Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Unchained Explorers

by OmegaEntertainment

An SI without the memory of his name gets thrown into the world of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, except things are...different. Tags, if that at all interests you: Anthropomorphic Pokémon main characters, eventually nsfw, gloriously wholesome romance, op main characters, vaguely gamer-ish.

14. Chapter 14: Mad Gods

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Unchained Explorers.

Arc II: Dark Future, Part 2.

Chapter Fourteen: Mad Gods.

---

AN: Warning, the entire Dark Future arc has some fucked up shit.

This is the second of two Fucked Up Shit warnings given for this arc, and I refuse to be blamed if you choose to continue from this point.

Fucked Up Shit warnings: Death, gore, trauma, and just general suffering.

...just remember that it gets worse, this chapter.

---

You are now on Floor B1 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

...well, shit.

"Hey Vulpix, I just realized something..."

I saw Vulpix turn her head to raise an eyebrow in my direction, even as we stared down the room's exits.

"...we forgot the Stun Seed."

I watched my partner blink in confusion, before she checked our bag and let out a loud groan of utter frustration, and I took a moment to squeeze her hand reassuringly before we began walking toward the room's exits.

Right, let's try north, first.

Oh, okay.

Right, that's a sleeping Muk next to the stairs, a few Gravelerocks that we don't care about...and a Probopass levitating toward us from the other side of the room.

Let's, uhh...let's just leave.

I saw the Muk wake up as we lunged past its sleeping form, and I watched Vulpix shudder in disgust as its arm just barely grazed her back, leaving a trail of purple sludge along her shoulders moments before we entered the stairway.

You are now on Floor B2 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 2.

As we appeared within the next floor's starting room, I saw my partner shudder once more at the memory of how the Muk's arm had brushed against her back, before she craned her head to make sure that the sludge was gone, my hand tightening on hers reassuringly as we turned to scan the room.

Right, there's a pile of money, a Wonder Tile... and a Shelgon.

No stairs, though.

Shelgon picked up the 54P.

Alright, now let's just wait for it to approach...

Shelgon dropped the 54P.

...and there we go.

54P obtained.

Right, now let's go west, since that's the only way out of this room.

As we walked toward the exit, I heard a click from under my feet, before I grimaced in pain as an entire pile of chestnuts fell directly onto my head.

Well, that hurt. Not MUCH, but it still hurt a bit.

Right, that shit aside, let's see...oh, it's a T-junction, then.

Let's try...west.

Nothing in here, so let's head through the northern exit.

Okay, that's some kind of scarf on the ground...and a Forretress that just slammed itself in me. Ow.

Right, Force Palm...and it didn't explode, huh.

So, let's see what this is...

Zinc Band obtained.

Ah, cool.

Hmm, the north and east exits both lead to the same place...which is absolutely fucking nowhere, so I guess we're backtracking.

Right, so now we go NORTH at the T-junction, instead...

Nothing in here, and the space between the other room and that western exit is WAY too small to fit another room... so that just leaves the two northern exits and the eastern one.

Let's check north first...and there's nothing in here except a Shelgon, good to know.

Right, now for the east...and that's a Metang.

Okay, two Force Palms later because it evaded the first...hmm. Only viable path is north, if I'm reading the mini-map right.

...and there's the stairs.

And a Tangrowth...which Vulpix has just handled with Flamethrower, because honestly that thing has WAY too many tentacles for my comfort.

You are now on Floor B3 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Huh. Well, there's water now, I guess...or maybe I just didn't notice it before.

Hmm, let's try...west.

Nothing in here, so let's keep going west.

There's the stairs...and two enemy Pokémon, so let's see if we can reach the stairs before they reach us.

...oh, wait, the dots on the mini-map aren't moving?

Well, now that I look, that makes a LOT more sense...they're both fucking asleep.

Though, even as we approached the stairs, Vulpix still decided to get in a parting shot because why not, a spiraling lance of yellow flame surging from within my partner's mouth to perfectly nail the Probopass sleeping across the room and sent its now-unconscious body to the floor.

I took a moment to lean down and press my lips to hers with a wide grin on my face, muttering my congratulations even as we walked into the stairway together.

"Nice shot, Vulpix."

You are now on Floor B4 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 1.

Right, we're about halfway through this section, so that's good,

Hmm...two exits to the south that PROBABLY link together, and one to the east.

Let's go...east.

Right, the mini-map shows one item, an enemy Pokémon...and holy fuck that's FIVE Wonder Tiles. What the hell.

...we're not getting any Celebi alerts, at least, so that's a definite plus.

Ah, it's a Forretress, so...Flamethrower.

Nice, now let's go see what that item is, even if the room IS pretty fuckin' big.

Energy Ball TM obtained.

Ah, another one...good to know, I suppose.

Now, let's go east...and nevermind because that shit just loops back into the room.

South it is, then.

Nothing in this room, so let's head west...and I can fuckin' HEAR that Muk following us.

Nice, there's the stairs...and a second Muk.

Without a word necessary, I tilted my head as Vulpix's hand squeezed mine, and I felt her chin rest on my shoulder and her breasts press against my back, moments before a spiraling lance of yellow flame punched a hole directly through the Muk's center mass, the living biohazard's body filling the gap even as its form slumped into an unconscious puddle on the ground.

Huh. Maybe it didn't activate the lethality limiter specifically because of Muk's nature as sapient SLUDGE?

Eh, whatever, let's just carefully step around the puddle, try in vain to ignore how fucking BAD it smells, and leave.

You are now on Floor B5 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 2.

Ah, good, there's the stairs...and a Wonder Tile.

There's also a Forretress ON said Wonder Tile, which is...not as good.

Right, with THAT solved via Force Palm, let's go.

You are now on Floor B6 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

Hmm, I see two of the floor's items, an enemy Pokémon...and the stairs, which is certainly nice.

Right, the Tangrowth is down, so let's grab these items before we go.

Persim Band obtained.

Ah, that's a Muk...which is no longer a problem, now.

Oh nice, an Apple.

Apple obtained.

Right, let's go.

You are now on Floor B7 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Right, that's a Probopass and a Tangrowth.

Focus Blast the Probopass, Vulpix takes entirely too much pleasure in burning the Tangrowth, and there we go.

Okay...now let's go north.

Huh, an Orb and some money, so let's grab them and go north.

Warp Orb obtained.

62P obtained.

Huh...there's the rest of the items, I guess. Honestly surprised this room isn't a Monster House, but I'll take it.

Hyper Beam TM obtained.

...holy fuck. Can-can we learn that shit?

Hyper Beam can only be learned upon evolution, by both Lucario and Ninetales.

Good to hear, then I guess we'll keep it, since we'll both learn the move when either of us uses the TM.

Oran Berry obtained.

Apple identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Hmm...nah. Now, let's go...south.

...which is a T-junction heading west and east, so let's see where these paths lead.

Ah, there's the stairs...the Muk is an unfortunate addition, but that's fine.

...right, now with the Muk handled, let's go.

You are now on Floor B8 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Alright, last floor of this section.

Also, the five items is certainly nice, and I even see one right there.

Probopass picked up the Explosion TM.

...huh, good to know, then.

Oran Berry identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Alright then, I guess we'll just go...north.

Ah, good, there's the stairs. Let's hurry and catch up to Grovyle if we can, and that Probopass can keep the Explosion TM, too.

As we approached the stairway, I heard another click beneath my feet, and I heard Vulpix hiss as my back slammed into her chest, both of us toppling to the floor as her arms reflexively wrapped around my torso.

I leaned my head back just in time to see a Probopass levitate into the room, and promptly rose my hand to fire a floor-launched Focus Blast...only to be beaten to the almost literal punch as an orb of Fighting-type energy came from my partner's hand instead, the impact of the Focus Blast slamming the Rock and Steel type Pokémon's body into the wall.

Ah. Right, I keep forgetting she has that...admittedly, she doesn't usually USE it, so...

Notably enough, it didn't drop the TM, which told me that there was certainly a second Probopass wandering around the floor.

We took a moment to just enjoy the embrace that we had found ourselves in, before reluctantly pulling ourselves to our feet and walking toward the stairs.

Rest Stop reached.

---

As we walked into the Rest Stop, I sent a glance toward the noticeably blue water on either side of the central chamber, before Vulpix's hand tightened on mine and we passed by the Kangaskhan Rock without a moment's pause, already fully aware that it wouldn't work.

Right, well, we've got an extra Apple, that Oran Berry...we SHOULD be fine, I think.

We should probably refill the Treasure Bag's water reserve before we go, though.

...and yet, as we walked through the exit, I couldn't help but exchange a worried glance with my partner as the entire dungeon seemed to tremble for a moment, as if something incredibly strong had suddenly moved just that little bit.

---

You are now on Floor B1 of 6.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

Two Wonder Tiles, a sleeping Tangrowth, and a Forretress floating toward us.

Without a word, Vulpix rested her chin on my shoulder and spat a spiraling lance of flame into the Forretress' outer plating, before she turned to do the same to the Tangrowth, and both enemy Pokémon fell to the ground unconscious without a chance to fight back, even as I turned my head and pressed my lips to hers in thanks.

Right, let's head...west.

Ah, here's another Forretress, so...Force Palm.

Hmm, no stairs in here, so let's go north.

Huh. Dead-end with two items, so we might as well see what they are before backtracking.

Embargo TM identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Heal Seed identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Hmm, we probably can't use that TM, so let's just leave it...and the interface just confirmed it for us, good to know.

Right, NOW let's start backtracking.

Tangrowth picked up the 42P.

Heh, forty-two yet again.

...oh, hi Tangrowth, do you have the money?

Tangrowth dropped the 42P.

...I guess you did. Cool.

42P obtained.

Right, one Shelgon later, let's see what's in this room...and it's nothing, so let's go north again.

Ah, there we go...right, let's get to the next floor.

You are now on Floor B2 of 6.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

There's a Wonder Tile, an Oran Berry, and an Apple of some kind.

We've already got extras, though, so let's just leave and head...yeah, west looks good.

Hmm, just a Wonder Tile, so let's see where this room's western exit leads.

As we crossed through the room, I felt Vulpix's hand tighten on mine as she paused for just a moment, and I turned my head just in time to watch her Flamethrower slam directly into the face of a Metang emerging from one of the room's southern entrances.

Nice shot.

Right, the western exit leads nowhere, as does the southwest, so let's see where that Metang came from.

Nothing here, and those two western exits just loop into each other, so let's head south...or rather, east, because this thing wants to curve.

Hmm, nothing but a Wonder Tile, but let's see where the eastern exit leads before committing to heading west...again, that is.

Huh, nothing but a connecting hallway, so let's turn around and...ow fucking hell that Rock Slide hurt a bit.

Right, fuck you Probopass, here's a Force Palm.

Took me three tries to hit the damned thing, but I got it in the end, so let's head back to the room...oh for fuck's sake there's another Probopass.

Right, with THAT out of the way, let's see where that western exit leads...obviously the stairs, if I'm being honest, but the surprise is always somewhat amusing.

Hmm, there's a Wonder Tile...and a TM, let's see what that is before we head north.

Embargo TM identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Ah, it's another Embargo.

Cool, let's go, then.

There's the stairs...the surprise is so nice, even when you're kind of expecting it.

You are now on Floor B3 of 6.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Two Wonder Tiles, a Tangrowth walking toward us...and no stairs.

Right, Flamethrower the vine monster before it can attempt to do unspeakable hentai things to either of us, and...oh?

Vulpix has leveled up! Vulpix has reached Level 47.

