Chapter 1: The Uninvited Light

Scene 1 — Prehistoric Escape

Location: Prehistoric era. Open grassland. Volcano in the distance.

The gang runs. Hard.

Behind them, three Tyrannosaurus rex are gaining ground. Each footstep shakes the earth.

Nobita: (gasping) "Faster! FASTER!"

Gian: (pumping his arms) "I knew I shouldn't have let you pick this time!"

Suneo: (crying) "YOU'RE the one who said 'let's see real dinosaurs'!"

Gian: "I meant FOSSILS!"

Shizuka: (struggling to keep up) "Doraemon! How much further?!"

Doraemon: (running ahead, pointing) "There! The booth!"

Up ahead, the red Otherworld Telephone Booth stands alone in the grass. Door open. Waiting.

Nobita: "Almost there! Almost—"

He trips.

Gian: skids to a stop. "OI! IDIOT!"

Nobita: on the ground, scrambling. "My ankle—!"

The T-rex are closing. Fifty meters. Forty.

Shizuka: "NOBITA!"

Doraemon: turns back. Runs toward him.

Gian: already moving. Grabs Nobita's arm, yanks him up. "MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"

They run. Together. Thirty meters. Twenty.

The T-rex roar. Hot breath at their backs.

Suneo: reaches the booth first, holding the door. "HURRY! HURRY!"

Doraemon: dives in.

Shizuka: dives in.

Gian: shoves Nobita through, then piles in after.

Suneo: slams the door.

Inside, they're a pile of limbs, panting, sweating.

Outside, through the booth's glass windows—

The T-rex skid to a stop. They surround the booth. Sniffing. Tapping it with their noses. Confused.

Nobita: (from inside, wheezing) "Go... go go go..."

Doraemon: reaches for the receiver. Grabs it. "I want to go back to our world! OUR world! NOW!"

The booth hums. Glows.

Outside, the T-rex step back as light floods from the booth.

Then—

POP.

The booth vanishes.

The T-rex stare at the empty space where it stood.

One of them tilts its head.

Another sniffs the grass.

Nothing.

They look at each other.

Then, slowly, they wander off, confused and snackless.

End of Scene 1

Scene 2 — Home Again

Location: Nobita's room. Evening.

The red telephone booth materializes with a soft pop.

The door bursts open and the gang tumbles out in a heap of tired limbs.

Gian: lands on bottom. "OW! Get off!"

Suneo: face-down. "I can't feel my legs..."

Nobita: sprawled on top. "We're alive... we're alive..."

Shizuka: (sitting up, pushing hair from her face) "That was... that was really close."

Doraemon: pulls himself out last, collapsing against the desk. Panting.

For a moment, no one moves. Just breathing.

Then—

Gian: (from under the pile) "I TOLD you we shouldn't have stayed so long!"

Nobita: "YOU'RE the one who wanted to see the Triceratops herd!"

Gian: "The herd was FINE! It was the T-REX that was the problem!"

Suneo: (still face-down) "We almost died. We almost died because of dinosaurs. I'm going to have nightmares forever."

Shizuka: (giggling weakly) "At least we are safe!"

Doraemon: finally catches his breath. "Everyone okay? Any injuries?"

Nobita: checks himself. "I think I'm fine."

Gian: (shoving people off) "I'm fine. Suneo, you fine?"

Suneo: (still face-down) "My dignity is injured."

Gian: "That had been injured before "

Shizuka: stands, brushes off her skirt. "That was our fifth world today, right? Candy world, floating island, monster kingdom, underwater city, and now dinosaurs! It can make any world real!"

Nobita: quickly standing up " The Underwater city was pretty cool! "

Suneo: finally sits up. "The candy world was the best. I was royalty."

Gian: "The monster kingdom was the best. I fought their king to a draw!"

Nobita: "The floating island was pretty..."

Shizuka: smiles. "They were all wonderful. But I'm glad to be home."

Doraemon: nods. He reaches into his pocket—still working now—and pulls out a small cloth. Walks to the telephone booth and starts wiping it down.

Gian: stretches. "Same time next week?"

Doraemon: "If your parents allow it."

Gian: "They let me do whatever."

Suneo: "That explains so much."

Gian: (winding up) "What's THAT supposed to—"

Shizuka: (quickly) "It's getting dark! I should go home!"

Nobita: smelling the air "Yeah. Mom is already making dinner."

Gian: lowers his fist. "Tch. Fine. But next time, I'm picking ALL the worlds."

