"It's so foggy here, I can barely see you guys."
"Be careful to not let go of the Ariados' string. It's our only way to get back to the base."
Dante solemnly looked at the barely visible trees, his Copycat active as he searched for any trace of energy.
They were currently in a part of the forest assigned to them by Chatot. Every apprentice was tasked to look for any clues to Fogbound Lake, and then report them all later tonight.
Dante knew from the game that, to dispel the fog around them, they must put some red stone in a Groudon statue that is located somewhere in this forest. And right now, their group is trying to find either that stone or the statue.
"Hmm? Hey Dan! I found a red stone here!"
Pikachu's voice from behind attracted his attention.
There, he and Teddiursa were looking at a red stone by the bushes. With his Copycat vision, Dante didn't see any trace of energy coming from the rock. Still, remembering that Pikachu was also the one to find the stone in the game, he walked over to have a closer look.
"It's red and pretty, kind of like a gem. It's also a bit warm, like heat is coming from inside the stone. Weird."
"Let me take a look."
Pikachu handed over the stone to Dante. After a close examination, Dante was unable to find anything special about the stone except for what Pikachu said.
However, after placing it inside the Item Menu and reading the description, Dante grinned.
"It seems you are really a natural-born explorer, Pikachu."
"Ehehe, what? Is that the stone we were looking for?"
"Hm. It's one of the things we need to lift the fog in this forest."
Drought Stone: A pale imitation of the Red Orb. Created by the Being of Knowledge, Uxie, it is one of the keys needed to solve the puzzle of Fogbound Lake.
The stone's description gave Dante lots to think about. Firstly, he now knew that the Lake Guardian they would face at the end was Uxie. And secondly, to create this imitation, Uxie must be very familiar, or even possess the Red Orb.
The Red Orb is Groudon's exclusive item that allows him to go through Primal Reversion, a phenomenon similar to Mega Evolution.
Although Dante had no clue what he can make do using this knowledge, he still stored it in the back of his mind. Maybe he would have a use for it in their later confrontation.
Their team continued searching around the forest for the statue next. However, until the sun had begun to set, they weren't able to find anything else.
—
"Report! No clue was found on our side of the forest!"
"Same on our side."
"No unusual phenomenon was found underground."
In the Guild's temporary base, all the apprentices have returned from their assigned area. Chatot was standing in front of everyone, listening to their progress report.
"I've asked around the surrounding residents of the foggy forest. According to one tribe, there is a legend about Fogbound Forest passed down from more than a hundred years ago."
"Oh?"
Chatot had a curious expression as he looked at Chimecho. In exploring unknown areas, any legend surrounding the place can be a vital clue to uncovering its secrets.
"Legends say that when the fog around the forest is dispelled, one will be able to meet a Legendary Pokemon who will bestow upon them a precious treasure. But in return, all their memories about the forest will be lost, thus perpetuating the cycle of its mysteries."
Chatot frowned. While the legend sounds the same as what they heard from the others in Treasure Town, two new pieces of information are added.
Firstly, there is a 'Legendary Pokemon' residing in Fogbound Lake, and this fog around the forest is most likely a test to see who's worthy of the treasure.
Secondly, this Pokemon has the ability to erase the memories of those Pokemon who entered, whether with their consent or not is unknown.
"Good job, Chimecho! Bidoof, Corphish, how about your assigned area?"
"Golly, this is embarrassing."
"Hey-hey! We've discovered a Mystery Dungeon."
"Really!?"
Everyone turned their attention to the two, their eyes shining. Mystery Dungeons usually lead towards the deepest area of a location. This dungeon in the foggy forest can be the key to unlocking its secrets!
"Well, out with it. What did you find at the end?"
Chatot looked impatiently at the two apprentices who were keeping everyone in suspense.
"Hey hey, we found the dungeon, but that didn't mean we were able to explore it."
