Posted November 10th, 2024
Chapter Summary
Now that they know the village is close, Alejandrien and Team Kirigiri have quite a bit on their plate: getting through a Mystery Dungeon and finding their way there. But things could never be so simple, thankfully there's no risk without reward, especially if it's knowledge on the Ruinous Fog.
With Alejandrien at the lead, Team Kirigiri settled near the white trees in front of the plainly named Forest Mystery Dungeon that belonged to ‘A— Village’, wherever that was. T'nuri, Kaliente, and Emile lay half sprawled out on the grass, chests heaving with every breath.
The grasp of Ruinous Fog couldn't follow the four detectives into the Mystery Dungeon, but that didn't matter: it would continue its voracious journey all across the island if not stopped. Kuanalio only had about a day or two until it was buried underneath a curtain of Black Fog, poison rain and fire, a nigh impossible situation to save. Despite the midday conditions outside the Mystery Dungeon, it was eerily dark inside. The Investigation Team needed to hurry.
“Y'all caught yer bearings?” the Jangmo-o asked as they jogged in place.
Tnuri struggled off the ground.“Define. Bearings,” she moaned, breathing heavily.
“Bearings is like we got our shit together and all,” Kaliente also sighed. “That's it.”
“Thank you DictOranguru,” the Cubone mumbled, her eyes shut. “Get this woodworker up to date with the latest edition, why don’t you.”
The Grookey beside the two cleared her throat. “T'nuri,” she reminded, her ruby eyes fierce.
“Sorry, that was rude of me.”
“It’s fine,” Kaliente said as he patted her shoulder. “Sure thing on that Dicto, but I didnea say I had a copy of that book, laddie.”
The Jangmo-o let out a breath as bewilderment etched across her maw. “What’s wrong with y’all?”
Emile grimaced as she held her chest. “We've been running for exactly thirty-one minutes and sixty seconds.”
“Thirty one minutos! That's long enough to make a show out of us eh?” the Fuecoco said as he ruffled her fur.
T'nuri blinked at him.“What?”
Alejandrien nudged the three of them up, to mixed reactions.“We've gotta hurry on outta here and get to that Ah slash village something rather.”
“Something rather?” Kaliente laughed.
The Cubone rubbed her shoulders as another gust of wind blew past. “These guys must be secretive, because any other village would have signs posted around everywhere.”
Emile tilted her head.“Everywhere?”
“Haven’t you been to Hau Beach, Park of Au’ Hola, and Minuet Village?”
“I've never been to Pa’a Lepo before.”
“Well whatever, there’s tons of signs posted all the way down near the middle of the Akal Woods.”
“I see, well in-”
Kaliente tapped his foot.“We don't have too much time.
“Agreed,” the Grookey replied and pointed her stick at the parting of stark white trees. “
Vamos . Let's go.”
A whisper of wind echoed through the blanche woods, blowing the frayed black blades of grass all around. With unsteady steps, the four Pokémon finally entered the Mystery Dungeon proper.
Despite the ocean of white trees on the outside, waves upon waves of verdant greens greeted Team Kirigiri as thick and spiny brambles closed the path behind them. Even with the luscious trees, a chillier gale tore through the dark Mystery Dungeon. It wasn't like North Beach Mountain.
“This place is dangerous, so try to stay behind us alrigh’.” Kaliente stepped in front of the shivering Cubone and Jangmo-o.
Alejandrien leaned closer to his fiery warmth, and spoke. “It's more dangerous than our last adventure?”
“Yes,” Emile responded.
“How do you guys know?” the Cubone questioned, her gaze narrow. “You weren’t even there.” She shivered, and a blush sprouted under her eyes.
Alejandrien smirked.
Can't be too cool as a Cubone, T'nuri.
“These last few years reports say, North Beach Mountain has less hostile and smaller Pokemon inhabiting its lands,” the Fuecoco replied.
We've got reports but no village name? “In other words?” the Jangmo-o asked.
The Grookey took in a breath before she answered.“There’s evolved Pokémon here.”
“Shoot! And we barely made it last time!” T’nuri gasped.
