Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Guiding Light: Dreaming Liminal Catharsis
Episode 1: Unidentified Anomalous Event 001
Ultra Foundation Incident Report
Current Date: 25th May, 4065 AH
At 4:30 AM, a hypervelocity impact was recorded occurring in the depths of Primeval Forest, close to where the Tree of Life is located. Xerneas, however, has been visiting the forest less and less in recent times due to their business in the Radiant continent; thus it was decided that UTF-345 "Gluttonous Gold Diggers": consisting of the members Poipole-53, Slurpuff (Sweetooth), and Cofagrigus (Glitter) would travel to the impact site to discern the full extent of the damage that the Tree of Life had most likely taken and what caused the impact. This seemingly innocent research mission would lead to Incident 001. After the team failed to report after 2 days of radio silence, a small reconnaissance team (UTF-564 "Saving Grace") was sent to find them hopefully intact. While they failed to discover the team in the flesh, their Ultra Badges were discovered near a small forest clearing, with one of the badges' internal cameras still intact. The tape was slightly damaged, however, the audio was still able to be salvaged with a few visual frames recovered.
The audio recording and the two photos are recorded below for researchers.
Audio Log 345-Glitter
Begin Log
Recorded Time: 2:43 AM Ultra Standard Time
(Recording starts with team approaching the island)
(Discomfort is heard from Sweetooth)
Sweetooth: Hey, uh… Glitter?
Glitter: Fwahah, yeah mate?
Sweetooth: It might be just me, but I kinda feel a bit…
(shuffling against Lapras is heard)
Glitter: Feel what? Cmon, spit it out.
Sweetooth: Nervous. I mean, it could just be a Minior or a Faller, but…
Poipole-53: Don't worry so much about it.
Glitter: Yeah, man. This is just a small checkup. Plus, we're getting paid very handsomely for this, and money never hurts anyone, fwahah!
Sweetooth: I know, it's just a feeling in my gut, and my gut never lies!
Poipole-53: Oh really? Don't you remember the time we nearly got overrun by Beedrill in Apple Woods because you thought that that Kakuna you saw was a golden gummi? You're lucky I was wise enough to bring a Warp Card that time.
Glitter: Or the time your gut was telling you to buy 23 Golden Tickets at Maxamillion's Wondrous Treasures because you believed the 17th and 23rd ticket would win you 25,000 poke? You moaned for the next two months on why we could only afford Apples instead of your favorite foods, fwahah!
Poipole-53: Or how abo-
(Poipole-53 is suddenly interrupted by an audible smack)
Sweetooth: ALRIGHT, I GET IT! It was a stupid idea to talk to you guys about it.
(The audio is silent for about 12 seconds, during which only the sea is audible)
Glitter: Ey man, don't get your tongue in a twist.
Poipole-53: Glitter is correct. There's not much to worry about either way. The mystery dungeons all disappeared 7 years ago, most of the Ultra Beast population is now either passive or outright part of the Ultra Foundation, and there hasn't been any reports of any major threats since.
Glitter: Fwahah, I mean seriously. What's the worst that c-
(The sound of Glitter's body being forced shut is heard, followed by distressed breathing)
Sweetooth: Don't say that. Anytime someone says that Ultra Space throws something awful at them to prove them wrong.
Glitter: Fwahah, fine, Mr. Scaredy Rattata. If it makes you feel any better, once we're done here, we'll go to the Seaside Sweetshop and get some of Lugia and Latias' famous Rasp Jelly Donuts.
Sweetooth: Slrp. Fine. Let's get this over with. But don't say I never warned you.
Lapras: Alright, everyone off. I'll be on the shore for 24 hours, and if you ain't back by then, you can swim home.
(The next 12 minutes are mostly uneventful as the team heads towards the start of primeval forest, however, some of the background noises picked up by the audio do not resemble the cries of any known feral Pokémon on the island. This goes unnoticed by the team however)
Poipole-53: That's strange.
Sweetooth: Oh now you're hesitant? When it's already too late to turn back?
