After how the chapter ended I know you must be dying to see what happens! Don't worry, don't worry, we are back with our heroes in Treasure Town while they begin working on what to do!
Hahaha.
"Which way do we go?" Skuntank growled, trembling slightly.
Zubat fluttered forward, he felt out the left and the right in silence. With no eyes to close, he focused on his breathing and the silence.
"Well?" Skuntank barked and Zubat's attention was broken.
"L-left," he stuttered out. "I think. It feels okay."
Skuntank immediately began to lumber towards the left. Zubat, unable to sense Skuntank coming in time, was nearly knocked out of the air when one of the thick bristles of fur smacked into him.
Koffing managed to zoom forward and steady him, nearly tackling him in the process.
"You alright?" Koffing whispered. Zubat pushed himself from the lumpy form of Koffing.
"Heh-heh, aren't I always?"
"That's not really an answer," Koffing pointed out, but Zubat was already fluttering after their wise and noble leader.
He sighed and began propelling himself after them. Skuntank definitely wouldn't be waiting up, certainly not these last few weeks.
The three members of Team Skull moved without speaking. One alternating between stomping angrily and stepping carefully. Another fluttering quietly, but loudly enough that the first snapped at him multiple times. The third making the most noise when he propelled himself to catch up, but otherwise the least amount of sound otherwise.
They'd been running for a week now. Some insane luxio was tracking them with boundless persistence.
Running into dungeons didn't slow her down.
Going down a ravine, especially difficult for Skuntank, only managed to get them attacked by what felt like all the sandile on the continent.
So things had come to this. It was time to lay a cunning trap and bring this interloper down and teach her not to mess with them.
"Koffing," Skuntank barked, after observing their surroundings. "It's time."
Zubat gave the general direction Koffing floated a worried look, but Koffing nodded. "Sure boss." He began to expel gas in greater quantities, smothering the area in a smoggy, smelly, field of fumes.
Skuntank nodded. "Go slow behind us," he ordered and began to stomp off with Zubat quickly joining. He may have strong stench resistance now, but Koffing was putting out everything he could.
"Is he gonna be able to do it, boss?" Zubat whispered, over the distant sounds of Koffing. "I mean… he uses that stuff to float around."
"He's going to have to," Skuntank grunted, eyes locked forward. "You just reach out with those senses of yours and make sure you feel her coming."
Zubat swallowed nervously but complied. With a combination of echolocation and some minor psychic gifts passed down from his father, he was a reliable navigator despite having no eyes. It was why Skuntank asked him to join Team Skull in the first place.
Probably helped that Zubat couldn't sense Skuntank easily, only with echolocation. Dark-types were tricky things.
Koffing's pungent aroma carried even over to them so far ahead and Zubat found himself losing concentration due to it. Skuntank noticed him flying a little wobblier and snapped. "Buck up!"
Zubat righted himself and fluttered forward, ahead of Skuntank, to take some needed breaths.
They continued moving in silence until Skuntank decreed the space covered enough and area sufficient to lay in wait.
It left Zubat very concerned when Koffing didn't show up, as planned, but Skuntank hissed at him to be quiet and to focus more.
So, the bat pokémon was left with no other choice. He took hard breaths through his mouth, he barely used his nose anyone thanks to his teammates, and focused until a headache began to bloom.
Skuntank had ordered him to alert him when their prey reached the middle of the clearing they were hiding behind. With Koffing's trail leading her here, it should stuff her sense of smell enough that she couldn't smell Skuntank and maybe even impair her vision to make this easier.
But it had to be at the right moment. She'd proven herself viciously strong, only surprise moments had been enough to catch her off guard enough to escape. So this had to be perfect.
Zubat's teeth began to grind as his headache began to morph into a migraine. This was painful, this was torture, to be feeling out so hard with powers not suited for his body.
He thought he felt something dripping down his nose, but until the blood met his mouth Zubat wasn't sure. The migraine was causing a bloody nose, but he couldn't stop or Skuntank would really make him feel it.
He waited. He wasn't sure how long it'd been. Was Koffing alright? Was Luxio even coming? Was Skuntank even still there or was this some truly outlandish plot to bring him onto a team, leave him nearly an outlaw, drag him into pain and then abandon him at his weakest point?
Zubat felt something and he twitched. Four legs, crackles, star-shaped tail. He nearly cried with relief, and almost gave it away. But Skuntank's orders came back to him and he waited.
The luxio was slower than normal, almost stumbling along, or perhaps carefully prowling along. Regardless, she was in position.
"NOW!" he screeched and Skuntank burst out of the bushes to descend upon the startled luxio. Zubat allowed himself the sweet embrace of sleep and fainted.
Skuntank ploughed into Luxio and tried to crush her underneath him. She lit up with electricity and the burst of Power threw him off her.
Luxio staggered to her feet, coughing and spluttering, and Skuntank came at her again. Paw met face and he clobbered her into the trees, grinning victoriously.
In return, Luxio zapped him hard enough to stun him twitching. She leaped out from the trees, tail lighting up with a metallic glow. She twisted in mid air and swung her Iron Tail into Skuntank's foreleg. Something cracked and he bellowed out in pain.
Luxio continued the assault, using her momentum to slam into Skuntank and with bodies pressed against each other once more, she unleashed the storm.
Skuntank roared out again and tried to retreat, but her tail twisted and, still hard as metal, wrapped around his staggered leg, holding him in place.
He butted forward and slammed their heads together and breathed pure stench in her face, but Luxio had waded through everything Koffing had to offer. While her sense of smell was indeed gone, she hadn't smelled him in the bushes after all, it also removed any debilitating effect his breath would normally have.
Skuntank keened and nearly staggered. Luxio's Iron Tail began to fade, the stress of holding it was beginning to burn, and he began to slump.
Then, he reared up, pulling Luxio with him. She gasped out in surprise and he managed to throw her off him and into the air. He belched flames at her and Luxio screamed out as she was engulfed in fire.
Skuntank slunk back, head darting left and right. Luxio landed and rolled for a moment to get the flames off her. Skuntank spotted his exit and laughed.
"Chaw-haw-haw. Catch me if you can," he taunted and sprinted. Luxio screamed something too rude for even Skuntank to repeat and chased after him.
The clearing fell into silence. But not for long. Soon, the weak sounds of something propelling itself with fumes interrupted the peace as Koffing came to Zubat's aid. As best as a spherical pokémon could help, at least.
