Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Dare To Dream

Chapter 3

Estranged

The three had only just entered Fango Village, yet Felix found himself already unnerved at the many make-do tents around him. Many appeared to have been clumsily fashioned together by some beast with worn canvas and rope, some even decorated with banners strangely covered in enlarged footprints of various creatures which twisted on the signs. Decorated ropes hung between lampposts that shed light onto the bare roads, revealing how these tepees sparsely dotted the tree-laden plains the village resided in.

Felix swiveled his head around the locale as the group traveled, spotting monsters in various sizes and shapes. From a tan lithe creature with a brush for a tail that carried a cumbersome sack with it, which Felix recognized as a smeargle, to a large lizard that boasted four large leaves for wings and a bundle of ripe fruit on its neck that was spotted gliding overhead against the starry sky of the cool night. The sight of the yellow fruit sent his stomach pleading with a rumble for any food.

But New Galar? Exploration Company? Those were far more pressing at the moment.

He spoke to Willow. "New Galar Exploration Company? What? You mean to tell me that there's some company… that's ran by monsters? How would that even work?"

Willow gave a disappointed, yet unsurprised sigh. "It's New Galar Expedition Company, little one. And we're not monsters, we're Pokémon. I'm not even sure where you picked up an old-world term like that when didn't know where you were until the last couple hours," Willow explained.

"And New Galar? What's that about?" Felix asked. Willow gave another lengthy exhale.

"Little one… perhaps we should just focus on getting you and her treated, for now." They continued forward along the path.

The moon radiated down onto wavering tapestry below through the abysmal overcast, which together with the iron-cased torches mounted on small poles and the blazing brazier stories above atop the skeletal wooden tower, swathed the locale with light of utmost purity with their combined ethereal moonbeams and dancing flames. Even towering stories above him, he could feel the radiance of the great flame enwrap him, warding off the cold.

Near the bottom of the tower, Felix noticed many decorations adorning the structure and items laid at its base. Crudely weaved dolls made from tallgrass came to resemble some magnificent bird, as well as bundles of freshly plucked flowers, had been placed at the tower's foot. Across the many crossing beams hung paper lanterns and cloths of many colors.

"What… what is this?" he asked.

Star wore a proud smile. "A monument to our return."

The area ahead of him was an enormous dirt circle cleared of plant life and obtrusions. Some larger tents lined the perimeter, each with crude wooden signs with more of those strange footprints displayed on them. In truth, they looked more like facilities than homes. This had to be the village square, he assumed. On many of the lampposts around, were weathered papers stuck to them with bright coloring and larger, more impactful footprint marks. Shapes like that of orbs and bottles were inked across their center.

One hut he noticed was a simple dark-clothed tent with many signs plastered with bold colored footprints outside its door, while another site across the path consisted only of a single low crude wooden countertop set in front of a large hole that burrowed into the ground, well into darkness, with numerous large piles of dirt surrounding it.

As they passed by, he noticed many of the inhabitants of the village giving him a passing stare as he and the others walked. A noctowl perched atop one of the many beams of the tower, a small silvery bug with purple antennas that scuttled by, seemingly lost in thought, and more. All seemed interested in them.

Yet between the stares, many of them seemed to smile at Star as she passed them by, retuning a smile of her own.

As they passed one of many tents, a small zigzagoon burst out of the front flap, startling Felix as he raised his arms in defense.

"Star! Star!" cried out the young zigzagoon. The excitable ferret darted this way and that across the ground before finally burying its head into Star's chest.

She flinched from the sudden contact on her injury, but still lowered her head down and caringly began brushing her head against its. "Wonderful to see you as well, Trace. How's your mother?"

Trace retracted his head, showing off a beaming smile beneath his furry muzzle. "She's getting better like you said! She even sent me a letter! She says she'll try and come here soon!"

"That's so great to hear," Star responded genuinely. "When you see her again, give her my best wishes. Tonight, why not offer a prayer in thanks?"

Trace nodded vigorously. "I will! Thanks for helping mommy!"

"It is not me who you should thank. Go on, now. Off to bed with you; It is remarkably late."

