The first thing that came to her was the loud sounds of screams and shrieks.

She opened her eyes immediately, and tried to get up. Her body refused to listen, so she could only sit.

Then she felt that her head would burst. She rubbed her forehead with a single of her paws, and noticed how It looked different, for some reason.

It was relatively bigger, covered in fluffy, yellow fur and light blue paw pads. She could see sharp feline claws as well, and a quick look revealed that her other forepaw looked the same. In fact, her entire body was completely different from how she remembered. She was taller, more slim and looked more imposing.

"AAAAAAH!"

She looked around in search of whoever had shouted, but saw no one.

Her blue eyes examined where she was. It was some sort of forest in the middle of a desert… but all plants looked burnt and beaten, the green was rotting away and the bright, vivid color it once had was fading into a poisonous violet.

She then saw black dots falling from the sky like slow-moving rain. Not quite dust, sand nor snow. It was some sort of corrupted in-between. She tried to use her large paw to grab one, but it phased right through her and disappeared once it reached the ground.

She shakingly got up, and once her eyes properly adjusted, she could see various ethereal, faded shapes of pokémon covering the sandy floor from around her. All lifeless, faceless and almost shapeless, like litter swept under the rug to be forgotten forever.

But the screams came from above, from the purple-colored skies, they were similar in color to the vegetation of this place. But what was more striking was the being that inhabited it.

The creature was a vaguely draconic agglomerate of crystals, rotting flesh and poison. It was coiled around the very skies like a parasite was to its host.

She remembered that thing. It was the same one from those visions she had in that temple-like dungeon.

The creature was convulsing uncontrollably, producing the horrible shrieks that had woken her up. Those sounds of sheer agony echoed through the world as if it was a small cave.

"This… is my body…" The distorted voice of the creature echoed inside her mind as if it was part of her councioness, it was both male and female, both gentle and cruel, as well as coldly calm and seething with anger, an irrational and paradoxical tone that mirrored its shape.

The flying, coiled form of the monster then started to shoot all of the millions of shards that made its body, flying down towards the earth like bullets, piercing the sands, the vegetation and the nameless bodies that littered the ground.

"This… is my blood…" Its roar shook the very earth, whilst its voice, the very definition of madness, continued its speech regardless of the well-being of its body, writhing and contorting violently as it slowly changed shape.

She closed her eyes, and shielded herself as a small fraction of the projectiles flew towards her. Yet before they could make contact, a cyan-colored canine pokémon jumped in front of her. They wielded a large, beautifully carved sword in their mouth, which they used to shatter all the crystals that were aimed at her.

"Fear not!" They said, after they easily reflected the barrage of crystals with their holy blade, "even if only you and I remain… the battle is not yet over!'

That voice… It reminded her of someone. She knew that voice. But from who?

Next to her, one of the ethereal corpses started to violently shake like the monster in the sky. It had a few shards impaling its body like knives, but they soon got absorbed inside its body.

The body then started to emit a dark glow, it soon covered it like a flame.

The not-so-dead-anymore body then slowly got to his feet, still mimicking its creator's warped movements. Its shape was contorted and corrupted, and once it had gotten up completely, it shrieked loudly.

"Cease!" She heard a voice command, and the monster immediately got frozen in place.

Then the owner of the voice, the cyan-colored pokémon, immediately jumped and cut the paralysed creature down. But then, the thousands of other corpses started mimicking the first, absorbing the crystals that had impaled them, and coming back as fully-fledged shaytans.

Both her and the cyan canine were completely surrounded.

"I do hope you have energy left. Your blue electricity is most helpful, my fair guardian." The canine nodded at her, blade ready to slash through some more of these enemies.

She felt a primal anger at the mere sight of these creatures. She couldn't explain, but a surge of energy started to take control of her body, and she knew exactly what to do.

"Plasma fists!" She shouted, pressing both paws together, causing a huge blast of lightning to envelop everything but she and the sword-wielder.

After the flash created by her move vanished, only the two of them remained.

But another screech got their attention. It once again came from the sky.

Their surroundings were now covered by a thick layer of dark mist, the 'dark snow' now fell faster, making it even harder to see.

All of the enemies that had just been dealt with started to reform, as if they were made from the sands themselves.

"Quick! Use the Ney to play the melody!" The canine shouted, she had no clue what he meant. "Curses. Look! In the sky! It's… evolving, again!"

Her eyes widened once she looked up, and saw the one thing that was not covered in the smog of blackness that surrounded them.

The only thing of the huge creature that was at all understandable to her eyes was its magenta, crystal-like core.

Her eyes widened, her vision got blurred.

"Happy are they… who come to my supper!" The creature's distorted voice once more tormented her mind. She tried to focus to see how it looked but…

She couldn't see what was in the sky! She should be able to, but she couldn't!

Her body froze, her heart felt like it would explore inside her chest.

Everything around her started to blur as well. Slowly crack and shatter.

"How frozen I became and powerless then," A voice identical to her own spoke, save for the fact it sounded more mature, "Ask it not, blessed, for I write it not, show it not and say it not,"

"Because all language, sight and sound would be insufficient." Her entire body started to feel numb, she started to shiver and fall into nothingness.

The echoes of the creature's roars started to repeat in her mind, until it was painful to think of anything but those horrible sounds.

"I did not die," she looked down and saw a single, shining object. The closer she got to it, the less the monster's voice tortured her councioussness. "And I alive remained not."

When she tried to lift her paw to pick up the object, suddenly the darkness that surrounded her took shape, forming billions of teeth-like magenta crystals that spun like a whirlpool around her.

"Imagine for yourself now, my blessed of wit…" She opened her mouth to scream, but before she could, she was swallowed and chewed by her surroundings.

"What I became, being of both deprived."


"...For the ruqyah (the ritual) to be performed correctly, the raqi (the one performing it) must be of sound mind and spirit. It is said in legends that if the raqi is a blessed or a guardian, then they can perform the cleansing without needing to perform the ceremony, somehow."

-'Exorcism and purification of the soul according to the Shimabara', observations by Shah Mineshao of the Odyssey Guild.


Chapter XVII: To you, 5000 years from now

-Shadow Gallery-

Floor: 9

Weather: Clear

The darkness that shrouded this room, as well as this part of the dungeon itself, was quickly dissipating. Turning into nothingness…

The colors started to return to the dungeon, the rocky walls were now colored a vibrant green, luscious vines and moss quickly taking over and further revitalizing the landscape.