Suneo: "That's terrifying."

Gian: drags Suneo out by the collar.

Shizuka: waves at the door. "Goodnight everyone! Thank you, Doraemon!"

Doraemon: waves back. "Goodnight, Shizuka. Be safe."

She leaves.

Nobita: yawns. "I'm gonna go watch TV. You coming, Doraemon?"

Doraemon: continues wiping the booth. "In a bit. I want to make sure this is properly stored."

Nobita: nods, shuffles out.

Location: Nobita's living room.

Nobita's Dad (Nobisuke): is lying under the kotatsu, snoring softly. The TV plays some variety show—laughter tracks, bright colors.

Nobita: walks in, flops onto the couch. Grabs the remote. Flicks channels absently.

His dad stirs slightly.

Nobisuke: (mumbling) "Nobita... home?"

Nobita: "Yeah, Dad. Just got back."

Nobisuke: "Mm... good... don't stay up too late..."

He's asleep again.

Nobita: smiles a little. Settles on a channel. Some drama. Doesn't matter. It's just nice to be home.

CUT TO:

Gian's house. He walks in, his mom yelling something from the kitchen. He yells back, grinning. Normal.

CUT TO:

Suneo's house. He's already in his room, lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Probably still traumatized. Probably fine.

CUT TO:

Shizuka's house. She opens the front door. Her mom calls out a greeting. She smiles, calls back. Heads to her room.

CUT TO:

Doraemon's room. He's finished cleaning the booth. He touches it once—checking. Then opens his pocket and carefully guides it inside. The booth folds in like it's nothing.

He looks around the room. Quiet. Neat.

Doraemon: (to himself) "Five worlds. Not bad for one day."

He smiles. Heads toward the living room to join Nobita.

CUT TO:

Nobita's living room.

Nobita: is half-asleep on the couch. TV still on. His dad sleeping under the kotatsu. Peaceful. Ordinary.

Doraemon: walks in, about to say something—

Then—

Light.

Warm. Golden. Everywhere at once.

Nobita: blinks. "Doraemon...?"

Doraemon: freezes. "This energy... this isn't—"

The light grows brighter.

Nobisuke: stirs. "Hmm... what's...?"

Nobita: reaches out. "Doraemon—!"

The light consumes everything.

Silence.

The living room is empty except for nobita's dad.

The TV plays on, forgotten.

The kotatsu holds only impressions where bodies once lay.

End of Scene 2

Scene 3 — Pokémon World

Location: Forest clearing. Kanto. Late afternoon.

Ash: points at a path. "It's this way."

Misty: sitting on a log, arms crossed. "You said that two hours ago. Dead end."

Ash: "This time it's right."

Misty: "You pointed north. Vermilion is south."

Ash: "I was testing you."

Misty: "You were NOT."

Ash: "Was too!"

Misty: "WERE—"

Brock: stirring a pot nearby. Doesn't look up. "Food's ready."

They both turn.

Ash: "What'd you make?"

Brock: "Forest stew. Local mushrooms. Safe."

Misty: stands, grabbing Togepi's egg. "Finally. Someone useful."

Ash: grabs a bowl. "I'm useful!"

Misty: "Name one thing."

Ash: opens mouth. Nothing comes out.

Pikachu: covers face with tail.

Brock: hands out bowls. "Eat. Then we go south."

Ash: (muttering) "I was gonna say south."

Misty: "You were pointing NORTH."

Ash: "That was my other south."

Misty stares at him.

Then—

Light. Golden. Everywhere.

Pikachu: ears shoot up. "PIKA—!"

Ash: reaches for him. "Pikachu!"

Misty: hugs the egg. "What's—"

Brock: stands, ladle still in hand.

Light consumes them.

Empty clearing. Stew bubbles quietly. Ladle drops to the ground.

End of Scene 3

Scene 4 — Supermarket

Location: Supermarket in Kasukabe. Late afternoon.

Misae: pushes the cart. Hiroshi follows. Himawari sits in the cart seat. Shinchan is already leaning out.

Shinchan: "Mommy, can I push?"

Misae: "No."

Shinchan: "I'll be careful!"

Misae: "No."

Shinchan: "But—"

Misae: "Shinnosuke. Stay in the cart."

Shinchan: slumps. "Okay..."

Hiroshi: (quietly) "That was easy."

Misae: "Don't jinx it."

Vegetable section.

Misae: picks up a cucumber. Checks price. Puts in cart.

