[1] Dungeon Diving

Hitting the rotting frames of the wooden supports were like walking through soft cotton as Grit accidentally shouldered them as she followed the railway tracks. She wasn’t all too sure as to why she chose to volunteer out of her whole team, there were many much smaller- and probably more capable- possible volunteers.

How long have I been walking? This feels endless… Dear Lord, what if I die here- I don’t think I’m breathing. No, no I am… Am I suffocating?… Breathe in, breathe out… Was I too eager? Too excited? Her internal echoes screeched, although just a soft, light huff escaped her.

The whole dungeon felt like she was walking through a maze blindfolded… which she was. If she could just see anything other than the mouth of the abyss she found herself wandering in, Grit probably could have dodged a lot of the strange material that sliced through her thick plates of scales, and even skin, like sharp knives. 

Walking through the tight, jagged walled corridors was claustrophobic, like a python strangling the breath out of its prey. Just like getting coiled and crushed, the corridors only felt tighter as she continued through, Forcing the spear-like rocks to prick and scrape her plates of scales.

Her thoughts calmed as she finally saw a flicker of hope- literally. A cold, uninviting purple glow lured her closer, illuminating the thick smoggy air that held its place in this tunnel.

The purple light flickered like a dying flame, although strangely never seems to want to give up, determined to continue to help guide her along, to be her beacon of hope. So she took it. Her short, hesitant steps became brave, long strides.

Her pace quickened as she heard the soft whimpers of another person, along with the growl of rabid animals and hiss of iron creaking and clamping.

She emerged from her lengthy tunnel walk, now in a much roomy cave she saw her source of light; a small hanging lantern right above the exit of the tunnel. Assaulted by the smell of sweat, she cringed, instinctively covering her nose. Black, glittering gems jutted out of the wall like teeth, multiple lanterns smashed onto the ground. The ground was littered with pickaxes and derailed carts full of those same black gems. Accidentally stepping on a few smaller ones, it sliced the bottom of her foot. Like a knife through a leaf. Tripped carts scattered those same gems all over the floor, like dangerous and nearly hidden spikes, the weakening light reflecting those gems. A careful approach would clearly be needed.

Although, something else was also very apparent; the bright glow of LEDs. It was jarring and nothing Grit had seen until now, at least not on the land of Tectonic Crusade. Standing against it, stood where the smog came from: A Pokemon she wasn’t sure of what it was. Made of and burning coal and by its side, one she did recognise, a magmortar. Her appearance went unnoticed by the coal monster and magmortar, but was instantly seen by the LED eyes.

“Help.” It called to Grit with a steely voice. Despite the monotonous tone, the situation it was in helped him scream ‘this is urgent’. After seconds of idleness, it repeated, “Requesting help.”

“Coming,” She responded, still stunned by the technology in front of her. With her word, she brought the attention of the other two to her. With beady, ravenous red eyes they stared. Slowly turning with rocking heads, subtly tilting to the right then left, mouths agape as they mindlessly opened and closed as if they were chewing on a squeaky toy. Like rabid dogs rather than sentient beings, they approached her on four legs. Coming closer to the purple light, crimson coloured stripes and rosettes on both of them became apparent, along with bruises and cuts from, what she assumes, the LED creature. 

“Fight.” It said once more, hovering over to reveal what she was not completely expecting, a robotic, six thin wings, three heads, and frills like a hydreigon. It felt like a demand, and so Grit followed. Her stance shifted and widened, hunching over to cover her chest and belly and her hands opened, ready to grab.

As the magmortar attempted to mindlessly lunge at Grit, she was swift to grapple the giant Pokemon, the sudden weight knocking her off her feet, falling into the spikes and roaring in pain. On the floor, a no-rules wrestling match ensued. Unevenly trading blows, from kicks to slashes to bites. The match quickly ended after Grit’s face was engulfed in flames. With a kick, she shoved the magmortar off and into a cart, toppling it over and spreading out more spikes around the cave. She covered her burning face with her claws. With half opened eyes she saw as the magmortar sped towards her.

With fists ablaze, Grit braced herself, preparing her own dragon claw, although she expected both of them to hit each other, she was the only one who connected their hit. The magmortar’s punch used on a doll that appeared in a puff of smoke before disappearing the moment it was struck. During the short moment after the strike, the cave was quiet, a near silent thump caught her ears.

Flung away, she followed the magmortar, careful to avoid the spikes, before pinning the dazed Pokemon under a heavy minecart. She was sure this wasn’t going to hold him down for good, although it would suffice until both she and the robot could make their way away from them.

Taking a few steps back, she turned to see the robot, who managed to get the coal Pokemon on its back and was mercilessly pounding it with its extra heads, bringing them up just to slam them back down. “I finished up my fight… And I think you have too. The guy's… unmoving.”

The speed of each pound slowed before completely stopping. A quiet hum from the robot followed. “Neutralised.” flatly, it spoke.  Slowly turning to face Grit, it hovered towards her, then passed to where it was cornered. Picking up something and returning to Grit, in its arms now was an exhausted, tiny treecko. Outstretched, he waited for Grit to take the pokemon, “Help them.”

Now carrying the small treecko, the robot ushered the two through the same tunnel she emerged from, following close behind and dimly lighting the way, with now damaged eyes.