''Little Problem'' : July Tasks

:iconpmd-exploreres:
The Bard App: fav.me/d6fhnmp

---

“I can't believe how hard it's actually proving to be to find that slippery little blob... I really should have found him by now. Even though he made untangling those tracks so painfully difficult. Still, it seemed despite his presence bringing nothing but irritation to those around him; no one could accurately peg down where he was. Thus I end up here. Loosing his trail in this slum just as I was closing in on him. Had he changed form? He must have, and then flown off somewhere again.”

“For a Ditto that only had three forms in his permanent memory, Chibi could really be a pain...”

---

“Why did I join the merchants? Hm, I wonder too. Well I had not anything else to do~! So why not? Haven't been around much, but Tao is nice. Lovely really. It's a wonderful place and I love it thus far! Oh and I used to just travel around you know. That was fun too, but I got bored. How do you get bored of traveling? What with all the sights and sounds? Well in my case it's more like a lack there of. The fun of most sights is the locals! The Pokemon who live there! No one likes me though, oh but I don't mind! It's just that only hearing Kricitune chirps for so long can become... Well, can't we all agree solitude is no fun? “

“So one day I was struck by a wondrous idea! It was brilliant really! I heard tell of Tao village and the unfortunate events that have taken place as of late. I had always thought it might be fun to join, oh but she didn't want poor Chibi to leave! She told me over and over: 'You can't leave! Your sick! Stay with me! Yes, Rachel even said so!'”

“Oh but I knew she was lying, of course I did! Rachel would have told me herself if such a thing were true! So I left! Ran and flew around a bit, sent her on a real Swanna chase! Than came to Tao! Thankfully there are jobs handed out a plenty! Now little Chibi can make a living! Then one day when I am good and ready, I'll go home. Tell Rachel I'm sorry, then rub it in Yousei's smug face that I can make it out here on my own!”

I must have prattled on like this for quite some time. Why, I was so indulged in telling my story to my temporary traveling partners that I neglected to notice they had slipped away while I was poring my soul out! How rude is that? If I had seen where they had gone I would have been sure to chew them out for such poor manners!

Then again, I suppose I would need teeth for that wouldn't I? Never mind then.

Well that can't really be helped now, but oh! I see that I also neglected to notice how close I had come to my destination! I was here! Almomomla Bay! How wonderful this location was! I had been here a handful of times before, all wonderful visits, but now it seemed to have an extra... Alertness to it? Hard to explain I suppose. Something in the air seemed new and exciting though!

Just what a hard working Ditto like me needed to get motivated!

Oh but...Hm...

...

Silly, silly me! It seems in the process of remembering the events of my past I had forgotten the tasks of the present! How terrible, but not to worry, there is a silver lining! I know it! I will now have to engage in conversation with some of my peers to recall these tasks! Yes I will find a kind soul to remind my forgetful Ditto brain, and at the same time I will get to know some other Pokemon! Two birds and one stone!

Oh and wouldn't you know it? A Pokemon was passing me by now! Oh but was she one of the guild initiates? She looked like the meek, but kind Rescuer type. Hmm, well asking the little one should solve that problem!

“Excuse me miss!” I reached a short distance over to her and tapped the Whooper suddenly on the back of her head, and I think suddenly because the poor thing was startled terribly! She exclaimed and turned quickly only to see my towering form behind her. 'Towering' now that sounds strange, but to a foot tall Pokemon I guess I would be towering! Or is that a bit over the top?

Well anyways, she stumbled over her own feet backwards and away from me. I just smiled my usual and waited for her to regain some composure. In the mean time I crossed my arms behind me and propped myself up higher on my toes. I thought I was making myself seem more innocent, but I realized she now had to look up quite high to be looking me in the eye.

“Um, yes?”

I had a funny idea then. So abrupt, but I was unable to pass it up. So I, instead of responding like a polite little Ditto, just sat there; staring. Oh and did the poor thing look ill at ease! She didn't walk away like I thought she would. She just stud there too, shifting about in her place but never once under my stare did she move from that place.

When I acknowledged that I would get no better reaction. I decided to reply.

“My name is Chibi.” I bowed in an exaggerated manor, (well she is a lady!) trying all I could to keep that humorous look of discomfort on her face. Seemed to be working so far.

I waited again, though not as long as last time.

“And you are?” I cued.

“Uh, Kiwi.”

