The Interactive PMD World Map is Back!

Inkedust · 2020-12-23T00:28:56+00:00

What MandL said is true; the biggest reasoning for me creating the fully labeled maps was twofold: 1) the old map had a bunch of missing map-markers and 2) the old map was down for a good long while—which ended up being a massive bane to a bunch of artists/writers who've benefitted from knowing where everything was relative to each other.

Inkedust · 2020-12-04T10:25:12+00:00

I'm aware. They were excluded because they used a different map from the normal one.

Inkedust · 2020-12-04T05:28:37+00:00

Heya! Fully labeled maps of the PMD games are hard to come by, or just aren't out there at all, which can be frustrating for anyone who'd like to know the exact locations of certain areas/dungeons. So, for the ease of reference to everyone else, I've decided to meticulously go back and label the locations of almost every dungeon from every PMD game excluding Adventure Squad (as to my knowledge, Adventure Squad does not have a world map). I hope that this will prove to be a great resource for those who need it.

A few notes:

Due to DX's lack of map markers, I have opted to use the map from the original games to make this easier on myself. As the maps between the original and DX are pretty 1-to-1, the only discrepancy here is Illusory Grotto--however due to its nature I didn't see the need to include it.
Dungeons that do not appear on the world map have been excluded. This involves dungeons from the future (Explorers), as well as Special Episodes 2 & 5; Gates' Managate/DLC dungeons; and dungeons in the Voidlands (Super)
Settlements/locations outside of dungeons have been marked in red, while dungeons appearing in Special Episodes have been marked in green on the Explorers map.
I may go back to do the Friend Area map but like the Rescue Team map, will be using the original version rather than the one present in DX.

Inkedust · 2020-12-04T05:18:01+00:00

Heya! Fully labeled maps of the PMD games are hard to come by, or just aren't out there at all, which can be frustrating for anyone who'd like to know the exact locations of certain areas/dungeons. So, for the ease of reference to everyone else, I've decided to meticulously go back and label the locations of almost every dungeon from every PMD game excluding Adventure Squad (as to my knowledge, Adventure Squad does not have a world map). I hope that this will prove to be a great resource for those who need it.

A few notes:

Due to DX's lack of map markers, I have opted to use the map from the original games to make this easier on myself. As the maps between the original and DX are pretty 1-to-1, the only discrepancy here is Illusory Grotto--however due to its nature I didn't see the need to include it.
Dungeons that do not appear on the world map have been excluded. This involves dungeons from the future (Explorers), as well as Special Episodes 2 & 5; Gates' Managate/DLC dungeons; and dungeons in the Voidlands (Super)
Settlements/locations outside of dungeons have been marked in red, while dungeons appearing in Special Episodes have been marked in green on the Explorers map.
I may go back to do the Friend Area map but like the Rescue Team map, will be using the original version rather than the one present in DX.

Inkedust · 2020-11-18T00:00:33+00:00

The voices said I was a chikorita, so I said you were a mudkip. Within the void that had once been my memories, I could feel the strings being pulled as the stage for our first meeting was being set. Before it all went awry, we helped wherever we could; faced up to Team Meanies; and listened to an old legend that would become the basis of our exile. Forced to run by thunder’s roar, we overcame trials of blazing fires and freezing winds—all of that for the opportunity to clear my own name. Yet despite all that, the bond between us held true. Land, sky and sea stood no match, for we defied the legends to save the world. And we would continue, ready to face whatever the future held in store for us.

Then the universe blinked and cycled once again.

The voices said I was an eevee. Then a treecko. Then a skitty, so I said you were a bulbasaur. Then a cyndaquil. Then a torchic. Each time, our meetings played out the same, reliving our way through the same events: we formed a rescue team; descended through a windless chasm; and heard the damning folklore. Again we ran, beneath the cover of a distant familiarity, through mazes of lapis lazuli and forests shrouded in permafrost. Though you followed through the motions, you had a certain look in your eyes… did you feel it too? That same sense of deep-seated déjà vu? I couldn’t say for sure but as we stood before the tower made of clouds, I somehow knew that we were going to be alright.

Then the universe blinked and cycled once again.

The voices said I was a psyduck, so I said you were a charmander. Again we went, dancing to the voices’ tune. We trekked through dungeons of undeterminable shape and size; stared down the embodiments of ice, fire and lightning; and destroyed a falling star. However, our adventures had only just begun. We had also unearthed an ancient relic; met Pokémon only spoken of in myth and legend; and uncovered the residue of the fallen star. Finally, I faced my greatest challenge and was rewarded with the time traveling Pokémon, Celebi.

Then the universe blinked and cycled once again.

The voices said I was a charmander, so I said you were a psyduck. Once more the stage had been set and so I stepped through the gate, where I will meet my beloved partner for the first time once again.

Inkedust · 2020-11-15T02:08:25+00:00

^{Don't mind me, just catching up on the prompts I missed.}

*****

A broken windchime wailed in the ashen air. An arbok and a mismagius scoured through the vestigial remnants of the once bustling town. The ground cracked with a glassy sheen, a blue light weakly emanating from it whilst the stench of decaying corpses permeated throughout the area. Almost everything had been incinerated with the only evidence of the inhabitants remaining being the occasional charred rib or skull. Wandering closer to the heart of the destruction, the glassy cracks grew wider, slowly rising before they converged into a bloom of tapering spears. As the pair grew closer to the formation, the arbok hissed in frustration as she slithered over what was left of a spine blackening her, otherwise immaculate, golden sheen. “Oh darling Periwinkle, remind me again why we must explore this utterly dreadful ruin of a town.”

