ToT Intermission Part 2: Dirt Diggers

“Digging up dirt?! That’s not a mission, it’s a fetch quest! You told me we were going to do something for the Trackers.” Chili gave a snort of derision and crossed her arms.

Horace frowned. “First of all, I never said this had to do with the Trackers. This is a Keepers mission. Second, every mission is important. That’s something you’re going to have to learn if you want to be a Tracker.”

Chili threw her hands up in frustration. “I know, I know! It’s just… none of these stupid “missions” that I get to go on are anything good. How am I going to…” She trailed off, realizing something, before abruptly shutting her mouth.

“Going to what?” No response. “Chili, what’s the problem with these missions?” Still getting no answers, Horace sighed. “Look, I promise I won’t tell anyone. But if you don’t tell me what’s wrong I can’t help you.”

Chili hesitated for several moments before responding. “It’s just… people are always comparing me to my dad, saying that I’ll be just like him. I feel like no one ever sees me for <i<me</i>, to them I’m just Vander’s kid. I want to stop being in his shadow, prove I can be better than him, but how can I do that if I never get any real missions?”

Horace nodded several times before kneeling down so he was eye to eye with her. “Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. My dad was an important Tracker too, and when I was little everyone thought I would be just like him. But you can’t keep worrying about people’s expectations of you. Just… be yourself.”

Chili’s brow furrowed. “But they still won’t let me go on any missions! How am I supposed to do that if they won’t let me?”

Horace rubbed the young rabbit’s head, ruffling her fur. “Just be patient. In time, people will see how awesome you are, and they’ll trust you to do more important things. But if you keep acting out and complaining when you’re given a job, no one’s going to ask you to do things anymore.”

Chili silently stared at the ground, processing what he had said. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. I think… I think I’m ready to go on the mission now.” She looked up at him. “That is, if you still want me to come.”

Horace grinned. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now come on, we’ve got some dirt to collect.”

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When the two arrived at the dirt mounds, they found a shovel and several pails waiting for use. They began the slow process of filling every bucket with as much dirt as they possibly could, working in silence. They made good time, filling up about half of the buckets fairly quickly.

“Alright, let’s stop for a short break,” Horace told his younger companion, who nodded before plopping herself on a log to rest. Horace sat down beside her, pulled out his flute, and began to play.

Chili looked up when the music started. “You’re a musician?” Horace grinned. “I practice on the side. Plus, it has its use in battle. I like to sharpen my skills when I can. As a fighter, you probably know what that’s like.”

Chili nodded eagerly. “Yeah! You hafta keep practicing if you want to get any better! That’s why I train so much.”

Horace chuckled. “Well, I hope someday I’ll be able to see the results of your effort. Once you make it into the Trackers, anyway.” He gave her a conspiratorial wink. “Now, what do you say we finish the mission and head home?”

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Just as Horace was shoveling dirt into the last bucket, a voice caught him by surprise and caused him to drop his shovel.

“WHO DARES DISTURB MY GRAVE?” The voice demanded. It was deep and rumbling, and Horace could feel its vibrations in his bones. He looked around, but saw nobody but a startled Chili. She shivered, a dim blue glow enveloping her body.

“We mean you no harm,” he answered cautiously. “We only came to collect some soil for-”

“FOOLISH MORTALS. THIS SPECIAL EARTH WAS USED TO SEAL MY TOMB. NOW I AM FREE, AND I SHALL WREAK HAVOC UPON THE WORLD!”

As the voice rumbled, Chili yelped in fright. Horace turned to see her getting whacked by some invisible force. No, invisible wasn’t the right word. He could see a shimmering whenever she was struck. Gary would know what kinda move that is, but I’ve got no clue!

As he watched, he started noticing that the shimmer wasn’t some kind of cloaked enemy. It was teleporting! Before Horace could move to help, however, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He whirled, throwing a punch as he did so.

His fist flew straight through the face of the Haunter floating behind him, causing him to lose balance and fall forward. Not one to let that stop him, he placed his hands on the ground and catapulted himself away, firing off two Energy Balls as he did so. The Haunter shimmered and vanished, reappearing several feet away and out of his range. It giggled and grinned wide.

Looking over towards Chili, Horace watched a strange, hair-like appendage reach out from a tiny portal to smack the Buneary across the face before vanishing through the portal again. It reappeared behind her and conked her on the head, then sucker-punched her in the gut. She collapsed, dazed.

Finally realizing what was going on, Horace leapt down to help Chili. Launching into Acrobatics, he kicked the elusive foe out of their portal, sending them flying across the field. The Haunter reappeared to help its friend, only to get hit with the same attack.

“Ow, what did you do that for, ya big meanie?” A small Gourgeist sat up in the grass, rubbing its head with a hairy limb. The Haunter floated to its side, helping it up from the grass.

“That depends. What were you guys doing, attacking us like that?” Horace demanded.

“We were only having some fun, honest!” The voice from before, not quite as booming and forceful as before, whined. A Duskull emerged from one of the mounds. “It was just a prank! We weren’t going to actually hurt you!”

Horace glared at the Gourgeist. “Then explain why you were attacking my friend here. “What part of that is fun?”

The Gourgeist blinked. “ I didn’t attack her!” It protested. “I used Confuse Ray on her, then floated around with Phantom Force. She was hitting herself the whole time because she was trying to attack me!”

Chili sat up behind Horace, groaning. “Anybody get the number on that Tauros?” She mumbled before collapsing again.

“Look, we’re really sorry! Can’t we make it up to you?” The Duskull pleaded. Horace rubbed his chin.

“Tell ya what, he said. He gestured to the full buckets scattered about the field. “Carry these back to Zeb at the Keeper’s Guild, and we’ll call it even, alright?”

The Haunter saluted. “You got a deal, mister!”

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By the time Horace and Chili returned home, the sky was a vibrant orange and the sun had sunk behind the trees. The two stepped inside to find Gary and Ray building towers out of wooden blocks on the floor, while Ginger read quietly on the couch. Chili started complaining about being hungry. Horace suggested that he cook, to which Gary protested firmly.

“Our k-kitchen is still recovering from l-last time! I d-don’t think it can handle another ‘episode’ of your c-cooking!” He berated his teammate, who just grinned sheepishly. The kids all laughed at the outburst.

Before Gary could continue scolding his friend, the doorbell rang. Horace opened it to see Curry, smiling down at him. “I’ve come to pick up the kids. I hope they weren’t too much.”

Before he could respond, Chili ran to the door. “Mom! Mom! Can we come back here again sometime! It was awesome we got to fight ghosts!” She hopped up and down with excitement.

Curry quirked an eyebrow at that. “Well, you’ll have to ask Horace and Gary. It’s their house, after all.” Chili turned to Horace, hands clasped.

He ruffled the fur on her head again. “Sure, kiddo. You guys are welcome back any time.” She cheered and ran outside, hopping across the lawn in joy. Curry laughed.

“It seems she had a good time. Thank you for keeping an eye on her. I know she can be a handful sometimes, but she is very sweet when she wants to be.”

Horace bowed. “It was nothing. She was actually quite helpful today. If you ever need her to do chores, just tell her it’s a mission from the Trackers.”

Curry nodded as her younger two children came out to greet her. Ray hugged her leg, and Ginger smiled up at her from a stack of books he was borrowing from Gary.

After saying goodbye, both Horace and Gary collapsed on the sofa. “I didn’t realize how tiring it could be to take care of a few kids.” Horace gasped. Gary just nodded in agreement.