Grapploct Dojo
"No! Not like that! Calm yourself, then unleash the move!" Grapploct yelled, as I took another hit to the face. I had not been expecting this to be so harsh.
I tried again to form a Water Gun. Calm myself. Feel the breeze, listen to the rushing water nearby. Attune myself with nature. Then attack with its full force.
Nothing happened.
This was my 17th try, and still nothing.
I slapped myself with my glowing right arm in frustration, grimacing at the pain. Why couldn't I pull off just one move?! Why did I have to do all this just to not be alone?!
Wait a minute.
Glowing?
I pulled my right arm back, and looked at it. It was glowing darkly, as if it had been shrouded in darkness.
What was that?
"It's not the move we were trying for, but congrats for pulling off Assurance!" Grapploct announced, giving me a strong pat on the back. I nearly fell over from the force of it.
Assurance? Wasn't that a dark-type move? I didn't know Oshawotts could learn that. Then again, I didn't know a lot about Unova to begin with.
"Now, how about we try again for the move you're actually trying to learn?" Grapploct said, rearing up for another hit. "Come on! Hit me with everything you got!"
A tentacle collided with my head, and I flinched, before another one smacked my ear. Their training was brutal.
How did I pull off Assurance, anyways? I was frustrated at how I couldn't learn Water Gun, and then…
My right arm darkened again. So it's caused by frustration! Now I have at least one move I can rely on.
I should test it out, though.
As another tentacle was thrust at me, I thrust my darkened arm at a small cut on Grapploct, knocking them back a bit.
"Excellent! That actually hurt! You seem to know how to use Assurance to its fullest effect," they congratulated, before an angry shout was heard from outside.
"Sorry, looks like our session has to end. Tyrogue's waiting for his sparring match with me. Come see me tomorrow, and we can work more on Water Gun," Grapploct told me.
"Thanks!" I yelled, as I ran out of the dojo. I didn't learn how the move I wanted to learn, but at least I learned how to use Assurance.
Hopefully that would be enough for today.
Overcast Village
I ran into the fog of the village, and past the Tyrogue from yesterday. Saltriv was waiting for me at their house. I hurried down the road their house was on.
Soon, I came to the familiar leaf-tipped house, and saw Saltriv waiting in the entrance. I walked up to them.
"How'd it go?" they asked, tail wagging rapidly in excitement. "Did you manage to learn any moves at the dojo?"
"I didn't learn Water Gun, but I learned something else!" I told them. I concentrated on the frustration I felt at not learning Water Gun, and my right arm darkened. "Assurance!"
"Hooray!" they cheered. "Now we're ready to go!"
The darkness in my arm faded, and I smiled. It was nice to see them happy, even if I've only known them for about a day.
Saltriv turned around, shouted, "Bye mom! Bye dad! I'm going on an adventure with Burhalla and Gen!"
A faint "Have fun! Stay safe!" from Meganium was heard, and we left the area.
We ran uphill, through the fog, towards the Top Plaza. Once we got there, in the middle, I saw a familiar Charmander wearing a pink scarf and bracelet.
Oddly, the purple gemstone in his bracelet seemed to be missing. I decided not to question that.
As we ran up to him, he smiled. "Almost everything's ready! I checked in with my father, gathered the items we'll need, and decided who we're searching for!" Burhalla announced, before his smile disappeared. "There's just one problem."
"What is it?" I asked, hoping the answer wasn't anything along the lines of me being unable to officially join.
"We haven't gotten approved by SaRO yet," he explained. "Our certificate, badges, and synchronised bags haven't arrived yet."
Was SaRO the one who approved all these search parties? Well, that wasn't too big of an issue, I think. I didn't quite know what the synchronised bags would do, but least we didn't get denied.
Yet.
"Why don't we go anyways?" Saltriv suggested, to my surprise.
"What do you mean?" Burhalla asked, eyes widening.
"There's nothing stopping us, is there? You already checked in with your father, I already told my parents, Gen learned a move, we can go!" they answered.
A few seconds passed. Burhalla's smile returned. "You have a point," he said. "I'll triple check to make sure our items are enough, then we'll begin our search!
"Wait, who are we looking for?" I asked.
