- Chapter 12: The Burrow that is Blind -
Blindside Burrow - B2F
A world dominated by Pokémon, where humans were considered a myth, was the first thing Krista had to learn to adapt to.
What she could never grow used to, was the strange distortions that the world was plagued with. Twisted and transformed into a maze, each and every single one had their own traits, their own personalities. The pressure that made the air tight to breathe, the wild Pokémon who attack anything that moves, and the flawed laws of time and space…how could anyone willingly enter such a horrendous place?
Whether it be Dusk, who did it for the thrill of discovery, or Oinkologne, who did it to search for something…
…Or them, who entered to rescue someone who wandered too far.
Of course Krista knew what they signed up for. She did it to find out about her own forgotten past, and to perhaps find her lost purpose. She did it to help Pineno gain the strength he otherwise wouldn't find anywhere else. Both of those things couldn't be possible to achieve if they sat around hidden under a tunnel all day.
And perhaps, the answers Krista was looking for were right here. If what Grove said about the wiped memories is true, then perhaps…it was fate. Krista was exactly where she needed to be. Oinkologne being rescued would be an added bonus.
But first, she had to brave through the horrible burrow. The cursed roots on the ceiling were just as active as they were before. They moved and reached for any source of light that shone over them. As they traveled through the maze, they encountered more Rattata they had to fend off. Their rapid attacks were the most annoying thing about the dungeon. But thankfully, she and Pineno were able to stop them before they chipped them down.
"I guess the Rattata are frequent here because it's closer to the surface," Pineno said. "They won't be as annoying when we get deeper, right?"
"We shall see if your intuition is true," was all Grove said.
They were just about to enter a corridor when Pineno stopped in his tracks.
"Something else is coming."
That time, Krista could feel the vibrations beneath her feet. They trembled stronger with every second that past. The first thought that crossed her mind, was how there was no way a Rattata could be the cause behind it—
Mud. It slapped Krista on the face, blinding her. The sharp earthy scent stung her nose. It was grainy on her tongue. She spat and shook her head in a wild effort to swipe it off.
"Krista! Look out!"
She opened her eyes, and was blinded by mud. Pain stabbed her flank, then it ripped. Krista felt her feet leave the ground. Sharp and burning, pain pulsed from where she was struck. The cool earth slammed onto her as she crashed. A new wave of pain shot through her fresh wounds.
She could hear Pineno's shouting.
She swiped the last of the mud from her eyes, and sat up. A quick glance at her flank almost sent her to a daze as dread flooded her heart. Her fur had been shaved clean in three large gashes. Her skin, while unbroken, was hot and red.
Large claws. Massive claws.
"Krista!"
She looked up and only saw a whirl of brown and blue. Her world rattled as she slammed to the ground again. Seething pain was in her left arm. Strands of her fur fluttered in the air.
(I can't see it!) Panic almost claimed her. Krista was on her knees as she searched. (Where did it come from?!)
"There's three of them!" Pineno exclaimed.
"Three?! Three what?!" Krista shot to her feet, her pain masked over by the surge of energy that rushed through her. Her eyes darted, but the attackers kept spinning. Dirt hissed and the air whistled as they blurred past. Every time she tried to attack one, she was brought back down to the ground by their heavy claws. Pineno wasn't having an easier time himself. He couldn't grab a single one with his vines.
At the rate the attacks were going, they were going to be knocked out before they could make any decent progress!
"Do not follow them with your eyes!" Grove shouted from somewhere. "They will only overwhelm you if you allow them!"
If Krista learned anything grand in that dojo…the outcomes of battles were never determined by strength alone. No one was going to held them.
She looked at Pineno, who seemed to have the same idea.
They both took a deep breath. They unleashed a loud, primal growl that startled the Pokémon from their rapid attacks. They stopped spinning as they staggered on the ground.
Drilbur! The moles didn't appreciate the noise that startled them. They seemed to have recovered almost immediately.
Krista lunged at one, and a thought occurred to her. She faked out an attack, and her target recoiled back. With it wide open, she attacked with her claws in return. The satisfaction was almost immediate as the Drilbur seemed to take offense to the blow.
Grove watched silently as the pair of Pokémon fought against the trio of Drilbur. The chorus of growls made the wild Pokémon more wary to attack, leaving Krista and Pineno the perfect opening to strike them.
They faltered against Krista's claws, but it was Pineno's vines that finished them off. One by one they fell, until the last one collapsed, dazed. It didn't dare to move anymore. It had a large bruise in the middle of its head. Tears has fallen from the corners of its eyes.
"Oh, no. Did I hit it too hard?" Pineno withdrew his vines as he stepped closer to the Drilbur for a closer look. The wild Pokémon flinched and turned away.
The soft thudding behind them grew as Grove joined them for a closer look. "No. It should be fine. The worst it would get is a headache. It has already yielded, so we should move."
Once they confirmed the other Drilbur would be fine, they entered a corridor and traveled in silence, listening for any more wild Pokémon.
The wall crumbled behind them. Krista turned around and saw the blur of a body spinning towards Grove. "Ms. Grove! Behind—"
ZZZZZZRIP!
The blur of a deep-green vine struck the spinning Drilbur in a heartbeat. The air cracked and stabbed Krista's ears.
The Drilbur was shot into the ceiling. Dirt rained down from the heavy impact, but the Drilbur did not fall back down. It was entangled in the shifting roots that pulled its limp body further into the cluster. A large, reddened gash was left imprinted across its torso. It was coated by the coiling roots along with the rest of its body.
The Drilbur got pulled in, then swallowed.
"Wait!" Krista gasped as she reached for it, but Grove's vine pushed her back.
"What just…happened?" Pineno was confused as he squinted at the roots.
Grove's eyes were fixed where the Drilbur had been consumed. Pity was strong on her face as she shook her head. "Oh, dear… Looks like I didn't hold back enough. I had no intention in sending the poor thing through the ceiling."
"Where… Where did it go?" Krista asked.
Grove sighed. "Don't know. Could be part of the dungeon now if I had to make my guess. It seems the roots are that desperate for nutrients."
For a second, Krista felt lightheaded. A shake of her head dulled the dizziness. Her words almost came out shrill.
"I thought you said the roots were harmless!"
Grove withdrew her vine. "Harmless, as in the roots won't attack you. It isn't sentient, and I believe it will free Drilbur soon. But we should still try not to get caught in it."
Krista was too mortified to say anything else about it. She was sure that she just witnessed manslaughter.
"Let's…keep going." Pineno took a quick breath and moved forward. "Oinkologne needs us."
They kept moving. It was all they could do.
But the sight of the Drilbur wouldn't leave Krista's head.
Blindside Burrow - B4F
Krista was sure of it. The roots grew more desperate the deeper they went. It wasn't her mind playing tricks on her. Their shuffles and hisses etched deep in her mind
Even Grove would cast an occasional glance towards the ceiling. While she didn't look as concerned as Krista, it felt nice for Krista to see that she wasn't the only one who noticed the change. The only good thing about the cursed maze was how the roots hung so high above them. The idea of becoming fertilizer only brought grim feelings.
During their journey through the third floor, there weren't many Pokémon to worry about. The Rattata were nowhere to be seen. Drilbur still tried their best to attack them with their overgrown claws. Krista almost tripped over a Nincada, who she had to fight off.
At the fourth floor, they could confirm that the Rattata were gone. They would see more Pokémon who favored the earth.
