Pokémon Police Force Chapter 5: On the Run

I ran until I just couldn't run anymore. I collapsed onto the ground panting. The sack of money rolled off of my shoulder.

"I think... I gave them... the slip," I panted.

I got up and sat on the ground. I was in the middle of a long stretch of dirt road, Mystery City little more than a speck on a horizon.

(And some Pokémon say that the Earth is flat.)

I glanced at the sack of ill-gotten money.

"I need a bag. A big sack is too suspicious."

After a quick rest, I clambered back onto my feet, hoisted the sack over my shoulder and began walking once more. I walked for several hours more until I had seen someone approaching me. It looked like three Pokémon. It must be an Exploration Team!

(And an Exploration Team means a Treasure Bag. Score!)

I ran off the road and hid the sack of money in a decaying tree stump. I then ran back onto the road and began walking toward them.

(With any luck, they haven't been to Mystery City recently.)

"...going there anyway?"

"With all the Exploration Teams around, all the good treasure is probably gone by now."

"We were actually asked to help out the-"

I bumped into the speaker.

"Oof! Watch where you're going!" Said Zangoose.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I said.

I tried to walk away, but someone grabbed my wrist.

"Wait, did you come from Mystery City?" Asked Sandslash.

"Yeah. Careful if you're going that way. The police seem awfully worked up about something."

"Any idea what?" Asked Zangoose.

"Some outlaw, I think."

"This could be why we were asked to help out the police," said Scyther.

"Let him go, Sandslash," said Zangoose.

Sandslash released me.

"Do not fear, citizen. We, Team Razor Wind will catch this outlaw!" Said Scyther.

I smirked in spite of myself.

"Look who's all gun-ho now," mocked Sandslash.

"Oh, shut up!" Snapped Scyther.

I took that as my cue to leave but I could feel Zangoose's eyes on me as I left.

"Zangoose?"

"I just- something about that Sneasel feels- never mind."

Once I got out of earshot, I examined the Treasure Bag I lifted off of Zangoose.

"Like taking candy from a Flebébé."

I stole away to where I hid the sack of money and began rifling through it.

(Oran Berries, Apples, Reviver Seeds, Max Elixirs. Standard Exploration Team stuff. A Wonder Map? I'll take that. And... badges.)

The bottom of the bag was completely covered with Exploration Team Badges. The badges looked like a ball with wings on each side. The ball had a brilliant silver gem in the center of them.

"Best get rid of these. HAPPI can probably track them."

I took everything useful out of the bag and dumped everything else on the ground. I then collected everything I was going to keep and stuffed it safely into the bag. Finally, I emptied the contents of the sack into the Treasure Bag.

My preparations complete, I hefted the Treasure Bag onto my shoulder.

"Much better. Best get out of here before Team Razor Wind gets wise."

"Shopping" complete, I set out towards the Black Market once more.

Sheriashuu and I have been on the road now for three days, stopping only when it got dark to rest. We were sitting around a campfire once again on the night of the third day.

"Emerald, be honest with me."

"What?"

The Mienshao was sitting by the fire, idly poking at a kabob she was eating.

"Why are we going out of our way to arrest Argyle?"

"Magnezone's orders."

"Perhaps I misspoke. Why are YOU trying to arrest him?"

"What are you implying?"

"Nothing. Just curious why you are so obsessed with him."

"You're the one who's been screaming about him for the last few days!"

"I was angry!"

"You get kissed one time. That's legal grounds for an execution?"

"I was a little distressed, okay?"

"A little?"

"Okay, what would you have done?"

"Not go on a homicidal rampage!"

"Oh hush!" Sheriashuu snapped.

"Why am I even following you out here again?"

"Technically, I'm following you. You're the one with a torch sticking out of your butt."

"My tail! Not my-"

"Where is it?"

A voice sounded out a little way from the light of our campfire. We jumped to our feet and I quickly whipped the stick from my tail, igniting it as went.

"Butt-torch away!" Mocked Sheriashuu.

I punched her and began walking toward the source of the voice.

"Someone's coming!"

We drew near and beheld a Zangoose, a Sandslash and a Scyther.

"Those must be the thieves!" Said Scyther.

"We're with the Mystery City Police Force," said Sheriashuu.

We both got our police badges out and showed them. The police badge resembled a standard police badge except it had a Pokéball image overlaying a star. The badge also had the letters MCPF boldly emblazoning the front of it. At the bottom of our badges had our respective officer numbers. They settled down once they seen our badges.

"What happened here?" I asked.

"We've been pickpocketed! Someone stole our Treasure Bag and left the badges here!" Said Zangoose.

All around the group, there were Exploration Team badges littering the ground.

"Smart," I said, "they can be tracked."

Sheriashuu grabbed the stick from me and began examining the ground around the badges.

"Any idea who would do this?" I asked.

"No, I-" Began Zangoose.

"Wait! That Sneasel!" Interjected Sandslash.

"Sneasel!? Did this Sneasel have a mask strapped to half his face?"

"He did!" Said Scyther, "how did we not notice that before?"

"Emerald! I found Sneasel tracks! It looks like he's about a day ahead of us," said Sheriashuu.

"Wait, who lifted our bag? And why are you going after him?" Asked Zangoose.

"Argyle, he's a well-known thief around Mystery City," explained Sheriashuu.

"We're trying to arrest him," I said.

"Let us go with you," said Sandslash.

"Team Razor Wind at your service!" Said Zangoose.