Oh nice! Right, that gets some celebratory kissing, then, and I am all too happy to provide.

Mmm...as much as I'd love to have some congratulatory sex as well, we DO probably have to rescue Grovyle at the end of this dungeon...

This Pokémon can learn a new move, but m̶̲͗ư̷̦s̴̭̀t̵͍̉ ̶̭̿f̴̫̍o̴̪͂ŗ̷̂g̷̹͌e̶̠͝t̸͖͊ ̸̭͒t̸̟̍ḫ̷̽ë̸̪́ ̴̠͗o̴̙͛l̷̰͗d̵͔̆ ̷̹̏o̷̫͘n̸͒͜ẹ̷̌ ̸̪̂f̶͇̿ǐ̴̜r̵̹̾s̴̩͝ẗ̵̙.̸̖͌

Vulpix has learned Fire Blast, Riolu ḧ̸͓̖́́ă̴̘s̸̼̼̃͛ ̵̛͓l̴̺̀͗ẻ̸̹̍ä̸̛͉́r̶͈̒̊ǹ̴̘ê̸̮d̴̖͒ ̴͈̰́F̴͎̌̐i̷̡̺̪͆͗̾r̷̦̯̆͗̚e̴̗̙̫̓͛͂ ̶̻͆B̵͍͛ḷ̸̘̬̌͠ằ̶̢̹̤̊s̴̥̦̐̔̓t̸̘̪͚͆̈́.̷͈̑̆͜

Oh. Oh, I LIKE that...we're going to have FUN, now.

As we finally separated for air, I saw Vulpix's grin of nearly sadistic glee match the one undoubtedly on my lips, before I leaned in to kiss her again, completely okay with the fact that we probably took far too much pleasure in slinging around fire both literal and metaphorical.

Okay, let's see, which way to go...? Hmm? Oh, yeah, south sounds good, let's try that and see how it goes.

Nothing in here...and Vulpix just dealt with the Shelgon that has been following us for who the fuck KNOWS how long.

Ah, there's the stairs.

You are now on Floor B4 of 6.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Hmm, we're about halfway through the last section of the dungeon...and holy shit that Muk is directly in my face and it SMELLS HORRIBLE, fucking hell!

Right, Flamethrower, because as much as I'd rather not smell burned sludge, I sure as hell don't want to TOUCH it.

Okay, now that the Muk and Forretress are handled, let's ignore that Cute Box and go...east.

As we walked toward the eastern exit, I felt my partner's hand squeeze mine in a silent warning, and a Tangrowth approaching from the northern hallway found itself intercepted by a spiraling lance of flame.

Ah. Alright then, moving on...and it's a dead-end loop.

Right, let's try north, next.

Oh. Well, that's disappointing...nothing in here except a dead-end room and a Shelgon.

Knock out the Shelgon with a Force Palm, and I guess the only way we can go now is west.

Right, I can see the stairs from here, so...

Oh, hello random Probopass. Here's a Force Palm.

Riolu has leveled up! Riolu has reached Level 47.

Ooh, nice. Right, let's go...hmm?

As the Rock and Steel type crashed to the ground and disappeared, I felt Vulpix's hand tighten on mine just before I could step into the room, her body pressing against mine as I turned to watch her eyes pointedly flick toward the three items sitting on the floor.

Ah.

I nodded in understanding, our fingers intertwining even as I carefully leaned away from the room's entrance.

"Probable Monster House, you think?"

"It...could be?"

I shrugged helplessly, already knowing that we didn't have the necessary IQ Skill to know for certain.

"Well, no way to find out except for triggering it, I guess."

I saw my partner nod in reluctant agreement, before she pressed her lips to my cheek and pulled back from the embrace.

...and then I stepped into the room, wisps of flame curling from Vulpix's lips and my right hand shrouded with Aura.

...and absolutely nothing happened, even when we stepped further into the room and realized that it held every single item on the floor.

That's...fucking odd. Honestly, this is the exact kind of room that would make me think it was a Monster House, but...there's no-one here except that Probopass I knocked out around fifteen seconds ago, which has now disappeared.

With that, my partner and I exchanged a distinctly confused shrug and began checking the items, just in case it had something we wanted.

Right, here's some money...

43P obtained.

...and then the rest is just Seeds and Apples, though we might as well check what KIND of Seeds they are.

Stun Seed identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Hunger Seed identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

...we're taking both of these for later, holy shit.

Apple placed.

Hunger Seed obtained.

Oran Berry placed.

Stun Seed obtained.

Hmm...and I suppose we might as well eat a couple of these Apples before we go to the next floor.

There's only two floors left, if I'm seeing that "you are now here" notification right, though we don't exactly have a reason NOT to...

Apple consumed by Riolu.

Apple consumed by Vulpix.

As much as I'd have loved for us to just sit down and enjoy those apples together...we DO need to hurry.

You are now on Floor B5 of 6.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Right, mini-map is showing one enemy and two items...and I can see the stairs from here, so that's nice.

Without a word necessary, Vulpix pressed her lips to my cheek and turned her head just enough to blast the approaching enemy Pokémon with another Flamethrower.

Oh, huh, it was a Muk, then.

Anyway, let's see what that Orb is and then go.

Switcher Orb identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Hmm...nah.

You are now on Floor B6 of 6.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Oh, cool, there's the stairs.

...and then a Forretress appeared in front of us, completely blocking the stairs, and my partner's hand tightened on mine as over a dozen more Pokémon teleported into the room on our left side.

Monster House activated.

Oh, you don't say...right, fuck it, let's slap aside this Forretress and GO.

...and then it dodged the Force Palm, because of course, though it failed to dodge the second one even as Vulpix's Flamethrower punched a hole straight through one of the three Muk sliding their way toward us.

Shelgon picked up the 97P.

Not important right now!

...and a Metang levitated into my path before I could step toward the stairs, one of the Shelgon hissing in pain as my partner's spiraling lance of flame grazed the top half of its armored shell.

I took a moment to clench my jaw as a hammer blow of psychic energy slammed against my side, and exchanged a glance with Vulpix as a burned tendril retreated from where it had tried to wrap around and restrain her arms.

Maybe, just maybe...

Riolu: Force Palm +3: 0/12 remaining.

Well, that explains things. Guess I'll try Focus Punch instead, then.

Without a word, I gathered power into my arm, and slammed my fist between the Metang's eyes, hoping for even a single chance to dive toward the stairs even as my partner bathed the last Metang in a fountain of flames, her head briefly turning as she swept the Flamethrower over one of the three Probopass.

...and it was a chance that I didn't get, twin showers of green and yellow powder flying through the air toward us in retaliation as the enemy Pokémon surged forward eagerly.

Though Vulpix was able to detonate the cloud of Sleep Powder before it reached us, I still felt my body lock up as the yellow powder of Stun Spore spread over our bodies.

..and I had just enough time to exchange a panicked glance with my partner before the Muk in front of me seized my leg with a hand made of purple sludge and flung me into the empty space previously occupied by the Probopass that Vulpix had knocked out, and I heard her let out a yelp of pain as my foot collided with her stomach on my way to the floor, now further within the crowd, away from the stairs, and almost completely surrounded.

As I rose to my feet, I couldn't even wince as I felt a barrage of rocks, tendrils, and even the frontal shell of a Shelgon batter my form...and then the Probopass to my left fired a pulse of white energy, and I found myself completely unable to move.

Well. Fuck.

Right, well, time to use Protect, chug a Max Elixir, and just start knocking motherfuckers out, I guess.

...and then paralyzing sparks rose from my skin, disrupting the green shield mere moments before it could form, and I hissed in pain through my teeth as a Shelgon's Ember left a line of burned fur and skin along my back, and I saw my partner wince as a ball of mud detonated against her side.

Riolu has been burned.

Oh, yes, because I COULDN'T TELL THAT ALREADY!

I glanced at our health bars sitting next to the minimap, wincing from the pain as both of the Tangrowth slammed their arm tendrils into our ribs in sync, and brought up the interface with nothing more than an effort of will as I felt another Shelgon attempt to gnaw at my back.

Ow. Right, while we usually prefer to grab the Oran Berries and THEN eat them, that's...not really an option, at the moment.

Oran Berry utilized by Riolu.

I let out a mental sigh of relief as the Oran Berry restored my health back to full, and hissed as a line of fire flared along my back as a result of the burn I had sustained, because Pokémon are bullshit...and I watched from the corner of my eye as one of the Tangrowth spread a cloud of purple powder over Vulpix's form, wincing in pain as one of the three Shelgon took the opportunity to fire another shotgun blast of Ember into my back.

Right, and now...

Oran Berry utilized by Vulpix.

I saw my partner blink in utter relief as the Oran Berry took effect...and a Dark Pulse radiated out from her body as her paralysis faded, though she still visibly winced as the poison dealt just that little bit of damage.

Nice, that took down one of the Tangrowth. ...what's less nice is the fact that I'm STILL paralyzed.

...and then I promptly found my attention brought back as a barrage of attacks rained down on my form, the enemy Pokémon having slammed their bodies into mine even as a wave of sludge covered my form.

Right, another Oran Berry, then...and I'm still paralyzed, fuck.

Even as Vulpix sent out another Dark Pulse, knocking out a Tangrowth and Shelgon, I saw the Muk cringe away as the wave of Dark-type energy washed over its form...and the paralyzing sparks faded from my body.

I took a split-second to exchange a glance of mutual relief with my partner, before I grinned and the utterly glorious light of Protect solidified over my skin, every single attack sent against me colliding against its green surface and failing completely.

Unfortunately, though, Vulpix's follow-up Dark Pulse was avoided as the Muk somehow hopped its entire liquid mass over the attack, and the Probopass merely floated up a few feet, a rain of steel orbs flying from its form to slam into my partner's ribs in retaliation.

...and then I reached into the interface's panel of blue light and finally chugged down that Max Elixir, even as the green shield covering my skin blocked another round of failed enemy attacks.

As I knocked back the Max Elixir like it was one of the Coca Cola cans that I still remembered drinking in my previous life, I watched from the corner of my eye as another Dark Pulse scattered the second-to-last Muk across the opposite wall... in what mostly just looked like what would happen if you splashed a bucket of purple paint over a paper canvas, though admittedly paint didn't usually merge with itself before disappearing from sight.

Max Elixir utilized by Riolu.

Honestly, the path toward the stairs seems clear...we could just leave, and I'm thinking that'd be the best option.

I took a moment to meet Vulpix's gaze, before flicking my eyes and tilting my left eyebrow directly toward the stairs in a silent signal, and I saw her nod even as she hissed from the poison, flames curling from between her lips.

Right, let's get the fuck out of here.

I lunged toward the stairs, one of the Probopass moving to intercept me, and I saw my partner blink away the mud in her eyes even as a spiraling lance of flame flew harmlessly over the top of a Shelgon's...shell.

...and I heard Vulpix bite back a scream as a barrage of rocks slammed her back into the wall, a split-second before I walked through the stairway's barrier and we found ourselves fully healed, her hand grasping mine as we descended the stairs...and into the Pit of Sealed Ruin.

---

Sealed Ruin Pit.

As we entered the chamber, I saw something in the air at the other side twist and spiral around itself...and I barely spotted the way that an image of a familiar forest seemed to appear from nowhere, before the image was shredded into illegibility by the shifting air.

