- Chapter 4: The River that Splits the Land -

"This way! This way!"

Pineno's cheerful mood had skyrocketed ever since he gave Krista her name. Krista couldn't tell if it was contagious, or if she was simply happy to not be referred to as a Pokémon, but she was in a pleasant mood herself.

In fact, it was the first time she felt happy since she woke up in that cursed tree. The day finally decided to grant her a little mercy. The ground felt damp beneath Krista's feet, which brought a bit of comfort to her aching body. After all the excitement of waking up stranded and being ambushed by raging starlings, she was finally able to clear her mind and properly think for the first time.

First, she had placed her full trust in a stranger she just met. Pineno wasn't a human, but from the way he carried himself and how young his voice sounded, he wasn't much younger. Or…was he about as old as her?

Strange. Krista couldn't recall her own age, let alone her birthday. She couldn't remember what month it was. The deep greenery of her surroundings at least gave her the idea that it was either late in the spring or early in the summer. The heat wasn't unbearable. It was rather comforting with the soft breezes that shuffled through her fur—that was a sensation she would have to grow used to. It was like she was being ticked from the inside.

Sidetracked. She was getting sidetracked. Where were they going? Pineno mentioned something about meeting someone for escort. Another Pokémon. Were there any humans in this world? She almost wanted to bring the question, but she backed out before the words could leave her mouth. That wasn't important. Not at the moment, at least.

(All we have to do is follow the main river, right?) She tried to console herself. (It doesn't look like it will split anytime soon. There's so many rolling hills, too. Ugh, so many hills. My legs… Where would it end? Pineno sounds like he knows what he's talking about. I hope we don't get lost…)

She immediately shook the last sentence out of her head. The Chespin seemed confident about where they were going. She had to have a little faith, at least. Even if they did get lost, it wouldn't make a difference to her.

"How long is this trip going to take us?" Krista asked, instead.

"My dad told me a trip from Pine Forest to the heart of Riverside Path should be done by sundown, if we don't slow down," Pineno answered.

"Sundown? You mean we'll be walking all day?"

Pineno gave her a funny look. "It's almost sunhigh. I guess we can take small breaks if we want to avoid the dark."

Krista knew he was being considerate, but she felt that she was beginning to slow him down. "Sorry. I'm just wondering… Do we need to hurry because of how dark it'll get? It doesn't look like there's any shelter around here."

"Well, you're right about the shelter. It's all just grass, and more grass, and rivers from here," Pineno said. "But it's not the dark I'm worried about. Even if it was, you should be able to see just fine. I would just have you guide me, I guess."

"Oh." It never crossed Krista's mind that she would have night vision. She was growing curious about what that looked like.

"What I'm really worried about…" Pineno's voice trailed off. "To tell you the truth…I'm being hunted."

Krista almost stopped in her tracks. "You…you didn't do anything bad, did you?"

"Of course not!" Pineno said, defensive. "Who do you take me for?"

(Oh. Maybe that was a bad question to start with.) Krista took a step back.

"I didn't exactly have a problem until yesterday," Pineno admitted with a sigh. "I was already fleeing when he found me. And…I just knew I couldn't let him catch me. I had no idea I was being followed. I don't even know how long he was following me, but…I was sure it had something to do with my family."

"Your family?" While Krista was worried about what might have happened, she didn't want to dig deeper. She wasn't sure if she could handle the answer if she did.

"My parents did everything they could before they sent me off," Pineno said. "My dad knows The Central Headmaster—no— all the royal descendants! And he's stationed in the north, where all the strongest Retaliators work! Don't you think that's amazing?"

"He sounds pretty cool." Krista had absolutely no idea how high the praise was supposed to be, but if he was happy, it had to be important.

Pineno swung his paws as if he were boxing. "He fought in so many battles against outlaw Pokémon, and he saved so many lives! He's a mystery dungeon master! He never once lost a single battle! He's just that awesome!"

His arms dropped. His smile was gone.

"But because of that, he's always away from home. So of course he couldn't help me himself. That's why I was hoping I would be able to speak to The Central Headmaster. If he knows who my dad is, I should be able to do so without a problem."

(That does make sense…) Krista realized. (No one else could just walk up to a royal)

"Now there's a Pokémon who wants to ruin it for me. And I can't even go back home, because he knows where I live. He probably already…"

Krista stopped. Pineno had stopped moving.

"No. That didn't happen. She is safe. She has to be safe."

Krista wanted to comfort him in some way. He was clearly troubled by the recent events that just had shook him.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to worry you." Pineno gave her a pitiful smile. "Let's go. The Central River shouldn't be far."

…. … …

"Whoa!"

He was right. It wasn't far.

The river was as ginormous as it was loud, blasting through Krista's ears in such an incredible volume . The other side of the river was a great distance away. With not a single bridge in sight, the only safe way across would require wings. The mere thought of dipping a single hand—or paw—in the wild current only sparked a vision of being swept away. It was enough to make Krista's fur stand.

"Amazing! It's far bigger than I'd ever imagined!" Pineno gasped. He rushed close to the edge, to Krista's horror.

"Pineno! Stop!" Krista shouted.

"Oh, it's fiiiine! I'm not that close to the edge!"

