Pokémon Inkedust's Drabble Collection

[Inkedust]

Heya! Inke here. Recently, I decided to have a look back on some of my old drabbles that I wrote for drabble bingo for the TR anniversary events. After having a read through all of them, I thought that it'd be cool to give them all a proper punching up while also making an effort to hit up the prompts I missed with the explicit goal of achieving a blackout on every card I have received.

I've decided to post each year's collection after I achieve a blackout on their respective cards but I will be posting each year's bingo card here so you can see both the cards I had been assigned and my progress in real time. Every drabble here is exactly 100 words and canonical to my fic, Pathways to Arcadia, but don't worry! Neither are required reading to each other! Think of these drabbles as either a small appetiser to my fic or a little bonus depending on whichever you decided to read first!

Here are my cards, with their year and theme listed at the top:​

9/9

9/9

9/9

9/9

3/9​

 

[Inkedust]

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Spoiler: Plain Text

THE DARKEST DAY​

Throughout the ages, the moniker of “Darkest Day” meant many things.

To some, it was the day where a skeletal beast of a dragon awoke to ravage Ancient lands to eat a beam of ruinous light. To others, the name evoked the imagery of falling ash as one world ended and another began. Or, if those heroes could remember, the visage of a ruined future that never came to pass.

But, to an absol who’d witnessed all this, it was a day that screamed at her disaster sense.

An awakening of broken chains and blackened skies.

The end of everything.​

SUNYSHORE CITY​

At land’s edge, above cobalt seas, two star crossed lovers would meet on a glistening shore and herald the Sun’s rise.

From the fated place grew a thriving city, a beacon for the timeworn land. It was given the name Sunyshore and instilled new life in the earth and people. Many thought that the city was blessed as it remained well out of harm’s way, even as the world grew threatened.

Yet this blessing also instilled blindness and complacency within its denizens. They refused to march with time and so, with no progress, the city of ignorance could only stagnate.​

NO SUNRISE COMES​

Darkness. Only darkness.

He cradled his head to suppress his sobs, pulled his hair to distract his shattered heart with pain. Why? He was this close to freedom, this close to happiness. Could the universe not give him this? Could it not allow for his euphoria after it dared to give him hope?

He desperately wished that this was nothing more than a twisted nightmare. That the sun would rise and he would awaken in a world where none of this had happened. Where she wasn’t there, standing over him with hateful eyes.

But the nightmare persisted. Sunrise never came.​

LOVE THE STARS TOO FONDLY​

A long time ago, in an ageless forest, a child of the stars found a bright and beautiful light. At first, the two were wary. But as they played, and danced, and sang, they could not imagine living without one another.​

The light loved the child, and the child loved the light. So blinded by his love, the child gave his heart to the light and the two became entwined.

Confused, the light asked its beloved child why he would do such a thing.

The child whispered, “A terrible woman wants to hurt me. It will be safe with you.”

HIGH NOON​

As the sun reached the highest point in the sky, the dust of the Yellow Sand Labyrinth danced in the wind. The heat bore down on the plateau and onto the back of a flygon who pulled his wide-brimmed hat down over his eyes. Chewing on a straw stalk, he pressed his arm against a large rock and leaned, counting the minutes until his client chose to appear.

He felt anxious. It was bad luck to meet at high noon, as his ma always said, so why did he agree to it?

For once, he should have listened to superstition.​

LYCANROC​

Once, there lived two lycanroc who were like night and day. One was calm and poised, her eyes bluer than the midday sky. The other was wild and rugged, his mane styled into a crescent.

Then one day, by fate or chance, the two met by the sea and fell madly in love.

Yet many contested this courtship due to their differences. In secret, they copulated and bore a child with his mother’s demeanour and father’s intensity.

But despised and doomed to a lifetime of loneliness, the child fled to the edges of the earth, lost between day and night.​

NIGHT FLOWER​

In the depths of the polar night, a ninetales stood above a frigid cliffside. Basked in the light of an aurora that veiled the Moon and Stars she so closely worshipped, the acolyte waited for the fated dawn where the vision her ancestors passed down from parent to child would transpire.​

With her teeth she pulled a leaf from her headdress of sacred bamboo, allowing the bone chilling winds to carry it across frozen wastes. Where would it go? She did not know. Yet she knew of a wanderer who would find it and bloom like a flower beneath moonlight.

