Explorers of Origin: A Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Fanfiction, Volume 1

Chapter 25: En Route to Shizuoka

Clustering wishes combine to form the light that shines the way.

"Wonder what Mom's been up to now... it's been quite a while since we split up."

"I'm pretty sure she's doing fine. Knowing her, the 'shippings' are what keep her happy with her group. I bet the pairing of Mawile and Pikachu is her new favorite."

"Yeah. There's no denying that. Even then, part of me feels as though there's been a ton of rough stuff in front of her, ya know?"

"Like those purple things we've been fighting?"

"Not just them. Think about all the bandits who try to take advantage of dire situations like this. All of 'em will only act upon something for self-benefit, money-related or not. Not to mention all the misinformation and propaganda that gets fabricated in masses."

"Ugh. I know how annoying that is. The last thing I want is to see Pokémon fighting over stuff that never existed in the first place..."

"Same, same."

"Hey, look, there's a sign of the city limits up ahead. We're almost there!"

"Sweet! Let's go!"

"Whoa, Sis, wait for me!"

"Hurry up, then!"

Flareon and Sylveon gallop hastily upon locating the outer borders of Shizuoka Village, a city inspired by the lifestyle of humble humans who manage to find paths to success with limited resources. Despite the relatively short distance in between it and Neo Treasure Town alongside the friendly image that its name suggests, the territory surrounding Shizuoka Village is notorious for its undocumented abnormal and criminal activity. Alleged sightings of spectral monsters are commonplace, imposing fear on the weakest of wills. Coupled with criminal acts that occur at random throughout the greater metropolitan region of the city, few Pokémon dare to make their passage across this patch of land. Prior to their arrival, for instance, the sisters were forced to fight in numerous battles against randomly spawning Amartoloí, while also setting up camp far from the common roads to keep away from bandits.

The geography surrounding the city is also punishing, with sharp rock formations and constant rainstorms that plunge the ground with ruthless power. The Shizuoka fault, located to the city's southeast, is widely regarded as the most dangerous of the continent due to the severe damages that the tectonic plates caused while continuously sliding against each other. Its deep trench, rattled by the forces of the sky, imposes the threat of an endless fall, rejecting its victims any hope of a way out. The high-magnitude earthquakes add to the peril of the landscape, claiming the lives of many Pokémon that attempt to progress through it.

This, however, only fueled the surge of adventure that the royal siblings looked ever so forward to.

Right before they reach the entrance, a Vortex Cell spawns in front of the siblings, with waves of Amartoloí spawning from its outer edges. Taken by surprise, Flareon and Sylveon brace for yet another battle.

"Oi! You two seem to be stuck in a tough one. Want some help?"

"Might as well! The more support we have, the better!"

"Alright, then! Time to kick some ass!"

"Hold your claws, Hawlucha! These aren't easy pickings."