Morning has come to the Misfit Manor, and half the pokemon are up and about. Two of those pokemon are Zach and Olly, who sit at the breakfast table across from each other. They have a pleasant conversation; sharing their work experience. At some point, Olly becomes fascinated with Zach’s experience in the circus and his relationship with Betty at the time.
Diego comes in, stretching his arms upon entry. “Ah, well, good morning. You two sleep all right?” Both nod to him. “Sorry I wasn’t there last night, Olly. I had matters to attend to…”
“It’s okay, Diego,” Olly tells him. “Zach was kind enough to let me bunk in with him. He helped me sleep good last night.”
“Oh?” The dragonite turns to the riolu. “Is that so?”
“Uh, yes,” Zach responds. “Is… that okay…? Did I do something wrong…?”
“What? No, of course, not! You’re fine. Why would you think you did anything wrong?”
“I’m… used to being called out on it…”
“Don’t worry, you didn’t. If you did something wrong, I’d talk to you about it, privately. But, I already know you don’t mean any harm to us, right?”
“Yes… So, what’s on the agenda today, Diego?”
“Nothing really… Just going to relax after last night. I’m not due to work today.”
“Lucky,” Olly comments. “I have to work today… I wish I had your schedule…”
“Trust me, Olly. You don’t want to be running all over the place, delivering mail and packages. It’s a lot of hard work.”
“Don’t worry, Olly,” Zach says. “I have to work today, too. I’m sure Mayor Azumarill has a huge stack of files waiting for me…”
“Doesn’t sound too hard,” the oshawott tells him. “You’re just filing paperwork and sorting stuff, right?”
“Oh, it’s more than you think. Besides, it’s not very proactive… Not like the circus or a guild…”
“Why not go to school to be in a guild?”
“I’ve… tried that… I was kicked out… Cindy sabotaged me and got me hated there…”
“Oh, you don’t need a school to be in a guild,” Diego states. “That’s all just a money grab. You can just get recruited by any guild.”
Zach looks to him. “But, I’m not greatly experienced… and my moves aren’t incredible…”
“Nonsense! Good or not, experienced or unexperienced, they train you and work with you. Guilds are a community, and they help you grow as a pokemon. However, it depends if they like your or not, and your background, skills, and moves.”
“So, I could’ve been a part of any guild without an education? They would’ve accepted me, even as a circus clown?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you join the circus to begin with?” asks Olly. “You could’ve gone out to apply for a guild, or many guilds.”
“After Team Rescuers booted me out, Ringmaster Raichu found me and took me in. I accepted, and stayed, thinking the circus would be a better family. When I learned Cindy and her sister was part of the circus, I hoped a guild would spot me for my abilities and talent.”
“What? Why would you think that?”
“I figured if it could happen to Cindy, it could happen to me… Isn’t that why she was selected for Team Rescuers?”
“You have it all wrong,” starts Diego. He pulls up a seat in front of the riolu. “Cindy wasn’t chosen because of her skill and agility in the circus… She was chosen because Ezma liked her personality. It had nothing to do with how she performed or what she could bring to the team.”
“W-what…? I… feel so stupid…”
“Don’t be. You didn’t know.”
“Well, I’m not sure if I could even get into a guild, now that everyone knows my faults and reputation.”
“That should not deter you from striving for your passion. If you want, I will train you and make you guild material.”
Zach picks his head up to him for excitement. “R-really?! Y-you’re okay with that?! W-what if I screw up?”
“You won’t screw up. Even if you do, we can help fix whatever it is you flunk at.”
“D-Diego… I… I…” Tears form in the jackal’s eyes. He turns away. “Oh, I’m so sorry… I just…”
“Come here.” Diego holds out his arms. The riolu turns to him and rushes over for a hug.
Olly smiles. “Aw, how touching… I wish my parents were like that with me…”
Diego holds out one arm to him. “You too, Olly.” Olly chuckles, gets up, and goes over to join in the hug.
Ralph smiles and laughs, leaning against the entryway of the dining area. “Didn’t know you three were having an early morning hug ritual.”
Zach lets go and looks to him. “Oh, morning, Ralph! We were just-”
“You’re good,” Ralph interrupts. “Aren’t you heading off to work today?”
“Oh! Um, yeah… I shouldn’t keep Mayor Azumarill waiting… I have a lot to explain to her upon returning…”
“No need,” says Diego. “I already spoke with her last night during my run. And your circus friend did, too.”
“Why… Thanks, Diego… I owe you and Betty one.”
“It’s no worries. Do you need a ride over there?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“We all help each other out. We’re one big family.”
Zach smiles. “Thank you… I appreciate it.”
***
Back at town hall, Ezma the Mew enters the office, floating in. She sees Mayor Azumarill sitting at her desk as another pokemon, a throh, turns to see her come in. “You wanted me, Mayor Azumarill?”
“Yes,” says the mayor. “Can you come over here?” Ezma does as she commands. “This is Ernie. He is part of the representative council of the region.”
Ezma turns to the red pokemon. “Ah, pleasure to meet you, Representative Ernie.”
“Ezma the Mew,” says the big pokemon. “I am here on behalf of the regional council due to important business that requires your and Mayor Azumarill’s attention.”
“Important business?” repeats Ezma. “What kind of important business?”
“Head councilwoman Shirley Lilligant requests to meet with you regarding the behavior of your celebi member, and possibly the rest of your team.”
“Huh…?”
