SudoTree0185
Youngster
IMPORTANT!!!
This is a rewrite of the introductory cutscene in CRK that takes place in a Pokemon Mystery Dungeon setting. However, it is important to note that some details of the cutscene have been removed or changed. I wanted to get rid of some of the plot holes, and while I do believe this version is written better, I also feel the need to clarify that this will not be entirely accurate, and I do not plan on undoing my changes to the script. Thank you and have fun reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sky had gone crimson. Pokemon looked up in fear as a dark storm swirled above, its eye centered around a ruined castle floating in the air. From a distance, one could faintly see the castle's walls bending and twisting.
Inside, four Pokemon ran through the halls, passing bloodied and charred bodies. In the distance, cruel laughter could be heard.
One of the four, a muscular and thick-furred Chesnaught, ran in front of the others. She noticed a chunk of the collapsing structure falling towards them and ducked. It landed on her thick shell, crumbling into tiny pieces. "Blood and ash is scattered everywhere we go!"
A hostile Pokemon - one of the few still-living creatures present - leapt at them, eyes a brilliant red. The second of the group, a heavily-armored Baxcalibur, sent it flying with a single slash from his sharp dorsal fin. "Foul, mushy guts... The stench of Dark magic in the air."
Above them flew the third member of the squad, a little Charizard with a golden crown. She covered her companions from above, driving away aerial foes with her powerful wings and bursts of flame. "Just what in the world has happened to this place? How could it have become so desolate?"
The final Pokemon, a thin Gardevoir dressed in regal robes, scanned their surroundings with his psychic powers. "It's not good. A malignant being who calls herself the Dark Witch Soul has declared war on this kingdom."
Baxcalibur slashed another hostile Pokemon with his claws. "Is she the one who brought all these aggressive Dungeon-dwellers to the castle?"
"Yes." Gardevoir's pale, milky eyes, butter yellow and sky blue, gleamed with determination and fear. "She launched an attack while I was occupied elsewhere."
"Hah. She must have thick skin, for such a brazen strike," Chesnaught scoffed.
He nodded. "I can sense the Dark Witch Soul ahead. Let us make haste!"
As the four fought their way through the twisting castle, Gardevoir reflected on how his team had gotten here, in this horrible war. Just a week ago, he had been searching for their lost fifth member. She had last been seen leaving the continent in search of the truth about why Pokemon were brought to the world, and had been radio silent for over two months.
But the, suddenly, the Dark Witch Soul appeared in the Pokemon world. It struck Gardevoir's kingdom quickly and brutally, using impossible magic to warp his castle into a Mystery Dungeon. The Pokemon living inside had been slaughtered, and it was up to Gardevoir's exploration team, Team Resonance, to stop this madness.
After hurrying through an Entrace - massive, pitch-black holes that served as gateways between the different parts of Mystery Dungeons - they reached the final floor. The roof above them had been destroyed by the storm brewing above. Ahead, the team could see... a Pokemon?
But this one did not rush to attack. They stood still, staring through one of the broken windows. As they carefully approached, the figure before them became clearer, and they all gasped in shock.
It was their missing teammate, Sceptile.
She turned to face them. "Is that... you?" she whispered. But something clouded her berry-red eyes, and shadows were beginning to swirl around her feet. Suddenly wary, Gardevoir tried to detect her emotions, but the pain and rage that filled his chest was different from his old friend's.
"Stop!" he cried. "It's not her, it's an imposter!"
He quickly shielded Charizard, Baxcalibur, and Chesnaught with Light Screen as the fake Sceptile fired a powerful beam of Dark magic. Realizing her plan had failed, she grunted out a curse and began to... mutate. Claws twisted into snaking dark vines. Green scales turned red and produced a thick smoke. Two horns burst from the back of her head.
Their friend and partner was no longer standing before them. It was the Dark Witch Soul, grinning at the four mockingly. "And so, upon the ruins of your home, we finally meet. You're rather late... to your own demise!"
Crimson needles fired from her body, aiming themselves at Team Resonance. Chesnaught turned to shield them, crying out in pain as they dug into her backside.
"Dark Witch Soul... What is the meaning of this?" Gardevoir stepped forward. The dress-like flaps on his lower body fluttered angrily. His comrades positioned themselves for battle.
But their foe did not attack again. Her formless body flattened slightly, as if she were sitting back. "Do you know why the Witches summon Pokemon to our world?" she asked calmly. Her smug expression, however, suggested that she already had her own answer.
