Clover Guild moment

Loneliness doesn’t come from having no people around you, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to you. ~Carl Jung

Written and drawn by Rowlet-anon.

FRISM #001

FRISM #001.


CLOVER GUILD, Capim Town

I tried to sleep on these “beds.” I really did.

But I’m sorry, there’s just no way I can cope with them. These things are a back-breaking DISASTER. What kind of dump is this place? I mean, seriously, raw cotton on top of some wood? THAT’S what they call a bed? What idiot came up with that idea?

I wanted to try and fix my sleep schedule, but no—the BEDS here just so happen to be utter Tauros-crap. Yesterday was the worst night of my life. Couldn’t get any sleep!

Ok. I think this is good… good enough, at least. No, one more thing… this is too… square-like still.
Let’s fix that.

Your killing has been observed by forces unknown.

The heck was that? Sounded like someone got their heart ripped in half, or something.

…Not my problem.

Gotta fiddle with this thing a bit more—maybe get rid of this corner… might as well get rid of this whole thing as well. Eh, just tear this whole side off—rearrange it a tad anddd… there! This’ll be perfect!

It’s no hay stack, but a nest’ll do.

Owls will make their nests out of just about anything.

…Aaand a few stones oughta mat the straw down. I can get some more tomorrow—but so far? Not bad, Cider, not bad at all. If Fighting-types didn’t have a total monopoly over the construction business, I’d probably try and be a carpenter!

…Wait. There’s someone stomping around. I think I hear sobbing.

… Yeah, and that? Not. My. Problem. Period.

Ahhh… now this is more like it. I might be able to actually get some sleep now.

Can’t imagine how anyone else sleeps in this Guild, if all the beds are like, well, whatever the hell I was expected to “sleep” in. Poor suckers. Guess that’s what happens when you reject tradition. Would’ve never happened at Wigglytuff’s.

Now to get some shut-eye. Think my sleep schedule is just about changed, but…

and they were roommates

Oh, right. I forgot. Team Moonshine is nocturnal.
And I dorm next to them.

… This was gonna be a looooong night.


rise n shine

Ugh… how long did I sleep? My head… I must’ve passed out or something…

Hhh. My EYES! Why did nobody tell me about the FLAMING BALL IN THE SKY?! My eyes are on fire!

Is this how it is EVERY morning?! This diurnal thing is gonna be a hard sell!

No… No, I’m stupid. I built my nest right in front of the window, because I couldn’t see without the moonlight. I have to move my bed aside later.
Talk about a wake up call… I hope this Guild has something good to eat.

I could use some breakfast. Beast cooks here so I’m expecting some real fine dining and…

…What’s this? Someone slipped a letter under my door?

Well, fan mail is always appreciated, but I hardly did anything so far…

It's official, now!

…T-That’s right! I signed up to be an Explorer—my badge’s here and I was supposed to go get it this morning! But that means...

AGH, I OVERSLEPT! GOTTA GO!

TAKE DOWN

No time to check if that kid’s okay, I gotta hurry!

Luckily, the Guildmaster’s chambers are just a short flight from here-and most of the other guildies can’t fly. It’s smooth sailing from here on out, heh.

…Feels like I forgot something, though.

...Ah, it's probably nothing.

Oh, but It was something.


ENTER.

Egh, where’d these splinters come from?! Gotta preen these twigs off my feathers! How unprofessional, gah!

“I-It’s quite alright…”

“…Just refrain from kicking open my door in the future?”

“W-Whoops! Sorry Guildmaster!”

No, wait, I said sorry already. I can’t repeat words in front of the guildmaster!

“I mean-APOLOGIES Guildmaster!”

Good save.

“Erm. Again, it’s fine… Cider.”

“Now, as for your badge… I believe you’ll find it to your liking.”

Haaa, to my liking is an understatement! I could recognize that design a mile away! The glorious golden wings! You know, the Federation has it that the first Exploration badge was actually a Rescuer badge that had been flattened on accident, but some historians claim that it was ACTUALLY based on Arc-

“HUSH!”

“HOO?”

“Your thoughts are ridiculously loud! It’s quite distracting!”

“Ack! I forgot you were a Psychic-type!”

KNEEL

“It’s just that I could barely hear my own thoughts! Try to reign all that thinking in, okay? Something like that wouldn’t do you much good out in the field! …You understand why, right?”

Psychic-types would lock onto me in a second.

“Yeah, I know why, Guildmaster.”

“Good! So, on that note… here it is; the Exploration Team Starter Kit!”

Nerd is given nerd things.

