The Story of Team Fate - An Explorers of Sky Fanfiction
Chapter 20 - Taken Away
Still night, Dusknoir's POV
Peculiar… Why is it that most of the areas around Treasure Town consist of grass and such? Or… is it that I've just been keeping pursuit in the similar areas? WHat kind of traveling Pokemon goes around plenty of areas but doesn't bother to buy a single map? Wait, no, I should focus on my chase, I can't let anything else distract me… This is the closest I've come to finally apprehending Grovyle, after all!
Through the twisting paths of trees and the outstretched path of grass. I make chase. Even if I've found myself making hot pursuit in the night, my Ghost typing allows me to see the green blur that is Grovyle while I manually permeate through the trees in my way using concentrated Ghost type energy.
I can't let Grovyle get away this time… This might be my only opportunity!
As I continue levitating after Grovyle, I suddenly hear the rustling of bushes behind me, and I then see that two Sableye have run up to me.
"Sableye? Here so soon?" I ask them, the two running by my side.
"We decided that it's time we helped you catch Grovyle. Waiting for you to come back is boring," The first one says, carrying a small pouch of some sort. "We even got rope to help you and everything!"
"This place is starting to grow on me… and I'm starting to not like it. Everything is going to go to plan, right, Dusknoir?" The second Sableye asks, ducking under a low hanging branch. "We'll end up dealing with Grovyle, but there's still a few more missing factors to our plan…"
"Don't worry about those missing factors," I reply. "Coincidentally, the two other things we should be worried about have come into place and should be dealt with soon enough. In no time at all, we'll be able to contact our master so we can finally get this plan over with."
"Wait, really?" The first Sableye asks, dodging a tree.
"It all just fell into place quite conveniently," I respond. "Soon enough, they'll all be dealt with in one fell swoop."
The two start to cackle by my side.
"And now we've got Grovyle in our sights! This should be easy!" The second Sableye says.
"That's right!" I say, starting to feel triumphant. "We've been chasing this nuisance for far too long! Both of you, dash ahead to opposite sides and try to corner Grovyle! I should be able to finish this as soon as we close up on him."
"As you say, Dusknoir!" The two chant. They both run ahead and do just as I've instructed.
Perfect. This plan should go on as it should just the way it should. It's just like I said, defeating three Pidgey with one Geodude.
Except the Pidgey are a Grovyle, a Shinx, and a Vulpix, and this one Geodude is the fury of a thousand Sableye Fury Swipe slashes mincing them to death.
The next morning, Treasure Town's Plaza, Sparks' POV
Other than the mission at Crystal Cave, a lot has happened as well regarding the rest of the guild members. While Star Cave's group didn't end up finding a Time Gear, I overheard from some of the members that there was some sort of special finding and Bidoof made a wish or something like that… What I overheard was pretty much just as vague as Sunflora's exaggerated gossip.
Speaking of Sunflora, Chatot's plan to get she and Loudred to 'make up' for what I heard to be an exploration mishap apparently worked. From what I heard from Chatot's summary of all yesterday's events in a night briefing, the two of them did a team operation and apprehended an evasive petty criminal that has been bugging Officer Magnezone for weeks… I think I recall Chatot saying it was a Haunter… or was it three Haunter? Was it three Poison types or one?
And on that topic of Poison types, it's been awhile since Violet and I had to deal with Team Skull… And the last thing I'd want is to get caught off guard again.
But that was yesterday. As for what's happening today, apparently we were woken up early because the morning briefing was cancelled in place of some sort of important announcement at Treasure Town's plaza.
These days are starting to get full of new surprises and events… and it all started ever since these Time Gear thefts have started to happen… I think as Violet and I walk to the plaza. Everyone else was already there, including Pokémon who weren't guild members since every Pokémon living around Treasure Town got the announcement of the… announcement.
Violet and I try to find our positions with the other Pokemon at the back of the crowd, in Treasure Town's open area plaza. As I look around from the back of the crowd of Pokémon, I catch glimpses of Marill, Azurill, and I think I might've seen Ninetales hidden within the crowd. I think. I even see Chime's ropes standing out from within the crowd, levitating next to what seems to be Chimecho's bell.
