A/N: Welcome to my fanfiction! This is a story set in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. While set in this series, it does not contain most lore elements, just a fun project for me to work on.

The goal is to update this story twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Let me know what you think in the comments and enjoy!

The sun had just started to rise over the small village nestled between dense forests and steep mountains, casting a golden glow over the cobblestone streets. The air was crisp, carrying the smell of dew on grass and the distant scent of flowers in bloom. Pokémon of all shapes and sizes bustled about, setting up market stalls, tending to their homes, and greeting one another as they began their day. It was peaceful — exactly the kind of place that didn't seem to need explorers, not at first glance.

But beneath that peace lay the wilderness, and within it, the mysteries that the villagers rarely dared to face.

Asha, a young Leafeon, stood at the edge of the village square, watching the morning routine with barely contained excitement. She took a deep breath, her chest swelling with determination. Today was the day. She was going to become a real explorer.

The exploration guild's building loomed in front of her, its stone walls covered in creeping vines and moss. Pokémon from all over came to this guild to form teams and take on the dangerous dungeons that lay just beyond the village. It was the heart of the village's bravery, where stories of legendary explorers were told, and where young recruits like herself would take their first steps toward greatness.

"Alright," Asha muttered to herself, her tail flicking nervously. "You can do this."

She had dreamed of becoming an explorer for as long as she could remember. The idea of venturing into dungeons, discovering hidden treasures, and helping Pokémon in need had always filled her with excitement. But more than that, there was something personal driving her — a deeper reason she never spoke of. A loss she needed to make right.

Taking a deep breath, Asha padded forward, her paws light against the cobblestone. As she approached the entrance to the guild, her heart began to race. She had trained for this moment in her own way — practicing her moves, reading about dungeons and exploration, imagining herself as a hero. But imagining was one thing. Now it was real.

She pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the guild and stepped inside. The interior was buzzing with activity. Pokémon of all types were gathered in small groups, discussing missions, trading supplies, or preparing to head out to nearby dungeons. A massive bulletin board dominated one wall, covered in mission requests and maps, while another wall showcased portraits of famous exploration teams from the past.

"Asha?"

A familiar voice called out, and Asha turned to see a smiling Ampharos approaching. He was the guild's mission coordinator, a friendly Pokémon who handled the day-to-day operations and assigned missions to the teams. He had been the one to approve Asha's application to join the guild, though with the stipulation that she would have to start small.

"Solara!" Asha greeted, her voice bright. "I'm ready for my first mission!"

Solara chuckled warmly. "Eager as always. I like that. But remember, today is about learning. You'll start with a basic mission, something manageable for a new recruit."

Asha nodded eagerly, though she could barely contain her impatience. She didn't want a basic mission — she wanted an adventure. Something that would prove she was ready for more.

Solara led her over to the mission board, where he plucked a small, rolled-up parchment from one of the lower sections. He handed it to her, his expression kind but firm. "Your mission is to find a missing Azurill who wandered into the Woodspring Grotto. It's one of the smaller dungeons just outside the village."

Asha blinked, unrolling the parchment. The map was simple, showing a path that led to the entrance of Woodspring Grotto, a place she'd heard of but never explored herself. She'd imagined something grander for her first mission — a lost treasure or a perilous rescue deep within an ancient cave. But finding a lost Azurill? It felt underwhelming.

"You'll be on your own," Solara continued. "It's a simple dungeon, but it still changes its layout like all dungeons do. Stay alert, and don't wander too deep. We don't want you getting lost, too."

"I understand," Asha said, though her mind was already racing with thoughts of proving herself. She wasn't just here to rescue a lost Pokémon — she was here to show that she could handle whatever the dungeons threw at her.

Solara gave her an encouraging smile. "You'll do fine. Just remember, even small missions can be important."

Asha nodded, thanked him, and made her way out of the guild. As she stepped outside, the village was already coming to life. She took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill her lungs. It was time to show everyone what she was capable of.

The entrance to Woodspring Grotto was hidden among a cluster of old trees, the dense foliage casting long shadows over the rocky opening. The air felt different here — colder, heavier, with an underlying sense of something unknown. Asha stood at the mouth of the dungeon, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She could hear the distant chirping of Bug-type Pokémon and the occasional rustle of leaves, but beyond that, it was eerily quiet.

"Alright, just stay focused," she murmured to herself, her paws brushing against the soft ground as she stepped inside.

