Chapter 10: Dusknoir
Narrator: The next morning… (Wow, I haven't done that in a while…)
Loudred: UP AND AT 'EM! IT'S MORNING!
Chikorita: It's been a while since I was woken up like that…
The usual routines, except…
Loudred: WHAT? You don't know?
Diglett: I keep telling you! This guy has no footprints! No footprints!
Chatot: None? So why's he coming undone?
Loudred: Even Diglett can usually identify Pokémon with no footprints just by their shadow. If THOSE two were doing Sentry Duty, it'd be no surprise, but—
Amy and Chikorita: HEY!
Diglett (in a conversation): Wait…what? You do? …Dusknoir?
Chatot: D…Dusknoir?
Loudred: THE world-famous Dusknoir?
Amy and Chikorita: (Who the heck is "Dusk-nwar"?)
A few minutes later, this "Dusk-nwar" shows up. Master Wigglytuff is greeting him at the ladder on the basement's lower level, to the left of the entrance of his chamber. Everyone is watching.
Wigglytuff: World-famous Dusknoir, thank you for visiting us most awesomely!
Dusknoir: No, no! Thank you, good fellow!
Chikorita: Loudred? Who's this guy?
Loudred: WHAT? You haven't heard of THE world-famous Dusknoir?
Chikorita: Well…uh…
Sunflora: Actually, that makes sense. He came out of nowhere and became famous almost overnight!
Loudred: I also heard that he doesn't work in a team; he explores all by himself!
Amy: All by himself? Whoa…
Loudred: But most amazing of all? He knows EVERYTHING!
Amy and Chikorita: Everything? (Is that even possible?)
Loudred: Everything in the world.
Chikorita: Does he come here a lot?
Loudred: Nope! This is his first time. That's why Diglett couldn't recognize him.
Dusknoir: …I see. Must've been a real disappointment.
Wigglytuff: Yuppie! A waste of time completely! Sorry.
Dusknoir: Not at all! It's no trouble. I plan to stay in Treasure Town temporarily. May I visit during that time?
Wigglytuff: No problem for me! Other teams visit us all the time, you knowie.
Wigglytuff then addresses the guild members.
Wigglytuff: Everyone, this is Dusknoir, you see? He'll stay in town for a bit, so mind yourself around him, okay? I'm sure we could all use his knowledge and awesome memory.
Chatot: And he may be famous, to attest…But don't bother him with autograph requests!
Dusknoir: No, no! I can sign autographs perpetually and it will only superficially damage my arm! But as for information…I'm afraid it's limited. But if there's anything you wish to inquire of me, feel free to inquire. I'm delighted to be of service!
And on that note…everyone immediately swarms him for autographs. Everyone except Team Pecha, mostly because they don't know what's so special about an incomprehensible signature written in footprint runes.
Nighttime at Wigglytuff Guild. Team Skull (how'd they get here?) walks right up to it.
Skuntank: Blasted…cursed…Wigglytuff! Teh scumbag! I need payback…1 way or another. But…2 b reel…He'd just pwn us every time. GAAAARRRR!
Koffing: C'mon, Mr. Boss-Man. Think…Think…
Zubat: I wish Wii could haxor sum' n00bs or sumthin'…Hey!
Skuntank: Chaw-haw! Gr8 idea!
Koffing: Whoa-ho-ho! Team Pecha r teh n00biest n00bs of all time! Even teh name iz n00bish!
Skuntank: Plotting time, me lackeys! Chaw-haw-haw!
They leave. For dinner, Amy and Chikorita are particularly happy that they don't have to share a space with Team "Meanie-Butts" anymore. The next morning, Chatot sends Amy and Chikorita to the Kecleon Markets to see if they have any Perfect Apples. But when they arrive, they find Dusknoir laughing it up with the brothers.
Dusknoir: Greetings, young lasses! You hail from the guild, correct?
Amy (really honored to meet him): Yep! We're Team Pecha!
Chikorita: Nice to meet you! So what are you doing, Sir Dusknoir? Shopping?
Dusknoir: No, no. Just exercising my vocal chords with these fine brothers!
Kecleon: What can we do for you, Chikorita?
Chikorita: Actually, we came to ask you if you're gonna have any Perfect Apples…
Kecleon: Hmm…Sorry. We don't have any or plan to stock any more of them.