A lie. It was evident that he was searching for a reflection from how close he was crouching towards the edge. Krista held her breath as his claws toes inched closer to the wild waters.

(Does he not have any sense of safety?) Krista was ready to pull him back when he finally backed out. It was relieving. She didn't realize how hard her heart was pounding until she rested a paw against her tightened chest.

Pineno smiled at her, unaware of her scare. "From the books I've read, this is also called The Espilce River, but that's a little harder to remember. I think it splits right down the middle of the continent! So many Pokémon gather here for trade, or to meet up with someone. I bet if we keep following it, we'll end up in the big city!"

"You say it's a famous route but…we are the only ones here," Krista pointed out.

Pineno took a quick look around. He didn't seem all too surprised. "I guess the sky-rift from yesterday spooked everyone, huh? Maybe we can wait, but I'm worried about the request. How long would we have to wait out here? I have no camp set up. I could try to dig a hole, but it just rained. I'm worried about the flooding…"

He shook his head.

"No. I'm sure someone took the request! They are probably already on their way here!"

Krista hoped so. She didn't want him to feel as if he was ignored, although he did admit those chances were likely. It made her wonder how many other Pokémon were left in the dust? How many escort requests were turned down, simply because they were escorts?

"Well. I guess we can sit here for a while, but I am hungry." Pineno stepped back from the river before he sat on the damp grass. "I knew I should have packed more snacks. Stupid Houndoom made me drop them all…"

Houndoom. Krista could only assume that was the Pokémon that was chasing him. She thought she was familiar with that Pokémon species before…

She was!

"Oh, Pineno!" Krista spun to face him. "I remember! I remember!"

"What?" Pineno's eyes lit up. "You got your memories back?!"

"Well, no." Krista frowned. Pineno gave her a strange look, confused, so she decided to clarify. "What I mean is, I know what a Houndoom is! Just like I know that you are a Chespin! I think I know what a lot of Pokémon are by name. So, that's one thing I didn't forget! At least…"

"Oh." Pineno's face was a mix between uncertain fear, and overwhelming joy. "That's awesome! I guess that means your mind hasn't been altered after all. One more reason that you aren't Corrupted, I am sure of it!"

Krista realized what she blurted out. "Oh, no. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…bring that Pokémon up. I just…"

"No. It's okay. At least you know who to look out for, right?" Pineno chuckled. "Although, not all Houndoom are bad. The one that was chasing me, he has a broken horn, you see. Something my dad did to him a long time ago."

"Oh wow. Do you think he's holding a grudge?"

"Don't know," Pineno answered. "I wish I knew more, but I wasn't really allowed to go too far from home. My dad did bring home books whenever he visited though. He figured since I was always stuck in one area, he would teach me about the world beyond. That's how I learned about the regions in this continent, and the countless mystery dungeons that took over."

"Mystery dungeons…?" Krista repeated. "What are those?"

"Oh, Krista, we just came from a mystery dungeon!" Pineno said. "You were inside Pine Forest. That was how you found me, right? Do you remember how strange it looked? How different it felt? Mystery dungeons are just wicked like that!"

It made perfect sense, on why the forest felt so wrong when she stumbled inside of it. The memory of the twisted roots and branches that interlocked so tightly was still fresh in her mind.

That wasn't the only thing. She realized that the Pokémon inside behaved in such a strange way as well. They always attacked, never asking a single question. In fact, they didn't speak at all.

Or maybe they were so angry, her mind wasn't able to comprehend it. Maybe her human brain hadn't fully changed yet? How did that work?

"You see, more and more mystery dungeons have been popping up lately," Pineno explained. "My dad told me that The Exploration Team Federation have been trying their best to understand why. They think it could be from the sky-rifts though. Those aren't normal, so it makes sense. Dungeons popping up can be so rude, too. One day, you have your berry orchid, and the next, you have to abandon it because it got cursed with a twisting maze of some sort. Mama was not happy when that happened…"

Krista was trying to process everything she was being told, but all the unfamiliar terms only made her head spin. All she could gather was that the dungeons were becoming an issue. And what were The Exploration Team Federation? It sounded like some sort of business. It sounded similar to The Retaliation Corporation. Pokémon ran businesses?

Unaware of Krista's confusion, Pineno continued. "When we lost our orchid, a group of Pokémon came to ask her a lot of questions. But, she refused to see them. I wanted to speak for her, but she wouldn't let me leave my room…"

Krista met his eyes, and that made his face change. He just stared at her, his words caught in his throat. Shame was all over his face.

"Sorry. Sorry…I… I know you must have a family back home, Krista. And I'm sure they are very worried about you. It's so wrong of me to keep talking about my own family when you probably don't remember your own."

It didn't really cross her mind, that perhaps she did have her own family. She wondered how far from home she was. She wondered if she had any siblings herself. What about her parents? What were they like?

She hated that she remembered none of them. But at the same time, maybe it was for the best. It would be harder to move on knowing she couldn't return home as a Pokémon. She was sure their reactions wouldn't be very stellar.

"You don't have to keep apologizing," Krista told him at last. "It's ok. You just miss them, right?"

Pineno said nothing. He merely watched the river.

