Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Retaliation Corporation

Chapter 12: The Burrow that is Blind

- Chapter 12: The Burrow that is Blind -

Blindside Burrow - BF2

A world dominated by Pokémon, where humans were considered a myth, was the first thing Krista had to learn to adapt to.

What she could never grow used to, was the strange distortions that the world was plagued with. Twisted and transformed into a maze, each and every single one had their own traits, their own personalities. The pressure that made the air tight to breathe, the wild Pokémon who attack anything that moves, and the flawed laws of time and space…how could anyone willingly enter such a horrendous place?

Whether it be Dusk, who did it for the thrill of discovery, or Oinkologne, who did it to search for something…

…Or them, who entered to rescue someone who wandered too far.

Of course Krista knew what they signed up for. She did it to find out about her own forgotten past, and to perhaps find her lost purpose. She did it to help Pineno gain the strength he otherwise wouldn't find anywhere else. Both of those things couldn't be possible to achieve if they sat around hidden under a tunnel all day.

And perhaps, the answers Krista was looking for were right here. If what Grove said about the wiped memories is true, then perhaps…it was fate. Krista was exactly where she needed to be. Oinkologne being rescued would be an added bonus.

But first, she had to brave through the horrible burrow. The cursed roots on the ceiling were just as active as they were before. They moved and reached for any source of light that shone over them. As they traveled through the maze, they encountered more Rattata they had to fend off. Their rapid attacks were the most annoying thing about the dungeon. But thankfully, she and Pineno were able to stop them before they chipped them down.

"I guess the Rattata are frequent here because it's closer to the surface," Pineno said. "They won't be as annoying when we get deeper, right?"

"We shall see if your intuition is true," was all Grove said.

They were just about to enter a corridor when Pineno stopped in his tracks.

"Something else is coming."

That time, Krista could feel the vibrations beneath her feet. They trembled stronger with every second that past. The first thought that crossed her mind, was how there was no way a Rattata could be the cause behind it—

Mud. It slapped Krista on the face, blinding her. The sharp earthy scent stung her nose. It was grainy on her tongue. She spat and shook her head in a wild effort to swipe it off.

"Krista! Look out!"

She opened her eyes, and was blinded by mud. Pain stabbed her flank, then it ripped. Krista felt her feet leave the ground. Sharp and burning, pain pulsed from where she was struck. The cool earth slammed onto her as she crashed. A new wave of pain shot through her fresh wounds.

She could hear Pineno's shouting.

She swiped the last of the mud from her eyes, and sat up. A quick glance at her flank almost sent her to a daze as dread flooded her heart. Her fur had been shaved clean in three large gashes. Her skin, while unbroken, was hot and red.

Large claws. Massive claws.

"Krista!"

She looked up and only saw a whirl of brown and blue. Her world rattled as she slammed to the ground again. Seething pain was in her left arm. Strands of her fur fluttered in the air.