Chapter 3: A Stupid Dare

  Newleaf Village basked under the mid-day sun, its earthy tones warming to a soft glow that blurred the edges of shadow and light. Dry wind whispered across the cobbled paths, stirring small clouds of dust and pollen into lazy spirals that danced between the huts.

  Auri padded carefully along the uneven stonework, his eyes drifting from one corner of the village to the next, searching for a flash of orange feathers or any other sign of Yuki. She couldn't have just disappeared after all!

  Chatter echoed between the timber frames and straw-thatched roofs, snippets of conversation breaking through the quiet hum of daily life. In the distance, a carpenter's hammer tapped rhythmically like a heartbeat, punctuating the quiet with steady beats of progress. But no sign of Yuki yet, therefore Auri just kept walking.

  Just like yesterday evening and this morning, he was still followed by eyes. Not all hostile perhaps but none welcoming either. The glances trailed behind him like small weights dragging at his back. A few whispered too softly for him to hear. One younger Meowth actually paused their game to watch him pass, ears twitching with quiet interest.

  He wasn't surprised by the looks. For the villagers, Auri was an outsider in every sense of the word, from his sudden appearance to his awkward status in the village and the sheer lack of familiarity. Except for merchants passing through, there simply were no other outsiders living here. In the eyes of everyone, he simply didn't truly belong. But he wouldn't let that stop him from trying to live peacefully in the village. But real integration took time, he supposed.

  His path curved past what was probably the herbalist's home, where pots of dried petals and hanging herbs swung gently under the sun. The door was open, and from inside came the faint scent of crushed Pecha leaves. Further on, a few older Pokemon lounged under the shade of a canvas awning, talking in slow, tired tones that carried a weight of routine. Then, as he turned down a quieter lane between two modest storage houses, he spotted movement.

  Two Pokemon, low to the ground and huddled close, stood with their backs to the wall, half-obscured by the leaning shadow of a stacked crate. Auri slowed his pace, watching. A Riolu and a Shinx, both seemingly around Yuki's and his age. The Riolu's ears were flat with tension, and the Shinx's tail twitched with nervous energy. They leaned in close, their words exchanged in hushed, hurried whispers.

  Auri paused at the mouth of the passageway, one paw held mid-step. They hadn't noticed him yet. He couldn't hear what they were saying, only the rhythm of their voices, sharp, uncertain, maybe even anxious. His first thought was to just turn away. It wasn't his business.

  But… he hesitated.

  These were kids and there probably weren't all that many kids in the village based on what he'd seen of its size. If anyone knew where Yuki had run off to, it was probably friends of hers.

  Besides… there was something about their behavior that tugged at his instincts. A tension that didn't quite match the warm, lazy tone of the rest of the village.

  He took a quiet step forward, ears straining, just close enough to listen to parts of their conversation.

  "…she should be back by now…" the Riolu muttered, voice barely above a breath.

  "…wasn't supposed to be hard…" replied the Shinx, shifting anxiously. "…just quickly…"

  Auri frowned slightly. That sounded more serious than he had expected at first. Still, he didn't let the thought linger. Kids made up games all the time, daring each other to sneak where they shouldn't, turning chores into challenges.

  Whatever it was, it probably didn't involve him. If something truly serious had happened, they probably would've informed the guards instead of whispering in a small passageway.

  He stepped forward with deliberate calm, clearing his throat lightly to announce his presence. The two Pokemon jolted slightly, eyes wide as they turned to face him. For a moment, the Shinx's fur bristled, but Auri raised his paws in a friendly, open gesture.

  "Hey, you two. Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said softly. "I'm looking for a friend of mine, her name is Yuki. You wouldn't happen to have seen her, would you?"

  The Riolu blinked at him in surprise. For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the wind rattling the old cloth banners strung above the alley. "You're the stranger Yuki talked about, right? The one that just fell heavily injured from the sky."

  Auri's eye twitched a bit at that description of him, but he nodded, nonetheless. "That would be me, I guess."

  Silence ensured again. But a few moments later the Riolu nodded towards the village center. "She went to the market square this morning, something about helping out Juno. You just need to follow the main road to reach it. If you find her… Could you tell her we're looking for her? And… tell her to come back this way, okay? She can probably help us out with something as well."

  Auri gave them a polite, appreciative smile. "Sure. I'll let her know if I find her."

  As he turned to leave, he caught one last look over his shoulder. The two still stood close together, their conversation clearly paused. Both looked uneasy. Their eyes followed him until he was out of sight.

