A/N
Thanks for reviewing, ravengal.
Two ninetales, two ponyta, a luxray, and a skitty all shuffled into the train cabin quickly. A leafeon, espeon, and a quilladin with in there awaiting them.
Pear tapped his foot impatiently, staring the shorter ninetales in the eyes.
"So. Mind telling us why exactly we're getting on a train at the ass-crack of dawn?"
Salami gave a slow nod, walking over to flop onto one of the beds.
"I, uh, had a vision of sorts. I think my friends are gonna be in trouble in a couple."
"So, you are making us be coming with you to investigate a bad feeling?" Lemon placed a paw to his chin, an eyebrow raising.
"And why'd you have to bring us along, again?" Peel huffed, carefully stroking the purring skitty in her lap.
Salami moved to rest his head against his mother's side as she laid down beside him.
"Well," Salami started, "It's, uh, a psychic thing. I'm bringing you all for, you know, just in case."
Barbie shrugged.
"Well, like, so long as you're covering the travel costs."
Nettle stared down at the rattata before him. His face showed no amusement, but the rat just smiled obliviously.
The larger dark-type let a pregnant silence set in the air for a moment before speaking.
"So, let me get this straight,"
"Yes, sir!"
"You were watching her."
"Yes, sir!"
"She tried to flush herself... Down the toilet."
"Yes, sir!"
"It actually works."
"Yes, sir!"
"And... You expect me to believe you."
"Yes, sir!"
Nettle stared for a moment, before giving a sigh. He turned back to his computer, settling back into work.
"Get out of my office, 'Tatou."
"Yes, sir! Good luck in your meeting later, sir! See you around, sir!"
'Tatou skittered out of the room quickly, prideful of a job well-done.
Nettle tabbed over to his email window, beginning to type out a message reporting on the apparent explotability of the plumbing systems.
A splash echoed across the brick walls as a figure shot out from a drainage pipe and into the water. Following a few coughs, expelling their lungs of water, the small pokémon quickly paddled her way to the edge of the flowing water, them pulling herself up onto the flooring.
With an agressive shake, some of the water was freed from Tart's fur. She briefly turned back to the edge, swiftly emptying the contents of her stomach.
Having been thoroughly scarred for life, she shakily began to walk down the sewer-system.
Sushinx stood over the steep ledge, binoculars held to his face. Soon after, a nickit, umbreon, and oddish came to join him through the foliage.
"ETA, cap'?" Biscuit chirped, leaping up beside him. The two briefly bumped hips in greeting.
"I think the dungeon is... Uhm... Just down the stream. Fifteen minutes at most."
Dish bounced over with excitement.
"Fun fun fun! We'll have a great time! It'll be just like the good ol' days, aye, Umami?!"
The umbreon in question reached out a paw to still the oddish, who had rolled dangerously close to the precipice of the incline.
"Of course, Dish. I only hope my reflexes match up to the past."
Biscuit gave a shrill whistle. Everyone turned their attention.
"Last one down the hill is a rotten raddish!"
The nicket dove over, a cloud of dirt kicking up as she began to slide down.
"I take offense to that!" came Dish's reply as he leapt forward to roll down as well.
Sushinx and Umami both glanced to eachother. With a shared shrug, they mutually started slowly toward a more shallow path down the hill.
It was about a minute before the four were re-united, following beside the shallow stream. Numerous trees shaded them from the intense rays of the sun.
"How's it feel bein' veggie-rot?" Biscuit teased, nudging the shinx beside her.
Sushinx gave a bright grin in response.
"Well, I'm not convered in grime!" A mock-sinister guffaw escaped his throat as he used his tail to flick some dirt from his friend's coat.
The nickit, in turn, gave a dramatized shriek, puttng a paw to her forehead.
"Oh, goodness me! Whatever will I do?"
The shinx tackled her into a tumble, landing in the stream. A flurry of giggles erupted as the two tumbled around in the water, kicking and squealing as their play-fight progressed.
Umami watched with a small grin, with Dish bouncing impatiently in place.
"Hey, hurry up! We've got a job to do!" the oddish chastised. His bouncing was halted by a black-furred paw settling carefully onto his head.
"Let the kids be kids, Dish. We were the same way just three years ago."
The oddish gave a nod.
"Mmm, okay, yeah, you're right. It was closer to eight years now, though."
Umami's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Arc, that long?"
"You betcha'!"
A few more minutes passed by as Biscuit and Sushinx continually fought in the water. Before long, however, they settled down and stepped back into the grass. They were wet, but cleaner.
The group set off walking once again, largely in silence. They padded along quickly and deliberately, soon awarded with their approaching destination.
"Hey, look! I think that's it!" Biscuit chirpped. A paw shot out to point toward a concrete brick wall ahead of them. A corridor extended inside, which the river flowed into. The four set into a sprint, approaching the entrance.
As they stopped in front, Umami took notice of a sign posted to the wall, written on with bold, red letters..