It was now illuminated by will'o'whisps that shone a calming rainbow color.

Kommo-o stood in the middle of the room that previously acted as a cage for Pichu and Perrserker,.

She carried the unconscious body of the electric rodent in her arms, the state in which the child found herself in greatly saddened the adult.

Her fur was messy, her flesh wounded and seared, and smoke still came out from her. She shivered and sometimes groaned, "Tormented by both pain and bad dreams it seems…"

"You did it, little one." She whispered, and nuzzled the small pokémon in her arms. "I promise, things will get better. I have much to explain."

She remembered what happened earlier with Lawrence, who came to rescue them at their time of need, and even helped her muster the courage to break her vow of silence.

"Though there is much I must seek explanation for as well." She whispered to herself, looking around to locate a possible exit. "We'll all reunite soon, little ones. That is my first priority."

She was interrupted by a distorted, pained cackle.

Kommo-o immediately got ready to fight again, until she located the source of the laughter.

It was a pitiful-looking puddle of pure blackness, not so different from the oozes they had seen previously.

"Ahahahhahahah…" Its laugh echoed through the small room they were, giving it a powerful tone it lacked.

"What seems to be so comical?" The dragoness glared at the dark puddle, "the fact that you went from controlling this dungeon to a mere puddle of vomit in it?"

"AhahahOh ignore me…" It tried to contain its own strange amusement, "I was just laughing at your own ignorance, my old, decrepit friend."

"Dare I ask why that is, spawn of Iblis?"

"Oh, surely. You see…" The puddle sloshed around lazily, struggling to move at all, "as you might have guessed, some of your 'little ones' are of great importance to us. And that one that came here to say hi? Oh he is of particular interest."

The kommo-o growled, "And… why would that be?"

"You really think I would just tell you? Heheheheh." It started to crackle in its warped tone, but its sounds of laughter turned into screams of agony once the adult pokémon formed a small ball of aura in her claws and slowly started to press against the puddle. "You are lucky to have been in the company of a blessed, especially one so… volatile. Without her, you would have never been able to free that pathetic pile of angst from my controlnor have purified this putrid place."

She cocked her head to the side, and charged her hand with aura, then punched the ooze with it multiple times, making sure it screeched louder with each blow.

"I am aware of what you are. And I know you will soon perish along with your influence in this place… but while you are still bound to this reality, and able to feel pain…" she twisted her aura-charged hand, and caused a great part of the slime to burn and disintegrate, "I can make sure your last moments are especially excruciating, should you keep refusing to cooperate. Is blind loyalty to your aloof, uncaring master that important to you?"

"Gr. Do not dare make a mockery of me, old hunter." It tried to sound intimidating, but the pained tone it had made that near impossible. "Soon I shall be gone back to blissful oblivionwhere I'll watch as your world is finally drained. I'll be sure to be there to laugh as I see your soul being-"

"Enough blabbering, your voice irritates me. Would you like to know what I find amusing?" It once more started to shriek violently in pure pain as she pressed another ball of aura on top of the blob, slowly crushing and burning it.

Its body desperately tried to slosh away, but was simply unable to. "You said it yourself… I carry a lot of negativity in my heart. Trauma, shame, guilt…"

She stopped using the mini-aura-sphere to burn the puddle of darkness. For a second, it was free from the pain. Her eyes then started to glow, as she stepped on the pitiful little creature, causing it to shriek even louder. "Which means I'll feed you it… make sure you don't disappear for good, so I can cause you more harm. Don't even try to possess me, I can tell you are far too weak for that as well. After you feed on some of my sins, I'll use my gift of aura to make sure you remain this pitiful, weak little pile of sludge."

"Grrr… do your worst. I will tell you nothing! Your little guardian may have performed a half-decent ruqyah to weaken and separate me from my host, but she is no longer a threat!" It spat angrily at her, squirming under her heavy feet, "the cavewill collapse soon anyway! Without me to keep this Hallowed Dungeon stable, it will soon swallow us all!"

As the blob under her foot kept laughing to itself, Kommo-o kept Pichu safe in her arms, feeding her a seed she saved for an emergency like this. "It's a lifeline seed, little one. It won't heal you, or make the pain stop… but it will prevent you from dying. At least for a while."

She then gently set her on the floor, with one last nuzzle. "Hang on tight."

"Adorable. Without proper aid she will be gone, you know." It taunted her once more, "one more body to add to your toll, Hashashin."

That final word made the dragon-type's scales clang in a gesture of anger.

Despite her body language suggesting otherwise, her voice remained calm and professional. "A power spot such as this is a unique sight. Quite the powerful place this is, indeed. I am very happy my energy is no longer being drained by it, I would say I was at… 25% of my normal capabilities before it was cleansed."

She went to the Perrserker's body and checked his vitals, and it turns out he was alive. In a much worse shape than Pichu, barely able to breathe, but alive. She gave him another lifeline seed, muttering a barely audible apology.

"Speaking of which. I would estimate we have approximately… one hour until this place collapses completely." She placed her bag on the floor, and her aura started to burn around her body like a wildfire. "And I have a lot of energy, thanks to little Lawrence's healing, plus this place's purification."

She closed her eyes, and in one hand she created another ball of light aura energy, in the other she created a more shadowy one, filling it with her negative thoughts. She first shot the darker one, making the puddle of ooze grow and expand in size, before blasting it with the positively-charged one.

It wailed loudly as it got burnt back into its unimpressive size.

"And with all of this energy… I'll be sure to force you to experience a pain so legendary, that hell will seem like heaven in comparison."


Pichu was floating in a sea of energy.

That was the only way she could describe it.

It was similar to water, but it wasn't just around her… it was enveloping her both outside and inside.

The colors were the opposite of that cave she was in.

In a way, they reminded her of Lawrence. They had the same kind, pleasant aura that she associated with the fairy-type.

They were a mix of bright green, red and blue. Of the three, green was the one who shone the brightest. The surroundings' glow was similar to that of a gently burning fire.

Her mind was in complete disarray, a sea of shattered emotions was playing far too fast for her to process. She saw a pendant, some sort of castle, a shield, a shiny musical instrument, a group of white-robed pokémon kneeling to blood, and a group of black-robed pokémon kneeling to darkness… it was so much, she simply could not process or understand anything of what was happening, only adding more and more confusion.