Poipole-53: No, it's not that. It's the forest itself, more importantly, how undamaged it looks. The debriefing told us that the impact was so powerful that it was heard from as far as the Air Continent. By that logic, all the trees should be scorched and flattened, if not just gone. But every tree we've come across looks basically untouched. It's like the impact didn't even happen.
Glitter: Well, if the impact didn't happen, why are we here then, fwahah!
(Poipole-53 is heard stammering for a bit, before letting out an exasperated sigh of defeat)
Poipole-53: I- That's not what I was tr-you know what, nevermind. We'll find out any answers once we get to the crater.
(At the 17 minute mark, an instance of Anomaly Alpha-1 is seemingly spotted by Sweetooth, due to in part to the sound of faint rustling and Sweetooth's frightened cries)
Glitter: Dear Arceus, Sweetooth, you nearly scared the gold out of my casket! What did you see?
Sweetooth: I don't know, it looked like a misshapen Ladyba, but whatever it was, it's bad news!
Poipole: It was most likely just a Ribombee early in the morning, Sweetooth. But if you do see it again, attempt to take a picture so that you have some proof at least, okay?
(After 3 more minutes of walking towards the impact site, UTF-345 encountered what has been designated as Area of Interest Alpha.)
Glitter: What is this thing? Some kinda natural archway? 53, are you seeing this?
(A picture was recovered of the described object, which does in fact seem to resemble a natural archway, the "arch" composed of trees bent at unusual angles being held together by blooming vines. Most notably, this photo seems to have been taken close to the clearing where the badges were found, despite the fact that a 7 hour search of the area found no trace of such an archway. The left and right side of the photos also seem to show that the nearby treeline has become completely covered in vines, making a natural wall that seemingly prevents any other way of entering besides the archway.)
Poipole-53: Affirmative. This does in fact seem to be some form of architecture composed of plant life. Did Xerneas ever mention anything about architecture like this in the interview?
Glitter: Not that I'm aware of. She said the place should just be trees for miles without any sort of buildings whatsoever, especially not something as unnatural as… whatever the Gods thi-
(Glitter suddenly stops talking)
Glitter: Wait. Where did Sweetooth go?
Poipole-53: Oh Gods.
(Unfortunately, the last half of the tape was mostly unrecoverable, however, some small clips were able to be salvaged)
(Unrecognizable Static)
(Sound of labored breathing is heard)
Glitter: SWEETOOTH! OH GOD WHERE IS HE?
Poipole-53: He must have gone even further in! Quickly!
(As the breathing grows more labored, background noises can be heard that do not resemble any known feral Pokémon cries, however, some of the researchers analyzing this recording have noted that the noises do superficially resemble the giggles of children)
(Unrecognizable Static)
(A cry that is presumably Sweetooth crying out in terror is heard)
Glitter: SWEETOOTH! DON'T WORRY BUDDY, I'M COMING!
Poipole-53: Glitter, Glitter, please slow down, it may be some sort of trap!
Glitter: SWEETOOTH, HANG O-
(Feed cuts to static)
(An echo is discernible in the audio, suggesting Glitter's location at that moment was a cavern of some sort)
Glitter: Sweetooth? 53? Anyone? Oh Gods, please, don't go, please don't be dead. I don't know what I'd do if y- SWEETOOTH! Oh thank the Gods you're safe. Listen, we have to leave yesterday, I don't know if 53 is even still al-
Sweetooth(?): Why?
Glitter: …Sweetooth?
Sweetooth(?): Why didn't you listen to his warnings?
Glitter: …You're not Sweetooth. WHERE IS HE?! TELL ME OR I'LL-
Sweetooth(?): You'll what? My family already has you surrounded.
(The audio is suddenly overtaken by the laughter of seemingly countless individuals, followed by panicked screaming presumably from Glitter)
Sweetooth(?): You should've stayed away. We just wanted to be left alone.
Sweetooth(?): But now? Your group must pay for the debt of trespassing upon these sacred lands.
