Pokémon Police Force Chapter 25: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Two weeks had passed since I had first broken off from Emerald and Slowbro. A lot has happened in that time. I was reunited with my girlfriend, Jessie. Danté and Pyra shown up and now we are running from certain death with Sal and Snow in tow. We have been running non-stop for nearly two full weeks with barely any time to rest. Luckily, our pursuers didn't stop to wash the raw sewage off of them, so we could always smell them coming.

"Just what kind of stamina do these guys have!?" Asked Snow at one point.

"Just keep running," said Sal, "we're almost at Isatar. We can rest once we get on the boat."

We followed Sal into town and that's were Snow took the lead. She led us through the town and onto the dock and into her crew's new ship: The Fat Floatzel.

"Anchors away! Let go and hull to run free!" Shouted Snow, taking over the reins of command once more, "onwards to Loramarr!"

The ship lurched away at once, leaving the port and the pursuing Pokémon behind.

"This won't last. They'll follow us," I said.

"That's the plan, remember," said Jessie, "now, I need a nice, long nap." Jessie grasped me by the shoulder and almost dragged me into the crew cabins.

(That's it, I've lost control of my life.)

Our group of four, sans Snow, eventually settled down in the crew cabins. I think Snow retired to the captain's cabin eventually. I had slept the entire trip. No sooner had I awoke, curled up with Jessie, when I heard the joyful cry from the deck.

"Land, ho!"

I shook Jessie awake, followed by Sal and we three emerged on the deck. We were greeted by an extremely cold wind.

"Sleep well? Cold enough for you?" Asked Snow.

"I feel fine," I said.

"You weren't kidding when you said Blizzard Island," said Jessie, shivering.

I hugged her to help keep her warm.

"Thanks," said Jessie.

"I'm a Fire type and even I feel chilly," said Sal, "strange. It seems colder here than I remember."

"Well, you were in a desert prison for a few years," replied Snow as-a-matter-of-factly.

"Speaking of which, why didn't the police seem to care that I escaped from prison?" Asked Sal.

"That… is a good question, actually," I replied.

While we pondered this question, the crew dropped anchor, rooting the ship to the spot.

"Captain Glacier!" Said a Swampert trundling up to us, "this is as close as we can get you. You'll have to take a dinghy the rest of the way."

"It'll have to do," replied Snow, "as soon as we've cast off, make yourself scarce. We can't have you ruining the trap."

"Leave your escape to us, Cap'n!" Said Swampert, "ya heard her lads!"

We embarked in the dinghy and watched it lurch away as we made landfall. The island Loramarr was little more than a frozen spit of land with the frozen remains of a castle sitting smack-dab in the middle of it.

"Why build a castle here?" Asked Jessie, "this land is worthless."

"A relic from a bygone era," explained Sal, "back when war was on everyone's minds. This castle had just one function."

"War," answered Snow.

"Yeah, from what little documentation I found, it was built back when humans still existed."

"The Angel War," I said, "I've heard of it, but isn't it just a myth?"

Without a word, Sal checked underneath a rock and pulled out a… well, I don't know what it was. It looked like a small black cylinder, shaped sort of like a water spike Gigantamax Inteleon would use but with a smaller cylinder on top with a red glass bottom. Two smaller boxes hung from the bottom of the primary cylinder. There was a little spike hanging from the back box, which Sal moved a few times with her index finger.

"Does this look like a myth to you?" Asked Sal.

"What is that?" I asked.

"A weapon, most likely," answered Sal, "I've tried it out a few times, but can't seem to get it to work."

Sal returned the strange weapon to its place underneath the rock.

"Either way, the past should stay in the past," said Sal changing the subject, "this is where I used to have my drug labs. I was busted once they found my pheromones in the drugs."

Sal looked over my shoulder to the sea.

"We don't have a lot of time," she said, "this way."

Sal led us through the front doors, into the decrepit entry way and through the corridors and out into the biggest room, the throne room.

"Will this do, Argyle?" Asked Sal, "you know them better than the rest of us."