Krista followed the current. The river seemed to cut through the hills and stretch towards the distant mountains. Something was moving near the edge, and she stood for a better look. Her eyes made it look fuzzy, but she recognized the helmet and cape in an instant.

"Is…is that the same Slowking we saw before?"

"Huh?" Pineno stood, and he looked to where was was. "Oh, hey! You're right! That really is him! With the freaky crown and everything! But…what is he doing here? It's kinda strange to see a Slowking awake so early, now that I think about it."

"Didn't he say he was looking for someone?" Krista asked. "This is a meeting spot, right?"

"Well, yeah. But I didn't think anyone would want to be here after what happened yesterday. Not unless it's something time-sensitive."

Unless…

"Pineno." Krista looked at him. "What are the odds that he could be your escort?"

Pineno jumped. "Wh-what? Him? But why would he cut through Pine Forest if he was? Don't escorts only try to focus on one dungeon at a time or something? Oh, I'm sure I've read every book. I mean, he was really strong but, he couldn't be the one who took the job request…right?"

"It wouldn't hurt to ask."

"Yeah but, I never really did this before. I don't know how it works. I was just told to mail off a request and wait. No one ever said anything about speaking to any Pokémon that just so happens to be in the area you are waiting in!"

Krista's face twisted. "You…you could have asked."

"I know, I know. I messed up again." Pineno shook his head. "But alright. I'll go ahead and ask. Let's hurry before he decides to leave!"

Krista nodded and began to jog. Nothing prepared her for the sight of Pineno bolting on all fours.

"Heee-eeeeey!" he called. "Mr. Slowking! Wait up!"

"Pineno, wait!" Krista followed after him, running as fast as her feet would carry her. It felt sloppy, and she almost tripped over herself several times. "Slow down!"

Thankfully, the Slowking was merely observing the flow of the river when he heard him. His face changed as he recognized him. "Oh, it's you from the forest! Isn't this a surprise?"

"I need to ask you a question, Mr. Slowking," Pineno said. "Back at the clearing, you said…"

Both Pokémon turned to their left, towards the sound of heavy panting. Krista has finally caught up, but she was completely out of breath. Her legs and lungs were burning from the reckless sprint she did. She tried to speak, but she fell on her knees instead, wheezing.

"Oh, dear. Is your friend alright?" Slowking asked.

"Oh um…she never did this before…?" Pineno helped Krista to her feet. He leaned in and whispered. "Why would you run like that?"

(Why did you leave me in the dust like that?) Krista was too tired to speak, but she was sure her glare sent the message.

"Well…I don't exactly have any remedy for her low stamina," Slowking said, unaware of the blow he dealt on Krista's confidence. "But to answer what I am assuming you're asking, Chespin, I am looking for someone I was supposed to meet here. The poor request had been ignored all night, despite it being rated as needing immediate attention. So I've decided to take matters into my own hands… Hm? Do you have something to do with this?"

(I knew it!) Krista was right!

"U-um…" Pineno struck his head, perhaps the clear his mind. "Actually uh, Mr. Slowking, sir, that request…did it mention the uh…complex?"

"Oh?" Slowking raised an eyebrow. "Stoneridge, was it? Were you the one who—"

"YES!" Pineno exclaimed. "Oh, thank goodness! I thought it was going to get buried with the rest of them!"

"Ah-hah-hah. What are the odds? I foolishly walked right past you, didn't I?" Slowking laughed. "Yes, yes, I'll have to be a little more careful next time. It's been a while since I've done an escort request, but that is hardly any excuse! Well then, the sooner we get there, the better. Come along, Chespin. I know that you are absolutely exhausted."

Pineno didn't move.

"Hm? Is something the matter?"

"Well…" Pineno glanced at Krista. "You see, between last night and this morning…something changed. I…came across this Meowth, and she's in danger of being caught by the same foul monster that almost got me."

(What?) Krista expected him to explain why she was going to join them, but out of all the explanations, her being included in the Houndoom case was the last thing to cross her mind.

"I know I only have enough poké for one. I know it's not fair for you to ask me to bring her too, but I can't just leave her like this! She saved my life, you see!" Pineno clasped his paws together. "Please, sir! I'll give you everything I have left! I'll even work for free for a few months if that is what it takes to make up for your lost money! Just don't turn her down!"

Slowking raised a brow, and he chuckled. "Now why would I abandon a Pokémon who is in great need?"

"What?"

"Only the most selfish teams care about the payment. The true reward is knowing that another Pokémon had been saved from the worst that could happen. Your friend may come."

"R-really?!" Pineno jumped with joy. "Oh, thank you so much, sir!"

"No need to thank me, Chespin. I am merely doing what is best." Slowking gave Krista a puzzled look. "Unfortunately, I didn't anticipate having a third party-member on this trip, so it seems we will have to reach our destination manually."

Krista sulked. Slowking didn't seem to mind about whatever setback was placed on him, but she still felt the heavy weight of irresponsibility.

(Just great. I'm already in the way,) she thought.

"Now then. Let's get moving, shall we? The day is still young."

"YEAH!" Pineno cheered. He kicked himself into a skip, but his weight was pulled back by a single paw. He winched and looked back.

Krista waited until she was sure the Slowking was too distracted to pick up what she wanted to say. Almost in a whisper she asked, "What'd you do that for?"

