//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Operation Apology, commence! // Story: A New World, Detective Style!!! // by Doctor D //------------------------------// It was early in the morning when Acacia woke up, as was her habit. Her internal alarm clock just started ringing, waking her up at that exact moment every day. Old habits die hard, and this one was immortal. She got up and went straight downstairs, ignoring her messy bed hair. She automatically trudged into the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee. She wasn’t an addict, it was just a good way to wake up in the morning. After drinking the bitter beverage and reinvigorating herself she entered the bathroom to comb her hair and wash up. While doing so she remembered the voice she heard yesterday in her head, telling her, and from the sounds of it all of Equus about the Pokèmon and humans and whatnot. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that for now, so she finished up and headed out. When she opened the front door she could have sworn she saw the biggest caterpillar she had ever seen moving in a distance. As much as she wanted to go investigate she had a promise to keep. So she just shrugged it off. She trotted to the back of the house, stepped on a spot on the ground and opened the secret hatch to the “basement”. She peered inside and called out. “Hello?” Immediately she got shoved aside as a slimy dragon charged out and basked in the sunlight “Yes, light! I never want dark again!” Goomey said happily, though all Acacia heard was a bunch of Pokèspeak. Acacia herself blinked, a little bit of slime in her mane. She frowned while casting another translation spell, knowing she’d need to take a shower now. Then she noticed something that made that seem insignificant. Out of the dark “basement” rose another Goodra, though there was something very different about it. Mainly the face, which was familiarly silly. Not to mention the grey mustache, the small top hat and monocle on it’s face. “... What?!” Acacia screamed in confusion. The odd Goodra looked at Acacia and raised a hand in greeting. “Ah, miss Acacia. Top of the morning, ma’am!” Edgar said in his high pitched voice, tippin his tiny hat. Acacia walked closer. “How- what?” She blubbered while trying to find her words. “There’s two now? You’re- how did you-” Edgar laughed. “I was surprised too when I woke up. It seem I’ve somehow tapped into the Ditto’s ability to Transform through my subconscious. Shows how amazing my mind is, wouldn’t you say? In fact, this gives me ideas-” “Wait, wait!” Acacia said, holding her hoof up. “You can transform?” “As a Ditto, yes. They can transform into nearly anything. Except for the face. For some reason that sticks.” Edgar explained, looking himself over. Acacia really wishes she had her notebook ready, cause her inner professor just woke up. “That’’s…. That’s incredible!” She beamed at this discovery, observing Goomey, then Edgar’s new shape. “They… they are identical, well except for the face but… This is amazing!” Goomey looked confused while Edgar was basking in the glory. “Well naturally! It takes a mind of a genius to use this ability without knowing it’s mechanics, hahahaha!” He said laughing a whole lot, not noticing that his body began to glow and shrink back into a Ditto sized lump. He suddenly stopped laughing. “Oh, is it over already? The world got so much bigger all of a sudden.” Goomey waddled over while Acacia was in her own world. “Is this what these Pokèmon can do?” She muttered to herself, excited about all the scientific gold she was witnessing. “If this is only a part of it… what are the possibilities, or where do they end? Oh, this is getting me all sorts of fired up!” Then Edgar popped her bubble. “Yes, bask in my glorious skills! I have no limits to my power! Muahahahaa!” The Ditto boasted obnoxiously, though it was a bit amusing to watch. Acacia sighed, putting her thought in the back of her mind. “Oh well, it’s morning, you’ve learned your lesson in the basement where there is absolutely nothing.” She said, walking to the hatch, ready to close it. “Say hello to the basement.” Goomey peered in and immediately backed away, only squeaking a short “Bye.” Edgar on the other hand. “May thee fare well, dwelling of Darkness! You were a worthy adversary for the night! I salute you!” He yelled into the dark “basement”. Acacia just rolled her eyes and closed the hatch, sealing the room. “B̢͘͜͝͝y̵̸̧͢ę̛́͟-̸̴͢͜B̢́͠͝͝ý̶̡͘e͜҉̶̡͠,̸̵̀͘͜ ͝͝F͟͏̴̵ŗ͟͞͞i̢͜҉̷͝ę̛͠n̶͝d͘̕” After a quick shower, preparing breakfast for herself, the twins and two freeloading Pokèmon, sending her kids off to school and Edgar futilely trying to Transform again, Acacia had gone into planning mode. She needed to figure out a way to settle the misunderstanding between the seemingly sweet, child-like and innocent Goomey and the unbelievably neurotic local and bestie, Scaredy Cat. Her first problem was getting Cat out of her house, where she always holed up after a panic attack or a big scare, which were often. This wasn’t that hard, as she had options and ideas. The second would be the apology itself. She did not doubt that it couldn’t work, but how to go about it was a different question. For now she could not find a way to do it effectively without a huge uproar. After a while she set off outside to start with the first part. Unfortunately she got a stowaway. “Are you sure you do not require my amazing input?” Edgar asked, hidden in the mare’s saddle bag. Again. “Yes. Positive.” Acacia asked a bit irritably. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to leave your friend… Goomey alone in my house?” “Oh please. What happened yesterday was an accident. Goomey will be fine.” He waved the question off. Goomey laid on her back, staring at the boards in the ceiling. …. Staring at the wood. …. Staring at the brown, the deep, woody brown. …. “This is boring.” The Goodra noted, sighing deeply as her antenna twitched impatiently. “... I really hope you are right about that.” Acacia said, fearing for the sake of her home. Something came to her mind. “Oh, Edgar can I ask you something while we walk?” “Ahh, you seek knowledge? Very well, tell me the mysteries you wish unravelled!” The Ditto said, more than glad to help. “I am going to assume you heard that mental speech yesterday.” Acacia started, keeping her voice low so she would not look too crazy. “Who or what was that?” “Well, that was apparently the mighty Arceus, the Alpha Pokemon and effectively a God himself.” Edgar said, earning a surprised look from Acacia. “Pokèmon have a god?” She asked. “Well, yes and no. You see, according to ancient tales Arceus was not only the first pokèmon but the first being as well.” He continued, twirling his mustache inside the bag. “It is said he hatched from an egg and created the whole world my home exists in and by extention Pokèmon and humans as well.” Acacia frowned dubiously. “That’s exaggeration, right?” “Well, I can’t say I know my legends, nor do I particularly care, but make no mistake. Arceus is the most powerful Pokèmon there is. Apparently powerful enough to transport a multitude of Pokèmon and humans like me here.” He explained sounding a bit confused himself. “Really makes me doubt my dream theory, honestly.” “Well, that sure sounds powerful- wait. What was that dream part?” Acacia asked, intrigued. Edgar was surprisingly quiet for a few second. “Err… well, when I woke up here I might have thought this were a place inside my dream.” He said sounding a bit embarrassed. Acacia laughed a bit. “Wow, must’ve been a shocker to be proven wrong.” “None sense!” Edgar chimed strongly. “I took the news valiantly!” -Yesterday, “Basement”- “...Uncle? Why aren’t you moving?” Goomey asked, poking Edgar’s catatonic Goodra form. “Valiantly!” The Ditto said again, for some reason, trying to keep his manliness intact. Acacia did not dwell on that too long. “Well, whatever the case, take a look.” She said, having stopped. Edgar peeked out of the saddle bag. They were in the middle of town now and they could both note something. Mostly the lack of ponies save for a few about and the abundance of creatures of different sizes and appearances being about. Those resembling bugs, birds and some mammalian-like ones were dominant in numbers with a few weirder ones here and there. “... While I find all of this very interesting, scientifically, I did not see any of these yesterday.” Acacia said, containing her inner professors wishes to go and see everything. “It seems that the majority of ponies here have taken note of it and are too scared to go outside.” “Yes, this is a predicament. But it seems just a few are not afraid to see what is happening.” Edgar said, noting maybe three ponies that were looking at the Pokèmon with some form of interest. “Maybe things will go well and this will fix itself. Most of the Pokèmon I see are peaceful by nature and mostly friendly.” “I hope you are right.” Acacia said as she continued walking but did not get very far before being approached by two ponies. One was a blue coated stallion with a silver mane and the other was Gizmo the Shopkeeper. “Hey, Professor!” The stallion waved with a friendly smile. On his back was a cute little Chikorita. “Glad to see you around. Have you seen these… things? They are literally everywhere.” “Ya, they be all over.” Gizmo the Shopkeeper said, a duo of gears that moved against each other floating behind her. “Gizmo found this thing in her shop. It went ‘Klink Klink Klink’, or some such, but fer love o’ me I can’t recognize wha’ it is.” Acacia rolled her eyes. “Okay, first of all. Moonfall, don’t call me Professor. And yes, I’ve noticed. And Gizmo...” She turned to adress the mare with a gizmo over her eye. “... Just don’t try to sell it.” “Ey ‘ey! What’re you thinkin’ Gizmo is?” Gizmo the Shopkeeper interjected, pulling the Klink into a hug. “Don’t ya see how precious this ‘ere thing looks? Alive, no less. Gizmo don’t do slaves.” “Just checking.” Acacia deadpanned. “In fact, I too have had… encounters with these creatures, though more in depth.” She opened her saddle bag, deciding now is as good chance as any. She cast a translation spell on her two acquaintances as the Ditto jumped on her back. “Salutations, ponies!” Edgar said, twirling his mustache. “That speaks?” Moonfall gasped while Gizmo the Shopkeeper looked less impressed. “Eh, Gizmo has seen stranger.” She said with a shrug. “Inquiry: They can understand us now?” The Klink suddenly