Makuhita’s spirit was heartier than the summer sun that blazed our presence. Charmander, fully intrigued by the Makuhita, was on the edge of his seat like a child too eager to wait for their Christmas present. I still was hesitant to trust Makuhita as it seemed so suspicious to have a dojo at the side of a freaking cliff. Charmander wasn’t troubled or concerned about our current circumstances; he was more so in ‘awe’ at the words spoken by the Pokemon in front of him.

“You two are *sniff*… are *sniff*…simply…brilliant.” His eyes trickling with tears. He immediately tried to rub them away, but even a bit of snot decided to obstruct the stream of liquid that trickled from his face, though he finally was able to find the correct words. “I could use some upstarts like you for my dojo. My training is the best around, I’ll guarantee you that!” His expressions. His eyes that were barely visible, and that patronizing smile that spread across his massive figure, it just. It just… It made me feel like I was witnessing a spectacle of lunacy, one so great that I clammed myself to silence. On the other hand, Charmander who stood next to me was enamoured beyond all belief, his eyes sparkling a bold white in the summer sun,

“Makuhita, that’s… so amazing! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Charmander jumped into the Pokemon’s arms shaking his hand vigorously with a welcoming smile intruding on Makuhita’s face. He even did a little dance, “Nison! Isn’t that great? I mean… now, you know, we might have a chance. We can prove to them, that we’re worth something.” Charmander said with fiery conviction. I found it admirable how far this Pokemon would go for someone as helpless and pathetic as myself. I thought I at least owed as much as to value myself a little more. Although… I was not all for this Makuhita’s dubious little schemes.

Things lined up a little too perfectly; he was a spectator in me and Charmander’s circus show early, and now after that, he’s offering us help? The situation felt a little too perfect. Even so… even if this was the case, it wasn’t t the time to dwell on such things.. It’d be a little annoying to have to ruin the mood over something like this but, I knew this was something that couldn’t easily be overlooked. Still, I bit my lip hard. It would have been too risky to speak now, Charmander would have definitely noticed and become distressed. I had to keep silent.

Just when Charmander was getting to be more comfortable with his new friend three figures emerged from the dread of darkness. Light welcoming the bloodied figures, finally able to recover their lost sunlight. It was a team of: Pikachu, Watortle and Scyther. The Scyther’s feet nearly hugged to the floor. The Pikachu and Wartortle with deepened cuts scared onto their faces; they got off lucky compared to the Scyther who’s leg had been gruesomely twisted at a 90-degree angle. His face could only show the surface level extent of the pain he felt. All three had red bruises from the top of their heads extending to their feet.

“So, how was your trip through the dungeon? Was it exhilarating as expected?” Makuhita rubbed his arms like a grubby businessman.

(Pikachu):” What do you think? We would have been royally screwed if it weren’t for those to escape orbs, this ain’t a gam-“Makuhita chipped in,” Yes. Yes. That is unfortunate, no refunds, unfortunately, if you can’t handle a dungeon-like that then I’m afraid you lot will never progress.”

(Wartorle):” You said that was a beginner’s dungeon, you liar. Beginner dungeons don’t have Croconaws or Raticates swarming the place!”

“Well, Uh…” Makuhita caught within his own words, stumped on what to say next.” It was close enough to a beginner’s level. Y-Yeah! If you couldn’t handle that then you probably couldn’t have handled a beginner’s dungeon. If you’d like to fuss over the details, please do so elsewhere.” The three Pokemon and even I were dumbstruck at the Makuhita’s words. Even he seemed to of realised how ridiculous he was being.

Charmander compared to the rest of us kept his face plain and straight. Seemingly attempting to evaluate the Makuhita’s motives by stroking his chin.

(Scyther):” Arghh…ya know it’s too bad. You seemed to have been a trustworthy fella. Never…*huff* again *huff*.” Scyther’s head now bent fully forward, he then fainted. The Pikachu and Wartorle repressed their shock…

(Pikachu):” Don’t waste your time on scum like this one, you novices are going to get yourselves killed.” The three Pokemon decided it was time to leave and disappeared under the shadow of the trees heading back to Pokemon Square; it left me some room to dart stares at Makuhita and be able to pry for some answers.