Shinchan: points at an eggplant. "Mommy, that eggplant looks like a butt."

Misae: doesn't look. "Put your hand down."

Shinchan: "But it really does! Daddy, look!"

Hiroshi: glances. Looks away. "...Yeah. A little."

Misae: glares at him.

Hiroshi: "What? I'm just agreeing with our son."

Himawari: grabs a pepper. Holds it tightly.

Misae: "Himawari, give me that."

Himawari: ignores. Clutches pepper.

Misae: sighs. "We'll pay for it later."

Snack aisle.

Shinchan: straightens. Eyes lock onto a familiar box.

Shinchan: "Chocobi."

Misae: keeps walking. "We're not here for snacks."

Shinchan: "But it's right there!"

Misae: "We have food at home."

Shinchan: "We never have chocobi at home!"

Misae: "Because we don't buy it."

Shinchan: "That's why we never have it!"

Hiroshi: (quietly) "He has a point."

Misae: glares. "Whose side are you on?"

Hiroshi: "I'm not on any side. "

Himawari: spots something shiny on a lower shelf. Reaches.

Hiroshi: (notices) "Ah—Himawari, no—"

Too late. She grabs a small metal spoon from a display.

Hiroshi: "...We're paying for that too."

Misae: writes it in mental ledger.

Meat section.

Misae: checks discounts. Compares prices. Focused.

Shinchan: has somehow half-climbed out of the cart.

Hiroshi: "Shinchan. Sit down."

Shinchan: "I'm just looking!"

Hiroshi: "Sit. Down."

Shinchan: sits. For three seconds. Leans out again.

Hiroshi: gives up.

Misae: (still comparing meat) "Hiroshi. Are you watching them?"

Hiroshi: "Yes."

Misae: looks. Himawari is chewing the spoon. Shinchan is halfway to the floor.

Misae: "You're not watching them."

Hiroshi: "I'm watching them enough."

Misae: grabs Shinchan's collar. Pulls him back.

Misae: "Stay."

Shinchan: "I was just—"

Misae: "Stay."

Shinchan: stays.

Checkout.

Misae: places items on counter. Cashier scans.

Shinchan: (last attempt) "Mommy. Chocobi."

Misae: ignores.

Shinchan: "Mommy. Please."

Misae: pays.

Shinchan: "Mommy."

Misae: takes bags. "Done."

Shinchan: sighs dramatically. "My life is over."

Hiroshi: picks up Himawari. Puts her on his back. Takes bags.

Hiroshi: "You'll survive."

Shinchan: "Will I?"

Hiroshi: "Probably."

Outside. Parking area. Sunset.

They walk. Hiroshi carries Himawari and bags. Misae holds Shinchan's hand. Shinchan drags feet slightly.

Shinchan: "Mommy."

Misae: "What."

Shinchan: "If I'm really good for a whole week... can we get chocobi next time?"

Misae: walks.

Shinchan: "A whole week. That's seven days. I can do it."

Hiroshi: (quietly) "He can't do it."

Shinchan: "I CAN!"

Misae: small smile. Doesn't let him see.

Himawari: on Hiroshi's back. Reaches for the sky. Happy.

Hiroshi: "Almost home. Then dinner. Then sleep."

Shinchan: "Then chocobi?"

Misae: "No."

Shinchan: "Then what's the point of dinner?"

Misae: squeezes his hand slightly. "The point is you don't starve."

Shinchan: considers this. "...OOkayyy"

They walk.

Then—

Light.

Golden. Everywhere.

Misae: stops. "Hiroshi?"

Hiroshi: freezes. "What is—"

Shinchan: "Ooh, pretty!"

Himawari: grabs at the light.

The light grows.

Misae: reaches for Hiroshi. "Hiroshi—!"

Hiroshi: holds Himawari tight. Reaches for Shinchan.

Shinchan: "Mommy, are we—"

Light.

Gone.

Empty parking lot.

Shopping bags on the ground. One orange rolls out. Stops.

The cart sits alone. Half-turned.

No one.

End of Scene 4

Scene 5 — The Dungeon Floor (Revised)

Location: Dungeon entrance hall. Cold stone.

