HOME | DD

Description
First part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Second part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Third part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Fourth part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Fifth part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Sixth Part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Eighth Part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…

Part 7 of my Knightmare story!

Level 2 continues, with some more guest appearances....
The sound when the door is unlocked is similar to this sound - youtu.be/4hZWe-4RIo0?t=11m1s
When the piece of the chalice is collected, the sound is like this - youtu.be/4hZWe-4RIo0?t=26m39s
When the Revival Herb appears, the sound is like this - youtu.be/ztV-tyAdWm0?t=26m27s
And when the Revival Herb is collected, the sound is like this - youtu.be/4hZWe-4RIo0?t=21m16s

Revival Herbs are used here instead of sprites of energy (used in Knightmare), but the design of the sprites of energy are used in this picture.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Ah... welcome back, Watchers of Illusion to Knightmare....
I, Treguard, offer the ultimate challenge to young adventurers with truth and justice in their hearts.....
Even now, a group of adventurers braver than yourselves are on a quest to master the dungeon.... So let's see how it's progressing...

Remember Tinder and friends, the noble band
Who discovered the challenge by their own hand?
Well, they've proven they're brave indeed
For with Level 1, for worry, there was no need

And Level 2 has opened it's doors
And this team has entered, with a noble cause,
The Chalice is the prize they seek
A prize that will only be won by the meek

A Spinda Jester for sure did aid them
And the Absol gatekeeper managed to persuade them
But an old rival I had long forgotten
Lucard, a Gliscor with a heart most rotten
A quest of his own is now in motion
To enslave our team, a most vile notion

But Level 2 is still young, and there's so much more to do
Who will triumph? Good or evil? Let's see... me and you.."

_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room IV. Wiccan Witches' Lair
Life Force - Green to Amber
Clue Objects - Pecha Cider and Ground Shaymin Bones
Technical Machines - Detect and Confuse Ray

'Where am I?'

Audrey replied, 'You're in a room with a large cauldron in the middle, a cabinet of potions to it's left, and next to the cabinet is a doorway with a padlock on it.'

Treguard offered some advice to the team. 'Be cautious team, this is the lair of the Wiccan Witches - three witches who are full of wit and mischief, and like to trick and pester intruders... However, they are sometimes happy to provide information and useful items for travellers... For a small fee, that is....'

Tinder stood in the room for a moment, and her advisors were thinking about what to do... The door was locked, and they didn't see any other way to advance, as they remembered, there was no turning back....

No sooner after they had thought about this, they saw a strange flash of lightning fill the room behind the cauldron. How could lightning strike?! Pokémon could make lightning strike from inside a room, sure, but they couldn't see anyone to use that move....

After the flash of lightning had dispersed, in the place of the three strands of lightning were a trio of Pokémon - a Gardevoir, a Gothitelle and a Jynx. The Gothitelle was positioned behind the cauldron, and the two other Pokémon were on either side of her. They were all looking in shock at Tinder.

'An intruder, eh? Been a while since we've had someone who's been brave enough to cross our paths....' The Gothitelle remarked.

'And a Dungeoneer too? Hmm, very lucky that, eh, Hazel? We were out of good ingredients for our witch's brew! HEHEHEHEEE!' The Jynx laughed sinisterly... It was nowhere near as ominous as Lucard's cruel laughter, it was more mischievous.... as if the Jynx loved messing around with any intruders.... But still, witches like these were not beneath cooking up any meat they could find....

Luckily, the young Gardevoir snapped, 'Oh, really, Nightshade.... Look at her... this poor dear has been travelling far and wide to get here.... we should at least offer her a chance to receive help from us..... What's your name, dear?'

Tinder summered up, and told the Gardevoir, 'Tinder... Ah.. finally, one of these witches with sense... Maybe you can give us help that ISN'T confusing....'

The Gothitelle, whose name was Hazel, laughed and corrected Tinder, 'We never give anything away for free.... Not even advice.... We TRADE, you know.... Nothing is free... I trust you have something that you could offer us in exchange for this 'chance to receive help' young Desiree mentioned?'

Two items were in the possession of the team.... which to give? Well, the cider COULD work, but then again, who else other than the witches would want the bottle of Ground Shaymin Bones?!

Audrey called out to Tinder, 'Tinder, offer them the Ground Shaymin Bones, please...'

Tinder held out the bottle of ground bones to the three witches, and upon seeing this, the youngest of the witches, Desiree the Gardevoir, smiled in happiness and happily chirped, 'Look, girls! This young dungeoneer's brought us some ground Shaymin bones! Didn't you say we needed some more of these, Hazel?'

Hazel gave a small smile and replied, 'Indeed I did, Desiree, dear.... Well then, hand it here.... I suppose this child has fairly earned her chance for help.....'

As Desiree handed over the bottle, Tinder groaned and thought, 'Ugh..... You mean that bottle isn't ENOUGH for you?'

Hazel looked down at Tinder, and continued, 'Well, obviously, you must have fought through a lot of obstacles to get here... But brawn is not always enough.... Let us test your brains, and we MAY give you help, based on how well you do....'

Nightshade cackled, 'But get all of our questions wrong..... and we may see what Dungeonner Stew tastes like.... Haven't had THAT for a long while, have we, girls! Heheheheee!'

Tinder and her team-mates rolled their eyes.... more questions?

Desiree leant down to Tinder, and in a reassuring tone, told her, 'Don't worry, dear... I promise I'll make mine nice and easy for you... Okay, listen carefully...... A stitch in time saves... what?'

Ah, well, the kindly witch wasn't lying.... She seemed like she felt like everyone deserved a chance.... and indeed, all of the team knew this one.... And Tinder was the one who announced the answer....

Tinder told Desiree, 'Nine!'

Desiree gave a large beaming smile and clapped her hands together happily. 'Truth accepted! Wonderful!'