I paced the room, checking every nook and cranny, beneath the furniture, behind the throne and even the walls.

"Argyle?" Asked Jessie.

I found a hidden lever behind a banner and pulled it down. A large pit opened in the middle of the room, apparently leading into the dungeons.

"Watch it!" Snapped Snow, "I almost fell!"

"Just as I thought. This place is riddled with traps."

"The ones that work anyway," said Sal.

"I feel a plan coming on," I said, "let's rig the dungeon, shall we?"

True to our suspicions, a few hours later, another ship made landfall on the northern shore.

"Argyle, they're here," said Jessie.

"Wait for it…," said Snow.

A few moments later, we heard the distinctive echoing of cannon fire and the distant fracturing of wood.

"Snow, what did you do?" Asked Sal.

"I have no idea what you may be referring to," said Snow with a wink and her tongue sticking out.

"No time," I said, "everyone into position."

Snow and Jessie retreated into the dungeons and Sal took her place behind the royal banner, beside the lever. I took the Crown of Plenty out of the Treasure Bag and placed it upon my head. I then took my place on the throne and waited for our "guests".

Shortly after, the audience chamber doors burst open and the familiar Incineroar and Houndoom marched in.

"My loyal subjects," I mocked, "about time you shown up."

"Loyal subjects!?" Repeated Pyra in anger, "we're anything but loyal to you, petulant weasel!"

"Ouch. If you're trying to insult me, try Houndoom sewage Rattata."

"It was your fault we went through that!"

"You could've at least bathed. News flash. There is sewage in sewers. Wow! Who would've guessed?"

Pyra just growled at me.

"Quit with the mockery," said Danté, "unlike what Pyra believes, we want you alive-"

"For what!?" I snapped, "you chase me halfway across the continent for what? A silly little crown!? Go on, take it!"

I threw the Crown of Plenty at Danté's feet.

"Or do you just want to take me to Team PWNK, your puppeteers?"

"How did you know we were with them?" Asked Pyra in shock.

"I didn't," I said smirking.

"Well done, Pyra. There goes our cover," said Danté sarcastically, "you can either come with us whole or in pieces."

"Alright, you got me," I said, throwing up my arms in surrender, "come get me."

"No tricks or Pyra will bite your claws off."

Pyra and Danté drew near until they passed over the hidden trap.

"How would you like some watermelon before we go?" I asked.

"Shut uuuuuuuupppppppppp!" Pyra yelled as the trap was sprung and she and Danté fell into the hole.

I jumped in the trap after them. Sal's role for the moment is done. Now, it's up to Jessie, Snow and I. Pyra had just enough time to recover before I was upon her.

"Brick Break!" I yelled.

My claw enveloped in bright white light; I brought a powerful karate chop right upon her head.

"Grragh!" Yelped Pyra.

"When did you learn that move!?" Asked Danté.

"The Black Market," I replied, "I stole it."

In the back of my mind, I could practically hear Jessie screaming at me.

"You just made a bad move," said Pyra.

"I doubt it."

Jessie walked in right on cue.

"A Fairy type," said Danté, "so, what's the trick this time?"

"No trick," I replied, "we're fighting now."

"Somehow, I find that hard to believe," said Pyra.

"Ya got me," I said, "the next trick is called… Agility."

I was filled with a sudden burst of speed and proceeded to Brick Break the living daylights out of the both of them. Jessie followed by lead by attacking with rapid-fire Play Roughs. Eventually, Danté and Pyra were knocked on their backs by our combined assault.

"Now, Snow!" I yelled.

Snow pulled a lever nearby and a huge oak log swung into view and crashed into the duo, plowing them into the stone wall, knocking them out instantly.

"Huh? That went smoother than we planned for," I said.

"This did feel too easy," said Snow, walking into view.

"I've got the restraints."

Sal walked into the dungeon, holding several metal cuffs, muzzles, etc.

"Good," replied Jessie, "let's do this quickly."

