This fic is rated Teen for blood, mild gore, adults doing adult things like drinking and swearing, and some dirty jokes and such.
Aww thanks for the warnings! Noted and accepted!
About time I had another B fic huh? (Greenhorn Prometheus doesn't count, it was a three-parter that was written out ahead of time, shhhhhhhh)
Sounds mysterious! For now though, my focus is in this fic!
So, this is a fic that took me some come convincing to write, (I was never really that fond of the actual PMD games, though I generally like the fics better) but in the end I got attached to an idea and was like "hell, let's go."
Sounds like a good reason to me to start a fic! 🙃
I will be up front in saying this is a Tales Of Symphonia/Pokemon Mystery Dungeon crossover, and that you should note three things about that:
1.There will be some massive fucking spoilers for Tales Of Symphonia, especially around the character Kratos Aurion, so if you're particularly concerned about that then I recommend playing the game or watching an LP before reading this fic.
A. That said... If you have not played Tales Of Symphonia, do not care about spoilers relating to it, and are just here because you saw "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon" in the title, you should be fine - this fic is like at least 70% PMD, albeit a celebration of what I like about the genre and a satire of what I don't.
Always good to throw out there. Also, if that means probably at least 25% is Symphonia which works great for me as I am even more familiar with that than I am PMD! Sounds like this will be a fun read.
%. This is set in a PMD version of the Yangverse. It's fundamentally the same world, just with no humans and a lot of PMD elements added to compensate.
Not really sure what all this means having only played the first PMD myself, but I'm sure this helps probably most readers. Noted about no humans, unless you count Kratos.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Tales Of Arrival
You actually have fan art! I'm envious. I would love some for my fic... Very cool that you have art for it!
View attachment 12876
(Banner by Shinywolf! Cover by me)
Wow you made your own art for it! I'm not much of an artist myself or I would have made some for my own fic... The fact that you made art for it suggests to me that you really like this fic a lot! That's a great thing to see with me being about to read it!
New life.. I hope it means PMD isn't where Kratos goes because he died or something... that would be a sadder note to start on him than him flying off into space stranded on a giant planet by himself. Hmm.. on second thought, it probably doesn't matter too much...
Kratos could see the vast darkness of space staring out before him.
Derris-Kharlan had been drifting for a long while. It'd be a while before it'd establish itself as a proper living planet. His communications with Yuan had ceased just the other day. He had already scattered Cruxis' Exspheres into space. He could barely see where he left in the sky anymore.
Just so you know, if this ends up being good, this will be my new head-cannon for Kratos after the game.
Normally he'd pretend it didn't hurt. But leaving everything behind-
No. He had to.
Stoic Kratos. Off to a good start how you portray him.
He looked in the direction in the sky Derris-Kharlan had drifted from. Lloyd. He was back there. Kratos wondered, hoped, that he and his gaggle of friends were doing alright.
He looked to where Derris-Kharlan was drifting in the cold void of space. This was the only place for him. He realized now the blood on his hands. The countless people Cruxis had killed he was complicit with.
He didn't deserve to stay home. He didn't deserve redemption. He didn't deserve a happy life with his son, the only family he had left.
Well Kratos, I think things will be getting better than you think they will be. Hang in there!
As he thought this, however, he noticed a strange light in the dark, starry sky. Looking at it, he thought at first it was a comet or meteor shooting through the sky.
But then he realized it was heading through Derris-Kharlan's atmosphere at incredible speed.
Heading straight toward him.
He tried to get out of the way. But it was too late. The light consumed him.
Oh, um... maybe he did die then??
-----------------
Kratos woke up in a colorful, pulsating, void. He couldn't feel his body. Almost like he was part of the void.
Then he heard a voice.
"Hello? Hello? Kratos, you there?"
"How do you know my name?" said Kratos.
"Oh, goody, it is you!" said the voice. "Listen, I know this is kind of sudden, but something's coming to my world and I need your help with it."
"...Why me?"
"You're... uniquely qualified. For multiple reasons. But before I bring you over I need to ask you some questions."
First, I love the line at the top. Using things like that to show the scene changed is super helpful!
Regarding the rest:
Oooo something interesting is happening!
Kratos, you might as well go. It beats starting stoically into outer space for the next hundred years or however long it would be for your life to get interesting again!
