Pokémon Police Force Chapter 47: The Day that Time Stood Still
Regalia's mansion was only a few miles from Treeshroud Forest, so it didn't take that long to find it. Emerald, Keldeo, Snow and I started to go in, but Team AWD stayed put.
"What's wrong?" Asked Keldeo.
"It's this forest," said Arbok, "it feels different than when we were here last."
"Something about it screams danger," said Drapion.
"It looks like a normal forest to me," I said.
"Mystery Dungeon," corrected Emerald.
"Dangerous or not, we have to go," said Snow, "the equinox is tomorrow."
"You're right," said Weavile, walking to the forest, "follow me to the temple, but keep your eyes open. I don't like this."
I could tell something had Weavile and the others on edge as we proceeded through the Mystery Dungeon. They kept peering around every tree and looking through every bush. I was just glad they didn't think to start turning over rocks as well.
"Wait," said Keldeo at one point.
"What's wrong?" Asked Snow.
"The air. Listen."
I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the wind. Well, I would, but there didn't seem to be any wind.
"I don't hear anything," said Emerald.
"That's just it. No wind, it was especially blustery just a moment ago. No chirping of bird Pokémon or skittering of bug Pokémon either."
"I don't like this," echoed Weavile.
"Argyle, can your power help?" Asked Arbok.
I opened my eyes.
"Maybe. It isn't just the air here. The dirt isn't… normal," I said.
"Try it anyway," said Snow, "it may give us some clues."
Argyle closed his right eye and looked beyond where we were. It wasn't long until he gasped in shock.
"What?" Asked Weavile.
"You'd better see for yourself," he said, "it's worse than anything we've faced so far."
(Something worse than Yveltal? What's back there?)
"Follow me."
Argyle led us through the forest like he had lived there his entire life. We followed as closely as we could, though I wish we hadn't. What lie beyond the trees was a sight that made my heart skip at least seventeen beats.
The entire forest was grey, like we had just steeped into an old movie. No wind was blowing and morning dew seemed to be suspended in midair. A bone-chilling silence was all that greeted us.
"What the-? This was not here before!" Said Arbok.
"I knew it was bad, but this…," said Drapion.
"What… why?" Said Snow, lost for words.
"I feel like we shouldn't be here," I said.
Argyle didn't speak, he just kept walking.
"Time has stopped here," said Keldeo.
Everyone but Argyle looked at Keldeo.
"What do you mean?" Asked Weavile, "if time stopped, then how can we-?"
"I don't know, but it seems that way."
"How could time suddenly stop?" I asked.
"That's why," said Argyle.
Argyle was pointing at a mystical ring floating in the air. Pale, blue light was weakly being emitted from it.
"What's that?" Asked Keldeo.
"Emerald, Snow, think back. Where have we seen this before?"
I thought back to everything that happened since we've met Snow. Only one thing popped out in my mind, a mystical gear floating above a lake. When I looked back at Snow, I seen my own gaze reflected back at me. We had come to the same conclusion.
"The Time Gear!" I said.
"A Time Gear was here!" Said Snow.
"You've seen a Time Gear!?" Asked Weavile.
"So have you, it seems," I answered.
"This forest's Time Gear has been stolen," said Argyle, "Emerald, this is your area of expertise. See if you can find out who done this."
"Keldeo, you're the only one here without a single bone of criminal intent in his body," said Emerald, "help me gather evidence."
"Mistress Weavile is no- oof!" Said Drapion as he got elbowed by Weavile.
"Let it go, you two," said Snow, "we all have criminal pasts. We're suspects. Like it or not."
"And we're the prime suspects," said Arbok.
"We didn't do nothing!" Said Drapion.
"Of course, we didn't, but look at the facts," said Weavile, "we've been here before, were hesitant to go in and have no alibi before the Octagon. From a police perspective, it was us."
Emerald rejoined us shortly afterward, followed by Keldeo.
"Drapion, Arbok, Snow, you're off the hook," said Emerald, "you're free to go."
"That leaves just Mistress Weavile and Argyle," said Drapion.
"Why are they still under suspicion?" Asked Arbok.
