ultrapenumbra | MOCK EXPLORATION: DUNGEON EXPLORATION

So you've been going about your new lives as Pokemon for the past week... which you may or may not have gotten entirely used to by now, but at least it's not as bad as things were when you first woke up. You haven't really gotten many leads on why this happened or how to change back, outside of, perhaps, conversations with Kangaskhan and Wigglytuff... but even then, it was kind of vague and unhelpful, outside of the lead of these... "Mystery Dungeons."

And, as luck would have it, Wigglytuff and Kangaskhan seem to want you all to gather in the center of town! They say it's an opportunity for you all to get experience with Mystery Dungeons... and maybe a little bit of treasure on the side, too. Who knows, it might even give you answers! ...I mean, probably not, since you're in the tutorial dungeon phase, but hey. It's worth a shot, right?

So, when you arrive at the center of Pokemon Square, you'll find the familiar faces of Wigglytuff and Kangaskhan there, but also a distressed-looking Butterfree and Metapod. Kangaskhan is quietly comforting the two unfamiliar Pokemon, while Wigglytuff addresses you directly...

"Hey, friends! I figure since you're new and here under some pretty weird circumstances, you might wanna take care of this. See, Ms. Butterfree's kid Caterpie's gone missing, and since they're my friends, I want to help! They're pretty sure he's lost in a Mystery Dungeon, and since he hasn't been gone that long... it's probably pretty easy for some new people to take care of.

So, since you're probably gonna want to go through Mystery Dungeons to figure out what's happening with you friends, I figured this would be a good way to get you started! You're probably gonna want to split into four teams of five to deal with things. I'll answer some questions for you, and then I'll take you where we think the Mystery Dungeon is!"

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[He was trying to, but...]

Alright, then. Lead the way.

[Rantaro is bringing Natsuki along as he trots on right next to him. Just because he can move through easier doesn't mean he's leaving people behind.]

...I just hope we don't screw this up.

[ nooo natsuki don't say that you'll jinx it ]

[Well, there's a pretty clear path that leads you around the mushrooms, at least. That's good, right? Except... as you go through, you notice that the path narrows and narrows... and comes to an impenetrable wall of trees.

And there's a locked treasure chest there! Except instead of a place where you'd put a key in, there's a picture of a mushroom like the ones you saw as you walked through the mud.]

Huh...

[Rantaro walks over to the treasure chest and inspects the picture.]

Uh... Hey, guys? I think we might need one of those mushrooms we passed by.

...Mnnh...I, the man Gongenzaka, wonder if it can truly be that easy but..

[They look so poisonous...]

...Great, so now one of us has to go back!

[ also Natsuki assumes that those mushrooms might not be good for someone's health ]

Ugh. You guys.

[Zangetsu hops down from Gon]

Look, I did some askin' around before we left. I'm apparently a steel type, which means I can't be poisoned. I'll go back and grab one. Gimme a sec.

[the angry little pawniard plods back to the mushrooms. He selects one and tries to cut it from the ground. Hopefully they don't grow back like the trees?]

[Nope! Whenever Zangetsu cuts the mushroom down, it stays cut and he can take the mushroom.

That's the good news. The bad news is that as Zangetsu cuts the mushroom from the ground, it produces a ton of spores, which... well, they're not poisonous. They are, however, paralytic, which is an entirely different thing in this universe...

Fortunately, paralysis works as it does in the mainline Pokemon games, so he can still move! It's just harder.]

[as he grabs the mushroom between his two blades, he sees the spores, and sees them come to rest on his body with an oddly electric spark]

Oh you piece of shit fungus!!

[dkashdjhakd!! He growls as his muscles start locking up, making movement feel like turning rusty gears. They'll be waiting forever at this rate]

OI!! HELP.

Oh great... You might wanna hold on, Natsuki.

[Guess Rantaro is gonna go get the sword guy.]

Edited 2019-03-09 05:20 (UTC)

Nmmn? Zangetsu?? ...What happened?

[He says as he walks over behind Rantaro to see what happened.]

....

[Ah.]

Agh! [ she'll hold on alright ]

W-What did he do?! What happened?!

Edited (sorry hang on) 2019-03-09 05:26 (UTC)

NnnnnnnnnrrrrrrrrRRRRRGGGHH. [he growls and grits his teeth, looking like he's struggling against an invisible force] Stupid... mushroom... spores!! Someone just take it!

This is bad.

Wouldn't that just make us freeze up too? I think we better just carry you back.

Dude, I think it already shot its load, if ya know what I mean.

Edited 2019-03-09 05:42 (UTC)

... Maybe, but we can't just leave you here like this.

Hahhh...

[Gon will just. Try to get Zan on his back.] Let us simply move on, then, and focus...We have our mushroom- let us try the chest.

[Zangetsu manages to scramble back up on Gon's back, while still holding the mushroom, while paralyzed! ugh. that was hard]

You don't happen ta have anything in that bag of tricks of yours, do ya, Gongenzaka?

Hmnn...I brought Oran berries and Reviver seeds.. I have other things, but....

[But...Pecha berries? If Kangaskhan warned him ahead of time he will....]

[If he asked about any of the stored stuff while helping Kangaskhan out, she probably would have explained the various status berries to him and how they cure various ailments!

She wouldn't have known about the mushrooms ahead of time, though, so she wouldn't have told him to take along Pecha or Cheri berries specifically.]

Mn...If I recall correctly, Cheri berries would help...

[But see those seeds weren't cheap, and...] ...Unfortunately, I, the man Gongenzaka, do not have any..

....if we spy what resemble cherries that will be what we need.

[For now though, he'll start bringing Zangetsu to the chest.]

I'll keep an eye out for them.

[He'll follow Gon, then.]

[Welp, there are no cherries! And the chest is just kind of sitting there, too. How do you plan to use the mushroom?]

Hm... Maybe we could line up the mushroom with the image?

Yeah, try that. Who knows, maybe the mushroom itself is the key!

...Or something, I dunno!

[ Natsuki's just kinda guessing at this point ]

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