Updated December 2021

In this world, whether we like it or not, some Pokemon can't keep their promises. It's not the end of the world if they don't, either; Mystery Dungeons will still form, and the world's balance will eventually be rebuilt. Well...not without some cooperation between Pokemon. Again, to make life easier, it would be best if all promises were kept...especially a Keeper's.

Number 6, an unlocked Keeper shall not use a mana boost for their moves irresponsibly and forget to lock themselves back up at once, when the ordeal is over.

To the Bristberg Mana League Chief and Coordinator.

Greetings from the Nebula Continent!

It's a pleasure to send over Tidal Dewott and Coal Pignite from our Strike True Guild, from the city of Hazeville to go and learn more about your Continents way of life and Keeper relations. And of course, these two will provide assistance with anything else you need. Who wouldn't want more monpower with the enemies from Wicked Blow after the mana artifacts and targeting your members?

Mark is glad that you reached out to him when you did. As a Gallade he can sense the urgency from the letter you sent and it bothered him. We have recently found some younger recruits to replace Tidal and Coal so no worries. Those two should be arriving a little bit after this letter does. I'm thankful that you all will be taking them off our hands and putting them to work. Mark said they were getting too comfortable. I will miss having a morning cup of tea with Tidal, but I will start wrangling someone else into it.

Reply when they arrive!

Guildmaster Anthony Dragonite.

Glade Totodile's Point of View

What in the world? What type of a dream is this?

I'm back.

Somehow I'm back in my hometown.

But something is wrong.

Fuck!

I need to run.

They're in danger.

My family needs me.

Even if I'm the shitty little accident of a runt they need me.

The town is entirely gloomy and quiet, I don't like that.

All the colors of the landscape are oddly tinted and the buildings I pass by on the boardwalk are warped beyond recognition.

I'm running as fast as I can.

I hear these bastards laugh as another burst of static crackles out in the field.

There they are.

Those black and white striped sons of Dittos.

A faction of a Wicked Blow gang, one filled to the brim with electric-type Pokemon.

Of course, they also had some grass, water, and other typed Pokemon but that wasn't important.

The important thing is a tall yellow Toxtricity and the blue one right next to her. These bitches unload volt after volt into Dad as he stands over Mom. My Krookodile Mother is dead, slumped over my siblings. I watch from the stalks in the yard as my Feraligatr Father strikes back with a powerful swipe of his claws.

But something is different.

I wasn't supposed to see any more of this. In real life, I was pulled away before the gang noticed me.

Why am I still here?

Where is she?

What's going on?

She needs to be to take me away before something bad happens.

The eyes of the Wicked Blow Pokemon all start to glow orange, green, red, and purple as the sky becomes pitch black. Laugher and mad cackling fill the air when they spot me.

No.

They're coming over to get me.

No.

I duck and hurry as fast as possible without making too much of a scene. But they're fast.

No.

These bastards launch out volleys of electricity, shredding through the grain and leaving long lines of dangerous charged land.

No.

Lighting bolts, waves, and balls of yellow and purple energy bounce and crash down, shining bright as reflections in the water.

No!

These electric-typed assholes fry the water with their current.

No!

I can't swim away.

No!

All around me are the haunting silhouettes, chuckling and giggling.

No!

They sharpen their fangs and pounce.

No no no, it's over. I'm done for.

Shit.

A ray of morning sunlight jabs my eyelids from a sliver in the window. So bright. Another day I shouldn't be alive.

The sun is so painfully bright. I look at the curtains to my left and my front. There I noticed the shadows of Nevada and Linus stirring. These two deserve someone better than me. Teammates are supposed to cooperate with each other and not be assholes to them or act like a cunt for no reason.

I'm worthless.

I ruin everything.

I hate this.

I rub my chest, scale down, then my claws run down my stomach scales and I groan. They are not tough enough to sustain every attack. I have to get stronger. Licking around my sharp teeth I hopped out of bed.

"Morning, Glade," Linus called out of the blue. He must have heard my claws on the wood floor or something.

"Hey," I said, pulling open my curtains.

"Hi, Glade!" Nevada walked up to me and bent lower slightly. "How are you doing this fine morning?"