"Woah-ho… oh," he coughed, finding Zubat groaning. He nudged him as much as he could until Zubat's mouth opened and he groaned again. "Come on. Zubat, buddy. Zubat? Zu-Vision? Vision get up!"
Zubat, or Vision as Koffing and his parents knew him as, weakly fluttered his wings and managed to pull himself up.
"Heh… what happened?" he asked, blind and too sore to even try sensing or even echolocation.
"The b-boss is gone. I got over here not long after the sounds stopped, barely could get up I thought I completely deflated myself."
"Heh-heh-heh, nearly broke something just trying to sense her I did," Vision said. Koffing managed a chuckle, if they were competing for who was worse off then Vision was probably fine.
"Woah-ho-ho. We getter catch up, make sure the boss can handle her."
"Heh-heh-heh, right behind ya."
They managed to catch up to Skuntank after he gave Luxio the slip, her sense of smell was completely gone by that point they discovered, and he was able to evade her.
Yet she was still chasing them down. They knew that, one more day of evading her wasn't going to make her give up.
Relentless, this demon of a luxio was.
It left Team Skull with no other choice.
"Woah? You can't be serious?" Koffing gasped. "Treasure Town? Again?"
"Chaw-haw-haw. Why not?" Skuntank growled, there was no amusement in his voice. "We are good, upstanding, members of society. This luxio has no right to be doing this. If she's so determined to get us, we'll just get the guild to take her down. It's genius."
"Heh… heh…" Zubat was not as sure. "But, like, Treasure Town? Dad's going to be so mad if he catches me."
"Get over it," Skuntank demanded. "And don't think of trying anything tricky. I'm gonna need you to lead us on the fastest path. Doesn't matter what's in the way, as long as it's not her. Got it?"
"Heh… okay."
"But, like, what is that grovyle is still lurking around?" Koffing asked, quivering slightly. A disturbing look on a perforated ball-pokémon. He jiggled in all the places.
"Then we'll get the guild on him too," Skuntank growled. "Like what we should have done the first place. Stop arguing with me or I'm leaving you for Luxio. Got it?"
"Got it, boss."
"Good. Now let's go."
And so they were off. Back to Treasure Town.
Zubat kept them ahead of her as best as he could. He could only thank his father for giving him some lessons on sensing before he joined Team Skull and received nothing but disappointment. He really hoped Xatu wouldn't find him, but his luck was not helping him at the moment.
Koffing bobbed up and down as he barely kept pace with them. He was only managing it thanks to the fumes of anger Skuntank was giving out. Otherwise he'd have deflated and been luxio-food by now. He shivered a lot, body not used to expelling so much gas so often.
Skuntank stalked ahead, brimming with impotent rage. No tactics were working on the bitch chasing them down. Not even reason. She just screamed stuff about rocks, he figured one of the lemmings they sold a fabricated treasure was her mate or something and she was upset about the cost.
He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of winning though. No mercy, no regret, no compromise. She'd either back off, or Team Magnezone would arrest her.
All they needed to do was get to Treasure Town before she caught them again. He couldn't admit it, but his leg was killing him, he was running out of fumes, and his body was bruised and burned under all the fur. If she did catch him again the only hope would be leaving Koffing and Zubat behind as a distraction.
Skuntank wasn't sure if he would do that if it came to it. He did like the two lugs, even if they were simple-minded. They were still a team. He may not have played absolutely true to most tenants of an exploration team, but he still did keep true to one. They were a team.
"Koffing!" Skuntank barked, releasing some more fumes to give the floating Poison-type a boost. "Move it."
They had another split in the path coming up. Zubat would be needed again. "Get those fancy powers of yours ready, Zubat," Skuntank ordered, quickly hearing Zubat groan under his breath. "Buck up brat, keep this up and we'll be safe before long."
They'd need to rest soon. After this last turn, Skuntank thought.
They'd get there.
They had too.
It was not Beldum's day.
Beheeyem was being a stubborn shut in.
"Statement: You need fresh oxygen for your lungs."
"I'll breathe later."
The leader of Team Gazer went back to obsessively reading his books. They were in Wigglytuff's library. Since being allowed entrance, Beheeyem barely left.
Electrike was the opposite, yet somehow just as big of a problem.
"Directive: The Guild requires capable volunteers to search for Team Skull."
"Come on, I've been invited out to the café with those eevee twins! You can't expect me to turn that down."
Electrike was running around town. Moving supplies and chatting to everything that gave him more than two seconds of attention.
Beldum believed Beheeyem would back them up in this venture, so they made their twenty minute trip back to the guild.
"Statement: Electrike refuses to listen and join us to search for Team Skull. Inquisitive: Will you speak sense into him?"
Beheeyem waved a hand. "In a few minutes. I've found some information on the Secret Slab I've been dying to find."
Beldum waited. Until a few minutes had passed. "Statement: Approximately a 'few' minutes have passed."
Beheeyem sighed and closed the book. "Do you really need me to drag Volt back here? Just dangle a treat in front of his eyes and he'll be back here in a flash."
Beldum floated about, but when it became clear Beheeyem was just going to continue reading, they left.
Beheeyem's idea had merit. If Beldum was even able to hold such a lure, which they were not able to do themselves.
With assistance from Sunflora and Shinx, they tied a yellow gummi around a scarf and onto Beldum, Shinx salivating after the gummi, and Beldum floated off to retrieve Electrike.
It distracted Electrike for approximately zero seconds, as the gummi was snatched and eaten before Beldum had even found their wayward team member.
With a voice beginning to warp slightly, Beldum snapped at the thief. "Statement: That did not belong to you!"
Electivire paused, confused. "Huh? Oh sorry, I thought you were one of the helper pokémon around bringing food and stuff."
Beldum's eye continued to swivel, spotting Electrike. "Warning: This is not over."
They zoomed after Electrike before he could disappear, leaving Electivire to scratch his head in confusion.
"Address: Electrike? Address: Electrike!?"
Electrike heard them calling and paused, glancing around. Beldum zoomed in, only nearly tackling Electrike, and buzzed with irritation.
"Statement: Beheeyem refuses to leave to assist me to retrieve you. Directive: You will return to the guild with me. Threat: If you do not, I will force you."
"Calm down, Beldum," Electrike laughed, only incensing Beldum further. "Lighten up. We've got pokémon to help and pokémon to meet and befriend."