S̷̰̞̋̓p̷̭̤͛a̵͓͕͠t̶̠̲̾̄ị̸́a̵̖̯͑̚l̵̢̫̅ ̷̪̼̋̚d̶̖͆ǐ̸̯͕̕s̵̺̺̍t̴̼̅̚ơ̸͈̮ŕ̷͍̚t̶̯̍͘i̸̬̘̐̃ǫ̷̳͘ņ̸̈́ ̸̘̮̚d̶̺̳̽é̵̡͕̿t̵̡͈̎e̵̦̽c̸̦̾t̴̹̋e̸͔͌̿d̵̨̓͘.̵͔̈͝

...yeah, that makes sense, actually.

Maybe that's the way to Dusk Forest, then?

I turned to stare as Grovyle let out a groan of pain, his body covered in purple smoke and several yellow-green orbs dancing around his form.

"Urgg...you two...stay back!"

I exchanged a glance with Vulpix as she stepped forward, her gaze sliding right over the rock sitting on the ground almost innocently, and I barely had enough time to pull my partner away from it by her wrist, even as the horrified realization that I had never actually described Spiritomb ran through my mind.

"Riolu? What's...what's wrong?"

I heard her go silent as she realized that my gaze was locked on to the stone in front of us...and I saw its eyeholes glow green even as Grovyle choked out a warning and the purple cloak pulled itself away from his form.

"Care...careful! An-an enemy lurks nearby!"

...and the Odd Keystone became engulfed in a whirlwind of purple smoke and glowing green as it laughed, its voice the discordant howls of a hundred wailing souls.

"HaHaHaHa! FeEd US! We're SO HuNgRy! that voice...that VOICE! I know that VOICE!"

Fuck fuck fuck!

"Vulpix, it's a SPIRITOMB!"

I saw the Spiritomb send us a wide and oh so clearly insane grin as its spectral body formed and we scrambled away...and I had a split-second to realize that I recognized some of the voices within the chorus before it lashed out at us with a mouth formed from dozens of green orbs.

I saw Vulpix's eyes widen as she rose her arm as if to shield us from it, and I had enough time to feel a sense of relief as the Spiritomb's form collided against a protective dome of green light.

...and then the Spiritomb tilted its head directly at her, recognition in its mad gaze as the gestalt being fired a Shadow Ball against the dome, to no effect.

I barely had enough time to exchange a startled glance with my partner, before we hissed in unison as a familiar psychic presence lashed out alongside dozens more, combing over our memories moments before something in the back of my mind forced it out.

Was...was that CHIMECHO!?

...and I saw Vulpix's entire body glow blue, before her form flickered and disappeared.

As I watched the Protect flicker and fade away, I had just enough time to feel a sense of overwhelming horror as the Spiritomb's spectral form pulled itself closer...and my partner flickered into visibility moments before her fist impacted the Spiritomb's maw and forced it away from us.

I saw her blink in surprise as the Spiritomb's eyes widened and its grin grew, before I stared in disbelief at the notification sitting in front of my face, that of the message log we usually ignored whenever it mentioned moves being used.

Vulpix used S̶̲͕̒h̵̟̗̆á̶̈́ͅd̷̩̀͠o̸̲̾w̶̨̭͐ ̸̹̘̆F̵̜̅̂ó̶͙̪͘r̷̯̭̎c̶̬̄e̵̪͝.̵̼̜́̿

...fucking what.

"Vulpix, what the fuck...?"

I saw her send me a startled glance, her brown eyes blown wide, and the blue glow faded from her body as she helped me to my feet.

"I...Riolu, I-I think I went somewhere else. It...it was dark, and I-and I saw the Spiritomb, and...Riolu, something-something guided me towards it!"

She's not making any sense, but that's fine because even I don't know WHAT the fuck is even happening anymore.

I saw the green orbs within the Spiritomb's form whirl, before Vulpix and I froze at the sound of her voice coming from the Spiritomb's gaping maw.

...and I heard over a dozen more familiar voices join hers as the Ghost and Dark type grinned. "He's going to LEAVE YOU, one day. Just like he LEFT ME!"

What the fuck, that...that doesn't make any sense. We wouldn't have known each other here!

I saw the Spiritomb's green eyes spin as its grin widened, and I barely managed to slam a Force Palm into its form before we fell backwards, crawling on our hands and feet as far away as we could get as an illusion just like the ones my partner created formed in front of us.

I barely held back the urge to hurl as I stared at the desiccated body of a familiar Swellow, its beak still buried in the half-eaten corpse of a Wurmple.

...and I heard Vulpix empty the contents of her stomach onto the ground as the image shifted and we stared at Loudred's corpse, the roots of Sunflora's rotting form growing into his torn open torso as she desperately tried to drain just that little bit of nourishment from his body, and we shakily rose to our feet despite how much the images hurt to see.

I was forced to duck as the Spiritomb fired another Shadow Ball, grimacing as my nose caught a whiff of acrid vomit from the puddle on the floor, and I heard the Spiritomb howl as a wisp of spectral energy reached forward and devoured the puddle of vomit until nothing was left. "We'Re So HuNgRy! FeEd Us! FeEd Us, PlEaSe! LeT uS dEvOuR yOu! BeCoMe PaRt Of Us!"

Whatthefuck whatthefuck whatthefuck!

I heard the Spiritomb scream as my partner spat a spiraling lance of flame directly into its maw, and it howled with a hundred echoing voices as its form was covered by an expanding hurricane of spectral wind... and I winced as the Ominous Wind lashed against my front, my partner's form glowing blue as the hurricane broke around her like a wave against a rock.

...and I saw it visibly speed up as a still-burning tendril of purple smoke lashed out toward us to slam directly into Vulpix's ribs, undoubtedly the result of Ominous Wind increasing its stats.

Fuck, it's just going to keep hitting us at range with Sucker Punch and Ominous Wind if we don't move in and take it down NOW.

At least it's burned, I guess, so that's a plus.

"He's going to LEAVE YOU, one day! You'll die alone, JUST LIKE I DID!"

I barely held back my grimace as I ran forwards and slammed a Force Palm into the gestalt spirit's maw, hoping beyond hope that she'd just think it was lying.

"Shut the fuck up, Spiritomb!"

I saw the Spiritomb wince as the green orbs within its form spun...and I hesitated for just a moment as the flickering image of a humanoid Vulpix appeared in front of me, her brown eyes full of betrayal as my Force Palm harmlessly passed through her head and into the spectral form beneath.

"...why did you LEAVE ME, Riolu?!"

No. Nononono...

I couldn't help the way that I stumbled back, barely catching myself on my hands as the illusion stepped forward and separated from the Spiritomb's form...and I saw both her and the Spiritomb shift their eyes in perfect unison as my partner's body glowed blue and disappeared once more, before the other Vulpix turned toward me and leaned forward as I tried to crawl away.

"You ABANDONED me, Riolu!"

...and I heard both her and the Spiritomb scream as my partner appeared and slammed her blue glowing fist into its maw, her body somehow running sideways along an invisible wall before she seemed to rotate in midair and land on her feet.

I...I swear I've seen that kind of thing before.

I blinked, suddenly pulled from my daze as Vulpix gently shook my shoulders, our forms surrounded by a dome of green light as the Spiritomb slammed itself against the barrier and howled, the other Vulpix staring at us in complete silence as she tilted her head and placed her hand against the protective dome.

...and I saw my partner flinch back as the other Vulpix's hand was surrounded by a familiar blue glow and she proceeded to tear a hole through the Protect, the Spiritomb's burning form surging through the gap as the chamber trembled around us.

As I watched, completely numb, the Spiritomb recoiled away as Vulpix radiated a pulse of dark energy on pure reflex...and I saw the other Vulpix's eyes widen as the chamber ceiling crumbled inwards to reveal a Chandelure passing above the dungeon, its star-like flame shining blue light into the cavern as the Spiritomb's spectral pulled itself away from the keystone and surged upwards...almost as if it was panicking.

As we stared, rendered speechless, the other Vulpix's illusionary form curled itself around the inert keystone and howled as the Spiritomb's spectral body funneled itself out of the cavern...and directly into the Chandelure's flame, my partner's ears flattening themselves against the sides of her head as the Spiritomb was engulfed and burned in a deafening wail of discordant voices.

I saw the Chandelure pause for just a moment as its flame grew just that little bit bigger, before the Ghost and Fire Pokémon continued on its way without even acknowledging that we were there...and yet, the cavern's trembling didn't stop.

As I watched, a massive three hand burst from the ground, each one of its fingers as wide as my torso, and I hurriedly pulled Vulpix away as the arm pulled itself from the ground, another one joining it as I realized exactly what I was looking at.

Oh fuck...oh FUCK!

...and I saw the illusionary Vulpix pull herself and the keystone away as the Regigigas tore its way out of the gray soil, the seven black dots on its torso blinking in sequence as the dungeon itself began to fall apart around us.

Oh shit... It's tearing Sealed Ruin apart, isn't it?

I saw the other Vulpix pull herself into the keystone and hop away from the legendary titan, and I barely held my partner back as she prepared to fight it as well.

The Regigigas pulled itself from the ground, eyes flashing as it rotated its torso to sweep the room...and waited, even as I felt Grovyle's hand grasp my wrist and pull us both away.

As we turned toward the spatial distortion, I saw Grovyle wince, his gaze sympathetic, before we began to follow him out of the ruin as the Vulpix's voice whispered behind us.

"Don't look. It's just trying to hurt you again."

Despite his warning, I still felt my partner's hand squeeze mine as we looked back...and I felt my heart stutter in my chest as we stared at the obviously fake illusion, though the fact that it was fake did nothing to make the sight hurt less.

"He going to LEAVE YOU one day, just like he left me..."

I felt my partner shiver as we stared at the other Vulpix's now skeletal form, its limbs curled almost protectively around the brown shell of a broken egg.

"Just like he left US..."

I heard Grovyle's inhale of shock, his voice shaking even as he pulled us away and the Regigigas turned to regard the spatial distortion. "It's not real, he...he never knew you when he was a human, and humans...humans can't have children with Pokémon, even if you had known each other. It's not real."

As we finally turned away, I saw the tears in my partner's eyes and tried to blink away my own...and I felt her shiver as the other Vulpix's illusion rose its skeletal head to watch us leave, its eye sockets glowing with green light as it smiled with teeth stained with blood and egg fluid.

I saw the keystone rise from the ground as we stepped into the spatial distortion, the other Vulpix's form dissolving into a small cloud of purple smoke and surging forward even as Regigigas began to follow us.

...and the dungeon only fell apart more with every step that the titan took.

Fuck, we need to hurry.

S̷̰̞̋̓p̷̭̤͛a̵͓͕͠t̶̠̲̾̄ị̸́a̵̖̯͑̚l̵̢̫̅ ̷̪̼̋̚d̶̖͆ǐ̸̯͕̕s̵̺̺̍t̴̼̅̚ơ̸͈̮ŕ̷͍̚t̶̯̍͘i̸̬̘̐̃ǫ̷̳͘ņ̸̈́ ̸̘̮̚d̶̺̳̽é̵̡͕̿t̵̡͈̎e̵̦̽c̸̦̾t̴̹̋e̸͔͌̿d̵̨̓͘.̵͔̈͝

L̷͖͎͙̓̑o̵̤̹̭͆͐c̸̺̤͌a̶͎̮͔͛͛t̶͎̍̊ͅi̷͍̖̺̅̐͝o̴͇̬͝͝ņ̶̜͗̌́ ̶̙̤̈ŝ̸̠̒h̸͔͍̽̆ḭ̵̘̳̌f̵͎̒͜t̶̡̫͝ ̸̨̰̠̈͐̚c̶̬̍o̸̧̟͆̇m̵̳͈̓͊͘p̴̰͔͝l̸͔̈̀̋ę̴̳̭͌̃ť̶͉̥ĕ̶̥̮.̴̘͇̰͊

---

Dusk Forest Entrance.