Flickering torches. Three tunnels. The light fades. Nobita: hits the ground first. "Oof—" Doraemon: lands beside him. "Everyone okay?!" Gian: gets up fast. Looks around. "Where's this?!" Suneo: (still on ground) "It's cold... it's hard... I don't like it..." Shizuka: stands slowly. Brushes off. "Is everyone here? Nobita? Gian? Suneo?" Nobita: "I'm here... I think..." Doraemon: counts. "Five. We're all here." Gian: squints at the walls. "This isn't Tokyo." Suneo: "Obviously it's not Tokyo! Where IS this?!" Across the chamber. Ash: stumbles. Catches himself. "Whoa—" Pikachu: lands on his shoulder. Ears up. "Pika...?" Misty: stands carefully. Holding Togepi's egg tight. "Where are we?! This isn't the forest!" Brock: already looking at the walls. Touches stone. "This is carved. Man-made." Ash: looks around. "Brock, is this some kind of ruins?" Brock: "Maybe. But I've never seen stone like this." Misty: "I don't care what it is. I want to go back." Pikachu: sniffs the air. "Pika..." (Nervous.) Other side of chamber. Hiroshi: lands hard. Still holding Himawari. "Oww..." Himawari: giggles. Thinks it's fun. Misae: grabs Shinchan's hand before they even land. Pulls him close. Shinchan: "Whee! Again!" Misae: "Shinnosuke, stay RIGHT HERE." Shinchan: looks around. "Mommy, where are we? Is this a cave?" Hiroshi: gets up. Shifts Himawari on his back. "This isn't Kasukabe..." Misae: eyes wide. Scanning. "Hiroshi... what IS this place?" Hiroshi: quietly. "I don't know." Shinchan: points. "Mommy, look! Other people!" They see each other. Three groups. Three sides of the chamber. Frozen. Staring. Gian: steps forward. "Oi. You. Who are you?" Ash: steps too. Protective. "I was going to ask YOU that." Pikachu: sparks faintly. Warning. Doraemon: holds up a paw. "Wait wait wait. Everyone calm down." Misty: "Calm down?! We're in some weird cave and you're a BLUE CAT!" Doraemon: "I'm a robot cat. From the future." Misty: stares. "...What?" Brock: watches quietly. Taking it all in. Hiroshi: walks forward slowly. Himawari on his back. Hands visible. Non-threatening. Hiroshi: "Everyone... please. Let's just... talk first." Misae: follows. Still gripping Shinchan. Shinchan: sees Pikachu. Grins. "Doggy!" Pikachu: "Pika..." (Tired of this.) Misty: "It's not a dog. It's a Pokémon." Shinchan: "Pokémon?" Nobita: (quietly, to Doraemon) "What's a Pokémon?" Doraemon: "I don't know..." Silence again. Everyone looking at everyone. Gian: breaks it. "So. Nobody knows where we are?" Ash: shakes head. "We were in a forest. Then light. Then here." Hiroshi: "Same. Supermarket. Then light." Doraemon: "We were at home. Then light." Suneo: (mumbling) "This is bad... this is really bad..." Shizuka: (softly) "We should stay calm. Panicking won't help." Misty: looks at her. Appreciates the calm. Brock: "She's right. We need to figure out where we are first." Gian: "Figure out? Look around! It's a dungeon! We're trapped!" Nobita: (voice small) "Trapped...?"

Scene 6 — First Discoveries

Location: Dungeon entrance hall. The three groups are still standing awkwardly.

Doraemon: reaches into his pocket. Pulls out a small device. Flat. Screen on front.

Nobita: "What's that, Doraemon?"

Doraemon: "Scanner. Let me check where we are."

He taps it. Screen glows. He points it around the walls.

Shinchan: points. "Mommy, the blue raccoon is doing something."

Doraemon: doesn't react. Keeps scanning.

Misae: (quietly) "Don't point, Shinnosuke."

Shinchan: "But he's blue!"

Doraemon: still focused on device. "This place... the coordinates don't match any location in observed realities."

Gian: "What does that mean?"

Doraemon: looks up. "We're far outside any reality close to ours."

Silence.

Hiroshi: "Far outside... meaning?"

Doraemon: "Meaning this place doesn't exist in our world. Or any world I know."

Ash: "Then how did we get here?"

Doraemon: thinks. "A dimensional rift. It's the only explanation. Something pulled us through."

Suneo: "Pulled us? Pulled us WHERE?!"

Doraemon: "I don't know yet."

Shizuka: looks at Ash's shoulder. Smiles softly. "What is this little mouse called?"

Pikachu: ears twitch.

Ash: "He's not a mouse! He's Pikachu. A Pokémon."