"Disagreement: You do not wish to befriend. You wish to relieve base urges at the expense of your team. Directive: Return with me immediately and this will be forgiven."
Electrike pouted. "Come on, Beldum. I'm actually helping for once, this is something I can do without messing it up! And if others like to see me because of it, why not?"
"Statement: The world is in peril. Team Skull must be found."
"And they will," Electrike said, stretching out. "I mean, come on. We haven't really been helping much lately? All we've done is carry Dusknoir back here, and well… that's not the best thing now."
"Statement: Directive: Reprimand: GGGG." Beldum swivelled back and flew off, buzzing in irritation. Electrike sighed as he watched them go. He didn't mean to upset Beldum, but facts were facts.
He returned to ferrying water and chatting up cute guys and gals.
"Concern. Frustration. Alarm," Beldum repeated in the library, flying back and forth. "Concern. Frustration. Alarm."
Beheeyem paused in reading, keeping the page, to look up wearily. "What is it now?"
"Disgust: Electrike believes we have done, and can do, nothing to improve the situation. Alarm: Team morale is at risk. Frustrated Query: Why are you doing nothing but reading?"
Beheeyem blinked a few times and set the book down. "This is important information," he begun, but Beldum interrupted.
"TO WHO?" they demanded, not pausing to describe the purpose of their speech. "Furious Demand: Why is this so important when looking for Team Skull is considered the most important?"
"Beldum, calm down," Beheeyem began, waving his hands.
"Defiant Answer: No. Defiant Threat: If you will not assist… Defiant Statement: I am leaving."
"Beldum."
Beldum didn't stop. They flew out of the library and out of the guild. If their teammates wouldn't lend a hand and paw to help save the world, Beldum would go out on their own to find Team Skull. They would not cosy themselves doing nothing and pretending they were helping.
Now was not the time for that. Now was the time for action.
Grovyle stood with Wigglytuff, strategizing in Wigglytuff's meeting room.
The guild was only so large, and Team Skull likely wouldn't come peacefully, so the task of cutting the pokémon into teams small enough to cover enough space but still big enough to fight the poisonous trio was not easy.
Currently, they had no definitive plans.
"Would not breaking through the Sungrove Thicket cut the travel time down by nearly three days?" Grovyle asked, frustrated but still calm.
Wigglytuff ummed and erred. "Well. In theory, yes," he said, pointing a paw down. "But the dungeon is notoriously difficult and the path to reach the dungeon is fraught with sheer cliffs, rock slides, and a family of predatory skarmory that attack travellers. It's quite dangerous and using it as a shortcut doesn't really work."
Grovyle huffed. "Are these perils always there?" he snapped before pausing and shaking his head. "No. No. They are, yes, my apologies. Even now I have trouble with the stability of this time."
Wigglytuff hummed a soothing song and came up beside Grovyle. "It's okay friendly friend. We are making progress, it just takes some time."
"We don't have time," Grovyle said, standing up and shrugging out of Wigglytuff's reach. He began to pace. "I can't say for sure, but that makes it worse. This needs to be done as soon as possible. Distractions and arguments are just slowing us down and costing time we don't have."
Wigglytuff smiled genially at him. "There's always time to take a breather," he said, standing up himself. Grovyle looked ready to argue, so Wigglytuff added. "We are more liable to make mistakes if stressed and snappy. Gotta take a break! Gotta take a break!"
"We don't…" Grovyle began before visibly slumping. "Alright."
"Okay!" Wigglytuff beamed and began to bounce along, only to notice no one was following. "Hm? Friendly friend?"
Grovyle remained standing where he was, frowning slightly.
"Grovyle?"
Grovyle blinked and shook his head. "My apologies," he said and took a step. He grimaced and forced another one. "Hah… ah…"
Wigglytuff's expression became one of concern as Grovyle dragged himself to him. "Are you well?" he asked before gasping. "Oh dear! You're injured aren't you?"
Grovyle reached him, swaying slightly. Wigglytuff grabbed his arm to steady him, and Grovyle didn't object. "N-no," Grovyle said, through clenched teeth. "All my energy. It's just… gone again."
"I'll carry you!" Wigglytuff said and picked Grovyle up and set him on his back. Again, the Grass-type didn't object. Part of Wigglytuff was happy that Grovyle was accepting his affection, part of him was worried as this was a rather sudden swerve.
He carried him out into the sub-level of the guild and glanced around. Croagunk and the sentries stood ready and watching them. He felt Grovyle shift uncomfortably.
Making up his mind, Wigglytuff carried him into the mess hall. Quickly, if just to preserve Grovyle's ego as best he could.
"Let's get some food!" Wigglytuff decided, trying not to bounce too much and jostle Grovyle off his back.
Once they were in, he let Grovyle slide off. His legs seemed unwilling to support himself and Grovyle sat down, grimacing while a blush lit his cheeks.
Wigglytuff grabbed some berries and a Perfect Apple for himself and slid the berries to Grovyle.
Grovyle managed a smile and reached out to grab a berry. Wigglytuff stared curiously at him, Grovyle tried to ignore the staring, and began lifting the berry to his mouth.
His arm paused halfway, trembling.
"I… can't," Grovyle admitted, arm falling back. He squeezed his eyes shut. "What is happening?" he demanded.
"I don't know," Wigglytuff answered.
Grovyle cracked an eye open with a half chuckle. "I didn't think you could give me an actual reason," he said and Wigglytuff nodded.
One of those questions not directed at anyone, it seemed.
Wigglytuff continued staring at Grovyle until the others patience wore thin. "Could you stop staring?" he growled and Wigglytuff blinked.
"Sorry. So sorry," he said, clasping his paws together. "Forgive me, Grovyle. I'm just trying to work out what's going on. Have you eaten anything recently? Could that be why you're suffering no energy?"
"I have eaten," Grovyle said. "A few days ago. But I've gone far longer without any sustenance."
He clenched his hands and stood up with a growl. "This is madness," he snapped and began to pace as Wigglytuff blinked.
"You're up!" he said in surprise and Grovyle paused, looking down.
"I… am." He looked to the berries and bent down to pick them up. He popped one in his mouth and quickly devoured it. "Huh."
Wigglytuff bounced up himself, Perfect Apple balancing perfectly on his head. "Hooray!" he cheered as Grovyle's frown deepened.
"My energy has returned," he said, confused.
