Chapter 10: Stolen
Far to the north was Amp Plains. There was cracked, dry ground, and little grass grew. Thunderclouds rolled overhead, darkening the sky.
Andy was an Electric‑type, so he felt right at home in this environment in the thick amount of electricity in the air. Steve, on the other hand, was slightly uncomfortable.
Steve quivered. "Oooh, let's just get this over with."
The two explorers went in.
The place was swarming with Electric‑type Pokémon. A sheep called Mareep was common in this area. They had a heavy coat of electric wool on its body. Andy tackled them head on. Moving on, they met more Pokémon, including Shinx, a small Pokémon that looked like a cat. They were black and blue in color and had a slender tail with a yellow tuft of hair at the end.
Further in the plains, they came across Girafarig, which were Psychic‑types. Andy handled most of the enemies in this dungeon, while Steve stayed back, occasionally striking from behind with his Quick Attack. Luxio, Shinx's evolved counterparts, appeared, and also Flaffy, which were evolved forms of Mareep. They were much harder to take down and Steve and Andy had to use a few Oran Berries to heal themselves.
Not only the wild Pokémon were annoyances to the team, but also traps. One trap spun Steve around, making him disoriented. After stumbling around a bit, he saw that Andy was gone. The Pikachu had apparently stepped on a warp trap, warping him to another location in the dungeon. Eventually meeting up with each other, they continued on.
Several hours had passed in Amp Plains, and they finally reached a clearing. Having a place to rest, Steve and Andy sat down to have an apple each. Clouds were unleashing lightning followed by thunder up ahead.
"We've searched most of the plains, so…" Andy looked up at the clouds.
"We keep moving." Steve stood up. "Let's go."
They headed into the Deep Plains.
"Why aren't my electrical attacks doing anything?" Andy asked, exasperated.
"I think those Electrike are drawing your electricity to them," Steve said, smacking one down. The Electrike were green in color, stood on all fours, and had an elongated head. Andy had to resort to physical attacks to get by.
"These Electrike are so annoying!" Andy complained.
"That's why I'm here." Steve knocked out another one.
"Thanks."
Half an hour passed, and they arrived at another clearing. Lightning struck the ground near them and the booming thunder pounded their ears.
"Whoa!" Andy cried. "That lightning is hitting this place hard!"
"Oh, so you've noticed," Steve said sarcastically and looked around. "Let's just find that Water Float and get the heck out of here."
"There!" Andy pointed to something shining on the ground up ahead. "What's that?"
Steve squinted, trying to make out the object. "I don't know. Could that be the Water Float?" Aside from the unknown object, the only other thing of interest in the clearing was a small boulder.
"Halt! Who goes there?" someone suddenly yelled.
Steve quickly glanced around, then pulled Andy behind the boulder, taking cover behind it.
"You can't hide!" the voice shouted. "I can see you wherever you may hide… then I'll strike!"
Steve jumped out of cover, Andy following a moment later.
"Where are you?" the Riolu shouted out to the clearing. "Show yourself!"
There was a flash of lightning, and everything went black. Then six Electrike surrounded the team in a circle.
Another Pokémon called Manectric, the evolved form of Electrike, stood outside the circle. It was primarily blue in color. Yellow fur formed some sort of helmet on its head. "I am Manectric! These are our lands! Now you must fight!"
Steve and Andy didn't even have time to speak as the Electrike closed in all at once. Steve spun with his foot outstretched in a roundhouse kick, knocking all of them back. Andy followed up with Quick Attack to one of them.
Manectric attempted to attack, but Steve threw a Totter Seed at him. Manetric stumbled away, dazed.
Steve smirked. "That's one of my favorite things to do. Throw a Totter Seed at a boss, then take out his minions. Hehe…"
"I like your thinking!" Andy tackled another Electrike.
By then most of the Electrike were down. Manectric snapped out of his confusion. "This is not over!" He lashed out at Andy, knocking him back.
