PMDU Cactus Fields Tasks 1 and 2

The Campsite in Geoda was bustling with activity in the early desert morning. Meanwhile inside one of the tents, a shiny Pancham slept soundly, sprawled about the sandy floor as his leg twitched and a loud snore escaped him.

Suddenly a certain Chimchar came bursting inside the tent, banging a wooden spoon against a metal pan.

“WAKE UP, SLEEPY HEAD!” Sun-Sun shouted so she could be heard over the clank, clank of the pan.

“Whowhatwhere-!“ The Pancham jolted awake and looked around vigorously for the source of the banging and calmed down when he immediately saw Sun-Sun, grinning from ear to ear as she usually did.

“Good morning, Kamina~” Sun-Sun chirped in a sing-song voice.

“Goddamn it, Sun-Sun…” Kamina sighed, bringing a paw up to his chest. “You gave me half a heart attack." It took him a moment to notice the spoon and pan in the Chimchar’s hands.

“Where did you get the pan?” he asked as he grabbed his vest which laid haphazardly by his side.

“I volunteered us for a thing.” Sun-Sun answered, still smiling.

“What thing?” Kamina raised an eyebrow as he shrugged his vest on. He didn’t really enjoy it when Sun-Sun went ahead and volunteered their team for some farfetched task without talking it over with him first. He could only hope the task she signed them up for wasn’t too crazy.

“We’ll be helping out with tonight’s barbeque.” Sun-Sun said. “I’ll be helping prepare the food while you set up and invite locals.” She explained. “I also said we’d help with patrolling in the evening, so we’ve got a long day ahead of us.”

“Super…” Kamina muttered. He was still feeling the fatigue from venturing out into the desert yesterday but at least this task didn’t require him to save anybody...for now at least…

…

As soon as Kamina gathered enough strength to force himself from the comfort of his make-shift bed, Team Sun-Fist began their duties by piling fire wood for tonight's bonfire. Sun-Sun happily skipped back and forth, gathering berries and put them in piles. Since she was a fire type, Luke figured it would be a good idea if the Chimchar helped prepare the food.

Kamina on the other hand put firewood into a pile. With Sun-Sun working on the food, the Pancham would be handling the more menial tasks such as gathering supplies when needed, inviting locals and teams in the area, and cleaning up messes as they are made. Not something he really wanted to do but that was what happened when Sun-Sun took it upon herself to sign them up for something like this cookout.

As Sun-Sun went to put some more berries in a pile, a blur of purple sprung out from behind it, knocking several over. "NOW I've got you!" a shiny Glameow laughed. A Honedge floated closer from a bit behind the pile. "Yokai," he said, being ignored by his partner.

"You /thought/ you could get away with your crime!"

"Yokai."

"But you did NOT expect ME to come shooting in like a shining star!"

"Yokai."

"PREPARE TO TASTE JUSTICE!"

"YOKAI!"

The Glameow froze, looking at his partner. "What's wrong Yami?"

"These aren't thieves, these are Guild members," the very annoyed blade said.

Yokai looked at Yami, and then at Sun-Sun and Kamina.

"... Oh. ... Sorry about that," he said, his curly tail drooping a bit.

"Are you a super hero?!" Sun-Sun asked, her eyes sparkled in wonder. "THAT WAS THE COOLEST ENTERANCE EVER!" The Chimchar exclaimed.

Kamina facepalmed behind his partner, amazed that she was not even fazed by the slightest that the berries she had worked so hard to gather were knocked over in a single instant by a careless glameow.

At the question of him being a super hero, Yokai's eyes lit up and his tail sprung up. He turned to Yami, smiling eagerly.

"Well if he is, his power is super-doltishness." Yami said flatly. "Yes!" Yokai said, going along with what his partner said, not wanting to look stupid because he didn't know what he'd said. Yami looked at Kamina, extending his long hand-like ribbon towards him. Hopefully this one isn't as dull as the rest of the 'mon I've met here. "I presume you are the Chimchar's... partner? I'm Yami, of Team Kagayaku of the Explorer's Guild," he said.

"Unfortunately..." Kamina sighed as he took the Honedge's ribbon-like appendage in a handshake.

"We're in the same guild then. I'm Kamina," the pancham nodded to Sun-Sun. "and that's Sun-Sun. We're Team Sun-Fist." He introduced himself and his team,thankful to finally meet another level-headed 'mon. He was beginning to think it was him and that pawniard from Safe-Enterprise.

