Pokémon The Vaporeon Cycle: Frost Spirals

[K_S]

Hello new blood, i'm here for the blitz and to welcome you to the forum.

Vaporeon woke up against a wall of trees. The room was empty, except for her and a badly beaten Luxio. Both Pokemon were layered with bruises – some old, some new.

Yesh not a fun way to greet the dawn. Between the term room and wal of trees i'm guessing this is a mystery dungeon?

VAPOREON: Urgh. That fucking bastard.
VAPOREON: I should have bit his fucking head off.
LUXIO: Heh. You told him you were a murderer.
LUXIO: The fact that he wanted to follow you at all should have been a red flag.

Yeah. Red flag for Vaporeon advertizing thier murderous impulses and a red flag for "them" still wanting to hang out. We are passing red flag out to one and all today.

So since thier inclijed to swear. Aka and craby per thier state. Does this make vaporeon a saltwater type per thier salty nature?

Luxio rested against the wall, trying to turn the pages of his book with his mouth. He pointedly avoided looking at her.

Surprised they still have that book per getting trounced. Usually its a rob and run sort of thing...

VAPOREON: Why didn't you run?
LUXIO: Why would I need to? He was busy beating you into paste.
LUXIO: Stronger than I expected, sure, but I had the jump on him.
VAPOREON: You should have used it to run the hell away.
VAPOREON: I told you that you can't trust me.
LUXIO: HAH! Don't recall saying that I do.
VAPOREON: So you're just here to kick me while I'm down?
LUXIO: Nah. Just felt wrong leaving you to him.
LUXIO: He didn't stop when you fainted.
LUXIO: He wasn't gonna until you died.

Lux clearly is here for the amusement and sparkling conversation. Perhaps he's the sassy type?

This gave Vaporeon pause. She was finding it increasingly hard to care what happened to her, but... she'd almost just died. Everything gone, just like that, because she'd let her guard down for a moment.

It wouldn't happen again.

Hello p.o.v. lets lift up that hood, toss in a dab of paranoia to go with that snark, and salt, and see how this goes...

VAPOREON: Hmph. My hero.
LUXIO: Yeah, well, I'm not fighting your battles again.
LUXIO: Next fight you pick, it's your ass on the line.
VAPOREON: Attaboy.

Aww vaporeon kinda cares. Sorta. In a tiny hyper pragmatic way.

LUXIO: My chances with you are still better than my chances alone, anyway.

Well i kean vaporeons a endless free water source. So if theyre roughing it, or needing showers... its a triangle off of the nessesities pyramid. Right?

LUXIO: I'll carry your bags, if you keep your crazy pointed at the enemies.
LUXIO: Get more rest if you need it. I can't afford a room on the static floor.

Vaporeon stood up again. She wasn't quite healed, but she could walk just fine.

...

Well, she could walk.

Love how we downgrade from " fine" to able to walk. I'm suspecting straight lines and minimal pain are a few paralell universes to the right.

And i'm imagining lux' noming popcorn while the schfrueden is going on.

LUXIO: You look like you might disintegrate, but I know better than to argue.
LUXIO: Lead the way or take a nap, your choice.
VAPOREON: I already napped. Let's go.

Vaporeon led onward again, keeping an eye out for Scrafty. Pokemon were getting more common, but Luxio managed to find a way around the first few.

VAPOREON: Ugh. I guess most adventurers wipe out within the first few floors.
LUXIO: Yeah. You find the worst Pokemon by the entrance and the static floors.
VAPOREON: Well, here – found an Oran.
LUXIO: Don't you need it?
VAPOREON: I wanna be even. I'm not hungry, anyway.

Nah not hungry. Just bleeding out. Nothing major. I imagine if a kiddie squad of stereotypical happy-go-lucky adventurers weidling the power of froendship appeared vap' would lose his mind and disolve out of sheer spite.

The other Pokemon mostly kept to themselves when not approached, but a lone Arbok stood in a passage that couldn't be routed around.

VAPOREON: Move, asshole.
VAPOREON: I'm here to kill the little shit that robbed me.

It moved aside, its forked tongue darting out of its serpentine smile.

ARBOK: Sssure, sssure.

Something in its eyes unnerved her, but she was far past caring at this point.

Huh so is this INTIMIDATION the status effect or intimidation aka the last harrah of common sense? I'm voting both.

. She was right – the moment her eyes were turned, it struck. It hurt like hell. It was poisonous as hell, too.

