A/N
Thanks for reviewing, Ravengal!
Early one morning, Shallot, Tart, and Salami sat within the lobby of the guild HQ. The fennekin sent a passing glare toward an espeon.
The espeon returned the look, before setting off and out the door with his party of a glaceon, quilladin, beartic, and another espeon. Before they were out the door, Tart and Pear shared a concerned glance with each other.
Basil observed the interaction from the front desk, humming curiously.
Also, woohoo! We're past 100k words now! My first fic ever to reach this far! Rejoice!
Mission Log
Task: 0822231544
Team(s): Wavecrash, Waffle, Needle (Ma)
Participants: Pancake Brekky, Frye D'egg Brekky, Waffle Brekky, Pear HoS, Glaceon, Pit Tedol Ivs, Pizza O'plenty
Logger: Frye Degg Brekky
Penner: Russ T. Piyeeps
Lemon. I have always harbored a particularly negative bias for that kid. Always been a bad influence. When our son came to us, teary eyed, blubbering and begging for help, I couldn't help but agree to assist on the mission in spite of my predispositions. I suppose, even if he was a grubby little thief, he doesn't deserve to be out on his own.
The objectives of the mission were simple. We were to attempt to track down Lemon of Team Waffle, as well as any Verge Uprising members unaccounted for. The top priority in that latter case is Nettle Sanrice. The supposed leader of this criminal group, claimed dead, yet no body was found.
The only lead we had on the location of anyone was thus; a campfire's smoke was spotted along the Jam River over on Onya Major. The witness, Pit of Team Needle, claims the following: "Um, yeah, there was definitely a leafeon there. No doubt in my mind, I'll tell you what! They looked a little nuts, so I didn't stick around."
We were to collaborate with the Onya Major guild on the mission, as Team Needle held our best lead at the time.
Just one thing stuck out to me. That glaceon. No matter how long it's been, I'd be able to recognize my daughter anywhere. I could tell that my wife noticed, too. We mutually agreed to feign obliviousness. I suppose it's not going to look good on my record that we actively withheld knowledge of an outlaw being within our ranks. I do hope it can at least be understood that, as a parent, it's your job to protect your child. Even if they're a criminal.
A group consisting of two espeon, a beartic, a glaceon, a quilladin, a pidgey, and a piplup idly chattered within their boat cabin.
The piplup leaned over to the ice-type next to themselves, giving them a poke on the cheek.
"Hey, glaceon!" they pressed. "Why are you so silent?"
Sherbert gave a blank stare, meeting the penguin's eyes. She received a quizzical smile and an equally blank stare in return. Their gazes remained fixated upon each other, neither daring to look away.
The pidgey of the group gave a small laugh.
"Ah, that's Pizza, for you! Guy doesn't like being given the... Cold shoulder... KAHAHA!"
Pancake gave an endeared smile, as her husband and son both rolled their eyes. Pear briefly looked back to eye the commotion, before turning once more to face the window.
"Uhm... Back on topic, please. I-if it's not a bother," Waffle muttered, twiddling his paws together.
"Right!" Pit squaked, eliciting a surprised jolt from the espeon. The pidgey soon pulled out a map from their explorer bag, slapping it down on the coffee table. "Right here!" He slapped one wing down on a spot on the map. "This fork in Jam river! Just a few miles this way..." He dragged the wing a bit, before coming to a stop. "Yeah, I'll tell you what, this is just about where I saw that camp! Right outside of the Bulbasaur Falls Dungeon."
Pancake gave a thoughtful hum.
"I see... We should be able to get most of the way there by ship, right?"
Frye gave an affirmative grunt, his arms crossing.
"That's right. The captain said she'll be able to get us a mile shy of the fork before the river becomes too narrow."
Waffle gave a long sigh, leaning to rest against his parents. He felt his mother wrap her forelegs around him, with one of his father's colossal hands coming to rest atop his head.
"I'm just... Really worried about Lemon," admitted the younger espeon. "He c-can take care of himself, but... I don't know..."
"You really love him, don't you, honey?" Pancake carefully caressed Waffle's head, eliciting a subtle purr.
"Mhm... Yeah..."
Lopunny flashed a beaming grin down to Yao Ling, who merely released a huff of annoyance in the stead of vocal acknowledgement. The normal type hurriedly concluded his assistant task, affixing the oxygen mask to his ice-type companion, proceeded by a pat on the head to conclude. The two both turned to nod to their beedrill companion, who saluted in return, soon zipping off with blinding speed.
"It's on. Can we join the others now?"
The lopunny crossed his arms, giving a cheeky grin, though not visible through his breathing apparatus.
"Aww, what's the matter? Too embarrassed to be alone with this stud?"
The vulpix gave a sigh.
"We've got a job to do, Lops. Faster we do this, faster we can meet up with our friends and look for Pie."
Lopunny huffed, looking away.
"We shouldn't even be split here to begin with. Biggan is fucking insane."
Yao Ling grunted inaudibly.
"As much as I would have liked to go with Broccoli, we can do more good here. For now, Biggan is too dangerous to keep unchecked, and we need to do all we can to divert his attention away from kidnapping and murder."
"Ohoh, is this talk of rebellion, I hear?"
The two froze up at the sound of the third voice, whirling around quickly.
An absol stood there, smiling brightly.
"L-Lutely!" Lopunny stuttered. "It's not what it looks like!"
"At ease, Lops," Lutely spoke with a gentle tone. "I'm not gonna rat you out. If it makes you feel better, most of us disagree with Biggs'... Ruthless ideas. We just trust him more as a leader. As soon as he becomes useless, we're getting someone more compassionate in that commander's seat. Maybe we'll get Pop in on this!"
"As if," Lopunny huffed. "That guy's always choking on Biggs' big. There's no way he'd have even a single divergent thought in his mind. He'd tattle on us instantly."
The three shared a small laugh, oblivious to the glameow observing from afar.
Pop's eyes narrowed.
"Mmm... You're more right than you know," the cat muttered to himself. A smug grin crossed his features. "Snerk. I'll be letting the boss know of your treachery." The cat's gaze remained fixated on the three as they each leapt into the water.
At the front desk, a mightyena sat, ruffling through various papers and files. Team Heroik approached casually, with Shallot being the first to speak.
"Yo, Mr. Maize?" The fox called, getting the dark-types attention.
The mightyena gave a playful grin.
"Oh, no, Mr. Maize is my father. Just call me Maize."
Salami blinked.
"Uh... Is your name 'Maize Maize'?"
Maize shook his head.
"Nope. It's Maize Mays Maize'. Proud member of Team Maze. I'm known as 'Mace-Maize' in some circles, too."
Salami glared.
"I refuse to believe that you are "Mace-Maize Mays Maize of Team Maze'."
"That's right!"
"And, 'Mace' isn't even a true homophone in this situation."
"That's right!"
Salami's eye twitched in irritation. Tart stepped forward with a diffusing clearing of her throat.
"Well, Maize, this conversation delves into the territory of sidetrack. We are presently here to be made aware of potential mission options for this fine evening. Preferably, if I may push, something quick and easy." The minccino stopped to glare at Shallot. "Preferably, one that will not take us anywhere close to adult drinking establishments."
