Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Semideus Islands (IC)

[Chapatrap]

'Thatta boy, Ludwik!' grinned Echo, patting his teammate on the back. 'About yesterday. It wasn't your fault. It was ...them damn Spinarak! At least they're dead now!'. Echo noticed the Rufflet standing beside them, it's eyes at the Mission Board. Then Echo remembered. 'Oh yeah, Rufflet. Blissey said she would be back later to remove your cast or whatever is wrong with that wing of yours' he grunted. Echo had a personal dislike to Flying Types. He thought them to be uppity-pompous birds, who thought they were awesome just because they could 'fly'. He resisted the urge to through his apple core at it, mainly because he was still feeling a little too weak to get into a major fight but partly because it would be too easy, kicking a bird type when it was down. So, he threw the apple core into the corner where Keeper slept on, growling at the sound but his eyes still closed. 'Crazy ole' coot' growled Echo, watching as the Zangoose rolled over with it's back to them. It was covered in a dirty, rag-like blanket that looked like it couldn't keep a fire type warm. 'Well, Ludwik. We should get a headstart before the others think about nabbing Machop. Come on!' He slowly clambered up the ladder and opened the now-unlocked Front Door. A blast of cool air hit him in the face, which surprised him. The storm had died down but the effects were clear, with the occasional branch on the path and the ground soaking wet with rainwater. It was quite cold but that was to be expected. It was morning, after all.

[Raddum]

Ludwik laughed as Echo patted him on the back, he was right. Those Spinarak were to blame, it wasn't his fault they figured out his plan... Or was it? He shook it off, he had Machop to worry about today. He could worry about the details of his past failures later! "Yeah, i bet they got swept away in that storm, serves them right for trying to eat us!" He replied, blinking as Echo mentioned the Rufflet, prompting Ludwik to turn and look at it. "Flying type, huh? I haven't seen many of those, isn't the sky scary?" He asked, ducking as Echo threw the apple core, not wanting to get pelted and have an excuse to get mad at Echo already. He watched Echo head up the ladder, taking one last look at the Rufflet. "Hope you get to feeling better, but we've gotta' Machop to crush!" He said joyfully, following up after his partner.

Upon reaching the top and walking outside, he felt a small chill go down his spine. Sure, he was a fire type, but that didn't mean the cold didn't effect him. "S-Sweet mother of Moltres it's cold!"
He could feel his feet in the mud, squishing about. Water.... He hated water, it weakened him, made fire attacks useless... Nothing about the blue liquid was good. Not a single damn thing. All he knew was that today was going to be different, and he was going to assist Echo in ripping that Machop to pieces.

[Kangutso]

After they went up the ladder Talon muttered, "I hope she gets here soon then, was supposed to get this splint off last night..." He walked over to the apple core and picked it up by its stem, when he couldn't figure out where to put it, he set it on the corner of a small table. "I don't like the look they had in their eyes... Too dark." The Zangoose, for he didn't know its name, seemed to murmur in its sleep. Talon moved back to the message boards and settled down, seeing what missions there were to choose from for when he could fly again.

[Chapatrap]

Echo munched on a Pecha Berry quickly, hating the taste of it. He had 3 of these things left and was instructed to eat them when he felt pain. The pain came in quick shoots but quickly went away after eating a Pecha Berry. They tasted terrible but hey, they were medicine. Echo spat the Pecha pips and core onto the grass. It was rather muddy but, being a water type, it didn't bother him. So, his paws squelched in the mud no problem. He took a glance at Ludwik, looking unsure going through the mud and laughed. They were passing Allure Town now. The town was just waking up, with few Pokemon wandering around the square and the Shroomsworth stall was being set up. Evidence of the storm was here too, with tree branches and leaves all over. Echo wondered what it would be like in Dragon Wood. Had the storm effected the pokemon or the trees? Where was Machop now? Would the Spinarak or the Dragon Types attack again? Echo didn't know but now that both he and his partner had more confidence, he knew nothing would stop him. Nothing.