"I'm alright," I responded, feeling overwhelmed. My eyes anxiously drift towards the Charmander's claws.

"Sorry for yesterday, I was a bitch," I felt like apologizing to my teammates. "It's just cause-" I stopped mid-sentence when Linus placed a hand on my shoulder.

Nevada walked around to my other side and patted my back.

Why do I bother? These two have put up with my bullshit every day for the past five years.

"We know," Nevada chimed in as their tail flame slowly built up, the reds, yellows, and oranges gleamed. "You honestly went through the worst out of all of us. I'm blessed compared to you guys."

Linus glanced at the floor and crossed his arms. "I still get terrors maself, hearing about what happened to my older sister, how Hatchet and Kobi got attacked and then seeing the wounds on our parents."

The Charmander coils their tail around themself and shudders. "I try my best to put that all behind me… I'm ashamed that…. I can't bear the thought of-" Nevada held their tongue, grief, sorrow, and rage filling their face. "We weren't strong enough to stop them."

Only one of their family members died, but all of them, including Nevada, were hurt very badly, tortured, to some extent.

Sure mental suffering hurts but not as bad as losing someone precious to you. Well, I think so, not sure if certain Pokemon would agree with me, but who cares? "We've all had it rough, the Disruption spared no one," I sighed, placing my claw on their back. "You are strong, but you don't have to do this on your own."

"Hmm?" Linus asked, peering up. He must have seen the tears rolling down my face. "What's going on now?"

"Nothing," I sniffled, burying my snout into Nevada's shoulder. "Can't I comfort my teammates?"

"Come on Glade, let's go," the Charmander grabbed my claw and pulled me out of the room and into the hallway. "Gotta brush our teeth and do everything ya know? We have to be ready for our underclassmon."

"You look like you had a nightmare again, I want to hear you yell empty threats you stupid Totodile," Linus tugged on my tail before he kicked my ass. My literal ass. Like what the fuck?

Unfortunately without caffeine and an apple, I couldn't muster a single ounce of energy between these two. "Ow, don't kick me you sly blockhead," I growled before I swatted the Treecko's scales.

"Yeah yeah, whatever you shitty gator. Today we have to train with that electric- type mouse you hate so much. Voltaru is strong but they seem like they need extra guidance," he teased before he pulled on my head spines.

Intense feelings flooded my mind and mouth. "Ah, don't touch any of my spines or I'll pry your tail apart!" I yelled and widened my eyes. "I can't stand you!"

"Ahahaha, I know, I know! Someone's cranky in the mornings, aren't they?" Linus teased me with a stupid grin on his face. "Wittle bawby gawter ies grwumpy."

The Charmander across from me giggled when I stormed off into the bathroom. Then Nevada and that bitch Linus began to have a bit of a laugh. Through the walls, I could hear them making all sorts of jokes about me and shit. I guess I deserve it, don't I? I turn on the sink faucet and grab my special toothbrush from its place on the rack.

That Voltaru, I wonder. The harsh words of Chief Mcbone and Coordinator Cooper rang in my ears as I sat in the steamy hot gentle shower.

"You are not to make threats and treat League members or clients harshly unless they actually pose a danger to you or your teammates!" The Granbull barked at me. "No matter their type or species, especially a Pokemon in a situation like Voltaru's. If I hear you myself or Linus tells me then you will face severe consequences for your actions," the Stoutland growled.

I ought to behave and not let them being an electric-type have me acting up and being a stupidass bitch. After all, they seem to have suffered too.

Here at the Bristberg Mana League breakfast is scrambled eggs, fruit and toast. Nevada and I were to take Hatchet and Voltaru out to the training grounds with Coordinator Cooper, so we made sure to eat our fill before heading out.

Linus has to prepare the paperwork and extra materials we needed to bring with us to bring the kids for Midori Mori City into our custody in the middle of a dungeon, which really means he just gathered Rescue Team badges and then scarves that fit their bodies. But maybe he is also reading up on the ferals that live in the Mystery Dungeon and how many floors it has, that Treecko is our captain.

