Pokémon Police Force Chapter 14: The Legend of the Crown

Somewhere far away from the Median Sea and the Lake of Origin lies a land hidden from time. A land quite literally hidden within a pocket of time. This land is a floating island, suspended in time, one that has not been seen since prehistoric times.

Floating above the aforementioned island rested another, much smaller and rockier island. On top of the island stood a massive tower, a tower on the verge of collapse. Everywhere you looked, gigantic chunks were missing from the sides and the supports were badly frayed.

On the tower's peak lies an altar with five gear-shaped chunks missing. Ancient, crumbling pillars lined the path back to a set of stairs that led downward. Alone at the tower's apex stood a massive dinosaur.

This dinosaur is a dark-blue, sauropod-like Pokémon with some gray metallic portions, such as its chest plate, which has a diamond in the center. It also has various light blue stripes. It has a fin-like structure on its back and a crest on its head, resembling a dinosaur.

The dinosaur also has two horns on top of its head, two fang-like horns around its mouth, and three spines on the back of its neck. It has three claws on each foot of the same metallic looks as its chest plate. Occasionally, the blue stripes would take on a more orange hue.

"TEMPORAL TOWER IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME," the blue dinosaur said, "MY POWERS ARE REACHING THEIR LIMIT."

The dinosaur stared at the gear-shaped gouges in the altar.

"I THOUGHT I COULD HOLD THIS PLACE TOGETHER. I HAVE NO CHOICE. THE GEARS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE ALTAR."

The dragon began glowing in a strong white aura. A small fragment of rock landed on the tower to answer its call.

"THIS FRAGMENT OF THE RAINBOW STONESHIP SHOULD DO. GO NOW, FIND THE ONE DESTINED TO SAVE THE FUTURE."

The fragment flew out of the tower and far beyond sight of the floating islands.

"I JUST PRAY YOU MAKE IT HERE BEFORE MY SANITY SLIPS COMPLETELY."

Back at the Lake of Origin we were all still processing what Kyogre had said:

"I'LL TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE. I KNOW EXACTLY WHY YOU HAVE THOSE POWERS. THOUGH, WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY YOU'D CHOOSE TO HIDE IN A SNEASEL, ZYGARDE."

Zygarde? Who in the world is Zygarde? I had no idea and yet, something deep within my heart knew Kyogre spake the truth, as if I'd known it all along.

"Who or what is Zygarde, mate?" Asked Captain Jack Spearow.

"I've heard about it," said Slowbro, "they say it only emerges when the world is in grave danger."

"Well, if it's in Argyle, what danger is the world in now?" Asked Emerald, "the only thing I can think of is the Mystery Dungeons."

"What are you pulling?" Asked Glacier, "the only thing inside this Sneasel's head is hot air."

"Thank you, Glacier. Really don't know where I'd be without your vote of confidence."

"No problem," said Glacier, winking.

"What proof do we have that the lad isn't just green?" Asked Mr. Bigs.

"Do you not remember the light show, mate?" Asked Captain Jack Spearow.

"Let me talk to them."

I turned back abruptly but no one was behind me.

"Argyle? What is with you today?" Asked Emerald.

"I keep hearing this voice."

"Let me speak."

"There it is again!"

"Argyle, there is no voice," said Glacier.

"You must be hearing the thoughts of Zygarde," said Suicune, "but how come none of us can hear them?"

"BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ZYGARDE," said Kyogre, "OPEN YOUR HEART TO ZYGARDE. LET IT SPEAK THROUGH YOU."

Open my heart? How? I guess I'll try the direct approach. Hopefully this works.

I closed my eyes and tried reaching out to Zygarde with my thoughts, trying to establish a telepathic communication.

"Let me use your mouth."

The words came right into my mind. So, silently, I gave the voice the requested permission.

Argyle was silent for the longest time. His face was vacant of any emotion, so it was hard to read what he was thinking. Finally, after what seemed like a decade of waiting Argyle spake.

"Hello, everyone."

"Argyle?" I asked, "is that you?"

"In a way. He and I are now one and the same. You speak to Zygarde."

The voice was that of Argyle, but there was something to his words that seemed unfamiliar and alien as well. It was as if I was experiencing deja vu. Argyle opened his eyes. They were both green. How did he do that?

"GLAD TO SEE YOU DOING WELL."

"It's been too long, Kyogre."

"Anyone want to explain what's going on!?" Said Slowbro.

"I am Zygarde. The Pokémon who watches over the order of the world."

"Argyle? Why are you talking like that?" Asked Glacier.

"Argyle cannot speak right now. I am controlling his mouth and vocal cords. This allows me to speak to you."

