Pokémon Police Force Chapter 48: Guildmaster Wigglytuff

I could feel my heart in my throat as I walked. Every step felt like I was walking through wet concrete.

(Am I supposed to hear my own heartbeat?)

I could see Treasure Town drawing ever closer on the horizon. Like a prisoner heading down the long hall towards the noose, every single step seemed like another eternity.

"Argyle."

I knew my time was coming. It was just a matter of someone finding out who I was.

"Argyle."

(Maybe it's not too late! I could retire to Post Town! No, wait… that's almost as bad.)

"Argyle!"

"Woah! Stop yer shoutin' woman!"

I had just remembered Emerald, the Braixen walking beside me. At least I won't have to traverse death row alone.

"Everything okay? You look like you're a million miles away."

"Well, excuse me princess! I'm pretty sure I'm still wanted around these parts and we are walking right into the jaws of the beast. That place is Exploration Team central and our plan is just to waltz right on in!"

"Technically, we're walking."

"Don't make me slap you, Emerald."

"Stop."

Emerald stopped in place.

"What's the matter now? Not that I mind not going in."

"If we're going to be inconspicuous, we need to work on your poise."

"My… poise?"

"Loosen up, you're way too tense. Act like you belong here."

I readjusted myself and sighed.

"This is silly."

"Remember, live in the moment."

"I don't think that applies here, but I think I get what you're saying. Walk with confidence."

I took a few deep breaths and jumped on the spot a bit.

"Let's go. Our daughter's waiting for us."

"That's the spirit!"

Emerald and I walked into Treasure Town proper. The "town" was little more than a large group of tents running along the sides of a road. Many Pokémon went about their daily business. Most of them looked to be from various Exploration Teams, but none of them paid us any mind.

"What did I tell you?" Said Emerald, "keep a low profile and you'll be fine."

"This town seems… lively," I said, "I doubt they have anything valuable though."

"Is stealing all you think about?"

"If you want to make it in any larcenous business, you must always keep an eye out for opportunities," I said, "where's our kid at?"

"Chansey's Day Care. It's right in the central plaza. This way."

Emerald led me through the crowd. If anyone had caught my scent yet, the crowd made the perfect cover. A few of the locals exchanged words of greeting with us, but not much else.

Chansey's Day Care was housed in a building shaped like a Chansey. There were several incubation shelves built into the side with a busy-looking Pokémon tending to the Pokémon Eggs inside.

"Just a little more heat for this one, I think," said the Pokémon.

She turned a dial beside the incubation chamber and turned around to greet us.

"Welcome to Chansey's Day Care," greeted the Pokémon, "I'm Chansey! Who are you?"

"Argyle," I said simply.

"Ah, the thief," said Chansey.

"You know about me?"

"Of course. I never forget the names of expectant parents!"

I looked at Emerald.

"Sorry! She tricked me into telling her!"

"Did I?" Asked Chansey with a wink.

"Anyway… we're here to check on our daughter," said Emerald.

"One Fennekin Egg coming right up!"

Quick as a flash, Chansey opened a nearby incubation chamber and withdrew a familiar egg. The egg was about the size of Sal's torso and was a bright orange-yellow with different shapes of bright colors decorating the egg's surface. Only this time, it seemed to be pulsing with warmth.

Chansey placed the egg on the counter and Emerald began rubbing it softly.

"Hello there, girl," said Emerald, "oh! Argyle! Come quick! She kicked!"

I placed a claw on the egg and was overwhelmed by a different kind of warmth. It's like I could feel my daughter in my very soul. All of her hopes and joys, her innocence too. It all brought me to tears.

"You can feel it too, can't you?"

"Yes. Our daughter. I can feel her within me."

"We need a name."

"How about Twilight?" I asked, "light and darkness brought together as one."

"I have a better one," said Emerald.

Emerald reached into her tail and pulled out her Sun Sigil. She held it up to the sun. I responded by taking out my own Moon Sigil and held it over top of the Sun Sigil.

"When the moon meets the sun, an eclipse shall be formed," said Emerald, "as such, our daughter shall be named Eclipse."

"Eclipse… Eclipse… I like it."

