[Hold on, Pikachu,] Muk said.

I was tempted to Thunderbolt them all right then and there. [What?] I hissed. I wasn't going to restrain myself for much longer.

[You're right that Squirtle and I touched the bottle.] Seeing my cheeks sparking even more than they already were, Muk was quick to add, [But it was empty when we did. You see, Squirtle and I were relaxing in the mudhole he made when Psyduck came outside with a bottle stuck on his arm. We helped him get it off, and it went flying off into the bushes over there.] Muk lifted a sludgy arm and pointed.

I faltered. [Psyduck stole the ketchup bottle?] I blinked for a moment before finally protesting, [No, no, that can't be. I found some red hairs and a feather from Mimey's duster. How do you explain those? And the ketchup on your vines, Bulbasaur. What about that?]

The Grass-type looked at me in confusion. Bulbasaur didn't know.

[How about we ask Psyduck?] Vulpix suggested tentatively. She was keeping her distance from me, and, taking into account how angry I was, I couldn't blame her.

I stared incredulously at her for her suggestion. As if Psyduck would say anything meaningful. Still, we had to try. I sighed. [Where is he?]

Muk pointed at him. [Over there.]

So we marched over to the clueless duck.

"Psy?" the yellow duck tilted his head.

[Psyduck, how did you get a bottle stuck on your hand?] I asked.

"Psy?"

I repeated myself, a little impatiently.

The duck still looked clueless.

Bulbasaur decided to help jog his memory. [Psyduck. Togepi started crying, so Mimey came and got me, and I went inside and sang a lullaby and rocked Togepi to sleep. Remember how you came in through the open door and stood beside us as we soothed the child? Remember how I then left to give Togepi to Misty? What did you do while you were in the house? How did you get the bottle stuck on your arm?]

Psyduck thought hard for a moment, which looked painful. "Psy-yi...." He thought hard for a moment longer. [Fell and found bottle under couch. Try to get bottle. Bottle get stuck.]

Something seemed to tug at me. The bottle had fallen under the couch....


Author's Note: Oh ho ho, but it's not over yet....