Our group proceeded to put all the restraints on Danté and Pyra. Unfortunately, Pyra woke up as Sal was strapping a muzzle on her. Her ankles were already shackled to each other, so all she could do was flail wildly. We all had to help hold her down as Sal finished.

Pyra was arrayed in the afore mentioned ankle shackles and muzzle as well as a shock collar. Danté was "equipped" with a smaller muzzle, ankle and wrist shackles chained together, a special fireproof belt around his signature Incineroar belt and a shock collar to match Pyra's.

"Those are shock collars," said Jessie, "give me an excuse."

I could've sworn I'd seen tears form in Pyra's eyes, but they were gone a moment later. Danté just glared at us.

"Let's go," I said, firmly grabbing Danté by his forearm.

Danté let himself be led away with little resistance, Pyra on the other hand, had to be drug out of the decrepit castle. Eventually, Sal decided that enough was enough.

"That's it," said Sal, "I'm done fighting with you."

Sal revealed a medical syringe she'd been carrying around. Pyra began to fight even more fiercely, but Sal had been too quick. She jabbed the needle into Pyra's neck, releasing a drug into her system. In short order, Pyra went limp.

"Sal! What the Voidlands was that!?" Yelled Snow.

"A drug. One powerful enough for a Snorlax. She should be asleep the entire boat ride back."

Loading up Danté and the newly-passed-out Pyra in the dinghy, we sailed back to the Fat Floatzel through the driftwood remains of their ship. Once on deck, Pyra and Dante were thrown into the brig. Jessie and I followed them in and I knelt beside Danté.

"I have a few questions for you," I said, "I'm going to remove the muzzle. Fail to cooperate and I'll hand you off to Jessie here. As a mob boss, she is well versed in various methods of… enhanced interrogation."

I slowly removed Danté's muzzle.

"Thanks for that," Danté said, "it was awfully stuffy in there."

"Start talking. Why did you burn down Mystery City? Why did you hunt me down halfway across the continent? What is this Crown to you?"

"You may have already guessed, but Pyra and I are Team PWNK agents. That Crown was just a ruse to get you on our side."

"What do you mean?"

"We joined Team PWNK shortly before that job. When we let slip how skilled a thief you were, our leader just had to have you. That Mienshao was the go-between."

"Who is your leader?"

"Don't know. Never met the guy myself."

"Well, what about-?" I began.

"Argyle, come up here! You need to see this!"

It was Snow shouting from up on deck. As I went to see what all the fuss was about, Jessie replaced Danté's muzzle and followed me shortly after. As I emerged on deck, I met Sal, looking over the starboard side of the ship.

"Look," she said.

I looked over the edge. There, on the shore were Slowbro and Emerald, waving us down.

"What are they doing here?" Asked Sal.

"Maybe they found something," I said, "helmsman, take us to Isatar!"

"You do not give the orders on this ship, boy!" Said the helmsman, a Grapploct, "who do you think you are?"

Snow was upon him instantly. She pinned him down to the wood and summoned a wicked-looking spear of ice, aimed at Grapploct's throat.

"That is my half-brother!" Shouted Snow, "you will treat him with the same respect you show me!"

"Sorry! Sorry! My mistake, cap'n!"

Snow dispersed with the icy spear.

"Now what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to dock the ship at Isatar."

"Good, now go."

Snow let him up and Grapploct shuffled(?) to the wheel and wrapped his four primary tentacles around it. Under Grapploct's guidance, the ship did an about-face and began its journey to the nearby port of Isatar. Once docked at the rustic port, the pirates lowered a gangplank, which Officer Emerald and Slowbro used to get on the ship. They were followed by two unexpected passengers: a Zebstrika and a Rapidash.

"Argyle, I've got to say you're a sight for sore eyes," said Emerald.

"Long time, Sultan!" Cheered Slowbro.

"So now it's sultan?" I asked, exasperated.

"Argyle? Who are these people?" Asked Jessie, who had been quiet until now.

"Jessie, this is Emerald, the officer I told you about," I said.

Emerald dusted off her witch dress-shaped fur and bowed before holding out her hand for Jessie to shake.

