New World: Chapter XX: Dust Gets a Letter

Dust returned to Blackmoor Manor where he spent the next few days milling around with no idea what to do. He tried horseback riding, but climbing on the backs of animals bigger and stronger and meaner than him with manes of fire and trying to tell them what to do turned out to be a skill he wasn't cut out for.

He ate his meals alone, though sometimes Amelia would come to keep him company. She spent her time tending to Poochyena and Beedrill. Dust helped with Poochyena, as he had experience helping wounded Tauroses, but Beedrill's anatomy was beyond him. At least the bug seemed less intent to kill him lately.

Totodile recovered quickly, as all he had taken was a blow to the head. Dust attempted to train him better. They went out into the prairie and hunted Digletts together. Totodile softened the ground around the holes and dug after them, trapping the moles in his jaws and pulling them out. Totodile ate well, and Dust decided to stick to human food.

One day, Dust was playing in the billiards room when a servant came in with a piece of paper. "Message for you, sir."

Dust took the paper from him. "Who could be sending me a letter?"

"It doesn't say. But it is addressed to you."

After the man had left, Dust tore open the envelope.

Dust,

When we battled, I told you that you were something special. I have an opportunity for you to prove it. If you have time, meet me at the Riverside Inn in town at eleven o'clock tonight. There is someone I want you to meet.

Maximillion Maximillion.

Dust went down to the barn area where Amelia was milking a baby Nidoran. "How are they doing?"

She put the Nidoran down and wiped her hands on her rough trousers. "The Nidorans? They're doing fine. I think in a few months some of them will make good race animals."

"I meant Poochyena and Beedrill."

"Oh them." She said. "They're fine. Poochyena is still a little tender so you should take it easy with her, but Beedrill is in ship shape. Insects have excellent regenerative properties."

"Great. I'm taking them to Ludlow tonight. I might have a job there."

She smiled. "What kind of job?"

"I don't know yet." He showed her the letter.

"Hmm." She said, "He wants to meet you at night at one of the least reputable establishments in an area of town that's already disreputable? Sounds shady. Be sure to bring the carriage back when you're done."

It was at ten forty-five that Dust arrived at the Riverside Inn, following the directions of a man with two eye patches dragging a sack that Dust whose contents Dust didn't care to speculate on. Maximillion was waiting outside.

"You're early." He said. "The letter said to be here at eleven."

"Is that a bad thing?" Dust said.

"Of course not." He put his arm around Dust's shoulder. "I'm glad you showed up. Dust, you are going to help me catch a criminal."

"I didn't realize that chasing criminals was your job."

"Keeping our city safe from scum is the duty of every citizen, Dust. And this person managed to fool me specifically, so that makes it personal."

He lead Dust to a small shack behind the inn.

"So who is this guy we're going to catch?" Dust asked as Maximillion opened the door.

There was a small table inside the shack. Ashton stood up from behind it.

"It's you, chummy."