The Doomed Sprout
Chapter 13
Celebi was stressed out, worried, and many more adjectives of a similar nature. They had spent the last few days delivering samples in an attempt to lay low and avoid raising suspicions, yet more and more Legendaries were seeking them for help trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Nothing had happened for eons, so long that everyone stopped focusing on their tasks, and then something started to change within the Pokemon in this world. Celebi wasn't certain of who was responsible, but some of the fundamental laws of this world started to change. Some Pokemon's power grew tremendously, wreaking havoc around their birthplace, while others just mysteriously disappeared. There have been cases of random Pokemon dealing with an entire ecosystem out to get them, and now it seems like there's a drastic decrease in shinies worldwide. There are even some Legendaries going MIA !
The worst part of all this was probably the fact that it all was just piling up. At the start, it was easy to guess who was doing what, but then more changes kept getting added with no communication, and everyone expects the little detective pixie to do their bidding… Still, they had taken that task for a reason, and finding a living remnant of a banished Humanity was quite the compelling hunt.
To lift their mood, Celebi started humming, a pass-time found after decades of errands alone. « Little time, little flow, flow of time I follow… Lead me to the past and to the present, for the leftover has no flow... »
As the Pokemon flew about, the Erratic Jungle grew closer, the trail she had found leading inside.
Cylan was sitting behind his desk, containing his rage and forcing a smile.
« I'd like some explanations, Cedric. All I've tasked you with was to evaluate the newcomers, so please tell me, how in Arceus's name did we end up with a broken wall and three Pokemon in the recovery room ? »
The Gurdurr shifted his hands awkwardly. « Well, uh… We also need to repair the well and- »
« TELL ME ! », the zoroark lashed out, slamming the desk before slumping back in his chair. « I can't even scold them personally otherwise it'll be even more difficult to get these two accepted by the townsfolk... »
Cedric waited anxiously before the Honorable motioned for him to speak. « So, I started off leading 'em to the training grounds, all three of them. The Common Nidoran was just as you said, couldn't even handle a simple Rock Throw, though she seemed to already know about defensive strategies like you taught us. I think you're right, something's odd about her, but she ain't no threat, even if she tried »
Cylan simply nodded, leaving the Pokemon to continue. « Then, with the Eevee, she seemed good at evading attacks, but that was about it. Barely did a scratch, but she'd be a good scout. After that, though... ». Cedric paused for a moment, before leaning closer. « I don't think we should keep that Shinx with us. The rescue team kept yapping about his strength so I chose to just go all out and see how he handled it. He… he wasn't even touched, just kept wiggling around each rock and punch, I couldn't do a thing. The only thing I'd say we can use against him is his aim, he threw a 'bolt at me and blew up the wall. Guy can't be precise for crap like he's only ever done sneak attacks in his life »
« Which wouldn't explain his uncanny dodging abilities. So he too is a mystery, then », Cylan sighed. « That's only the combat test though, what about their labor aptitude ? »
« To start off, the Shinx's got no clue what anything means, keeps asking me questions all the time », Cedric said, before pausing. « Right, about that, apparently it's due to the Nidoran that they're like that, so the rescue team got the right info. Anyway, he can do a lotta things, but you gotta explain every itty bitty thing and I ain't dealing with that, so I'd call him up for the hunting team. »
The Honorable nodded in approval. « If he is to hunt outside our territory and be away more frequently, then the Sprout will be safer as well. A good suggestion »
«The Eevee's testing was quick, seems like she's a good scout. Girl's senses are sharp, and she's fast too. Seems like she's interested in how things work around here as well, kept blabbering non-stop around town to the other two »
Another nod, with Cylan scribbling something down on a piece of paper.
« The Nidoran, though… I don't know what to do with her. She seemed really motivated when I talked about the various jobs around the Sprout, heck, gal even explained some to me, like she'd been here before ! »
Cylan laughed, looking away. « She's certainly shown a deep intelligence so far. I still find it amusing how insulted she seemed about the cage incident. It usually takes most Shinies a few hours at least to understand how to escape »
« Exactly ! », Cedric shouted, « so why is it she can't do anything ?! She has no muscles or balance, she can't carry most items around, can't do construction, and when I tried to test her aim, the Common shot three of ours in the process ! ». He grunted, pushing against the table and resting his back against the chair. « She was saying something about healing Pokemon, but she's got no abilities to do that, Noelle's the only one. So, all in all, I ain't got a clue how to use her around here »
The two remained silent for a while, followed by an apology from Cedric, whom Cylan readily accepted before telling him off for the day. The Zoroark had some work to do now to ensure the stability of his town as well as understanding what was going on with these two Commons.
…
« Thank you », Noelle said, grabbing the Pecha berries that were brought to her. « I know you feel guilty about this, but I could've gotten them myself. Please, just take a rest »
Fen looked at the Pokemon lying down on wooden boards. She had tried to show off her improved precision with Poison Sting and regretted it instantly. What's worse, the only knowledge she brought from her world, medicine, turned out to be entirely pointless. Why would you ever need to learn about antibiotics, surgery and the like when random berries in the forest and some stupid magic could do the trick ? Not to mention that she had no clue about the inner workings of a Pokemon's body either…
Noelle passed over her head. « If you really want to be useful, perhaps you can gather some branches to repair the well's mechanism ? Sera got a bit too excited with it and broke the handle »
« Sera's already gone for that... », replied a dejected Fen. « I'll just... go and get more berries, I don't want to be responsible for emptying the storage too»
The Nidoran quickly rushed off, ignoring Noelle's words of comfort and aiming straight at the broken part of the wall. At least for this one, it wasn't her fault, only that of the one in charge of construction for making the training grounds so close to a shabby defensive wall. Seriously, wood ? They're lucky no fire type has randomly burped around their village !
