Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Fate Breaker

(Ch. 3) Blinded Keeper

Mikah and Sukia made their way to Orchard Grove with relentless haste. The Eevee's hurry was starting to exhaust the Vulpix and she eventually had to speak up. "Mikah, I know you're worried about your family but freaking out isn't going to help them."

Mikah's hurried pace finally slows down. His brief adrenaline rush makes him give a heavy exhale and almost get dizzy. "I know, Suki, I.. I just.."

The Eevee's silence and the way his long ears hung low made Sukia's mood dampen, she didn't realize how much Mikah's mood affected hers until now. "...It's because you don't want your family's last memory of you is of you running away.. right?" Sukia's question made Mikah flinch but not answer her question. So Sukia continued to speak her mind. "I don't know your circumstances between you and your family but... we'll get your family to safety. I will get your family to safety. That's a promise." Sukia gives Mikah a confident grin, once of again giving him a promise from her heart.

Mikah looked at her and smiled weakly. "You're right... I'm sorry, Suki. Thank you, for always having my back." He gives a light giggle as she playfully bumps her shoulder against his.

Team Fate's travel to Orchard Grove was fast, the two Pokémon keeping a speedy pace. As the duo got closer to their destination, the trees became plentiful with apples and berries of all kinds. "Orchard Grove is the source of many berries and apples that merchants sell," Mikah explains.

"Wh- whoa... you guys never went hungry, I see-" Sukia's comment comes short when an earthquake shudders the ground beneath them and shakes the apple trees violently. The duo glanced at each other seriously and hurried even faster to their destination. By now, Sukia was just following Mikah's lead since this originally is his home. Team Fate had to duck and dodge berries and apples that fell with each earthquake.

"Mikah! Sukia!" a familiar voice is heard. They then see it was Oliver who was escorting Pokémon down the path that Team Fate had just come from.

"Oli! What's the situation? Has everyone gotten out?" Mikah asks frantically as some of the running Pokémon stopped with surprise when they saw their runaway Eevee.

The Sandile looked grim as he glanced towards the path that lead deeper into Orchard Grove. "Mostly everyone has been rescued. Shelly is escorting the last of the villagers. Kai has gone deeper towards the gorge to see if anybody has been left behind but..."

"But?" Sukia asks alertly.

"The gorge is where the earthquakes are the strongest. I told him not to go but he's so reckless... please, make sure he's ok and bring him back." Oliver has a very worried look in his eyes as he asks for help for his missing teammate.

"We'll go bring him back- HEY!" Sukia yells as Mikah immediately sprints off deeper into the Grove before Sukia could say anything else to Oliver. "Mikah! Wait up!"

When Sukia caught up to Mikah's side, she could see tears beginning to build up in the corner of his eyes. Even through his pants, his voice sounded choked. "My home is closer to the gorge. W- we.. we watched sunsets by the cliff.." his last sentence was barely a whisper.

Sukia's lips pursed briefly then she looked straight ahead. "And you'll watch another with them, as many as you want." her voice didn't waver. Mikah looks taken off guard briefly then smiles reassuredly. Both Pokémon stagger when another earthquake ripples beneath their paws, even stronger than before. They quickly regain their footing and continue their charge. As they run past several huts, they finally come across Oliver's Oshawatt teammate.

"Shelly! Where's Kai? Has everyone been escorted out??" Mikah asks hurriedly. It took us a second to see that Shelly has panting and wounded.

"Kai is- Kai is still back there! Him and a few other Pokémon! He's fighting the legendary Pokémon! I ran to get back up, please, help him!" the Oshawatt begged, looking as if she's on the edge of tears because she had no choice but to leave her teammate behind.