"Right! Thanks again!" The two shared a brief brush against one another's face. Firing off one more smile, the zigzagoon turned and scampered all across the ground until it reentered the lose flap to his tent.

"Sleep well, Trace." Star returned to Felix and Willow, bearing a content look and relaxed ears. "Let us continue. Apologies for the wait, Felix. The clinic should be just around this bend."

"What… I…" He opted to hold his questions. "Right. Let's just… go."

Together, the three continued down the worn path and turned at a bend in the road.

Ahead stood a large tent, its ceiling and walls flimsy and shifting with the wind. Above the front entrance, he could see that the shiny charm that hung over a partially exposed pole was in fact shaped like, with two wings poking out from its sides. From the swaying flap of the entrance, a soothing light spilled out into the night.

Star came to a stop at the entryway and called inside. "Happi! Are you in there? We could use assistance!" No response came. Star called again. "Happi? Pechi? Are you present?"

From inside the warmly lit tent, a quiet, almost whispering voice wormed out. "Star, is that you...? Come in, come in… just give me a minute to wake up…if it's not an emergency."

Star entered with Felix following close at her heels, while Willow remained outside, leaning against a nearby tree. Inside the clinic, Felix spotted a few beds of dried grass and hay that laid on the ground. A low wooden countertop was beside the right wall, with a couple rolls of clean white cloth, scattered papers and a couple books, and a pitiful amount of berries of contrasting colors and shapes haphazardly strewn across its top in a vivid mess. A bucket nearby on the floor beckoned the necessity of its use for this dire organizational situation.

A dull red rock covered in numerous holes lay next to one of the beds with some papers strewn beside it. There was no one inside aside from Felix and Star. His side still ached; his hand still lightly massaging the area for some comfort as he looked around the room.

"Where's this, uh, doctor at?" Felix asked as he nervously scanned the open space. Now inside, he wasn't quite eager about the idea of letting a monster so close to his injuries.

"Oh, that's right. You have never met her. She's right there." Star pointed with her head towards the red rock.

Curious, Felix walked over to the red round stone. "What, this thing here?" Tilting it with his hand, he peered inside one of the dark holes: a pair of small, beady eyes looked back at him from within that cramped darkness of the rock. Felix startled back with a small yelp as a lithe yellow head and four small tendrils slowly emerged from the rock.

The head yawned with a small agape mouth as it shakily stretched, before finally greeting the two. "I thought I told you to give me a minute." It rubbed at its small tired eyes with a lengthy yellow appendage. "Is there a pressing matter?" it asked as Star limped forward.

"We both are in need of an oran berry, Pechi. Nothing serious, we just got a bit roughed up in Tumblewood Grotto, and I'm fresh out of my own supply," explained Star.

Pechi slowly dragged her rock across the floor with her tendrils, speaking as she went. "Will this be on your account?"

"Yes, it will. I will be buying for him, as well."

Pechi nodded. "Works for me. Happi went back out to the capital while you were away, in case you were wondering. Another skirmish with that detestable group, it seems. She'll be gone for a time, so just call for me next time." Pechi reached the low countertop and brushed aside the small amount of berries, rolling them away as she grabbed a couple oran berries with two stringy appendages.

Dragging herself towards them, she reached out and offered the berries. Star eagerly grabbed one with her mouth and began heartily chomping on the berry, tearing it apart quickly with her fangs.

Felix stared at Pechi's tendril. The smooth yellow tentacle stared back at him, beckoning for him to take the berry. It wriggled like a sort of strange eyeless snake, the bait of the berry trying to tempt him closer. He turned his head away with a small grimace.

Pechi stared at him curiously. "Are you sure you don't want it? She's offering to pay."

Felix shook his head. "I'll be fine without it. Doesn't even hurt much, honest."

Star looked up from her mangled berry, her mouth stained blue. "Are you worried about paying me back? Don't worry, I am not looking for any sort of compensation."

He pushed down the tendril carefully. "I'm… sure."

Pechi tilted her head slightly in confusion at his refusal, but then nodded with understanding, retracting the berry into her shell. "We can't force him to eat it. I'll take this back for now, save it for the next occasion."