"So Chime managed to wake up early and get here before we did…" I say aloud, peeking up from the crowd of Pokémon whose voices create the slight sound of a commotion. "You see him too, right Violet?"
"I was just about to tell you about that, Sparks," Violet replies. "He's next to Chimecho, right? You know, I've noticed that those two have been spending much more time than I've expected them to… I guess Chimecho was right when she said that they've been friends years ago."
"I know… I'm starting to get some… thoughts about those two. Call it a hunch… but are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I ask, smiling.
"Well… okay, maybe a little," Violet replies, smiling back. "However, they're just friends, like Chimecho mentioned."
"Okay, okay, I'm just teasing," I reply. "Though, it would be nice to see Chime with someone… okay, I'll stop."
"Hey, if they're friends, then they're friends," Violet responds, still smiling playfully. "Okay, other than that, what do you think this announcement is all about?"
I look up ahead of the crowd to see who's at the front. The crowd then suddenly silences and slightly gives way to reveal Dusknoir and two Sableye. I notice that the Sableye seem to be holding back a Pokemon of some sort.
"Well, whatever this announcement is about, it looks like it's about to begin." I say to Violet, ducking back into the crowd.
"Everyone, now that you're gathered here, may I have your attention?" Dusknoir announces, silencing everyone. "Yes, thank you. Now as some of you might know, for the past few days Time Gear thefts have been happening in certain mystery dungeons, all these thefts being done by a single thief. Due to this, many locations have become frozen in time."
Dusknoir's brief explanation stirs up some commotion from the crowd, as usual. Dusknoir quickly silences them.
"Now, now, everyone, don't worry!" Dusknoir exclaims. "You see, my companions here have come to assist me and we've successfully caught him! All the Time Gears he's stolen have been returned to their rightful places, but for some reason, time still hasn't been restored in those places. However, regardless of this, we've managed to catch Grovyle, and that's what matters. Now, Sableye, if you will?"
The two Sableye grin, exposing their eerie smiles, and reveal the Pokemon they've been holding back. Grovyle, arms tied around the waist with rope, mouth muzzled and tied up with rope as well. Grovyle attempts to struggle, but only gets held back by the ropes containing him.
"Mmmf! Mmmmf!" Grovyle tries to speak, but the ropes wrapped around his mouth muffle his voice.
Wait, so Dusknoir was actually able to catch Grovyle. That was fast.
Commotion starts to rise from the crowd, some of them consisting of cheers, but quickly get silenced by Dusknoir.
"Please, let me continue!" Dusknoir exclaims. "Now… now that Grovyle is caught, he is going to have to be punished. However, he is not going to be sent over to Officer Magnezone. You see, you might say that Grovyle has appeared out of nowhere due to his sudden activity. I know Grovyle, and there is a special reason why. This reason also explains my sudden appearance, but you're all going to have to listen to me, since it might sound a bit much. You see, Grovyle, my Sableye companions, and I, are not actually from here. We're not actually from this time period, either. We've actually travelled here from… the future."
Wait… the future?!
"S-Sparks?! The future?!" Violet exclaims.
"Even… even I'm surprised where this came from…" I reply. "Agh, I don't feel like thinking about something this complicated…"
Commotion starts to rise, this time with much more cacophony, but Dusknoir quickly silences it once again.
"Everyone, I told you to please listen. I guess I should've expected a response like this, but please understand," Dusknoir continues. "We are indeed from the future, but the reason why I haven't mentioned this to any of you is for the sake of your safety. Time travel is complicated, and I wouldn't want anyone of this time to be tampering with something dangerous and possibly apocalyptic, like Time Gears. You see, these Sableye and I have been sent here by our master, who is a Pokemon who is from the future who sent us here to catch Grovyle who managed to travel to the past. Now that we've apprehended him, our master should open up our path to the future right about… now."
