Tessa touched her paw on the stone cliff, staring into the entrance of a cavern as black as night. She shook her head, and rainwater trickled down her back into a stream that flowed into the shadows. The Lucario glanced back into the pine forest behind her. At least going into the cave would get her out of the rain.
The Shadow Grove usually appeared as a pine forest that led towards a much more dangerous cave. Tessa was confident she could handle it… But with that said, dungeons were unpredictable. That was their nature. They were formed by distortions in time and space. They sometimes occurred naturally, though the actions or presence of a Legendary pokemon could form a dungeon as well. There hadn't been evidence of a Legendary's actions here in decades, not that anyone knew of. Not until two days ago.
Earlier that day, she and Landon came to an agreement. Landon would train Tanner, and make him feel more comfortable. She would search for clues of why Tanner was brought here to this dungeon. Tessa channeled a small amount of energy, and a little sunny ball of light appeared above her head. Water curved around it, avoiding Tessa's head as she took her first steps into the cave. As she stepped into the darkness, the sounds of the rain and forest immediately went silent.
Tessa took a calming breath. Going in here alone was risky, but it was a risk they needed to take.
Tanner was a human. He was one of the great heroes - an exemplar, and they were going to be his guides. Tessa would make sure that they were ready for any challenge. Even thinking about it inspired her. They would change the world together.
Before they could do that, they needed information. Something had to have been left here in the darkness, perhaps some clue clue in the depths of the cavern. Without something like that, they were in the dark. She didn't know what she was looking for, but she would find it.
She would follow the Aura.
The first few rooms of the dungeon were quiet. Tessa paused to pick up an orb, but continued to move cautiously from room to room. It was white and appeared to have a blizzard inside. A hail orb. Those usually did well on the market- there were plenty of ice types that needed them.
Tessa channeled aura through her sensors as she proceeded carefully through a passageway. The fact that she hadn't encountered any other pokemon was what concerned her. She stepped quietly, listening for any sounds, watching for any uncomfortable aura. Usually, the Shadow Grove had no shortage of pokemon waiting to attack.
Tessa's hope was that she could find some way to contact whichever legendary sent Tanner here. She didn't imagine it would be easy- speaking to a Legend was challenging. Usually, you needed a priest of that Legendary.
Tessa had met only one legendary priest before- a Haxorus who worshiped Victini. They explained to her that some Legendaries could only be contacted in dungeons. Some Legendaries could only be contacted in one specific dungeon. Others didn't respond to prayers.
It was Tessa's hope that the one who sent Tanner here would be listening to this dungeon. There was only one way to find out.
Tessa walked along in the dungeon, following the light of her sunny day until she came upon a pool of water. She could see an orb glinting in the bottom. She took a step forward but froze as a ripple of water spread across the surface of the pool. Something behind her growled a deep, menacing growl.
Tessa spun on her heels to see a large, powerful pokemon between her and the exit. Quadrupedal and dark blue, it had a sleek, majestic form. There were plates of armor, highlighted with red, and a long, serpentine horn on its head. Tessa winced. A Samurott was a rare, dangerous foe to be encountered in the Shadow Grove.
Water splashed in the pool behind her- Tessa whirled around to see a second Samurott, far larger and covered in scars. One Samurott was already bad enough.
Tessa reached into her bag and pulled out a warp orb. In one swift motion, she hurled it towards the smaller water type, and made a motion to dash towards the nearby wall. She was too slow. A wave of water pulsed towards Tessa, sending the orb off course, dousing her and her source of light. In an instant, she was in total darkness.
She considered using an escape orb to leave the dungeon, but she couldn't. She wouldn't just give up on this wouldn't abandon this fight. She wouldn't abandon her goal to find something in this dungeon. All of her meditation, all of her efforts to understand how the world worked had led up to this. Her calling, as Tanner's guide.
Tessa took a deep breath and focused. She called on the power that guided her life, and all lives. The aura would guide her to victory.
The world was illuminated around her; she could see surfaces glowing with a blue sheen. More importantly, she could see both Samurott outlined in blue. Their aura was weak, but clear- they were very upset.
The Samurott growled and rumbled the cave. Its horn glowed white, and swords began to dance around it. It quivered with rage. The second Samurott opened its mouth and released a small stream of water at her. A warning.
Tessa sidestepped away from the water and crouched down low. Focus.
She breathed out slowly as she moved her arm in a slow, fluid motion. Aura coalesced around it, like water flowing around a stone in a stream. Her claws cut through the force, swirling and gathering it into a little ball. Tessa brought both paws in front of her and exhaled, waiting for the right moment.
The moment came all too soon. The larger Samurott charged forward, with water forming into a blade around its horn.
