Part 3: Day 1 - Tiny Woods

Where are we now?

This is the Tiny Woods. As you can guess, it's pretty small; we should have that Caterpie rescued in no time.

I wish we knew where to look...

Yeah, I guess we should have asked that Butterfree before we ran off like that. Oh well, too late now! Let's look around.



So where are you from, anyway?

I don't remember... I don't remember anything.

What? That's awful! Did you hit your head or something?

I don't know. I don't think so, but...

...but you don't remember, right.

(...if I don't remember anything... why am I so sure I wasn't a Meowth before?)



Awww. It's a dead end.

Sorry about that. It can get confusing in here sometimes.

Fortunately, we can trade places with our partner just by walking toward him.



It's a Pidgey! I love Pidgeys!

Maybe he's seen the Caterpie. Let's ask.



Um, excuse me, but... but could I



Owww! He hit me!

Hey, what'd you do that for?

I just wanted to know if I could



Owww!

Jake! You're gonna have to hit him back!

But... but I don't want to--

I can't reach him with you in the way!

The Pidgey's being mean to me!

All right, move!



There, he flew off. Are you okay?

It huuuurts...

It's just a couple scratches. Haven't you ever fought before?

...no...

What? How old are you?

...nine... I think...

Aww, you're just a kid! I'm sorry... you look older. Well, if any more Pokémon attack us for no reason, I'll help you fight them, okay?

...okay...

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, your party will heal gradually over time, so Jake and Sheldon will recover soon.



Uh oh, it's another Pidgey. I don't like the look in his eye. Quick, move over so I can hit him!

Okay.

Great! Now hit him with a Scratch attack!

But I don't wanna--

Just do it!



...well, that was more of a headbutt, but you did good, kid.

Why did we have to hurt the Pokémon? I just want to hug them!

I don't know why the Pokémon here are acting crazy, but I'd rather beat them up than let them beat you up.

Anyway, if you want to hug a Pokémon, you can always hug me!

You mean it?

Uh, yeah, sure. (What's with that weird look in his eyes?)

Yaaay! Pokémon huuug!



Sheldon (Squirtle, #007) is hugged! Pokémon hugged: 1. (Thanks, Rooreelooo and Tank_Sledgehammer!)

(I'm beginning to think this kid is more than just young.) Uh, let's keep moving, okay? That Caterpie isn't going to rescue himself.

Okay!



Uh oh, Sunkern, and they look mad! Quick, Jake, use a Scratch attack!

...o-okay!



Good job, kid! Look out, here comes the other one!

Note that the Sunkern can't approach diagonally; the corridor corners prevent that movement.

...g-go away before I have to scratch you!

He's not listening...

...yaaah!

Good, that's the last of them.

...I don't like these Pokémon. They're mean.

...what's this?

What's what?

The shiny things they dropped.

Wow, you don't remember anything, do you? That's Poké. You spend it on stuff.

Oh. Can I take it?

Well, under the circumstances, I don't see why not.

It's shiiiny.

(I heard Meowths liked money, but this kid's on a whole other level.)



These are the stairs. They lead to the next level of the dungeon; as you can see, they lead down. Why are there stairs in a forest? Well, there's a perfectly logical

Look out, it's another Sunkern!

Scraaaatch!

Good job, kid!



Leveled up! Happy, mrowl!



Yeah! I leveled!

Experience is evenly shared with the entire party. As you can see, Jake and Sheldon just got their first level from that Sunkern. If you encounter a dungeon that seems too tough to beat, going back to an earlier dungeon to get more experience is a good idea.

I feel tingly.

I guess I don't have to explain levels to you, huh, kid?

...huh. I guess you don't.

Well, let's keep moving.

Not shown: checking the rest of the rooms on this level, but finding nothing of interest. Also! Hold B, then press A, to pass time without doing anything. It's something I forgot to mention earlier, and if you need some healing, it'll pass the time more quickly.



Hey, what's this?

It's a Pecha Berry. If you get poisoned, you can eat it to cure the poison.

Yay berry!

(...definitely something off about this kid...)

(...oh well. He's nice. I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on him.)

Not shown: checking the rest of the rooms on this level, fighting a few random Pokémon, and finding another Pecha Berry, which Sheldon took.



Waaaah... Mommy... where are you?



We came to rescue you.

Huh?

Your mom's waiting. Let's get you out!

Okay.



My baby's safe... I'm sorry, I don't know how I could ever thank you properly...

Aww, don't worry, lady. There have been a lot of quakes and fissures lately. It's dangerous. I'm glad your little guy's not hurt, honestly.

Please, may I have your names at least?

I'm Sheldon. And this is Jake.

...Cool...



(He's, uh... staring at me... It's kind of embarrassing...)

(But I like it. It's like I'm a hero. I want to help more Pokémon!)

Just a heads-up for anyone expecting an 100% faithful experience: I'm starting to take liberties with lines as given by the game to better suit Jake's character. The gist will be the same-- this isn't a parody-- but the wording will be different.

Thank you! Sheldon and Jake!

I know it isn't really enough, but this is a token of our thanks. Please accept it.

She gave us an Oran Berry (restores HP), a Pecha Berry, and a Rawst Berry (heals burns).

Thank you so much. Goodbye.



Hey, thanks for helping me out. You're a good kid. I like that. So, uh... what are you going to do? After this, I mean.

...

...Say, Jake. If you don't have anywhere to stay, why don't you come with me?



Well, this is the place...



(Wow! I love this place! I feel like I want to wag my tail!)

I can tell you're impressed. I thought you'd like it.

In fact, I was sure that you'd like it.

This is your mailbox. This is where you'll get mail from other Pokémon.

I like mail!

You know that fissure Caterpie fell into? There've been other natural disasters like that all of a sudden. A lot of Pokémon out there are hurting from those disasters. I want to help Pokémon like that. I want to help make this a safer place for Pokémon. And, uh... I think you're capable after seeing how you did rescuing Caterpie. How would you like to form a rescue team with me? Jake, I think we'd make the world's greatest rescue team. How about it?

There's a choice here, but it's a 'But Thou Must!' choice, and anyway...

Yaaay let's rescue Pokémon! Huuugs!

(...I'm gonna have to keep this kid from drinking bleach, aren't I? Oh well, he means well.)

Okay! That's done it! Starting right now, me and you, Jake, we're partners in our rescue team! I'm counting on you!

The team's name... actually, I haven't thought of one yet. Hey, Jake. What do you think would be a good name?



(...oh... uh... names... I'm not good with names...)



I wanna call it 'Hugs'!

('Team Hugs'? Well... it could be worse...)

Hugs! Yeah... that's a good name! It suits us!

Rescue Team Hugs! We begin tomorrow! Let's do it!



And that is how Jake and Sheldon began their careers together as a rescue team.



Next time on Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Hugs goes on its first official mission!