[Mission #3] What's that noise?: "Ghastly Attic Shenanigans!"

      “So we’re… checking out a loud noise in your attic?” Trickle questions, sitting on one of the Noibat’s pillows in their dining room, drinking some tea.

“Yes! It’s absolutely driving me insane. I can’t sleep properly anymore, let alone function!” They say with a groan. “I have work in two days, I need to get a good rest before my first night on the job.”

 

“I mean, it seems simple enough.” Neo comments, as they nonchalantly lean against the wall. “So, could you show us to your attic, then? Can’t check out a noise if we don’t know where the noise is coming from.”

“Yes! Right this way.” The Noibat gets up, flying into the hallway. Neo, Trickle, and Glorp quickly follow after them. The Noibat flies up to a conveniently placed trap door on the ceiling, pulling a small string that opens up the attic. Neo helps them, quickly grabbing the ladder and pulling it down. “There you go,” The Noibat says with a huff. “Thank you again, for checking this out for me. Oh, wait! Before you go I have something for you.” They exclaim, quickly flying off again. When they return, they have a flashlight in hand, which they offer to Neo. Neo quickly takes it, giving them a nod. “If you need anything else, just ask! I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

“Will do!” Glorp says as they climb onto Neo’s shoulder. Some of them is sliding down Neo’s back, but they’re still holding steady onto their shoulder. Neo quickly turns the flashlight on, placing it onto Glorp’s head.

“Hold that for me, will you? I need both hands to climb the ladder.” Neo exclaims as they begin to scale the ladder. Trickle follows shortly afterward, climbing up the ladder with great ease, quickly reaching the attic.

The entire attic is shrouded in darkness and dust, clearly showing that no living being had been up there in awhile. The entire attic held miscellaneous boxes in various shapes and sizes. Some were labeled, but most were covered in dust, sitting near the walls of the attic. Trickle coughs, the dust in the air choking them slightly.

“For them coming up here so often to check on this noise, you would think they would have cleaned the place a bit.” Trickle says in between his coughing fit.

“Agreed,” Glorp exclaims with a short nod. “The amount of dust is absurd”

“Well I mean–” Is all Neo can get out before a loud ‘BANG!’ is heard.

“EEP!” Trickle shrieks, quickly hiding behind Neo’s legs. Neo pay’s no mind to this, slowly walking forwards, trying to remember the direction the noise came from. Glorp quietly slips off their shoulder, sliding over in the direction of the noise.

“Glorp, what in the world are you doing? You have the flashlight, I need you to stay over here so I can…” Neo pauses briefly, looking over at Glorp, who now has revealed a Shuppet huddled in the corner.”... see.” Glorp looks at the dark colored Shuppet in the corner of the attic, surrounded by boxes. They're wearing a long, red scarf that cover's their face. Glorp's face twists into one filled with confusion, but before he can say anything, the shuppet speaks.

“I’m so sorry I just needed a place to stay for a little bit. I'll leave soon I promise–” The shuppet rambles on, barely pausing to breathe. “I just needed somewhere to rest after getting chased in the mystery dungeon near here. I swear I'll leave, just don’t hurt me!”

“Woah, woah. No one’s gonna hurt you bud.” Glorp quietly reassures. “What’s your name?”

“...My name's Shadow. He/him pronouns are what I use.” He squeaks out. "I'm sorry for being here I just needed somewhere to rest–" Just then, a scratching noise is heard coming from the ceiling, and then another scratching noise, and another. That is... an absurd ammount of scratching for any pokemon to make...

“You’re not the one causing the noises… Are you?” Glorp quietly asks, trying to not further startle Shadow, who was clearly already nervous. He's very likely injuried as well, if what he's saying is true. Glorp thinks.

“No! I– I got here… maybe around 30 minutes ago? Something like that.” The scratching noises sound off again, and a squeak can be heard. A rattata falls off of a beam near the ceiling. 

“Aha! A Rattata. Of course that’s what was making the scratching noise!” Neo exclaims, quickly getting into a battle stance. The rattata lunges at them, initiating the fight.

Ratata used Tackle!

 

Neo quickly rolls out of the way, sending the Ratata flying into a cluster of cardboard boxes. In that same moment, two more Ratata's fall from the cieling, joining the other by the boxes, forming a triangle. They're clicking their teeth, clearly preparing for another attack.

 

Trickle used Watergun!

 

The Ratata's shriek, now covered with water. One of them already injuried, the three panicing Ratata's try to scamper back up the walls.

 

"Oh no you don't!" Trickle exclaims, jumping on top of the boxes closet to the wall and spraying them again with His. "If you're going anywhere, it's out of this house!" The ratata's again, shriek, this time running in the direction of the attic trapdoor. Neo quickly chases after them, ensuring they all make it through the door. 

 

"Check for anymore Ratata's! I'll make sure these 3 make it outside," They yell back, quickly dropping down the attic's trapdoor.

 

So, the 3 pokemon left in the attic do just that. Shadow flies up into the rafters, checking all of the avalible space for any more Ratata's, including inside of the walls. Glorp and Trickle check the floor, using the flashlight to search for any remaining ratata's. Once they all confirm that no stray Ratata's were left in the attic, the three of them head back into the main house via the trapdoor.

 

"That was.. three Ratata's in my attic! Arceus that's 3 more than I would like up there. I can't thank you all enough for the help! I'll actually be able to sleep before my first shift as a night guard!" The Noibat gleefully says, a smile on their face.

 

"It wasn't a problem, just doing our job." Neo says with a huff.

 

"Oh, and who is that?" The Noibat questions, turning towards Shadow.

 

"I'm Shadow, I use He/him pronouns. I had to um, hide out in your attic for a bit after being injuried and escaping a mystery dungeon. Sorry about that..." He shyly exclaims, his voice muffled behind his scarf.

 

"Don't be! Especially if you were injuried. Speaking of which- hold on, i'll be right back." The Noibat says, before quickly taking off into their kitchen.

 

When they return, they're holding a small bag of apples, all of them various different flavors. "I'm sure that all the Ratata chasing made you hungry, so here are some apples for you all! Make sure you give Shadow one as well." The Noibat exclaims, sending a small wink over to Shadow.

 

"Thank you... um." Shadow pauses.

 

"Call me Daniel. They/them pronouns for me!"

 

"Alright. Thank you Daniel, for being so kind and understanding."

 

"Of course! Anything for someone in need." They say with a smile. "As for your payment, I'll send it to the guild so they can divide the difference."

 

"Alright then. Thank you for the Apples Daniel. We'll be on our way now." Neo says, handing a normal apple over to Shaodw, who uses a bit of telekinesis to hold it. As the four exit the house, Daniel gives them a small wave, before closing the door. Glorp, Trickle, and Neo all start heading in the direction of the station, but are stopped by Shadow.

 

"W-wait! You three are guild members, right?" He inquires, floating up to them.

 

"Mhm!" Glorp hums. "We are indeed."

 

"I want to join you. I keep getting sucked into mystery dungeons anyway, and I really want to be able to help people! Besides, you three seem like really cool 'mon," He rambles.

 

"I don't see why not." Neo yawns. "Tart'll be fine with it. C'mon, let's go get you registered."

 

"Woo! New party member!" Trickle happily exclaims, running ahead of the group. "Come on, we can't just stand on the sidewalk all day!" He yells back, continuing to run.

"Oh for arceus' sake..." Neo says with a groan. "Come on Glorp, hop on," They say, letting Glorp climb onto their back. Once Glorp was on their back, they quickly would take off after Trickle, who was already almost at the end of the road. Shadow would float after them, smile on his face as he pulled down his scarf and took a bite of his apple.