Shallot sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Alas, I'll just make do with the cola in my bag."
Tart flicked his nose with the tip of her tail.
"You have an addiction."
Shallot stuck out his tongue, eyes falling closed.
"Hey, I got some pecha and oran pops, too, so you can't argue that it ain't a productive addiction."
Salami raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, wouldn't it be more space efficient to just get berries?"
"Pah! No!" Shallot scoffed, offended. "The refined berry syrup used in the mix has a far more potent effect, more than making up for the extra space!"
Maize cleared his throat, regaining the three's attention.
"We will have a discussion with Shallot about his problem later. I think I've got a missi-"
The four were startled out of their conversation as the front door was forced open. A flareon ran in, panting heavily, flopping to the floor. The group in the lobby rushed over in concern, with Maize prodding the downed pokémon.
"Dear Arceus, Bailey, you look like you just ran the whole way from level zero."
Bailey coughed and gasped, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
"I... Did!" The flareon stopped for a breath. "I've got concerning news." With the pace of his ventilation slowing down, the fire-type sat back up, looking the concerned mightyena in the eyes. "We saw a whole bunch of pokémon down there, heading down into the water. Like, scarily high 't recognize most of them, but at least four were verified Verge Uprising members."
The four each took a step back in surprise. Everyone looked to Maize soon after.
The dark-type looked up, giving a huff.
"Uh... Okay, Looks like we're gonna have a situation on our paws. Team Heroik, you all round up everyone who's in the building, and have them meet up here. Bailey, you and your team go do the same with our underwater division. I'll go contact the guildmaster."
"Yes, sir!" They chimed in unison. Everyone set off hurriedly to enact their set plans.
Broccoli, Soda, and Emerald wandered down through the sands, away from the bustle of their makeshift camp. The purrloin of the group splashed through the water giddily, her expression beaming with a smile.
"Let me tell ya's," sighed the dark-type, "sucks we're still in a sandy place, buts the water's nice!"
Soda gave a light grimac. He moved to rub at the coin atop his head.
"Mmm... Maybe?" The meowth gulped nervously, legs moving at a far stiffer pace."
Broccoli huffed, crossing his arms. Proceeding a brief moment of tension, he relaxed, lifting a bottle to his mouth to down a few glugs of cola.
"I feel so sedentary, though. We're waiting around here doing a whole lot of nothing like a bunch of jackasses, and ohohohOH, boy, do I HAAAATE waiting."
Emerald leapt up onto the reptile's back, curling herself around his neck. She received nothing but an annoyed grunt in the way of acknowledgement.
"Ay, don't beat yourself up too much over it, boss. We'll's gets Sherbert back safe and sound fo' ya's, just you waits and sees!" The cat peaked her head over to meet Broccoli's gaze, upside down. She waggled her brows, a comically large cigar poking out from her maw. She gave a yelp of objection as the ground-type smacked her cigar down. "Hey! The hell?"
Broccoli sighed, putting a palm to his forehead.
"Look, I know you like the whole acting thing, but PLEASE don't wreck your lungs to stay in character."
Emerald turned away with a huff, flicking her tail against the tip of his nose, before leaping down into the sand.
"Whatever you say, gummi-addict."
"I've already got a problem. You don't. Let's keep at least that second case true."
Soda glanced between them, crossing his arms with a raised eyebrow. He re-adjusted his glasses, subtly clicking a small button on the side of their frame.
"So, uh..." started the meowth. "You have some... mmm... interesting plans for the future, boss. Would you be willing to elaborate?"
Broccoli crossed his arms once more, staring down to the ground. He gave a huff, though a grin cracked at his cheeks.
"To tell you the truth. Sodie, I've got a bit of a secret weapon to use against Smallan."
Soda's eyebrows raised, interest peaked. Emerald ceased her sulking, looking up as well.
"Eh? Mmmm... What would that be?"
The krokorok gave a toothy grin, stretching out to stand straighter.
"Well, you see, I've gotten word that Biggan and his followers have settled into our Layer Port base. I found this from some of our residents there fleeing on the count of disagreement with his leadership."
Emerald's eyes widened, tail flicking briefly.
"Huh? Really?"
The ground-type nodded.
"That's right. Our secret weapon? The element of surprise. He has no way of knowing that I could guess which base they decided to settle at, so there's no way he's prepped to deal with ANY kind of ambush right now." Broccoli gave a small chuckle, stopping to turn around. He gazed up to the towering cliff-face in the distance, with the complex mass of boards and posts making up Layer-Port extending off from it. All we have to do is wait for the first convenient moment, with as few Abductors as possible within the building." He stopped a moment, a frown crossing his features. "Maybe I'll see that tiny vulpix I crushed while I'm there. I'd really like to apologize for that."
The trio's attention all turned upwards in confusion as a speeding form zoomed toward them from the direction of Layer-Port. They all jumped out of the way just in time for it to crash where they'd just been standing, kicking up a towering plume of sand and water. It splashed down upon all of them, eliciting varying amounts of irritation in response.
"Jabbs!" Emerald shrieked. "What's the meaning of this?!" She shook the water out of her fur, glaring down the beedrill.
Jabbs quickly buzzed back into the air, recovering from his daze.
"Sorry about that; message for the boss!" The bug-type turned to look at Broccoli, who raised an eyebrow in response. "A majority of the Abductors have left the building to go underwater for something. If there's a time to put our ambush into action, it's now."
Broccoli gave a sharp grin, nodding.
"Perfect! Just perfect! Smalls isn't gonna know what hit him!"
"Perfect! Just perfect! Smalls isn't gonna know what hit him!"
A sandshrew sat passively observing the monitor, an unamused expression plastered upon his usually cocky features.
"Pah. What rubbish. He thinks he can get me with a surprise-attack, eh?" Biggs shook his head, pulling out his phone. He quickly rang up a number, not even waiting for them to greet him upon answering. "Yeah, Pop? I'm gonna need half of our forces back at the base. That pest of a krokorok is making his move sooner than expected.
Team Heroik, joined by a semi-large group of swimming pokémon, made their way through an underground stream. The cramped, dark tunnel wove up, down, and all around, pulling the group deeper inside. Also amongst the group was a staryu - who bathed the pitch-black corridor in a soothing blue light -, and a starmi keeping a lookout behind the group.
A lucario, carrying an aegislash, swam calmly along, accompanied by Creme, Bean, Basil, and Mallow.
A shorter distance from Team Heroik, Peel and Floss maintained a steady pace, maintaining a conversation with Tart.
Shallot grumbled quietly with each quick paddle of his paws. His teeth grit together in a display of annoyance.
"I forgot how much it sucks bein' in the water," Shallot huffed, squinting his eyes.
Salami gave the smaller fox a little nudge.
"You didn't seem to mind it much when you and Tart would shower together."
"Yeah, well, you're a bozo."
"...Uh, Shallot, I've heard your sailor-mouth many times before. Is that really the best you can come up with?"
The fennekin snorted, a stream of bubbles coming from his nose.
"It's an acronym. 'B' for 'Bitch', and... Yeah, okay, I got nothin' else."
