SudoTree0185
Youngster
Hey guys! Welcome to the third post of Darkness Eternal! This has been really fun to write so far, so I'm back with more content. I'm going to try to stick to CRK's canon timeline, but keep in mind that some parts of the main story may be skipped. In that case, it's usually either incomplete (a character hasn't been converted into a Pokemon yet, issues with lore conversion, etc.) or it just progresses so closely to the original plot that I don't feel the need to write it down. I also don't plan on doing every side story, so don't expect to see characters like Linzer Cookie or Space Doughnut appear, but keep in mind that they might appear anyway if I feel like it.
In case you haven't seen the other two posts: Darkness Eternal is a crossover AU retelling the story of the game Cookie Run: Kingdom in a Pokemon Mystery Dungeon setting. For those who already know the CRK story, if you're confused about lore conversions or which Cookie is what Pokemon, each chapter has an index at the end that lists the characters that appear in the original story and their AU counterparts, and I'm happy to explain how something like Soul Jam or the magic system is written into the story. For those who aren't CRK fans, don't worry! You should be able to understand what's happening without having to watch the entire CRK plot.
After reading, try to leave some constructive criticism in the comments! I'm always looking for ways to get better (especially with fight scenes, those seem to be my weak point in writing).
With that out of the way, let the adventure begin!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome, young one. Welcome to the realm between realms, the border separating your world from ours.
Who am I? Why you are here? Your memories? Oh, do not worry about such things. All will be revealed to you in due time. What you must know is that many dangers are on the horizon. I can sense the return of a dark force, seeking to achieve its ideals through vile methods. And the heroes of this world have been struck by tragedy, the emotional wounds they hide more deep than they would like to admit.
But there is hope. You, my friend, can change the fate of this world. I have brought you here, to the edges of my world, because you have the spirit of a hero. You will be sent to the world of Pokemon, where a grand destiny awaits you. There will be pain, and struggle, and confusion. How you deal with such inevitables is up to you. But as long as you can stand, and believe in your power to overcome evil, the power of the almighty will be on your side.
Do not fret - you will not be alone. I have chosen two residents of this world who will aid you. They are unaware of their fate, but I am certain that, when you cross paths, they will be happy to travel alongside you. And you will take a new form, the form of a Pokemon.
Relax yourself. Focus. I have a few simple questions for you.
...
Interesting. Thank you for answering. Based on your responses... you seem to be quite a courageous person!
You're free-spirited and full of energy, always happy to explore and find some new adventure. You're also quite the optimist! From your point of view, there's a silver lining to every dark cloud, a light at the end of every dark tunnel. When someone tries to push you down, you bounce right back up and keep fighting. But you value friendships, too, and your companions are everything to you. If they're in trouble, you're the first person to step up and lend them a hand. However, when their troubles are out of your control, it stresses you out, too. And your act-first-think-later mindset has probably landed you in trouble more than once. But despite your impulsivity, you're still admired for your bravery and kindness.
So a brave, jolly, high-energy person like you should be... a Scorbunny!
Now, what is your name?
...
...I see. Humans that we bring to the Pokemon world will typically have their memories repressed, to avoid long-term psychological damage. Sadly, I do not have the ability to leave your old identity intact. You will have to go without your old name.
Look around you. Do you see that golden glow, getting closer and closer? That is the gateway to the world of Pokemon.
Ah, you seem eager to enter! I am glad you are willing to take on this destiny.
This is where we part ways, young one. The first steps of your journey must be taken on your own. We will eventually meet once more, in a time of peril, when you hear a call to the divine lords.
Be brave. Be strong.
Save us, Scorbunny...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"H... Huh?"
When he awoke, his mind went blank.
*Was it a dream?* he wondered. *I can't remember what that voice said, it was something about... Destiny? Danger? Adventure? It's so hard to-*
He reached up to scratch his head and felt... fur. Soft fur, and a long, velvety thing at the top of his head. He looked at his hand.
But it wasn't a hand anymore.
It was a small white paw.
A memory of the dream resurfaced. *You will take the form of a Pokemon...*
"I'm... I'm a Scorbunny," he whispered. Then the shock wore off and he jumped to his feet. "I'm a SCORBUNNY! How did this happen? Wh-what do I do!?"
There was a clear pond nearby. He stepped closer and dipped a paw into the water. It was cold. He could feel it.
So this wasn't a crazy dream.
He leaned over and looked into the water. Sure enough, any human features he might have had were gone. He had a furry white face, fluffy cheeks, and beady blue eyes. The long ears on his head drooped down as fear washed over him.
"This is... really real..." He paced the ground, worried. "I mean, that voice said all this would happen, but I have no idea what to do... Where are all the other Pokemon, anyway?"
The bushes shook behind him. A Zigzagoon wandered out into the open and stared at him. The human-turned-Scorbunny stepped towards it. "H-hello there! I'm lost, do you think you can help me-"
The Zigzagoon snarled and charged into him, its body glowing white.
He was shoved onto the ground, and barely had time to recover before it was on top of him, biting down on his arm. It felt fuzzy and tingly, and strangely cold, but it was definitely painful. On instinct, he swung at the Zigzagoon's face, hitting it in the eye.
It yelped, loosening its grip just enough for the former human to force it off with a kick to the stomach. He struggled to stand back up - moving with such big hind paws was definitely tough - and ran into the woods surrounding him.
By now, he was feeling a pulsing headache, but he kept running. *What was THAT about? Why are the Pokemon so hostile?*
He turned a corner, and in front of him was an impossibly dark void sandwiched between a tree and a cliff. But he was going too fast to stop, and fell through the hole, screaming.
Everything was dark. His whole body felt numb for a few moments. Then he regained his vision, and found himself standing in front of a long, grassy field dotted with trees. He started running again -
And stumbled and fell off a cliff he hadn't noticed.
The former human tumbled down the slope of dirt, grunting. A root jutting from the ground caught him, and he wrapped his arms around it.
Then he heard voices from below. He looked down and saw a pair of Pokemon walking through the valley below him. One was pink with tiny wings, and the other had a big hat and a spiky tail. Not wanting to get caught in another fight, he stayed quiet and listened.
"And then we go through a cave?" one of the passing Pokemon asked.
"Yes, it's a much shorter route," the other replied. "Plus, the cave appears to be connected by a mine. If we come across a Pokemon working there, they can take us to the town."
*A town? Maybe I can get help there!* But as he slanted his ears down to keep listening in, he suddenly slid forward off the root. He screamed as he hurtled back down the side of the cliff.
"Hey, what's tha- WAUGHHH!?!?"
The once-human collided with the hat-wearing Pokemon. They tumbled through the grass, hit a rock, and fell apart.
"Owwww... What's the big idea, huh?" snapped the Pokemon with the hat. "Can't you watch where you're going?"
"Oughhh, sorry, I- HUH!?" He froze.
"What? What is it?"
"You... you can TALK!"
