Branchy Cage - 1F
The word "confused" wouldn't do justice to Charmeleon's face.
Everything stopped—the shouts, the roars, and the frenzy of the chase—when they disappeared into the black mist. The only thing she could feel was Gallade's hand pulling her even deeper into that space.
For a moment, she thought they would never get out.
But after a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, they finally emerged on the other side. However, what lay beyond bore no resemblance to the forest they had been in before.
Those leafy, yet still relatively spaced, trees had vanished. What replaced them could only be described as claustrophobic.
Thick trunks, barely separated from one another, surrounded them on both sides, forming a kind of chamber. In the center, where they stood, there were no trees, but roots sprouted from the ground, covering much of the earth in such an irregular pattern that it would be easy to stumble if one didn't watch where one was walking. The branches overlapped and spread so far that they covered the entire sky above their heads, filled with leaves and white flowers whose petals fell continuously, adorning the ground and allowing only a few rays of moonlight to filter through. The only other source of light was her flame, which again looked pathetic.
And the strangest thing, there was no wind at all. Nothing to make the petals fall, and yet they did.
(What was that?) Between breaths, she was barely able to observe her new surroundings. (We… teleport?)
Looking back there was no longer any mist or anything that might suggest an entrance to the distorted territory.
(No, It's like the whole forest swallowed us…)
"Looks like we made it" Gallade voice snapped her out of her thoughts "The outside ferals usually know better than to enter dungeons, so we should be safe for now"
Looking down at her, he gave her another warm smile, surely with the intention of calming her down.
“Well I said safe, but dungeons are anything but" He said with a light chuckle "don't worry though I have experience with this places"
Charmeleon could only stare back. Exhaustion overwhelmed her completely. The pain had returned with a vengeance, and despite her efforts to stay alert, her body cried out for rest; it felt heavy, distant, almost lethargic. She could lie down right there and fall asleep. The ground didn't even seem so uncomfortable... and the faint crackling of the flame on her tail was almost comforting.
She began to sink into the earth, ready to give up, until hands on her shoulders caught her.
"Ah—hey. You don’t look too good" Gallade said gently. He kept one hand on her shoulder while the other reached behind him toward a large pack she hadn’t noticed before—something like a mountaineering bag. He rummaged inside, then placed a small round berry into her paw.
"Here. Take this. It should help with the worst of the pain."
She stared at the berry for a second longer than she should have. Trusting anyone felt… reckless. Still, her body was screaming, and the Gallade was watching her with that calm, steady gaze.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" he added gently, almost teasing. "I promise it isn’t spoiled—if that’s what you’re worried about."
Without thinking much more, Charmeleon obeyed. Once in her mouth, the taste seemed sweet, but not cloying. Pleasant, she decided, but she was still confused as to why it had been offered to her. After all, she couldn't recall having such a potent effect.
That was when she realized nearly all the pain had vanished. Looking at herself over, she saw the scratches and cuts were gone as well. And—oh!—her flame had sprung back to life, burning with a vigor and health she had never seen before.
(Look at you!) She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. (I can’t believe how much better I feel just seeing it.)
The fatigue was still there, but a small victory was still a victory.
"Feels good, doesn’t it?"
When she looked back at her savior, she was finally able to study him in detail now that she was no longer on the verge of collapse.
From a distance, Gallade looked unbreakable — tall and composed (her now short stature probably helped to convey this as well), his stance carved from discipline. A true specimen of his kind — to some, even a symbol of justice and nobility.
But up close, the details told a different story: the faint slump of his shoulders, the stiffness in its movements, the tired shadows under his deep black eyes. The kind of weariness you only earn by holding the line for too long.
He didn't look too old, but he wasn't young either.
Around his neck was a white scarf, and on his back was the backpack he'd used earlier.
Quite a sight. What was he?
"It would’ve been a bit problematic if you’d fainted right here" he said in a playful tone that still carried a calm steadiness. "I mean—you could’ve started a fire with that tail of yours."