  Auri exhaled slowly, trying to shake the feeling pressing at his chest. There was something wrong. He could feel it in the way their voices had trembled. The way Lio had avoided his gaze just a little too long.

  But honestly, it just sounded like kids doing stupid things and getting themselves into trouble. It happened to everyone, after all. It was none of his business, not while his status in the village was still so precarious.

  Auri moved onward, following the fading rhythm of conversation and footsteps as the narrow lanes widened and the heart of the village came into view.

  The worn cobblestones gave way to broader stonework, flattened by countless feet and claws over the years and lined with colorful awnings and tightly packed wooden stalls. The midday sun bathed everything in a golden hue, and the marketplace pulsed with life.

  Bright fabrics fluttered in the wind. Baskets brimmed with Oran and Sitrus fruits. Spices tickled the air with the sharp tang of Cheri root and roasted Kasib. Laughter echoed near what seemed like a bakery stand, where a young Teddiursa tried to haggle over a single gummi.

  Auri slowed as he entered the square. Instinctively his gaze fell to the center of the market square, where tension seemed to practically hang in the air. A Kecleon, emerald-green with an older, paler stripe along his cheek, stood stiff as a board behind his display table, arms flailing in frustration.

  "Stolen!" the Kecleon barked, sharp enough to pierce the hum of conversation. "I'm telling you, just gone! One of my rarest items! And in broad daylight, no less!"

  Around him, a semicircle of onlookers had gathered. Some muttered among themselves, others leaned closer to the merchant's stand, where an obvious space had been cleared behind the rest of his wares. It stood like a scar among the neatly arranged orbs, scarves, and seeds.

  Again, something rubbed his instincts the wrong way and he took a tentative step forward, weaving between two elderly Pokemon and brushing past the tail of a snoozing Sandshrew. He kept his head low, but it didn't help. Eyes turned towards him, nonetheless. Auri didn't need to be a mind-reader to know what they thought.

  The stranger, the odd one. The boy that seemingly just fell from the sky. Rumors spread fast in small communities and just about everyone probably already knew of him. And conveniently he just happened to arrive right after something valuable had gone missing from one of the stalls.

  His paws stopped, resting just short of the stall's shade. He glanced at the crowd, then back to the merchant. The Kecleon's gaze locked with his, sharp and evaluating.

  "Excuse me," Auri said, voice even, though his chest felt tight. "What exactly was taken? Maybe I can help."

  The Kecleon gave a short, barking laugh, not amused at all at that proclamation. "Help? You?"

  His words dripped with disbelief. His hands found his hips as he stepped forward, scales twitching with barely contained suspicion. "You're not even from around here and nothing more than a kid at that. What makes you think I would trust you with something important like this?"

  Auri knew he could've walked away and let it be. That Kecleon, based on his behavior, certainly didn't deserve any help. But once more his instincts pressed him to stay instead.

  "I know I'm not the type of help you'd hope for," Auri readily admitted, meeting the Kecleon's glare. "But the guards are clearly too busy to deal with this, and you probably don't have many others stepping up offering to help you out, do you?”

  A pause. The Kecleon stared at him, jaw set like stone. Around them, the crowd just watched. It was probably free entertainment for them, seeing how half probably believed him to be the thief anyways.

  Auri readily waited for the Kecleon to break the stand-off. Finally, the Kecleon huffed out through his nose and crossed his arms with a heavy thump.

  "Hmph. The guards came earlier," he muttered. "Took a look, asked some questions, and left. Said they'd send someone if they could spare them." His voice soured. "They won't. Not for this. At least not in a reasonable timespan. If I'd known how unsafe this village is for my goods I would've never come here in the first place!"

  Auri waited patiently for the Kecleon to continue. With another grumble, the merchant finally gave a begrudging nod. "It was an Amber Looplet. A real one, not one of those cheap glass fakes! Found it on a trade route some time ago. Don't bother with pretending, your look makes it clear you have no idea what an Amber Looplet truly is. Suffice to say, it's incredibly valuable and rare. You don't just lose one of those."

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Auri's thoughts snapped into focus. It was true, he had no idea what made an Amber Looplet that important, but in a small place like Newleaf Village? There was no stealing and actually using a looplet that was clearly just claimed as stolen. The community was just too small for that. Selling it would probably be just as impossible. There was no real value in stealing something like that here. But... what if someone dared someone else to take it? Just to prove they could?