Shizuka: tilts head. "Pokémon?"

Misty: blinks. "You don't know what Pokémon are?"

Doraemon: intercepts. Looks at Ash's group directly.

Doraemon: "Where are you from?"

Brock: calmly. "Kanto."

Doraemon: pauses. "There's no Kanto in Japan."

Brock: "Japan?"

Doraemon: nods slowly. "You might be from another universe entirely." He turns to Shinchan's family aiming his gadget at them "And you. Your world is closer to ours, but still different. "

Hiroshi: looks down at his rumpled suit. "Different universe..."

Misae: grips Shinchan's hand tighter.

Misty: sighs loudly. "So we have a multiversal reunion in some random dungeon. What a day."

She hugs Togepi's egg closer.

Ash: "Okay. So we're from different places. But we're all here now. That means we work together, right?"

Gian: crosses arms. "Who put you in charge?"

Ash: "Nobody. Just saying."

Gian: "Tch."

Brock: "He's right though. Fighting each other won't help."

Shizuka: "We should all introduce ourselves properly."

Gian: "Fine. I'll go first." Steps forward. Arms crossed. "Takeshi Goda. Call me Gian. I'm the strongest around."

Suneo: mutters. "He never lets anyone forget it..."

Gian: glares. "What?"

Suneo: "Nothing!"

Shizuka: steps next. Smiles. "I'm Shizuka Minamoto. I like helping people. And bathing." Pauses. "I mean clean baths. Not—never mind."

Nobita: quietly. "We know what you meant, Shizuka-chan..."

Shizuka: blushes slightly.

Nobita: steps forward. "I'm Nobita Nobi. I'm... not good at much. But I'll try my best."

Suneo: adjusts his hair. "Suneo Honekawa. My family is rich. I'm good at drawing and fashion. Obviously."

Gian: "Obviously."

Doraemon: bows slightly. "I'm Doraemon. A cat-type robot from the 22nd century. I usually have gadgets that can help, but..." pats pocket. "Right now I'm not sure what works and what doesn't."

Ash: steps up. Grins. "Ash Ketchum! From Pallet Town. I'm gonna be a Pokémon Master someday. This is Pikachu!"

Pikachu: "Pika pika!" (Waves.)

Misty: "Misty. From Cerulean City. I'm a gym leader. Well, training to be one." Holds up egg. "And this is Togepi. Not hatched yet."

Brock: calm. "Brock. From Pewter City. Former gym leader. I cook, I take care of Pokémon, and I know a little about survival."

Hiroshi: steps forward. Himawari on his back. "Hiroshi Nohara. I work at a trading company. In Kasukabe." Pauses. "I'm just... a salaryman."

Misae: pulls Shinchan close. "Misae Nohara. Housewife." Glances at Hiroshi. "And full-time handler of these two."

Shinchan: breaks free. Raises hand. "I'm Shinchan! I'm five! I like pretty ladies!"

Misty: eye twitches.

Shinchan: points at her. "Like her!"

Misty: "Don't point."

Himawari: on Hiroshi's back. Reaches for something shiny on the floor.

Hiroshi: catches her hand. "Himawari. One year old. She grabs things."

Himawari: gurgles.

Silence.

Everyone looks at everyone.

Gian: "So. A salaryman, a housewife, a baby, and... that one." Points at Shinchan.

Shinchan: waves.

Ash: "And trainers from Kanto."

Doraemon: "And us from Tokyo. 22nd century."

Misty: "This is insane."

Brock: "But we're here. Together. That means something."

Nobita: (quietly) "Does it?"

Brock: looks at him. "It means we're not alone."

They all just stood there for a moment after Brock said that.

Gian: "Alright. Standing here isn't getting us out. Let's look around." Ash: "Right! Maybe there's a way up or something."

They moved toward the three tunnels. The left one sloped down into darkness. The right one was narrow and cramped. The center one had a wide arch and rough cobblestone stairs going up.

Misty: "Up seems better than down." Hiroshi: "Agreed. Down feels... eery."

They were about to head for the stairs when they heard a noise from the right-hand tunnel instead. Heavy footsteps came from that direction, getting louder fast. Voices too, guttural and rough.

Doraemon: "Hide! Now!"

They scattered behind the thick stone pillars in the hall. Nobita went with Doraemon. Gian pulled Shizuka and Suneo behind another. Ash, Misty, and Brock pressed into a shadowed alcove. Hiroshi crouched low with Himawari, and Misae pulled Shinchan down next to them, her hand over his mouth.