There was no reproach in his voice. If anything, it sounded like harmless small talk — maybe an attempt to coax her into speaking as well.
Still… could she really trust this stranger?
Maybe she was being paranoid. But after what had just happened — after someone had attacked her, nearly killed her, for no reason other than that she was human — who wouldn’t be?
"Hey… are you okay?" Gallade said again, his voice soft with concern.
"I promise I won’t hurt you."
The words were soft — careful — as if he knew how fragile she felt.
She wanted to believe him.
But trust had teeth.
"O–ok" she whispered at last. The word trembled out of her, thin as smoke.
She would have to be careful what she said, lest she reveal her secret.
Gallade looked pleased with her answer and finally allowed himself to look away from her, turning his attention to the rest of the room.
"We should start moving" he said. "Stay behind me and don’t wander off, okay?"
"Uh—yeah. Um… thanks, Gallade?"
"Um? Oh! I didn’t introduce myself, did I?" He rubbed the back of his head, almost sheepishly.
"My name is Theron" he said, giving a practiced half–bow. "Sentinel, member of the High Peaks Guild, at your service."
She blinked.
"Oh. You have a name?"
The question sounded stupid the second it left her mouth. Her tail flame dimmed a fraction.
"Um… yeah?" he replied, puzzled. While heading toward what she thought was the back wall—until she noticed the narrow passage hidden among the cursed trees. It was barely wider than a single Pokémon.
"Right. Sorry. Forget it." she muttered, trying not to brush against the trees lest she caused a disaster.
"Right…" Theron said, keeping his eyes fixed ahead.
With the space so tight and Theron so tall, she could only follow directly behind him, trusting that he really did know what he was doing.
They finally emerged from the cramped corridor into another chamber almost identical to the last—only slightly larger, with two new passages yawning open on opposite sides. Now that Charmeleon was calmer, she realized how little attention she’d been paying to her surroundings.
"I’ve told you my name" Theron said, pausing as if weighing which path to take. "Maybe you could tell me yours?"
"I—uh…"
How was she supposed to answer that? She had to sound confident. If she didn’t, he’d start to suspect something was wrong.
"Or you don’t have to" he added quickly, before she could speak. "Don’t worry. But I do need to know what you were doing in the middle of Shimmering Forest."
"Ah—well—I…"
(Say something. Anything!)
"How did you find me?"
(Wow. Smooth.)
She just needed a moment to collect her thoughts. To invent a convincing lie. Easy… right?
Theron gave her a look that said he saw straight through her attempt to dodge the question—but he still answered.
"I saw you charging into the trees like a crazy mon, straight toward the entrance to the Branchy Cage dungeon—this dungeon. Your flame was kind of hard to miss in the middle of the night," he explained.
(Dungeon? That’s what they call this place?)
"The area is heavily discouraged to travel. It’s too dangerous to go alone. Especially at night. And judging by the state you were in, the locals gave you a rough time."
His tone shifted—firm, but not unkind—as he moved toward the left passage, pausing just long enough to wait for her answer.
"Oh. I see."
"I’ll hear your explanation later. For now, we need to get out of here."
As they walked down the corridor, something in the distance flickered to life—a small light. It immediately reminded her of the other Charmeleon, and panic nearly gripped her. But no… this light was far less intense than fire. More lights soon joined it—behind the trees, farther away, and even above the branches. Tiny, scattered, almost geometric for a moment.
Along with the petals and tangled branches, they enclosed the path on all sides. The name of this place suddenly felt appropriate: a cage, lit by strange floating lights.
Everything was so… mystical. She was sure that wherever she came from, places like this couldn’t exist. At least—that was the impression she had.
They reached the end of the corridor and stepped into another room. Theron sighed.
"Of course it couldn’t be that easy."
"What?"
