…I'm not feeling terribly confident about this plan.

Given the circumstances, it's not a bad plan, but…

Well, you can judge for yourself.

Obviously Skitty and I need a way in, but as we're now high profile criminals on the run, we can't just go up to the guards and ask for the pokeballs nicely. We need a way to sneak in undetected. Skitty has informed us that this will be particularly challenging.

Enter Noibat.

He's to approach the guards not only asking for a tour, but also presenting several bags of potential 'donations' (meaning whatever shiny junk he could find lying around in the forest and town; more than you'd expect!). As they start going through the first bag (the one without two stowaways), he'll get 'excited' about getting the chance to see the awe-inspiring greatness of the Center's artifacts and unleash a Sunny Day, blinding them just long enough for us to slip out and into the Artifacts Wing. Skitty thinks she knows where the balls are being kept, so we'll go there while Noibat keeps the guards busy, swipe them, and then….and then…

Well, we'll figure out how to escape when we get there. Turns out we couldn't actually think of anything more specific after all.

Serperior was not happy to hear that last part. "You can't just go that far to…to just 'wing it' at the end!" He says to Skitty furiously, "it's too risky!" "Well there's one way in and one way out, we'll have to figure out out how to distract them, just for a moment or two. Anyway, at least we won't be trying to sneak around with someone who's fully evolved and bright green!" She spits in response.

Although to be accurate, now he's gone more of a red color.

Before the fight escalates into move-using territory, I cut in, "I think, once we've retrieved the others, if Noibat's still distracting one guard on his 'tour,' we can get the other by causing a commotion elsewhere, maybe knocking something over? Make them leave their post to investigate?" A trick I learned, courtesy of Noibat.

They all look at me wide-eyed. Serperior vehemently shakes his head, "No way Gwen, it's bad enough you're going back to the Center at all but…drawing attention to yourself? It won't save them if you get captured too!" "But I have to try. And remember, that's partly why you're staying! If something does go wrong, and we don't make it back, you'll still be free, we'll still have options," I say, trying to bring his spirits back up. "I just…don't want to lose you again…" he says quietly. "Aw have a little faith in us!" Skitty chimes in, "we've faced worse situations before and made it out alright, and we'll get through this one too! You have my word, I will protect Gwen with my life." She's standing with stance wide and chest puffed out, wearing a huge smile. "Thank you, my knight in shining armor," I grin, "but I think we'll manage without self-sacrifice for this one." "As you wish, m'lady" Skitty bows grandly. Noibat and I let out a laugh, and I can't help but notice even Serperior wears a small smile.

A few hours later, we say goodbye to Serperior and leave the cave, where I find myself in the present situation; stuffed in a bag of junk shoulder to shoulder with Skitty.

Noibat has three sacks of 'treasure' he wants assessed by the guards. Using his Psychic, he's got them floating behind him while navigating the Center.

The sensation of floating around might be more fun if there wasn't something poking into my side every three seconds. But, he had to fill the bag to the brim so it wouldn't be obvious it was full one second and empty the next.

Every now and then, through the jingling of junk around me, I hear the hustle and bustle of the Center. When we arrived he had to ask Tinkaton where the Artifacts Wing actually was. "Ah, got some treasure I see? Very commendable for you to carry on, considering the circumstances." She says, I assume referring to his former team being in shambles. "Well, I find the exploring takes my mind off things a bit…plus, I'm really curious about it the artifacts!" "You won't be disappointed kiddo! Some great stuff tucked away in there." She gives him directions, and I can't be sure if I've heard properly, but it sounds like it might be contained…within one of the trees.

"Well, part of it at least," Skitty whispers, "the entrance is carved within the base of a tree, but then there's a pathway that leads to a door, which goes underground."

Ah, so the main wing is actually underground. There's certainly more of this Center than meets the eye.

But, given the last few days, I could've done without seeing more of its underground areas.

We float around for a while as I progressively here the sounds of the Center fade. After a few minutes, the silence is replaced by some voices.

"Noibat! It's good to see you! What's all this?" A voice I'm pretty sure belongs to Flittle says. "Just some stuff I picked up, wondered if any would be worth putting in there….but the real reason I'm here is…well…." "Oh! I know! You want a tour, right?" She says excitedly. I imagine it's been a boring day for her, just standing around guarding the entrance.

"Y-yes! You read my mind!" "Get ready," Skitty whispers, pawing at the top of the bag slightly. "I've just been…so excited I could—" the bags suddenly drop as he lets out a Sunny Day, blinding in the confined space. I hear Flittle and who must be Clobbopus cry out. In the same moment, Skitty and I scramble out of the bag and through the open archway of the Artifacts Wing. As we hear Flittle and Clobbopus complain, we see an ornately designed trap door further down the path. Noibat's loudly apologizing now while Clobbopus tells him off. We get the door open, slip in and gently close it behind us.

We're both breathing fast.

We did it, we really did it.

We're in.

I look at the vast hall spreading before us. It's like a museum. Row after row of treasures, each meticulously labeled. Tables lay scattered throughout, presumably for researchers to carefully study the artifacts while under the strict supervision of the Center. Archways flank either side of the hall, with a final one at the end; a well-decorated sign in the back indicating it's a library.

If we weren't on a mission, it would have been a great place to get lost in and learn all about this world; so much care seems to have gone in to creating this repository of knowledge and keeping it safe.

I feel a little dirty, knowing we've come here to steal. But to be fair, Dragalge and Rotom should never have become part of the collection.

"Which way do we go?" I ask. "Hmm, so it's probably in the section dedicated to legends, with an emphasis on human studies…" "alright, lead the way!"

Hearing the voices grow louder overhead, Skitty hurries us to a corridor, where we disappear just before the trap door opens.

—

I should be there.

I just hate hate hate waiting around, doing nothing, while everyone else is putting themselves in danger. We could have figured out a way to get me in—if not hidden in one of those bags, then some other way. There must have been some kind of option.

Before leaving, Gwen said if they weren't back by nightfall, then I should assume they've been caught.

But what am I supposed to do then?

Realistically, if I charge in to their rescue, I'll be captured. Heck, they may even use them as bait to try and draw me out, since they know were all together now.

I shouldn't have listened to that pink pipsqueak. She calls herself the 'team leader,' but what does she know, really? What I know is that my trainer's safety—and that of the rest of my team—is now in Skitty's grubby little paws.

But, she and Gwen really seem to care about each other, so she can't be all bad.

Just a little grating.

All this slithering back and forth isn't helping. I need to get out of this cave. How am I even meant to keep track of time in here anyway?

Maybe some fresh air will clear my head, but I won't go out. Not yet, anyway.