"That's easy." Chesnaught crossed her arms. "To live and be happy! Happiness is what brings meaning to our lives, and we must preserve it."
Her answer was met with a disappointed glare. "Really? Pray tell, when is it that you are the happiest? When the claws of outlaws dig into your skin? When you're lost in a Dungeon, with no badge and no Apples to sate your hunger? Were you happy when the Dungeon-dwellers and Earth-dwellers attacked each other on sight?"
"We are together, in peace and in battle. We combine our strengths to overcome struggle. They bring Pokemon to this world to reunite us when we grow apart," growled Baxcalibur. He crouched low to the ground, ready to strike with his fin.
Gardevoir nodded. "The Pokemon summoned from the other realms have always used their unique talents to bring peace to the world. We love and thank the Witches for their aid in troubling times!"
Charizard's wingbeats scattered the dust as she landed next to her teammates. "And with their help, there is no hardship we cannot overcome!"
"RUBBISH!" the Dark Witch Soul snarled. "FOOLS, all of you!" Shock waves battered Team Resonance when she spoke, making them stumble.
"I shall show you the truth of the Witches, here and now!" The ground shook. A great shadow covered the stained-glass window behind the Dark Witch Soul. Then, a large hand burst through, sending shards of glass flying. One of them nicked Gardevoir's arm, but he was paralyzed by dread. The hand scooped up the Dark Witch Soul, lifting her high. She smirked.
Then the rest of the wall broke.
A wall of dust hit the four Pokemon, blinding them. When it finally settled, a titanic beast stood before them. It had a thin white body with a striped chest, resembling a skeleton. A strange red liquid dripped from the torso, connecting it to the hidden lower body. Its single red eye stared down at them, emotionless, from its spiked black head, and its long, bony fingers glinted in one of the few rays of light, looking like fangs.
An orange glow pulsed from its chest. Gardevoir barely had time to use Light Screen before a beam of energy blasted his team. "Stay strong, everyone!" he shouted. "We can win this battle!"
Baxcalibur and Charizard charged forward, roaring. They blasted the beast with Flamethrower and Ice Beam while Chesnaught curled up and struck with Rollout. Gardevoir prepared a Psybeam, but a sharp pain struck his head, followed by whispers of the future. *shewinsitwinsDEATHmorepowerSAVETHEMfullpowerSEALHERDOIT* He wailed in agony and clutched his head, trying to decipher the frantic voices as the battle raged on. *morepowerMOREMOREPOWERdisastersacrifice* They were so fast that he could barely hear them, but two words stuck out.
*MOREPOWER*
*More... power...?*
And then it clicked. Psybeam wouldn't be enough. Focusing his strength, he prepared his most powerful move, silently praying that it wouldn't cause more harm than it had to.
"GAH!" The beast's other hand shot out, grabbing Charizard and slamming her into the ground. "HOW DARE YOU!?" A beam of magic struck Chesnaught, sending her flying into a wall. "NOTHING CAN STOP ME! NOT EVEN YOU!" Baxcalibur was speared by solidified Darkness, and stumbled backwards, roaring.
"YOU WILL ALL PERISH, FOR THAT IS MY WILL!" The beast roared with the Dark Witch Soul. Its eye glowed as it charged a finishing attack.
As his teammates struggled to stand, Gardevoir ran in front of them. With his enhanced power, he enveloped the Dark Witch Soul and the beast in Psychic energy.
"Gardevoir! What are you-" Charizard's shout was broken off by a coughing fit. The flame on her tail flickered weakly.
*Have to... keep her still...* He gritted his teeth.
"GRAHHHHHH!" The Dark Witch Soul screamed angrily, struggling to move.
"We need... to... Urgh! Retreat!..." Chesnaught tried to push herself up, but collapsed.
He took a step forward. *Just a bit longer...* His Keystone, held in a clasp above his outer heart, gleamed.
One of the beast's limbs broke free. It swung towards him, and he barely managed to regain control over it.
"Gardevoir! Are you listening? We'll die if we stay!" Baxcalibur dragged himself closer, trying to get the Embrace Pokemon's attention.
The pleas of his friends blurred in his ears. His last reserves of strength had been used, and the strain of power usage was growing fast. *A moment... longer...*
And then the sky split behind them.
Gardevoir's Future Sight.
