This chapter takes place before the end of Chapter 12.

BONUS CHAPTER

It's Nothing Personal

"I'm not entirely sure how doing missions is helping solve the mystery of the conscience problem and the Drasil issue." Monty told Mew.

She put her hands on her hips. "It's not. But if I'm gonna stay here, I'm going to pull my own weight. And to do that, I need to do missions. Plus, ah...I don't really have any leads right now, so I'm really just wasting time."

Monty sighed. "Well, since Squirtle's...out of action, I guess I'll accompany you on your first mission." Monty nodded, as if agreeing with himself.

"Is that really necessary?" Mew murmured.

"It's company procedure! Or...business procedure!" Monty objected. What is the difference between a company and a business, anyway? Is there a difference?

Mew relented. "Alright, fine. But I choose the mission, okay? I don't want you choosing an A rank or something when I'm not ready for it."

"That's alright by me, Mew." Monty still wasn't sure about Mew. Ah, what am I fretting about? Squirtle's good at what she does. And what better way to get to know a Pokémon by going on a mission with them?...Alone? Monty shivered.

"Alright, I've chosen one." Mew called from outside. Monty followed the call, and Mew handed over the sheet for Monty to review.

Competitive Prices?

Rank: C Location: Mountain Market

My name is Banette. I run the well-known Banette's Bazaar in Nuzlocke. Chances
are you've shopped there before. Anyways, I've been hearing about some shops
around here that are trying to steal my thunder. They're opening up shop in some
strange places...anyways, all I want you to do is to go to one of these shops, note
the prices, and tell them to me. Couldn't be easier. Unless, of course, you made the
prices up. But don't do that, please. I'd do it myself, but the problem is that I'm too
busy getting more and more valuable and useful items for my valuable customers.
If you do this for me, I'd be really grateful.

Reward: 3000 Poké + Banette's Bazaar Membership Card

"Well, well, well! That's quite a reward!" Mew gasped. "3000 Poké!"

Monty shrugged, and smiled. "Yes, Banette is Nuzlocke's local millionaire. He has a lot of Poké to throw around, and...Hold it, does that say 'Banette's Bazaar Membership Card'!?" Monty exclaimed.

"Well, yeah." Mew looked at the reward listing, and it indeed said that.

Monty gaped. "This is a good choice, Mew. This is a very good choice. Do you know what that Membership Card does?"

"...No."

"Banette's Bazaar has these hidden sales that only members know about...and these sales are very, very good sales. If we get this, our entire business can get items dirt cheap!"

"Let's not waste any more time here, then! Where's Mountain Market?" Mew asked.

Monty was about to answer, then realized he couldn't. "I don't know. I guess we could ask Squirtle where it...oh, right."

"Why don't we ask Banette?"

"Right."

"Hello, and welcome to Banette's Bazaar!"

"Banette?! You're actually in your store!?" Monty blurted, before covering his mouth, realizing the presence of the word 'actually' made the sentence rude.

"Monty!" Banette exclaimed. "It's good to see you! What do you have in mind? Anything I can get you?"

"Actually, yes." Mew interjected. "We have this." She held out the flyer.

"Ah, yes!" Banette's eyes lit up in recognition. "You're taking on my trouble! Good for you, then!"

Monty scratched the back of his head. "There's a problem, though. We don't really...know...where Mountain Market is."

Banette laughed again. "All the better then, no? Means you can't shop there!...Though, I suppose you'll have to. Alright, I'll tell you, on your sworn promise you won't spend a single Poké there."

"We promise." Mew and Monty both professed.

"Alright." Banette leaned in closer, making sure no eavesdroppers could hear the location of his competitors. Whipsering, he said, "It's by the foot of Mt. Maelstrom. Again, don't spend a single Poké there, or..." Banette's eyes grew cold. "I'll have your heads." Leaning back, he laughed heartily again, leaving Monty and Mew to exchange glances nervously, wondering if he was actually serious or not.

"Okay, we're off, then." Monty said slowly.

"Hold on!" Mew hissed. "Shouldn't we take something to write down prices on?"

"Good thinking. We'll stop by the business, get a notepad or something, and then go to Mt. Maelstrom's Mountain Market."