“G-give me a chance to explain alright. I swear I’ve got some good reasons.”

“We’re listening…” I added sceptically.

“I guess I’ll have to explain the basics to ya then.” Makuhita welcomed us to sit on the hot blistering dirt, ”Listen up you two, there are three types of Mystery Dungeons you two need to be aware of. First, the regular kind. These types of dungeons are basic in nature, with them mostly just being an ordinary habitat that Pokemon live in. Mostly simple grassy fields, or a plain old swamp. The second is terrain type dungeons, these Mystery Dungeons are habitats that have unnaturally gone wild. Most don’t know the cause for it but, ever since the outbreak of the Mystery Dungeons long ago there hasn’t been a known source for how these habitats came to be this way. The third and most important dungeons are the ones that house Dungeon masters. These dungeons are bad news fellas, the issue here lies with the fact that these usually house really strong Pokemon in the very centre of the dungeon; this becomes an issue because of the fact that the dungeon masters lead the Pokemon that usually roam these types of dungeons. So, they become less like wild creatures and more like tamed beasts. Dammit, are you listening!” Makuhita smacked Charmander over the head with a loud thud.

“Owwwww. That hurt!” Charmander had found himself sleeping half-way through the long-drawn-out lecture. I did my best to pay attention but, I nearly scummed to sleep myself.

Even when this was the case, I paid attention long enough to get the most important details from the lecture. “One question Makuhita.”

“Hmm?”

“Why are the Pokemon from the Mystery Dungeons behaving this way? I mean, aren’t they just like you guys?” Makuhita raised an eyebrow, “You guys? Aren’t you a Pokemon yourself?" I quickly caught on to what I had implied. I turned away my bone in toe avoiding eye contact to make the lie I was conjuring up a little more believable, “Y-Yes yes. I just misspoke… Though… I am curious as to the reason.” Makuhita had turned away, “Now’s not the time to tell such tales, you’ll find out soon~” He dodged my question adroitly. Makuhita seemed to have become a troublesome presence to me and Charmander.

He purposely withheld information on what the Mystery Dungeons were like until he basically forced to. His explanation was vague at best. Not to mention the little lie he seemed to have told that rookie rescue team as they had left the Mystery Dungeon, half beat to death. At that point, I’d finally come to my own conclusion. Although I knew presenting this opinion would transpose Charmander into a fit of rage. But I had to prioritize our safety first.

“Charmander, I think you’re being a little too hasty trusting this Makuhita. we should- “Before I could finish Charmander quickly waved his arms around scrutinizing my words,“This isn’t the time for you and one of your sceptic moments. We need to become a rescue team, and Now! We don’t have time to be faffing around.”

“I know that Charmander! But a simple question? Have you heard exactly how this Makuhita trains other Pokemon?” I retorted him as fast as I could, becoming a little flustered at Charmander’s ignorance. He then bit his lip. “Nison trust me on this ok? I don’t think Makuhita would do something to us jus- “

“And what evidence do you have for that! I’m sorry Charmander, but when our lives are on the line, I’m not so willing to go along with your baseless claims!” I shouted. So loud in fact that I could hear the echo briefly accompanying the sounds of the waterfall that continuously battered into stream below it.

Charmander’s eyes had lost the conviction it had previously. “…… But...we can…” His mouth moved wordlessly; when he finally spoke, he could barely cough out the correct words to shone my words like he did initially. “If you’re so unwilling to put your trust in me what would you do? Wander around in a potential Mystery Dungeon and end up dead,”

Makuhita instead came to his defence.” Considering you’re attitudes earlier, the townsfolk don’t seem to be friendly friends. Since I can’t be trusted then tell me, who should you trust?” He continued a little louder this time. I involuntarily clammed myself silent. I…I couldn’t respond to it. I couldn’t retort it. I just stood there like a lost child.