DAYDREAM AND NIGHTMARE​

The nightmare prowled at the edges of her daydreams. It watched and studied her every move, waited for her to fall asleep, like a predator stalking its prey.

She knew it wanted her. She knew it was furious and nothing good would come of it.

She managed to get away every time but that provided little comfort because all she could do in the aftermath was to indulge in every little “what if?”. Each one left her quivering in fear. She could not imagine what would happen if it got what it wanted. What would happen once it caught her.​

NEW DAWN​

It was over. The demon was sealed but at what cost?

Nothing but a red sky illuminated by falling ash remained. Cavalcades of dead bodies and orphaned weapons dotted the horizon and a mourning goddess whispered to an absol. With a nod, it ran towards the distant mountain with a new purpose.

The goddess looked to the skies, her horns beginning to glow with rainbow light, taking in the sight of the sun setting for the very last time over this world. The next time it rose, it would be over a new world where life could begin once more.​

 

[Inkedust]

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Spoiler: Plain Text

KANGASKHAN’S STATUE​

There are many landmarks shaped into the visage of pokémon, and none are more famous than the kangaskhan statues. Many don’t know why but any good explorer knows that they exist to honour the first Great Explorer.

When the first dungeons began to form, Kangaskhan was the only pokémon selfless enough to brave the unknown and protect her home from the dangers within. To immortalise her feats, Kangaskhan’s descendants carved and chiseled nearby stones in her image.

So if you ever see a kangaskhan statue while you’re out dungeoneering, just know that Kangaskhan is giving you her protection and blessing.​

MEOWTH IN BLACK​

Sentret eyed one of the many odd posters that had been hung around Lively Town. He made sure to get a good look from every angle, from up on his tail to down on his paws. He turned to a lilligant who was passing by and asked, “Do you know what this might be?”

“Let’s see…” she replied. “The Stupendous Meowth Theater Proudly Presents: Meowth in Black— Oh! That’s what Meowth had been working on. It’s some sort of show!”

“A show?” Sentret repeated. “Now what kind of show might this be?”

Lilligant hummed, “We’d need tickets to answer that.”​

A NEW RECRUIT​

We hadn’t meant to recruit Zigzagoon.

She’d followed us out of Mt. Steel, interested in our supplies. We didn’t realise until later that night, when my partner caught her raiding our pantry.

At first, she was disruptive (as all wildren are). We tried to shoo her off to no avail. Before long, she was sleeping in our team base.

The more she observed us, the more she learned. It wasn’t long before she spoke, asking us to come along to our expeditions. We agreed, handing her a badge.

These days, we couldn’t be happier to have Linoone on the team.​

BURIED RUIN​

Clink! Clink! Clink! echoed through the dark.

A sandslash tapped away at the sturdy cave wall with a claw, his work illuminated by a modest lantern he held in his other paw.

He had chased those rumours, big and small, all the way here. His confidence in them having grown with each passing second. He’d seen the evidence in this very cave: collapsed pillars, crumbled walls, faded but ornate carvings. It all beckoned his curiosity. Risks be damned! With a reward like this, he would brave any Mystery Dungeon that got in his way!

Those Ancient treasures would be his.​

THE SECRET BAZAAR​

“Are you sure that this is a good place to set up shop?” Mime Jr. asked Kirlia.

“Of course! This is a well-travelled path. We’ll be sure to get a bunch of customers,” Kirlia giggled, voice filled with whimsy.

“We’re in a Mystery Dungeon!” everyone, except Kirlia, roared in unison.

“Only a Class 2,” Kirlia rebuked. “Besides, isn’t helping travellers while making poké what we set out to do in the first place? We can easily adapt our services to help make travelling through any Dungeon a lot less of a pain.”

The only reply to Kirlia was nervous silence.​

THE DEEPEST FLOOR​

The depths of Silent Chasm stood indifferently above the shivering torracat. Just a simple dare, she thought when she disregarded all the elders’ warnings about the dungeon’s depths. She needed to prove to Nidorino that she was brave, that she could do this by herself.