"You've got me," Tart offered, finally swimming up between the two.
"Ah, there you are!" Salami cheered. "We were just talking about you."
The minccino gave a smirk, nudging Salami's cheek.
"Everybody is quite aware. You have neglected to move your conversation to a private telepathy channel."
"That's right! Heard it all, dudes," Peel interjected.
A small round of chuckles were shared among the group, before the starmi spoke in a harsh tone.
"Cease your nonsense. This is a serious operation." It gave a harrumph. "We wouldn't want those terrorists knowing we're sneaking in the back way."
"Chill your jets, 'Nate," Mallow sighed with a roll of his eyes. "Let the kids have their banter. Not like they'll hear us way in here."
"We are in our twenties," Tart corrected, letting her arms cross. This severely slowed the pace of her swimming, causing Shallot to pick up the slack and push her forward.
"Then, act like it," the starmi huffed, its ruby glowing with a brief red flash.
The lucario of the group gave a small laugh, shaking his head.
"Honestly, Granate, take a look in the mirror. It's a bit immature to be upset at someone for having fun, no?"
The aegislash within his grasp gave a giggle as well, before speaking.
"Don't bother. That old star is stuck in his ways!"
Granate simply gave an irritated grunt in response.
The lucario suddenly perked up.
"I feel someone, not too far ahead," he commented.
The staryu in front gave a hum, before speaking.
"Lower your broadcast ranges, huddle together."
Everybody complied quickly, reaching to twist a specific dial on their respirators, before the whole group huddled close together. The staryu's light slowly dimmed until the submerged tunnel was left in complete darkness. Everyone pressed close to each other, most being blindly lead forward by the few who were able to navigate without sight.
Shallot trembled a bit, a nervous energy growing in his mind. He shifted a single paw to lightly grip onto Tart's, who returned the small embrace without objection.
The rest of the group were similarly tense, only Floss remaining completely free of apprehension.
It was several heavy moments before the lucario held out an arm, stopping everyone in their tracks. Just ahead, the tunnel opened up into a large reservoir, with light visibly streaming down into it from above. Obscuring the light, a large, bipedal silhouette descended to block their path.
Everyone hovered still in place, eying the dark figure in the distance. It wasn't until Peel began to quickly swim forward that everyone else set in motion as well, charging toward the unknown individual.
They moved out of the way of the oncoming group of pokémon, powerfully springing off from the floor and rocketing high out of the body of water. The explorers soon followed, scrambling out and onto the ledge. They found themselves in a wide-open cavern, largely cloaked in darkness.
The staryu and starmi both activated their gems, bathing the surroundings in a bright light. The back-way entrance to an ancient brick structure lay sticking out of the water within another body on the far-side of the chamber.
The figure crashed down in front of the group, the mixture of blue and red light revealing his form.
Lopunny stood with his arms crossed, a frown upon his cheeks. His foot tapped impatiently.
"You go no further," stated the rabbit, eyes narrowing.
Peel gave a growl as she stepped forward.
"You!"
Lopunny gave a snort.
"Not just me." Emerging from the dark edges of the room, Yao Ling and Lutely joined Lopunny's sides, followed by several more pokémon. To Peel's immense confusion, she felt a weight lift off her back.
Floss hopped to the floor, the lone skitty moving over to stand with the Verge Uprising members. The small cat eyed her supposed ally's shocked demeanors with a determined glare, though briefly spiking in sorrow as she gazed over Peel.
"F-Floss!" Shouted the luxray. "What are you doing?! They'll tear you to shreds!"
Floss gave a sigh, shaking her head.
"I'm... Sowwy, Peel. Twuly, I am."
Peel felt the already present wetness on her face grow even more damp.
"B-but...! No! How long?! Was it all a lie?!"
Floss shook her head, giving a sad smile.
"I do love you, Peel, with all my heawt. That is why I have to do this... To cweate a pewfect world."
Several civilian pokémon went about their days on the wide platform consisting of the Minor Guild's surroundings area. They bustled in and out of the various shops, restaurants, and other miscellaneous near to the building.
With surprise, they all made to dart out of the way as a large group of pokémon stormed onto the platform from a similarly abandoned boardwalk. Led by a lone krokorok, they charged toward a single unassuming office-building on the far-side of the square.
Pop ducked his head back into the top-floor window, turning to the empty room behind him.
"Mmmm... Quicker than I expected..." the cat mumbled with a worried frown. He quickly skipped over to the intercom built into Biggs' chair, broadcasting his voice to the entirety of the building. "Attention, everybody! The invaders are here! Do what must be done!"
Pop smirked to himself as his sensitive hearing picked up the sounds of frantically shuffling pokémon within the building. The confident grin morphed into one of confusion as he heard paws approaching his door. He turned just in time to see the wooden slab burst open, with a cinccino and a vaporeon bursting in quickly.
"Hey!" shouted the normal-type. "I demand to know what is going on, this instant!"
The glameow raised an eyebrow, looking between the fuming cinccino and her indifferent husband. The cat cleared his throat.
"Mmmm... Lady Hots, Sir Steak. Please, do have a seat."
Visibly reddening, Hots stomped forwards. Pop took a defensive step backwards, cringing away.
"Have a seat?! Why don't you tell us what's going on, first! What invaders?! Is it the guilds again?!"
"If you'll just calm d-"
"Calm down? Calm down? Does your brain function, or is your skull as hollow as your attempts to soothe?! We are in danger, I was not previously informed, and I am not even sure who is after us! Who are you telling to calm down?!"
Pop gave a sigh, shaking his head.
"Mmmm... If you have such a problem with it, why don't you pull your weight?"
Hots scoffed, taking an expression of high offense.
"Ex-cuse me?"
Pop snerked.
"If you are so concerned with the danger we are in, then get off your high-ponyta and contribute that anger to a more productive use; help us fight them off."
Hots stomped her foot on the ground, growling.
"Fine! We, however, are having a long discussion of this matter, proceeding the mess! Hmph! Come on, love!"
As the cinccino stomped off, she grabbed Steak's tail to drag him off with her. The vaporeon gave a small wave to Pop before the door slammed shut.
Lopunny took a ready stance, fists raised.
"Your reign of terror ends now, foul explorers!"
The lucario and aegislash both looked to each other, with the former giving a small sigh. He spoke clearly.
"You are a conceited fool."
Before Lopunny could retort, the lucario dashed forward with blinding speed, swinging his partner with a practiced precision. Smacked with the flat-side of the blade, the normal-type didn't even have time to cry out before his unconscious form was hurled into the water.
The Verge Uprising pokémon each stepped away warely, with the explorers gazing on in a mixture of confusion, awe, and indifference.
A rattata gave a shrill cry, pointing forward.
"What the hell?!"
The lucario raised the aegislash into the air, the latter empowering itself in a dark aura. He glared around the room.
"Heed these words, evil-doers. I am Levi, and this is Copper! Together as one, we will end your feeble plot! Come quietly, or meet a premature end!"