"Do what?" Pineno tilted his head.

Krista clenched her teeth and casted a quick glance at the Slowking, who was steadily walking further away. "You lied! Didn't you hear what he said? Whatever he was going to do with only you, he is unable with all three of us here! I'm slowing him down! What if he finds out?"

"It's not really a lie," Pineno chuckled. "And I don't think Mr. Slowking minds! I mean, you were attacked by the Starly like I was. And you did save me, so it's just…telling the truth, but with a little extra!"

"A…a little extra?" Krista was baffled with his bold way of thinking. "Have you ever heard of stretching the truth?"

"Oh, don't you worry about that! I said I wasn't going to leave you, was I? Slowking did say that he wasn't expecting an extra pay, so we're fine!" Pineno tugged his arm, and he flinched. "And…can I have my arm back? Your claws are really, really sharp…"

Krista released her hold. She didn't even realize she was gripping him so hard. Her claws…how could she put away her claws?

Pineno waved her forward. "Come on, before he leaves us!"

… … …

"Stomp onward…stomp onward… Never forget…never discreet…"

Ever since they found Slowking, Pineno's mood had been swelled with joy. He was stomping alongside Krista, humming an upbeat melody of some kind. Slowking was amused by this whenever he looked back to see if they still followed. They had followed him for a while.

"In order to reach Stoneridge Complex, we will need to take a more complicated route," Slowking said, cutting Pineno's song short. "It seems you've done your research, Chespin. There is no way you would ever find it on your own."

Krista was sure the books Pineno studied helped him understand the strange county's layout at best. But from the sound of it, Stoneridge Complex was a hidden place that only certain Pokémon knew how to reach. She didn't hear the name until Slowking mentioned it, which meant Pineno must have written it in his letter.

The further they walked alongside the river, the more twisted the current became. The edge of the river had a few pebbles, which turned into rocks, then into boulders that they had to walk around or climb over just to continue their trek.

At least Pineno was having fun with his stomping.

Every time Krista stepped on a pebble, she hissed and shook it from the pads of her feet. It was sharp and stabbing, and the small stones were often caught between her toes. She almost groaned when she saw that the grass was overrun by them. As the river remained strong, any soft spot on the ground became more scarce.

"Are we here?" Pineno asked as soon as they stopped.

"Just about," Slowking said. "But look ahead. Do you see it?"

Krista wasn't sure what she was supposed to see. There were just more rocks. Further down, some of the boulders held strange shapes. One was massive and twisted in a spiral that didn't seem possible, unless it was deliberately carved. The way it arched over defied the laws of gravity—it stood perfectly upright. As they walked deeper into the growing stone jungle, more odd shapes came to be. One boulder was deformed like a slapped roll of dough. Another appeared to be filled with endless air pockets.

The river was roaring louder, almost pulsing through Krista's ears. The strong scents of damp earth flooded her nostrils, as if someone shoved her face into a pool of mud. She found herself searching for the lesser of two evils, and opted to cover her ears. The stabbing sensation made her pull her paws back. The claws were still there.

Pineno and Slowking didn't appear bothered by their surroundings. Pineno was more fascinated than everything, and she envied it. The large boulders he admired bounced the horrid sounds in every direction. Krista was sure a river wasn't supposed to be that loud.

Or at least, she thought it was a river.

Several paces ahead, she spotted a massive waterfall. Along the river line, the boulders grew in size because they were standing right before a cliff. It appeared to be a dead end, but Slowking was studying it with intentions. Couldn't they just walk around it?

"We are here," Slowking announced. His voice was almost drowned out by the nearby waterfall.

"Huh?" Krista stared at the massive wall. "But there's nothing here."

"Hm, yes. At first glance, you would be right. But, take a closer look. What do you see?"

(There's…nothing but more wall.) Krista didn't see anything amiss. Even as she blinked for her eyes to adjust, nothing changed.

Pineno next to her released a loud gasp. "I know what this is! It's Roc—"

"I want Meowth to observe this one," Slowking interrupted.

"I don't understand. What am I not seeing?" Krista asked. She tried to ignore the sting of how she was addressed.

"The way the boulders twist cast an optical illusion," Slowking answered. "If you need to step somewhere else for a different perspective, do what you must."

Krista noticed he was pointing to a spot next to him. She took the hint, not wanting to test his patience. Her feet protested against the merciless stoney ground as she moved. As she stood close to him, she tried to process why he was so abnormally tall. Then she remembered. She was small. Of course Slowking would feel almost like a giant compared to her.

It didn't feel right. She was sure some of his height was an illusion from his crown, but it changed nothing.

As she looked at the wall again, nothing much seemed to have changed. Pineno was bouncing on his toes. He wanted to say something, but Slowking was keeping an eye on him.

…She noticed it.

There was a large, gaping and hollow spot, almost like the mouth of a cave.

"It's just…a gap in the wall," Krista said.

"Close," Slowking said.

The air. She thought she was it ripple for just a moment.

"It feels strange," Krista said. "The atmosphere feels different the closer we get to it."

"That is because this rocky path leads us to Rocky Riverside."

Pineno gasped. "I knew it! That's the mystery dungeon I was talking about, Krista!"