...If there are any fire types here. She just arrived yesterday after all, and barely saw anyone despite all the houses built around here. To be fair, the lack of people suited her, she was feeling guilty enough without the gazes of all these Shinies on her back adding onto that.
Leaping through the hole, Fen started focusing on her sense of smell to look for Pecha berries, as replacement for the ones she ended up bringing to Noelle. A few Oran or Sitrus berries would be good too, since she, uh, hit a whole lot more than just three Pokemon, it's just that not all of them got poisoned. As she flicked her head from side to side, the scent from the village's small plantation kept overpowering any other berries that may be nearby. It seemed like they had already plucked the surrounding areas to get that farm going, so there wasn't anything for her to pick up. Seems like she'd need to go deeper, though it was dangerous… An idea suddenly popped into her mind, when she remembered the strange cavern she'd gotten stuck in earlier. It was full of resources, including berries, so she'd be able to at least help in this way while being relatively safe ! Well, so long as she doesn't get close to the Houndour's den again.
With enough time and dedication, Fen eventually found another one of these hidden portals to the caverns, this one being about fifteen minutes away from the village. She wanted to say it was north of it, but she's yet to see a compass around here and didn't observe the map enough, back in the Honorable's room, so she's just going by ''left of the shack's front door, on the blue rock near the river''. Should be easy enough to remember, if I ever tell anyone about these things. For now, though, it was time to explore, she thought as she jumped into the cold, invisible hole.
During this time, Lumin was hard at work back in the Sprout. He'd been told to patrol the city for any wild Pokemon that may have entered the area, alongside being tasked to ''lower his guard around Shinies'', which he found absolutely idiotic. He's always done well with guarding his territory back then, there was no reason to change his behavior now. He also had no clue what made an Outcast different from a Shiny, and their attempts to explain it better to him seemed to make the others hit their face a lot, which Lumin wasn't really fond of. Outcasts definitely have no self-preservation instincts.
Well, whatever. He has a role in this new pack, and Fen seemed to think it was a good idea for him to go on patrol, apparently, it'd give him a chance to see the two other Shinxes around these parts and see if they heard about Lou. Still, finding them proved difficult, with all of the strangeness around him constantly making him feel out of his depth. Why were they all tense about him when there were flat woods growing around here, this wasn't normal ! Lumin desperately hoped that Fen would come back soon to ask her about these ''houses'', preferring her explanations to Sera's chaotic rambling and the Zoroark's stuttering.
« Hey, you ! », shouted a voice from behind. Lumin turned around in combat position, recognizing hostility in the voice, but confused that they'd lose the chance to surprise him.
« Oh, h-hang on there ! », the Pokemon yelled, falling over in fright. Upon inspection, Lumin remembered him as the Outcast Furret who had attacked him back in the woods and snarled in response. « I'm not here to hurt you ! A-and you're not supposed to hurt me either, the Honorable said so! »
« Why are you here ? », asked Lumin while sitting down, deeming the newcomer as a non-threat.
« I-it's just… We've been told by the Honorable that you and that Nidoran are going to stay around and help out for now. And even if the Honorable trusts you, uhm… We-we don't ! ». The Furret tried her best to show fury, at least as much as one could do while hiding behind a gigantic tail. Hearing no response, she takes a peek, seeing Lumin simply tilting his head in confusion, apparently waiting for more information on her part.
She mustered her courage, straightening up. « Well, uh, could you move away from this part of town ? It's where all the houses are and we don't feel safe here »
« I'll do my task better from now on », replied the Shinx before walking again, tail glowing lightly.
The Furret stood there for a few seconds, before rushing to catch up. « W-wha ? That's not what I- what are you even doing here ! »
« Patrolling the area, making it secure »
« ...Oh ». The two walked in silence, the Furret rubbing her paws in anxiety, before noticing the iPod in Lumin's tail. « That's the music box, right ? Why do you have it ? »
« Fen tasked me with it. She says I can keep the music working », Lumin replied nonchalantly.
« But that's Sera's… Oh, what the hell. Can I use it ? »
Lumin's tail drooped down, letting the machine on the ground for the Pokemon to pick up, which she immediately did. After some fiddling and guessing, an upbeat and joyful melody could be heard throughout the Sprout, much to everyone's delight (alongside a little confusion, admittedly).
The Furret nudged the now active iPod on Lumin's tail, who grabbed it again. « I'm Amy, by the way. Sorry for running off with Kutz back then, you kind of terrified us… Still, uh, do, by the way, but the music helps », she smiled awkwardly. « I-I'll stop bothering you. Please don't eat me ! »
Lumin tilted his head, watching her curling up on the ground. « I have no reason to eat you, you are not a threat, even if you are an Outcast »
Amy shot him a glare. « I can be a threat ! I know how to fight, it's why I was on the team ! You're just stupidly strong ! », she protested.
« That is not what I meant. You are weak, but you could be a threat to others. The reason why you're a threat to me is that you are part of the very pack that I was tasked to protect ». Lumin paused for a second, before adding an exasperated sigh. « I think that's how she does it… »
Amy just looked at the Shinx, bewildered, before scurrying off to another part of town. This new group was strange enough, but their personalities were even more so. The Shinx didn't seem a threat for now, though she'll find a way to lure him away later on, maybe with that music box… Well, she had done her part here, now to find the Nidoran.
The Sprout's a safe place, and they'll do what it takes to keep it that way !