Of course, afterward, he'll come over to the training grounds with us and I'll have to return the favor from earlier. He fucking kicked my ass, I'll have to bite him hard with an Ice Fang. It's a move he doesn't know I recently learned. Linus, that piece of shit, makes my Mew-damn blood fucking boil!

"Why does he always get away with this!?" I slammed my fist into a table. No one minds when he makes little off-hand comments about Voltaru, just out of Hatchet's earshot. Nevada went on and on about how the Rookiedee has flight practice today under the supervision of Chief Mcbone.

The Pikachu and Axew newbies didn't cause any trouble this nice morning, I don't need any more drama. Well, I guess I'd be the Pokemon who causes the most problems at the League but it's not my fault everyone is trying to piss me off. I swear it's just like there should be no one around this age and strong and not know so many things about the world. That Pikachu couldn't have been born yesterday or something stupid like that. Hatchet was being fucking vague and didn't tell us the full story, I can tell. Dragon-types wear their emotions on their scales. He's nervous about something regarding his partner.

"Alright, so out here in the practice range I want you to use your physical and special moves on the substitute dolls," started our Coordinator, tightening his scarf. "Nevada and Glade have an understanding of the moves they utilize in Mystery Dungeons and other battles but they aren't familiar with your moves Hatchet, Voltaru," The four of us Team Sharp Claw members stood near the different sized stuffed dolls before backing up.

I exhaled and then took in a deep breath to concentrate. I'm gonna go for a water-type move to show the damn rookies how it's done. I clenched my fists and opened my mouth to feel all the water energy to form my Waterfall strike. Nevada widened their eyes, ran away then placed their claws above their tail flame.

"Wah? Glade, why would she-" that Pikachu pondered before they stopped themselves to pay attention. I could hear Hatchet breathe out in relief.

"HAA!" I snarled as torrents of dark blue liquid surrounded my body, and I lunged forward, drawing the water to my chest, arms and claws piercing through the oval-shaped target. In a flash I pulled my claws out of the fabric and stood back, grass drenched all around me. Heh, I fucked that shit up.

Coordinator Cooper clapped his paws together and nodded while Voltaru their eyes glued on me in awe. Their Axew buddy or whatever didn't react as harshly, he's not as clueless and naive as he looks.

Nevada shook their whole body, trying to be free of any possible droplets from my display. Then their firetail shot out, flaring out intensely. The Charmander then grinned and pulled out a white feather from the sash across their body. That one is special, it is a White Herb, the crazy bastard is gonna try and show me up with a fucking Solar Beam!

Nevada opened their palms then spread their legs out to brace themselves, a soft green glow appearing from their belly. A fire-type move is something they've already shown off to everyone present so this makes plenty of sense. I've heard they scorched Voltaru and Hatchet yesterday with their Heat Wave during the Entrance Exam. Which I missed!

I love how on Nevada's facial scales there was a scowl and grimace to launch a mighty ray of natural energy. Pure determination just for a training exercise! Nevada lacks in the social confidence area, which is annoying because they have such great skills. They are super confident in taking down violent ferals then defeating criminals and saving clients like it's nothing!

The Charmander's hands had finished being the catalyst to the attack. It was crafted with the yellow ring of light that signified the pole was about to go off into the largest substitute doll. Nevada's hind claws dug into the earth as the weight of their move recoiled their body a couple of centimeters. The Solar Beam lasered into the cotton-filled tool, it shone bright and I had to cover my eyes. White light. White, green, and yellow, the marks of a grass-type move.

I hate having any weaknesses, even if they are only two types, Grass and Electric. Sure I could have been born a Grass or Ice Type, who have so many disadvantages out of their control but that's different. I'm from the mighty line of Smith Feraligatr, I have to be strong no matter what!

Hatchet is a dragon-type, which means he resists most of our strongest moves, well of course not the Coordinator's. Voltaru's jaw dropped and they just blankly stared at the substitute doll, its firm stance sullied. Nevada! That was fucking lit as fuck, I need to do better!

"Woah, holy crap! Your attacks are so strong... " Voltaru folded their ears back, then ran their paws on their puffy chest fur. They licked their maw and blinked as a soft wind broke out. "Uh, Hatchet, can I go before you? I want to test out something," the Pikachu requested. Sir Cooper gave them a stare and panted as he closed his eyes.