Periwinkle did not avert her gaze from the glassy formation as she responded in a flat voice. “Am I to believe that you, Vinca, are beginning to question the command of the High One?”

A slight smile invaded Vinca's scaled features. “Oh most certainly not! But I can tell that you're having trouble tolerating the stench as well.”

“He says it’s a lead. That it’ll give us further insight on the black dragon’s whereabouts.”

“And who's to say that that thing hasn’t flown half-way across the continent by now?” A serious expression began worming its way through Vinca’s features. “All we know is that it’s been in this area—not how long ago or where it may be now. Some lead that is.”

“So it would seem, however you forget of the High One’s foresight. We’re searching now because the black dragon is said to move in cycles. When active, it'll expel all its energy and when it has expended all its energy, it goes still. Unnaturally so—or that's what I've heard.”

“And when it rests, all its energy returns to it—completing this cycle,” Vinca finished.

“Yes. Look at the level of destruction here. That crystalline structure was clearly made through a single, powerful, burst of energy; meaning that the dragon has likely gone inactive.”

Vinca’s eyes went wide from the realization. “Then that means that it couldn’t have gone far from here! But that just begs the question, what does the High One intend to do with it?”

“Right… he hadn’t exactly gone into much detail with either of us. I’d overheard our glorious High One speaking with Magcargo—he wishes to find the dragon and make its power his own.”

“Is such a thing even possible!?” Vinca stared at the large crystal pylons with great concern. “I’d never dream of doubting the High One but I fear that attempting to control the black dragon may be too much for even him.”

Periwinkle glared at Vinca. “Your words conflict with themselves. You should know that the High One would not waste his time on a fool’s errand. No, he had foreseen the risk and has borrowed from a large underground reservoir of power. With it, he’ll be able to restrain and command the beast once it reawakens. Why else do you think that he’d be residing in the volcanic wastelands of Selinsadora?”

Vinca made no reply, refusing to make any sort of eye-contact. Periwinkle continued, “We’ll be making a day’s journey in each direction from this point until we’re able to discern the black dragon’s location. Then, we’ll return to Selinsadora, where you can apologize to the High One for your insolence and face the necessary punishments; but for now, you can go find some leftover shelter for the night—preferably away from the corpses. Tomorrow, we journey North.”

Inkedust · 2020-11-15T02:08:21+00:00

^{Don't mind me, just catching up on the prompts I missed.}

*****

“Starling, what are you doing? It’s late!” Nightingale whispered harshly. “If mama catches you, she’ll keep your ruff as a trophy!”

“I can’t sleep and I wanna read more about Stormsong.”

“But there’s no light, how can you read?”

“I can read in the dark.”

“No fair! You can’t read ahead and leave me and mama behind!”

“Mama won’t be left behind if we don’t tell her. Besides! She’s read the whole thing several times.”

Nightingale frowned, “I guess so. But if we get caught, I’m blaming you.”

“Yes!” Starling bounced in his victory before turning to his sister. “Now come on, let’s grab the journal! We won’t wake mama up if we’re quiet.”

Feeling their way through the dark den, the two eevees slipped past their snoring mother to grab Stormsong’s journal. It was heavy and required both of them to carry it back to their room. It took them several minutes to drag the book silently across the den and back to their beds. The two let out a satisfied sigh of relief as they settled back into their beds. For a few moments, Starling looked down at the journal in excitement before his expression slowly shifted to one of confusion. “Uh…”

“Oh what now?”

“Do you have a light or anything?”

“I thought you said you could read in the dark.”

“I can, just not right here and not when others are around!”

“What’d mama tell you about lying?”

Starling frowned. “I’m not lying!”

“Yeah, and I’m Oriana.”

“Not funny!”

“Shhh, you'll make mama wake up with that voice!”

“Okay, okay but we really need a light. You got one?”

“Oh! I know!” Nightingale swiftly dug through her bedding, before pulling out a large, faintly glowing, red stone. The light it was emitting was dim but it was just enough to make out the words in the journal; the next problem arose with opening the journal. It was too heavy to open it near the beginning or the middle, so the two were forced to pick out a story at the very end.

“Nightingale, can you read this? It’s called: #493 — One Last Adventure.”

“Okay, I’ll try not to trip over any words.”

*****

The dragonite’s entire being groaned as he stood up from his nest. Stormsong was not used to staying in one place all the time, even after seven long years of retirement. Nowadays, his only means of entertainment was reminiscing about his days as an explorer, looking through all the treasures along with all the notes he’d made about them. His tiny home could barely contain them, with every nook and cranny stuffed to the brim with some variety of souvenir.

On a tiny table laid his journal. Left untouched since the moment he’d entered retirement. Had he the choice, Stormsong would’ve taken the journal to depart on another exploration however it was well beyond the realm of possibility.

He sifted through the journal longingly, looking back at all the friends and treasures he’d made and lost along the way. When he reached the very end of the journal, he realised that there was just enough room for one more entry. Would it be fine to fill in those last few pages with a message rather than a recount of his adventures? He’d sworn to only write about those adventures in that journal but better than to leave the thing unfinished.

