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Description
Cover (with different title hah oops): Cat of Nine Tales

NOTE: ONLY ILLUSTRATED UNTIL THE FIRST STORY BREAK.

“So, why exactly are you going to the Merchant’s hut? I heard you’re the book keeper, and I met you once before to establish myself as a... well… one ‘mon team, but why aren’t you in your study?” Callahan didn’t break his stride, but half turned his head to give the cat his signature fox-like smile.

“I’m just setting up a new mission for the teams,” he said maniacally. His eyes were wide open and seemed to glow, as behind him his nine tails swished back and forth. Turkey smiled broadly.

“Cool! What kind of mission? Maybe I can help!” Finally! I can try my hand at helping someone! I know I tried the other mission, but I got selfish and instead…

You’ll never amount to anything!
You are worthless!
You mean nothing to us!
GET OUT! OUT!!

Her father’s words rebounded mercilessly through her memory.

“I’m not worthless.” She muttered defiantly. She darted ahead and trotted beside the other Pokémon. “Callahan?” She asked sweetly. “What are the missions you’re putting up?” He darted through the opening in the curtains to the hut and turned to face her.

“I want some people to fetch me some things.” He said devilishly. “They were supposed to be delivered some time ago, but I’m afraid someone has… forgotten the agreement.” He trotted to the other side of the room to the mission board, and, taking a piece of paper off the desk, he made quick work of the new mission. Turkey walked over and took a look at the list.

“You’re just missing some books and a journal? That’s all?” She said, slightly disappointed.

“If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine.” Callahan said, lowering his head and staring her straight in her eyes. “It is a rather tough mission, especially for a small Pokémon such as yourself.” Turkey screwed her face up and pushed his away.

“What do you think I am, useless?!” She snatched a pencil from the desk and jotted her name under the word Journal. “See? I will do it! No problem!” She gave him one last glare and turned to head outside. Just before reaching the exit, however, she turned around.

“What is it?” Callahan asked silkily.

“Where- where is the journal, exactly?” She half-demanded.

“Why, in Merlot’s castle of course. It’s Dandelo’s Journal, probably located in his study. Did I really have to spell that out for you?”

-----------------------------------------------------------

The castle walls loomed up and over her. Turkey looked up and swallowed.

“We’re going in ahead,” the team she had been traveling with had said. “We’re going after the Kitab Al-Ghameq- whatever that is. Good luck, Turkey!”

She had thanked them and they had gone on their way.
I should go inside. It can’t be that bad. I can be quiet. I- I can be stealthy. A voice in her head whispered encouragingly.

“No, it’s too much. I can’t do it. I’m too scared.” She snapped back at it.

I guess dad was right. I am a failure. She sat down in the grass. I guess I should head back then. She got up and turned around. Suddenly she stopped walking. Her ears stood up fully, and her face took on a defiant look. She balled her fists and took a deep breath in.

“I am not a failure.” She sternly told herself. She turned back to the castle and didn’t take a second thought before storming in.

-----------------------------------------------------------

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Turkey held her breath and tried to wriggle further into the corner she was in to hide from the massive bulk of a dragonite that had suddenly crossed her path. “I know I saw you. Come out of hiding so I can see you out! Miss Merlot isn’t seeing anyone anymore!” The bulk passed her by again and around swept out of sight around a corner.

“Phew...” Turkey let out a small breath and relaxed slightly. Her muscles loosened her ears became upright once more.

“Grr! COME OUT RIGHT NOW OR ELSE!” A thundering voice boomed through the hallway. Turkey leapt into the air, fur completely upright, and bolted through a half open door into a smaller room.

It was a comfortable room, with a big desk and a large chair. She snuck in slyly and closed the door behind her. Only the smallest of clicks echoed through the room, but it was enough to wake a massive figure that she didn’t see had been sleeping in the chair.

A large, white dragon with a black cape sat up slowly. Turkey’s eyes widened and she stepped back, pressing her back against the wall. Her eyes flew through the room, looking for somewhere, anywhere, to hide.

“Udon?” The large dragon called questioningly. “Is that you?” Turkey spotted a massive pillow on the floor beside the desk and made a run for it. The dragon sleepily rubbed its eyes and looked around.