Chikorita: …Oh.
Marill: Azurill, hurry!
Azurill: Wait up, big bwother!
The Marill brothers are back!
Azurill: Oh! Hi Kecweon bwothers!
Marill: Team Pecha, too!
Amy: What's up?
Marill: Remember when we told you we were looking for our lost thingy?
Amy: Yeah?
Marill: It's called a Water Float.
Azurill: Somewun said they fownd a Water Fwoat on the beach today!
Marill: We're going there!
Meanwhile, to the right, there's…oh great…
Zubat: I c, I c… Yo, Koffing. I got a gr8 idea. Let's tell teh Boss-Man!
Koffing: Yeh, let's!
They leave.
Amy: Then what are you waiting for? Go get it!
Marill: Yep! Time to go!
Azurill: Let's go! Let's go!
They leave in the same direction.
Chikorita: I was wondering how they were doing. Good for them!
Kecleon: I've never heard of a Water Float. What does it do?
Dusknoir: It's specifically for Azurill, and can only be obtained by trading treasures again and again.
Kecleon: Say what? But—but—We're supposed to be shop masters, and—if we've never heard of it—
Chikorita: Oh, I just remembered! We're supposed to report back to Chatot right now!
Amy: Sheesh. Took you long enough…
They meet with Chatot in the guild.
Chatot: What? None? *Squawk!*…Now what am I supposed to do? It's not even done!
Chikorita: Uh…we could go to Apple Woods—
Chatot: No! No! You totally failed back then! There's no way I'll ever go through that again—!
The two of them start to argue again, but they then see the sudden saddened look on his face and think better enough to drop the matter.
Chatot (feeling remorseful): —I'm sorry. I know how well you performed on our expedition…*sigh* I guess I'll have to get them myself. What a malediction.
That evening…
Chimecho: Everyone! Time for dinner!
Everyone: YEAH! Ready…
Chatot: Hold it, everyone! I have an announcement!
Everyone: Jeez! What is it now? Let's EAT already!
Chatot: SILENCE, PLEASE! Ahem. To put it bluntly…Another Time Gear has been stolen!
Everyone: WHAT?
Bidoof: Uh…is it maybe…the one in Fogbound Lake?
Chatot: No. It's from somewhere else unheard. But since it was the second, it would be catastrophic if it happened again, and we received word. So remember: On the expedition, you must never tell anyone what we saw! Understood? Don't help them break the law!
Loudred: Yeah! I don't have a big mouth!
Chatot: Okay, okay! Quiet, everyone! Now that's complete. Sorry to keep you waiting. Ready…set…EAT!
SFX: Crunch-munch! Chew-chew! Snuffle-slurp! Crunch-munch! Chew-chew! Snuffle-slurp!
Amy and Chikorita: *Yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum-*
That night, in Amy and Chikorita's room…
Chikorita: I can't believe it! Another Time Gear! Jeez…I wonder what anyone would want them for. *sigh*…I wonder how Uxie is doing…
Amy: Me too…
Far away…Uxie is sprawled out on the ground in pain, at the lake's edge. The Groudon illusion, in its respective room, is also trashed. It looks like Uxie is facing…the Time Gear thief!
Uxie (struggling to speak): …I should have done it. I should have taken their memories when I had the chance.
Grovyle: What are you talking about? No one told me about this place. I've known there was a Time Gear here…
He pulls out the third mysterious drawing. It looks exactly like the lake!
Grovyle: …for a very long time. Please, I don't wish to hurt you. But I need it.
The next morning, after the morning routine, Loudred tells Team Pecha that they have visitors waiting for them at the front gate. When they arrive there…
Azurill: Big pweople! Hi there!
Marill: We need your help.
Amy: Huh? Help?
Marill: We tried looking for our Water Float at the beach, but it wasn't there. Instead, we found this…
He places a piece of paper in front of Team Pecha.
Chikorita: A piece of paper?
Amy: Oh, great. Maybe I could understand this, but…
Chikorita: Let me read it. "2 teh Team Pecha n00bs. Wii have yer Precious Water Float. Wii dare u 2 get it back! Wii w8 4 u in teh Amp Plains. But Wii know how n00bish u r…I bet u can't even reech us! Chaw-haw-haw! Can't handle it? Go 2 yer l33t homies! Chaw-haw-haw!" Hey! This is a ransom!