"Argyle speaks highly of you," said Jessie, taking Emerald's outstretched paw, "any friend of his is a friend of mine."

Slowbro pushed Emerald out of the way and embraced Jessie in a big one-armed hug.

"Slowbro. I'm a pirate!"

"Of course, you are," said Jessie looking more than a little uncomfortable, "could I get some space, please?"

"Oh! Sorry!" Said Slowbro, releasing Jessie.

"As for us," said Rapidash, bringing us back to reality, "we're police."

(Why is Zebstrika glaring at me?)

"Watch yourself around him," whispered Emerald, "he doesn't like you."

I solemnly nodded.

(Did I steal from him? Does he blame me for the arson?)

"Argyle, you never introduced your Mawile friend there," said Rapidash.

"I'm Jessie," said Jessie, introducing herself, "mob boss, don of the Black Market and Argyle's girlfriend."

"You're the Shadow Saber!? I thought he was a man!" Said Emerald in shock, "wait, girlfriend?"

"People are more likely to fear a man than a woman," said Jessie simply, "and yes, we've been dating for over five years."

"We lost track of each other for most of that time," I explained, "long story."

"Never mind the story," said Snow, "what are you two doing here?"

"We could ask you lot the same thing," said Slowbro.

"We got your letter," said Emerald, "you said you were dealing with those two pyros."

"You don't seem in much of a hurry," said Zebstrika, still glaring at me, "yet."

"We captured them!" Said Sal gladly, "not too long ago, actually."

"You- WHAT!?" Said all four in surprise.

"They're in the brig right now," said Snow.

"Did you interrogate them?" Asked Emerald.

"Yeah," I said, "Danté confirmed my suspicions. All three of them are agents of Team PWNK. They did everything just to recruit me."

"All that just to recruit a Sneasel?" Asked Rapidash.

"Did you discover anything else?" Asked Emerald.

"No. I was talking to him when you were spotted," I said.

"We'll take over from here," said Zebstrika.

"Leave the interrogation to the professionals," said Rapidash.

Zebstrika and Rapidash disappeared into the bowels of the ship. Snow nodded to a Swampert and it followed the two officers.

"So, why are you here?" Asked Sal.

"Oh, that's right!" Said Emerald, "we have reason to believe that Sheriashuu is here!"

"Here?"

"In town," explained Slowbro, "the papers didn't name her specifically-"

"But we have to follow this lead!" interrupted Emerald.

I turned and faced the three ladies that helped capture my two former friends.

"We can't run the risk of Mary-has-you escaping," I said.

"Sheriashuu!" Yelled Emerald from behind me.

"I propose we split up," I continued, "meet in the town square in an hour. Do not attempt to fight her alone."

Our company of six all agreed and we disembarked from the ship. We split up and began scouring the town from top to bottom. I chose the rough neighborhood down south, where I wouldn't stick out too much. The hour drew to a close and I found myself wandering the town square.

(I hope everyone's okay.)

I gasped in surprise. The fur on the back of my neck began to stand on end. My patented sixth sense warning me of danger. Long fur wrapped around my left arm and slammed me into a concrete building.

As I staggered back to my feet, the fur wrapped around my arm again, but I was ready this time. I harshly jerked on the fur and pulled my unwitting assailant forward and into a kiss. When she realized what I had done, the Mienshao kicked me in the stomach, knocking me back.

"Always the kissing with you!" Yelled Sheriashuu in anger.

"Ashley Shannon!" I said.

"That's not even close, moron!" Yelled Sheriashuu.

"Argyle!"

I didn't turn to look as I was joined by the other five of my company.

"Sheriashuu! There you are!" Said Emerald.

"Emerald? I see you're still with your boy toy," said Sheriashuu in a mocking tone.

"I am going to break her arms," said Jessie.

Sheriashuu chuckled.

"What a motley crew you have here," said Sheriashuu, "Slowbro, that Glaceon pirate, a Salazzle and a Mawile. You come this way for little old me?"

"That's right!" Said Slowbro, stepping around me.

