- Chapter 15: The C-tier Dungeon -
Mt. Ember - 1F
What was once assumed to be a lush and vibrant grassy mound had been transformed into a charred, scorched pile of ash, soot, and rock. The bare and burned ground was unable to cool down, unbearable for Krista's feet, and unsuitable for plant life. Dead branches stuck out from the walls, some scorched, others bare from any traces of bark. What plants did exist were dried shrubs and tall patches of brown grass, all moments away from catching fire. The relentless heat made the air stuffy and unpleasant to breathe. As the distortion swallowed them, the surrounding rocks shifted and grew into boulders that merged as towering gray walls, smeared with endless soot. The sky remained visible, a strong foggy layer rippled just above the walls. It was where the pressure of the dungeon was at its strongest.
"Mountain Ember" was what they dubbed the distortion.
It wasn't a mountain. But it certainly looked like one. Jagged walls and slanted slopes, it felt like one misstep would bring a word of pain. The maze appeared a lot more frantic, somehow adapting to the terrain. Just looking at the corridor far ahead made Krista shiver. The ground would twist in every direction…it was not going to be a flat walk.
There were no signs of Tidal no matter where they looked. Amidst the gray and black that existed in every corner, there wasn't a single speck of blue to be seen.
"Just as Slowking said…even if Pokémon enter the same dungeon, they can't find each other if they are separated. He's not here," Pineno said. "He's in a separate pocket. The only thing we can do is keep moving forward."
He trembled, but just for a second. He took both paws and slapped the sides of his face. His quills stiffened into blades.
"I'm okay. You lead the way, Krista. I'll protect us from any ambushes."
There was that forced smile again. He was trying so hard to not worry her, and maybe it worked before. The problem was, Krista had gotten better at reading his expressions…or maybe she understood him far better than she thought. His body held the slightest tremble, which only made him smile wider.
Krista shook her head at him. "You don't have to lie to me, you know. It's okay to be scared."
Pineno took a deep breath through his nose. The smile quivered, but it remained. "Krista, if I tell myself that I am okay, then I won't freak out. I…I don't want to think about where I am. I just…I just want to help Tidal, okay? I need to focus. Can't you help me do that?"
She realized what he meant. She nodded. She didn't want to break the facade he was putting on.
(He's terrified of fire, not because it's his weakness, but because of what that Houndoom did to him. Those burns on his body…they looked bad. And still, he kept smiling. Skullzer…I won't forgive Skullzer for hurting him like that. I have to protect him. I have to, because I know he would do the same for me.)
Cautious, the pair moved towards the uneven corridor that looked clear enough to enter. Shadows from the clouds above shifted across the floor, but they brought no relief from the sun. There was no breeze—there was never a breeze inside a mystery dungeon. Perhaps it contributed to why there were no fires…but a simple breeze was a desire Krista didn't think she would wish for so soon. The heat was beating down on them both, like the hottest of summer days. The air was unbelievably stuffy, like the Fire Maze they escaped by the skin of their teeth.
As they entered the narrow pathway, the walls that flanked each side radiated heat despite how early in the day it was. The air close to the surface rippled like water. Krista made sure to keep her whiskers from brushing close to it. The possibility of ignition only brought thoughts of dread. They had the rain orb tucked away in their bag, and Krista knew triggering it would bring instant relief. It was why she couldn't understand why anyone would throw it away. Tidal may be a water-type, but from how merciless the heat was, it was likely taking a toll on his stamina. Water would instantly evaporate. He wouldn't last long, not on his own.
"Entering any mystery dungeon alone is a life hazard."
For a second, the vision of Tidal's deflated and unconscious form crossed her mind. Krista picked up her pace, pushing the image to the back of her mind.
(Tidal is talented with dungeon-crawling,) she told herself. (He's fine. He'll be fine.)
But the bad thoughts kept coming. They would reach the peak, and Tidal wouldn't be there.
He tossed aside his badge. It wouldn't rescue him.
But! Dusk said he was a dungeon-crawling prodigy. She had to believe that he would reach the peak. That was where the boss of the dungeon resided. He was going to challenge it. But who was the boss? Was it an almighty fire Pokémon? What if its power and might became too much for Tidal to handle?
What could they do?
"There's rocks here." Pineno's voice saved her from her spiral. "We should gather as many as we can."
More geo pebbles. Krista scooped them from the ground whenever she saw them. What she couldn't carry by hand, she grasped with the curl of her tail.
"We should break off some of these branches too. They could be good to throw."
With their weapons restocked, the duo continued their exploration. Not many words were exchanged. Although they knew finding Tidal within the space was unlikely, they still took their time to scan their surroundings. They couldn't stand in one spot for too long; The hot ground would punish their soles for it. Somehow, the discomfort brought a sense of familiarity to Krista. It was prodding the back of her mind, but it refused to make itself known. It was just a feeling. A distant memory. The only thing she could think of was flat stone, the feeling of the heat scorching her feet, and the desire to search for a way to escape it. Somehow, it wasn't out of fear, but an inconvenience.
The hot ground was an inconvenience. Every time she stepped on a sharp stone, she hissed and kicked it out of her sight. She wanted to take back every single thing she complained about in the riverside dungeon. It was a paradise compared to what she was experiencing.
Entering a large room was a relief Krista didn't take for granted. With no walls against them, the radiating heat was not as pressing. However, they couldn't linger when Tidal was ahead of them. A quick scan of the chamber confirmed there was nothing of interest to be picked up. They crossed the large space in a hurry.
There was a quick beat of wings, and a red robin-like creature perched on a dead branch nearby. It glared at them with its glowing and piercing eyes.
A Fletchling.
For a second, Krista and Pineno shared the same dismay. But, they brushed it off as the bird approached. It didn't look like it would fly away.
"What did you pack, exactly?" Krista whispered as she kept her eyes on the bird.
"Uh…two apples, three blast seeds, two sleep seeds…an escape orb." Pineno paused as the Fletchling opened its wings. "Four oran berries? I think? I know the wands are in here, but I also kinda stuffed the bag with a bunch of rawst berries—sorry."
There was no reason to hold it against him. "How many pebbles?"
"More than I can count…"
"Can you pass me a few of those?"
As soon as Pineno reached for the bag and scooped up a pawful, the Fletchling flew forward.