Theron shifted aside so she could see the source of his displeasure. Near the far end of the room, a Pokémon blocked the only exit. A Volbeat—she recognized it a moment later. It had its back turned, unaware of them.
"Another Pokémon?"
"No? A feral," Theron corrected, puzzled by the question. "And if it sees us, it won’t let us pass."
He lowered into a ready stance, blades raised.
"If even one spots us, it’ll call the swarm with its light."
(Wait. Light? You don’t mean…)
"You mean all these other lights?" she whispered.
"Ferals. Yes."
(There have to be hundreds…)
"We have the element of surprise. Let’s use it to our advantage."
In a heartbeat, the Gallade moved—so fast he could’ve been using Quick Attack. In moments, he was behind the Volbeat. Without hesitation, he swung his arm-blades and struck. The feral let out a low growl—then collapsed.
Theron seemed satisfied and gestured for her to come closer.
(What!)
The efficiency stunned her. How could he move like that while carrying such a heavy pack?
(Even if he’s a Pokémon, that fight was over before it even started!)
"Hey, Charmeleon?"
Maybe he meant it politely, but being called only by her species stung in a way she couldn’t quite name.
"Uh—yeah. Sorry. I’m going."
(Guess I should get used to being called that…)
When she reached his side, she finally got a clear look at the Volbeat. The gash across its back—though brutal—didn’t look fatal. Its wings were nearly severed, likely useless now, but its chest still rose and fell in ragged breaths.
"Was… was that really necessary?"
Such brutality…
"I’m afraid so. I had to make sure he couldn’t call his companions. Remember?"
(Yes, but perhaps you could have been a little gentler.)
She looked again at the fallen Volbeat, white petals already beginning to gather around it. Its eyes were dull, greyish—just like the others that had attacked her.
(Except that other Charmeleon…)
"You’ve never been inside a dungeon, have you?"
"Huh? How did you—"
"I’m a Gallade. I can sense emotions better than most. And all this time, I’ve felt your confusion and fear,” he said calmly. “Am I wrong?"
(Well… if that’s true, there’s no point denying it.)
"No… you’re not. I’ve never been anywhere like this."
She only hoped that was the
only conclusion he reached.
"You’re not the only one who’s tried to stay as far away from these places as possible" he continued, stretching slightly. "I’ve known plenty of mons over the years—too scared, too weak, or simply unprepared to face these labyrinths."
More Pokemon. Still no mention of any humans.
"And the world keeps getting more dangerous, doesn’t it? Makes everyone more cautious—and rightly so."
His faint smile didn’t quite hide the exhaustion in his eyes.
He gestured forward. Time to continue.
A new crossroads awaited them at the end of the passage; this time Theron chose the right. As they walked, the lights illuminated the path, casting multiple shadows in multiple directions. She almost tripped over a branch she hadn't noticed beneath the petals. How long would they be here?
A new room, however, this one was completely empty, except for a stone staircase that stood in the center and reached above the accidental roof.
"What is that?" Of all the things she had seen so far, this vision seemed almost amusing because of how strange it was.
"Hmm, That's what will take us to the next floor." Theron said, with one hand under his chin, thinking about something.
"The next floor?"
Thanon responded with an amused look
"I found it a bit weird that you don't know anything about this places, but alas, it would be irresponsible of me to make you venture further into this dungeon without at least some common knowledge"
He offered her his hand
"Lets continue and along the way I'll explain things to you"
Branchy Cage - 2F
When they went up the stairs, she expected to rise above the branches and see the night sky. But the moment they surfaced… nothing had changed. The trees were still there. It made no sense; the ground was the same bare earth, the same roots and scattered petals—although these were now yellow. Not the sky she had imagined.
When she turned back, the stairs were gone.
"Yes, as you can see, mystery dungeons can be quite disconcerting. Don’t worry—you get used to it quickly" Theron said, amused by the horrified look on her face.