Just in time.

Five figures came out of the tunnel, stomping into the hall. They looked like orcs from video games—bulky with greenish-gray skin and tusks in their jaws. They wore crude leather armor and carried weapons: axes, bows, a spiked club. Two of them dragged the carcass of a large, furry creature by its legs, leaving a smeared trail on the stone floor. They chatted loudly in some unknown language of grunts and sharp sounds, laughing and shoving each other cheerfully.

Behind their pillar, Nobita murmured to Doraemon. Nobita: "Who are they? They look like orcs from video games?" Doraemon: "Shhh... quiet."

The orcs paused in the center of the hall, dropping their kill with a wet thud. They started arguing about which way to go next.

Next to another pillar, the Nohara family was squeezed together behind it. Himawari's nose got irritated by the dusty air. She started doing an ahh, ahh thing before a sneeze. Hiroshi noticed and covered her mouth quickly with his hand. But then the pre-sneeze sensation passed to him instead. His own face scrunched up with an ahh, ahh feeling. Misae saw it and covered Hiroshi's mouth with her palm. Then Misae got it next—the same ahh, ahh feeling building in her own nose. Shinchan looked at her and clapped his small hand over her mouth. Now Shinchan felt it starting in his own nose too—ahh, ahh. Everyone watching from nearby pillars held their breath, thinking he would definitely sneeze loud enough to get them all found by the orcs. But Shinchan didn't sneeze after all—he just let out a long, rumbling fart instead.

The echoing noise faded into the stone.

Nobita leaned close to Doraemon. “What was that?” he whispered.

From behind their pillar, Gian’s shoulders shook. He was trying not to laugh. “Sounded like a war horn,” he choked out.

Suneo looked horrified, as if the sound had personally offended him. Shizuka had her hand clamped over her own mouth, her body shaking with silent tremors. Doraemon squeezed his eyes shut, thinking of the orcs. “Don’t laugh,” he murmured to himself.

Ash just looked confused. Misty’s face was turning red from the effort of holding in a giggle. Brock pressed his lips into a tight, thin line. Pikachu tilted its head, utterly bewildered.

In the center of the hall, the orcs had stopped arguing.

One of them grunted. “…What was that?”

Another spoke up, his voice deeper and rougher. “Someone’s there. Show yourselves.”

Behind the pillar, Misae let out a silent, furious scream directed at her son. “Shinnosuke—!”

Hiroshi’s eyes were wide. “What do we do?!” he hissed.

Heavy footsteps began moving toward their hiding spot.

“Last chance,” the deep voice called out. “Come out or we drag you out.”

Misae took a deep breath, then stepped out from behind the pillar, pulling Shinchan with her. She bowed frantically. “Sumimasen! Sumimasen! We’re sorry! We didn’t mean to hide! We’re lost! We have children! Please don’t hurt us!”

Hiroshi stumbled out after her, bowing just as low. “Yes yes! The child—he couldn’t help it—please forgive—”

Shinchan waved cheerfully at the green-skinned figures. “Hi! I’m Shinchan! That was me! Pretty loud, right?”

The six orcs stared at them, weapons still in hand, the dead creature forgotten at their feet.

The leader, a middle-aged orc with a scar across his snout, looked them over slowly. “…New visitors?” he finally said.

A younger orc with a bow snorted. “They don’t look like fighters.”

Another gestured with his club toward Himawari on Hiroshi’s back. “They have a baby…”

The leader, Grom, sighed and rubbed his face with a thick hand. “You picked a bad spot to hide.”

Misae kept bowing. “We are so sorry!”

“Stop bowing,” Grom said, waving a dismissive hand. “It’s fine.”

Hiroshi straightened up cautiously. “You’re… not going to attack us?”

Grom glanced at the furry carcass on the floor. “We’re hunters. Not killers. Of people, anyway.”

Gian crossed his arms. “Then what are you?”

“People who’ve been stuck here a long time,” Grom replied, his gaze sweeping over the whole strange group. “Like you will be.”

Misty frowned. “Stuck?”

Grom pointed a thumb toward the dark tunnel they’d come from. “This dungeon. No one leaves.”

Shinchan grabbed Misae's sleeve. "Mom, the green people sound weird."

“Shh,” Misae hissed.

Grom looked at Shinchan, then at the pillar they’d hidden behind, then back at the boy. “Was that… him?”

Hiroshi’s face flushed red again. “…Yes.”

