Poochyena Power! - Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

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Day 17: Wherein REALLY, NINETALES!?


The next morning…



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Cherithe: Let’s keep on doing good… actually, I want to ask you something.

“Nah, I’m perfectly fine with the fact that we just learned the end of the world is coming and also we didn’t hear anything about how to stop it because the conversation just suddenly stopped there, apparently.”

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Cherithe: Yes, I guess you would be concerned too, Joat. There’s supposed to be a link between the world’s balance being upset and how you became a Pokémon.. And because of the world’s upset balance, natural disasters have been occurring… And more than anything, he said that the world will be ruined if the balance isn’t restored…

Yes, Cherithe, I was, in fact, listening too.

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Cherithe: I want to do something… But there’s something I don’t understand. So, uh… The world’s balance… What is it?

That’s a very good question. For Xatu.

Heck, even if she only just now thought of it, what’s stopping us from going up there again?

Perhaps there’s a problem with the world’s inner ear?

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Cherithe: …OK. I guess so. You wouldn’t know. I can’t imagine what the world’s balance is about… To be honest, I don’t know what we should do…

Sacrifice a Gogoat to appease the Balance Gods?

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Cherithe: I guess we’ll just have to do what we can. One thing at a time…

We’ll do what we can. Because. We must.

Oh sure… as a “charm”…

Raided the candy supply again, huh?

It’s been a while. Let’s visit Spoony!

Reading certain D&D books again, hm?

Anyway, onward to town!


Zapdos, apparently.

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Snubbull: I always thought it was only a legend.

Has there ever been a legend in the history of all media that has not been true? I mean, other than legends that are unanimously seen as true, which are almost always shams.

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Bellsprout: But could it be true? I’m having a hard time believing it…

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Cherithe: Hi, what’s happening?

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Lombre: Well, you know the Ninetales legend? That old story?

Apparently, they don’t believe Ninetales exists. ‘Kay, then.

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Cherithe: The Ninetales legend? What’s that?

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Lombre: What, you don’t know? You know, it’s that old fairy tale. How you’ll get cursed if you ever grab one of Ninetales’s tails.

Ninetales is kind of petty like that.

Also, why issue a curse for grabbing one’s tail and not for, say, trying to inflict bodily harm upon the Ninetales? And what about owners, especially those interested in contests? Wouldn’t it be kind of awkward, trying to brush a Ninetales’ tail without grabbing it? And what if it was falling off a cliff and the only thing you could grab in time was its tail? Would it curse you then? Is it even voluntary, or is it just some automatic thing their tails do?

Okay, mostly I am joking around, but given that I actually have a Ninetales character that I sometimes use for RPing, the nature of this curse would definitely be useful information.

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Snubbull: All this time, everyone thought it was just a legend. But lately, it’s been rumored that maybe it really happened.

Couldn’t you just find a Ninetales and ask them? I mean, granted, it could still just be a rumor they started to stop others from grabbing their tails, but still…

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Bellsprout: Well, it is still a mere rumor. I wouldn’t put too much stock in that story if I were you.

I know that this becomes pertinent information rather quickly, but in the eyes of Bellsprout, what decision would I encounter where this rumor would affect it? I mean, the only one I can think of is the decision on whether to grab one of Ninetales’ tails without permission, and I’m pretty sure common courtesy can provide a satisfactory answer, there.

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Bellsprout: Personally, I don’t believe in rumors of that sort.

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Lombre: If you want to know more about the Ninetales legend… You should go see a Pokémon named Whiscash. He knows the story well. Whiscash is uh… You know, in his pond.

…Is that a euphemism for something?

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Lombre: You should visit him if you want to know more.

Eh, sure, why not?

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Caterpie: It was fun.

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Metapod: The folklore was fun and interesting. Whiscash is very wise.

Very well, but if ve’s not actively telling a story or interacting with you in any way, why are you just standing here? Why not go and play? Preferably not deep in a dangerous forest without parental supervision, this time.