"What!? Is this normal? How—"
Theron cleared his throat to get her attention—and her silence—then adopted a clearer tone.
"First things first. As you might know, mystery dungeons are places that defy the rules of space and physics. As you can see, they take elements from the environment in which they were formed and distort them in ways that shouldn’t be possible, creating something completely new—a space that could only be described as a kind of labyrinth."
With this new information, Charmeleon couldn’t help but look around. It was true: the trees appeared to be the same type as the ones in the forest before, but she never would have guessed they were supposed to be the same.
"Trying to memorize the layout of any mystery dungeon is futile" he continued. "They change the arrangement of their rooms every so often."
"How are they able to do that?"
"No one truly knows. There are some theories, but none with real evidence. Mystery dungeons are ancient—perhaps as old as the world itself. For most of us, they’re simply another part of life."
"And as such, we use them to our advantage. In dungeons you can find objects otherwise difficult—next to impossible—to come across. The Oran Berry I gave you is one of them."
She had almost forgotten about it. But… weren’t Oran Berries supposed to be able to grow almost anywhere? She was almost certain. Maybe the ones that came from mystery dungeons had stronger healing properties? She was sure the ones she remembered didn’t work quite the same.
That, too, was strange. She’d been ignoring it, but now that she thought about it, she could remember the names of Pokémon, of items—even what they were and what they were supposed to do—but nothing about her own life. Nothing about herself.
A thought for later. There were other questions that needed answers.
"How do you get out?"
“You need to
complete the mystery dungeon,” said Theron, making air quotes with his fingers. "Complete in the sense that you must travel through the entire dungeon until the very end—reaching the final floor."
With the basics explained, they resumed walking, Theron once again taking the lead.
The corridors seemed endless, and Charmeleon couldn’t help but wonder just how vast these places really were. How could the inhabitants of this world coexist with something so bizarre?
Wait. The inhabitants…
"What happened to the other Pokémon? Both the ones inside the dungeon and the ones outside seemed…" Charmeleon began, hoping the question wouldn’t sound suspiciously obvious.
"Ferals," Theron reminded her again. "But you’re right—this brings me to the next lesson. Mystery dungeons are incredibly dangerous if you go in unprepared. Not only is it easy to get disoriented and lost, but their altered geography creates… complications. What you saw back there is one of those consequences. When dungeons form, they swallow everything in their path—ferals included. What you saw was a wild beast completely corrupted by the distortion. Its mind has been affected and reduced to its most basic instincts. The strongest of those: survival and defense of territory."
They arrived in another room. He paused at the center of it before continuing.
"It’s even known that if a Pokémon spends too much time inside a mystery dungeon, the distortion eventually reaches them as well. Their mind changes—and they become a beast forever."
How awful. She could never imagine losing herself like that.
(No… I’d rather die than let that happen.)
Well, she
was already lost; she didn't need to think about those things right now.
"Wait—you said ferals are like that because they’re inside a mystery dungeon. What about the ones from the forest?"
At that, Theron lowered his gaze, as if weighed down by the thought.
"That’s another reason the world is so dangerous today. Years ago, the only ferals anyone had to worry about were the ones inside dungeons. The ones outside were more tame and didn't cause much problem. But that changed. Slowly, the ones outside began to grow just as aggressive."
The Gallade looked at her, concerned.
"I can understand not knowing about the dungeons" he said "but the state of the world? The ferals running rampant outside? These are things everyone knows. How is it possible that you don’t?"
Charmeleon flinched, of course her ignorance would be detrimental.
Before she could even attempt to answer, a deep rumble shook the ground.
"Careful, something's not right" Theron had immediately adopted a battle stance; he had felt it too.
The rumble got louder, as in coming closer. It was coming from beneath her—
She didn’t have time to react.
A creature burst out of the earth and hurled itself at her, clamping its jaws just below her neck. If not for her scales, its fangs might have pierced straight into her chest. Even so, the pain was blinding.
