[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

 In a dark, underground cave, the five lights settle on the floor, each pulsing with energy and glowing with a soft light.

The lights dim and begin to fade, and laying on the floor in their wake are five pokemon, all unconscious initially.  What little light is in the room is provided by two sources: the slivers of light filtering in through the cracks in the ceiling above, and a small flame being produced by one of the five pokemon.  There's just enough light to make out the surroundings.

The room is empty, aside from the five pokemon.  Loose rock and dirt is scattered around it, and there's but a single exit out of the room.  The ceiling may be cracked, but both it and the walls look tough.

One by one, the pokemon come to.

A Devimp, the flame between their horns one of the sources of light in this dark cave.  They appear to be wearing a glove of some kind on one hand.

A black and white Zigzagoon with a handful of tufts of fur that are hues of yellow, purple, and violet instead of their usual colors.  A large, empty bag of some kind is laying next to them.

A black furred Riolu, their mask-like pattern on their face a dark red.  The pattern looks like it's torn, however, and a bone white coloration can be seen around their left eye instead of the dark red one.  Their blue eyes only seem to get brighter in the darkness, and the white scarf around their neck strangely seems to help them blend in with the shadows better than would be expected...

A strange looking Charmander, primarily blue in color.  No flame burns at the tip of their tail, and it instead ends in what appears to be a fin of some kind.

And lastly, a Ralts that sparkles in the dim lighting provided by the slight beams and the fire.  Their horns are golden, and their eyes are obscured somewhat by their silvery hair.

These five pokemon all have one thing in common: they are all human.

Or at least, that's what they remember, some better than others.  Besides that detail, all they remember right away when they wake is their names.

The first to wake is the shiny Ralts.  She sits up a clutches her head, as she's got a bit of a headache.  "...oowwwwie...my head...why does it hurt so much...?"

The Ralts leans against a wall as she tries to gather herself.  She looks around the room as the other pokemon begin to come to.

"...where am I...? And why are there so many unconscious pokemon here...?"

@Lord Windos, @PhantomUnderYourDesk, @Spiritmon, and (insert 4th player's username here), you are now free to post your characters' initial reactions to waking up in a dark cave with some degree of amnesia!  (Remember that those of you with only 1 Logic may remember less than those with 2)  The initial scenes prior to waking up in the cave are purely for introductory purposes, and are not meant to be reacted to.

Fwoosh.

Crackle.

Ka-boom, Ka-BOOM.

An endless explosion of flames engulfs  a tiny circular space, clashing and raging against a seemingly endless void of darkness that threatens to consume it all. The land is sooty, black, and cragged as befitting of the domain of such intense, hellish flames. Scents of brimstone and, strangely enough, spicy incenses fill the roaring hot air, giving everything a truly otherworldly vibe.

Only two beings resided in this pocket of flame space. One, a wee little imp, splayed out unresponsively on the charred ground, looking dazed and almost completely out of it, and the other's form unknown towering over them, concealed and hazed by blinding white fire. 

The Being stared quietly at the little imp, until it spoke in a toneless, inflectionless voice that somehow carried a note of....weary but hopeful expectation.

Little one, little one, it is time for you to get up. Your quest from from God  now begins, to help stop the evil Darkness from blighting and ascending, yes. Helping others with the same goal, unfailingly, unending, and unwavering so. That is what you shall do, little one, that is  what you shall do. Now and until the end, whenever that begins...

The little imp groans at the voice, struggle to get up to better listen and look at them, but their body failing them as them as they fall over with a small *Whoomf* . The Being's presence.....soften at this, and a tendril of flame spouted forth from the fires surrounding it to carass the wee little imp, slowly filling them with strength and comfort.

Your trails will be long and tough, perhaps severe, endless, and cruel. Your quest will not be easy. Your life will not be easy. Nothing will be easy, for you. All will be uncertain. Fates unknown to you, Fates dear to you, your own Fate too, and.....

*Fwoosh, ROAR*

....But you shall persevere. Yes, you shall thrive and blossom in this fertile new world, and become.....

*Crack, snap, pop!*

....whatever you decide upon. You are Unfettered, and Unbound. Free to be, who you want to be. That is your Beginning. That is your Destiny. That is a gift to you. One of many, the others yet to be earned. Complete your quest, help your friends, be what you wish, and the rest of your reward shall become yours.

The disoriented demon looked to The Being, still weak and confused about everything, and yet....filled with hope and happiness by it all. Eagerness, excitement, and an almost insatiable curiosity filled them to the brim. Though they couldn't see it, the little imp could somehow tell The Being was smiling at their plunk as that tendril continued to soothe and caress them.

Yes, yes, just like that. Be like that. Keep that fire burning in your heart, and don't let anyone snuff it out. Blaze, be passionate, and enjoy what this new life given to you.