“Your name is Kiwi?” I covered my mouth as if to restrain laughter, and I snickered softly to add to the affect. I didn't truly think it was a bad name, but where was the fun in that? She frowned. Looking the slightest bit offended, but too uncomfortable to state it.

“That is a very... Sweet name... Ehem, anyways! I was hoping you might be able to assist me with something!”

“Like what?”

“Oh nothing big! Nothing big at all. You see in my hast here form Tao I forgot the task details! I cannot do my work without memory of the work to be done! As you can guess, I am in a real Bind here! Might you remember a task or two that I could preform?”

“You know you could always just ask--”

“Hm? What's that? I can't here you! May you please speak a tad louder?”

I tilted toward her a bit and she leaned away just as much.

“Urf... They uh, needed someone to talk to the Qwilfish in the Bay... A Floatzel named Fin is supposed to help anyone--”

“Oh! Breaking bad news to puffy fish? That sounds like fun! Oh... You didn't yet mention I had to tell the Qwilfish Patrol they are out of a job because of miss Anana? Hee-hee, well I guess you jogged my memory! Thank you kindly for that miss 'peewee'”

“It's Kiwi...” She mumbled.

“Really? Hm. I think 'peewee' fits better, but it's your name. Not mine. Not my choice.”

“Well anyways, as I said, thank you! I should be on my way to begin my work! Oh and if you ever need a hand with anything, what with you being so small and incapable as you likely are, feel free to call upon me! I wouldn't mind in the least!”

With that I hopped off to the docks. I already knew which dock Fin would most likely be posted at. So I headed strait there. Leaving that poor confused Wooper in my metaphorical dust. Cute kid, could stand to speak up a little though.

As luck would have it I was right in my guess of Fin's placement. I asked him briefly about the job I needed to preform, and it was just about as strait forward as the notification sent out by Royce. Go to all the underwater stations and tell the Qwilfish that Anana has no further need for them. The notice also stated to relay this information kindly, however it seems I have conveniently forgotten that along with the other task info...

So after borrowing Fin's map of the bay I dove down into the clear water. It was very beautiful, it all was so clear that you could see a mile before it all at length did fade into a cyan greenish-blue in the far distance.

I began to head for the closest station. Also while observing this water repellant map I noticed that there were only three stations in all. Though it appeared they were quite large. Made sense since those Qwilfish would need someplace to call home while they protected the waters and kept them clear. I wonder still about this predicament as I had since departure from Tao. Why would Anana want no protection in the waters? More specifically, why get rid of it when you have it? What could warrant less security in the waters?

Perhaps something was going on here?

Yet I just had to giggle with glee at how wonderfully easy this would be! How is it no one else chose this task? Or am I making myself appear lazy in doing such an easy job?

Well, easy work is easy pay, correct? No need to complain.

You know all this swimming actually reminds me of the first time I tried to swim as a frog. Copying the DNA of a Politoed may allow me to breath underwater as their physical make-up allows them, but I was oh-so very wrong in assuming it would also allow me to swim like one! That I had to learn alone, and it took quite some time too. Oh but I got the hang of it. No thanks to Yousei who just sat on the bank of the lake laughing with the naturally born toads as they watched me struggle in the water...

'You can't drown!' She yelled over my protests that perhaps I could. Still, despite her apologies (which I still argue to this day were not sincere) I was angry with her that entire week. It was the thought that was supposed to count! She showed no concern for me at all!

We did make up later, but that was beside the point.

Oh well, there's no real reason to recall the past now. Wouldn't want to get terribly side-tracked as I had before.

Now lets see... Ah! The first station is just ahead! I can see it now in fact! (thanks to the clear water) Well no point in dawdling here. Time to break the news!

As I approached I noticed that several of the further-off Qwilfish noticed me and gave me a glance, but didn't really react much more than that to my presence. Perhaps it was because I approached them in the direction of the city? I certainly hope that was their rationalizing, if not than Miss Anana's decision may be justified after all.

“Hello? Excuse me!”

A Qwilfish I had approached swum 'round in place to face me and I must admit I myself swam a few strokes away to assure I would avoid being punctured. Being inflicted with poison is no fun at all, and the only Pokemon I had been poisoned by was a wee Weedle, and that's not even a very strong dose of poison!

“Yea? What is it?” He didn't sound very enthused.

“Ehem.” I cleared my throat. “I have come to tell you that miss Anana has asked us Pokemon to tell you Qwilfish that your lot are now out of a job! Yep that's what I was told. Your scarin' the fish away! Ain't that ironic?”

“...What?”