"We are halfway there," Grove announced. "Dungeons like this one tend to shift the deeper you go. The wild creatures will become more dangerous as well. Keep your eyes open."
Krista was already doing that. Every subtle shift she heard left her jumpy. She hated that she was the only one caught off-guard by every sound. She tried to remember Dusk's advice, to not rely on only her eyes to seek her surroundings, but it only amplified the unnerving sounds. If anything, it sounded like the burrow was breathing.
When a small swarm of Nincada tried ambushing them, Krista and Pineno worked together to fight them off. They weren't strong, but they were annoying with their small claw swipes.
Once Krista fought off the final Nincada, she found herself too exhausted to continue. She needed a moment to rest, just to regain her energy. The cool, damp and earthy walls was like a cool blanket against her back. It brought a bit of relief, as strange as it felt
Her arm was snagged. A scream escaped her as she lunged high in the air.
The ceiling!
Krista looked up. The roots reached for her, like a hundred starving arms. They tickled her fur, her scarf tightened around her neck.
The Drilbur.
(No! NO!)
In blind panic, she lashed out at the roots. Her claws ripped and shredded through every tendril that did as much as graze her. The roots didn't stop. Clingy and desperate, they coiled tighter. They gripped her ankles, her tail—
Her body.
"N-no! Let me go!" Krista screamed. She dug her claws into the surface and sliced through, clean like butter.
But more replaced what was lost.
(I don't want to go where the Drilbur went!)
(I didn't want to become part of the soil!)
(I don't—)
"Hey! Krista! Stop!" Pineno screamed.
Another coiled around her arms in a tight grip. Pressed against her body, they couldn't move. She kicked her legs and twisted her body, but the constriction didn't falter. She was trapped—trapped…!
"You're cutting me up!"
She stopped. The ground…she was lowered to the ground by a tattered vine. It freed her and slithered back. It hovered in front of Pineno, who frowned at its condition. "Oh, wow. You have some claws there. This is going to take a while to grow back."
"Oh no…" The haze of panic was gone, replaced by horror. Krista covered her mouth, unable to look away from the damage she had done. "Oh no! Pineno, I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine! I didn't feel a thing!" Pineno said. "But wow! No one ever damaged them this bad before! Although it could be because I never really had a reason to let that happen…"
He said it didn't hurt, but the vine was shredded! Pieces were hanging by veins. The smell of freshly cut grass was strong in the air, in her claws… Green was in her claws.
Krista could feel the dampness of the damage in the tips of her paws. Smeared green, with pieces clinging on the surface. "But Pineno, I…"
"I said it's okay! See?" Pineno brought the vine close to his face, and he held both ends with his paws. His mouth snapped open before he bit down right in the middle where the damage was non-existent.
(What is he doing?!) Krista wanted to shout at him, but his incisors gnawed through in an instant. The damaged portion plopped in front of his feet.
"H…how…" Krista took a step back. The discarded vine coiled into itself like a hibernating snake.
"I told you. Don't feel a thing," Pineno said. "I was taught to cut out a damaged vine since it wouldn't support anything. It's just like when an Infernape trims its fingernails! It'll grow back. Just not here, though. I kinda need natural sunlight for that."
Grove walked over with a smile. "I've lost my vines countless times in my lifetime. They always do grow back. You have nothing to worry about."
Krista sighed. "I guess…"
She glanced at the ceiling again. She scowled at the roots. If they were sentient, she was sure they would be laughing at her.
(What was Oinkologne thinking, coming into a place like this? Did the environment not scare him? There was no way he could have navigated the place blind.)
"You're okay?" Pineno asked.
Krista rubbed her arm. She could still feel the phantoms of the roots' touch. Other than that, she wasn't hurting anywhere.
"I'm fine," she confirmed as she dropped back on the ground. "Thank you. Sorry about—"
"It's okay, I promise," he chuckled. "Come on. Let's keep going."
As they journeyed and battled their way further, Krista remained frustrated with the dungeon's antics. She found herself tripping over ground roots, and fighting the relentless wild Pokémon who didn't seem to stop coming. She hated how the darkness only made their glowing red eyes far more sinister. Each encounter startled her. Pineno had to shake her into focus several times.
Several times, several times the few roots on the walls grazed her. Some caught her tail. The wild Pokémon didn't let up. She sliced down a root she tripped over.
When a hanging root tried to grab her for the tenth time, she was no longer able to contain her patience. She swung her claws at it, but it didn't tear. It only made her angrier.
"Krista. This isn't going to help you," Grove said. "Perhaps we should—"
"Why would anyone go out their way to chase after a fable?!" Krista snapped. "People get tricked or hurt doing things like that! And those like Oinkologne get caught up in dangers they can't escape! This dungeon likes to mess with everyone!"
"Yes, it is a dangerous place. That is why we are rescuing him," Grove said.
"Yeah? But we are putting ourselves into danger, too! Why did Slowking send us here?! What if we get stuck? Then what? Someone would have to go out their way to help us too! Then it becomes a deadly cycle! Why is this dungeon accessible anyway? More people will just do the same thing, right?! Even if we tell them to stop, they won't! So what are we even doing this for?!"
A heavy hoof stomped the ground near Krista's feet. She withdrew her paws, staggering on her hind legs before falling flat on her rear.
Grove stared down at her with a heated glare.
Uh-oh.
"So you just want us to abandon Oinkologne, and let him face his own undoing. Is that what you are suggesting?"
Krista realized the weight behind her own words. "I—"
"You don't have the slightest inkling on his purpose of coming here. Even if he was aware of the dangers, that does not mean he deserves to be left behind!"
Krista flinched at her rising voice.
"A selfish, self-preserving, inconsiderate and heartless beast is what you are presenting yourself to be. If that is your mindset, then join the wild creatures in the dungeons. You are no better than them. No, you are far worse! The difference between the wild creatures and your mindset, is that self-preservation is all the wild creatures know! It was their entire life! They remain ignorant that there are far better alternatives to life! But you already know what those are, and you choose to remain heartless. You do not deserve that badge. You do not deserve to be among us!"
Speechless. Krista couldn't find any words. Her mind couldn't formulate anything she could say—she messed up. Oh, why did she have to say those things…?
Grove took a deep breath before she lowered her head.
"At least, that is what Howler would say," she said.
(What?)
Grove offered Krista a vine. After a moment of hesitation, Krista held on, and Grove pulled her to her feet.
"I understand why you think the way you do. It's easy to see. Why help a Pokémon who dug a deep hole for themselves? What if they learn nothing and do it again? Why waste our resources on them? Yes, I know. I used to ask those same questions, too.
"But you underestimate the hearts of Pokémon, Krista. When…we gained our wisdom, it was when we realized that we don't have to struggle for our lives anymore. We realized that when we come together, we can change lives, for the better. Of course there are thrill-seekers and daredevils who find themselves in deep trouble. But for us to leave them to perish…that is not what we do. Perhaps you don't understand that yet. I know. It took me some time to see it. And to this day, I still question the mindset of the foolish Pokémon who willingly wander into hazardous spaces. But then I tell myself; This Pokémon has friends, family. There is someone waiting for them to come back home. And in this case, Oinkologne is somebody's older brother. There is a child waiting for him back home who looks up to him. We can't let that child down. We won't let that child down. You understand, don't you?"