As we emerged from the spatial tunnel and into an incredibly familiar forest, I heard my partner let out a yelp of surprise as we watched Regigigas' hands slip through and pull mere moments before the spatial tunnel closed, the spatial distortion almost seeming to howl from the force of Regigigas' hands tearing it open.

...and I couldn't feel anything but numb as I saw the seven black circles on its upper body flash in sequence, and the only Normal-type Legendary besides actual fucking Arceus proceeded to speak, its voice rumbling forth like the movement of an entire continent as the other Vulpix's levitating keystone slipped through the gap and flew away from us, cleanly dodging the spiraling lance of flame that my partner sent to intercept it in the process as it flew into the forest.

"Requesting response from guardian constructs."

...fucking what.

"...Guardian constructs unresponsive, initiating remote diagnostics."

I saw the six orbs on Regigigas' body began to glow, its eyes emitting a rapid series of beeps as my partner's hand tightened on mine...and then it stiffened.

"Guardian constructs heavily damaged, self-repair functions designated nonfunctional. Initiating recall."

As we watched, the titan's fingers seemed to just barely clench for a moment, the movement almost unnoticeable due to how little its fingers had moved, and something angry leaked into its otherwise emotionless tone.

"Recall failed. Guardian constructs compromised. Scanning...local materials unviable for creation of Steel and Ice constructs."

I saw the black stripes on Regigigas' arms glow, before they proceeded to pull themselves off of the titan's surface and extend into manipulating tendrils, leaving only identical white flesh underneath, save for where they were still connected to the Normal-type's arms.

Huh. Good thing we're not in a hentai or something, because those tendrils would probably be doing some weird shit if that was the case.

The tendrils bent towards the ground, beginning to tear chunks of soil from the broken earth as the titan's hands glowed, and I realized what was happening even as the material began to glow and change into tan and orange colored stone.

"Initiating creation of assault constructs."

...fuck my life, it's doing what I think it is, isn't it?

As we watched, Regigigas leaned forward, and the two red gems on its body seemed to glow, before twin beams of energy shot out of them and into the ball of molten stone levitating between its hands, cutting out quickly enough that they seemed more like pulse lasers than constant beams.

Then, as the tendrils continued to tear material from the ground and the leaning titan's hands glowed once more, the orb of molten stone floated down to the ground and shaped itself into the form of a Regirock, all seven of the golem's eyes glowing orange as it watched us steadily.

I couldn't help but blink as a second Regirock promptly joined the first, Regigigas' body straightening up as the six gems on its body began to pulse.

"Initiating search... Guardian constructs located, initiating recovery. Hostile interference will not be tolerated."

...and then it began to march toward Dusk Forest, each footstep shaking the earth beneath our feet even as the glowing orb of stone in its hands shaped itself into a third Regirock, which then joined the procession as Regigigas' glowing hands lowered to rest over the ground, its arm tendrils dragging along the soil as it walked.

All three of us were swiftly forced to back away as dozens of stone orbs rose from the ground to shape themselves into more golems, the titan's hands still glowing as it marched toward Dusk Forest, followed closely by a steadily growing army of Regirock that was quickly rising into the literal fucking hundreds.

Oh. Oh SHIT...

Vulpix, Grovyle, and I exchanged a hurried glance, before we began to run toward the clearing, even as the trees around us began to sway and groan under an unseen will.

I saw Grovyle send us a look as Vulpix and I stopped in front of the Kangaskhan Rock, something clearly worried in his gaze, before I reluctantly cut him off even as my partner's hand brought up that familiar panel of transparent blue light, and she began sorting things to and from our Bag without a word even as her other hand remained tightly grasping mine.

"Not now, Grovyle, we need to find Celebi. We...we can worry about everything else later. Even-even if we're probably going to fall apart when we get back to our time, we can hold it together until then...I hope."

I saw him wince in sympathy, despite the confusion written in his eyes, "Partner-no, Riolu, how do you...?"

Persim Band stored.

Zinc Band stored.

I waved a hand, cutting him off despite how utterly numb I felt, "We know things, dammit, even if I...even if I don't have his memories."

Hunger Seed stored.

Energy Ball TM stored.

Hyper Beam TM stored.

Warp Orb stored.

Okay, good, let's grab what we need and go, because Regigigas CLEARLY isn't waiting for us.

3x Oran Berries withdrawn.

Max Elixir withdrawn.

Right, that looks good, let's go-holy fuck.

As I turned away from the Kangaskhan Rock, I felt Vulpix's hand tighten on mine to the point of nearly becoming painful as we watched a pair of colossal vines reach out from the dungeon and tear one of the Regirock in half, the stone golem pulling itself back together without a moment's pause even as its allies began firing homing pulses of lightning in the dozens at the newly-recognized threat.

Fuck my life, we really have to go into that, don't we?

I saw all seven of Regigigas' eyes flash yellow in a sequence that I couldn't hope to decipher the meaning of, its voice shaking the ground beneath our feet... and the titan's hands became shrouded in flame as it reached out and tore the offending vines apart with a mechanical precision that somehow still projected a controlled rage.

"Recovery in progress. Hostile interference will not be tolerated."

...and the entirety of Dusk Forest let out a wail of utter hate as the trees continued to shake around us, hundreds of smaller vines lashing out to crush and tear apart the approaching Regirock army as they returned fire with spears of lightning as wide as both of my arms put together, which blackened and severed the vines upon contact.

I kind of wish that we could just NOT, but...we have to.

"Cease hostile interference, Trevenant hyper-formation."

I felt my eyes widen as Regigigas spoke, the pieces coming together into a completed puzzle that I very much did not like the look of.

Shit, Dusk Forest is one massive Trevenant, isn't it? ...and we're about to dive straight into that clusterfuck.

...and I heard the Dusk Forest Mystery Dungeon scream as the Legendary Titan grasped a portion of its seemingly invisible boundary line in both hands and tore, dozens upon dozens of Regirock following their creator as it stepped into the gap.

I exchanged another glance with my partner, the skin underneath her cheek fur just as pale as mine, before her hand squeezed mine once more and we turned toward Grovyle.

I saw him open his mouth as if to speak, something deeply worried in his gaze, before I shook my head at him and he reluctantly closed his mouth, motioning us forward without a word.

We'll...we'll fall apart and be there for each other later, I'm sure, but...let's just focus on getting this DONE and over with.

With that, Vulpix and I walked into Dusk Forest, Grovyle clearly tensed beside us as we watched a titan and its army of golems go to war against an entire dungeon.

...and yet, despite the feeling of my partner's hand in mine and the heat radiating from the flames constantly burning beneath her skin, I still couldn't feel anything but utterly numb.

---

You are now on Floor 1 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 1.

Eight floors...we can do this.

I couldn't help but lean back as a segment of vine fell from the sky, cleanly severed by the burning grip of a colossal hand, and I saw something twice my height and covered in blue scales rush toward us out of the corner of my eye.

...only for a five-pointed star of yellow flame to fly from between Vulpix's lips, the Fire Blast cleanly intercepting the Gabite as it sent the Dragon and Ground type to the ground with a single attack.

Eight floor through an incredibly HOSTILE dungeon...fuck it, we might as well try.

Right, nothing in this room except two Wonder Tiles, so let's go through the southeastern exit...honestly, I'm just picking it because it's the closest.

Okay, nothing in here, let's check east and double-back if we have to.

Nothing again, let's go north.

Yet...yet again nothing, so I guess we're heading west from the first room, then.

Oh, hello Jumpluff...and goodbye Jumpluff, because Vulpix is wonderful.

Fuck, I...I wish I could be enthusiastic about that, but right now I just feel so damned numb.

Oh, good, there's the stairs...let's go, then, because I'm pretty sure I can hear a Gabite somewhere behind us.

You are now on Floor 2 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Well, that's...that's nice.

Now let's go...north, since there's nothing in here.

...thank you, dungeon. It almost makes up for the fact that we can hear that entire fucking WAR going on.

I turned just in time to see a pair of vines lash out at us, Grovyle's wrists glowing green with Leaf Blade as he slashed them down before they could slam directly into our backs.

...and I heard the dungeon let out another wail from all around us, my partner's ears flattening against her head even as she spat a spiraling lance of flame into a tree that was bending its way toward us, though I still winced as the burning tree collapsed into splinters upon crashing against my protective dome of green light.

Fuck, it's not going to stop, is it? It knows we're here, and it knows that we're a threat.

...probably not on the same scale as REGIGIGAS, but...it still considers us a threat, I guess.

We need to get Celebi and fucking leave, then.

You are now on Floor 3 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 2.

Oh, good, the stairs are over there.

We're...we're getting kind of lucky, with these stair placements.

You are now on Floor 4 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

Right...grab the Oran Berry, and let's go west.

Oran Berry obtained.

Nothing in here except a Wonder Tile, so let's keep going west and see what we find...even if I'd prefer to get out of here as soon as possible.

Nothing...let's see where this western exit goes, and then...and then head south if it doesn't lead anywhere.

Nothing in here, but there is a southern exit from this room, so let's go that way.

...and then a Mismagius levitated its way out of the wall, only for Vulpix's fist to shroud itself in purple light and slam directly into its face.

Huh. Has she been mixing Shadow Force into her Faint Attacks this entire time? Because that...didn't have any blue in it, not like it usually does.

Whatever, we...we can worry about it later.

Nothing in here, so let's check east.

Well, there's some money, at least...

...of course, right before I could grab the money, I heard a click underneath my feet and a trio of enemy Pokémon appeared around us.

Summon Trap activated.

Yeah...yeah, that checks out.

Right, time to deal with the Jumpluff and two Gabite, then.

I saw Grovyle dive into the ground as if it was a liquid, even as my Force Palm slammed into one of the Gabite's chest and my partner's Dark Pulse finished it off, the second Gabite's wildly aimed Slash going clear over her head as the Jumpluff...sort of just slammed one of its cotton puff things into my face, which didn't really hurt that much at all.

Honestly, it...it would've even been cute, if the situation around us wasn't so blatantly fucked up.

Is...is Grovyle using Dig against a Flying-type? I...I know that immunities don't exist here, but that just makes all of my Pokémon type knowledge want to scream that SOMETHING is wrong.

Other than, that is...everything else that's wrong here.

Right, right...should probably focus on actually fighting.

Without a word, I slammed a Force Palm into the last Gabite and sent it to the ground, even as the Jumpluff went down to a combination of Vulpix's Dark Pulse and Grovyle's Dig.

Okay, let's just grab the money and keep going...

83P obtained.

Jumpluff picked up the Iron Thorn(4).

I...I really can't bring myself to care, even as a joke.

Right, nothing in here except a Wonder Tile, so let's go north.

Another pile of Iron Thorns, so let's backtrack to the previous room and head east, since this one doesn't have an eastern exit.

Oh. Hello, Mismagius...here's a Force Palm or two.

Good, it's paralyzed...and Grovyle's Quick Attack finished it off.

When did he get behind me? I...I honestly feel pretty bad for not noticing.

Nothing in here, throw away the box that Mismagius dropped and...yeah, I...I missed having her next to me, even if we weren't away from each other for very long.

Let's...let's go south.

Nothing, so I guess we backtrack and head east.

Nothing again...let's try south, just to make sure.

That just loops around, so let's go east...and there's the stairs.