I returned my claw to the egg.

"What do you think?" I asked the egg.

Emerald placed her paw on my claw.

"Do you like the name Eclipse?"

The egg seemed to grow even warmer at the name. Emerald looked at me and got a huge grin.

"That settles it! She likes it!"

"Not to break up this emotional episode, but the egg really needs to return to the heat at this stage," said Chansey.

Emerald carefully picked up the egg and handed it to Chansey. Chansey said a few soothing words to the egg and returned it to its place.

"I must say, you two make quite the couple," said Chansey, "I have no doubt Eclipse will be a strong baby. Probably as cute as her mother too."

Emerald's cheeks grew red again, but she made no attempt to hide it this time. Chansey walked right up to me and looked me in the eyes.

"I know your type. You're strong and you know it," said Chansey, "do whatever you can to protect both these lovely ladies, but don't become overbearing and overprotective. Let them make their own mistakes."

"Truthfully, I don't feel quite ready for this."

"No one ever is," said Chansey, "just be yourself and remember that just as Eclipse is learning how the world works, you're learning how to be a parent."

"How long?" Asked Emerald, "how long until she hatches?"

"Will be a while yet," said Chansey, "I'd wager a couple of months at least. I'll be sending a letter when it gets close to time."

Chansey went to check on some of the other eggs. I took Emerald's paw as we watched her work.

"I guess we have to go now," said Emerald.

"Come back anytime to check in," said Chansey.

(Now for the hard part, getting into the guild. How do I let Emerald know?)

"Emerald, we need to talk," I whispered.

Emerald looked worried and then whispered back to me.

"Let's go to Sharpedo Bluff. No one will bother us there."

Emerald led me by the hand through the crowd. Gradually, the crowd dispersed until we came across a cliffside shaped like a Sharpedo. The nose of the bluff gave a great view of the vast sea.

"From one side of the continent to the other," I said, "we sure have been all over."

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"You'll think I'm crazy, but I won't beat around the bush. There's a reason why I suggested that we go here to find clues."

I stared off into the sea while I gathered my words.

"I need to get into the guild."

"Wait, guild? As in the local Exploration Team guild?"

"That's the one."

"Do you get off on poking the sleeping Pyroar?" Asked Emerald, "if someone like you were to walk in there-!"

"I know. It would be suicide," I said, "but you know as well as I do that they're our best chance at finding the missing Time Gears."

"How do you propose to get in?" Asked Emerald.

"We have an ally here," I said, "one that will get us a ticket inside."

"Who?"

"Dunno."

"I really wish your powers were a little more specific."

(Can't tell her that I'm blindly following a voice I once heard in my head.)

"So, what's the plan?" Asked Emerald.

"Ask for an audience with the Guildmaster and hope for the best."

"That's your plan!?"

"Hey, I never said it was well thought out!"

"Okay. Let's go with your plan for now," said Emerald, "if it doesn't work, we'll think of something else."

We walked back through the crowd to the other side of town. There, on a mesa, stood Wigglytuff's Guild. A massive tent shaped like a Wigglytuff, but with a steel portcullis and a wooden grate set into a hole.

"Well, here we are," said Emerald.

"Strange. I was expecting something grander."

"Hey! You up there!"

We glanced around for the source of the voice but found no one.

"Stand on the grate, please."

I looked at Emerald, who just shrugged. Then, I took a deep breath and stepped on the wooden grate.

"Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!"

"Who's footprint?"

"The footprint is… Sneasel! Sneasel!"

(What in the world is this all about?)

"My name is Argyle."

"Argyle, don't!"

"It'll be all right. I have Emerald of the Neo City Police Department with me. We need to speak with the Guildmaster about an urgent matter."

There was silence on the other side as the two voices talked among themselves.

"All right COME on in. The Guildmaster will MEET with you. HEAD on down to the SECOND basement floor."

The metal portcullis opened with a groan.

"Well, easy part's over," I said.

"I honestly thought we were done for when you announced your name. Just don't take any more risks."

"No promises."

Emerald and I walked into the tent and down a set of freshly-hewn stone steps. The steps were assembled into a spiral staircase. However, when we had reached the bottom, Emerald instantly grabbed my hand again.