"Well tell us why you're in Argyle. What threat is the world facing? Can he ever return to being a regular Sneasel?" I asked.

"One question at a time. First, why I'm in Argyle. I was there when he was being pummeled by those Tyrogue. I watched the violence unfold."

There was a slight pause.

"Normally, I wouldn't bat an eye at a brutal murder, but something about Argyle drew me to him. As I watched his ragged breaths, I just knew I had to save him and there was just one way to do it."

Argyle looked at us with a pleading look in his eye. He wanted me to keep Zygarde talking, I just could sense it.

"How did you save him?" I asked.

"I entered into Argyle's body and bonded myself to him. This caused our two essences and bodies to fuse together. Now, as long as I live, so too will Argyle. Though it did have an unfortunate side effect."

"You mean the corruption, lad?" Asked Mr. Bigs.

"Yes."

"And how long is your lifespan?" Asked Slowbro, "how long will the godfather live?"

"Forever. I cannot die by natural means."

"Now, hold on, mate. Are you telling me that Sneasel is immortal?" Asked Captain Jack Spearow.

"In a way. The Sneasel part of me is mortal, but as long as I remain bound to him, he will live."

"You said something drew you to Argyle," said Glacier, "what?"

"That's a good question. A question for me as well. Maybe Argyle is necessary to stop the threat I mentioned before."

"What threat?" I asked.

"Don't know. I'm not omniscient. Kyogre, do you or Suicune know of any threat that could be the cause of this?"

"The possibility exists that you speak of the time fluctuations," said Suicune.

"Time fluctuations?" I asked, "time as in hours and minutes?"

"JUDGING BY YOUR WORDS, YOU DON'T LIVE NEAR ANY TIME GEARS," said Kyogre, "TIME IS GETTING WARPED IN SOME PLACES. IT HAPPENS MOST COMMONLY AROUND TIME GEARS."

"Waterfalls will flow up, pollen will travel against the wind and water ripples stop entirely to name a few examples," said Suicune.

"If that's true, did something happen to Temporal Tower?"

"Temporal Tower?" Asked Glacier.

"WE DO NOT KNOW. A MILLENNIA AGO, DIALGA SEALED THE TOWER AND THE LANDS SURROUNDING IT INSIDE A POCKET OF TIME. YOU MAY ONLY GET INSIDE IF YOU ARE CHOSEN BY DIALGA HIMSELF."

"How was I not informed of this? This jeopardizes order in the first place."

"Who is Dialga?" Glacier tried asking, but yet again, she was ignored.

"It was most likely to protect the tower," said Suicune.

"It doesn't matter the reason. The tower was moved. That can cause a shift in the forces of nature. This could unbalance the universe and lead to more catastrophic problems in the-"

"WOULD YOU THREE LUVDISC STOP IGNORING ME!?" Glacier shouted suddenly.

Everyone jumped and stared at her.

"For those of us that haven't achieved immortality, what is Temporal Tower? Who is Dialga? What does this have to do with Argyle? WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME BACKSTORY!?" Yelled a flustered Glacier.

"My apologies," said Suicune, "Dialga is the Pokémon that created time itself. Temporal Tower is the structure he built to help stabilize the flow of time."

"Okay, is Argyle the chosen one of Dialga?" I asked, "is that why you saved him?"

"From what I could determine, no, he is not. Which means someone else is. It could be Argyle's destiny to help out the chosen one."

"Well, how about something you can answer," I said, "how did you do that thing with the lights when we were fighting Kyogre? How did Argyle transform?"

"This will take a while to explain. I am Zygarde, sure, but only a piece. A Core of Zygarde."

"A core? Now I'm even more lost," said Slowbro.

"Well, let me go back to basics. You know that each and every living thing is made up of cells, right?"

"How's about we skip the anatomy lesson, mate?" Asked Captain Jack Spearow.

"This 'anatomy lesson' is essential for my explanation, 'mate'. As a Pokémon myself, my body is made of cells as well. However, unlike all of you, my Cells are scattered all over the planet."

"What…?" Asked Slowbro in confusion.

"If yer Cells be scattered, how're you… well, alive?"

"My Cells may combine to form a Core, like me. The Cells have no will or sentience of their own, but we Cores do."

"You said 'Cores', that's plural," I said, "there is more than one Zygarde?"

"If you count all my Cells, there are millions of us, but there are only ten Cores, no more, no less."

"So, there are ten different Zygarde running around right now?" I asked.

"If you only count my sentient parts, yes."

"You referred to the Cores and Cells as parts," Glacier pointed out.

