//------------------------------// // Misunderstandings and Introductions // Story: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Friendship // by mooneyboys //------------------------------// “Sableye!” I scream as I tackle the Sableye into the nearest wall. This place is a library by the looks of things. And that Sableye just crushed a bookshelf. Oh well, no time to contemplate that, it's getting up! I pounce on the Sableye and bite him. All he is doing is…. Screaming? Why isn’t he attacking? Oh wait nevermind that is fire. He uses what I think is a strange colored flamethrower at me, Dragonbreath, maybe? But he is either very new at that or I’m just lucky he barely missed. I feel the hot flames touch my coat as I leap out of the way and hit him with wide strike. That seemed to stun him long enough for me to leap on him again and bring a claw to his throat. “Where is Dusknoir!?” I holler at him. He flinches at that. “I don’t know! I don’t even know who this ‘Dusknoir’ is!” “Liar!” I scream as I press my claw harder on his throat. “All of you Sableyes work for him!” Or at least the ones I know, I can't take any chances though, I thought in my head. “Now where is he!?” “Jasmine get off of him!” Rainbow Dash yells and tries to get me off of him. Another wide strike, this time colliding with the Ponyta and the Sableye, “you work for him too Rainbow Dash!?” “What!? No! Of course not! We don’t even know who that guy is anyway! Why? Is he a bad pony? More importantly, why did you attack Spike!?” She looks angry as she says this. Maybe this Sableye…. isn’t a Sableye? “Wait so this isn’t a Sableye?” “What!? What is a ‘Sableye’ Anyway? Spike is a dragon” "Dragon... You mean, like a Bagon?" "Uhhh, yeah... Sure" "Oh, okay then," I say and lift my paw from the dragon type's chest, "sorry about that. You looked a lot like them. Same size, purple all over, claws on their hands and feet. Of course now that I look at you, you're a little different from them. For starters your eyes aren't jewel like, you have green on the center of your chest and your smile... And your a bit... Fatter..." I whisper the last part as not to offend him. He frowns a bit and puts his hands on his mouth. "What about my smile?" "You don't have a wicked grin. No bloodlust or cruelty in them at all," I say, shivering slightly. "Man, those 'Sableye' must have done a number on you" Rainbow Dash remarks glumly. "Oh, trust me, they did. They almost killed me and my... companions," I gasp quickly, earning a collective question from my hosts, "Grovyle.... He could still be alive!" It made sense to me. We both came from the same future. We both were good Pokémon. The only difference is that he went to our future before me. I mysteriously ended up here, so he should be around here too! “Who?” Was all Rainbow Dash said. “Grovyle.” I reply. “He’s a… let’s just call him a... time-traveling Pokémon. He used to be my partner, or one of them anyways. It's a long story, I don't want to have to tell now.” The pegasus shrugs and helps the dragon type up, as I look on sympathetically, “again, sorry about that. I’m Jasmine, by the way.” He gives me an odd look, then shrugs it off as well, “It's okay, you didn’t break my scales. And I’m Spike.” He says while looking around the place. “Man, Twilight is going to freak when she sees this” As if on cue I can hear hoofsteps coming from upstairs heading toward the stairs. I can be wrong, but I think I heard Spike say “Ooooh no….” “What was all that ruckus about? It sounded like Rainbow Dash crashed into the-” She stops suddenly as she peeked over the ledge and saw the damage around the library and immediately noticed me. “So you’re our new visitor? Welcome, I’m Twilight Sparkle.” “Wait, so you’re not mad about all of this?” I ask her, suspicious of her indifference. Spike gave her a much more malignant character, that’s for sure. “To be honest, not really. I mean sure I’m mad about you attacking Spike, but other then that Rainbow Dash usually does more damage when she crashes into the library. By the way Rainbow, you need to be more careful. You’ve crashed into my library so much I bought INSURANCE on Rainbow Dash related property damage!” Rainbow Dash sheepishly smiled and rubbed a hoof on the back of her head, “Heh heh heh… Sorry?” Twilight sighed then walked all the way down the stairs. “So what’s your name? What are you? You look like a fox, just….. Poofy-er” “That’s what I said!” Rainbow exclaims as I roll my eyes, a bit annoyed that so far every ponyta I met called me a fox. “I’m not a fox, I’m an Eevee! And my name is Jasmine, before you ask...” I cried out indignantly, constantly offended by the assumptions. “An Eevee? I’ve never heard of an Eevee before… and I thought I knew of every animal in Equestria!” Twilight trailed off into a mess of mutterings, pacing in front of the Normal Pokémon. “And I’ve never heard of a Ponyta with wings before. Or a Ponyta with with a horn for that matter. You’re too small to be a Rapidash.” “Twilight this is why I brought her here. She keeps speaking this nonsense and insists we’re these things