She couldn’t.

Hanging like loose netting was the dungeon’s secret, rust coloured dust falling from the interweaving tethers like ash. The sight was repulsive on an instinctual level but that was nothing compared to the whispers. The words of the dark language were unnatural, forgotten for a reason.

And then… she saw them.

Torracat screamed.​

A STICKY TRAP!​

“Oh damn it all!” Altaria growled. She tried to shake out her fluffy wings which were now covered in ooze; a horrible combination of spinarak webs and gastrodon fluids.

The bird looked down, narrowing her eyes at the expended trap. Who even put these here? Probably some ne'er-do-well hatchlings if she had to guess. It wasn’t like this dungeon was hiding anything worthwhile!

She rummaged through her pack, getting more of that gunk all over her supplies, but she didn’t care. That’d be sorted, she just needed to find—

Altaria’s heart sank.

She had already used her last Cleanse Orb.​

SOMETHING’S STIRRING…
…Something’s stirring.​

The shadows leap and dance, all blurring

While an explorer swears the air got crisper.

In forgotten tongues, the winds, they whisper

Of ages past, of ancient kingdoms and priceless treasures

Surely an explorer’s greatest pleasures.

She tugs her scarf, uneasy

(This whole dungeon had left this explorer quite queasy)

But the promise of treasure had left her encroaching!
​

…Something’s approaching.​

Yet she felt, deep in her bones,

The dungeon shifts and groans

And down the back of her neck, the breath of her opposer
​

It’s getting closer.​

And in the corner of her eye…
​

It’s right nearby.

GROWING HUNGER​

Beware the dungeon that promises fame and fortune within its twisted walls. For there is nothing but endless, shifting halls.

Unyielding, it will bleed you dry. First of energy, and then supply.

Yet many an explorer had foolishly thought, “I’ll be the first! I’m a big shot!”

So they entered with stars in their eyes. And, at first, the dungeon passed them by.

“This is the point of no return?” they would say, unaware that they fell for the dungeon’s game.

They would continue until they realised they were in their final throes.

Deep within the dungeon, their hunger grows.​

 

[Inkedust]

Spoiler: Plain Text

POKÉMON SQUARE​

A little east of Baram Town, just across Tiny Woods, lies the place where the pelipper sing. Watch them fly, bills filled with mail, to deliver the day’s work of the local Rescue Teams. While their wings carry them over the sheer cliffs and gentle rivers that flow into cascading waterfalls; take a moment to visit the elder whiscash, sleeping in his pond.​

Or head south for the heart pounding regiments of Makuhita Dojo: Where trainees go in and sore bodies come out.​

And be sure to visit all the shops in between to spread the joy across Pokémon Square!​

ELECTRIC WASTELAND​

Crrrrzzzt!​

Electricity surged in time with the impact of fists. Beyond the dungeon’s watchful eye, a pangoro sneered in silent taunt. The receiving machoke’s growl caught on a quickly spat out tooth, sparks leaping from the impact sight.​

“Expected a former guildie to put up more o’ a fight,” panted Machoke. “Unless…” A twisted grin. “Them rumours are true.”​

Pangoro’s eyes narrowed, his composure wavering. “It’s your arm Boss will be makin’ a trophy of, not mine.” He readied his fists. “So shut up and fucking punch! A happiny hits harder than you.”​

Machoke roared and the Electric Wasteland swelled.​

MYSTERIOUS GEOGLYPH​

Have you heard of the Mysterious Geoglyph? That odd dungeon a half a day’s walk away from the last Ancient City? Where odd insects made of metal prowl the winding stones. It’s said that they were built to defend the city from intruders. From extinction.​

The lengths that such a proud race would go to in their desperation to survive fascinates me.​

I have seen them for myself. Terrible things. A blast from the odd cannon on their backs could cleave an aggron in two. I can only wonder what drives them now that there is nothing left to defend.​

JAWS OF THE ABYSS​

Dark desolation was the abyss’ only offering. Umbreon’s fur bristled, sieged by vertigo. Against his better judgement, he’d looked over the edge after he and Espeon had momentarily shaken off their pursuers.​