Nightshade, the dusty Jynx who was regarding Tinder with disinterest, scoffed and yelled, 'Ha! A RHYHORN could have answered that one.... Here's mine.... In a fight, what is courage as good as?'

A saying that needed completion, this time..... Tinder and her friends were trying to think hard... when Winston finally thought of a possible answer..... 'Strength?' Audrey and Watt thought about this.... It was no use being courageous if you don't have the true STRENGTH needed in a fight, is it? 'Tinder, I think it's strength... Does that sound right?' Tinder agreed with her friends, and answered Nightshade's question, 'Strength!'

The Jynx grinned in a concerning manner.... 'Heeheeeheee... FALSEHOOD! In a fight, ANGER is as good as courage!' Watt certainly felt ANGRY now... at Nightshade for not allowing them that as a correct answer! 'Well, well.... Looks like you're in the SOUP now, dearie! Heeheeheehee!' The Jynx was cackling like mad... She even leant down to Tinder, and tugged on her cheek! 'Nice and tender!'

Tinder felt furious, and pulled away from the ravenous witch, while Desiree stared at Nightshade with fear and disbelief.... Luckily, the eldest of the witches, and the wisest, pulled the eccentric Jynx away......... 'Shame on you, Nightshade.... I haven't told the Dungeoneer dear MY question yet.... Ahem.... Now then Tinder, complete this saying.... Barking dogs...' Hazel then gave a courteous bow to Tinder, to finish the saying...

Well.... seen as she was the wisest, it stood to reason that she gave a tougher saying to finish.... All that Watt could do was think back to the time he was being chased by a Lillipup when he was dropped off at the daycare Arcadia Heights..... By Arceus, was that Lillipup barking a lot.... And then, Watt also remembered what the barking mutt didn't have the true guts to do to him.... 'Does it have something to do with not biting?'

That sounded about right.... But how did the saying continue? Watt and Audrey turned to Winston - his parents often gave him words of wisdom... Winston scratched his head with his right wing.... He knew how it continued... But he couldn't place the exact wording.... 'Rarely bite?' 'Never bite?' 'Seldom bite?'

He wasn't entirely sure, but he suggested all of these to his team-mates... Audrey joked that the witches would probably be pretty picky to get the exact wording right.... And they would probably use big words... So she asked Tinder, 'Tinder... we think it's 'seldom bite'... Does that sound right?'

Tinder pondered about it for a while, and then though, 'Hmph.. I would say RARELY bite, personally, but if these hags want the more 'proper' term...'

Tinder then answered Hazel, 'Seldom bite!'

Hazel smiled... not in a concerning manner like Nightshade did, but in slight respect for Tinder... 'Truth accepted... well done! Two out of three.... not bad, not bad at all....'

Tinder's advisors grinned in triumph.

Nightshade butted in, rather abruptly, 'Ack! But, she didn't get all three right! Can we eat her? Please can we eat her?' Desiree hit Nightshade with an electric attack from her fingertips to shut her up.....

'Oh, stop it, Nightshade! They still did well.... In fact, I think we should reward them for their efforts, don't you, Hazel?' Desiree smiled.

'Very well.... Desiree, dear... unlock the door for them, and I'll give this brave Cyndaquil her just reward....' Hazel handed Desiree a small bronze key, who then turned towards the door, walked towards it, and upon holding the key up, the lock disappeared! Wow... the team thought. Not even opening LOCKS seemed normal in this dungeon!

'Give me the Ground Shaymin Bones, Nightshade, dear.... and I'll conjure up a useful piece of equipment worthy of an adventurer like Tinder here....' Nightshade rolled her eyes as she handed over the bottle to Hazel......

Hazel held her arms up, and chanted, as she poured the bottle of bones into the cauldron.... 'Bubble bubble, toil and trouble.... Fire burn and cauldron bubble.... By the twiddling of my thumbs.... An aid for this young traveller this way comes!'

Then, with a bright flash of light and a cloud of smoke from the bubbling cauldron, the concoction was complete..... Hazel clicked her fingers and a pair of pliers appeared.... She reached into the cauldron with this, and pulled out what seemed to be a Technical Machine.....

Handing the Technical Machine to Tinder, Hazel told her, 'Here you go dear... Don't worry, it's quite cool...' Tinder nervously took the Technical Machine... Hazel was right.... Wow, how could it be so cool if it was born from such hot fire?! Must be true magic....

'Yes, magic knows the way, my dear... That Technical Machine is a move that you won't find a machine for anywhere else.... It is called... CONFUSE RAY. It can be used both offensively and defensively... but use it wisely....' Hazel smiled.

Desiree led Tinder to the unlocked door.... 'Good luck my dear... Remember to take the sharp fork in the road in the room where you have two choices up ahead.... Beware... The going only gets harder from here on out.... But if you're true to your quest, you're succeed....' Desiree gave a warm grin to Tinder, who smiled back and thanked Desiree....

As Tinder walked forward, she could hear Desiree saying to Hazel and Nightshade, 'As I was saying before... do I LOOK like a Fairy to you?! I got hit by Dragonbreath the other day, and it really hurt... I still say that it would have been better if those people making up those myths called it the MAGIC type, sounds much better, doesn't it?!'

The two witches nodded in unison, and Nightshade replied, 'Pah! Fairy type... Sounds much too childish and stupid... Magic sounds MUCH better and more MATURE, I agree... No fellow Wiccan Witch of MINE is going to be called a FAIRY, I assure you.... Almost as bad as a Marrill being called a FAIRY... Looks NOTHING LIKE ONE! A Marrill, Sylveon and Gardevoir looks as much like a Fairy - and seems like one - as much as I look like a GRASS type!'

The witches cackled to each other over the joke.... Tinder shook her head.... 'Weird old fogies...' Tinder thought to herself...

_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room V. Vale of Woobats
Life Force - Amber
Clue Objects - Pecha Cider
Technical Machines - Detect and Confuse Ray

'Where am I?'

