Chapter 3: Fatbox Uprising!
While Lastation was preoccupied with mechanical pets and customisation, Leanboxians had been largely focused on agricultural related pets, mainly Cardbirds, Sunflowery, and Pumpkinmon from Gapain Field. Additionally, adding to the variety of pets were people who frequently went off to other lands to recruit other notable faces such as Radishers, Carroteers, and even Eggplanters (It should be noted that a certain CPU is quite happy with the decrease of Eggplants though). Due to this development, Leanbox's territory has expanded outwards greatly.
However, this was hardly good in the long-term for Leanbox, and Chika knows this. After all, developing technology to stand up against the other nations was a priority, but instead with people depending on pastoralism, the lost shares were not going to be regained anytime soon. On the other hand, Vert did not mind the change, seeing as how everybody in her nation is now so peaceful, and for some reason it reminds her of a Leanbox from an alternate dimension, to which Chika dismisses as Vert just simply mixing up reality with fantasy.
Chika was at a loss of what to do, she wanted to do something for Leanbox to improve shares and manage the nation's resources, since Leanbox has now been heavily relying on imports to fulfill pet needs, and with the large boat coming from Lastation, she is sure to have more work with verifying the imports. At least in this situation, Vert was still the same with her immersion with her MMO games and has not bothered along with the whole pet craze. Though that may change soon, which would frighten Chika, since that would be yet another object taking away Vert's attention from her (as if Planeptune's CPU Candidate was not enough already!).
"What should I do..." Chika sighed, counting and sorting out all the papers and trying to figure out the best plan for Leanbox.
Vert had not been oblivious to Chika's concerns, though she herself was more easy going about the world-wide issue, she occasionally checked up on the poor Oracle. "Chika, is something the matter?"
"Well Lady Vert, I've been trying to adjust the whole nation to suit the needs of everybody's pets, but with lots of people abandoning their old homes to build farm houses, it has been difficult to keep up."
"Hm, while building up farm lands is not a bad thing, I do believe you are right about the more urban homes being abandoned, maybe we can tear those homes down and plant more farms."
"But I was thinking about reigniting interest in the urban areas so Leanbox can develop some useful hardware to regain shares."
"There's no need to worry as long as we keep our levels up."
"(That's easy to say... but I wonder... there might be another issue with the way things are going...)" Just as Chika was thinking about the other issue with Leanbox, the phone nearby rang, and she answered. "Hello? Yes? Oh my... all right, thanks for the notice."
"Is something the matter Chika?"
"No, I just got a call from the Oracle of Lowee, looks like there are some troublesome pets that can-" Chika managed to say before being cut off by the ground breaking apart in front of her as a Plumindigo emerged and jumping out was Cave. "Well, I suppose a live demonstration would be better..."
"My apologies, I intended to travel to the entrance of the Basilicom but looks like my pet went too far." Cave apologised after realising she went straight into the basilicom instead of the front entrance.
"Anyway, I suppose you have something for me?"
"Yes, here are some of the imports for Leanbox today, and I also have some photos that I managed to take while over at Lastation, it would seem everybody has their own way of bonding with their pets." Cave repplied while handing over the import report along with some photos.
Vert was also interested in the photos, and paused her game and looked at them with Chika. In the several photos taken, there were a few scenes: One of them involved a Killachine giving chase to an Ice Fenrir and a Dolphin (With riders that obviously looked like Lowee's CPU Candidates), another was a Kupokitty following Noire home, yet another had a Guardragon and Zegallion locking hands and wrestling. Overall, it was very ridiculous, but at least Leanbox is separated from the mainland and therefore, will not see things that are nearly as crazy as in said photos (Or at least Chika would hope so!).
"Looks like people really do get creative with their companions, now I wonder..." Vert said, while remembering that Neptune did have one of the pet gadgets for her as well, except she never considered using it since she had just bought a new game about school girls in a film club fighting off zombies.
"Yes, it would appear the entire world is going crazy, but as long as we keep things in order and lawful, it shouldn't be a problem. For that reason, this Plumindigo has been helpful with faster transport. Now please excuse me, I have other appointments to head to," Cave excused herself while escaping with her Plumindigo.
Vert examined the hole in the basilicom floor, it was certainly unpleasant for such a thing to happen, and how such pets were able to break through into the basilicom so easily was also concerning. Still, the fun that people had with their pets as well as the various things seen did give Vert an idea. With Leanbox's many imports, Vert secretly did manage to get ahold of another one of the gadgets, in case if Chika ever needed one. "Chika, I think it's time we go out and hunt for something helpful."
"Huh? Wait, are you serious Lady Vert? That one just broke a hole in the room here though?"
"Yes, but I do realise how important companionship is. Besides, I remembered that pets are very useful on adventures and boss fights, especially with their auto-potion skills, auto-buffs, and even help picking up mesos."
"Pick up what?"
"Oh, that was the currency of one of the first MMOs I have played, there were lots of mushrooms in it too. But I remember pets are infinitely useful." Vert finished, leaving Chika still clueless on what she's talking about.