The Darkness suddenly began to close in on the little hellish space at The Being's words, devouring the flames and all within them with cold, pitiless apathy. This caused the Being's form to jolt in surprise, before they looked down to the little imp again, an air of seriousness and....weary resolution now pervading them.

It is time. Time for you to go. Time to start your quest. Time....for my end, and final rest. Time for you to begin again. Good-bye, little one. Good-bye....Pyra. May your future be bright, and shine the way to you and all that follows. Be strong. Be bold. Be inquisitive. And most of all.....be happy.

The ground beneath the little imp suddenly cracked wide open into an abyss and they fell in, flailing about at that and stretching out one clawed hand towards The Being. It looked at them sadly, yet.....contently, and for a brief, brief moment Pyra almost thought they caught a glimpse of their true form....

Then the crack closed tight, and all they knew was........................................................

..................................................................................
........................................................................
..................................................... "......Mmph....."

Slowly, the little Devimp on the ground leaned up from it, rubbing the crust out of their eyes with their gloved hand, before they began looking around, taking in the cave they were in with an air of faint curiosity and expectation. Sure enough both those feelings are rewarded right away, as they spot other Pokemon like them, yet so much unlike them too. A little being she somehow knew was a Fairy, a patchwork black and white fuzzy creature, a.....righteous yet damaged warrior, they think, and a odd blue newt drake of some kind. 

They didn't know what they are, who they were, yet somehow they did in another fashion. A memory sparks within them, causing the little flame between their horns to jump and jostle as they realized and remembered.

These were her allies, in their Quest against the Darkness! The ones they must help above all others and all else, no matter what! And, perhaps, perhaps, their future friends....? Yes, yes, all of that yes!

At that thought the wee lil' demon sprung right into the air and onto their feet, their previous muzzy headedness gone in favor of an almost fiercely eager excitement and joy, dancing around a little on the spot and clapping their hands together in delight with sweet smile, probably catching the attention of others in the process. They didn't care, though! Why should they, when they know their purpose, their buddies, and who they.....are? Wait, what were they again? Human, yes?

Pausing at that confused notion, the brimstone imp gave themselves a brief inspection, and found to their surprise they were not, in fact, human, but instead what they could instinctively know is a Devimp. A Pokemon. They were a Pokemon. That, and they seemingly didn't know anything else about who they were, upon further reflection.

For a moment they looked even more confused and a bit curious about that unexpected development, putting a little claw on their chin as they tilted their head and mused about it......before they just shrugged it off and smiled again, completely unbothered by their transformation. Ah, they were once a human, but now they were not. *Claps* Well, no matter, no matter! They know who they are now, and that is all that matters, yes! 

"I'm Pyra the Devimp, yes I am! If that is all I remember, then that is who I am!"

They suddenly exclaim this to themselves, clapping their hands together and doing a little wiggling jig, eyes closed as they just seemingly revealed with their own joyful self-discovery. Their voice was light, linted (soft), and had a raspy quality to it, but yet it was also strangely lyrical, energetic, and......feminine? Yes, feminine.

Her little celebration of sorts was short lived, for soon the rousing and activities of the other Pokemon around her snapped her out of it, causing the wee lil' demon to look around at everyone with eager inquisitiveness, as if deciding who she wanted to first greet. That was soon decided when the furry multi-colored.....Zizagoon, she believes, gruffy introduced themselves first, her head snapping to them like a Magnetmite to a load of iron ore, before she decide to skip right on over to them and *Yank!* hoisted them up with surprising Strength after they first talk to the Fairy Ralts, giving them, Kee, a beaming smile.

Pyra's Theme: Kefka's Theme Remix (Final Fantasy 6)

"Hello, and greetings Kee the Zizagoon! My name is Pyra the Devimp, that is who and what I am, yes! So very good to meet you, furry little man! Together, together, we shall explore this land, beat the Darkness, and become true friends, yes yes yes!"

The playful fiend said all this straight to their face as she held him up and near her, and a flash of curiosity passed over her face before she spontaneously decided to bend forward and lightly and gently nibble on one of the coon's little ears.

"Hmm....yes....fuzzy and soft, like fine terry cloth. Feel nice and interesting, yes yes...."

Pyra then, without releasing Kee, turns to the little sparkling fae, and gives them much the same smile as they were giving to their current glompee.

"Salutions and howdy, little Shiny Fairy! Who are you, what are you, why are you so sparkly sparkly, yes? Oh, and want hugs too?"

She doesn't notice the scarred Rilou getting up and introducing himself, her attention entirely on the Ralts and Kee. When the former says their name and expresses their confusion over hearing Pokemon speak she looks briefly confused at them for a moment before giving them a small, happy go luck smile.

"Karen! What a nice name! My name is Pyra the Devimp, one of Darkness and Flames! I know not who you are, but I know who you are to me! An ally, in our quest to stop the Darkness, and maybe a friend, yes! As why we speak, we hear, we understand, that is a simple question to answer, for we are Pokemon. Pokemon should understand each other easily and well, or well enough I suppose!"