VAPOREON: Mmffh... ambush predator, like I thought.
VAPOREON: Hey, Luxio! Now's your chance to run on ahead!
VAPOREON: FUCKING GO! I can take this guy no problem!

Luxio froze for just a moment, then bolted. No surprise there, either.

Well i mean Vap' spent 90% of this chapter griping at Lux for being a decent person. Why stick around after that?

ARBOK: What a ssstupid kitty. He wasss ssseriousssly consssidering it.

Arbok lashed lazily at Vaporeon with its hefty tail. She turned to the snake, unconsciousness slowly grasping for her. Not just yet, though. There was one more thing to do.

VAPOREON: Heyyyy... wanna do me a solid?

Poisoned while wrapped in a snake's coil was already a hard position to bargain from. Having no belongings at all made it impossible, but as long as it didn't know that...

VAPOREON: Luxie and I grabbed the Dawn Stone already.
VAPOREON: If you- ngh. Catch the Scrafty that attacked me, and you can have it.
ARBOK: An interesssting offer, to be sssure.
ARBOK: It would be sssacrilegiousss if I took it myssself, but if you already did?
ARBOK: I sssuppossse I will sssee what I can do.

---

Wonder why the arbok cared about that stone. Guess its relevence will be brought up later..

Vaporeon awoke at the dungeon's entrance. Her body and mind were still drowning in exhaustion. Her headache had only gotten worse, and even the night sky was too bright for comfort. As she looked up from her dazed awakening, Vaporeon she froze.

Did some minor touch ups...

A familiar Scrafty was waiting to meet her.

Wow he pursuited her hard? Ouch. Incredibly bad luck for Vap thats for sure...

He slammed his fists against the coils of a proud-looking Arbok, but his mouth was held shut by its tail. Next to them, a Luxio laid on his back and looked up at the stars. His face was locked in a scowl.

So arbok t.p.k.ed Vap, Lux' and Scrafty... he's going to figure who lied quick and thats going to go so bad for the three of them...

ARBOK: Everyone isss ssso gullible today.
ARBOK: I told him you were tracking him down, and he fell for the sssame trick!
ARBOK: It worksss every time.
LUXIO: Mmn.
VAPOREON: Mmngh... what's happening?
ARBOK: I got your Ssscrafty, and loverboy wantsss to sssay he'sss sssorry for being a pusssssy.
LUXIO: Fuck you. I just wanted to see if she made it out.
VAPOREON: Put him to sleep, please, and I'll... deal with him.
ARBOK: Asss you wisssh~

The snake hissed and sank its fangs into Scrafty. He screeched in pain, writhing harder and harder before falling limp. Arbok dumped him on the ground in front of her unceremoniously.

VAPOREON: You two... you don't want to see this.
VAPOREON: Look away, talk among yourselves, whatever.

Vaporeon dragged Scrafty behind some bushes, out of sight of the others and the nearby road. He just laid there. Helpless, just like she had been. What a fucking idiot she was to trust like that. Strength in numbers, she'd assumed. No. Strength was in strength alone, in self-reliance and keeping others where you can see them.

She wrenched open his mouth. His limp body disgusted her. If he wasn't strong enough to resist, he deserved this. Her face twitched as she fired Ice Beam after Ice Beam into his. His body was frozen entirely solid by the time she was done. Was he still alive? No need to guess. Vaporeon shattered the icy Pokemon with her good front paw. She crunched the gorey ice until it was just a mess, and washed the slushy blood away with water.

Vaporeon stumbled back to her companions, too exhausted to clean the gore off herself first. Luxio looked at her, frightened beyond belief. Arbok looked on smugly. She slumped into a heap.

LUXIO: I'm- I'm going to take off if that's okay?
VAPOREON: I told you, boy. You can't trust anyone.

Luxio backed up slowly. In one swift motion, he turned and ran for his life. Arbok watched over her with a disturbing grin, making no moves towards her. She felt disgusted with herself.

VAPOREON: You look happy.
ARBOK: I wasss wondering what you were planning with him. I've never ssseen anything like that.

Yeah pragmatic use of an icebeam is a rare event in a mon fanfic. Thats true. Wonder if arbok will join the party at this point...

ARBOK: It'sss not my ssstyle, persssonally, but I do ressspect you for it.
VAPOREON: Don't get any ideas. I'm special.
ARBOK: Oh, I can tell that for sssure. I've been around the block.
ARBOK: A cute little Vaporeon'sss Ice Beam? That ssshould not be asss ssstrong asss it isss on you.
VAPOREON: It shouldn't be so exhausting to use, either.
ARBOK: Loverboy would sssay you ssshould pace yourssself.
ARBOK: Me? I think it'sss funny to watch.

