Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands Of Creation

(Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi lived in a small cave near the western base of the mountain.)

(The rocks here were a lot lighter—closer to a reddish-brown color than the dark basalt of Kilo Village's crater.)

(Hardy trees dotted the rocky exterior of their home, with Oran Berries growing from the tops of some, and apples from others.)

(Gentle winds washed the leaves, making the ripe fruits fall from their branches when a particularly strong gust passed.)

Owen: "Convenient."

(Owen said.)

Owen: "And the Waypoint led us almost right to here."

Gahi: "Yeah, all Hearts get that sorta treatment."

(Gahi said.)

Gahi: "Guess it's a benefit fer working under the Hearts, keeping the world nice and safe."

Owen: "Yeah."

(Owen said.)

Owen: "But, it's just so cool! The way you guys just beat that Aerodactyl without any trouble!"

Demitri: "Well, there was a little trouble."

(Demitri said.)

Gahi: "Yeah, had ter keep yeh safe."

(Gahi said.)

Gahi: "But sure. No trouble."

Mispy: "Mnn."

(Mispy sniffed the air.)

(Owen smelled dinner.)

Owen: "That smells good."

(Owen said.)

Owen: "Umm—so, your mentor! How is he? What's he like in person and stuff?"

Demitri: "Lucario Rhys is, uh, he's nice."

(Demitri said.)

Demitri: "He just happens to also be, er, strict, sometimes. You know. But it's all part of being trained, right? I guess it's not that bad."

Gahi: "Jus' wish he didn't make us meditate all mornin'."

(Gahi said.)

Owen: "Meditating?"

(Owen said.)

Owen: "You guys meditate, too? I do it all the time! It's really nice to clear your head."

Gahi: "Aw, not you, too."

(Gahi grumbled, wobbling into the cave.)

(Mispy, too, was disappointed.)

Mispy: "Boring."

Owen: "I... I'm not boring."

(Owen squeaked.)

Gahi: "Oi, Rhys! We're home!"

(Gahi said.)

Gahi: "Mission went fine! Brought a guest!"

Rhys: "A guest?"

(Rhys said.)

Rhys: "I should prepare another portion."

(Owen ran to get a first look.)

(And there he was: Elite Heart Lucario Rhys.)

(His red eyes were intense, but Owen felt oddly safe when looking into them.)

(His aura sensors—the strange, black, teardrop-like extensions behind his ears—were a bit larger than average.)

(His fur was long and thick against his body that screamed 'experience.')

Owen: "H-hi!"

(Owen said.)

Owen: "It's nice t-to meet you, Elite Heart!"

(Rhys stared at Owen for a bit longer than Owen thought was normal.)

(Owen noticed his fur puff out.)

(For a split-second, his paws glowed with a light blue, aura ember.)

Demitri: "Rhys?"

(Demitri said.)

Rhys: "Sorry."

(Rhys said.)

Rhys: "I was thinking about what I could prepare for a Charmander."

Owen [in mind]: "No, you weren't."

(Owen thought.)

Owen: "Oh! Anything's fine. I promise! I'm good to eat anything as long as it isn't dirt."

Gahi: "Well, dirt ain't how Rhys cooks."

(Gahi said.)

Demitri: "Yeah, Rhys is a good chef!"

(Demitri said.)

Demitri: "You'll love whatever he makes."

Owen: "Ha, okay."

(Owen took in the new environment.)

(The immediate entryway was a short walk, perhaps only a few of his tiny paces.)

(After the entryway was a larger, dome-shaped segment of the cave.)

(The stone table in the middle of the room was where they ate; the edges of the room had equipment like a stone stove, cabinets, and shelves for storing nonperishable food.)

(Owen was surprised at how elaborate it was.)

Owen: "You guys have a lot of stuff here!"

(Rhys nodded.)

Rhys: "With our earnings, we have been able to purchase a few luxuries."

(Owen sat at the table.)

(From where he was positioned, he could see further into the cave.)

(It was like a hallway that split off into separate rooms.)

(They seemed like ordinary rooms.. but one seemed to be glowing.)

(What Owen saw next made him rub his eyes.)

(There was a cloud—a very fine mist, like a pinkish haze.)

(It didn't move with any breezes.)

Owen [in mind]: "Oh, no."

(Owen said.)

Owen [in mind]: "Now I'm starting to see things! Can anybody else—?"

(Owen glanced at the others.)

(Mispy's leaf was twitching like she had an itch.)

(Demitri and Gahi were too focused on Rhys' cooking.)

(Rhys was moving stiffly.)

(That was odd.)

(He usually moved with a graceful flow.)

(Did he notice?)

Owen: "Rhys?"

(Owen spoke up.)

Owen: "Are you okay?"

Rhys: "Y-yes, Owen, why do you ask?"

(Owen looked at the pink cloud Gone.)

Owen: "Nothing. Just tired. So, uh."

(Owen grabbed his tail so he had something to do.)

Owen: "Team Alloy. That's a pretty cool name."

Demitri: "Alakazam Nevren helped us come up with it!"

(Demitri said.)

Demitri: "It's really cool. Something about how stronger metals are made from weaker metals working together. It's awesome!"

Rhys: "Hmph."

(Rhys said.)

Gahi: "Heh, Rhys is mad 'cause he didn't say it first."