He sounded truly dumfounded. Wonder if there was actually any motive behind their unemployment? Eh, not like it's any of my business!

“That can't be.” I noticed him puff up somewhat. “Besides, how do we know your not just some bloke tryin' ta get us in a real trouble?”

“You-” I paused.

Well... Now that is a good point isn't it?

“Hm. Well I guess that is true... I suppose you don't now do you! Hee-hee!”

I couldn't help but chuckle at my own incompetence. Then it turned into full-blown laughter. This was a true blue set back wasn't it?

The Qwilfish stared at me with an unsettled look to the point he was swimming back away form me a bit. I promptly cleared my throat to cease my internal laughter.

“Look if you got no proof of anything than get going, we got no time for you otherwise.”

“Oh yes, oh yes I bet you all are so busy just floating around here dawdling. Well fine then, but I'll be back with a note of your dismissal.”

“Whatever.” The Qwilfish swum away as did I in the opposite direction.

I guess I do need to go see Royce after all. Surely a notice from him will suffice as 'proof'. If not... I'm going got have to find something else to do.

---

“So nobody here has seen an odd looking Pokemon?”

“Define what you mean by 'odd looking'.”

Yousei turned form the group of construction Pokemon she had been heckling for information, to an approaching trio of Pokemon that advanced at her right. Two Spinda and a Sableye.

“Odd looking as in a Ditto disguise. Most likely a Politoed.”

“Hm, no. Haven't seen anything of the like.” He turned towards, what Yousei assumed was, his friends. “Farthing? Denarii? Either of you seen anything?”

“No.” They both replied.

Yousei respired. Looking down at her feet she irritably kicked a rock near her foot in some other direction. After all this time she finally closes in on Chibi and looses him at the very last second.

The tracks that she had been following ended in such a way that he could have either headed up more to the north towards Gambitville or down towards Almomomla. She could just pick a location and search the town and it's surrounding area. However, then she ran the risk of possibly missing him or choosing incorrectly. She needed more ratification to a decision than just a guess.

However, there was no such information available it seemed.

“My names Florin by the way.” Yousei looked up to the Spinda again, the one wearing a black bow-tie. He gestured with a red-orange colored paw at his two acquaintances. “This is Farthing and Denarii. Were members of the Rogues, our team is Maundy Money.”

“Wait... Rogues? The Rouges Guild? That's right! Tao!”

“Could Chibi have...?”

“You mean the Guild? In Tao?”

“Yea that's right. Hey, I bet if you came to Tao you could find some information on your... friend. I'm sure one of the Guilds would know something about a Ditto parading around as a Politoed. Not like that's a common sight or anything. Am I right?”

Yes, that sounded like a outstanding idea. Yousei could remember Chibi speaking of Tao every now and again...

“Yea I think I'll do that. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

---

“I can't believe--”

“I told you so! All you did was waste our, more my, precious time! Thank you for that by the way.”

The Qwilfish puffed up a bit again. The sharp quills they were named for pointed out almost to the outward position needed to send them shooting. Still, even with the threat of being stung, I couldn't help but grin to myself as I watched him react to this misfortune. More work to prove a point had that effect on me.

I felt glee and noted it was oft at the expense of others

“Now. I shall be on my way! Off to break the news to the rest of your lot--”

“No, I'll do it you--” He let out a hiss of built up air. Showing me just how subtly he had continued to inflate.

“Just get lost. You'll get your damn payment all the same.”

I grinned widely as best I could without teeth to show.

“True! Toodle-oo to you all then!”

So I walked, or, swam away and I was quick to collect my payment from Fin as soon as he assured himself that all the Qwilfish knew their current situation and were leaving the bay. The payment wasn't much, but it was a start.

Now for other tasks. What other jobs are there to be done around here?

Oh! There goes another group of guild Pokemon! I shall ask them what next I could do!

---

Authors Note: Insults or comments made by Chibi to other members' characters do NOT necessarily portray the feelings of the writer. Chibi really has a personality all his own, and unfortunately that personality has a tendency to ridicule others for self-amusement.

Also I would like to thank everyone who replied to my first cameo request. I was really surprised by the amount of you that did, then again I guess given the size of the group I should have seen it coming, but the point is I was pleasantly surprised. So thank you.

Cameos:
Team Change's Kiwi: fav.me/d6e7mlv
Team Maundy Money's Florin, Denarii and Farthing: fav.me/d6ejy8h (These guys ended up meeting Yousei instead of Chibi due to me changing my original idea for the story.)