Corphish tried to look tough, but from his agitated foot movement, one could tell his embarrassment at admitting this out loud.
"Yup yup! The Pokemon inside were mighty strong! We only reached the 2nd floor before we were forced to use the Escape Orb."
"I see. Although it's a pity, obtaining this information is more than enough. Great work, you two."
"Hey, hey!"
"Golly."
Corphish puffed out his chest while Bidoof scratched his face in embarrassment. On the side, Loudred snorted at seeing this.
"Why are you so proud? If we had been assigned to that area, we would have also found that dungeon AND explored it until the end."
"What did you say?!"
Corphish's face turned red as he turned to look at Loudred. Sparks formed between the two as they stared daggers at each other.
"Loudred, what makes you think you can make it past that dungeon when Corphish can't? Both of you are similarly Silver Rank."
"Keh!"
Sunflora's words stopped the quarrel between the two from escalating. Loudred turned to look at her, his face flushed with embarrassment. Just as he was about to offer a rebuttal, Chatot's voice shut him up.
"Quiet! Many Exploration Teams have already gone here in the past, the fact Corphish and Bidoof were the first to find that location is worthy of praise."
"Ehem, now then, Dante, Pikachu, and Azumarill. Did y-"
"Me! I'm also part of the team!"
"Ah yes, Teddiursa, too. Did you find anything in your assigned area?"
"Yes, we found this."
Dante took the Drought Stone from the bag and gave it to the curious Chatot. After looking at it from various angles, Chatot returned it to Dante with a puzzled expression.
"Is there anything special about this stone?"
"Well, I suspect it is the key to lifting the fog from this forest."
"Is that so?"
Chatot looked dubiously at Dante. No matter how he looks at it, this is just an ordinary red stone. Although it's indeed a little weird, based on the minuscule energy he sensed, it should be nothing special.
Is Dante embarrassed about not finding anything, so he chose some random stone and claimed it as a discovery?
Looking at the Guild apprentices looking at Dante and his team with awe, Chatot decided not to expose him. After all, as a rising Exploration Team, the expectations on their shoulders are indeed a bit heavy.
"Well, that is all for the report. I will relay this information to the Guildmaster and ask for the next course of action. Most likely, we'll form a team tomorrow to explore the dungeon Corphish and Bidoof found."
With that, Chatot dismissed their apprentices and turned back to Wigglytuff's hut.
…
The night quickly passed. In the human world, Dante escorted Shinobu to the Grass-type Gym before spending the whole day with his Pokemon. Afterwards, their team returned to the PMD world.
"Ehem. Last night, I scouted the dungeon Corphish and Bidoof told us about under the Guildmaster's order. And based on my investigation, that dungeon is rated 2 stars according to the Exploration Federation Dungeon Evaluation."
"Eh? That high?!"
"Indeed. Therefore, after discussion with the Guildmaster, only the following members will accompany us through the dungeon: Dugtrio, Dante, Pikachu, and Azumarill. For the rest, they will continue looking for clues in their assigned area."
"Oh shucks, congratulations you four."
"Hey, why was I not included?"
"Hey, hey, remember to tell us what you found at the end."
Chatot looked at the commotion among the apprentices, secretly heaving a sigh of relief. Last night, after he asked the Guildmaster who would accompany them in the dungeon, his answer of including everyone scared him to death.
Fortunately, after his tireless begging and persuasion about the danger of that dungeon, the Guildmaster reluctantly agreed to remove some of the apprentices which left the ones he had listed.
Dugtrio, the only Diamond-ranked apprentice in the Guild. If it weren't for accompanying his son Diglett, he already has countless chances to take the graduation test.
Dante, Pikachu, and Azumarill, the rising trio. This would be the first time he can observe their team in action. Depending on their performance, he may suggest they take the graduation exam right after the expedition.
A/N: Get early access to up to 30 chapters and vote for Dante's next Pokemon in my Patreon: patreon.com/Ked2002.