Wigglytuff grabbed Grovyle's hands with his paws and examined them. "Hmm…?" he hummed, Grovyle taking a half step back but unable to pull himself free. "I think… we should go for a walk!"
"The time," Grovyle began, but Wigglytuff gave him a pleading look. "We really… shouldn't we…?" he protested before relenting to Wigglytuff's cheer. "Fine. But a short one."
"Yay!" Wigglytuff released his hands only to hug him around the middle. "Let's go into town!"
He wrapped a strong paw around Grovyle's wrist and ran off, dragging the Grass-type with him. Wigglytuff waved to the apprentices as he passed but didn't stop to chat.
There was no one in the middle section of the guild and Loudred already had the gate open so Wigglytuff didn't smash through it. Again.
They ran into Treasure Town. Wigglytuff was met with smiles and relief until Grovyle was spotted tagging along and those smiles morphed into guarded stares.
"Is this really the best place?" Grovyle asked, uncomfortable at even more stares. Being stared at by Wigglytuff was one thing. The happy Fairy-type was relaxing to be around. All these townsfolk in their damaged town who had been slavering at the chain, waiting for him to be removed, were a different story.
"I find it's a good idea to take a look at what we are protecting," Wigglytuff said pleasantly, waving to the staring pokémon. "To remind us why we are doing it. Look over there!" He pointed and Grovyle's eyes followed to where a marill and azurill were bringing apples to some hard working machop.
Grovyle cocked his head slightly. It was odd, he had to admit, to see that.
"Do those pokémon own that establishment?" he asked and Wigglytuff shook his head.
"Nope. Marill and Azurill just know that you get a bit hungry working for long hours, so they've been bringing food and water to everyone they can!"
Grovyle nodded. "Wise. Keeping everyone fit for construction."
Wigglytuff gave him a somewhat sad smile. "Yes, in a way, you could look at it from that angle. But there is nothing stopping those pokémon from simply taking a few minutes to come to the Kecleon Market for their own. Marill and Azurill help because that's the kind of pokémon they are."
Grovyle glanced back over to where Azurill was laughing.
"I see." He nodded, taking his eyes off them. "It's not like that in the future."
Wigglytuff gave him another sad smile and Grovyle added. "I have a feeling you figured that out."
Wigglytuff sighed. "Yeah. Meeting pokémon from the future has been exciting, but it's shown me that somehow we pokémon of the past failed. I've noticed the pokémon from the future are angry, or paranoid, or act rashly when they think they need to."
"I'm sorry for not telling you," Grovyle said, feeling a little guilty and Wigglytuff giggled.
"I don't mean you silly," he laughed, shaking his head. The sad smile was still there though. "No. Not you."
Grovyle frowned, that tone was wistful. "What do you mean?" he asked, but before Wigglytuff could descend from his daydreams to answer, someone approached.
"E-excuse me?" Bellsprout asked.
Wigglytuff went back into lala land after taking a brief glance at Team Flame. Grovyle could handle this, he was confident.
Grovyle's eyes narrowed slightly and he felt the town all pause to glance over. Flames on Ponyta crackled and Camerupt breathed out a heavy breath of smoke. Bellsprout stood in front of them, quivering on his noodle limbs yet holding firm.
"Yes?" Grovyle asked.
Bellsprout quivered again, almost glancing back to his teammates but taking a breath instead. "We would like to apologise," Bellsprout said.
"You," Ponyta snorted, correcting Bellsprout. He quietened when Camerupt nudged him.
"We," Bellsprout stressed, and Ponyta tossed his head at them. He didn't walk off though. "For knocking you out in Crystal Cave. Sorry."
Grovyle wasn't sure what to do with that.
"In the end," Camerupt rumbled. "We were deceived, as everyone was, by Dusknoir. For the Eruption, I apologise."
Grovyle swallowed and nodded. "It is an understandable conclusion to make," he said, plastering a smile on his face. "I do not blame you or resent your assistance. As long as we are all on the same side now."
Bellsprout and Camerupt nodded, Ponyta just stomped his hoof. "Doesn't change the state Azelf was left in!" he retorted, and everyone gave him a Look. "Okay, we've said sorry," he said, turning away. "Can we go now? I've got to see Torkoal at the Hot Springs. Remember?"
Camerupt rolled his eyes as Bellsprout cringed. "Sorry about him," he said and Ponyta began to trot off, unwilling to stand around any longer. "He's a little stubborn and has been having trouble sleeping lately."
"He's also freaking out over his glory being taken away," Camerupt added.
The two looked to where Ponyta was waiting impatiently and Bellsprout bowed. "So from Team Flame. We apologise."
"You are forgiven, I suppose," Grovyle said and Bellsprout's eyes lightened. They nodded and the two remaining members of Team Flame went after Ponyta.
"That was odd," Grovyle said, once the coast was clear. Wigglytuff finished humming his song before beaming at him.
"That's the way things are around here!" He grinned. "That was nice, let's go further."
Grovyle let Wigglytuff drag him along again, he could feel his limbs getting weaker again and he was worried he'd have to be carried again. In the guild was bad enough, but in town was mortifying.
"I'm beginning to feel weak again," he whispered to Wigglytuff, stumbling slightly.
"So soon?" Wigglytuff asked but did slow down. "Do you need a ride?"
Grovyle grimaced. "I'd prefer to get out of town before I feel weak enough for that. Please, can't we just return to the guild?"
Wigglytuff gave a quiet sigh but nodded. "No problem." He continued leading Grovyle along, with the same exuberance, and helped keep him steady until they were out of town.
Grovyle panted for breath as Wigglytuff drew them to a stop. "This isn't normal," Wigglytuff pointed out and Grovyle gasped.
"Really? I never realised."
Wigglytuff blinked and Grovyle flushed. "I… apologise. Sometimes I fear I've been around Sean and his many sarcastic responses for too long."
Wigglytuff giggled and brushed it away. "That sounds like Chatot and me! Before I met him I was so airheaded, just didn't take anything seriously! And he was too serious, boo-boo. He's much more lighthearted nowadays!"
Resisting the disbelieving expression fighting to emerge on his face, Grovyle just raised an arm. "I think I can walk to the guild," he said, eyeing the steep steps.
"Nonsense!" Wigglytuff said and grabbed him. "Hold on!"
"What are you?" Grovyle gasped in alarm before they were launched into the air. He went still as in a single bound, Wigglytuff and him reached the top of the stairs. "That… was far."