Hope you're listening to 011 - Wigglytuff's Guild Remix while reading all of this.

And by scheduling he probably means the assigned Clovermon decided he didn't "feel" like it.

Don't just agree to things without the full story!

“Good, then, I like the enthusiasm!”

“What’s the mission about?”

“It’s really something else, you see the locals at Grainfield claim that they’ve been seeing strange creatures in the night.”

“Strange creatures? Not Pokémon?”

“That’s just it; they don’t know. The sheriff thinks it’s just some superstition, but the locals passed a mission directly to us, asking for someone to investigate…”

Beware of the man who talks in hands

"Probably."

This is to get Alakazam off their ass.

arrogant kung fu guy

“I’m sure you don’t, but simply consider this a gift—not a question of your skill.”

“I’ll try.”

“Well then—unless you have any questions, I suggest you start preparing! Run along now, I’ve some paperwork to do.”

“Right, Guildmaster! I won’t let you down!”

… Alright, note to self, avoid thinking too much around the Guildmaster. Arceus, I can’t believe I just said that. Er—thought it.

Oh, see? This is impossible! How am I supposed to not think?

“I CAN STILL HEAR YOU!!”

…I need to get going!


Aside from my eyes almost being burnt out, this whole “diurnal” thing isn’t too bad. I’m still a little tired, though… but flying keeps me awake. That and my crest leaves are working overtime right now. Plenty of energy here-gotta love Synthesis.

I gotta say, it’s nice to be in Capim Town during the day. I don’t see a lot of color at night, so this is pretty fresh.

Just hope today’s disaster didn’t screw me out of my items. It’s past noon and I’m sure most of the explorers already slurped up all the stock. It’s why we Explorers have to get up early…

I’m still not the biggest Kecleon fan, but for the first day, they’re all I got. Should be fine. I’ll look for my own little shop later.

“Ah! Welcome to Kecleon store number twenty-four seven thirty! What brings you here today, valued customer?”

“I need to stock up before I go on my first mission. I’m…”

Not telling him about my guild. Might get laughed out of town.

“I’m an Explorer.”

“An Explorer! On your first mission, no less…”

I can tell he’s suspecting something, but he’s not pushing further. He must see the bag behind me.

“Well, we have a lot of goods for Explorers, like always! Can I interest you in the-?”

“AHA-HEM. I’m doing the shopping here! And I’m on a tight schedule, so let’s just skip the PR!”

Couldn’t imagine actually listening to these…

(((Salesmen.)))

Ramble on and on. Let me get this grocery list out of the way so I can go.

“Everything on here, please.”

Now he’s reading. I can see his eyes widening. Must be so surprised. Yeah, buddy, that’s right. I’m not new to this game. Don’t mess with m-

“This is quite the list… you said you were on your first mission?”

What, is he impressed or something?

"Sure am."

"Well, well... you must've done your research. This list is quite... robust, I must say."

Heh. Yeah, I know, I'm a stable genius. A little bit of a prodigy. Not to brag, of cours

“I mean, half of these items aren’t even available to just anyone! You’d have to be on the reserved listing!”

Say what?

“What’s the-what's the ‘reserved listing?’”

“Ah, some recent Federation “regulation” or what not. You have to order some of these items through a form that you mail in… quite the lengthy process…”

“Errr-I’ve never heard of that before.”

“Oh, unfortunate. You must not have gotten the memo, then, sir.”

I don't like his tone. This guy’s making fun of me, isn’t he? Something’s definitely fishy about this-I mean, I would’ve 100% heard of a new regulation if this was an actual thing. I keep up with the Federation pretty well! Far better than most mons!

"Don't be ridiculous! There's no 'new Federation regulation!' I would've known about it already!” %%

“Hmm… are you sure? Perhaps you’re not quite on top of things. It's completely understandable...”

This jerk! I AM on top of things!

“LISTEN, you-!”

…Wait, Cider. Mons are staring. As much as I want to claw this loser out, I don’t think that’ll go over very well.

Bah, and then they ask why mons hate Kecleons.

Pluck my life.

“Just… give me what I can have.”

That snake Kecleon had a massive smirk on. More smug than a Seviper with a pile of gold, I swear.

I watch helplessly as he starts crossing out the majority of my list with his claw, then hands it back to me. With what I was left with, I might as well just go into the nearest dungeon and let the wilds eat me.

“Only three apples, one Sleep Seed, and a Rollcall Orb?! You’re gonna get me killed!”

“Well, I’m very sorry, but we happen to live in a society these days, my boy! A society with rules and these pesky things called laws…”

Oh, give me a break!