I’m gonna make it! said the fleeting voice inside Turkey’s head before a stone tile beneath her feet erupted with Spinerak webs. In an instant she was covered in the sticky silk, a tiny Pokémon trapped in a small room with a massive, potentially evil dragon. Said dragon screamed and leapt out of the chair, whipping towards the sound and proving itself to be indeed evil.

“What?! Who are you?!” It bellowed. Turkey screamed as well and tried desperately to get out of the gooey mess. The dragon Pokémon reared back and let out another roar, one that shook the whole room.

“HOW DARE YOU ENTER HERE, YOU PIECE OF FILTH!” Turkey’s brain went in overdrive and suddenly found a solution. The dragon, whom she now assumed to be Merlot, the owner of the castle, opened her beak and a deep red ball formed in her mouth. Turkey managed to pull one arm out of the webs and she desperately used Barrage on herself. Her slashes cut the web into sticky ribbons, and she leapt out of the way of a Hyper Beam that struck the floor where she had been only moments before.

Turkey darted to the other side of the room to a large bookcase, and climbed up the side as nimble as a cat could be. Merlot stayed still momentarily, as the Hyper Beam called a lot of strength. Turkey looked back and took this time to do her worst.

She dug her claws into the top of the shelf and opened her mouth the same way the dragon had done moments before. Merlot roared in Outrage and lunged at the small cat. Turkey braced herself for impact as a massive, but severely less powerful, Hyper Beam erupted from her mouth. The small beam hit Merlot square in the face and she missed her target, flying into the bookshelves instead. Turkey was flung back from the sheer force, and hit the wall behind the bookcase. She lay there stunned on top of the bookcases for a few seconds, pidgies dancing through her vision, as Merlot, only momentarily stopped, leapt up and swiped Turkey off the bookcase and across the room into a mirror that shattered upon impact.

Turkey landed on the floor in a sad heap, and only barely managed to look up as a final blow was sent her way. She closed her eyes and prepared herself, but the blow was sent into the ground beside her.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Turkey looked up into the eyes of the dragon. They were red- not from anger, but from sadness and confusion. It seemed to take ages before the massive beast drew back and lifted a foot as if to squish her. It hovered above her for just a few small moments; it was enough time for Turkey to spot the spine of a weathered, well-read book under Merlot’s arm.

Dandelo was written on the spine in a beautiful script.

Turkey took the chance, however small it was. She pounced up from her place on the floor and used Covet to tear the book out from under the beast’s wing, slashing at it while she passed. Merlot roared and turned in a tight circle, hitting Turkey clean out of the air using Dragon Tail. Turkey hurtled towards the windows as the dragon realized what the cat had stolen.

Merlot’s screams followed Turkey as she clung to the book and the window shattered behind her.
A stabbing pain roared through her face as the shards flew through her.
She plunged towards the ever expanding ground that seemed too eager to meet her.
She hit the ground, and everything went black.

-----------------------------------------------------------

“… can’t believe she’s alive.” A gentle voice shook her out of her stasis. Turkey stirred and rubbed her head, wincing as she moved.

“I- I think… ugh…” A pair of paws took her head in their hands.

“Stay calm. Goret, do you have a potion or some herbs or something?” Turkey heard shuffling and paw-steps nearby. She blinked a few times, but a fierce pain rushed through her and she gave up. “Stay still.”

“Be gentle, Lalin. She looks roughed up.” The second voice was deep and gravel like, as opposed to the first. Turkey felt like her head was swimming. Even blinking seemed like an effort, so she kept her eyes closed.

“She’s covered in cuts, which isn’t surprising after falling from so high up,” the softer, but still distinctly male voice trailed off.

“All the way from up there, huh,” the gravelly voice called Goret said. “It’s unbelievable that she’s not dead.”

“She was clutching this to her chest.” A bit of rustling and the sound of paper ensued.

“A book?” More rustling. “It’s some sort of journal.”

“N-no-” Turkey mumbled. She tried to grab out at where she assumed the book was, but her arms wouldn’t respond. She could feel a wet sticky substance between her fingers.

“Goret! The medicine!” Turkey barely heard the voices and the hustle as a berry was shoved into her mouth. She tried in vain to spit it out, but she could barely move. However, as soon as the medicine slipped down her throat, she felt the pain ebb away, and slowly her ability to move returned. Finally, she found enough strength to talk.

“My book,” Turkey stammered with her eyes still closed. After a short pause, she felt the cover be pressed back into her paws. She clutched it tightly to her chest.