called ‘Pokemon’. Its crazy!” Rainbow Dash tells Twilight in a flurry of hoof waving "Hmmm you're right" the purple ponyta says, nodding her head. "So Rainbow said you're not from around here?" "Yeah you can say that," I tell her earnestly. "Mind if you tell me where you came from?" "It’s a long story. The short version is that I'm from another planet. I saved the planet from total paralysis by putting time back into it’s place. However I was from a future that no longer exists so by all rights I shouldn't exist anymore. However somehow, something saved me and here I am.” Rainbow Dash gives Twilight a look that seems to say “See? I told you so, now where’s my money” while the not-quite-there-yet Rapidash frowns at my explanation. “Rainbow Dash, you did the right thing coming to me. She certainly is weird. Even by Ponyville standards” I fold my ears while they were talking. I’m the weird one? How am I the weird one? I’m not the one who is a colorfully mutated Ponyta… Do their colors represent where they came from like Villilions? Then yeah, I guess I would be sort of strange… But they’re still weirder. I can tell. Twilight must have noticed my expression for she softens up and asks me if I’m okay. I tell her I’m fine but she nor Rainbow Dash believes me. “Are you sure?” Twilight asks me again. “Yeah you sure?” Rainbowdash says as well. “You look like Fluttershy when she gets upset” “Oh yeah. Now that you mention it Rainbow, she does.” “I do?” I reply, before asking. “Wait, who’s Fluttershy?" “Yeah you do. Your ears are flat on your head, and your tail is between your legs.” Rainbow Dash points out. “That is… actually a good perception Rainbow” Twilight says with surprise. “Eh, it’s what you get for knowing Fluttershy your entire life” Rainbow shrugs. “Anyways, why are you upset? Is it something we said?” “Yeah it kinda was….” I tell her. “You call me the weird one. Where I’m from, everything I said is normal and everything you said is the weird thing. Heck, you two are weird by my standards. Where I’m from most species of Pokémon usually don’t stray from one or two colors. With the exception of my species. So hearing you two call me the weird one….. It’s rather insulting. Genetics that can alter your entire appearance and ability is not considered weird.” “Oh Celestia…. I’m sorry we didn’t know. And what do you mean? Only a few colors? How is that possible? Here in Ponyville we have almost every color under the rainbow. And we’re a small community! In bigger cities they have white and black ponies as well as other races!” “Well my species is…..Unique. I could evolve into one of several different species. All with different types and therefore different colors. And what species do you have? Do you have several hundred different species able to reproduce with each other?” That seemed to make Twilight blush. A lot. “Uhhhhh…… Not… Really…...We only have a couple of sapient species. Ponies, griffons, zebras, diamond dogs, changelings, and dragons.” “That’s not a lot of species.” I say pointedly. “It isn’t but those are the ones that are like me and you.” “Your world is strange.” I say with finality. “But it’s the world I know” She says with a trace of a smile. “True enough” and I smile with her. “So who are your siblings anyway?” Curtis asks Dialga as they wait on the beach. Dialga just shrugs. “Oh you know, Palkia and Giratina. Masters of Space and Anti-matter.” “W-What!? Palkia and Giratina are your BROTHERS!?” “Yes, I believe I Just said that.” Dialga replies, now annoyed. “So when are they supposed to be here?” “Palkia should be here any moment. Giratina usually shows up when it’s dark. So by nighttime he should arrive here.” As if on cue, a pinkish purple orb appears on the beach, shocking Curtis and making Dialga squint his eyes at the orb. “Palkia, you’re late! I expect this kind of stuff from Giratina.” Dialga exclaims to his brother. “Dialga! Really? We Haven’t seen each other in Arceus knows how long and you tell me I’m LATE!?” “It’s good to see you too Palkia, and yes, you’re three seconds late! It’s only been four thousand years, nine hundred and seventy five minutes since we last saw each other.” ”Yeah you’re right!” and the two legendary brothers did something Curtis never expected. They hug. They hug it out, leaving Curtis dumbstruck. “W-What…….What is going on?” “Young Curtis, did you really think I hated my brothers?” “Kinda….. Legends say last time you guys met you…..fought” “Palkia was having a temper tantrum. It happens with families.” "Oh." "So this is the legendary Riolu that saved my brother from madness? I thought he would be bigger." Dialga smacked his brother on the backside of the head. “Palkia! This is the boy that saved me from insanity! The least you can do is show some respect. He is the reason we’re here anyway. I… Kinda owe him a favor” “A favor? Really!? How come?” If looks could kill, Palkia would have been little more than a lump of ash on the beach for that question, with the stare he was giving him. “Oh… Right, sorry! My bad!!” Palkia says as he grabs the back of his head sheepishly. “So what exactly