Gren tried to attack Hudson, but he dodged it at the last moment and backed right into Magma, who blocked his escape. Hudson heaved his oversized bag at me, knocking me over from its weight as a strange badge flew from it and landed on the ground by Magma. "ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT!" Hudson said, "I thought you were an easy mark, but NOOOO! You had to just DOG me for some stupid, random seeds and other garbage! I'm getting out of here!"
"Don't let him get away!" I shouted. Just as Hudson turned to run, Magma picked up the badge, and a blinding white light engulfed us. For a moment I thought someone had used Flash, but as my eyes adjusted I saw the forest had gone. In its place was a room that looked as though a tornado had gone through. Papers were scattered everywhere, and the floor was covered with claw marks and food scraps that looked like they had been ripped apart in a fight. Ladders to other floors stood on the far wall next to a couple bulletin boards; a pair of Magnemite floated in the corner, deep in conversation. I realized we were in the Treasure Town guild - a Bidoof had been thrown at me in here earlier today.
Hudson seemed to recognize this place, too. He looked terrified, his wide eyes scanning the room like he expected to be attacked at any moment. But before he could run for the ladder, the two Magnemite noticed and flew over to restrain him. "ZZZT! You brought the outlaw Hudson in for arrest! ZZZT!" one of the Magnemite said to me.
"Outlaw?" Hudson said, still looking for an escape. "I'm- I'm no outlaw! Don't know what yer talking about! You've got the wrong Wurmple, that's what!"
"Wait, you're officers?" I said, once I realized what was going on. "Yeah, he's Hudson! He stole my-"
"ZZZT! We are aware! Hudson has been operating in Treasure Town as a pickpocket for some time now! ZZZT!"
"I'm not Hudson! Don't know who yer talking about! Tell 'em, kid!" Hudson said, a pleading look now in his eyes. The Magnemite ignored him.
"ZZZT! Take this money as your reward," the Magnemite said, handing me 600 Poké. "Thank you for your cooperation! ZZZT!" I accepted the money and watched as they brought Hudson up the ladder as he fought to get free, now insisting he was actually a Wurmple named Benson who had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. His oversized bag still sat in front of me. I opened it to find several other bags crammed inside, mine among them. I took it out and brushed it off, checking to see everything was still there before putting it on and placing my stick safely in its side pocket. Magma had gone to flip the other Aron over.
"I guess you're one of our allies, now? Welcome to the um... team?" Magma said. The Aron looked less angry now, despite the red war paint on his face. He asked if Magma was the one who brought him here. Gren asked what happened, apparently worried that we still might be in trouble.
"I don't think we're in trouble," I replied, checking that there weren't any other Pokémon in here. "Looks like the badge teleported us to the guild in Treasure Town. Those were officers, they took Hudson away and gave me some money for catching him. Really, though, you're the ones who did most of the work. I don't know what would've happened if none of you had shown up. So... thanks, I guess." I handed them the 600 Poké to split among themselves. "The Magnemite left Hudson's bag here, I'm gonna go see if there's anyone I can hand it in to downstairs. Would anyone mind coming with me? Just to be safe - it was a bit chaotic here earlier." Hoping at least one of them would agree, I picked up the heavy bag and climbed down the ladder, listening for any signs of fighting and hoping that no Bidoof would be thrown at me this time. The room below was quiet, and for a moment, I thought there might be nobody there. But then, a loud, energetic voice made me jump and almost fall off the ladder. It had come from a nearby room, its door slightly ajar. I glanced at anyone who had followed me, then sneaked over to the door and slowly pushed it open to peer inside.