You are now on Floor 5 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Oh, hi Mothim, you're new...and now you're unconscious.

Right, let's grab that item and head west.

Apple obtained.

Let's see...some money and another Apple, but no stairs.

Apple obtained.

42P obtained.

Okay, let's...let's head south, then.

Oh, good, there's...there's the stairs.

You are now on Floor 6 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Just...just this floor and two more left, and then we're good for this section, I think.

Nothing in this room, so let's head west.

Nothing in here except an Apple, so let's grab it and move on.

Apple obtained.

Just an orb, so let's see what it is and go south.

Transfer Orb obtained.

That's...not very helpful.

Eh, let's...let's just throw it away at some point, I guess.

Mothim picked up the 73P.

As we entered the next room, I saw my partner turn her head to send forth another spiraling lance of flame, a heavily burned Mothim crashing to the ground moments later.

Mothim dropped the 73P.

Good, good...and it even dropped the money.

Right, let's...let's grab that and head south.

73P obtained.

Nothing but a Wonder Tile, so let's head...east.

Oh, hello other Mothim. Here's a Force Palm.

As my Force Palm slammed into the Mothim's center, I saw it recoil from the pain but not go down...something that was quickly rectified as Vulpix's chin rested on my shoulder and the Mothim was engulfed by a torrent of yellow flame.

...and the dungeon screamed around us as the Flamethrower collided with and burned a few of the trees making up the opposite wall, before its attention was diverted by the army marching through its territory.

Thank fuck, there's the stairs.

As we walked toward the stairway, I heard Grovyle let out a grunt of pain as something slammed into his back...and the Mismagius promptly found itself punched directly in the face by a fist shrouded in purple light.

Alright then, let's...let's keep going. I'd...I'd grab the money, but right now I just want to get the fuck out of here.

You are now on Floor 7 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Just...just two more floors, including this one.

Let's...let's head south, I guess.

...and I saw Grovyle dive into the ground as a Gabite rushed at us from the eastern exit, my Force Palm slamming into its chest as wisps of yellow flame curled from between my partner's lips.

As the Gabite's form was covered in paralyzing sparks, I saw her swallow the flames as Grovyle rose from the soil to slam a fist into the Gabite's face, and it went down in a heap of blue scales before we turned back toward the hallway.

Nothing here, let's head east.

Hmm, just a Max Elixir, so let's grab it and go.

Max Elixir identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Yeah, that would do it. Right, let's just leave it, I...I don't really feel like shuffling things around to fit it, especially not when we've already got six of the damned things.

Nothing in this room, so let's keep heading east and then turn north if necessary...

Oh, hi Jumpluff...here's a Force Palm, and a Flamethrower from Vulpix.

Just one item, though I can't QUITE see what it is from here...

I saw Vulpix tilt her head past my left shoulder as we turned to check what the item was, and another Jumpluff went down with heavy burns.

Hmm, it's some kind of TM, so let's see what it is exactly...

Water Pulse TM identified.

...can either of us learn that?

Lucario are capable of learning Water Pulse via TM, though only once they have evolved.

Huh. Well, it's being a lot more concise than it usually is, but...I guess we'll take it, then.

Water Pulse TM obtained.

A...a bit of a far off goal, I'll admit, but...I think that'd be nice, especially given what I've got planned for us.

Eventually, though...let's just...let's just take this one step at a time.

...and then I turned toward the eastern exit and immediately heard a click underneath my foot, a pair of enemy Pokemon appearing next to me as I stepped forward.

Right, Force Palm the Mothim...and then Vulpix has the Mismagius handled.

Good...now let's go.

Nothing in this eastern room, so let's head north.

Jumpluff picked up the Max Elixir.

...yeah, that...that checks out.

Good, there's the stairs, let's go.

You are now on Floor 8 of 8.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 5.

Last...last floor, even if the feeling of Vulpix squeezing my hand helps a LOT, which is probably what she was going for.

Right, grab...grab the money, and let's head south.

31P obtained.

There's an Apple of some kind...but no, let's just leave it and go east.

Ow. That's a Mismagius, and an Astonish directly to the chest.

Thank fuck I can't flinch, I guess.

Right, Force Palm...and a Flamethrower from Vulpix.

Now, let's...let's just get the fuck out of here, before the dungeon tries to attack us again.

---

Dusk Forest Heights.

As we walked into the clearing, I saw Grovyle spare us a worried glance before he turned to call out into the forest.

"Celebi? Are you there? It's me, Grovyle!"

I exchanged a glance with Vulpix, both of us clearly not seeing Celebi anywhere...and I turned my head just in time to spot a pair of vines lash out from the forest, only to be cleanly severed by a barrage of homing leaves before they could reach Grovyle.

"It's been too long, my dear Grovyle!"

I exchanged another glance with my partner, both of us noting the clear affection in the Shiny Pokémon's voice...though Grovyle seemed to be ever so slightly oblivious to it.

"Yes, it has been a while, Celebi. I...I need your help again."

I saw Celebi smile, before something distinctly mischievous entered her voice, "Seeing you back here, my dear Grovyle, tells me everything I need to know..."

As we watched, she turned to stare at the forest we had previously exited, mere moments before the hands of Regigigas tore a hole through its outer boundary and the legendary titan stepped out of the dungeon, followed by a clearly reduced number of Regirock as the army builder paused behind us.

"...as does that."

Wow, that's...quite a bit of deadpan, actually.

I saw Grovyle wince, even as the titan tilted its upper body to stare directly at Celebi, something almost respectful entering its mechanical voice.

"Temporal Overseer. I remain unbroken."

As we watched, Celebi's lips twitched into a sad smile, and she nodded toward Regigigas in acknowledgement even as she paused to subconsciously massage a long-faded scar along her left arm.

"Oh, how I wish there were still more of us... It's good to see you, Regigigas. Where...where are the three Guardians? I don't see them anywhere."

"Guardian constructs heavily damaged and compromised, recovery in progress."

I saw Celebi frown, something clearly sympathetic in her eyes as she heard the rage leaking into the titan's voice.

"I see...and do you know where they are?"

As we watched, the gems on Regigigas' torso pulsed once more, even as the reduced army of Regirock began to establish a perimeter around us.

"Affirmative, Temporal Overseer. Guardian constructs have been located, and appear to be waiting at the Passage of Time."

...fucking what.

I saw Celebi blink, visibly choosing to tuck that bit of information away for later consideration, before she nodded to the titan and turned toward us.

...and I watched something in her eyes grow just that little bit more tired, as she glanced toward our joined hands and sent Grovyle a look of utter sympathy.

"He...he doesn't remember, does he?"

Grovyle openly winced, the two sharing a look full of mutual understanding, "...he doesn't have his memories, no. They...they know things, apparently, but...not from before."

Celebi hummed, sending the two of us another glance as she turned toward the path. "I see... well, shall we go off to the Passage of Time?"

---

Deep Dusk Forest Entrance.

After a few minutes of walking...and trying not to stumble as the footsteps of Regigigas and its small army shook the ground beneath our feet, I saw Celebi nod to herself as we approached a Kangaskhan Rock and the path it was sitting next to.

"Ah! There's the entrance that leads to the plateau! The Passage of Time should be up there."

Grovyle nodded, though he still sent Vulpix and I a clearly worried glance at our uncharacteristic silence, even as we walked up to the Kangaskhan Rock and began to sort our items.

I waved Grovyle off as he opened his mouth to speak, Celebi audibly wincing as she saw our utterly numb expressions, and I took a second to drink some water from our Bag before clearing my throat.

"Don't, please. We...all we want right now is to get the fuck out of here, Grovyle. We...we can fall apart later."

I saw him nod in reluctant acceptance, before he turned and leaned toward Celebi, the slight increase in distance doing nothing to stop us from hearing what he whispered.

"We'll leave as soon as they're ready, Celebi. Just...give them some space, for now."

I felt my partner's hand squeeze mine, my grip just as tight as hers and neither of us willing to let go, as I wiped my suddenly blurry eyes and went back to sorting items, both of us trying to ignore the way Regigigas stared at us as if it was somehow curious.

Right, now, let's see...

Alright, yeah, let's...let's just drop off everything we picked up in Dusk Forest and...and then we'll be ready to go, I guess.

Oran Berry stored.

3x Apples stored.

Transfer Orb stored.

I...I guess we forgot to throw that away.

Might as well keep it, then...

Water Pulse TM stored.

Right, that...that looks like everything.

Vulpix and I exchanged a glance before pulling away from the Kangaskhan Rock...and I felt her hand leave mine, just long enough for her to turn me toward her, pull me into a hug, and then press her lips to mine.

I heard Celebi's audible gasp and promptly decided that I didn't care, instead focusing all of my attention on just holding the woman I loved for as long as I could, before we reluctantly pulled away from the kiss enough for her to press her cheek against my chest and her forehead against my chin.

"Love you, Vulpix."

I heard Celebi gasp again, clearly having not yet noticed that we were that far into our relationship, before Vulpix and I reluctantly separated, though not before she took a second to kiss me again.

"Love you too, Riolu."

I...I wish we could just stay like this for a bit longer, but...we need to get out of this fucked up place.

As we pulled away from the mutual embrace, I felt her hand grasp mine once more, and we turned toward Grovyle and Celebi.

"We're...we're ready."

As my partner and I walked toward the entrance, I felt one of her fingers carefully wipe a few tears from my left eye, and it was all I could do to not just break down and start sobbing right there, even as we felt the way that Regigigas stepped forward in order to dig its fingers into the dungeon's boundary and open its own way through.

...and I saw a pair of green eyes stare at us as we entered the forest, glowing with nothing less than utter hate, before we teleported into the dungeon and they disappeared from sight.

---

You are now on Floor 1 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 2.

...fuck. I...I forgot how long this section was.

...and that's an entire Rhydon, fuck.

Right, right...Grovyle's got it handled with Leaf Blade, so let's grab that apple and...and head west.

Apple obtained.

Fuck, that's another Rhydon in front of us...Force Palm it is, then.

Thank fuck, there's the stairs.

You are now on Floor 1 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

Nothing in here, so let's go...south.

Steelix picked up the 43P.

Oh, hooray...is THAT going to Mega Evolve too, I wonder?

As we entered the next room, I turned to my right just in time to see a massive snake coated in metal plating somehow levitating its way toward me, passing over a scarf item on the way.

Steelix passed over the Stamina Band.

Oh. Well, we already have enough of those, anyway...

I rose my palm as the Steelix's body shone with light, bringing forth the effort of will necessary to prepare and fire a Focus Blast...and then Regigigas tore a hole through the wall just long enough to slam a glowing fist into the Steelix's face even as the dungeon screamed around us.

Oh. So that was Rock Polish, rather than a Mega Evolution...good to know, I suppose.

Steelix dropped the 43P.

I saw the Legendary Titan incline its upper body toward us in what I suspected was its imitation of a nod, before it idly pulled itself free of the vines and entire trees wrapping around its limbs and retreated into the wall, the entire action done with about as much visible effort as I'd need to walk through a pile of fallen leaves.

Right, let's...let's keep going, then.

43P obtained.

Oh, good, there's the stairs again. Let's...let's just ignore that money and go.

You are now on Floor 3 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Hmm...two items and a Rhydon...which Celebi has now handled.

Okay, let's grab the items and go...south.

It's...it's worked so far, I guess.

Reviver Seed obtained.

Special Band obtained.

Alright, let's...let's go.

Aggron picked up the Pecha Berry.

Good...good to know, I guess.