A white light shot out from the rift, surrounding him and the Dark Witch Soul. He heard a cry of fear from one of his teammates, but it was drowned out by the roars of the beast. For a moment, he was numb. Then the pain hit, burning like fire through his whole body.
His own screams were nothing compared to the shrieks of the Dark Witch Soul. She flailed around helplessly as her body began to fade, screaming curses at Gardevoir. "COWARD! PATHETIC COWARD! KILLING YOURSELF JUST TO SMOTHER THE VERY TRUTH YOU STAND FOR! I WILL NOT BE TAKEN DOWN SO EASILY, FOOL!" A wisp of darkness reached towards the rift behind her, turning the edge dark red. "MAY THE POKEMON OF THE DUNGEONS SEE MY VISION!"
Gardevoir wanted to stop her, to halt whatever last resort she was using. But his strength was gone. His vision slowly went white, and his arms and legs were disappearing. He closed his eyes as the numbness returned, slowly swallowing them both whole.
*I'm sorry, friends,* he thought, *I'm sorry for leaving so soon.*
Then his mind went dark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Rahr!" A Dungeon-dweller shrieked as Arctibax slammed into it. It scurried away, shouting angrily in its native language.
"Think twice before you pounce on me," he growled. The bushes nearby rustled, and he whipped around, baring his talons. "Who goes there?"
Two Pokemon stepped out from the forest. One of them nodded politely. "We mean no harm. My name is Kirlia. My friend, Grovyle, and I are here to stop the hostile Dungeon Pokemon. Like you, I believe."
"Kirlia, he's hurt," murmured his companion, Grovyle. She gestured to a scratch on Arctibax's shoulder.
Kirlia's eyes, pale yellow and blue, darkened with concern. "Are you injured? I can heal you."
"There's no need-" Arctibax began, but was shoved aside by yet another newcomer.
"Did someone say 'healing'? I could use some of that myself," said the fourth Pokemon. She leaned against Arctibax and he growled softly, irritated.
"And who might you be?" asked Kirlia.
"Quilladin is the name. I'm here to deal with the hostile Dungeon-dwellers. Just like you lot, I take it!"
Arctibax pushed off Quilladin. "I'm not with them, I just met them-"
She laughed, interrupting him once more. "Aw, don't be a stranger! If we're sharing a goal, that makes us a team! Right?"
Kirlia nodded in agreement. "Yes, Quilladin is right. We're in this together, so let me help you."
"I'll share some of the berry juice I brought!" Quilladin declared, reaching into her item bag. "I'm sure there's some bottled up in here. New friendships should be celebrated, and what better way to celebrate than juice?"
"Not so fast!" A fifth Pokemon stormed in. "I'm EXHAUSTED, and you're sharing OUR juice when we barely have any left!?" Her tone was sharp, but her expression suggested that she, too, was in high spirits.
"Another explorer...?" Grovyle looked slightly overwhelmed.
"Oh, that's Charmeleon, my partner! A bit loud if you ask me, but she makes great company! She claims that one of the Dungeon-dwellers stole her treasure. As you can see, she's not too keen on sharing." Quilladin laughed again.
"How DARE you speak of me like that?" Charmeleon snapped, the flame on her tail blazing. "You are in the presence of the desert sovereign!"
"Ha ha! Looks like you've still the energy for fancy words!"
"T-this is how I speak normally! I...!"
She patted her Fire-Type companion's shoulder. "I'm just messing with ya! You there, with the stern look! Come and join us!"
"I am sorry. I do not know how to laugh," Arctibax said bluntly.
"Excuse me?" Quilladin exclaimed. "Forget the thieving Pokemon - we've got a bigger problem here!"
Kirlia laughed softly. "Despite the threat of hostile Pokemon looming over us... I'm glad to have met such amazing Pokemon like yourselves. Perhaps, in the future, we will all look back on this day and laugh together once more."
"Oh, absolutely! This calls for a toast!" Quilladin pulled out a bottle of berry juice. Once their cups were filled, the five explorers raised them into the air.
"For all Pokekind!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three blue lights flashed outside the castle as Chesnaught, Baxcalibur, and Charizard were teleported out of the Mystery Dungeon.
No one moved. No one spoke. They stared into the distance, a haunted look in their eyes. The beast they had fought was gone. The Dark Witch Soul was gone. And Gardevoir...
Gardevoir was gone too.