"That's…that's a mystery dungeon?" Now that Krista had a better look, the darkness of the gaping space looked all too similar to what she saw when she blindly ran into that forest. What little lax she had was gone. She wanted nothing to do with any space like that again.

Slowking noticed her unease. He tried to assure her with a smile. "Worry not. I'm with you, remember? These dungeons are mostly dangerous if you walk into one unprepared. I've been through here countless times, so I know what to expect—all excluding the layout, unfortunately. I hate to say that it's never the same."

"So it's true," Pineno said. "The mazes are always twisted."

"Always? You mean there's no telling which way to go?" Krista gulped.

Slowking nodded. "This place was once a river path, but the curse caused the place to distort. The paths are forever changing, making it impossible to navigate. We will have to go through carefully. This is the only way I can take you to your destination."

"Wow…" Pineno's smile somehow grew wider. "The complex really is hidden in plain sight! Oooo this is so cool! So cool!"

"Now, now. You will need to heighten your guard once we enter," Slowking warned. "These spaces will not be merciful to the careless."

"I know," Pineno said. "The wild creatures in there won't like us very much."

Wild creatures? The wild Pokémon? More fighting. It wasn't something Krista was hoping she would have to do. The dungeon didn't sound any safer than Pine Forest.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a Starly perching on one of the distant boulders. It was watching her, only turning its head to preen its feathers. She inched closer to Slowking, hoping it wasn't hostile like the others.

(Please let this dungeon be Starly-free.) Krista followed the two. As soon as they walked past the first set of twisted rocks and entered the gap of the cliffside, the atmosphere changed into a more pressurized feeling. The light of outside dimmed as the rocky walls closed in around them.

They looked alive as they moved. Just as the trees did.

Rocky Riverside - 1F

The rocky walls swallowed them in a massive space. A chamber. Compared to the forest, there was a weaker source of light. Krista only had to look up to identify the reason.

The sky was gone. Only the gaps of the boulders high above allowed sunlight to spill through. On the ground, it looked as if the grass had returned. Not a single blade moved. There wasn't the slightest breeze. Krista didn't realize her feet were underwater until then, with just enough of it to reach her ankles. It appeared murky and stagnant, as if it hadn't been disturbed in years.

"It's as if all sense of time stopped here," Krista said.

"Exactly."

She looked up at Slowking, who was studying the strange landscape. He reached down and ripped a blade of grass from the ground. It looked as if it were made of rubber.

"There's speculation that this dungeon is located right at the bottom of the river," Slowking said.

"You're serious?" Pineno couldn't believe it. "But how? We were just walking alongside it!"

"The anomalies of mystery dungeons defies all logic," Slowking said. "It inherits the traits of the location it shrouds itself in, yes, but it likes to make its own set of rules. And once you enter one, the only way out is forward. You can't turn back."

(That's what I figured before,) Krista thought. (So I guess that applies to the staircases as well. What's the deal with those anyway? They are so strangely out of place.)

"Chespin. Since you and your friend are still unfamiliar with the behaviors of these dungeons, I need you to use your vines so you don't accidentally get separated," Slowking said. "If you get lost and we proceed without you, then you will find yourself lost in a completely different dimension. So please don't think I am treating you as helpless."

Pineno didn't protest. He summoned his vines and offered one to Krista.

She was hesitant to touch it. He was able to manipulate them, like an extra pair of arms. Could he feel his surroundings with them, too?

Finally, she held onto it, and she had to fight the urge to recoil back. It was a vine for sure, but she didn't expect for it to have such a tight grip around her arm. She understood why the Starly were unable to break through them. They were far studier than they looked!

"Now then, follow my lead," Slowking said.

They started to move, and Krista winched as she felt the ground trying to suck her feet back down. It was mud, but it felt a lot more like she was walking on goo. She thought the grass would hold it down as any other riverbed would, but she was foolish to think anything within the dungeon would be normal.

And as if things couldn't get more troubling, she was already feeling hungry.

As if he knew, Slowking pulled out a pair of apples from his bag. "These dungeons do strange things to you. A rapidly-recovering body saps away so much of your energy. You'll get hungry here much, much faster."

"So it's all true…" Pineno almost squeaked. "So cool…!"

After eating her apple, Krista felt like she had a small meal. She checked the core and studied the seeds. Nothing looked amiss.

"Consumables have altered effects here as well." Slowking smiled at her. He had seen her bewildered face.

(How strange…) Krista tossed the apple core aside.

They entered the narrow path, where the mud was thicker. Trying to distract herself from how slippery it felt, she studied the walls that surrounded her. The corridors always led to another chamber, or a room perhaps. It was strange, how a dungeon had so many pockets, but it was forever changing for an inexplicable reason. For Pineno to call it a maze was no exaggeration.

"So, Chespin," Slowking begun as he checked the corners. "Your request stated that you were in dire need of help to find the complex without detection from The Sorcerers."

(The Sorcerers? Who are they?) Krista wondered.

"Yep," Pineno confirmed.

"Ah, but you have already had a run-in with one of them. Do you wish to explain? Unless it is too personal, then you are free to spare details."