“I can’t just sell anything to anyone! Believe me, I miss when I could!”

When have “laws” ever actually stopped a Kecleon? Oh, if I knew I wouldn't be vanished in the night, I'd take this guy out right now! You know what--I should take my business elsewhere!

...Eghh, but this mission sounds like it could get dicey.

...I'm not stupid. Rule #57 of Wigglytuff's Guild - never let your Treasure Bag be empty! I might as well take the Sleep Seed-that'll come in handy, at least.

"How many Sleep Seeds do you have?"

"Just the one, I'm afraid. My stock was cleaned out this morning by other explorers."

"I suppose you're heading out late? Around HERE, Explorers usually arrive with the morning rush..."

For the love of ARCEUS the pettiness is INSANE!

"Alright, alright, I get it! Just take the money!"

Crook.

No good rotten thieving chortling jerk. I better make sure this is an actual Sleep Seed and not a Plain Seed he tried to pawn off.

“…It’s a Sleep Seed, sir. You can trust it.”

That just makes me trust it less. This might be poisonous. Could be an itemized Blast Seed. Better be careful with it.

“…Right. Thanks. I'm leaving now.”

Utter Ponyta radish. Just ridiculous! Can you believe those “salesmons?” More slippery than a Seviper!

"...y!"

You know, maybe I should turn around and shove this Sleep Seed right down his stuck up, putrid, ugly looking gullet!

"...ey!"

I bet I could probably pay off one of my stupid guildmates to do it for me. Half of them look like outlaws already, I'm sure a hit won't matter much to th-

"HEY!"

“...Wuzzat?”

Who's bothering m-oh. There’s a Wooper calling to me? And they have a scarf on--is that one of my Guildmates?

Oh geez, not just that, it’s that kid I barged into this morning! Is he mad? He's mad isn't he. He…

No, he looks completely fine. I better circle back-gotta check on him before he reports me, or something. Not that I care about hitting him or anything. Or... whatever. He's tough looking, he can take it. Probably.

“Oh, hey, you’re the Wooper from this morning! Listen, I’m real sorry about that, I was in a rush!”

“Don’t worry about it! I get tackled all the time! It‘s honestly pretty fun after you hit your head a few times!”

“I--uh. That's uh... is that so?”

Mm. He said that a little bit too cheerfully. Poor guy has brain damage-figures. Welp. Now this convo is awkward. Time to bail.

“Well anyway, I need to continue my run, so-“

“Wait, wait! Aren’t you new to the Guild?”

Uggghhhhhcmdhqhfrrph. Be nice, Cider… Introductions, then. Least I can do.

“Uh-huh. Name’s Cider, from Treasure Town. I joined a few days ago-“

“Ha, I knew it! I heard they moved someone in next to Team Moonshine!”

“…Yeahhh, them. Real nice mons.”

Biggest lie I've ever told. Those guys suck. Picked up enough inter-team drama just from living next to them that I could write a book on it. I probably should... once I'm famous--'my time in Clover Guild, a horror story.'

Ehhh... I'll workshop the name later.

"Hey, hey. You're zoning out. Are you okay??"

"Uh, huh? Oh, sorry. What were you saying?"

"I was asking if you were enjoying the Guild! Someone gave you a tour already, right?”

“Y-“

“Ooh, ooh! Have you done any missions yet?”

“N-“

“Got any stories yet? Did you meet our guildmates yet? You meet anyone famous? Did you go to the messhallyet? Haveyoumetmypartner? DoYOUhaveateam?”

Wh-This kid’s having a sugar rush! Yappity yappity yap! Can’t get a word in! Let's wrap it up, geez!

“Hey, hey, hey! We’re not playing twenty questions! You’re already wasting my time, so you’re gonna slow it down and listen up, okay??”

They really need some sort of age limit on this exploration thing. Or a IQ test. Score 3 stars or more to get a badge--something like that might work. Maybe 3 and a half, just to really weed 'em all out.

“mnf!!”

“I’m going to SLOWLY lift my wing, and you’re gonna pick ONE question to ask. GOT it?”

“mmhmm!”

...Deep breath. The next sentence that comes out of this loudmouth's hole better be nothing short of a direct message from Arceus the almighty, or I might lose it.

“-Alright. So what’s your-“

“DO YOU HAVE A PARTNER?!”

“…A… partner?”

That’s not what I was expecting. Although-perhaps I should’ve. It’s a valid question, sure, and one that I don’t really… have an answer for. Cripes. Kid’s
gonna think I’m a loser.

…Bah. Nothing to be ashamed of.