(Glitter's screams suddenly become muffled, the laughter growing in volume)
Sweetooth(?): But do not despair. We will not kill you nor devour you like some form of sacrificial lamb, we are not barbarians.
Sweetooth(?): No, you three have a different purpose. A purpose much more important to us than mere sustenance or entertainment.
(Before the audio is completely lost, a photo seems to have been accidentally taken by Glitter's Camera. What it shows is most alarming)
(A photo is shown on screen of strange, hairy beings swarming Glitter. These beings, henceforth referred to as Anomaly Alpha-1, somewhat resemble a Ribombee; however, they seem to be much larger and have a face more like that of the Pan Trio of Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour. Anomaly Alpha-1 are estimated to be about 3 feet tall; however, some seem to be almost twice this size. What is most notable is the two pairs of insect-like wings resembling those of a Ribombee or Vespiqueen located on each Anomaly Alpha-1's back.)
(Feed cuts to black)
Gallian stared blankly at the footage the same way a Caterpie might look over a hungry Swellow looming above them; the horror of an unknown threat, a quite possibly dangerous threat, consuming his thoughts.
The Absol looked over at their second in command and wonderful mate, a Zoroark who went by Fenrir when it suited his fancy, and saw that exact same look of dread. The personnel that had gathered for this emergency meeting did not appear any more confident either. Gallian swore that he could've heard a Flabebe cough in the deafening silence that had overtaken the room. What they had all just seen was almost too much for such feeble things as words.
Gallian had to take a moment to calm his nerves so he could speak with a level head, he needed to be an island of safety in this moment as their recently elected troopmaster, not pull the rest of the task forces into this situation screaming and kicking like a Jellicent.
Before he could put in a quick affirmation of the reality of this situation to the ticking time bomb that was the unknown hitting a massive audience, however, the crowd of countless Pokémon who had come to the auditorium already nervous beat him to it; instead collectively deciding to affirm their current reality by erupting into a chaotic dirge of confusion.
"What the Houndoom was that?!"
"Oh Gods, those poor Pokémon! What happened to them!?"
"What's the protocol here?! We weren't briefed on something like this!"
"We're all going to die! This is how our civilization ends, with an army of these things enslaving us!"
"I just came here for the free food and drinks, I didn't know we were going to be discussing the apocalypse!"
"EVERYONE SETTLE DOWN!"
The panicked crowd quickly grew silent besides the occasional murmuring about impending doom, the crowd looking back towards Gallian, the origin of this enforced calm. Gallian really did not enjoy having to raise his voice when he didn't need to, especially not with his horn hurting this badly, it reminded him of much less pleasant times, times where he had had to struggle to even survive. He sighed, knowing that this new anomaly may signal that he'd need to have to get used to yelling again…
"As you all just saw on the projection," Gallian stated with a calmed, formal tone, "what UTF-345 encountered is unlike anything we have seen in seven years, perhaps even longer if it's worse. While there is no definitive evidence, we have reason to believe that this may be a Mystery Dungeon. As many of you might know, that should be in the realm of fiction now, since it was widely believed and agreed upon that every Mystery Dungeon was rendered inert after Void was confirmed to be destroyed by Shane. Yet here we are, with something that spits in the face of such beliefs, in the face of normalcy itself, and tells us that our duty is never done, and that we were idiots for ever hoping otherwise."
"This is not even mentioning the creatures that were photographed capturing UTF-345." Fenrir spoke up to give their 20 poke, "While the researchers are still trying to decipher what in the Gods those things were, whether they may be some new race of Ultra Beasts or even some new evolved form of Void Shadow that somehow survived through who knows what means, other researchers are trying to find any trace of this place that UTF-345 was dragged into, with both groups coming up with a frustrating lack of definitive answers. Which is to say, we have no idea where the Houndoom they went, or what on Arceus' creation those things were!"