Mt. Maelstrom towered over them like a menacing skyscraper, almost looking as if it was about to fall down on top of them.

"Thank Arceus we don't need to climb it, eh, Mew?"

Mew simply frowned. She seemed upset.

Monty frowned as well. "I-is something wrong, Mew?"

Mew jumped, as if waking up from a dream. "Oh, no. Everything's fine, Monty. C'mon, let's find that shop."

Monty nodded in agreement, and they set off around the foggy foot of Mt. Maelstrom. Because of the weather, Monty became quite paranoid, thinking any shape to be some sort of hostile Pokémon. Mew, on the other hand, seemed very relaxed. She floated along, not bothering to change into a different form for preparedness.

"Y-you don't think we're going to run into any...company, do you?" Monty shivered. The fog's moisture was clinging to his skin, making him colder than he liked.

"Nah," Mew dismissed the thought. "there was a gang of pick-pockets here a while back, but they moved their HQ somewhere else. All that should be here is the Mountain Mart now."

Monty looked up at the mountain again. "A bit of a strange place for a convenience store, don't you think?"

Mew simply shrugged.

Eventually, both of the travelers saw a bright, fluorescent light cut through the fog like HM01 through small trees.

"Do you think that's it?" Mew wondered.

Monty smirked. "Do you know any other convenience stores at the foot of Mt. Maelstrom?"

"Good point."

"Welcome, welcome! Welcome to Mountain Mart!" A Machoke cheered as Monty and Mew entered through the front doors. "If you need any help, come see me, okay?"

Monty looked around. It was a strange place. The floor felt like it was made of polished stone, the walls seemed to be made of the same material, except for a part in the back, where there were glass doors filled with the same lights that line the ceiling, giving off an eerie, flickering, unnatural light. Shelves divided the store into strips, each of the shelves lined with brightly colored bags and cups of who-knows-what. All this, plus the unrelenting stare of the friendly Machoke behind the counter unnerved Monty. Mew seemed unconcerned as she whipped out the notepad.

"Whatcha got there, friend?"

Mew stopped in her tracks. Uh-oh. "Um, a notepad!" Mew laughed nervously.

"What do you need a notepad for?"

"I'm an...uh...artist. I sketch stuff that uh...inspires me. And your store really inspires me." Mew nodded pseudo-sincerely.

"She's really good." Monty added.

"Really? Because to me, it doesn't look like a drawing. It looks like numbers. Care to explain that, friend?" The Machoke smiled again, though both that and the word 'friend' seemed to take on a new meaning with his new tone.

"Um...It's a new trend. Number art. Yep." Mew quipped.

"Really catching on with the young'uns." Monty, once again, added.

"Hm." The Machoke, still smiling, crossed his arms. "Well, you won't mind if I take a look at it then?"

"Well, it's still in the beta phase-" Monty began, before watching helplessly as the notebook was snatched from Mew's hands. She glared at Monty judgingly.

"Beta phase is for computer programs, genius." Mew muttered.

"These...they're prices. For my products. Care to explain that, friend?" Now the word seemed thick and venomous in Machoke's voice, like a doctor's syringe.

"Um...Well..." Monty faltered.

"You realize...that telling prices to competitors..." Machoke slowly walked over to the front doors, locking them with a ka-chunk. "...is bad for business."

"Great. Turns out we've run smack dab into the Mt. Maelstrom Mountain Mart Mafia." Mew mumbled.

"I'm afraid I can't let you leave just yet." Machoke's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm afraid I have to get going now." Mew implored.

"I'm just plain afraid!" Monty wailed.

Machoke smiled menacingly, slowly ripping the notebook in half, ignoring the protests from Mew. His palms loosened the grip on the binded paper, letting it fall to the floor.

"Hey! You can't do that!" Monty protested. "That's our property!"

"Trust me," The Machoke whispered, "you've got more problems than a torn notebook."

Mew and Monty were in quite the pickle, to say the least. They were tied back to back on a chair, ropes cutting into their wrists, with the malevolent Machoke stalking circles around the
fold-out chair menacingly.

"Now, do you realize the consequence for your actions?" He said slowly, dragging out each word, savouring each syllable.

