These continue to take a while because my writing brain is still kinda bleh. However I've committed to trying to write faster for my big projects in particular and hope to increase my writing speed back to an acceptable level over time. But enough about that. I've got a freshly baked chapter to share. So hold on to your houses because it's: Chapter 6: Mansion Mania The group of Pokemon entered the creaky old house. Edbark looked around, shivering nervously. "Is. Is this place really haunted?" "There are some superstitions to that degree," said Heinwald, "but it is undoubtedly filled with feral Ghost types." Edbark shuddered. Riki laughed and patted him on the back. "Relax, Edbark! You're a Dark-type! Ghost types are no trouble for you!" Kratos tilted his head. "What... does that mean?" The others all turned to stare and blink at him. Finally Riki spoke up. "Oh right. The amnesia. Guys, let's explain type matchups to him, gently." The group mumbled to themselves a bit as Kratos stared in further confusion. "Well... all Pokemon have these attributes called Types, right?" said Edbark. "They're kind of like... elements!" said Laila. "Mine is Fighting, which is the punch element!" "Pokemon can have two elements," said Heinwald. "For example, I, an Obstagoon, am Normal and Dark." "Anyway, types are strong and weak against each other," said Faxi. "Like my Psychic type is good against Laila's Fighting - " "HEY!" said Laila. "But Laila's Fighting is good against my Rock," said Fornax. "It gets real complicated," Curran said. "You could almost make a huge graph with how types stack against each other..." "Does any of that make sense?" said Riki. Kratos considered this. "There were concepts of elements in his home world even if they worked... rather differently. So he did kind of understand. "I... guess so?" he said. "Your elements interact with each other in complex ways?" Edbark sighed in relief. "Okay I think he gets it. At least kinda." "Can we get back to what we came here for then?"said Curran. "This culprit isn't going to catch himself." "Oh right," said Riki. "We need to do that." The group started mumbling murmurs of assent and started moving further into the mansion. The mansion was dark and quiet. Occasionally the group could see flickers of odd miasma floating through the corridors. Every time this would happen Edbark would flinch. "Don't worry Eddie," said Riki. "Like I said, you can take 'em. We all can." Suddenly something moved in the shadows. Edbark screamed. Riki screamed and jumped behind Edbark. Everyone else sprang to attention. "That could be our culprit!" said Heinwald. "Let's get them!" said Curran. The two gave chase. After collecting themselves the others followed. They all rushed down the corridors after the shadow. Eventually, they started catching up with it. They seemed to have cornered it. "We've finally got you!" said Laila. "Confess to your crimes," said Fornax flatly. "H-Huh?" said the figure. Gold rings flared to life, outlining the silhouette of a strange black fox-like Pokemon. The glow highlighted its accessories - a large brown hat and backpack, as well as glasses. His eyes behind the glasses showed worry "What crimes? I'm just here to study artifacts!" Heinwald blinked. "You... you don't seem like our target." "I mean he still could be," said Faxi. "Just because he doesn't look suspicious doesn't mean he isn't suspicious." The fox let out a "meep" noise. Kratos cocked his eyebrow. "My judge of character says this... Pokemon is most likely innocent. Most likely." "He has a point," said Curran. "This Umbreon doesn't smell like a culprit." "Yeah, I agree," said Riki. "Doesn't seem like he has it in him." "At least he’s not a ghost..." said Edbark. "Dude, I'm right here," said a passing doglike Pokemon with a candle on its head. Edbark jumped and screamed. The dog sighed and walked away. "Anyway," said the fox, apparently called an Umbreon. "My name's Milo! I'm an archaeologist! I was looking for a rare artifact said to be hidden in this old mansion!" Edbark's eyes widened and sparkled. "What kind of artifact?" "Well... it's a special jar! Said to be left over from the lost Alakagross civilization!" There were multiple ooohs from everyone, aside from Kratos. He wasn't particularly sure who these Alakagross were. And regardless he wasn't sure about the fact they were getting.... distracted. He thought he should perhaps speak up about that actually. "Maybe we should-" "We should help you look!" said Edbark. Oh no. The others