"We're looking for Flapple!" Burhalla told me, pulling a paper out of his bag, that depicted a Pokemon I vaguely recalled seeing before. "He was last spotted near Blistering Shore, so we're looking there first."
The Pokemon looked like it had carved out an apple, and used parts of it as wings. I think I saw one of those during one of the Galar gym battles.
I looked back at Burhalla, and saw him digging through his bag.
"Let's see...five oran berries, an apple for each of us, two max ethers, two elixirs, a rawst berry, an escape orb, a slumber wand, and a tiny reviver seed! Everything's here!" Burhalla exclaimed, as he closed his bag. I didn't know what some of those things were, but I could ask about that later.
"Let's go! Gen, follow me!" Burhalla announced, and with a cheer from Saltriv, the three of us ran down the path out of the village.
Blistering Shore Outskirts
It wasn't too long before we arrived at the entrance. We had entered a small cave to get there, and the entrance was right at the other exit of the cave.
The entrance was completely shrouded in darkness. I couldn't see anything beyond it. I had no idea what this dungeon was going to be like, other than what I could gather from its name, Blistering Shore. Going by that, it'd probably be a beach of some kind, or maybe a cliff by the shore.
As for what we'd encounter in there, other than hopefully Flapple, I had no idea.
"Are you both ready?" Burhalla asked, facing the two of us.
"I am!" Saltriv announced with a smile.
"Yeah!" I confirmed, though I wasn't sure if I truly was.
"Then let's go!" Burhalla declared, and we all ran into the dungeon.
Blistering Shore 1F
The moment we entered the dungeon, I was confronted with a strange sight.
The sand was black, not the light tan I was used to. I'd never seen anything quite like it before. Steep dunes of it surrounded the area on three sides, with a few corridors that ran deep. Those dunes must be the walls of this dungeon.
On the fourth side, the ocean crashed loudly into the beach, waves lapping against the dark shore. I could smell the ocean breeze blowing past me. A Lapras swam across the sea far in the distance.
The sun shone down brightly on it all. It was causing me to start to feel a bit weak. Don't water-types not do very great under bright sunlight? This could be an issue. At least Burhalla could back me up in this heat.
Speaking of heat, the sand was very hot. I walked in place to keep my feet from burning, though it was awkward to do so with how short my new legs were. The others didn't seem to be bothered much by the heat, though.
In the middle of the room was a small, green gemstone, similar to the purple one Burhalla had in his bracelet back in Twig Woodland. He ran over to it, and quickly slotted it into his bracelet.
"Whew! Almost shattered before I got it," Burhalla stated. "Not a barrage emera, but still great!"
"What's an emera, and why would it have shattered?" I asked. Seems I still had more to learn about Mystery Dungeons.
"Emeras are items only found within Mystery Dungeons. They have special effects if you insert them into a looplet, like this one," Burhalla explained, as he motioned to his bracelet. "They shatter if they aren't picked up quickly enough, or if they are taken out of a Mystery Dungeon. This one's a big recovery emera. It makes stuff that heals you work better. Barrage emeras are purple, and are the best ones. They let you do two moves in a row!"
That explains what happened to the purple gemstone Burhalla had, and how he was able to do two Embers that quickly back in Twig Woodland.
Looking around the room, I spotted an oran berry half-buried in the sand near the ocean, and next to it, a strange, striped seed that spiraled in on itself. I went over to pick them up, stepping lightly over the scorching sands, and stared quizzically at the seed. "What's this?" I asked.
"That's a totter seed!" Saltriv exclaimed. "If you eat it, it makes you confused."
That must be useless, then. I picked up the oran berry, and was about to give it to Burhalla, until Saltriv spoke back up.
"Why are you leaving the totter seed behind?" they asked.
"Isn't it useless?" I questioned. "Why would you want something that makes you confused?"
"They're good for hostile dungeon mon! Throw one at them, and they'll never hit you!"
Why would the dungeon mons eat them, though? Maybe it's best not to question it. Either way, this thing had a use to it now. I stepped back, and picked up the totter seed with my other arm, before walking over to Burhalla, and with a "Here," gave both items to him.
"Thanks for picking those up for me. I'd rather not get too close to the ocean," he responded, as he tossed the items in his bag.
"Let's go on," he said, as he proceeded down one of the corridors. Saltriv followed behind, as did I.
