength that was left in Zorua's little body. Both then fell, unable to move or leave the place. They both started to hear a laughing voice in their minds, with a flying Pokémon coming out of the same hole as the trio of dogs. The Sigilyph laughed, even without having a mouth, while looking at the boys with his three eyes.

"It was easier than I thought," he said with telepathy.

"Shit... it was a trap!" Gnashing his teeth, Lance clenched his fists.

"We fell like fools!" Raising his eyes, Brian just noticed what had happened. "Who sent you here?!"

"I owed those metalheads a favor..." the bird's eyes changed color, turning pink as he looked at Zorua.

"Well, it doesn't matter! I'm immune to his psychic attacks! You'll regret having deceived us!" he gave a toothy grin, ready to take the attack.

"You seem very confident in your ability, Zorua... I'm sorry..." the Pokémon's three eyes were glowing and he fired a beam in the shape of a triangle.

"That move from before... Brian! Dodge!" Screaming, Lance tried to run, but his body didn't have the strength for it anymore and he just fell face down.

"Hehe, relax bro! I'm gonna kick his ass..." The boy was hit by the attack, leaving him surprised and at the time he also hit the ground, sleeping.

"You son of a bitch... Did you use Miracle Eye on him?!" Getting up, Lance was staggering.

"A beautiful observation, Riolu, but not enough to save your brother. But don't worry, you'll join him soon enough." Laughing, he threw the same blow at the boy.

Unable to deflect, Lance fell to the ground, trying to resist as much as he could, even if his arms and legs didn't respond to the command. With his eyes almost closed, he saw only the psychic Pokémon in front of him, when he fell asleep.

Author's notes: FFN finally got fixed! Meaning I can post here without fearing that my chapters won't show up! Anyway, the next chapter is gonna be really, really heavy. It's also a two-parter, so be ready for the next part of this fanfiction!