"I-"
"First question! Do you like groan-inducing puns?"
Suddenly I am reminded of Monty Python lol....
"...Spare me."
"You're lucky I can't think of one. Second question! Do you get bothered by noise and ruckus around you?"
"I try not to let it get to me."
Somehow I get the feeling Kratos would be slightly less patient here like if there were 2 more dots at the end of that line. I imagine he is probably wondering why something so other worldly happened just so it could ask just basic seemingly pointless questions to him. This is really small but I feel like it might let it do what you want it to do to a bigger extent and would be super easy to implement. Feel free to ignore me here though if it doesn't make sense for what you are going for.
"Hmmmm... Third question! Your friend is crying right in front of you! What made that happen?"
Kratos thought back to Mithos. To Yuan. To Lloyd.
"...It's probably my fault."
"Ouch. Not much of the self-esteem type. Question four! Do you occasionally consider yourself to be dull and overly cautious?"
Ouch indeed!
"Of course not."
"Sure you aren't. Anyway, final question! Have you ever wanted to communicate with aliens from another planet?"
What is this voice?! Its like it already knows the real answers before Kratos even tries to answer them!
"I'm assuming you're one?"
"I will neither confirm nor deny."
Lack of dialogue tags really isn't harming my ability to know who is talking! Granted there are only 2 people speaking, but I wanted to make sure I pointed that out to you since lack of confusion for your readers should be a positive thing!
"Hmmm... Some beings from my world came from the stars, but other than you, Derris-Kharlan hasn't encountered any aliens yet... so yes, I suppose."
"Okay! Hmmm, let's see, yes, yes... I think I have a form cooked up for you!"
"...Form?"
Uh oh! I think this means Kratos is about to be Pokefied! So much for demon fang spamming all the enemy mons...
"Anyway, remember that question about the aliens and how you said you'd like to meet them?"
"Yes? I'm guessing wish granted."
"Yep! Wish granted."
The void turned a blinding white before Kratos lost consciousness again.
I'm really curious how Kratos will take this...
Chapter 1: Welcome To The World
Chapter title makes me think the arrival here will be welcoming. We shall see how it measures up!
Kratos stirred, groaned, and finally opened his eyes. What he saw was blue sky, much more blue than on Derris-Kharlan. He tilted his head a bit, saw trees, grass, and -
Your not in Kansa- I mean Derris Kharlan anymore!
"Hey you! You're finally awake!"
But the big question: how long was he out for??
What Kratos saw next to him was a small, black-and-red fox wearing a teal robe, with inquisitive blue eyes staring right at him.
Well at least what he is waking up to is cute. Given all the things he has seen in his life, this is
definitely on the good end of the spectrum!
"I was just about to get help... Are you OK?"
"Yes... I am alright," said Kratos. "Let me just..."
He sat up. And then realized he wasn't himself. His body was now much, much smaller in proportion to his head, and fuzzy. And his arms were... wings. Not like his old angel wings, like bat or dragon wings, with claws at the end instead of hands.
All things considered, I think this makes for a pretty reasonable mon for him to turn into. Both in looks and abilities! It even has fangs!
Kratos! Make sure you yell demon fang every time you use bite!!
"How... How did this happen?"
"Someone must have knocked you out!" said the fox.
Kratos gave the fox a look.
Sorry Kratos, this is PMD. No one knows what the heck you are talking about. 😅
"It must have been a feral Pokemon... Do you remember anything about it?"
"No... and I mean... What am I?"
The fox gasped. "Oh no! You must have amnesia! Uh, you're a Noibat! Though, not like any Noibat I've ever seen. Your colors are all different..."
"So I'm a creature known as a Noibat, then."
Yessss with fangs! Pokemon fangs! Pocket Monster Fangs! Monster fangs.... DEMON FANGS!
"Yeah! And I'm a Zorua! My name's Edbark. Do you remember yours?"
"...Yes. It's Kratos."
"Kratos? Huh. Sounds foreign. Well nice to meet you Kratos! I'll be sure to help get your memories back!"
Foreign? *snorts* how about an alien from another dimension transformed into a Noibat? Truth be stranger than fiction... or truth inside of fiction and outside of fiction is more true than fiction inside of fiction...?