It wasn't long until we reached the next room. I could see the stairs a bit off to the left. Next to the shore, three Tirtougas laid, one of which was looking right at us. I braced myself for its attack, yet nothing came.
"Aren't they going to attack?" I asked my teammates.
"Those are Dociles," Burhalla explained. "They're a type of dungeon mon that don't attack if you leave them alone. Hostiles are the kind you have to watch out for."
So there were multiple types of dungeon Pokemon? How many types were there?
Before I could ask further, Burhalla began to disappear up the stairs with a "Come on!" Me and Saltriv quickly hurried after him.
Blistering Shore 2F
As we entered the next floor, I was greeted once more with the sound of waves crashing against the black beach. I felt water rush past my feet as one particularly large wave hit the shore. The Lapras still swam across the sea, now farther along. How were we still at sea level, even though we just went up a level?
Before I could question that, my attention was taken up by something else.
In the middle of the room stood a strange Krokorok, looking towards the shore. There were several scratches across its lower body. An odd lump protruded from the top of its head. A few of its teeth were missing, and those that weren't were covered in...was that blood?!
This Krokorok looked seriously injured. What had happened to it? Where did that blood come from?
As I took a step towards it, it tensed up, before turning in my direction. "Crooh-ook! CROOOHK!" It cried, before it lunged at me, and before I knew it, its jaws were around my neck in a Bite. I screamed in pain as what few teeth it had left began to sink in. Was it going to break my neck?!
"GEN!" my teammates cried. I could barely hear them over my own thoughts.
I was going to die here. This would be it. My family and friends would never know what happened to me. I'd never see them again.
...No.
I wasn't dying here. I'd see them again. I'd make it out of here, and I'd make this Krokorok pay!
My right arm glowed with a dark aura. I thrust it down at the lump on the Krokorok's head. It cried in pain, loosening its hold on my neck just in time. A few seconds later, its bloodstained maw would have ended my life.
A Razor Leaf knocked the Krokorok away from me, fully freeing me from its grasp. I shuddered as an Ember collided with the Krokorok. That was close.
"CROOOOHK!" I heard it cry, as it fainted into the black sand. The darkness shrouding my right arm dissipated, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I didn't want to know where that blood had come from.
"Gen!" Saltriv yelled, as they rushed towards me, Burhalla following. "That looked really bad!"
Burhalla dug into his bag, and grabbed an oran berry, before tossing it to me. I swiftly ate it, feeling the teeth marks around my neck healing.
"I've never seen a dungeon mon that aggressive!" Burhalla exclaimed. "Are you ok?"
I thought about it. In truth, I wasn't. I almost died.
I could ask them to take me out of the dungeon. I could leave the team, and stay in the village. I could never have to deal with something like that again.
But then I'd be all alone again. And besides, even if I hadn't done that Assurance, Saltriv's Razor Leaf would probably knock the Krokorok away in time. Burhalla and Saltriv had my back.
I'll stay with them, then. Hopefully nothing worse than this would happen.
"Yeah," I lied.
"Are you sure?" he asked with concern. "That Bite looked like it could have really hurt." He paused. "Please, be honest with me."
Before I could get a chance to answer, Saltriv's voice rose up.
"Look! Another Escape Orb!" they announced, holding with their vines a black orb with a bright light shining inside.
Burhalla looked over towards them, then back toward me. "We have another Escape Orb now. You could go back," he said.
"I'm fine," I told him. I felt awful for doing so after he asked me to be honest, but it wasn't like I had a choice, unless I wanted to be alone.
"If you say so," he said, before turning towards a corridor away from the fallen Krokorok. "Let's go."
The three of us headed down the corridor together. Once we entered the next room, I noticed three things that stood out.
The first was the stairs, near the ocean. The second was a seed that resembled a burning fire, on the opposite side of the room. The third was a red hood, laying in the dark sand. At the base were several frills going out, a pale pink stripe on them, and a similar stripe ran across the top of the hood. I walked over to them, before pausing. I picked up the hood, and slid it over my head. I smiled. It felt nice to wear something again.
"Great! You've found a Reunion Cape!" Saltriv exclaimed, as they picked up the seed with a vine. "Do you know what that is?"
