Prototype for a Lickitung Catcher

A vendor stood in the middle of the streets with a Lombre at his side. He was announcing the prototype for a new machine that would catch a particular species of Pokemon. "It's called the X Keeper 4000!" he said to a couple of passersby. "It catches a Pokemon whose name starts with an 'X'! Can you guess which one I'm talking about?"

"Xatu?" the male asked.

"No."

"I don't think there's any other Pokemon whose name starts with X," said the woman, "unless this guy is talking about Unown, which can take the shape of an X."

"Give up? The correct answer is Lickitung!"

"But—Lickitung doesn't start with X!" both passersby exclaimed.

"It does if you believe it does," the vendor shouted, as they disappeared around a corner in frustration.

"How are we supposed to get business done if no one will take us seriously?" the vendor asked his Lombre. A stream of water came out of the Pokemon's mouth and hit the vendor squarely in the face. "Do that again and I'll trade you for an Ekans at the Trainer Festival next week!"

Lombre cowered behind a vase, which depicted a Lickitung bathing itself. "All the Lickitung merchandise in the world won't help me sell this stupid X Keeper 4000! Lickitung are fairly easy to catch anyway; who needs it?"

From around the corner an old man with a walrus moustache appeared. "Excuse me, but did you say you were selling a machine to ameliorate the pursuit of Lickitung?"

"Speak English, grandpa!"

The elderly gentleman's face went red as a beet. "Fine, you blasted horn imp! I was wondering if you were selling a machine to make catching Lickitung easier, but as you don't want to be kind to a customer…"

"No, no—if you want to buy, I'm ready to sell," the vendor said.

"Well, you know, I'd be more inclined to do business if this machine could help catch Farfetch'd, but I suppose Lickitung would be an ersatz substitute, but a substitute nonetheless."

"Sorry, my company doesn't deal in Farfetch'd merchandise. So, the X Keeper 4000—"

Someone interrupted the vendor mid-speech. "Barnaby, is your Lombre hiding behind that vase?"

"Minna, I'm at work! Please go away."

The girl who had shown up had brown hair and mousy cheeks. She seemed to be bright and observant. "Barnaby's my boyfriend," she told the vendor's customer. "But sometimes I think he loves his Lombre more than me."

"Right now, Minna, I'd love for you to leave," the vendor said, through clenched teeth.

"Okay, I can take a hint. You don't want me around." She ran away in tears.

"Poor kid," the gentleman remarked.

"Yeah, well, forget her. Now about the X Keeper 4000—"

"How many are you selling?"

"Fifty-two."

"What's your asking price?"

"Nine-hundred ninety five pokedollars for one."

"I'll take the lot."

"What!?!" the vendor asked, exasperatedly. "But, you only need one."

"And you must marry that girl. Minna, did you call her? When I was your age, I made the mistake of not marrying my girlfriend, and now look where it's got me? Filthy, stinking rich!"

"I wouldn't mind having some cash of my own to spend," the vendor muttered.

"And you will. But only if you promise to marry her. Furthermore, I will add ten percent to your asking price if you make this promise."

Barnaby's face glimmered with greed. "Sold!" he said. He handed the gentleman the sheet saying that the X Keeper 4000's must be sent to his address immediately. The gentleman put in a deposit, and the vendor gave him a receipt.

Two days later, the gentleman was given proof that his delivery would be made within a fortnight. Then Barnaby was given all of the promised cash, and he sent the required sixty percent to his company, keeping the rest for himself. He married Minna that night, and they flew to Slateport City. To erase all traces, he traded his Lombre for an Ekans as he had threatened he would do off and on for years.

The wealthy gentleman was in for a surprise when he received fifty-two prototypes instead of tested machines! Then he filed a lawsuit, but Barnaby and Minna were nowhere to be found. The company did not feel responsible, so he could not sue them. Private Investigator Yorkem was hired for the job. If she failed, her license would be revoked. And if she succeeded, she would be given a grand reward. And thus the pursuit commenced.