Grom stared at Shinchan for a long moment.

Then he snorted. Then he laughed, a loud, barking sound that echoed in the chamber. The other orcs began chuckling too.

Grom wiped a tear from his eye. “Been here fifteen years,” he wheezed. “Never heard that as an introduction.”

Shinchan beamed. “I have beans for breakfast!”

That set Grom off laughing even harder.

When he finally caught his breath, his expression turned serious again. He looked past the Noharas toward the other pillars. “You can come out too,” he said plainly. “We know you’re there.”

Feeling exposed but with little choice, Ash, Doraemon, and their friends stepped fully into the open.

Grom counted them all silently, his eyes lingering on Himawari and the other children. “Fifteen years,” he repeated quietly. “Some of us longer.”

The young orc with the bow, Ruk, shifted impatiently. “We should move. This floor gets worse at night.”

Grom nodded. He turned and started walking back toward the tunnel he’d come from without looking back. “Come,” he said over his shoulder. “We have a settlement. Deeper in.”

Misty eyed his broad back suspiciously. “Why help us?”

Grom paused and glanced back at her, then at the baby on Hiroshi’s back, then at Shinchan, who was now trying to imitate an orc’s walk. “Because we were new once too,” he said simply. “And no one helped us.” He resumed walking. “Follow or don’t. Your choice.”

Ash watched him go for a second before nodding decisively. “I say we follow.”

“Yeah,” Gian agreed, though he sounded reluctant about agreeing with anyone. “Better than staying here with nothing.”

Hiroshi looked at Misae; after a brief hesitation, she gave a small nod. “We go,” Hiroshi said.

Doraemon adjusted his pocket thoughtfully. “Agreed.”

They gathered themselves and followed the orcs into the dark tunnel. Walking behind the broad green backs, Shinchan was quiet for once. He looked up at his mother. “Mommy?” “What?” “Are we gonna be okay?” Misae squeezed his small hand in hers. “We’ll be okay.” Shinchan nodded, satisfied, and trotted along beside her as the torchlight from the orcs ahead threw long, dancing shadows on the rough stone walls around them . The torchlight from the orcs ahead threw long, dancing shadows on the rough stone walls around them, leading them to a dead end.

A solid cobblestone wall blocked the corridor. The group stopped.

Nobita blinked. “Why did we stop? There’s nothing here.”

“Great,” Suneo groaned. “A dead end. We’re trapped forever.”

Gian elbowed him. “Shut up, Suneo.”

Grom stepped forward and ran a thick hand along the stones, searching with his fingers until he found a specific one. He pressed it hard. A section of the wall slid open sideways without a sound, smooth like an elevator door.

Everyone stared.

Misty’s mouth hung open. “What…?”

Brock leaned closer, examining the mechanism. “That’s too advanced for this stonework.”

“Whoa!” Ash said.

Beyond the doors was a small metal room with soft, ambient lighting. Two long couches faced each other with a low table between them. A holographic keypad floated near the door.

Nobita turned to Doraemon. “Why is there a lift in a ruin?”

Doraemon looked equally baffled. “How would I know?”

“It’s so… modern,” Shizuka observed.

Gian stepped inside first, looking around. “Huh. Fancy.”

Ash immediately jumped onto one of the couches, bouncing a little. “This is comfortable!”

Misty hissed at him from the doorway. “Ash! They’re right there!”

Ash froze mid-bounce, looking at Grom. “Uh… sorry. Nice couch?”

Grom stared for a second, then just snorted and waved it off. He moved to sit heavily on the couch beside Ash.

The orc named Dreg followed, dropping the furry carcass onto the couch cushion right next to Ash with a wet thump. Blood soaked into the fabric.

Ash looked at the dead creature, then at Dreg, then back at Misty.

Her expression was flat. “Enjoying the couch?”

“…It’s fine,” Ash said, scooting an inch away.

The others filed in. Doraemon’s group took the opposite couch, squeezing in together—Doraemon, Gian, Nobita, and Shizuka.

Suneo hovered at the edge. “There’s no room…”

Gian grabbed his shirt and yanked him down. “Sit.”

Suneo sat, squished between Gian and the armrest.

Brock took a seat calmly on the same couch as the orcs, observing everything. Misty sat beside him, keeping Togepi’s egg in her lap and eyeing their green-skinned companions.

Hiroshi and Misae stayed standing near the door. Himawari was still on Hiroshi’s back, and Shinchan pressed against Misae’s leg.