I shook my head with a "Nope." I didn't really care what it was, it was just nice to wear something again, but it couldn't hurt to find out.
"They're really useful! They can reunite you with someone, no matter the distance!" Saltriv explained, as they handed the seed to Burhalla.
"Really?!" I asked, smiling widely. This seemed almost too good to be true. Reuniting no matter the distance? Could I go back to my family with this thing?
"Yep! You just need to tap the front of it while touching them, and then every time you tap the front afterwards, you'll teleport to them!" Saltriv told me, as Burhalla put the seed in the bag.
I couldn't go home with it, then. My smile faded a bit. That was disappointing. Still, it seemed pretty nice, and useful. It would be amazing to have this back home, but it could also prevent me from getting left behind while I'm here. "Can you change who you teleport to?" I asked.
"Just tap the front while touching a different person!" they answered.
Good. So if I choose a person now, I could still use it back home.
Actually, would I even be able to have it? Burhalla's the one keeping the items after all.
"Can I keep this?" I asked, internally pleading that the answer would be yes.
"For sure!" Burhalla told me, prompting my smile to return. "You found it, after all. It's yours to keep!"
"Thank you!" I responded. Now, I didn't have to worry about being left behind so much anymore!
Now, who to choose for now?
Burhalla was the team leader, but Saltriv was the one who I shared a home with for now. It would be great if I could go with both, but I could only choose one at a time.
My thoughts were interrupted as Burhalla declared, "Let's go!"
I could decide later. For now, we had to find Flapple.
The three of us headed up the stairs together.
Blistering Shore 3F
The moment we emerged onto the next floor, the first thing I saw was a bright beam of red light, going from the ground right in front of me into the sky. What was that? Was this another thing that was in Mystery Dungeons?
"Gen, look out behind you!" I heard Saltriv exclaim. Turning around, I saw a Sandygast coming towards me. I started to back away, readying an Assurance, but the Sandygast Astonished me, causing me to flinch, and fall into the beam of red light.
Suddenly, the world shrunk around me. It was like I suddenly surged in size! I saw three red clouds swirling around my head. Did...did I just Dynamax, like in those battles in Galar?!
Everything was so small! Saltriv, Burhalla, the walls, the room, the Sandygast, it was all so tiny! I felt so much power within me! It was like I could do anything!
Wait...could I?
I gleefully willed for a surge of water to wash away the Sandygast, and an absolutely massive geyser shot out from me, completely submerging it.
YES! I did it! Hahahahahahaha!
I didn't take any mind to a familiar voice yelping as I did that move again, the clouds around me starting to dissipate, rain beginning to fall, or a fleeing Growlithe as I completely drenched the entire area. None of that mattered. What mattered was just how much fun this was!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
As the last cloud around me disappeared, I felt the power leave my body, as the world grew back to its original size. That was exhilarating! I finally pulled off a water-type move!
Actually...what even happened back there?
"BURHALLA!" I heard Saltriv yell, and looked towards them to see what was happening.
Oh.
What have I done?!
Burhalla had collapsed, and his tail flame had shrunk to mere embers. Saltriv hurried over to him, a terrified look on their face. I stared in horror. Didn't Charmanders die if their flame ever went out?
I did that. That was my doing.
I guiltily watched as Saltriv dug an oran berry out of their bag, and gave it to Burhalla, who quickly ate it, and his tail flame grew back to a healthy size. I turned away, not able to look them in the eyes after that.
"Gen...what happened?" I heard him ask.
I had an inkling of an idea what happened, being Dynamax, but not the why, how, or any of those other questions.
"I don't know," I guiltily told half the truth, turning back towards Burhalla. I noticed that Saltriv was sheltering his tail from the rain with their leaf.
A moment of silence passed, before Burhalla spoke up.
"You almost killed me! My tail nearly went out!" he shouted as his face contorted in anger. "What were you thinking?!"
"I-I don't know!" I stammered, telling the truth for once. "I fell into that red light, and I don't know what got into me there! I shouldn't have joined the team! I'm sorry!"
Seconds passed. I felt something slide off my face and fall to the ground. I couldn't tell if it was tears or the rain. Burhalla's expression started to soften.
"Are...are you crying?" he asked.
"I don't know," I answered, looking away. Another drop fell into the sand, blending in with the rain.