"No," Chesnaught whispered, breaking the silence. She fell to her knees, exhaustion and despair dragging her down. "No, no, no, NO, NO!" she wailed, louder each time. She slammed a fist into the tiled ground, breaking it, and collapsed. Tears stained her ragged fur as she sobbed.
"This cannot happen again." Baxcalibur's voice was barely audible over Chesnaught's screeching. He shook his head. "I will not lose my kingdom like this. I must shield my people. I must protect them. I must..."
Charizard stayed silent. If the Dark Witch was able to do all this to Gardevoir's kingdom, then... Wordlessly, she spread her battered wings and took off towards her own kingdom, away from the cries and mutters of her teammates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
And after that horrid day, Team Resonance was no more.
Chesnaught traveled far away, to do adventuring in another continent. The last time her family heard from her came in the form of a short note about her location, followed by complete silence.
Immediately after his return, Baxcalibur had a wall built around his kingdom, closely guarded and nearly impenetrable. He cut off support to nearby towns and Guilds, which were quick to fall.
Charizard returned to find her kingdom in shambles. She retreated into her chambers, carrying the remains of her beloved servants and citizens, and her kingdom was lost to history.
Gardevoir, like Sceptile before him, had vanished. Only his Keystone, given to him as a blessing, remained. Once shiny and bright, it had long since gone dull, its surface marred with ashes.
And the Dark Witch Soul's curse plunged the world into chaos. Dungeon-dwelling Pokemon became hostile towards explorers once more, ruining the truce that Team Resonance had worked so hard to form. Civilizations across the world fell as items became harder and harder to obtain. For a long, long time, it seemed as though peace would never return.
But a century later, on the day of the Dark Witch Soul's attack, a young boy would awaken to find himself alone in a forest.
Enter Scorbunny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that's it for my retelling of the CRK prologue! I hope you enjoyed reading this!
Character index:
Gardevoir - Pure Vanilla Cookie
Chesnaught - Hollyberry Cookie
Baxcalibur - Dark Cacao Cookie
Charizard - Golden Cheese Cookie
Sceptile - White Lily Cookie
The Dark Witch Soul - Dark Enchantress Cookie (original form)
Scorbunny (mentioned) - GingerBrave
This is a rewrite of the introductory cutscene in CRK that takes place in a Pokemon Mystery Dungeon setting. However, it is important to note that some details of the cutscene have been removed or changed. I wanted to get rid of some of the plot holes, and while I do believe this version is written better, I also feel the need to clarify that this will not be entirely accurate, and I do not plan on undoing my changes to the script. Thank you and have fun reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sky had gone crimson. Pokemon looked up in fear as a dark storm swirled above, its eye centered around a ruined castle floating in the air. From a distance, one could faintly see the castle's walls bending and twisting.
Inside, four Pokemon ran through the halls, passing bloodied and charred bodies. In the distance, cruel laughter could be heard.
One of the four, a muscular and thick-furred Chesnaught, ran in front of the others. She noticed a chunk of the collapsing structure falling towards them and ducked. It landed on her thick shell, crumbling into tiny pieces. "Blood and ash is scattered everywhere we go!"
A hostile Pokemon - one of the few still-living creatures present - leapt at them, eyes a brilliant red. The second of the group, a heavily-armored Baxcalibur, sent it flying with a single slash from his sharp dorsal fin. "Foul, mushy guts... The stench of Dark magic in the air."
Above them flew the third member of the squad, a little Charizard with a golden crown. She covered her companions from above, driving away aerial foes with her powerful wings and bursts of flame. "Just what in the world has happened to this place? How could it have become so desolate?"
The final Pokemon, a thin Gardevoir dressed in regal robes, scanned their surroundings with his psychic powers. "It's not good. A malignant being who calls herself the Dark Witch Soul has declared war on this kingdom."
Baxcalibur slashed another hostile Pokemon with his claws. "Is she the one who brought all these aggressive Dungeon-dwellers to the castle?"
"Yes." Gardevoir's pale, milky eyes, butter yellow and sky blue, gleamed with determination and fear. "She launched an attack while I was occupied elsewhere."
"Hah. She must have thick skin, for such a brazen strike," Chesnaught scoffed.
He nodded. "I can sense the Dark Witch Soul ahead. Let us make haste!"