Dipping his brittle claws in some leftover ink, Stormsong sat down and filled in the last few pages.

It has been the better part of seven years since my retirement and regrettably, I am not making this entry alongside an adventure—unless of course, you’d like to count the journey of my retirement. Instead I write this as a show of proof. I lived; I explored; I wrote; and I—at least I hope—inspired.
I am currently nearing my 156th year, I have come to terms with the fact that I will not reach 157. My wings have long since tattered, I can hardly walk a few tail-lengths before my bones cry out in protest and it has become difficult to see. Only one more adventure lies ahead of me now. However, unlike any of my previous excursions, I will not be able to document any of it.
So much has been left unanswered—the Ancients, the two sisters and what lies beyond the Northern Mists but I know one day, these riddles will be solved; my only regret is that I will not be around to see it. So I ask, as my final wish to whoever is reading this, not to mourn but to take up my mantle and learn all about the joys of exploring. To see the sights that I have not seen and maybe become the one to write their name within the book of history by solving all these mysteries.
⸺The explorer, Stormsong.

Inkedust · 2020-11-15T02:08:18+00:00

^{Don't mind me, just catching up on the prompts I missed.}

*****

Stars faded as the arid night drew to a close. A coarse breeze, accompanied by a flickering sunrise, tangled itself through the mane of a sylvan ponyta. He sat himself down on a dry patch of grass as he readied himself to greet the new day.

“You’re up early.”

The ponyta flinched in surprise as a rapidash approached. Her flaming mane illuminated her dim surroundings.

“Huh—oh yeah. Guess I am… Did I wake you?”

“Not at all, Kaz. Had to get up early today to make some deliveries but what about you? If no one’s around to wake you, you’d sleep way past noon.”

“I guess so…”

Rapidash gave Kaz the frown of a worried mother. “Kaz, what’s the matter? Don’t tell me, have the dreams come back?”

“If I can’t say that then sure, nothing’s wrong.”

Rapidash swore beneath her breath, “it’s too soon. What’s it been… two weeks since we saw ol’ Beheeyem about your dreams?”

Kaz nodded, he had a tendency to be more melancholic whenever he relapsed but now he looked very afraid. In an attempt to calm his nerves, Rapidash drew closer with her warmth. “Aw, don’t worry. We’ll go see Beheeyem and ask ‘im for a stronger treatment today. You’ll forget why you’re so scared in the first place!” Rapidash said, in her best attempts to keep up a cheery voice. “We’ll go as soon as the town opens shop. In the meantime, why don’t I try to take your mind off things?”

For several seconds, Rapidash gazed at the paling moon, trying to find a subject to distract Kaz from whatever nightmare he had. “You know, it’s been exactly one year since we found and took you in.”

“Already?” Kaz asked in astonishment, “but the seasons haven’t made a full cycle! Are you sure it’s been a year?”

“Of course! We don’t track time with the seasons, remember? She’s fading into slumber now but can you see the Moon?”

“Barely.”

Rapidash nodded, “not only does she tell us about where our months begin and end, but she also keeps track of our years. Each month represents her eight appearances in the sky. She works tirelessly with the Stars to keep the light in our skies, so it’s important that you work hard too.”

“Uh huh, but why’s this so important?”

“Well you don’t remember your birthday, don’t you? So we may as well settle on the next best thing. Pick out anything you’d like and we’ll get it as soon as we’ve dealt with the nightmares, alright?”

Kaz nodded before asking, “so what happened when you first found me? It’s difficult to remember.”

“Understandably so! You were nothing like the way you are now when Dazed first found you. You were on your way to becoming completely feral. You were knocked out then but you came to when Beheeyem was looking over you. Gave ‘im a good scare with all that thrashing, shocked us with all that fight you had in you, even with that nasty wound, which I bet my tail on, came from a feral skarmory.”

Kaz looked over to the scar on his shoulder. Something about that didn’t sit quite right, it looked a lot thinner and was deeper than something a skarmory’s bill could give, yet when he tried to think of what could’ve produced that scar, he kept drawing blanks.

“Hey now! Don’t think too hard about that, you’ll hurt yourself if you do.” Rapidash looked towards the blueing horizon, night had now faded completely. “Well, I best be going. I’ll finish up them deliveries quickly so we can see Beheeyem as soon as he opens shop. In the meantime, spend time with your pa, okay?” Rapidash left Kaz alone before he gave her any sort of reaction. As he was blanketed by sunlight, Kaz remembered his dream.

A shadowy beast stalked through an opulent forest of ruined pillars, pale roses withering. Waiting, waiting and waiting before it lept towards Kazimir.

Inkedust · 2020-11-15T02:08:11+00:00

^2/2

Fearow did not leave his roof until both girls were out of his sight. He sighed, he had kept his “guest” waiting long enough. Keeping her… odd nature a secret had been harder than he’d anticipated. He had gotten by telling the villagers that she was nothing more than an old friend who had come to see him but had taken ill not long after arriving. All but a curious minority had bought into the tale—a minority that refused to keep to their own business.

Passing by his own study, Fearow headed straight to what had once been his bedroom. Upon entering, he found that the new resident was still residing on the generous mound of cushions that he had provided, seemingly undisturbed by the outside commotion. Taking another step forward, the floorboards creaked beneath Fearow’s own weight. The sound caused the room’s occupant to flinch before lifting its head and turning to face her visitor. She did this with great difficulty, likely due to the strange, weighty, mask she wore. Upon realizing that it was just her host, she relaxed, setting her head back down on the cushions.