Felix tried to ignore the lingering pain in his side as he watched Star finish her berry, before she happily strutted up to Pechi.

"My thanks. I am sure I will be back again soon, so keep a supply ready," she said as she bowed her head.

"Please, don't." Pechi dryly replied. Her posture straightened when she realized what she just said. "I mean… I hope you don't have to come back here soon. Your health is very important, so don't be reckless out there. If you need my services again, then please, do come back. Be well until then, Star and… and…" Her voice trailed off as she stared at Felix, looking him up and down with narrowed eyes. Pechi extended her neck from her shell, looming her head over Felix as he took a step back. "I don't think we met before… a riolu, is it?" she asked while maneuvering her head around his body, examining him for any bruises or scrapes. "Well, if you need any medical attention, feel free to drop by. You're owed a berry, after all. But do give me a minute to wake up if it's not important next time- I hardly get any sleep these days."

Felix slowly nodded as Pechi retracted a length of her neck back into her shell. With a half-hearted wave of a tendril, she dismissed the pair.

Stepping back outside into the cool air of the comfortable night, Willow pushed himself off the tree to join them. "So, dear Happi left for the capital? Bah, that band needs to be dealt with. They've been a nuisance for too long," he stated as he stepped forward. "Regardless, Star, would you care to hurry along with the little one and report to the little bugger? I'd like to turn in for the night."

"Of course. I'll take him right away," Star proudly replied.

With a final glance, Willow left towards the open square.

Star walked to the side of the entryway they just exited and looked over to Felix. "Come along. We need to report to a little bird, then we'll be done and you'll be free to go."

Felix joined her as they made their way down a cleared dirt path illuminated by roadside torchlight. Dropping his stare to the dirt path beneath him, he thought back to what was said a moment ago: that after Star reported today's ordeal, he would be free to go. But free to go where?

Looking up from the ground, Felix saw that Star was staring at him as they walked, waiting for his attention. "You know…" she said, "Given the events of the evening, we never had a chance to properly introduce ourselves. Let us do just that! So!" She stopped and sat down on the ground. Felix stopped in place as well. "I am Star, a rookie for Team Horizon." She stuck out her right paw. "And your name is…?"

Felix instinctively stuck out his own right hand to shake her paw, but hesitated once his mind caught back up with his action, drawing his hand back. He opted to instead give a small wave. "It's… Felix. You, uh, know that."

Star looked disappointed at his refusal to shake, but quickly shook it off when she noticed something else.

"I am well aware. Still, Felix, is it? That is… an unusual name!" Star gave a small giggle

"Yeah, well it isn't like Star is any better. It'd be like being named Coral, or Hatchet, or something like that," Felix replied with a lighthearted shrug.

Passing some of the posted torches which hosted a pleasant orange glow, the two came upon a small plain booth with simple grooves beside a large standing bulletin board. Paper after paper were covered in inky footprints. A map of the area was pinned on one half of the board, seemingly blotted with 'x's and large red circles at seemingly random locations. The lectern nearby stood well over the height of both Felix and Star, the sounds of impatient tapping of a pen or the like, was heard from behind the top.

Star crept up to the bottom of the lectern and looked to Felix with a smile, giving several small knocks with her paw at the bottom. The belch of a crow rang out. The tapping was instantaneously replaced by the sounds of someone jutting up, knocking over one of two inkwells off the side and breaking on the ground in front of Felix, splashing forth pitch-black ink on the ground with a messy splash.

An excited crow peered over the ledge of its lectern. Its crooked pale-yellow beak, navy blue body, and the curiously shaped crest atop its head were all easily distinguishable- a murkrow. It hopped up to the ledge and leaned towards Star with eyes glittering with anticipation "Heya! Star! Did ya complete your mission? Did ya? I can get the payment from my talons into your paws right now if you did!" It bellowed this out with glee, staring deeply into Star with wide eyes. From where the murkrow was perched, Felix saw that one of its talons was dyed a deep black.

"No, I apologize, Didja. As usual, I unable to find the item," Star responded with an apologetic tone. The murkrow's mood immediately sank, dropping its head in disappointment and stepping back away from the ledge of the lectern.