Wigglytuff released him and Grovyle stumbled. His legs were going numb again. He groaned.
"Do you need more help?" Wigglytuff asked.
"No. I can make it," Grovyle insisted and took a step. Nearly falling over.
"Are you sure?"
Grovyle paused. The will to take another step was fading and he sighed. "Fine."
With a concerned frown, Wigglytuff carried him back into the guild. The sun had long since passed the apex and was heading towards the horizon.
"Team Flame reminded me of something. I think we are going to need to speak to Azelf," Wigglytuff said as they descended. Grovyle grunted non-committedly, face buried in Wigglytuff's soft fur. "I think they may be behind this."
Grovyle didn't speak until they were back, safe, in Wigglytuff's chambers. He was set down gently and cracked an eye open. "Azelf?"
Wigglytuff nodded. "You fought them, didn't you?" Grovyle nodded. Or at least tried to. "I assume at one point you must have touched or been touched by Azelf?"
"Yes." Grovyle scowled, hating to be reminded of that day. From Team Flame to now this. "I slammed Azelf into the ground to knock them out."
"Didn't you know the legend?" Wigglytuff asked, curious. "Dusknoir did, I assumed you would as well."
Grovyle scowled deeper, some energy returning to him upon the mention of Dusknoir. "He was always planning out everything down to the smallest detail. Sean, Scout, and I had to work with the information we could get, and we could only get a little through the Dimensional Scream. We knew Azelf was guarding the gear, nothing more. What of it?"
"Okay," Wigglytuff said, trying not to smile too much at Grovyle actually talking to him about something other than the current situation. "There lies a legend that if you harm Azelf, you'll lose your willpower. It's, uh… not a fun legend."
Grovyle sat up straight. "What?"
Wigglytuff was frowning now. He stood up and ran into his library, calling back. "I remember reading something…"
He returned in a minute, Beheeyem having retrieved the book in seconds, cracking open an ancient tome. He coughed as dust spilled out from the pages, before reciting. "Look not into the pokémon's eyes, in but an instant, you'll have no recollection of who you are. Return home, but how? When there is nothing to remember?"
He frowned as he continued. "Dare not touch the pokémon's body. In but three short days, all emotions will drain away. Above all, above all, harm not the pokémon. In a scant five days, the offender will grow immobile in entirety."
He lowered the book, meeting Grovyle's spooked expression. "It's nearly been four days since I fought Azelf… this can't be true."
Wigglytuff closed the book with a troubled expression. "Have you been feeling this at all up to this point?" he asked, calmly. "Shinx said you were difficult to rouse when he went to question you."
Grovyle looked away. "I… I've been having difficulties since I was captured. I gave up more than once. I thought it was due to hopelessness, or a concussion. But now…"
Wigglytuff pursed his lips, but then stood up. "We should go to Crystal Cave!" he declared and Grovyle looked up. "If this really is a five day timeline, we don't have any time to waste."
Grovyle swallowed. "We? You'd come with me?"
"Of course." Wigglytuff nodded. "We need to see Azelf, no matter what, to explain what's going on anyway."
He was brimming with energy, Grovyle was envious of it. Even now, he found it hard to muster the energy. An answer to why he was feeling like this was nice, until the scope of the answer was given.
To give his life to save the world, Grovyle would do that without hesitation. But to become a shell of himself, paralysed in his own body, that was a fate worse than death.
"I'll let Croagunk, Loudred, Chimecho, and Diglett know," Wigglytuff said, almost jittering in excitement. Another exploration? He couldn't wait.
Before Grovyle could muster a response, Wigglytuff had danced out to share the good news. He'd leave a method to contact him, just in case. Grovyle wasn't sure how the guild would take it, both of them leaving now. But he did have to go, if this legend was true.
Grovyle took a deep breath and forced himself up. He had to be ready, as Azelf would not be happy to see him again.
Ponyta's day was not going well.
Frankly, his whole week was rather terrible.
"Ponyta, wait up!" Bellsprout called, doing his best to catch up. Knowing his leaders limbs didn't need the stress, Ponyta did slow down enough for his compatriots to catch up with him.
"You took your time," he said immediately. Camerupt gave him a reprimanding look.
"It didn't help that you ran off," he rumbled and Ponyta scoffed.
"Not my fault you are slow and lumbering."
"Not my fault you act more like a mudbray with attitude than a ponyta."
Ponyta's flames spiked for a moment, and Bellsprout stepped between them. "C-calm down you two," he said, keenly aware that he was between fire and lava.
Both looked down at their quivering leader and backed off.
"He could be a little more polite," Ponyta sniffed.
Camerupt grumbled. "You call the stunt you pulled 'polite'?"
"Grovyle was our enemy!" Ponyta protested. "And this is all going off the belief that he didn't harm the Time Gears somehow."
"You really think he could fool Guildmaster Wigglytuff?" Camerupt demanded and Bellsprout wondered if he could step between them again. The heat was raising, however, and his instincts were telling him to back off.
"Oh please," Ponyta snorted, but didn't say anything further.
"Oh please, what?" Camerupt growled and Bellsprout decided to speak up again.
"We were going to the Hot Springs weren't we?" he called nervously and again his teammates looked away from each other.
"Whatever."
"I want to speak to Torkoal before his nap," Ponyta said. "You don't have to come with me if you do not desire to."
"I think some more time helping the town would be better," Camerupt snorted and turned away.
"Some time might be a good idea," Bellsprout mumbled before looking to Ponyta. "Maybe take a run? I know you like doing that, but we're a bit too slow to keep up."
Ponyta nodded, happy at the prospect of a good gallop. "Very well. Shall I meet you two back at Spinda's establishment or back at home base?"
"I'll need a drink after this," Camerupt said and Bellsprout nodded.
"Spinda's," he said and Team Flame parted ways.
Ponyta quickly fell into a gallop. Hooves clopping loudly against the ground as the wind rushed in his ears. He did love a good sprint, excellent for stoking the flames and breathing new life into a drab day.
What a day it was too. Sun was shining strongly, he knew a Flamethrower would be extra powerful today. But the town was still damaged, so almost everything had been put on hold as everyone chipped in to help rebuild it.
Such grunt work was already a little frustrating. Ponyta couldn't actually help repair anything, he was regulated to transportation which was tiring and embarrassing for one of the saviours.