"Let's see... Danger! Rootopia-Sewer Dungeon ahead! Difficulty: Four stars. Floors: Three."
Sushinx gave a thoughtful hum.
"That is quite interesting! I was unaware that Rootpia's sewers were a mystery dungeon."
Biscuit gave a wide brim, nodding eagerly.
"Yeah! Didn't used t'be, but some spacetime nonsense I don't understand happened a few years ago that turned it into one."
"Huh... Does it even still work?"
"Yeah! She stream always flows straight through, and the pipes usually still end up emptyin' into it."
"Fascinating."
The group gingerly stepped inside, beginning to make their way down the entry corridor. Biscuit hopped up onto Sushinx's back. She pulled out a sheet of paper from her bag, along with a pencil and a clipboard. She set to work dutifully mapping out the dungeon as they traversed it.
Things went smoothly for the first few minutes in the dungeon. It wasn't until Umami gave a bark of alarm that things began to pick up.
As everyone's attention turned toward her, Umami dodged the impact of a sludge-bomb.
A muk advanced toward them, groaning loudly. Dish gave a shout.
"A feral! Battle time!"
The oddish launched itself at the approaching opponent, spinning rapidly. The muk dodged the attempted attack, only to recieve a kick to the side from Biscuit.
It rounded to swing at the offending nickit, but missed due to a well-timed jump. His eyes fell on the shinx hat had previously been behind her. Its fur suddenly filled with electricity, giving a bright flash, eliciting a roar of pain as the sludge monster covered its eyes.
It was then swiftly pummeled with a shadow-ball by the doing of Umami, knocking it into a cloud of sleep-powder laid by Dish.
A towering serpentine pokémon leaned back in his chair. His tongue flicked out passively as his eyes scanned about the cozy wooden construction of his office. He let his gaze briefly settle outside of the window, taking in the rolling green hills and thick luscious forests of the vast landscape. His attention was soon drawn to his door, however, as a firm knocking came to his senses.
"Enter."
The door swung open slowly, revealing the forms of two pokémon. A lopunny strode in, trailed by a lucario. The two both bore thin sets of chainmail. Thin sheets of fabric hung down from their waists, emblazoned with a peculiar swirling insignia.
"Guildmaster Arbok!" spoke the rabbit. The two entrants took a knee, bowing their heads submissively. "We come bearing news."
The lucario's ears briefly twitched before he continued for his partner.
"It is of... Utmost importance."
Arbork glanced over them, giving a nod of acknowledgement.
"Team Eso. Speak."
The arrivals both rose in unison. The lopunny clasped her hands together before she once-more spoke.
"Firstly, Teams Equit and Integ have both departed to assist Team Heroik of the Omi Guild. Secondly, we have received reports of elevated bandit activity on the Pokébulb peninsula. Thirdly, Teams Sunrise, Relic, and Waffle of the Omi Guild have all been victim to murder attempt by the hands of our yet unidentified criminal group."
Arbork nodded once more.
"Thank you. Leave us, Lollipop; I am to speak with Arugula."
"Yes, Guild Master Arbok."
The lopunny gave a bow once more, before slowly striding out of the room. Upon the door being shut, the lucario took a seat.
Arbok gave a blink, It only took that time for the illusion to dissipate, leaving a zoroark within the chair. The dark-type gave a nod, which Arbok returned.
"Agent N. Explain your failure."
"There were some... Unexpected personal issues, that Sherbert ran into."
Arbok's eyes narrowed.
"And, the krokorok?"
Nettle shifted uncomfortable under the Guild Master's scrutinizing gaze.
"He... Did not wish to make Sherbert feel worse."
The dark-type cowered away just slightly as the arbok leaned closer. A bead of sweat formed upon his brow as a long tongue flicked out to taste the air in front of his face.
"We are compromised. We reveal ourselves sooner than anticipated if we are to gain the favor of the masses."
"Well... On the bright side, we're getting all those new members sooner, as well."
Arbork settled back into his seat. Nettle relaxed, though not entirely.
"Have you any good news, Agent N?"
The zoroark's ears perked up. A smile graced his lips.
"I have some most... Pleasant, findings."
"Speak."
"The artifact we are searching for. We have... A lead."
Arbok's hood fanned out a bit.
"The Blue Orb."
Nettle felt his own demeanor deflate a bit.
"N-no, sir... But, we have a lead on the Red Orb... At the very least, we can... Cripple any chances of opposition. We have an operation down in East-Scallion beginning to search. We suspect it to be somewhere there. Some old text we have uncovered has been... Most enlightening."
"Good work. Continue your efforts in East-Scallion, and prepare a PR team to address the media." Arbork's eyes briefly narrowed once more. "I expected to have more time to consider how we plead our cause, however your failure has necessitated that we act now. Do not fail us again, Agent N. We are saving the world. We have one shot, and we can not mess this up. Do you understand?"
Nettle looked to his feet, limbs hanging limp. He nodded his head in shame.