"I don't need-"
"Come on! I'll take you to a doctor in the city."
"...Fine."
Confirmed city exists and that they have doctors!
Aww Edbark is nice. He is both little and nice so I will call him lil Eddie. Yep Kratos! Just let lil Eddie do the nice thing!
Edbark started to trot off. Kratos sighed and started to try and follow, only to stumble over. Edbark turned back and gasped.
"Oh no! You've forgotten how to walk!"
"I'm fine," said Kratos. "I just need to get used to this new body..."
"Come on," said Edbark. "I'll help you."
Edbark propped Kratos up with his back, then they walked away together.
Aww lil Eddie!!
So, for this line, I noticed the number of dashes is less than the dash line from the previous chapter. This is obviously unacceptable... 🙃
That is.. unless its to signify that LESS time passed here than did last time! Hmmm! (Legitimately wondering about it now.. lol)
Eventually, the duo reached the outskirts of what seemed to be a city. There were many houses both small and large and dirt roads, as well as towering buildings which Kratos could only fathom a guess at the purpose of.
Very interesting! Helps provide some world building!
Having figured out how to walk by himself, Kratos went closer and saw the city was populated not by humans or elves or half-elves or dwarves or even angels, but by a staggering array of different animals, plants, and even inanimate objects, all moving around as if they were people.
As if they were people? Comeon Kratos, after you JUST finished dealing with systemic racism of humans and half-elves you consider Pokemon as if they were not exspheres even though exspheres were considered pretty much people??
To be fair to Kratos though, Pokemon are much more like the monsters from Sylverant than like people. At least in appearance. For all he knows, lil Eddie might be the only one that can speak. I'm sure he will be changing his opinion soon.
"What... is this place?" said Kratos. "And what are these creatures?"
"This is Rainbow Wing City!" said Edbark. "And man, that amnesia really got to you... These are Pokemon! You're a Pokemon, I'm a Pokemon..."
"I thought you said I was a Noibat and you were a Zorua."
"Noibat and Zorua are both kinds of Pokemon silly!"
"...I see."
Its great to see Kratos confused here as this would absolutely be confusing to him!
The two continued further on into Rainbow Wing City, passing various buildings and a great variety of Pokemon. Kratos marveled at the bazaars and shops and facilities run by colorful creatures he couldn't even count. Eventually the two reached what seemed to be a castle - Kratos noticed one of two in the city, along with a cathedral.
Castles and cathedrals puts them at least around Tethealla in terms of scientific advancement. Meaningful milestones for Kratos's understanding of their culture.
"And this place is..." said Kratos.
"The Adventurer's Guild!" said Edbark."They can help you out!"
Edbark dragged Kratos inside. Kratos noticed more facilities and corridors and dormitories inside, as well as what seemed to be an... Inn? With a bar?
Seemingly small details, but so early on in the story, even things like this are good to provide context!
Eventually Edbark dragged Kratos into a central room. Seated at the end of the room was a strange, cream-and-green mustelid-like creature wearing a red vest, flanked by two floating grayish blue automaton-like beings.
Ooo looks important!
"Guildmaster, it's Edbark!" said one.
"And... some Noibat?" said another.
"I see, I see," said the mustelid. He approached the duo. "Edbark my boy! Who do you have here?"
"Guildmaster Stoakes!" said Edbark. "This is Kratos! Poor guy has amnesia! All he can remember is his own name... You gotta help him!"
Aww lil Eddie!
Kratos was about to object that no, he did not have amnesia, he remembers the last four thousand years or so up until this point fine, but then he realized they probably weren't going to listen and decided to just roll with it.
Certainly an easier pill for them to swallow. Definitely seems like something Kratos would be willing to do given the circumstances!
"Hmm, amnesia, huh?" said Stoakes, scratching his chin. "He'll need some rest and recovery... But the Adventurer's Guild never turns down a person in need. He can stay here, we'll have Nurse Betania take a look at him."
"Yay! Thank you, Guildmaster Stoakes!" said Edbark. He turned to Kratos. "These guys have got you covered. I'll be back!"
He scampered off, and the two automatons escorted Kratos to another room as Stoakes followed.
Ok this is a warm and adorable welcome.
Chapter name is fitting!