Right, there's the stairs...oh SHIT.

I glanced away from the stairs just in time to see the Aggron's body glow as it charged, its form shifting into that of an even more armored juggernaut...and I heard it scream as a five pointed star of yellow flame burned a hole straight through the armor plating on its chest, though the attack luckily seemed to fade before any of the damage could become lethal.

I took a moment to squeeze Vulpix's hand, and leaned in to press my lips to her cheek, only to be stopped with an apologetic smile as my partner turned her head to spit a spiraling lance of flame at the Leafeon emerging from the room's northern entrance.

...and I leaned to kiss her on the cheek anyway, not at all caring about whether Grovyle and Celebi saw it, by this point.

Who...who knows. Maybe...maybe it'll convince them to take the damned hint already.

Right, let's..let's go.

You are now on Floor 4 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

Nothing...nothing in here except a couple Wonder Tiles, so let's head...west.

As we approached the western hallway, I saw the dungeon scream once more, undoubtedly a result of Regigigas doing its best to imitate the Doom Slayer or something.

Oh, wow...we've-we've been getting pretty lucky with these stairs, huh?

As we walked toward the stairs, I heard a click underneath my foot and was promptly thrown backwards, Vulpix letting out an audible wince of pain as my back slammed against her chest.

...and then Grovyle stepped forward and was promptly thrown forwards, and I heard him let out a reptilian hiss of pain as his body slammed directly into the wall next to the stairs.

Right, let's...let's go, before Celebi somehow manages to trigger it despite not even being on the ground.

You are now on Floor 5 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Nothing in here, so let's go...west.

As we walked toward the hallway, I heard another click underneath my feet as the trap seemingly failed to activate.

...and then everything suddenly felt physically and metaphorically colder as my partner disappeared from behind me.

Warp Trap activated by Vulpix.

I felt myself freeze as I realized that she was gone, and drew a shaky breath, trying as hard as I could to not start panicking.

...and failed, utterly.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck, whereisshe whereisshe!?

There! Okay, we need to go there NOW.

Pleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokay PLEASE!

As I sprinted toward the hallway, I heard Grovyle start outright running in order to catch up, and barely noticed the sound of the Warp Trap activating again as Grovyle shouted for me to wait.

Warp Trap activated by Celebi.

Riolu: Speed increased.

Fuckwaiting fuckwaiting fuckwaiting.

Vulpix: Speed increased.

Vulpix: Speed increased.

SHE'S NOT HERE!

Okay, okay, Celebi's coming from the southern hallway, so-so we can go find Vulpix.

SOUTHEAST, WE-we need to go east in order to-to get to her.

Pl-please, just be okay.

As we turned back toward the eastern entrance, I felt myself subconsciously activating Swords Dance as I stared at the two Steelix between me and my partner.

Riolu: Attack increased, attack increased.

Riolu: Attack increased, attack increased.

...and then I heard Grovyle and Celebi gasp as my skin glowed from Agility and I jumped into the air far enough to slam a Focus Punch into the first Steelix's forehead, the second meeting the same fate from a Force Palm even as the unconscious form of the first collapsed, both of them hitting the ground with enough force to shake the entire floor.

Pleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokay.

Riolu: Speed increased.

Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.

Riolu: Speed increased.

That, however, had not stopped the second Steelix from activating Sandstorm in the moments before my Force Palm knocked it out, even as I heard a crack from the room ahead of us as the person who I wasn't willing to be without broke the sound barrier.

Riolu: Speed increased.

Vulpix: Speed increased.

Vulpix: Speed increased.

Vulpix: S̶̨̯̭̐p̷̪̖̐̈́è̵̩̂e̵͇̺͋͝d̸̩͔̂ ̶̩̜̯͂̈́̊i̸̡͎̱̾͘n̸̜̓c̴̻̃͌r̵͈̮͗͘ȅ̴͈͈͓a̸̞̤̋͆̀s̵͓͔͑̕ȅ̸̙ḋ̶͍.̶̬͇͑̏

I sprinted into the room we had initially appeared in, her yellow dot on the mini-map getting closer by the second, and I barely stumbled my way around the Warp Trap sitting on the floor.

...and a blur of brown fur rammed into my chest hard enough to slam my back against the wall, neither of us caring about the pain as we leaned against the wall and just held each other.

I faintly heard the sound of Celebi's wings fluttering as she and Grovyle caught up to us, though I was too busy desperately making sure that my partner was okay to care, irrationally checking her over despite the fact that the interface said that she'd never taken even a little bit of damage.

She's okay. She's okay. Thank fuck she's okay.

...and then I heard her hum in irritation as a gust of sand slammed into our bodies, and I leaned forward to pull her into a kiss that I projected as much of my utter relief into as I could.

I felt her finger rub against my cheek to wipe away a distinctly sandy tear, and only just then realized that we were both outright crying from relief as my vision blurred.

I don't care. All I care about right now is the fact that she's safe.

I took a moment to pull Vulpix as close as I could, before we reluctantly pulled away from the embrace and glanced toward the other two just...watching us, Grovyle's gaze sympathetic while Celebi seemed just that tiniest bit envious.

Right, let's...let's go south, this time, because that Warp Trap can go fuck itself.

I...I kind of wish we were able to BREAK them, now, though I'd rather not test it HERE of all places.

...and then I turned as the Warp Trap activated and Celebi disappeared once more.

Warp Trap activated by Celebi.

Well. Fuck.

I paused as my vision was suddenly shifted to the sight of a Leafeon slamming its head into Celebi's body, and I turned to see my partner shaking away her own disorientation.

Nothing in this room except a single item...fucking sandstorm.

Right, let's leave the Apple because it's PROBABLY covered in sand by now, and go west.

Okay, there's a pile of money...and the stairs.

83P obtained.

You are now on Floor 6 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 2.

Nothing in this room...except for a Steelix and Aggron.

...and then both of their bodies shone with the light of Mega Evolution, even as Vulpix's Flamethrower sent the now Mega Aggron to the ground with a black line seared across its chest armor.

I saw the Mega Steelix's body shine with additional light as my partner turned her head away from the collapsing Aggron, its movements speeding up as it rushed toward us...and promptly ran into a Focus Blast that I had fired directly into its path, though that hadn't stopped it from activating Sandstorm moments before the orb of Fighting-type energy impacted its face.

Fucking sand...right, let's go...south, I guess.

T-junction forking east, so let's keep heading south.

Nothing in here, so let's keep heading east.

As we walked into the room, I felt Vulpix's hand tighten on mine, and I turned just in time to see a pair of green eyes phase through the wall, the other Vulpix's illusionary body forming around her levitating keystone as she grabbed my partner by the shoulder.

...and then she leaned forward and grinned, clearly enjoying the way we had locked up at the sight of her bloodstained teeth as she hissed a few words into her past self's ear.

"You're going to DIE ALONE, just like me..."

I saw the other Vulpix grin as my partner shuddered at her words, her illusionary form disappearing and the keystone phasing back into the wall as my Force Palm missed her head by mere inches, not that it was very likely to have done anything to begin with.

I took a moment to pull Vulpix into a hug as she leaned against my shoulder and her body shook with barely restrained sobs, just being there for the woman I loved, despite the fact that I wasn't very far away from breaking down myself.

"I...I'm okay, Riolu. We...we can keep going."

"Vulpix..."

"Please, Riolu?"

I nodded reluctantly, my hand squeezing hers and not letting go as we broke the embrace.

Nothing...nothing in here, except for that utter bitch lurking within the walls.

I...I hesitate to call any version of her a bitch, but...this one deserves it, I think.

There's a T-junction, so let's head north...oh, and there's an Aggron which has now been handled, thank you Celebi.

Nothing in this room, so let's check east and backtrack toward the west if we have to.

Hmm...no, that probably just leads to the southeast, so let's go west.

Ah. There's an orb and the stairs.

Slow Orb obtained.

You are now on Floor 7 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 1.

Right, nothing in here and the trees have changed color for some reason, let's head...west, since that's actually the only way out of this room.

Nothing in this one, though at least it's not dark on this floor...though that might have just been a result of the sandstorm.

Anyway, that aside...let's go west again.

There's a Steelix...and now it's down.

Hmm, another T-junction, so let's try east this time.

Yet another T-junction, let's check south.

Nothing in here, so let's head east again.

Ah, there's the stairs, good.

You are now on Floor 8 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Just...just a few more, and then we're out of this fucked up future.

Okay, okay...there's a seed item, so let's grab that and head...north.

Blast Seed obtained.

...that's fucking useless for us, so I might as well eat it for the hunger points.

Blast Seed consumed by Riolu.

Mmm, those always taste odd.

Nothing in here, so let's go east.

Hello Rhydon. Get the fuck out of our way, if you would.

Right, T-junction, so let's head south.

Yay, nothing in here except two Wonder Tiles...

Hmm, looking at the mini-map, there might be a room to the east, actually, through the T-junction that we didn't go east at.

Well, fuck, that's a Rhydon and a Mega Steelix...and that's a sandstorm, too.

Sandstorm weather condition now active.

Must be something with Sand Stream, since the message log doesn't say anything about the Steelix actually USING Sandstorm.

Either way, time to handle these two, I guess.

Without a second thought, I slammed a Force Palm into the Rhydon's chest, and couldn't help but smile as a hand covered in brown fur slipped under my arm to fire a Focus Blast between the Mega Steelix's eyes.

Right, let's ignore the box they dropped, get back to the T-junction, and go...east.

Hmm, Iron Thorn and an Apple, so let's just ignore them and head south.

Oh, hello Aggron. Here's a Force Palm.

Nothing in here after quite a bit of walking and a west turn, so let's keep going west and see what we find.

...and that's a Hippowdon. Well, at least it explains the sandstorm, I guess...

There we go...the stairs. Let's get the fuck out of this.

You are now on Floor 9 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

An Aggron, an Apple, and a Wonder Tile. Hooray.

Right, with that out of the way, let's head...south.

Oh, hello SECOND Aggron. Have a Force Palm as well, for your troubles, and thank fuck I knocked out before it could finish Mega Evolving.

Nothing in here, so let's keep going south.

Nothing again, so let's head...west.

Hmm, there's an Orb, so we might as well...

Hurl Orb obtained.

Cool.

Now, which way to go- ow, fuck.

Trip Trap activated by Riolu.

Okay, what did that do...oh, well that's somewhat inconvenient.

Stamina Band equipped by Riolu.

Right, now let's go- how.

Trip Trap activated by Vulpix.

Oh, wait, no, that makes sense. She backed onto it while she was spitting literal fire at a Leafeon.

Special Band equipped by Vulpix.

Okay, NOW let's go...north.

Nothing in here but a Wonder Tile, so...north again.

Hmm, another two Wonder Tiles and an Orb, good to know.

Let's grab the orb and head east, then.

Transfer Orb obtained.

...and that's a Mega Steelix.

Force Palm +3: 0/12.

Fuck it, Focus Blast.

Nice, let's keep going, then.

Though...probably SHOULD chug a Max Elixir first, just in case.

I mean, I've got Brick Break, sure...but I prefer Force Palm.

...maybe it's a weird psychological thing where I prefer using it because it's an Aura attack and I'm a Riolu?

Ehh, probably not, but it's at least an interesting thought to take my mind off of...everything else.

Max Elixir utilized by Riolu.

...and we're back to the start, so let's see which way to go.

Hmm...yeah, those two southern exits look a bit promising, I guess.

Oh, hello sleeping Steelix...and goodnight again sleeping Steelix, because Vulpix enjoys burning things with Flamethrower, and I can't help but love her for it.