Charmeleon cried out and staggered backward under the force of the impact. Her back struck the exposed roots on the ground.
Instinct took over. Grabbing both sides of the creature’s head, she tore it free in one desperate motion. Even as it writhed and snapped at her, she recognized it—a Grubbin.
With a snarl, she flung it aside. The Grubbin slammed into a tree and slumped to the ground, dazed.
She looked to Theron for help—only to find him already locked in battle. A Kricketune and a Pinsir had engaged him, forcing him back.
The Kricketune’s arms glowed with sharp energy—Slash, she realized—and it lunged. A flurry of cutting blows sliced through the air, but Theron slipped past them with practiced ease.
That was when the Pinsir struck.
Seizing the moment, it lowered its bladed horns and charged at full speed. Theron—focused on the Kricketune—had his back turned.
"Theron, watch out!"
Charmeleon tried once more to summon that warmth inside her, the fire she’d called upon before—but nothing came. She barely understood it the first time; now, it refused to answer.
Without even looking, Theron avoided the Kricketune’s final slash. The bug screeched in fury—
And Theron flipped.
A clean, controlled backflip carried him high into the air. The arc was high enough that the Pinsir thundered past where he’d been standing…
…and ran straight through the Kricketune.
The sound was awful.
The Kricketune’s body split cleanly in two, blood and organs spilling freely across the forest floor. The Pinsir turned, not heeding its horns which were now slick and dripping red all the way to its head, and fixed its furious gaze on Theron.
(How… How horrible!) She couldn't help but let out a small yip of terror. The sight made her sick. She felt like vomiting, but forced herself not to.
Never, ever, had she imagined that Pokémon could be harmed in that way.
The noise of the fight must have carried. An Ariados descended from the canopy on a thread of silk, and another Grubbin erupted from the ground nearby.
Despite being outnumbered, Theron didn’t appear nervous. Instead, he glanced at her.
"Don’t worry about me, Charmeleon. I’ll be fine. You should be more concerned about your opponent."
Her opponent?
Charmeleon scrambled back to her feet and followed his gaze. The first Grubbin had already recovered from its daze.
(It’s fine.)
The flame on her tail burned brighter as adrenaline surged through her.
(It’s just a stupid bug.)
The Grubbin clicked its jaws in a harsh, unsettling rhythm and advanced.
She still couldn’t call her fire.
Unsure what else to do, Charmeleon raised her fists and guarded her face.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. She waited for the Grubbin to leap like before, ready to intercept it and end this quickly.
That was her mistake.
Instead of lunging, the Grubbin burrowed halfway back into the earth—then resurfaced and spat a spray of mud straight at her. It struck her full in the face, blinding her.
Disoriented and wiping desperately at her eyes, she almost didn't see the next attack coming.
It lunged at her again, this time going straight for her head. She barely managed to lift an arm in front of her face. The Grubbin seized the opening and clamped down, its jaws sinking deep into her forearm.
This time her scales weren’t enough. Some blood trickled down her arm.
A cry tore from her throat as she thrashed, trying to shake it loose. Panic surged—then something darker rose with it. From somewhere deep inside, a raw, primal fury stirred. The flame at the tip of her tail flared brighter than ever, heat pulsing through her whole being until all that remained was irritation—rage.
Then the thought came to her, simple and savage:
Fight fire with fire.
She yanked her arm up to her face. The Grubbin writhed and snapped, still trying to overpower her.
Pathetic. How dare it attack her?
Her jaws opened on instinct.
And she bit down.
Her sharp teeth sank into the Bug-type’s body. The Grubbin shrieked and released her at once. She didn’t let go. With a sharp jerk of her head, she flung it across the room. It hit the floor hard and slid to a stop. This time, it didn’t get back up—only lay there, gasping.
The rage ebbed as quickly as it had come, leaving only shock in its place.
(Did… did I do that?)