“We’ll stand,” Hiroshi said quietly.

Misae gave a small nod, her eyes scanning the room—counting exits, counting potential threats, positioning herself between her children and everyone else.

Shinchan tugged her sleeve. “Mom, is this box moving?”

“Not yet,” Misae said.

The orc named Ruk approached the floating hologram and tapped a symbol. The doors slid shut with a soft sigh. A gentle hum filled the room, and the floor vibrated faintly underfoot as they began to descend.

Doraemon turned to Grom, trying to be polite. “Excuse me. May I ask… how long have you been here?”

Grom leaned back against the couch. “Fifteen years. Told you already.”

“Yes, but… how did you come here? What was your world like?”

“We were hunters,” Grom said simply. “From the mountains. We were following a wounded beast into a cave. Then light. Then here.”

Gian grunted. “Same thing happened to us. Light, then dungeon.”

From his post by the keypad, Ruk spoke without turning. "People get pulled by the light. It happens like that, without any warning."

Nobita’s voice was small in the humming quiet. “So we can’t go back?”

Silence hung for a moment.

“No one has,” Grom said finally.

Doraemon tried again, wanting to fill the quiet with something useful. “We should introduce ourselves properly. I’m Doraemon. From Tokyo. The 22nd century.”

Grom blinked slowly at him. “22nd century?”

“Yes. I’m a robot.”

Ruk looked over, suddenly more interested. “Robot?”

Doraemon nodded.

From the other couch, Ash piped up. “I’m Ash! From Pallet Town. This is Pikachu!”

“Pika!” Pikachu waved a paw.

“Misty,” she said shortly. “Cerulean City.”

“Brock,” he added calmly. “Pewter City.”

Gian puffed his chest out a little even while sitting down. “Takeshi Goda. Call me Gian.”

Nobita mumbled his name almost too quietly to hear.

Shizuka offered a gentle smile. “Shizuka Minamoto.”

Suneo adjusted his collar as if someone might be taking a picture. “Suneo Honekawa. My family is rich.”

Hiroshi gave a tired half-bow from where he stood. “Hiroshi Nohara. Salaryman.”

Misae kept her grip on Shinchan’s shoulder. “Misae Nohara. Housewife.”

Shinchan waved enthusiastically at the orcs again. “I’m Shinchan! I’m five!”

Himawari gurgled happily from her perch.

The orcs exchanged glances among themselves—some curious, some skeptical.

Grom gestured to his own group with a thumb. “I am Grom.” The young orc by the panel nodded. “Ruk.” The one with the carcass grunted. “Dreg.” Another with a club resting against his knee spoke. “Vorn.” The last one, a female orc with sharp eyes who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke in a low voice. “Hessa.” Grom finished. “We are all that remain of our clan.”

Doraemon tilted his head. “Remain?”

Grom nodded slowly. “Some died. The first few years. Before we figured things out”

Brock leaned forward slightly. “figured out what?”

“How the dungeon works,” Grom explained. “Which floors are safe. Which aren’t.”

Ruk tapped the hologram again as the lift continued its smooth descent. “We’re on floor three now. Our settlement is on floor four.”

Misty’s eyes went wide. “There are FLOORS?”

“Many,” Grom said.

The lift hummed on. Shinchan looked up at his mother. “Mommy, how many floors?”

Misae kept her eyes on their surroundings. “I don’t know.”

“Is it like a department store?” “No.” “Do they have chocobi?” Misae sighed. “No.”

Shinchan slumped against her leg. “This place is the worst.”

Across from them, Dreg looked from Shinchan to the dead animal beside him. He nudged the carcass with his elbow. “You want meat?”

Shinchan peered at the creature—its matted fur, its glazed eyes, the dark blood staining the couch. His nose wrinkled. “…No thank you.”

Dreg shrugged and pulled the carcass closer to himself. “More for me.”

A few moments later, the lift began to slow. The humming settled into a lower pitch. The holographic display changed to show a new, angular symbol.

Ruk turned from it. “Floor four. Settlement.”

The doors slid open silently.

Beyond them stretched a cavernous space lit by dozens of torches. Carved stone buildings lined rough pathways. Orcs moved between them—adults carrying baskets or tools, elders sitting by a central fire pit. A few children chased each other around a well. The air smelled of smoke and cooked grain and earth.

Grom stood up and stepped out of the lift. He turned back to look at them all as they stared. “Welcome to our home.”