He was met with an irritated eyeroll. "Yeah, of course I can talk! It's a pretty basic skill!"
"No, but the Zigzagoon on the hill... it didn't talk, it..."
"Are you okay?" asked the winged Pokemon. "Did you hit your head?"
"Yes, but not that badly," he said. "Sorry, I was just surprised, is all..."
A shadow crossed the flying Pokemon's face. "Are you... How did you get here?"
"I... I dunno... I remember this voice talking to me, then there was this really bright glow, and I just woke up in the forest on that hill... Nothing other than that."
"Oh." The two Pokemon turned away, whispering. He couldn't pick up much of their conversation, but he could hear something about dreams. When they turned back, the hat-wearing Pokemon spoke up.
"Sorry about our... hostile first encounter. My name is Pikachu, and this is my companion, Cutiefly. You're a Scorbunny, right?"
Now that they were closer, he could more clearly make out what the other Pokemon were. He recognized the pointed ears and bright red cheek sacs, the thin legs and shiny, wide eyes.
"I mean, yeah, I think I am."
"Uh-huh. Well, nice to meet you, Scorbunny." He held out a paw and the Scorbunny shook it. It was weird without fingers.
"'Scorbunny'?" he echoed. "Don't you all have names other than your species?"
"No, not really," said the Cutiefly. "It's a traditional thing, I guess. Hey, we're going to a village to find a place to stay. If you want, you can come along," she continued.
"Oh! That sounds-"
"TROUBLE! TROUBLE! DOOT-DI-DOO!" A Bidoof came barreling towards them from up the valley, shouting. "PLEASE, HELP!"
"Aww, what NOW?" Pikachu groaned.
"YOU THREE! PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE ADVENTURERS!"
"Adventurers?..." Scorbunny was confused.
Cutiefly approached the frantic Normal-type. "W-what's wrong? What do you need?"
"In the woods!" cried the Bidoof. "I was collecting some wood in a Mystery Dungeon, but then I was robbed by a mean Dungeon-Dweller! I need someone to help me get my stuff back! Doo-doot!"
"We can help!" The words were out of Scorbunny's mouth in an instant. "Where-"
"No, no, no, YOU'RE staying put." Pikachu pushed him out of the way. "Ahem. I'm Pikachu, and this is my partner Cutiefly, and we are... Team Moonflower!" He struck a pose. "A rising exploration team destined to solve the greatest mysteries of our world! We'll gladly help you find your belongings, free of charge."
"We... we've only been in one Dungeon, though..." Cutiefly mumbled.
"What do you mean, 'staying put'? I want to help, too!"
"First of all, you're injured," scoffed Pikachu. He gave Scorbunny a judgemental glare. "And second, do you have even the slightest notion what a Mystery Dungeon is? They can be incredibly dangerous if you don't know how to navigate them!"
"Nope! But I'll find a way!" He put his hands on his hips.
Cutiefly pushed herself between the two. "Please don't argue... let's all just go help Bidoof. Can you take us to the Dungeon where you lost your items?"
"Thank you, THANK YOU!" they cried excitedly before scurrying off. "It's right this way! Follow me, doot-da-dah!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They stopped in front of one of the many small forests dotting the field. "Here it is!" said Bidoof. "A scary Taillow took my storage bag! It's orange and has my badge and the wood I've collected inside."
Scorbunny observed the forest. It was weirdly dense and surrounded with rocks, but otherwise normal-looking. "This is a Mystery Dungeon? It looks like a normal-"
Then it moved. The trees, earth and rocks shifted as if they were alive. The two rocks in front of them warped, and a dark hole formed between them. He jumped back, shocked. "Wauhhh! Not a normal forest, not a normal forest! W-why is it moving?"
"That's just how Mystery Dungeons work. When they're forming, whatever ends up in their domain becomes a part of them once they stop." Pikachu sounded confident, but he was fidgeting nervously. "Any big, solid object could end up becoming part of its outer walls - trees, rocks, tall hills, sometimes even grass if it's long enough, or buildings that aren't properly protected. They're always moving, and they open up to let approaching Pokemon inside - some even believe that they have sentience."
"Oh. So we just... walk inside?"
"We've got to get ready first. These places are unpredictable."
But Scorbunny was already walking towards the opening. "It's so dark..." A magnetic pull was drawing him inside. "Come on, guys! Let's find that bag!" he said. Then he went through the opening and vanished.
"W-wha!?" cried Cutiefly. "Hey, w-wait for us...!"
"You can't just go in-" But they were both already gone. Pikachu sighed and followed them. "At least let me find the name of the Dungeon first..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boulder Forest S1
Scorbunny's vision quickly returned, but with it came a massive headache. "Ow, my head... Is this normal for Mystery Dungeons?"
"Yep." Cutiefly winced. "They send out these pulses to move themselves around, and Pokemon from the outside dimension aren't made to handle them. There's badges and other devices that can stop the side effects, but we, uh... don't have any."
"Huh, something like that should be easier to obtain..."
"They're actually given out for free, usually. But only to Pokemon who've graduated from a training program and can legally enter Dungeons for their work."
"Wait, but aren't you and Pikachu an explorer team? Why wouldn't you be given badges?"
She looked away from him. "We were about to graduate, but... it's kind of a long story. That's why Pikachu and I were going to that village - we were trying to find a Guild where we could become an official team."
"I was just going down the valley, and now this," grumbled Pikachu as he appeared behind them, studying a map. "Where even are we...? Oh, found it. Looks like we're in Boulder Forest. It doesn't look like a very interesting Dungeon, but that's good for us."
"And we've just got to find a Taillow with a bag. That sounds easy! Let's go, team!"
Scorbunny tried to go, but Pikachu moved in front of him. "Nope, none of that. We know nothing about this place or the Pokemon that can be found inside. You don't even know how Dungeons work. In case you haven't noticed, Cutiefly and I are explorers. We're TRAINED for this, okay? Now, step aside and follow us."
"Oh yeah! You guys lead the way, then!"
The trio moved through the Dungeon, and Scorbunny couldn't help but look around in awe. The trees and stone seemed to mesh together to form walls, and sometimes a shadow would move through them, catching his eye through the small openings.
"Hey guys, are there other Pokemon here as well?" he asked.
"Oh, those are Dungeon-dwellers. Sometimes Pokemon get caught in a forming Dungeon, and then copies of them roam the area. They're usually pretty calm, so just don't attack them for no reason and we'll be fine."
Before long, they had found another of the large, dark openings. "Does this one lead outside?"
"It's an Entrance." Cutiefly was the one to explain this time. "These could take us either to the next section, floor, or layer of the Mystery Dungeon, or back to the outside world."
"Next section," said Pikachu. "This one has three sections. We're in the first one."
"We should probably go back through this floor before we continue, just in case we missed-"
In the blink of an eye, a creature sprung out from a rock and slammed Pikachu with a glowing fist, cutting Cutiefly off.