“Hey,” the soft voice said kindly, “you feeling better?”

“Yeah… Thank you,” Turkey whispered into the pages.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” the gravelly voice grunted.

“It can’t be bad,” Turkey insisted. She held the book tight and a watery smile passed over her lips. “It can’t be that bad, because I did it.” A few tears rolled over her cheek, mingling with the small amount of blood still stuck to her fur. “I finally did something right.” The voices whispered something to each other, and a strong pair of limbs picked her gingerly of the floor and placed her on the back of a rather large furry Pokémon.

She fell into a deep slumber as the kind voice said “Don’t worry, kid, we’ll get you back to the village.”

-----------------------------------------------------------

“Good heavens, what happened to you?!” Shroomsworth’s panicked voice boomed through the small office.

“Oh, nothing too bad,” Turkey said as she fingered the bandage on her left eye. “I fell a little ways but I’m okay now.”

“Oh- um, alright. How, uh, how can I help you?” The plant Pokémon looked unsure, but it made Turkey feel happy that he attempted a smile for her.

“I just wanted to give this to Callahan,” she said as she placed a worn out book on the table. “I wanted to tell him I completed the mission.” Shroomsworth took the book and examined it closely.

“It’s rather beat up,” he remarked quietly to himself.

“I had to go a pretty far to fetch it,” Turkey replied, her smile true and unwavering. “It was kind of a test for me, to prove I could do it.”

“Ah- right.” Shroomsworth said, and sighed. “I suppose you’ll be wanting your reward now… well, I’m afraid I don’t know what that is quite yet. I assume that Miss PK will enlighten you upon her… her return.”

“She can take as long as she wants,” Turkey said lazily. Her smile was starting to make the Breloom uncomfortable, and she could tell. But she didn’t care. “I’m just… I’m just glad I did it.” She turned and left the hut without looking back.

I really did it. I can’t believe it.
I guess I’m not so useless after all.

Sorry it's a little half-assed... but I'm pretty proud of how it came out!
I think I'm going to add more picture in later... but I'm going to study for my exam now -__-

Turkey (c) me
Callahan (c) purplekecleon
Pokemon (c) Nintendo

Description
Cover (with different title hah oops): Cat of Nine Tales

NOTE: ONLY ILLUSTRATED UNTIL THE FIRST STORY BREAK.

“So, why exactly are you going to the Merchant’s hut? I heard you’re the book keeper, and I met you once before to establish myself as a... well… one ‘mon team, but why aren’t you in your study?” Callahan didn’t break his stride, but half turned his head to give the cat his signature fox-like smile.

“I’m just setting up a new mission for the teams,” he said maniacally. His eyes were wide open and seemed to glow, as behind him his nine tails swished back and forth. Turkey smiled broadly.

“Cool! What kind of mission? Maybe I can help!” Finally! I can try my hand at helping someone! I know I tried the other mission, but I got selfish and instead…

You’ll never amount to anything!
You are worthless!
You mean nothing to us!
GET OUT! OUT!!

Her father’s words rebounded mercilessly through her memory.

“I’m not worthless.” She muttered defiantly. She darted ahead and trotted beside the other Pokémon. “Callahan?” She asked sweetly. “What are the missions you’re putting up?” He darted through the opening in the curtains to the hut and turned to face her.

“I want some people to fetch me some things.” He said devilishly. “They were supposed to be delivered some time ago, but I’m afraid someone has… forgotten the agreement.” He trotted to the other side of the room to the mission board, and, taking a piece of paper off the desk, he made quick work of the new mission. Turkey walked over and took a look at the list.

“You’re just missing some books and a journal? That’s all?” She said, slightly disappointed.

“If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine.” Callahan said, lowering his head and staring her straight in her eyes. “It is a rather tough mission, especially for a small Pokémon such as yourself.” Turkey screwed her face up and pushed his away.

“What do you think I am, useless?!” She snatched a pencil from the desk and jotted her name under the word Journal. “See? I will do it! No problem!” She gave him one last glare and turned to head outside. Just before reaching the exit, however, she turned around.

“What is it?” Callahan asked silkily.

“Where- where is the journal, exactly?” She half-demanded.

“Why, in Merlot’s castle of course. It’s Dandelo’s Journal, probably located in his study. Did I really have to spell that out for you?”