“Really laddie?” Kaliente said, his eyes narrow.
“Is true. Let's stay cautious now y'all.” Alejandrien's scales clattered as the group passed through the first clearing they encountered.They winded down a damp trail, where stray tree limbs, and roots stuck out from the blue, almost teal grasses.
One was never alone in a Mystery Dungeon, not for too long.
A Slurpuff and a Bellossom, made their presence known with a deafening shout, the former's deeper than the latter's. Kaliente moved in front of Alejandrien, while Emile blocked T'nuri, each to the best of their abilities size wise
. Ya ain't much different in height partner. The Jangmo-o thought as they shuffled back.
“We don't wish to fight,” Emile said to the wilderners, perhaps as an order.
But if only it was so simple. “You all say that!” The Slurpuff growled as they shot out a light-pink heart of energy towards Alejandrien.
“Show me what ya got then!” Kaliente yelled. He took in a quick breath and launched out a huge Ember. The flames overpowered the Draining Kiss in an instant, scorching the Slurpuff behind it a bit.
Woah! The Jangmo-o thought.
That was mighty hot, just like the flames from the Ruinous Fog!
Bellossom laughed as he edged closer to the detectives. “If we win, you leave!”
“You have five seconds,” the Grookey growled, her eyes narrowed.
“Sure thing pal,” Slurpuff cackled.
“One.” Emile’s sharp comment cut through the air.
Alejandrien and T’nuri flinched at the venom in her tone.
Glad I'm not fightin’ these guys . Alejandrien thought.
“Two.”
“Let me try!” Alejandrien pivoted to the side and fired out a round of Scale Shots at each foe, the grey draconian shards darting left and right.
“Three.”
In the blink of an eye, a green blur from the Bellossom swept all but one of the dragon scales onto the ground, the last one slicing against his arm. A burst of sharp Razor Leaves knocked the draconic blades down and nearly tore into T'nuri's side.
“Four.” Nearly was the key word, as Emile's Branch Poke, now about the size of a sword, swept into the blast, some of the blades of leaves tagging the Grookey's fur.
“Spark!” the Cubone gasped. “Are you okay?”
“Five.” Shrugging off the Razor Leaf, Emile’s paws shone a bright white. She lunged at the Bellossom. The Grookey’s elongated claws Scratched his shoulder, strong enough to draw blood.
T’nuri pivoted to the side once Emile leapt, bone-club at the ready. With a grunt, she threw her Bonemerang straight at the Slurpuff right beside her, the blow resulting in a soft thunk before the bone-club rebounded to her grip.
Shit! Alejandrien's mind raced
. T'nuri an’ I are that weak?
“Get back mate!” Kaliente pulled the Cubone behind him just before the Slurpuff retaliated. The Fuecoco's body shined bright, straining his muscles to Endure the the Play Rough slamming into his chest. Thankfully, the translucent barrier took the brunt for Kaliente. He stumbled over his claws with a grunt, even though the attack was not very effective, it was from the surprisingly strong Slurpuff afterall.
Let me move! Bellossom aimed to slice T'nuri with Razor Leaf again, the whirlwind of leaves darting through the air at her back, but this time Alejandrien shielded her with Protect. Unfortunately after a few seconds the translucent wall cracked.
Emile dashed in front of the Jangmo-o and took the rest of the Razor Leaves, falling onto one knee as the extra sharp blades cut through her fur.
Right beside the Grookey, Kaliente roared and shot out another Ember, this time to the side at Bellossom. In an instant, the orange, yellow blur of flames scorched through his resistance. Bellossom crashed to the ground, incapacitated.
Here's a chance! Alejandrien watched as Emile Scratched Slurpuff across the chest, the swipe of her arm knocking them back, allowing T'nuri to swing in for the final push. The Cubone's Bone-Club bashed into Slurpuff's shoulder, and finally knocked them out.
Now that the Slurpuff and the Bellossom were done, Team Kirigiri resumed their trek through the eloquently labeled ‘Forest Mystery Dungeon’, the tiny dark corridors still grim with gales, daring to rip the leaves from various trees.
After they rounded one particular corner, the found something interesting.