Then, after a few more moments of those painful visions, they all simply stopped as suddenly as they came.

"I assume that just showing you everything at once was not the best approach." This voice was once again similar to her own, but in a way completely different. A paradox she herself struggled to understand as much as she did with everything else that surrounded her.

"My dear and young blessed, I am afraid that time is against us. So for the sake of making things less cryptic for you, I'll outright say important things you have to bear in mind." She heard a sigh that was very similar to one she would do herself when forced into a position she found uncomfortable.

"I pray to the progenitors that you understand what I am about to say." The young Pichu could tell her language was archaic, yet this voice was trying her best to sound as understandable as possible to the younger pokémon, "you are a 'malaikah'. Or simply, a 'blessed'. One who has inherited, through one means or another, a power far greater than your own. My power, in your specific case."

Power? What power? Did she mean the blue lightning that she could barely use? The same one that caused her so much bullying and mistreatment in her earlier years?

"I can sense you have so many questions already." Once again the voice sighed, making the entire landscape of pure energy gently shake as if a slow-moving wave had just passed by her adrift body, "I promise they shall be answered. For the survival of you and your friends, I beg you to listen to my words carefully."

Survival of her friends…? Did she mean Lawrence and Mirari? How did she-

"I told you. No more questions now. Just listen." She repeated, as she chose carefully her next words. "I can only ever communicate with you whenever you are in a sacred place, much like the temple you currently find yourself in, and even then, we may only interact when you are properly synchronized with me."

Another thousands of questions formed in Pichu's head, but the voice once again interrupted her, "I am one of those who fought against that monster, the eternal, in the past. Your mentor referred to them as 'Cloud of Darkness' and 'Iblis', which are fitting names. You have inherited my power, which means you must use it to defeat this creature."

Yet again, the voice continued before Pichu could even properly acknowledge what was being said. "You must find and destroy the eternal one's host. Not only that, but you must also find the pieces of the sacred Sword, Shield and Ney. Each of these items are the only ways of stopping the creature should it ever return, they must not fall in the wrong paws."

Pichu opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came. Their surroundings started to crack and shake, all the colors started to shift and fade. "Time betrays us. Thankfully, you heard my call and went to one of my temples. So do allow me to give you one thing before we depart. An item that shall give you a small advantage in this war you find yourself now a part of."

She felt the energy of this place invading her body, entering and taking control of every limb and muscle. "I dislike having to resort to this method, but I swear it shall be quick. Close your eyes and let me lead you, just this once. Worry not, you shall remain safe."

Having no other choice, she complies and feels the energy enter her mind… though it didn't feel unpleasant whatsoever. In fact, it reminded her a bit of Lawrence's healing energy, it was intrusive but… soothing.

"For so many years it laid dormant… and now, with you, it shall finally be delivered."


"Tell me now, foul beast. Why do you want Togepi and Jangmo-o? Tell me!" Kommo-o shouted, firing another wave of energy into the pool of ooze, making it scream in a multitude of ways. "If you wish not to speak, then squeal."

The ooze did exactly that, as the energy fired by the Kommo-o got more and more intense.

Unbeknownst to her, Pichu's bruised body started to move slowly. She rose up, and sluggishly walked towards the corridor forward, which was previously blocked.

"Hahah… hahha…" The ooze forced itself to laugh at the Kommo-o one more time, even after all the excruciatingtorture it had endured.

"I have said it once already… should you have nothing to contribute, stay quiet." The dragoness growled and started firing more and more blasts of energy at the slime, "I. Loathe. Your. Voice."

More and more violent she got with each attack, earning more 'squeals' from the creature that was at her mercy.

"You… act so high and mighty… but look at you… already drowning in your own darkness… you do feel it , don't you…? How empowering embracing your desires is… Oh, how I wish you had entered this cave before that useless steel-type… I wonder, is this darkness in your heart because of your ma-"

Once more their words were snuffed due to the loud screeching it started to produce, this time the Kommo-o's eyes were burning with primal anger.

"Don't ever dare compare me to such a lowly creature as you ever again." Multiple aura spheres were fired from in between her claws, small enough to not vanquish the creature, but plentiful enough to make it hurt. "What is your interest with the human and my daughter? SPEAK!"

As the creature kept writhing and crying out as it burned, Kommo-o stopped all of a sudden and started to look around, spotting only the perrserker behind her.

"We were… having so much fun… you forgot to check on your little rodent." It forced itself to laugh at her again, with what little energy it had. The cave started to shake around them, "you better… hurry, my grizzled Hashashin."

She growled and turned around to grab the still-fainted perrserker, her eyes started to shine a faint blue as she used her aura to locate where exactly had Pichu gone, whilst being careful not to be detected by an outside force.

"In the spirit of good sportsmanship…" It said, as it saw her leaving for the corridor that led to an unknown part of the dungeon, "I will tell you one thing. A gift, for defeating me."

The dragon-type stopped right at the corridor, and looked back with a frown.

"Silent treatment, huh? Not even a 'please? Nor a 'thank you'?" It snorted as she only glared at it more intensely, "oh fine. Heed my warning: you only appear to know half of the human. It would be best to watch out for the other half."


She considered its words for a moment, but then continued forward without paying much mind to it, at least for now. Kommo-o had something more important to worry about than some sludge's poisonous words.

The dragon-type dashed through the corridor, since it was a one-way one it made things easier for her. When she reached the end of it, she saw the still-battered Pichu standing in front of a rocky wall covered in mossy-looking vines.

"Little one…?" She questioned, taking a step forward. Pichu didn't respond, her eyes were completely closed and she was disregarding her wounds and clear exhaustion. It looked like she was sleepwalking, or something similar.

Kommo-o then reached to try and touch the electric-type, but before she could, the mouse placed a single paw in one of the vines and, much to Kommo-o's surprise, it started to shine brightly.

Then all of them started to unravel from the wall, somehow removing the rocks behind it in the process, thus forming an open passage to an even deeper part of the dungeon.

The sleeping pokémon started to walk immediately, Kommo-o followed right behind her.

If this dungeon reminded her of a temple before, this part was literally an ancient, forgotten temple. The walls had many carvings depicting various events, the rocky floor was smooth, with a mossy and rugged staircase in the end of the straight corridor she just entered, and the energy here was peaceful and soothing.