Krista ducked, and the bird soared over her head. Its rapid wing beats brushed the air against her fur. It made a quick turn and dove again. That time, she was waiting and swiped at its stomach with her claws. She heard it scream as it staggered mid-flight. Its frantic attempt to recover was cut short as a vine struck it from the air.
It tumbled across the ground, but it rolled to its feet. A quick shake expelled dirt from its body. It lunged faster than the pair could blink.
Pineno was knocked from the ground. He crashed on his back, and the Fletchling landed on his stomach. It spread out its wings with a scream.
A flying pebble sent it tumbling. It laid defeated on the ground.
"Ugh. Thanks." Pineno stood and rubbed his chest. He casted a nervous glance at the twitching robin.
"How many floors does this dungeon even have?" Krista asked.
"I don't know," Pineno admitted. He rubbed his arm and took a deep breath. "I…don't even know how many more Fletchling we are going to see, or if any other bird creatures live here. I just hope Tidal had a better start than we did."
They entered a dungeon blind, with no knowledge on its length, or its inhabitants. The only information they had to rely on was from what Midnight said. They were escorted through it by Howler, but there was no telling how much stronger Team Slasher was compared to them. If they had trouble exploring the dungeon, it was clear things would only get more difficult further down the road.
(If we make it through this, Dusk is going to chew us out,) Krista realized.
No. No ifs. She slapped the horrible thought away. They were going to make it out. Tidal was going to return home safely.
Encountered next was a Geodude that rested near the stairs. It was awoken by their presence. While it was slower to react compared to the Fletchling, Krista realized how little it was phased by her attacks. She could feel her claws scraping the rocky hide, not doing as much as leave a mark. It was just like when she fought the Excadrill.
After she took a brutal tackle, she retreated to Pineno's side. The Geodude pursued her, but it was rudely knocked off course by a vine whip. The second one knocked it out.
"Fletchling, Geodude, what's next?" Pineno called his vines back into his shoulders. "Tidal wouldn't have much trouble against them, but we aren't so lucky. I just hope we don't run into any wild Fletchinder. That won't be fun."
It sunk in.
Fire and rock.
It was going to be difficult.
Mt. Ember - 2F
Another Geodude greeted them the moment the surfaced the 2nd floor. Krista decided to stand back, knowing her attacks weren't very effective against the rock-armored Pokémon. It was a strange irony attacking it with the very pebbles that borrowed its name. The Geodude wasn't the slightest pleased with it. It had no time to retaliate, as a couple of vine whips kept it on the ground.
Then there was another Fletchling paired with a Geodude. Krista and Pineno took on the Pokémon they knew they would perform better against. While the Fletchling's speed was annoying to keep track off, Krista was able to distract its assaults with a few noisy growls before swiping at it. When she predicted an oncoming quick attack, the Fletchling flew back and spat a small flurry of embers.
She drew back and shielded her face. Stinging needles singed her skin. The Fletchling must have noticed how effective the attack was, because it unleashed another flurry, one that was stronger than the last.
(This is starting to get annoying…!)
She scrambled around the fire, and launched herself from the ground. The Fletchling made a sharp turn to avoid her claws. As Krista landed, more embers rained down. She covered her head, trying to ignore the projectiles. With a paw reaching for her tail, she dropped a handful of geo pebbles into the palm.
The wild Fletchling screamed as a flurry of rocks shot towards it.
Dunk-dunk-dunk-dunk!
It fell face-first into the earth, body twitching. Smoke puffed out of its open beak.
"Yikes…" Krista shook her shoulders. Maybe she went a little overboard.
By the time she reunited with Pineno, the wild Geodude was too dazed to move. As expected, Pineno had no issue with his own battle. Krista explained to him how she discovered the vice grip of her tail, although she could never come to a solution why it was that way. But, she decided to make use of it by holding on to projectiles that way. At least she would know they would never get lost.
"That's actually pretty cool," Pineno commented. "I wouldn't have thought of that. Although my own tail is too stumpy to hold anything."
"You technically have four arms," Krista said.
"Oh! You're right!" he laughed, and it was genuine. "I could sling even more rocks if I wanted to, huh? It's kinda how my dad uses the rock slide technique, now that I think about it. I wanted him to teach me, but he said I wasn't ready. He said I would only crush myself flat… But! I think I am ready! I've gotten better at using the rollout technique! So I'm ready to learn an even stronger rock skill! I can smother fire and send birds packing! Oh! And ice! I can crush ice for sure! The next time I see him, I'll show him! I'll…"
He suddenly stopped. He looked towards his feet.
Krista understood why. "No! It's okay! I don't mind hearing about your dad, really! I actually like learning about him!"
Pineno looked at her, uncertain. "Really?"
"I understand that you worry about me, but I can't help that I remember nothing," Krista said. "I can't just…be sad all the time over something I don't know of at all. You shouldn't feel forced to avoid a topic you clearly enjoy. Besides. Isn't he famous? I don't think I can avoid any word of him if I tried."
"Y-yeah. He is." Pineno chuckled.
"Your dad taught you how to battle, right?" Krista remembered what she was told before.
"Oh, yeah. He and mama taught me plenty! But Dad is super strong, like he can crush mountains! He once stopped a cave from collapsing by holding it up with his bare hands! He fought against a raging Heatran and brought it down to submission!"
He paused.
"Well, those are stories. I don't know how true they are. But still! I want to be strong like him! Nothing could ever stop him! He's not afraid of anything! It's easy to see why the royals respected him so much! That's a huge deal, because the royals are some of the most powerful Pokémon ever known!"
Oh, he was rambling. His voice carried through the walls as they traveled through the maze. Several times they had to catch their footing against the unstable terrain. Several times rocks would jab against Krista's feet, but she did her best to ignore it. Pineno's chatter was distracting him from the heat that scared him. That was all that mattered.
She had to keep him distracted from his own dread.
"I already told you why the royals exist," Pineno continued. "And sure, some can say their connections with humans are not true, but just look at the Headmaster's scepter! It has to be a human artifact! Maybe it has a lot to do with why he looks somewhat different compared to the rest of his species. But it's not just him.