Krista felt terrible. She could try to blame the burrow for making her think the way she did, but at the end of it all, it was still her honest thoughts. Compared to her own fears, Oinkologne had to be terrified beyond words, trapped and clueless. He probably gave up all hope of escaping. That sort of feeling…no one should have to experience.
She remembered how she met Pineno. He willingly entered a dangerous dungeon knowing he was already hurt. It was his only escape from that horrible Skullzer. What Krista just said to Grove…she realized it meant she should have left Pineno behind.
But she didn't. She couldn't.
Then there was the reverse; Pineno could had left her on her own the moment the Staravia started attacking them back in Pine Forest. Slowking could had ignored the escort request, leaving Pineno alone and clueless. But…they both stepped in to help when they didn't need to. They knew they were getting involved in something dangerous, but they helped anyway.
Krista felt ashamed.
A second vine touched her chin. It pushed her head up, and she met Grove's eyes.
"Krista. Don't be hard on yourself. You were worried about our well-being too, weren't you? You were worried about the safety of the other Pokémon that would have to come here to save us if we get trapped, right? You were thinking about every worse-case scenario. That kind of thinking keeps you from making reckless decisions. I see in your eyes that you feel strong sympathy towards Oinkologne. So no, you are not heartless."
She drew back her vines, and she nodded once.
"When you are ready, we shall proceed."
Once she was sure Grove wasn't upset with her, Krista started to move again. Her thoughts were flooded with scenarios that could have been different had she chosen Howler to accompany her instead. It was a thought that intimidated her.
"Krista?"
Krista looked back, seeing Pineno's worried face.
"What are people, exactly? I've never heard of that term before."
Krista froze in her tracks. Her eyes were fixed on nothing.
(I got so frustrated. I didn't even realize…)
"Krista?" Pineno called her, concerned.
Krista looked at him. He was worried about her. But what was she supposed to say? Grove was right behind them, and she noticed that they had stopped.
"I'll…tell you later." Krista started to move again.
It wasn't an appropriate time. Not when Grove was within earshot.
Blindside Burrow - B6F
Krista bit into her apple that Grove instructed for them to eat. By the time she finished it, she didn't feel the hunger pains anymore. It made her wonder what would happen if she ate a full meal instead. Would it be too much?
…When was the last time Oinkologne had a meal? He had to be starving. There was no telling how long he was waiting for a rescue. Krista wasn't sure how much time passed outside the burrow. Was it already night? Or perhaps…did the time not change at all?
They had to hurry.
As they made their way through the rooms and the many corridors, Krista could hear the roots above hissing. She dropped to all fours and stuck close to Pineno, who didn't complain. She was almost jealous of how brave he was. Nothing in the dungeon seemed to frighten him. Or maybe it was nothing compared to the peak of fear he felt just earlier in the day.
Perhaps Oinkologne was brave, too. That had to be why he ventured to the depths before he encountered trouble. He wouldn't have to suffer for much longer.
Somehow, Krista knew that anyone with such a reckless mindset would have been left to their own devices. It would just be a news headline. Something that would make her pity the poor soul. But there they marched through dangerous territory, about to rescue the Pokémon who would have otherwise been left behind.
At least, Krista believed so.
When Slowking talked about the mission, he didn't appear annoyed. Dusk looked disappointed he couldn't tag along. Grove was more than eager to help. The Pokémon were willing to save him. They didn't once question Oinkologne's decision.
Maybe a human stranger wouldn't go out their way to save someone in the depths of a dangerous burrow. It would hold so many requirements. It would take a lot of convincing. Only the kindest of humans would be so willing.
But the Pokémon, no matter where they came from, would do it without question. Those Pokémon were so quick to trust one another. But it was because of such trust that Krista feared they would find themselves easily tricked and betrayed by crooks and criminals.
Why were they like that? Sure, there were Pokémon like Midnight who didn't trust so easily, but the majority of Pokémon were too kind for their own good.
Krista started to wonder why she left her human world. Was it too hostile? Was everyone selfish? She only knew of the nature of some people, but she couldn't remember individuals. She still couldn't remember her previous life.
If only…
There was something ahead. Krista stopped in her tracks.
"What do you see?" Pineno asked.
Krista tried to identify it. It has a long yellow body and a dark blue head. Its giant glowing red eyes were the most interesting feature. "Looks like…I don't know. It's a bit unfamiliar to me. It's not a Caterpie or anything, but it has the same shape."
"Looks like a Blipbug," Grove said.
"They live underground?" Krista asked.
"They are highly curious creatures, always trying to find ways to absorb information. Finding wild ones in places like this isn't all too surprising. While it can't speak, it still seeks knowledge." Grove looked at the pair. "Battling, however, is something it's not so talented with. You have little to worry about. If we don't disturb it, it likely won't engage in a battle with us. It's one of the most docile wild creatures you will encounter."
They walked past the curious Blipbug. It didn't seem to notice their presence.
"Wow. Vigor wasn't lying when she told us you are knowledgeable about so many Pokémon, Grove. Is that why you're always in the office?" Pineno asked.
Grove chuckled. "It could be one of the reasons. I've done my research over the years. I've been told that I could have been second-in-command had I met all the criteria."
"Is it because you're not so great at battling?" Pineno asked.
Grove lowered her head. "Rather blunt with your words, aren't you?"
"Sorry…"
"It's quite alright. I am comfortable with where I stand in The Central corporation now. Even if I was a decent battler, the second-in-command is usually the second strongest Pokémon within the fraction."
"So Howler…" Krista wasn't as surprised as she thought she would be. Every time he spoke to them, he held such a powerful aura. It was only to be expected.
"Actually…" Grove smiled. "Don't tell Howler I told you this, but he's not the strongest associate among us."
"What?! He isn't?!" Krista and Pineno blurted at once.
"No! That would be Boomer!"
They both froze. They could imagine the Noivern looming over them as a sinister, sadistic shadow. They could hear his soft laughter. It gave them shivers.
"Okay…so if he's that strong, why wasn't he chosen?" Pineno asked.
"The position requires focus, patience, responsibility…and mercy. All four traits that Boomer lacks. The only reason he is with us is because he does such an incredible job keeping the unwanted out of our sight. The Sorcerers are more afraid of him than our Headmaster! Would you believe it?"
(She says this like this is perfectly normal…) Krista and Pineno could only stare at her, unsure of how to respond.
"Although if you take Boomer out of the picture, Howler still isn't at the top of the list," Grove continued. Her words surprised them both. "Next on the list would be Dusk. But he refuses to abandon his title as an Explorer. He's simply not interested in running the corporation."
"Dusk…? He's stronger than Howler?" Pineno asked. "But…that's so hard to believe. He's just so…nice?"
"Huh! You are yet to see him when he's furious, then!" Grove said. "Pokémon like him are difficult to keep in one place. When you are as strong as him, I'm afraid it's difficult to hold back your own strength. He tries not to get involved in unnecessary battles for that reason."
"Oh, wow…"
They walked a little more ways down
"Ms. Grove. Can I ask another question?" Pineno asked.
"I don't mind."
"Where do you stand among the associates?"
"Ah…" Grove gave him a pitiful smile. "Well…I never thought I would have to say it out loud. But among the seven of us…I am ranked at the very bottom. I hate to disappoint you."
"Oh! No! It's not disappointing at all!" Pineno waved his paws. "It doesn't matter if you aren't so strong! I mean, you are way stronger than us! And you sent that Drilbur flying, remember?! You're also incredibly smart, so it's not like you're bad or anything!"