Vaporeon glared at it at the mention of Luxio. It froze, dropping its grin.

ARBOK: My apologiesss. I like to have fun, but I certainly don't mean to anger you.
VAPOREON: I bet you fucking don't.
ARBOK: I hold no illusssionsss about why I beat you.
ARBOK: You were weak and tired, and you let your guard down for jussst a moment.
ARBOK: You could sssurely kill me now, if you ssso desssired.
VAPOREON: Half wanted you to just eat me and end my misery.
ARBOK: Worrisssome.
VAPOREON: I woke up at the end of that dungeon with no memory and no leg.
VAPOREON: There was a smug asshole Flareon who's probably my sibling or spouse or something.
VAPOREON: It obviously knew more than it let on.
VAPOREON: I took that kid hostage to carry my shit, but he was nice to me. Now he's gone.
ARBOK: I'm sssure you could win him back sssomeday, if you meet again.
ARBOK: He ssseemed like the sssimple type. I don't mean that asss an insssult, mind you.
ARBOK: Ssstill, what a worrying ssstory.
ARBOK: Perhapsss sssome time in the townsss would be a better ssstart than the dungeonsss?
ARBOK: Forgive me if my inssspiring advice ssskillsss are russsty. I mossstly jussst take what I want.
VAPOREON: Hmf. I assume you'll follow me around too?
ARBOK: You ssstill owe me for catching the Ssscrafty, unlesssss you want to go back on that.
ARBOK: I won't pursssue you if you do. I'm not ssstupid.
VAPOREON: Oh. Yeah, I was lying. The Dawn Stone was gone when I got there.
VAPOREON: You can still follow. I'm sure I'll tear a path of blood through some other dungeon.
VAPOREON: Maybe you can grab some loot as we go.

Cue arbok slithering behind with popcorn and scorecards. Though indoubt he'd carry anything for vaporeon. Wonder how the nearest town is going to tolerate ms. Ice beam killer.

Lux' is in a position to spread the alarm.

I do with Vap' would of shared more details about her Flareon encounter though. A ton feels unsaid... but then considering Arboks a sadist... might be smarter not to share and care... yet.

ARBOK: Better than sssticking around here.
ARBOK: You can trussst me, though you ssshouldn't, and I'm sssure you won't.
VAPOREON: I don't. I appreciate you not asking me to.

It flicked its tail about, and the two set off.

ARBOK: Like I sssaid, I'm not ssstupid. I'll follow asss long asss it'sss worth it to.
VAPOREON: Then let's see how long that lasts.

Huh, well that was an experience... is this another chapter?

Gestures belowV.

Tall grass swayed lazily in the center of a dim clearing. A small blue creature shook her head with pain and confusion.

Her mind felt blank. No memories came to her, and the world around her felt no more familiar. Save for her, the clearing contained only a short stone pedestal. The area itself was oddly regular – the tangle of trees surrounding her felt more like walls than a living forest.

VAPOREON: What– ugh. My fucking head...

She sat down grumpily. Time to take stock.

She was a Pokemon, named... Vaporeon, presumably. She didn't remember if she had a name. Pokemon typically didn't, but some chose them to stick out. Her species was quadrupedal, semi-aquatic, and around average in terms of size. She was a good swimmer, she assumed. Her fins had to be there for something.

Vaporeon was in... a dungeon, she decided. Her memory there was fragmented too, but she remembered the basic concept. A dungeon was an area that randomly shifted in layout. They tended to be similar in structure, so to speak, with the materials based on the surrounding area. She could have sworn there was one made out of clouds somewhere.

Ah so this iz what happened pre-scrafty schenanigans i guess?

New resources appeared every time the layout changed, so Pokemon with more brawn than marketable skills often chose dungeon life over the surface. Competition for space could get fierce. There was something about bosses, too... her head hurt even worse. Enough thinking.

Vaporeon stood up slowly. She tried a slow stretch and toppled over immediately. Practically her entire front-left leg was missing – that would have been nice to know sooner. All that was left was a stump that showed no signs of scarring. She examined the rest of her body; her fins were angled oddly for her species, but that felt rather less important.