A sandshrew stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Do not cower, my friends!" Biggs demanded. "Our cause is to bring about a perfect future! If we must perish to make a better tomorrow, then so be it! If we fail now, the collective suffering of future generations will far exceed that of which will be brought about by our deaths! This is for the greater good!" He pointed forward with a fiery aggression. "Charge!"
Though some remained still, the majority of the Uprising began to advance forward with a rousing cheer.
Thinking fast, Creme turned to face the rest of the explorers.
"Team Heroik!" called the ninetales. Shallot, Tart, and Salami snapped to attention. "The rest of us will provide a distraction with battle. Since you three are the weakest, you will instead sneak into the dungeon."
Salami rolled his eyes.
"Gee, thanks, mommy."
"Just get going!"
As the scene erupted into a cacophony of shouts, attacks, and moves, Team Heroik snuck out of the frey, as instructed. As they fled into the mystery dungeon on the far side of the room, only two of the Uprising members noticed, but didn't bother to chase after.
Tart's eyes narrowed as she observed the entry passage in front of them. She observed Biggs rolling into the dungeon in front of them, before taking a right turn and dashing out of sight.
"I believe I have observed their ring-leader heading inside of the dungeon."
Shallot gave a grin.
"Well, let's go toast em', then!"
Salami shook his head.
"Uh, he'll probably lead us to whatever they're down here for."
The fennekin rolled his eyes.
"Or an ambush."
Tart began to dash forward.
"We haven't the time to debate! Let us proceed!"
The two fire foxes quickly scrambled forward to catch up with their friend, which didn't take much effort due to her admittedly stubby legs. Salami quickly scooped his smaller companions onto his back, beginning to dash forward with increasing speed.
Broccoli gave a deft spring of his legs, altering his position in space to not intersect with the trajectory of an oncoming ember. Upon being reunited with the floor, thanks to gravity, the krokorok put his hands on his hips and looked up to the fourth story window.
A charmander gazed back, tail alight with a furious blaze. The fire-type's eyes narrowed before he shouted down.
"You don't have to do this, Broccoli! We're more than happy to accept you guys back! Be smart about this; we have you outgunned!"
Broccoli shook his head, relaxing his posture.
"Emerald, be a dear and HURT that fool."
The purrloin gave a smirk and a salute.
"Aye aye, cap'n!"
The charmander's eyes widened in alarm as a cluster of seeds was hurled up at him. They each exploded in a violent burst of grass-type energy, leaving their target mostly unharmed but destroying the perch he sat on.
The fire-type shouted in alarm, which abruptly cut off as he crashed against the wood of the platform. His form briefly bounced into the air, falling over a guard-rail.
All of the observing pokémon cringed upon hearing no further impact.
"Uh, yeesh," called a pikachu. "Think ya' overdid that one, Emmers."
The cat in question chuckled awkwardly.
"Didn't think the building construction would be so shoddy. Sorry!"
Broccoli shook his head.
"He'll be fine. Probably." The reptile's posture straightened, before readying for a sprint. "Come on, team! Let's SMASH!"
Most of the group took charging off toward the door with an intent speed, with some of the more adept climbers and flyers innstead moving up the walls. Broccoli crushed through the sturdy wooden door with an impact of his shoulders, splintering the wood into chunks.
Within the first floor of the building, several pokémon were already waiting. They all took various battle-ready positions,
On Broccoli's side, a blastoise took one step forward, shaking the room with his sheer weight.
"Yous. Move or perish. Outnumbered."
A lilligant sent a defiant stare, advancing forward as well.
"You're not intimidating, Kernel. We all know you wouldn't risk bringing this building down on everyone with those destructive jets of yours." They gave a smug grin, which turned to a shrill shriek as a high-pressure spray of water took them through a wall.
Instantly, two grovyle and a leafeon sprung onto the tortoise, pummeling him down with all the force they could. He attempted to swing and shake them off, but to no avail.
The rest of the room soon followed, erupting into a chaotic frenzy.
Broccoli did his best to clear his way through the small cloud of adversaries. Most of them could just be thrown out of the way, until a vaporeon and cinccino duo moved to block his way.
Before the large pokémon could react, a harsh spray of scalding water splashed against his face, knocking him down with a shout. Before he could stand once more, a smaller figure landed on his chest, then sending a violent shock through his dampened, stinging face.
With a growl of frustration, the krokorok grabbed the cinccino atop him, eliciting a squeak. He swiftly hurled her directly toward the vaporeon, who's eyes widened in shock. Steak was brutally impacted by the oncoming force of his unwillingly airborne wife.
Broccoli quickly rushed forward toward the elevator, with Emerald, Soda, and a pikachu following behind.
As the elevator door closed, a few hollow slams rattled against it from the outside.
The ground-type leaned over to examine the operation panel, squinting to read the text.
"Hm... Looks like we can't go directly to the top floor, but..." Broccoli's eyes widened in shock. He took a step back.
His comrades each looked startled as well, with the pikachu speaking first.
"Ah? What'sa matter, boss?"
Broccoli gave a huff, then a laugh.
"There's basement floors!" His arms crossed. "Which is spatially IMPOSSIBLE, given that there's no building below the platform."
Emerald's eyes widened.
"Wait... You don't mean..."
The krokorok nodded, grinning.
"That's right. This building must be a mystery dungeon. We can do as much damage as we want without needing to worry about structural integrity."
Fenini moved quickly and quietly, accompanied by a lazily floating magnemite.
"Ally: 'Teeny Fenini'," droned the electric-type. "Report target statuses."
The fennekin squinted through a set of binoculars, scanning down through the streets below them.
"I see them! They're going to the inn!" Fenini squealed.
"Are they together?" The magnemite buzzed.
"Uhm..." Fenini's tail swished a few times in concentration. "How many are there, again? There's the beartic, the two espeon, the pidgey, the piplup, the quilladin and the glaceon... Um... Am I forgetting anyone?"
"Negative."
"Okay! It seems two of the espeon split off from the main group... Oh, with the glaceon...!"
"Convenient. We pursue target: 'Sherbert Brekky'. We split up the group. We apprehend target: 'Sherbert Brekky'. Understood?"
"Uh... You betcha'!" Fenini giggled, poking the magnemite.
"You are proficient at understanding directions, ally: 'Teeny Fenini'."
The fennekin smiled, gracing the magnet with a brief nuzzle.
"Aww, thank you, best friend: 'Magnemike Wazowski'!"
"Do not waste time with trivialities, ally: 'Teeny Fenini'."
"Are you certain?" Pancake inquired, a worried frown upon her features.
The jigglypuff's features turned thoughtful once more, eyes screwing shut in concentration. Eventually, he let out a long sigh, slightly deflating.
"Nope. Sorry, fam. Only leafeon I've seen around here is ol' Eevergreen."
The espeon gave a light nod.
"Thank you for your time." She turned to walk away, slowly, with Waffle and Sherbert trailing close behind.
"We'd have mo' luck just lookin' on our ownsomes," Sherbert huffed, staring blanky ahead.
Waffle gave a sigh, shaking his head.
"It'd be too dangerous for us to split up."
The glaceon raised one eyebrow, but otherwise did not emote.
"Dangerous?"