“The leader of the council wants to meet with us regarding Cindy’s behavior,” Mary tells her.
“I know that… But what has Cindy done?”
“You would need to discuss that with her,” says Ernie. “I am not allowed to mention anything without her approval.”
“Tell Miss Shirley we agree to have her here.” Ernie nods, then leaves the office, but not without passing the celebi in the hallway. “Cindy…? Why are you here?”
“Oh hello, Mayor Azumarill and Guildmaster Ezma,” Cindy says. “Just wanted to report a minor incident earlier.”
“What incident…? What did you do…?”
“There… was a bit of a skirmish involving bandit pokemon… But the rest of the team and I took care of it…”
“What were these pokemon doing…?”
“Sneaking around near the edge of the territory. Looked like they were up to no good. We got ‘em, though. Almost got away into our neighbors.”
“You attacked random pokemon near the border of a neighboring town?!” Ezma utters. “Were there any witnesses?”
“Just a couple Aura Army guards, but they didn’t give us much trouble.”
“Okay then…”
“Okay then?!” Mary spurts. “Do you even realize how much trouble your team could’ve caused?!”
“Doesn’t seem that serious,” says Ezma.
“Risking a conflict isn’t serious?! Ezma, we have an agreement with the other towns! We leave them alone, and they leave us alone!”
“Even if it means allowing misfits and bandits sneak into our territory with no reason?” asks Cindy. “You don’t care about crime rates, do you?”
Ezma turns to Cindy. “You better leave, my pupil. The mayor and I need to talk privately.”
“Whatever…” Cindy floats out of the office and into the hallway. There, she stops in place to see the riolu in the blue bandana, walking with files in his paws. “You…!”
Zach stops and takes notice. “Ah, good morning, Cinthia,” he says in a neutral tone.
“Where the fuck were you?!”
“What do you mean?”
“Planning something diabolic, are you?!”
“Uh… no… Whatever do you mean?”
“Don’t act innocent, Runt!” She flies up to him. “You disappeared for a whole day! You need to tell me what you are planning!”
“I took a personal day,” he answers. “I forgot to inform Mayor Azumarill about it. That was it…” He starts off for one of the doors.
Cindy flies in front of him to prevent him. “The fuck you did! What are you planning, you sick fuck?!”
“Cindy, please… I’m trying to do my job… I don’t have time for this… I need to get in there and-” The celebi pushes him forward and knocks him to the ground. “Ah! What was that for?!”
“Shut up! Answer me, now!”
“What the fuck are you doing?!” calls a voice from nearby. Both pokemon turn to see a lucario dressed in grey military armor and wearing a helmet. “Why are you harassing that poor riolu for?!”
“Stay out of this, Luther Lucario!” Cindy orders. “This doesn’t concern you!”
“That’s Lieutenant Lucario to you, Celebi,” the lucario tells her. “And it’s my concern when violence erupts. What did that riolu do to you?”
“I said stay out of this!” She turns to him. “That riolu has caused major problems for the guild and for the city! If he wasn’t such a runt and others like him, we’d be living peacefully!”
“Pokemon would be peaceful if you didn’t harass them.” Luther turns to Zach. “Are you okay?”
Zach stands and collects his things. “I… think so…”
“Why are you being nice to him?!” demands Cindy. “He’s a filthy runt who deserves less!”
Luther faces the celebi. “This riolu wasn’t doing anything to you. He was just going about, doing his job, until you showed up to bully him. You need to stop harassing pokemon!”
She flies up to meet the lucario’s eyeline. “Why don’t YOU stop and drop dead?!” This causes the military pokemon to swing his paw across her face, causing her to place her paw on her cheek and stop, almost on the brink of tears. Shock appears on Zach’s face, who stands there, watching. “W-what the fuck…?”
“Cinthia!” Ezma rushes over to check on her. “You okay, my pupil?!” The mew looks to the lucario. “What’s wrong with you?!
“You heard what she said, Mew.” Luther says. “She told me to ‘stop and drop dead.’”
“What’s going on out here?!” Mayor Azumarill appears at the scene. “What’s happening?! Lieutenant Luther?!”
“Ezma’s celebi is causing trouble again,” he tells her. “Caught her harassing this riolu.”
Mary looks to her aide. “You okay, Zach…?”
Zach turns to her. “I… I…”
“Why don’t you come into my office? I have things for you to do.” Zach nods and nearly sprints to the mayor’s room. She then turns to the celebi. “You okay?”
Cindy looks at the mayor. “He slapped me! This runt-lover slapped me!”
“Oh, just fly it off. You’ve handled worse than a slap.”
“Hmph!” The celebi flies off and disappears. Mary then goes into her office, leaving the mew and lucario out in the hallway.
“What’s wrong with you?!” Ezma asks. “You can’t attack me, so you have to attack my pupil?!”
“Ezma, your ‘pupil’ is out of control!” Luther tells her. “She was harassing that riolu, just like before! Not only him, but other pokemon, as well! And the worst part; you don’t even care at all!”
“Cindy is a hard worker and an excellent fighter! There is nothing wrong with her, in the slightest! You are just mad and jealous!”
“Jealous?!”
“Yeah, because she’s better at taking care of crime and order than you and your little army; her and the entire team.”
“You know what, she’s not the only problem… You are, too.”
“That is enough out of your mouth! I have more serious issues to attend to than you spreading lies about my guild!” She flies off and leaves the lucario as the last pokemon in the town hall.