"I've heard that in the Solis Region, the Headmistress, Delphox, she has a golden cloak made of pure light. In the Mona Region, Headmaster Trevenant has multiple arms that can crush anyone who stands against him. In the Ebony Region, Headmistress Zoroark has a mane as white as snow. But…I don't know if those stories are true or not. The other royals don't sound very cool compared to our Headmaster, don't you think? It makes me wonder what the other regions say about him. What kind of stories did they make up in their heads about him?
"Oh! I almost forgot! There's The Supervisor; Metagross! No one knows how old they are. We just know they are the most intelligent being in the entire continent. A Pokémon that's smarter than a human! Do you know why? They are actually a combination of four of the most intelligent Beldum that came together during the region's darkest days. Don't you think that's amazing?"
Krista didn't even get a single chance to answer, but she couldn't complain.
(Metagross. I think…I know what that Pokémon is. But I was sure…Metagross is what happens when two Metang merge—Why do I know this? All of these things about Pokémon…I'm sure it has a lot to do with my forgotten past, but…)
"Whenever my dad came home, he always told me stories about his adventures, and the different kinds of Pokémon he met," Pineno said. "It just made me want to go out and help him, because he always works so hard. But…mama and dad…they never let me do anything. I understand why, but I wish they would have said something sooner."
"They probably said nothing because they didn't want to worry you," Krista said. "But I guess that also left so many questions. They sound like they really care about you."
She wanted to include that keeping him out of sight made their care questionable, but she left it out. His mood brightened too high.
"Yeah. They did," Pineno nodded. "And I really do miss them. Although my siblings are probably happy I'm not there anymore. They never liked me anyway."
He shrugged. He was trying to brush it off, but there was still subtle pain on his face. Something he didn't want to dwell on.
"But, you know, I'm glad I got to meet you. I'm glad I made it to Stoneridge Complex. Some of the Pokémon are so nice. Team Bedrock…Team Spring…they are very cool. I'm surrounded by far more Pokémon than I've ever seen my entire life. It makes me so jittery all the time."
Krista realized she didn't once ask about how he was faring within the complex. She wasn't the only one who had to adapt with such a drastic change. It wasn't that she forgot or didn't care, he just seemed well. He was happy and excited. Whenever he did get hurt, he was nonchalant about it.
In fact, the only time he ever was vulnerable was whenever he was around fire. Krista could only blame it on Skullzer, the Houndoom who tormented him. She couldn't fathom what sort of fear Pineno felt when he was being hunted by that Pokémon.
And still, despite it all, Pineno willingly arrived in Mount Ember to save Tidal.
It was strange, but maybe that was just how Pineno was.
"Aw, no…"
Krista looked ahead. She saw what he did. Their orange bodies and sharp eyes brought a terrible sense of familiarity.
"That's a Growlithe…!" Pineno shook his head. "And there's two of them! What do we do?"
The pair of canines stood once they noticed them. They crouched low with a growl, their red eyes fixed on them.
Krista passed a handful of geo pebbles to him, and it only took that simple motion for the Growlithe to perceive them as a threat. The pair of canines walked in separate directions, flanking Team Retribute with steady steps.
They rushed forward. They spat a flurry of embers.
Krista scrambled out of range. The embers struck the ground like bullets. The flurry followed her, nicking the edge of her tail. She ran towards the fire-breathing Growlithe, and attacked with her claws. The wild Growlithe yelped and jumped back before unleashing another wave of embers. The heat stung Krista's face. The scorching pain stung her entire body. No matter how much she tried to shield herself, the blistering pain found a way. The smell of singed fur filled her nose. She felt the burns in her skin.
She dropped to all fours and sprinted at full speed to escape the pain. The gap was closed between them, and she struck with her claws again. As it staggered, she followed with another swipe.
The wild Growlithe lifted its head with bared teeth. There was a dangerous gleam in its eyes, one that sent chills down Krista's spine.
She lost her focus. The Growlithe made another lunge.
Jaws clamped around her arm. Pain seeped to the bone. She screamed and tried to pull away, but the wild Growlithe pulled her off her feet and dragged her across the rocky earth. Pebbles and sharp edges scratched her body as she tried to pull herself free. The teeth sunk deeper. A new wave of sharp pain shot through her.
Krista only caught a glimpse of Pineno. A flare of orange was chasing him, and he was running away.
She had to get to him.
She turned her body and kicked at the Growlithe's stomach, but it didn't let go. She kicked harder, and all it did was annoy it. She felt the teeth pressing harder. She felt them digging into her bones. The horrible scream that flooded the air, she was sure it was her own. As her eyes met the Growlithe's, she saw a dangerous gleam. It was a gleam that was all too familiar.
It wanted to see her fail.
Heated anger washed away her pain. A snarl crossed her face.
She opened her mouth and clamped it tight around the Growlithe's nose. She heard the yelp. Her arm was freed, but she didn't let go. She could feel the Growlithe trying to shake her off, but all it did was encourage her to bite harder.
(Let's see how you like it! It doesn't feel good, does it?!)
She climbed to its back and buried her claws. She squeezed her eyes shut as the Growlithe continued to yelp and howl.
Finally, it collapsed.
Krista opened her eyes. She could hear it breathing, but it was still. She released her hold and stepped away, rubbing her aching jaw. She spat out the fur in disgust.
The Growlithe laid there, its face flooded with confusion and betrayal. It met her eyes, glossed with subtle tears, but it didn't move. Its muzzle was punctured and red. Faint whines sounded with every breath it took.
The anger Krista felt was gone, replaced with horror.
Pineno screamed.
Krista whipped around. Pineno was blindly throwing pebbles at the canine, who flinched as each one struck it across the head. It had enough as it leapt into the air. It unleashed flames as it threw its body downward.
It spun in a wheel. A flaming wheel. Pineno stopped throwing. He couldn't move.
Krista wouldn't reach him in time, but she ran anyway. There was only one thought that crossed her mind. "Pineno! Rollout! Use Rollout!"
He almost didn't register her words. He curled his body into a ball and rolled out of range. The Growlithe landed on the ground as the flames extinguished from its body. It pursued Pineno, curling its body into another flaming wheel. The two rolling Pokémon formed a engraved circle on the ground.
The green ball made a sharp turn and zipped towards Krista. She moved back. The ball struck a stone. It was thrown off-balance, kicked into the air.