"Oh." Pineno took another look around. "Well…"

"As I said before, child, no one else is here except the wild creatures. Even if by chance, one of The Sorcerers decided to come here after us, they would be in an entirely different pocket than us. It's simply the nature of a mystery dungeon."

"Well, alright." Pineno sighed. "While I was on my way, I heard a very terrible howl. I ran into this Houndoom, who wanted to hurt me. I ran as fast as I could to try to lose him, but he just kept finding me. I think…the rain helped a little. He was complaining about it, from what I remember."

"It's unlike Skullzer to take interest in hunting out in the open," Slowking said.

(This Houndoom has a name. What kind of name is "Skullzer"?) Krista wondered to herself.

"You're a member of the Retaliation Corps, so you must understand why, right?" Pineno asked.

They entered another room, and Slowking guided them across. "I only see that as plausible if you have connections with any of its members. It's why I've answered your call, because he only makes himself known when he wants something that is too good for him to pass on."

Pineno frowned.

"You know the reason."

"I…know you said that no one else can be here," Pineno said. "But that's all I can say. At least, until I can speak to the Headmaster."

"The Headmaster?" Slowking stopped in his tracks. "Now why would you trouble yourself with that? He doesn't have the time to speak to every little voice that desires his audience, no matter how important it may be."

"I…I know that! But I'm sure that once I can contact the Headmaster and speak to him, then he will understand why it's so important. I know it sounds silly, but you have to believe me. I'm not trying to be secretive or anything. I just…need to make sure what I want to say reaches the right ears."

Krista wished she could help him, but she was completely out of the loop. All she could do was listen and try to put the pieces together.

(He knows so much about where he wants to go. I guess that's the quirks of being the son of a royal knight.)

They didn't resume movement, and Krista could see the reason.

Skating across the surface was a Surskit.

Krista felt chills.

The Surskit looked wrong. Like the hostile Pokémon she encountered in Pine Forest, instead of beady black eyes, they were glowing, hostile red.

Once it spotted them, it picked up speed, jetting across the water with little disturbance.

"Uh…! Um!" Krista took shelter behind Slowking.

Slowking kicked it aside like a ball. It skipped across the floor and out of sight.

"This dungeon is known to be the home of several water creatures. Keep that in mind," he said.

"But, what was that?" Krista blurted out. "Why did it look like that?! And it wasn't just the Surskit! The Pokémon in that forest had that same look in their eyes…!"

"All the wild creatures that dwell within dungeons have those eyes," Slowking answered. "Their minds have been tainted. Generations of these wild creatures were hatched and raised in these mysterious dimensions. That's all we know. There are many questions that remain unanswered. But how they survive in such a twisted environment is the most common. It doesn't seem like they can escape on their own. After all, if you let yourself faint in one of these dungeons, you'll wake up in another rift, lost in the dimension forever, unless someone were to find you somehow."

Krista froze. "You…you're saying there would be no way out otherwise."

"Yes, yes. That's right." Slowking confirmed. "Because of this winding maze, there are some theories that the wild creatures were perhaps once individuals that wandered too deep and got lost. And since these dungeons do not follow the laws of time, their minds become twisted. They lost sense of themselves. Their eyes are a telltale sign. It's likely some of those wild creatures in there could be older than all of us combined. We don't know for sure."

Krista realized just how lucky she was. If she had passed out at any time, with her already lost memories…

No. She didn't want to think about it.

"I guess that's why rescue missions are answered so quickly," Pineno said.

"Indeed. And certain escort requests, such as your own," Slowking said. "Fortunately, the inhabitants here aren't very strong. You two can manage."

(Are you sure about that?) Krista wasn't sure of how well she could hold her own.

"Ah-hah. Here we are," Slowking announced. He pointed at the staircase that spiraled towards the ceiling of the dungeon.

The trio of Pokémon climbed their way up, leaving the previous space behind.

Rocky Riverside - 2F

It doesn't take long until they meet their next opponent. It was another Surskit, another with terrifying eyes. Pineno decided to show what he can do. He freed his whip from Krista and directed the other towards his target, striking the Surskit before it could react. The wild Pokémon was knocked off balance and retreated to the corridors. As he retracted them back inside his shoulders, he glanced at Krista with concern.

Not once did she make her move to battle, and she didn't plan to anytime soon. She didn't have a choice against the starlings. Even then, she was only swinging wherever made sense. She was still trying to understand her own body. To be thrown into another battle wasn't anything she was ready for.

"Meowth."

Slowking's sudden voice made Krista jump. She turned to face him, unnerved. "Um…sir?"

"Are you quite alright? You've been showing discomfort ever since we stepped foot in this dungeon," he said, his back still turned. "Is that perhaps why you refuse to touch the ground?"

(What?) Krista was confused. For one, she was touching the ground? But on the other… (How was he able to tell? He wasn't even looking at me…was he…?)

She saw eyes blink. Eyes on the back of his shell! They were looking right at her!

"I do agree that the mud feels unnatural, but your senses should mute it soon. Although it may be the water as well. We are halfway there. This thankfully isn't a spiraling dungeon."

She hoped so.

"Now then, I believe you had your encounter with Skullzer as well," Slowking said. "Do you wish to discuss it?"

Krista froze. She turned to Pineno, who was just as startled.

