Stratos Kingdom of Zavror, Southern Steppe Entrance, 9th of Year's Fall, Lunar Year 414

Vast fields of grass stretched out as far as the eye could see. In the distance, small gatherings of yurts marked where the nomads of Zavror set up their camps. Towards the sea, one could faintly make out the shape of buildings made from the standard brick and mortar.

Just in front of the group of four pokemon however, lay a stone statue, depicting Landorus.

"Do we need this?"
"I think we do."

"I say we leave it."

"Well we're going to take it."

The three recruits to her expedition looked on as Chotan the Dodrio used the statue to sort the items within her bag.

"She was so excited to get going earlier." Xander sighed. The Larvitar looked at his Togepi and Luxio companions. "Any ideas?"

"Yeah, go ahead." The Togepi responded. "She's fast, and ought to be capable enough if Dammoghes sent her on an expedition. We'll just meet her at the other end."

"Charles, let's not just walk blindly into a Mystery Dungeon." The Luxio shook her head. "Wait. She'll be done soon."

"Sabaki, she's been at this for like 5 minutes." Charles sighed.

"I don't like all this standing around." Xander agreed.

"Well, we won't be standing around for much longer." Chotan announced as her three heads turned around. "We have everything we need. We're ready to head out."

"T-that's it?" Charles smiled. "We're ready?"
"We're ready."

"As rain."

"Let's go."

Chotan's three heads all responded.

"Well, into the Steppe then." Xander walked forward.

Chotan followed him.

Charles and Sabaki made up the rear.

Southern Steppe, F1

The maze of rocky paths and grassy plateaus stretched on for miles. Inside, all manner of tribal pokemon warred with each other for control of the area, using any methods they could to seize it.

"Has this place ever not been under the effects of a Mystery Dungeon?" Xander asked somewhat sarcastically.

"Never." Charles answered.

"March now, talk later." Sabaki rolled her eyes.

The four pokemon marched forwards, through the winding steppelands.

Two Snivy noticed Xander leading the way, and set upon the four.

"On your 3!" Charles called out.

"Right!" Xander quickly used Rock Throw and took out one of the two Snivy, but the other had the time to slap him across the face with a Vine Whip.

"Some help!" Xander ducked down as he ate an Oran Berry that Chotan had given him.

"Help is here!" Chotan announced as she rushed forwards with a Peck, immediately downing the second Snivy.

"Switch!" Charles announced as he took the front of the line and Xander moved to the rear with Sabaki.

"It must be embarrassing for you." She snarked.

"It was just...faster than I'm used to. It won't happen again." Xander defended himself.

"So sad…" Sabaki shook her head.

"Heads up!" Charles announced as a Staravia came dive bombing down towards the group.

He sent out a flurry of Swift stars towards his target, each one expertly hitting their mark simultaneously. "Switch!" He called out again.

"Right!" Sabaki nodded as she took the lead with a Thunder Shock, zapping the attacking pokemon to the ground.

"How are you feeling?" Charles asked Xander as the former healed the latter's wounds with a Life Dew.

"The Snivy were a surprise, I can lead again." Xander stared Charles in the eyes.

"Then by all means, lead."

"Switch!"

"Gladly." Sabaki moved back. "What were you guys thinking, asking me to take point?"

"Ah, you'll sing a different song when my kill count ends up being double yours." Xander grinned as he managed to instantly down two Starly following the Staravia using his Rock Throw.

"Stairs up ahead!" Chotan announced as she stretched her necks.

"Guarded by two hostiles!"

"Pikachu and Ferroseed!"

"That is...not ideal for our group, Chotan, can't we just rush through them?" Xander asked.

"What do you mean?" Chotan asked with two grins as a third head shot out a flaming ball of energy, burning the Ferroseed up. "Hidden Power for the win yo." The second head agreed with the first.

"That makes this guy much easier!" Xander grinned as he tanked a Thunder Shock from the Pikachu without so much as a scratch, and threw it into the wall with a Payback.

"Stairs secure!" Sabaki announced.

"Alright let's head on to-" Charles stopped. "What?"

"We don't go any further." Chotan blocked the stairs. "Not until I confirm why we're here."

"We're going into Fortune to find that one city, and destroy it's magic items, right?" Xander asked.

"And we're doing it as fast as possible before someone else gets their hands on it." Sabaki added.

"And then we report back to Dammoghes, and we'll all be rewarded with land on those islands in the sky." Charles nodded.

"Good." Chotan's heads all nodded with delight. "You understand our mission. Now, as we continue throughout the dungeon, I want you to think long and hard about the question I'm going to pose to you: What do we do if we arrive too late?"

And with that, Chotan disappeared up the stairs.

The recruits all looked at each other, giving the same half-confused, half-worried expression, and followed after their leader.

*Chotan's Expedition Team (Team Stratos)*

1: Charles: Male Togepi Warlord (Healthy)

Ability: Super Luck

Move Tree 1: Growl → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: Pound → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Swift → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Life Dew → ? → ? → ?

2: Xander: Male Larvitar Fighter (Healthy)

Ability: Sand Veil

Move Tree 1: Tackle → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: Leer → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Rock Throw → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Payback → ? → ? → ?

3: Sabaki: Female Luxio Rogue (Healthy)

Ability: Guts

Move Tree 1: Tackle → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: Thunder Shock → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Confide → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Bite → ? → ? → ?

Guest: Chotan: Female Dodrio Monk (Healthy)

Ability: Early Bird

Move Tree 1: Peck → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 2: Quick Attack → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 3: Rage → ? → ? → ?

Move Tree 4: Hidden Power (Fire) → ? → ? → ?