Winston told Tinder, 'You're in a cave with a steep drop to your right, with a huge bunch of Woobats flying around. In front of you is a campsite and a fire burning, with a pot on top of it.... And there's a.... is that clothes floating by itself?'

Treguard observed, 'Ah, a confusing scene, team..... If only there was a way you could truly perceive what was there....'

The team thought about this cryptic message for a while... How could they do this? None of the moves they had could help.... But then again, nothing was what it seemed in the Castle of Confusion, so maybe one of the moves they had a different effect than it seemed.... Audrey asked her teammates if it would work... and the team all agreed to give it a try...

Watt turned to the screen, and gave this idea a try.... 'Technical Machine... D-E-T-E-C-T.'

In the real world, this move would protect it's user from an incoming attack... But here, it had a different effect entirely...... The floating clothes began to change colour and shift before their eyes, and then, in their place, there sat a Kecleon, dressed in Robin Hood style garments.....

Treguard remarked, 'Oh, dear, team.... This ROBINN is a well-known thief around this castle, and he often tries to blend into his surroundings to fool people into crossing paths with him, so he can rob them blind.... But, perception like yours has foiled his plans.... Or has it?'

Robbin looked down in shock at his revealed self, and then stared at Tinder, 'Ach! You've revealed my true colours, young dungeoneer! But you can go no further.... Lootings and pillagings! Lootings and pillagings! Haha! ' He walked forward towards Tinder, who backed away slightly in shock.

Robbin continued, 'Now, you must choose....' As he motioned towards Tinder, his bow, and the flock of Woobats, he said respectively, 'Loot, pillage, or Woobats?'

Robbin gave a smug grin at this.... Either way, he would get something out of this.... 'We have plenty of Woobats, so... what is your choice, strange girl? Loot, pillage, or Woobats?'

Tinder felt pretty angry at this Kecleon - couldn't he tell she had been through a LOT?! And he had the nerve to try and rob her blind? She was eager to say pillage, as she could prove to this ruffian who would be pillaging who!

But then again, if she couldn't see him, she probably wouldn't do very well against HIS attacks, especially if he had a bow and arrows! So she reluctantly answered... 'Loot?'

Robbin perked up and asked, 'Ah, so, what lootings do you have for Robbin here? I will accept anything EXCEPT arrows or those strange witches brew ingredients...' Phew, thank goodness for that - if they chose the arrows - they would be in trouble here!

Tinder showed the Pecha Cider to the Kecleon thug, who seemed even MORE thrilled at this! 'Ah, Cider! Haven't hit the bottle for a while! Come here then, young girl, give it here, and you can pass!'

'Walk forward five steps, Tinder. Good, now turn to your right slightly... Bit more... Now take two steps forward.. Stop! That's great! Now hold out the Pecha Cider for him...'

After following Audrey's instructions, Tinder breathed a sigh of relief.... Finally, no more items to carry!

As the Kecleon took the bottle of cider, he suddenly took the cap off it, and had a huge swig of the drink! The team looked at Robbin in pity and surprise, as he took three huge gulps of the cider.... After what seemed like quite a while, the Kecleon FINALLY stopped drinking, and gave a loud hiccup. 'Hic... ah, excellent year! Hiccup! Pass on then, strange girl... V-very happy to be looting you!' Robbin then staggered over back to his cooking pot, and sat down, continuing to swig the cider. And he called TINDER strange?!

'Tinder... turn to your right, and now keep walking forward...' Winston guided Tinder.

As Tinder walked forward, the team began to feel slightly tired again.... Their Life Force was now in the Amber stage, and they began to feel slightly tired again.... Nonetheless, they knew they had to get out before the Kecleon went into a drunken state!

'Take a sidestep to the left. Walk forward.' Tinder followed Winston's instructions and left the cave.

_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room VI. Guard Room
Life Force - Amber
Technical Machines - Confuse Ray

'Where am I?'

Watt described the room for Tinder, 'You're in a room with two doors at the far end, one has an axe above the door and the other has a mace above it. At the end of the room is a trio of Pawniards and a Bisharp.'

The Bisharp and his three guards were previously calmly standing on guard before the team entered, but now, he yelled out at the top of his lungs, in a loud, sharp voice, 'HALT! Intruder alert, level 2! Pirc of the Chess Piecers guards the way! The password intruder.... or you perish!'

Password? The team didn't have a password like in level 1? What could they do instead? They had a move on them, but would that work here? Better give it a try... No matter what they did, they'd better make it fast - the Bisharp and his trio of Pawniards were closing in... and they didn't look friendly....

'The password, whelp! Spit it out!' Pirc yelled with malice in his voice.

Watt quickly took action. 'Technical Machine. C-O-N-F-U-S-E-R-A-Y.'

As soon as the move was cast, the Confuse Ray shot out at speed, and struck the three Pawniards. As soon as it hit, the ray took it's effect... Those Pawniards were all seeing ducks in confusion!

'What trickery is this! Stop it!' Pirc yelled in frustration at his three henchmen, who were all waving their weapons about in the air at complete random and in erratic patterns... This was fun to watch, sure... But still, the Pawniards were STILL getting close to Tinder!

'Quick, Tinder, take sidesteps to the right!' Winston yelled. Tinder did so at high speed, just missing the Pawniards throwing around their weapons while spouting gibberish.... One of the Pawniards then hit one of his companions! Now he was not seeing ducks anymore, he was seeing stars! Pirc stared in slight shock at this!

'Grragh! No-one makes my henchmen hit each other except me!' Pirc yelled with anger.

'Quick! Walk forward!' Winston screamed with shock - the other two Pawniards were closing in, hitting each other sure, but they were still dangerous! One of them hit the other with his mace, knocking him unconscious. Watt, Audrey, Winston and Tinder couldn't help but laugh at this, but Pirc looked like he was going to explode with fury.... He turned to Tinder, and sneered, 'Say your prayers, intruder! No-one messes with Pirc of the Chess Piecers!' He lifted his sword high into the air....

