ToT: All For the Children

With Don Kapon’s influence excised from the town, Ywaru canyon had become a much more hospitable place. Residents were much more cheerful, there were no more thugs roaming the streets…

And Gemma was at Seren’s orphanage, being barraged by the children’s requests for pizza.

“I want extra cheese on mine!” said a small Trapinch.

“And mushrooms and olives” added an excited Cacnea girl.

A Drilbur at the front of the pack grinned and added: “And remember, you need to get it to us in an hour or you only get a ten percent tip!”

“Kids, I’m not here to bring you pizza” said Gemma, as soon as she was able to get a word in edgewise.

“You’re not the pizza girl?” said the Cacnea, looking crestfallen.

“I’m afraid not.”

“Then you’re useless to us!” piped up a Sandshrew at the back. “Get out of here and bring us the pizza girl!” The children all started clamoring again.

“What’s gotten into you all?” Gemma asked incredulously. “I was here this morning and you were all so polite and…” Gemma broke off when she saw who was approaching.

“…oh.”

“Hi, Gemma” said Samara with a grin.

“Samara” said Gemma. “So, you’re looking after the children?”

“Yep.”

Gemma sighed. “That explains a lot.”

“Samara’s great!” said the Sandshrew. “She taught me how to pick pockets! Look!” The child produced a set of keys.

Next to the building, David jerked his head around, pawed at his belt, and glared. “Those are mine.” He set down the board he was fitting to the wall, walked over, and grabbed the keys out of the girl’s hand. The girl looked a bit intimidated by him (understandable, given the way he towered over the entire group.)

Samara crossed her arms. “Sara… what did I say?”

The Sandshrew hung her head. “Never assume you got away with it.”

“And don’t you forget it” said Samara, wagging her finger.

Gemma looked at Samara. “Does Seren know about all this, or…”

She was interrupted by a loud thump followed immediately by a splat, coming from the back door. Standing in the door frame was Prier, a bucket on his head and some kind of chunky green sauce- guacamole, Vander had called it- plastered all over his fur. All the children started laughing. He glared at Samara, whose grin was a shade vengeful- likely because of what had happened in Darkhowl woods...

“Penny did it!” said Samara and the children in unison, all pointing at the Houndoom who was looking after some of the other kids.

“Please leave me out of this” said Penelope.

“Right… I think I’ll go now” said Gemma. “I still need to finish writing my report for Lady Sela.”

“You know you can just call her ‘Mom’, right?” said Samara. “She said so herself. Repeatedly.”

“I need to maintain proper formalities, Samara.”

“Bah! What did formalities ever do for us?”

“Provide cover for the mission that saved this town from a drought” called out David.

“Stop helping her, David.”

Gemma rolled her eyes and stepped away. She passed by Aveline having a conversation with Adrias, the old Skiddo who was leading the delegation from Fernfrond village.

“…really are just trying to solve the water crisis, sir. Circumstances led to us bringing down Kapon, helping fix the town up afterward…”

“And keeping the children entertained, if that display was any indication.”

“Well, yeah, there’s that too…”

Gemma suddenly came face to face with another female Lucario with a similar build and coloration to her own. The stranger wore a white cotton polo shirt and carried five large flat cardboard boxes.

“Pizza delivery” the girl just about had time to say before being mobbed by the children. Gemma smiled at that and headed back to the camp.