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Xiura looked down at the Dream Ball she held in her hands, her Shadow Ninetales safely resting inside. Her shadowy tails swayed behind her, marking her choice to deny her Pokemon purification. Guilt weighed on her heart, and she wondered if she had made the right decision.
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She headed towards a nearby dungeon in the forest, marked on the map. Her Dream Ball rocked slightly as her Ninetales stirred restlessly, wishing to be released. A howling noise came from the depths of the dungeon’s cavernous entrance. Xiura shivered, knowing that whatever might attack her would most certainly be able to overcome her unless her Ninetales was on her side. But seeing her aggressive reaction to her made Xiura feel wary and uncertain.
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Just then, another person approached the dungeon from the opposite direction.
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“Hello,” he said. “I’m Don.” He seemed to be a friendly face, with a mop of green hair framing his handsome, angular features. At his side, a Shadow Chansey glared impassively at Xiura.
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“It’s nice to meet you, Don,” Xiura said, introducing herself in turn. “I’m Xiura. Or, I guess my gamer tag is 'matchamaker.'” She laughed.
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“You can just call me Don,” the player said, self-effacingly. “My nickname is too embarrassing.”
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Xiura wondered briefly what it could be; there were too many possibilities, but she decided not to press. “It happens,” she said, reassuringly. “I’m sure it’s not that bad.”
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“Would you like to form a dungeon party with me?” he asked, saving her the trouble of asking.
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Xiura nodded immediately. “I would really appreciate that.” She flashed him a bright smile and they went into the dungeon.
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As soon as they passed the threshold from darkness to light, Xiura stopped stock-still upon seeing the dungeon’s inside for the first time.
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“Is this… my house?” she said uncertainly, looking around. It was certainly a much larger version of her house, as though she were seeing it from the perspective of a five-year-old, and laid out differently; but it still gave the impression of her own childhood home in Ecruteak City.
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Just then, a Shadow Hattrem came out, growling and swiping at Xiura’s legs. She jumped back with a small yelp of surprise and fright.
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Don commanded, “Shadow Rush, Chansey!” and the Hattrem was quickly taken down.
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“It may look like your home, but it’s still a dungeon,” Don cautioned. Xiura nodded, still feeling unsettled. As they proceeded to the next room across tatami mats and through papered sliding doors, a group of Clefairy turned to consider them, their eyes gleaming with distrust and aggression.
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Before Xiura could speak, her Shadow Ninetales came out, her tails whipping to and fro in disgust towards the Shadow Pokemon that were in their way. The Clefairy started preparing their attacks, shadowy globes appearing between their hands. There wasn’t any time to waste. “Shizuka!” Xiura said, “Shadow Storm!” Xiura understood, as the Clefairy fainted, that she was helpless without her Ninetales’ aid. It was for the best that she had made the decision she did.
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And on they traversed through the dungeon’s rooms, each room leading them deeper into the dungeon and closer to the end. The Pokemon were all easily defeated between Don’s Chansey and Xiura’s Ninetales, their Shadow attacks overwhelming each group of opposing Pokemon.
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The final door between them and the last room glowed with a strange red light, as though fire burned behind it.
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“This is it,” Don said, turning to her with a gentle smile. It was eerily familiar, but Xiura had only met him an hour ago, before they had entered the dungeon.
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“Where are you from, in Hoenn?” Xiura asked.
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“Hoenn?” the man said, tilting his head. “I don’t know of Hoenn. I am here as a guide and a help, as you did not have other companions to join you in the dungeon.”
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Ah, he's an NPC, Xiura thought. No wonder his appearance at the front of the dungeon was so timely.
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Taking in a deep breath, Xiura slid open the door, only to see a Dynamax Incineroar, bellowing with thunderous might at the high-domed ceiling. It shouldn’t have surprised her, seeing as how the other Pokemon in the dungeon had been such familiar figures from when she was growing up.
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Xiura recognized the next move the Incineroar leveled against them: Darkest Lariat. “Dodge, Shizuka!” Her Ninetales dodged, but only barely. The Incineroar’s moves were already incredibly powerful, and the overly-large Incineroar seemed to be able to perceive all of their moves from a glance.
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Just then, an item card appeared before her from her inventory:

lilac tablecloth / A light purple tablecloth. It’s smooth and pleasant to the touch, and dishes can be placed on it with hardly a sound.

She winced, unsure how this was going to help, but tossed it into the air. Incineroar growled, using a Fire Blast to set he cloth aflame; it fell to the ground in a heap of charring purple cloth. The Incineroar, distracted, did not notice as Shizuka aimed Shadow Storm at it. It wavered beneath the force of the attack, its head lolling back. Then the Incineroar growled, casting Fire Blast at their party again. Don and Xiura leapt out of the way, but their Pokemon who were standing in the way to block the attack were not as fortunate. Ninetales was hurt, but it was Chansey that sustained raw-looking burns, its fur singed away by the flames. If Chansey fainted now, they would never defeat the Dynamax Incineroar. The Incineroar sneered at them, roaring again as it sensed its imminent triumph.
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In desperation, Xiura looked through her last two item cards. One caught her eye:

fresh water / Restores 30 HP.

“Here!” Xiura said, quickly giving the water to Chansey. The Shadow Chansey grumbled but did not resist, drinking down the water. After the treatment, it looked much better, and angry, besides.
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“Shadow Rush!” Don directed, and the Chansey attacked once more.
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"Shadow Storm!” Xiura said, and her Alolan Ninetales attacked again in sync with the Chansey.
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Already weakened by the duration of the battle and overwhelmed by their combined attacks, the Incineroar shrunk down to normal size and fainted. Xiura panted, the adrenaline from the fight starting to wear off. She was exhausted. Don looked pristine and just as energetic as at the beginning of their journey.
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“Don, do you know how to get out of here?” Xiura asked, her Shadow Ninetales retreating into its ball.
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“I know the general direction of the exit, but since the dungeon was a maze, I can’t say exactly how to get out,” Don said.
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Xiura sighed, when the last item card came to mind.

escape rope / A long and durable rope. Use it to escape instantly from locations like caves or dungeons.

Xiura activated the card, and with it, they left the dungeon. Don smiled and waved, disappearing into the forest. Xiura supposed it added to the immersion of the environment, rather than having the NPC dissolving into thin air.
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She looked back at the dungeon’s entrance, then started on her journey back to the castle. During the walk back, she noticed something in her pocket kept thudding against her leg. She reached in and pulled out a small token that had apparently appeared after the Dynamax fight: a small planner, much like the one she had when dreaming up her cafe.

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