WHAP! The Pawniard with the mace slammed into Pirc's head, knocking him to the floor...

'Tinder, walk forward, quickly, Tinder!' Watt yelled. Tinder walked clear of the Bisharp, and the team watched as the remaining Pawniard knocked HIMSELF out with his own mace in confusion.... Pirc, in a daze, muttered, 'You... shall not.... pass....' He then collapsed..... It would take him quite a while to wake up - and he would probably wake up with a splitting headache!

Treguard laughed, 'Ooh, nasty! A Bisharp assaulted by his own Pawniards... He won't live this down.... Now quickly team, choose a way out... Life Force energy draining...'

What was that Desiree said? The sharp fork in the road? Well, there were two choices here.... Maybe she referred to the weapons above the doors... The mace was blunt, and the axe was sharp...

'Tinder, walk forward. Stop. Turn to your left, walk forward. Stop! Now, turn to your right.. Walk forward...' As Watt guided Tinder out of the room, the team looked at the Life Force clock appear... The Life Force clock was turning into the late stages of amber... The skin was almost stripped off the skull.... Almost into the red stage....
_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room VII. Starlit Cave
Life Force - Red to Green (Sprig of Energy Collected)
Pieces of The Chalice - 1/3

'Where am I?' Tinder panted, wiping sweat off her brow.

'The cave you're in has a Zen Darmanitan with a... laser from his eyes moving in a semi-circle. There's a... piece of the chalice with the word 'REC' written on it in front of the laser, and there's a door on the other side of the cave...' Audrey panted. Twoey was panting heavily, her tongue hung out completely. The team saw a strange herb of some kind appear on the other side of the room.

Treguard warned, 'Life Force warning, condition red! A Revival Herb is in this room, and a piece of the object you require is in your reach... A second Technical Machine from the Wiccan Witches could have helped stop the laser beams.... But still, there may be another way to proceed....'

The laser seemed to get closer to the wall that the Zen Darmanitan was on top of on the left and right, in the middle, it was furthest away, and it seemed to veer more from the floor in the middle as well.... Closer to the wall seemed safest... But how could Tinder get under the laser beam? By crouching?

'Tinder, t-turn to your left.... Walk forward un-until I say stop... STOP! Now...turn to your le-right.. Right. That's it...' Winston panted.... Wow.... their Life Force WAS low indeed.... This was the most tiring part of the journey so far....

'Now crouch down...' Winston asked as the team saw Tinder crouch on all fours...

'Go forward, STOP! STOP!!' The team yelled loudly - the laser passed just in front of Tinder.... Tinder felt hot enough from sweating, but the laser was white hot...

'Tinder... when we say go.. Go forward quickly, okay?' Audrey asked Tinder. Tinder gave a tired nod, panting.

'GO!' The team shouted, and watched as Tinder crawled forward as quick as she could. Tinder felt like she was learning to walk again! 'STOP!' The team suddenly shouted - Tinder stopped dead in the middle of the area between the laser and the Zen Darmanitan.

'Turn to your... left, Tinder, and when we say go again, go forward quickly...' Watt panted.

The laser moved past in front of Tinder a few times... The piece of the chalice was within Tinder's reach, but one touch of the laser would most likely remove whatever Life Force they had left!

'GO!' The team yelled just when the laser had passed. The team watched as the piece of the chalice was collected. But the laser was closing in! 'STOP! Now turn all the way around! Go forward again! STOP!' The laser just passed behind Tinder...

The team wiped their brows, and Treguard announced, 'A piece of your quest item is now in your possession, team, but you must hurry if you wish to collect the rest... Quickly team! I sense something is coming!' Treguard broke out in a sweat too... What was coming? Could it be... Treguard's rival?

The team tried to keep calm... They had to collect that herb, and fast!

'Turn to your left! Now... GO! GO FORWARD!' The team yelled, and Tinder crawled forward past the Zen Darmanitan's laser quickly... 'You can stand up now, Tinder..' Watt told Tinder in relief... But they weren't out of trouble yet, the Life Force clock was in it's last stages - the skull was moving towards the screen, just leaving the eyes behind!

'T-turn to y-your right... Walk forward, quick!' Audrey panted.... Tinder walked forward as quickly as she could, feeling like she would faint at any moment! Luckily, Tinder collected the Revival Herb just in time, as one of the eyes had disappeared from the Life Force clock!

The team took a breath of relief as the Life Force clock reset to Green... Their sweats had passed, their hearts had slowed in their beating slightly, and they didn't feel as hungry as they had been up until now.... They hadn't eaten anything... but this Revival Herb must have been magical indeed... And it was nowhere near as bitter as they thought it would be...

Just then, an all too familiar cruel laughter filled the room... LUCARD! The team suddenly knew they had to get out, and fast!

'Tinder, take sidesteps to your left!' Winston guided Tinder to the left of a small campfire that seemed to have been quickly abandoned in front of her... 'Walk forward! Stop! Turn to your left.. Walk forward!' Tinder left the room, as the cruel laughter seemed to getting louder, and Lucard seemed to be getting closer....

_______________________________________________________________________

Stay tuned for part 8!

A loud bell sounded suddenly. GONG! Treguard announced, 'Warning, team - temporal disruption imminent. Time is now the immediate enemy...' A second bell sounded - GONG! - and not only did Tinder stop in her tracks, but so did everything else, including her advisors. Only Treguard was still moving.

'Oh dear... Temporal disruption is now complete. Time has ceased in this realm, but in your world, time will continue... for now. Will the quest continue for Tinder and friends, or will their luck finally end? If you want to find out... Join us again soon, for Knightmare....

Just remember... Surely it's only an illusion..... Isn't it?'