It slammed against the wall. Pineno's body was shaken loose from its curl, but his back embedded into the surface. He pressed his paws against the wall to push himself free. Warm orange light made him freeze. A flaming wheel flew his way.
Pebbles struck the wheel, breaking it apart. Growlithe landed, just mere inches away from Pineno as it glared at Krista. It changed targets. It turned itself into a wheel again.
Krista could already feel the heat.
And the blinding light obscured her vision.
The heavy impact knocked her off her feet. The heat scorched her body. She was on the ground, tumbling and rolling to a stop.
Lifting her head, the Growlithe prepared another flame wheel. It zipped forward.
A powerful swirling gust of wind put the flames out. The Growlithe was sent across the field, its yelp cut short as its back slammed against the wall. It fell on the ground and made no effort to stand anymore.
Krista stood. Held in Pineno's paw was the sky-blue wand Vigor purchased for them. As the gust died, one of the leaves shriveled and flaked off the branch.
"Wow…these actually work!" Pineno lifted the wand over his face as he turned it around for a better look. "The Headmistress Delphox is amazing!"
"Pineno. Are you okay?" Krista asked, limping towards him.
Pineno set the wand to his side. Worry flooded his face. "Am I okay?! What about you?! You look terrible!"
Krista knew that already. Ignoring the pain wasn't working very well. Every step only sent a fresh wave of it.
"I just need an oran berry."
Mt. Ember - 4F
As they climbed higher, Team Retribute kept their eyes open for anything that didn't belong. They fought more Fletchling and Geodude. They took down another Growlithe. They called for Tidal, hoping that there was a slim chance that their paths met somehow.
But most of all, they were exhausted.
While the oran berries circulating their systems did well to heal their injuries, it wasn't the battling that slowed them down. Because they brought two apples, they split one between them the moment they felt hungry.
But hunger wasn't the problem, either.
There was a fog that made it difficult to focus. Pineno tried to keep their spirits strong as he sang his song, but that didn't last long. They were only on floor four, and already…
(I know why. We just got through two difficult dungeons yesterday. Our bodies are still exhausted. Doesn't help that the air up here is so hard to breathe…)
Krista saved herself from tripping over a stone that stuck out of the scorching dirt. She forgot she had whiskers until she noticed them dropping below her chin. She didn't think whiskers could wilt, but they were.
"I really wish we asked Midnight how many floors this dungeon has," she said.
"It didn't cross my mind…" Pineno's quills were wilting. Literally wilting. He glanced at the sky, pleading for some shade. "We aren't supposed to be exposed to hot temperatures like this."
Krista couldn't tell if he was referring to them both, or his general species. He was in worse shape than her. "Do you want me to take the bag?"
"Huh? You don't have to…"
"I'm going to, because you need a break. Let me have it."
Pineno shrugged off the backpack and handed it over. As soon as the weight was off him, he was visibly better—still wilted, but better. It wasn't enough to bring a smile to his face. His eyes were not focused.
"You're worried about him too." Krista realized. "We should had brought water with us."
"I wasn't thinking," Pineno said. "Poor Tidal must be miserable in this heat. I shouldn't be the one complaining. He is probably suffering worse than we are. I know reptiles like the heat, but this is too much heat. He's also a water Pokémon. And this sun…this sun is so strong."
He wasn't wrong. The sun was beating down on them. Krista couldn't look at the sky for too long due to how bright the glare was.
They really should have packed water.
And just when they thought it couldn't get any worse, a wild Pokémon had spotted them. It wasn't what they've encountered in the dungeon before, but its familiarity brought a sense of dread. Bubbles spat and popped from its magma body as red eyes surfaced. It blinked once, staring.
Pineno stiffened. "Oh no…"
"How does it even live here?" Krista asked, more annoyed than worried. "There's no lava for it to live in!"
Having lost its patience, the wild Slugma swung its body. Small embers flew out of its surface and towards the pair. Pineno jumped back in a panic. The second wave was directed at Krista. She jumped out of range.
Pineno nearly pushed Krista as he shoved his paw in their bag. He pulled out a handful of the sticks they gathered before. He threw one directly at the wild Slugma.
It burst into flames and reduced into ash.
Pineno gasped. "What?! Since when is that possible?!"
"Okay. Sticks won't work. Of course it won't." Krista stepped back.
The Slugma unleashed more fire. Pineno jumped back once again. The flames landed near his feet, and he was too hesitant to fight back. However, when the Slugma turned its attention to his friend, he became more concerned of her. Krista threw a geo pebble at the foe before he could act. To her horror, it sank into its body in a burst of flames. Her paws were empty, she was left with her wits to find a way around. As it approached, she was lost on what to do.
A rolling green blur rammed against the Slugma and sent it flying in the air. Just as it fell, the blurry green wheel was after it. It was struck again, and the Slugma splat on the ground. It laid motionless, and defeated.
The wheel slowed down, until the blurry image became clear. Pineno performed a front flip and landed on his feet. He shook away his dizziness with a chuckle and pumped a trembling paw in the air. "HAH! I…I did it! I DID IT! I defeated a fire creature at last! Take that, Fire Maze! I'm not afraid of you anymore! This is my vengeance!"
He caught his breath, and he laughed.
"I uh…I guess I should have done that in the beginning, huh?"
Krista almost smiled, but the smell of smoke flooded her nostrils. She searched around for the source, until she caught sight of it at the worst possible place.
"Whoa!"
"What?" Pineno was startled. "What is it?!"
"Your tail!"
"My what?!" Pineno turned to take a look near his rear. It was making a perfect impression of a Charmander's tail. "AAAH! MY TAIL'S ON FIRE! I completely forgot that Slugma has FLAME BODY!"
Krista looked around for something, anything to extinguish the flames instead.
Pineno started to run around Krista in circles, flailing his arms around as if he was trying to fly. "PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!"
Krista's mind was racing. "HOW?! THERE'S NO WATER HERE!"
"THERE MUST BE SOME WAY!" The flames started to spread quickly on his body. Tears stung the corners of his eyes.
"I uh…I…!"
"THINK OF SOMETHING BEFORE I DIE!'
"DON'T SAY THAT! STOP, DROP, AND ROLL!"
"WHAT?! WHAT IS THAT?!"
"JUST FALL ON THE GROUND AND ROLL AROUND!"
