Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Chapter 121 - Shockwaves

Owen awoke to the brief sounds of struggle down the hall. It was close. Too close. In the dark halls, he could only rely on his second sight to guess what it was.

One of the guards shrieked, but was abruptly silenced after a strong thunk. Someone was about to cry out for support, but a flash of light silenced that one, too. A small body was thrown across the caverns into a crumpled, groaning heap next, and then a figure cloaked in light sprinted into Owen's view.

The great Charizard had less than a second to react, and in that time, he could only sit a quarter of the way up and tune his Perceive. He raised an arm to fire at what came, but it weaved out of the way deftly, and Owen felt the dull of a Leaf Blade against his throat.

Staring into his eyes were a pair of yellow irises and reptilian pupils. They shined with energy and light.

"Hi, Dad!" she whispered cheerfully. The Sceptile's great tail rattled noisily, as if she had energy to spare after being quiet for so long.

"Hi, Remi..." Befuddled, Owen pushed her so he could get up, and she complied. "Did you just infiltrate the Lightless Labyrinth to see me?"

"Mhm!"

"How many guards did you beat up?"

"Uhhh..." She counted on her claws, quickly running out.

Owen sighed harshly and grasped her arm.

"Hey!"

"I'm walking you out." He marched, practically dragging her. He walked past several guards, all of them too dizzy to so much as stand. Remi had struck them all with the dull of her Leaf Blades expertly. Had it been any other circumstance, he would have been proud.

He wasn't sure why, but it was becoming hard to move, and his head and the whole world felt fuzzy.

"Don't forget, Dad, he fights dirty!"

Owen blinked. The caverns around him melted into clouds of dust. "What?"

"He follows you in your shadow. But he can't chase you if it's too bright!"

She dissolved from his grasp.

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Owen landed hard on the ground, the wind knocked out of him. His small size and light form had spared him from serious injury. He wondered, dizzily, if his feathery body had contributed.

With a groan, he slowly got to his feet, but then some primal part of him alerted him and he ducked. An instant later, something burned the feathers on his scalp, leaving behind a shadowy residue that felt cold and tingly.

"Nice reflex," Marshadow said. "Ain't gonna miss a second time, though."

"Wait," Owen said quickly. "M-Marshadow, don't you remember? Remember fighting Dark Matter in the past... back when he was the Void King?"

"Void King..." Marshadow nodded. "I think I remember that... rings a bell."

"Do you remember... fighting me? The Wishkeeper?"

Another long pause, but there wasn't as much recognition in his hum. "Guess I fergot that one. Lost ter the void."

"You used to fight... against Dark Matter, Marshadow! You were a hero! You had... a partner. No, three of them!" Owen tried to press on. "Remember! A Drampa, a Dewott, maybe a Samurott now, and a Cacturne!"

Marshadow looked strained, like he was trying to recall, but nothing came.

"You were a Riolu," Owen said. "Your mortal body was a Riolu!"