Description
First part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Second part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Third part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Fourth part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Fifth part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Sixth Part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…
Eighth Part - duckyworth.deviantart.com/art/…

Part 7 of my Knightmare story!

Level 2 continues, with some more guest appearances....
The sound when the door is unlocked is similar to this sound - youtu.be/4hZWe-4RIo0?t=11m1s
When the piece of the chalice is collected, the sound is like this - youtu.be/4hZWe-4RIo0?t=26m39s
When the Revival Herb appears, the sound is like this - youtu.be/ztV-tyAdWm0?t=26m27s
And when the Revival Herb is collected, the sound is like this - youtu.be/4hZWe-4RIo0?t=21m16s

Revival Herbs are used here instead of sprites of energy (used in Knightmare), but the design of the sprites of energy are used in this picture.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Ah... welcome back, Watchers of Illusion to Knightmare....
I, Treguard, offer the ultimate challenge to young adventurers with truth and justice in their hearts.....
Even now, a group of adventurers braver than yourselves are on a quest to master the dungeon.... So let's see how it's progressing...

Remember Tinder and friends, the noble band
Who discovered the challenge by their own hand?
Well, they've proven they're brave indeed
For with Level 1, for worry, there was no need

And Level 2 has opened it's doors
And this team has entered, with a noble cause,
The Chalice is the prize they seek
A prize that will only be won by the meek

A Spinda Jester for sure did aid them
And the Absol gatekeeper managed to persuade them
But an old rival I had long forgotten
Lucard, a Gliscor with a heart most rotten
A quest of his own is now in motion
To enslave our team, a most vile notion

But Level 2 is still young, and there's so much more to do
Who will triumph? Good or evil? Let's see... me and you.."

_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room IV. Wiccan Witches' Lair
Life Force - Green to Amber
Clue Objects - Pecha Cider and Ground Shaymin Bones
Technical Machines - Detect and Confuse Ray

'Where am I?'

Audrey replied, 'You're in a room with a large cauldron in the middle, a cabinet of potions to it's left, and next to the cabinet is a doorway with a padlock on it.'

Treguard offered some advice to the team. 'Be cautious team, this is the lair of the Wiccan Witches - three witches who are full of wit and mischief, and like to trick and pester intruders... However, they are sometimes happy to provide information and useful items for travellers... For a small fee, that is....'

Tinder stood in the room for a moment, and her advisors were thinking about what to do... The door was locked, and they didn't see any other way to advance, as they remembered, there was no turning back....

No sooner after they had thought about this, they saw a strange flash of lightning fill the room behind the cauldron. How could lightning strike?! Pokémon could make lightning strike from inside a room, sure, but they couldn't see anyone to use that move....

After the flash of lightning had dispersed, in the place of the three strands of lightning were a trio of Pokémon - a Gardevoir, a Gothitelle and a Jynx. The Gothitelle was positioned behind the cauldron, and the two other Pokémon were on either side of her. They were all looking in shock at Tinder.

'An intruder, eh? Been a while since we've had someone who's been brave enough to cross our paths....' The Gothitelle remarked.

'And a Dungeoneer too? Hmm, very lucky that, eh, Hazel? We were out of good ingredients for our witch's brew! HEHEHEHEEE!' The Jynx laughed sinisterly... It was nowhere near as ominous as Lucard's cruel laughter, it was more mischievous.... as if the Jynx loved messing around with any intruders.... But still, witches like these were not beneath cooking up any meat they could find....

Luckily, the young Gardevoir snapped, 'Oh, really, Nightshade.... Look at her... this poor dear has been travelling far and wide to get here.... we should at least offer her a chance to receive help from us..... What's your name, dear?'

Tinder summered up, and told the Gardevoir, 'Tinder... Ah.. finally, one of these witches with sense... Maybe you can give us help that ISN'T confusing....'

The Gothitelle, whose name was Hazel, laughed and corrected Tinder, 'We never give anything away for free.... Not even advice.... We TRADE, you know.... Nothing is free... I trust you have something that you could offer us in exchange for this 'chance to receive help' young Desiree mentioned?'

Two items were in the possession of the team.... which to give? Well, the cider COULD work, but then again, who else other than the witches would want the bottle of Ground Shaymin Bones?!

Audrey called out to Tinder, 'Tinder, offer them the Ground Shaymin Bones, please...'

Tinder held out the bottle of ground bones to the three witches, and upon seeing this, the youngest of the witches, Desiree the Gardevoir, smiled in happiness and happily chirped, 'Look, girls! This young dungeoneer's brought us some ground Shaymin bones! Didn't you say we needed some more of these, Hazel?'

Hazel gave a small smile and replied, 'Indeed I did, Desiree, dear.... Well then, hand it here.... I suppose this child has fairly earned her chance for help.....'

As Desiree handed over the bottle, Tinder groaned and thought, 'Ugh..... You mean that bottle isn't ENOUGH for you?'

Hazel looked down at Tinder, and continued, 'Well, obviously, you must have fought through a lot of obstacles to get here... But brawn is not always enough.... Let us test your brains, and we MAY give you help, based on how well you do....'

Nightshade cackled, 'But get all of our questions wrong..... and we may see what Dungeonner Stew tastes like.... Haven't had THAT for a long while, have we, girls! Heheheheee!'

Tinder and her team-mates rolled their eyes.... more questions?

Desiree leant down to Tinder, and in a reassuring tone, told her, 'Don't worry, dear... I promise I'll make mine nice and easy for you... Okay, listen carefully...... A stitch in time saves... what?'

Ah, well, the kindly witch wasn't lying.... She seemed like she felt like everyone deserved a chance.... and indeed, all of the team knew this one.... And Tinder was the one who announced the answer....

Tinder told Desiree, 'Nine!'

Desiree gave a large beaming smile and clapped her hands together happily. 'Truth accepted! Wonderful!'

