Mushroom Mayhem -- Oddities Abound, Mission 1

    “Do do do do, do do do do, duh do do, do do do do…” Madeline hummed as she trotted alongside several of her fellow Merchants, shaking her hips and trotting to the melody in her head. Her hoofsteps clopped to the beat, matching her quiet voice. “I am sitting, in the morning, at the diner on the corner. I am waiting, at the counter for the man, to pour the coffee, and he fills it, only halfway, and before I even argue, he is looking, out the window, at somebody coming in…”

    “You seem to be in a good mood.”

            Madeline immediately clammed up, lowering her head in embarrassment as a young abra women sauntered up to her. But instead of the judging gaze the girafarig was expecting, the abra seemed to be in good spirits herself. Madeline smiled back, raising her head high as she regained her confidence.

            “It’s my first mission!” she neighed happily, rearing up slightly with joy. “I took a different way through the Fungal Forest and got caught up in that wildfire. I wasn’t even able to get out until you all were already at Sanctuary.”

            “Oh dear,” the abra sympathized. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

            “My partner was stuck with a cough for a while, and one of my hooves was burned, but so long as my merchandise is okay, I can live!”

            The abra let out an airy laugh. “You seem as determined as I am.”

            “I would hope so! You’re Miss Ciaran, yes? The doll maker? You work is beautiful! I’m Madeline!”

            “Oh,” Ciaran rubbed her wrist a little, clearly grateful for the compliment. “Thank you, Madeline. What is it that you specialize in?”

            Madeline shrugged. “Oh I do a bit of everything, but I specialize in odd stuff. You know, antiques, relics, TMs, rare toys and collectables, even the odd plant or two. You never really know what people want to buy, and I just like odd things. Guess it’s fitting, huh?” Madeline giggled to herself, motioning to her fanged tail.

            Ciaran smiled, but as she opened her mouth, a sudden yelp cut their conversation short.”Oh dear. That’s my partner. Nice meeting you, miss Madeline!” she called over her shoulder as she teleported away to where the yelp came from.

            “Nice to meet you too!” Madeline called back, not caring too much if Ciaran actually heard her. “Now then…” she muttered quietly, digging around in her bag for the ointment Eva had given her. “Time to help some poor hurt ferals!”

            “Okay…” Madeline mumbled around the brush as she applied the tonic to the shroomish’s forehead. “Just keep it on for a while, and your burn should go away in just a few days!”

            The shroomish practically purred in thanks, giving Madeline’s leg a quick hug before scampering off into the bushes.

            “Bye!” she called happily. “Stay safe, little one!”

            Madeline sighed happily as she replaced the now empty bottle of tonic back into her bag as she began to head towards the center clearing of the forest, where Eva was no doubt conversing with Salvador. “Time to help the big girl!”

            “Where do you think you’re going meat?!”

            Before Madeline could respond, a heavy mass landed onto her back, sending her crashing to the ground. “Ack!” she screamed, her bones groaning under the massive weight. “What the hell?! Get off me---eek!”

            A large pincer crashed into the ground right next to her eye. A parasect growled above her, sharpening his pincers as he prepared to hack her to bits. Madeline tried to scream again, only for the parasect to slash her face with his pincer.

            “Shut up!” he snarled. “You’re responsible for this! Our home, destroyed!”

            “I’m trying to—gaaack!!” Madeline’s voice was robbed from her as the parasect gripped her throat, the sharp ends of his forearms cutting into her skin. He began to hack at her body, cutting deep into her skin. Madeline screamed and flailed, but the parasect was way too heavy. “Someone!” she screamed. “Please…help!”

            The parasect raised his pincer high above her head, aiming for her skull, only for him to be toppled over by a large steel object. Madeline coughed, shaking and sweating as she tried to stand.

            “Don’t move!”Eva’s large form landed next to Madeline, her gentle arms gathering the girafarig up as if she were merely a flower. “That parasect did a number on you.”

            “He won’t be hurting anyone anymore.”

            Madeline’s head was spinning, but she managed to look over at her savior. It was a durant, his pincers covered in blood and fungal matter. He began to speak, but his words fell upon failing ears. Madeline’s form went limp as she fell unconscious.

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Don't worry, Maddie will be fine~! Mission 1, part 1 for Oddities Abound is complete! XD

Cameos

Eva -->

Ciaran -->

Johann -->