For a heartbeat everything had gone red. All she’d wanted was to crush that stupid bug—
And now, seeing it sprawled there—beaten, helpless—another feeling crept in.
Pleasure.
(I’m… I’m a Charmeleon.)
The flame on her tail shrank back to normal.
(Do I… actually enjoy fighting?)
The feeling left her bewildered; that wasn't her, was it? She could barely bear to see the Krickenet being split in two, but now?
From the other side of the room, another sound reached her.
It was Theron; he had defeated the Ariados, which now was trying to crawl away. And with that, there were no more opponents in sight.
Both the Pinsir and the Grubbin were also defeated, with energy—marked cuts across their bodies. However, they were still alive.
Unlike her, Theron didn't seem to have lost his composure. In fact, he remained calm, although his breathing was slightly labored from the effort. It was as if he had done this thousands of times.
"Ah. It appears we walked into a monster house." He spoke as he surveyed the fallen Pokémon, his gaze lingering on the Kricketune. Its body still lay in two, though the blood had stopped flowing some time ago. His expression tightened for a moment—then softened as he turned back to Charmeleon.
"To be honest, I’ve never seen a Fire-type struggle this much against a Bug-type."
Even now, he managed a teasing remark.
He tilted his head. "I’d expect better from someone in the Char line. Aren’t you born fighters?"
Holding her injured arm, she glanced away. There was no way to explain that.
Theron approached with the same calm smile — as if they hadn’t been fighting for their lives moments before.
Well… he hadn’t, at least.
"I can't ignore it much longer. I need to know what's wrong with you, so I can help you." He reached into his backpack and pulled out another Oran Berry. "Here. Regain your strength."
She accepted it — but the knot of unease inside her tightened.
He already suspected something was off. And she’d failed completely to hide it.
No lie would work. Besides, wasn't he a psychic type? Couldn't he have been reading her mind all this time?
If he found out… What would he do?
"Come on. We’re lucky the Volbeat and Illumise haven’t noticed us."
"How is that possible? The lights are everywhere" she said, scanning the surroundings. At any moment, she expected an entire swarm to descend upon them.
"We’ll probably only alert the swarm if another of their kind calls to them. Apparently they ignore the noises of other creatures" Theron replied.
After eating the Oran Berry—and watching the wound on her arm close quickly—the two resumed their journey. Before leaving, Theron cast one last look at the battlefield. Charmeleon did too, but only briefly, before forcing herself to move on.
When she asked whether he needed a berry as well, he simply replied that it wasn’t necessary.
In the next few rooms, they encountered another pair of ferals—two more Grubbin and a lone Cascoon.
Theron dispatched them quickly.
Finally, they found the stairs, and without delay, they climbed them.
(Please… let this be over)
Branchy Cage - 3F
“W—we’re still in this damn labyrinth!?”
It was too much. The Pokémon trying to kill her. The monsters warped by the dungeon. This place that refused to make sense.
She just wanted out — out of the trees, out of the petals, out of all of it — just one moment to breathe without fear snapping at her heels.
"Ah, don’t worry," Theron said, his tone calm, almost reassuring. "I’ve never been in this dungeon myself, but it’s documented to be no longer than three floors."
(Documented? No. Don’t ask. You’ll only make yourself look worse.)
They crossed the same stage for what seemed like the thousandth time. The petals were red now, but did it matter? They were just decorations for the hell that was this place.
This time they crossed paths with an Illumise, who came within seconds of alerting the entire pack. If it weren't for Theron and his speed, they would have been harassed by hundreds of oversized fireflies.
(Until our death…)
Any other emotions besides tiredness and irritation that remained in her vanished. Her feet ached, arms felt heavy, and the damned flame behind her wouldn't stop hissing.
Theron occasionally turned to study her. More than likely, he was aware of her emotions. It's not as if one can be subtle when you have such a clear indicator of your mental state following you everywhere. Even so, he maintained his smile, which, to her dismay, did help her carry on a little.