is this favor anyway?” “O-Oh…. W-Well…..” Curtis said. “There’s this girl….. She was my-” “THERE’S ALWAYS A GIRL! EVERY TIME!” Palkia interrupted Curtis angrily, throwing his claws into the air. “W-WHAT!? N-N-NO! No not like that! She was my partner. When we defeated Dialga and saved time she disappeared.” Palkia raised an eye and maybe an eyebrow at him. “She was from a future that was with insane Dialga. Since we changed time and the present, we changed the future too. So she…..disappeared....” “I’ll take it from here young Curtis.” Dialga informs Curtis. “And when she disappeared, I was still weak. When i felt her disappearing and felt his grief i felt like I had to do something. So I used what little power I had to send her into my time and preserve her until I can change her future. Unfortunately I think i overshot and landed her somewhere I cannot track. Probably into yours or Giratina’s. So I called for you two. Besides i cannot do it alone. I’ll explain the rest when Giratina gets here.” As if on cue, again , Curtis thought, a giant deep dark purple orb appeared to the right of Palkia. A leg stepped out first. Then a body. Then the rest of Giratina, master of antimatter, in all his arachnid-bat-serpentine glory. “OOOOOH YEEEEAAAAAH! It feels good to be back in the mortal world again!” Giratina says to no one in particular. “GIRATINA!” both legendaries cry out as they sweep their brother in a legendary hug. They also almost stepped on Curtis, though no one but Curtis seemed to notice. Bidoof had long since ran away. As soon as they finish hugging Dialga looks over to Giratina. “ Giratina! It is good to see you again.” “Indeed. You and Palkia are sure a sight for sore eyes. Now what did you call me here for?” “I OWE THIS RIOLU A FAVOR! HE’S CALLING IT IN! I’LL EXPLAIN IN A MOMENT!” Giratina turns toward Curtis and looks him over. “He is the one who cured you? I thought he would be bigger.” “Hey that’s what I said!” Palkis chimes in. “So tell me how a lowly Riolu beat you, Dialga?” “First off there were two Pokemon. An Eevee who was from the future and this one here. And . . . I don’t want to talk about it . . . ” Dialga grumbles the last bit. Curtis didn’t catch much but it sounded like something about stun seeds. “Oh? An Eevee? Thats a new one. Better add it to the list” “List? What list?” Curtis asks, curious. “Do you really think this is the first time one of us has been defeated by the likes of you?” Palkia screeches. “We keep a list of every pokemon that has defeated at least one of us.” “And how many times have you guys been defeated?” “27 times by 12 different species. 13 now with the Eevee. Pikachus, of all pokemon, seem to be the one that beats us the most.” Dialga says. “And defeated the most! They taste good.!” Giratina replies. “I prefer Wobbuffets. They’re so squishy.” Dialga says. “Personally, I like charmanders.” Palkia comments. “Uhhhh… Can we not talk about eating Pokemon, please…?” Curtis says meekly. “Fine then. Brother why are we here?” “Well you know how I was defeated a few months ago yes?” Dialga asks. He quickly got a chorus of yes. “Well a little while after I was defeated, the Eevee we mentioned disappeared. She was from a future where I was, to put it lightly, batshit insane! Since she and Curtis changed that, her future doesn’t exist anymore. While she was disappearing I think I sent her into one of your dimensions by mistake.” “Okay, what does this have to do with us?” Palkia asks. “I want you to help me find her.” Dialga turns to Curtis. “Curtis, do you happen to have a piece of her on you or in that bag?” “Actually, yeah. I have the bow she always wore” He says as he opens his bag and digs out Jasmine’s bow: a sky blue, worn out, tattered old thing but still recognizably a bow. “Hmmm sky blue… She’s a jolly character yes?” Giratina asks the Riolu. “Yeah, how’d you know?” “We’ve been alive for well over thousands of years. I’ve learned that colors with Wigglytuff’s bows correspond to the user’s primary characteristic type. For example a cautious type like you would be an orange.” “Wait, you guys know Wigglytuff!?” Curtis exclaims, surprised by this revelation. “Indeed we do. Be warned though, never make that Pokemon angry! Bad things happen to you when that guy gets mad” Dialga pronounces, shuddering the entire time. “Anyway, this is her bow, yes?” Palkia asks. “Yeah, it’s hers. You should’ve seen her when we first got those supplies. She put on that bow and she looked so adorable and cute in it and-” He quickly put his hands on his mouth quickly. But it was too late, the damage has been done. All three legendaries are looking at Curtis now. Their eyebrows, or where they should be if they have any, are raised in a knowing expression. “Brothers, i think I know the reason why he wants her back so much” Giratina says condescendingly. The other two brothers nod in agreement while Curtis is frantically denying it. Dialga chuckles. “Curtis please don’t try to think we’re fools. We know young love when we see it.” “N-N-NO! Its not like that! I swear!” “Sure and Palkia is challenged.” “HEY! I