The Electric-type staggered backwards and glared at the enemy Pokemon - an aggressive Growlithe. "Oh, you wanna fight, huh!?" Sparks crackled around his cheeks, much brighter than they should have been. "Then taste my lightning!" he shouted, jumping into the air.
A bolt of energy fired from Pikachu's body and struck the Growlithe, who cried out in pain. As it struggled to regain its balance, Cutiefly flapped her wings rapidly, and the Growlithe was knocked back over by a sparkling pink breeze.
When it finally got back up, it saw the trio and froze. "O-oh no! I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me!" It turned and ran away.
"You're fine!" Cutiefly called after it. "Just get some rest!"
Scorbunny watched his companions with wide eyes. "That... was AWESOME!" he exclaimed, bouncing from one foot to the other. "You took down that Growlithe so quickly! You guys must be SUPER strong!"
"Th-thanks... It was mostly Pikachu..." Cutiefly's face had gone red.
Pikachu, on the other hand, looked much less embarrassed. "Oh, it was easy. Thunderbolt is a powerful move, after all. Come on, let's head to the next section before we get jumped again."
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boulder Forest S2
"So why did that Growlithe attack you?" he asked. "I thought Dungeon-dwellers were peaceful."
"Usually, they are. But a long time ago, there was this powerful, angry entity; we aren't even sure it was a Pokemon. It cursed the Mystery Dungeons so that the Pokemon inside would randomly turn hostile and attack any other creature that didn't come from the Dungeon. Once they're afflicted, they'll keep fighting until they're knocked out."
"Well, how can I fight back? How do I do that cool Thunderbolt move?"
"I'm not sure you're able to use Thunderbolt." Pikachu stopped to look him up and down. "It requires a lot of Electric magic to work, and you're a Fire-type. But you'd probably be able to use something like Tackle or Ember. Hold on, let's find another hostile Dungeon-dweller, and- oh! Just what we need!"
A lone Budew stood in front of them. It seemed to be trembling, and its eyes were completely red. It shrieked and ran towards them. Pikachu planted his paws on the ground, and pulses of magic energy shot out from them towards the Budew. When it touched them, it stiffened and fell backwards.
"It's paralyzed. You're up, Scorbunny! Try to use a move on it!"
"Wait, but how?" He looked at his paws. *Come on, body, become magical...* Nothing happened. He sighed.
"It's always tough the first time. You kind of have to picture the move you want to use, and will yourself to do it. If you've got strong enough magic stored up, it should be easy." Cutiefly shrugged. "Maybe try Tackle? It's a simple move that uses basic magic."
"Tackle. Okay." He closed his eyes. *Okay, Scorbunny. You got this! Use whatever magic powers you've been given to run into that Budew and knock it out! You're strong enough to take it on. Just focus your power!"
A blaze of white energy surrounded Scorbunny, and adrenaline rushed through him. "Hahah! Yeah! Budew, here I-" Before he could run towards it, the blaze fizzled out. His ears drooped in disappointment. "What? But I felt so strong..."
"That was Work Up," Pikachu explained. "It's a move that makes your attacks a bit stronger. It's, uhm, not really an attacking move, though. Go on, try again."
"I guess I do feel stronger..." He shook himself and refocused. This time, when he felt the surge of energy, he took off running towards the paralyzed Budew. He slammed into it headfirst, throwing it into a tree.
He hopped around, excited again. "I did it! Did you see that, guys? I did it!"
"That was great!" said Cutiefly. "Can you do it again?"
Scorbunny nodded and charged at the Budew again. Just as she'd said, it was much easier the second time around. The Dungeon Pokemon went limp, then stood back up after a few seconds, tottering dizzily.
"Uh... where..." Then it saw them. "Oh dear! Pardon me, I was feeling so angry and sick this morning..."
"No problem! I learned how to fight 'cause of you!"
It waved with one of its little leaves and ran away into the bushes. Scorbunny grinned at his teammates. "Thanks for the help! Using magic is really cool! What else can it do?"
Pikachu perked up. "You... want to learn about magic?"
"Well, yeah, aren't there other moves to know?"
His eye gleamed with joy. He stood up straight, puffed out his chest, and said, "Well, I happen to be a devoted researcher of all things magical! I know absolutely ANYTHING you might want to learn about how it works, or what you can do with it! Ask away; I could go on about magic FOREVER!"
"Really? Okay! How many different types of magic are there?"
"For starters, there's the basic magical abilities that everyone has. Simple moves like Pound, Growl, and Quick Attack use that kind. Some Pokemon have more powerful basic magic than others, but just about anyone can use it if needed. Then there's the more advanced forms, which are a bit more difficult to master. The most popular form is elemental magic - anything that uses Fire, Ice, Water, Grass, or Electric power. You and I both have a type corresponding to one of those, which means our elemental magic is stronger..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boulder Forest S3
"...but Dragon moves are tough to learn and can be very destructive. If you use one, you're wielding raw, primal power, and anything could happen. In fact, it's so strong that the Dragon-types themselves are vulnerable to each other's powers! They say you can't fight Fire with Fire, but I guess if that fire is as strong as a Dragon, it's possible!"
"Sorry for stopping the lesson," Cutiefly interrupted, "but... I think we've found who we're looking for."
She pushed apart some leaves, and Scorbunny and Pikachu peeked through behind her. On the other side was a Taillow, hopping around with a heavy-looking orange bag. It twitched erratically, staring at any leaf that moved.
"Alright, Cutiefly's weak to Flying-types, and Scorbunny, you don't have any really strong attacks yet. I've got an advantage against Taillow, so I'll go out and fight it while you two look for the exit. Sound good?"
"You'll fight them... alone? Pikachu, that's really risky." Cutiefly pulled anxiously on the drawstrings of her hoodie.
"I'll be fine, don't worry! It's just one Dungeon-dweller." He jumped out from behind the bushes and landed in front of the Taillow, startling it.
And then, just moments later, three more Taillow appeared, all with the same angry red eyes.
One of them flapped its wings strongly and created an array of silver projectiles. Stunned by the arrival of the other Pokemon, Pikachu was slashed and knocked to the side. "Gaahh!"
"Pikachu!" Cutiefly darted to her friend's side. She started to dig through her bag, but a Taillow dived down and snatched it away. It flew off to join the first one while the other two chased the fleeing Bug-type in circles. They were right behind her, beaks snapping, when...
"Leave her alone!" Scorbunny charged out and Tackled the Dungeon-dwellers, slamming them into a rock. He ran at the other bag-holding Taillow - but one of them jabbed him in the chest with a glowing wing, and he was thrown back. In seconds, he and Cutiefly had been surrounded by all four of them.
They backed away until their backs hit a wall. Cutiefly whimpered, pulling her hoodie over her face. Pikachu was still lying in the dirt.
