Explorers of the Life Force, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

As Dusk Sets

"Move your tail or lose it!" I yelped when feeling Crystal's jaws snap near my back, and had to pull my tail away from her deadly teeth.

After I had completed the jobs with Aria earlier, she had quickly and silently left. I could only guess she was continuing to mill about our shared conversation. With nothing else to do, I came to the clearing that Crystal and I would train at. Crystal as always was ready to get me in training the moment I showed myself.

"Hey hey hey! Not the tail again!" I protested, but it was futile. Crystal found whatever made me weak or vulnerable and attacked it viciously. She claimed it would push me to find ways to prepare myself, and strengthen what was needed. So in this case my training was running away.

"You're strength is only as good as your ability to find a solution. In most cases the ability to move and keep ahead of the predator can save your hide even if it means running away." When Crystal told me this, she proceeded to run at me. I realized then that she was taking the role as the predator. Needless to say, I had to hightail it outta there. Nothing is quite as adorable or terrifying as a Rockruff who decides to chase you down with the intent of biting you. I didn't plan on staying at the clearing at least.

Passing grass, trees, logs, and stones. I raced by them all with Crystal trying her best to catch me. I realized the irony in my name, and wished I had been called Hunter instead.

I burst out of the trees to find a cliff face. Hardly hesitating, I jumped up and started to scale the wall. I realized too late for my tail's sake that Crystal was a rock type Pokémon. She easily jumped up the rocky face, and latched her jaws on my tail, pulling me down with her.

When it came to fighting back, or get chewed on, I chose the former option. I reached down hitting Crystal with a 'Force Palm' attack, before crashing to the ground.

Normally, I wouldn't preform such a brutal attack on my friend. Especially against a Pokémon with a weaker type to the move I preformed. This was Crystal however, and she hated it when I held back.

I held back one time, and used a 'Quick Attack' which was not very effective against rock types. Crystal responded by attacking with more vigor. She wants me to preform my best with no restrictions. So I finally accepted her decision, and use super effective moves against her.

Back to the present, We both hit the ground with a thud. I was thankful at first that my tail wasn't being mauled anymore. Crystal however had rolled out of the fall, and faced me once more. I had definitely hurt her, but that only seemed to get her more fired up.

I was reminded once again that Crystal was a warrior through and through. She had to be, seeing as she had been fighting Pokémon in an arena for months on end. My attack though painful, only seemed to make her more determined to keep going.

I conceded, and proceeded to flop onto my back while catching my breath. "Forget this. I'm done." I whined.

"You can't stop Chase! Get moving!"

I sat upright to glare at her. "I said I'm done!" My outburst was a first for Crystal. She was used to me wanting to take a rest or stop training, but always threatened or persuaded me until I would get going again. This time however, I wasn't doing it out of weariness or discomfort. Okay, maybe a little bit. Mostly though, I was fed up with all this training. The fact today has been the busiest in a long time didn't help.

I flopped onto my back once again sighing irritably. "I'm sick of having to do this every day! No matter how hard I train, you're always getting up for another go. It's like no matter what I do you're always better than me."

Crystal walked over to me. I expect her to chew me out, or even console me. Instead, she said, "You're right. I am better than you."

I looked at her again, with surprise and frustration. "Then what's the point?!"