Fenrir's casual rant was suddenly interrupted by an interjecting cough from Gallian, who continued with their own breakdown of these events. "Either way, the only thing we all can do right now is try to gather any form of information, and hope for the safety of these poor soldiers." Gallian stated, "For now, every one of you should continue with your normal duties as task force members, albeit with a new sense of agency and care. However, if any of you gain any new information on this anomaly, or believe that you have found another instance of this anomaly, report this information to the higher-ups immediately. For all we know, this may just be a one and done situation, but if our training has taught you anything, it's to hope for the best, and plan for the worst. And if there's more of these things across Ultra Space, it's gonna get a whole lot worse, soldiers. Dismissed!"
"RODGER!"
"I gotta go talk to my family about this, I don't want them the emotional trauma to hit them like Future Sight if I just get suddenly abducted by these things."
"You do that, I'm going to go to the Rotom Call center so I can dial up the people back at Drizzela Town to warn them to be on high alert, for all we know, these things are going to start setting up base in the waterways beneath my hometown next!"
"I feel terrible about those three, Alice; Sweets was part of my baking club, and now those ghastly beasts are doing Arceus knows what to their poor, innocent soul."
"Maybe we should go give our condolences to any family members the three had?"
"Hey, Suds, wanna go get some Burgurdurrs? I'm starving right now."
"Really, Tubbo? Some poor saps are probably being tortured and your first thought is stuffing that Wailord sized belly of yours? Even for a Snorlax like you that's messed up."
"S-stop making fun of my eating habits, dude, you know I try to drown the Butterfrees in my tummy with food when I'm stressed!"
"Perhaps I should ask the research team for a copy of the tape. Y'know, to see if there's anything they missed."
"OBSERVATION: DUE TO HOTSHOT'S SLIGHT INCREASE IN BODY TEMPERATURE, I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT HOTSHOT MERELY WANTS THE TAPE BECAUSE HE IS ATTRACTED TO THE CREATURES PHOTOGRAPHED"
"Shut up, Smarty-Karp."
As the crowd left the auditorium, they took their chattering and uproar with them, until all that was left to accompany Gallian and Fenrir in the empty auditorium was an oppressive silence. The two made a silent coordinated move towards the edge of the stage, with Gallian crashing down on the smooth wood like a playful Growlithe out of sheer mental exhaustion, with Fenrir putting his black legs over the edge next to the burnt out Absol. The two laid there for what was most likely 10 seconds at most, but in this kind of atmosphere, with a threat like this looming over them, seemingly waiting for the perfect moment to strike and collectively tear out their jugulars, the difference between 10 seconds and an eternity is basically unnoticeable. Said eternity finally ended once the two of them finally stopped holding their breath.
Gallian was the one to strike out first, letting out an audible moan of defeat, "This is just going to be the first catastrophe of many, isn't it? I was hoping that this was just maybe a slight problem, maybe a memorial, but ever since that day the mons at the lab first showed me the video, my horn has been constantly feeling like agony. This is leading up to something bad, as in Void levels of bad. Why did this have to happen? I honestly believed that the worst things ever to happen to our reality had already been taken care of, but something like this? And now that I've been put in charge of the entire Foundation, every single tragedy, request, and worry is going to all have to be handled by me! Why did ever even get elect-"
Gallian's gradual breakdown was cut short by Fenrir, who had remained unnaturally silent to let their one and only vent, embracing them in a warm, silencing hug, the usually sassy and stoic illusion Pokemon letting down the façade they had been keeping up for the entire meeting, if only for a mere second as Gallian felt the back of their forehead become slightly damp. "Don't worry, Gally, you're not going to go through this alone. I won't let you. We'll see this through like we always have: side-by-side."
Fenrir's motivational speech was less of a speech and more a few comforting words of encouragement, but to Gallian, that was enough for the moment. His reply was just as to the point, an even briefer confirmation of trust, as he leaned into the embrace, "Thank you. Yeah, we'll get through this together."
As the two left the scene of what had been mere moments before a place of mass hysteria, the light to the auditorium turned off automatically, draping the world behind them in a blanketing night.
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