(Not good! Pineno only came up with that lie just so I could tag along! What am I supposed to say?! I can't just make anything up!)

"I won't hold anything against you if you wish not to discuss it. The Houndoom is a fiend, so it wouldn't surprise me if he left you shaken from whatever you've seen."

(You say that…but I know you want to at least hear something…) Krista gulped. (Well, maybe I can tell a lie, with the truth…? A truth with a little extra? Isn't that what Pineno called it? Ugh…I can't believe I'm doing this.)

She took a deep breath.

"I saw him being attacked by the Houndoom," Krista explained, remembering the burns on the Chespin when she found him. "I couldn't do much, but I went into the forest with him and helped him. I think that made the Houndoom angry with me."

Slowking nodded. "He doesn't take it kindly when anyone interferes with what he wants. Perhaps he let you go because you weren't his main target. This story…certainly does point to him. You two are incredibly lucky to have escaped him. But this also means you will need to be more keen on your surroundings. Rarely does Skullzer ever lose sight of his targets. He will not be kind if you cross paths again."

Just what she needed to hear.

Rocky Riverside - 3F

Either the mud got thicker, or Krista was just overwhelmed by it. She was hoping it was the latter, but upon looking down at her feet, she took notice that the water was above her ankles. It was taking more effort to walk.

When they entered another room, there was a pink Shellos that spotted them. It sent them a red glare as it readied itself for battle.

With a bit of encouragement from Slowking, Krista decided that it couldn't be too difficult.

Not until her face was slapped with mud.

She sputtered and slapped it off before hid behind Pineno. He rushed forward with some courage, and slammed his weight against the Shellos. After he avoided being slapped by mud, he struck it down with a vine.

The Shellos went slump, refusing to fight anymore.

Slowking gave Krista a puzzled look. "These Shellos aren't exactly much trouble for even a beginner. You could have put forth some form of effort."

"Sorry." Krista sulked.

As they traveled again, Krista kept a close eye for anything that tried to attack her. Every now and then, a Shellos and another type of Pokémon, Poliwag, would try to attack. Slowking easily took care of them. Occasionally, Pineno would jump in to save the Meowth from being attacked.

"Meowth. Do you mind coming here for a second?"

Slowking's voice held a hint of authority.

"Um… okay…" Krista walked forward, shaking the mud off her feet every time she took a step. She didn't feel too great about how ridiculous she looked. Slowking was looking at her like she was a complicated puzzle.

As soon as Krista was close enough, he leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. "A Meowth that walks on two legs…"

He took one of her front paws, and he took a close look at it.

"Ah-hah. That explains it. Your pads are ridiculously soft. You obviously didn't hatch recently. You're very much like a Pokémon who hardly ever stepped foot outside," Slowking said. "You rarely ever battled, or never once before. Do you want to explain why?"

Krista held her breath. What was she supposed to say that would make sense to him? Even she could agree her case sounded silly.

Pineno walked up behind her. "She doesn't exactly come from around here. This continent is completely different from what she is used to."

" That, I could see as reasonable, but walking upright is rare along feline Pokémon. I don't think there are any others that walk that way with the exception of a few Purrloin, but even they find difficulty after doing it for so long. Although, there are her gray-furred cousins…" Slowking turned his back. The eyes of his shell looked down at her. "Meowth, I don't see any benefit in forcing you to walk like this if it isn't pleasant. I will allow you to get your feet off the mud."

"Huh?" Krista was too distracted by the eyes. She felt a strong sense of unease. "But…I'm fine…"

"When any feline is experiencing discomfort, their tail gives everything away."

Her tail.

Krista completely forgot about it. She peered over her shoulder, and she could see the limb swaying in such a way.

"On my back," Slowking said. "Don't worry about the Shellder. He won't hurt you."

Krista's eyes were fixed on the shell again. (The…crown on his head…it's a Pokémon? Do they share the same eyesight? Or…)

The Shellder blinked. Krista sensed it was just as curious about her in return.

Krista decided that staring at it wasn't helping her nerves. She focused on Slowking's frill instead, trying her best to ignore the feeling of the eyes watching her every move. She reached and jumped on Slowking's back. She gripped his cape to keep herself from slipping.

The Slowking winched. "Not so harsh. There is no need to use your claws."

(It's not like I know how to put them away!) Krista thought.

Pineno summoned his vines from his shoulders. They wrapped around Krista's body and lifted her higher against the Slowking's back. "Got a grip?"

The vines retreated, and Krista was secure.

Rocky Riverside - 4F

They encountered a blue Shellos, which Pineno defeated with little problem. It was a strange sight to see both forms within the same dungeon, but that was when Slowking pointed out they likely crossed over. The dungeon was said to be near the center of the country. So of course, east and west Shellos would come to some form of compromise to tolerate each other.

A Bidoof jumped from behind a cluster of rocks. Just as it rushed in to attack, Pineno slapped it to the ground, only to get thrown off and tackled in return. It went on for several seconds until a final strike from Pineno kept the Bidoof dazed.

Slowking wasn't exaggerating about their dedication to keep fighting. With every wild Pokémon that tried to ambush them, Pineno would always fend them off. With every wild Pokémon that was forced to yield, a new wave of guilt washed over Krista. She felt like the dead weight of the group.