Grove laughed. "Relax. I am not upset with you. I don't mind talking about this at all. It's nice that you want to know."
"Dusk did tell us that strength wasn't everything," Krista said. "It's nice to have you with us."
"Aren't you kind? I'm quite glad I stepped outside."
Blindside Burrow - B8F
"This has to be the final floor," Krista whispered.
The roots made every effort to reach for them. They were far too short to do as much as make it a quarter's length, but it was still a frightening sight. Krista wanted to believe the roots would shrivel and die by the time they got to the deepest part of the dungeon, but they looked more alive. Their badges had to be the first source of light the roots ever felt in ages. It was just too bad it wouldn't give them what they were looking for.
Grove nodded. "Yes, this is the final floor. Usually, the wild creatures here are the most resilient and cunning. They are stronger compared to who you encountered in the earlier floors. You have to be cautious—"
"Hey! Take a look at this!" Pineno shouted. He bounded across the room and stopped before an apple. He held it up for them to see. "It's a perfectly good apple!"
Krista crossed the room after him. To her surprise, the apple wasn't the slightest bit bruised. It looked fresh, as if it was just dropped.
She remembered what Slowking said.
"This apple could have been here for months," Krista said. "Someone else brought it here."
Someone else…
Krista thought about the stories Grove told her. How many Pokémon came to the burrow, only to get pushed out? It didn't help that Midnight's story only added to the mystery, even if her alien claims sounded nonsensical.
Grove walked over to the group. "Good. You should put the apple away. You could make use of it later."
Krista took the apple and put it away in the backpack. Pineno left her side, sniffing the air. He jogged further down the room.
"Pineno!" Grove called him.
"Found another one!" Pineno held up another apple before he sniffed again. "Oh! There's a third one over here! It's like someone just dropped their entire stash!"
Grove's eyes narrowed. "Chespin! Come right back over here!"
Pineno froze in his tracks, like a child being scolded by their mother. He hurried back to regroup, apologizing under his breath. He held two apples, just as fresh as the first. "Is something wrong? I was just gathering food."
"I need you to think about what you just said," Grove told him. "For what reason would so many apples be in one place?"
Pineno thought for a moment, but Krista remembered what she learned from the dojo. They were only able to find consumables there because Pokémon deliberately dropped them for the training teams to use. But in a real mystery dungeon, no one would go out their way to do something like that…especially when apples were such a crucial item to have.
"Someone fainted here," Krista said. "The dungeon took their apples."
Pineno's smile faded. "Oh, no. Do you think it could have been Oinkologne?"
Grove scanned the room. "That can't be determined. But if they were dropped here, either that means this was the spot a Pokémon passed out before, or the wild creatures brought it here to stash it in one place. I'm going to hope it's the former because—"
Pineno let out a small gasp as he looked down at his feet. "S-something's coming…! And I don't think it's a Drilbur. It's too heavy to be one!"
"Too heavy?" Krista repeated.
Seconds later, the ground shook beneath her. Pineno was right. It was far too intense.
"If you are correct, then it looks like we are about to come face-to-face with its evolved from," Grove said.
"Evolved?!"
The ground bulged in front of them before it burst like a geyser. A blur of brown, red, and silver twirled out like a drill, sending gravel and chunks of dirt flying in every direction. It stretched out its limbs as its momentum slowed. The drill was revealed to have been formed by three massive metal claws that sprouted from its hands. What sprouted from the tip of its head was a pointed plate, shimmering like steel.
The wild Pokémon landed, glaring at the trio with its raging glowing eyes. It slipped into an aggressive stance in an instant.
Krista didn't remember it looking that big. She knew it was not supposed to be—no, it didn't grow at all. Her smaller form made it look like giants.
She had to fight a metal-clawed giant.
The ground shook again. From behind them, another spun out and landed, holding the same hostile glare. Krista felt her ears press against her skull.
"Two of them?" Pineno didn't know where to look.
"Excadrill!" Grove shouted. "Of course they would be so quick to find us! Those creatures…I want to believe this burrow was the home of their ancestors!"
"You're serious? Is that why they found us so quickly?!" Pineno shouted. "But every other one just happened to cross us!"
"They dig maze-like structures underground! The mystery dungeon's distortion is like their second home! These are strong foes! You two can't afford to hold back!"
Hearing her words, Krista and Pineno got into a battle-ready stance. They were both nervous, but they knew they had Grove by their side. They didn't have to worry. But, they couldn't let that sense of comfort make them careless, either.
The pair of Excadrill sprinted forward. Their metal claws glistened in the light provided from the badges.
Krista sprinted around one and jumped behind it. She swing at the Pokémon with her claws, but they struck steel instead. Her attack was intercepted. She caught the blur of silver flying from the corner. It struck her like a hammer. The world around her was a blur before she hit the ground and tumbled across the surface.
She groaned as she rolled to her stomach. Pineno shouted from a distance. The air whistled and hissed, likely from the sounds of his whips. Krista lifted her head, and she could see Pineno fighting off one of the Excadrill. The other charged straight towards her.
Krista pushed herself to her feet and leaped back as the Excadrill swung its giant claw. It sunk into the earth, and it immediately pursued her with a lunge. Krista twisted her body, avoiding another brutal slash. She felt the force behind the weight as it swung past her flank.
She swung her own claws again. Her first attack clanged against steel again. Her second was also blocked! Her thin arms were no match against the Excadrill's natural strength. It pushed her back with a strong push. Its claws connected to her body, slashing tufts of fur from her stomach. Krista was on the ground again. Blistering hot pain throbbed against her fresh wounds. She wasn't sure if Pokémon could bleed, but she was too scared to look.
The pain was too much for her.
"You're fine! Your body can take it!" Dusk's words barked in her mind.
"It certainly doesn't feel that way…" Krista was on her feet again. She stood on two legs, feeling that she needed more leverage. The Excadrill was not phased by her change in stance. It was already running towards her.
"If you can't attack your enemy directly, then what should you do?!" Dusk's voice barked in her mind again.
Krista felt for her bag. It wasn't on her back.
Pineno had it.
With an agitated sigh, she converted her frustration into anger. Anger that climbed up her throat.
She let out a feral growl. One that echoed through the entire room. The pair of Excadrill stopped for a moment, startled by the sound.
But the time the one close to Krista came to its senses, she was nowhere to be seen.
She dropped right in front of its field of vision with a withdrawn paw. She swung, and her claws struck it across the face, leaving a nasty trail of pain. The Excadrill staggered back and growled. It lifted one leg and kicked itself in the air as it brought its arms and head together, forming its body into a drill. It spun into an angry blur as it dove down towards Krista.
She lunged out the way. She narrowly avoided being skewered. She caught sight of Grove, who stood by, watching with her hooves dug into the earth.
She wasn't interfering. Just as Dusk refused to.
It was their mission, after all.
"Pineno!" Krista shouted. "My attacks aren't very effective against these guys! I need the bag!"
"Yeah!" Pineno slapped his opponent away with his vines. He shook off the bag and coiled the straps with one as the other kept swinging. It was the one he gnawed out before. Despite its disadvantage, it was doing surprisingly well.
How he was able to focus his vines in two separate directions was a question that crossed Krista's mind for a second. She shook the thought away. She had to focus. She sprinted forward and reached for the bag.
The Excadrill lunged and swung. Its claws sliced clean through the vine. The bag fell flat on the ground, several feet out of reach.
