New Dawn March Tasks - Who want to be a Princess?

Malva looked up the castle wall and felt her leaves grow cold for a brief moment. She had heard about the expression ‘getting the cold feet’ and figured this would be as close as she would ever get to that feeling. Castle Draclugia, they had gone past here not so long ago, but the Lilligant never forgot when they first came to Tao and crossed the castle door. Those who lived in there were not sane. Maxwell had told her the stories about the children from Sapling who had gotten kidnapped by Merlot the vampire to serve her as slave forever, but to think she’d ever cross this door to get one back was far outside her imagination. She glanced back at her partner and he looked back, giving her a reassuring smile only he could give her and…

"C’mon big bwo! C’mon big sis! We got errands to do so let’s go already!"

That brought her back to reality, April sure did not share her anxiety here, but it was refreshing in a strange way, to see one of them had not grown up fearing this place. She smiled at the young Joltik and nodded before giving her a soft pat on the head.

"Yes, we’re going." She answered simply.

The group made their way inside. They didn’t really try and sneak past anyone or hide their presence, this wasn’t a rogue job after all, this was about getting a kid back… And some wishful thinking about the head maid being in a good mood…

They made their way in the gardens where trees and bushes formed various snake-like figures and grass typed Pokémon. Maxwell’s eyes were caught by a plant shaped in what appeared to be the form of a Lilligant, but respectfully avoided making any comments.

-------------- Pose for Bud------------
“Hey, you, yes, you two, are you here to pose for me? If not, Keep your fire to yourself and leave!"

It was no surprise, not really, Bud had spotted them, something that would make things sticky. Although they only REALLY wanted to help the child from his sticky predicament, this WAS on the list of things for them to do...Malva shot the Volcarona a look that told him to go ahead and help the Roselia.

“Why yes...We are indeed here to assist you dear, or I am at least, my teammates are here to...assist Amanda with the cooking errand." He thought quickly, unable to tell the Roselia that they were here to 'save' someone. After all, even if they weren't rogues, this was best done quietly.

“I'll catch up with you two later, okay...? April, be a dear and go with Malva."

“ 'kay big bwo~" The little Joltik jumped from his fluffy mane onto her shoulder, between the golden leaf collar and the volcanicloak.

Malva looked back at him, frowning a little, then turned to walk into the castle, surely things wouldn't be too bad in here.

---------------Cooking with Amanda--------------
Malva hummed to herself, working to keep herself calm as she walked around the halls, trying to navigate them in this huge castle. She'd asked for directions to the kitchen thrice: once she'd been sent down stairs, another she'd been nearly sent upstairs—which quite frankly was where she needed to go, but she wasn't going to step one foot in there without Maxwell, and this attempt. She could only hope that she was going the proper direction...

Finally she reached the kitchen corridor, and found the Snivy she was supposed to watch to make sure that she didn't cut any corners; but make no wonder why the Snivy did! The amount of food she had to cook was outrageous, every night was a feast, and she looked so run down having to do everything by herself. Malva frowned to herself, and braided her hair back—using her ribbon to tie it back instead of wearing it as a sash as normal. She grabbed an apron from the wall, and covered anything that might be getting dirty, and stepped up beside the other grass type.

“You look like you could use some help...what have you already done...?" Malva asked, and the Snivy seemed to relax.

“I thought...you were just sent here to watch." She frowned.

“Being sent here to do something and helping someone out are two different things, but sometimes they go hand in hand...you've just got to promise me one thing, and I'll help you with everything here for tonight~."

“What's that?"

“That you won't take any shortcuts. If my name's on something, it's got to be done right." She heard the sigh and took it as a resignation to her fate.

“Fine...why do you care anyway?"

“When I was growing up, my mother had a garden, she grew vegetables for others to eat in Sapling village...in fact you probably have done business with her, looking at the quality of these squash......Anyway, if you didn't plant the seeds properly, they wouldn't grow and give us a good harvest...Later I went into landscaping, working at a flower shop and giving advice on blueprints that were brought in. But I was shy and wasn’t all that confident in mine when I first started, but I always had to give it my best. If I would have caused someone trouble because my work was sloppy and I don’t think I would have taken the stand again. It’d be betraying my efforts, my partner’s efforts and my customer’s too, that would have been terrible. “ She paused, golden brown eyes looking down at the lizard.

“So everything had to be perfect...and perfection...well, having pride in your work is a good thing, right? So how about we get started...?"

--------------- Rescue the child from Udon----------
It was some time later when Malva left the kitchen, rubbing her temples, but at least she was satisfied with the work done. The apron was filthy by the time she was done; so she used the excuse to get directions up stairs.

“Maxwell where ARE you?" she muttered to herself.

“Right behind you, dear." The voice made her jump, and spin on the spot, and golden brown met chocolate brown. “Where's April...?"
“She...has been sleeping under my leaf here..." She lifted it to show a sleeping Joltik, and sighed to herself. “She's still getting used to the new home..."

“I think we all are Dear, still, it was nice of my step father to buy it for us, have you gotten the garden you want all sorted out yet...?"