I heard footsteps approaching. I braced for the worst. I deserved this, after all the lies I've told.
I felt two scaly arms wrap around me, as Burhalla turned me to face him. Was...was he giving me a hug?
"It's...it's ok," he said, sympathy in his eyes. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm sorry."
Why was he apologizing? This was my fault! I was the one who made the mistake here.
"None of us knew what happened there. You're just as confused as we both were. Maybe even more than us. And I lashed out at you despite that," he continued. "I should have known better. I shouldn't have been like my father."
"Really?" I asked, barely able to believe what I was hearing. "You aren't mad at me?"
"Not anymore. I understand," he answered. "Tell me, do you have anxiety? Do you remember what that is?"
Do I tell him the truth? Do I risk this?
I should be honest at least about this, especially after Burhalla's forgiving me for nearly killing him.
I nodded.
"My sister, Valorch, has anxiety too," he explained. "I heard it's...difficult to handle some situations with it."
No kidding. I fiddled with my Reunion Cape a bit, accidentally bumping my left arm against the front in the process.
"If you want, I can try and get you an appointment with the village therapist. They've been pretty busy lately with all the disappearances, but I'm sure they can help," he suggested.
"And if that doesn't work out, I can try to help!" Saltriv offered.
Really? All this, for me? I barely knew them for a day!
Still, it was...nice to have people that cared about me, even in this unfamiliar world.
"Thank you," I told them both, finally smiling again. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to tell them the truth.
"It's no problem. We're a team now, and that's not changing," Burhalla said with a smile, before letting go of me, and taking a step back. "Anyways, if we see any more beams of red light like that one, we should try to stay away from them," he suggested. "Let's continue, and find Flapple!"
We pressed onwards down a corridor, as the rainfall stopped. I felt a little better about myself.
Blistering Shore 4F
It wasn't long until we found the stairway to the next floor. We didn't have any more battles on that floor after what Gen had done.
What exactly did he do, anyways? He fell into that red light, then suddenly he grew really big, and started using water moves I've never seen before, nearly extinguishing Burhalla's tail! Good thing that didn't happen!
As we navigated the next floor, Burhalla had found a clutch performer emera and put it in his looplet. When can I get a looplet and get to use emeras? I should ask mom for one once we're home.
Going down a short corridor, we entered the next room. As soon as we entered the room, I could see the stairs, but I was knocked to the side by a Vulpix's Quick Attack, and a Kingler and Salandit rushed towards Gen and Burhalla. "Watch out!" I yelled to the others.
The Kingler shot a Bubblebeam at Burhalla, connecting with his tail and he stumbled as his flame flickered. Not again! I attacked it with a Razor Leaf, but the Kingler shrugged it off as it Stomped Gen into the sand, and the Salandit spat a cloud of purple gas at him. This wasn't good! They were overwhelming us!
I ran towards them, but before I could reach them, the Salandit bit into Burhalla's tail. He collapsed into the sand beside Gen.
No! We needed to get through this! We needed to find Flapple! We couldn't lose here after making it halfway through the dungeon! I needed to do something! I needed to! But I can't take them all at once!
The Kingler Stomped Burhalla. I heard something crack.
No! This couldn't be happening! No no no no no!
NO!
I barely noticed as a shadowy aura surrounded me, or as shadowy tendrils shot out of me towards the sky. I only noticed as they came falling back down towards us, at the dungeon mon, at myself, and even my teammates.
I yelped in pain as they cut through me, but I was more concerned for Burhalla and Gen. They were already pretty injured. I looked towards them, and was relieved to see only a few of the tendrils hitting them. The shadowy aura around me disappeared, as did the tendrils.
What did I just do?
I glanced at the dungeon mons. They were covered in injuries that shadows leaked out of. Did I do that?
"Here!" Burhalla yelled, returning me to my senses. I looked towards him, and saw him and Gen scarfing down an oran berry. A third was being tossed my way. I grabbed it with a vine and quickly munched down on it, before tossing another Razor Leaf at the Kingler. Gen ran by, and delivered an Assurance to it at the same time my attack hit. Together, we caused the Kingler to faint. One down!
I saw Burhalla running towards the Vulpix, and hurried after it as well, and together, we delivered an Ancient Power and Bite combo, causing it to faint, too! Two down!