But what caught her eye was the middle. The old staircase led to some sort of altar, and right on top of it, something was floating. Some sort of item, completely covered in a barrier of translucent green. The closer she got to it, the heavier she felt, not too different from earlier when the dungeon was still covered in darkness… but this time her heart and her emotions did not feel like the cause of it. "Some sort of… defense mechanism?"

In the blink of an eye, Pichu was already halfway there. Then her body immediately collapsed on the floor once the cave started to rumble and tremble once more.

Kommo-o shook her head, "This is no time to stay idle due to astonishment."

She ran and gently picked up the electric-type, sighing in relief once she noticed the little one's heart rate was stable. She was forced to make room for both her and the also-fainted perrserker, but due to her much bigger size, it was manageable.

Even like this, the pichu's ears and paws moved around, struggling to try and reach the end of the staircase despite the state her body found itself in.

Kommo-o frowned and carressed Pichu's cheek. She wanted to do nothing but leave this place, but… "But… I have done nothing but be selfish. I… have to make up to you. I fail to understand the meaning of this… but if it's what you want, I shall leave logic and my thoughts aside and do it. For you."

"Do not worry… I will assist you. Rest." Kommo-o whispered, forcing her heavy body to keep going up the staircase as the rumble got more intense, now feeling like a small, continuous earthquake.

"A little… further…" She grunted, now mere 5 steps from reaching the top. "I will… not fail… you… again…"

The huge dragon fell face first on the floor, mustering the strength to lift the rodent so she would be closer than her to the top, avoiding injuring Pichu further by letting her fall along with herself. Perrserker was in her other arm, she held him closer to her body, being careful not to accidentally crush him with her weight.

She was surprised to see Pichu hopping out of her claws and wobbly walking forward, unaffected by the increased gravity whatsoever.

The rumbling continued, the walls of the cave started to crack as more tremors further shook the entirety of the dungeon.

Yet even still, with baby-steps, Pichu lifted her paws right in front of the altar. Even though the orb-like shield was far beyond her reach, it suddenly burst into a flash of light that made Kommo-o avert her eyes.

Once the light settled down, the dragon-type saw Pichu holding a shiny, translucent shard. It was tubular in shape but looked… broken. Incomplete. Strangely enough, the item had various small dots of light that covered its body, they constantly shone and changed both their location and the intensity of its glow. They reminded her of a starry night, forged into an item.

Her wounds had not mended, but her eyes were now open. The increased gravity no longer forced Kommo-o to stay on the floor, so she slowly stood up, holding Perrserker.

"Miss… Kommo-o…" She started to speak weakly, barely a whisper. "I… I've been… seeing and hearing things… e-ever since we got here…"

The dragoness tilted her head, and remained quiet once she saw the electric-type was not done. "My body… just now. I wasn't the one… in control. I wanted to do it, but… I wasn't the one actually doing it."

She carefully heard each word, even if she didn't understand them fully. She could sense that the cave's rumbles were only getting more and more intense, but chose to focus entirely on Pichu for the time being.

"Memories… that are not my own… visions… of things that I can't understand…" She coughed weakly, slowly starting to shiver once the pain of her injuries returned. "I… I might be going crazy but… a voice even told me of things I can't wrap my head around…"

She looked down, her eyes closed shut. "I don't know… what's happening. I don't know what… to do. Am I stupid for not understanding? Am I not strong enough? Am I… the problem?"

Once Kommo-o saw small drops of tears falling on the floor, she could hold herself no longer.

The dragoness lowered herself as much as she possibly could, and wrapped the crying child in a firm hug. Her soft sobs and the rumbling of the cave were the only sounds that filled the cave, until Pichu decided to speak again. "I don't wanna fight, I don't wanna hurt others or get hurt myself, I don't wanna deal with… any of this."

"There, there. I know." Kommo-o whispered to her, hugging her even tighter. "You should not be dealing with any of this to begin with. I know it's hard, but I know you are not weak. You are not stupid. And you are certainly not the problem."

The adult could feel as the scales in the spot where Pichu was leaning against got wetter and wetter with her tears. The trembling on the dungeon got stronger and stronger the more time passed, and pieces of debris started to rain from the ceiling. Wordlessly, Kommo-o used one of her armored arms to block them from falling on top of the pichu, while her other one continued the hug.

"You're… the only adult I ever trusted." Pichu admitted in between her sobs, "it's why… It hurt so much when you lied to me, and avoided my questions. I thought you were the only adult that respected and… loved me."

"I still do. And always will." She admitted with a sad sigh of her own. "I could not bear to watch a pure child such as yourself suffer for sins that were not of your own. I can not bear to watch you struggle with whatever role the fates have presented you either… but I am here. I promise I'll forever be. And I promise I shall never lie or hide information from you, even if it pains me to tell."

Pichu continued to sob uncontrollably. "Please tell me it will be alright, Please tell me you know what's happening… please tell me you know what we must do next. Please tell me Lawrence, me and Mirari… will be alright."

"It will be alright. I do not know everything, but I know enough. I do also know what we'll do next from here, and especially…" She punches a particularly large boulder away from the two with a single arm, while the other gently breaks the hug so that she could use one of her claws to wipe Pichu's tears, "I know for a fact that Mirari and Lawrence are alright. He told me himself. I'll make sure you all remain safe and secure. That I promise."

That earned a shy smile from the small pokémon, still tearing up a bit. "Thanks. And… I'm sorry for how I acted earlier. I got us into this… conundrum, just because I was angry…"

"Hush. You have nothing to apologize for." Once more she used her claws to wipe away the leftover tears still in Pichu's eyes. "We went inside this place because the fates decided as such. I am simply happy we are fine."

"I-I mean…" Pichu forced herself to smile, still clutching the strange item in between her arms, "I… can't feel my legs. And my paws. And breathing kinda hurts…"

"Oh dear." Kommo-o carefully picked her up once more, "allow me to pocket this. We shall worry about it later."

She handed the tubular-shaped artifact to the dragoness, which placed it inside her bag. She had to be careful not to accidentally drop the injured perrserker, as bigger rocks started to fall from above, with cracks now forming under their feet.

"Oh, and do tell… the strange voice in your head did say how we could get out of here, I assume?"


-Western Desert-

Night had completely taken over the desert landscape, which meant the temperature had taken a drastic shift from scorching hot to freezing cold.