Except he wasn't. Grovyle was the good guy and Dusknoir the bad. Would that not make him one of the bad guys then?
The concept was ridiculous. Ponyta had become an explorer to help protect the world and its people, not destroy it.
And yet. It had been so easy to deceive everyone, including him.
He didn't want to believe it. But Grovyle was strolling around, attached to the Guildmaster. If he was the bad guy still, then they were being fooled again. If he wasn't, then they had already been fooled.
Either way was a lose-lose situation to the concept of pride, Ponyta found.
So, he galloped until he was at the Hot Springs.
No one but Torkoal was here. The usual occupants, Mankey, Primeape, Teddiursa, and Ursaring were all helping at town.
But Torkoal was too elderly to assist with physical labour and essentially lived here since the heat and water helped his bones. So, here was Ponyta's destination.
"Elder Torkoal?" he called out as he slowed to a stop. Torkoal looked up from relaxing in the steam to spot him.
"Ah, Ponyta," Torkoal greeted, happily. He may have been old, but his voice was still strong and steady. "What brings you here at this time?"
"Forgive my intrusion," Ponyta said, stepping gingerly into the water. Cold water was no good, but the heat of the hot spring was tolerable. "As well as my leave from town. I simply wished to speak with someone, and I could think of no better individual than you."
Torkoal chuckled. "Very flattering," he said, smiling genially. "Well don't let idle chit-chat stop you. What have you come here to speak of that your own partners could not hear?"
At that, Ponyta hesitated slightly. With an uncomfortable shifting of his hooves, he found himself nearly tongue tied. "Uh… my apologies. I really do not know how to start."
Torkoal waited patiently, Ponyta relaxed. He knew the leader of Treasure Town wouldn't judge him regardless of what he said.
"I've been suffering some difficult dreams," Ponyta admitted, looking away. Even without judgement, he didn't like to admit something so pitiful. "My partners have noticed, and I've been growing rather short tempered due to the interruption in my sleep cycle. You know how I must have my precise seven hours of sleep."
"Not six," Torkoal chuckled, "or you are tired. And not eight, or you are sluggish."
Ponyta smiled. Torkoal knew him only too well. He relaxed a little more and nestled down into the water.
"Precisely. I have only been sleeping a total of five hours a night. That combined with the bothersome labour of carrying materials back and forth has left me most out-of-sorts. But I haven't felt comfortable speaking of this with my teammates. I know Bellsprout will understand, but that ornery Camerupt will take any opportunity to criticise me."
Torkoal nodded slowly. "But is there not anything you like about him?" he asked, patiently.
Ponyta sighed. "He is a competent battler. And doesn't go off on his own and leave teammates behind. Regardless of how slow he may be. That, at least, is admirable."
Torkoal nodded, and relaxed. The two sat together in silence, only the bubbling of the water to provide sound.
"The dreams I've been having," Ponyta began, once he was ready, "they are of my time… back in Dark Crater."
Torkoal breathed in sharply. "Back there?" he asked, concerned. "What has inspired those memories?"
"I can't be certain," Ponyta said, trailing a hoof back and forth. "With the stress of time and this whole blasted situation getting worse and worse. I suppose it just reminds me of that place. Living from moment to moment, not sure if the next turn means my death."
He shook his head. "Not quite that dire, the pokémon here stand together. But I can't help but fear, the dreams go farther and present a world where everything is like that. Dark and dangerous."
"They are just dreams," Torkoal said, slowly making his way to Ponyta. "And you are not still in the Dark Crater."
"Of course." Ponyta sniffed, not wanting to show how he was a little comforted by that. "But still, memories."
Torkoal nodded and Ponyta relaxed in the presence of one who would not judge him. Not for how he behaved, or where he came from.
"There is more?" Torkoal asked and Ponyta nickered.
"I can't help but wonder about the Time Gear Guardians," he mused, looking up at the sky. "Azelf was badly wounded. The other lake guardians were frozen in time. Even the ditto I heard of was in a bad state."
"No one has died," Torkoal said and Ponyta nodded.
"Yes…"
All good things had to come to an end, however, and Ponyta stood to leave. "Thank you for the company Torkoal," he said. "But I feel like I have been somewhat too critical of my teammates recently and been treating them ignobly. I should apologise."
"Apologies lighten the heart," Torkoal said and Ponyta smiled. "You are always welcome here Ponyta. Come back anytime."
Ponyta nodded and left the Hot Springs, galloping back to Treasure Town. Letting the wind and his own heat to dry him well before reaching town.
The sun was moving to the horizon by the time he arrived at the crossroads. Didn't stop Spinda's Café from beaming out comforting chatter. Nor did it prevent Guildmaster Wigglytuff and Grovyle from taking a look around themselves.
Ponyta blinked and slowed to a stop. "Guildmaster?" he asked, eyes flicking to Grovyle. "And Grovyle."
Both pokémon paused and one smiled widely, the other watched carefully. No guesses as to who.
"Ponyta!" Wigglytuff beamed. He didn't rush forward and clamp on to hug, he was keeping a hold of Grovyle. Despite being sure it was not for safekeeping, Ponyta still appreciated the carefulness.
Ponyta glanced between them for a moment before making up his mind. "Grovyle," he said, addressing the Grass-type directly. "My behaviour earlier this day was out of line. I apologise for my abrupt behaviour."
Grovyle looked confused, somewhat suspicious, but a glance to Wigglytuff reassured him. "Understandable," he said, turning back.
Ponyta nodded his thanks, but he had more to say. "There has been something I've wanted to ask, however. I witnessed Azelf's state and heard of Ditto." Grovyle cringed. It was slight, but still visible. "And we all know what happened to the others. But not Treeshroud Forest's Guardian."
Unnoticed by Grovyle, Wigglytuff flinched.
"Forgive me for asking, but as a member of an exploration team I must. What happened to the Guardian of Treeshroud Forest?"
"There wasn't one," Grovyle answered. "I was prepared for a fight, Sean and I in fact. All we knew to prepare was something with a pleasant voice and dark shadow. But when we arrived, there was no guardian to speak of."
"Oh." Ponyta blinked. He didn't expect that. "I… see." He wasn't entirely sure if he believed Grovyle, but his attention was pulled to another. "Guildmaster? What is wrong?"
Grovyle turned to see Wigglytuff shaking slightly. Small tears had lit in his eyes, but he smiled them away and shook his head.