"GAH!" Pineno hissed as he called the severed vine back. "You've got to be kidding! What's with these guys—AGH!" His body was rammed by his own opponent. He flew across the room, and his backside slammed against the wall. He fell flat on the ground.
"Pineno!" Krista moved forward, but she sensed the intense change in the air and leaped back. The steel-hard claws were inches away from stabbing her into the ground.
It was wide open!
Krista swung at its face again, and the mole Pokémon recoiled back with a hiss. Krista saw its attack coming. She lunged and landed on four feet. She took a deep breath as it turned to her.
The bag was just feet away.
She broke into a sprint. She leaped and dove. Her paws grabbed the bag. She tucked her body and rolled. She heard the claws sink into the ground behind her. The slightest brush grazed her tail.
She sat on the ground. The Excadrill pulled its claw free, sending chunks of dirt flying. It ran towards her with newfound anger. Krista shoved her paw into the bag.
Berries? No. Orb? She didn't want to use that yet.
A small bag filled with geo pebbles!
Krista pulled it out and rolled out the way, avoiding the claws by a hair. She threw with all her might, her eyes locked on to the target.
The Excadrill started spinning again. The geo pebble struck its body with a loud clang!
The spinning came to a clumsy stop as it fell to the ground, dazed. It recovered in an instant, back to its feet.
Krista pulled out another pebble, stunned. How did it do that?!
There was no time to question it. She threw it again. It struck the Pokémon head on, and it staggered. She threw a third one. It leaped out the way and sprinted towards her. Krista prepared a fourth.
CLANG!
The geo pebble had made a sharp turn back and struck the Pokémon on the back of its head. It staggered and fell to the ground, no longer moving.
Krista glanced at the pebble that still rested on her paw. "I think I like you."
"RRRRRIIIILLL!"
Krista turned to the source of the sound. To her surprise, the Excadrill was screaming as it tried to shake Pineno off of its arm.
Pineno clung on to the Pokémon with his teeth.
The Excadrill realized shaking him off wasn't working. It sprinted towards the wall and swung its arm against the surface, ramming Pineno's body in efforts to remove him. It swung again. It threw him. Dirt rained down with each impact, but Pineno didn't let go.
Krista knew he couldn't hold on forever. For what reason he wasn't using his vines, she couldn't determine. She squeezed the pebble in her hand and threw it.
It struck the Excadrill across the side of its head, knocking it off balance. It fell to the ground, and it laid there, confused. It didn't try to move anymore.
Pineno gasped as he freed himself. He dragged his feet to regroup with the others. His body was battered and bruised, but he still wore a smile on his face.
"Pineno! What were you thinking?!" Krista shouted at him. "It could have broke your bones!"
"I already told you, Krista…my body is as tough as steel!" Pineno stood tall and flexed his arms. He cringed from his pain, but he quickly got to work with grooming his face clean of dirt and debris.
"Oh, you reckless child," Grove said as she walked over to them. "I understand your methods, but perhaps you should be more careful next time. Had that been a poison or fire type, you would have dealt terrible damage to your own body."
"Eh-heh." Pineno rubbed his nose. "I didn't really have a choice but to bite it, you see. My other methods are kinda useless."
He summoned his vines. To Krista's shock, they had been cut down near his shoulders.
"The Excadrill really did not like them, so it trimmed them down pretty good! But I'm okay!"
Grove shook her head. "Well, you two defeated your first two tough foes. And you adapted once you realized your previous strategy fell flat. It seems Dusk has taught you well, despite the little time he had with you. But, it's best to patch your wounds up, hm?"
Krista reached inside the bag and brought out a pair of oran berries. She gave one to Pineno and ate the other. She finally braved herself to look at her stomach. To her horror, three wide gashes had struck her and shaved her fur clean, far worse than what the Drilbur had done before. Before she could try to process the severity of her wounds, they started to glow a gentle white. Just like before, specks of sparkling light floated from her fading wounds and vanished in the air.
"That's so cool…" Pineno whispered as he watched the specks leave his bruises. "It's like magic. It doesn't act like this outside of a dungeon at all…"
Grove smiled. "Well, now that the two of you are fully healed, it's time we find a way out of here. Your call, Krista."
Krista almost didn't register her words, distracted by the last specks of light. She nodded and slung the bag to her back. She took the lead, traveling through another corridor.
The silence didn't bring much comfort. Krista couldn't shake the feeling that something could lunge out the ground at any given moment. She found herself frequently checking the ground, as it was a far bigger threat than the roots that hung above.
They entered a vast room, perhaps the largest they had ever seen. Even with the combined light of their badges, Krista couldn't see all four walls very well. At the very end, she thought she could make out a shape that was darker than the rest of the ground. She squinted her eyes, hoping they would focus on the darkness.
It took a second, but it was a hole. A large hole that lead to what would be the final staircase!
"The exit is straight ahead!" Krista announced.
"Really?! We reached the end?!" Pineno almost laughed. "Awesome! We did it!"
"Let's hurry out of here!" Krista secured her bag and dashed across the room, Pineno kept up next to her. Grove kept up, but her hooves dug into the earth as she nearly bumped into Pineno.
He had stopped.
"What is it?" Krista gasped as she stood. "Please don't tell me…"
"We have to run faster! Run faster!" Pineno lunged and sprinted on all fours, a sight Krista realized was rare to see from him.
She decided to follow him in the same fashion. The burst of speed almost made her legs buckle beneath her, but she adapted quickly. She couldn't afford to trip over herself.
Grove trotted behind him, on the brink of galloping. She kept her head moving as she tried to locate a possible threat. Tremors swelled.
It was like a stampede was underground.
"I think we made them angry!" Pineno shouted.
The ground exploded in front of them. They scrambled back as dirt rained back down.
Four Excadrill landed in front of them, reflective claws out and ready.
Behind them, four more surfaced, hissing and shouting.
To their left, three more surfaced.
On their right, two more.
The scenario was all too familiar.
Pineno's quills stiffened into blades. "We…had to use an escape orb last time. Should we…?"
"But, what about Oinkologne?" Krista shouted. She doesn't just leave him. Not after the talk she had with Grove. She felt like she owed it to him. She couldn't just…abandon him like that.
"But if we get knocked out, Oinkologne would be left behind either way! And we'll lose our resources! Trust me, I hate the idea of leaving him like this…but there's too many of them! We can't fight them off…!"
Krista realized he shared her pain. She hated that she assumed he just wanted to leave. Of course he wouldn't.
Surrounded by countless red eyes, the trio huddled into a tight group. No matter where Krista looked, there was no other option. Their resources were limited.
With a crushing sigh of defeat, she reached into her bag and pulled out the escape orb.
"I'm sorry, Oinkologne. We really tried our best…we really did. But I promise…! We will come back! We will save you!"
"That's it! Hold on to your resolve!" A vine from Grove pushed the orb down before it could be activated. "You never give up, even if it means you have to pull back to re-strategize! But fortunately, we don't have to run away."
"What do you mean?" Krista asked. "Don't you see how many of them are here?!"
"You're right. You can't fight them all."
Grove's eyes hardened.
"But…I can."
Krista stared at the Gogoat, almost fascinated by her words. There was no way she could actually…
A vine wrapped around Krista's body. A second around Pineno. They were both set on her back.
"Hold on to me! I'm about to do something, and I won't be able to stop myself once I begin!" Grove shouted. "We are going to bulldoze our way through!"
"What?! But Dusk said that doesn't always work!" Pineno shouted.