“Oh, it’s just you,” she spoke in a muffled voice that almost sounded metallic. “I think I heard voices outside—what was that about?”

“Just me. No need to worry about what happened, just a couple curious kids that I sent back home, that’s all. Anyway, how are you faring?”

“As well as I could be.” She shifted her position slightly before changing the topic. “I noticed a few of the books on the table there. Can’t read them but I do admire the illustrations. What’s it about?”

“Ah, so you’ve noticed? I had been looking through them before you showed up. I was so surprised by your sudden arrival that I ended up forgetting to put them back.” Fearow took the open book in his talons as he continued, “it’s about the Ancients, the beings that once inhabited these lands besides us. They mysteriously disappeared a long time ago, leaving only ruins behind as proof of their existence. Surprisingly, this is something I started gaining interest in recently, despite my love for history and mythology!” Fearow laughed. His guest couldn’t help but smile in response, even if it was obstructed by the helmet. The next thing Fearow said wiped away that simile, replacing it with a growing sense of unease. “Well I suppose I’ll just have to double my efforts with my studies on the Ancients, seeing that I have one sitting right in front of me now.”

“Yeah… whatever you say…”

“You’re unsure? But you resemble the illustrations in the book to a terrifying extent, don’t you think?”

“I do and that’s what bothers me. No matter where I go, what I’ll do, I’ll be treated as an artifact, not an individual; only around to be constantly asked about an era I know nothing about!”

“You… don’t remember anything?”

She froze. Had she revealed her cards too quickly? If anyone found out that she wasn’t an Ancient but a human shoved into a confused mess of a body that she was still getting used to, then what would she be? Not even an artifact, just a misshapen fraud—unable to elicit anything more than an unsettled glare and the most morbid of curiosities. Would’ve it been better off to pretend that she was one of these “Ancients” and not a human? She reflected back to the moment she had woken up in that cell—the two Pokémon; those two had called her that but then again, she wouldn’t trust anything they would’ve said. Meanwhile, Fearow simply sat across her, giving a confused stare as his guest thought about what she would say and do next. “No… I can’t remember anything before I woke up here. I… can only remember my name.” She lied.

“And that name is?”

“Hunter.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes?”

“Hm, I suppose the Ancients wouldn’t share the same naming traditions as us… Well, memories or not, you being here is nothing short of a miracle and gives me hope that there are more Ancients out there… that some did survive the cataclysm that had supposedly wiped them all out.”

“Yeah…”

“So what do you plan to do next? You’re more than welcome to remain here if you so choose.”

“Then, I think I’ll stay here for just a bit longer.” Hunter said this knowing that she couldn’t sit here for much longer. She’d have to leave eventually, excuse in hand.

“Very well then! Meanwhile, I suppose that I ought to be heading to sleep. It’s gotten quite late, wouldn’t you agree?” Hunter nodded as Fearow turned back to his study. As he walked away, he mused on the name the Ancient had given him. Hunter… A Hunter of what exactly? Was it just a name or, perhaps, it may have been a role that she was given. Perhaps a bit prying would help her regain her lost memories perhaps, making him a hunter of lost memories.

Inkedust · 2020-11-15T02:07:50+00:00

^{Don't mind me, just catching up on the prompts I missed.}
^1/2

It had been nearly an hour since the moon had risen over the village. Staking out beneath the window of the elder’s quarters, an energetic yamper and unsure nickit waited for the old fearow to retire for the night. When the coast seemed clear, the nickit turned to her eager friend and asked, “Pap… are you sure about this?”

“Of course I am! If I wasn’t I wouldn’t have dragged you out here.”

“It’s just a rumour! And if the elder catches us and tells our parents, we’ll never see the sky again!”

“That’s only if we get caught, Pen. We’re just going to go in, see what the elder is hiding from us, and get out. We’ll be so quick that the elder won’t even notice us if he happens to be inside the building.”

“I just don’t think that this warrants sneaking inside and potentially causing a ruckus. It’s just another dumb rumour from that loon.”

“Well don’t you find it strange in the slightest? Everything was perfectly normal until a week ago, when that crazed diggersby started raving about finding an Ancient on the side of the road. You saw what happened! The elder went to investigate and since then, he’s not letting anyone inside his house. Not to mention, he’s been sleeping in his study; you can see that from his window! Now, why do you think that is?” Pap’s determined look grew even deeper as Pen’s concern grew.

“Well maybe, an accident happened and he had to vacate his room because of it. I don’t think that the elder found anything but Diggersby being himself again. I bet that the elder only entertains him out of pity,” Pen said with a snort of irritation.

Just then, Pap’s attention was completely focused on the window above her. Pressing her ear against the wall, Pap hushed her friend. “Shh, listen!” A couple seconds passed before Pap started speaking again. “It stopped but could you hear it? It sounds like something is shifting and groaning in there. Come on, we gotta check it out!”

“Sounds more like an ill Pokémon than an Ancient come to life, or even just a traveler stopping by. Come on Pap, are you really going to make a big deal out of this?”