Nightshade, the dusty Jynx who was regarding Tinder with disinterest, scoffed and yelled, 'Ha! A RHYHORN could have answered that one.... Here's mine.... In a fight, what is courage as good as?'

A saying that needed completion, this time..... Tinder and her friends were trying to think hard... when Winston finally thought of a possible answer..... 'Strength?' Audrey and Watt thought about this.... It was no use being courageous if you don't have the true STRENGTH needed in a fight, is it? 'Tinder, I think it's strength... Does that sound right?' Tinder agreed with her friends, and answered Nightshade's question, 'Strength!'

The Jynx grinned in a concerning manner.... 'Heeheeeheee... FALSEHOOD! In a fight, ANGER is as good as courage!' Watt certainly felt ANGRY now... at Nightshade for not allowing them that as a correct answer! 'Well, well.... Looks like you're in the SOUP now, dearie! Heeheeheehee!' The Jynx was cackling like mad... She even leant down to Tinder, and tugged on her cheek! 'Nice and tender!'

Tinder felt furious, and pulled away from the ravenous witch, while Desiree stared at Nightshade with fear and disbelief.... Luckily, the eldest of the witches, and the wisest, pulled the eccentric Jynx away......... 'Shame on you, Nightshade.... I haven't told the Dungeoneer dear MY question yet.... Ahem.... Now then Tinder, complete this saying.... Barking dogs...' Hazel then gave a courteous bow to Tinder, to finish the saying...

Well.... seen as she was the wisest, it stood to reason that she gave a tougher saying to finish.... All that Watt could do was think back to the time he was being chased by a Lillipup when he was dropped off at the daycare Arcadia Heights..... By Arceus, was that Lillipup barking a lot.... And then, Watt also remembered what the barking mutt didn't have the true guts to do to him.... 'Does it have something to do with not biting?'

That sounded about right.... But how did the saying continue? Watt and Audrey turned to Winston - his parents often gave him words of wisdom... Winston scratched his head with his right wing.... He knew how it continued... But he couldn't place the exact wording.... 'Rarely bite?' 'Never bite?' 'Seldom bite?'

He wasn't entirely sure, but he suggested all of these to his team-mates... Audrey joked that the witches would probably be pretty picky to get the exact wording right.... And they would probably use big words... So she asked Tinder, 'Tinder... we think it's 'seldom bite'... Does that sound right?'

Tinder pondered about it for a while, and then though, 'Hmph.. I would say RARELY bite, personally, but if these hags want the more 'proper' term...'

Tinder then answered Hazel, 'Seldom bite!'

Hazel smiled... not in a concerning manner like Nightshade did, but in slight respect for Tinder... 'Truth accepted... well done! Two out of three.... not bad, not bad at all....'

Tinder's advisors grinned in triumph.

Nightshade butted in, rather abruptly, 'Ack! But, she didn't get all three right! Can we eat her? Please can we eat her?' Desiree hit Nightshade with an electric attack from her fingertips to shut her up.....

'Oh, stop it, Nightshade! They still did well.... In fact, I think we should reward them for their efforts, don't you, Hazel?' Desiree smiled.

'Very well.... Desiree, dear... unlock the door for them, and I'll give this brave Cyndaquil her just reward....' Hazel handed Desiree a small bronze key, who then turned towards the door, walked towards it, and upon holding the key up, the lock disappeared! Wow... the team thought. Not even opening LOCKS seemed normal in this dungeon!

'Give me the Ground Shaymin Bones, Nightshade, dear.... and I'll conjure up a useful piece of equipment worthy of an adventurer like Tinder here....' Nightshade rolled her eyes as she handed over the bottle to Hazel......

Hazel held her arms up, and chanted, as she poured the bottle of bones into the cauldron.... 'Bubble bubble, toil and trouble.... Fire burn and cauldron bubble.... By the twiddling of my thumbs.... An aid for this young traveller this way comes!'

Then, with a bright flash of light and a cloud of smoke from the bubbling cauldron, the concoction was complete..... Hazel clicked her fingers and a pair of pliers appeared.... She reached into the cauldron with this, and pulled out what seemed to be a Technical Machine.....

Handing the Technical Machine to Tinder, Hazel told her, 'Here you go dear... Don't worry, it's quite cool...' Tinder nervously took the Technical Machine... Hazel was right.... Wow, how could it be so cool if it was born from such hot fire?! Must be true magic....

'Yes, magic knows the way, my dear... That Technical Machine is a move that you won't find a machine for anywhere else.... It is called... CONFUSE RAY. It can be used both offensively and defensively... but use it wisely....' Hazel smiled.

Desiree led Tinder to the unlocked door.... 'Good luck my dear... Remember to take the sharp fork in the road in the room where you have two choices up ahead.... Beware... The going only gets harder from here on out.... But if you're true to your quest, you're succeed....' Desiree gave a warm grin to Tinder, who smiled back and thanked Desiree....

As Tinder walked forward, she could hear Desiree saying to Hazel and Nightshade, 'As I was saying before... do I LOOK like a Fairy to you?! I got hit by Dragonbreath the other day, and it really hurt... I still say that it would have been better if those people making up those myths called it the MAGIC type, sounds much better, doesn't it?!'

The two witches nodded in unison, and Nightshade replied, 'Pah! Fairy type... Sounds much too childish and stupid... Magic sounds MUCH better and more MATURE, I agree... No fellow Wiccan Witch of MINE is going to be called a FAIRY, I assure you.... Almost as bad as a Marrill being called a FAIRY... Looks NOTHING LIKE ONE! A Marrill, Sylveon and Gardevoir looks as much like a Fairy - and seems like one - as much as I look like a GRASS type!'

The witches cackled to each other over the joke.... Tinder shook her head.... 'Weird old fogies...' Tinder thought to herself...

_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room V. Vale of Woobats
Life Force - Amber
Clue Objects - Pecha Cider
Technical Machines - Detect and Confuse Ray

'Where am I?'