Quickly looking through the bestiary, Chika skimmed the list of foes that can be converted into pets, but as she neared the enemies found in the Conquest route, Vert gripped her shoulder.
"Chika..."
"Y-yes, Lady Vert?"
"What are you looking at?"
"Just some possible pet candidates, l-like the ones from Underverse," Chika lied, obviously she was about to highlight the Vert entry in the bestiary.
"That's good, because I hate bad endings..." Vert replied, obviously seeing right through the Oracle's lies.
Nevertheless, after considering a few things, they decided to head out, since there was not really any bad choices for pets around Leanbox, the worst that could happen was an Elemental Dragon that wanders in Gapain Field... right?
Wrong!
One hour later...
Chika was now back at the basilicom, and more stressed than ever. In the corner of the room was the infamous Underling (also called Linda, but nobody seems to remember anymore) and the dirty Pirachu rat. It was not supposed to happen like this, but when Chika and Vert was travelling, they caught the two villains around the streets of Leanbox, and engaged them in battle.
Unfortunately, they forgot to take off their pet gadget while fighting and since both Underling and Pirachu had multiple entries in the bestiary, they were naturally converted into a pair of undesirable pets. Yet still, Vert did not mind this development, seeing as how miniature versions of enemies are used for pets in some MMOs, this was a great opportunity to reform a villain into a convenience.
"Shit... How the hell did things turn out like this? I hate this place already," Linda said, crawling out of a dog house that Vert made from an imported pet package.
"Look you two, I don't like this either, so just stay quiet and maybe Vert will lose interest," Chika advised, not wanting to deal with the two of them, especially Linda, who once disguised as herself.
"Why not just release us at once old hag? It might be better that way." Pirachu said in response, but then dodging a whip aimed at him.
"Say that again and I will go Iris Heart on you," Chika said with a false smile, brandishing her whip that she got after playing too many of certain genre of games with Vert.
"Holy Shit! I don't know who you are referring to, but it's like I got PTSD!" Pirachu said, while shaking.
"What the, how do you even know who that is?" Linda asked, seeing as Chika would not be able to know that name even.
"I just read the script for the next game, Neptune taught me that trick," Chika said, while slowly leaving the room now that she took control and put fear into the helpless rats.
As the door closed, the two villains could only look at each other, this place was worst than hell. As a matter of fact, Lastation with Dolphin, Fenrir, Killachine, and Zegallion was probably better off than here. Luckily for them, there was a big game sale in Leanbox today, so Vert was busy outside to buy more games, and so they saw this as their only chance to escape.
"Yeah, so maybe catching that boat ride here wasn't the best idea. We have to get out now, those bitches are insane!" Linda panicked, trying to break free of her restraints.
"Well, maybe it won't be that bad. Remember how weeks ago you were complaining about not having enough food or a place to sleep that's not the sewers? Well, you got both now."
"That's different! And why the hell am I the one in a dog house anyway!? And this! This is just disgusting!" Linda said while throwing out the block of Limburger from her pet house, since that is what they were being fed.
"Ugh! That thing does stink! All right, guess we'll get out, maybe run as far away as possible." Pirachu concluded, while helping unbind Linda as the two broke free and ran out of the basilicom.
Once outside though, things got much worse. As they hid away at one corner of a building, they heard a loud crash, as well the giant shadow of a Guardragon behind them.
"Oh shit..." They said unison.
"Halt villains, this time you shall not escape from justice!" Nisa said as she appeared in front of them for pincer attack.
"Why do we keep running into so much trouble?" Pirachu complained, it seemed that no matter where they run to, it was always somebody crazy with a pet.
"Don't worry about this one, I have a plan..." Linda replied, going up to Nisa with a grin as she delivered her fantastic attack. "Hey you justice-lover, doesn't it bother you that even your dragon is not as flat as you are?"
And just like that, Nisa as stunned. Taking this chance, both Linda and Pirachu ran past the flat-as-a-board heroine and kept running, this was going to be bad when Nisa recovers from the shock.
At the same time, Chika had just returned to the basilicom from urban development planning and noticed the two rats had escaped. She sighed, knowing that this was bound to happen, but maybe it was for the best that they left on their own. After all, there was no release function on the Nep-pet gadget, so maybe if the pets ran away she would not have to see them again.
Yet, things were not always that simple, there had been a lot of noise outside, and taking a look out the window, she saw what was happening now. There was a Guardragon breathing fire down at... something, but more often than not, the fire just set ablaze old abandoned buildings instead. Obviously standing on top of the dragon's head was Nisa giving the command to burn the said targets.
"Oh no..." Chika whispered to herself, this was definitely the worst.
Vert entered the room shortly after, having also seen the fire while out shopping. "Chika, what has happened?"
"The two rats have escaped and... Somebody is chasing them with a dragon I think."
"Oh that's not good, disobedient pets need to be disciplined," Vert finished, while grabbing her Gungnir and headed out to take control of her nation.