As the four fought their way through the twisting castle, Gardevoir reflected on how his team had gotten here, in this horrible war. Just a week ago, he had been searching for their lost fifth member. She had last been seen leaving the continent in search of the truth about why Pokemon were brought to the world, and had been radio silent for over two months.
But the, suddenly, the Dark Witch Soul appeared in the Pokemon world. It struck Gardevoir's kingdom quickly and brutally, using impossible magic to warp his castle into a Mystery Dungeon. The Pokemon living inside had been slaughtered, and it was up to Gardevoir's exploration team, Team Resonance, to stop this madness.
After hurrying through an Entrace - massive, pitch-black holes that served as gateways between the different parts of Mystery Dungeons - they reached the final floor. The roof above them had been destroyed by the storm brewing above. Ahead, the team could see... a Pokemon?
But this one did not rush to attack. They stood still, staring through one of the broken windows. As they carefully approached, the figure before them became clearer, and they all gasped in shock.
It was their missing teammate, Sceptile.
She turned to face them. "Is that... you?" she whispered. But something clouded her berry-red eyes, and shadows were beginning to swirl around her feet. Suddenly wary, Gardevoir tried to detect her emotions, but the pain and rage that filled his chest was different from his old friend's.
"Stop!" he cried. "It's not her, it's an imposter!"
He quickly shielded Charizard, Baxcalibur, and Chesnaught with Light Screen as the fake Sceptile fired a powerful beam of Dark magic. Realizing her plan had failed, she grunted out a curse and began to... mutate. Claws twisted into snaking dark vines. Green scales turned red and produced a thick smoke. Two horns burst from the back of her head.
Their friend and partner was no longer standing before them. It was the Dark Witch Soul, grinning at the four mockingly. "And so, upon the ruins of your home, we finally meet. You're rather late... to your own demise!"
Crimson needles fired from her body, aiming themselves at Team Resonance. Chesnaught turned to shield them, crying out in pain as they dug into her backside.
"Dark Witch Soul... What is the meaning of this?" Gardevoir stepped forward. The dress-like flaps on his lower body fluttered angrily. His comrades positioned themselves for battle.
But their foe did not attack again. Her formless body flattened slightly, as if she were sitting back. "Do you know why the Witches summon Pokemon to our world?" she asked calmly. Her smug expression, however, suggested that she already had her own answer.
"That's easy." Chesnaught crossed her arms. "To live and be happy! Happiness is what brings meaning to our lives, and we must preserve it."
Her answer was met with a disappointed glare. "Really? Pray tell, when is it that you are the happiest? When the claws of outlaws dig into your skin? When you're lost in a Dungeon, with no badge and no Apples to sate your hunger? Were you happy when the Dungeon-dwellers and Earth-dwellers attacked each other on sight?"
"We are together, in peace and in battle. We combine our strengths to overcome struggle. They bring Pokemon to this world to reunite us when we grow apart," growled Baxcalibur. He crouched low to the ground, ready to strike with his fin.
Gardevoir nodded. "The Pokemon summoned from the other realms have always used their unique talents to bring peace to the world. We love and thank the Witches for their aid in troubling times!"
Charizard's wingbeats scattered the dust as she landed next to her teammates. "And with their help, there is no hardship we cannot overcome!"
"RUBBISH!" the Dark Witch Soul snarled. "FOOLS, all of you!" Shock waves battered Team Resonance when she spoke, making them stumble.
"I shall show you the truth of the Witches, here and now!" The ground shook. A great shadow covered the stained-glass window behind the Dark Witch Soul. Then, a large hand burst through, sending shards of glass flying. One of them nicked Gardevoir's arm, but he was paralyzed by dread. The hand scooped up the Dark Witch Soul, lifting her high. She smirked.
Then the rest of the wall broke.
A wall of dust hit the four Pokemon, blinding them. When it finally settled, a titanic beast stood before them. It had a thin white body with a striped chest, resembling a skeleton. A strange red liquid dripped from the torso, connecting it to the hidden lower body. Its single red eye stared down at them, emotionless, from its spiked black head, and its long, bony fingers glinted in one of the few rays of light, looking like fangs.
An orange glow pulsed from its chest. Gardevoir barely had time to use Light Screen before a beam of energy blasted his team. "Stay strong, everyone!" he shouted. "We can win this battle!"