Winston told Tinder, 'You're in a cave with a steep drop to your right, with a huge bunch of Woobats flying around. In front of you is a campsite and a fire burning, with a pot on top of it.... And there's a.... is that clothes floating by itself?'

Treguard observed, 'Ah, a confusing scene, team..... If only there was a way you could truly perceive what was there....'

The team thought about this cryptic message for a while... How could they do this? None of the moves they had could help.... But then again, nothing was what it seemed in the Castle of Confusion, so maybe one of the moves they had a different effect than it seemed.... Audrey asked her teammates if it would work... and the team all agreed to give it a try...

Watt turned to the screen, and gave this idea a try.... 'Technical Machine... D-E-T-E-C-T.'

In the real world, this move would protect it's user from an incoming attack... But here, it had a different effect entirely...... The floating clothes began to change colour and shift before their eyes, and then, in their place, there sat a Kecleon, dressed in Robin Hood style garments.....

Treguard remarked, 'Oh, dear, team.... This ROBINN is a well-known thief around this castle, and he often tries to blend into his surroundings to fool people into crossing paths with him, so he can rob them blind.... But, perception like yours has foiled his plans.... Or has it?'

Robbin looked down in shock at his revealed self, and then stared at Tinder, 'Ach! You've revealed my true colours, young dungeoneer! But you can go no further.... Lootings and pillagings! Lootings and pillagings! Haha! ' He walked forward towards Tinder, who backed away slightly in shock.

Robbin continued, 'Now, you must choose....' As he motioned towards Tinder, his bow, and the flock of Woobats, he said respectively, 'Loot, pillage, or Woobats?'

Robbin gave a smug grin at this.... Either way, he would get something out of this.... 'We have plenty of Woobats, so... what is your choice, strange girl? Loot, pillage, or Woobats?'

Tinder felt pretty angry at this Kecleon - couldn't he tell she had been through a LOT?! And he had the nerve to try and rob her blind? She was eager to say pillage, as she could prove to this ruffian who would be pillaging who!

But then again, if she couldn't see him, she probably wouldn't do very well against HIS attacks, especially if he had a bow and arrows! So she reluctantly answered... 'Loot?'

Robbin perked up and asked, 'Ah, so, what lootings do you have for Robbin here? I will accept anything EXCEPT arrows or those strange witches brew ingredients...' Phew, thank goodness for that - if they chose the arrows - they would be in trouble here!

Tinder showed the Pecha Cider to the Kecleon thug, who seemed even MORE thrilled at this! 'Ah, Cider! Haven't hit the bottle for a while! Come here then, young girl, give it here, and you can pass!'

'Walk forward five steps, Tinder. Good, now turn to your right slightly... Bit more... Now take two steps forward.. Stop! That's great! Now hold out the Pecha Cider for him...'

After following Audrey's instructions, Tinder breathed a sigh of relief.... Finally, no more items to carry!

As the Kecleon took the bottle of cider, he suddenly took the cap off it, and had a huge swig of the drink! The team looked at Robbin in pity and surprise, as he took three huge gulps of the cider.... After what seemed like quite a while, the Kecleon FINALLY stopped drinking, and gave a loud hiccup. 'Hic... ah, excellent year! Hiccup! Pass on then, strange girl... V-very happy to be looting you!' Robbin then staggered over back to his cooking pot, and sat down, continuing to swig the cider. And he called TINDER strange?!

'Tinder... turn to your right, and now keep walking forward...' Winston guided Tinder.

As Tinder walked forward, the team began to feel slightly tired again.... Their Life Force was now in the Amber stage, and they began to feel slightly tired again.... Nonetheless, they knew they had to get out before the Kecleon went into a drunken state!

'Take a sidestep to the left. Walk forward.' Tinder followed Winston's instructions and left the cave.

_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room VI. Guard Room
Life Force - Amber
Technical Machines - Confuse Ray

'Where am I?'

Watt described the room for Tinder, 'You're in a room with two doors at the far end, one has an axe above the door and the other has a mace above it. At the end of the room is a trio of Pawniards and a Bisharp.'

The Bisharp and his three guards were previously calmly standing on guard before the team entered, but now, he yelled out at the top of his lungs, in a loud, sharp voice, 'HALT! Intruder alert, level 2! Pirc of the Chess Piecers guards the way! The password intruder.... or you perish!'

Password? The team didn't have a password like in level 1? What could they do instead? They had a move on them, but would that work here? Better give it a try... No matter what they did, they'd better make it fast - the Bisharp and his trio of Pawniards were closing in... and they didn't look friendly....

'The password, whelp! Spit it out!' Pirc yelled with malice in his voice.

Watt quickly took action. 'Technical Machine. C-O-N-F-U-S-E-R-A-Y.'

As soon as the move was cast, the Confuse Ray shot out at speed, and struck the three Pawniards. As soon as it hit, the ray took it's effect... Those Pawniards were all seeing ducks in confusion!

'What trickery is this! Stop it!' Pirc yelled in frustration at his three henchmen, who were all waving their weapons about in the air at complete random and in erratic patterns... This was fun to watch, sure... But still, the Pawniards were STILL getting close to Tinder!

'Quick, Tinder, take sidesteps to the right!' Winston yelled. Tinder did so at high speed, just missing the Pawniards throwing around their weapons while spouting gibberish.... One of the Pawniards then hit one of his companions! Now he was not seeing ducks anymore, he was seeing stars! Pirc stared in slight shock at this!

'Grragh! No-one makes my henchmen hit each other except me!' Pirc yelled with anger.

'Quick! Walk forward!' Winston screamed with shock - the other two Pawniards were closing in, hitting each other sure, but they were still dangerous! One of them hit the other with his mace, knocking him unconscious. Watt, Audrey, Winston and Tinder couldn't help but laugh at this, but Pirc looked like he was going to explode with fury.... He turned to Tinder, and sneered, 'Say your prayers, intruder! No-one messes with Pirc of the Chess Piecers!' He lifted his sword high into the air....