“Hmmm, what about if ya tried to attack me. If ya can land one hit on me then maybe ya got a chance of survival out there ya know.” Makuhita was wilfully full of himself. Absolute confidence in his abilities. “Fine then, if I can’t…I guess I’m forced to go along with your strange little plan.” The two of us agreed and prepared our battle stances.

It took me a good minute to realise that this was my first time fighting in this new world. I’d been helpless before when Charmander had been up against Sunkern previously, and when me and Charmander had made our way to Pokemon Square, Charmander was thorough in ensuring there was no incoming danger.

Makuhita’s stance didn’t surprise me too much. I took notice at how it mimicked the stance of a Sumo Wrestler. His feet firmly planted into the earth’s surface; His black painted arms gravitating more weight on to his feet. It gave the impression that he either was prepared to jump high, or he was afraid of the wind blowing him away. I decided to splay my bone behind me and kept my feet parallel to one another. I wanted to be more safe than sorry, so I began with a defensive formation to assure my safety.

“Heh.” Makuhita snickered.

“Your indecisiveness will get you nowhere.” Makuhita kept himself within his previous stance.

Then. He dashed. Head-first, aiming straight for my skull I was forced to break my defensive formation and dodge his attack to the right with haste. Though he predicted my movements with ease, and he took both his hands while still in midair, turned 90 degrees, to clasp my cheeks together. As he did, he shouted the words ‘Fake Out’ just as he fell back into his previous stance. I fell straight to the ground. There was no competition, I was too careless.

Usually, I would have already given up at this point but, I didn’t want to humiliate myself in front of Charmander who watched patiently at the side. He seemed to of been snickering at me under his breath. He likely was muttering something like ‘See, he’s a master and he’s putting you in your place. That’s what you get, haha’ definitely something he would say. No time to further worry I had to pick myself up since Makuhita already squatted in preparation to deal another blow. His speed was incredible, seemly too fast for the naked eye to follow. At this rate, I knew the battle was lost. Even when this was the case, I had this strangely disgusting resolve to win the fight.

Makuhita attempted to use the same move again turning straight for me; there was a tree behind me meaning if I were hit now the battle would be over. So, I did as I had done before I shifted myself to his side, he let slip a reassuring smile as he prepared to clasp his hands together once again.

Then.

Suddenly it happened.

I leapt backwards; I used my bone to propel back. I jumped into a short sprint overhead Makuhita, far enough above to where he couldn’t touch me, then now as the wind carried me just above his back, I threw my bone straight at it. I thought it was an easy win since I went front in centre to his head. Dodging that attack then would have been out of the question since that was the direction of the cliff. He could not turn left since he would crash into his dojo and he couldn’t go up since I aimed dead centre for his head so he wouldn’t have enough time to dodge. At least…that is what I had thought.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

In the split second before he was about to of been hit his knees squatted low into the ground’s surface. It started shattering as his legs continued to weigh heavy, crushing the ground, sending streams of cracks in its wake. Then at the very last moment. He vanished. I was a little disorientated since I had fallen straight onto my skull and had lost the will to move. Had lost the will to fight. Had lost the will to oppose a Makuhita whose strength was a frenzy. He fell back down like a falling comet; Charmander began to panic when he noticed cracks had formed under his feet; he ran to the nearby bushes in anticipation for Makuhita’s return, myself splayed on the dirt floor that was ready to crumble. However, when Makuhita arrived flattening his fall, he seemed to of been impressed. “That’ll do. You’re rusty but, I think you two might have a good chance of surviving my dojo training. Hahaha!”

“Was there a need?” Makuhita casually laughed it off, “Maybe not, it depends if you can come out of my dojo alive. Charmander! Come here a second!” Makuhita waved his black sausage for a hand with the same patronizing smile gleaming his face that annoyed me so much in his greetings. At the very least, Charmander, as usual, seemed to of been thoroughly impressed by any action taken by the chubbed businessman. “Listen here you two, I’m throwing you both down into my dojo’s pit. Down there is chock full of Mystery Dungeons; I’m telling you, it was a gold mine when I found this place by chance!” Makuhita seemed proud of his achievement, his hands still moving with exuberance. “Are you trying to pretend you have a finger or something? Makuhita you’re a weirdo you know that.” Charmander casually added killing the tension Makuhita had so carefully built up throughout the entirety of our encounter. Makuhita became flustered and with know where else to vent his embarrassment, he quickly scooped me and Charmander up surrounded by his bulging arms.

