[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Dragonstrike]

Daxter tenses up when the thunder strikes. He stares at Zeraora with his heart pounding. "Uh huh. Yeah. Closer to the lightning. The loud and scary lightning. Bloody mental..."

He speaks to Dedenne and Bunnelby as he sees Zeraora go into the woods. "I... don't really want to follow him if I'm being entirely honest. The thought of getting zapped by static electricity makes me nervous. A sodding lightning strike that even made an electric type like that Zeraora worried? It's taking all of my willpower to not just leg it."

He trails off, contemplating his choices before sighing. "I'm trying to build some kinda rapport with the guildmaster. How the bloody fuck am I gonna do that if I leave her kid in a place lkke this? Let's just follow the Zeraora."

As an afterthought, he adds, "Not sure if you heard me before. What are the Voidlands?"

Dedenne moves to the side briefly to contact Ampharos before anything else, leaving Bunnelby to address Daxter's commentary and questions.

"That's the expedition life for ya.  Not always the most pleasant job, but somebody's gotta do it."

"Oh, right, never did answer your question earlier, did we?  Well, to keep it brief..."

Memories of the Void: Void Shadows - Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon

What follows is Bunnelby's description of a horrible sounding place.  Deep caves and tall, upside down mountains of rock dotting a barren, maze-like landscape devoid of any life, stalked by formless shadows hunting anyone unfortunate enough to end up there.

"Getting sent there wasn't a pleasant experience, I tell ya.  And after we found everyone else, Buizel and I got captured by those...things while we were briefly separated from the others.  I've been told that's when Dedenne, Mawile, and the newbies met the Legendary Beasts.  That would be Raikou; the Thunder's Boom, Entei; the Volcano's Roar, and Suicune; the Purifying Aurora.  Almost every pokemon in the world had been sent to that alternate dimension by that point, their physical bodies turned to stone, and the Legendary Beasts were no exception to that.  It was a miracle that the newbies were able to get out and save us all from Dark Matter, the entity that was commanding those shadows.  They might not have escaped at all if it weren't for the Legendary Beasts, though, and then Dark Matter would have ended everything..."

Bunnelby shivers.  "Honestly, if we're chasing shadows, it's gonna give me some flashbacks.  But if we're gonna get to the bottom of this mystery, we're gonna have to, and I'll do my best to contribute.  I just sincerely hope that they aren't connected to a resurgence in Dark Matter's negative energy..."

Dedenne walks back over.  "Let's walk and talk everyone.  I've got news from Ampharos, and we're running out of time on this floor."

Bunnelby nods.  "Right.  There'll be more time for stories later.  Let's get moving before the wind picks back up."

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Lightning Scarred Clearing

Charred Thunder Forest: Far Amp Plains (Remix by Sunderi) - PMD: Explorders of T/D/S

Daxter and co. continue deeper into the forest, and the scenery begins to change around them.  The greenery that had surrounded them up to this point begins to thin and transition in color.  What was once a lush, verdant forest becomes a forest that looks to be scarred by lightning and fire.  Patches of dead or dying trees can be seen within the thickets, the browns and blacks of their injuries being all too apparent.  The rain begins to pick up in intensity as lightning flashes and thunder rumbles through the thinner canopy of leaves above.

Eventually, the group wanders into a clearing with a Kangaskhan statue, where Zeraora is waiting for them.

"There you are.  You'll be safe here for now.  Further in is the land where Lord Raikou roams, the Charred Thunder Forest.  That is where the Braixen went.  If you have any questions, it would be best if you ask them now."  They look at Daxter when they say this, seeming to be expecting at least one question.

"Before we get to that, the news from Ampharos I mentioned.  Daxter, check your Connection Orb."

When Daxter checks it, he sees two messages have been sent recently, indicated by the orb glowing more brightly than usual.  One from Team Stripes, the other from Team Artificers.

Team Stripes Message

This is Arcanine of Team Stripes.  We're currently at a cave known as Drenched Bluff, where we consulted with a Lapras that Guildmaster Wigglytuff is personally acquainted with.  They reported that there have been an unusual amount of Hurricanes on their sea routes as of late, but never in the same spots.  It's as if they're moving with something.  It is possible that they are being caused by a pokemon.  By Lapras's estimate, the weather patterns are likely somewhere around the Mist Continent at the moment.  It would be advisable for Team Omega Seekers to be cautious.

Team Artificers Message

Chimical, at your ssssserviccccce.  After a...pleassssssant conversation with the guardian of Mt. Thunder, Zapdosssssss, we have learned that they recccccently chasssssed away a meddlessssssssom intruder from their mountain.  A rival able to conjure thundersssssstormssssss of sssssimilar intenssssity to itssssss own.  Zapdossssss issssss unssssssure of where exactly they went, but believessssss they flew towardssssss the Water Continent.  Bessssst watch your backssssss and the sssssskiessssss, Team Night Wardensssssss.

"When I was communicating with Ampharos earlier, he mentioned that Jirachi was using his telescope and saw something flying towards Thunder Forest.  And whatever it was, it seemed to be shrouded by stormclouds and lightning bolts."

"...those are ill tidings.  If another that commands storms is in this area, then they will likely be engaging in a territorial dispute with Lord Raikou, whether that is their intention or not."

"That doesn't doesn't sound very good for us."

The conversation is briefly interrupted by a flash of lightning and the crack of thunder.

K A C H O W ! !

K A B O O M ! !

"No, it sounds like that.  And it's likely that the Braixen has been caught in the middle of it.  So, let me repeat myself.  If you have any questions, now is the time to ask them.  We likely won't have time to chat once we head deeper in."