Mt. Ember - 5F
After the sudden mess they got themselves into, it was a relief when they found the staircase to the next floor. The excitement of Pineno almost becoming a living torch gave them the energy to move a little faster at least.
Pineno would occasionally glance at his charred tail. He took another unsteady breath as he bit into his rawst berry. "Can't believe we forgot about the rawst berry."
"Can't believe it actually worked that fast," Krista said. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah. It's not the worst kind of burn I've felt," Pineno answered with a shrug. He started to groom his face free from leftover char. "It actually wasn't that bad."
Krista had to hold down the horror his words brought. (It wasn't…?)
They both stopped. Two wild Pokémon were studying them: a Geodude and a Numel. They seemed ready to attack.
Pineno took a step back. "Can you deal with the Numel for me? I'm not too fond of fire right now…"
Krista nodded and charged, but she withdrew the moment the Numel breathed out sparks of fire.
"Why does everyone here know ember?!" Krista shouted.
"Maybe…maybe that's how the dungeon got its name?" Pineno forcefully joked.
The pair fought the wild duo, taking them on with careful attacks. Each wave of Ember was more difficult to avoid than the last. Finally, a flurry struck Krista, stinging her body like a storm of pebbles. She withdrew, brushing off the smoke to save herself from catching flame.
She realized it didn't pay her much attention anymore. It's focus had shifted to Pineno.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Krista shouted at it. "You're fighting me!"
Pineno had noticed it just as it unleashed its embers. A scream escaped him, and he lunged for the ground. The Geodude he was battling froze at the storm that flew for it.
It got struck, and the embers struck the dry shrub beneath its floating form. Flames spread like a blanket and engulfed the Geodude within seconds. Its cries rang strong as it flailed its arms in an effort to put them out.
A wail escaped Pineno as he scrambled back from the illuminating sight. He fell on his rear and kicked his feet, crawling to get away. Krista grabbed his arms and lifted him to his feet. They ran, ignoring the confused Numel.
That was when it remembered they were there, and it gave chase. As it spat more embers, Krista shoved Pineno to the ground and took the brunt of the flurry. The stinging pain was enough to anger her. With a cry, she lunged and struck it with every ounce of power she had. Once it hit the ground, it thankfully had enough.
Krista walked back over to Pineno, who had curled himself into a trembling ball. A soft tap on his shell made him jump. She drew back, unsure of what to do.
"Pineno…it's okay. The Numel is gone. I took care of it."
Pineno lifted his head. His paws remained pressed against the top of it as he looked at her with glossy eyes.
And he wore a strange smile.
"Ahahaha…that was…wicked."
Krista glanced back from where they fled. The Geodude's cries had died off. She didn't want to see what became of it.
"Yeah…wicked," she agreed. The word felt strange coming from her mouth.
"I guess…I guess the Slugma was a reminder," Pineno said. "Ahaha…I don't want to get burned again…"
Once they composed themselves, they resumed their trek through the hostile environment. When they encountered another Slugma, they were more cautious. Krista waited for the moment it opened its mouth to throw a pink, frilly, and layered seed at it.
A sleep seed. The Slugma swallowed it in one bite, and a pink cloud of powder burst from its mouth. It went slump on the ground, unconscious.
Mt. Ember - 7F
The terrain changed.
The ground wasn't just hot, it was unbearable. Standing in one spot for too long brought blistering pain to them both. They were forced to keep moving their feet, even as they stood still. Gasses rose from the pockets on the ground, which swelled the acrid air. It didn't take much to see the source.
Streams of magma seeped along the edges of the walls. It was under the process of hardening, black and almost solid. Bright red cracks surfaced, spewing more gas into the air. It was known that they stood on a mound, but it went from feeling like a mountain, to an active volcano.
In fact, there was no telling what kind of environment the distortion swallowed. How the dungeon got its name however, it was finally presented before them.
Specks of embers fluttered in the air like snow. What touched Krista didn't hurt, but it held an annoying sting.
Pineno had gone silent since they arrived on the floor. His eyes were primarily fixed on the ground.
Just as he feared, it was the Fletchinder that started to appear.
They were running low on geo pebbles. Krista opted on using a slow wand to escape once it started to overwhelm them. That was when they decided it was best to avoid battles whenever they could. It wasn't just the terrain that became more difficult to trudge through. It was the wild Pokémon that became too strong to fight. Not that they couldn't handle them, but a single mistake was costly. They ended up splitting an oran berry. They were thankful that walking sped up their natural healing process, but at the same time, hunger was crawling through their stomachs. The exhaustion from yesterday brought aches to their bodies.
Pineno tried to reach for the bag, but his paw was gently pushed back.
"No apple right now," Krista said, shaking her head. "We can't just eat it just because we are hungry. It's too important to waste."
They decided to split the last apple only if they absolutely needed it. But with the uncertainty of how many floors were left to ascend, it left a sinking feeling. A smile couldn't be forced when reality started to hit.
The Fire Maze looked a lot more tame. Dusk was there. He was merely tagging along, but his very presence brought a sense of comfort.
They already missed him. Silently, they hoped he would magically appear to guide them the rest of the way, to tell them that everything would work out.
"We can't faint here…not after how far we climbed," Pineno told himself. His quills were flat against his skull. He was almost dragging his feet, but the scorching ground kept him in motion.
Mt. Ember - 9F
"Come on, Pineno. You have to get up…"
As soon as they climbed the next staircase, Pineno collapsed on the ground, as if it wouldn't burn him. Krista tried to pull him back to his feet, but he shook his head with a groan. His quills started to lose their shape, and she knew it was a bad sign.
"Here. How about a rawst berry?" Krista pulled the berry out the bag and offered it to him. It was warm in her paws, which almost made her squeamish. "You brought a lot of these. You can eat another one. It should cool your body down for a bit."
"I already ate one on the last floor. They don't work…not like that…" Pineno almost muttered. "This was a bad idea. We should've never come here. I should have said something to Grove. This is all my fault."
"No. No, it's not. I came here too, you know," Krista said. She stepped in front of him and slipped her arms under his shoulders. She pushed her legs, holding his weight as she lifted him from the ground. To her surprise, she was able to hold him. As exhausting as it was, she didn't falter. "I wasn't going to let you…go through this place by yourself…!"