Oh thank fuck, there's the stairs, finally.

...and some money, too.

59P obtained.

You are now on Floor 10 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Right, that's a Mega Steelix just kind of THERE...and the stairs, nice.

Vulpix just Flamethrower-ed the Mega Steelix, so let's ignore the money and go.

...is Flamethrower-ed a proper noun? Hmm...eh, whatever.

You are now on Floor 11 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 3.

Hmm, a couple Wonder Tiles and a pile of money, so let's head...east.

Nothing in here, so...east again.

Nothing, yet again, so let's go south.

Hmm, some kind of scarf item and a Rhydon.

Right, one Focus Blast later, let's see what that is...

Special Band obtained.

Ah, alright then...hmm, let's head west.

There's a T-junction, so let's go west and backtrack if we have to.

Ah, there we go, the stairs...and a TM.

Brine TM identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Hmm, I...don't think we can learn that?

Yeah, nah, let's just leave it...holy shit Regigigas startled the hell out of me.

As I watched, an entire wall of vines lashed out toward the titan, before it lifted a colossal foot and slammed it into the ground hard enough to crack the earth beneath itself.

...and I heard the dungeon wail as the broken clumps of soil rose from the ground and shaped themselves into sharpened spears of stone, before they proceeded to shred the vines speeding toward the Normal-type Legendary.

Holy shit, that...that could legitimately just cut down an entire crowd of people, couldn't it?

That was Earthquake and Stone Edge, right? At least...that's what the message log is calling those moves.

...and now it's just leaving, because of course.

Right, moving on from whatever THAT was, let's go.

You are now on Floor 12 of 12.

Acute Sniffer activated. Total Items on this floor: 4.

Sandstorm weather condition now active.

Okay, two items, no stairs...and another fucking sandstorm. Hooray.

Let's go...west, if only so that we can see what those items are as we pass by.

That's an orb, so let's see what kind it is...

Hurl Orb identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Hmm...nah.

Huh, that's another TM. Now which one is it, I wonder...

Oh, cool, Vulpix just knocked out a Hippowdon. Anyway...

Light Screen TM identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Hmm, can we learn that once we evolve?

Neither Lucario nor Ninetales are capable of learning Light Screen.

Huh, odd. I'd have expected at least ONE of us to be capable of learning it, even if we had to wait until evolution. But to not learn it at ALL is...just odd, honestly.

Right, well, either way, let's leave it and move on, I guess.

Nothing in this room, so let's turn south.

Huh, some money and yet ANOTHER TM.

97P obtained.

Wide Slash TM identified. Inventory capacity insufficient.

Holy fucking shit YES. I fuckin' loved using Wide Slash when I played the games, even if I'm sure it'll be different since I'm actually LIVING them...

Whatever, that doesn't matter, we're learning it, because it'll be a VERY nice addition to our move roster.

Wide Slash TM used by Riolu, this Pokémon m̶̳͆u̴̻͑s̶̢̎t̷̺͝ ̴̿ͅf̶̘̕ơ̷̝ř̵̻g̶̩͊è̷͉t̷̹͠ ̴̬͂a̸̮̐n̵͎͝ ̵͗ͅo̴͓͊l̴̤̈d̴̝̍ ̸̲̐m̷͉͘o̷̭͐v̵͙͝è̶̡ ̷̱͂f̴͆ͅī̶̜r̷̛̖s̴̢̽t̵̯́.

Riolu has learned Wide Slash, Vulpix h̵̢͝a̶̝͋s̴͈͠ ̵̢̚l̶̗̈́è̷͍a̶͎͑r̶͖͑n̵̺͆e̷̗̒d̶̨͌ ̷̯͝W̶̟̯͚͊͘i̷̤̯̽͋d̴̨̉̽e̶͈̝̽͂ ̶̦̔̋̑S̷̠͇͂͑l̴͕̜͋̃á̶̩̦s̴̢̬̦͝h̷̳̗͌͘.̷̢́̚

Ė̴̱r̸̠͘͜ȓ̷̹̀ỏ̵͈͂r̷̼̱̀́.̵̯̲̈́ ̶͓͌Ḯ̶̲̐ť̸̤͙ë̶̞͈̚m̶͚̓ ̷̳̹͋c̷̰̓ö̵̢́n̸͔̹͋v̴̧̕e̸̤͘ͅr̶̙̤͒ș̴̑̈́i̶͈̇ȏ̸͉͚̉ň̷͖̚ ̶̧̂͠f̷͎̀a̴̡̒ĭ̶̖l̸̖̹͆ȩ̴̺̑d̸̡͇̋̔.̴̞̃

Oh, that again...well, I guess we can take it to sell, then.

Transfer Orb placed.

Wide Slash TM obtained.

Cool, now let's go east.

Nothing in here, so I guess we're continuing east.

Nothing yet again, so...east.

Ah, there we go, the stairs...directly to the east of where we initially appeared, because of course.

Right...let's get out of this fucked-up future, then.

---

The Passage of Time.

As we emerged from the pathway, I heard the dungeon scream behind us as Regigigas tore a hole through its outer boundary wall, two of the Regirock marching behind their creator...and only those two seemed to remain, despite my having seen the legendary create literal hundreds of them.

Well, we're certainly just lost the element of surprise...if we even had it to begin with, that is.

I turned just in time to see the titan's eyes blink yellow in...some kind of pattern, before it tilted its torso upward and stared into the sky, its voice vibrating the ground beneath our feet.

"Warning, Spiritomb gestalt entity located."

I took a moment to exchange a glance with Vulpix, before we looked into the sky and I felt my eyes widen

Oh. Oh shit.

...I'm pretty sure the sky isn't supposed to be purple and blue, fuck my life.

I felt the ground shake again as Regigigas walked forward, its seven black eyes flashing yellow in several patterns that I had no hope in discerning...and I saw the stone crack around it as three things emerged from the ground.

...and I saw the Normal-type's hands clench as it stared at the broken and decayed forms of the original Regirock, Registeel, and Regice, its voice radiating nothing less than absolute murder.

"Who. Dares."

I could feel the entire plateau begin to rumble as the titan's eyes and torso gems began to glow red, the four of us exchanging a horrified glance as Grovyle urgently motioned for Celebi to open the Passage of Time and the titan's voice rose in volume.

"WHO HAS DARED TO DESECRATE MY CREATIONS!?"

I felt my partner's hand squeeze mine as we carefully stepped around the motionless titan and its broken golems, unable to keep our eyes off the way that Regirock seemed to be just...wrong, as if it had failed to properly rebuild itself and had been driven to desperation, or the way that Regice's entire head section was just gone, as if something had burned a hole directly through where its seven yellow eyes would have been, its entire body constantly melting and refreezing as the three remaining eyes tried to light up.

...and yet, the worst one was how Registeel had clearly been left to rust, one of its lower arms hanging on by just a few black wires and half of its face having been eaten away, the other arm having rusted down to the wrist and its left hand just entirely gone.

What...what the fuck did this?

...and I turned away from the clearly decrepit legendary golems at the sound of Dusknoir's voice.

"Stop there! That will do..."

The motherfucker himself was floating in front of the Passage of Time, all six of his Sableye appearing from the shadows around him and immediately Mega Evolving in a nearly blinding display of rainbow light.

"Hello to you all. It's been a while, hasn't it? You're scurrying has carried you far, and you've even managed to awaken Regigigas...but I'm sad to say that it's all over now."

I saw the Sableye creep forward, their shields raising as flames curled from Vulpix's lips and my palms covered themselves in aura, and I saw Grovyle's eyes narrow at the Ghost-type even as our hands reluctantly separated.

"Hmph, that's crafty, Dusknoir. You allowed us to roam free, and kept your eye on us the entire time, so that you could capture Celebi as well as us."

So, we WERE followed, then. I should've used my Aura Sight to check before, but...fuck it, doesn't matter now.

As I watched, Dusknoir's eye shifted over to the three decayed golems standing around their creator, even as I faced toward the Mega Sableye and my partner's back met mine, her fur still warm from the fire surging under her skin.

"Of course, Grovyle. I will admit, I had wondered as to the purpose of my master...taking control of them, or why he had assisted in their ruin, and yet, I suppose it has its benefits."

I saw Regigigas turn toward Dusknoir, all seven of its eyes glowing red and its voice shaking the ground with the rage it contained.

"Your. Master."

Dusknoir's eye narrowed, his spectral body somehow stiffening in mid-air and Shadow Balls forming in his hands, even as the six Mega Sableye rose their shields and crept closer.

"Yes. After all...do you really think that I would come alone, Grovyle? Now, Master Dialga!"

...and I couldn't help the way my eyes widened as something behind us roared, and the Mega Spiritomb began to funnel itself down, its spectral form cutting out all of the ambient light and shrouding the entire plateau in a shifting hurricane of green and purple lights.

Fuck, they're cutting off our escape routes, INCLUDING up.

I felt the ground rumble under our feet, and turned just in time to see the broken golems lurch toward Regigigas and the two Regirock that I only just now realized were shorter than the original.

...and I took a second to just breathe as Vulpix's hand slipped into mine, the fur of our joined hands slightly damp with nervous sweat...and the Mega Spiritomb howled in fear as the blue light of a false star chased away the darkness.

No fucking way. I mean, it makes sense, but...a Chandelure, here?

"Tell me, Grovyle...did you know that the Riolu beside you was once your partner?"

As I watched, Grovyle slumped, clearly remembering what we had told him and the fact that I didn't have his partner's memories.

"Yes...I know, Dusknoir."

I saw my partner turn to rest her other hand on Grovyle's shoulder, her brown eyes sympathetic despite the resolve within them, and I saw the Grass-type visibly shake away his despair even as Celebi flew down just a little bit to take his hand in hers.

"My dear Grovyle...please, don't give up yet."

I took a moment to lean toward Vulpix, her brown eyes meeting mine even as the Mega Spiritomb began firing dozens upon dozens of Shadow Balls into the Chandelure's flame at a roared command from the mad god behind us, Primal Dialga's eyes glowing red with utter madness as he fired a Dragon Pulse at the Chandelure hovering steadily toward the plateau.

I...I have one idea, but I'd rather not take that away from her, even though the situation is CLEARLY that desperate.

"...any ideas, Vulpix?"

I saw those brown eyes that I loved so much blink, clearly startled, before she glanced at Celebi in consideration and began to whisper.

"Celebi, if-if you can travel through time, then...could you time travel us closer to the Passage?"

Celebi stared at her, before the time traveling Mythical hummed and nodded, even as the six Sableye crept closer and one of them rose its shield to deflect a spiraling lance of yellow flame.

"It...it won't be easy with Dialga here! He's the Temporal Pokémon, and his control of time is far greater than mine!"

I saw Dusknoir's eye narrow, his gaze flicking between my partner and I.

"I wonder, Team Fire Shadow... do you know who the other Vulpix is, then?"

What.

...and I saw Dusknoir laugh as we exchanged a glance, the mouth on his stomach settling into a wide grin.

"I have to wonder...if she would end if I disposed of you."

No. That...that can't happen. My partner wouldn't have come back in time if we HADN'T WON!

"...and now, we shall be rid of you, for all time. Even for a future that will never come to pass. ATTACK!"

...and then the world shifted around us as the Mega Sableye rushed forward and Vulpix's hand tightened on mine, even as Regigigas pulled itself from the grasp of its creations and fucking rushed toward Dialga, tearing Registeel's remaining arm off in the process in a shower of red sparks and broken wires.