"Not anymore," he said softly. To their confusion, he elaborated. "There isn't a guardian of Treeshroud Forest. Anymore."
Grovyle's eyes widened while Ponyta's narrowed. Wigglytuff stalled any questions with an unreadable expression and shook his head again.
"I do not wish to speak of it," he said, "but Boulder Quarry was not the only Time Gear I knew of. It's how Chatot and I knew, that when time stopped in Treeshroud Forest, that its Time Gear was missing. That it had a Time Gear in the first place. But please, I truly do not wish to speak of it. Just for what he was, the guardian didn't deserve…" he trailed off and shut his mouth.
It was clear the conversation would not be continued and Ponyta stepped aside. "Well, good to… know. Grovyle… uh. Take care."
He ducked away before he could embarrass himself, melting into Spinda's Café before anything worse was said.
But even as Ponyta sat with a delicious spot of tea with Bellsprout and Camerupt, his mind still wandered.
Wandered to the Dark Crater.
Wandered to Treeshroud Forest.
He smiled at his teammates and they moved on.
Night had fallen. Most of the guild was still and sleeping, with only the lost ones away. Wigglytuff had been unable to find Alakazam for the day, so his venture with Grovyle was being put on hold.
The day, like most other days, had amounted to nothing for Bidoof. He did his best, asking around for any information on the smelly members of Team Skull.
Sunflora had found some information, so had Dugtrio. Bidoof only found tired and scared pokémon.
He had a hearty dinner of what little was remaining in the guild, with Treasure Town being repaired and Chatot not around to be frugal, most of the guilds items were being given to the town.
With no Chatot and no plan yet, the guild was left feeling not as safe. It was quietly decided that the apprentices would keep an eye and ear out for anything.
Bidoof, however, could not sleep.
It was odd. This night, as with the last week, Croagunk had not crept in to stare at him during the night. Despite the absurdity of it, without Croagunk's creepy presence, Bidoof found himself restless.
Croagunk was out by his Swap Cauldron, as well as keeping watch in a way. That should make him feel safer, not less safe.
Bidoof tossed and turned. Corphish's thunderous snores and Loudred's nocturnal clacking of his pincers were all he could really here. Neither felt as comforting as they normally did.
Bidoof blinked. Something about that thought was wrong, but he was too distracted to make sense of it.
Sighing, he rolled out of bed and glanced at where he hid his diary. It felt a bit too exposed to right anything, nor did he have anything worth writing about.
He decided to go for a walk and ease his stressed nerves. He gathered his bag and went to the mess hall, absentmindedly putting some foodstuffs in it.
Croagunk was there as he walked by, eyes cracking open and following him as he went. "U'm just going for a little stroll, yes siree," he explained. Croagunk didn't respond.
With no Chatot guarding the top, he could leave without needing to be quiet. Bidoof almost chuckled, for as stern as Chatot was during the day, he slept like a baby bidoof at night.
It would be the first time he squeezed through one of the large holes in the gate. Bidoof was never too sure what that thing was for; it stopped larger pokémon only if they couldn't figure out the gate could be lifted. Smaller pokémon could often fit through it.
For the image, he supposed the reason was.
Bidoof wasn't sure where he was walking until he was already along the path outside of Treasure Town. He had paused at a path leading into the residential area, the last area in fact. Next to no one lived down there anymore and most of the homes were overgrown and lost.
Without any further hesitation, Bidoof began to walk. He knew just where he was going now, and the idea that he'd waited this long to return now seemed silly to him.
"Gosh, what have I been up to?" he asked himself as he walked, quiet night not providing any answers.
He began to think of knock-knock jokes as he went.
The Normal-type walked. And he walked. And he walked some more. Past the houses that were inhabited and into the closest place to dangerous in the area of Treasure Town. No one could be certain what you'd find in the forgotten houses.
There really wasn't much risk, Bidoof knew. But the reputation left this place quiet and perfect for collecting ones thoughts.
It's how he found his friend here in the first place.
With eyes set on a single, tiny, dwelling, he sped up. Unlike most of the others, it was in relatively good shape. No large holes, and the door was heavy and very sturdy. Made the perfect sound for a knock-knock joke.
Bidoof raised a paw and gently tapped it against the door before he lost his nerve. He waited, fidgeting nervously, before frowning.
He glanced behind him, finding his reasons for coming here now unclear. He turned to leave and then rethought it.
"Knock-knock?" he called, impulsively turning back to the door. He tapped it again, louder. "Knock-knock?"
He waited again. Nothing.
Bidoof sighed and began walking off.
"Who's there?"
He froze and glanced back at the door before running right back to it.
"T-Tim," he said, voice shaking.
"Tim who?"
"Timber."
There was a moment of silence before a soft, almost reluctant, laughter came through. "You know that's not a good knock-knock joke, right?"
Bidoof grinned in relief. "You still laughed!" He beamed, even though he was beaming at a solid, wood, door.
There was a scoff of laughter and he imagined she was shaking her head at him. "What brings you here, Timber?"
Timber the bidoof bowed his head apologetically. "I… I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while, Bell. Everything that's been going on at the guild, even before that with all the work… but still. That's no excuse. I'm sorry." He shouldered the bag he had and dropped it with an audible thunk. "I…I hope you haven't been hungry by golly. I brought food anyway, yup-yup."
"I can get food myself," Bell replied, almost reprimanding but not quite, "but thank you. Leave it at the door when you leave."
"S-sure." Timber nodded.
"So, again?" Bell begun as Timber tried to find words. "What does bring you to me, here and now?"
Timber hesitated, still not sure what to say. He didn't want to leave her thinking he'd just come to talk about his own problems, but wasn't that the truth? "I… was missing you a bit. By golly, this is embarrassing. But I've also been getting worked to the bone with all these terrible things happening with time! I just wanted someone to talk to."
He took a breath once he was finished. Bell was silent, but he was calm. She often held silent as she thought of what she herself would say. Timber liked to imagine her frowning slightly as she thought deeply, nothing like the nervous fidgeting that he himself did.
"Knock-knock?" Bell asked and Timber's eyes lit up.
"Who's there?" he replied.
"Etch."
"Etch who?"
"Bless you," Bell finished and giggled. It took Timber a moment, but he laughed too.
"You're still much better at these than me," Timber said, smiling. He heard Bell giggle some more before she composed herself.