In the center of the Mystery Dungeon floor, high atop a hill deep in the ground, one shrouded in gorgeous plants, sat a massive navy blue tree. Its bleach dottled pink leaves reaching the top of the ‘cavern’ boundary.
“Woah!” Emile’s call echoed out through the open stretch of land. “
Fantastico , Fantastic! How amazing!”
Kaliente followed her to the edge of the path, and glanced left and right. “And over there’s to the next area!” His claw pointed to a sloped hill leading through part of the ceiling, all the way across in another connected room. Team Kirigiri made their way over and parted through the thin strands of moss all the way to the second floor.
On the second floor the four Pokémon crawled into a rather small tree lined room, with three sprawling exits, north, west, and east.
Don’t want to go in circles. “Let’s follow the taller trees,” Alejandrien offered.
“So we are going east then?” Emile asked.
“Yep.”
They didn’t encounter any hostile wildeners on this floor, but ran into some while wandering the next two floors. However the wildeners didn’t pose much of a challenge as they were alone and outnumbered. Decent enough experience for the detectives, considering their foes’ capabilities. But that string of good luck changed on floor five.
Alejandrien entered a room and was met with a snippy growl, three Pokémon were not quite pleased with their presence, a Poliwhirl, a Vikavolt, and a Makuhita. With a crackling cry, the Vikavolt shot a whirling wide web of Sticky Webs at the four Pokémon.
“What should I do?” the Jangmo-o's question rang out.
“Let's just deal with ‘em!” Kaliente yelled, gnashing his fangs.
When it comes ta fightin’, this partner gets wild!
T'nuri yelped. “Go inside!”
Everyone got out of the hallway and into the room full of branching paths. It didn't help that there was another Pokémon right on Kaliente’s tail, a Probopass.
“Get back here, Alejandrien,” Emile urged. The Grookey then took in a deep breath. “Enough with those gimmicks!” she yelled, and waved around her stick "Fight me like you've got real sparking guts ya cowards!” Emile Taunted, a dark wave pulsing in her voice.
“Oh yeah!” the wilderners yelled, energy washing them. “Bring it!”
Emile pulled the Jangmo-o away from the Poliwhirl who shot a Bubblebeam, the spray of water pelting the Fuecoco next to her.
“Ah, an electric-type!” T'nuri smirked, about to pivot on her heels.
Struggling off the ground, Kaliente nudged her behind him. “Vikavolt's part bug and got Levitate, so smash Probopass first!”
“Got it!” the Cubone pulled her arm back and threw her Bonemerang straight at the Probopass. But not before Probopass prefired out a scatter of Rock Tombs, her small cascade of stones slamming into Kaliente. The Fuecoco doubled over just as Probopass did.
I gotta do something! Alejandrien turned away from Makuhita and tossed out a few Scale Shots, two draconic blows to the side, one to the face and one last to the gut and the Probopass was knocked out clean.
With that chance, Makuhita lunged toward their back, Karate Chop primed and ready. But that swipe didn't hit the Jangmo-o, Emile once again took the brunt of an attack, the powerful fighting-type move pushing her a couple steps to the side. Blood dribbled out her maw.
Shoot. “Emile!” Alejandrien gasped.
Why’s she such a risk taker!?
The Grookey tapped her stick on her thigh with a smirk. “It's okay!” Right in front of her was Poliwhirl who stumbled on his feet before he ran forward with a Body Slam. Emile ducked to the side and dodged Poliwhirl entirely before she swung her mighty Branch Poke, the sword's swipe cutting into his skin.
Flying from above, Vikavolt blasted a Thunderbolt toward Kaliente, who rolled over to the side, his body aflame with the broiling heat of Blaze. “Don't count me out mate!” Before the strike connected, it swerved to the side, drawn into T'nuri's skull-helmet.
“What was that?!” Vikavolt yelped.
Alejandrien sighed.
Another crazy risk!
The Cubone yawned, the static buzzing through her body and into the dirt. “We all have abilities. Not just you.”