His arms were tight. So tight that I could feel some of the oxygen diffusing out of me. Charmander did not seem to fare much better, however, he kept a strained face in an attempt to stay brave. “Sorry it’s a tight squeeze.” Makuhita apologised, “I can’t have you two running away ya know.”

The interior of the dojo was nothing in resemblance to its outside exterior. At first, it seemed to of been your standard fare for a Japanese type dojo. It was exactly what I imagined, from what I’d seen from anime or even when I visited Tokyo in the past. The classical carpet floor, or the beautiful artwork which hangs on the side, which signified the history pertaining to samurais of the past. A place of pacified freedom. Oh dear, the dojo was far from admirable or the significance of respect or beauty.

Maybe it could have been my eyes that were playing tricks on me as I gasped for breath, but all I could see was a roach-infested jungle. I took note at the Ratata who gnawed on the dojo’s wall made of straw and wood. The floor that I expected to be swept with an illustrious carpet floor,a small shrine of prayer greeted in its stead, shimmered on the rotting apples that brought satisfaction to the Ledibug chewing at it on the floor. It was lucky-or perhaps unlucky- that the floor was entirely dirt, ensuring a new stack of dead bodies wouldn’t have appeared. When things are this bad asking Makuhita ‘What is this’ or ‘How can you run a business like this’ would have been pointless, though at times like these my brain’s fuse already blew open so the questions had spilt regardless. “J-Just how? Why? Did you think this was remotely ok ugfff- “My words had spilt to fast under Makuhita’s grip? he answered regardless, “Well, I just thought it’d be cool to base this dojo off the folklore Whishcash used to tell us Pokemon when we were small and like, idk, I just really liked the idea of dojos.” Charmander then agreed with newfound excitement, completely forgetting Makuhita’s airtight grip.

“Well, I think this place is cool. Did ya make it this way on purpose? For like daily training?”

“Exactly! Glad you understand, unlike some of us around here. I tell ya sleeping on the dirt is a pain, and so is fending off these Pokemon even while I sleep. Hahahaha.” Charmander then cocked his head, “Aren’t these Pokemon like super weak, someone like you should have much stronger Pokemon Makuhita.”

“Well, I did, but the Pokemon that always paid to use my dojo always complained about it, so I just made’em weaker. Although, this does seem to make it easier for me.” Makuhita whispered, too embarrassed to show weakness to his greatest admirer. Charmander simply smiled and played ignorant for Makuhita as they both cheered drunk in their delusions.

It bothered me though. How would Whiscash know stories about things within the human world? Wasn’t this just a completely different world, aren’t humans just folklore like Charmander said. I was desperate to ask but Makuhita tightened his grip in preparation for our send-off, “Right, would really love to stay and chat with you lot. But… time’s a wasting you two gotta get down that Mystery Dungeon ya know. Don’t worry your pretty little head kids, I’ll send an item bag on your way down.”

There was a door right in front of us that Makuhita happily entered. Hidden within that door were various pits scattered all throughout them. In fact, if he didn’t hold us at that moment me and Charmander for sure would have been the first ones to fall in the pit’s depths. “Good thing you’re holding us, I think I’d be in trouble otherwise, haaa…” Charmander forced a laugh: not too terribly pleased with himself having to admit this truth.

The holes all formed in a circular pattern; to the side were various bags stacked in the corner, “Oh do you actually care about your custo- “But then I looked at Makuhita. His smile was disingenuous and his patronizingly cheeky smile gasped made me sigh like in an exaggerated fashion, “It’d be more accurate to say you had to because the Pokemon started getting cold feet, and you were losing customers.” Makuhita dejected himself and loosened his grip on us for that moment. Breath at last.

