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Well, times are full of chaos and frustration now...it took me a long while just to log on since google was down and Furaffinity relies on it's picture poking matchup game to pop up and test you before you can get in...otherwise you're stuck with a button that doesn't even work...so yeah, that was frustrating.
Anyway...if there are still any fans of these series, here's a small chapter for ya to help get through all the bull now and in the near future...

Chapter 5 Threshold of Plastic and Poof

"M-mom?"

This was certainly a surprise. When I came home, mom and Dev weren't there, which, at the time, was understandable. Dev went with Mom to work mostly, and could come home on her own if she wanted. I was exhausted from the events at the Center and was uncertain how to deal with, well, much of anything at the time. So, I thought I was in the clear. All I did manage was to toss the Salandit's wet diaper from my pack into the padding container along with Dev's before collapsing into bed. Don't think that would have mattered...

But now, when I woke up the next day and was half-way through breakfast, the home phone had rung. Usually I would just let voice-mail handle it, but when I heard mom's voice, I reached over for the receiver. It was kind of reflexive. Any time mom called, I answered. I think it had something to do with my early years, where I needed a helpful, familiar voice to keep me in check.

Still, I was then worried that maybe she had found out about what I had done at the Center yesterday. But when the conversation went on...well...

"Honey, have you been to my office without me knowing?" Mom asked me over the line.

"N-no," I replied, a little confused at the question. It wasn't in an accusatory way, but it still caught me off guard.

"Oh. Then the lobby or anywhere else in the building?"

"No. I haven't been near it in days Mom," I answered honestly. Being how centralized the place was, I would pass it on occasion, but not recently given my trips to the Center.

"Oh, that's...strange."

"Why mom? Something wrong?" I asked, even more confused now.

"Well dear, the thing is, I was told by my boss to pass something on...to you."

"Me?" I exclaimed, blinking. "W-why?"

"That's the thing, he told me to tell you to come, well, HERE," she said, and I could clearly hear the resemblance of her own confusion to mine. "It's all very peculiar son, but from how it sounded, the request had come from very high up in the company."

"Whoa," I breathed, uncertain how to take this unexpected info.

"Are you sure you have no idea what this is about?"

"N-no, seriously! I don't!" I exclaimed, making sure to sound truthful that I hadn't caused any trouble for her at work. The only trouble I possibly caused lately was with the Salandit. The Center was completely different....right?

"Oh this is just...look, I'm about to have a break in a few minutes, and Devana needs a change too. Could you come and wait for me in the lobby so we can figure this out?"

"Oh...s-sure mom."

"Ok dear, I'll see you in a few minutes ok?"

"Sure mom...sure..."

I hung up the phone, holding my hand there for a moment to process this unexpected (literal) calling.

Mom's work was asking for me? And it came from somewhere up the corporate ladder? What did that mean? Sure, I've been to her work here and there, but I didn't make any sort of impact there that came to mind. Did I do something wrong? Am I being mistaken for someone else? Well, then, why ask my mom specifically to call me?

So many thoughts were rattling in my head, I didn't realize I was wasting time. I had to go NOW....

---

I had no idea what was going on. Really. I never much had a reason to head to where mom works. I mean, sure, I could try and see her, but the place was always busy, and then there were security things, and...well just a whole bunch of loops to go through that would be exhausting for me and unnecessary for my mom. I haven't really been here since, well, ironically, I was in diapers myself. It was a place of business...as far as I knew.

So, being called up to Poke-Poofs HQ was definitely a surprise to me. It wasn't hard to get there, being practically near the center of Berryton, and being a prime destination on the tour bus schedule. Pratically everybody and most of their Pokemon could point you where you needed to go to get there.

Looking up at it from the outside, I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. Why were there SO MANY tall, imposing buildings for the most important places in the world? Was it some adult thing or something, an unspoken competition to pierce the sky with metal and glass? I mean, from the outside, for the most part, Poke-Poof HQ looked like any business structure, blending in as it were. Maybe it was a show of professionalism, even in the face of outsiders or something.

Still, there were a couple things that set it apart. As I had approached, it was clear to see the iconic logo near the mid-way of the tower, a thickly-diapered, smiling Mew. At the time, I wasn't certain why Mew was the sort of mascot to Poke-Poofs, sure I barely remembered the stories about one and the person who made Poke-Poofs, but nothing too concrete. Still, at the time, Mew sure seemed to fit the diaper promotion thing better than a lot of Pokemon did. After all, Mew was suppose to be related to every Pokemon somehow right?

As I came closer to the entrance, I passed a central garden feature, with a fountain display in the middle. Placed in seemingly-natural positions around it and around the fountain were statues of various Pokemon, though the architects had made sure they weren't too obstructive to passersby. Some were on their own, like an Abra sitting against the side of a convenient bench, a Smeargle crouched on a path with it's tail in hand as if had painted said-path, or an upside-down Hitmontop next to a trashcan that had it's legs folded to act as placeholders for depositor-convenience. That last one was probably to place diaperbags on so someone could get their Pokemon changed, and 'used' materials for the can.