"I feel it too," Pancake mumbled. "Something doesn't feel right here."
Waffle gave an uncomfortable shuffle.
"It's almost like..." The espeon felt the furs on the back of his neck standing up. "Move!"
Before either two of them could react, Waffle shoved both of his family members out of the way. Whizzing past the previous position of Sherbert's leg, a bullet impacted the ground with a resounding crack.
Numerous civilians, as well as Waffle, gave various utterance of terror, with the former group fleeing the scene.
Pancake and Sherbert quickly shot a psy-beam and an ice-beam respectively up toward a roof. A magnemite floated up and out of the way, as a fennekin was knocked straight down with a shriek. The electric-type quickly swooped down to catch its fallen comrade before fleeing into the depths of the town.
Waffle and Pancake turned to look at eachother.
"W-what do we do? Should we go after them?"
Pancake shook her head, before reaching to press a button on her badge.
"We regroup, then we'll see."
A sliggoo crawled along the moist, stone-brick floor, with a frogadier swimming alongside. A braixen and ampharos duo trailed behind, though equipped with breathing equipment in contrast to their companions.
"Oh, giddy!" The fraggadier's attention was piqued as their partner's distinct voice carried through the water. "I think I feel someone running below us! No; a lot of someones!"
The water type gave a thoughtful hum, his webbed hand coming to stroke his chin.
"Perhaps'n the backs-door group is down theys?"
"Uhm... Hold on!" The sliggoo abruptly stopped, putting an antenna to the floor. The frogadier signaled to Tomato and Pesto to halt as well.
The gastropod continued to listen, each subtle vibration of the stone surface sending a distinct tingle down their sensitive appendage.
Her water-type companion crossed his arms impatiently.
"Wells? Anythins?"
The sliggoo's head soon shot back up, before giving a few frantic nods..
"Definitely! There's, say, three small pokémon down there, and one less small one! Didn't sound like there was a fight, so... Are they safe?!"
"Hm..." The frog closed his eyes in thought. "Hard to says. Any close passages linkin' ups to theys?"
"Uhm... Use echoed-voice, please!"
"Okays."
The frogadier braced himself the best that he could, before bellowing out with a low, booming croak. Even within the thicker medium of the water, the sound seemed to reverberate.
The sliggoo's antenne continued to swivel around, picking up every subtle echo. A vague mental-map of the space was painted in its mind.
"This way!" She called, before crawling quickly toward a close-by bend in the hall, followed quickly by the other three pokémon.
As the sliggoo was about to run face-first into a pillar, her partner quickly lifted her up and set her down a half-meter to the left. The group continued moving on quickly.
Biggs pumped his legs harder than he ever had before down the corridor, not bothering to ever stop to look behind himself.
Soon enough, the enclosed brick hallway opened up into a massive chamber. Thin, wide walkways stretched from every side, with many up and down the height of the tall cylindrical room, all converging on a point in the center, all connected by various intricate staircases. Various points above and below on the walls and ceilings spewed powerful waterfalls, all cascading down into the inky void of blackness below.
The little sandshrew huffed and puffed as he scampered across the platform, shuddering in discomfort with every drop of water to splash onto his dry hide.
The central platform sat atop a pillar, spanning all the way down into the abyssal expanse below. Biggs' eyes remained squarely focused on the ornate podium atop it, with a sparkly, blue, spherical object just barely visible atop it in the distance.
As he approached the far away object, he abruptly stopped as a splattering of poison splashed in front of him. He turned to see a ninetales approaching, with a fennekin and minccino atop his back. The normal-type of the group had a paw freshly oozing with a purple liquid. She gave a disgusted groan, shaking it off frantically.
Shallot leapt down from Salami's back, standing tall and proud. He puffed out his chest as he approached Biggs.
The sandshrew took one step back, which was quickly retracted upon feeling the draining wetness of a poisonous sludge. For the first time in ages, he felt a nervous sweat coming on.
"Stop right there... You!" the fennekin demanded. "We are Team Heroik, and we're here to put an end to your evil plan! Whatever that may be."
Biggs steeled himself with a heavy breath. He let a smirk cross his features.
"You claim me to be evil, yet you don't even know what I'm here for." The shrew crossed his arms, tapping one foot impatiently. "Tell me, young vixen; is it truly a crime to merely explore a mystery dungeon?"
Shallot's cheeks puffed red with indignant.
"Hey! I'm a guy!" The fennekin growled lowly. "Yeah, maybe you're not actively breaking the law, but as associates with the Verge Uprising, you are all wanted terrorists."
Biggs laughed aloud, causing Team Heroik to each backstep with confusion.
"You know, all rebel groups, regardless of right or wrong, were labled as terrorists by the government in which they endeavored to overthrow. Tell me, dear Shallot; what have we done to put us on the bad end of that spectrum?"
The fennekin's eyebrow raised, teeth baring.
"How do you know my name? ...No, it doesn't matter! Your words won't scare me!"
The sandshrew sighed, shaking his head.
"Scare you? I asked a simple question. I just wish to know what is so evil about us."
Salami stepped forward, snarling a puff of fire.
"Uh, really? Do we even have to say it?"
Biggs nodded.
"For the sake of argument, yes, you do."
Tart crossed her arms.
"It is quite the simple answer, really, you clever wretch. You have unwilling departed innocent pokémon from their friends and family to further your own selfish goals. You may not claim any moral high ground when kidnapping is involved."
Biggs felt his grin grow larger.
"Ah, ah, ah, a great point you bring up. It truly is a vile thing to rip poor sinless individuals from those they love. By this logic, Lady Tartar, wouldn't you agree that your precious father's little... Addiction scandal could perhaps bare a more peaceful solution? Or, should I expect some sort of brilliant justification for this blatant double-standard?"
Tart traised a paw, mouth opening to protest. Both soon fell short, a discomforted shiver filling her body.
Shallot felt dark smoke beginning to fume from his ears as the sandshrew cackled lightly.
"Fuck you!" Shallot shouted. "Regardless of all that, two wrongs don't make a right!"
The ground-type's laughing fit fell back down to a manageable level, giving a light nod soon after.
"So, then, you do admit that it's wrong."
"Shut up!"
The area was bathed in a harsh red light as Shallot unleashed a plume of raw heat into the sandshrew's form. His tuxedo, his bag, and most of his items save for an escape orb ignited with the overwhelming destructive force of the fox's plasmatic breath, incinerating to ashes within seconds. The rest of the platform was left relatively unharmed, only a few surfaces singed a darker color by the wayward reaches of my largely controlled release.
As the smoke cleared, Bigg's unimpressed glare was revealed, his arms still crossed.
"Really now?"
Shallot stepped back in surprise, sputtering.
"Wh- I- but- you... How?!"
Biggs shook his head, sighing with a frown.
"I'm a ground-type, genius. Your rookie status doesn't provide anywhere near the strength needed to power through such a type advantage." He turned his back on the three. "Face it. You're all still kids. You ain't cut out for this gig. Just forget about all of this and go home."
Shallot slumped to the floor, visibly devastated. Tart remained curled up into a ball, staring off into space. Salami looked back and forth between the three other pokémon present, unsure of what to do.