WHAP! The Pawniard with the mace slammed into Pirc's head, knocking him to the floor...

'Tinder, walk forward, quickly, Tinder!' Watt yelled. Tinder walked clear of the Bisharp, and the team watched as the remaining Pawniard knocked HIMSELF out with his own mace in confusion.... Pirc, in a daze, muttered, 'You... shall not.... pass....' He then collapsed..... It would take him quite a while to wake up - and he would probably wake up with a splitting headache!

Treguard laughed, 'Ooh, nasty! A Bisharp assaulted by his own Pawniards... He won't live this down.... Now quickly team, choose a way out... Life Force energy draining...'

What was that Desiree said? The sharp fork in the road? Well, there were two choices here.... Maybe she referred to the weapons above the doors... The mace was blunt, and the axe was sharp...

'Tinder, walk forward. Stop. Turn to your left, walk forward. Stop! Now, turn to your right.. Walk forward...' As Watt guided Tinder out of the room, the team looked at the Life Force clock appear... The Life Force clock was turning into the late stages of amber... The skin was almost stripped off the skull.... Almost into the red stage....
_______________________________________________________________________

Level 2. Room VII. Starlit Cave
Life Force - Red to Green (Sprig of Energy Collected)
Pieces of The Chalice - 1/3

'Where am I?' Tinder panted, wiping sweat off her brow.

'The cave you're in has a Zen Darmanitan with a... laser from his eyes moving in a semi-circle. There's a... piece of the chalice with the word 'REC' written on it in front of the laser, and there's a door on the other side of the cave...' Audrey panted. Twoey was panting heavily, her tongue hung out completely. The team saw a strange herb of some kind appear on the other side of the room.

Treguard warned, 'Life Force warning, condition red! A Revival Herb is in this room, and a piece of the object you require is in your reach... A second Technical Machine from the Wiccan Witches could have helped stop the laser beams.... But still, there may be another way to proceed....'

The laser seemed to get closer to the wall that the Zen Darmanitan was on top of on the left and right, in the middle, it was furthest away, and it seemed to veer more from the floor in the middle as well.... Closer to the wall seemed safest... But how could Tinder get under the laser beam? By crouching?

'Tinder, t-turn to your left.... Walk forward un-until I say stop... STOP! Now...turn to your le-right.. Right. That's it...' Winston panted.... Wow.... their Life Force WAS low indeed.... This was the most tiring part of the journey so far....

'Now crouch down...' Winston asked as the team saw Tinder crouch on all fours...

'Go forward, STOP! STOP!!' The team yelled loudly - the laser passed just in front of Tinder.... Tinder felt hot enough from sweating, but the laser was white hot...

'Tinder... when we say go.. Go forward quickly, okay?' Audrey asked Tinder. Tinder gave a tired nod, panting.

'GO!' The team shouted, and watched as Tinder crawled forward as quick as she could. Tinder felt like she was learning to walk again! 'STOP!' The team suddenly shouted - Tinder stopped dead in the middle of the area between the laser and the Zen Darmanitan.

'Turn to your... left, Tinder, and when we say go again, go forward quickly...' Watt panted.

The laser moved past in front of Tinder a few times... The piece of the chalice was within Tinder's reach, but one touch of the laser would most likely remove whatever Life Force they had left!

'GO!' The team yelled just when the laser had passed. The team watched as the piece of the chalice was collected. But the laser was closing in! 'STOP! Now turn all the way around! Go forward again! STOP!' The laser just passed behind Tinder...

The team wiped their brows, and Treguard announced, 'A piece of your quest item is now in your possession, team, but you must hurry if you wish to collect the rest... Quickly team! I sense something is coming!' Treguard broke out in a sweat too... What was coming? Could it be... Treguard's rival?

The team tried to keep calm... They had to collect that herb, and fast!

'Turn to your left! Now... GO! GO FORWARD!' The team yelled, and Tinder crawled forward past the Zen Darmanitan's laser quickly... 'You can stand up now, Tinder..' Watt told Tinder in relief... But they weren't out of trouble yet, the Life Force clock was in it's last stages - the skull was moving towards the screen, just leaving the eyes behind!

'T-turn to y-your right... Walk forward, quick!' Audrey panted.... Tinder walked forward as quickly as she could, feeling like she would faint at any moment! Luckily, Tinder collected the Revival Herb just in time, as one of the eyes had disappeared from the Life Force clock!

The team took a breath of relief as the Life Force clock reset to Green... Their sweats had passed, their hearts had slowed in their beating slightly, and they didn't feel as hungry as they had been up until now.... They hadn't eaten anything... but this Revival Herb must have been magical indeed... And it was nowhere near as bitter as they thought it would be...

Just then, an all too familiar cruel laughter filled the room... LUCARD! The team suddenly knew they had to get out, and fast!

'Tinder, take sidesteps to your left!' Winston guided Tinder to the left of a small campfire that seemed to have been quickly abandoned in front of her... 'Walk forward! Stop! Turn to your left.. Walk forward!' Tinder left the room, as the cruel laughter seemed to getting louder, and Lucard seemed to be getting closer....

_______________________________________________________________________

Stay tuned for part 8!

A loud bell sounded suddenly. GONG! Treguard announced, 'Warning, team - temporal disruption imminent. Time is now the immediate enemy...' A second bell sounded - GONG! - and not only did Tinder stop in her tracks, but so did everything else, including her advisors. Only Treguard was still moving.

'Oh dear... Temporal disruption is now complete. Time has ceased in this realm, but in your world, time will continue... for now. Will the quest continue for Tinder and friends, or will their luck finally end? If you want to find out... Join us again soon, for Knightmare....

Just remember... Surely it's only an illusion..... Isn't it?'