-----------------------------------------------------------

The castle walls loomed up and over her. Turkey looked up and swallowed.

“We’re going in ahead,” the team she had been traveling with had said. “We’re going after the Kitab Al-Ghameq- whatever that is. Good luck, Turkey!”

She had thanked them and they had gone on their way.
I should go inside. It can’t be that bad. I can be quiet. I- I can be stealthy. A voice in her head whispered encouragingly.

“No, it’s too much. I can’t do it. I’m too scared.” She snapped back at it.

I guess dad was right. I am a failure. She sat down in the grass. I guess I should head back then. She got up and turned around. Suddenly she stopped walking. Her ears stood up fully, and her face took on a defiant look. She balled her fists and took a deep breath in.

“I am not a failure.” She sternly told herself. She turned back to the castle and didn’t take a second thought before storming in.

-----------------------------------------------------------

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Turkey held her breath and tried to wriggle further into the corner she was in to hide from the massive bulk of a dragonite that had suddenly crossed her path. “I know I saw you. Come out of hiding so I can see you out! Miss Merlot isn’t seeing anyone anymore!” The bulk passed her by again and around swept out of sight around a corner.

“Phew...” Turkey let out a small breath and relaxed slightly. Her muscles loosened her ears became upright once more.

“Grr! COME OUT RIGHT NOW OR ELSE!” A thundering voice boomed through the hallway. Turkey leapt into the air, fur completely upright, and bolted through a half open door into a smaller room.

It was a comfortable room, with a big desk and a large chair. She snuck in slyly and closed the door behind her. Only the smallest of clicks echoed through the room, but it was enough to wake a massive figure that she didn’t see had been sleeping in the chair.

A large, white dragon with a black cape sat up slowly. Turkey’s eyes widened and she stepped back, pressing her back against the wall. Her eyes flew through the room, looking for somewhere, anywhere, to hide.

“Udon?” The large dragon called questioningly. “Is that you?” Turkey spotted a massive pillow on the floor beside the desk and made a run for it. The dragon sleepily rubbed its eyes and looked around.

I’m gonna make it! said the fleeting voice inside Turkey’s head before a stone tile beneath her feet erupted with Spinerak webs. In an instant she was covered in the sticky silk, a tiny Pokémon trapped in a small room with a massive, potentially evil dragon. Said dragon screamed and leapt out of the chair, whipping towards the sound and proving itself to be indeed evil.

“What?! Who are you?!” It bellowed. Turkey screamed as well and tried desperately to get out of the gooey mess. The dragon Pokémon reared back and let out another roar, one that shook the whole room.

“HOW DARE YOU ENTER HERE, YOU PIECE OF FILTH!” Turkey’s brain went in overdrive and suddenly found a solution. The dragon, whom she now assumed to be Merlot, the owner of the castle, opened her beak and a deep red ball formed in her mouth. Turkey managed to pull one arm out of the webs and she desperately used Barrage on herself. Her slashes cut the web into sticky ribbons, and she leapt out of the way of a Hyper Beam that struck the floor where she had been only moments before.

Turkey darted to the other side of the room to a large bookcase, and climbed up the side as nimble as a cat could be. Merlot stayed still momentarily, as the Hyper Beam called a lot of strength. Turkey looked back and took this time to do her worst.

She dug her claws into the top of the shelf and opened her mouth the same way the dragon had done moments before. Merlot roared in Outrage and lunged at the small cat. Turkey braced herself for impact as a massive, but severely less powerful, Hyper Beam erupted from her mouth. The small beam hit Merlot square in the face and she missed her target, flying into the bookshelves instead. Turkey was flung back from the sheer force, and hit the wall behind the bookcase. She lay there stunned on top of the bookcases for a few seconds, pidgies dancing through her vision, as Merlot, only momentarily stopped, leapt up and swiped Turkey off the bookcase and across the room into a mirror that shattered upon impact.

Turkey landed on the floor in a sad heap, and only barely managed to look up as a final blow was sent her way. She closed her eyes and prepared herself, but the blow was sent into the ground beside her.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Turkey looked up into the eyes of the dragon. They were red- not from anger, but from sadness and confusion. It seemed to take ages before the massive beast drew back and lifted a foot as if to squish her. It hovered above her for just a few small moments; it was enough time for Turkey to spot the spine of a weathered, well-read book under Merlot’s arm.