Kommo-o knew how harsh things got, but having to often travel by herself, she had an idea how to survive the harshness of the elements.

Thankfully the area the dungeon spat them out at had at least some resources she could use. By gathering some sage and dry bushes, she made a big enough fire to keep both her and the two injured pokémon in relative warmth.

Still, due to her typing, she still shivered from the intense cold despite the bonfire minimizing it. At the very least the steel-type was lying peacefully in her sleeping cot, whilst Pichu used hers.

To preserve their limited supply of water, Kommo-o was forced to drink from various cacti she found nearby. Despite her natural resistance to poisons, she knew it was better not to push it, considering that drinking water from cacti and eating their flesh could often spell doom due to their toxins.

"Risking with the cacti is the best option. Considering we have one more thirsty mouth in Perrserker, someone has to compromise in order to save our resources." She thought to herself with a sigh.

She looked at the two other pokémon, both sleeping. Their injuries were healing, but they no doubt were tired after the whole experience in that cave.

It was a surprise when the feline finally began to move and groan, slowly regaining consciousness.

Kommo-o quickly knelt beside the feline, double-checking the bandages she had placed in him earlier. Once she was sure they were perfect, she grabbed one of the two water canteens inside the bag.

She lifted his head slightly so he wouldn't choke, and slowly gave him some water. He eagerly gulped down, and opened his eyes.

"I… where am I…?" He coughed.

"Somewhere safe. Outside that cursed dungeon." Kommo-o set his head back down. "We have rescued you from the perilous situation you found yourself in."

"My… teammates…?"

"No survivors we could find."

"I… see…" He whispered with a stoic expression, his eyes half-closed.

He silently turned so he was opposite of her, staring into the horizon.

"I have some questions for you, bu-."

"I won't answer them." He cut her off.

"-but I understand what you're going through." She continued anyway, "so I'll ask them later after you have some time."

"Hmph. I doubt it." Perrserker muttered, "unlike you explorers, they weren't just my coworkers. We were members of the same clan."

"You spoke something of the sort back in the cave, I recall." She nodded, "yet I suppose it is fair for me to let you know that I am not affiliated in any way with the explorers. Least not anymore."

"Hm?" He turned back around and stared at her with the slightest hint of confusion, "then why in the spirits' name were you in there?"

"We needed a quick way to cross the deserts." She pointed to the still asleep form of Pichu behind her, "it was the little one that insisted on exploring the hidden part of the dungeon. You have her to thank for your safe return."

"I kinda remember her, yeah." He groaned as he rubbed his head, " but it's all a bit blurry."

"Do not force yourself. Rest for today." She sat down in the spot where she was previously, keeping watch for potential threats.

The perrserker surprised her once more by getting up, clearly struggling to suppress more pained moans as he did. He then bowed to her in a display of respect. "I apologize for having to be rescued, as well as for being moody."

She lifted a single of her hands and shook her head. "No need."

"May I ask for your name, mawal?"

"I am not one of the city pokémon. But I was using the nickname 'Shahrazad', if it interests you."

"I see. Thought you were one because of all the formality in how ya talk, and your accent." He bowed yet again, "then may I please have your primary title, Kommo-o?"

Opposite to the two adults, Pichu listened quietly. She kept mostly to her own mind, reviewing what happened hours before in that dungeon, desperate to remember the important details.

"I had many, once. I prefer to use them no longer."

Despite her mind trying to focus on the past, Pichu's curiosity got the better of her, so she decided to listen to their conversation in silence.

"Not… even a clan-title?"

"No. Apologies. Just Kommo-o or Shahrazad."

"Strange… a Shimabara as old as her with no title whatsoever? Maybe I can ask her about it later. She was always very secretive with any and all personal information… maybe she would be ok with telling me, though."

The young adult thought for a moment, and shrugged. "Very well, Kommo-o. Thanks for saving me, you and your little one. I am Perrserker of the Völsung."

"Accepted, Völsung. Now please, stop bowing and lay back down to rest."

She heard him do just that, grumbling in pain.

"We are in the western desert. right? I know a nearby settlement of our people. Clan dragonblood, they are called… they may shelter us from the elements, should we come asking for aid."

"Dragonblood…? I assumed they were traveling far away this time of the year."

"She seems to know them. Is that surprise or concern in her voice?" Pichu thinks to herself as she keeps overhearing it.

"The scaly hermits can be quite unpredictable. Especially with their new alpha."

"So it would seem. Considering we don't have many options, a detour might be necessary. Me and the little one are traveling to Gobi. Personal reasons."

"Hm, we met our client in the outskirts of Gobi. The one that sent us to that… deathtrap." Pichu heard spite overtaking the perrserker's voice, "I swear… when I find that dirty dog, I'll rip off his-"

"I once again reiterate my wish for you to rest. You are struggling to keep yourself awake. Let your heart, mind and body recover, tomorrow or the day after we travel. It will depend on the little one's wounds, she has yet to awaken for me to be sure."

She felt a bit bad for not speaking up, but she still felt completely and utterly spent anyway, her body ached all over and the mere thought of walking felt painful to her.

"What was Völsung doing in that place? Why was he chosen to be tortured by that monster? What even was that thing possessing the dungeon? Some sort of… gatekeeper?" She took a peak at Kommo-o's bag, somehow she could see the artifact's shine coming from inside it, "was he looking for that…? Does he know what it is? Is this one of the things Miss Kommo-o wants to ask him about…?"

So many unanswerable questions were on her mind that it was giving her a headache.

"He's asleep. You don't have to pretend anymore." Kommo-o spoke now sitting right next to her.

"Sorry… I didn't feel like interacting…" Pichu admitted, lowering her ears.

"No need to apologize. I was merely concerned for your health, but that is all."

"I'm… I'm not gonna lie, I feel like an entire herd of bouffalants ran over me. Twice." She blushed slightly, "and I shouted so hard that even breathing hurts…"

"Then speak no more. Everything will be fine as long as you are recovering." She said, carefully adjusting some of the Pichu's bandages with her claws.

The dragon's blue eyes widened once she yet again saw the familiar sight of Pichu's eyes watering up. Her limbs became frozen.