"Forgive me..."
"In time. One more thing, however."
"Yes... Sir?"
"Teams Equit and Integ. Do not let them reach Rootopia."
"Understood."
"I can't believe it," Biscuit breathed. She stared at the wall in front of her in disbelief. Her eyes soon fell back down to her map. "All dead-ends! That's impossible!"
A new voice came to her ears.
"Search your feelings; you know it to be true!" The group of four pokémon turned to see a krokorok. The towering ground-type stomped forward, giving his palm a hefty punch. "I HOPE you poor fools realize, you're in VERGE territory."
Umami, Biscuit, and Sushinx each took a collective step back. Dish, however, stood in defiance.
"Oh, yeah, big guy? Verge of what?"
The krokorok blinked.
"Oh, uh... Nevermind, that. You four are in some big FUCKING trouble, and boy do I MEAN it."
Quickly regathering their barings, the rest of the group moved forward to join Dish.
"You will be no trouble," Umami stated.
"Yeah!" added Biscuit, "There's four of us and only one of you!"
"Is THAT so? How about I EVEN THE ODDS?" The krokorok briefly turned his head, calling back. "GUYS; TRESSPASSERS!"
A moment later, a glaceon rounded the corner. They were followed by a nidorino, two linoone, and a gengar. Another moment later, a houndoom joined them from the opposite side of the water.
The two exploration teams stared on in horror, backing away in alarm. Their opponents began to advance. Before long, the smaller group had no more room to back away.
The whole lot had their attention caught by a squeaky voice calling out.
"You four! Proceed into the plumbing!"
A minccino came dashing under the houndoom's legs.
The glaceon pointed with a paw.
"Dawgs! It's the escapee!"
The hostile group hastened their advance forward, as the explorers watched on in confusion. The minccino leapt up into a pipe on the wall, disappearing inside.
Shrugging, the four followed after, Dish lacing the entrance with stun spores as they escaped through.
After a second of sliding, they found themselves pulled by a current of water. Five pokémon popped out of a pipe one after another, each landing in the stream. they scrambled back to dry ground, with varying degrees of confusion.
"Let us go! We do not possess adequete time to dilly-dally!" The minccino's four limbs soon set to work, carrying her further down the corridor. Dish, Sushinx, Umami, and Biscuit all chased after. not long after, the rattata from before popped out from the pipe, beginning to scamper after them.
Shallot gave a loud gasp, his telekinetic grip failing. Cuttlery loudly clattered to the floor in front of the fennkin.
His mother rushed over quickly, lifting up the fox.
"Shallot! Y'aight, sugar?"
Oat looked over as well, concern etched onto his face.
Shallot's quickened breathing soon slowed. He answered with a nod.
"Yeah. Sorry, ma'. Just felt somethin'... Weird."
Shroom set her son down carefully, putting a hand to her chin in though.
"Hmm? What kinda weird?"
"I... I feel her, ma'! It's Tart! She's scared!"
The delphox's eyebrows raised.
"Wait... If you can feel her, that means she must've escaped."
The fennekin gave a frantic nod.
"That's... Right! She's in danger, ma'! I've gotta go help her!
"Shallot, wait!"
Shroom reached out with her hand, but it was too late. She fell onto her stomach, watching her son's turqoise cape disappear around the corner.
"Mind telling us what's going on here, lady?!" Dish shouted. The five pokémon continued to dash forward in an effort to shake off their persuers.
"Those are a few of the individuals who have been kidnapping pokémon! I was one of their victims!"
Umami's eyes widened.
"How did you escape? Wait; who are you?"
The four of them skidded dangerously close to the edge of the water as they turned a corridor.
"I... Refuse to elaborate on the first question, however the second is answerable. I am known as Tart, and I am a member of Team Heroik."
Sushinx gave a bright smile, nodding.
"Hey, that's convnient! We were on our way to get your fennekin home!"
Tart gave a smile in return, nodding.
"It is good to hear that he has been safe. Whyever, though, are you going through this... Icky... Slimey... Disgusting... Sewer?!"
Biscuit gave a toothy grin.
"A compromise between speed n' difficulty!"
The minccino involuntarily shuddered.
"Ugh...! I'd never willingly set paw in such a filthy place if it didn't mean freedom!"
Nettle turned to address the large group of pokémon behind him as they stepped into the sewers.
"We cannot... Let them escape. We are to recapture the minccino, we are to capture the exploration teams. Lethal force authorized. Now... Get moving!"vThe crowd erupted into action, with numerous pokémon cheering, all moving toward their intended destinations. Nettle beckoned Sherbert and Broccoli over to himself. "You two."
Sherbert spoke first, breathing out a cold puff of air.
"What's up, boss?"
"Please... do be careful."
Broccoli nodded, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, yeah, of course we'll be."
The zoroark nodded.
"Good. Never forget; you two are like offspring to me."
"Won't forget, dawg. We'll do ya' proud."
"I expect nothing less."