  He remembered the two other kids whispered tones. The Riolu and the Shinx. Hadn't they talked about someone that should be back by now? That was supposed to be easy to do? Someone who was clearly still missing?

  Auris stomach sank. He knew what this was. Or at least, what it might be. He looked up at the merchant again. "I'll look into it," he promised, quietly but firmly.

  The Kecleon scoffed but didn't stop him. "Do whatever you want, kid. Just bring it back if you find it and I'll even reward you properly for it."

  Auri gave a small nod, the possible 'reward' the last thing on his mind, and turned, the weight of too many stares pressing against his shoulders as he slipped back out of the crowd.

  The square gradually faded behind him. The scents of fruit and spice gave way to the dry smell of sunbaked stone and the soft hush of side alleys. His paws carried him forward without thinking, retracing the path he had taken not long ago. He had to talk to the two kids again. This wasn't just about a stolen item anymore. Someone might be in real trouble!

  It didn't take long for Auri to reach the narrow passage between the two storehouses where he had met the Riolu and the Shinx before.

  Auri stopped at the edge, his shadow stretching just past the stone wall. "Hey," he called softly, "are you two still around?"

  There was no answer, so he stepped in, paws brushing against gravel and dust. One of the crates they'd been leaning against earlier was tipped slightly now, like someone had jostled it. Auri moved to the far end of the passage and looked around. Nothing.

  Then his ears picked up a faint shuffle from above. He glanced up just in time to see a tuft of blue fur disappear over the lip of the nearby storage roof.

  Auri sighed. Of course they were hiding.

  Rather than calling again, he sat down on the crate they'd left behind and waited. It didn't take long.

  The Riolu appeared first, head poking over the edge of the roof, his expression cautious but curious. A moment later, the Shinx followed, ears pinned back, eyes flicking towards the alley entrance like he was afraid someone else had followed.

  "We weren't doing anything,” the Riolu said quickly before Auri could speak. "We just… uh… wanted some air."

  Auri tilted his head, unconvinced. "Up on a roof?"

  "High places are cool," the Shinx mumbled, tail twitching behind him.

  "I heard what happened at the market," Auri said calmly. "An Amber Looplet's gone missing. Do you know what that is?" His words were met with silence, none of the two responding right away,

  Auri watched their faces, the Riolu's tight jaw, the Shinx's uncertain paws gripping the edge of the roof. Not guilt, exactly, but close to it.

  "Do you know who might've taken it?" he continued asking. The Riolu glanced at the Shinx. The Shinx looked away.

  "It wasn't us!" the Riolu said quickly. "We didn't touch it! We weren't even there!"

  "But you know who it was," Auri stated, now certain of that fact. Another pause followed his words.

  "...Maybe," the Riolu muttered. Auri continued waiting patiently.

  Finally, the Shinx let out a soft sigh, ears drooping. "It was Mina," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "She's another kid around our age, a Rockruff," he clarified at Auri's questioning glance.

  "She… said she could easily do it,” the Shinx went on. “She said it'd be easy. And it was just a dare, like, a game, you know? We weren't really gonna let her take it! We thought she'd peek, maybe get close, then chicken out and come back! Also Alain deserves it, with how he goated about how great this find is, how nobody could even buy it because it's more expensive than our entire village and so on! He deserved a little scare and either way, Mina should have been long back already!”

  "But she isn't," Auri finished quietly.

  The Riolu nodded. "She hasn't come back. That was… a while ago. We suspect she's left the village to hide the looplet somewhere the guards would find it without connecting it back to us."

  Auri looked from one to the other. "And instead of telling someone, you've been hiding.”

  "We didn't mean for her to get in trouble!” the Shinx said, voice cracking. "And if we had told anyone, they'd blame us too! Maybe worse!"

  The Riolu clenched his paws. "We didn't think she'd actually take it…"

  Auri closed his eyes for a moment. He wasn't angry, not exactly. It was normal for kids to do stupid things, everyone did, really. But the weight of the moment pressed heavily on his shoulders, nonetheless.

  "Where would she go?" Auri asked finally. "If she panicked. If she thought, she'd get caught and had to rid herself of the item while making sure it could be found."

  The boys hesitated. They clearly knew something.

  "There's… a Dungeon," the Shinx said slowly, eyes shifting nervously. "Just outside the village. It's not dangerous or anything, just a low-level Mystery Dungeon. The kind gatherers use for practice or supplies. That's why the guards didn't destroy it yet, it has more value to us if it's not destroyed."