The dungeon immediately felt disorienting. The walls were narrow and twisted, lined with gnarled roots and glowing moss that cast a faint greenish light. The air smelled damp and earthy, and the ground beneath her paws felt uneven, as though the dungeon itself was shifting slightly, never quite settling.

Asha pressed on, her senses on high alert. She had studied dungeons like this — how they changed each time you entered, how they could confuse even the most experienced explorers. But the real thing was different. The constant feeling that the walls were shifting just out of sight, the oppressive silence that seemed to close in around her, it was more unnerving than she had imagined.

Still, she wouldn't let it stop her.

"I can do this," she whispered, gathering her confidence as she moved deeper into the dungeon.

The deeper she went, the more the dungeon seemed to change. The paths twisted in ways that didn't make sense, and occasionally, she had to backtrack when the path before her vanished or turned into a dead end. A few wild Pokémon crossed her path — a Caterpie here, a Wurmple there — but none of them seemed interested in fighting. They simply watched her warily as she passed.

But Asha was getting frustrated. She had been in the dungeon for what felt like hours, and there was still no sign of the missing Azurill. The deeper she went, the more she felt like she was walking in circles. Every time she thought she was getting closer, the dungeon seemed to shift again, pulling her in a different direction.

"Where are you?" she muttered under her breath, feeling the pressure build as her patience wore thin.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound ahead, and Asha froze. Her ears perked up, and she strained to listen. The sound came again, this time closer — the unmistakable shuffle of paws moving across the ground. Her heart leapt. Was it the Azurill?

She darted forward, rounding a corner — only to come face to face with a large, wild Murkrow. Its sharp eyes gleamed in the dim light, and its feathers ruffled as it spread its wings, letting out a low, threatening caw.

Asha's heart skipped a beat, but she stood her ground, her fur bristling in response. "I don't want any trouble," she warned, her voice steady.

The Murkrow screeched and lunged at her, its beak gleaming in the faint light. Asha reacted instinctively, dodging to the side as its beak grazed her shoulder. With a swift motion, the leaves along her back shimmered with green energy. She spun and lashed out, the sharp edges of her leaves striking the Murkrow with a burst of energy.

The Murkrow screeched as the attack connected, feathers scattering as it was thrown back. Asha took a few deep breaths, her body tense, but before she could catch her breath, a pair of Mankey burst from the shadows.

Her heart raced. The Mankey, their eyes wild and filled with aggression, charged at her without hesitation. She felt a surge of panic. She had never fought more than one Pokémon at a time.

Asha whipped her tail around, the leaves glowing as they sliced through the air, but the Mankey were faster. One struck her side, sending her tumbling, while the other aimed a kick at her head. She barely managed to roll away in time, her body trembling as she scrambled to her paws.

The situation was spiraling out of control. The dungeon's shifting paths, the wild Pokémon — it was too much, too fast. She could feel herself starting to falter, her confidence slipping.

A sudden blast of ice hit the ground in front of the Mankey, sending a shockwave of frost through the air. Asha gasped as the ground froze beneath the wild Pokémon's feet, and they skidded to a stop, confused.

"What—?"

A shadow moved in the corner of her vision, and suddenly, a Glaceon appeared from the mist, his fur shimmering with frost. His eyes were sharp, his body low and ready for battle.

"Get out of here," he growled at the wild Pokémon, his voice cold and commanding.

The Mankey hesitated, their aggressive posture faltering under the intensity of his gaze. With another blast of ice, the Glaceon sent them fleeing into the shadows.

Asha stood there, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps, her body trembling from the adrenaline. The Glaceon turned to her, his icy blue eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.

"You shouldn't be here alone," he said flatly.

Asha's heart still raced, but she bristled at the tone of his voice. "I can handle myself," she shot back, though she knew how unconvincing it sounded after the near disaster.

The Glaceon didn't respond, his expression unreadable. He simply turned and began to walk away, his movements graceful and silent, as if he had no interest in staying.

"Wait!" Asha called out, taking a step forward. "Who are you?"

The Glaceon paused but didn't turn to face her. "Just someone who knows these dungeons better than you do," he said quietly, his voice edged with something Asha couldn't quite place — bitterness, maybe.

Before she could press further, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Asha standing alone in the eerie silence of the dungeon. Her legs felt weak. Whoever that Glaceon was, he had saved her.

Asha decided to heed the Glaceon's advice and leave the dungeon, her head low and tail between her legs. Maybe she wasn't cut out to be an explorer.

A/N: Looks like Asha is in over her head. Lucky for her that Glaceon was there to help out! I'm sure we will never see him again though.

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!