Pineno winched. "But you're withering, too…I made you come here…"
"I chose to come here, and we are going to get out of here together with Tidal! So…come on! Get up…!" Krista clenched her teeth as she stood him up. He didn't have the strength to stand. Every time she tried to keep him steady, he would slip back towards the ground. Her vision was beginning to blur. Her head was spinning.
Dizzy. She was getting dizzy. Lightheaded.
(No…I can't let myself pass out. Not when he's in more trouble than I am! Come on, body! Work with me! Work!)
The harsh sunlight was beating down on them with little mercy. The clouds provided no shade. The streams of magma that huddled close to the walls added more to the relentless heat. Not a lick of moisture was in the air.
Team Slasher went to this place? And they walked out unscathed…
(Howler was with them. This place must have been like home to him. Of course…of course it would be…)
Krista almost slipped at her fifth attempt to keep him steady. She came to the conclusion that he was simply too weak to walk, and her own legs were close to giving in. Relief was all she wanted, for both of their sake. Even if the heat could disperse for a few minutes, it would be all they need.
If only the clouds would provide even the tiniest of drizzles.
Rain.
Krista was careful as she shifted her body towards the bag. She kept Pineno balanced as she reached inside and felt for an orb. She caught the glimpse of an escape orb, a blowback orb…
The rain orb!
It was still wrapped in the cloth as she pulled it out. She peeled it away, and the sunlight reflected off the glass, almost blinding. She turned his head at an angle and squinted her eyes. The surface was a sky-blue, dotted with raindrops. As she turned it around, the drops slid across the surface. When she squinted her eyes even tighter, she could see the dark clouds rotating inside. The faint rumble between her paws was more than enough to keep her focus.
She raised it high above her head, trying to keep her arm from shaking.
A paw touched her shoulder.
Pineno, with the strength he had, shook his head.
"Why…?" Krista asked, stunned. "You need some kind of hydration—"
"It's…not ours," Pineno muttered. "It's…Tidal's."
"I'm not going to let you shrivel up all because it belongs to someone else! We can pay back what we used! You need it, Pineno!"
Pineno stopped her again. "We…are not using it…"
"But you're…"
"Please, Krista… Tidal…what if he reached the top…? And he needs it more than we do? I wouldn't be able to forgive myself…"
"We have an escape orb. We can…just use that…!"
"I don't need it…"
"Yes you do!"
"I don't need it…" As if to prove a point, Pineno gently pushed her off. He took a shaky step forward, followed by another. He dragged his weight on the ground. "All I need…is an apple."
Krista could easily trigger the rain spell right then and there, but something held her back. A thought. What if he was right? What if the escape orb wasn't enough to help Tidal? If they returned home and he was unable to come to…
She dug for the last apple, and sliced it in half using a single claw. She ate her portion, and the moisture of the fruit was a paradise she never believed was possible. She gave the second half to Pineno. He didn't eat. She felt a wave of fear, until she remembered the badges would have reacted had anything happened.
He started to nibble, and she was relieved.
He thanked her and took the rain orb from her paw. As he set it inside the bag, he searched for something else. He almost sunk back against the ground with a groan.
"I…didn't bring any elixirs," Pineno realized. "This is bad."
Discovering the staircase was a mix of joy and dread. As each one they climbed, it only brought another floor.
Pineno couldn't lift a single foot. Krista carried him in her back as she made her way up.
"Please tell me there are no more floors after this…"
Mt. Ember - 12F
"That was…our last sleep seed."
The wild Slugma was a puddle on the ground, in a deep slumber. Krista dropped her paw in defeat.
"Urgh…it's so hard to breathe…" Pineno took an unsteady step. He almost fell, but he was caught in an instant. He leaned against Krista's body. She didn't argue. There was no point.
When they reached the tenth floor, Krista almost collapsed in utter despair. Pineno's condition was the only reason she held strong.
The wild creatures held the advantage of not being exhausted to the slightest. Krista wished she could understand how it was possible, but it could only be chalked up to the distortion.
By the time they reached the eleventh floor, Krista had to shake Pineno to stand. He was on the verge of giving in. He himself fought against his own body. Out of fear of running out of resources, they opted to flee from any wild Pokémon they spotted. It forced them to walk in circles. Eventually, even doing that was costly. The rawst berries only cooled their bodies for a few minutes. By the time the effect wore off, it was like getting struck by a sledgehammer. As if to add insult to injury, a horrible headache made itself known. The berries did not bring relief to their dry mouths. Water was all they could think about.
Water did not exist.
It was unfair.
By the time they reached the twelfth floor, Krista was convinced they were imprisoned. They were never going to escape on their own. Several times, she was tempted to use the escape orb. Her vision would blur. Her body ached. Everything was hot. Everything burned.
Her eyes, especially. It hurt to see.
Then she would remember Tidal, and it gave her just enough strength to keep moving.
They walked side by side, dragging their feet as they ventured further in the unforgiving environment. Their voices were strained as they called out for the Sobble. Desperation filled their tones.
Wild Pokémon were drawn to the noise. They avoided who they could, but the ones who chased them left no choice but to fight. Their attacks were sloppy and low on effort. Pineno couldn't summon his vines anymore, but they were no use regardless. He was too tired to curl his body into a ball, even as a way to retreat from the heat.
Soon enough, Krista's arms burned. Every movement brought blisters. The Numel she was battling has collapsed. There was no possibility she could face another. Her cream fur was scorched in many spots. The ember had engulfed flames, but it was extinguished.
There were no more rawst berries.
The pain beneath her burning pads were nothing compared to the cramps all over her body. It was nothing compared to Pineno's misery. He tried to stand several times, but his body betrayed him.
They were ambushed by three wild Growlithe. One became sluggish once it was hit by the spell casted by the slow wand, but the other two were able to pick up their partner's slack. Panic gave Krista the small burst of energy needed to bring out the pounce wand. She held on to Pineno and waved it. A ball of light shot out and struck the wall at the other end of the room.
Their bodies were sent flying from the ground. The duo of Growlithe stood, bewildered by the sudden speed their targets achieved.
Breathing was almost impossible as the hot air blew past them in a strong gust. Everything was smudged in their vision as they blurred past everything. When they did touch the ground, they tumbled on the surface. Sprawled out, somehow the scorching dirt was the most comfortable thing.