Fighting shouldn't be that hard. Her hesitation held her back like a teether, and she despised it. When she met Pineno's eyes, she gave him an apologetic look. He simply smiled back, seemingly unbothered by her hesitation.

Finally, Slowking said the words Krista thought she would never hear.

"We have made it to the end, it seems. We got here quicker than I expected."

Krista thought about jumping down to burden the Slowking no more, but the sound of a few disturbed rocks reminded her that she wasn't quite brave yet.

Slowking turned towards the noise, but Pineno jumped in front of him. He was already in a position to defend himself and the other two, even though Slowking could manage his own.

"No need to step in, Mr. Slowking. We can't rely on you all the time. Also, these Pokémon are weak enough for me to handle."

"Are you sure about that?" Slowking asked with a bit of uncertainty. He watched Pineno rush towards the rock.

Finally, the foe revealed itself with a huge leap out of the water.

Pineno skidded to a stop as he hollered in fear. "AAAH! Ducklett!" He fled behind Slowking. "Don't peck me! I didn't mean to disturb you!"

Krista smiled. "And you say that I shouldn't run."

"Um… well, it's just…" Pineno tried to think of an excuse, but he had nothing. He sighed. "I really don't like birds."

"Your fear is logical, but you cannot allow it to slow you down." Slowking said.

"I know…" Pineno looked at his feet.

The Ducklett lunged forward, but Slowking flicked an arm, and the Pokémon was blown aside like a frisbee.

"No need to fret. We are at the border." Slowking lead them to a staircase. "Follow me."

He walked upwards, and they were swallowed by a blinding white light. The pressure lifted at last.

Riverside Falls

Krista squinted her eyes at the bright light. As soon as it faded, she saw that she was no longer inside the dungeon. The trio of Pokémon arrived on the grass again, and behind them, the dungeon twisted back to its average boulder cluster. What was behind them was the very road they just left, just a long drop below.

They stood at the top of the cliff!

"It took us this long just to make a trip that would have taken seconds to climb?" Krista shouted. "The path we left is literally feet away! But how?!"

The dirt path even continued from there on. It seems going over the wall is the only way forward but…

"We just…! We didn't even go anywhere!" Pineno shouted, sharing Krista's shock.

Slowking laughed. "Quite an inconvenience, these mystery dungeons can be. Didn't I tell you? The laws of time and space are broken there. There are dungeons located inside of tunnels that used to only take seconds to cross. Those seconds got transformed into grueling hours. But then, there are dungeons you enter that could condense a week's worth trip into an entire day. Now you understand why you shouldn't take these places lightly."

Slowking looked down the cliff.

"In this case, this was once a simple trail. It would take mere seconds to get from where we started, where we stand now. Pokémon used to scale over this wall, but now it cannot be done. Many have tried to avoid it, but the dungeons always found a way."

"What about the way back?" Krista asked.

"The way back? Oh, you can easily cut your way back. It's just an average drop. I just hope you have no plans to come back up here."

"No way. The dungeon is a one-way trip?" Krista whispered.

"Unfortunately. And no one knows if mystery dungeons are reversible. All we can do now is manage them." Slowking led the children down the continued path. "We are eternally grateful for the sacrifices Exploration Teams make to take the time to do the research. Not many other Pokémon would willingly enter such spaces."

As they continued, the sound of the waterfall wasn't ebbing away. If anything, it grew louder? There was no reason for it, unless…

…there was another waterfall.

Krista looked ahead, just past Slowking's shoulder. The path they were taking split into two. Settled between the split was a massive cliffside. A log bridge was built across the right path where the river cut through it. There, a wide waterfall made the other look tame. Just staring at it made her dizzy.

She slid off Slowking's back, and her feet touched the soft, damp ground. She couldn't take her eyes off of the majestic sight.

"This is the biggest waterfall I have ever seen!" Pineno gasped. "You can feel the cool air from here!"

Slowking walked forward, only looking back once as a silent request for them to follow.

"Which way are we going?" Pineno shouted over the roaring water.

"Forward and onward!" Slowking shouted back.

"What?" Krista threw a paw towards the cliffside. "But we can't go any further like that! Is there another dungeon?"

She truly hoped not.

Slowking reached under his fill, and he tapped the centerpiece. That was when Krista realized it wasn't part of his body. It was a circular, winged badge of some sort. The moment his claw tapped the dark orb, the inside illuminated into a brilliant indigo color.

CLACK!

The sound of gears shifting made the two beside Slowking jump. Half of a giant log poked out just below the top of the waterfall, catching the flow. The log turned to the right, redirecting the water towards the edge of the river.

It was impossible to notice before, but the waterfall was hiding a single, gigantic slab of rock.

"A sequestered place, isn't it!" Slowking shouted. "The waterfall is one of the few gateways!"

"Gateways?!" Krista echoed.

"Like…a secret path?!" Pineno asked, his voice almost shrill. Once Slowking nodded, he gasped. "That's cool! How do you know of it?!"

"This waterfall itself is the entrance to The Central Retaliation Corps!" Slowking answered, earning wide eyes. "And I am The Headmaster!"

To be Continued in Chapter 5.