Yami took note of this. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Kamina," he said. "My partner Yokai and I had been looking for other Guild members. ... Until he had the brilliant idea of trying to hunt down outlaws." He glanced back unamused at Yokai, who was now showing off to Sun-Sun how many berries he could hold with his tail  while doing a handstand without dropping any. "So, I assume you are both helping with the food and fire? We could offer our assistance. As foolish as he is, Yokai can be quite useful," Yami said.

"It would definetly be a huge help." Kamina replied with a small smile. He looked over at Sun-Sun and Yami's Glameow partner. Sun-Sun was now balancing a basket a Berries on her head while standing on one leg.

"Say you guys wouldn't happen to be taking part in tonight's patrol too are you?" The Pancham inquired. If they were Kamina thought that it would be a little easier for himself and Sun-Sun if they had back up. After all two teams were always better than one.

Yokai was laughing happily as him and Sun-Sun balanced the berries. Yami looked back at Kamina. "Yes, we will be patrolling tonight. I assume you want our teams to collaborate?" Yokai lost his balance and fell over, crashing into Sun-Sun and taking her down with him.
Sun-Sun bursted into laughter as Yokai landed right on top of her.  

"Well, two teams would be better than one." Kamina answered. He passed a glance at the Glameow as he and Sun-Sun laughed together and Kamina didn’t like the feeling that was welling up from the pit of his stomach. He could only hope that this feeling was hunger and not something else entirely. "So what do you say? Would you be interested?"

Yami ignored his partner who was now laughing and laying on top of Sun-Sun. Looking over Team Sun-Fist, he considered several things.

"Yes," he said. Having no mouth, he couldn't smile, so he just gave Kamina a slight pleased squint. "I'm sure my partner will be as well."

"Great." Kamina said, regathering the firewood Yokai had scattered with his “grand” entrance.

"Until then you guys can help me and Sun-Sun gather up supplies. Once it's dusk Luke said we can see Cassidy about the patrol." The Pancham explained.

"Of course," Yami said, using his giant hand-like ribbon to help Kamina with the firewood.

Later that night…

Soon, dusk had come. Team Sun-fist and Kagayaku joined back up and were headed to speak with Cassidy about patrols.

"Hope you don't think I'm havin' you stand guard, 'cause I got different plans. I'm from Geoda, an' I know a thing or two about outlaws, and patrollin' around here near camp ain't gonna do jack squat to deal with em'." The Floatzal known to everyone as Cassidy paced about as he explained the task that the two explorer teams would be doing. "We gotta go on the offense if we wanna keep these varmints away from the campsite. They'll likely be hiding so keep yerselves on your toes-" he paused and glanced at Yami. "And, er, hilt...thing, whatever! Anyways, just flush 'em out where ever they're hidin' an’ try not to kill 'em." And with that, Cassidy turned to walk away only to stop after a few steps. "Oh, an' by the way, this is strictly on the books, so don't tell Luke or Vinnie, got it?"

Sun-Sun shifted uncomfortably upon hearing Cassidy's last statement. She didn't feel right keeping something from the 'mon who are supposed to be her superiors. Kamina took note of this and answered in her place.

"Understood." He said casually before looking to Kageyaku.

Yami seemed to ponder this. Trying not to kill anyone, but no one can find out... Yokai seemed slightly unerved by it. "Of course," Yami said. This all felt oddly familiar to him.

"Good." Cassidy said with a grin. "Welp, have fun then." The Floatzal sauntered off, leaving the two teams in the cool desert night.

Yokai looked between his partner and the other team, looking a bit concerned. He didn't want to get in trouble! Yami simply flexed his ribbon and removed his sheath. "Now, let's go show some outlaws how to get things done," he said.

Sun-Fist followed suit with Kageyaku. The area seemed to be deserted, the only sound to be heard was the occasional whistle of the desert wind and the only footprints that seemed to be imbedded into the sands was their own.

"I dunno what the guild leaders are so worked up about, there doesn't seem to be anyone out here." Kamina said as he looked around.

As if on cue, just as Kamina had finished his sentence a hand suddenly bursted from the ground and latched on to his ankle, causing the Pancham to scream as the hand tried to drag him underground.
Sun-Sun was the first to act by summoning a Shadow Claw and swiping it at the hand.
It got it's desired effect when the hand immediately let go of Kamina and the Pancham quickly retreated beside his partner, his expression understandably taking one of panic.

"Are you okay, Kamina?" Sun-Sun asked, her right hand still shrouded in shadows.

"Yeah..." Kamina replied, his voice breathy.

"Argh! That hurt, you bitch!" Came a voice that made the two teams direct their attention to the ground before a Krokorok bursted from the ground, looking pissed off, followed by four other sandiles behind him, looking just as angry.