Actually…Krista could fall asleep right there. It…didn't seem like a bad idea.
"No…Krista. Stay awake… We…we have to keep moving," Pineno whispered. "What do…they always say…? No matter what happens…no matter how bleak things become, we will always prevail…"
So they stood, with Krista supporting his weight. They were limping, but they were moving. Through the corridors and across the rooms, they picked up whatever they could find. It was just more rocks.
When they encountered a group of Slugma, Krista casted another pouncing spell.
A wild Fletchinder landed in front of them, Krista sent it away with a flick of a whirlwind wand. It thankfully made no effort to come back.
Only one leaf remained in each wand.
Another Numel challenged them, but a flying blast seed blew it off its feet. The explosion cleared and revealed it to be unconscious on the ground. Krista sighed. She was glad eating them wasn't necessary.
She was even more glad to see the staircase.
With another blast seed in paw, she walked towards the strange spiral. And again, Krista carried Pineno on her back as they climbed their way up.
Krista didn't think seeing a blinding white light would bring such happiness.
Mt. Ember Heights
As the light faded, the pressure in the air started to lift at last. It was more breathable, and tension started to ease. But most of all, the air was cooler.
Around them, there was nothing much to see. The granite ground stretched across in every direction, slanted at the very edges. It was bare, with only the few shrubs that managed to grow. The rocky walls were gone, reduced to clusters of boulders. Beyond that, Krista was sure the mound was an easy scale down.
She hated how mystery dungeons worked. She hated that…the way down would only take moments, as if the curse was never there.
Although Pineno couldn't stand straight, and his quills displayed no signs of rejuvenating, he found his smile. "We made it. We are out of the dungeon…and we did it all by ourselves…! We did it all by ourselves!"
His laughter was a surprise, but a delight to hear.
"We did it…! We actually did it…! We—"
FWOOOOOOOOOOM!
They almost flew.
A gigantic and towering wall of fire burst from the ground just a leap ahead of them. It stretched across the mound and high in the sky, disappearing as smoke near the clouds. The rippling air sent blistering heat against their bodies. It almost sucked the air out of their lungs.
It almost felt like the dungeon they just crawled out of.
Pineno was on the ground. He gave in to his body's impulses, curled into a protective ball.
The roaring stopped in an abrupt fashion. The fire was gone in the blink of an eye, with only the smoke to linger.
After a few silent seconds, Pineno relaxed his body and sat up.
"Wh-what is that?"
"I…don't know," Krista answered.
Pineno was on his feet. He shivered. "If we took a step closer, we would be a walking torch…!"
It was a scene Krista didn't want to imagine. How a wall of fire was possible in the first place—
Krista saw it.
Someone had collapsed on the ground…light blue in color.
"Tidal!" Pineno gasped. He almost ran, but he stopped himself as he looked down at the spot the wall of fire shot out.
There was a giant crack on the ground, one that was black from countless sessions of fire. There was no telling how deep it went, but there was an unmistakable glow of fire in the pits. It stretched far and across on both sides. A way around it did not exist.
Just as that thought crossed their minds, the wall of fire exploded again, spewing high above their heads, illuminating the ground in a brilliant yellow light. Pineno stepped back in a whimper, but he had expected it that time.
Just as fast as it came, it was gone.
"Come on!" Pineno grabbed Krista's paw and almost dragged her across. They both jumped at how hot the ground felt near the cracks, but they made it across. The fire roared behind them. They almost staggered.
As they got closer, they realized the Sobble wasn't moving.
"This is bad! He needs an oran berry!"
Krista already had one out before he said anything. He took it from her paw and dropped on the ground. Pineno had forgotten everything about his own state as he rolled Tidal to his back and lifted his head.
"Here! Eat this! It's an oran berry!" Pineno pushed the blue berry against Tidal's mouth.
And thankfully, Tidal accepted it. He was still conscious.
"Are you okay?! Can you speak?!" Pineno was almost screaming.
Krista could tell Tidal didn't have an easier time through the dungeon. His head fin was shriveled, likely from lack of moisture. She was sure she wasn't supposed to see his scales in such fine detail. He looked dry, terribly dry.
But his mouth moved again, and his eyes opened. They held indescribable amounts of emotion. If he wanted to cry, he was too exhausted.
Tidal's voice was almost inaudible. "Y-you…you both came all the way…but why? Why would you do that? Th-this place…it's not merciful to anyone…"
"We should be asking you the same thing!" Pineno shouted at him. "Coming here alone?! You know that's dangerous!"
Tidal looked away. "I-I…I'm sorry. I just…I just wanted to prove to everyone that…I'm not a coward. I-I wanted to show them how strong I was…that I wasn't a crybaby. I wanted to show I was better than them…isn't that what you told me? Y-you said…to not let anyone push me around anymore. You said to not let my fear control me…and that's what I did…"
"I…" Pineno squeezed one eye shut as his body jerked. The ebbs of pain from his climb still lingered. "I…"
"That's…not exactly what he meant," Krista said. "Yes, he told you to be brave, and to not let anyone walk on you. But…but that doesn't mean you should put yourself in danger!"
"T-Team Slasher said I was too chicken to take on Mount Ember!" Tidal sat up with the little energy he had, glaring at her. "A-and I proved them wrong! I climbed to the top! They can't…make fun of me anymore!"
Krista would argue further, but one look at Pineno reminded her of the poor state their bodies were in. "We should…just go home. It's no good if we stay out here."
Tidal's expression eased as he nodded. "Yeah…yeah."
"Right… The escape orb." Pineno dug through the bag. There was some difficulty as he curled his lips, pain on his face. After a while, he found what he was looking for and brought it out. Its shimmering surface almost brought joy to all of them.
He held it high above his head.
He froze.
"What?" Krista grew concerned.
"It's…it's not working," Pineno realized.
"It's not working? But it should still work here, right?"
"I think so? Or does it only work inside the distortion…I don't know. I don't…"
The ground started to shake. Pineno was tense, his eyes glued to the ground.
"S-something's…something's on its way…! It's underground somewhere, but I can't tell where!"
"What…what is it?" Krista asked.