Umbreon’s mind was flying at a mile per minute, this dungeon was one of the deadliest he’d seen, an MR4 at the bare minimum. Another glimpse of the depths and a horrid feeling set in. MR5. A convergence point. If either of them were to fall here, then—​

He couldn’t hear Espeon. Had she stopped? Why? Now was not the time to—​

He looked back. She had vanished.​

LUMINOUS SPRING​

An eager nod met the sourceless voice. The spring’s welcoming light caressed the ruffled fur of a yamper who stood at its edge. He shook. From excitement, anticipation, the chill of early dawn? He couldn’t tell. All that he knew was that he was ready.​

Emboldened steps disrupted shimmering water. The shock the cold brought did nothing to deter Yamper as he carried himself to the great tree of crystal and bark that watched over the forest like a nesting talonflame. The mysterious voice awaited him where the water was at its deepest.​

“You… who seek awakening… Let us begin.”​

ALTAR OF ICE​

Between the frozen mountains, formed from the frigid, twisting depths, exists a cathedral of ice. Its heart is the body, the resting place, of a once great dragon that nearly brought the world to its knees.​

An altar for some, a tomb for others but a reminder for all who dare seek the dungeon’s heart.​

Are they stories of an Ancient hero who saved the world from ruin? Or a cautionary tale of how despair worms its way into the hearts of even the most formidable of legends? Whatever the case may be, only emptiness lingers in these vaulted halls.​

MONSTER HOUSE​

Skitty double checked the crude map. “You’re sure this is the right way?”​

“Dead ends everywhere else,” reminded Squirtle.​

“Right. The air just… feels thicker here.”​

“Okay, ‘Miss Active Imagination’.”​

“Yeah, well— Hey!”​

Noticing the cave opening into a larger chamber, Squirtle pushed past Skitty. “Jackpot!” he laughed. “It’s a treasure trove!”​

Skitty was about to protest but the words died on her tongue. Her stomach churned with dread at the banquet of poké, scarves, and gummis. No… this was…​

“Squirtle, run! It’s—”​

From their hiding spots, numerous aggressive wildren descended on the two unfortunate explorers.​

“It’s a Monster House!”​

LAKE OF MYSTERIOUS LIGHT​

In a land long abandoned by all, obscured by thick fog, laid a mighty lake known only by whispered myths. Part of a triad, it shone with a light that instilled great resolve in all who bore witness. Now it remained muted in ruin and decay abandoned by all, even its stalwart guardian.​

Dark waters pooled and spread influence, hidden away from all living things. The infected lakes grew stagnant, stopped only by deep mist. Blessed are the ignorant, for such a sight would make them weep.​

None except the passing visitor, who rushes to meet the water that shrieks.​

SEA SHRINE​

The leviathan awoke with an impatient grumble. His domain had been intruded upon. Again.​

What is it now? he thought. A blessing? Council? Perhaps a challenge? Best to send them Ho-Oh’s way and call it a day.​

Damned chosen heroes. Acting like they own the place. He’d have to move again for a few more decades of peace and quiet. And this shrine had been such a nice place! Much nicer than when it had existed above land lifetimes ago. They were right around the corner. Great.​

Lugia spread his wings wide. Time for a battle that would inevitably disappoint.​

 

[Inkedust]

Spoiler: Plain Text

PECHA SCARF​

Take a string of spinarak silk and a drop of seviper milk. Place gently in a dish and mix firmly with a swish.

Pull and tug until loose, the pelt of a zangoose.

Then in a quiet room, weave together with a loom. Ensure, without hitch, silk and fur meet at every stitch.

In a wink, reds and whites will become a lovely pink.

Slice any excess off the cloth, if done correctly it should be quite soft.

Allow to sit for a day, ensuring the charm will stay.

And, once the venom departs,
You will have a Pecha Scarf.​

BLAST SEED​

A loud, blinding blast followed the small crunch of a seed being broken between sharp teeth. Salamence had no time to react as the sheer power of the miniature explosion left him charred and kneeling. He growled at the pair of green adventurers who had accepted Axew’s request after the little gnat couldn’t accept a loss for a loss.

“Come on now, that’s cheating,” he said. “Is a fair fight too much to ask for these days?”