Those three others soon turned to seven. Out of one of the waterfalls higher up on the wall, a sliggoo, frogadier, braixen, and ampharos all shot out, landing atop the platform. The latter three landed expertly on their feet, with the sliggoo sliding face-first along the stone surface, though largely unharmed.
Biggs and Salami both turned in alarm and glee respectively to see the four approaching.
"All big talks for a little man," the frogadier chuckled, stretching out to clasp his hands.
Tomato gave a smirk, putting one hand on her hip.
"And, when it all seemed most dire... Huzzah! The great Tomato appears to save the day!" The braixen raised her wand into the air, puffing out a stream of confetti. "You can thank me later, Sals."
Pesto gave a light nod, glancing over the group.
"Are you all okay?"
Salami gave a relieved sigh, nodding.
"Uh, yeah, we're good. A bit of emotional damage, but, they're strong. They'll get over it."
The sliggoo gave a cheering shout.
"Come on, you two! Don't give up! His words don't mean anything!"
Shallot and Tart both perked up a bit, looking over to the upbeat mollusc.
As the opposing pokémon reunited, Biggs began to quietly sneak away, once again resuming his journey toward the center of the room.
My wife, son, and daughter met back up with the rest of us, clearly disturbed. From what was reported, a fennekin and magnemite duo had attempted to shoot our fair glaceon down.
We were unable to figure out who they were or what their motives were, but one thing became clear. The town was no longer safe. We decided it best to keep our guards up, and leave for the forest after dinner instead of the next day.
And, so, we did.
Under the cover of moonlight, the explorer group entered the forest. Waffle shivered at the feeling of a chilling breeze rustling through his short coat.
Tall, brimming trees obscured most of the moonlight with a thick canopy, leaving the foliage below cloaked in an inky blackness. The white glow of Pancake's gem kept an area around them illuminated, but it started to become less and less effective as a fog began to roll in.
Pit soared above the treetops, keeping a lookout for anything noteworthy, occasionally glancing down to see Pancake's piercing light still below.
We walked for an age in relative silence. There was a palpable tension within the air, leaving us all too nervous to speak, lest we garner the attention of any bad actors. It was forty-five minutes in when things started to go wrong.
"What the FUCK was that?!" Waffle screamed, backing away quickly. The rest of the group looked similarly startled, each looking about in panic. They all shouted in alarm as another shrill screech filled the air, followed by a low groan.
The ground group were entirely helpless, unable to do anything as Pit's cry of alarm met their ears from above.
"THEY HAVE ME! THEY-"
The abrupt silence sent a shiver down Frye's spine.
A deafening, thundering crash, combined with otherworldly screeching and wailing elicited screams from everyone as a bright light shot down in the middle of the group. Everybody scattered, save for Sherbert, who remained still with a rare show of emotion coming in the form of an unamused glare.
"Magnemike. I know that's you, homes."
"Affirmative." The glaceon stared on as the magnemite hovered down from the trees, illuminating itself with a flash. "Greetings, target: 'Sherbert Brekky'."
Sherbert nodded slowly, stepping toward them.
"Yeeuh. What are you here for?"
"We have come to apprehend you, target: 'Sherbert Brekky'."
The ice-type had no time to formulate a response as Fenini hit her over the back of the head with a branch. Sherbert fell unconscious instantly.
"He's getting away!"
Biggs jolted as the braixen drew attention to him. He quickly began to bolt away, with the rest of the explorers chasing with little hesitation. Save for Shallot and Tart, who still looked a tad unsure.
The sandshrew leapt out of the way of a stray blast of water from the frogadier, who leveled the ground-type with a harsh glare. Biggs once more rolled clear as a spray of acid from the sliggoo splattered across his previous position, leaving a couple small cavities within the stones surface.
With a hop, a skip, and a jump, the small pokémon leapt deftly over the dark chasm below, landing safely upon another stone bridge to the side. Shallot, Tart, and Salami quickly turned to fling globs of poison, varying in consistency. He scrambled forward to avoid the volley of lethal liquids and semi-solids, scrambling farther along the bridge.
Biggs soon regained composure, hurling a mud-shot toward the explorers. They quickly leapt out of the way, with sliggoo being the only exception, the dragon-type being slapped off from the bridge. The frogadier quickly reached out to catch them, but another spray of mud to the back quickly knocked him off as well.
The two fell a little over a story, passing one bridge but landing in a heap atop another.
Tart snapped.
"I see what is happening! His attacks may be weak, but as long as we remain in a parallel position, he is able to knock us off no problem!"
Biggs snarled as his opponent's began to leap onto the bridge with him. He quickly began an earthquake, violently tremoring down the length of the structure. The explorers struggled to maintain balance, until one of the support pillars broke, the bridge segment beginning to crumble under its own weight.
Everyone scrambled forward the best that they could, but Tomato began to lose her footing. Salami and Pesto both turned back to grab her with haste, before taking off forward once more.
As Biggs approached the end of the bridge, he stopped. The path forward dropped off. He looked up to see the bridge above continuing further. With a sharp turn, he soon took off up the stairs.
The sandshrew was peppered by numerous shots of fire, lightning, poison, and even a couple psybeams as he ascended the staircase, soon making it up to another bridge. He sent another violent quake into the structure, collapsing the stairs into the abyss.
Tomato took a deep breath, letting her eyes fall shut. With an immense effort, she levitated her four companions up to the next bridge. They each bid her thanks before departing to chase after Biggs.
Pesto took the lead, leaping forward toward the fleeing shrew with a powerful spring of his legs. Upon landing, he kicked the sandshrew forward, sending him tumbling. Down, but not out, Biggs took advantage of the ampharos' moment of unstable balance to knock him off from the bridge with a direct rock-throw to the face. He was sent hurtling off, unconscious, only barely caught in time by the psychic grasp of his daughter.
Team Heroik continued to chase Biggs as he darted away, finally reaching the center of the chamber. He began to ascend the spiral staircase, tailed by his opponents, going round and round up the pillar. He continued to occasionally pulse the stairs with earthquakes, slowing his pursuers down.
After a long while of climbing, he came into a hollowed out part of the pillar, approaching a pedestal in the middle. He sent one last violent earthquake into the ground as he crossed the final short bridge, causing it to crumble. Shallot only barely managed to make it over in time, with Salami and Tart left stranded on the stairs.
The Blue Orb sat sparkling atop its pedestal. Biggs' approach was once more hindered as Shallot landed in front of him, standing in front of the artifact.
The sandshrew gave a light chuckle, eying up the fuming fox.
"Perhaps you're more cut out for this than I thought." The shrew barked a small laugh. "I suppose, however, that being greater than zero isn't a high bar to clear. You're at a solid one-point-five, maybe. Too bad for you, Shallot, that not even a six-thousand could outmatch my intellect."
"Cut the talk, shorty," Shallot barked, stamping his paw. "You lost; give up."
"Not so fast, my foxy friend." Biggs yawned slightly, much to the fennekin's chagrin. "For, you see, you have a simple choice here. Step out of the way, or your friends will meet with an untimely end."