started to voice their agreement in unison. Kratos felt like he was going to shrivel on the spot. Milo just nodded and smiled. "Well! We'd best get started then! I think I saw something interesting around this hallway..." "Ooh! Let's go there then!" said Riki. The party started moving down the hallway in question. Kratos let out a low grumbling noise and followed. ----- The group had made their way further into the mansion. The ghosts still lurked about, but there was no sign of what they were looking for. "Are we sure it's in here?" said Curran. "We've been searching... a while." "I'm getting bored," said Fornax. Milo fidgeted nervously. "W-Well let's not get carried away here! This is a big mansion! It could be anywhere! I t-totally didn't miscalculate!" Edbark frowned. "Maybe the artifact isn't actually here..." "Perhaps it is a red herring..." said Heinwald. Milo was starting to look distraught. "W-wait! Being an archeologist isn't easy You gotta-" Laila perked up. "Hey! There's something over there!" Everyone spun around, searching wildly. Riki finally noticed something in a corner. "There!" The others looked to see a shadow. A shadow that was moving. Edbark yelped. "It's a monster!" “It's our culprit is what it is!" said Heinwald. "Hold it right there!" said Curran. The shadow froze. Then came a scream. The shadow started to recede rapidly. "After it!" said Laila. "That's my line..." said Curran. The group chased after the shadow. Kratos sighed and followed. Great. More distractions. They raced through the corridors as the shadow continued to duck and weave. Finally, they had it cornered. "We've got you now!" said Riki. The shadow screamed. "Wait! Please, I'm innocent! Don't hurt me!" A frog-like Pokemon in the most garishly orange outfit Kratos had ever seen stepped into view. He held up his webbed hands in surrender. Milo perked up. "Oh! Kobayashi! What are you doing here?" Kratos looked at Milo quizzically. "You know this... frog?" "Hey!" said Milo. "Kobayashi is my friend!" "Milo!" said Kobayashi. "It's so good to see you! Especially in a place like this... what are you doing here?" "Me? I was looking for a lost Alakagross jar!" "Jar? You mean like this?" He pulled out a strange, vase-like object. It was a silvery color and glowed with odd blue lights. Everyone but Kratos oohed and aahed, especially Milo. "Oh!" said Milo. " That's it! That's what I was looking for!" "Well good thing I found it," said Kobayashi. "It's all yours!" He handed it to Milo. Milo placed it in his very large backpack. "Well, all's well that ends well,' said Heinwald. "Say, what are YOU doing here?" said Edbark. Kobayashi stuttered. "Well, um. You see..... I was here to... find anything interesting for Milo! And look, I found something! Haha, I actually did it!" Kratos narrowed his eyes. Curran looked around. "Well, if our business is done we ought to get out of here. Not exactly the most pleasant place." Edbark shuddered. "Agreed." ------------ The group emerged from the mansion. They stretched and took in the sunlight. Kratos, however, was still glaring daggers at Kobayashi. Kobayashi eventually noticed and turned to him. "Yes?" "...Can I ask you a question?" "...Sure?" "What... Do you do for a living?" "...Huh?" "What's your occupation?" "...Why are you asking this?" "I'm just curious." "Uh, well, it, uh... it's funny, you should... I mean, you see, the.. Oh yes! My job! I have to do that! See you!" And with that he scurried off. Heinwald blinked. "Odd fellow." Curran turned to Milo. "What was his job anyway?" Milo thought a bit. "You know, he's honestly never told me..." "Judging from his attire he must be... a plumber!" said Heinwald. "Yeah that scans," said Curran. Kratos wanted to ram his head into the pavement. "Anyway we should probably head to... where we were actually going," said Edbark. "Yeah, this was quite the detour," said Riki. "Those bad guys won't punch themselves!" said Laila. "Was this even about punching bad guys?" said Faxi. "Who cares," said Fornax. Kratos sighed. "We should probably head out, yes." He really wanted to leave this mess behind. But... He turned to the detectives. "I'll keep on the lookout for any leads. As well as anyone... suspicious." "Much appreciated!" said Heinwald. "We'll need it," said Curran. They headed off. Kratos turned back to the others. "Let's just g-" "Oh my! You all seem like a colorful bunch." Kratos sighed. What now? He turned to see a strange crystal-like creature floating in the air near the group, dressed