spoke with two mechanical voices speaking in tandem. “They can? Sweet!” The Chikorita said with an excited jump. Moonfall and Gizmo the Shopkeeper looked at their current Pokèmon followers, Moonfall being obviously the more shocked of the two. “Now this can talk too?!” Moonfall screamed, taking it well(not). “He hey, you speak all snazzy, Klinky!” Gizmo the Shopkeeper said more neutrally, accepting the surreality as it came. “Clarification: Is Klinky what you wish to call us?” The Klink asked. “Sure, whateve’. Havin names is always more fun, ya?” The shopkeep said with a grin. “Solution: Then we shall identify as Klinky. Greeting: Hello.” Klinky the Klink said. “Wassup, little dude!” The shopkeep greeted back. “How are you so calm that a piece of metal suddenly talks?” Moonfall asked to question the shopkeepers sanity. Acacia put a stop to that with a firm “Can it you two! These creature, Pokèmon as they are called, are supposedly friendly beings with intelligence that matches ponies or any sentient being. If you cast a simple translation spell you should be able to understand them.” Gizmo the Shopkeeper nodded, understanding what Acacia was saying. Moonfall nodded as well, though a bit more slowly. Acacia continued. “Good. Now Moonfall, Gizmo. Since you two have seen them try to spread the word that these Pokémon are not to be feared. Also, find some unicorns to cast translation spells so communication is possible. Got it?” “Yeah… I guess I get that.” Moonfall replied, deciding not to question what the prof- Acacia said. He’d heard rumors. Gizmo the Shopkeeper just saluted. “But where’re you off to, gal?” Gizmo the Shopkeeper asked. “You seem to have a goal in mind and we be just a distraction.Gizmo can read ya like a book.” “... Let’s just say I need to go talk with Cat.” Acacia said, not revealing too much of her plan. “Ohh, Gizmo get’s what yer trying to do!” The shopkeep said with a meaningful look. “Then ya probably going to Bronze’s. Well, good luck wi’ that!” Then Gizmo the Shopkeeper dragged Moonfall and their respective pokemon partners off to spread the word. Acacia continued her way, only now noticing that Edgar had been quiet throughout the entire conversation. “Something wrong?” She asked, a bit concerned at the sudden period of silence from the normally vocal Ditto. Edgar chuckled, looking back at the ponies trotting off. “Well, it wouldn’t feel right to interrupt such a well crafted moment you had there. Impressive planning skills, you have. With more to spread the word things will be easier in the long run. Very clever.” He said sounding very sincere, which was almost touching. “Well, I just pretty much did what came naturally.” Acacia chuckled humbly. “It’s not that big of a deal, really.” “Come on now, don’t demean your talents.” Edgar said with a hearty laugh. “You have some natural leader material in you, and that is not something you see every day.” Acacia blushed a bit out of embarrasment and laughed nervously. “Well, I do help out around town a lot. Dealing with problems helps you get to know ponies around, so my words usually hold a lot of weight around here.” “Then that only makes my point.” Edgar said, adjusting his monocle. “It takes a lot of wisdom and social skills to be a leader but also those who are willing to listen to your words, something you obviously possess.” “Okay, stop it already!” Acacia scolded the Ditto though was unable to hide her amusement. “I’m not into that sort of responsibility. I’m simply a helping hoof who helps anypony in need of it.” “Very well then.” Edgar dropped the subject, keeping his hamminess levels surprisingly low during all of it. “Say, I must ask. Who is this Bronze fellow?” “Well, Bronze Beak is the only griffon living here in Sunset Hills. Moved over a good six months ago.” Acacia explained. “He is integral to my plan. You see he and Cat are… close.” “Ah- HAA!” Edgar exclaimed, returning to his usual volume and hamminess levels. “My honed super Detective senses are tingling! Yes, I can see it clear as day! A ROMAN- MPFFF!” His mouth was filled with a hoof from an annoyed mare. “Don’t go yelling stuff like that around! What they do with their lives is their business, so can it!” Acacia said demandingly before retracting her hoof, which was not as slimy or sludgy as she would have expected. The Ditto Detective coughed in an embarrassed manner. “Ahem… My sincerest apologies. Sometimes I get lost in the thrill of solving a case.” “That wasn’t a case!” Acacia noted. “Well, it is if you think about it as connecting the dots from your vague but very suggestive wording...” Edgar tried to justify his logic. Naturally Acacia was not buying any of it. “Just don’t bring anything like that up, or I will hurt you, if Bronze doesn’t do so first.” She warned the Ditto, who did a salute in the way her could. At least he seemed to understand. Acacia stood in front of a door and knocked. There was no answer so she tried again, this time calling out. “Hello? Anyone home?” There was still silence but before Acacia could knock again the door creaked open as a griffon with bronze colored feathers peered out. “... Oh, Acacia Ma'am. What is it?” He asked with a deep voice. “Bronze, I need your help. I need to speak with Cat, but… well, you