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Whiscash: Hohoho. Fine, then. Let me recount the tale. There once lived a Pokémon by the name of Ninetales.

Something tells me that is not a unique occurrence.

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Whiscash: Now, Ninetales had many tails, all of them imbued with psychic power… It was said that anyone so foolish as to touch a tail would be cursed for a thousand years.

I imagine most of those years of curse may go to waste.

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Whiscash: But there was someone so foolish as to grab a tail. And it was a human.

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Cherithe: A human?

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Whiscash: Yes, a human.

Well, having opposable thumbs does help, when trying to grab something.

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Whiscash: As one might expect, the human that grabbed the tail was subjected to a thousand-year curse. However, just when the curse was cast, a Pokémon named Gardevoir shielded the human…

Does that mean that the curse is a projectile of some sort that can be blocked or dodged?

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Whiscash: And sacrificed herself to absorb the curse.

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Cherithe: Why? Why would that Pokémon, Gardevoir, take the human’s place?

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Whiscash: To Gardevoir, that human was her partner. There exist strong bonds between humans and Pokémon.

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Cherithe: …OK. But humans… Aren’t there good humans and bad ones too?

Fancy that…

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Whiscash: Correct. Taking pity on Gardevoir, Ninetales asked the human this… “Do you wish to save Gardevoir?” it asked… But the human had already abandoned Gardevoir and fled.

I can understand being afraid and fleeing, but seriously, cursed or no, recalling a Pokémon is a simple matter of pulling a ball from your pocket and pressing a button, right?

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Whiscash: Ninetales became disillusioned with the human… And it made this prediction… “That human will one day be reborn as a Pokémon…”

That’s a rather specific edge-case effect of the curse.

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Cherithe: What?! A human turn into a Pokémon?!

…Well, to be fair, would you be able to resist hugging one of those super-fluffy tails?

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Whiscash: “And when the human becomes a Pokémon… The world’s balance will be upset…” …And that is how the legend ends.

Wait, so what you’re saying is, not only is Ninetales so petty that it will curse one for about ten times the victim’s lifespan (if we take an optimistic look at their expected lifespan) for such a minor thing, but they are willing to do so despite being fully aware that, under certain circumstances (which, let’s face it, aren’t exactly one-in-a-million), it will potentially destroy the world.

Look, I can understand wanting to protect one’s prized tails, but couldn’t you, like, use a different curse on the offender? Y’know, one that won’t potentially destroy the planet? Or maybe just wound or kill them? Or write a very stern letter to them, or just… anything else! Some common sense, please!

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Whiscash: Well? Did you find it interesting?

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Cherithe:

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Whiscash: Ah-hah! You found it so interesting, you’re at a loss for words? Hohoho. There’s no need to wear such a serious expression. Certainly some rumors say that the legend may actually be true… But it is only ancient folklore, nothing more. If you feel the urge to hear my tale again, come see me. Hohoho.

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Cherithe: Want to call it a day now? I can’t seem to get motivated today…

Eh, no problem. The Pokémon scared and starving alone in a chasm can wait a bit longer.

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Cherithe: But I just can’t seem to get motivated. I guess it’s because I heard that story. Ahahaha…

Couldn’t we just have Spoony pinch-hit for this situation, or something?

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Cherithe: I guess I’ll go home and try to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.

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Cherithe: I started doubting you a little, Joat…

Given my performance early on, I believe that’s called common sense.

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Cherithe: But I’m not going to worry anymore.

Still kinda made of tissue paper, but my level has caught up, so at least I’m made of reinforced tissue paper now, I guess.

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Cherithe: I believe in you, Joat. Because you’re a friend like no other, Joat. You’re a friend… Like I’d never get again…

Aw… Lonely Cherithe…

I guess that explains why she was wandering out in that field all alone…

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Cherithe: OK, Joat! Let’s do our best tomorrow like always!

Well, that was a short day! See you next time, everyone!

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