“Lightning Rod in action!” the Fuecoco laughed before he spewed out a massive Ember, his brightest flames from the depths of desperation. Fire blazed through Vikavolt's body and dropped her to the floor, unconscious. Kaliente then sat on the ground, labored breaths puffing in and out of his maw.
Moving over the ground, Alejandrien swung their claws up in the air to block Poliwhirl's Bubblebeam, their Protect shield blocking each of the pressurized droplets even while flashing and crackling.
“Damn domestics!” Makuhita roared and rushed toward T'nuri. An Arm Thrust crashed into the Cubone's chest, and before the second one connected she jerked her whole body down, her firm Headbutt knocking her and Makuhita toward the ground.
The second T’nuri’s tail hit the floor, Emile clenched her fists and fired out a burst of Razor Leaves at Poliwhirl, the tiny blades sending him crashing to the side.
My move! The Jangmo-o ran to his flank and swung their back claws. Despite his efforts, Poliwhirl tumbled into Alejandrien’s sweeping Low Kick, in an instant, his weight toppled him over, and he lay defeated. Now only Makuhita remained, his eyes trembling as he glanced between Kaliente and Emile, both wounded, and wild.
With a grunt, T’nuri stood up her bone-club tight in her claw, aimed at Makuhita. He edged back but swung his palm-
“Don't think I'm bloody done!” the Fuecoco on the floor roared, light pink energy from his Disarming Voice barreling into Makuhita and knocking him over. He swung an Arm Thrust but missed, and before he tried the second, Kaliente rammed his body with a Tackle. The blow sent him spiraling to the floor in a daze.
The fight was finally over. “Y’all two sure are strong,” Alejandrien sighed. “T’nuri barely put a dent in ‘em!”
“I didn’t make it as an Adventurer for a reason,” the Cubone groaned, plopping to the ground. Emile and Kaliente followed her.
After recovering for a bit Team Kirigiri opted down one of the different pathways, winding their way through corridors, and tucked away alcoves all the while. Eventually there was a breakthrough in just about the final room of the floor. Before the four Pokémon was another trail of thick grasses, leading up a natural slope.
“Woah, look over there!” T'nuri gasped. The mighty navy tree's top was beside them, the light pink leaves, still full of white polka dots. Reddish light, from right above, glistened off the bunches of color, almost like ripe Berries. Just in arms reach too.
Alejandrien all but reached off the ledge.“The treetop's right beside us!”
“North Beach Mountain also had something like this, with a giant waterfall,” T'nuri explained.
“The Mystery Dungeons on Kuanalio are quite fascinatin’,” Kaliente said as he gently pulled them back. “They've got changin’ scenery and landmarks te gauge yur distance.”
“Ruinous Fog sensory dilation?” Emile offered, counting digits with her abacus. “
No sabemos, we don't know the regular dimensions of each but the navy tree is roughly three hundred and four percent larger now.”
“Yeah,” the Cubone replied, gently guiding her away from the edge. “Perhaps the influence of the fog did do this.”
The twisting turns and labyrinthine rooms of the Forest Mystery Dungeon finally ended as Team Kirigiri stumbled upon one last sloped pathway to the ceiling.
“Let's hurry mates.” Kaliente called.
Alejandrien, T’nuri, and Emile followed him up the path, and exited the Mystery Dungeon proper. On the nearly empty way toward the village, but still hidden away from the reach of Ruinous Fog. The rich greens, and blues dwindled away into yellow, brown, and even black blades of grass.
At the end of the winding path, through the woods of lighter and lighter trees sat an odd sight. A small building. One made, or partially made rather of cracked, dusty, stone slabs, riddled with runes.
“There's a temple here?” the Fuecoco gasped, his emerald green eyes lighting up despite the dark.
T’nuri furrowed her brow as she peered at the moss-covered bricks, run-down from the elements. “That’s new.”
Alejandrien stared at the rough painting, specifically at the dashes and dots below it before they brought up their question. “What's the mural say?”
“Ya can't read Lauian, er uh Gobian from tha Sand Continent, Alejandrien?" Kaliente jabbed her side with a hearty laugh. “Ya knew it just fine on tha Zháo Launcher!”