"What is it? Did I hurt you-"

"No… I just… can't stop thinking… about stuff. The village, Sandshrew… everything changed so suddenly!" She sniffled, "I'm sorry if I'm acting like a crybaby…"

"You are under a lot of stress, and you also are just a child." She repeated the process of wiping away her tears with her pointy claws, "let it all out. I know it's frustrating, but the best way to accept reality sometimes is through tears."

Pichu nodded and freely allowed her tears to fall, whilst snuggling against Kommo-o's hand. "Can I… ask you something?"

"Of course. I promised, remember?" She smiled down at the electric-type, "anything you want."

She took a second, then finally felt bold enough to ask. "Can you… sing me to sleep?"

The large dragon was taken back, despite trying to look stoic she failed to hide her surprise at the sudden request.

"…Lawrence once sang Mirari to sleep when she was feeling down. And well, the other kids often said that their mothers did that when-"

"It is ok. I will do it, no need to explain your reasoning. I just wasn't expecting it, that's all." She stroked the tuft of fur on Pichu's forehead, "back when I was a hatchling not much younger than you, I was told that music was something sacred, to be saved to the moments of most importance, to act as 'markers' of your most precious memories."

The dragon laid right at the Pichu's side, being sure to stay on the sand to not disturb the little space the mouse had on her cot. "Really? You came from a place that conservative?"

"Yes. They taught me a lot, some I kept, other things I decided to forget." Kommo-o started pointing to the starry sky, illuminated by a glimmering moon. "But I always remembered this lesson in particular. I believe it to be true, music when kept to the right occasion, can eternelize it forever in one's mind."

"So… you're saying…"

"This is one such occasion, yes." They both kept staring at the shiny skies above, taking in the relaxing view.

"Three little birds pitch by my door as I sleep," Her usually rough and growly voice blended perfectly with the cold, howling wind, "singing sweet songs of melodies both pure and true."

Pichu suddenly was no longer in the middle of the cold desert. She was in a meadow, filled with the wildest colors imaginable. Here, the skies were the same color as marmalade and every tree's berry had a rainbow color.

The dreamscape's skies soon darkened as a shape started to descend from it, its form was contorted and filled with crystals. From the floor, shaytans rose mimicking the creature's bodily movements. The grass and flowers became sand, and mist started to overtake the one peaceful land.

"They told me, this is my message to you:" A light appeared from the sky. It shone like a small sun, and from the very earth around her, various smaller balls of light floated towards it, increasing its size more and more. "Don't worry about a thing, cause there will come a time where you will face the final fight…"

The ball of light expanded until it burst in energy, consuming all the darkness and turning Pichu's surroundings into the same colorful meadow as it was in the beginning. "… and every little thing is gonna be alright."

She felt everything melting and reforming, her mind at complete and blissful peace.

Outside the dreamscape, Kommo-o smiled to herself once she heard the soft snoring coming from the pichu.

With one more brief and quick use of her aura powers, she detected nothing nearby their camp. Kommo-o then closed her eyes as well, and for this brief moment, she chose to just enjoy the present next to Pichu.

"Always move forward, little one. Even if everything crumbles down around you, you must always move forward."


-Western Desert, hours earlier-

The trio of pokémon all finally had time to take a breather, despite being under the literal desert sun, they still managed to relax after the intense fight.

Mirari was impatiently humming and shaking her body to the sides in a mad frenzy, while Lawrence gulped down on one of Sundance's water containers. When he was done, Mirari opened her beak-muzzle and lowered her head a bit so Lawrence could shoot the cold, refreshing liquid inside her mouth.

Speaking of the Sneasel, he was eagerly drinking his second canteen, greedily finishing it and storing the empty container away in his battered bag.

"How many of these do you have?" Lawrence asked, seeing as the only one who was still thirsty was Mirari.

"I always travel with 7 bottles, each containing about 2 quarts of water." He cracks his head as he answers, still feeling the stinging caused by his injuries. "Being an ice-type, I am prone to heat-strokes… especially after using my ice-type moves, which deplete my body's water reserves even faster."

"Oh… fascinating." The togepi took mental notes at the little lesson in pokémon biology, "but then wouldn't traveling at night be the best solution to minimize water loss?"

"Mhm. It's what I like doing whenever possible, wasn't really an option with you two though."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you two to freeze in the desert night just 'cause I prefer the cold."

"That's… fair." Lawrence nodded with a small smile, noticing as the canteen he used to hydrate Mirari finally became empty of its contents, which caused her to groan.

"Oh boy… already? Aw, I was hoping to drink so much more!"

"That's 'cause you're a giant little water-fiend." He got up and started to stretch his aching body, "preserve it, else you'll have to drink water from cacti. Which I don't recommend unless you want a 20% change of vomiting it out."

"Yuck, no thank you. I prefer this cold water than some spiky plant's!"

"Great. So then rest so you won't get even thirstier, we don't have that much water left." He started to walk towards the cradle of ice he had created to contain the Krookodile, "I will deal with something. Be right back."

They both saw the dark-type walking towards where Krookodile was, and looked into each other's eyes with smiles.

"Sooooo… did you really see how awesome I was back there!?" She asked, suppressing a giggle.

"Y-Yeah! You were great! Sundance really knows how to make a plan! E-Even if he had to injure himself to do it."

"I know right! Sadly I spend most of the fight just trying to get ya to wake up… you remember that?"

Lawrence touches his chest, looking down with a bashful smile. "Oh. I d-do, actually. I felt… you calling me… again. It was a bit like back in that c-cave."

"Oh? Boy, am I glad! You made me sooo worried, I thought I'd have to start crying again!"

"Might have worked. I h-hate seeing you cry."

"Right back atcha!" She winked, "you cry way more than me anyway!"

Lawrence ignored her last comment and wrapped her in a hug. She nuzzled the fairy's head and wrapped him around her tail.

"Hahah. You are doing this way more often than before!" Mirari comments after snickering.

"I don't hear y-you complaining." His answer earned louder laughs from the dragon-type.

"Mirari…" Lawrence nuzzled her scaly body even more, fighting to stop himself from tearing up, "the s-same power that evolved me last time… activated a-again."

"Wha- Seriously?"

"Y-Yeah, seriously!"

"Like, super-duper seriously!?"

"S-Super-HYPER-duper seriously!"

"By Arceus…" Mirari gasped.

"I know!" Lawrence gulped. "I… s-saw Pichu and Miss Kommo-o too. They were in a dungeon, one like the cave where we fought that… t-thing."