"Hey!" Steve leapt and Force Palmed Manectric.
The Electric-type staggered back, furious. "You dare attack me?! Attack my tribe?!" Manectric began to channel electricity, readying a powerful attack.
"Please! We didn't want to fight!" Andy pleaded, jumping forward. Their foe didn't seem to listen. The six Electrike were now waking up.
"Enough! Take this!" Manectric charged an attack in his mouth.
"STOP!"
A loud, booming voice roared. The the sound of electricity ceased.
Dusknoir hovered in front of Team Galaxy with his arms spread wide, shielding the Riolu and Pikachu.
"Stop this instant!" Dusknoir shouted. Manectric and the six Electrike stepped back.
"Who are you?" Manectric said with a growl, still in a fighting stance.
"I am Dusknoir, an explorer." He lowered his hands, but remained ready to defend the explorers. "On behalf of these two, I offer the sincerest apologies. We are merely here on an errand and will leave as soon as we have found what we're looking for. Please believe me, Manectric!"
Manectric glared at Dusknoir, considering his words. He finally straightened up slightly. "Very well. I shall give you a few minutes. I expect you all to be gone by the time we return." He commanded his tribe to follow him and left.
Andy sighed in relief. "Whew, that was close."
"Thanks, Dusknoir, sir," Steve said. "Who were they?"
Dusknoir turned to them, his arms relaxed at his sides. "That was Manectric and the Electrike tribe. "They are a nomadic group that are always traveling in search of lands to sustain them. Amp Plains is lashed by severe thunderstorms this time of the year."
He gestured up at the clouds overhead to support his point.
"They tend to dwell here at this time. However, I understand they were attacked here without warning once and suffered severe injuries. So they made a rule to attack first to avoid being taken by surprise.
"Marill and Azurill told me what you were doing. I fear what might have happened had I arrived a moment later…"
"Naw, you saved us, Dusknoir." Steve waved a paw dismissively. "Thanks a lot!"
"Yes…" Dusknoir nodded. "Now then, let's find that Water Float and leave, shall we?"
"I think that shining thing on the ground is it." Andy pointed at the item they had seen before Manectric attacked.
They went over to it. Andy glanced at Dusknoir for confirmation about the item on the ground.
"That is most certainly a Water Float," Dusknoir confirmed.
"Why's it out here, anyways?" Steve asked, scratching his head.
"I imagine it was placed here deliberately… the culprits knew about Manectric and his tribe's actions and put it here, hoping to trigger a fight between the two of you." Dusknoir glared off to one side. "Isn't that correct, you cowardly scum?"
Andy let out a soft gasp as Team Skull came out from hiding. Steve growled, his paws balling into fists.
Skuntank laughed. "Guess you got us. Yeah, we put that there," he said without any hint of guilt.
"We were hoping Manectric and his gang would beat you up," Koffing said.
"Then we'd clean up afterwards," Zubat added.
Dusknoir hovered forward. "Shall we settle this here?" he said in a, menacing tone.
"Oh, yeah, if it was just Team Galaxy, we'd whump them good." Skuntank shook his head and turned away. "But against the famous Dusknoir? No way. Let's skidaddle, boys!"
Team Skull ran.
"That's right, run away, you idiots!" Steve shook a fist at their retreating figures.
"What a bunch of cowards!" Andy stomped a foot.
Dusknoir spoke up, "Our efforts here would be wasted if we chased after them, so let's collect the Water Float and leave."
"Okay." Steve picked up the lost item, and dropped it in their bag.
The three of them returned to Treasure Town. They found the two brothers at the Kecleon Market.
Needless to say, Marill and Azurill were overjoyed to get back their lost item after so long.
"First you rescued Azurill, and now this…" Marill shed tears of joy.
"No problem." Steve glanced at Dusknoir. "If it wasn't for Dusknoir, though, we probably wouldn't have made it."
Both brothers thanked Dusknoir as well.
