Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Special Episode 1 - Storm

"I need another!" Spice said. "And a Heal Seed! NOW!"

"R-right," Leo said, handing the seed, and then the berry. Spice tried to feed it to the Bulbasaur the normal way, but he was too panicked. She cursed under her breath and shoved both in her maw again, chewing quickly, and forcing the food in.

Leo motioned for Emby and Tee to run ahead; they nodded and dashed. If this was the Bulbasaur's condition, there was no telling how many more needed rescue from the inferno ahead.

"Backup should be here soon with more supplies," Leo said, looking back. "Ugh—this rain! Why is there a fire in the rain?!"

"This is the worst thunderstorm I've ever seen," Spice said. "Some freak accident must have caused it. The—"

Another bolt split the sky in two. Leo covered his bushy ears. The flame-colored fur that covered the holes shook against the booming sound.

When the thunder subsided, Spice turned her attention to the one that had brought the Bulbasaur to them. "You! Thank you for your help, kid—now, get out of here!"

"N-no way!" he protested. "And—I'm not a kid! I'm Charmander Owen! Maybe you've heard of me?!"

"Aren't you that upstart who got his Provisionary Badge? Look, kid, you're not even one of the Hearts yet—I know your eyes are toward the stars right now, but this is way too dangerous for someone like you!"

"They need Fire Types to rescue the Pokémon that got lost in the forest. I can handle the fire!"

"But not the falling trees or lightning strikes," Leo said. "Get out of here! Your flame is already halfway gone. I know how it's supposed to look."

The Bulbasaur whimpered. The wounds were fading, but the pain remained. He shivered in the mixture of cold rain and hot burns.

"We can't leave him here," Spice said. "Leo! Take this guy back and catch up. I'm gonna run ahead with Tee and Emby."

"But, Spice—"

"Just go, Leo. You can't run in that robe-fur of yours anyway. You're soaking!"

Leo stammered disconnected, single syllables of protest.

Spice shoved the Bulbasaur into Leo's arms and ran forward.

"Wait!" Owen ran after her. Leo, hanging onto the Bulbasaur, was in no position to stop him.

"Kid!" Leo said. "You idiot! You—Tauros-headed—" He grunted, but then ran away with the Bulbasaur. Better to save one Pokémon than chase another.

Ahead, Owen struggled to catch up with Spice. They had passed by Tee first, who fell back to assist with a pair of lost Paras. Next, they ran across Emby, guiding a Skiddo, Bellossom, and Shroomish away from the fire. "Any deeper and you won't find anyone," Emby warned. "It's too hot for anybody that isn't Fire to survive!"

But they pressed on, just in case. Spice was quick in the rain, and she wasn't quite as bothered by it as the other Fire Types in the area. For the most part, Owen felt the same way—except when the water dripped against the flame of his tail. Every one felt like a thorn stuck inside the very tip, lodging itself like an electric shock that traveled through his spine and into his forehead.

He pushed through it all. His tiny legs were no match for Spice's lithe, lanky stride. He had to admire being able to move so quickly—he fantasized about when he'd be able to evolve into a Charizard. He heard that sometimes, they could glide across the air by just outstretching their wings, using the updraft of their own heat to stay afloat. That'd be amazing!