Amy: Guys, don't go! This is a trap!
Marill: But—but—
Azurill: I wanna go! I wanna go!
Marill (starting to cry): No, Azurill! You stay here. I went to Amp Plains, but there were too many Electric-types there. I try and I try and I try…but no matter what, I can never get past the first floor…
Amy: Don't worry! We'll get it back for you. I promise.
Marill and Azurill: Really?
Chikorita: Yep. You can count on us!
Marill: Thank you so much!
Amy: A promise is a promise. Let's go, Chikorita!
They reach the middle of Amp Plains. Meanwhile, back in Treasure Town, Marill and Azurill are explaining their predicament to the Kecleon brothers when Dusknoir strides by.
Kecleon: …That's terrible! So Team Pecha is going to get it back, huh?
Azurill: Yep!
Dusknoir: Good day to you all. Is something the matter?
The Kecleon brothers explain what's going on.
Dusknoir: I see. That is terrible indeed. It must take some ribald, pathetic thugs to resort to such lowbrow deeds.
Kecleon: I know! It's unforgivable to do that to children as young as these!
Dusknoir: One more thing. Where has Team Pecha gone?
Marill: Amp Plains.
Dusknoir: What? Amp Plains? But at this time of year…It's the season for…NO! This is ruinous!
Kecleon (getting anxious): What is?
Dusknoir: I must salvage them! Immediately!
Kecleon: Wait, what?
He leaves. Meanwhile, Team Pecha has reached the Amp Clearing. Lightning strikes nearby.
Amy: EEYAAAH!
Chikorita: I can shield you, Amy. Don't worry. But we'd better get away from here before—huh?
Up ahead is the Water Float! But before they can get it, more lightning strikes!
Amy: There it is! Let's get it and—WAAAH!
Luxray: Why you here? This; our territory! You no hide—we see you just…right…there!
From behind a rock, two lights gleam! Figuring there's no use hiding, Amy and Chikorita face them.
Amy: Wh—who are you?
Luxray: Listen up. Me; Luxray, Luxio tribe leader!
One moment they're not there, the next...In a lightning flash, Amy and Chikorita find themselves surrounded by the entire tribe!
Amy and Chikorita: EEYAAAH!
Luxray: Now, prepare to fight…to death!
After an insane 9 vs. 2 fight, Team Pecha somehow manages to win.
Luxray: Rrrroooaarr! You—you—!
Chikorita: W—w—w—wait a second! We're not here to steal your territory!
Luxray: Shut up, liars! Take this!
Amy and Chikorita: AAAAAAAAAH!
Luxray releases all his built-up electricity and blasts them!
Dusknoir: STOP!
But in the next moment, it appears that Dusknoir has taken the attack!
Dusknoir: They speak the truth. Though they trespass, they aren't here to pillage your land!
Chikorita: D—Dusknoir!
Luxray: Who you?
Dusknoir: I am the world-famous Dusknoir! Your anger is reasonable, especially considering that this is the mutually beneficial ecosystem where you annually return for a safe haven. I understand completely! On behalf of these unwilling trespassers, I sincerely apologize! They mean no malice! We will leave you in peace as soon as our business is complete!
Luxray: Hmm…How you know us, Dusknoir? If you say they no harm…then me trust you. We allow you time. When we come back—be gone. Come, everyone.
The tribe leaves for the moment.
Amy and Chikorita: *pheeeeeewwee!*
Chikorita: Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sir Dusknoir! What else do you know about that tribe?
Dusknoir: They're perpetual nomads. And coincidentically, Amp Plains is incessantly lashed by thunderstorms at this time of year. It's mutually beneficial for them. But they were once ambushed here without warning…and endured an irreplaceable setback in their population…so…they would preemptively strike at any unwilling trespassers.
Chikorita (didn't understand a word): Wha—wha—whaaat?
Amy: Uh…Could you repeat—? Oh wait—hang on.
Amy walks up to the Water Float and picks it up.
Amy: Is this it?
Dusknoir: Yes, that is most veritably the Water Float in every physically apparent way.
Amy: YAY!
Chikorita: But what's it doing here?
Dusknoir: I think someone deliberately placed it in this exact location for a specific nefarious purpose.
Amy: Hey Chikorita, remember that note?
Chikorita: Yeah?