Shallot's eyes widened as Biggs began another earth-quake, Tart and Salami shouting in alarm as the stairs beneath them began to shed stone dust.
"W-wait! Stop!" cried the fire-type.
Biggs obliged, ceasing the attack.
Shallot gazed blankly for a long moment, sitting down. He rested one paw on his cape, stroking it, visibly stressed.
The sandshrew tapped his foot impatiently, crossing his arms.
"Well, well, what'll it be? Is that orb worth your friends' lives to you?"
Salami gave a shout.
"Don't listen to him, Shallot! We aren't worth it!"
Tart added on, calling out as well.
"We aren't worth the world, Shallot! It is for the greater good!"
Shallot grit his teeth, sweat pooling on his brow. He looked back and forth between the resigned gazes of his friends and the impatient features of Biggs.
"Come on, Shallot. I'm waiting." A puff of steam released from Shallot's ears. He gave a sigh, slumping in posture. Tart and Salami both cried out in protest as the fennekin stepped out of the way. Biggs rubbed the top of the fire-type's head with a smirk. "Good boy."
The sandshrew advanced forwards quickly, leaping up to the blue orb.
The fennekin turned to face his friends.
"Shallot!" Salami shouted. "What were you thinking!"
"The greater good!" Tart cried. "The greater good!"
Shallot shook his head firmly.
"No greater good is worth unnecessary loss of life. We'll find a way. We always do."
Biggs gave a quiet yawn, gaining everyone's attention.
"A touching sentiment." He lifted up the Blue Orb, holding it under his arm. "Unfortunately for you, it will be your last mistake." The sandshrew began an earthquake move once more.
Shallot bolted upright in alarm.
"What?! You said-"
"I did say, and I lied." Biggs got one last savory look of the bewildered face of Team Heroik, before he quickly smashed his escape orb on the ground, vanishing in a white light.
The quaking didn't stop, with the stairs beginning to crumble out from beneath Tart and Salami. They both screamed in terror as their footing began to slip, holding onto eachother for dear life.
Shallot dashed as close to the edge as he could, crying out in anguish. He could not stop tears from coming to his eyes as his two best friends soon fell off from their unstable ground, gravity pulling them toward the inky blackness below.
One-thousand thoughts raced through Shallot's mind in an instant. He wasn't good enough. He made the wrong choice. He trusted the liar. His friends were going to die.
"What can I do?! What can I do?!" He thought back to Tomato's stunt previously, levitating pokémon with only her mind. "If I wasn't so damned useless with psychic...! If I could just get a little boost to reach that stupid elusive part of my mind...!" He desperately reached out with his weak telekinetic grip, only barely feeling his friend's presences within it. He pushed, pushed, and pushed on his mind, forcing as much psychic energy as he could into reality. He just wasn't physically capable of the power needed.
Shallot simply did not have the necessary assets to put his psychic to his full potential. That, was, of course, until he did.
A fresh surge of power began to fill Shallot's body. He felt a rush of energy, as if he'd grown stronger in an instant. He felt the fiery rage within his mind split into a burning passion and a rational calm.
With a cry and a shout, Shallot's psychic grip fully encased his friends, suspending them both in mid-air. The fox's face was soaked with a mixture of sweat and tears. He stared in disbelief, first at himself, then his friends. Tart and Salami's looks of horror morphed into confusion, then relief, then surprise.
"Shallot!" Tart cheered. "You evolved!"
Pop shrieked in alarm as the door burst open, Broccoli stomping in quickly. The krokorok's face lacked its typical cocky grin, instead locked in a snarl.
"Okay," breathed Broccoli. "I'll admit. You put up WAY more of a fight than I expected. Yet, here I am. I win. Where's Smallan?"
Pop narrowed his eyes, glaring at the towering reptile. The feline's claws unsheathed.
"Mmmm... Broccoli. So nice of you to drop by. Minor correction, however: The game is not over until Mr. Biggan says so."
The krokorok growled, stepping forward.
"I'm not FUCKING AROUND with you, Pop. Give up before I CRUSH you."
"Mmmm... Would you really cripple another poor soul, you colossal brute?"
"Shut UP!" Broccoli charged forward quickly, then leaping toward Pop. The glameow side-stepped easily, catching the krokorok's passing face with a shadow-claw empowered scrape with his paws.
The ground-type gave a displeased grunt at the dark burning feeling filling his new wound. He quickly spun around to whack the glameow with his tail, sending him flying through a thin pane of drywall with a shout. Broccoli quickly charged over, scruffing Pop with a violent yank.
The cat hung suspended, still staring defiantly.
"Mmmm... Lucky shot."
"Lucky shot my ASS. It's pure skill, baby."
"Mmmm...! You can lucky-shot my ass any day, handsome..."
Broccoli gave a deadpan stare at the remark.
"You know I could bite your head off right now, right?"
"Not a chance, lug."
Before Broccoli could retort, a chuckle came from behind him. The krokorok dropped the cat quickly, who meekly scurried away.
"You!" Broccoli stomped over quickly to the chair, where Biggs sat stroking his Blue Orb for all to see. "You're done, Biggs! Give me the orb before I fuck you UP!"
"Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast, big guy. I've got something you'll wanna see."
Broccoli glared, snorting.
"Yeah, right."
"Take a look." Biggs flicked a button on his remote, activating the large screen in the side of the room. To Broccoli's horror, a live video-feed displayed an unconscious glaceon clear as day, with a pistol being held to her temple. "Hurt one more hair on any of my men's heads and she gets it."
The krokorok stomped in rage, growling.
"Well played, Biggan. You vile FUCK." He crossed his arms. "I yield."
Biggs smiled.
"Good, then. Quietly leave through the door, with your hands raised up."
Broccoli glared with a growl, slowly backing away. As soon as he got close to the door and turned away, Biggs threw an escape orb directly into the back of Broccoli's head.
Pop skulked over with a trill, rubbing against Biggs' leg. He received a gentle pet on the head in response.
"Mmmm... Should I activate the entry trap, sir?"
"Yes, please do. You have done well today, Pop."
"Thank you, sir..."
As Broccoli appeared back outside of the office building, the floor swung open underneath him. With a shout of alarm, he began to plummet down and down Layer Port. Along the way, he crashed against and through several walkways and perches in level one, each doing little to slow his descent. It wasn't until his jaw cracked against the more sturdy supports of level zero that he finally stopped.
Battered, bruised, bleeding, broken, the krokorok stared defeatedly into the water. The salty night's breeze stung his wounded flesh, with the occasional chunk of wood or drop of his own blood falling from above not doing anything to help the matter. He simply laid still, exhausted, directionless. He hadn't a clue what to do. All he could think about was his failure to best Biggan. Perhaps even worse, his failure to protect Sherbert.
Broccoli's head only barely raised upon hearing approaching paw-steps, accompanied by rolling. He turned to see a vulpix approaching, hind-legs suspended on a pair of wheels. The eyes of both pokémon lit up in recognition as they saw each other.
Cindy stared down at the krokorok in disbelief. Before long, however, his head lowered back down, completely lethargic.
"Please, drown me," Broccoli mumbled, a single teardrop falling from his eye.