The first basement floor was practically overflowing with Exploration Teams. I'd seen both professional and amateur teams alike. I'm pretty sure I caught sight of Team Razor Wind in the chaos, but I couldn't get close enough to tell.

I started to walk into the crowd, but Emerald held me back.

"The stairs are not that way," she said.

"I know. I want to check something first."

With Emerald still in hand, I quickly found the guild's Outlaw Board.

"I think I see the plan now," said Emerald.

"Tell me if you see anything."

We scoured the board, trying to find familiar names or faces. Once I'd finished glancing it over, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank Arceus. I'm not on here."

"Argyle, you might want to take a look at this."

She pointed at two wanted posters right beside each other. An Incineroar and a Houndoom.

"Danté and Pyra?"

"The very same. Evidently, they were last spotted around the area."

"We have to be extra cautious now."

"Yeah. Let's not keep our hosts waiting."

Emerald led me to another spiral staircase and down into a much bigger room. In this room, there were only a handful of Pokémon, but each one looked just as competent as the ones upstairs. As soon as we'd made it, a curious Bidoof walked up to us.

"By golly, you must be the two visitors that Loudred was hootin' and hollerin' about," said Bidoof.

"That's us," said Emerald, "I'm lieutenant Emerald, and this is Argyle."

"Well, I'm Bidoof and this is the legendary Wigglytuff Guild. We're a bit short-staffed right now, so if you're ever looking for work, look us up."

Bidoof chose to stare at the floor.

"The pay isn't that great, but you get to help Pokémon all over! Or catch bad guys all day if that's more your cup of tea. Yup, yup!"

"I already get to chase bad guys all day," said Emerald.

"Yeah, great job," I said sarcastically.

"Hey, watch it, buster."

"Well, we're here to see the Guildmaster," I said, "it's kind of impor-"

"You finally deigned to show up, I see!"

A parrot flew from somewhere within the guild and landed in front of me. This parrot's head looked like a musical note.

"If this is about taxes, we already paid those last week! Lay off!"

"No. We're not with them," I said, "it's imperative that we meet with the Guildmaster."

"Chatot. I'm the assistant Guildmaster. You have something to say to him, you can say it to me."

Emerald stepped forward.

"What we have to say is for the Guildmaster's ears only."

"I am the Guildmaster's ears!" Chatot squawked.

"HEY! Pipe down!"

"You're one to talk!"

"Meh heh heh."

"Wait a minute. I know that chuckle," I said.

I spun around and noticed a bubbling cauldron of purple liquid and a familiar Croagunk standing just beside it.

"You!" I yelled.

"What're you yellin' for?" Asked Bidoof.

"Do you know Croagunk?" Asked Chatot.

"You bet. That jerk attacked me out of the blue over on the Windy Continent!"

"That's the same Croagunk!?" Asked Emerald in surprise.

"You have some explaining to do!" Squawked Chatot.

"Meh heh heh…"

"Oh! Hey! Been a while."

The newcomers were two Pokémon I recognized instantly. A Riolu and an Eevee. Wolf and Dusk, the kids from before.

"I remember you," I said, "Wolf and Dusk, was it?"

"That's right!" Said Dusk, "are you joining the guild?"

"Afraid not. I apologize for not believing that you kids were in an Exploration team."

"I'm not a kid!" Piped up Wolf at once.

"How do you know them?" Asked Emerald.

"I thought I told you. I found them in Apple Woods. They were being attacked by Team Skull."

"Oh my gosh! That really happened?" Asked a Sunflora.

"I wouldn't put it past them. Hey! Hey!" Said a Corphish.

"Argyle and one of his friends put the wham on them!" Said Dusk, "it was hot."

"What?" Asked a Chimecho.

"What?" Replied Dusk.

"It just before I met Keldeo," I answered Emerald's unspoken question.

"That makes no sense," said Chatot, "Team Skull is a model of citizenship."

"Oh my Arceus," said Wolf.

"Well, let me introduce everyone," said Dusk, "Bidoof, Corphish, Chimecho, Sunflora, Croagunk, Chatot and Loudred over there in the corner. Diglett is manning the sentry post and Dugtrio is most likely staring off at the sea again."