Other statues were in sets, rather playful ones at that. A group of Nidorans (male and female) were frozen in running positions along the man walkway, the lead one designed almost with a smirk as it was in the lead (it was a female by the way). There was a tower of Cubchoo acting as a support for the fountain display, the drips of their noses touching the head of the one beneath them, with face details to match the slight cringe heh. The fountain display's center statue, though, was actually a merge of the several forms of Eevee currently on record, with the original Eevee on top of the others. It was actually pretty impressive to see again, the amount of detail from the fluff of Flareon's mane to the silvery-metal bands on the Umbreon's markings. It actually made me wonder if Eevee was a sub-mascot, given all the forms they can take...

Of course, need I forget, all these stoned Pokemon were also diapered up. No, not real ones of course, still stone. Even that was incorporated into some of the statues, like a worried-looking Charmander sitting on the fountain rim, holding the back of his stone diaper protectively. Or, the arm-folded Scraggy at the front of the fountain that looked pretty full of itself, despite it's lower skin pants haven fallen down to reveal a stone Poke-Poof. Or that Slowbro opposite the Cubchoo who's attached Shellder was actually nuzzling against the back of the bro's diaper rather than biting it's tail.

I honestly couldn't remember all these guys. They were nothing compared to real Pokemon, but still, it was so neat I wished I had the time to find all of them (some seemed purposely hidden, as if to encourage kids or even adults to 'find'em all'). But, I had something to do so...

I patted the head of the smoothly carved Charmander, who was probably hoping his diaper wasn't going to get wet from something other than him (though admittedly, some water from the fountain WAS dabbing the rocky padding, making it darker), and headed through the entrance....

---

There was an almost sterile smell, similar to a Pokemon Center, with the barest hint of Poke-Powder, also similar to a Pokemon Center. Groups of people and padded Pokemon dotted around the lobby, though not enough for a decent crowd. I hadn't been paying much attention, as what really got my attention was yet another display that blew me away.

With some kind of black-painted steel scaffolding for support, there were nearly fifty plastic-looking figures of many flying Pokemon curving upward several floors. The mock-show of flying Pokemon taking off and then soaring was pretty cool, with Pidgey, Sparrow, Starly, Taillow, and Skarmory (made of more metal, I guess to act as layer-support), along with evolutions, all padded up in similar material. Around the base, swirling around with appropriate color trails of (currently-off) neon-lights, were the original three legendary birds, Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres. Curiously, I noticed those particular three weren't shown with padded designs, their lower halfs merging into the color trails. I guess it made a kind of sense...I've never seen those three birds in person, and I'm pretty sure if they had been in Poke-Poofs before, it would actually make the news.

"Ah, there you are!"

Wow, that was fast. I looked to the left at a glass-separating wall that looked like it had offices in it. Emerging from the door was my mom and Devana. As they got closer, the Poke-Powder smell grew thicker. Guess mom just changed Dev in some restroom nearby.

"Hey mom..." I said noncommittally with my hands in my pockets. I was unsure how to feel at the moment. I kind of enjoyed looking at the Pokemon-themed artwork, lost in detail appreciation and childish wonder. Now I was back to the moment at hand, a moment, I remembered, I had no certainty of. I mean, I didn't know WHY I was here...

I started for a second, realizing someone else had been walking behind my mom. A younger woman with professional glasses, wearing the same white suit as my mom, but with some kind of pin on the lapel, and carrying a tablet in her left hand. When they all finally stopped close to me, I noticed it was a Starmie pin, shiny with a gemstone in the center. It looked pretty expensive. I also noticed this woman didn't have a Pokemon with her...wonder where it was.

"Um, son, this is umm..." mom started, looking unsuredly, both at me and at the woman to her side. I was quite surprised at this, my mom was rarely at a loss for words when it involved other people.

"I'm Jemma Springs young man," the young woman introduced herself, though she didn't extend her free hand for a shake. I was...fine with that. I always felt weird touching strangers.

"Uhh...hi," I decided to say, still looking confused.

"Yes, this is my son. Now can you please tell us why he's here?" mom asked, Dev coming up beside her legs and looking questioningly at Jemma.

"He was requested to come," Jemma answered simply, looking at something on her tablet. She swiped it a bit with a small black pointer I hadn't seen earlier. "However...a meeting has occurred, so he must wait."

My mouth curved a bit jaggedly on one side, probably would have been similar to the Salandit's funny enough. I get told to come here, came over fast as I could, and I had to WAIT? A bit of me, naturally, was annoyed by this.

"Mr. Wyatt is, of course, a busy man."

"WHAT?"

"Who?"

My mom stared with shock at Jemma, and Dev's catish face twisted into confusion.

"Are you serious?" mom asked in a hushed tone.

"Yes," Jemma simply replied.

"Why? W-why would Mr. Wyatt...?"

"That is for Mr. Wyatt to tell. He simply requested the 'boy who brought the Salandit to the Pokemon Center"...."