Cindy's heart pounded in her chest. The very same pokémon that had crippled her, potentially permanently, laid completely defenseless and at her mercy. She looked around, unsure what to do.
She swallowed down the spark of vengeance threatening to burst from her inner flame, hooking a leg gently around his tail.
"No..." Cindy mumbled. "He's hurt. I have to help him."
Later that day, Arborio sat in the middle of a ritualistic setup, him and the Blue Orb set within the middle. The arbok quietly chanted an ancient, foriegn incantation, with the orb beginning to glow.
The accounted-for members of the Verge Uprising watched on from outside the circle. They were within an ancient cove along the beach, just outside of Layer Port. Within the large cavern, a giant pool resided.
One by one, every pokémon began to join in on the chanting. The room filled with the uniform, disorienting sounds of droning voices, the room becoming awash in a deep blue light. The Blue Orb began to rise above the pool.
Arborio soon spoke his wishes in modern dialect.
"Oh, mighty Blue Orb! Grant us what is needed to change the world! Bring about the means to control the rain!" The sky outside soon grew dark, with an occasional drop of rain falling. The pokémon all ceased chanting as the orb glowed brightly. Their excitement and awe soon turned to confusion, then terror as the water began to stirr. "W-what the..." Arborio stuttered in complete disbelief. A colossal shadow rose up in the pool. The whole gave began to rumble, with rain hammering down harder and harder outside.
With an ear-splitting crack of thunder, Kyogre burst forth from the pool, soaking the inhabitants of the cave. The ancient beast let out a guttural, deep, horror-inducing call. All of the pokémon present fled.
The arcanine chief looked up from his coffee out the window. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Oh, dear legends..."
Guildmaster Toast, who sat beside him, looked out of the window as well.
"What in the world is going on out there?!"
The whole building began to shake. Various officers crowded near the window to see the quickly darkening sky, filling with torrential downpour and visibly crackling thunder. A titanic wave, all the way from level zero, splashed down upon the elevated platforms of upper Layer-Port, instantly soaking its surface. A poor zorua was knocked off by the wave, only being caught just in time by the vines of a venusaur.
A machoke put his hands on her head, staring out in utter horror.
"Could this be... The end of the world?!"
Captain Charles wailed and shouted in apathy, the bibarel's limbs flailing about in horror.
"Oh, I told you, kids! I told you, kids! The sea gods have returned for vengeance! Oh, what have we done to upset you, sea gods?!"
Bailey, Candy, and Warlock did their best to comfortingly massage the old man's back, though worriedly keeping their eyes on the silhouetted beast in the distance. Their ship creaked and groaned, battered around by the increasingly violent force of the waves.
Within Team Relic's apartment, Barbie and Coco both babysat the resident ninetales pair's child.
'Pag lazed on the couch, her four tails flicking casually in an unsynchronized motion. She let out a small yawn, observing the news program.
"When'th mommy and daddy and big bro coming back?" She wondered out loud, puffing a small bit of smoke. "I'm tho bored! They promithed we could finith moving my thingth in today!"
Barbie carefully stroked the vulpix's head, much to the younger pokémon's irritation.
"They had, like, an important mission, kiddo. Just be patient, 'kay?"
"Excuse me, Barbara, you may wish to see this," Coco interjected, gesturing to the TV. His sister looked over with an intrigued murmur.
"A storm of eldritch proportions is spreading across the island, and fast, reports say!" A jigglypuff spoke into the microphone, backdropped against a green-screened weather map. It showed thunder clouds slowly beginning to stretch across the island. "We have some saying that a legendary pokémon has been spotted, and suspected to be the cause! More on this story as it develops."
The two ponyta looked to each other with concern as the vulpix continued to groan in the background.
Pie huffed quietly as she crossed the sandy expanse. The snivy at her side continued to sing an unappealingly off-key tune.
The cyndaquil's head lifted up, squinting into the distance. She could make out a small collective of tents.
"Is... That it?" Pie spoke quietly, glancing to her side.
Lucy's singing abruptly stopped, her eyes fluttering open. She put a hand to her forehead to block out the sun's glare, before grinning wide.
"Good eye, cute-stuff!"
"U-um... Thanks," stuttered the fire-type.
"No prob!"
As the pair approached the campsite, a raichu scampered up to meet them.
"Lucy, hello. I see you have brought a new friend."
The snivy gigled, curtsying politely.
"Aye, aye! She's a real-" The snake stopped abruptly as she felt something hit her nose. "Huh...?" Another impact on her head.
The three looked up as the moonlight became blotted out by thick, black clouds. It soon began puring rain.
Pie squealed in alarm, with the other two reacting similarly.
"Rain?! In the desert?!" Pie questioned.
Lucy gave a small laugh.
"Ahah! Hey, it's gotta happen sometimes! Let's not waste this opportunity to enjoy some moisture!"
"Speak for yourself," the raichu huffed. "I've got better things to do than frolic in the rain like a pichu."
"Hmph, fine! Have it your way, hottie-pants!" Lucy stuck her tongue out at the retreating mouse.
Umami, Dish, Sushinx, and Biscuit all sat in the front room of the Onya Major guild, also accompanied by a lopunny and lucario pair.
"I'm still kinda in disbelief that you were gone, Arugula," Sushinx commented. "All those impersonators had you down to the letter."
The lucario gave a small smile, shrugging.
"Quiet is easy."
"Says you," Lollipop snarked. "I do not find it so simple to keep my mouth shut, haha!"
"Or your legs," Biscuit snickered. Sushinx joined in. The bumped hips in unison as Lollipop shot them a small glare, with the rest of the room's occupants chuckling.
Dish gave a small frown soon after, bouncing up and down.
"Hey hey hey!" He called. "It's been dry and cloudless all day! Where are all those storm clouds rushing in from?!"
Confused, Umami took a look out the window. Everyone else soon approached to join.
"Shit," the umbreon commented. "Those are... Fast clouds."
"Watch your language, Ms. Umami," Sushinx chastised, receiving a snicker from Biscuit.
They watched on in mild curiosity as the rain began to fall.
As rain and thunder crackled outside, several pokémon sat in a hospital room.
Occupying the beds were a pidgey and a glaceon. Observing them were two espeon, a beartic, a quilladin, a leafeon, and a zoroark.
Because of what happened in the forest, law enforcement had to look into things, and in the process... Well, I'm sure the guild has gotten the news by now. Our mysterious glaceon was my daughter, Sherbert, the fugitive. This is why I have not attempted to conceal her identity within my writing.
We were able to locate Lemon, who was camping out with the fugitive Nettle. They helped us to locate and free Sherbert, and I was surprised to learn that the zoroark cared deeply for her.
Nettle and Sherbert will be put on probation back at Layer Port as they are investigated for their crimes. I do not have a good feeling about that, admittedly.
I was pleased to have my son's boyfriend returned to him, however. Lemon, admittedly, seems a bit less sane than when I last saw him. I never thought I would be saying this, but I worry for that boy's mental health.
One last worry of mine is this sudden downpour. It was just so instant, and it hasn't stopped, or even slowed, for hours. Where did it come from?
End mission log.