“I, uh, don’t have one. …Don’t NEED one, I mean.”

“Don’t need one?”

“‘Course not. Not to brag or anything, but I’ve been studying exploration stuff since I was—oof—your age, probably.”

Heh. This kid’s clearly impressed—look at him, speechless and wide eyed! Lemme just bring it home so I can get going…

“Yeeep, no partner or team here! This bird flies solo-“

“Oh, so you must not have any friends, then!”

“—WHAT?!”

Nononono he did NOT just say that! He did NOT JUST-

“N-No! That’s not it at all! I have plenty of friends!”

“But none of them wanted to be an explorer with you?”

“It’s tough work! Not for the faint of heart!”

“Oh. Soooo... you don’t have any friends willing to die brutally in a dungeon with you. That’s okay!”

"THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL!"

Bah, apple cripes! He's got me flustered, and now he’s totally judging me! Look at that stupid, self-confident stare! I can’t believe this whelp! Did a Weavile raise this kid?!

It is NOT my fault if my IQ is 4 stars above the average mon on the Grass Continent. We intellectuals are usually shunned by society as it stands, unable to lower ourselves to the social STUPDIITY of our peers, and it is in THAT regard that we are unable to make close friendships!

See, I had to tell Spinda the same thing when she asked why I “had no friends,” and I know MOTHER DEAREST didn’t understan-

“Hey, you’re zoning out again. You okay?”

“O-Oh, uh!”

Geez, how long was I standing here?

“I’m fine, yeah! Uh, anyway—what were we talking about?

“…I was just saying tha-“

“WAIT, WAIT—“

NOW I remember what I was mad about! This little brat is JUDGING me! Time to set the record straight!

“I DON’T need a partner, for YOUR information! It’s not that I don’t have any friends, I just don’t WANT to be on a team with anyone!”

“But partners can help each other out! I help my partner become the best Chespin he can be, and he does the same for me!”

Awww. Cute! Cute.

NAIVE, but cute.

Look, I get this is probably like a ten year old, but nobody asked for this kid to start lecturing anybody, I mean who does he think he is? He should worry
about himself! I can take care of-

“You’re doing that zoning out thing AGAIN.”

“—Egh, I’m thinking, alright?!”

“Yeah, I heard you think pretty loudly, too!”

Huh? Wha-oh. OH. This brat!

“Hey, heyyy-were you—?”

“Maybeee.”

“Eavesdropping! I oughta-!”

“I wasn’t doing it on purpose! I was just walking by and I heard Lliam say it!”

I MUST look stupid.

“Oh, likely story!”

“Hey, look, I’m not trying to upset you! I just think that maybe…”

Don’t say it.

“…That’s a reason to give a partner a chance, y’know? You probably have a lot of great ideas to share!”

UGH.

“…So you should find someone to share ‘em with!”

No. Stupid. Ridiculous. Unbelievable. Dumb kid. How old is he? Why am I putting up with this?

“Whatever. I’ve got things to do, okay?”

“If you say so! But promise me you’ll think about it, okay? I’ll even help you find one—when you’re ready!”

“Tch.”

I’m oughta here. I already humored that little menace long enough!

It’s such a stupid statement! Some of the best Explorers don’t have partners! When you’re as good as them, partners are just… deadweight! There’s no one out there with my passion or my skill!

Even if I wish there was.

I’ll show him. I’ll show this whole Guild. I’m better than them. All of them. I’m gonna ace this first mission and then they’ll all see.
They'll see that some… lightweight holding me back is the absolute, DEAD last thing I need! Yeah!

I’ll be Gold Rank before the month’s out!


Think all of the guild members are still out on their missions — it hasn’t been that long, in fact. I should probably drop my stuff off in my room, then head over to the mess hall and see if I can’t find Beast and…

What’s that? There’s something on my door—is that the Guildmaster’s mission

You sleep rather soundly for a murderer.

That is NOT a mission request, this looks like a threat or something! In fact… this language’s… well, it’s not the proper style, but it’s definitely the Unown language. Which is… weird.

I mean, what is this, the Stone Age? What kind of nerd writes in Unown? Between Team Moonshine and that Wooper, I think it’s safe to say that my guildmates are all morons—that or they missed their callings. They should be doing dramas over in Lively Town, not joining Dungeoneer Guilds.

Which is good, because I wouldn’t trust any of them to scratch my back, much less help me out on missions. I’m flying solo.

…Just like always…


Edit

Pub: 15 Mar 2025 22:36 UTC

Edit: 17 Sep 2025 17:12 UTC

Views: 26