Baxcalibur and Charizard charged forward, roaring. They blasted the beast with Flamethrower and Ice Beam while Chesnaught curled up and struck with Rollout. Gardevoir prepared a Psybeam, but a sharp pain struck his head, followed by whispers of the future. *shewinsitwinsDEATHmorepowerSAVETHEMfullpowerSEALHERDOIT* He wailed in agony and clutched his head, trying to decipher the frantic voices as the battle raged on. *morepowerMOREMOREPOWERdisastersacrifice* They were so fast that he could barely hear them, but two words stuck out.
*MOREPOWER*
*More... power...?*
And then it clicked. Psybeam wouldn't be enough. Focusing his strength, he prepared his most powerful move, silently praying that it wouldn't cause more harm than it had to.
"GAH!" The beast's other hand shot out, grabbing Charizard and slamming her into the ground. "HOW DARE YOU!?" A beam of magic struck Chesnaught, sending her flying into a wall. "NOTHING CAN STOP ME! NOT EVEN YOU!" Baxcalibur was speared by solidified Darkness, and stumbled backwards, roaring.
"YOU WILL ALL PERISH, FOR THAT IS MY WILL!" The beast roared with the Dark Witch Soul. Its eye glowed as it charged a finishing attack.
As his teammates struggled to stand, Gardevoir ran in front of them. With his enhanced power, he enveloped the Dark Witch Soul and the beast in Psychic energy.
"Gardevoir! What are you-" Charizard's shout was broken off by a coughing fit. The flame on her tail flickered weakly.
*Have to... keep her still...* He gritted his teeth.
"GRAHHHHHH!" The Dark Witch Soul screamed angrily, struggling to move.
"We need... to... Urgh! Retreat!..." Chesnaught tried to push herself up, but collapsed.
He took a step forward. *Just a bit longer...* His Keystone, held in a clasp above his outer heart, gleamed.
One of the beast's limbs broke free. It swung towards him, and he barely managed to regain control over it.
"Gardevoir! Are you listening? We'll die if we stay!" Baxcalibur dragged himself closer, trying to get the Embrace Pokemon's attention.
The pleas of his friends blurred in his ears. His last reserves of strength had been used, and the strain of power usage was growing fast. *A moment... longer...*
And then the sky split behind them.
Gardevoir's Future Sight.
A white light shot out from the rift, surrounding him and the Dark Witch Soul. He heard a cry of fear from one of his teammates, but it was drowned out by the roars of the beast. For a moment, he was numb. Then the pain hit, burning like fire through his whole body.
His own screams were nothing compared to the shrieks of the Dark Witch Soul. She flailed around helplessly as her body began to fade, screaming curses at Gardevoir. "COWARD! PATHETIC COWARD! KILLING YOURSELF JUST TO SMOTHER THE VERY TRUTH YOU STAND FOR! I WILL NOT BE TAKEN DOWN SO EASILY, FOOL!" A wisp of darkness reached towards the rift behind her, turning the edge dark red. "MAY THE POKEMON OF THE DUNGEONS SEE MY VISION!"
Gardevoir wanted to stop her, to halt whatever last resort she was using. But his strength was gone. His vision slowly went white, and his arms and legs were disappearing. He closed his eyes as the numbness returned, slowly swallowing them both whole.
*I'm sorry, friends,* he thought, *I'm sorry for leaving so soon.*
Then his mind went dark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Rahr!" A Dungeon-dweller shrieked as Arctibax slammed into it. It scurried away, shouting angrily in its native language.
"Think twice before you pounce on me," he growled. The bushes nearby rustled, and he whipped around, baring his talons. "Who goes there?"
Two Pokemon stepped out from the forest. One of them nodded politely. "We mean no harm. My name is Kirlia. My friend, Grovyle, and I are here to stop the hostile Dungeon Pokemon. Like you, I believe."
"Kirlia, he's hurt," murmured his companion, Grovyle. She gestured to a scratch on Arctibax's shoulder.
Kirlia's eyes, pale yellow and blue, darkened with concern. "Are you injured? I can heal you."
"There's no need-" Arctibax began, but was shoved aside by yet another newcomer.
"Did someone say 'healing'? I could use some of that myself," said the fourth Pokemon. She leaned against Arctibax and he growled softly, irritated.
"And who might you be?" asked Kirlia.
"Quilladin is the name. I'm here to deal with the hostile Dungeon-dwellers. Just like you lot, I take it!"