in unusual garb. "And you are...?" "Just a wandering Carbink traveller. How about you?" "We're adventurers!" said Edbark. "We're trying to find out what's up with this freaky meteor," said Riki. "Oh yes! I saw that in the skies not too long ago.... It's odd. And concerning. Glad someone's on top of it." "Yeah, we'll get it done!" said Laila. "Eventually," said Fornax. "Say what are you doing here?" said Faxi. "Oh me?" said the Carbink. "I'm something of an alchemist... I came here to look for rare materials." An alchemist, huh, thought Kratos. I guess it makes sense that something like that exists in this world. "Speaking of, I best be off," said the Carbink."Hopefully I'll see you all later!" He winked, then floated off. What is THIS one planning? Thought Kratos. "Anyway... he said. "We should probably leave for real now." "This detour's taken long enough..." said Fornax. "To adventure!" said Edbark. They promptly all turned and left the town. ------------------ Nurse Betania was cross. She was always cross, of course. But especially so today. There were more patients than usual today and it was stressing her out, and stress led to anger. "Hey! You! No rocking the stretchers!" "But I need to move my leg!" said a Buizel. "You can move it when it's healed! Now stop squirming!" The Buizel sighed and flopped back into bed. Betania sighed and resumed her paperwork. It was then she heard another voice. Or rather a pair of voices. "Well this is quite a pickle, isn't it?' "Well things would be different if you hadn't botched it." Betania looked over to see two familiar Metang. They were looking at an odd lump of clay. "Maybe if we knead it a bit more..." "No, no, it's already botched. You ruined it." Betania's frown intensified. "Hey you two! Ferrite! Pearlite! What are you even doing?" The two Metang froze. Then slowly turned to Betania. "We're trying to learn how to sculpt!" said Pearlite. "We were trying to make Guildmaster Stoakes..." said Ferrite. Betania looked at the misshapen lump of clay. Then back at the two Metang. Then back and forth between the two repeatedly until she finally groaned and shook her head. "Why don't you two do something USEFUL and help me with these patients?" "We don't have much medical expertise..." said Pearlite. "Make that none," said Ferrite. "You can still help! Sort medicine, clean cots... that kind of thing! Get to work!" The two Metang paused. Then they got about doing as she said. Sorting bottles, cleaning cots, sanitizing instruments... the works. Eventually however they turned to Betania, frustrated. "Just why are there so many patients to clean up after anyway?" said Pearlite. "You wouldn't think there'd be this many..." said Ferrite. Betania sighed. "There have been... a lot of attacks by the Quiver Empire, as of late." "...Oh," said Ferrite. "That explains a lot," said Pearlite. "Yes," said Betania. "They've been coming here in droves every time there's an attack. It's exhausting in multiple senses." "I can see that..." said Ferrite. "It's definitely... a lot," said Pearlite. "I know..." said Betania. "I just want the Quiver Empire to go away." "Why did it have to be us and not them?" said Pearlite. "You know full well why," said Ferrite. Betania gave them a confused look. "What are you talking about?" The two Metang looked back at each other. Then back to Betania. "Don't you remember?" said Pearlite. "We are... survivors of the Alakagross civilization," said Pearlite. "Betania blinked. "Oh. Oh right. You guys went through a lot." "Most certainly..." said Ferrite."The Legendaries struck us down so long ago for trying to fire off a great weapon... and yet it all seems fresh." "We... I still don't trust them after that," said Pearlite. "Even Ho-Oh." "I can't say I don't see why..." said Betania. "But a bigger problem is that Nyra!" said Pearlite. "The head of the Quiver Empire's got to go!" "Yes, she is of much more concern at the moment..." said Ferrite. "Yeah... I hope some way, somehow, this will all be over." "One can only hope," said Ferrite. "We just gotta," said Pearlite. "Yeah hopefully this resolves for better...," said Betania. "Agreed," said Ferrite. "Wait... where were we?" said Pearlite. "Oh right! You were working for me!" said Betania. "Get back to work!" The two Metang meeped and got back to work. ----------------- Nyra was, as usual, sitting on her throne. She tapped her wingtip on the armrest impatiently. Suddenly, there was a noise. The door opened. Mullein came in, followed by a familiar