"Who's talking about me?"

Dugtrio appeared out of the ground right by Dusk, making her jump.

"Cor blimey!" Said Dusk in astonishment.

Emerald and I snickered at that.

"What!?" Snapped Dusk.

"Sorry, you just remind us of someone," I said.

"You want the Guildmaster, right?" Asked Dugtrio, "I'll go get him."

Dugtrio tunneled back underground.

"Oh my gosh, I love the eyes," said Sunflora.

(She noticed the eyes first? This feels weird.)

"The mask is nice, too," said Sunflora in a dismissive sort of way.

"By the way, when was the last time you've had a decent meal?" Asked Chimecho.

"Why bring that up?" I asked.

"I can see your ribs from over here," replied Chimecho, "you need some fattening up, boy."

"I can't see any ribs," said Wolf.

"So, where's this Argyle at?"

A big pink Pokémon trundled up to us.

(So, this is Wigglytuff. Why does he feel so familiar?)

"So, you're the Guildmaster?" Asked Emerald.

"Yup! I'm also Argyle's bestie!"

Everyone jumped in surprise and gave a unified "WHAT!?"

"Is that true!?" Asked Dusk, wide-eyed.

"No. We've never met."

"Yes, we have," said Wigglytuff, "remember. It was back in Spire Crevasse."

"Spire Crevasse? No way… You were that Jigglypuff?"

"Guilty as charged!"

I chuckled to myself.

"I really shouldn't be surprised that you became a Guildmaster."

"It was you who inspired me to be an explorer."

"I'm honored."

"Um… did I miss something?" Asked Emerald.

"By golly, how do you two know each other?" Asked Bidoof.

"It was several years ago," I said, "I was walking through the Spire Crevasse when disaster struck. A sudden rockslide buried me alive."

"Dear Xerneas!" Said Chatot.

"I saw this happen and blasted away most of the rocks," said Wigglytuff, "then, I pulled him out of the rubble, saving his life."

"Once I recovered, I had Wigglytuff, formerly Jigglypuff, train me."

"The Guildmaster TRAINED you!?" Asked Chatot in surprise, "I haven't even accomplished that."

"Nevermind that!" Said Emerald, "we're not here to reminisce!"

"Sorry. Thanks, Emerald."

"Right, down to business," said Chatot, "what do you want?"

"Well-"

"That can wait!"

Dugtrio erupted from the earth right by Dawn once more.

"Cor blimey!"

"Dugtrio! WHERE do you GET off!?"

"Hush!" Snapped Chatot.

"I collect the wanted posters of every outlaw that ever ends up on our board," said Dugtrio, "I know I seen our guest's face before."

(Uh oh.)

Dugtrio placed a paper in front of Chatot.

"Take a look at this. It's a poster that Officer Magnezone forbade me from placing on the board."

Chatot took one look at the poster and squawked.

"It's Argyle! He's a Class A outlaw!"

"WHAT!?" The entire guild shouted out again.

"Oh, come on! I'm only Class A? I thought I would've made Class S by now!"

"You've made a big mistake coming here. Hey! Hey!"

"Believe me, I don't want to be here either!" I said, "if it weren't an emergency-!"

"What emergency!?" Snapped Chatot, "you are a-!"

"Good Pokémon!" Shouted Wolf.

To my surprise, Wolf and Dusk ran up to me and put themselves in-between me and the guild.

"Wolf! Dusk! What's the meaning of this!?"

"He may be an outlaw, but he saved our bacon!" Said Dusk, "Mmmmm… bacon…"

"Oh, brother," said Wolf, rolling his eyes, "just give him a chance! Make your judgements afterward!"

"Move!" Ordered Chatot.

"Chatot, stand down," said Wigglytuff.

"But, Guildmaster!"

"Argyle is my friend, no, my friendly friend! I don't make friends with Pokémon that are truly bad! Let him speak."

"What we have to say isn't meant for all ears," said Emerald.

"Oh my gosh, just tell us, we're trustworthy."

