Mystery Dungeon: Equestrial Plains

by TheDeku


Special Episode: Exploring Adventurers

"Hey Ninj, how do you think these new guys are holding up?" A shiny Frogadier gestured to four Pokemon ahead of them.
The Ninjask shot to his leader's other side, then returned to his first spot. "Hmm... the Skitty has proven to be a bad listener, but has enough battle instincts to make up for trying rush in without waiting for our experience in battle unknown threats. The Shinx is obviously the brains of the group, but isn't a fast enough thinker to be able to improvise in battle. Girafarig isn't quite as able to make perfect plans, but utilizes her affinity for status and healing moves to keep her whole team together. The Vulpix is far too quiet to get a good read on, but her flames are more powerful than even many high leveled fire-types, but she is extraordinarily inaccurate. I still cannot believe that Wigglytuff would allow them out on missions without more training."
Frogadier laughed. "Just like how Team Shadoweye thought we would never catch that Graveler criminal?"
Ninj did his best to growl, but could only create a buzzing. "Shut it, Shade."
Farther ahead, the Shinx and a Kecleon were discussing strategies. "Say that you saw a Haunter, a Gloom, and a Pikachu. You knew you had to fight them, but they didn't know you were coming. What would you plan to do?"
The Shinx laughed. "I'd go for Haunter with Bite, have Velvet go for the Gloom with her fire, and have Silver go for Pikachu. Ally would help Velvet with her Psychic attacks, but would be support for the whole team, as well as keep two pairs of eyes out for a forth member or an ambush."
Kecleon shook his head. "Unbelievable. 20 plans that all would work for different scenarios. You're crazy good, Shadow."
Shadow grinned. "Thanks Stripe, that means a lot. Out of curiosity, where did Mist go?"
Stripe looked around. "Ahead. He said he was going to see if there was a town nearby." A rock landed in the middle of the group, halting conversation. It then melted away to reveal a Zoroark, proving that the rock was an illusion.
"I was getting worried. Find anything of interest?" The Girafarig asked, hopefully.
Vulpix sighed. "I hope so. We need a good place to rest."
Skitty smirked. "Getting tired, Velvet?"
Velvet looked over. "A little. Silver, aren't you getting tired?"
Silver shook her head, but then yawned. "Yeah. I can't let myself fall asleep, though. I need to keep an eye out in case we get attacked or something."
Mist pointed up the path. "There's a city up ahead with this giant castle in it. Further investigation required, but the inhabitants seem friendly due to how they interact with each other."
Shade chuckled. "If they aren't, we fight our way out and keep going. Not even a city can keep all eight of us down. Let's go!" With those words of encouragement, the group continued down the path along the mountain.

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"Hey, Gardevoir, calm down. Lopunny is fine. She's always fine." Medicham was comforting her teammate. "Team AWD has confirmed that no Pokemon had gone to Zero Isle, and we both know Lopunny can handle herself anywhere."
The miserable Psychic type looked over. "That isn't why I'm crying. I know that Lopunny can handle herself. She was able to make us a team, after all. I feel the emotions of every Pokemon around me, which is all of Treasure Town. You feel it too, but not as much due to Gardevoir having a stronger connection to emotions. It's... draining."
Medicham nodded. "I forgot you do that. Come on, we're going to a Mystery Dungeon."
Gardevoir looked confused. "Why would we do that? Is there a mission?"
Medicham laughed. "Yeah: Keep Wigglytuff busy while Sunflora, Loudred, and Dugtrio get some Perfect Apples, as well as get you out of Town for a while."
Gardevoir considered. "All right. Let's go. Besides, we may find something cool for the campfire."

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At what appeared to be the remains of an ancient temple atop a mountain, a meeting was taking place. Some of the smaller beings were seated on broken columns, while the larger ones stood around the meeting. A white quadruped was standing on an insignia near the middle. When it began to talk, all the other beings quieted down.
"I believe you all wish to know why I required a meeting here." After getting assorted noises of agreement, the being continued. "It has to do with the missing Pokemon. To put all confusion to rest: I am the reason that many Pokemon are missing."
At this, many of the beings began yelling. A blue quadruped with yellow horns looked furious. "You mean to tell me that our student went missing because of you AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US?"
The white being turned to face the speaker. "I said I was the reason, not that I sent all of them. You might be pleased to know that your student is doing fine. It has taken command when faced with assorted threats, and has not failed to be able to identify an attack or come up with plans of attack even if the situation does not require it. You've trained it well. To put another fear to rest, no Pokemon has been seriously or permanently harmed upon arrival, although some have tried to push themselves too far in an attempt to remain in control of a situation."
A small green bush-like creature jumped off its column to be seen. "Uh, if you weren't the reason for all of them, what was?"
A large gray insect-like serpentine dragon stepped forward. "Perhaps I can answer this. I have been asked not to be truly specific, however a powerful entity plans to rip our universe apart. In doing so, it plans to cause distractions as it frees itself from its metaphorical prison."
The white creature spoke up then. "Planned. Past tense. It is already free, however it needs to gather its strength in order to complete its plan. Unfortunately, it has already succeeded in a way to prevent me from facing it directly."
A yellow tiger-like being yawned. "So you want us to go fight it for you?"
The white being's voice boomed. "Absolutely NOT! It has already taken over the Pokeparks and both broke and drained the Sky Prism. This brings me to the other reason I called this meeting. You are ALL to do one of the following tasks: Take, by any means, the fourteen attractions that the prism pieces went to, and guard them, keep all the zones safe and calm so the Pokemon do not rip the Pokeparks apart from within, or guard the entrances to Wish Park and do not let any beings into OR out of it. With one exception, you may choose your own jobs, other than the Wish Park guarding."
A feline-like biped with a long purple tail scoffed. "Don't want to be that Pokemon."
The white being chuckled. "Sorry. I feel you are the most up to the task. Your job is to hand pick at least three others to help you guard the four entrances into wish park. The reason is that Wish Park has become a place where anger and a desire to harm all others are all that there is. I feel that, due to your experiences with pure malice directed towards other creatures, you would not only be most able to fight the effects but also most capable of finding others who can help. Do you accept?"
"One question: Do my cohorts need to be other Pokemon? Because I have a human in mind that would be perfect for the task."
The white being shook its head. "You have no restrictions on what you can and cannot hire. Get to work, all of you. I am going to keep an eye on our other planet."
As it created a portal to go through, a deep voice spoke. "Questions." The white being looked at the speaker, a giant white biped. "What is the purpose for the world you chose in this plan you seem to have, and what is the reason we are to maintain the pieces of the Sky Prism instead of fixing it?"
The white being nodded. "A fair question, but both have one answer. Friendship. The other planet - or at least, the part the Pokemon are on - has most of its society based around it. It is also what powers the Sky Prism. How many of you can make friends with others? Of those who can, who would be able to try to do so with Pokemon who would rather fight you and you would need to talk down? Not enough of you. That is my reasoning." It then floated through the portal it made.