*This is bad...* Scorbunny struggled to get back up on his feet. Somehow, he wasn't injured, and yet he felt like he'd been hit by a wrecking ball. *I have to stop them... but what do I do...*
He finally stood up and positioned himself between the Taillow and Cutiefly. "You... might be stronger than me..." he growled, "but I'm not... giving... up! I won't let you... hurt my friends!"
His act of defiance was met with a glowing beak to his stomach. Scorbunny got back up and tried to retaliate, only to be cut off by another Peck. Over and over, he was struck down, and by the time he had risen, he was forced down. But even though he was going numb, even though it hurt to breathe, even though he felt like all his bones had been shattered, he made himself stand. And through all the soreness, he felt something else rise, a powerful, burning flame.
As one of the Taillow swooped down for a finishing blow, it was hit by a bolt of lightning. It dropped from the sky and hit the ground with a thump, smoke trailing from its feathers. The other three turned and faced Pikachu, scuffed and shaking from both fatigue and rage. "Hey! Don't pick on weakened Pokemon!" he shouted.
They flew high into the air and shot out more curved silver bullets from their wings. Pikachu yelped and scrambled to dodge them. But as he was scurrying behind a rock, one flew above him and started to dive. Seeing him in danger gave Scorbunny a surge of energy.
And with that energy, he took off running.
He wasn't telling himself to move. It was on pure instinct, like a natural reflex. With each step he took, the ground beneath his paws got hotter and hotter, and then the rest of his body heated up as well. An orange light blurred the edges of his vision. With the last reserves of strength he had, he leaped up to the top of the rock, jumped, and slammed full-force into the diving Taillow.
Its surprised squawk was cut short, and it hit the ground, creating a cloud of dust. The two still standing shrieked with rage, but a pink mist cloud enveloped them before they could move. Below them was Cutiefly, looking scared but determined.
Pikachu wasted no time - he ran past Scorbunny, curled into a ball, and finished them both off with Thunderbolt. With all four down, he landed, walked to the abandoned bags, and shifted through the green one Cutiefly had been carrying. He pulled out two round blue fruits and tossed one to Scorbunny. "It's an Oran Berry. Eat it and you'll feel better."
Scorbunny didn't even notice the Berry. He was staring at his own paws with sparkling eyes. "...What WAS that!?" he finally said, amazed. "Did - did you guys see that? I was so tired, and I felt like I was going to faint, but then I felt this - it was like a rush of energy! And I felt really warm, and a lot stronger, too!" He stumbled through his words in elation.
"Wow... maybe it's your ability?" Cutiefly picked up the Oran Berry and dusted it off. "Whatever it was, it saved us all... Thank you."
"My, ah, ability?"
"Abilities are unique traits that usually aid Pokemon in battle," Pikachu explained between bites of his own Berry. "Everybody's born with one. And that, my friend, was the effect of your ability, Blaze. The closer you are to fainting, the more powerful your Fire attacks become."
"Woahhh, that's SO COOL!"
"Indeed. Come on! Let's find the exit and return Bidoof's belongings. And don't forget to eat that, you got roughed up pretty badly."
"Oh, right!" The moment he popped the blue Berry in his mouth, all the soreness went away. He swallowed and smiled at Cutiefly. "Mystery Dungeons are so cool! It must be awesome to get to explore them all the time!"
"Actually... I think they're a bit scary," she mumbled, "with all the angry Pokemon... but they can be really beautiful, too. Oh, um, congratulations on learning Flame Charge, by the way."
"Huh?"
"You know, when you knocked out the Taillow that was going after Pikachu... that was Flame Charge. It's a pretty good attack."
"Three moves in one day? I'm learning fast! Haha!" With a spring in his step, he bounded ahead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
MISSION COMPLETE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You found it! Thank you!" Bidoof shook each of their paws enthusiastically before taking their bag back. "I've got to make it up to you somehow!"
Pikachu crossed his arms. "No worries. We don't need any sort of reward."
"Oh, I know! You three can come back to help our Guild!"
"No, we have to- wait, what!?"
"Oh, yes, we're looking for Dungeon-adventuring teams! You simply must come with us! Doopi-doo!"
"I don't know..." Cutiefly said nervously. "I mean, we're not part of any other places, but..."
"You did say you were looking for a place to make your team official. Why not here? It's probably closer anyway," Scorbunny pointed out.
"You have a point, I guess... Pikachu, what do you think?"
"Well, last I checked there weren't any settlements nearby, but if they have an actual Guild, then sure."
"Excellent! Come, I'll show you the way!" Bidoof scurried away, their bag thumping against the ground. The trio of adventurers ran after them.
*New friends, new powers, and now, a new home!* Scorbunny thought. *This is going to be the greatest adventure ever!*
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Character Index
The voice in the dream - ??? (no known moves)
Scorbunny - GingerBrave (uses Work Up, Tackle, Flame Charge)
Hat-wearing Pokemon/Pikachu - Wizard Cookie (uses Thunderbolt, Thunder Wave)
Flying Pokemon/Cutiefly - Strawberry Cookie (uses Fairy Wind, Sweet Scent)
Bidoof - Sugar Gnome (no known moves)
Powerful non-Pokemon entity - ??? (mentioned) (no known moves)
Any other Pokemon mentioned is a stand-in for a minor NPC or enemy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Important Worldbuilding + Lore Notes
Every PMD fanfic I've read has their own take on how Mystery Dungeons work, so here's mine: Dungeons start out as rifts caused by the Distortion World's forces leaking into the real Pokemon world. When these rifts open, they expand rapidly until Dialga or Palkia takes notice and neutralizes them, and then become a full Mystery Dungeon. Large solid objects and bodies of water form the internal appearance, and smaller items and Pokemon caught in the rift while it's still expanding will be duplicated and spawn in random parts of the Dungeon. Whatever time of day it is when the rift neutralizes, it will always be that time inside the Dungeon.
Depending on how large a rift got before being neutralized, its "lifespan" may last from a few years for centuries. After this time span passes, the Dungeon despawns, and the terrain in its range returns to normal. The size also affects how many floors/sections/sublevels the Dungeon has. (Note: Dungeons that go up, like on mountains or towers, have floors; Dungeons that go down, like caves or pits, have sublevels; Dungeons that are flat, like forests and fields, have sections.) Between these are Entrances, which are small, pitch-black voids.
Dungeons are capable of altering the position and shape of the terrain within them by sending out complex magnetic pulses. Dungeon-dwellers - the Pokemon that spawn naturally within a Dungeon - are unaffected by these. However, Pokemon from the outside world will experience severe headaches, slight numbness, and sometimes nausea due to the pulses if they do not have a Badge. Additionally, if a Dungeon detects the presence of a Pokemon outside them, they will automatically shift and create an Entrance in front of that Pokemon. Otherwise, the terrain will form impassable "walls" around the edges of the Dungeon. The reason for this movement is unknown.
Cutiefly is a Shiny. It's not that important, I just wanted to make that clear. Shinies in this universe have a rare, harmless condition that makes their skin and hair highly reflective and alters its color. They also shed more frequently, and it basically looks like they leave a glitter trail.