"Oh…" it quietly squawked out.

Star looked at Felix, whose face was now scrunched up from the pool of confusion he now held after witnessing such a bird. "Felix, this is Didja. He's our go-to bird for when I or the others need to take up or report jobs. Now, I know he might seem rather excitable, but he is great at what he does!" After Star finished her introduction, Didja shook his head and peered over at Felix with a quizzical expression plastered on both their faces. He leaned forward right into Felix's face.

"Who's this? A new settler? Client? Passerby? Crook? Where did ya find him?" Didja asked. Felix leered at the bird in an attempt to get it to back off, but Didja only returned a suspicious stare with squinted eyes.

"This is Felix," Star answered. "I found him on the way back from the other job, so I need you to register him as a 'coincidental rescue' for me."

The murkrow dropped the ocular exchange and nodded excitedly. Turning around, he ducked his head into a cubicle within the lectern, coming back up with a sheet of paper adorned with numerous lines of text in his beak that Felix could not quite make out from where he was. Laying the paper down on the surface of the lectern, Didja dipped the black talon into the remaining inkwell and began precisely scratching at the paper.

"Hm-hm~, I've got him jotted down for you. He's no item, but I'm sure you can still call this day a success- success without payment, of course! Will there be anything else?" Didja asked while examining his work.

"No, that should be it," Star replied. She turned to Felix. "So… you're free to go," she finally stated.

Felix stood there and craned his head around the unfamiliar area around him. Nowhere to go. Directions, he thought. He needs directions home.

"New Galar is the name of this region, right? Would either of you know of a place called Marea?" he asked Star and Didja. They both shook their heads. Felix thought for a moment, rubbing his forehead with the silvery oval that resided on his hand which brought a comforting coolness as it was pressed against him.

Maybe they needed a point of reference. He remembered hearing of a certain land which had recently begun settlement. "Well," he continued, "How about Hisui? Have you heard of that one? Marea lies straight across the continent, far west of Hisui. It should be just off the west coast. Does that ring a bell?"

Didja released a low kraw from his throat. "I'm very sorry, mister Felix, but I'm afraid that doesn't sound at all familiar."

Felix let out a frustrated sigh. "Is there a map I can use? One bigger than the one there? I'm sure I could point it out on one." Didja perked up and hastily dove inside a small space within his lectern. Sounds of small rummaging heard of bits and pieces became quickly audible. A second later, the bird jumped back up on the ledge with a rolled paper clenched within his beak, tossing it to Felix's feet with the paper landing with a small plop.

He eagerly unrolled and flattened the broad paper across the ground as Star came to his side and Didja peered over his shoulder from his lectern, but that brief excitement Felix felt quickly dissipated as he saw the contents of the map.

A single region, one he did know, was drawn with faded colors. Small detailing of some trails, rivers, plains, and a couple mountains, were represented on the asymmetrical land that tapered north, and surrounded by water. A few small footprints of various monsters were tucked away on the bottom right corner of the paper. Of course it would not have been that easy. "Is this just a map of New Galar?" he dejectedly asked.

"Yes, it is. I am not sure where this 'Marea' is, but it's nowhere near here, that much is certain. You likely need to travel overseas to find that location," explained Star as she looked over the map with him.

So home wasn't on this continent. It was overseas. Or at the very least, he would need to travel some distance over water.

"And how would I get overseas? Is there some boat I could travel on? A ferry?" Felix asked impatiently as the growing number of obstacles mounted.

Didja rapped his talons on the surface of the lectern with his eyes closed, thinking for a second. "If you are unable to travel long-distances over a body of water yourself, I'd recommend commissioning a lapras or floatzel for travel in such circumstances, mister Felix. Though I don't know of any in this area, so you'd likely need to spend a pretty amount of poké to entice one over here, and to purchase their participation in ferrying you. And if you or they don't know the way, I imagine you'd need a world map to ensure fair travel," Didja explained as he stared skyward.

Felix grumbled at the mention of another word he didn't know. "And poké is the money used here, I'm guessing?" Felix asked.