  The Riolu looked reluctant but added, “Mina was there already a few times together with her father. He's one of our gatherers. She probably figured with how often people traverse this Dungeon, someone would find the Looplet eventually and return it to the merchant. No one would get blamed in the end."

  Auri blinked. "So, she… probably left the village to walk alone into a Dungeon?" Even he, without really knowing anything about Dungeons, knew just how stupid doing that would be.

  The two just nodded, guilt flashing in their eyes.

  "She probably thought it was smart," the Shinx muttered. "No one gets hurt. It's not like the guards keep it locked down or anything. Most Pokemon here could clear it with their eyes closed."

  "But Mina hasn't come back yet and it's way past time, correct?" Auri asked. Again, both of them nodded and Auri sighed. "Then, we have to tell the guards."

  "NO!" both the Riolu and the Shinx screamed at the same time.

  "Do you know the consequences of doing so!? We would get in big trouble for everything, but in even greater trouble for never telling someone about how hidden exit from the village! All village kids know of it thanks to Yuki, and she would probably bear most of the consequences because of that! We cannot do that!" the Shinx exclaimed, pacing from left to right.

  Auri just sighed. Of course, it would be Yuki who found and shared something like that with the other kids. He wasn't surprised, even while barely knowing her.

  "What else do you expect me to do then?" Auri asked, exasperated. "There's no way I will just idly sit by when your friend is possibly in danger."

  Both of them squirmed under his glare, before Riolu hesitantly answered. "Yuki told us you're actually really strong, right? Even if you don't look like much. Can't you go and rescue Mina? No one would need to get in trouble that way!"

  "Lio!" the Shinx hissed instantly, "He's clearly still injured from that fall from the sky, there's no way we can send him into a Dungeon by his lonesome like that! He will die!"

  Auri straightened, tail flicking once behind him. He'd heard enough and he knew what he had to do. "Where's that secret exit of yours? I'm going after her."

  "You're serious!?" the Shinx asked, eyes wide. "But… why?"

  Auri met his gaze steadily. "Because she's alone. And scared, maybe. And someone has to go. That's clearly not going to be you two. The only reason I'm not just calling the guards into this is because of Yuki's involvement with that secret exit. I cannot just tell on her like that. Be thankful for that."

  Neither of them argued this time. Their silence spoke volumes.

  "Now, where do I have to go?" Auri prompted again after a few seconds.

  The Riolu, Lio apparently, hesitated but then gestured towards the edge of the alley. "There's a small hole in the palisade past the orchard. On the other side, it's hidden by thick bushes. If you're quick, you can slip out before the midday rounds around the village start up again."

  Without another word, Auri turned and padded towards the orchard, each step heavy with resolve.

  "Wait for me here, I'll be back soon! And if I'm not, call the guards, no matter the consequences of doing so!" he called over his shoulder before he turned around the corner and lost sight of them. He didn't know Mina, but there was no way he would just sit idly by while someone might be in serious danger!

  He found the orchard and the hole in the palisade without any problems. Lio had also seemingly understated just how thick the bushes on the other side of the hole were, scratching at Auri's fur as he pushed through. Sunlight slanted through the treetops ahead, streaking across a well-worn forest path. He didn't stop and quickly pushed into the forest ahead.

  If he understood it correctly, this path should directly lead to the Dungeon that Mina probably went into. Alone and unprepared. He sighed. This entire situation was just one big mess.

  He hadn't made it far into the woods as suddenly-

  "AURI?!" Yuki practically exploded from the underbrush with a rustle of leaves and an indignant squawk.

  "There you are! What are you even doing out here!? You're supposed to be resting and healing from your injuries!" Her voice rocketed through the trees like a startled Pidgey.

  He blinked, surprised. "Yuki?"

  She marched straight up to him, feathers puffed, a satchel full of herbs bouncing against her chest all the while.

  "Seriously Auri!? You were injured! Yesterday! Like, very badly injured according to Juno! And now you're running into the woods alone? By the Abyss. Tell me you at least brought supplies! Or a plan! Or, y'know, a single damn brain cell!"

  He sighed, but there was no stopping her.

  "Because if you keel over from exhaustion in the middle of the forest, again, I swear I will drag your back by the tail and then let Juno heal you just so I can scold you properly!"

  "I'm not dying, Yuki," Auri muttered, already exhausted.

  "Yet!" she snapped, then planted herself in front of him. "So? What is it? What has you injured, alone and without any memories, running out into the forest?"