"You three don't match the evidence," replied Emerald, "they do."
"Allow me to explain," said Keldeo, "we found claw marks in the canopies of some nearby trees. Drapion isn't nearly that nimble to get up there and Arbok wouldn't have left any marks for obvious reasons. We also found footprints in the ground nearby. Two legs and sharp claws. Snow couldn't have left them."
"What about the number of claws?" Asked Snow.
"That's the deal," said Keldeo, "we couldn't quite tell. Whoever stood there took off shortly afterward, ruining part of the impression."
"Whoever it was, they were quick on their feet and about your heights," said Emerald.
She walked right up to me and stuck her nose in my face.
"One of you has used the move Agility quite often in the past and has no alibi for upwards of three years. Argyle, do you have any reason for us not to believe that it was you?"
Surprisingly, it was Drapion that pulled her away.
"Put the cop back in the closet and listen to yourself!" Said Drapion, "who knows Argyle better than you? If he was unaccounted for three years, if he'd stolen the Time Gear during that time, don't you think you would've heard about this long before today?"
"Uh…"
"Emerald, I mean this with all due respect," I said, "you work way too much."
"I told you not to jump to conclusions," said Keldeo, "Argyle was trying to hide for all that time. Why would he have stolen a Time Gear on the way?"
"I get it," sighed Emerald, "I'm sorry I doubted you."
"I'm a thief. I'm used to it."
(That light. Is this what it wanted me to see here?)
"Weavile, we got distracted. Where is the Harvest Temple?"
"Just beyond those trees there, but if time has really stopped here, would this equinox thing really work?"
"I have to try."
I took the Crown of Plenty from my bag and placed it on my head.
"Time to return this to its true owner."
"Wait, was that what this whole errand was about?" Asked Emerald.
"I thought we told you," said Snow.
"I was told I was only allowed to enter the temple, but will you all accompany me to the doors?"
"Like you need to ask," said Keldeo.
We walked silently for an hour until we came upon the Harvest Temple. Well, maybe "temple" was too strong a word. The temple was little more than a small indescript stone building overrun by vines. If there was a door here, it was long reclaimed by the forest. At least the time paralysis didn't extend this far.
"This is the temple? It's a piece of crap," said Snow.
"I find that usually the most valuable things don't look like much on the outside," said Weavile, "like me for instance."
Keldeo snickered.
"What!?"
"You. Valuable."
Keldeo snickered again.
"Oh hush!"
"Well, the equinox is tomorrow," said Arbok, "want to camp here for the night?"
"Hey, as long as we don't have to deal with some overacting Wartortles this time, I'm happy," I said.
Drapion just so happened to be carrying enough camping supplies for all of us, so we settled in. Emerald slept all curled up by her lonesome, so I laid beside her and became the big spoon to her little one. Her eyes fluttered open at this, but to my surprise, she didn't push me away. She must be comfortable with the idea of us being together now.
I dreamed a dream of the world standing still. The planet's rotation stopped and the Pokémon who inhabited it became mad by just living in the world. Then, a light shown from the east and the planet's rotation resumed. The dream ended right there. The rest of my sleep was dreamless and I woke up right as the sun was rising over the horizon.
I carefully uncoupled myself from Emerald without waking her and stood up. Everyone else was still asleep as a large shadow loomed over us. An obelisk had just materialized while we slept. A great spike of smooth white stone with no discernible inscriptions on it. In the top of the obelisk was a disk of thick red glass.
"Everyone! Wake up!"
Keldeo was to his feet at once, his Secret Sword already primed to go. The others were a little less quick to their feet. Plus, Snow and Drapion kept sleeping.
"Where's the danger!?" Said Keldeo.
"What's that?" Asked Arbok.
"I don't know," I said, "was it here last night?"
"No. I would've noticed," said Emerald.
"Get up, you two couch potatoes!" Said Weavile.
After we spent several minutes waking up the zombies, we all stood gazing at the obelisk. The sun was continuing to ascend behind it.
"Maybe this is the key to get into the temple," said Weavile.
"A light activated lock!" Said Drapion, "why didn't we think about that?"
"Maybe I can trick the lock into letting me in sooner," I said.