Didja nodded in affirmation.

"And where can I get some?"

Didja's eyes widened in glee at Felix's question. "Oh, I am so very glad you asked, mister Felix! If you were to form an official team here, you could take jobs from this here board," Didja raised a wing towards the board covered in papers, "and complete the listed jobs for a reward, provided by yours truly, or the client! We could really use the help, kind sir, and I mean really use all the help we can get, so should I sign you up now if you're interested?"

Star's ears perked as Felix tiredly spoke back to the hustling murkrow.

"I'll… have to think about it. I need some rest. Oh, and Star," he shuffled on his feet for a moment, trying to hold eye-contact with her. "You know… thanks. Again." Turning around, he began walking to where he remembered the village entrance was.

"Wait just a moment, please!" She ran up to him. "You are completely new here, correct? I know this seems rather out of nowhere…" Star sat down as she murmured with a pensive look. Her lips trembled as she tried to finish her sentence. "...Do you have anywhere to sleep tonight? You could come with me to where I and Willow reside to spend the night with us. I'm sure he wouldn't mind a guest for the night."

"No." He started to turn away, but a nagging feeling about his etiquette stopped him, and he looked back at her. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll manage."

Star looked unsurprised by his answer. "Oh, well, that is fine. But if you do need help again, just find me. I'm willing to assist anyway I can." She turned back to the board. "Goodnight, Felix."

He thought for a second.

"…Goodnight, Star."

With a small bow from Star and a weak wave from Felix, they went their separate ways. Felix began his way towards the wooden poles that stood as an entrance to the village. Looking back, Felix caught a glimpse of Didja fervently waving farewell to him with a beak ajar in a naturally crooked smile.

Arriving back at the dimly lit entryway, he stared at the barren path ahead: nothing but a foreign road that led to a world he knew nothing about. The once bright, proud moon was now obstructed by a blanket of dull overcast that had recently rolled in, leaving the land below stifled in darkness. Felix could see the road as it stretched, curved, and rolled over the stone-littered plains.

The trees, the land, the geography, and the creatures that inhabited it all. Home was not here. Not in this strange land. It was somewhere faraway.

A hollow pain filled his chest at that thought.

He turned his back to the plains outside the village and walked alongside the outskirts of the settlement. Passing by a large field littered with vividly green bushes and short trees, he saw how each bore a different harvest of colorful berries and fruit of different shapes and sizes. The ripe red apples that hung tightly to the tree branches within the field taunted him with their unblemished form. He heard his stomach growl in pain at the tempting sight, imploring to him when was the last time they had eaten something of substance.

He did not know.

Creeping up to the wooden fence that was made of simple wooden poles connected by horizontal beams, he peered through the spacious openings into the field, looking for any apple that hung close by. One tree nearby provided such an opportunity; a pristine and perfectly ripe red apple hung loosely from a branch that drooped downwards towards the ground. After looking around and not seeing anyone present, he easily fit himself between the wide openings in the fence and crept towards the tree.

Underneath the branch, he jumped up and grabbed the apple with both his hands, plucking it, making the tree quietly rustle its foliage as it recoiled back from the branch's sudden jerk. The unblemished skin of the apple had never looked so appetizing before as it did now in his hands. He opened his mouth to take a bite.

"Hey."

The small unexpected voice gave him a sudden jolt, causing him to fumble the apple to the ground. He spun around to find a petite light green plant with a bulbous head adorned with three thin leaves, staring at him with small brown eyes. A petilil. It was stationary beside one of the robust bushes, blending in with the light tones of the green.

"What are you doing there, mister?" it impatiently asked.

Felix sputtered out a half-baked response as quickly as he could. "I was… lost. I'm new around here. I didn't know this land was yours, I'll be gone in a moment if you'll excuse me," Felix told the blatant lie in a vain attempt to defuse the situation.

"Right…" it replied. "More like you didn't see little ol' me here, and you thought you could just come here and cinch something for yourself. Now let me give you a choice, buddy," it said with as much of an intimidating voice as it could muster with its small body and high-pitched voice. "I have spores. Lots of them. Plenty. Some that make you collapse to the ground fast asleep, some that will seize your muscles, and another that'll wither the life from you slowly. So… which one do you fancy?"