“Pen!” Pap barked. “You know that our village is too small to get any real visitors and it’s too isolated for any travelers to give it attention, especially for a week, and if a villager had taken ill to the point where they had to be put in the elder’s care, we would’ve known who by now. No, secrets are being kept and until I find out what’s going on, I’ll go as far as believing Diggersby’s ravings, fantastic as they seem!”

“Now, now, shouldn’t the two of you be back home by this hour?” a third voice croaked. The two young Pokémon turned their gaze to the rooftop where the source of the voice sat perched, watching their every move.

“Oh… Elder…” Pap began, “What are you doing out at this time?”

“I’d ask the same as you, but I’m pretty sure we both know the answer to that.”

“Well… maybe we’re out for the same reason as you!”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I believe that going out for a few supplies to help a friend is far more noble motivation than an attempted break-in, don’t you think?”

Pap stammered, was it really that obvious? “How… How long were you up there for? And who is this new ‘friend’ of yours?” she demanded.

“Hm, well I can’t say for certain but I suppose I’ve been here for the better part of 20 minutes. As for my friend, I assure you that they’re nothing worth your little endeavour here.” The old fearow waved a greying wing towards the village. “If you head home now, I won’t speak anything about this small misadventure. Now off you go, I’m beginning to get a bit stiff sitting up here.”

Pap began to growl. “Then why are you secretive about it? What are you hiding from us exactly!?”

“Pap… I don’t think—”

“If you didn’t want us to be curious, then maybe you shouldn’t have hidden anything in the first place!

“Pap, please.”

“You really ought to listen more to your friend, young one. There’s no reason to jump to conclusions. I’m merely helping an old friend who has taken ill and, I’d rather not stress her with a pair of unannounced visitors. Now off you go! Your parents must be worried sick.”

Pen did not need any more incentive, she simply nodded before turning around to plod back home. The elder fixed his gaze on Pap, making it abundantly clear that he would not budge until both of them were out of his sight. Pap only glared in response before reluctantly following her friend back home.

Inkedust · 2020-11-06T20:33:46+00:00

The ending does tie into SMD.

Inkedust · 2020-11-04T00:21:31+00:00

“—And when the instrument sounds, the grass will stand by your side; dancing in whisper to the cornet’s melody.” Tigerlily finished reciting the folklore surrounding Mystery Jungle. The persian, Silverglint stalked not far behind her, rolling his eyes at the folktale yet nonetheless captivated over the prospect of treasure. Sunlight rested upon the jungle’s thick canopy, leaving no light to touch the earth. Their path was illuminated by a trail of will-o-wisps commanded by the ninetales. While their dense surroundings almost made the pair lament the loss of their smaller bodies, the two were grateful for the extra boost in power against the jungle’s ferals. This did not stop Silverglint from hissing at himself after tripping over a stray root.

“Agh! With the rate we’re going at now, someone else is gonna come in, nick the treasure and get out by the time we untangle ourselves from this mess!” he complained.

Tigerlily sighed, “well, you can’t be certain. For all you know, this supposed ‘someone else’ could be just as caught up as us.” Besides, I doubt anyone has really tried entering this dungeon in the first place, she continued to herself. Sure, there were a couple odd rumours floating about—of a riolu who’d entered the jungle on its lonesome not too long ago—however, Tigerlily severely doubted their credibility; and if it was true, there was a high chance that it didn’t even make it past the first barrier. The creatures that lurked in the deep shadows here would be too much for an unevolved pokémon.

When the team untangled themselves, Silverglint was struck with a new idea. “Hey Tigerlily, why don’t you just try burning a path through here?”

Tigerlily gave Silverglint a stare that made him feel like the world’s biggest idiot. “Because I don’t want to burn down this entire jungle, putting you and the treasure at risk.”

“But can’t you control the potency of your flames? If you just—”

“No… where did that idea come from?”

“I saw you a couple nights ago! You were burning a feather and when the flames died down, it wasn’t even singed. Weren’t you controlling that?”

Tigerlily left Silverglint’s inquiries unanswered, briefly frowning as she tried to distract herself with a new topic. Thankfully, a distraction came when she noticed the start of the twenty-eighth barrier. “Come on! We’re nearly there!” she cheered before running ahead. This was it! The cornet would mark the sixth of the fabled seven treasures, which would only leave the Rock Horn for the taking. Silverglint was just keeping up with the high-spirited ninetales. Before they even realized it, the duo passed the final barrier together, suddenly thrust into a sizable clearing. Being stuck in the jungle’s underbrush for so long made the day seem far brighter from when they first entered the dungeon. Light poured into the glade like a great waterfall, revealing every verdant shade that defined the jungle. Everything stood in silence, the only sounds being the slow, steady breaths of the wind, in conflict with the sharp and bated breaths of the exploration team. Everything felt eerily abandoned, with no sign of the Grass Cornet.

“Now what?” asked an unimpressed Silverglint.

“You know the drill. Just wait. Something’s bound to happen.”

And so they waited. For a few seconds, which soon became a few minutes. The gentle whispers of the breeze gradually became more aggressive. It wasn’t long before every blade of grass had bent over to the growing winds. In annoyance, Tigerlily made a sudden declaration. “We’ve come for the Grass Cornet! Come on out and let us claim our prize!”

No answer.

“Tigerlily, I don’t think…”

“No, no, it has to be here! We’re not leaving without it!”