"And he's right. It's not recommended…unless you are sure of your abilities. You don't stand the slightest chance against a small horde such as this. But I am more than capable! Don't tell me you forgot? I said I would only step in if it was absolutely necessary! We are going to save Oinkologne!"
The Excadrill growled as they started to edge closer.
"Wh-what do I hold on to?!" Krista shouted as she tried to find a firm hold on the Gogoat's back. She felt the pit of fear as Grove's body leaned closer to the ground. A single hoof struck the surface before it kicked back dirt.
"Anything," Grove answered, her voice rough. "I promise that I will not drop you!"
Ears flicked. A heavy breath blew out of Grove's nose. The Excadrill were more cautious in response to the aggressive display.
She launched herself into a gallop.
Krista's claws unsheathed in repose. She took notice of Pineno moving up and wrapping his arms around Grove's covered neck. Krista crawled forward and did the same. The large scarf was like a blanket. Horns bushed the top of Krista's head.
The angry swarm were hot on their tail. One of the moles ahead of them made its lunge. It dug its claws into the dirt and flung a slab of mud towards Grove's face in an effort to blind her.
Grove slid around it, and the mud flew past her, slapping the Excadrill behind her off its feet instead. With her rear now facing the attacker, she kicked out her legs and sent it flying and tumbling across the room. Grove resumed her gallop for escape.
The remaining Excadrill lunged after Grove, determined to take her down. Grove made an even bigger lunge. Krista could feel the air breeze past her. Her stomach pressed against her chest. It was like…they were flying.
A quick look above, and Krista almost screamed as the roots swung for them. They were descending fast. Grove raised her front hooves high above her head before she swung her entire body weight down. Her hooves slammed against the surface. Grass sprouted around her hooves, and she skated across the surface. She left behind a trail of grass behind, grass that quickly shriveled and perished. It was unable to stay alive against the mystery dungeon's curse.
It wasn't important. They moved faster than anyone could run!
"Hold on tight! It's only going to get faster from here!" Grove shouted as she continued to kick her hooves. "No matter what happens, don't let go of me! I'm about to engage!"
A trio of Excadrill shot from underground. Grove huffed through her nose.
ZZZZZZRIP! SHREEE! SHREEE!
Vines sliced the air. It cracked with every whip she landed against the trio. Their bodies were knocked back with violent velocity. One tumbled across the room. The other struck a wall. The third vanished into the darkness behind them.
They entered a corridor. Krista felt her fears rise.
"What are you doing?! The stairs are over there!" she shouted.
"I'm circling back!" Grove shouted back. "It's easier to fend off foes in the corridors than in a large space such as that! They can't group against you that way!"
Krista looked around, watching as the ceiling roots reached for them like desperate hands. Behind them, a swarm of Drilbur pursued them. Ahead, more surfaced, and Grove sent them flying with her vines. They were being picked off one by one. They flew over their heads, colliding against the horde behind them.
"Haha!" Pineno turned around and held onto the cluster of leaves that coated Grove's back. As the Drilbur continued to falter, he stuck out his tongue and wiggled his paws.
They entered a room—the same room they just escaped. The stairs were in sight. More of the mole Pokémon lunged from underground. Grove slid around one. She turned her body and kicked out her back legs. An Excadrill was struck square on the chest. Its body flew back and crashed against the wall with a heavy slam. As Grove resumed her nimble movements, Krista could feel the air roaring past her ears with far more intensity.
Grove was moving faster. The world was almost a blur. She performed the maneuver again and skated around some Pokémon, attacking others with a kick. She lowered her head as an Excadrill tried to stop her rampage with its claws, but it was instead rammed by her horns and sent flying towards the ceiling. It was caught by the desperate roots, which made quick work of pulling the wild Pokémon into the depths.
Behind them, more Excadrill surfaced in numbers Krista didn't want to count. The air was hissing and whirling as they pursued them in blind rage.
"I'm going in! Don't let go!" Grove shouted. She lunged down the hole, and they were swallowed by the darkness as the glow of their badges died at once.
Krista cried out as the horrid sounds of hooves slipping and staggering down the staircase flooded her ears. Her body was thrashed as she held on with all her might. The sounds of the angry horde flooded her ears.
And it stopped.
A bright, white light swallowed them whole.
Blindside Burrow Depths
"Oof!"
Grove crashed on her side and slid across the ground. A giant cloud of dirt blew around them. Krista was forced to squeeze her eyes shut so they wouldn't sting.
All motion had stopped. Krista opened her eyes. The cloud settled down.
They were in a large, circular dirt area. It was a dim place where light was limited. Looking above, there were no eldritch roots. Only a few normal ones were scattered across the surface.
(We are in an underground den of some kind,) she thought.
Grove's heavy breathing caught her attention. She hadn't moved a muscle since they crashed. With every breath, a small cloud of dirt flew from her face. Her eyes were squeezed shut.
"Ms. Grove! Are you OK?!" Pineno jumped off her back and ran towards her head.
"Ugh…these old bones did not take that too kindly…" Grove muttered.
Krista crawled off and searched her bag for an oran berry. (We actually escaped…and it was all thanks to Grove. But…she got hurt.)
Grove sniffed the air, and she opened her eyes. "Oh, thank you." She grabbed hold of it with a single vine and brought it to her mouth.
"Can you stand?" Krista asked.
"Yes. Just give me a moment…" Grove lifted her head and rolled herself to her stomach. Her legs were tucked underneath her body. She propped one leg up, then the other. She grunted as they shook, fighting to support her weight. Once she was standing, she shook the dirt free from her body.
"How did you move like that?" Pineno asked, as he kept her steady with his paws.
"That was Trailblaze. A technique that makes me more nimble the more I use it," Grove answered. "While it's not so powerful, it's still quite useful to get out of tense situations…as you have seen."
She took her first steps forward. There was a limp in her gate.
"Ms. Grove…"
"I'm alright. But, thank you for your concern. Your priority should be locating Oinkologne. He should be somewhere here, if the job request was accurate."
He had to be somewhere in the depths of the burrow, but now that they had a good look at it, the space was so vast. It was larger than any room the dungeons had to offer: a dome chamber made of nothing but dirt, held together by roots.
"There's sunlight pouring in from somewhere!" Pineno shouted as he ran ahead.
"Ugh, child. Have you learned nothing about running off like that?" Grove was too exhausted to scold him as she would have liked.
Krista followed, not wanting to be left behind. The further she went, the brighter it became. Soon enough, she could see everything around her as if it was daylight. The sun…the sun was beaming down.
"Oh, wow! Look at this place! It's huge!"
Hearing Pineno's cry, she hurried to his side.
She slowed to a stop. She was sure she was dreaming.
They stood at the edge of grass. A massive field of grass grew before them, vibrant and tall as sunlight came down from the gaping hole high above. Roots and vines grew from the rim. The distant trees were small like bushes. They could feel the outside breeze. It was almost as if the library back in the complex had multiplied in size several times over.
It had a hundred-foot drop from the surface…no, perhaps more than that? Was that where they stood before they entered the dungeon, or was it somewhere else?
"The spring water! There it is!" Pineno shouted again.
And at the very middle of the field was a pond, a crystal clear pond that sparkled underneath the sunlight. Colorful flowers blanketed the rim and stretched beyond, accompanied by rays of rainbow light that dotted the walls.
