Garchomp and Dragonite

The most dangerous Mystery Dungeon of the region no longer existed. Known as The Trembling Tunnels, it had been a place where a team could prove themselves the best of the best, if they survived. To get to it, one had to pass through a vast field of stinking sinkholes and poisonous pitfalls. Even the strongest and nastiest of Poison Pokemon could become overwhelmed by the lethal vapors.

Once the team found one of several entrances, they had to make their way through confusing and winding tunnels. These tunnels were littered with lava pools, steam geysers, and frail stalactites. And as the name suggested, earthquakes were rampant. It was highly likely that the path out would be obstructed. In order to prove that they made it, they had to acquire and bring back a rare Star Ruby from deep within the Dungeon. Rumor had it that an even greater treasure lie within.

However, that treasure was possibly long gone along with the dungeon. Last month, The Trembling Tunnels had experienced a massive explosion. It had been felt in distant regions. A giant cloud had mushroomed from the spot, putting those within view in awe. But then that cloud had rained rocks and ash everywhere. It had been a frightening time.

What remained? No one was quite sure. No one had been brave enough to come out and see, fearing another explosion. So he was the first, as far as he knew. He had the most experience with The Trembling Tunnels, but he was never after the Star Rubies. He was after the special treasure, the thing of legends.

He was Jaithan, a Garchomp. He didn't work with a team. Teammates would drag him down. Those who could match his speed usually couldn't match him in battle, and those who matched him in battle couldn't match his speed. Jaithan didn't mind. Being around other people usually got on his nerves.

He made it through the toxic fields the same way he always had. Running on all fours, he kept low to the ground. He kept his elbows out, as the fins on the back of his arm kept him stable at full speed. He could hold his breath for a long time, and knew by feel which air was dangerous and which air was safe. In this manner, he could fly along the ground from safety zone to safety zone. Where a team could take weeks to scour this deadly land, Jaithan could zig-zag across it in hours.

As he approached the central area above the dungeon, he noticed strange things. The land itself had sunk. He used to see a large shallow dome above The Trembling Tunnels, but it was gone. Did that mean the dungeon, and its legendary treasure, was truly gone? After dozens of attempts to find it, the heavens merely laughed at him.

No, it had to still be there. It was a treasure greater than any other. It had to exist. It was known as the Holy Nail. It showed up from time to time in history. Although the stories varied, it was obvious that whoever managed to find the Holy Nail was destined for greatness. He had already proved himself to be the best in the land, yet he wanted something greater. He felt like his growing legend was incomplete. Gaining this treasure of treasures might be just the thing he needed.

Jaithan arrived where one of his regular entrances had been, near the center of the dungeon. But it was no longer there. A massive chunk of the land was gone. In its place was a gurgling gray lake of mud. Escaping gasses caused large bubbles to rise from the surface, bursting with hisses of dangerous vapors. Steam filled the air. Strange that it had changed like this.

He shook his head. This was not good. The books he had read indicated that the Holy Nail was last left here. How was he to find it now? And, what if it had been blasted away with the rest of this rock? If that was the case, then where was it now?

Normally, he preferred to stay close to the ground, but for this, he lifted himself on his hind legs and looked into the air. Where would it have gone? He had been in and out of various damaged dungeons, but had seen nothing resembling the Holy Nail. It was reported to be a shed claw of the Original One, but anyone stumbling onto it should recognize the power of the One it came from. Not only that, but it had been marked centuries ago with an open eye, a symbol of great power and knowledge.

While he was musing on what to do, he spotted a ripple in the sky above. Something up there was flying unbelievably fast. It slowed, then descended in a wide circle. Jaithan dropped back to all fours; his dark blue skin didn't blend well with the brown rocks, but it made him less obvious. The flying Pokemon descended a long time, indicating that it had been extremely high. What sort of Pokemon could reach that height and speed?

It was a fellow Dragon, one even rarer than him: a Dragonite. She had yellow skin over a large body. With her relatively small wings, it was hard to imagine how she flew, let alone so tremendously fast. Of course, it was hard for him to imagine how it was to actually fly. The Earth was sacred to his kind. He felt strongest when he was close to it.

The Dragonite stopped to hover over the putrid lake. She gazed over the remains of The Trembling Tunnels. Within the steam and vapors, Jaithan could see a strange force coming from her wings. It seemed that her true wings were much larger than what could normally be seen. They were strong for both hovering and racing. He felt quite jealous.

However, her kind was known as the wisest of all mortal Dragons. They were hailed as sages; they knew and understood many things that other Pokemon did not. She may know something that he needed to know. So he moved closer to her. "Greetings, cousin."

"Greetings, cousin," she replied, not looking at him. "The same force that made the Star Rubies made this deadly lake. The forces of the Earth are so strange, to both create and destroy."

"The forces of Earth are sacred," he replied.

"As such. Now you know what has come of this place, so now you may go. Hanging around longer could bring your doom."

"I came looking for something."

"Something you left for another to find? That is unfortunate, to have lost a treasure. You're out of luck in finding it."

"I've never left anything here. And it's not the Star Rubies. Once you got down far enough, they were easy to find."

She looked at him gravely. "Then you must be looking for the Holy Nail."

"It was here?" he asked before he could think to check his excitement. So he countered it with a more subdued, "Rumor had it that it was left here over a century ago, and yet no one has found it."

"No one had returned with it," she corrected.

"Where would it be now?"

She shook her head. "It could be anywhere. It's probably not here, just somewhere in this land. Someone will find it."

"How should I go about finding it?"

"Why do you want to find it?"

He tilted his head, curious at her lack of desire. "Doesn't everybody want to find it? It is a power directly from the Original One. Those who hold it become more powerful, perhaps even immortal themselves until they let it go."

She hovered around to face him fully. "Why do you want more power? You can reach this dangerous place and you have survived it. You have all the power you should ever need and then some."

He straightened his front legs up to lift his head. "I want to find the greatest treasure, that's it. You seem to know something about it, so how could I go about finding it when it could be anywhere in this land?"

"But can you take the treasure?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"It is a source of great power, yes, but not everyone can handle this power. It is said that only the truly innocent can touch the Holy Nail without going insane. Do you know your heart to be truly innocent?"

He crouched back to the ground. "That's just part of its legend. Nothing can affect people like that."

"Nothing? Lesser treasures can cause great strife, dividing teams and inciting battles. The greatest treasures can cause the greatest wars. Many Pokemon will die so that one can claim it. But if this is so, what is so great about it? What is Holy about it anymore? Perhaps only the truly innocent can remind it of its origin and thus becalm its bloodthirsty desires."

Jaithan snorted. "That's just plain ridiculous. It's Holy, so that's that. And I will find it." He took off across the poisonous fields again. He would find it. And if someone else happened to find it first, well, he'd find a way to get it before they realized just what they had on their paws.

He would hold the Holy Nail.

The Dragonite sage sighed. "And thus, the strife continues. Forgive the foolishness of us poor mortals, oh great ones."

…

Garchomp Diamond entry: When it folds up its body and extends its wings, it looks like a jet plane. It flies at sonic speed.

Dragonite Leaf Green entry: Only a very few people ever see this Pokemon. Its intelligence is said to match that of humans.

Continuing with the Arthurian style Mystery Dungeon stories. When people point out problems with the Pokedex, these two Pokemon nearly always come up. Garchomp for that Diamond entry and Dragonite for others that say it can fly around the world in forty minutes. I hope I explained those claims here.