I see this line, but if you want my comment for this one in particular you will need to ask nicely.
(not planning any more insane comments about lines lol....)
A large pink oval with white tufts on her body and an egg nestled in a pouch on her belly now looked Kratos over. She looked him up, down, and sideways as she prodded and investigated his head and body. Kratos begrudgingly obliged as Stoakes watched.
Ah a Chansey! That is, unless it was supposed to be a Blissey... Oh well, easier to let the narration tell me later which one it is.
Yep Kratos understands being examined is going to be an easier thing than trying to explain he is an alien from another dimension transformed into a Pokemon. Good call Kratos!
"Well," said the pink oval, who was apparently Nurse Betania, "This is odd. He doesn't seem to have head trauma or other trauma or any injuries at all! How the hell does he have amnesia?"
I love hearing his expressions about Pokemon. Its like what 65 year olds think about Pokemon lol...
"Well I wouldn't know." said Kratos.
LOL legit hilarious since that's what amnesia is! 🤣
Imagining Kratos saying it with his straight face makes it 10 times better!
Not going to lie this made me laugh for a solid 2 minutes lol...
Stoakes thought to himself a bit. "There's one possibility... Some nefarious Pokemon, somehow, wiped his memories."
"Well that gives us fuck-all evidence as to who!" said Betania, huffing.
No Pokemon in a main line game would be using this language and I get the feeling its going to make for some pretty funny scenes...
"It seems it can't be helped." said Stoakes. He sighed, then turned to Kratos. "My offer for you to stay here still stands. Though... what do you remember?"
Kratos paused to think of a convincing reply. "...My name, Kratos Aurion. And apparently your language, basic functions of living, certain basic concepts... I remember nothing of this world or its people."
Loving your characterization of Kratos so far!
I do keep imagining him as his human self instead of as a Noibat at least for now. Hard habit to break with his transformation being such a new concept in my mind for him.
"Hm. Awfully specific memory wipe," said Stoakes. "Whoever did this to you must have had a very strange goal in mind... Nevertheless, you're safe with the Adventurer's Guild."
Aww its nice that they don't suspect him of lying. Good group of Pokemon in this city! Still, with it being an adventurers guild, I think this means Kratos will need to do something to earn his keep. I wonder what that something will end up being? Hmmm!
"Thank you."
"Hmph. Adopting another one, I see, Stoakes," said Betania.
Aww they do this kind of thing for other Pokemon often. Good to portray.
"It can't be helped! Rule Number 1 of the Adventurer's Guild! Always help those in need, no matter who they are!"
Kratos was suddenly reminded of his son Lloyd's fondness for the Dwarven Vows. "I appreciate it."
Wonderful call out to the Dwarven Vows!
"Besides," said Stoakes. "You came to Rainbow Wing City at a good time! The Seeking is soon! There will be a big festival and everything!"
"The Seeking?"
"I'll let Edbark explain that one, he gets excited about old myths and legends and stuff like that. Anyway, we should probably find you a room..."
Ah, I think we just found the plot! Myths and legends are the stuff plot is made of! 😁
He led Kratos out of the infirmary and down the stony hall to a set of rooms.
"Here's an empty dormitory. Since we're hosting you, you get to stay free of charge here instead of at the inn."
Not even going to make him do anything for it? So nice!
"Thank you for your generosity."
Simple dialogue for him but very on-point!
"No problem, Kratos! Come to us for anything you need!"
He headed off. Kratos paused, then sat on the bed of his new room and stared off into space.
What the hell was going on?
As he sits in another world, now as a Noibat. What indeed Kratos, what indeed...
And there you have it, the beginning of this crossover adventure! Before I go, some art:
Edbark by
ToonIRL
Aww lil Eddie looks cute and reliable! Great piece of art for him and nice to see what he looks like in a picture! Thanks for sharing!
View: https://toonirl.tumblr.com/post/188433568521/commission-for-umbramatic-commission-info
Wow cool! Also great to have a picture as I wasn't picking up that he was a Typlosion.
This will update in rough alternation with Heroes After All until one of them finishes in like 3000 years. Stay tuned!
Very well, challenge accepted in the hopes that my reviews will help inspire you to finish the story! (If they are capable of that anyway...)