Yes, the mystery voice is an existing character in the Cookie Run: Kingdom universe. I just can't say who yet because spoilers.
Thank you for reading my fic! There's probably going to be 3-4 parts covering the prologue section.
In case you haven't seen the other two posts: Darkness Eternal is a crossover AU retelling the story of the game Cookie Run: Kingdom in a Pokemon Mystery Dungeon setting. For those who already know the CRK story, if you're confused about lore conversions or which Cookie is what Pokemon, each chapter has an index at the end that lists the characters that appear in the original story and their AU counterparts, and I'm happy to explain how something like Soul Jam or the magic system is written into the story. For those who aren't CRK fans, don't worry! You should be able to understand what's happening without having to watch the entire CRK plot.
After reading, try to leave some constructive criticism in the comments! I'm always looking for ways to get better (especially with fight scenes, those seem to be my weak point in writing).
With that out of the way, let the adventure begin!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome, young one. Welcome to the realm between realms, the border separating your world from ours.
Who am I? Why you are here? Your memories? Oh, do not worry about such things. All will be revealed to you in due time. What you must know is that many dangers are on the horizon. I can sense the return of a dark force, seeking to achieve its ideals through vile methods. And the heroes of this world have been struck by tragedy, the emotional wounds they hide more deep than they would like to admit.
But there is hope. You, my friend, can change the fate of this world. I have brought you here, to the edges of my world, because you have the spirit of a hero. You will be sent to the world of Pokemon, where a grand destiny awaits you. There will be pain, and struggle, and confusion. How you deal with such inevitables is up to you. But as long as you can stand, and believe in your power to overcome evil, the power of the almighty will be on your side.
Do not fret - you will not be alone. I have chosen two residents of this world who will aid you. They are unaware of their fate, but I am certain that, when you cross paths, they will be happy to travel alongside you. And you will take a new form, the form of a Pokemon.
Relax yourself. Focus. I have a few simple questions for you.
...
Interesting. Thank you for answering. Based on your responses... you seem to be quite a courageous person!
You're free-spirited and full of energy, always happy to explore and find some new adventure. You're also quite the optimist! From your point of view, there's a silver lining to every dark cloud, a light at the end of every dark tunnel. When someone tries to push you down, you bounce right back up and keep fighting. But you value friendships, too, and your companions are everything to you. If they're in trouble, you're the first person to step up and lend them a hand. However, when their troubles are out of your control, it stresses you out, too. And your act-first-think-later mindset has probably landed you in trouble more than once. But despite your impulsivity, you're still admired for your bravery and kindness.
So a brave, jolly, high-energy person like you should be... a Scorbunny!
Now, what is your name?
...
...I see. Humans that we bring to the Pokemon world will typically have their memories repressed, to avoid long-term psychological damage. Sadly, I do not have the ability to leave your old identity intact. You will have to go without your old name.
Look around you. Do you see that golden glow, getting closer and closer? That is the gateway to the world of Pokemon.
Ah, you seem eager to enter! I am glad you are willing to take on this destiny.
This is where we part ways, young one. The first steps of your journey must be taken on your own. We will eventually meet once more, in a time of peril, when you hear a call to the divine lords.
Be brave. Be strong.
Save us, Scorbunny...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"H... Huh?"
When he awoke, his mind went blank.
*Was it a dream?* he wondered. *I can't remember what that voice said, it was something about... Destiny? Danger? Adventure? It's so hard to-*
He reached up to scratch his head and felt... fur. Soft fur, and a long, velvety thing at the top of his head. He looked at his hand.
But it wasn't a hand anymore.
It was a small white paw.
A memory of the dream resurfaced. *You will take the form of a Pokemon...*
"I'm... I'm a Scorbunny," he whispered. Then the shock wore off and he jumped to his feet. "I'm a SCORBUNNY! How did this happen? Wh-what do I do!?"
There was a clear pond nearby. He stepped closer and dipped a paw into the water. It was cold. He could feel it.
So this wasn't a crazy dream.
He leaned over and looked into the water. Sure enough, any human features he might have had were gone. He had a furry white face, fluffy cheeks, and beady blue eyes. The long ears on his head drooped down as fear washed over him.
"This is... really real..." He paced the ground, worried. "I mean, that voice said all this would happen, but I have no idea what to do... Where are all the other Pokemon, anyway?"
The bushes shook behind him. A Zigzagoon wandered out into the open and stared at him. The human-turned-Scorbunny stepped towards it. "H-hello there! I'm lost, do you think you can help me-"
The Zigzagoon snarled and charged into him, its body glowing white.
He was shoved onto the ground, and barely had time to recover before it was on top of him, biting down on his arm. It felt fuzzy and tingly, and strangely cold, but it was definitely painful. On instinct, he swung at the Zigzagoon's face, hitting it in the eye.
It yelped, loosening its grip just enough for the former human to force it off with a kick to the stomach. He struggled to stand back up - moving with such big hind paws was definitely tough - and ran into the woods surrounding him.
By now, he was feeling a pulsing headache, but he kept running. *What was THAT about? Why are the Pokemon so hostile?*
He turned a corner, and in front of him was an impossibly dark void sandwiched between a tree and a cliff. But he was going too fast to stop, and fell through the hole, screaming.
Everything was dark. His whole body felt numb for a few moments. Then he regained his vision, and found himself standing in front of a long, grassy field dotted with trees. He started running again -
And stumbled and fell off a cliff he hadn't noticed.
The former human tumbled down the slope of dirt, grunting. A root jutting from the ground caught him, and he wrapped his arms around it.
Then he heard voices from below. He looked down and saw a pair of Pokemon walking through the valley below him. One was pink with tiny wings, and the other had a big hat and a spiky tail. Not wanting to get caught in another fight, he stayed quiet and listened.
"And then we go through a cave?" one of the passing Pokemon asked.
"Yes, it's a much shorter route," the other replied. "Plus, the cave appears to be connected by a mine. If we come across a Pokemon working there, they can take us to the town."
*A town? Maybe I can get help there!* But as he slanted his ears down to keep listening in, he suddenly slid forward off the root. He screamed as he hurtled back down the side of the cliff.
"Hey, what's tha- WAUGHHH!?!?"
The once-human collided with the hat-wearing Pokemon. They tumbled through the grass, hit a rock, and fell apart.
"Owwww... What's the big idea, huh?" snapped the Pokemon with the hat. "Can't you watch where you're going?"
"Oughhh, sorry, I- HUH!?" He froze.
"What? What is it?"
"You... you can TALK!"
He was met with an irritated eyeroll. "Yeah, of course I can talk! It's a pretty basic skill!"
"No, but the Zigzagoon on the hill... it didn't talk, it..."
"Are you okay?" asked the winged Pokemon. "Did you hit your head?"
"Yes, but not that badly," he said. "Sorry, I was just surprised, is all..."
