“A Case of Winging it” was written as a contest entry for PokéCommunity's Small Writing Contest 2019, following the prompt “mystery” (part of the larger scope Detective Pikachu theming of the event).

The story as published earned the second place in the contest. Due to the contest constraints, some amount of content had to be cut from the official release. A Director's Cut is scheduled for late Aug 2019.

In an unnamed city, Kalas the Fearow tries to make ends meet. An old, formerly trained Pokémon who works as a private detective, he has been spending the last few weeks before the winter tracking some of his various associates who have dispersed after the Lansat Syrup Dealers case. He's begrudgingly joined in his adventures by a street urchin Spearow.

As rumours in the city grow about some villain Pokémon planning to steal an offering to the local Legendary, Kalas spends some time in stakeout. His tracking of the activities of the local Honchkrow mob leads Kalas to an encounter with a former acquaintance of his and into a collision course with the activities of a mysterious Houndoom pack in the city.

Guest Starring Morach the Zangoose by fellow author Virgil134.

PokéCommunity's SWC 2019.

• Small Writing Contest 2019
• Director's Cut announcement.

Morach and Kalas were created by their respective authors for a different story that is, as of this last update, not published. This entry marks their debut in Suocéverse material.

Kalas and the Honchkrow singer are totally not based on my other characters Copahue the Fearow and Harriet the Honchkrow (the latter donated by fellow writer Luke). I swear. They are like, nothing alike. /s

Debuts:

• Kalas (MC)
• Tiana (MC, unnamed)
• Pointy (unnamed in the original)
• Morach

References:

Nothing in the story designates a definitive location or timeframe for the story to take place; this was partly due to avoiding worldbuilding constraints. At best it can be said that the story takes place in a city that worships a local Legendary and some months after the Lansat Syrup Dealers case is solved.

Much of the story (in particular for the planned Director's Cut) were inspired by the Dick Tracy movie, up to and including the protagonist happening to get an unintentional kid sidekick that remains in-universe unnamed until the end of the story, and Kalas' interrogation of an acquaintance happening to lead him into the right direction of the case.

Kalas' “How do you do, fellow Honchkrows?” line is a reference to the infamous meme.