"Yeah, sure but why?" the husky Axew rubbed under his chin and rolled that strange cylinder of wood from earlier in his mouth. His tusks faintly began to break when he pressed harder. But why the hell does Hatchet need a mood stick? Weird-ass dude.

"I want to not have so much pressure, ya know," Voltaru squeaked before they let out a cough. The Pikachu mumbled something underneath their breath before they slapped their electric cheek pouches.

Feeling annoyed I wagged my tail and stamped on the ground. Errrr! This electric-type just being here is starting to piss me off. "Are either of you going to go? We don't have all day," I asked.

"Oh well, er lemme see," the Axew looked at the dirt lane, his red eyes frantically searching for something. Not sure what, he just needs to spit out whatever he's gonna say so we can finish.

Instead of paying the newbs mind, I patted the Charmander next to me on the back. "Good job!" I closed my eyes, grinning. Nevada jumped up, and shuddered, glancing back at me and Sir Cooper. I can't help getting excited whenever I see this side of them!

"You liked what you saw, didn't you Glade?" they puffed out their chest, crossed their arms, turning away from me. "You better not be making fun of me!"

"Of course she liked your Solar Beam Nevada," reminded the Granbull with a smile. "It was fantastic, great use of items too!" he pounded his chest, wagging tail.

"…. See, Voltaru has all-new moves and isn't familiar with them yet," Hatchet finally said, gesturing with his claws. Then his partner got on all fours. "Is this okay with y'all?"

"Ah. Okay, sounds good to me, I'll be sure to not be too critical of their performance," our Coordinator sniffed as his eyes narrowed. His ears lifted and twisted oddly, I guess he was trying to sense everything.

Nevada adjusted their sash and popped their knuckles. "Uh sure thing," they softly said.

"Whatever, it'll be alright." I pointed at Voltaru. "You've got this! Just do it!" I shouted with a snarl.

Brzzt!

A thin trail of electricity trickled from the Pikachu's body and danced its way towards the smallest substitute doll. The electric-type move, Thunder Bolt… well it looked more like a Thunder Shock to me caused a strange amount of static on the surface but-

"It did no damage?!" worriedly asked Voltaru. I grit my teeth and felt something tense in my chest. Boufshit. Like what the hell? No. That's not it!

The Axew put a claw on the Pikachu's shoulder and whispered something to them and then Coordinator Cooper shook his head. "Alright, Hatchet you are up," he barked before taking a couple of steps back, towards the empty mountain range.

The Axew clenched his fists and took in a deep breath. Teal and dark cyan energy filled his maw. The muscles on his arms and legs flexed as he stared down at the last target. Hatchet's red eyes had a faint sinister glow to them and I instinctively stood leaned closer to Nevada and Cooper.

Dragons are not to be messed with or taken lightly, you'll be surprised at what even the hatchlings are capable of. A wisp of a draconic figure fired out of Hatchet's mouth, a thick and long beam of aquamarine energy propelling it into the doll with a massive burst. This must be Dragon Pulse! The substitute ruptured at the seams and bits of cotton stuffing flew out of the blast.

We all were in awe of such an amazing display no one said a single word. "Well without Sir Cooper, I think we should just do a bit of sparring," Hatchet questioned, looking over all of us before choosing his target. "You wanna go Nevada?"

"Oh me? S-sure!" the Charmander replied, lunging forward, using Metal Claw. They Axew who they aimed at countered with an arrow of purple energy Poison Jab.

They began using other moves but I just turned around, smiled, and pumped my biceps. "Let's get to work, I'm not gonna hold back Voltaru!" I growled as I lept at the Pikachu. The mouse was caught off guard and nearly let me tag them with my Ice Fang, how thrilling!

"Ah, woah gimme a second Glade!" the Pikachu demanded as I chased them, their teal eyes oozing with terror. "I need to uh think of a way to use my next new move!"

"- - - -Sharp Claw - - - -!" There was another voice saying something but I tuned it out, to focus on the mouse. Voltaru seemed different now that they used a move, I want to figure out what happened!

"Nope, I want you to blast like you mean it!" I prepared my arms to use a Brick Break on the Keeper.