A shadow crossed the flying Pokemon's face. "Are you... How did you get here?"
"I... I dunno... I remember this voice talking to me, then there was this really bright glow, and I just woke up in the forest on that hill... Nothing other than that."
"Oh." The two Pokemon turned away, whispering. He couldn't pick up much of their conversation, but he could hear something about dreams. When they turned back, the hat-wearing Pokemon spoke up.
"Sorry about our... hostile first encounter. My name is Pikachu, and this is my companion, Cutiefly. You're a Scorbunny, right?"
Now that they were closer, he could more clearly make out what the other Pokemon were. He recognized the pointed ears and bright red cheek sacs, the thin legs and shiny, wide eyes.
"I mean, yeah, I think I am."
"Uh-huh. Well, nice to meet you, Scorbunny." He held out a paw and the Scorbunny shook it. It was weird without fingers.
"'Scorbunny'?" he echoed. "Don't you all have names other than your species?"
"No, not really," said the Cutiefly. "It's a traditional thing, I guess. Hey, we're going to a village to find a place to stay. If you want, you can come along," she continued.
"Oh! That sounds-"
"TROUBLE! TROUBLE! DOOT-DI-DOO!" A Bidoof came barreling towards them from up the valley, shouting. "PLEASE, HELP!"
"Aww, what NOW?" Pikachu groaned.
"YOU THREE! PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE ADVENTURERS!"
"Adventurers?..." Scorbunny was confused.
Cutiefly approached the frantic Normal-type. "W-what's wrong? What do you need?"
"In the woods!" cried the Bidoof. "I was collecting some wood in a Mystery Dungeon, but then I was robbed by a mean Dungeon-Dweller! I need someone to help me get my stuff back! Doo-doot!"
"We can help!" The words were out of Scorbunny's mouth in an instant. "Where-"
"No, no, no, YOU'RE staying put." Pikachu pushed him out of the way. "Ahem. I'm Pikachu, and this is my partner Cutiefly, and we are... Team Moonflower!" He struck a pose. "A rising exploration team destined to solve the greatest mysteries of our world! We'll gladly help you find your belongings, free of charge."
"We... we've only been in one Dungeon, though..." Cutiefly mumbled.
"What do you mean, 'staying put'? I want to help, too!"
"First of all, you're injured," scoffed Pikachu. He gave Scorbunny a judgemental glare. "And second, do you have even the slightest notion what a Mystery Dungeon is? They can be incredibly dangerous if you don't know how to navigate them!"
"Nope! But I'll find a way!" He put his hands on his hips.
Cutiefly pushed herself between the two. "Please don't argue... let's all just go help Bidoof. Can you take us to the Dungeon where you lost your items?"
"Thank you, THANK YOU!" they cried excitedly before scurrying off. "It's right this way! Follow me, doot-da-dah!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They stopped in front of one of the many small forests dotting the field. "Here it is!" said Bidoof. "A scary Taillow took my storage bag! It's orange and has my badge and the wood I've collected inside."
Scorbunny observed the forest. It was weirdly dense and surrounded with rocks, but otherwise normal-looking. "This is a Mystery Dungeon? It looks like a normal-"
Then it moved. The trees, earth and rocks shifted as if they were alive. The two rocks in front of them warped, and a dark hole formed between them. He jumped back, shocked. "Wauhhh! Not a normal forest, not a normal forest! W-why is it moving?"
"That's just how Mystery Dungeons work. When they're forming, whatever ends up in their domain becomes a part of them once they stop." Pikachu sounded confident, but he was fidgeting nervously. "Any big, solid object could end up becoming part of its outer walls - trees, rocks, tall hills, sometimes even grass if it's long enough, or buildings that aren't properly protected. They're always moving, and they open up to let approaching Pokemon inside - some even believe that they have sentience."
"Oh. So we just... walk inside?"
"We've got to get ready first. These places are unpredictable."
But Scorbunny was already walking towards the opening. "It's so dark..." A magnetic pull was drawing him inside. "Come on, guys! Let's find that bag!" he said. Then he went through the opening and vanished.
"W-wha!?" cried Cutiefly. "Hey, w-wait for us...!"
"You can't just go in-" But they were both already gone. Pikachu sighed and followed them. "At least let me find the name of the Dungeon first..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boulder Forest S1
Scorbunny's vision quickly returned, but with it came a massive headache. "Ow, my head... Is this normal for Mystery Dungeons?"
"Yep." Cutiefly winced. "They send out these pulses to move themselves around, and Pokemon from the outside dimension aren't made to handle them. There's badges and other devices that can stop the side effects, but we, uh... don't have any."
"Huh, something like that should be easier to obtain..."
"They're actually given out for free, usually. But only to Pokemon who've graduated from a training program and can legally enter Dungeons for their work."
"Wait, but aren't you and Pikachu an explorer team? Why wouldn't you be given badges?"
She looked away from him. "We were about to graduate, but... it's kind of a long story. That's why Pikachu and I were going to that village - we were trying to find a Guild where we could become an official team."
"I was just going down the valley, and now this," grumbled Pikachu as he appeared behind them, studying a map. "Where even are we...? Oh, found it. Looks like we're in Boulder Forest. It doesn't look like a very interesting Dungeon, but that's good for us."
"And we've just got to find a Taillow with a bag. That sounds easy! Let's go, team!"
Scorbunny tried to go, but Pikachu moved in front of him. "Nope, none of that. We know nothing about this place or the Pokemon that can be found inside. You don't even know how Dungeons work. In case you haven't noticed, Cutiefly and I are explorers. We're TRAINED for this, okay? Now, step aside and follow us."
"Oh yeah! You guys lead the way, then!"
The trio moved through the Dungeon, and Scorbunny couldn't help but look around in awe. The trees and stone seemed to mesh together to form walls, and sometimes a shadow would move through them, catching his eye through the small openings.
"Hey guys, are there other Pokemon here as well?" he asked.
"Oh, those are Dungeon-dwellers. Sometimes Pokemon get caught in a forming Dungeon, and then copies of them roam the area. They're usually pretty calm, so just don't attack them for no reason and we'll be fine."
Before long, they had found another of the large, dark openings. "Does this one lead outside?"
"It's an Entrance." Cutiefly was the one to explain this time. "These could take us either to the next section, floor, or layer of the Mystery Dungeon, or back to the outside world."
"Next section," said Pikachu. "This one has three sections. We're in the first one."
"We should probably go back through this floor before we continue, just in case we missed-"
In the blink of an eye, a creature sprung out from a rock and slammed Pikachu with a glowing fist, cutting Cutiefly off.
The Electric-type staggered backwards and glared at the enemy Pokemon - an aggressive Growlithe. "Oh, you wanna fight, huh!?" Sparks crackled around his cheeks, much brighter than they should have been. "Then taste my lightning!" he shouted, jumping into the air.