Then. right on cue, a large dark blue portal opens up behind Dusknoir with a flash of light. Its sudden appearance surprises everyone, making them gasp.
"He… he really must be from the future! That's so cool!" Azurill exclaims aloud from another side of the crowd. Commotion starts to rise again, but they quickly silence themselves from Dusknoir's disapproving gaze.
Dusknoir then appears to say a command to the Sableye, making them nod. The Sableye then push the muffled Grovyle into the portal, who immediately gets sucked up into it. The two Sableye then disappear into the portal as well, leaving only Dusknoir.
"Wait…" I hear Wigglytuff speak up. "If you're from the future, then does that mean you're going to be leaving? Back to the future?"
Dusknoir nods slowly. "It appears so. My master is awaiting my return, so I'll have to leave."
"Well… even if you're heading to the future, we still appreciate your help." Chatot speaks up.
"I thank you too, members of Wigglytuff's Guild. However, before I go, there is something that I'd like to say to some certain Pokemon," Dusknoir says. "I would like to call up the trio of… Team Fate, was it? Yes, I'd like to call them up here."
Wait, us?
"Sparks? He's calling us up, right?" Violet asks me, sounding slightly surprised.
"I guess he really is calling us up… Well, let's go." I reply.
We then move through the crowd and walk up to Dusknoir, Chime teleporting to us shortly after. Dusknoir eyes the three of us.
I don't know why, but that stare is starting to make me feel uneasy…
"Ah yes, Sparks, Violet, and Chime. Ever since I witnessed the three of you at Amp Plains, you've impressed me," Dusknoir says. "You three are quite the trio, and you're quite something extraordinary, which is quite a shame… I'll be having to leave soon, this time portal won't keep itself open forever."
"Thank you, Dusknoir. And… uh… good luck with Grovyle." I say.
Wait, why do I feel like something is off?
"Uh… thanks for helping us." Violet says.
Was something off with what Dusknoir said?
"I can't help but be impressed that you're actually a Pokemon from the future," Chime says. "I guess that makes it mean much more when you called us 'extraordinary'."
Realization then strikes me.
Wait… why did Dusknoir say 'quite a shame' after calling us extraordinary?
"Well, I better get going now. Looks like it's goodbye…" Dusknoir continues. Suddenly, his smile and gaze become threateningly eerie. "Or is it?!"
Dusknoir's fist then engulfs itself in ghost energy, and it hits Chime right in the face with a Shadow Punch. Chime gets sent reeling away into the crowd from the super effective damage.
"Chime!" Violet and I exclaim.
I then feel Dusknoir's hand grab me, cutting off my breathing as he lifts me into the air by the throat. I cough, attempting to breathe.
"S-Sparks!" I hear Violet exclaim, sounding slightly afraid.
Though my vision is starting to become blurry, I manage to see Dusknoir lift Violet into the air by her throat as well. I hear Violet coughing as well.
"You two are coming with me!" I hear Dusknoir say.
The last thing I feel before I black out from lack of air is the rush of velocity from Dusknoir shoving me into the portal.
Chime's POV
Oww… I felt like I was hit with the force of a betrayal… Oh, wait!
Even though I feel my face hurt, I quickly manage to get up, only to see Dusknoir disappear into the dark time portal with Sparks and Violet.
That traitor! You're not getting away with this! Not with my friends, you aren't!
I quickly pull a rope back and extend it towards the portal, only for the portal to quickly disappear before my rope could reach it.
No!
I attempt to teleport to where the portal just was, but the painful impact from Dusknoir's Shadow Punch was too much for me and I find myself unable to concentrate psychic energy.
Ugh… why'd he have to hit me in a way so that concentrating was painful?
"Chime? Are you alright?" I hear Chimecho say, coming over to my side and helping me up.
"That really hurt… Darn that Dusknoir… But the portal is gone now… and so are Sparks and Violet…" I reply, slightly moaning in pain. "You… you saw what Dusknoir did, right?"
"I did… I couldn't believe it either…" She replies.
My attention then gets caught when Chatot and Wigglytuff walk up to the front of the crowd, silencing the panicked commotion from the crowd.