We all turned towards the Salandit, which began to charge towards me. I hurled a Razor Leaf at it, Burhalla fired an Ember, and Gen hit it with an Assurance. It staggered, then collapsed into the sand.
"We...we did it!" I cheered, smiling, before turning to Burhalla. "Do you know what that move I did was?"
"Saltriv...that was a shadow move!" Burhalla exclaimed, eyes wide. "Shadow Half! How did you pull that off?"
A shadow move? Like those shadowy Pokemon? But couldn't only shadowy Pokemon do those? "I'm not sure. I was overwhelmed by both you and Gen collapsing, then it happened," I explained.
"Hold on, what's a shadow move?" Gen asked.
"They're moves shadowy Pokemon can do," Burhalla explained. "We can talk more about this once we get to the next floor. Come on."
He headed up the stairs, and we followed him.
I couldn't be a shadowy Pokemon, right?
Blistering Shore 5F
What was happening in this dungeon?!
First there was that weirdly aggressive Krokorok, then there was that thing with Gen turning giant, then Saltriv pulled off Shadow Half.
Saltriv couldn't be a shadowy Pokemon. They acted nothing like what I heard shadowy Pokemon acted like.
Yet, they pulled off a shadow move. It didn't make any sense.
Maybe...they used to be one, then were purified?
That would explain why they didn't remember anything about their disappearance.
Gen had been near them when they woke up. Did Gen have something to do with their purification? Had Gen been a shadowy Pokemon, too, and that's why he didn't remember anything?
No, then Gen would have to have been a shadowy Pokemon almost since birth, and they only started appearing recently.
Back to Saltriv, where would they have been purified? Wouldn't the news of them being found and purified have reached Overcast Village? And why would they be purified, and then just dumped in Twig Woodland? Unless they were purified there? Who would have done it, then? None of the Pokemon who could had been in there, as far as I know, and I don't think they would just leave Saltriv in there. Did Gen somehow manage to purify them, and that cost him his memory? Was Gen secretly a legendary or mythical Pokemon, like Leviene was? Then why didn't he even remember how to use moves? Was he secretly a human? Then how did Saltriv get purified, and why would he lie about that?
This made no sense.
As we entered the fifth floor, we came to a room with a blue emera in front of me. A power boost y. I inserted it into my looplet, staying away from the ocean crashing against the right side of the room. Once it was in there, I turned towards Saltriv and Gen. It was time for me to explain this.
"Shadow moves are moves that only shadowy Pokemon know. They are super-effective on all other types," I began.
"All other types?" Gen asked, eyes wide. "All 17 of them?!"
"Yes, all of them. Shadow moves are dangerous to everyone," I confirmed. "Anyways, nobody's ever heard of a non-shadowy Pokemon using them."
"How did I use Shadow Half, then?" Saltriv asked. "I'm definitely not a shadowy Pokemon!"
I wasn't entirely sure how, but I had an idea. "Saltriv...I think you used to be a shadowy Pokemon, and were purified," I said.
"W-what?! But I don't remember being a shadowy Pokemon!" Saltriv protested.
"None of them do," I told them. "I'm not certain on this, but it's the only thing that makes some sense."
"But...but...but..." Saltriv stammered.
"Saltriv, even if you were a shadowy Pokemon, that's over now. You're ok now, and that's all that matters." I tried to comfort them. "I might even be wrong, and you were never a shadowy Pokemon at all."
"T-thanks, Burhalla," Saltriv responded after a few moments, calming down a bit. "How did I end up in Twig Woodland, though?"
"I'm not actually sure," I admitted. "I think Gen might have something to do with it, since you both woke up there together, but I have no idea how."
"Me?" Gen asked, as his eyes widened. "How would I get them there?"
"Like I said, I don't know, but since you both woke up there together, it's a possibility. Maybe that has something to do with how you lost your memory," I answered.
A few moments passed, then Gen responded. "I guess that makes sense."
"Great. Everyone ready to go?" I asked my teammates.
"Yeah," Gen said. Saltriv nodded.
I smiled. "Let's go, then!"
I started heading down a corridor. Gen followed, then Saltriv did a few moments later.
Together, we pressed on, into the depths of the dungeon.
