Pokémon Police Force Chapter 15: Betrayal
No further words were needed. Once we beheld the photograph of Mystery Town in flames, I threw the photo, letter and envelope containing them onto the ground and we began running to Mystery Town.
Time was of the essence.
"Emerald, grab on!" I shouted, holding out my arm.
She must've known what I had planned, because she grabbed it tightly, without hesitation.
"AGILITY!" I shouted.
Unnatural strength filled my legs and I began running faster. The landscape passed us by faster as I was practically dragging Emerald. Wordlessly, I scooped her up in my arms.
"AGILITY!"
We got even faster. I used Agility as much as I could to ensure we reached Mystery Town as quickly as possible. With Agility, it only took a couple of hours to get there.
When we arrived, we were shocked to see the town in a full blaze. Almost every building was already reduced to ash.
"No… Sheriashuu…"
Emerald sat down and began openly weeping at the loss of her friend. I crouched beside her and hugged her, like she had done for me days ago.
"Emerald, someone might be alive," I said, "we've got to save them."
"You're right!" She said before standing back up, "I can save us time!"
Emerald withdrew the stick from her tail, igniting it at once. She then began staring into the flame. I had no idea what she was doing, but I let her work.
"There are survivors!" She said gleefully, "they're all gathered up around the precinct!"
"No! Don't go in there!"
We turned to find the source of the voice, behind us, Team Razor Wind was laying on the ground, burns all over them.
"Team Razor Wind!" Shouted Emerald, rushing to their side, "what happened?"
"Two Pokémon shown up suddenly in town and started setting everything on fire!" Said Sandslash.
"We tried to save everyone," said Zangoose, "but…"
"Who done this?" I asked.
"An Incineroar! An Incineroar and a Houndoom!" Said Scyther.
"Of all the crazy-!" I shouted and then began to walk toward the blaze.
"Where are you going!?" Shouted Emerald.
"You'll be killed!" Shouted Zangoose.
"Going to straighten out some friends."
With those words, I headed into the sea of flame. The heat was unbearable, the streets were a chaotic maze, but I kept pressing through. I intentionally kept my head low to avoid the smoke. Spent, I collapsed on the street.
Before long, someone pulled me back up and gave me something to drink. Water.
"Don't ever do anything like this on your own."
It was Emerald. Emerald had followed me in.
"Thank you."
"I know the way. Stick to me like glue."
I followed Emerald through the blaze and out into the square containing the 46th precinct. There in front of the doors, were an Incineroar and a Houndoom, two Pokémon I recognized instantly.
"Danté! Pyra! What on Pokéarth are you two doing!?"
Their eyes set upon me instantly.
"YOU!" Shouted Pyra.
"I see you've got our message," said Danté.
"You mean the burning town!? Yes! Message received!"
"That is why all these people had to die!? For a message!?" Shouted Emerald.
"Give us the Crown," said Danté.
"You burnt down a town for a worthless Crown!? Really, I would expect this from Pyra, not from you, Danté!"
"Give us the Crown of Plenty and we'll spare the survivors," said Pyra.
"I'll choose Option C: Teach you a lesson."
"You think you can?" Said Pyra, smirking, "you've never been able to beat us."
"Because, now I have something to fight for."
"Not alone, you won't!" Said Emerald.
"Oh, is this your new girlfriend?" Mocked Pyra.
"No, Emerald," I whispered, "this is my fight. Go lead the survivors to safety."
"Okay, but wait for me," she whispered back, "I'll join you again as soon as I'm able. Oh, and Argyle-"
"I'll be careful."
"The lieutenant won't be fighting today," I said, "I'll take you on alone."
"I was hoping you'd say that," said Pyra, "Flamethrower!"
I dodged it easily, rolling to the side.
"Fire Punch!"
I ducked and then got him on the uppercut.
"Shadow Claw!"
"Graagh!" Yelled Danté in pain.
"This isn't my first life or death battle," I said, "I've defeated things that would make even Pyra run in terror."
"Liar! Fire Fang!" Shouted Pyra. I ducked behind Danté and made her bite him.
"Graagh!"
"Agility! Poison Jab!"
Like a rocket, I leapt from Fire type to Fire type, jabbing them with a poison-soaked claw.
"How? When!?" Shouted Pyra.
"I've learned a few new tricks since we last sparred."
From his fiery belt, Incineroar pulled out a small device with a button. He pressed the button and all of a sudden, I got an electric shock.
"Graaaaaaggghhhhh!" I yelled out in pain.
The pain made me double over, incapacitating me.
"We've learned a few things as well," said Danté.
Dante knelt behind me and pulled my arms behind my back. I felt cold steel and heard a metallic clank. In a panic I began struggling, but it was too late. I was in shackles. Strong shackles.
"Well, well, well, the law finally caught up with you."
I gasped in surprise. Through the fire and the flames came a familiar Mienshao, Sheriashuu, lieutenant of the Mystery City Police Force.
"Sheri has you!" I said in surprise.
"It's Sheriashuu! Pronounced Sheri-ash-oo."
"We've got your thief," said Danté.
"You hired them!?"
"And his accomplice," said Pyra, pulling Emerald into the scene, with the same steel shackles.
"Sheriashuu! What is the meaning of this!?"
"It was a trap, for Argyle," said Sheriashuu, "didn't expect you to be involved in his crimes."
"I'm not!"
"For the crimes of arson, murder and all manner of larceny, the sentence is prison. For life."
"Life!? What has gotten into you, you stupid Mienshao!?" Shouted Emerald.
"Quiet!" Shouted Sheriashuu as she slapped Emerald hard on the cheek.
"Don't you dare do that to her!" I shouted, "you should be the one in prison, you traitor!"
"I SAID QUIET!"
Sheriashuu punched me and then all I seen was darkness.
