TPP ~ Erd 6 ~ Rory and the Porygon

In a big blue chair beneath a big red tree
A Chimchar was napping, as glad as could be

When a bird swooped by in a flutter of feathers
And from its black beak it dropped down two letters.

The first was just junk, but the second was teal
And stamped on the front was the Researchers’ seal.

“It’s a letter from Alex,” the Fletchling did tell.
“That Meowth’s from the Guild - He works there with Chelle.”

Said the Chimchar, “Just what does he want?
His writing is smudged - I can’t read the font.”

“Just get your quill, some papers and ink.
You’ll be surveying ‘mon - Or that’s what I think.

“He wants you to look for the ‘mon without bone
Nor flesh, nor blood, and perhaps not a home.

“We call them automaton, to be polite
Saying they’re robots, well. . .That isn’t right.

“Ask them these questions until you are done.
Then write down their answers and join in the fun.”

“Wait!” cried the Chimchar - Rory, by name.
“I really can’t read this - You think it’s a game?

“At least tell me where you think I could meet-”
But the bird had flown off back over the street.

Rory said, “Hm, now this will be tough.
Often I’ve tried, but never enough.”

With a sigh then she stood and went in the house.
“Now where,” said she, “can I find that big louse?”

The house was quite spooky, so silent and still
Like none ever walked there, and none ever will.

“We have an assignment,” Rory called down the hall.
“We must finish by nine so don’t you dare stall.”

There was no reply, and so Rory frowned.
It shouldn’t be silent with Plum-Head around.

Then from the bedroom there came a soft creak.
Rory crept down there to take a quick peek.

At first she saw nothing - The room there was empty.
“Come out at once, or I’ll count to twenty.”

“I won’t go,” cried the Chespin from under the bed.
“I have things to do, so you go ahead.

“I heard what your task was” - and his eyes were glazed -
“But I’m not touching those things for the rest of my days.”

Rory got down on her hands and her knees.
“But you are my servant, and should do as I please.”

“I won’t go,” he insisted, more firmly this time.
“Now you’d better hurry - it’s an hour to nine.”

With a sigh Rory stood and brushed off the dust.
“I won’t make you come, but next time you must.”

She put on her vest and started to groan.
“Now what can I do? I can’t go alone.”

Alone in the city, Rory scratched at her head.
“What am I doing? I should be in bed.

“I can’t read these words - But maybe, out there
I’ll run into someone who’s willing to share.”

Or maybe, she thought, I shan’t go at all.
The city’s so big, and I am so small.

The sun has been sinking, there in the sky.
For even a chance then I’d have to -

With a buzzing of wings and a blur through the air
Rory looked up and a Vibrava was there.

“Heidi!” she shouted, waving her arms.
“It’s Rory - It’s me! The girl from the farm!

“I could really use help, if you really don’t mind.
You know the whole city, but I’m running blind.

“I’m looking for robots - or rather, automaton.
It would be a big help if you knew anyone.”

“Of course I can help you,” cried Heidi with glee.
“I’ll fly you straight there, just grab onto me.”

The Chimchar was tall, but Heidi was taller.
As they rose in the sky the roads would get smaller.

“I’m not fond of heights,” Rory tried to protest.
Said Heidi, “Hold tight - I don’t land the best.”

With a thump they came down near a creature of pink.
“Now that there’s a Porygon, or at least so I think.”

“But Heidi,” said Rory, now filling with dread.
“I can’t read these words - I’m in over my head.”

“That’s not a problem. Make up your own questions.
These words on the paper are merely suggestions.”

“Um,” Rory said - She was trying to think
As the Porygon stared she didn’t see it blink.

“I like to sleep and to fight and to sleep.
And back on my farm I raised up Mareep.

“But you, what do you enjoy doing for fun?
I’ve heard of your kind but haven’t met one.”

The Porygon stared for the longest of time.
“How rude,” it said, with a voice like a chime.

“I’m not a strange creature, I am just like you.
So what if I’m pink and not yellow or blue?

I may have tough skin and didn’t hatch from a shell,
But I have a brain and I feel quite well.”

“I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.
I’m here on Guild work - I won’t do it again.”

The Porygon hummed, its eye flashing bright.
At last it said, “Well, I suppose that’s all right.

“You children keep coming to bother me so.
Let’s play a quick game and then you can go.

“You count to thirty while I go and hide.
Then Alex will know that you really tried.”

Rory put her face up against Heidi’s back
While the Porygon then rolled away with a clack.

When the counting was done she leapt to her feet.
“Stay here, Heidi, so it won’t think I cheat.”

Rory took off, but she didn’t make it far
For the Porygon sat behind a guitar.

It sat in the trash heap, not hidden by much
And stirred before Rory could reach out and touch.

“You’ve found me,” it said, its voice dull and flat.
“You’ve finished the game, so now you can scat.”

With a rattle and click it kicked into gear
And left Rory watching the sun disappear.

“I think,” Rory said, “It wants us to go.
Maybe it feels much better alone.

“So it wasn’t born the way that we were
But others feel likewise - Of that I am sure.

“If it wants me to treat it like I would treat you,
Then I guess that’s what I am going to do.”

“I’ll take you to Alex,” Heidi said as she stood.
“The sun has gone down and I promised I would.”

Rory hugged Heidi’s waist, shielding her eyes
As the Vibrava’s wings buzzed and she took to the skies.

They skimmed over rooftops and down empty streets
While tiny bugs soared and birds came to eat.

At home Rory slid from Heidi to ground
And told her that she would see her around.

“Plum?” called the Chimchar, pushing open the door.
She found him asleep, sprawled out on the floor.

He had a large book propped up by his nose.
His eyes slid open as her footsteps came close.

“‘So, how’d it go?’ ‘s what I’d say if I cared.”
He spoke with tail twitching and had his teeth bared.

“Fine,” Rory said, dropping coin in the jar.
“I didn’t need your help. It wasn’t that hard.

“Heidi stopped by - She’s out on the lawn.
She took me to find a strange Pory-”

“Don’t say it!” he spat, now up on his feet.
“I don’t want to hear it - Now must I repeat?

“Those things are a danger, now and back then.
I don’t want to see one ever again.”

He stalked off to bed with his blanket and book,
Leaving Rory to hang her vest on its hook.

“Strange,” said she, “He’s never like that.
Didn’t even listen; he is such a brat.”

With a sigh and a shrug Rory got into bed
And wished she were back in the desert instead.