"What… really…?"

"Yeah! And… not only that, they were… fighting some really crazy s-stuff!"

"Wha- Like the ones we faced!?"

"Y-Yes! Just like them! But um, t-there was a pokémon like sableye and…"

"WHAT!? Oh, I thought that was a thing only we had!"

"U-Uh?"

"Like… I thought only you and I could ever say we ever fought a pokémon like Sableye, one that went nuts because of the dungeon and whatnot!" She sighed and shook her head, "oh man… I'm gonna have to change the speech I made from '[...]and we defeated that unique threat using both brawl and brains' to '[...]and we defeated that ordinary, insignificant and pretty average threat using both brawl and brains'."

"... Did you make a speech about us both almost dying to a depressed sableye in a crazy mystery dungeon…?" Lawrence pulled away from the hug and sighed, looking up at her with a neutral expression.

"Duh!" Mirari posed proudly. "Every good chronicler needs to be prepared to relate a historical event!"

"Um… y-you are not a chronicler-"

Mirari interjected, "Yet!"

"-And what we did was hardly 'historical'. W-We just wanted to help sableye and get out of t-that dungeon…"

"In my point of view, it was pretty historical! We were SO COOL there!" She jumped in excitement as she spoke, "like when we started fighting as a proper team for the first time! And all those things we shouted at Sableye! And that time where you almost killed me with your dazzling gleam too!"

"S-Sorry about that… again…"

"You're fiiiiine! It was my idea after all!" She laughed once again and pulled Lawrence into another hug, "by the way! Um. About Pichu and Mama! What were you saying?"

"Oh! Yeah, got sidetracked t-there…"

"Heh, we do that a lot!"

"Y-Yep… so, anyway…" He coughed and focused back into the original topic, "well… t-they are completely ok! They fought that crazy pokémon I just m-mentioned, but I am sure they won! I went there after I fainted, a-and helped them defeat the enemy using similar a similar tactic as when we fought Sableye!"

"Really? Wowie, that's amazing!" She fisted the air in a display of joy, "but… how can you be sure they won?"

"Oh, I helped in the fight!" He showed her his oval-shaped pendant, "this t-thing here helped me! Turns out there's a really nice pokémon inside it named Mawile, and he is the o-one that helps me with the whole temporary evolution stuff!"

When Lawrence looked at Mirari, he saw her face with a forced, awkward smile. "Uf. That is… a lot of information, you know?"

"Y-Yeah… it's the truth though!"

Her face slowly turned into a frown, "So you're telling me a voice in your head, that says they're 'Mawile' and that they live inside your pendant, is the one that helped you evolve, and made you teleport while you were fainted at where Mama and Pichu were, just so you could fight and defeat a rabid shaytan-pokémon like Sableye alongside them?"

Lawrence looked at her with a fierce expression, "Yes!"

She stared right at his eyes for a moment, and surprised him with a large grin. "Ok! Got it! I believe in you!"

To say he was taken back was an understatement, he struggled to even reply to her. He eventually mustered the strength to whisper a "W-Wha- Really?"

"Uh-huh!" The young dragoness posed once again, lifting her head up high in yet another display of pride. "We are friends, and I trust you would never lie to me!"

"M-Mirari!" His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but wrap her around another hug. Even though his small, stumpy arms couldn't really wrap around her much larger body. "I… t-thank you!"

"Heh. Why're you thanking me? I'm just doing what you said I should do!" She snickered once more, "you've said back home that 'friends support and believe in one another'! And I intend on doing just that!"

He laughed alongside her, having to fight the urge to tear up one more time. "Y-You're… a big scaly softie, you k-know that?"

"And you are a small softie." She patted his back with her claws, "oh! And um, about that thing I wanted to ask!"

He was confused at first, but then he remembered that earlier today she was meaning to ask him something. "That's right! W-What was it?"

"It's silly…" She looked away in a clear attempt to save face, "I wanted to ask if you would be okay with-"

A loud, guttural shout interrupted her. It came from where Sundance had gone.

They both wordlessly dashed across the desert, towards the icy formation that was created to contain Krookodile. When they got there, the duo saw the explorer inserting an icicle spear inside one of the frozen ground-type's many still-open wounds, causing her to produce that scream of pain.

"M-Mr Sundance!" Lawrence spoke.

But Mirari completed his train of thought, "What is happening!? Are you okay?"

The dark-type ignored them, his yellow eyes kept focused on Krookodile alone. "C'mon. Tell me already, who contracted you?"

"Hah… as if… I would open my mouth so easily-" She stopped speaking, and shrieked in pain once again as Sundance inserted the spear of ice even deeper inside her flesh.

"Who. Contracted. You? Answer!" He repeated with a growl, "let's be real here, whatever money they promised you is not worth this pain… or is it?"

"Go… to… He- URK!" She was interrupted by another spear that stabbed her in the thigh.

"I'll crank the pain up, until it covers whatever they promised you. I suggest you open that toothy mouth and just collaborate." He leaned closer to her, twisting his claws so the spear would cause even more damage.

Before the two could continue their exchange, Mirari butted. "HEY!"

"What!?" Sundance looked at her with an expression of genuine anger, but the dragoness stood her ground.

"What are you doing, dummy? She has been captured and defeated!"

He frowned. "So…?"

Mirari frowned back at him. "So… you need to deliver her to the authorities and claim your reward at your local guild, duh!"

The sneasel rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but Krookodile started to laugh before he could. "Hahahah… oh, you stupid little rascal. You have no idea who you are teamed up with, have you?"

She leers at the adult, huffing at her. "Of course I do! Mister Sundance is an explorer that works for a guild, and is a hero unlike you!"

"Hahaha… hero? Explorer?" She spat, looking at the dark-type, "you have told them nothing, now have you? Oh how I could be laughing!"

Sundance growled yet again, and slashed both of her ankles with his icy claws, earning more sounds of agony from her. "I prefer that you scream instead."

"I know you fear me. Stop pretending you don't." The sneasel jumped on top of the frozen chest of the krookodile, grabbing her muzzle to stop her from interrupting him again, while slowly peeling more of her scales off with his claws. "You spread out your gang into smaller ones, all in a vain attempt to stall for time and keep me busy. You hid and ran across the desert, you tried to escape me… but even still, I am here. And if you open your big mouth, I may even let you keep it."