"Yes, I get tied to a chair. Can I go now?" Mew deadpanned.

"Oh, no, you cheeky little cat. You get much more than that." Machoke drawled.

"Mew!" Monty hissed. "I'm going to try something. Be ready to strike!"

Mew nodded her consent. Monty's hand began to glow green.

"What are you doing?" Mew asked, barely above a whisper.

"Leaf Blade. Hold the rope steady so it looks like we're still tied." Monty mouthed.

Monty's hand, now sharp as a dagger, started to push through the rope, tugging and pulling at it until it gave. Snap! Monty cringed at the sound, waiting for Machoke to fly into a rage. Nothing happened. He hadn't heard. He steadied his hands on the rope, making it look like he was still trapped.

"On three," Mew whispered.

While Machoke was still oblivious to the two's plans behind his back, Monty slowly, but sharply tugged on the ropes two times.

"Three!" Monty yelled, and he was up. So was Cofagrigus.

"Come and get it, Machoke!" He yelled. Monty yelled too, but for a different reason.

"Aah! Mew!" Monty shrieked. "You've got to tell me if you're going to do something like that!"

"Sorry, I'm-" Cofagrigus began, before being interrupted by Machoke's fist. Or at least, he would've been, had he not been a Ghost type. "Fighting doesn't affect Ghost, doy!"

"Agh! Where'd the cat go!?" Machoke yelled in frustration before being hit by an Ominous Wind.

"Good job, Mew! Keep-AGH! HOT HOT HOT!" Monty shrieked in pain as Machoke used Fire Blast against him.

"Like that, huh? It's one thing that's exclusive here: TM38! Go tell that to your official!" Machoke laughed. He was quickly shut up, however, by the Hex Cofagrigus had put on him. Monty would've cheered him on again, but he was too busy finding water in those strange glass doors near the back to put out his burn.

"Hey! That's valuable merch! You'd better pay for that!"

"Yes, yes, right away-"

"MONTY!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Monty apologized, following it up with another Leaf Blade, except this time, it wasn't nearly as hidden.

"AGH! You're gonna pay for that, you snake!"

"I am nota snake!" Monty yelled in indignation, sending a Leaf Tornado his way, uprooting those beautiful shelves along its path of destruction.

Machoke was outnumbered. He knew it. He also knew it wasn't smart to keep up a battle he couldn't win. So, he ran. Out of the store, and into the fog. "I'll have my revenge, you meddlers!" He yelled.

Both Monty and Mew, back in her original form, were tuckered out. Sighing, they patted themselves on the back for a job well done as they headed back to Nuzlocke.

"Ah, yes! You return triumphant! What is the news?" Banette asked cheerfully.

"That Mountain Mart was a madhouse!" Mew declared.

"You seem to have a penchant for alliteration, Mew." Monty noted.

"It's a habit." Mew replied, before turning back to Banette. "When the cashier found out we were checking out prices, he tied us to a chair! One chair! For the both of us! We had to claw our way out of that cursed convenience store!"

"Oh, I'm sorry for that. But what of the prices? Did you get them?"

Monty and Mew exchanged glances, and remembered that they had left the torn notebook back at Mountain Mart. Which probably had their faces on wanted posters by now.

"We, uh...the cashier ripped up the notes we had on the prices. We weren't able to get them." Monty confessed.

"Oh, that's unfortunate. What's even more unfortunate is that I can't give you the reward unless I have those prices...so if you're willing to go back-"

"NO!" Mew and Monty both voiced the word at the same time.

"Alright. I'm sorry to bother you." Banette seemed almost sad.

Monty frowned. "No, I'm sorry I-we couldn't complete your request. I hope we can do better in the future."

Monty slumped down on a chair in the main room of the...business.

"It's too bad we failed your first mission, Mew. But there's always next time, right?" Monty offered.

Mew, surprisingly to Monty, didn't seem too unhappy about the whole thing. "Yeah, you're right. It was fun, though."

Squirtle came back through the front door, and gave a hard look at Mew. Mew stood there, frozen, not sure what to make of it.

"I'll help, Mew."

Fun fact: Most of the alliterations (series of words starting with the same letter sound) in this chapter were accidental.