Vaporeon stayed on the ground for a while. Here she was, lost and alone, with nothing to her name but pain and uncertainty. There was no reason to get back up. Where would she even go? Out, she supposed. Whatever answers she needed, they weren't here. Turning swiftly to the room's only exit – too swiftly, her headache informed her – Vaporeon left.

The next clearing opened just as wide as the previous, though at least with more light to see by. A campfire crackled by the exit. Two Pokemon rested next to it – a Luxio and a Wartortle – and a Flareon patrolled the area. None of them had noticed Vaporeon yet, as far as she could tell.

Wartortle pointed a claw at the book he and Luxio were bent over. He seemed a little small for his species, but the scars all across his shell gave his cocky grin some credence. He said something she couldn't hear and laughed uproariously. The Luxio didn't manage more than a conciliatory chuckle. He was larger than Vaporeon by quite a bit, and sparks crackled from his fur as he groomed himself.

Vaporeon stumbled back into the entrance. Had these Pokemon done something to her? Her claws flexed as she tallied up her options. They might not even be aggressive, if she was friendly, but that was a hell of a risk. She could also go in fangs blazing, and they might just surrender. She didn't like her chances against the Electric-type lion, but they didn't have to know that.

Flareon turned a corner on its patrol, and Vaporeon was certain it was looking directly at her. It stood there for a moment. She held her breath.

It moved on, as if it had nothing on its mind. Before she could think better of it, she quietly followed behind. She was getting used to her form, but the altered gait forced heavy footsteps upon her. After only a few seconds, Flareon sat down.

FLAREON: Bold of you to sneak up on me.

Not really youre the only one shes got type advantage over.

Its voice was steady, but its muscles were tense. It didn't turn to face her.

VAPOREON: I'm just trying to figure out what's going on.
FLAREON: Worry about your safety, first.
VAPOREON: Are you going to attack me, then?
FLAREON: You're not worth my time. I'll let the others pick you off.
VAPOREON: And if they win?

It sneered at her. Pure hatred coiled beneath its uninterested facade.

FLAREON: Don't let that happen.
FLAREON: That's my last handout, before I kill you myself.

Vaporeon's blood boiled. Whether this was their fault or not didn't matter anymore. Everyone in this room was out to get her, and it was the last mistake they'd ever make.

Huh well that was a confusing tab on. Either its the past, or the arbok event ended and she passed out and woke back in the dungeon solo. I'll admit the bare bones formatting of this fic doesnt make it easy tonsuss out whats happening when.

Over all this was a fun short jaunt. The brutality and profanity feel a bit vizziepop esk, and its definitly a tonal jolt vompated to the gentler fics here.

Thanks for sharing this tale, and good luck on the forum!

 

[ShiniGojira]

Hello and good day to ya! Here's my first review to start off this year's blitz and you're the lucky writer!

Chapter 1:

It's a nice bite-sized chapter yet already it's filled with loads of rich and interesting stuff. Starting off with Vaporeon waking up confused and slowly figuring things out, I quite enjoyed how our MC went through the process of finding out her surroundings and the problems with her body, along with the bits of foreshadowing and underlying problems she has both physically and mentally.

Though I do have to say that the last part of the chapter was a bit confusing. Like I get that the Flareon was threatening her and all that, but it's honestly weird af that she immediately defaults to 'everyone is out to get me' when nothing has really happened here. If I'm to presume that this is intentional and is part of her underlying personality then well played because I got really surprised by what's probably her true nature: a paranoid and probably angry mon.

Chapter 2:

Okay, heading right into Chp 2 and we have our first fight. Short, concise and frankly, it does a pretty good job showing off our MC's mysterious strength. The interaction between Vaporeon and the others are still as confusing as ever. Flareon hates her and apparently our MC was a villain but Luxio and Wartortle didn't seem to realise she was nearby. I can definitely see that Flareon's stronger than the two so maybe it's the difference in experience?

Overall, very confusing but there's enough interesting stuff going on that I'll stay for a bit longer.

Chapter 3:

Alright! Dungeon mons! I've so many questions about them! Like are they at all similar to the games where they're random animals that just spawned from thin air? Because the Scrafty didn't feel like it, heck, it's more similar to Luxio than Flareon. Like are there even any differences to Adventurer and Dungeon Mon in terms of intelligence or culture or society? I know it's probably because our MC's and amnesiac so a lot of things are muddled, but it's also not helped with the script format not being as descriptive as it could be... not that I'm saying that's a bad thing, it is certainly an interesting way to write and you've been doing pretty good with the whole process.