"I told you to stop and pay Attention YOU LOT!" Our Granbull Coordinator shouted as he blocked a dark purple and black Dark Pulse. The attack was flying above my Axew and Charmander teammates. "Somethings wrong here, stay close to me!" he ordered.

Without missing a beat I took a deep breath and started scanning the area.

He had used a Fire Punch to dispel the threat, the heavy flames nullified any damage we could have taken. "There's an enemy who managed to slip back here," Sir Cooper continued in a bark.

"I can't see any other Pokemon nearby." I stopped to survey the area, the League Building behind us, the river to the left, the Bristberg Mountains in front of us, and a small forest to the right of us. "Whoever it is-" I growled before a looming shadow hopped out of the ground.

"They were on the mountainside!" Coordinator Granbull said. It was a Sableye with a black and white bandana over their head. Wait, black and white stripes? I can't believe those Wicked Blow guys are actually here!

We could see their hands were forming a malicious substance, all sorts of foul blobs spiraling together. "Hatchet, cover me! Glade, Nevada, Voltaru! Block everything else!" Coordinator Cooper ordered as he began running towards the Sableye with a menacing glare, his sharp teeth bared.

"Yes sir!" we all shouted, some a bit more fiercely than others. I turned to the opposite side and looked beyond our base. I couldn't tell if anyone was there but wasn't about to take any chances!

3rd Person POV

The Axew Keeper saw his target, the humongous Shadow Ball the Wicked Blow member had tossed in his direction. Hatchet glanced at his teammates and knew what to do.

A bright massive Shadow Ball dared to harm, the shot needed to be blocked, not deflected! Hatchet roared as he glowed yellow-green and his tusks shined. He launched an X-Scissor, and then used Dragon Pulse. Once the attack was right in front of him he felt something jab out of him as he used Poison Jab, draining all of his energy just to stand.

When all of the moves connected in an explosion, Coordinator Cooper slammed his entire body into the Wicked Blow member with Play Rough; a strong fairy-type move that made use of Granbull's enormous physical strength. He forced the Sableye, who seemed to be drained from his failure of boosted attack past the fainting point twice, meaning he was halfway to death.

A Pokemon's death point can come from natural causes such as disease and old age but to die in combat is something special. When a Pokemon accumulates enough elemental damage they will die.

Coordinator Cooper carried the Wicked Blow lackey in a chokehold and slammed him into the mountainside. Grey, brown, black, and other colored sediments broke off the wall and crumbled to the field below violently. Though he had fainted from the impact with the mountain, Sableye screamed out in pain when jagged pieces of rock and stone violently pierced his flesh.

The Granbull fiercely scowls as he turns to look back and make sure his subordinates are alright. Hatchet is spent, Voltaru is worried, Glade and Nevada are focused… Good, I'll take care of this quickly. Cooper stared into the light blue cracked gems of the enemy. "Who sent you boy?!"

To respond the Sableye strained to tilt his head up and cough out blood. "It was Amelia…Weavile...she's not close… you won't find her by staring at… Me," he passed out, clinging to his open chest wounds. This was not the correct response for the abominable Granbull who squeezed harder on the Sableye's neck, bones and jewels cracking, blood oozing out.

"You think you can misuse your Keeper abilities by unlocking and get off freely!" Coordinator Cooper loudly roared before using Fire Punch to throw the enemy down into the tall stalks of grain and grass. The impact had vision fade in and out.

With a tremble, he had a glimpse down to view the gruesome sight that was his ribcage, part of his lowest rib was daring to stick out and he couldn't help but vomit. "You dare come to my Mana League and try to harm my pupils on this soil!" the Granbull glared at the heaping mess below him.

The Sableye quivered endlessly, covered in his own bodily fluids, barely clinging onto life. "I'm… sorry," he weakly uttered.

Instead of a response, Coordinator Cooper stomped down. Two dulling sapphires. Again the hefty light pink paws descend. A faint emerald. Paw pads and claws rip and tear. Sapped ruby. Until it is done.

While their supervisor dealt with the intruder, Voltaru felt strange. They knew it was a moderately chilly day. But the Pikachu couldn't shake the feeling of an intense rush of cold, dark air. Whatever it is I need to tell Hatchet when he wakes up.