Blistering Shore 5F
I stayed in the back of the group, maintaining a forced smile. As soon as Gen and Burhalla looked away, it disappeared.
No. No no no no no.
I couldn't have been a shadowy Pokemon. I couldn't have. I couldn't have.
But what if Burhalla was right? What if I was?
What if I hurt them? What if I hurt Gen or Burhalla or Leon or mom or dad?
I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't.
I saw shadowy wisps began to form around me. No no no no no.
Keep calm. Calm down. Stop panicking. Maybe then they'll disappear.
Deep breaths, in and out. Feel the sunshine with my leaf. Let it energize and restore me, physically and mentally.
The shadowy wisps disappeared. Gen and Burhalla didn't notice.
Keep calm, at least for now. Don't let them figure out what's going on. Don't cause them to worry over you.
We emerged into a new room. I could see the stairs. We were almost out of here. We'd find Flapple soon, and then we can go home.
Then...we purify Flapple, if he's gone shadowy. Like I was apparently purified, from being a shadowy Pokemon.
No. Stop thinking about that. Focus on the dungeon. Focus on your friends.
My vision cleared.
Gen and Burhalla were crowded around something near the ocean. I heard them talking about something. I headed over to them.
There was a leaf-green gummi in the sand. A grass gummi!
"So these are really delicious to grass-types?" Gen asked Burhalla.
"Yes! There's gummis for all types of Pokemon. There's also mysterious, rainbow, and DX gummis, which are delicious for all types!" Burhalla answered. "Rainbow and DX ones can even give you Rare Qualities!"
"And what are those?"
"They're like emera effects, but even work outside of dungeons, and affect everyone you're connected with. Some people call them Team Skills. I'll explain more once we find Flapple."
Burhalla turned around. "Saltriv! You can have this one."
I smiled, genuinely. Yes! Even if it wasn't a DX gummi, this was still great! I hurried over, and chowed down on the grass gummi. Mmmm, so good!
Once I finished eating it, I looked back up, and saw Burhalla approaching the stairs.
"The next floor's the last one. Let's find Flapple, and finish this," he said. Me and Gen followed him.
We climbed up the stairs, and entered the end of the dungeon.
Blistering Shore Peninsula
We emerged onto the final floor. We were on a flat, triangular stretch of black sand, bordered by the ocean on all sides but the one behind us. The dunes had completely disappeared. In front of us, there was a flying apple-like Pokemon, staring out into the ocean, looking like the picture on the paper Burhalla showed me. That must be Flapple.
"There you are!" Saltriv exclaimed. "We've been looking for you!"
Flapple turned around, and I realized something was off. His eyes were filled with a bloody red, and their green skin was stained a faint purple. A faint aura of shadow filled the inside of their apple shell. Was this what a shadowy Pokemon was?
"Stay away from me!" he shouted at us. "Don't come any closer!"
"We can help you!" Burhalla pleaded. "You can be purified!"
"No!" Flapple shouted back. "You'll just make things worse! Get away before I hurt you! I don't want to hurt anyone else!"
A tear dripped down from one of his bloodshot eyes.
I tried to think of something to say. I had to help somehow, right? But what could I say to help when I didn't even know what being a shadowy Pokemon meant?
Maybe I could back up my teammates' pleas.
"Please!" I spoke. "We want to help! Just come with us!"
"I can't!" Flapple yelled. "You could die! I don't want that!"
That didn't work, then.
"Everyone in the village misses you!" Burhalla tried. "PNS-NT hasn't been the same since you disappeared!"
Flapple's movements slowed. Did Burhalla get through to him?
"PNS-NT...I…I..." Flapple started, before the aura of shadow around him flared up. His reddened eyes widened.
"No! No no no no no! NO!" he shouted, before the shadowy aura completely consumed him. "RUN!"
I started to back away. What just happened to Flapple?!
"Berry crackers!" Burhalla exclaimed, to Saltriv's surprise. "I overwhelmed him! Watch out!"
The shadowy aura receded enough for Flapple to become visible again, and I gasped once I saw what happened to him.
The colors on most of his body had changed completely. The interior of the apple shell had turned a dark gray, and the exterior had become maroon. His green skin had become a withered brown, and his pupils had completely disappeared.