The Jangmo-o shook their head. “No, I never learned how to
read Gobian, my grandparents, who're immigrants, just spoke it sometimes.”
“Ah,” the Fuecoco said as he dusted off the ancient rocks. “Well, I'll try me best to decipher this.”
‘Near the center of the lands, the sands of time have clouded. Temporary relief may be soon, but the wall shall close again. Open the four zero gates to free the grains forever.’
“Sands of Time?” Alejandrien questioned. “That phrase y'all say is real?”
“‘Course it is.” Kaliente shook the Jangmo-o's shoulder as he pointed to the mural.“Don't doubt Holy Koraidon or Holy Miraidon mate, especially in times like these!”
“I wonder what the ‘Sands of Time’ are,” T'nuri said. “Considering they are clouded.”
Emile scratched her chin.“
Tambien . Me too.”
“But what's all this temporary relief eh?” the Fuecoco questioned. “Like, no Ruinous Fog for a moment, or somethin’ else?”
“I guess.”
“Center refers to Pa’a Lepo,” Emile whispered as she placed a paw on T'nuri's shoulder.
The Cubone let out a ragged sigh and closed her eyes. “Yeah, we can free Pa'a Lepo once we figure this out. These four gates, wherever they are probably all across our Archipelago's waters.”
“But what type of gate? And where?”
“I've never heard anything like that T'nuri,” Kaliente said as he squinted over the runes. “But this chap here is up for a challenge mate.”
“We'll find ‘em partner,” Alejandrien promised.
T'nuri paced back and forth for a moment, her brown eyes widening. “Even if it, no if I take us to the edge of despair?”
What’s she mean? We’ve basically already gone there. “We'll do things the same way we deal with the fog, together.”
“Thank you,” the Cubone said, her eyes closing as a big smile spread across her hidden face.
The four continued through the forest, its flora and fauna fading in hue with every step. Whatever properties kept the Ruinous Fog out, also altered the fabric of nature itself, it seemed. Warmth slowly filled the air of the path, which got littered with stones. Each of the rough jagged stones in between browning grass, the stark black blades slowly fading into the lighter hues.
T’nuri held onto Alejandrien as she caught her footing. “Thanks ‘Adrien, all these old tiles are just as rough as the DA's floor.”
“No problem T'nuri, but don't let Lead Esperanza hear that, or she'll demand ya fix it right!”
“The Agency’s floor is not minging laddie!” Kaliente shot back.
“In carpentry class, you'd barely pass with a job like that,” the Cubone replied, shrugging. “I'd know because that was me.”
“Well, why don't we consult yew whenever we do some renovations on that ol’ office by the harbor,” the Fuecoco barked, his chuckle rough.
“Why don't we!”
“Not important right now,” Emile stated. “
Mieda . Look.”
High above their heads, painted in wide brushstrokes was a fierce beast of a teal Pokémon. Piercing red eyes, huge crescent shaped black wings as defining features, besides streaks of yellow. The fresco paint lathered deep onto the bricks surface, each hole, and crack filled with vibrant color. A gorgeous yet ancient display. This old Pokémon was made on a building's archway, lost to time.
T'nuri's eyes widened as she glanced back and forth. She whispered something before she spoke up.“This is incredible!”
“It feels like the past.”
“Yeah it does.”
“Is like somethin’ out of one of me old uni textbooks!” Kaliente yelped.
“How old?” T’nuri gently tapped her boneclub in a crevice of a brick.
Alejandrien sniffed that same stone. “University of Coasta Niebla is perdy old if I remember’d correctly.”
“But like this whole forest is old, and don't get me started on these stone buildings that definitely need an archeological study.”
Kaliente nodded. “This Mystery Dungeon is like something from maybe… Say 900 Before Miraidon.”
“900 BM?” Emile repeated. “Perhaps 953?”
“I don't know the specifics, lass. But it's ancient, old like the flooded kingdom.”
T’nuri’s eyes brightened before she gasped. “You know about the flooded kingdom too?”
Alejandrien’s eyes narrowed
. What flooded kingdom?
“Yep!” the Fuecoco replied.