Even when he’d loosened his grip, I still struggled to breathe, something else caught my attention though. For the first time since meeting him, Makuhita started to seem genuinely sad. What I said might have been the trigger, for this sudden influx of negative emotions.

Me and Charmander had looked at each other with solemn vows and my eyes urged him to speak the words that should have been spoken. “We won’t die Makuhita, we promise to come home alive.” Charmander gripped his hands together so tight that you could hear the impact of the squeeze echoing his determination. Somewhere along the line, I adopted the same foolhardy way of thinking,

“We promise.”

With that, we were thrown off the deep end and straight into pits equally. The world was changing before me, it was like moving into a different dimension. “Here’s an item bag for you two, you’re definitely gonna need this!” He shouted a shout that quickly faded. Something distant. I felt lulled to sleep until I could feel myself into the new world, the world of Mystery Dungeons.

*Splish*

*Splash*

I couldn’t move at all and my body was rapidly being sapped of it’s strength. I laid floating in a stagnant pool of water that seems to stretch across the dungeon’s crusted floors. The walls stuck high, 7 metres or so, and I was able to hear the rush of waterfalls flourishing down on the graphite of the rock. It splashed spectacularly. I looked up to see the Mystery Dungeon that I’d been giving to traverse was essentially a water prison; I wished there could have been time to admire this spectacle; the walls at the mercy of the cool pour of water. It was the only source of light in a dungeon that was otherwise opaque. From my blurred ray of vision, I could see that the dungeon was similar in design to the very first one I traversed. Linear hallways that lead to a somewhat open space. I took some time to dig within the toolbox to see what Makuhita left for me to use. It had a good number of berries within the bag; Makuhita left me a small note in regards with the items, though I struggled to read it since it was in some bizarre characters. I quickly took my leave and thudded along the dungeon, oran berry in hand to keep up my strength since there was a small stream of water poisoning me with each step I took.

*Split* Each step soft and soothing raising each of the water particles in the air for their brief moments to cry in the dungeons’ wall before they…*Splish*

Liquidise to join the other water particles as the cycle of monotone repeats within the dungeon. The dungeon unchanging, similar to the one me and Charmander had been in before...

*Crash*

… a speeding truck had hit me.

My back completely shattered, and I fell headfirst into the poisonous water. It might have been shallow, but I struggled feverishly as my skull continued to entrap and drown me. I couldn’t move at all; The owner of the vile and brutish hand revealed itself to be a Croconaw. One thick with blubber, his feet were rounded with sharpened nails no longer white, likely being dragged through the dirt often.

*CROCOAHAHWOO* He frowned unintelligibly, his attention taken away from me but at the oran and sitrus berries that spilt from my toolbox. You’d think this would be the perfect time to move away slowly and be on your way, but when I made the slightest movement, he kicked.

*KRGGH*

I slammed straight into the dungeon’s mini waterfall and my back felt the full impact of the thud. The bruises feeling like tiny pieces of dynamite exploding on my back. The flow of water speeding onto my back triggered these explosives to rupture my back; my stomach ached. It ached so much it spilt the undigested food in strained bursts.

URFF* Coughing like any old hag.

*UFF* My vision blurred, I found it difficult to steady my breathing.

*UUGGGH* The pain failed to dissipate, and the Croconaw continued to bellow his snarl loud enough to scare all wild Pokemon in the area as he already claimed his meal. First, the berries which were a light snack to kick start his metabolism. Then ,me, a lonesome Cubone with a delectable skull placed on its forehead, so sturdy that it was sure to not decay anytime in the future, maximising the use this Croconaw could get from my remains. The Croconaw’s vision then blurred a gluttonous red to which his stubby legs charged for me.

It was frustrating to feel so helpless unlike any other time before. Makuhita was a liar through and through and trusting in him was my first mistake, but there was something far more frustrating that, way more. Makuhita’s betrayal us child’s play compared to the emotions I felt at that moment.