When the sun reached the lip of the glass, a bright beam of red light shone through. I stood in the beam's path and used the gem on my head to redirect the light to the building. It took a few minutes, but then the ground began to quake.
"Argyle! What did you do!?" Yelled Snow.
All around the Harvest Temple, the ground began to break up and fall.
"Let's get out of here!" Said Keldeo.
We all retreated as fast as we could until we were sure we were away from danger. The collapsing ground obscured everything in a thick cloud of dust.
"What I wouldn't give for someone with Defog right now," said Arbok.
All we could do was wait until the dust settled naturally.
"Now that I have a chance to say this, sorry I tried to unmask you at your mother's grave," said Emerald.
"…and you've made it awkward," said Drapion.
Okay, we had to wait in awkward silence as the dust settled. When it did settle, we were treated to the sight of a huge hole with an Aztec pyramid sitting in the middle. It was decorated all over with statues of different plants and animals.
"No wonder no one could get inside," said Weavile, "the temple's underground!"
"Judging by the angle of the tower, the light never would've struck the temple either," said Snow, "cheating does get you ahead in life!"
"That is just one instance!" Said Emerald, "one should never cheat!"
"Really?" I said.
I adjusted the crown on my head.
"Well, no time like the present."
I walked forward and jumped into the hole. It was a lot further down than I thought it would be, so I used Ice Beam to help ensure a soft landing.
There were steps ascending up each side of the pyramid leading up to a statue at the top. The statue resembled a bipedal goat dressed in a kingly-looking robe. The only thing that was missing from the statue was a crown.
I took the Crown of Plenty from off my head and examined it closely.
"Could it really be so easy?"
I carefully placed the Crown of Plenty upon the statue's head.
"You have done well."
An icy steed walked into view from my left. Then, a ghostly steed appeared to my right.
"He is awakening."
The statue began cracking and glowing with teal light. Gradually, pieces of the statue fell off and tumbled to the ground.
"If this turns out to be a pink guy on a cloud-!"
(Huh? Where did that come from?)
Eventually, all the stone broke off and we were joined by a new Pokémon, a white goat with a robe and crown. It was the spitting image of the statue itself.
"Our master has awakened," said Glastrier.
"May I introduce, Calcyrx," said Spectrier.
"I suppose I have you to thank for my release," said Calcyrx, "why does your energy feel so similar to Zygarde's?"
"Well, it's because, I'm Zygarde."
Just like before after the Octagon fell, I summoned an illusory image of the Zygarde core within me.
"And I am Argyle, the Sneasel," said the illusory Zygarde.
"And we are Zygarde," Zygarde and I said at the same time.
"Zygarde? Argyle? What's going on?" Asked Calcyrx.
"Allow me to explain. When I was a boy, I almost died. This Zygarde Core fused itself to me, saving my life and binding the two of us together."
I undid my mask and let it drop to the ground, eliciting shocked gasps from the trio.
"I still don't know why I decided to do it," said the illusory Zygarde, "but I must say, it's good to see you again."
"Likewise, old friend," said Calcyrx.
"You two know each other?"
"Of course, they do," said Glastrier, "as I'm sure you've been told, Zygarde's duty is to eliminate threats to the planet."
"Calcyrx's job is to restore life to the Earth," finished Spectrier.
"I thank you for returning my crown to me, Argyle," said Calcyrx, "it was pried off centuries ago while I hibernated."
"We failed to stop him," said Spectrier.
"The thief is dead now and my crown has been returned, but don't let it happen again," scolded Calcyrx, "but where was my crown when you found it?"
I recounted the tale back to Calcyrx, leaving nothing out.
"So, by a thief was the crown stolen and by the hands of a thief was the crown returned," said Glastrier, "how poetic."
"Ha! I thought I felt a familiar presence!"
Just then something flew by and knocked me over. After I righted myself, I found a new Pokémon. This Pokémon was the head, arms and torso of a brown man sitting on a cloud. A decorative halo followed him and a rectangular white hairdo and sharp mustache completed the look of an angry, naked god.
"Nice to see you too, Landorus," said Calcyrx, "but you bowled over our guest."