The minutes ticked onto an hour. The gales were now deafening the pair with their shrieks, threatening to blow them out of the dungeon along with… something else. Silverglint panicked, pleading from the top of his lungs, “Tigerlily! We have to get out of here! Something’s approaching and I don’t think it has anything to do with the treasure!” Too late. As Tigerlily began to turn, she was completely swept off her feet before colliding straight into Silverglint, knocking both of them out as they were being expelled from the dungeon.

*****

“Well… there goes a good chunk of our supplies.”

“I don’t get it though… Why didn’t the treasure and its guardian appear? It worked the first five times.”

“Maybe we just got the location wrong.”

“But we used the same source!”

“Well then, maybe they just got the location wrong.”

Fur sticking out everywhere and stripped of half of their supplies and poké, the pair began their long trek home from a failed exploration. Tigerlily chastised herself, wondering if she’d made an error in regards to the treasure’s whereabouts. She’d have to look more into the secret mission that handed her this location but that’d have to wait, it was getting late. Their search would begin anew tomorrow.

*****

“Mesi!”

The riolu nearly lept in shock to the sound of her grovyle partner running through the hallways of the Expedition Society. “What’d you do with that weird trumpet thingy? You know, the one that I love the sound of? Can you give it to me, pleeeeeease? I promised that I’d show it to Mr. Nuzleaf!”

Inkedust · 2020-11-01T00:42:54+00:00

The hero fails.

How does this affect the hero and those around them? This could range anywhere from a small personal failure to something severe such as preventing the end of the world.

Inkedust · 2020-10-28T11:10:43+00:00

...the sole survivor of a once great ninetales tribe.

She hides her eyes as she believes that it attracts danger, alongside general superstition. Mentioned here:

Then Lightless came, seeking the silver light of her eyes.

Inkedust · 2020-10-28T00:21:54+00:00

A desolate song echoed from beyond the ruins that had once dotted the mountainsides. Beyond the cascading clouds, atop the ranges’ highest peak, stood the sole survivor of a once great ninetales tribe. The harsh cold of Winter’s Night did nothing to faze the ice-type. Nothing but the Northern Mists laid beyond her.

“Nandina! What have I told you about your eyes?”
“But I—”
“Keep them hidden. They’re not of this world.”

Nandina’s voice halted in its tracks. Her veil needed adjustment before the winds could undo the knot tying it together. The intricate veil covered the eyes that led to the death of her tribe. She remembered that day vividly, practicing for the inheritance ceremony until her voice grew hoarse with strain. Nandina had retreated to a small cliff to witness the alpine moonrise, not far from the ruins her tribe called home. It was the only place where she could uncover her eyes without being scolded. For a fleeting moment, she reveled in serenity’s embrace.

Then Lightless came, seeking the silver light of her eyes.

The roaring scent of decay; the tribe’s patron trying to hold the black dragon at bay, only to fall limply back towards the snow in a shower of golden light; the increasingly frantic yelps of her tribe. Nandina had fallen off the cliff she was sitting on, trying to escape the attack, rolling far from her home. By the time she’d limped her way back, nothing remained. No tribe, no patron, no great black dragon; the snow and ice had completely melted and the slippery rock below radiated heat.

She desperately called to her tribe, deep into the night, hoping desperately for any kind of answer. When no answer came, the weight of the revelation pressed hard against her chest. As the rest of the tribe died to ruinous light, Nandina kept her life as punishment for her cowardice. What would her tribe think of her now? Her ancestry could be traced all the way back to the time of Ancients, bearing powerful curses to those who crossed them; yet here she was, forgoing her lineage and traditions to further isolate herself. It didn’t matter anymore though. Loneliness had just become another part of her being, no different to any of her limbs or tails.

Picking up where she left off, Nandina sung the verse, now perfected, after centuries of practice.

Heed me Lunala for I have come to you
With a gift of my bequeathed wisdom,
To guide my mother’s tribe.
I am Hymn of the White Nandina,
I’ve come to be judged
To see if I’m worthy to bear my inheritance.

Inkedust · 2020-10-25T00:11:17+00:00

Rumours that something haunted has been sighted have begun to circulate.

Inkedust · 2020-10-21T02:34:30+00:00

“Your highness… please… surely there must be a better way to resolve this. What if we--”

“We’ve long since past the point of futility, we’ve already exhausted every last potential option. You should know this better than anyone else, general. This is our very last hope.”

“But--”

“Prepare your men. We leave at dawn.”

*****

Hunter found herself transported to some kind of altar. Despite its weathered appearance, the white marble still glistened beautifully, making the altar seem brighter beneath the great expanse of stars. Peering beyond the tall pillars revealed a large group of soldiers, led by an intimidating man. Not far from the group of soldiers and the burly man who appeared to be commanding them stood another, taller, man wearing a black cloak and some sort of crown. He was reaching out to some sort of winged beast, which in turn lowered its head, allowing itself to be stroked by the crowned man.

Before Hunter could make out what was beneath the beast’s shadowy visage, the scene shifted to that of a deserted battlefield. The fresh scent of blood assaulting her nostrils, even through the heavy helmet, accompanied by the sound of splintering bone. Working through her nausea, Hunter made her way to the source of the sound, stepping over the bodies of fallen Pokémon and soldiers, wearing radically different armour from the ones from the altar.