It justhadto be ground types, Yami thought. He was about to ready himself to fight when Yokai grabbed his hilt and began to wield him. Yami was understandably annoyed, and clenched the hand-like end of his ribbon, eye narrowed more than usual. Yokai took a stance on his hind legs, pointing Yami at the Krokorok. "Evil-doer! How dare you attempt to harm these innocent young ladies!"

"I’m a guy!” Kamina shouted at Yokai

“Young lady and young lad!” Yokai corrected himself “In the name of the great Team Kagayaku, you will be punished for your crimes!"
Yokai's eyes seemed to shimmer as he spoke, though Yami just seemed further annoyed by the yammering of his partner.

"You think you Andalusst goodies stand a chance against the mighty Sand-Croc Gang?" The Kokorok sneered while his pre-evolved cronies guffawed at Yokai's statement.

"We'll show you what happens when some know-it-all guilds intrude on our territory!" The Kokorok said with a smirk and cracked his knuckles. "Let's rough 'em up, boys!"
And at that statement the sandiles all burrowed underground.

Yami glared at Yokai. "Do you see the things you do?" he practically hissed. "Put me down!" He started whipping his ribbon around, furious. Now not only had he been yet again wielded like a common sword, but he also had to face the ground type hooligans head-on! Yokai  let his partner go, a bit surprised by his reaction. Yami glared at the Krokorok with a look that would kill if it could.

The Kokrorok stared at Yami for a moment in bewilderment before charging into attack. A sucker punch should knock that talking sword's lights right out.
Meanwhile Kamina looked around frantically, not knowing where they were underground or where they would pop up. Sun-Sun could sense this distress in her partner and her eyes lit up.

"Stand back, Kamina." Sun-Sun said before beginning to dig furiously underground. Kamina stood in confusion and looked down the hole for a moment before flames erupted from the hole Sun-Sun had dug as well as from 4 other random locations.

Kamina instantly recoiled and fell on his butt as he watched the fiery pillars in amazement. Once the flames had subsided, the four sandiles fell to the ground, their bodies charred, blackened, and unconscious.

The hit connected with Yami, though he tried to dodge, and he clattered to the ground. Yokai, however, with glowing eyes, launched himself at the Krokorok. The glow in his eyes turned a blazing orange, and he was engulfed in flames and somersaulted.

The Glameow had collided with the desert croc sending him flying in Sun-Fist's direction. Kamina saw the ground type coming at him and somehow managed to catch the much bigger Pokemon before flinging him across the desert with some unknown source of strength.

"Wow..." Sun-Sun was amazed at the Pancham's strength as she gazed in the distance in awe. "What move was that?"

"Vital Throw," Kamina replied, a little taken aback. "You mean you've never seen me use that move before?"

"Uh-uh..." The Chimchar said still gazing in the distance in amazement.

Yokai shook off a few remaining embers and trotted over to Yami, very concerned. He gently nudged the haunted sword Pokémon, eliciting a groan from him. After sliding his partner back into his sheath and tying him to his back by his ribbon, Yokai came over to Sun-Sun and Kamina. Clearing his throat, he spoke up.

"Thank you, Team Sun-Fist, for your valiant efforts at assisting me in ridding this world of evil-doers," he said, eyes squinted and tail twitching happily. "If it weren't for you, my partner would probably be in several pieces right now, and I would have been forced to charm my way out of this dangerous situation." Not that that would be an issue for me.~

He offered up a paw for a paw-handshake.

"Uh...no problem..." Kamina said as he took Yokai's paw and shook it.
"We should work together again sometime!" Sun-Sun exclaimed as she gave Yokai a hug. "You guys seem like a lot of fun!"

Kamina's eye twitched as Sun-Sun hugged the shiny Glameow. Suddenly It seemed that Yami was 't the only one that wanted to beat some sense into Yokai.

Yokai laughed a bit as Sun-Sun hugged him. He hugged her back. "Yes, yes! We should maybe try to do something together when we have time off between tasks!" He seemed to be purring now.

"Okay, that's enough." Kamina inturrpted, tearing Sun-Sun away from Yokai. "I don't think anyone else is gonna bother us for the night, so how's about we call it in for the night?"

"Excellent idea!" Yokai said. He sat on his haunches, checking to make sure that Yami was secured to him. "Which way is the camp again?"

Kamina facepalmed. "That way..." He said pointing straight ahead with his free paw.

"C'mon then, let's go get your talking sword patched up Yo-Yo." Sun-Sum said cheerily as she began to skip ahead. Kamina followed suit, sticking close to Kagayaku. He would have to keep a close eye out on Yokai and his partner but for now, all he wanted to do was relax and call it a night.