"Yes. Think of all my Cells and Cores as one gigantic hive mind. Well, maybe 'hive mind' is incorrect. All us Cores have our own personalities and will but one shared consciousness, that of Zygarde. We are all just parts of the same whole."

"TO TRANSLATE FOR ZYGARDE," said Kyogre, "EACH CELL AND CORE IS PART OF ZYGARDE. THEY ARE ONLY COMPLETELY ZYGARDE TOGETHER."

"Together?" Asked Glacier.

"Yes. We Cores and Cells have no combat abilities or instincts, so we Cores can call upon and absorb the Cells to transform and make ourselves stronger. You have already seen this before."

"That was the light show?" Asked Slowbro, finally caught up.

"Through Argyle, I was able to absorb enough Cells to make his body 20% Zygarde."

"Well, why didn't you use that power earlier?" I asked, "you could've saved us a lot of pain!"

"I couldn't because Argyle is totally a stranger to my powers. I may only use my powers when he reaches the absolute peak of emotion or is in grave peril."

"And Argyle was impaled on the mast!" Said Glacier, in shock.

"That allowed me to utilize my powers and save you all."

There was something I just caught, something I missed earlier.

"You said you can absorb Cells and Cores," I said, "can the other Cores absorb Argyle?"

Argyle's eyes now shown visible fear. An emotion I never seen him display before. Everyone was silent as Zygarde gave its answer.

"Yes, they may. It would take a cataclysm of extinction level proportions for any of us to even consider absorbing every last Core. So, you shouldn't have anything to fear."

"Well, what about-?" Glacier began.

Suddenly, Argyle collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.

"ARGYLE!" Glacier and I yelled as we ran to Argyle's side.

"I've been using his body too long. He doesn't have the stamina to keep this up much longer. See you later."

Argyle's right eye returns to its regular red hue.

"Godfather! Say something!" Said Slowbro.

"Stop calling me Godfather," said Argyle.

After I had rested and some obligatory promising not to tell anyone about the Time Gear or the Lake of Origin, we had boarded the Crystal Froslass and set off. Captain Jack Spearow dropped us off at the Port City of Beacon and he and his crew headed off for the Stinking Skuntank Tavern.

"I'm going to find a ship that'll sail," said Glacier, "can't be a pirate without a ship."

"Good luck," said Emerald.

Glacier set off for the shipyard.

"Slowbro, go with her," I said, "she'll need help to recover and you know more about the sea than both of us combined."

"Got it, Admiral Sneezy!" Said Slowbro before toddling off.

"Admiral Sneezy?"

"So, what are you going to do now?" Asked Emerald, "going to find Dialga's chosen one?"

"No. Even if I wanted to be second Flapple in this story, I have no idea where to start looking."

I scratched the unmasked half of my face.

"I guess, I'll go find leads about my half-sister. The Narrows. I was barely there last time. There might be a clue."

"Speaking of the Narrows, the Crown of Plenty, why did you go through all that trouble to steal it?"

"It was to be our ultimate score, me and my team. We coveted it because of its legend."

"I don't believe I've heard of the legend."

"Centuries ago, there was a famine. A famine so great that it would've killed the entire continent. When all seemed lost, a Pokémon appeared wearing the Crown and in one day, ended the famine."

"Wow."

"The second part of that is that one day the Pokémon will appear again to wear the Crown. Many Pokémon have worn the Crown over the centuries, but the Pokémon has not returned."

"Do you believe the legend?"

"I don't put much stock in legends," I said, "I was just planning on-"

"WAIT!"

A Pelipper flew down from the sky, landing in between us. The Pelipper had a large leather satchel bound to its body. This was the Pelipper from earlier!

"You're that Pelipper from the ship," I said, "what's up?"

"I totally forgot the reason I flew through two hurricanes to reach you! I'm with the Pelipper Postal Service. I have a delivery for you."

Pelipper reached into his bag and pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. I ripped open the envelope with my claw and took out a small note.

We know you have it.

"That's it?" Asked Emerald, "who sent it?"

"No name. I have a guess though."

"While I'm here," said Pelipper, "do you have anything for me to deliver?"

"Not at this point," Emerald said.

"Very well," said Pelipper, "I'll just return to my job. Farewell."

With a flap of his wings, Pelipper flew away. We watched as Pelipper flew off. Emerald then bent down and picked something up.

"Oh, Arceus, NO!" Emerald screamed, looking at what she picked up.

I took it from her and examined it. It was a photograph of a town. A town on fire. I recognized the Trench, the old well and the 46th Precinct building. It was Mystery Town.

Mystery Town was on fire!