The Monster of the Well

I just know you'll get to the bottom of the problem this time!

Urgh, I thought we'd put a stop to this...

Huh? Is someone still dropping trash around the well?

I'm afraid so. I don't understand it, you already got rid of those goblins...

Yeah, I did...

Just to make sure, I went down to the bottom of the well and took a look around. There's more trash than ever down there now!

Huh? How does that work? The goblins didn't come back, did they?

I don't know. I could have just missed this trash before. I only cleaned around the well, not inside it. There's one little problem with that theory, though. What I've found doesn't look like the kind of thing goblins would throw away.

What do you mean?

There's paper with something written on it. I can't make out what exactly, but most goblins don't read or write.

Yeah, they're not the most literate creatures. Weird... I'll look into it. I'm sure there's some explanation.

Thank you. If it's a monster causing it, give it an extra whack from me!

Whoa! I never expected to see a wormhole somewhere like this. Does this mean the trash has been traveling through time to end up here? What a waste of a miraculous phenomenon. Let's see where it leads!

Waaaaaargh! Wh-Wh-What the hey?! Someone popped out of my handy hidey hole!

Phew, that was a bumpy ride... Sorry, buddy, did I bump into you?

Hey...is this Elzion?

Whatwhowherewhatwhen?! Who are you?

Never mind who I am. Are you the one who's been throwing trash in this hole?

Is this some kind of experiment? Am I on camera? Yeah, I've been dumping stuff in the hole. My old stuff disappears without a trace, it's perfect.

Yeah, that's because it's getting sent into the past...

Huh?

Oh, nothing! Could you stop, though? You might not know it, but you're causing a lot of trouble for a friend of mine.

Wish I could, but there's no other way to get rid of this stuff...

Can't you just put it in the garbage?

You nitwit, I can't let my family see this stuff! I would die of embarrassment! It'd be a different story if I could fix my disintegrator, but I don't have the parts. How about an assist, man?

A disintegrator? What's that? Like a cheese grater?

What century are you from? It's an advanced eco gadget that takes garbage apart at the molecular level. If it was working, I could dispose of anything with total secrecy.

Oh, confusing future, how I've missed you... If it'll get you to stop littering, I'll find you the parts.

Sweet! You can get everything I need from the Scarlet Eraser Bits out on the airport. Come find me in Theta District when you've got the goods.

The hero delivers! Thanks, man. I can fix my disintegrator with these. It'll take some time, but it'll leave no evidence. That's what counts.

I cannot stress how important it is for me to get rid of this.

If you must know...it's a bunch of poetry I wrote when I was a kid. Really pretentious stuff. Reading it now makes me cringe, but at the time I thought I was real hot stuff.

Urgh, I wish I could disintegrate my memory of how I embarrassed myself! I was such an insufferable twerp... Moving on... Do me a favor and forget this ever happened, all right?

Welcome back, Aldo. How'd it go?

Hmm...how do I put this?

It was just some monster that wandered into the well. I got rid of it, so you don't have to worry.

Really? I didn't see anything come running out of the well this time.

Oh, that's because...uh, I defeated it right then and there. I don't know my own strength sometimes, heh heh.

Strong and kind too, no wonder you're the village's golden boy, Aldo.

What can I say... But we might get others crawling in. You can never tell with monsters. It'd be best to tell everyone to steer clear of the well for a while, just to be safe.

Good thinking. I'll put the word out. Thanks for all your help, Aldo.

Not a problem.

Well, I've got to get home and make a start on dinner for tonight. Bye!

All in a day's work for Aldo, Time-Traveling Garbage Man. What happened to my life? I hope people get the message and stay away. Don't want anyone taking a tumble into the future. It's probably worth keeping an eye on the situation here.