Arctibax pushed off Quilladin. "I'm not with them, I just met them-"
She laughed, interrupting him once more. "Aw, don't be a stranger! If we're sharing a goal, that makes us a team! Right?"
Kirlia nodded in agreement. "Yes, Quilladin is right. We're in this together, so let me help you."
"I'll share some of the berry juice I brought!" Quilladin declared, reaching into her item bag. "I'm sure there's some bottled up in here. New friendships should be celebrated, and what better way to celebrate than juice?"
"Not so fast!" A fifth Pokemon stormed in. "I'm EXHAUSTED, and you're sharing OUR juice when we barely have any left!?" Her tone was sharp, but her expression suggested that she, too, was in high spirits.
"Another explorer...?" Grovyle looked slightly overwhelmed.
"Oh, that's Charmeleon, my partner! A bit loud if you ask me, but she makes great company! She claims that one of the Dungeon-dwellers stole her treasure. As you can see, she's not too keen on sharing." Quilladin laughed again.
"How DARE you speak of me like that?" Charmeleon snapped, the flame on her tail blazing. "You are in the presence of the desert sovereign!"
"Ha ha! Looks like you've still the energy for fancy words!"
"T-this is how I speak normally! I...!"
She patted her Fire-Type companion's shoulder. "I'm just messing with ya! You there, with the stern look! Come and join us!"
"I am sorry. I do not know how to laugh," Arctibax said bluntly.
"Excuse me?" Quilladin exclaimed. "Forget the thieving Pokemon - we've got a bigger problem here!"
Kirlia laughed softly. "Despite the threat of hostile Pokemon looming over us... I'm glad to have met such amazing Pokemon like yourselves. Perhaps, in the future, we will all look back on this day and laugh together once more."
"Oh, absolutely! This calls for a toast!" Quilladin pulled out a bottle of berry juice. Once their cups were filled, the five explorers raised them into the air.
"For all Pokekind!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three blue lights flashed outside the castle as Chesnaught, Baxcalibur, and Charizard were teleported out of the Mystery Dungeon.
No one moved. No one spoke. They stared into the distance, a haunted look in their eyes. The beast they had fought was gone. The Dark Witch Soul was gone. And Gardevoir...
Gardevoir was gone too.
"No," Chesnaught whispered, breaking the silence. She fell to her knees, exhaustion and despair dragging her down. "No, no, no, NO, NO!" she wailed, louder each time. She slammed a fist into the tiled ground, breaking it, and collapsed. Tears stained her ragged fur as she sobbed.
"This cannot happen again." Baxcalibur's voice was barely audible over Chesnaught's screeching. He shook his head. "I will not lose my kingdom like this. I must shield my people. I must protect them. I must..."
Charizard stayed silent. If the Dark Witch was able to do all this to Gardevoir's kingdom, then... Wordlessly, she spread her battered wings and took off towards her own kingdom, away from the cries and mutters of her teammates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
And after that horrid day, Team Resonance was no more.
Chesnaught traveled far away, to do adventuring in another continent. The last time her family heard from her came in the form of a short note about her location, followed by complete silence.
Immediately after his return, Baxcalibur had a wall built around his kingdom, closely guarded and nearly impenetrable. He cut off support to nearby towns and Guilds, which were quick to fall.
Charizard returned to find her kingdom in shambles. She retreated into her chambers, carrying the remains of her beloved servants and citizens, and her kingdom was lost to history.
Gardevoir, like Sceptile before him, had vanished. Only his Keystone, given to him as a blessing, remained. Once shiny and bright, it had long since gone dull, its surface marred with ashes.
And the Dark Witch Soul's curse plunged the world into chaos. Dungeon-dwelling Pokemon became hostile towards explorers once more, ruining the truce that Team Resonance had worked so hard to form. Civilizations across the world fell as items became harder and harder to obtain. For a long, long time, it seemed as though peace would never return.
But a century later, on the day of the Dark Witch Soul's attack, a young boy would awaken to find himself alone in a forest.
Enter Scorbunny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that's it for my retelling of the CRK prologue! I hope you enjoyed reading this!
Character index:
Gardevoir - Pure Vanilla Cookie
Chesnaught - Hollyberry Cookie
Baxcalibur - Dark Cacao Cookie
Charizard - Golden Cheese Cookie
Sceptile - White Lily Cookie
The Dark Witch Soul - Dark Enchantress Cookie (original form)
Scorbunny (mentioned) - GingerBrave