More cursed Grubin attacked them. This place was infested with them, waiting to pounce at the slightest provocation. She got so fed up that she gave one of them, which was trying to surprise her from behind, a powerful kick, sending it flying over the branches and disappearing into the night sky.
She was about to scream when they entered a dead-end room, but Gallade stopped her, making a bad joke about how her temper was like fire: "Both heat up your head, but one leaves you with ashes and the other... emotional ashes!" It was so bad that her discontent vanished. Instead, she tried to decide if he was an idiot or a really good person for his own sake.
Finally, the stairs. It was a sight that could make her cry, perhaps she did, if just a little. Never, I repeat, never would she enter any of these places.
Not under any circumstances.
…
Yeah, definitely.
Branchy Crown
They stepped out of the dungeon’s warped paths and into the open forest—trees, spaced apart again at last.
But the light that touched them was thin and cold, washing the world in pale blue. Every branch looked sharpened into a claw, some tangling together overhead to form crowns of thorns. Roots curled across the ground like coiled serpents, as if they might tighten the moment you stepped too close. A faint breeze finally drifted through the clearing, yet the air still felt heavy—haunted by trees that had grown too long without sunlight, bending toward each other in a crooked crown.
For a heartbeat, it didn’t feel like they had left the dungeon at all—only wandered into a place pretending to be the outside world, wearing the forest like a mask.
But behind them…
The black fog churned in the distance. That meant they were on the other side of the distortion.
They were out.
Supporting herself on her knees, Charmeleon drew in slow, shaky breaths—the first fresh air she’d felt in what seemed like hours.
"Hey, are you good to continue? We still have to worry about the outside ferals — especially in a place like this, remember?"
Checking her, he added a bit mockingly, "I won't have to carry you, will I?"
"Just—just give me a moment."
Cradle Valley - Rural road
They left the tangle of trees behind and followed a clearer path that wound its way through the open highlands. There, she finally saw the night sky. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of stars illuminated it. A sight she hadn't had the chance to observe before because of her other worries. A beautiful sight.
The same mountains from before rose around them, but now she was no longer standing in the heart of the valley cradled between them — she was much closer to one of the slopes. In the distance she could see the river slicing through the valley floor, the place where she’d first awakened… though from here she couldn’t tell exactly where. Nor could she spot the dungeon’s entrance anymore.
Somehow, they had crossed all that distance from inside the dungeon.
As if mystery dungeons weren’t strange enough already.
"Some dungeons distort space even more — if that makes any sense," Theron said, perhaps sensing her confusion. "You see, some of them also act as shortcuts between points in the outside world. The dungeon we were in functioned as a small shortcut to the highest peak in the area."
Here, the world finally felt wider — freer. The grass rolled in uneven waves over the slopes, broken only by scattered rocks and patches of scrub clinging stubbornly to the soil. Ahead, the ground rose steadily toward a wall of mountains, their dark ridges crowned with streaks of lingering snow that gleamed under the daylight.
The trail was narrow but unmistakable, carved into the hillside by countless steps before theirs. It led forward, always forward, guiding them toward the distant peak. The air was thinner here, sharper in her lungs — yet strangely refreshing. For the first time since entering the dungeon, the danger felt… distant. Still there, somewhere behind them — but no longer pressing at their backs.
Here, the world simply waited.
"Ah, I think this is a good place to stop. The area is wide enough that we’ll spot any danger before it reaches us" Theron said as he sat on a large rock by the roadside. He smiled and motioned for her to join him. "Besides, I think we’ve earned a rest, eh? And… I’d like to hear your story, Charmeleon."
The moment she had dreaded finally arrived.
Charmeleon sat at the opposite end of the rock, trying desperately to think of something to say… but nothing came.
"If it’s too difficult to explain," Theron continued gently "I could always review your memories. I’m not the best with my psychic powers, but I doubt it would be a problem."