know how she is right now.” Bronze Beak frowned. “I’unno. She needs her space, so I suggest you try in a few days.” “... Ye-eeeah, about that.” Acacia tried to think of a way to segway into her point, but drew a blank. “I think if this simmers it could get worse.” The griffon raised a brow. “What do you mean?” He asked. “Well, I made a discovery about what happened to Cat yesterday.” She said a but unsurely, noting how Bronze’s eyes narrowed at the mention of it. “And… well… Oh, Celestia how am I going to explain this...” Acacia then felt a poke on the back of her head, an idea hitting her. “Oh, I might as well let the one who brought me to the discovery tell you the detail… Just one question.” “Shoot.” The griffon muttered, curious as to where this was going. “You seen the… creatures outside, have you not?” Acacia asked while subtly setting up a translation spell, dispelling some older ones to make room. “I have. An odd bunch, those are. Part of the reason I doubt Cat will be coming out anytime soon.” He said flatly. “Then allow me to explain, good sir!” Edgar said, hopping on top of Acacia’s head. The Griffon was caught off guard and backed off on instinct, but quickly assessed that the small pink blob could not be a threat in any way. “... Well, I was going to lead you into this a bit slower, but this is Edgar.” “... Hi.” Bronze said tersely. “Yes, yes. Good to meet’cha!” Edgar said, tipping his hat and twirling his mustache. “As the good Ma’am was explaining, I came upon the reason for your… friend’s encounter the day prior to this.” “Explain.” Bronze said as if giving the blob permission to continue. “Yes, well the assault was a pure misunderstanding on the part of the culprit, who happens to be a dear friend of mine and the sweetest thing alive.” Edgar explained as he would explain a case, with confidence and a certain charm. “You see, my friend was at the time extremely confused and frightened. In her confused state she tried to find comfort to her plight.” “As it happens, said form of comfort comes from hugging something with affection, but due to the local’s and her own lack of knowledge this plea for comfort was seen as an attack, so she fled the scene, even more frightened and confused than before.” He took a breath for the first time since starting. “Do you understand what I tell you, sir griffon?” Acacia could only look at Bronze’s usually stoic face nervously. He seemed to be thinking over what he was just told, really thinking about it. “And you are sure it was just a misunderstanding?” He finally asked. “I swear this on my name as Edgar Holmes, Ace Pokèmon Detective! May my soul be sucked out of my body were I to lie!” He proclaimed, placing a nub on his chest… area… thingy. Again a pause in everything. Then Bronze spoke. “Alright. You seem honest.” He said with a small, barely noticeable grin. his next question was aimed for the mare. “But tell me, Acacia Ma’am. What do you need me for?” Acacia smiled. This was going very well. “I wish to sort out this matter with an apology between Cat and the mistaken party, Goomey. But to do that I need her out of her house. I know she trusts you a lot more than anypony else in town, so if she’ll listen to anypony, it’s you.” She explained. “Oh, and this Goomey is a dragon made of slime. Just a heads up so nopony freaks out.” The final part about a dragon made Bronze Beak frown, but he knew Acacia was a pony you could trust. “... Very well. I’ll come along and see what I can do. But if I can’t convince her, then you just have to wait. I will not force her into this.” He said calmly, but it was evident he cared about the mare very much. “That’s all I ask.” Acacia said with a relieved smile. She then lead the way with Edgar on her back chatting to the more reserved Bronze Beak who followed. The conversation was mostly one sided. Unknown to them, on the roof of the building a Pokèmon looked down at them with a pair of very mean looking eyes. It looked at the mare, the griffon and Ditto depart before growling menacingly. “Heatmor...” Watson’s Journal Entry. 4 Odd. The more I spend talking with the alleged Abomasnow Rowan the more I am inclined to believe him. All his stories match reality, as far as I know. Today started off slowly, but we got a move on after some talking. We haven't covered that much ground, but seeing as we have no clue where we are in comparison it's pretty safe to say that's pointless. I cannot say surely where we are going, so we just picked a direction and started moving. I have to admit, walking around with another being I can talk to is a lot more fun than walking in utter silence. Safety in numbers is also in play. I can also respect a man who can stay professional and cool even when this happens. Of course all can’t be good. On one of our breaks the Professor seemed to disapprove of my habit. It’s not his business but he is entitled to his opinion. As long as he leaves me and my addiction alone, we have no problems as far as I am concerned. Now he wants to learn how to use his Moves, which I should have anticipated, but didn't, so that’s how my time will be wasted for a while. I blame Edgar for this. And Arceus. Especially Arceus. Entry.4, End~☆ Ps. Still will punch Arceus, I swear to the stars!