Their Axew teammate stirred out of their grasp and sat upright, watching them intently. Hatchet looked down at their paws and tail to see the tips now a light grey color. Wait, they have some signs of gaining a mana mark. He muffled a cough with his claw.

Solemnly Hatchet ran a claw over his own mana marks. The stripe under his left eye, above his right, and then the ones on his chest and abdomen. Voltaru seemed uneasy as they stared into the mountains that led far into Midori Mori Forest. What's wrong?

"Hatchet are you alright?" Voltaru quickly asked the Axew.

"Yeah," Hatchet winced, then he narrowed his own eyes to think about the Sableye's attack strength.

"I feel something strange in the air," the Pikachu folded down their ears in concentration as they closed their eyes. Their Axew partner tried to do the same, to no avail, and was bewildered.

Sweat began to pour down his scales as his mind wandered. Hatchet felt his heart rate rapidly increase with every passing second… It was getting closer. "What is?" he begged. I can't sense anyone else, how can they sense someone? Who is far away and strong enough to try to hurt us from there?!

"I dunno, something awful," Voltaru explained.

"Can you be more specific?" the Axew begged, feeling his emotions spiral. "Please, I need to know!"

"Some cold and dark presence."

"What?"

"A presence like yours, Astesia's and Sir Cooper's," Voltaru spoke with conviction, their red cheeks sparkling bright. "Woah!" the Pikachu had a switch flipped in their mind and heart, Urging them to strike hard. But what do I need to strike? Unconsciously their tail began to form a shiny metallic coat of iron, strong and sharp as a blade.

Voltaru's folded down in worry, their nose twitching slightly. What's this strange warped mint taste in the air alongside a deep bitter coffee flavor? They thought. "Be on the watch for something from the sky!"

The Charmander and Totodile beside them frantically glanced up. Glade then spotted the attack, It hurled right towards them.


"NEVADA!" she screamed as she hastily used Ancient Power at the Ice Beam bullet. The Charmander beside her spewed out a Heat Wave, the attack blanketing move. The two moves collided in a flash, a variety of chunks shattered but still, the Ice Beam prevailed. The bullet was only about a couple of meters away from the trembling Axew's face and Voltaru flew.

The inexperienced Pikachu leaped into the air and swung their tail. It glided towards the danger with the grace of a samurai's katana. The tail sliced cleanly through the ice elemental attack, a sweeping cloud of air combusting from the blast.

They saved me… after I'll I've done. The Axew held his chest. "Voltaru, you-" How'd Voltaru's Iron Tail do that… Tears poured down Hatchet's face. "Hah," he gasped out, feeling his vision become blurry and shaky. "What's, what's wrong with me?" The Axew felt a sharp ache on the back of his head, coughing up blood. Is it my internal presence?

"I- I don't know?" Voltaru panicked, noticing Hatchet's presence flash from a teal berry taste to a rotten fruit smell as the Axew breaths became labored. "Stay with me!"

Soon Hatchet fainted.

All was still for a brief moment until there was a huge eruption of shards of ice from above the League Building. The location was the training balcony, where Chief Mcbone, CJ, and Astesia were. In the air the Rookiedee had gained momentum, enough to cleanly cleave the second branch of the Ice Beam attack with two Steel Wings. When they broke there was a bloodthirsty scowl etched on the Astesia face. "THERE SHE IS!" she shrieked. "I must leave for Midori Mori City at once!"

The Stoutland and the Snubull shielded themselves from the blast, looking to the sky in awe. "Astesia," CJ simply said as he rushed to catch her. The Rookiedee could barely contain herself, her blue and black plumage was spiked out. The Snubull knew every second she was on the ground it was dangerous; Astesia's mind was plagued with hatred. "Calm down," he requested.

"You have my permission, do what you see fit. CJ, please make sure she doesn't hurt herself further," his mother narrowed her eyes and gazed down to check on the courtyard before she bounded off the structure.

Once the Stoutland arrived white mist was still in the air.

"Thank Arceus," the Bristberg Chief sighed as she saw those precious to her breathing.