It was nonsense! Nonsense! All nonsense!

I could not dispel the looming fear that now immured me. The dynamite didn’t compare with it, I could barely stand as all my stubby legs could do was shake uncontrollably. I was… afraid to die?! I already knew the reason why I did not want to die. It was something so elementary and basic, it was so hard to think that maybe someone could actually care about …? No. Entertaining that line of thinking for too long would be unwise. All that was clear to me at that moment was that dying now would be foolish.

The Croconaw’s frame was large, making it suited to being a tough predator, however because of the large amount of blubber centred in its stomach it being a tertiary predator would be rather unlikely. Plus, Croconaw is a secondary evolutionary Pokemon stage, Feraligatr being the strongest. I lightly whispered to help control my thoughts and breathing, “Attacking this thing head-on would-be suicide, but using its weight against it might be my key to getting out of here alive so…”

I finished with the remaining thoughts within my conscious and I readied my legs in preparation for a sprint. The Croconaw reciprocated, assuming the same stance as I. Its eyes were red with gluttony as it proceeded to spread its tongue throughout its giant lips, so when the time came for it to tear flesh from bone the task could be done with immense pleasure. Even despite this taunt I stayed focus on the plan and I stayed focused on the future since compared to what I would have to deal with in the future this was nothing but mere child’s play.

*Splitter*

*Splatter*

Our feet both in synch rising the water particles in a perfect orchestra showing off the melody produced by predator and prey. Now, at the optimum speed we both dashed toward each other. My perception of the carnivorous creature only growing. In truth, I was fighting a losing battle.

*Skreeee*. Before Croconaw could attack I skidded straight through the shallow pool of water below my feet, continuing to do so as my right foot pioneered the assault through the puddles of water. My right foot pushed the water particles behind me forming waves in my stead. Bewildered the Croconaw stomped uncontrollably; the water particles in anguish as their voices cried within the dungeon’s walls. This killed most of the momentum I built up, if I completely stopped, I would most certainly die, I…couldn’t allow it! Believing in God is a foolish practice, but I was a dead man walking, sliding, my lips prised bellowing the name of Jesus, of course, this would not of work anyway because I risked losing my concentration. But… please! Let me have this fight!

God possibly heard my words; the ground dug my achilleas into the ground accelerating my speed. At its wit’s end, the Croconaw dashed to towards me once more but…

“Groooowowwwww!” …it was too late. A heavy weight overcame my bone for a moment, only for it to instantly be put at ease. A loud thud followed, the sound that emerged from the dungeon’s walls was loud, so loud that it overpowered the echoes the waterfall produced throughout the dungeon’s entirety. My eyes might have been red due to straining them to stay open under the dungeon’s waters, although now I felt at ease as the giant crashed into the waterfall.

I wanted to rest and take some time to just recover, but I was so caught up in my own fear that I simply took the toolbox that spilt with oran and sitrus berries and ran out of there. I do not know how far I ran. I just needed to get the hell out of there, I had taken too much damage and needed a place to rest. It felt like I was on drugs, the dynamite that previously ruptured my back began to dissipate. The dynamite replaced with clouds. My eyes seemingly taking off its lens, my vision becoming blurrier. It blurred so much that I felt like stairs started to enter my vision.

Stairs? I must have just gone mad…whatever… It didn’t matter anymore, all that mattered was the fact that there was possibly a way out, a way for me to survive….

I managed to find the strength to trod down the stairs: my body only continued to further droop heavily on each step. Each one just as frozen as winter’s ice, each step carrying me further into the depths of a world’s icy snow. Colder. It grew colder, I gave more of my weight to the step over time. It started with my feet as you’d expect.

Then my knees.

Then my belly.

Then my chest.

Then my chin.

Then my eyes. I could only assume it was my eyes, but I was confident with my answer. I drifted soundly to sleep, nothing mattered at that moment except the blissful thought of sleep. I might have been at the dungeon’s mercy, left defenceless and out in the open in a place of mystery, but it was at my mercy today as I dared to mock the impending danger ahead.

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(To be continued)