Green Kecleon spoke up. "I believe Team Galaxy has reason to be just as proud of themselves. They acted so quickly and efficiently to Azurill when he was in trouble." Purple Kecleon nodded in agreement.
"About that..." Andy gestured to Steve. "The reason we acted so fast was because of a vision my partner had."
Dusknoir blinked and stared at them. "Pardon? By vision, what do you mean?"
"Well, whenever I touch something, I get really dizzy, then I get visions," Steve explained.
"Why, that's the Dimensional Scream!" Dusknoir was clearly astonished.
Andy turned to Steve. "Maybe we should ask him about you since he knows so much," Andy whispered to him.
With a confused expression, Dusknoir stared at the Riolu. Considering he had only just found out about Steve's strange ability, it wasn't surprising.
"Dusknoir, sir?" Andy said. "We need to ask you something." He turned and led his companions to the place of Steve's awakening.
The three of them were down at the beach a few minutes later. Dusknoir was investigating the sand.
"So, you found your friend passed out here? Without any memory?"
"Uh huh." Andy nodded. "He had lost his memory except for his name and the fact that he was human."
"P-pardon me? H-human?" Dusknoir stammered. He glanced at Steve, evidently trying to see the Riolu as a human and turned back to Andy.
"But he appears to be an absolutely normal Riolu!"
"I think this is a bit beyond even Dusknoir's understanding…" Steve murmured.
Dusknoir calmed down and raised a hand up to his eye in a thoughtful look.
"You said you remembered your name?" he asked the Riolu.
"Yeah."
"And that is?"
"Steve," he answered, not really knowing how his name would help.
Dusknoir blinked once with a perfectly neutral expression and looked away with crossed arms, thinking.
"So… does that name mean anything to you?" Andy asked.
Dusknoir remained silent for a moment before responding. "No. It means nothing to me, unfortunately."
Steve swore he could see the tiniest trace of a smile on Dusknoir's face, but it faded quickly.
"Oh." Andy drooped with disappointment.
"However, I do know about his ability," Dusknoir said. "It is known as the Dimensional Scream. It's a very rare, perhaps even unique ability that I've only heard of up until now. I'm afraid that's all I know."
Steve and Andy nodded, understanding, although disappointed the information wasn't all that useful.
Dusknoir cordially bowed to the duo. "Of course, if you need any help, you have my full support! I'm most interested in studying this ability of yours. To be honest, I can't stand knowing that there's something I don't know. That is the truth!" He then laughed in the hearty, jolly manner he always did.
Several shadows passed over them, and they looked up. In the sky were several Pelipper circling about. The sea birds were the local postal delivery Pokémon.
"Why are there so many of them up there?" Andy asked.
Bidoof came running up, huffing and out of breath. "There ya'll are… been lookin' all over for ya!"
"What's going on, Bidoof?" Steve asked.
"We got a problem! There's an emergency afoot and we're all needed back at the guild! I'm just here to get ya!"
The four of them rushed back to the guild.
Everyone in the guild was crowded around the outlaw board when Bidoof, Dusknoir, and Team Galaxy got back.
"What happened?" Andy spoke up over the noise of the guild.
Steve passed through the crowd and saw Chatot with a pained expression. Wigglytuff also looked miserable.
"Another Time Gear's been stolen!" Chimecho yelled.
Andy's ears drooped when he heard that. "Which one?"
"It… it..." Chatot attempted to speak but shook his head, unable to force the words out.
"It was the one at Fogbound Lake!" Chimecho announced.
"What?!" Andy frantically glanced around at the others. "How?!"
"Wait a moment," Dusknoir said, confused. "I thought the guild's expedition to Fogbound Lake ended up fruitless. I did not know there was a Time Gear there…"
"We had to promise Uxie not to tell anyone," Wigglytuff admitted, sniffling.