  Auri met her gaze evenly. "It's Mina, I don't know if you know her, but I'd guess you do. I had a small chat with her friends and seemingly, she went ahead and stole some looplet from a Kecleon merchant going by Alain as part of some dare. Now she wants to hide it in a Dungeon for the guards to find it without getting caught herself. According to the other kids, she's been gone for far too long now already, so something must've gone wrong. The other kids were too scared to go after her, and unwilling to get you in trouble by telling the guards about your secret exit from the village. So... here I am."

  Yuki's whole body froze. Then she dropped her bag. "She did what!? Oh no. Oh no, no, no. That Dungeon is completely unstable right now! The guards had it cleared just yesterday, and these things are most dangerous when they feel threatened, probably like, right now!"

  "Something probably went wrong," Auri said grimly. "Which is why I'm going. And I'm not going to be stopped Yuki, not by you or anyone else."

  Yuki stared at him. Then down at the dirt. Then back up. "…Okay. Right. So this is happening. Yep. Cool. Cool cool cool!"

  She turned, grabbed her herb bag, shoved it into the hollow of a nearby tree, patted it once like she was tucking in a sleeping child, then spun back around. "I'm going with you!"

  "Yuki-"

  "Don't you dare!" she snapped, hopping closer until she was right in his face. "You cannot go in there alone! Not while you're still half injured and without memories!"

  "I can handle myself."

  "And I can handle myself, and you. And guess what!? If Mina's in trouble, I'm not sitting this one out! And even then, you pretty much just told me that this entire situation is my fault! I will help you fix it! Everything else would be, like, so anti-me! I would never!"

  Auri gave her a look. "I'm starting to notice."

  She smirked. "Doesn't change the fact that I'm right!"

  He opened his mouth again, but she cut him off with a wing raised like a knight about to take an oath.

  "Listen. Between the two of us I'm the one who we know has survived scarier dungeons than this one. And you," she softly pecked him in the chest, "are clearly still hurting! I'm not letting you do this without any backup!"

  He stared at her, torn between protest and resignation. But her expression didn't waver. No wide smile now. She could be serious if it was necessary.

  "I mean it, Auri. I want to help. You know I do. So let me."

  His shoulders dropped slightly. "…Alright," he conceded. "It's not like I could stop you. And some help would be appreciated, I guess."

  "Thank you," Yuki breathed, instantly perking back up. "Now let's go rescue a dramatic looplet-hiding Rockruff from a death Dungeon, shall we?"

  With that, Yuki turned on her talons and marched towards the trees like the sun itself had appointed her. Auri followed, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. As much as he would've liked to not evolve even more Pokemon, that way he at least wouldn't have to do this alone.

  Important characters in the chapter:

  Pikachu (Auri) – Level 12

  Ability: Lightning Rod

  Battle Nature: Lonely

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 59 (Moderately damaged but usable)

  Attack: 38

  Ranged Attack: 34

  Defense: 40

  Speed: 45

  Total: 216 (Strength Level: Kid)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Nuzzle], [Tail Whip], [Quick Attack], [Thunder Wave], [Feint]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Thunder Shock], [Electro Ball]

  Utility Moves: [Nasty Plot], [Charm], [Double Team], [Growl], [Agility], [Dig]

  Torchic (Yuki) – Level 14

  Ability: Speed Boost

  Battle Nature: Hasty

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 65

  Attack: 34

  Ranged Attack: 37

  Defense: 42

  Speed: 33

  Total: 211 (Strength Level: Kid)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Scratch], [Quick Attack], [Feint], [Fire Spin], [Flame Charge], [Aerial Ace], [Counter], [Slash]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Ember], [Sand Attack]

  Utility Moves: [Growl], [Detect], [Dig]

  Riolu (???) - Level 11

  Ability: Inner Focus

  Battle Nature: Careful

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 53

  Attack: 30

  Ranged Attack: 20

  Defense: 37

  Speed: 28

  Total: 168 (Strength Level: Kid)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Quick Attack], [Feint], [Metal Claw], [Counter], [Rock Smash]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Vacuum Wave]

  Utility Moves: [Endure]

  Shinx (???) - Level 10

  Ability: Guts

  Battle Nature: Timid

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 49

  Attack: 24

  Ranged Attack: 22

  Defense: 32

  Speed: 25

  Total: 152 (Strength Level: Kid)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Tackle], [Bite], [Spark], [Quick Attack]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Thunder Shock]

  Utility Moves: [Leer], [Charge]