Felix felt his stomach tense, and he took a step back. Looking behind him, he knew he could make a quick escape beyond the fence if he timed his retreat right.

The small petilil stifled a small laugh, which trickled into a giggle. Walking forward, it occupied itself as it picked up the apple with its two nubs that functioned as restricted arms.

Perfect.

"Heh, you should see the look on your face! I'm just teasing you. I don't think we'll miss one apple. Here." Turning around to where Felix would be, it held out the apple. "We can keep this a secret between-"

Felix was not there. Spinning its round head around, it could not find him. He was gone.

As Felix ran back into the nearby woodwork from the fields, he could faintly hear a high-pitched voice from the fields that were now behind him.

"Geez! I was joking!"

—-

Felix kept his distance from the settlers that were still out and about in the flickering torchlight as he followed the length of the village's borders. Walking through untamed shortgrass that brushed against his feet and legs, he found himself scaling up a small hill dotted with some small trees and unkempt grass. The shallow incline was crested with a few stones of varying sizes.

Reaching the top of that hill which stood against a starry backdrop, he found a solitary flat rock plastered in insignificant cracks and green moss, jutting from the earth at an angle. Looking at the stone protrusion, a thought entered his head, stirring excitement within.

Clambering on top of the rock, he stood upon its surface and gazed at the night sky. The same starry night filled with dazzling speckles of light against a cold blue backdrop filled his vision, as it had many times before. Scanning the space above him, he searched for it. The Splintered Seat.

The constellation that had found its place just above the equator of the earth, which would hang in the night sky directly above him in the middle of the night. Looking to the center of the sky from where he remembered the sun setting west, he could not find it. With a scoff, he carefully began scanning the stars above him, careful to not overlook his shining beacon.

Somewhere in the southern sky, he saw a warm and familiar sight that brought comfort to his heart. A cluster of nine shining stars lingered a ways above the horizon, organized crudely into the rough shape of a grand throne with nick on its right side from an absent star that made the constellation unsymmetrical. It hung just south of where he remembered it being.

He was relieved at being able to find the constellation, momentarily brushing aside any negative thoughts about where in the world he might be for it to be so out of place, just to allow himself this brief moment of joy, evident with a smile stretching across his face. If he followed this constellation, he could eventually find Marea. Find home. The key question remaining was how he was going to get there.

He knew he would need a world map as Didja had said, to find the best route, as well as a way to get across the water that surrounded New Galar. All this: the ferry on those monsters, the map, the supplies for the journey, and food and gear while he was here now, it would all take money. This poké currency was his ticket home.

And he had none of it.

But that was an issue he could address in the morning. Right now, he just wanted to sleep away the small amount of lingering pain that resided in his side and to recover some stamina from the day's excursion.

After the happiness he felt passed, he lowered himself down from the rock and noticed a small open space beneath the lip of the stone that he might be able to fit into with his new small size. Bending down to the ground, he crawled his way underneath into the cold, damp, and dark interior. The filling scent of earthly tones from swaths of moss within the small shelter had invaded his nostrils with each shivering breath. Crawling a bit deeper underneath the rock, he tried to make himself comfortable; tossing and turning in the narrow space, searching for any amount of comfort that could be found on the stiff floor. After he settled the best he could, he stared out the natural alcove with weary eyes. He found only a few darkened trees and unsightly grass to keep him company- silent with indifference.

Hungry, cold, and alone.

In a strange, strange land.

Felix closed his eyes in his dark nook to find any amount of sleep to pass that hollow night. The stillness he resided in only invited questions of when he would return home in his vacant thoughts. If he even could return home.

'Home' was far away.

He dismissed these somber thoughts with resolve and comfort from the knowledge that he had a chance, even if it were slim and distant. That if he worked harder than he ever had before from these jobs that the murkrow had told him about, he could get the money he needed to begin his journey home.

And in that resolute darkness, he made a simple vow to himself.

He would find his way home.

…

…

…