Tessa launched the aura sphere forwards towards the feral and leapt up into the air, flipping in a practiced motion above the rushing Samurott. Moments later, sharp, concentrated water struck Tessa's side.
She fell on the ground, turned to look at the smaller Samurott, then eyed the exit. She didn't have time for this! The more time she spent here, the harder this dungeon was going to get. The dungeon was challenging her willingness to find the answers she needed. It was testing her resolve, seeing if she really wanted to find the secrets it kept.
Tessa stood, and balanced on one leg. She would not fail so easily. Focus.
The larger Samurott turned and roared in fury. Water seeped out of the Pokemon's hide, and pooled around its tail. Again, it charged towards her.
Tessa held a paw out towards the feral and brought her other paw in close. Her Aura responded in kind, preparing for the maneuver. The samurott's attack slammed into her - powerful water, charged with the energy and force of the furious feral. In the same instant, Tessa crouched down and countered the attack with a swift strike to its hip.
The Samurott's aura fluttered as it stumbled. Flowing with the rhythm of the battle, Tessa stepped behind the larger Samurott in a graceful dance, putting it between herself and the second Samurott. Tessa was careful to watch her footwork, making sure to never be out of place lest either of her opponents strike her. They struggled, their attacks a carefully choreographed ballet of combat.
The beast turned, and brought down its horn towards Tessa, cutting at her furiously and predictably. It slashed downwards, she stepped to the side and struck its jaw. It swung to the side, and she ducked and hit its chest. It hacked at her side, and she struck its nose. They moved together with precision and purpose, partners in combat. Soon, the dance ended and the Samurott's head bowed as their waltz came to an end.
The smaller Samurott seemed appalled, and its confidence faltered. Tessa stepped into a low stance, watching the Samurott submerge beneath the pool.
Tessa took the moment to catch her breath before she continued onward. She was proud of herself at that moment. Truly, she had mastered herself, and the aura.
It was a mastery that could be taught to another.
She would be Tanner's guide.
That wasn't the only fight Tessa encountered, unfortunately. The Shadow Grove was not happy today. This many challenging fights in a row was uncommon.
What was worse, they were taking their toll- she had several cuts and bruises, and was growing weak. Her energy was strained, and it was becoming hard to hear the Aura.
The dungeon had secrets that it was hesitant to share.
She crouched down and picked up a smooth stone. She ran her fingers along the edge.
"Talk to me… What are you trying to say, dear friend?" Tessa asked quietly.
She looked around the room as best she could, using the light of her sunny day. It looked… oddly familiar. That path, that rock, just large enough to hide a Zorua…
Tessa felt a force in the back of her mind. A question, one she had been asked before.
Something was trying to establish a psychic connection.
Her heart leapt in her chest. She looked around for the source of the psychic, but found none. She was alone. Her body tensed, and Tessa quickly sat and crossed her legs in meditation. She took a moment to calm herself, before she closed her eyes, and let in the psychic force.
Silence.
"Hello?" She asked in her mind.
Nothing.
Tessa reached for the aura, begging for it to come back to her. She needed it. The dungeon was trying to speak to her. This was her only chance.
It returned, though strained.
"Is someone there?" She asked again. This time, she felt something. A voice, short and irritated.
"Mph. Go suck on a rock, Lucario."
That… wasn't quite what Tessa was expecting. The psychic connection waned. She focused on the aura of her speaker more. She felt very little…
"I need your guidance." She pleaded. Tessa needed to figure out what Tanner's mission was here. That was her goal. Her destiny.
"Stop it. Get f-" The psychic connection strengthened again. "Fine. Have you seen a stupid Zorua around here?"
Tessa was… confused to say the least. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but it wasn't that.
"Yes. Tanner. My teammate and I found him two days ago, lost and confused. We-"
"You found him? Thank distortion! Where are you!?"
"I…" A million questions bounded through Tessa's head. This couldn't be the dungeon speaking. A legendary Pokemon? It certainly wasn't what she expected of one of the divine. They seemed scattered, to say the least. Could she trust them?
"We can help prepare him for his mission here." Tessa responded carefully.
"That's cool. Where is he?" The voice pressed. The psychic connection strengthened, and Tessa began to feel the speaker's mind more clearly. She felt their power. Immense power- the universe at their fingertips.
This was indeed a legendary pokemon. One of the masters of the world, the first pokemon of creation. It told her to suck on a rock.
She hesitated.
"The Shadow Grove."
"That… whatever, good enough. Listen to me carefully, Lucario - don't tell anyone about him. He needs to remain a secret. Understand?"
Why did that question feel like a threat? Which legendary pokemon could this possibly be?
"I understand." Tessa responded.
"I will come for him as soon as I have the energy. Until then… like, train him or whatever."
The psychic connection was broken, leaving Tessa stranded in the blackness of the caverns of the Shadow Grove.