Dandelo was written on the spine in a beautiful script.

Turkey took the chance, however small it was. She pounced up from her place on the floor and used Covet to tear the book out from under the beast’s wing, slashing at it while she passed. Merlot roared and turned in a tight circle, hitting Turkey clean out of the air using Dragon Tail. Turkey hurtled towards the windows as the dragon realized what the cat had stolen.

Merlot’s screams followed Turkey as she clung to the book and the window shattered behind her.
A stabbing pain roared through her face as the shards flew through her.
She plunged towards the ever expanding ground that seemed too eager to meet her.
She hit the ground, and everything went black.

-----------------------------------------------------------

“… can’t believe she’s alive.” A gentle voice shook her out of her stasis. Turkey stirred and rubbed her head, wincing as she moved.

“I- I think… ugh…” A pair of paws took her head in their hands.

“Stay calm. Goret, do you have a potion or some herbs or something?” Turkey heard shuffling and paw-steps nearby. She blinked a few times, but a fierce pain rushed through her and she gave up. “Stay still.”

“Be gentle, Lalin. She looks roughed up.” The second voice was deep and gravel like, as opposed to the first. Turkey felt like her head was swimming. Even blinking seemed like an effort, so she kept her eyes closed.

“She’s covered in cuts, which isn’t surprising after falling from so high up,” the softer, but still distinctly male voice trailed off.

“All the way from up there, huh,” the gravelly voice called Goret said. “It’s unbelievable that she’s not dead.”

“She was clutching this to her chest.” A bit of rustling and the sound of paper ensued.

“A book?” More rustling. “It’s some sort of journal.”

“N-no-” Turkey mumbled. She tried to grab out at where she assumed the book was, but her arms wouldn’t respond. She could feel a wet sticky substance between her fingers.

“Goret! The medicine!” Turkey barely heard the voices and the hustle as a berry was shoved into her mouth. She tried in vain to spit it out, but she could barely move. However, as soon as the medicine slipped down her throat, she felt the pain ebb away, and slowly her ability to move returned. Finally, she found enough strength to talk.

“My book,” Turkey stammered with her eyes still closed. After a short pause, she felt the cover be pressed back into her paws. She clutched it tightly to her chest.

“Hey,” the soft voice said kindly, “you feeling better?”

“Yeah… Thank you,” Turkey whispered into the pages.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” the gravelly voice grunted.

“It can’t be bad,” Turkey insisted. She held the book tight and a watery smile passed over her lips. “It can’t be that bad, because I did it.” A few tears rolled over her cheek, mingling with the small amount of blood still stuck to her fur. “I finally did something right.” The voices whispered something to each other, and a strong pair of limbs picked her gingerly of the floor and placed her on the back of a rather large furry Pokémon.

She fell into a deep slumber as the kind voice said “Don’t worry, kid, we’ll get you back to the village.”

-----------------------------------------------------------

“Good heavens, what happened to you?!” Shroomsworth’s panicked voice boomed through the small office.

“Oh, nothing too bad,” Turkey said as she fingered the bandage on her left eye. “I fell a little ways but I’m okay now.”

“Oh- um, alright. How, uh, how can I help you?” The plant Pokémon looked unsure, but it made Turkey feel happy that he attempted a smile for her.

“I just wanted to give this to Callahan,” she said as she placed a worn out book on the table. “I wanted to tell him I completed the mission.” Shroomsworth took the book and examined it closely.

“It’s rather beat up,” he remarked quietly to himself.

“I had to go a pretty far to fetch it,” Turkey replied, her smile true and unwavering. “It was kind of a test for me, to prove I could do it.”

“Ah- right.” Shroomsworth said, and sighed. “I suppose you’ll be wanting your reward now… well, I’m afraid I don’t know what that is quite yet. I assume that Miss PK will enlighten you upon her… her return.”

“She can take as long as she wants,” Turkey said lazily. Her smile was starting to make the Breloom uncomfortable, and she could tell. But she didn’t care. “I’m just… I’m just glad I did it.” She turned and left the hut without looking back.

I really did it. I can’t believe it.
I guess I’m not so useless after all.

Sorry it's a little half-assed... but I'm pretty proud of how it came out!
I think I'm going to add more picture in later... but I'm going to study for my exam now -__-

Turkey (c) me
Callahan (c) purplekecleon
Pokemon (c) Nintendo