(Gahi said.)

(Owen giggled.)

(He had to admit, it sounded clever.)

(He certainly saw that kind of fighting in the Dungeon, too.)

(They worked very cohesively.)

(He wondered if he'd be able to contribute to a team like that...)

(Out of the corner of his eye, the pink mist bobbed in and out of the room.)

(Unable to contain himself, Owen asked.)

Owen: "Hey, so, is this cave haunted?"

Mispy: "Yes."

(Mispy blurted.)

Gahi: "Baah, no it ain't."

(Gahi said, waving his head dismissively.)

Gahi: "You guys're just superstitious. Sometimes the wind blows funny, that's all. Mispy always gets like this."

Mispy: "It's true!"

(Mispy said.)

(Gahi and Demitri both looked at the hall.)

(The pink mist was gone.)

Demitri: "L-look, this place is creepy sometimes, alright?"

(Demitri said.)

Demitri: "We see little, like, colors floating around sometimes. All of us! So, it has to be real."

Owen: "Colors? Like pink?"

(Owen said.)

Demitri: "Pink? No, usually greens and yellows."

(Demitri said.)

(Rhys sighed, pausing his food prep.)

Rhys: "I am the one who is most in tune with the aura."

(he said.)

Rhys: "And I say that whatever phenomenon it is, it's nothing to worry about. Now, enough talk of spirits. Dinner is ready."

(And just like that, their idle talk about ghosts subsided.)

(It must have been a common occurrence for it to be dismissed so easily, but Owen decided to put this piece of the puzzle in his mental notes.)

(Rhys served out the food—a hearty stew, this time, filled with mostly savory items.)

(Owen happily gobbled his portion; it reminded him of what he ate for breakfast.)

(Breakfast...)

Owen: "Oh!"

(Owen suddenly said.)

Owen: "I... I forgot! My parents were gonna freak out if I didn't get back before the evening!"

(Owen thought to use his Badge, but having just used it to return to the Central Waypoint in Kilo Village, it wouldn't have the energy to warp him again until tomorrow.)

(More importantly, he didn't have a Waypoint registered for Hot Spot Cave—after all, if someone stole his Badge, they could theoretically warp right to that secret village.)

(He'd have to use the public Waypoints instead, and then walk the rest of the way.)

Demitri: "Oh, don't worry."

(Demitri said.)

Demitri: "We'll just bring you home instead! Your parents won't worry too much, right?"

Owen: "Dad might explode."

(Owen said.)

Owen: "Literally. He's a Magmortar, and he kinda does this thing with his arms when he's nervous, and I'm worried he might... like... fire into his own hand, or something. I dunno what happens after that. But he might actually die from anxiety if I don't get home in time."

Demitri: "Uhh... well... too late now."

(Demitri said.)

Demitri: "We'll just run really fast to get you there?"

Owen: "O-oh, uh, actually, about that. My parents said that I can't bring people back home because it's a secret where I live and stuff."

(Owen wondered if Mispy stared at people with that 'Are you an idiot' look by default.)

Rhys: "I see."

(Rhys said, nodding.)

Rhys: "That's understandable."

Demitri: "Wait, it is?"

(Demitri said.)

Demitri: "How is that... who has a secret home?!"

(Rhys shrugged noncommittally.)

Rhys: "Some areas enjoy privacy. Don't worry, Owen. But it's still unsafe to wander alone at night without supplies. Hrm, but your parents will still worry, won't they?"

(Rhys hummed again, looking between the three members of Team Alloy.)

Rhys: "I don't think it would be a good idea to let you three go at a time like this."

(This was his chance.)

Owen: "So, does that mean... you'll be bringing me there? Or, u-um, I can just go on my own."

Rhys: "You may call me Rhys."

(he said with a small smile.)

Rhys: "And I would be happy to."

Owen [in mind]: "He would?"

(Owen didn't expect that to work.)

(In fact, in hindsight, it felt forward, and rude.)

(But there was an odd sort of familiarity that he felt with Rhys.)

(Then again, aside from the Aerodactyl, that was how he'd been feeling all day.)

(And Rhys seemed to know him, too, given how casually he spoke.)

(He had heard from rumors that Rhys was usually incredibly stiff.)

Owen: "Okay—Rhys. Um, since you're an Elite, I can trust you with a secret, right?"

Rhys: "Of where your parents live?"

(Rhys asked.)

Rhys: "Revealing this to me will change nothing. Okay. Then after dinner, it's really okay if...?"

Owen: "Yes. It shouldn't be a very long walk, yes?"

Rhys: "Nope! The Waypoint is close."

(With the thought that he'd be able to walk and talk with one of the best Hearts in the whole world, Owen ate the rest of his dinner faster than a Swalot.)

Owen [in mind]: "Okay."

(Owen thought between bites.)

Owen [in mind]: "So, everything today feels weirder than usual. And I'm pretty sure I wasn't dreaming last night. Did Dad actually explode? Did I get attacked by another of those mutant things? Nngh, or am I just losing it? Nevren's a Psychic, right? Maybe he can fix my brain."

(He then glanced at Rhys' room.)

(He saw the pink mist again.)

Owen [in mind]: "Oh, Mew in the stars."

(he thought, taking his final bite.)

Owen [in mind]: "Can't I have just one normal day?"

[To Be Continued...]