"An underground spring…formed from the ground water…" Grove walked up behind them, just as impressed. "Just like in the stories…"
Krista's eyes were drawn to the beautiful sight. Whether or not the stories were true…it didn't matter to her. It felt like a sacred place, a place that had been untouched for hundreds of years…
…Something black and round had collapsed just lunges away from the pond. Krista squinted her eyes.
Was that…?
"Oh! There's Oinkologne!" Krista shouted.
"Quick! He's in bad shape!" Pineno was already ahead of her.
Grove gasped. "No! Wait! STOP!"
A pair of vines snapped the pair off their feet. They fell near the Gogoat's hooves.
Pineno groaned and rubbed his head. "Ow! What was that for?! You didn't have to pull us that hard!"
"How many times do I have to tell you to not run off so carelessly?" Grove glared at him. "Something isn't right!"
"What are we supposed to do?" Pineno asked. "Oinkologne is right there!"
"What is it?" Krista asked Grove. "What now?"
Grove planted her feet and crouched close to the ground. She said nothing.
As if to respond to her tense emotions, her scarf started to glimmer under the sunlight. The source were fragments of a green gemstone that were lined across the surface. It was increasing in contrast by the second until Krista was convinced they were glowing. Was it actually responding to her emotions? The sight made Krista far too wary to admire it. Grove was in position to charge.
But at who…?
"It's here…" Grove said tersely.
Doot…doot ..doot
"Wh…what was that?" Krista stepped closer to the group.
Doot…doot…doot
Dot. Dot. Dot.
Krista checked every direction imaginable, but she didn't see anything out of place. So where were the noises coming from? Someone was there, and every part of her body told her that she was in grave danger.
Dot. Dot. Dot…
Ahead, a single blue spotlight of light shined on the ground. What rose from the surface was a square and rounded yellow shell. The blue dots that coated its body blinked in a strange pattern.
It was the source of the sound.
"Wh-what is that?!" Pineno shouted.
Doot. Doot. Doot.
Two more spotlights appeared, one on each of the creature's sides. Two more rose from underground, blinking in the same matter.
"There's three of them?!" Krista felt the urge to run. But she couldn't leave Oinkologne there!
"Dottler! Those are Dottler!" Grove shouted. "But if they are here, then that means…!"
A massive blue spotlight shot down behind the trio of Dottler. Almost blinding, everyone was forced to squint their eyes. It held force and pressure, and…something made a slow descent from within.
A round, red body with small black limbs that twitched ever so slightly.
Large, blue eyes that sent chills down Krista's spine.
"IT'S THE ALIEN!" Pineno screamed. "IT'S GOING TO BRAINWASH US!"
"Pineno!" Grove shouted. Her vines held him in place, but it was clear she was struggling. "Pineno! Calm down!"
Krista wanted to tell him the same. But the words, the words did not come. Her nose picked up a strong stinging scent that sent her heart into a frenzy.
Fear. Overpowering fear. It was strong in the air. A chill surged through Krista's mind. Her entire body locked up as she tried to make sense of where it came from.
'The child…has every reason to be afraid…'
The thoughts. The deep, and chilling thoughts. They carried a voice that wasn't Krista's own. She didn't imagine that, did she?
'Every interloper has every reason to be afraid…'
They weren't her thoughts. They didn't surface from Krista's own will. It was somebody else's. But trying to pin down who…it was impossible. It was in her head, an inner voice that barged into a space it didn't belong. She wanted to get rid of it.
She saw it at last. The large, circular red creature. The deep-blue dots on its shell blinked with every word.
'Every single lifeform who came here all desired the same thing. Single-minded. Simple-minded. If that is what they desire, that is what I shall grant them.'
BMP!
Krista felt it in her heart.
The air was too hostile.
"W-wait!" Grove shouted as she struggled to keep Pineno in place. "This is a misunderstanding! We are not here for the spring water! We just want to bring Oinkologne back to his family! If you would let us do that, we will leave you alone!"
'Association with the trespasser! More simple minds!'
"NOO! I DON'T WANT TO BE TURNED INTO A PUPPET!" Pineno wailed.
Krista almost succumbed into the same fear, but then she remembered what Pineno always told himself when he got scared. She had to snap some sense into him somehow. "Pineno! Turn your fear into strength!"
'SILENCE!' The alien's angry thoughts morphed with a hiss that escaped its body.
Everyone had gone silent. Pineno was completely still.
BMP!
'For all those who share the same mind, their wish shall be granted! They shall be wiped!'
B-BMP!
The powerful surge that took hold of Krista's body…she felt it before.
Against the Staravia right before it attacked.
Krista felt her feet leave the ground before she could process it. Her claws were already out. She struck the closest Dottler that was in front of her. It merely shifted towards the ground against the impact, but it at least did something.
But that wasn't what mattered to Krista. As she put distance between herself and her opponent, a new thought crossed her mind.
(I just attacked! I attacked first?! But why?!)
Galloping hooves rushed past Krista. To her disbelief, Grove sent both of her vines flying towards the other Dottler, striking it with a heavy whip that snapped in the air. It was knocked back a few inches. The dots on its shell blinked in response.
"You're fighting?!" Krista shouted.
"This was not part of your mission!" Grove answered as she crouched close to the ground. "And these Pokémon refuse to listen to reason! We will just have to battle it out!"
Grove swung her vine again. The third Dottler blinked its spots. Its entire body was cloaked with a light blue glow for a split second, along with its allies. Grove's vine made contact, but a transparent blue wall materialized before her, taking the brunt of the attack.
Krista glanced behind her. Pineno trembled and muttered about aliens. She desired his help more than anything, but she knew it wouldn't be wise to force him into a fight in his current state. She would have to hope he would shake himself out of it.
The Dottler she attacked earlier did not move. Nor did the one Grove struck. The third one that remained unharmed was just as stubborn.
"Just as I thought," Grove took a step back. "They can't efficiently hurt us."
"They can't?!" Krista couldn't believe it.
"No. It's because they can't move much. Dottler is a Pokémon that is practically in its pupa stage. The most it can do is defend. It immediately recognized I outmatch it, so it set up a reflect to half the power behind my attacks! Which means…" Grove's eyes traced up towards the large alien in the back. "We need to focus our efforts in attacking Orbeetle! But, it's not as easy as it sounds. Take a look at the Dottler and their current position. What have you noticed?"
Krista wanted to know why they were having a discussion in the middle of a fight, but the Dottler did not move. "It's like some kind of formation."
"Exactly. One that is difficult to break. They are trying to protect their leader. If we can take it down, the rest will follow! But just because they can't hurt us does not mean they are pushovers!"
"There are multiple ways one can win a fight." Krista remembered those words. She crouched close to the ground as she searched for an opening.
"I'll do what I can to help you. But do not lower your guard!" Grove swing her vines at the trio of Dottler again. With every impact, the transparent walls appeared and took the blows. Each heavy whip sent them back several inches. If they were in pain, it was difficult to know.
While she kept them distracted, Krista made her move to hurry around them. If they couldn't move, she didn't have to worry about being chased. But, she didn't want to underestimate them either. She lunged and dashed on all fours as her eyes locked on the alien Grove called Orbeetle.
A Pokémon. Their evolved from.
Krista lunged. Beneath her, the Dottler's dots blinked in a strange and rapid pattern. It increased in speed until a strange ball of light rotated around Krista. She swatted at it, and it flashed over her vision, blinding her. She screamed as she fell back to the ground.