"We promised!" Sunflora covered her face in shame. "But now, I don't feel like we could face him after this…"
Chatot looked up from his aggrieved state. "Officer Magnezone has already taken Uxie into protective custody and has received a description of the thief."
"What kinda thief are we dealing with here?" Bidoof asked.
"See for yourselves on the outlaw board." Chatot gestured at the board.
Steve and Andy stepped up to the outlaw board and studied the profile at the center. It depicted a Grovyle's face.
So that's the thief… Why does he look familiar?
"We didn't tell, but this thief still found the lake and stole the Time Gear… we all failed Uxie…" Andy hung his head.
Then the ground shook and everyone looked at the Guildmaster. Wigglytuff seemed to explode as the shaking stopped.
"YOOM‑TAH!" He jumped into the air. Chatot and Loudred, who were closest, jumped back in surprise.
Wigglytuff glared at his guild members.
"Alright!" he shouted, his arms up, his expression of fierce anger. "We're going after that Grovyle! We won't let him steal another Time Gear!"
"YEAH!" the entire guild cried.
"I believe I understand the situation," Dusknoir said. "I shall assist with the capture of this Grovyle."
The apprentices murmured among themselves, encouraged by having a strong explorer present to help.
"Everyone shall go to town to prepare," Chatot said. "The Guildmaster, Dusknoir, and myself will plan out our search methods. When everyone has returned, we will explain our plan of attack. Dismissed!"
Steve and Andy checked their items in their storage and their bag, also purchasing more items at the Kecleon Market. Lastly, they dropped some of their money at Duskull Bank.
Finished preparing, they returned to the guild.
"First of all, we know that wherever there is a Time Gear, Grovyle is going to be there at some point," Chatot explained. "Therefore, our plan is to find the remaining Time Gears and proceed to protect them."
He glanced at Wigglytuff and Dusknoir. "The three of us have picked a few different locations that we think may be hiding one. I will separate each of you into search parties, and you will explore the areas. If you find a Time Gear, protect it at all costs."
Tension filled the room, the apprentices awaiting their organization into groups.
"First, Corphish and Loudred, you will be exploring the Eastern Forest. I trust you can figure out where that is," Chatot told them.
"OKAY!"
"Hey, hey, we'll get there."
"Next is Sunflora, Bidoof, and Dugtrio, you three will be searching Crystal Cave to the northeast, east of Amp Plains."
"All righty!" Bidoof nodded and his two partners nodded in agreement.
"And last, but not least, is Steve and Andy," Chatot finished. "You will be searching the Northern Desert. Open your wonder map."
They opened their map and Chatot pointed to an area to the north that was obscured by clouds. Steve had noticed the unexplored areas of the map were hidden. Fogbound Lake had been hidden but was now perfectly visible on the map since the expedition.
"The dry land begins here, so the desert is beyond this point. Travel carefully and pack accordingly," Chatot warned.
"What about us?" Diglett asked. He, Chimecho, and others weren't mentioned yet.
"The rest of you will be staying here at the guild," Chatot said. "We cannot leave it completely abandoned, now."
"Besides, we've got jobs here at the guild that are equally as important," Chimecho added.
"That's the plan! Guildmaster, if you will, dismiss the guild." Chatot turned to Wigglytuff. The Guildmaster stood there, his eyes wide open and staring ahead.
"Guildmaster?" Chatot looked at his leader closely. The Guildmaster had been dozing off the entire time… with his eyes open. Chatot squawked and flapped his wings, trying to get his attention.
Wigglytuff blinked and realized Chatot was flapping in his face. He exploded vocally again, knocking a surprised Chatot to the floor.
"Right, everyone! We're going to catch Grovyle!" Wigglytuff roared and everyone cheered in response, then marched out, the guild members who weren't chosen staying behind.
Chatot just lay on the floor, his mouth agape in shock.
Steve and Andy were about to leave for the desert when Dusknoir stopped them.
"Be careful in the desert, you two. That desert has frequent sandstorms. Good luck." He then left them to their task.