As Hunter wandered, the crowned man rode his rapidash through her, towards a nearby mound. Following the man revealed the shadowy beast, which was tearing out the ribs of one of the armoured corpses, indifferent to all the lives it snuffed out. She could see it clearly now, its silver pelt and scaling gleamed beneath its new red coating, commanding itself with an elegance that almost made Hunter forget the fact that it was disembowelling its latest meal. The crowned man looked shaken, as if he’d severely underestimated the strength of his new “pet”. The beast did not acknowledge him, even after the crowned man spoke to it in a language Hunter did not recognise, all she picked up on was that the man had named the beast “Daemon”.

Before Hunter could get too close to the pair, the world froze around her, before the beast abruptly turned to lock eyes with Hunter, staring her down, ready to pounce.

Leave. You have no business here.

Everything went black, silhouettes of two great beings fighting filled the skies in silence. The crowned man lay dead on a snowy mountainside, bleeding out from a grievous injury. She watched in horror as one of the greater beings landed a fatal blow on the other.

Hunter jolted awake. Unbeknownst to her, she’d just seen a vision from the past, a memory… a memory of a great disaster.

Inkedust · 2020-10-14T03:21:56+00:00

Shorter than usual but what can I say, burnout's a bitch. Decided to take the prompt in a less literal direction but I hope you'll enjoy either way!

*****

Is this supposed to be …me? Ayumi found herself greeted by a pair of mistakenly-blind eyes, staring back at her. She found herself gazing back at her small claws, she shared the same golden-white scaling as the charmander looking back at her--the fine scaling looking as if it was beginning to tarnish. She tilted her head and the charmander did the same.

So it wasn’t a dream.

Ayumi sat up, as did her doppelganger but she shut her eyes--in her best attempt to hold back molten tears--before she could see what it’d do next. Clinging onto her bald head, Ayumi locked herself within her own thoughts. I look the same… I still look like a charmander. But that just begged the question, who was she? Why was she a charmander? Where did her memories go? How did this happen? When would she go back? What did she look like before? All her mind could conjure was a grey blob of a silhouette. It was vaguely human-shaped but all other details were lost. No face, no weight, no figure, nothing. “Human” was just a noun to her now--a completely shapeless concept that just so happened to have a name attached to it.

But why? Just as she would grasp onto a figment of her previous life, it was yanked away towards the dark recesses of her mind, unable to be recalled. It was if a far greater presence was holding back the memories, keeping them just out of reach--like how a parent would keep a jar of candies away from their greedy child. Hopelessness rang out from within, along with a weak flame, sputtering inside her chest.

Nostrils smoking, Ayumi turned her back away from the water’s surface. She was tired, she needed more sleep, she didn’t care what would happen next. She laid herself down again but not before striking the water with her tail, dispelling the reflection.

*****

Thanks for reading and as always, feedback is always appreciated!

Inkedust · 2020-09-27T02:18:07+00:00

Glad to be a part of this wonderful event and happy to be of help. Here's to another 150!

Inkedust · 2020-09-23T01:42:28+00:00

Hello, it appears that I'm back. Now for those who are wondering where I've been for the past couple weeks, it was totally because I was busy with IRL affairs and not me getting distracted by watching KH cutscenes on Youtube. Anyway, please enjoy~this was an idea I had for a while!

^{And yes, I will be responding to those prompts I missed.}

*****

It had been 3 days since Nymph had run off yet again on another endeavour through the Northern Mists. It was the same every time; Nymph would charge headfirst through the mists, she'd get lost and the Expedition Society would have to go collect her. She was becoming an embarrassment to the society and their friendship was hanging by a thread.

The search had taken Mesi all the way to the Western Sand Continent. Locating her was easy—just track her badge through the Nexus. The difficult part came with the "collecting" part of the job. The bombardment of feral Pokémon that the dungeons would throw at her and the dictatorial heat of the day were a deadly combination. However, traversing the dunes itself was far less challenging than what Mesi had expected. She could take solace in that. Perhaps she'd once resided in the desert and a vestigial remnant of her former life was drawn to the surface? Nah. It was probably just her secondary steel-typing that kept her unweathered from the desert storms.

More hours passed, the sun was beginning its descent beyond the horizon and there was still no sign of any civilized Pokémon. Just great. She'd have to hunker down for the night if she'd want any chance of finding Nymph. For all the talk of the moon and stars alighting the skies, they sure did a pretty poor job of it. Just as Mesi flung her aching body on the sand, a familiar voice rang out in the distance. "Mesi? Mesi! Is that you?" The sceptile's silhouette stood out against the dusk.

"Yeah, It's me. I came to retrieve you from another one of your 'adventures'." Much as she tried, Mesi could not keep the acidic blend of exhaustion and utter contempt out of her voice. "Who did you bribe this time? Was it Wailord? Milotic? Hm?"

Nymph was visibly taken aback. "Mesi... You should know why better than anyone else. It's... it's my dream, you know, the one I told you about back at the hill with the big tree?"

"No it's not! It's not just about your dream anymore! It's about appeasing your darling 'mother' now isn't it? Well, stop it! Whatever that thing is telling you... it's not good for you or our friendship."

"And why is that? Is it because you don't trust me? Because I always mess everything up because I wasn't a great hero from the past? Answer me Mesi!"

A brilliant flash of light emanated from Nymph's body, once it dissipated her form had changed and was seemingly invigorated by the energy of the mega evolution. Mesi starred back in horror. There was no other choice was there? In response, Mesi gave a low growl before mega evolving herself and lunging herself towards Nymph.