Within just half an hour (this is thanks to Vert having done lots of speed run achievements lately), Linda and Pirachu were imprisoned again and Chika actually arrested Nisa for possible arson. Yet, because Nisa was only trying to catch Linda and Pirachu after being brutally burned by Linda's comment, Vert pardoned her because it was technically not arson and also on the condition that she would help recruit people to develop and regain Leanbox shares (Plus, a heroine of justice getting thrown in jail really did seem a little out of place).
Back in the basilicom, Linda and Pirachu were bound in ropes and forced to face the corner while wearing white cone hats. At least one issue was solved, but there was still work to be done. The addition of pets and field grazing meant less work for the people and so now many people were too relaxed. Ultimately, this would mean that people will get too lazy, and when people get lazy, they get fat. Leanbox is slowly going to become Fatbox at this rate, and not like it has not already happened geographically, since the expansion of farms, Leanbox's territory had been widening, just like somebody's waist-line when they get fatter.
It was still an on-going issue, and Chika tried to think of ways to prevent national obesity. Yet, the pressure of such a workload only seemed to paralyse her, but that is when more pet invasion began. From the right side wall, a Plum-met breaks right through horizontally, surprising both Vert and Chika. Of course, it was no surprise who would crawl out of the pipe since this scene was already well documented in both Lowee and Lastation.
"Gust has the perfect solution for Paralysis, with this super charger all stress will go away~" Said the scam artist, holding out a bottle of green pills with no label on it.
"You know, I have heard about what you did already in both Lowee and Lastation, and right now, Leanbox has spent enough on imports, so please... you go away." Chika responded, remembering earlier phone calls from both Mina and Kei that there was a Plum-met going around, but Chika just did not expect the Plum-met to break through the wall horizontally, as usually these pets break through the ground horizontally like Cave's Plumindigo.
After staring down Gust, the merchant was successfully chased off, but not before leaving a big hole in the wall, right where a poster used to be. As if breaking the floor was not enough, it was now the walls, next thing Chika knows, it will probably be the ceiling that will break next.
"This is a very serious problem..." Chika said, looking at the size of the hole broken through the wall, while Vert also agreed it was a big problem.
"Yes, that poster was custom-made and printed in high quality for me, I must get it replaced." Vert said, while exiting the room.
"Wait, Lady Vert!" Chika protested, clearly seeing the skewed priorities that Vert had, but to no success. True that the poster was a favourite of both Vert and Chika, since it was of two (nearly) naked men about to kiss, but still, Chika would have thought that Vert would be more concerned about other people's pets breaking holes in their beloved basilicom.
In the end, Chika got no work done. At least compared to what she heard from Mina and Kei, she did not have to deal with CPU or CPU Candidates' troublesome pets, because Linda and Pirachu were pacified in their home. When all hope seems lost to regain her sanity, Vert appeared again.
"Chika, are you feeling all right? It's not good to stay inside all day, even I know that."
"I know Lady Vert, but there's just so much to handle right now..."
"Yes, but right now let's not focus on that, I want you to come with me," Vert offered her hand to Chika, and while it seemed strange to go out almost evening time, maybe this would be a good opportunity to unwind, and so Chika went along.
Soon, Chika could see that Vert led her to a familiar concert stage, and standing in the centre of attention was 5pb. There was more though, instead of using stairs to get on stage, Chika noticed the clever use of Terits, Tetsri, and Terist blocks as the stepping steps up onto the stage, and during said concert, the blocks moved to match the rhythm of each song. It was here that Chika understood that when Vert went out earlier, it was to set up this whole event, showing the creativity and friendship between people and their pets.
Once everything was done and getting back home, Chika felt a lot more relaxed, maybe the whole concept of co-existing with pets was not so bad after all, and also maybe Leanbox will be all right, there are other ways to increase shares and move forward with the nation. Laying down on the bed, Chika finally understood why Vert was never too concerned with the state of Leanbox, as strange as the changes may be, people will adapt, and eventually things work out (Hopefully).
"Feeling better now Chika?" Vert asked, seeing the Oracle feeling much better and not about to explode.
"Yes. Thank you Lady Vert." Chika replied, though some things still need adjustment, she knew what she could do. Picking on the phone, Chika called Planeptune, where all feedback and suggestions for improvements for Nep-Pets were directed. There were two main issues she wanted to speak about, one was the pipe pets breaking holes everywhere, and second was how to possibly release some undesirable pets (Such as the passed out Linda and Pirachu in the corner from the Limburger).
Of course, there were no guarantees that Leanbox will stop being Fatbox, but at least the important thing is that Chika got the confidence to deal with issues that may arise without stressing out way too much.
Meanwhile, in a place somewhere close to Planeptune...
"Oh hey! The narration said something about those pipe pets breaking the ceiling next, you know... that's tempting fate!" Said a certain purple-haired CPU, who just loves to say random things and appear awkwardly at the end of chapters for no reason at all (But hey, with the Planeptune chapter up next, everybody in the world would hope that she'd stop that by now!).