He let go of her snout, and she remained quiet.

Sneasel kicked her in the neck, then bashed her face multiple times, and then started to thrust a single of his claws in her right eye.

Mirari's eyes widened, she started to shake. Lawrence could only do the same at the brutal scene.

But unlike Lawrence, Mirari decided to do something about it.

She jumped on top of the ground-type and headbutted Sundance from behind, causing him to fall from Krookodile, and onto the icy floor under them.

"Stop! She… she has surrendered!" Mirari shouted.

"Kid. Get the hell out of here and go for a walk with your little buddy." He coldly ordered, "this is something I have to deal with. Got it?"

Mirari remained undaunted. "This isn't right! How would your guildmaster react if he saw this!?"

"Don't know. He would probably scream at me… for taking so long." He shrugged, "he was the one that gave me this mission. This lowlife's boss is the real deal, she's only a stepping stone to reach them."

"Then deliver her to the authorities! The guards will question her! Or maybe even your guildmaster! I dunno, but… it will be better than this!" She argued back.

"If I bough her to my guildmaster, he would torture her and then me." He snickered sarcastically, "I heard you two talking about some stuff regarding magic, a Kommo-o and a Pichu. Why don't ya focus on that make-believe your fairy friend was telling you?"

"It's not make-believe! Lawrence never lies to me!" She shouts even louder, "and I'm not gonna let you keep doing this! It's wrong! Heroes never harm others for no reason!"

"Hah… hahah…" Krookodile coughed and laughed at the same time, spitting some of her sharp teeth and blood as she did, "oh, you innocent little dragon. He is not an explorer, a hero nor a good pokémon…"

Suddenly, Krookodile broke a single of her arms free from the ice and grabbed Mirari's neck, clutching it tightly, ready to snap her neck at any moment. "He is a hunter. A killer, an assassin. He is a predator, a fanatical servant of his master-"

Sundance jumped and clipped Krookodile's arm right off, freeing the dragoness before any harm could come to her.

She held her bleeding stump and growled. "... He is a Hashashin."

"That is it, I'm putting her down. Intel be damned." He started to walk towards the crocodile pokémon, but Mirari stood in his way again, wordlessly begging him to stop.

"Are you dense!? She just tried to take you hostage!" He threatened to slap her, but the dragoness remained in his way, silently staring daggers at him.

He looked at Lawrence. The small fairy was shaking like a leaf, and he could see a tear falling down his cheek.

Sundance looked back at the Jangmo-o in his way. Her fierce scarlet eyes were looking directly at his. All he had to do was a single flicker of his claws, and she would be dealt with.

But yet, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Hah… haha…"

He ignored the dragoness in front of him and stared at the crocodile. "What's so funny now, sand-licker?"

The outlaw shook her head, "You, Hashashin. You are pretty humorous."

"Why? You think dying is funny? If so, I'll give you a real comedy show in just a second."

"Oh, I'm sure. But let me clarify things first." She kept clutching her arm, trying to stop the massive blood loss, "I did not run away from you. At all. In fact, I barely considered I was being followed by a Hashashin."

"You expect me to believe that? You were clearly afraid and running away from something. It had to be me." He rolled his golden eyes, "your minions even admitted an 'explorer' was after them multiple times."

"That is why I told them. Gullible little fools, not too unlike these two children that follow you around." She snickered, "you see, I had to justify why we would be separating. I had to explain why we would leave all the treasure we were to claim behind us, and why we would have to run away as far away as possible."

The sneasel pushed the jangmo-o away, but the latter returned and blocked his way again.

"M-MR. SNEASEL! MIRARI! Look!" Lawrence pointed to the skies.

Both of them looked up, and both's eyes widened in shock.

It was 'snowing' dark sand, everything around them had lost its color, becoming engulfed in darkness. Mirari started to shiver from the cold, and even Krookodile seemed to be affected by it.

"Hahah… I was trying to run away from this, much scarier than any angsty, wanna-be assassin." She spat some blood, trembling from the sheer cold. "I tried to use my clueless minions as bait, to feed their hunger… but considering you've killed them before they could properly act as sacrifices, now it's here."

"This curse was the result of my exploration… and it would seem it is quite interested in you three too, lucky us." The single-armed Krookodile shrugged.

From the sands, various shaytans started to form, surrounding the four pokémon. But much to their dismay, they all were covered in magenta crystals. Their bodies were more akin to rotting flesh impaled by the crystals than the usual dust that mimicked pokémon in a twisted way.

More than a dozen of them were spawning from each side.

"Lawrence. Mirari." Sundance spoke, now staying in between the two and Krookodile. "You guys were speaking the truth about spooky, make-believe power?"

Mirari gulped, standing ready for yet another fight to the death. "You mean Lawrence's friend inside his pendant and temporary evolution?"

"Yeah. Whatever the fuck is that." Sneasel sighed.

Lawrence quickly replied, "Y-Yeah, I was truthful about that… I just can't really control i-it."

"Shit."

"Well then, I guess you will have to unfreeze my dark sand if you wish for us to survive this. Either that, or I'll die of blood loss before being useful." Krookodile got down from the ice floor and back onto the sand.

Sneasel shook his head and growled, "Over my dead body."

"W-We'll all be dead bodies if w-we d-don't work together!" Lawrence shouted before the discussion could escalate further.

"This just isn't my day…" Sundance facepalmed.

"Not mine either, Hashashin." Krookodile sighed.

"Look on the bright side!" Everyone stared at Mirari, "it can't possibly get any worse than this!"

But then they all heard the sand rumbling. And from the distance, they all saw a much bigger creature… but it was entirely shapeless, not looking like any pokémon in particular to Sundance and the others, resembling some sort of very ugly-looking muk.

It slowly crawled towards them, spreading its inky-like body wherever it passed by. It had various spiky tentacles sprouting from its body, and a mouth so large it could probably swallow all four pokémon rather easily. It opened it to roar at them, revealing infinite rolls of sharp, teeth-like magenta crystals.

Sneasel resisted the urge to slash Mirari, and instead just shouted in frustration. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"


A/N: Here's another one, delivered a bit earlier than expected! Sorry for any grammar errors, what I said about last one very much applies here! While no story portions were lost, I sadly lost the version with all mistakes carefully picked out. Hopefully this version doesn't carry all that many problems regarding spelling!