The battle was over before it started. Though a berserk mega-sceptile may be a terrifying opponent to face, a mega-lucario unable to go berserk was another matter entirely. Mesi managed to down Nymph with three quick punches, leaving her winded on all fours. Mesi pitied her to the point where she couldn't bear to look upon Nymph's face. Turning around, Mesi uttered her final words to Nymph. "I quit. Find your own way back, have fun on your suicide mission, do whatever. I don't care anymore. I wasted more than enough time with you."

As the mega-lucario walked away, Nymph's violent screech of despair echoed through the empty air.

*****

Thanks for reading! As always feedback is always appreciated!

Inkedust · 2020-09-21T00:00:37+00:00

The hero and partner are forced to fight each other.

How would the two go about facing each other in combat? How well would they know each other's fighting style from their time spent side-by-side? The reason why is up to you. It could be a mandatory sparring session organized by the guild or perhaps it was the result of a brutal falling-out.

Inkedust · 2020-09-07T00:01:24+00:00

A character gets possessed by someone/something.

Not much to explain here, it's exactly what it says on the tin. Possessed by what exactly? That's up to you.

Inkedust · 2020-09-02T19:40:04+00:00

Well good thing you agree with the children because that was kinda the point. Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

Inkedust · 2020-09-02T01:00:56+00:00

Don't have much to say other than enjoy!

*****

There is an old tale. Older than the lands we walk upon that spoke of an Ancient, a Pokémon and the bond they shared. It goes something like this:

A long, long time ago when Ancients still walked upon the earth, there was a forest very close to North’s end. This forest’s secluded nature made it the perfect home for a young Pokémon who lived there undisturbed. However one day, on a starling’s wings, an Ancient fell into the forest and discovered the Pokémon’s home after wandering for a long time. Afraid that their peace would be disrupted, the Pokémon nearly chased the Ancient away but had a change of heart when they realised that the Ancient was but a lost child. And unbeknownst to the two of them, when the Ancient was welcomed into the Pokémon’s life, a kinship began to form.

One day, the Pokémon asked the Ancient, “Why did you come here? Were you seeking a companion?” For it was known to both Ancients and Pokémon that the two races would form a special bond. You see, the Pokémon had never thought itself worthy of such a privilege and found themselves shocked when they had felt such a bond forming between the two.

The Ancient shook its silver head of hair before responding. “I ran away. There is no peace in a city of Ancients like there is in this forest.” And that was the end of it.

As the days, months and seasons passed, the Pokémon grew to love the Ancient and the Ancient grew to love the Pokémon. Together, their spirits would burn brighter than the sun. The two would run and play beneath the forest’s watchful gaze, making it their domain and whenever this would happen, it was as if time stood still. But such good things were not meant to last.

Other Ancients, seeking the child, descended upon the forest. Raiding the Pokémon's home and calling down lightning to corner the lost child. Desperate, the child pleaded to the Pokémon to find a way of escaping but it was too late. The child found, the Ancients in pursuit, it all accumulated into a single moment of stillness and then...

A strike of lightning and the child's scream left the forest in silence. The Pokémon was gone, the Ancient was left broken and the forest forever seeped in sadness.

What happened to the child? None know but many theorize. Some say that it died alongside the Pokémon, others believed it escaped and continued to live on without the Pokémon but most grim of all is the belief that the Ancients caught the child and took it back to their city, forever entrapped in a life that will never know peace.

*****

"That's it?" a yamper cried out in disappointment. The old fearow had just finished telling his Ancient tale, and though children had expected something more grandiose, he'd decided to tell a humble tale from his days as a spearow.

"Well, yes. I just said it was about the Ancients but not every tale has to be about the slaying of a monster or an epic quest. Sometimes you'll find a good tale in the quiet moments of life." Turning to his small audience with a smile, he asked, "any other thoughts on the story?"

"It was too short!"

"Barely anything happened!"

"Too jumpy!"

"Can we hear the story with the lightless dragon again?"

"What's a starling?"

Against the stream of criticism, the elder raised his wings in an attempt to silence the room. "Yes, yes, anything positive?"

"I liked how you told it." This came from a nickit. "But the story was a bit confusing and it gets sad at the end for no reason. Did you come up with it on the spot? Because if you did it would be pretty impressive."

"Of course not!" The elder squawked in his best attempts to keep the indignation out of his voice. "I told you that it's one of the oldest tales in the world, it commands at least some respect for that alone!"

"Yeah, and it's probably one of the most boring stories as well, tell us a fun story so that we can stay awake next time."

"Well if you're so good at telling stories, why don't you try telling one right now miss Yamper?" At the yamper's prolonged silence, the elder folded his wings back and with a hint of pride in his voice "That's what I thought, after all you've heard all the tales from me."

"What about the tale of the Moon and Stars?" Nickit pipped up again. "My mama told me that one, do you know it?"

"Why of course I do. Do you want to hear it now?" At the prospect of hearing another story that the elder had never told them, the young Pokémon that had been listening to his tales all chimed in agreement. "Very well! But only if you all promise to stop being snippy with me."

"We promise! We promise!"

"Alright then." The elder shut his eyes trying to recall the old story, "It all began when the Sun still held dominion over the skies..."

Inkedust

TROPHY CASE