[Raddum]

Ludwik sighed, looking around at the damage from the storm; the power of it was terrifying. Imagine if a pokemon got stuck out here, they could possibly be dead meat...
Dead meat? Yeah, like that Machop was going to be when he and Echo were finished with him. The mud made him feel less and less at home on Allure Island; he was so used to the warm touch of the stone inside Mt. Blaze; warmth... Fire. It got him thinking about the other islands; could there possibly be a volcano somewhere? It's be an amazing discovery for him; and the Guild as well. He hopped over a tree branch, splashing mud when he landed. "I bet the forest got real messed up, we might not have to worry about the Spinarak; they're probably still trying to get their bearings." He said, breaking the silence between the two since they left. He felt as if they had more of an understanding, after what had happened the day before. The pokemon were ruthless, and they needed to be as well. No mercy.

[Chapatrap]

The forest was silent, par from the occasional drip-drop of water from the branches of trees. Echo was on edge, listening out for the smallest sound, hoping no one would attack. A flash of green and a rustle of branches told him he was going to get ambushed. And he was right. An Axew, screaming abuse in its own language and wielding a small bone its hand jumped from a bush. Echo ducked and rolled quickly to avoid being hit by the crazy baby-dragon. It screamed something else as it rolled on the ground and jumped up, teeth bared. It ran at Echo again, doing the same battle cry and a look of malice in its eyes. Echo used Sonic Boom and the Axew flew backwards into a tree and slid down to the bottom, groaning. It stood once more, looking dazed and glassy eyed. Echo watched it, weary of attack from the Axew. Once more, it ran drunkenly at Echo, swinging its bone groggily. Echo used Sonic Boom once more and the Axew was hit backwards, straight into the tree. This time it didn't get up, only groaned. Echo grunted in happiness. The Axew hadn't even laid a finger on him. It must of been my superior strength and speed he smiled at the thought. He nodded at Ludwik. 'Let's go, Ludwik' he grunted, leaving the Axew at the base of the tree, not caring if it was dead or not. He continued into the forest, occasionally stopping to listen out for Dragon Type or Bug Types. He was going to get poisoned again, so he made sure to have at least one Pecha berry in hand at all times.

Meanwhile, in Allure Town...

Slowking slowly browsed through the Shroomsworth stall, looking at the stock. Since Machoke had come and gone, they had refilled all their stock. The two Breloom watched the local Guildmaster with smiles on their faces but would occasionally shoot glances at each other that said 'Once he's gone, I'm going to murder you'. Eventually, the Guildmaster picked up an apple and paid the small amount of money for it. Mr. Shroomsworth smiled and accepted the money and soon, Slowking was off, exploring the square like he did every morning. No one knew why he did it. Every morning, he would wake up and walk around the square, examining things and occasionally buying. It was a strange but harmless habit. Perhaps he just liked to see what was going on in the town? Slowking wasn't a very sociable person but he did like to have a conversation with people when he met them. He wasn't one to seek someone, more like someone who waited to be found.

He was found by Blissey, who was laden with bags of food and other necessities. 'Ah, Blissey' smiled Slowking. 'Good morning, Guildmaster' said Blissey, she too smiling. 'I believe young Talon has his wing fixed today?' asked Slowking, making conversation. 'Yes, Guildmaster. If he is awake already, I will be with him when I take these bags home' she lifted the 'bags', which were more like baskets, to be honest. 'Very well. He is awake and waiting at the Guild. Good morning, Blissey' said Slowking, bowing slightly and continuing his business. Blissey groaned. The Slowking could be very blunt sometimes. She began heading back to the guild, telling Hopper to hold on to her stuff for her. She winced when she squelched in the mud. At least the sun was out today, drying the ground slightly from the horrible storm. Strange thing, the weather.