Sal followed Slowbro to stand before me.

"We heard what you did," said Sal, "you shall answer for it."

"You hurt Argyle," said Jessie, stepping forward.

"You threw him in prison," said Snow standing beside her.

"Sheriashuu, you were my friend," said Emerald, "why? Why did you do this!?"

Sheriashuu laughed a laugh full of malice.

"Sure, I'm with Team PWNK, but I don't share their love for Dark types. In fact, I only want one thing: the total destruction of all Dark types."

Emerald got between me and Sheriashuu too now.

"You seek genocide!?" Spat Emerald, "all because you got kissed!?"

"It wasn't the kiss," said Sheriashuu wiping her mouth, "every major crisis that has happened has always had a Dark type at its core. I joined Team PWNK because I realized that if I couldn't cause a Dark type genocide, then getting the world to see them only as criminals of the highest order would be a close second."

Sheriashuu pointed right at Emerald.

"You may have forgotten, but when we were young, there was a thief. A thief who took a particular interest in stealing from us and everyone else in Bastion."

(Wait, Emerald and her friend were living in Bastion?)

"I did some digging," said the Mienshao, "it turns out the thief was a Dark type arrayed in black and red. It was Argyle."

Every head turned back to look at me.

"You know my story!" I shouted, "you know I had no choice!"

"As you say. And while all the stuff was easy to replace, no crime should ever go unpunished. I went to the guards and told them what I knew at the time, but since I was a kid, they told me to get lost."

Emerald grasped the stick in her tail, glaring at Sheriashuu.

"What did you do, Sheriashuu?" She asked through gritted teeth.

"I followed the thief one night into the Narrows. All I found was a half-dead Weavile."

"You better have not done what I think you did!" I shouted, pulling the stick from my tail.

The friction caused it to ignite and I pointed the lit end right at Sheriashuu's nose.

"I ended her misery with my own two hands," smirked Sheriashuu, "by strangling."

"You! You are the reason I'll never meet her!" Shouted Snow.

"You will pay for what you did to the sultan!" Shouted Slowbro.

"You are the lowest Sligoo," said Sal.

Then, all at once, the sky was cast with an ominous green glow. We all looked up into the sky. The scene that followed nearly stopped my heart and will live on inside me for as long as I live.

I'd seen green beams of light, the same ones we'd seen in the Devil's Gauntlet. Only this time, there were more, much more. There were so many of these lights that it blotted out the sun.

I'd returned my gaze to the ground just in time to see a small green creature, shaped kind of like a Dunsparce. It had one large eye and one small and had a hexagon pattern on its back. The hexagon was cast in a pale forest green. Suddenly, it turned into a ray of green light and shot behind me.

(Please, no.)

I spun around and seen Argyle with his mask and arm wrappings already on the ground. His green corrupted areas were enveloped in a fiercely burning emerald green inferno.

Argyle's face is what will never leave my memory. He didn't have his usual smirk or even any sorrow in his eyes. What I'd seen on his face was a look of rage. Pure, unbridled, primordial rage.

"ARGYLE! DON'T!" I screamed, "YOU'LL KILL HER!"

Then, all at once, the lights shot at lightning speed at Argyle, enveloping him in a terrifying tempest of the most malefic green imaginable. Now, I could feel the very depths of Argyle's anger. Like a burning sword that penetrated me and consumed my very soul.

"We've got to get out of here!" Shouted Snow.

She, Slowbro and I began pulling and pushing Sal and Jessie as far away as possible. But it was too late.

Zygarde's energy erupted, sending us tumbling into hard, concrete buildings. When the dust cleared, the day only got worse, much worse. Argyle was gone. In his place stood a massive bipedal dragon, 15 meters (almost 50 feet) high at least. It was covered in black Sneasel fur, with the fur on the ends of its elbows, its claws and its feet in that same Zygarde green. The dragon had three tail feathers, all cast in the ghostly green glow.