Amy: You don't think…?
Dusknoir: You arranged this, didn't you…you craven scoundrels? Reveal yourselves!
Skuntank: …...Chaw-haw-haw! U knew all along, heh?
Yup, Team Skull comes out of hiding.
Amy and Chikorita: It's the meanie-butts!
Amy: Not you again…
Chikorita: Where were you, anyway?
Koffing: Who cares 'bout dat? Wii were hoping Luxray's crew would totally haxor u…& den Wii'd jump in 2 pwn u afta dat!
Zubat: But no thanks 2 dis guy...Who iz he, anyway?
Dusknoir: Shall we decisively settle this?
Skuntank (sweating): …Yeh, if it wuz just dem Team Pecha n00bs! Let's skedaddle, lackeys!
They flee.
Amy: …Stinkers. Why don't they ever fight?
Chikorita: I dunno if I'll ever forgive them…
Dusknoir: Those hypocrites sure are swift when it comes to…skedaddling. Come. Let's deliver this to the young brothers.
Back in Treasure Town, at the Kecleon Market…
Azurill: Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you—
Marill: You saved Azurill, and then this!
Chikorita: It's okay. If you wanna thank someone, thank Sir Dusknoir! He saved us!
Dusknoir: Oh, don't trouble yourselves. I'm delighted for you too.
Kecleon: Isn't that just like Sir Dusknoir? So modest! Aww… And Team Pecha is so marvelously excellent, too! When you pinpointed little Azurill and rescued him so quickly…you just redefined—
Chikorita: Actually…We sorta have a confession to make.
Amy: Yeah. It would be awesome if it did happen like that, but…I happened to see it in a vision.
Dusknoir: Excuse me? A vision? Can you elaborate further?
Chikorita: Oh, right! You know everything! Maybe you know all about it too!
Amy: See, I get dizzy whenever I touch someone or something and then I see things from the past or the future!
Dusknoir: WHAT? Well, that's…that's…The Dimensional Scream!
Amy and Chikorita: WHAT?
Chikorita: Wait, so you really know something about this?
Amy: We need to tell you something.
Dusknoir: What is it?
They go to the beach.
Dusknoir: I see…so you discovered her unconscious at this very spot…but then she awoken and had amnesia?
Chikorita: Yeah, but she could still remember her name and how she was a human before!
Dusknoir: Wait, what? A human? But, but—your leader here is undeniably a Jigglypuff in every physically apparent way at this moment! So how—?
Amy: Huh…I guess you don't know everything in the world, after all.
Dusknoir: Hmm…a human…with the Dimensional Scream…You're a Jigglypuff, but your name is not Jigglypuff, correct? Then what is it?
Amy: Oh yeah! I never told you. My name is Amy.
Dusknoir: *gasp!* I see. You're…Amy…
Amy (all pleading, with Bambi eyes): Please, Dusknoir…Does it mean anything? Do you know how this happened to me?
He pauses for a moment, turns around, and then faces her again, apparently at a loss for what to do. He acts like he's trying to avoid her stare.
Dusknoir: …No. I wish I knew, but…Sorry about that.
Amy: A…Are you okay? (Why's his eye all twitchy?)
Dusknoir: I'm quite all right. Seriously. Anyway, I do have information about the Dimensional Scream. It is unknown how it's learned or acquired, but sounds and objects slice across the boundaries of time, breaching objects and reaching into Pokémon to manifest as visions. Some call it the Echoes of Time.
Amy: So that's what it is…
Dusknoir: …Well! Maybe that's why we became comrades! To be honest, I can't stand knowing that I'm not omniscient after all! I offer you my complete assistance in helping you solve the mystery of your transformation…Amy! Ha-ha-ha! Hoo-hoo-ha! Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-ha!
Chikorita: Thank you so much, Sir Dusknoir! Isn't this awesome, Amy?
But Amy gets several huge chills down her "spine".
Amy: (GAAH! C—c—cold! W—what is this…horrible…feeling? That laugh…that laugh…What is up with it!)
But it doesn't last long—they suddenly notice several Pelipper flying overhead, distributing flyers. After a few seconds, Bidoof comes running into them, panting and wheezing.
Amy: Bidoof? You okay? What is it?
Bidoof: Can't…talk. Hurry! To the guild!
Worried, they all follow him.
To be continued…