“Mmm, not quite, almost though, it was a big help getting the blueprints of what had been there before though, that way I know what needs to be put there to put the nutrients back into the soil." She answered, starting up the stairs, and followed the directions she had been given to the dressing room, until she had been able to hear sounds. Then she knocked, and the noises fell silent.

This is where things could get messy. If Udon was in good mood, this would probably go well, especially since Maxwell had been guaranteed the relationship between the guilds and Udon weren’t bad. If Udon was in a bad mood however, or if Merlot for that matter was in a bad mood, this would end up poorly. Very, very poorly. But soon enough, the Dragonite came in view and she was clearly holding the kid they were looking for. Poor Seedot, those frilled bows and girly clothing definitely didn’t fit the child who was blushing and hiding in Udon’s arms in shame.

"Visitors?" Udon asked, stopping in front of the team. "Oh you must be the new servants! Wait, no… I’m not expecting new servants. Who are you? " She asked, clearly puzzled about the situation.

"Actually dear, we're here because of the child...his friends and family miss him, so we came to get him back politely and in a civilized way. Can we agree on this matter?" Maxwell stated.

"Out of the question! Merlot would be very displeased. Magnolia’s been working on new accessories to make all the small Pokémon who help around the castle look wonderful for her and we simply need a model! Besides, he broke our window, this is hardly much to ask in compensation."

Not the answer Maxwell expected. He’d need a better argument here or this would probably turn sour soon enough.

"How about-" He started, but quickly got cut off.

"I do it! I’d pway dress up in his place!" April exclaimed, hopping out into the open from under the leaf. Maxwell froze, taken completely out of left field by his sister’s outburst. "If I pway dress up with you, can he go home?"

“What an adorable little girl you were hiding there! Of course you can be our model cutie, you’ll do perfectly!" Udon exclaimed, much to Maxwell’s downfall. If his disapproval wasn’t visible enough he went to protest, but to his surprise, it was Malva who stopped him.

“Well April, if you're sure...but we do have to be home before nightfall, you know the creeping forest isn't safe at night, and we still have to find the others too, since I'm sure that the Lady of the Estate wasn't lying when she claimed that she wasn't going to take kids from the village anymore."

“Of course not, Lady Merlot would never lie, it's unbecoming."

“I quite agree, so, what do you need modelled...? Maxwell, why don't you see the boy out, and see if you can find the lost kids from Sapling...? I'm sure that you'll have better luck than I will, since you can fly." She said, turning back to April and Udon.

“I..."

“I'll take care of April, you know that...besides, it's not really proper to see a lady getting dressed now is it...? Even if that lady IS your little sister." She pointed out, and he finally submitted, heading out with the Seedot on his back.

--------------- Sapling Seedlings----------

Flying through the forest, Maxwell had one last job to do. He had kept an eye open until now in the castle for the missing children, but aside the young Seedot, he had seen none. But there weren’t a lot of flying Pokémon in Sapling Village, so they most-likely didn’t get an aerial look of the forest. He took some twist and turns here and there, looking at places he knew the other kids used when laying hide and seek a few years back. Childhood memories of the old times.

Sure enough, he eventually found one of the missing kids hidden in a brush, the young Oddish was nearly invisible there, looking like leaves among others from the side, but was clearly visible from above.

"Hello there, would you happen to be lost? " Maxwell asked as he landed close to the smaller Pokémon.

"Shhh, we’re playing hide and seek! " He said, still not moving.

That was simple enough, the kids were playing hide and seek. But Maxwell knew, better than most in Tao, that they shouldn’t be this far off in the forest. "I see, but don’t you think you’re a bit far from home, your parents are actually worried about you you know? "

"They are? I knew this new place was a bad idea… It’s all Koel’s faults!’’ He claimed back defensively, finally coming out of hiding. "GUYS! GAME’S OVER, WE NEED TO GO HOME! "

Maxwell waited and sure enough, soon all the kids gathered around him. Some complained, others teased one another, but counting them all, no one was missing.

"Are you all there? Shall we head home now? " Maxwell asked once they calmed down a little. He honestly didn’t feel good about this, kids had never been his strong point. Maybe because as a child he only had Malva as a friend. He couldn't tell, but as they all took the path back to Sapling Village, he couldn’t help but think he’d have time to stop there today. How was father doing?

Soon enough the children were all delivered to the gates of Sapling village, and Maxwell headed back to find Malva and April waiting for him. She was telling the little girl a story it seemed, from the way she was sitting with April in her hands. The sight was heartwarming for sure, he almost didn't want to interrupt her. Malva had such a way with kids...Still, there was no sense in delaying the trip home any longer. He fluttered over to them, and now that he was closer he could make out the neck accessory that April was wearing, making him stop and stare.

“Oh hey big bwo~ did evweone get home safwe?” She asked? “Lookit what miss Udon gavwe me for dowing such a good job!” The frilly neckpiece was navy blue and matched her feet, and also offset her eyes, a good choice, though he wasn't sure who he had to thank, Malva or Udon for the choice.

“You look very pretty, April, yes, everyone but us has made it home safely, so shall we join them? If we hurry we should be able to get home by nightfall.” he answered with an unseen smile.