Around its torso, the dragon had a hard, brown belt with green hexagons decorating the face. Speaking of faces, the entire top half of the dragon's head had a mask of the same material the belt had. Argyle's eyes were gone, replaced by green glowing hexagons.

The dragon's neck played host to a collar of the same like as its belt and mask, only with four protruding pillars. The pillars had the same green hexagon pattern. To complete the look, where Argyle's ear-feather would normally be was replaced by an ever-writhing green tentacle.

"Argyle?" I asked.

"What the fu-?" Began Sheriashuu, "GAALLLGGHH!"

The tentacle shot out, far extending its range and wrapped tightly around Sheriashuu's neck. It then threw her into a building with enough force to cleave it in two. Argyle then pounced into the building, destroying what remained of it. He grabbed Sheriashuu with his claws this time and threw her aside like garbage.

"Argyle, what?" Asked Jessie in disbelief.

"Come, on! We have to save Sheriashuu!" I shouted.

We collected ourselves and ran off after Argyle. We made our way through smashed buildings and over debris. When we'd met Argyle and Sheriashuu again, Argyle had his tentacle wrapped around her neck again and he was violently slashing at her in a frenzy. Each slash caused fresh blood to flow and she kept coughing up whatever blood Argyle allowed her to.

"Flamethrower!" Shouted Sal and I.

"Shell Side Arm!" Shouted Slowbro.

"Iron Tail!" Shouted Snow.

"Play Rough!" Shouted Jessie.

The attacks hit Argyle square in the ankle, but he didn't react. He just kept brutalizing Sheriashuu. Maybe he didn't feel it, or maybe he's just ignoring us. Whatever it was, we needed to stop this NOW!

"I'd hoped I wouldn't have to use this," said Sal.

Sal revealed a small, red, diamond shaped crystal that she had apparently been carrying.

"Stand back," she said, to which we complied.

Sal did a weird little dance and then she became enveloped in an inferno of bright red flame.

"INFERNO OVERDRIVE!"

Sal breathed the strongest fire breath I've ever seen. The plume was big enough to encompass the average building. Inferno Overdrive blasted into Argyle and knocked him away with all the force of a hundred flying Dragonites.

"Come on!" Panted Sal, "let's get her out of here!"

Suddenly, the ground began to shake. We had barely enough time to look before a flash of green and black encompassed my vision and then, black.

I coughed as my vision returned. Jessie was holding me in her arms.

"You're finally awake," she said.

"What happened?"

"Look."

I cast my gaze over the city. Most of the port town was reduced entirely to rubble.

"No."

"Many were injured," said Jessie, answering my unsaid question, "we only had… one… casualty."

"Take me to her."

Jessie helped me to my feet, and we walked through the town ruins. It took no real time at all to find the others, sans Argyle huddled together.

"Oh, Emerald, we're so sorry," said Snow, running up to me, "we couldn't stop him."

"Blast it!" Groaned Slowbro.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Over here," said Sal.

I was led to the broken body of a Mienshao. She was so cut up and covered in blood that she was barely recognizable. Reaching down, I picked up her police badge and held it tight.

"Please tell me that was all a dream."

We turned to the source of the voice. It was Argyle. No one answered him. I should've been angry at him for killing my childhood friend, but I just was empty of anger, emotion, everything. Argyle walked to our group, Sal and Slowbro stepped aside to let him through.

"No. No. No, no, no. No!" Said a shocked Sneasel, "WHAT HAVE I DONE!?"

Argyle, I noticed was no longer wearing his mask or arm wrappings. It green on him had simmered down and returned to its normal state.

"Argyle," said Jessie, putting her arm on his shoulder, "it was an accid-"

"No!" He shouted, throwing her arm off, "stay away from me!"

Argyle procured a small black ball from the ground and tossed it down. A smokescreen erupted, making us gag and cough.

"Brother!" Shouted Snow.

When the smoke cleared, Argyle was gone, vanished without a trace.

"Argyle…," breathed Sal.

"Come on," I said, picking up Sheriashuu's body, not caring about the blood dripping from my paws, "Sheriashuu needs a proper burial."