It didn't hurt, but it certainly stung her eyes. She shook her head to clear her vision. It was still hazy, but she could make out Orbeetle in the distance. She resumed her sprinting and made her lunge. The Pokémon just noticed her presence when she brought her claws down, sinking them into its shell.
The Orbeetle shouted, but its words were distorted and incomprehensible.
"You asked for it!" Krista shouted back as she swung again, landing another blow. The Orbeetle was knocked back. She landed on the ground and lunged with a third attack.
The Orbeetle shouted again as it turned its body to dodge. It was unable to avoid her fourth swing. Its entire body spun from the impact.
A wave of satisfaction washed over Krista. She was actually dealing damage to the Orbeetle. It wasn't even doing anything to retaliate! If she could keep up her momentum—
Heavy friction struck her across her chest, and she was knocked to the ground. The Orbeetle lowered its hovering body towards her.
That hurt.
Krista growled, and the small sound turned into a full-blown roar that filled the entire room. While it was distracted, she lunged with a false attack, forcing it to draw itself back. It was unable to see the next blow coming. That time, it crashed to the ground. Krista landed a foot away and quickly closed the gap.
The Orbeetle growled. Another heavy force stuck Krista, and that time, it was across the face. Her entire world spun before her body slammed against the dirt. She coughed out the grains that got into her mouth. She growled and stood up.
"STOP ATTACKING ME!" Pineno screamed.
What?
Orbeetle was gone. Pineno stood in its place, with one of his vines threatening to strike Krista again.
They grew back.
"What—where? But I was just…" Krista looked off to the distance. Orbeetle was exactly where it was when the battle started. It never moved, but it watched them with an unblinking face.
"What was that for?! If you were angry at me, you could had said something!" Pineno snapped.
"Wait! I thought you were their leader!" Krista shouted.
"Their what…?" Pineno's anger vanished in his confusion.
"The alien! But it's not an alien, Pineno! It's a Pokémon! Grove said we have to attack it since the Dottler can't hurt us! That was what I was doing—what I thought I was doing…"
Pineno stiffened before he shivered. "I hate bugs. And that thing scares me. But…I'm okay now. I just…panicked. But I'm okay! I can fight! Just…don't attack me again, okay?'
"I'll…try not to?" Krista still couldn't understand what happened.
Grove was still trying to break through the Dottler. Their shells were already bruised, but their bodies responded, glowing with a soft light. Their injuries healed within seconds. Grove saw this and froze. She grumbled underneath her breath and resumed her rapid attacks.
"Grove is having trouble. We should hurry!" Krista prepared to run.
Pineno nodded. He was just as nervous.
They both took off at once, sprinting around the formation and towards Orbeetle from opposite directions. As they lunged, two of the Dottler noticed. Their dots glowed in the same confusing pattern.
Again! Krista was blinded by the sphere of light. She was on the ground.
"This is starting to get annoying! All it does is slow me down!" Krista screamed at them.
A heavy blow struck Krista's right side. She was sent tumbling on the ground. She quickly got to her feet. The Orbeetle was charging her way, its shell split into buzzing wings. She lunged, narrowly dodging, and she swung her claws, striking the Pokémon across the face. The Orbeetle sent another pulse of an unseen attack that nearly knocked the air out of her lungs. Krista tried to push it back with a fake blow, but it saw through her facade and struck her in an instant.
Her entire body throbbed, but she couldn't stop. Oinkologne was counting on them to win the battle. He had to be freed!
With newfound determination, Krista was back on her feet. She darted around the Orbeetle, trying to confuse it with her rapid movements. She knew she wasn't fast, and she was sure it was faster than her, but somehow, it was unable to keep up. She attacked it's blind spots. She dug her claws as deep as she could through the shell. She just had to make it yield. It was all she had to do.
The Orbeetle screamed in frustration before it spun in the opposite direction to counter her. It sunk its fangs into her arm. The incisors clamped down and stabbed through. Krista screamed and tried to shake it off. The Orbeetle was sent to the ground and dragged by her frantic moments.
(Wait…incisors?! Insects don't have teeth!)
The clarity was enough for the haze to leave her mind. She found that Pineno had bit her instead.
"What the—Pineno! Let go!"
But he didn't. He held on.
Krista rolled to her back and used her hind legs to kick his stomach. She heard the air leave his body as he was sent crashing away from her. She rolled back to four legs, prepared to defend herself.
He rubbed his head and looked at her. Confusion crossed his face. "Krista? What are you doing here?"
"You attacked me is what happened!" Krista shouted.
"Huh? But I could have sworn that you were the alien!"
The pair of children stared at one another before they turned to where the Orbeetle hovered. It was still in the same position it always was in.
Pineno growled. "I don't understand! What's going on?! It's like every time we get close to it, we only end up…"
Realization crossed Krista. "...Hurting each other."
"What?"
"It's those Dottler! I think it's their lights! It's making us see things that aren't there! They are protecting their leader!"
"I guess we have no choice but to knock them out first, then! They won't stop unless we do!"
Krista growled. "But they are just going to do that stupid light trick again. How do we fight against that?"
Pineno frowned. An idea crossed him. "We still have those pebbles, right?"
Meanwhile, Grove continued her efforts against the Dottler as she tried to break the wall. The moment it did shatter, to her disappointment, another would just form a new one to protect the group again. Everytime she brought them near defeat, one of the Dottler would just heal its body.
"So we are just going to be at a stalemate? Is what what you think?" Grove shouted at them. "I don't want to accidentally inflict any mortal wounds on you!"
They said nothing.
"Don't you understand? If I push myself to fight harder, you might wound up broken!"
No response. Grove snorted and continued her assault. "You'll eventually run out of energy to keep setting up those reflects!"
It was true, but it was obvious her vines would tire out eventually as well. Each swing held less energy than the last. She could only break through the wall after so many blows.
She lifted a tired vine. She made contact. A flying pebble struck the Dottler at the same time, and it staggered.
"Wh—"
A storm of pebbles flew at the trio of Dottler, bouncing off their shells. Grove looked behind her. The pair of children were throwing geo pebbles in a frenzy.
"Get away from them, Grove! They make you see illusions!" Krista shouted as she continued throwing more pebbles.
"How about we trade? You go after the alien!" Pineno shouted.
Grove frowned. "Those Dottler have the ability to recover from even the worst of their injuries! If you attack, you mustn't stop! Otherwise, they will wear you down before you realize what's happening! Do not underestimate them!"
Krista knew Grove was hesitant to leave them. It was easy to see why. Not only did they have to worry about the constant healing the Dottler were capable of doing, but they also had to somehow avoid the mind games the Pokémon were capable of as well.
But…
"I know what to do," Krista said. It was almost a lie. She was still thinking. "We got this!"
Grove nodded. She galloped off towards the Orbeetle.
The Dottler ignored the pebbles as they noticed Grove's change of course. The dots of their shells flickered before unleashing the spheres of light.
"Oh, no! Grove!" Krista shouted. "Don't let it get—"
It struck her. Grove landed prematurely. Her eyes were closed. She did not move.
"She was so close…!" Pineno held on to the pebble he was about to throw. Fear flooded his face. "Oh, no. Krista…"
Krista knew exactly what worried him. Grove was a mere foot away from Orbeetle, but she was turning her body towards them. Her angry gaze fell on them both.
Images of the fallen Excadrill flashed through Krista's mind.
The Drilbur in the ceiling…
That was going to be them.
To be Continued in Chapter 13.