thought we dropped that!” Palkia angrily screams. “But in all seriousness, brothers will you help me find her?” “Sure, anything for you Dialga.” Giratina agrees, wholeheartedly. “NO!” Palkia says as he turns his head. “Palkia, please!” “NO! Take back what you said!” Palkia demands childishly. “No. Instead, how about after this we’ll go to Mc’Pokemons? My treat!” Palkia ponders over this for a moment. Eventually he makes his decision. “Fine! But I want the double Mc’ Charmander and a side of Bidoof!” “DEAL!” “Alrighty then! Curtis was it? Hand over the bow please.” Curtis noticeably has a pause in hesitation to giving the bow to the legendaries. Dialga noticed it too. “Don't worry Curtis. I promise we will give it back in one piece.” Reluctantly Curtis hands over the bow into Palkia’s hand. The bow gets enveloped in a pink afterglow as Palkia uses psychic. The bow floats to the middle of the three legendaries and they close their eyes. A bright white light envelops each of them as each one focused their energy into finding her. Soon it got so bright Curtis had to avert his eyes from the bow. “Got her!” one of them screamed, Curtis couldn't tell which, they were all loud. “Good job brother! Now show us where she is!” Dialga shouts. “Way ahead of you. Should be able to see it now” "Ooooh come on!” Palkia screams unexpectedly. “You said it brother. I... Dislike that place.” “W-What place are you talking about!?” “A place whose inhabitants does and does not at the same time recognize our power.” Dialga informs him. “A place whose “ruler” thinks she can go toe to toe with us. She’s a total bitch.” Giratina rants angrily. “A place full of colorful talking mutated Ponyta who freak out if you try to eat one of them. They are a joke! You can compare them to flying types. Some are stronger than others, others are faster, but overall they suck!” Palkia lectures. “Sounds like a horrible place” Curtis remarks. “It is!” All three legendaries agree. “Back to business. Brothers, are you ready to create the portal?” Dialga asks his brothers. “YES!” Both shout. “Then do it … NOW! “ The bright light has gotten even brighter. It is at the point where even if Curtis is looking away with his eyes closed, it still hurt. Then as sudden as it appeared, it went away. Curtis slowly opened his eyes. No pain. He then turned toward the gods of time, space, and anti-matter. In between them, where the bow is supposed to be, is a huge colorful orb. Jasmine’s bow was floating just above it by Palkia’s grip. It floated down and Curtis was able to grab it and put it back in the bag. “Are you ready Curtis?” Dialga asks him. “For?” “Well, isn’t it obvious? You’re going after her.” “W-WHAT!?” “You are going through the portal to retrieve her. We will give you an item that, when broken, you will be able to contact us and you and Jasmine will come back to your world.” While Dialga is talking Palkia floated out something and gives it to Curtis. Curtis, suspicious of the item, inspects it. It looks like a rock, small and pointy. It is, thin enough that Curtis can easily snap it in half if he wants to, but thick enough that accidentally dropping it or sitting on it won’t break it. “So, I just need to go to the world in a world you guys don’t like, find Jasmine, meet her and have her agree to come home. Break this rock, and wait for you guys to come pick us up?” Curtis asks them. “Yes!” They all say. “Okay then…” Curtis hesitates, looks at the portal, and thinks about what he is about to do. “Are you going? The portal cannot be open for much longer!” “Roger that!” Curtis says. He then takes a deep breath, starts screaming, and runs toward the portal. As soon as he get close enough, he jumps and flies through the portal. He can hear them scream words of encouragement at him. He heard Dialga say something about a special compass in his bag, but he didn’t get to hear all of it, for as soon as Curtis touched the portal he heard a roaring in his ears. Then he saw white. Then black. Then he hit something hard. That is the last thing he remembers before losing consciousness. “Come on! We need to get out before its too late!” A masculine sounding voice said. “I know! It’s hard to concentrate with you panicking!” Another voice said, this one feminine. “Sorry. I’m just… Anxious.” the first one replies quietly. “Anxious?” The second asks. “Yes, anxious. Wouldn’t you be if you were told what I was told?” “Probably.” The second voice honestly says. “But you’re too philosophical to be worried about stuff like that.” “...You really think so?” “Grovyle, you came back for a third time. Hopefully, you succeeded in your mission this time. that is all I need to know to understand.” “If you insist then…. I hope we’re not too late” “Hey now, we’re still here aren’t we? That’s proof enough it’s not too late. I wouldn’t hesitate though, I can feel time ripping apart all around us.” “Then I will stay quiet...” A sound can be heard, it sounds like a portal opening. “You did it!” the first voice exclaims, excitedly. “No time to waste! We need to move, now!” “Alright then. Team Time Travelers, move out!”