Also I rather like the exposition on the dungeon itself. The Dawn Stone thing being an interesting way to Pokémon-fy dungeon cores and Luxio's role in the story. And uh, I don't remember if it's ever stated but where the heck is Wartortle? I feel like the chapter kinda forgot about him tbh. I'm assuming he's either on Luxio's back or healing back at the campfire? Maybe? Feels kinda weird since y'know Flareon's either still there or disappeared and no mentions yet...

Anywho, here's some live comments:

Spoiler: Line-by-line comments

Chp 1

The area itself was oddly regular – the tangle of trees surrounding her felt more like walls than a living forest.

Alright, so already starting off in a dungeon or well, the end of one if I'm looking at the synopsis correctly.

She could have sworn there was one made out of clouds somewhere.

Huh, isn't that cloud dungeon Rayquaza's place from PMD Red and Blue? Kinda odd that a random Vaporeon would know of it since I thought that place was supposed to be a myth... then again, it has been a while since I've played the games so maybe that dungeon's actually known to the public.

Practically her entire front-left leg was missing – that would have been nice to know sooner. All that was left was a stump that showed no signs of scarring.

Oof, an amputee and an amnesiac? This cat fish can't catch a break.

She examined the rest of her body; her fins were angled oddly for her species, but that felt rather less important.

A bit of an odd thing to specified so I'm assuming that something's wrong with her fins. Maybe she's also a bad swimmer? Dunno, it'll probably be explained later

Here she was, lost and alone, with nothing to her name but pain and uncertainty.

Yeah, literally nothing to your name! Get it? Because she doesn't have a name either. Haha... I'll see myself out

There was no reason to get back up.

Do I also have to add suicidal/depressed to the list of what's going on with our MC?

VAPOREON: And if they win?

This dialogue here feels... off. I'm not sure if there's context missing, there's something cut out, or if it's intentional like Vaporeon saying something that she subconsciously remembered. Its, to me, feels very abrupt.

FLAREON: Don't let that happen.
FLAREON: That's my last handout, before I kill you myself.

Vaporeon's blood boiled. Whether this was their fault or not didn't matter anymore. Everyone in this room was out to get her, and it was the last mistake they'd ever make.

That escalated pretty quickly. Like the previous dialogue, it really feels like something's missing or off with Vaporeon's behaviour and it's hard for me to tell if that's intentional or not since I feel like it's incredibly vague and I've no idea what and why things escalated like that.

Chp 2

Luxio noticed her first. He jumped up, but he wasn't quick enough. Before he could act, she sent him careening into a tree with a torrential blast of water. He crumpled to the ground. Wartortle jumped into a battle pose.

Dayum, she's strong. An amputee and yet can one shot someone that's a mid-evolution is wild.

Vaporeon howled with pain. Her mouth charged with frigid energy. Wartortle kept up the pressure, striking just out of range

How does one with such stubby limbs know incredible martial arts lol

He whirled around just fast enough, and his shell took the full force of an attack that would have easily knocked him cold

Really? Holy shit, just how strong is our MC and how on earth did she get her leg chopped off if she's this strong?

Maybe Flareon was wrong about them.

Wait, is the Flareon not with the Luxio and Wartortle? I thought he was talking about the wild mons or something.

VAPOREON: I wouldn't have even fought them if you didn't push me into it!

Girl is gaslighting and at this point I don't know if it's herself or the Flareon.

VAPOREON: Over here by the campfire, before I consider putting it out with your face.

To anyone else, that would be a threat. But to Flareon, I think that'd be an accidental attempt at flirting.

Chp 3

VAPOREON: You hurt?
LUXIO: No, just... shaken.

You've been slammed into a tree and you're only shaken? Not even gonna mention that you got knocked out instantly?

LUXIO: That Dawn Stone is the anchor for this dungeon.
LUXIO: Without it there, there's no shifts for a while. So no new items or food.
LUXIO: If you're not in the mood to fight anyone, don't let them know it's gone.

So like a dungeon core? Is it only Dawn Stones or do other evo stones work too? Like are the dungeons themed? Fire stones for fire-ish dungeons? That kind of stuff would be cool if you're going that direction.

LUXIO: Probably that damn Flareon fucked us over on both counts.

Oh, I think I know what's going on with that Flareon. Took me a while to put it together but the reason for its pronoun being an 'it' instead of 'he' or 'she' is because it's a wild mon, isn't it? Though that's still weird to think about since it and the two guys were sapient and sentient. Are there any differences between wild and civilised Pokémon? Because like I've no idea how Vaporeon was able to instantly deduced that Luxio and Wartortle were civilised and Flareon was a wild by simply glancing at them. I mean her subconsciously remembering the difference could be an explanation but that feels kinda boring tbh

Were there other Eeveelutions involved?