"I have time to practise," she said, and Timber felt guilty all over again. She seemed to sense the silence be less of a thinking time and more of a guilty time and added. "I'm here for you. Whatever you want to say, I'll listen. Can't promise my advice will be good, but it'll be genuine."
Timber smiled and nodded. "Right. Thanks, Bell, you're the plum greatest friend I ever could have. I reckon I've been a bad friend in kind though."
"I'm just thankful you're still here," Bell replied. "I know you're busy. I really don't blame you. Thank you for coming back, though. It means a lot to me."
Timber sniffled and wanted to keep apologising, but they'd just be running in circles then. "Th-thanks."
"You're welcome."
"I've just been feeling plum done useless lately," he explained, knowing she was listening. "With the Great Dusknoir turning out to be a bad guy, Grovyle a good guy, and losing Meowth, Chatot, and even Litleo. It's left us all running in circles. Everyone is trying to figure out what to do, and they are, but I'm not able to do anything to help. I'm not strong, and I don't have a special role at the guild either. I guess I can only wait and try my best, but I don't even know how to try anymore!"
"It sounds like," Bell began, when he took a breath to compose himself, "that you are feeling inferior to the others. That you have nothing to offer to help resolve this situation. Is that correct?"
"Y-yeah," Timber said, nodding. "I'm not clever or strong or have any special skills to help. I'm just me. And I'm worried that, with so many of our friends gone, that they're going to need me and I'm going to let them all down."
"Timber," Bell said, almost reprimanding him, "you shouldn't focus on what others can do better. Look at what you can do and what you have done. You are the most hardworking member of that silly guild, I know that. You don't give up. That's what's important. That's what we need right now. Someone who won't give up."
"B-but I don't know if I can do it," Timber said, bashfully. "You're too kind to me by golly."
"You're not kind enough on yourself," Bell insisted. "And you do have something bigger to offer, if you still won't believe in yourself. That map, remember? The one to Star Cave."
Timber's eyes lit up before darkening again. "O-oh right. I don't know…"
"Timber," Bell soothed, voice smooth and calming. "Think about it. Just think about it."
"W-well sure, by golly." Timber fidgeted, remembering where he stored the map. "But I can't just go up to the Guildmaster and claim I know where Jirachi is. What if Jirachi isn't even there? I don't know, it'd be gosh darn embarrassing and we don't have much time anyway."
"You still haven't gone?" Bell asked with a sigh. "Come on, Timber. Why haven't you gone yet?"
He winced, resenting that this was brought up. He'd found the map well over a year ago. Once he told her, she told him he should check it out, but he was never able to muster the courage to go out alone.
"I… there's just been… golly. I'm sorry Bell, I just can't. What if it's not real or Jirachi isn't there? I dunno if I could take the disappointment. It's my treasure and if it's wrong, I dunno. It would hurt too much, yup-yup."
Bell exhaled softly and Timber felt bad all over again. "I really thought," she begun before cutting herself off, "but I understand. You can't wonder forever though. Not knowing will eat you up eventually."
Timber's ears twitched as he laid on the ground.
"Knock-knock?" he asked, hoping to pull things to a lighter topic.
Bell was quiet again, he hoped he hadn't offended her. "Who's there?" she asked, making him smile.
"Me."
"Me who?"
"Medoof," he finished and Bell chuckled.
"Still terrible," she said, fondly, and Timber grinned.
"You're turn," he said, eagerly.
"Knock-knock?" Bell asked, not taking long to think.
"Who's there?"
"Woo."
"Woo who?"
"Sounds fun," Bell giggled. "Can I join in?"
Timber laughed. "Sure."
"Woo hoo!" Bell cheered, quietly and softly.
They laughed together, softly into the quiet night.
"You're a lot stronger than you think you are," Bell said, once they were finished laughing. "Try to not look at the big picture, but instead look at things at a smaller scale. Don't try and work out how you are going to save time, but instead focus on what your first steps are going to be tomorrow. Looking at things too widely is scary and anyone would feel useless in the scope of it stuff this big. Look at what you can do first. Alright?"
Timber nodded. "A-alright. You're still good at the advice-giving by golly! I reckon you could set up a shop based on that, you hear me? Bell's Advice. O-or whatever you are might be better. Putting you're n-name could b-be a bit, you know, uh… I… you know?"
He would have kept going but Bell giggled, and he shut his mouth. "That's kind of you to say, but I don't think I could deal with the attention. Everyone looking at me, talking to me, all day, every day. No, that's too much. Thank you for thinking of me like that, however. You are a good pokémon, Timber."
"You're a good pokémon too, Bell," Timber replied, blushing slightly. He wondered if she was blushing, and if he would even be able to tell. He yawned loudly, unable to keep himself, and felt Bell's amusement through the door.
"It's quite late," she pointed out and he nodded.
"Sorry for coming by at this hour," he said, and she laughed again.
"Normally you'd say that at the start," she teased, and he blushed again. "Our talks are fun. Come by at any time, Timber."
"Aww shucks," Timber replied and looked backwards, along the path. "I should get going. Thanks for talking to me. I promise I'll visit again soon." He pulled the food out of his dropped bag and placed it against the door, nudging it so she knew he was placing something down.
"Thank you, Timber," she whispered. "Good night."
"G'night, Bell," Timber replied and nosed around the strap, so the bag was back on. He glanced once more at the door, but she had no additional goodbyes to give. He trotted off, feeling a little lighter.
He thought he heard a door creak open, but when he glanced back it was closed. The food was gone though.
Bidoof smiled. It was back to being Bidoof again, only Bell knew his name, while he only knew her name in kind. He'd never asked, somehow the anonymous nature of their friendship was more exciting. He did have a strong theory in mind, however.
She'd dropped the occasional hint.
He stretched and nodded to himself. Tomorrow would be another day, and he'd be ready for it now.
He would be ready.
Hahahaha. Didn't have the usual POV chapter last one, instead it's this one! Can't be too predictable, I can't. The theme of this one, as I use themes for all the POV chapters, was pretty much characters who are stressed and dealing with that stress. There's another theme too, if you can guess it.
So that's fun.
Hey, is anyone ever writing, or thinking about writing, and suddenly an idea comes to them that just makes so many things click together? That happened on the day I began writing this chapter and energised me so much, as this was written two days after the previous update, that I planned out this whole chapter and wrote a good chunk of it!
The idea in question I had won't come into play for a while, ages really, but I thought to share the revelation!