“Ah, of course you do Kaliente! These symbols and bricks are that old?”
I guess these two'll explain the flooded kingdom later, along with Giritina and Lunala.
“Yep again, we, well rather I can tell how old by the chisel mark width. Tis quite thick and fat, like me tail.”
“Your what?”
“The bricks please,” Emile reminded.
Swiftly, the Jangmo-o continued. “If I just got a compositional sample I could do a lil chemical analysis, and look for trace metals.”
“Well let's keep moving.”
Continuing onward, the four Pokémon headed higher out of the strange depths of the forest cavern, closer to the surface and more importantly outside.
In the center of the foyer sat another grooved platform, one low and snug to the ground. Just like North Beach Mountain. A bit of rubble and debris from the crumbling forest temple lay on top. All of this framed ominously beside dying, dried trees. Ones with piles upon piles of dark brown leaves next to snow white bark.
If this place’s haunted I'd believe it! Alejandrien thought as they trudged beside their team. “Oh look!”
“What's this?” the Fuecoco asked.
The Cubone in front of him tapped her bone-club. “See those straight marks on the rubble, it was the same as the pillar with the chest.”
Emile tilted her head with her question. “But there's no chest?”
“I think that stuff is in the way.”
Kaliente, Emile, and T’nuri pushed the debris while Alejandrien prepared an empty metal container. Once the platform had been cleared, an odd plume of purple, green, and now red mist spread up from the earth. A deep rumbling came from below, as a large stone chest slowly rose from the once-hidden chamber. One with two beige handles, covered all over in a web of vines.
“What's all this then?” the Fuecoco laughed. “Colorful mist?”
Emile shrugged. "
No se. I don't know.”
Why red mist, like Koraidon? Alejandrien thought before they spoke. “When only T’nuri and I were here, the mist was purple and green.”
“So Emile over here and I brought in the red eh?” Kaliente asked, a puff of steam exiting his jaws.
“With her eyes I guess you both have red on you I guess,” Tnuri pointed out. “Oh but you also have green too.”
Alejandrien lifted up a claw to speak.“Must be their fog blocking powers?”
The Fuecoco nodded. “Yeah, but why do you two get both colors while we get one?”
“Later,” Emile urged.
The Jangmo-o behind the two stepped forward. “We’ll have to figure it out later.”
“Let’s open it up.” Kaliente and Emile turned the handles and lifted open the chest.
Inside the dusty, Joltik web filled case was a tiny piece of parchment. Specifically, one that was written on: ‘Hark oh travelers– The other side of the world, from where the past and future reside. – answers’ the rest of the small page was either too worn out or ripped.
“It's a new page of the journal!” Alejandrien cheered. They let everyone else read it before they carefully sealed the page away.
“Which journal?” Emile asked.
“The one about the map to the other side of the world.”
The Grookey's eyes lit up.“This map is related to the blessed Sands of Time?”
“Seems like it,” T’nuri nodded. “Holy Miraidon and Holy Koraidon have some sort of influence or involvement, but still not sure how. Does it have anything else?”
“It says, ‘Page 16 Number 200’, that’s quite a bit of pages!” Kaliente clapped his claws. “Ah, I love archeology!”
Alejandrien hugged his side as their tail wagged. “I love it too, partner!”
“So our prediction was right ‘Adrian,” the Cubone muttered, rubbing her chin. “There were over a hundred pages.”
When'd I get a nickname? “Yup!”
“That's a lot ta find,” Kaliente said with a puff of steam. “But hopefully we'll find more together.”
“If not, Detective Ichigo would rip their head off,” Emile laughed.
T'nuri tapped her claws before she spoke. “If we just gave them a stack of a hundred pages, even an elusive Iron Valiant like them, whatever that really means, wouldn't be able to handle it?”
“Even though they are the Coordinator for the DA, they are still a Pokémon T'nuri!”
“That's true! It's true!”
Light at the end of a metaphorical, and perhaps metaphysical tunnel greeted Team Kirigiri as they left the reaches of aged earth, the path widening. The air flowed freely, not funneled into the narrow halls, as it warmed Alejandrien and T’nuri sighed, their eyes closing for a moment.