"Not with that guy present!" I said, pointing at Croagunk, "at least throw him out the window or something!"

"Meh heh heh…"

"Fine," said Chatot, "Loudred!"

"Meh heh heh?"

Loudred summarily threw Croagunk out of the window and into the sea.

"It feels so GOOD to be the one DOING the flinging for once," said Loudred.

"Shut up unless you'd like another trip to Amp Plains!" Said Wolf.

I looked at Emerald who nodded and mouthed "it's okay".

"To the matter at hand. Are any of you familiar with Treeshroud Forest?" I asked.

"I've been there before," said Chatot, "beautiful place."

"Are you aware of the Time Gear held within the deepest part?"

"How did you-!? Yes…"

"We were there recently. The Time Gear has been stolen."

Another unified "WHAT!?".

"Isn't the Time Gear what regulates the flow of time?" Asked Chimecho.

"What happened to the forest?" Asked Dusk.

"It is as you fear. Time has completely stopped.

"Time has-?" Began Bidoof.

"Stopped!?" Finished Dugtrio.

"The wind doesn't blow. Dew hangs suspended in midair and bugs are frozen in place."

"How can we believe you?" Asked Chatot, "we just got done establishing that you're an outlaw!"

"BZZT! IT'S TRUE! BZZT!"

Officer Magnezone came down the spiral staircase followed by his Magnemite deputies and shadowed by Snow and Keldeo.

"Officer Magnezone! By golly!"

"BZZT! WE HEARD THE ENTIRE STORY FROM SNOW AND KELDEO. BZZT!" Said Deputy Magnemite.

"I've heard about Keldeo," said Wigglytuff, "a good sort. He'd never lie. Even to his worst enemy."

"That's really high praise coming from you," said Keldeo.

"What were you thinking coming here, you big oaf?" Said Snow.

"Love you too," I retorted.

"Well, if this is all true, how do we know that Argyle didn't steal it himself?" Asked Chatot.

"Because I'm not an idiot!" I snapped, "and besides, if I stole it, why would I come here?"

That shut Chatot up really quick.

"Let me be the voice of reason," said Diglett, "what do you need from us?"

"Cor blimey!" Said Snow in shock, "where did you come from!?"

"I've been here the whole time," said Diglett.

"Wow. Must be an Eevee thing," said Wolf.

"We're here because we need help," said Emerald, "we have a general idea of who done it, but in order to progress further, we need allies. Evidence. Etc."

"Tell me what you've got," said Chatot, "we'll put our heads together and see what's what."

We all spent the next four hours comparing notes and writing off possible suspects. We determined that while the suspect was my height, he was a lot slimmer than me, which I kind of took as an insult. The fact that no other Pokémon tried to stop him, indicated that he looked like he belonged there, most likely a Grass or Bug type. That narrowed down the list considerably. Eventually, we were left with two likely suspects.

"So, we're down to either Grovyle or Sceptile," said Wigglytuff.

Loudred took this time to procure a tape measure from out of bloody nowhere and measure me from my foot to my head.

"Three foot, TWO inches," said Loudred, "a LITTLE tall, but STILL average for a Sneasel."

Chimecho began poking the spaces between my ribs and writing something on a notepad.

(Seriously, what's with this girl?)

"Sceptiles are still two feet taller," said Keldeo, "if the difference was that great, I'd notice."

"That leaves just one," said Emerald.

"But we can't just go around arresting every Grovyle that passes through," said Chatot.

"I disagree," said Emerald.

"Our smartest move right now would be to locate the other Time Gears," I said.

"Everyone else, yes. You, no," said Chimecho.

"You still don't trust me!?"

"It's not that. You look like you haven't had a nutritious meal in years!"

"Well, I kind of grew up poor."

"You look like it. That settles it! I'm going to cook you up a huge feast and you are going to eat all of it!"

"Do I have any say in this!?"

"No. Are you allergic to shellfish?"

"Hey, hey! I take offense to that!"

Chimecho wrapped around my arm and flung me forward to an adjacent room.

"Dining room! Now!"

"Help me," I pled to my 'friends'.

No one stopped her.

"Some friends you are!" I spat as Chimecho pushed me into the dining room.