Ṫ̵͉é̴̼͚m̴̥̀p̵̟͕͆̽ő̶̝ṛ̸̖͗à̵̘͋l̵̜̕ ̴̧̝̑ā̸̗͐ń̶͙̘o̵̢̺̾m̶̞͒̓a̵͎̮͠l̵̝̝̈́ỵ̶̞͋̕ ̷̬̙̋d̵͍͘e̴͉̩̐̒ẗ̸̰̈́ẽ̸̞͆ċ̷̣t̴͍̀͗ḛ̶̿d̵̩̎́ͅ.̷͈͜͠

I felt the tunnel of shifting time break around us as Dialga roared, something almost familiar attempting to force its way up my throat as my partner's hands glowed blue and we stumbled up to the path, thoroughly disoriented as Regigigas proceeded to slam into Primal Dialga and outright clothesline him, before the Legendary Titan threw the Temporal Legendary toward the pathway we had emerged from and jumped after him.

...what the fuck did I just witness?

I saw Dusknoir's gaze lock on to us, and the Sableye began to lift their shields and charge toward us, even as Primal Dialga blasted the titan back with a second Roar of Time at point blank range, the Normal-type's feet carving literal trenches across the ground as it was forced toward us.

I felt that strangely familiar attack force my head back as an orb of light flew from my mouth and into the sky, Vulpix's entire body flashing blue as she pressed herself against my back into order to stop me from falling over, and everyone stopped to watch as the orb hovered above us.

...and then Regigigas was suddenly there, its body huddled down over the three decayed golems and the two lesser Regirock, a dome of familiar green light springing to life over its form.

"Slow Start forcibly deactivated. Alpha energy signature detected. Bracing for impact."

No. There's no fucking way. Is...is that...?

...and I saw Primal Dialga's red eyes widen in recognition at the same time as mine did, as the orb of light suddenly became ten, and those ten became one hundred, and then the one hundred became one thousand, each one shining a different color of the seventeen Pokémon types...and some even shining in a color that I suspected was representing the Fairy-type.

Oh. Fucking. Shit.

I saw the orbs of light begin to angle themselves toward Primal Dialga, even as a single horrifying notification appeared in our message log and a panicked scream tore itself from my throat, and I pulled the other three to the ground, a dome of green light forming around us moments before a second reinforced it.

"TAKE FUCKING COVER!"

Riolu used J̵̘͎̰͐͂ȕ̴͓d̸̦̦̖̓̋͝g̶͈̔̕m̷̡̥̄ͅë̴͎͈́͌̏͜ņ̷̗̓̿ṫ̴͎̻͆.̸͕̕

As I stared at the orbs falling from the sky, I saw Primal Dialga's glowing red eyes lock onto them, even as his Mega Spiritomb began to run away with the Chandelure still chasing after it.

...and Primal Dialga spoke a word that we could actually understand, his tone almost buried in shock and utter disbelief.

"...father?"

...and I heard Primal Dialga let out a roar of pain as the divine equivalent of a self-replicating Iron Man 1 Jericho Missile rained down upon his form, a thousand explosions of golden light impacting almost at the same time and creating dozens of blast waves per second, each one powerful enough to propel Dusknoir and his six Sableye past us and send them flying into the rock walls on either side of the Passage of Time.

Had the situation been any less completely fucked, the way Dusknoir slammed into the green dome and his eye locked on to us, before he slid off the Protect and was blasted away, would have been outright comical.

We need to fucking leave, before they recover.

Despite myself, I couldn't help the way my hand shook as I hurriedly pulled Vulpix to her feet, her eyes blown wide and clearly shell-shocked...not that I blamed her, given the circumstances.

I saw Grovyle pull himself to his feet as Celebi rose into the air, both of them clearly as rattled as we were...and I heard Primal Dialga let out a roar filled with pain and frustration as the Passage of Time began to audibly shrink.

Fuck, okay, let's g-no.

No. Not...not now, not this.

As we turned toward the Passage of Time, I felt my heart clench and my partner's hand squeeze mine, both of us staring at the other Vulpix standing in front of the Passage of Time, the keystone blazing within her illusionary chest as her green eyes watched the Mega Spiritomb flee from the Chandelure single-mindedly pursuing it, something almost sad in her gaze.

"So...you're leaving me again, then?

"Can...can I have one more hug, before you go?"

I couldn't help but nod despite my reluctance, wondering if maybe we could help her, somehow.

As I watched the other Vulpix's illusionary body lean toward us, I felt my partner's hand tighten on mine.

Maybe...maybe we should try to give her a second chance?

I felt the other Vulpix's arms wrap around me as my free arm pulled her into a hug, her chin resting on my shoulder.

...and I heard my partner choke out a warning as the other Vulpix pulled away, a horrible and familiar green light shining behind her eyes, before she leaned in to kiss my cheek and whispered four words that nearly broke my heart despite the fact that I knew she wasn't the same person I'd fallen in love with.

"I hate you, Riolu..."

I saw the other Vulpix grin with red-stained teeth as I froze at her words, the keystone pulsing within her illusionary chest...and then her eyes widened as my partner pulled her away from me with an arm covered in familiar blue light.

Completely numb, I watched as my partner let out a growl and pushed her future self to the ground, an intangible hand firmly wrapped around the illusion's throat even as the keystone pulsed like a frantically beating heart.

As I tried to remember how to breathe despite the nearly physical pain in my chest, my partner leaned down and glared into the other Vulpix's eyes, before the illusion-covered Spiritomb froze at the sheer rejection in her voice.

"I...I'm not you, because I could never hate him like you do!

"...and I never want to become you, either!"

I watched, shocked into silence, as the love of my life pulled the illusionary Vulpix into the air by her throat, before my partner's skin shone as she activated Swords Dance over and over again.

Vulpix: Attack increased, attack increased.

Vulpix: Attack increased, attack increased.

Vulpix: Â̶̞̮̇ṫ̵̲͑t̵̪̂a̷͓̪̙͆c̴͚͓̪̈͑̈́k̶̛̻̄̑ ̵̣̩͍͠ì̴̬̓̑n̸̨̪̩͗̅̚c̵̘̩͇͝͠r̴̪͔̱̿͑é̵̙̟̀͜a̷͈͉̋̏͗s̵̜̙̃ē̵̙ḑ̶̹̃̇̃,̸̢̎̏̈́ ̷̡̞̠̽a̷̯̒t̸̞͓́̌͝t̶͝ͅa̴͒͜c̴͖͇̘̽k̸̪̤͎͂͋̽ ̶͚͓͉͂̑͐ī̷̧̗ͅn̸̠̣̈́̎̓c̴̞̾̍̃r̸̟͘ế̸͈̗̞͋a̸͙̞̓s̷͚̗̓ë̴̱͇̥́̃d̴͍̣͌͘.̸̯̹͔̏

Vulpix: Â̶̞̮̇ṫ̵̲͑t̵̪̂a̷͓̪̙͆c̴͚͓̪̈͑̈́k̶̛̻̄̑ ̵̣̩͍͠ì̴̬̓̑n̸̨̪̩͗̅̚c̵̘̩͇͝͠r̴̪͔̱̿͑é̵̙̟̀͜a̷͈͉̋̏͗s̵̜̙̃ē̵̙ḑ̶̹̃̇̃,̸̢̎̏̈́ ̷̡̞̠̽a̷̯̒t̸̞͓́̌͝t̶͝ͅa̴͒͜c̴͖͇̘̽k̸̪̤͎͂͋̽ ̶͚͓͉͂̑͐ī̷̧̗ͅn̸̠̣̈́̎̓c̴̞̾̍̃r̸̟͘ế̸͈̗̞͋a̸͙̞̓s̷͚̗̓ë̴̱͇̥́̃d̴͍̣͌͘.̸̯̹͔̏

...and then she turned toward the Chandelure chasing the Mega Spiritomb through the sky, the other Vulpix's keystone trying and failing to separate from its illusion as it realized what she planned and its false-body began to struggle even harder.

I saw my partner's lips firm, her brown eyes reflecting nothing but hate and disdain for the monster her future self had become...and then she threw the howling and writhing green-eyed Vulpix directly into the Chandelure's star-like flame, the Ghost and Fire type pausing for just a moment as the Vulpix's illusionary body made contact with its flame's soul-burning surface and was engulfed, before continuing its hunt as it chased the glowing lights fleeing from its presence.

I felt her hand grasp mine, no longer shrouded in the blue light of Shadow Force, and she began to pull me toward the Passage of Time, Grovyle and Celebi's eyes clearly sympathetic even as I buried my face into my partner's shoulder and sobbed.

...and I blurrily saw Regigigas rise from the corner of my eye through my tears, its Protect fading as the decayed and broken golems turned toward us, probably no longer controlled by whatever Primal Dialga had done to take them over.

I could feel the hum that Regigigas emitted, something sympathetic entering its mechanical voice as it stared at us.

"Guardian constructs have been recovered and will be reformed. You have my gratitude, Team Fire Shadow, and...I am sorry, for the trauma that the spirit has clearly inflicted upon you."

I felt Vulpix nod at the titan, her voice steady despite the fact that she was crying along with me, and I saw Celebi press her lips to Grovyle's cheek before she flew away from us and into the forest.

"Tha-thank you, Regigigas. But we...we need to go, please."

The titan nodded with its entire torso, eyes glowing yellow as Dusknoir tried to intercept us and was promptly blasted back by five different Charge Beams from the different legendary golems.

"I see. Good luck, Riolu and Vulpix. You have my gratitude."

I felt my partner's lips press against mine despite the fact that we were still crying, even as Grovyle gently guided us through the Passage of Time at the sound of Primal Dialga's roar.

...and I couldn't help but wince as we emerged from the tunnel, and Vulpix and I rolled over each other onto the sand.

Are...are we...?

...and I felt a fresh wave of sobs coming as we listened to the sound of familiar waves, even as my partner and I held each other despite the fact that we were covered in sand and cried in utter relief.

We're...we're HOME.

Thank fuck, we're finally home...

---

End of Chapter Fourteen.

So, yeah.

Shit's fucked, and it even had me crying by the end, there.

Also, behind-the-scenes trivia, because holy shit there was actually more planned for this one!

"Mad Gods" was not originally intended to refer to Regigigas getting pissed the fuck off, and in fact Regigigas and the rest of the Legendary Titans weren't even initially meant to be in here, but I had the idea and I'd like to think that shit worked.

In case you're wondering, the in-story designs of the "decayed" Regirock, Registeel, and Regice are directly copied Pokémon Clover, in case you needed precise imagery to go along with the (probably lacking, let's be honest) in-story description.

Also, I had the idea for Regieleki and Regidrago to also show up...but neither of those things made it into the chapter due to the fact that I didn't want to bloat it further, after three dungeons in one chapter and the battle at the Passage of Time.

Regieleki would've been formed via an entire swarm of Rotom sacrificing themselves to help Regigigas create it, while Regieleki would have been created from Regigigas face-tanking a Roar of Time and converting the entire thing into a completed version of Regidrago.

There was originally supposed to be a different plot point for the end of this chapter, due to my previous belief that they emerged in Treeshroud Forest before heading back to the Guild...but that idea promptly got shot in the face upon my actually reaching the cutscene and realizing that they appear on the Beach, instead.

As always, feel free to tell me what you think, and here's the invite code for the Official Unchained Explorers Discord Server, if you'd like to join that: eGmzsUPgyJ.

Beware of spoilers though, because I have entirely too much fun showing off my future plans, there.