Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Chapter 15 - Reset

"Where in the world is...?" Rhys felt around for his Badge, but it was missing.

"Rhys? What's taking so long?" Demitri asked. He stopped walking; his natural density made his feet sink slightly into the salt, which floated like clouds in the crystal-clear water. Distracted, he wiggled his claws, letting some of that salt dance around his toes.

"I am certain I brought my Badge with us," Rhys said, opening his bag further. "I always keep it right in the inner front pouch, the sole item. I felt for it on the way out! In fact, it flashed upon us leaving the Dungeon and entering the main salt flats."

Mispy tilted her head, staring at her reflection in the water. Not a bad look. It was a bit distorted from the ripples that Demitri made, and the ones from Gahi's wingbeats. She brought a vine out and grabbed Gahi, holding him steady; that made it easier to see herself. She couldn't wait for the time when her little buds would bloom into huge petals. Meganium were so pretty. She had seen one walking through town—she couldn't believe what the amazing flower her species was able to grow!

Gahi protested being 'monhandled, but eventually relented and looked at his reflection, too. He started by inspecting his wings. As a Flygon, they were going to get a lot bigger. Demitri was rubbing his tusks, wondering what it would be like once they became full-fledged axes like his evolution's.

"Rhys, you sure you didn't drop it in the flats?" Demitri finally said, looking up. "The warp pad isn't too far off. Let's just walk back. We'll get home by sundown."

"Nrgh. But I know I had it... but yes. Let's go. We need not waste extra time searching in this expanse. We can have Nevren track its location later."

"Right. Okay," Demitri said. He looked around. "Wow. It's really nice, though, isn't it? It's so... big!"

Indeed, now that they weren't in such a rush, they had the opportunity to actually take in their scenery—now that they were turned away from the carnage, it was a reflective surface on all sides. Curiously, Demitri lightly—from his perspective—slammed his fist in the salt, creating a huge ripple in the water. The quake of his punch made Rhys and Mispy stumble. The water's ripple went out, and out, and out; it brushed against Rhys' feet, making little disturbances in the waves, and then continued outward. Everyone, even Rhys, took a moment to admire the sight.

"It is," Rhys said. "But... it is a bit unnerving. A salt flat of this size."

"Aw, it's pretty!" Demitri said. "I mean, you can see your reflection perfectly in thi—Rhys?"

The Lucario had abruptly turned around. His paws erupted with aura embers, and he was ready to lash out at any threat. "I believe I found my Badge."

There was a strange creature flying a stone's throw away from them. A Ninjask at the base, in addition to its pointy, serrated-looking legs, it had an additional set of limbs that resembled a Scyther's scythes.

"I don't think Ninjask're supposed ter be here," Gahi said. "Heh... weird. Wait. Ain't their legs s'posed ter look a little different? And only have two of 'em?"

"Weird, hm," Rhys said. "That's one way to express it, I suppose" Rhys briefly scanned the Pokémon's aura. He couldn't quite place it at first, but then— "Demitri. Mispy. Gahi. Stay behind me."

"Wha—"

The Ninjask vanished from view—and reappeared right in front of Rhys an instant later. It moved incredibly quickly—even faster than a normal Ninjask. It shoved its right, serrated limb right into the Lucario's gut. Rhys grunted, eyes bulging. He jumped away and clutched at the wound, forced to a knee in the water. Crimson splotches faded into the salt. The trio stood in stunned silence—it all happened too fast.