Mom and Dev were still in shock, and after a few seconds, I got why. Wyatt K...the Poke-Poofs head honcho? My mouth hung open, unable to comprehend it. Mr. Wyatt wanted to see me? Because...I brought a wild Pokemon to a Center? I mean...ok, good deed and all, but it's not like injured Pokemon hadn't been brought there before, it's the place's job!

Then...did it have to deal with THAT particular Salandit?

When I managed to move from my own thoughts, I noticed mom had calmed down, though not as calm as Jemma seemed to be on a constant basis. Mom turned from her and then came over to me, brushing my hair, taking a moment to twist a purple bang.

Boy, that was a discussion that I knew we'd have soon. I'm surprised it took mom this long to notice the change in my hair color, oh maybe that's why she looked extra spooked, but maybe she thought I dyed it or something as some kind of phase. The look on her face told me she wanted to say something about it, but she sighed and decided to stay on the current topic. Someone from the door they had come from called for her, but she waved them off, shaking her head before concentrating on me.

"Ok, I still have work to do. Manged to eat and change Devana, but then had to try and find out what this was all about and---" mom started, cutting herself off. "Look, Mr. Wyatt is a good man, and whatever reason he's called on you for must be a good thing. About that Pokemon you said you saved right?"

I grimaced, not for the deed itself, but for the stress I had caused her on that day. She was unaware that I had tried to run off, officially, but she had an inkling that it was an explanation to why I was outside the city in the first place. Thankfully, deed trumps reason...for now I think....

"I don't know WHY he wants to see you but...mind your manners, and be respectful. He's not just the most important person in the city but---"

"He's also your boss' boss' boss..." I concluded on my own, nodding with each tier. That earned a slight smile, which carried over to me. That was...a good second or two. Smiles were a rare commodity with me at the time. Then again, I had found myself smiling a lot with...

"You come see me after alright? If there's anything...just call me on one of the phones and it'll direct you to...here you go."

Mom quickly wrote on a notepad from her pocket, which was quite the contrast to Jemma and her tablet. I took the ripped paper with the number of mom's workspace and placed it in my pocket, thankful for the reminder. Probably wouldn't need it unless Mr. Wyatt turned out to be some evil mastermind that was going to feed me to his specially bred fifty-headed Hydreigon.

Hm...no...I don't think there are any supervillains in the diaper business...

After some assurances from me to be on my best behavior, which needed to be made given the whole 'outside city' thing, and assuring herself I would be fine, she stood up and looked over at Jemma, who was flipping away on her tablet.

"...if Mr. Wyatts in a meeting, how about my son takes the tour of the facility?" mom suddenly suggested, getting a raised brow from Jemma, and me.

The company tour? Had I ever seen that...? No, I don't think so. If I did, it would have been too young to remember. I guess...that sounded interesting. I mean what else would I do? Wait in the lobby watching people and Pokemon's lives go by? Leave to do something else only to be rushed back here to wait for another meeting that pops up?

"Hm," Jemma mumbled, looking to me for some kind of commitment.

"I...guess?" was my elegant reply.

Returning to her tablet with an exasperated sigh, she flipped a few things with the stylus before reading...something or other.

"Actually, Mr. Wyatt wanted you to take the tour before meeting him," Jemma eventually said, flipping more unseen pages on her tablet before raising her free hand to her ear. With a brush of her hair, I noticed there was a black earpiece there. This was before I realized...Mr. Wyatt WANTED me to take the company tour? Why?

"Yes, I need someone for a guest tour. Party of one. Yes, I know the tour guides...then make someone available...fine, very well. Send a Rotom then, preferably from the singles stock," Jemma started conversing.

Mom grimaced slightly at the mention of a Rotom, making me curious. Rotom's were in the category of Pokemon that couldn't be padded up, which made sense since they were made of plasma. But, they were also one of the very few Pokemon who could talk, though I think they could only do that in certain machinery. Personally I hadn't directly seen one, as they were usually reserved for big businesses, where they were quite the help...or...trouble depending on who you ask. Personally, I have no metal parts in me, so I think I'm safe...still...

Jemma sighed reluctantly, like she was having a conversation that was going on longer than she had wanted. "Fine, we'll take #16...do remember the restraining bolts for the display screen in case he gets...jumpy."

With a tap to the earpiece, Jemma ended her conversation, looking between us. "I'll escort him to the start of the tour, and toward Mr. Wyatt's office upon it's completion."

"I suppose that's fine," mom said, looking to me, then over at Dev. It seemed like she was contemplating whether to tell the Liepard to watch me. It's not that I dislike Dev, it's more like she has gotten much more...stern after evolving. I'd probably be fine on my own, but it's not like I could say no after my recent issues. Instead, she repeated for me to be on my best behavior, and allowed Jemma to lead me off. I looked back to see her slowly walking back to the offices along with Dev, watching us leave.

I get it. It wasn't just concern. After the tour, I'd soon see Mr. Wyatt. The big boss. If I acted wrong, it might reflect on her. A parent's job is important, I know that. But, I also know how hard she works to support the three of us. Dips of depression or not, that was a crystal clear spike of realization that wouldn't be disturbed.

...it's ok mom. I won't mess up for you...