[Raddum]

The silence in the forest seemed awkward; sure it wasn't loud on their last trip in here, but it certainly wasn't as if it was abandoned. Ludwik blinked, hearing the Axew and watching the small battle between it and Echo. He didn't want to get involved; he was sure Echo could take care of it. And he did. "Right behind you, Echo." he replied, following close behind and keeping an eye out. The water was almost enough to make him sick; the ground was terribly soggy, and this irritated him greatly. The ground was so green and mushy, you could hardly notice if you were to step on a-

"Eep!'

Ludwik stopped, looking down at where he just stepped. That wasn't the soggy ground; it was a Caterpie! "O-Oh! My bad, my bad!" He said hastily, backing up and picking up the small pokemon, who glared at him. Ludwik stared back for a couple of seconds before the Caterpie shot him in the face with String-Shot, causing Ludwik to let out a yelp and chuck the small pokemon across the small forested area, a small crashing noise could be heard behind the bushes it flew pass... "Stupid String-Shot!" He grumbled, grasping the webbing on his face and pulling it off, he shook his head, following after Echo. They needed to find Machop; not get distracted by small pokemon who happened to be crawling in the wrong place at the wrong time. His eyes twitched as he stepped through the soggy terrain; absolutely disgusted by it.

[Kangutso]

Talon was quickly getting bored, having to wait for Blissey to take the splint off and Slowking so that he could join the guild. The Zangoose once again rolled over in its sleep, mumbling something about being in a fight, or being chased, hard to tell with him. He thought about looking around the guild to see if there was a place for flying types to enter but then thought better of it, no point wondering around to possibly get caught some place he wasn't allowed to enter yet. Soon, he heard someone at the door, if it was Blissey, then the splint is coming off, if it was Slowking, he'd try to join the guild anyway.

[julia]

"Come on Hotback!" Volta cried, pulling the Cyndaquil along behind her towards the Dragon Woods. "We overslept! We've gotta get back and start looking for that outlaw!" she exclaimed, pushing forward, not caring if Hotback was sleeping or not. She took deep breaths and finally entered the dungeon, looking around and feeling very unfamiliar with the scenery. She remembered that the dungeons always changed, but she found it rather bothersome.

"Echo? Ludwik?" she called, wondering if the two had already gotten up and made it.

[Antarctic Termite]

Jasper was immensely glad that neither Slowking nor anyone else had tried to prevent her from getting an easy meal for her cheek. I should've tried this a lot sooner... Finishing her meal, she realised that it was getting late. She didn't mind that at all, but the elements weren't going to allow her to go off on a moonlit rambling tonight, and if she was going to ask for work, she didn't want to appear exhausted. Considering their hospitality so far, she was certain Slowking wouldn't mind if she spent the night in the Guild anyway. Stretching and stashing her bowl away with everyone else's, Jasper scurried away into the depths of the guild where Slowking had showed her.

* * *

Jaspers yawned, stretched, slept for another half-hour, yawned, stretched and nearly fell asleep again. The cycle could have gone on indefinitely had the Sableye not suddenly jumped wide awake with the realisation that she had overslept. Hastily she donned her mask and hood, hoping that she would appear competant enough to get a job. Judging by her little experience with the Guildmaster, he'd probably grant her employment, but she didn't want to take the chance. Being an Explorer was her calling, no doubt to her.

The Guild was already fairly abandoned. Jasper wondered how long she'd been asleep as she half-ran around the Guild, looking for anyone in particular. Noting a figure, she began to approach it. It wasn't Slowking, but maybe this explorer would know where he was. Coming closer, she noticed that it was a Rufflet with his wing in a splint. "Hey," she called. "Morning. Know where Slowking's- The Guildmaster's gone?" She thought she might as well start referring to Slowking with a bit of respect. Jasper examined the Rufflet. He looked restless; Not very happy with where he was. Jasper was about to introduce herself, realising that almost no-one in the Guild knew her name yet, when something sounded at the door. She turned her head curiously.