What the hell did that shadowy aura do to him?!
"He's in Hyper Mode!" Burhalla explained. "He won't be able to listen to anything we say! We can still purify him, we just have to knock him out and bring him there ourselves!"
We were going to have to fight Flapple?! Would we really be able to defeat him? Would he really be ok if we did?
Before I could say anything, Flapple began flying towards us.
"Here he comes!" Saltriv shouted.
Immediately, he turned towards Saltriv, and fired a Dragon Breath at them. They couldn't get out of the way in time, and were hit dead-on. "Saltriv!" I yelled.
Darkness enveloped my right arm, fueled by my frustration towards the situation. I ran towards Flapple, leaped, and delivered an Assurance to a small nick in his apple shell.
As I landed back on the ground, I saw Saltriv rush at Flapple, and deliver an Ancient Power to his cranium. I gave them a small smile as it collided with Flapple.
"Move out of the way!" I heard Burhalla shout. As we both backed away from Flapple, I looked over to Burhalla, and watched as he pulled out the fire-shaped seed from earlier, before eating it. A massive burst of fire shot out of his mouth, and hit Flapple, creating an explosion and a cloud of smoke.
That looked powerful! That must be what those fire-shaped seeds did. Was that able to defeat him?
Once the smoke cleared, I saw that Flapple was shielding himself with his apple shell, which was now covered in various burn marks. He soon took flight again, revealing that the rest of him was mostly unscathed.
I heard Burhalla shout about berry crackers again.
The shadowy aura flared up once more, as Flapple took to the skies. He flew up high above Burhalla, and closed his shell, starting to drop down-
"Burhalla! Look out!" I shouted.
Burhalla looked up, and ran out of the way of Flapple's descent, mere moments before Flapple collided with the ground where Burhalla stood before. "Thanks, Gen!" Burhalla shouted, before tossing the totter seed from earlier at Flapple.
I heard a gulp, and Flapple began spinning. I didn't understand why he'd eat it, but I'll take it!
"Let's all attack the same spot!" Saltriv suggested. "That might be enough to knock him out!"
"Worth a try. Ready?" he asked us. We both nodded. "Let's do this!"
Burhalla breathed an Ember at the dizzy Pokemon. A rock appeared from above Saltriv, and was launched right towards the mark the Ember left. I gathered the frustration from this battle, and delivered an Assurance right to where my teammates' attacks had hit.
Even after that, Flapple was still flying.
"We have one oran berry left. Does anyone need it?" Burhalla asked. I shook my head.
A ball of bright light began forming over Flapple. A Solar Beam. This could be bad.
"I could us-" Saltriv began, before abruptly, Flapple stopped spinning right when facing me, and unleashed the Solar Beam upon me before I got a chance to react. It felt as though my life force was being evaporated. It was agony.
"GEN!" I heard my teammates' horrified screams as I collapsed into the sand.
I heard footsteps approaching, before Burhalla emerged into view, handing me the last oran berry. "Here!"
I devoured the berry, and felt my strength returning. I stood back up, just in time to watch Saltriv deliver an Ancient Power to Flapple.
As the rock hit, Flapple collapsed into the sand. The shadowy aura flared up once more, obscuring him, before disappearing, leaving Flapple looking exactly how he was when we first found him, aside from the injuries.
We...we did it. We actually did it! We actually managed to knock Flapple out!
Burhalla dug into his bag, and pulled out a purple stick that looked like the one he used back in Twig Woodland. He waved it at Flapple, and an orb of light shot out of it towards the apple dragon.
"That should give us enough time to purify him," Burhalla said. "Is everyone alright?"
That was difficult. That Solar Beam really hurt. But, we managed to do it.
"I'm fine," I lied. I came this far. I already nearly died once. One more time wasn't enough for me to leave the team.
"That Dragon Breath hurt, but I'm ok!" Saltriv announced, with a strained smile.
I could tell they really weren't, but neither was I.
"Ready to go back?" Burhalla asked us.
Saltriv and I both nodded. I didn't want to be in this messed-up beach any longer than I had to.
Burhalla took the other escape orb out of the bag. "Let's get out of here," he said, before throwing it at the ground, shattering it.
The three of us and Flapple were enveloped in pillars of light, and we escaped from the dungeon.