Between overconfident children, powerful dungeoneering toolkits and overconfident children using powerful dungeoneering toolkits, Salamence had the sneaking suspicion that the answer was “no”.​

X-RAY SPECS​

“Come on! Give them back already!” whined Scorbunny. He hopped up and down, trying to reach the venonat-inspired goggles out of his teacher’s oversized paw.

“It's an important lesson,” she huffed. “You're as green as they come in this business; I'm not having you spend your hard-earned poké on a pair of novelty spectacles. With me now. We’re getting you a refund.”

“But they’re the real deal!” Scorbunny cried. “Look! They let you see through walls to find items and stuff.”

Sighing, Luxray squinted through them. “Are you sure?” she asked, raising a brow. “Everything looks the same to me.”​

WONDER GUMMI​

“You ever hear the legend of the Wonder Gummi? A treasure more valuable than the greatest loot to many a pirate. Heard they hide them away in the most dangerous of dungeons – they’ll slit your throat over it.”

“Pfft. Over a gummi? Nah. Ain’t buying it.”

“You don’t get it! The taste’s the best thing you can imagine. Spinda’s good, but from what I hear, his best mixes are rotten plain seeds next to the Wonder Gummi. You’ll never want a miracle drink again after a small taste.”

“Yeah. And I’m the Founder reborn. Shut up and drink your juice.”​

DECOY ORB​

In the dusty corner of Kecleons’ shop sat a dull orange orb, slightly oblong, an eight pointed star radiating from its centre. Never sold, as Decoy Orbs weren’t exactly high in demand, by the time a plucky explorer had the need for it, it had long since passed its use by date. It had a good chance of backfiring with the most grim of side effects!

Kecleon’s older brother had insisted to get rid of it many times but the younger kecleon could not bear the thought. How could he? It was a part of his original inventory after all!​

MUSIC BOX
Long ago, in a ruin upheld,
A simple box was weld
From the bodies of giants felled.​

Patient stone
droned along in baritone

Hallowed ice
chimed like bells in paradise​

And ancient steel
sighed like the creaking wheel​

From all four corners of the land,
Scholars came together as a merry band
To study, debate and plan
The way to make the heart swoon
And capture the fantastic tune.​

Was it a ballad for the rising Moon?

Or a lullaby for the setting Sun?​

Who knew? Because when it was said and done,
Nobody had found the melody.​

Not one.​

IRON THORN​

Sharpened alloy scattered across the dungeon floor, lying in wait for someone to take notice; a resourceful pokémon who would find a use. Or a kecleon to gather some and sell for cheap.

Though rusted and pitiful now, they'd once been a part of something far greater. Opulent Ancient buildings, the shed armour of an aggron, or a horde of dragon treasure.

Not that the dungeon cared. It swallowed, chewed and spat out anything that fell into its jaws. The brave reaped the reward and the foolish became like the rest of them:

Prizes, for an intrepid explorer to find.​

AMBER TEAR​

“And do you know why I, Longclaw, lead the continent’s largest gang of outlaws?” asked the old sneasler, narrowing his cataract-glazed eyes. He stood up, legs shaking beneath knobbly joints. “Because it’s got nothing to do with any tepid ‘code of honour’.

“It’s because they want this.”

His claws lifted the string around his neck, revealing a small vial filled with liquid amber that glistened in the torchlight. “To make the richest of men green with envy. And when they try getting close to wring my neck?” He wheezed out a barking laugh. “They don’t get to tell the tale.”​

TELEPORT GEM​

Beneath the setting sun’s blaze, three pokémon encircled a dull zircon.

“It’ll be enough,” said the first pokémon, an alakazam, tapping the stone with a spoon. “When they’re ready, this’ll take them beyond the skies.”

“So it’s like those magnagate things they use in Abur?" asked the second pokémon, a ghost-type that hid in the long shadows.

“Oh! No, no, no!,” laughed Alakazam. “Nothing so inelegant! With how much time it’d waste, we’d already be doomed.”

The ghost opened his mouth, but the screech of the third pokémon, Xatu, evapourated the thought.

“It is time,” Xatu declared. “Call them here.”​

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