Emile let out a breath as she patted their backs. “Rest later,” she reminded, despite how tired she looked.
“We've still got a village ta save!”
Finally the four young Pokemon exited the depths of the Mystery Dungeon. A bramble of white thicket and brush along with thinly packed trees closed the way back.
Forest Mystery Dungeon was many things, a place to recover away from the Ruinous Fog, and a place to discover more secrets about the world. It was full of treacherous wildeners and was the only shortcut across the land.
Here on a hill etched a large thick piece of wood, was the village sign. ‘Aenivland Village, of Patrick Ronald. II Two Kilometers.’ The sign read.
Team Kirigiri circled the small hillock, each member's eyes wide at what they had searched for, for so long; the signpost.
“Aenivland,” Alejandrien said, pulling away the drawl in their accent. “Like ‘in-ev-lin’?”
Kaliente adjusted his scarf before he cleared his throat with a chuckle.“Sure, and Patrick Ronald eh?”
“Pat Ron?” The Grookey beside him whispered.
“That's the sparking name?” T'nuri yelped.
Alejandrien licked their maw. “Aenivland is quite an interestin’ one fer sure.”
“Yeah but what about the suffix?” the Cubone asked. “‘Of Patrick Ronald’, I’ve never heard of a Pokémon with that name.”
The Fuecoco ruffled his head crest before he spoke.“Well it’s from a branch of a family that sailed ta Tiempo Niebla in 390 AK, and their name’s based on ‘White Palm’ and tha like.”
“Ah!” the Jangmo-o smirked, “older ‘White Palm’ names, like Emile’s.”
Emile counted on her fingers before she took a few steps forward. “It’s currently Year 592, After Koraidon of the Imperial Grains, thank you very much.”
“Why the reminder, need to help a time traveler or something?”
Kaliente chuckled as he patted the Grookey’s shoulder. “She doesn’t want to have an old name!” As he said that a burst of hot wind blew around the bend with a harsh screech. Team Kirigiri’s eyes went to the sky and their hearts dropped.
By this time, the plume of fog had grown from the size of a Brigatine to that of several large cargo ships. Ruinous Fog went far as the eye could see, brimming bright with vigorous heat and flames. Rolls of fire sparked in between rich grey mist. In those clouds acidic rain rose further and further before it was fit to burst. Even though the treacherous mists weren’t felt in the Mystery Dungeon, it didn’t mean that it stood still. Matter of fact, it grew in strength.
“We don’t have time for that now,” the Grookey said, her ears low. “Come on.” She led the three Pokémon past the frayed, withering woods of the forest, into more sparse lands. As they walked, the uncharted mountain from before now peaked into view. Dormant volcano and other mountains too. And more alluringly, the straw roofs of homes. But there was no time to admire the scenery, for behind them was a curtain of fire, chasing through the air. Thick with broiling hot waves, the flame sparing the few plants below.
The dirt trail before them was thankfully empty, but the ropes and stakes lining it offered a worrisome reminder. Ruinous Fog would be upon Aenivland Village soon, with hundreds of lives on the line. Whether Team Kirigiri was there to save them or not.
“Which way are we headin’ again?” Alejandrien asked as the group settled into the trail ahead.
Kaliente quirked his brow before he spoke. “Fletchinder direction wise?”
“Yes, partner, I don’t want just ‘down or right’ or nothin’.”
“‘Course ya don’t, Emile?”
“South,” the Grookey replied, her eyes locked on her compass.“Due south west.”
“Alright,” T'nuri said and lifted her bone-club into the air. “This time, we'll clear the Ruinous Fog for sure!”
Through the once again nearly barren land Team Kirigiri walked,but this time beside discarded crates, barrels, and drawn carriage paths. Signs of Aenivlanders village daily life. Lives which were now ruined by the threat of fog, full of dangerous poison and mysterious fire.
Backwater country roads covered in swaths of seagrass was the one of the few ways to get to a secluded yet apparently ‘hundreds’ strong village, the only village of the island. Easier to traverse than thin cliffside routes and huge tree branch bridges, but since it was all uphill that posed a problem.