Well, judging by the cover art. I'm guessing the third part of our Kanto trio's also gonna show up someday.

LUXIO: Maybe I'll go to the surface? Work as a battery for some rich dickhead?

I don't know how to feel about the implications that Electric-types are used as literal living batteries... then again, I wonder how certain types could be used for society. Poison could be used for antidotes, Flying for mail delivery, but then what about the esoteric types like Fairy? Dark? Dragon? Could be an interesting thing to think about.

Amd that's a wrap from me. I don't exactly have any more time atm to read more but I'll try to see if I can get through more next week as while things are a bit confusing at the start, I assume it'll be better explained and more things will be uncovered later on. See ya for now and hope the rest of your day goes lovely!

 

[val-triplicate]

Two reviews in such a short span - thank you so much! Let's start with the first one!

Spoiler: Review-Response Chatter

Hello new blood, i'm here for the blitz and to welcome you to the forum.

Why thank you! I may not end up too active just yet - I write slowly, prefer to post when a work is finished, and haven't had time to read too often. I'll definitely be back with the next story I finish, and I might post the sequels to this here as well!

Yeah. Red flag for Vaporeon advertizing thier murderous impulses and a red flag for "them" still wanting to hang out. We are passing red flag out to one and all today.

This is not a normal dungeon run, in just about every way there is! Vaporeon is swimming in red flags, but don't worry - she came prepared with plenty of her own.

Yesh not a fun way to greet the dawn. Between the term room and wal of trees i'm guessing this is a mystery dungeon?

Yup! I try not to spell everything out too blatantly, but Mystery Dungeons are laid out and generated just about exactly how they are in the games.

Surprised they still have that book per getting trounced. Usually its a rob and run sort of thing...

Honestly, I'm not sure Arbok is the reading type. It finds it a little boring.

Lux clearly is here for the amusement and sparkling conversation. Perhaps he's the sassy type?

How do I put it nicely... Luxio is very indecisive. He certainly has opportunities to run, but he's seen too much "good but panicking" in her, and she hasn't technically attacked him outside the bounds of dungeon culture. Hence Wartortle calling her attack "cowardly" instead of outright assault.

Hello p.o.v. lets lift up that hood, toss in a dab of paranoia to go with that snark, and salt, and see how this goes...

Waking up amnesiac at the end of a dungeon is not fun! But with Flareon egging her on that hard... well! It certainly wasn't nice of it to do that, I'll say that much.

Aww vaporeon kinda cares. Sorta. In a tiny hyper pragmatic way.

She has a personality under all that panic somewhere! We'll see if she can shake it off in time...

Love how we downgrade from " fine" to able to walk. I'm suspecting straight lines and minimal pain are a few paralell universes to the right.

And i'm imagining lux' noming popcorn while the schfrueden is going on.

Right you are, and right you are. He's pissed, but again, he's too indecisive to run just yet. Seeing her struggling a little does help.

Nah not hungry. Just bleeding out. Nothing major.

Nothing counts as a major problem, as long as she's not too injured to lie about the pain. We're still golden by that metric!

Huh so is this INTIMIDATION the status effect or intimidation aka the last harrah of common sense? I'm voting both.

No such thing as Abilities in this world, sadly - just Moves and Items. The rest is pretty freeform. Some Pokemon do have capabilities inspired by their abilities, though!

Wonder why the arbok cared about that stone. Guess its relevence will be brought up later..

This is something I'll make clearer if I ever get around to rewriting this book to match the later, better ones. Arbok cares because it was the dungeon's anchor. Stealing an anchor as a dungeon Pokemon is the single biggest taboo there is.

What exactly happened to the Dawn Stone doesn't really matter. If you're curious: Flareon stole it so Vaporeon would be in a worse position. If it didn't, she would have been able to take it and sell it when she got to town.

Did some minor touch ups...

Appreciated! I haven't had the energy to really go back and polish this book, so a free pointer is always nice.

Thank you again for the time and thought! Although... I do think you may have read the story out of order. The last chapter you reviewed is supposed to be the first, and it's clear that it seemed to happen far after the one that's supposed to be last in the act. I triple-checked that I posted it right, but if anyone else runs into this issue, please let me know.