That was far worse.
What if he discovered she was human?
But this Pokémon had saved her. He had given her food. Stayed by her side. Protected her.
He didn’t seem like the kind who would hurt anyone. And he was a Sentinel, wasn’t he? That
had to mean something.
(…Maybe he really can help me. Maybe my memories are still inside somewhere.)
It was a huge risk. But if she couldn’t trust him… then who could she ever trust?
"Okay," she whispered.
"Great. I promise it won’t hurt. It may tickle a little, though."
He placed both hands on her head, closed his eyes, and went quiet.
A strange sensation followed—like an invisible hand pushing slowly into her mind. Uncomfortable, but not painful. She stayed still, afraid that moving might somehow break the process.
Theron frowned. Charmeleon could only imagine what he was seeing. A while passed—probably the entire disaster in the forest, her awakening, the attack… and then his expression shifted into confusion.
"I don’t understand…" He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Before today, there are no memories. Nothing."
Nothing.
He had found nothing.
"What do you mean?" she asked, though a sinking feeling already curled in her chest.
"I didn’t go too deep. I didn’t want to intrude. But I did see that someone attacked you shortly after you woke up—when you knew nothing."
(At least you didn’t see the human side of things…)
She almost laughed at the bitter thought. But it didn’t help. Because if there were no memories…
What was she?
Despair tightened around her chest. Would she ever recover them? Would anything ever go back to normal?
She was incomplete—a nobody trapped inside a body that wasn’t hers. In a world she didn’t understand. With no way home—wherever home even was.
Was anyone looking for her?
Did she have a family? Friends?
Did they miss her?
A shaky breath escaped her.
(No… calm down. You’ll go back. You have to.)
She hugged herself, whispering the promise in her mind like a lifeline.
(I’ll go back. I’ll reach home. I will reach it—)
The flame on her tail flared, mirroring the panic rising inside her.
"I’m sorry, Charmeleon" Theron said softly. "I didn’t mean to upset you. What happened to you is… truly bizarre. I’ve never heard of anything like it."
He hesitated—then brightened slightly, as if an idea had formed.
"But if it helps… you could come back with me to the Guild."
"The Guild?"
She’d heard him mention it earlier, but hadn’t dared ask.
"Ah—right. You wouldn’t know. It’s a place where Sentinels—Pokémon like me—help maintain order in the region."
(Pokémon… so they do have a society. But still no mention of humans…)
(A world made only for Pokémon.)
"They are meant to help anyone who needs it. So I don’t see why they wouldn’t help you too."
What other choice did she have?
Leaving him meant being alone again.
And he was the only one who had ever offered his help.
Why had he, anyway? Risking his life for a stranger… that wasn’t normal. Only the kindest—and most selfless—people did that.
"You sure? I wouldn’t want to trouble you."
"Nonsense. I was heading back there anyway."
(Then… it’s decided.)
Maybe—just maybe—she’d find something there. Something to hold on to.
"That would be great. Thank you so much, Theron."
"Don’t even mention it," he said with the warmest smile she had ever seen.
Dawn was breaking when he finally stood.
"It’s been a long day, hasn’t it? Well—more like night, haha."
Charmeleon rose and walked beside him. "How far is the Guild?"
"Not far away, I promise. In fact, there's someone there I want you to meet; perhaps you can help each other."
That made her a little uneasy—but if Theron trusted them, it was probably fine… right?
"Oh—and about your name" he added thoughtfully. "It would be strange to keep calling you Charmeleon. Everyone has a name. Have you thought of one?"
He was right. Being called only by her species stung more than she could explain.
But a name… that felt big. Permanent.
She hummed softly, thinking.
"I could help," Theron said with a playful grin. "I’m
very good with names."
"Oh? Well—go ahead."
"All right, so I was thinking—"
Notes: Happy late christmas and happy new year you all!