Can’t see around the corner. Alejandrien thought. A bramble smacked their maw, one that T'nuri promptly threw to the ground right after.
On thankfully thinning grasses, and smoother stone steps Team Kirigiri finally rounded the beast of a knoll they encountered and were able to reap their rewards; Below them, still in quite the distance were straw roofs amidst treetops,
there was the village. Roofs of the settlement right beside an imposing set of mountains, one with a congregation of monuments, and weapons, deep in the mist. It was in their reach. But the winding road just in front of the village wood arch was filled to the brim with soot black Ruinous Fog.
“There it is y'all!” the Jangmo-o called, hurrying her steps.
“Let’s go!” T'nuri yelled, quickly following.
“Do not get too excited my friend,” a warbly yet familiar voice called, muffled from the earth once again.
“Wha!?”
“What tha snuff was that!?” the Fuecoco yelped as he nearly fell over.
“
Aqui , here,” Emile said and kept him grounded, well at least stable.
Slowly the hillock the four Pokémon stood on shifted. Tiny holes dotted far off in the distance and slowly grew in size. Then, ominously and in a rather strange fashion the wilderners T'nuri met appeared once again. The Drilburr and the ice-steel Sandshrew's bodies solidified as they brushed off the dirt on them.
“Ah, Drilburr and Sandshrew, hey,” T’nuri said.
The Drilburr and the teal-Sandshrew sniffed at Alejandrien, Kaliente, and Emile for a moment before they shuffled, almost dragging their bodies closer to T’nuri.
The Jangmo-o stepped away as their scales clattered. “That's new,” they whispered before speaking louder. “Howdy y'all.”
“Hail travelers!” Sandshrew gave a salute.
Drilburr grinned before they spoke. “What impeccable timing we have!”
“Why sniff us, mate?” Kaliente asked.
“Well-” the two ‘wilderners’ began.
Alejandrien shook her head, eyes narrowed.“Who are ya guys? Like really.”
“Please,” Emile added.
Drilburr gave a salute with the right claw before speaking.“The name those before us called me is Nupa, one of the deep cave.”
“And I am of the core,” Sandshrew explained. “Named Haku by those before us.”
“Those before us?” the Jangmo-o asked.
“We’re a little busy at the moment, but it’s,” T'nuri paused, “good to see you.”
“It is very well to see you,” Haku said with a wry smile. “We saw you earlier but figured now was a decent time to visit.”
“Visit?”
Nupa’s eyes darted to the side. “Er stop in?”
“Why’d y’all stop us now?” Alejandrien asked.
“Well she asked me if we should check on you.”
The Sandshrew nodded.“He insisted we also inform you of the village and its predicament.”
“Predicament?” T’nuri questioned.
“The bloody Ruinous Fog mate!” Kaliente ribbed her side. “‘Is gonna tear through it!”
Haku sighed before she closed her eyes.“Everyone understands what they must do, yes?”
“Yes,” the Fuecoco replied. “Protect te villagers of Aenivland, and clear te fog.”
“Well Nupa and I shall be off, before it gets too hot.”
The Cubone beside them tilted her head.“Too hot?”
“Perhaps Haku and I will meet you again,” the Drilburr said, slowly backing up and sinking away. Around them and Haku chunks of soil flew.
“Again? Hey wait!”
So odd. The Jangmo-o beside her chuckled a bit.“So those were ta so-called wildeners you met after you woke up huh.”
“Wilderners,” the Grookey hummed, and tapped along her shoulder.
Kaliente adjusted his scarf with a laugh. “Interestin’ buncha folks, innit.”
“How did they dig through the dirt that fast?” Alejandrien asked, looking up and down. “Mighty wild show there.”
“Yeah I'm not entirely sure what's up with Haku and Nupa, but they're good mon.”
“Okay let's keep going lassies,” the Fuecoco urged. “And laddie.”
The sky had got dark, edging closer to evening and they still hadn’t made it to the village. And hopefully the Ruinous Fog hadn’t either.
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(Banner Art, Done by me Kiba Makkuro)