Flapple, who was looking very nervous. " Empress? The lieutenant wants to speak with you." "'Wants' is a bit of a stretch..." said Lieutenant Grimhilde. "Quiet," said Nyra. "What is this about? The reconnaissance I sent you on?" "Er. Um. About that..." "Spit it out. I don't have the patience for you dilly-dallying." Lieutenant Grimhilde gulped. "Well good news. I found the Noibat you were looking for!" "I assume there is bad news I am not going to like hearing," said Nyra icily. Grimhilde stammered. "The bad news... the Noibat got away. He had others with him, and one was a Zorua, and-" "You IDIOT!" said Nyra. "I gave you one job! One job! And you blew it! You are a disgrace to the Empire!" "Sorry ma'am. Won't happen again ma'am." "It BETTER not. You'll need to do some real work to make this up... how about... scrubbing the dungeons. I'm sure the inmates would LOVE to see you." Grimhilde gulped. "Yes ma'am. Right away ma'am." She slinked off. Mullein turned to Nyra. "Harsh as ever, are we?" "I need to be. If this Noibat is who I think he is.... He can't get to the meteor." ---------- Stella and Sir Quackmire were making their way down a path. Sir Quackmire was humming to himself cheerfully. Stella was looking around warily. Suddenly, Stella noticed something. Her eyes narrowed. "Quackmire? We're being followed." Sir Quackmire's expression steeled. He brandished his leek. "Well then. Come what may. We can take them." Stella nodded, then raised her fists. "Come on out. We know you're there." There was silence. Then a voice. "I TOLD you this was a bad idea!" Three Pokemon popped out of the bushes. They were a Charmeleon, Eevee, and Pachirisu. And they all looked rather disgruntled. "It was worth a shot!" said the Pachirisu. "I told you we should have stuck to scamming them first!" said the Eevee. "We'd have the edge!" "Easy there." said the Charmeleon. " We can take these guys. Probably." "Are you sure?" said the Eevee. "They don't look that tou-" the Pachirisu started to say. He was summarily whacked upside the head. Then the Eevee. Then the Charmeleon. The three of them collapsed where they stood. -------------- When they came to, they saw Stella and Sir Quackmire looming over them. They quickly panicked. (Suggestion: Something a bit more descriptive here, like They scrambled backwards in terror, the eevee’s fur stood on end, etc) "Please! We'll do anything! Anything!" said the Charmeleon. "We'll clean floors! Do dishes! Bus tables!" said the Eevee. “I'm not sure about busing tab-" the Pachirisu started to say. "Shut up!" said the Charmeleon. "You want to die?" Stella rolled her eyes. "We aren't going to kill you. We just want to know some things." "Like what?" said the Eevee. "Our birthdays?" "Nope," said Sir Quackmire. "More like.... do you know anything about a meteor, lads?" "The meteor?" said the Pachirisu. "You mean the one that crashed during the Seeking? No idea." "I heard Empress Nyra is very interested in it for... some reason," said the Eevee. "But that's about it." Stella and Sir Quackmire's faces both grew grave. "Empress Nyra?" said Sir Quackmire. "That's not a good sign. Anything with her means trouble. But what could it be...?" Stella winced. "...Whatever it is, we have to stop it. Sir, we have to keep going. As for these... miscreants, we should figure out what to do with them.” The three balked. "Miscreants?" said the Eevee. "How dare you!" "We're more ruffians than anything," said the Charmeleon. "Sounds more charismatic. Dashing. Sexy." "I understand none of those words," said the Pachirisu. Stella rolled her eyes. "Whatever you want to call yourselves. We can't let mons like you loose." Sir Quackmire thought a bit. Then smirked as much as his beak would allow. "What if... they came with us? As, you know... "assistants."" "Wait wait wait wait," said the Charmeleon. "We won't take this lying down!" "But we were lying down a second ago," said the Pachirisu. "Whatever!" said the Eevee. “We aren't doing this! It's uncouth!" "It's either that or we turn you into the Guild,"said Stella. "Your choice." The three gulped. "W-We'll take it, " said the Charmeleon. "I'm Susan, the Charmeleon is Lumine, and the Pachirisu is Chad," said the Eevee. "P-Pleasure to work with you." "Please don't turn us in," said Chad. "We're delicate. We've been through too much." Sir Quackmire chuckled. "I suppose that's a deal then. Welcome aboard." "We should get going then," said Stella. "The meteor's waiting." But it won't be waiting much longer, she thought. ***