Landorus turned and looked at me. His eyes lit up in realization at once.
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Forgive me, Zygarde!"
Landorus started bowing. I looked at the illusory Zygarde Core, who just rolled its eye.
"So, you're Landorus, god of fertility and agriculture, right?"
"That's me!" Said Landorus, flexing.
"Why are you bowing to me? I'm not a god."
Calcyrx walked up to me and placed a paw on my shoulder.
"As Zygarde, you are the planet's last defense. Many gods hold you in the highest esteem because of it," explained Calcyrx, "to defy you is to defy the planet itself."
I removed Calcyrx's paw and dispelled the illusory Zygarde.
"I may be Zygarde now, but I never wanted all this attention," I said, "don't bow to me. Just treat me like a normal Sneasel."
"That would be improper!" Said Landorus.
"Don't mind him," said Glastrier, "Landorus takes manners way too seriously."
"Noted."
"Back to my explanation," said Calcyrx, "Zygarde is a living weapon, built to destroy threats to the planet."
"When the threats are taken care of, you can imagine how the land looks afterward," said Landorus.
"I have seen it. So much destruction."
"Yes, once Zygarde does its job, we often have a new wasteland," said Landorus.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Don't be. It's someone else's job to restore life," said Landorus, "namely ours."
"Huh?"
"Landorus's job is to restore the Earth to a rich, fertile place," said Calcyrx, "and my powers allow plants to grow and bloom wherever I step."
"We follow Zygarde's lead and return the Earth back to the way it once was," said Landorus.
"So… you're the planet's janitors?"
"Hold your tongue!" Snapped Calcyrx, "I am no one's janitor!"
"Calcyrx. He has a point," said Landorus.
"Let me guess, the planets have aligned and your crown was only returned because there is a big mess to clean up."
"More or less," said Spectrier.
"What's the wasteland this time?" Asked Calcyrx.
"Actually, I haven't made any wastelands as of late," I said, "but I did destroy a tower in the middle of a wasteland."
"A tower in a wasteland?"
"That would be the Badlands on the Windy Continent," explained Landorus, "it almost covers the entire continent. It'll take a hundred years at least to replenish the entire land."
"Well, we had best get to work," said Calcyrx, mounting Spectrier.
"Before you leave, Landorus, do you know anything about the Time Gear?"
"The Time Gear?" Asked Landorus, "what about them?"
"The nearby Time Gear has been stolen."
The news shocked everyone.
"Do you know of any other missing Time Gears or where this one might be?"
"No. I do not," said Landorus, "but if we find out anything, you'll be the first to know."
"We can't delay any further," said Spectrier, "the Windy Continent has been without crops long enough."
The quartet left at those words. I recovered my mask and place it back on my face. Then, I climbed out of the hole and joined everyone else.
"What happened down there?" Asked Keldeo.
"I'm sorry, but that's between Zygarde and I," I said, "on a more positive note, I think I know where we may find some clues about the missing Time Gear."
"That sounds promising," said Snow, "where to now?"
"That's the hard part. It's in Treasure Town."
Silence fell over the group, well… all except for Drapion.
"I don't see what the problem is," said Drapion, "we walk in and out of that place all the time. It's quite the peaceful town."
"That's because you're part of an Exploration Team," said Snow, "if Argyle or myself were to walk in there…"
"Oh…," said Drapion.
Everyone was quiet for the longest time until Emerald spake.
"There may be a way," said Emerald, "our daughter."
"What about her?"
"We gave the egg to Chansey's Day Care in Treasure Town," explained Emerald, "if just the two of us were to go in as a couple checking on their egg, we'd be a lot less likely to draw attention."
"That still leaves Snow," said Weavile, "she can't just waltz in, being a pirate."
"Ex-pirate!" Corrected Snow.
"Isn't Officer Magnezone stationed in Treasure Town? Keldeo and Snow could go in and explain the situation to him," said Arbok.
"We may be able to glean some clues as well," said Keldeo.
Once everyone was clear on their method of entry as well as the plan, we split apart and embarked on my most ambitious task yet, infiltrating the biggest hub of Exploration Teams in the world, Treasure Town.