Tidal started to quiver. His eyes squeezed shut. "I-I…I just remembered. The orbs lose their magic…when there's too much pressure in the air! It's like some mysterious force is blocking it! A-and that usually happens when…a powerful boss Pokémon is near!"
Krista felt her heart sink. "The boss?!"
"I-I kinda challenged him…" Tidal confessed. "And I made him mad."
"You actually did it?!"
The air was heavy again… almost as if they entered dungeon-territory again. A cold chill that shot down their spines. Instincts screamed for them to run.
"Rrrrr…."
Pineno stood firm in response. "Come on! We can still get out!" He turned around to head down the mound, but he jumped back as the ground cracked across his path. Fire spewed out as a new wall blocked him from going any further. He shouted and rushed back.
"We're trapped?!" Krista gasped. She was on guard, but it didn't help her stay calm from her fear.
"Rrrr…I thought I took CARE of you…!"
The raging voice boomed in their cores.
BMP!
That horrible sense of danger.
Pineno spoke up. "W-we're sorry for disturbing you! We only wanted to check this place out! We'll leave now! We promise!"
The voice growled in response.
"You wanted to check the place OUT?! What kind of fool do you TAKE me for?!"
"What?!" Pineno frowned. "We never said you were one!"
"You came here to STEAL this place from me! I already crushed the Sobble spy! I will do the same to you! I refuse to allow The Sorcerers to take away what is mine! I will serve NO ONE!"
"Wait a second! We don't work with The Sorcerers at all!" Pineno tried to reason with the angry speaker.
"Lies! You clearly, CLEARLY have EVERY intent to blight me! Why ELSE would you be HERE?!"
BMP!
The ground exploded in front of them, and they scrambled back in a panic. A fountain of fire shot out and extinguished as smoke. A heavy shadow lunged from within and landed before them. The children nearly fell back by the shaking impact.
"Wh…what is that?!" Pineno shrieked.
A bipedal, turtle-like Pokémon with a red head of spikes stood strong. His jagged and armor-like body made it look impossible to do him any harm. The large black spikes protruding from his shell twitched, as if they were on the verge of exploding. His raging eyes pierced fear through the children's feeble hearts.
Pineno gasped and pressed his arms around his body. The heat was too much for him.
(We won't stand a chance!) Krista realized. (We can't fight!)
The beast roared and stomped through the ground. "This is the territory of I,Turtonator! Any Sorcerer shall be VANQUISHED! You will not blight me! You will not blight anyone! PREPARE yourselves!"
"W-wait!" Krista screamed. "We're not—"
B-BMP!
Turtonator raised his claws in the air with a roar.
He staggered. He stumbled.
He fell forward.
He was unconscious.
At first, no one knew how to react. When Turtonator displayed no signs of moving, they knew it wasn't some kind of trick.
"Wh…what just happened…?" Krista asked.
"He just fainted?" Pineno winched. "But he was so angry just a second ago. I actually thought we were going to fight."
"Did you do that, Tidal?" Krista asked.
"N-no," Tidal answered. "I didn't stand a chance against him. I-I don't think I hurt him too much when we fought. M-maybe…maybe he got so angry that he passed out?"
It was the only reasonable explanation.
"We…we should hurry out before he wakes up."
Pineno raised his escape orb again, but he lowered it in an instant. He almost couldn't speak as pain crossed his face again. "It's still not working…but it should be. He's not conscious. But the pressure in the air…it didn't lift."
"Can't we just use our badges?!" Krista asks.
"And risk Zee knowing we left…?"
"We almost didn't make it out because we didn't tell anyone about coming here!"
The wall of fire spewed behind them, unleashing blasting heat before it retreated again.
Pineno bit down his pain, and he nodded. "You're right. I guess…getting scolded is better than perishing in a terrible place…"
Krista brought out Tidal's badge that they kept safe throughout the entire journey. She placed it on him, and the Sobble looked surprised that they retrieved it. Thankfully, he understood. He took it without argument.
And so, the trio closed their eyes and held the badges close with thoughts of home. Upon opening them…there was no glow.
"What?" Pineno tilted his badge around, one eye squeezed shut again. "Did we do it wrong…?"
"N-no. We didn't," Tidal said. "It always worked for me when I used it."
The wall of fire roared and retreated once more.
Krista checked her own badge to see if it was faulty. That was when she noticed it; the black bolts that snaked around the surface. They didn't hurt, but she felt the negative energy emanating.
She looked at Turtonator again. The shell on his back was cloaked with dark energy.
"Something's not right. This isn't normal."
Tidal searched, frantic for any further signs of danger. He stopped as his eyes landed on something. "P-Pineno? Are…you…are you okay?"
Krista noticed how Pineno's face was twisted tight. He was experiencing intense pain, one that rivaled everything they encountered before. But hearing him gasping for air, and seeing the tears gather in his eyes…it was something far, far more severe.
"Pineno?" Krista took a cautious step forward. She didn't want to touch him—she feared it would make his pain worse. "Pineno! What's wrong?!"
He shook his head, trying to swallow the pain away. When it didn't work, he dropped to one knee. He gasped again and whimpered. "I…I can't…! It…it burns…!"
Tidal jumped closer to search his body. "It burns?! B-b-but you don't seem to be burned anywhere!"
Fluttering past their ears.
Krista and Tidal followed the sound. A Starly landed just feet away from them.
"Wh—a St-Starly?" Tidal whispered.
More fluttering.
A second Starly dropped behind them. A third at their left. A fourth at their right.
Krista almost forgot how to breathe.
"No…!" Pineno cried out, gasping. "No…! NO!"
"Wh-what's going on?!" Tidal shrieked.
Krista's fur stood on end as she took in a sharp breath. It stung. It grew stronger in waves, the horrible scent of fear. Where it came from, it made her heart sink.
Pineno…
He couldn't stop trembling. His eyes were locked on one spot.
"No…no…nononono…!"
His tears fell. It was too much for him.
The wall of fire shot out. It roared deep in their ears. It brought agony…suffocation.
"The Turtonator had every reason to display distrust."
The deep, authoritative growl encased Krista's body in ice.
"You are wise to share his dismay…for I have found you at last."
The fire shrunk as smoke into the cracks. A pair of Starly hovered behind the cloud in the air, staring them down. What stood below them…
…was a Houndoom with a broken horn.
To be Continued in Chapter 16.