"Everyone! Calm down!" Chatot exclaims, flapping his wings. "Now, now, even I have no idea exactly what happened, so I understand why you might be panicking as well. However! I know as of now that there is absolutely nothing we can do about this, so I'm afraid all we can do is… move on and hope for Sparks' and Violet's safety. You are now dismissed! Oh, and for everyone who isn't a guild member, you can go back to do whatever you were doing."
"And no mention of the Chingling who just got punched in the face? Great…" I mumble as everyone starts to leave.
"Well, at least I heard. Uh… Chime, you're still hurt, right? You said that the attack hurt, so how about I treat you for a while?" Chimecho offers.
"My only employers got dragged into a portal to the future… I guess I have nothing else to do…" I reply.
I can't get over the fact that Dusknoir dragged Sparks and Violet into the future…
That fiend! Taking my friends away! He's definitely a villain in my eyes!
Author's POV
The crowd departs, with Chimecho taking Chime back to the guild. Meanwhile, Ninetales slinks away from the crowd and away from the plaza, feeling several conflicted emotions.
'Ugh… Was that… was that the dreaded event my vision told me about?' She thinks, walking through the crossroads and towards the staircase to Spinda's Cafe. 'Was… was there really nothing I could do? What can I do now?'
She sits on a seat near a table for one, hanging her head and feeling ashamed. A Wynaut and a Wobbuffet walk up to her.
"Good morning, Ma'am!" Wynaut greets with a slightly shrill voice. "Welcome to Spinda's Cafe! I'm Wynaut and this is Wobbuffet; we're two good friends of Spinda. We've been receiving lots of customers since we opened up this cafe, which is good, but since Spinda has had to serve many Pokemon, we're here to help her out. Now, what drink would you like?"
"I… I would like one large Rawst Berry-" Ninetales cuts herself off.
'No, no, I can't resort to that… That was a stupid thought…'
"I mean… one Red Gummi juice, please."
Wobbuffet salutes in response.
"Woooobbuffet!" He chants.
"Uh… what he means is that we'll get to your drink." Wynauts explains. He and Wobbuffet then walk away from Ninetales. The Fire type puts her head in her paws, feeling more conflicted.
'I was told not to interfere… but even if I did feel like it I don't think I could've done anything,' She thinks to herself. 'Ugh… and what was I thinking by considering ordering a Rawst Berry drink? But was that vision right in telling me not to interfere? I… I guess I should just wait for these further instructions that it mentioned…'
Wynaut and Wobbuffet walk back to Ninetales, the latter holding a tray with a drink on it. Wobbuffet takes the Red Gummi juice and puts it on Ninetales' table.
"Enjoy your drink, Ma'am!" Wynaut says.
"Wooooooooobuffet!" Wobbuffet chants, saluting.
"Thank you." Ninetales says quietly, sliding the drink closer to her. She takes a sip from it.
That Dusknoir… If my vision didn't tell me to hold back, then he'd be nothing more than a pile of ghost ashes….
Sparks… Violet… please stay safe.
Ninetales takes a sip from the Red Gummi's straw, sighing.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the future
Dusknoir levitates over to his large group of Sableye minions. The Dark and Ghost types appear excited.
"We've been awaiting your return!" A Sableye says.
"The three are all unconscious and tied up, just like you ordered! When shall we proceed with… with the exciting stuff?! You know, the thing you told us to ready our claws for!" Another Sableye says.
"The plan should go on smoothly. Currently, Master Dialga is recharging for having to open a time portal, but everything so far is going right as he planned. And as for the execution…" Dusknoir says. An eerie evil smile comes across the mouth on his chest. "Prepare your claws, Sableye! We've got three Pokemon to mince!"
NOTE: *sadistically laughs in the background* Salutations, reader! This chapter has ended! I guess it was kinda short, so if that was a letdown, then my bad. I just hope that the chapter itself is still good! If it was, kindly leave a review on your way out; it helps! Thank you so much for reading this, and I hope you have a good day!
-flareon71