A bolt of energy fired from Pikachu's body and struck the Growlithe, who cried out in pain. As it struggled to regain its balance, Cutiefly flapped her wings rapidly, and the Growlithe was knocked back over by a sparkling pink breeze.
When it finally got back up, it saw the trio and froze. "O-oh no! I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me!" It turned and ran away.
"You're fine!" Cutiefly called after it. "Just get some rest!"
Scorbunny watched his companions with wide eyes. "That... was AWESOME!" he exclaimed, bouncing from one foot to the other. "You took down that Growlithe so quickly! You guys must be SUPER strong!"
"Th-thanks... It was mostly Pikachu..." Cutiefly's face had gone red.
Pikachu, on the other hand, looked much less embarrassed. "Oh, it was easy. Thunderbolt is a powerful move, after all. Come on, let's head to the next section before we get jumped again."
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boulder Forest S2
"So why did that Growlithe attack you?" he asked. "I thought Dungeon-dwellers were peaceful."
"Usually, they are. But a long time ago, there was this powerful, angry entity; we aren't even sure it was a Pokemon. It cursed the Mystery Dungeons so that the Pokemon inside would randomly turn hostile and attack any other creature that didn't come from the Dungeon. Once they're afflicted, they'll keep fighting until they're knocked out."
"Well, how can I fight back? How do I do that cool Thunderbolt move?"
"I'm not sure you're able to use Thunderbolt." Pikachu stopped to look him up and down. "It requires a lot of Electric magic to work, and you're a Fire-type. But you'd probably be able to use something like Tackle or Ember. Hold on, let's find another hostile Dungeon-dweller, and- oh! Just what we need!"
A lone Budew stood in front of them. It seemed to be trembling, and its eyes were completely red. It shrieked and ran towards them. Pikachu planted his paws on the ground, and pulses of magic energy shot out from them towards the Budew. When it touched them, it stiffened and fell backwards.
"It's paralyzed. You're up, Scorbunny! Try to use a move on it!"
"Wait, but how?" He looked at his paws. *Come on, body, become magical...* Nothing happened. He sighed.
"It's always tough the first time. You kind of have to picture the move you want to use, and will yourself to do it. If you've got strong enough magic stored up, it should be easy." Cutiefly shrugged. "Maybe try Tackle? It's a simple move that uses basic magic."
"Tackle. Okay." He closed his eyes. *Okay, Scorbunny. You got this! Use whatever magic powers you've been given to run into that Budew and knock it out! You're strong enough to take it on. Just focus your power!"
A blaze of white energy surrounded Scorbunny, and adrenaline rushed through him. "Hahah! Yeah! Budew, here I-" Before he could run towards it, the blaze fizzled out. His ears drooped in disappointment. "What? But I felt so strong..."
"That was Work Up," Pikachu explained. "It's a move that makes your attacks a bit stronger. It's, uhm, not really an attacking move, though. Go on, try again."
"I guess I do feel stronger..." He shook himself and refocused. This time, when he felt the surge of energy, he took off running towards the paralyzed Budew. He slammed into it headfirst, throwing it into a tree.
He hopped around, excited again. "I did it! Did you see that, guys? I did it!"
"That was great!" said Cutiefly. "Can you do it again?"
Scorbunny nodded and charged at the Budew again. Just as she'd said, it was much easier the second time around. The Dungeon Pokemon went limp, then stood back up after a few seconds, tottering dizzily.
"Uh... where..." Then it saw them. "Oh dear! Pardon me, I was feeling so angry and sick this morning..."
"No problem! I learned how to fight 'cause of you!"
It waved with one of its little leaves and ran away into the bushes. Scorbunny grinned at his teammates. "Thanks for the help! Using magic is really cool! What else can it do?"
Pikachu perked up. "You... want to learn about magic?"
"Well, yeah, aren't there other moves to know?"
His eye gleamed with joy. He stood up straight, puffed out his chest, and said, "Well, I happen to be a devoted researcher of all things magical! I know absolutely ANYTHING you might want to learn about how it works, or what you can do with it! Ask away; I could go on about magic FOREVER!"
"Really? Okay! How many different types of magic are there?"
"For starters, there's the basic magical abilities that everyone has. Simple moves like Pound, Growl, and Quick Attack use that kind. Some Pokemon have more powerful basic magic than others, but just about anyone can use it if needed. Then there's the more advanced forms, which are a bit more difficult to master. The most popular form is elemental magic - anything that uses Fire, Ice, Water, Grass, or Electric power. You and I both have a type corresponding to one of those, which means our elemental magic is stronger..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boulder Forest S3
"...but Dragon moves are tough to learn and can be very destructive. If you use one, you're wielding raw, primal power, and anything could happen. In fact, it's so strong that the Dragon-types themselves are vulnerable to each other's powers! They say you can't fight Fire with Fire, but I guess if that fire is as strong as a Dragon, it's possible!"
"Sorry for stopping the lesson," Cutiefly interrupted, "but... I think we've found who we're looking for."
She pushed apart some leaves, and Scorbunny and Pikachu peeked through behind her. On the other side was a Taillow, hopping around with a heavy-looking orange bag. It twitched erratically, staring at any leaf that moved.
"Alright, Cutiefly's weak to Flying-types, and Scorbunny, you don't have any really strong attacks yet. I've got an advantage against Taillow, so I'll go out and fight it while you two look for the exit. Sound good?"
"You'll fight them... alone? Pikachu, that's really risky." Cutiefly pulled anxiously on the drawstrings of her hoodie.
"I'll be fine, don't worry! It's just one Dungeon-dweller." He jumped out from behind the bushes and landed in front of the Taillow, startling it.
And then, just moments later, three more Taillow appeared, all with the same angry red eyes.
One of them flapped its wings strongly and created an array of silver projectiles. Stunned by the arrival of the other Pokemon, Pikachu was slashed and knocked to the side. "Gaahh!"
"Pikachu!" Cutiefly darted to her friend's side. She started to dig through her bag, but a Taillow dived down and snatched it away. It flew off to join the first one while the other two chased the fleeing Bug-type in circles. They were right behind her, beaks snapping, when...
"Leave her alone!" Scorbunny charged out and Tackled the Dungeon-dwellers, slamming them into a rock. He ran at the other bag-holding Taillow - but one of them jabbed him in the chest with a glowing wing, and he was thrown back. In seconds, he and Cutiefly had been surrounded by all four of them.
They backed away until their backs hit a wall. Cutiefly whimpered, pulling her hoodie over her face. Pikachu was still lying in the dirt.
*This is bad...* Scorbunny struggled to get back up on his feet. Somehow, he wasn't injured, and yet he felt like he'd been hit by a wrecking ball. *I have to stop them... but what do I do...*
He finally stood up and positioned himself between the Taillow and Cutiefly. "You... might be stronger than me..." he growled, "but I'm not... giving... up! I won't let you... hurt my friends!"
His act of defiance was met with a glowing beak to his stomach. Scorbunny got back up and tried to retaliate, only to be cut off by another Peck. Over and over, he was struck down, and by the time he had risen, he was forced down. But even though he was going numb, even though it hurt to breathe, even though he felt like all his bones had been shattered, he made himself stand. And through all the soreness, he felt something else rise, a powerful, burning flame.
As one of the Taillow swooped down for a finishing blow, it was hit by a bolt of lightning. It dropped from the sky and hit the ground with a thump, smoke trailing from its feathers. The other three turned and faced Pikachu, scuffed and shaking from both fatigue and rage. "Hey! Don't pick on weakened Pokemon!" he shouted.
They flew high into the air and shot out more curved silver bullets from their wings. Pikachu yelped and scrambled to dodge them. But as he was scurrying behind a rock, one flew above him and started to dive. Seeing him in danger gave Scorbunny a surge of energy.
And with that energy, he took off running.
He wasn't telling himself to move. It was on pure instinct, like a natural reflex. With each step he took, the ground beneath his paws got hotter and hotter, and then the rest of his body heated up as well. An orange light blurred the edges of his vision. With the last reserves of strength he had, he leaped up to the top of the rock, jumped, and slammed full-force into the diving Taillow.
Its surprised squawk was cut short, and it hit the ground, creating a cloud of dust. The two still standing shrieked with rage, but a pink mist cloud enveloped them before they could move. Below them was Cutiefly, looking scared but determined.
Pikachu wasted no time - he ran past Scorbunny, curled into a ball, and finished them both off with Thunderbolt. With all four down, he landed, walked to the abandoned bags, and shifted through the green one Cutiefly had been carrying. He pulled out two round blue fruits and tossed one to Scorbunny. "It's an Oran Berry. Eat it and you'll feel better."
Scorbunny didn't even notice the Berry. He was staring at his own paws with sparkling eyes. "...What WAS that!?" he finally said, amazed. "Did - did you guys see that? I was so tired, and I felt like I was going to faint, but then I felt this - it was like a rush of energy! And I felt really warm, and a lot stronger, too!" He stumbled through his words in elation.
"Wow... maybe it's your ability?" Cutiefly picked up the Oran Berry and dusted it off. "Whatever it was, it saved us all... Thank you."
"My, ah, ability?"
"Abilities are unique traits that usually aid Pokemon in battle," Pikachu explained between bites of his own Berry. "Everybody's born with one. And that, my friend, was the effect of your ability, Blaze. The closer you are to fainting, the more powerful your Fire attacks become."
"Woahhh, that's SO COOL!"
"Indeed. Come on! Let's find the exit and return Bidoof's belongings. And don't forget to eat that, you got roughed up pretty badly."
"Oh, right!" The moment he popped the blue Berry in his mouth, all the soreness went away. He swallowed and smiled at Cutiefly. "Mystery Dungeons are so cool! It must be awesome to get to explore them all the time!"
"Actually... I think they're a bit scary," she mumbled, "with all the angry Pokemon... but they can be really beautiful, too. Oh, um, congratulations on learning Flame Charge, by the way."
"Huh?"
"You know, when you knocked out the Taillow that was going after Pikachu... that was Flame Charge. It's a pretty good attack."
"Three moves in one day? I'm learning fast! Haha!" With a spring in his step, he bounded ahead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
MISSION COMPLETE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You found it! Thank you!" Bidoof shook each of their paws enthusiastically before taking their bag back. "I've got to make it up to you somehow!"
Pikachu crossed his arms. "No worries. We don't need any sort of reward."
"Oh, I know! You three can come back to help our Guild!"
"No, we have to- wait, what!?"
"Oh, yes, we're looking for Dungeon-adventuring teams! You simply must come with us! Doopi-doo!"
"I don't know..." Cutiefly said nervously. "I mean, we're not part of any other places, but..."
"You did say you were looking for a place to make your team official. Why not here? It's probably closer anyway," Scorbunny pointed out.
"You have a point, I guess... Pikachu, what do you think?"
"Well, last I checked there weren't any settlements nearby, but if they have an actual Guild, then sure."
"Excellent! Come, I'll show you the way!" Bidoof scurried away, their bag thumping against the ground. The trio of adventurers ran after them.
*New friends, new powers, and now, a new home!* Scorbunny thought. *This is going to be the greatest adventure ever!*
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Character Index
The voice in the dream - ??? (no known moves)
Scorbunny - GingerBrave (uses Work Up, Tackle, Flame Charge)
Hat-wearing Pokemon/Pikachu - Wizard Cookie (uses Thunderbolt, Thunder Wave)
Flying Pokemon/Cutiefly - Strawberry Cookie (uses Fairy Wind, Sweet Scent)
Bidoof - Sugar Gnome (no known moves)
Powerful non-Pokemon entity - ??? (mentioned) (no known moves)
Any other Pokemon mentioned is a stand-in for a minor NPC or enemy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Important Worldbuilding + Lore Notes
Every PMD fanfic I've read has their own take on how Mystery Dungeons work, so here's mine: Dungeons start out as rifts caused by the Distortion World's forces leaking into the real Pokemon world. When these rifts open, they expand rapidly until Dialga or Palkia takes notice and neutralizes them, and then become a full Mystery Dungeon. Large solid objects and bodies of water form the internal appearance, and smaller items and Pokemon caught in the rift while it's still expanding will be duplicated and spawn in random parts of the Dungeon. Whatever time of day it is when the rift neutralizes, it will always be that time inside the Dungeon.
Depending on how large a rift got before being neutralized, its "lifespan" may last from a few years for centuries. After this time span passes, the Dungeon despawns, and the terrain in its range returns to normal. The size also affects how many floors/sections/sublevels the Dungeon has. (Note: Dungeons that go up, like on mountains or towers, have floors; Dungeons that go down, like caves or pits, have sublevels; Dungeons that are flat, like forests and fields, have sections.) Between these are Entrances, which are small, pitch-black voids.
Dungeons are capable of altering the position and shape of the terrain within them by sending out complex magnetic pulses. Dungeon-dwellers - the Pokemon that spawn naturally within a Dungeon - are unaffected by these. However, Pokemon from the outside world will experience severe headaches, slight numbness, and sometimes nausea due to the pulses if they do not have a Badge. Additionally, if a Dungeon detects the presence of a Pokemon outside them, they will automatically shift and create an Entrance in front of that Pokemon. Otherwise, the terrain will form impassable "walls" around the edges of the Dungeon. The reason for this movement is unknown.
Cutiefly is a Shiny. It's not that important, I just wanted to make that clear. Shinies in this universe have a rare, harmless condition that makes their skin and hair highly reflective and alters its color. They also shed more frequently, and it basically looks like they leave a glitter trail.
Yes, the mystery voice is an existing character in the Cookie Run: Kingdom universe. I just can't say who yet because spoilers.
Thank you for reading my fic! There's probably going to be 3-4 parts covering the prologue section.